Chapter 50 (2/2)
…Well, it was undeniable that I am not a ‘self-reliant man’ though. I am a NEET after all… I wonder if it was impossible for me to conceal all that aura of incompetence that emanated from me…
Well, I guess I might be a kid who’s unsure whether hair grows on treasure trail or not for Rebecca-san and Hetty-san.
It is a fact that I’m still a virgin.
Despite the fact that we were still in the middle of an interview, we were having a private conversation among ourselves. There was a faint smile on Aurica’s face as she watched us.
That wouldn’t do. The applicant would make fun of us if we were to go on with our lengthy discussion! It wouldn’t be a good thing for her to have an unfavourable view towards the employer.
“Um, Aurica-san? There is a term that we would like to propose. Would it be alright to you?” [Jirou]
When I straightened up and asked her, she nodded in reply.
“First of all, I am considering hiring you. However, it is undeniable that the problem with your eyesight might get in the way of your duties. That is why we came up with this proposal.” [Jirou]
“Y-Yes! Um, actually—-I heard what you all were discussing about a moment ago. …But, I… while I am very happy with the proposal, I really couldn’t afford to pay you back for the spirit stone…so, as I thought, the other kids might be better…” [Aurica]
Hm. Well…I guess so.
Depending on the types of spirit stones, even the cheapest one would cost about 20 gold coins. In other words, it is an item that is worth at least 3 million yen.
If this were in j.a.pan, it would be the same as someone saying, “I’ll employ you once your eyesight recovers. Oh yeah, I’ll be covering the cost for the LASIK surgery, so rest a.s.sured.”
If you were to think over it carefully, it sounded like a fraud.
So, even if she were to use all five silver coins to pay me by monthly installment, she would be able to fully reimburse me only after 40 months. In fact, it would be more reasonable for her to return the sum of two silver coins every month. However, if that were the case, then it would take her around 100 months (more than eight years) to pay me back everything.
…That said, I don’t know how critical is the issue of visual impairment in this world either.
In my opinion, even though it might be somewhat hard for her financially, if me being meddlesome might bring about a possibility for her eyes to recover, then it might be worth thinking about. Nevertheless, it was a decision that might affect her for a lifetime, so it was undeniable that she would be having a bit of a hard time right now.
If she herself refused to be helped, then it would be just like Rebecca-san said. It would only ended up being a “well-intentioned effort” if I were to insist on helping her. Nothing could be done if things weren’t meant to be. Although, I could possibly give her another push, just in case… since she seemed like the shy, withdrawn type who always wound up getting the short end of the stick.
“You can take your time with the repayment of the spirit stone. I really don’t mind it. If you manage to achieve any guidance during your employment, then you can pay me back with the spirit stone at that time. I don’t have the intention to charge you any interest as well. …But, one of the prerequisite is that you need to work hard in the duties that are given to you. If you like, you can work as a live-in too.” [Jirou]
On hearing my words, Aurica raised her face. However, before she could reply, Hetty-san interjected her.
“Jirou-sama, it might be impertinent of me, but I would like to make a comment. That term is far too generous. If she decides to live-in, 2 silver coins would be sufficient as the wage. Even if she were to use 80% from the total to pay you back, it would still be more than adequate for her.” [Hetty]
“Eh? But she’ll be left with only 40 El, won’t she?” [Jirou]
“It will be sufficient for her if she’s a live-in. We have already explained that uniforms will be loaned to her. The job has basically covered everything for her including her food, clothing, and shelter. What other problems would she have?” [Hetty]
“It’ll take her close to 10 years to pay me back with just 2 silver coins as wage though.” [Jirou]
“That will prevent her from quitting half-way, won’t it? If Jirou-sama would like to insist on it, then she can treat it as a ‘bond’ until she achieves her guidance. In any event, achieving one guidance within 10 years is not unlikely.” [Hetty]
I see… Well, it would be fine by me since I could save my money, but this made me feel as though I am operating some kind of ‘black company’ now, since I reduced the amount of wage in the middle of an interview.
