Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Employee Concerns
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"Sir William! Could I take tomorrow off, just for one day?"
As everyone was getting ready to start work, Marie approached, wagging her tail merrily, and suddenly requested a day off.
It was a right stipulated in the contract, and since it wasn't a busy period, granting the vacation itself wasn't an issue. But a last-minute request like this couldn't possibly be ordinary, so I couldn't help but worry that something might be up.
"Tomorrow? Sure, but what's come up so suddenly?"
"Nothing!"
Marie shook her head vigorously with a bright, lively voice.
Well... if it was nothing serious, it wasn't my place to pry. Since no employee had ever taken a day off before, I reached into the drawer for the attendance record sheet I'd never once had to pull out.
"Alright then, rest easy to—"
"It's just my heat cycle."
"......?"
I froze mid-motion, staring blankly at Marie, wondering if I'd misheard.
As I stiffened and gaped at her, Marie perked up her ears, tilted her head, then suddenly widened her eyes in realization before proclaiming even louder.
"It's my heat cycle!"
"...?"
The employees preparing for work all turned puzzled looks our way at Marie's bold declaration.
"We... we already heard that, so no need to repeat it..."
"Oh, sorry!"
I squeezed my eyes shut at Marie's dizzying antics, placed a finger over my lips, and spoke in an exhausted tone.
Gazing at Marie, who bowed her head apologetically, with half-lidded eyes, I swept back my hair and asked her,
"Will one day be enough? Heat cycles don't last just a day, right?"
"As long as it's not the peak day, I can manage. Just a bit of restlessness?"
"That's a relief, then. Still, heat cycles must be tough—wouldn't it be better to take a few days off to really rest?"
"No, that would mean missing too much work."
"Don't beastkin have long gaps between cycles? Like twice a year, around two weeks each...?"
"Pardon?"
Marie furrowed her brow as if I'd said something absurd, flapping her ears perkily as she replied.
"Cat beastkin get heat cycles every one or two months."
"What? Really?"
"Yes, mine come about seven times a year. Is that really okay?"
"Uh... well..."
I'd thought it was similar to dogs, every 6-8 months, but it was way more frequent than expected.
If I gave her a few days off each time, that'd be nearly a month a year just for heat cycles.
It wouldn't be fair to the other employees if I didn't offer them the same.
"Can't be helped, then..."
"It's fine! And one day is enough!"
"Alright... Take it easy tomorrow, and even after you return, go slow until it's fully passed, got it?"
"Yes!"
I told Marie she could have the day off, pulled out the attendance sheet, and marked her status for tomorrow as vacation.
_
Running a workplace with diverse races and cultures meant there were hardships I, as a standard human, couldn't easily grasp—something I learned through Marie.
Even among humans, complaints and inconveniences arise over time; mix in different races, and big problems could brew eventually.
A bit late to the game, I now desperately felt the need for a time to hear out my employees' requests.
But in front of everyone, they'd hesitate to speak freely, so I'd have to call them one by one. Pondering who to start with, I decided on the one most different from me first.
"Adelaide."
"Yes, what is it?"
"Nothing major—just some questions. Got a moment?"
"Sure, I do."
So, I chose Adelaide as the first one.
Female, not even a mammal, and visually worlds apart.
I wrapped up work earlier than usual, and as employees trickled out, I quietly called Adelaide to the break room.
"What did you want to ask?"
"Any complaints about work? Things you'd like improved, or more of this, anything at all—speak freely."
"Hm... Nothing comes to mind off the bat..."
Adelaide crossed her arms, squinted slightly, and pondered deeply.
"Ah, one thing."
"What?"
"Not enough work."
"Haa..."
I sighed and scratched my head.
Why did my employees keep demanding more work?
"Remember you're employees? Less work for the same pay is the sweet deal."
"Of course I know, but I have this instinct to sew. I want to sew non-stop except meals, but it's so comfy here I'm itching for more. Your kindness and consideration are great, but couldn't you exploit my labor like a wicked noble from a fairy tale—at least when it comes to sewing?"
"Uh... well..."
Such horrifying words from an employee—not even an employer—left me speechless, my lips flapping uselessly several times.
"I... even so... that's a bit much. And we couldn't keep up anyway."
Finally squeezing out the words with effort, I shook my head firmly, cutting down Adelaide's tempting suggestion.
"Figured as much. Too bad..."
Adelaide looked a touch dejected, puffed up her spider abdomen slightly, and tapped the floor rhythmically with her legs.
Whatever it meant, it wasn't good, so I pretended not to notice and moved on.
"You always complain about being slow—any issues? Sick? Need treatment?"
"Sadly, I injured my fourth leg long ago. No treatment needed, but compared to other spider beastkin, I'm slower and clumsier, can't keep up."
"Huh... You, falling behind?"
"Yes. Skilled spider beastkin move their limbs almost divinely—you can see them crafting four garments at once or finishing a fancy dress in an hour."
"Whoa, are they even people?"
"Now you see why I always say I'm slow."
"Yeah."
Two or three at once was impressive enough—four?
A dress in one hour?
Even in my past life, that required computers; for a living creature to do it with their body was so fantastical, I'd love to see it.
"How do they handle four tasks? With eight limbs, some must stay on the ground, and you hate sitting with your belly on a chair—too suffocating."
Thanks to Adelaide, I knew spider beastkin had breathing holes on both upper and lower body.
I'd brought a long bench for comfort since she always stood, and learned that accidentally.
"Usually, they string up webs and hang in mid-air, freeing all eight limbs."
"Ah, makes sense. Forgot you don't use webs much, Adelaide. But if you're always lamenting slowness, why not hang?"
"It's creepier than my sleek back... and honestly, that pose is mortifyingly embarrassing."
"What about it?"
"Ahaha..."
Adelaide gave an awkward smile, scratching her cheek sheepishly.
"Sir William, think about it: pick up a puppy or kitten and look from below—what do you see?"
She mimed lifting something and asked in a scolding tone.
"The cat?"
I frowned, rolled my eyes upward, imagining hoisting a cat high.
Cute paw pads first, then fluffy fur, chest, belly, and...
"Ah."
I jolted like I'd been shocked, eyes flashing as I sighed in realization.
I got it.
The essential organ all animals must have for species preservation.
As my eyes twitched, staring at Adelaide, she smiled awkwardly and said,
"Get it now?"
"Ah, s-sorry, I was so thoughtless..."
"No, body structures differ unavoidably. I want to cover like humans or other beastkin, but... the second breathing hole's right there..."
"N-no! No need for that—just work as usual!"
Adelaide explained earnestly why she couldn't cover 'that organ', looking truly apologetic.
I waved my hands frantically, stressing it wasn't necessary.
Higher efficiency was nice, but I wasn't some maniac blocking employees' breathing holes for productivity.
That'd be torture from the start.
No intention of becoming a deranged wicked noble.
In a place without slaves, doing that would land me on the guillotine—who'd be crazy enough?
"Best to work comfortably. You're plenty fast already—no need to push, okay?"
"Hehe, got it."
Adelaide nodded with a smile.
"Nothing else besides 'give me more work'?"
"Hm... I'd like to make something novel, like that rare fabric we got recently—stuff hard to find in this world."
"I'll... try to make that happen."
"Then that's all."
"Alright."
I pulled out my notebook, jotted 'more and novel clothes', and tucked it away.
"If new issues arise, don't hold back—tell me anytime."
"Yes, I will."
"You can head out now, then. Sorry for taking your time."
"Hehe~ No problem."
Adelaide bowed with a beaming, gentle smile and left the break room.
Following her out, I headed home with Emily.