Extra 33: Days off in Kuzunoha (1/2)
Extra 33: Days off in Kuzunoha
“Our place is fifth category.”
“Fifth category?! That’s…quite the generous choice there. Ah, if I remember correctly, the Rembrandt Company is also fifth category.”
“Maybe he took reference of him. I haven’t heard the details from Raidou though.”
“Lately, the person himself has been participating and cooperating frequently but, is he the type that does business himself? I feel like, lately, he has been out more often. Truly envying.”
“Fortunately, we have begun to ride in the flow of this town’s market, so the amount of offers that come to Raidou have increased. It is thanks to everyone. Next time, Raidou himself will be coming, so please make do with me for this time around.”
“Well, it is easier for me to speak with Akua-dono and Shiki-dono. It actually helps me out. Since it seems like Eris-dono likes to stir up the place, and Raidou-dono seems to be still be green in the detailed topics.”
“…It is thanks to Representative Zara that we are able to somehow participate in the guild gatherings even when we are a lacking company. We of the Kuzunoha are always grateful for this.”
The Forest Oni, that was called out and had stopped her feet, was standing in place talking to that person.
The place is the Merchant Guild of Rotsgard.
The one who called out the Forest Oni when she was about to leave after finishing the probing that was under the name of ‘friendly gathering’ was the leader that keeps the order in the merchants of this town, Zara.
The one who is speaking with him while lowering her head down a number of times was the employee of the Kuzunoha Company, Akua.
Different from her usual look, she is currently wearing a white shirt with a dark blue suit on top.
Her conduct with that straight back and a gentle smile in her face was something that she had learned as she participated in this kind of gatherings as an employee of the Kuzunoha Company. As of now, it truly looks natural.
Even when he was by no means praising her coworker and lord, her face still showed an amicable smile.
The conversation of the two was in regards to the days off of the company employees.
The fifth category meant that every week, there’s a one day break; and once a month, you are free to apply for a day to take free at the person’s convenience. In this world, you could say these are quite the extraordinary worker conditions.
It normally has to be a quite the big company or a very taxing job that requires specialized personnel for the company to choose fifth category. That’s how much of a term it is.
By the way, depending on the month, there are cases where the total days off end up as six, but in those cases, it was normal to remove one of those free days.
“Right, today I didn’t speak to you because of that. What I wanted to talk to you about is regarding that fifth category.” (Zara)
“Hm? Is there a problem?” (Akua)
“The Kuzunoha Company is being a great help in the reconstruction of the town. Because of this, we have requested from our side for the store to work for a while without any days off, right? But if we consider the number of employees reported, fifth category might be a bit bad. There might also be people that would stick their head stupidly because of this.” (Zara)
“…”
“Of course, I don’t have any intentions of preaching to you about matters of that extent. I just thought about telling you to renew the employee list or change it to the regular first category. It is not something that should take much trouble, right?” (Zara)
Zara spoke to Akua with a tone that had no hostility at all.
Having a break once a month under the first category is what’s most common.
Those are quite the normal conditions for an employee in a company.
“Thank you for your consideration. I will certainly inform Raidou and Shiki regarding this.” (Akua)
“Anyways, I see. Fifth category huh. Our place might have to change from third category to fifth category and increase the personnel… Fumu.” (Zara)
“…To be more accurate, it is more like fifth category as well as a bit of sixth category. It is certainly true that this is an incredibly good environment to work in as a worker.” (Akua)
Akua gave her thanks to Zara, and speaks about her own opinions regarding her working environment.
“?! Meaning that not only do you have days off every week, you also get break times every day?” (Zara)
“? Yeah.” (Akua)
“Good grief. No way he is leaving several hundreds of employees unreported, right?” (Zara)
“Just that…” (Akua)
“Hm?” (Zara)
“Even when there’s a break in the work of the company, there’s obviously training in magic and combat.” (Akua)
“…Right. The Kuzunoha Company’s employees need to be in a required level of battle prowess before being accepted.” (Zara)
“There’s exceptions, but most fall in that category. Thanks to this condition, the lack of personnel doesn’t seem to get solved. Raidou is a worrywart, so we want to solve as much of the problems that occur by ourselves as workers of the Kuzunoha Company’s store.” (Akua)
“Akua-dono and the other employees are all still alive after the incident at the Academy Festival, so the thinking of Raidou-dono might be the correct one, but I think the level he looks for is way too high. You guys are working inside the town simply as a company after all…” (Zara)
“But in the end, we are demi-humans. There’s no belittling between us demi-humans, but there’s a lot of hyumans that do look down on us. And we are opening shop within a group like that, so he was most likely worried for us.” (Akua)
“It hurts my ears.” (Zara)
“This came out as a topic in today’s meeting, but we are always looking for new employees….. Just to make it clear, representative Zara, we do have a number of hyumans we plan on employing.” (Akua)
Akua said the first half with a smile, and the latter part, whispered it to Zara in a low voice.