That said, it was true that nothing comes cheap. Well, that would be the case only if the person in question accepted it…
“Umm… I might not be able to achieve my guidance, actually. I think I will take a long time to return the money as well. Erm, so will it really be alright?” [Aurica]
Will it really be alright?
Naturally, it was fine for me. I had said the same thing last time with Marina. I guess, in Marina’s case, what she said was, “Why did you choose someone like me?”
I wonder if it was because I like those shy and withdrawn type. As I thought, it must be because I’m a virgin. I am bad against those aggressive type. It was a feeling that I did not want to acknowledge, though.
In the end, I decided to hire Aurica at the wage of 200 El (Two silver coins) per month.
Since the amount was lower than the initial arrangement, I planned to hire another one, although, that would have to wait until things settled down on my side. In fact, as repayment for the spirit stone (in name), the amount that I would be paying her is actually not 200 El, but just 40 El per month.
I received different kinds of responses from those who came for the interview when they found out that I was hiring Aurica, but they were generally favourable.
When I tried enquiring about them a little, I discovered that Aurica was living alone with Belca-san, her mother. Due to the problem with her eyesight, she couldn’t get a job related to her vocation, so she could only help out with the housework. Their living expenses were mainly provided by Belca-san, who worked at the tavern for a small wage.
Therefore, Belca-san had hoped that she would either achieve her guidance, or that her daughter would be able to find a good candidate for marriage one day. Nevertheless, since her daughter was not especially beautiful, there was no benevolent man who could readily accept a visually impaired girl. On top of that, she did not receive any guidance either. If the situation persisted, she was concerned that her daughter could only be prost.i.tute. While she was deeply troubled by her daughter’s future, the village chief started spreading the news that I was hiring a maid; and that was how this interview came about.
When I informed Belca-san – who was waiting impatiently outside- that I had decided to hire Aurica, she pulled Aurica into a hug and swung her around.
On top of that, when she heard it from Aurica herself that I would be healing her eyes with spirit stone as an advance payment, she looked so pleased that she started shedding tears. Following that, I explained to her Aurica’s wage, and that she would be staying with me as a live-in maid, but it seemed that Belca-san didn’t have any problem with it at all. Well, even if I did say she would be living with us, her village is only a stone’s throw away from my mansion.
Well then, since I would be using one spirit stone to heal Aurica’s eyes, I should be clearing my guidance soon. Among the guidances that I have; ‘Try defeating a monster’ and ‘Obtain your own home’ should be relatively easy to be cleared. Nonetheless, it was a mystery as to why I have yet to be able to achieve ‘Obtain your own home’. I had essentially acquired one already, so it made me wonder if there was something else that was still missing.
“Aurica-san, did you happen to receive a guidance? If it seems achievable then I might be able to lend you a hand.” [Jirou]
“D-Danna-sama, umm, um, you don’t need to use any honorifics when you address me.” [Aurica]
“Danna-sama, is it… It sounds nice… Aurica, one more time! One more time please!” (4)[Jirou]
“Eh? Um…? Danna-sama?” [Aurica]
Ooooooh! I couldn’t resist the look when she cast her eyes down shyly! A maid calling me ‘Danna-sama’ with upturned eyes! (No maid clothing yet, though). Being able to experience this with just one spirit stone is cheap…
“U-Um… I did receive one when I received my blessings, but it was difficult for me to achieve it, so I gave up…” [Aurica]
“Is it a hard one? If so then I could help you with it.” [Jirou]
“Umm, Danna-sama don’t need to go through such great lengths to do this… Besides, it is probably impossible unless you have books or teachers…” [Aurica]
“Is that so? Then, what’s the content of the guidance?” [Jirou]
“Erm… it’s ‘Acquire another language 0/1’.” [Aurica]
Footnotes
(1) The raw for this part is 自己アピール (自己PR) which literally means ‘Self-appeal’ or ‘Self-public relations’.
This Engrish (A mixture of English and j.a.panese word) term is used when the interviewer asks the interviewees to talk about themselves, their skills & abilities and why the company should hire them.
(2) The raw for this part is ‘ごちそうさま’ which can also be literally translated as ‘Thanks for the meal’.
(3) The same ‘ごちそうさま’ is used here.
(4) The last two parts are in English.
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