Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Eccentric Applicants
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I had been worried that these people might all be raving mad, but that anxiety turned out to be mostly unfounded.
About seventy percent were perfectly ordinary folks, and another twenty percent had simply come out of curiosity about who I was.
Thanks to all the normal candidates, the interviews proceeded faster than expected.
But as always, there were the 'real ones'—that remaining ten percent who made my life hell.
Especially three who stood out: each one seemed a bit off their rocker, yet undeniably talented.
"Please introduce yourself."
"Greetings. I am Fanny Rachel Abby, the third daughter of Viscount Boin. I'm nineteen years old. I don't have much experience with embroidery, but I take pride in my superior handiwork, thanks to the medical skills passed down through my family for generations."
"Medicine? Ah! Are you the daughter of Viscount Joseph Gustav Abby?"
"Yes."
The first one who left a strong impression was the lady from a family pioneering medicine in a world where holy power could heal diseases.
She had striking red short hair and sky-blue eyes, giving her a calm and composed air. Her family had been personally dubbed 'God's Right Hand' by the Pope himself, so she started off on a great note...
"What made you apply?"
"Sir William, are you aware that corsets have recently led to an increase in urinary incontinence and cesarean sections among ladies? There are even cases of hernias and skeletal deformities."
"Our family has studied medicine for generations, so we've encountered all sorts of corset-related health issues. Solving them has become a hot topic in medical circles. But after reading your interview, Sir William, I had a true revelation."
"What's most important in treating illness? Removing the cause. If corsets are spawning all these diseases, then we just need a world without corsets. Thanks to you, Sir William, I finally saw the answer that was right in front of me."
She was as intellectually calm in her madness as her composed demeanor suggested.
"I... I see."
To eliminate the root of diseases by making clothes? It was such an unbelievable reason that I nearly lost my mind hearing it.
And since Fanny was the seventh applicant, I started getting anxious from there—what if the rest were all lunatics like her?
"Could I see a demonstration of your skills?"
"Of course."
True to her medical background, her dexterity was impressive.
It was a shame she wasn't familiar with embroidery or sewing, but that was something a few weeks of training could fix.
Her fanaticism was unsettling, but since I wasn't exactly normal myself, it actually worked in her favor.
"Assuming no surprises, I have good news for you."
"Hee-hee~ Understood."
So I gave her the green light for primary selection and wrapped up the interview.
"Next, please come in."
"Hello!"
The next memorable one was a man with such narrow, slit-like eyes that you could barely see his pupils—extremely striking.
"Sir William, I believe modern society has a serious problem: our warped perception of beauty."
"Beauty is something everyone—men, women, young, old—desires. Children prefer pretty things, and the elderly strive against aging. It's instinct. Animals groom their beauty to attract better mates and flaunt it. So it's natural for us to want full breasts, a slim waist, and elegant features. Society's atmosphere encouraging this is not wrong."
"But I see one massive flaw in this mindset."
"What flaw?"
This sharp-featured, sly-looking man sat down and launched into his spiel before I could even speak.
"It's the rejection of hips and legs. In ancient times, before even the ancient empires, in city-states and tribes, people revered full breasts and hips as symbols of fertility and abundance. Breasts signify the ability to raise healthy children, hips the ease of childbirth."
"But at some point, society began tabooing hips and legs as lewd, focusing instead on waists and chests to exaggerate femininity in a distorted way."
"That's blatantly wrong. A woman's beauty isn't some cheap thing ending at a slim waist and full bust. It's the curve from full bust to waist, once; from cinched waist to firm, voluptuous hips, twice; and from the peak of those hips down to long, slender legs, thrice."
"Four curves, three bends—only when revealed without exaggeration does a woman's beauty truly complete!"
"Ah, yes."
He preached about women's beauty like he was coughing up blood.
"I've traveled various countries and learned much from our ancestors' wisdom."
"Ancient empires and city-states covered the nude body with a single cloth. It preserved the body's purity and chastity rationally, without hiding natural curves, even if crude and baggy."
"Today's clothes are clear regression, ignoring ancestral truths and chasing distorted femininity and beauty."
Then he went on praising ancient empire culture.
"Tormented by this reality, I saw your interview, Sir William. 'I'm not a knight armored in corsets; I want to meet women.'!"
"I was deeply moved by your bold declaration that natural female forms—not grotesque, inflated shapes from evil corsets and petticoats—are preferable."
"Because I've long dreamed of it: a future where elegant curves from bust to ankle are proudly displayed; where mature femininity shines properly with subtle allure; a utopia free of clothing that promotes malformed, incomplete female bodies."
"That's why I came to you. By your side, I can realize that beautiful future."
With that furious rant on the need for new clothes, he finally ended his long, long tale.
"That's my motivation for applying!"
"Ah, yes..."
His philosophy resonated deeply, but I responded tepidly with a blank expression.
"Could you at least introduce yourself?"
Nothing to be done—you have to introduce yourself before spilling your guts.
How can I hire someone without knowing who they are?
"Oh, sorry. I'm Herbert John White, third son of Baron Carverry. I'm twenty, and I've studied sewing for about two years."
"Pleased to meet you, Lord Herbert. Could you show me your skills?"
"Of course."
Despite his grandiose words, Herbert's skills were average.
He could read patterns and sketch a bit, which were pluses, but his hands were slow.
"Looks like good news for you."
"Haha! I knew you'd understand my philosophy, sir."
"Haha..."
Still, I liked his passion, so primary selection it was.
A sewing-capable salesman? Can't pass that up. And with that zeal and madness, I expected decent results.
"Next applicant, please."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Elizabeth."
The last standout was profoundly mysterious.
"Uh... nice to meet you, Lady Elizabeth."
Her radiant golden hair and golden eyes, her graceful speech, actions, and attire all screamed nobility, yet she gave only a dubious name—if it was even real—and called her introduction done.
"What made you apply?"
"You intrigue me. My... mother always said to snag an enterprising man, and you seem to fit the bill."
"Sorry, but this isn't that kind of position."
"I know. If I were only interested in you... I'd have made a spot somehow."
"......"
For a brief moment, her narrowed eyes burned into me hotly, sending a chill down my spine.
"Anyway... could you demonstrate your skills?"
"Of course."
Her skills were the best I'd seen so far.
Her background creeped me out too much, so I tried grasping for flaws.
"Shall I show you something fun?"
"Like what?"
Sensing my intent, she struck first.
How fun could it be? I let her try.
"Name any number, and I'll cut thread and fabric to match."
"Thirteen."
Two swift, unhesitating snips, and thread and fabric exactly matching in length.
"What in the..."
Skeptical, I measured—precisely 13 cm.
"3 mm and 7.3 cm."
Thinking it coincidence, I tested repeatedly with varied numbers and units.
"Here."
"......"
The results were identical.
Unlike the others with human flaws, she was a flawless machine.
"You'll probably hear good news..."
"Yes, I'll be waiting."
I really didn't want to hire her, but I couldn't tell a highborn lady, 'I'm uneasy, so you're out.' Swallowing tears, I added her to the primary list.