“…What?” (Zara)
What she said was shocking, but Zara also whispered lowly, understanding the intention of Akua.
The Kuzunoha Company doesn’t employ hyumans.
That matter had been made a topic several number of times in the guild meetings.
These were just the pitiful howls of other companies that had no other way to attack the Kuzunoha Company other than this though.
Akua understood this and didn’t let it leak carelessly, dealing with it without looking for agreement.
If that matter were to move in the surface instead of hidden, it would be quite the big deal; probably not in a favorable way for the Kuzunoha Company.
Zara was able to reach to that conclusion quickly, so he waited for the continuation of Akua’s words.
Hyumans will be able to work in the company, it will be a working place that accepts hyuman employees; that’s in no way going to bring only good effects in the Kuzunoha Company.
“That’s why, if representative Zara has trustworthy people, please do introduce them to us. We will properly test them, and if they manage to pass, we will be hiring them. Of course, this matter is something that Raidou and Shiki are already in the know of.” (Akua)
“…Is that okay?” (Zara)
“We don’t mind it if you are to leak this information to other representatives by saying that you managed to pull it out from us. But do understand that the minimum line we look for is people that can at the very least graduate at the Academy with quite the exemplar grades.” (Akua)
“…I see. There are indeed people like that. If I remember correctly, Jin and Amelia, right? So you guys are planning on hiring them. Hmph, Raidou-dono is also… no, this must be the suggestion of Shiki-dono huh. Whichever the case, they are quite shrewd. Understood. I will not restrain myself in making it my accomplishment.” (Zara)
“This is just a small show of gratitude for the daily consideration you give us. Well then, I will be taking my leave now.” (Akua)
“Okay. Thanks for the hard work.” (Zara)
Akua lowered her head deeply once, and then, turns around with her back facing Zara.
Orderly steps rang as they got further away from Zara.
But suddenly, the silent expression of his while he was seeing her off had turned into a grim one.
“Akua-dono! Sorry but, can I ask one thing?” (Zara)
“What is it?” (Akua)
“Akua-dono, you said that you take combat training, but in that case, if we were to count those training instances, how many actual breaks do you have in the month? This is pure curiosity of mine, but it just bothered me you see.” (Zara)
“Actual breaks huh. In that case…it would be twice a year.” (Akua)
“…Huh?” (Zara)
“Well then.” (Akua)
Akua left this time for sure.
Only Zara was left in place.
The last thing she said was quite shocking for Zara.
“T-Twice a year? That Raidou, just how do his employees manage to keep up with that? I don’t understand. It is a complete mystery.” (Zara)
The reconstruction of the Academy Town, Rotsgard, is proceeding well.
The merchants obviously were passing busy days.
Within that, the dutiful attitude of the Kuzunoha Company’s employees as well as their will to work was exemplary to the point that other representatives sent envying gazes towards them.
Zara thought that this was because of the great working environment that the fifth category provides, but that believe had been quickly shattered to pieces just a few moments ago.
Raidou is still missing quite a lot as a merchant, but in terms of gaining loyalty from his employees, even Zara felt like he would want Raidou to teach him.
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The working conditions of the Kuzunoha Company are just as Akua told Zara, fifth category.
But the reality was different.
This is also something she said, but she has combat training too, and there are times where there’s work related to the whole race when returning to Asora.
Even if they are working in the company, if they were to say whether they have a day off every week, the answer would be no.
“I don’t have any dissatisfaction with Waka-sama, but we do have to be thankful for Tomoe-sama in this occasion.”
“To Shiki-sama as well. If we were to do as Waka-sama said, our bodies would just rot.”
Laughs and orders were flying around.
An Elder Dwarf and an Orc were conversing with beer mug in hand and a red face.
It is the bar that serves as a dining hall in Asora.
When it is late and gets darker, the residents that drew a good sweat during the day gather in this place looking for food and drinks.
“I heard that he said at first that we should have two days off every week. That’s crazy.” (Dwarf)
“Even one day off is a grateful thing every once in a while, but having many of them every month would be troubling.” (Orc)
“Yeah! Two breaks a year is already a luxury. In the first place, we can all live in peace without the need for a night watch in this place, you know.” (Dwarf)
“True. It is because of diligent daily training and working that one can progress. It would be troubling to have breaks every week!” (Orc)