The Professionalism of Nairin Lazuli
Nairin’s interview proceeded without any major hitches. Sitting in the innermost corner by the window, we were shielded from the prying eyes of other patrons.
“Is there a particular reason you decided to apply to our hotel?”
“Ah, well, isn’t this place the talk of the capital lately? I heard you were looking for personnel to join the security team, and I thought it would be a great opportunity…!”
“I see. I did mention to your current order that they should encourage anyone suitable to apply, but I wanted to know what specifically piqued your interest.”
“Oh, yes. The Captain mentioned that a decent offer had come in and that it seemed like a perfect fit for me. Haha…”
“Looking at your records, you’ve participated in quite a number of missions.”
“That is correct…!”
“And you’ve had many successes. The feedback from those around you is quite positive as well.”
“As a knight, that is only natural. A mission must be completed at all costs.”
“A good attitude. What do you usually do to pass the time when you’re off duty?”
“When I’m on leave or have no missions, I mostly rest at the barracks or head into the city for a meal…!”
I had intentionally timed this to coincide with her finishing her meal, so that was exactly the answer I expected. There was only one thing I truly needed to ask this knight. Everything else had already been verified by Shion and compiled into a report; since it had passed through Shion’s hands, there was no need for me to dig deeper. It made things comfortable for both of us—a situation akin to, ‘You know what I’m going to ask, right? Let’s play along.’ In short, it was like a scripted wrestling match.
“Hmm, I think I’ve asked everything I needed to.”
Just then, the drink I’d ordered arrived, and I slid it toward her.
“Oh, um, this is…? I didn’t order this…”
“I called you in for an interview on your day off, so this is the least I can do. Please, enjoy it.”
This was a service meant to put her at ease, a silent request for her to answer honestly without unnecessary tension. The only question that truly mattered was still ahead.
“Ah, right. Thank you very much…!”
She grabbed the glass, her hands trembling as if she’d realized that what I was about to ask was the ‘real question.’ She couldn’t keep her hands still, fidgeting with the glass and clearly showing her nervousness. Well… that wasn’t strange, considering what I was about to ask.
“Our hotel respects the individual tastes and inclinations of our staff. What you do on your days off, or who you choose to spend time with—we don’t concern ourselves with that.”
Nairin nodded as if she were hanging on my every word.
“Do you remember the girl you met at the counter earlier?”
“Yes, the one with the distinctive blue hair…”
“That’s right. Her name is Delphi, and she works the counter in a two-shift rotation with me.”
“Oh…”
“At 19:00, she clocks out right on time, and I prepare to take over so she can leave.”
“I, I see…”
“Well, that’s not the point. The point is, whatever Delphi does after she clocks out is entirely her own business.”
“Ah…”
“Whether she has dinner with her sister, goes shopping in the city, or even decides to stay at our hotel as a guest—it’s none of my concern.”
I raised a finger in front of Nairin as I spoke.
“As long as it doesn’t interfere with her work, that is.”
“…That sounds truly wonderful.”
“Whether our staff drinks, meets women, or meets men—that’s their private life.”
Nairin flinched at the mention of ‘meeting women.’ By now, she must have fully grasped what I was getting at. I lowered my hand, leaned forward, and asked her directly.
“So, I will ask you this: Nairin Lazuli. While you work at our hotel, can you promise that you will not be swayed by personal feelings during work hours and will show only your professional side?”
“…!”
Her pupils shook violently, as if an earthquake were hitting her eyes, and her grip on the glass tightened. Now, how would she answer? I didn’t think she would lie. By the time I asked this, she would know that I was capable of discerning the truth. Shion, standing silently right beside me, would let me know immediately if she lied. With her sharp senses and keen intuition, she could catch almost anything.
“Don’t feel pressured. Just be honest with me.”
“…Honestly.”
“I have no objections to your skills as a knight. If I didn’t hire such a capable individual, I would be a failure as an owner.”
I gestured toward her glass, signaling that she could drink, and Nairin lifted the glass she had been clutching so tightly.
“So, there is just one thing I need to confirm.”
“…”
The fact that Nairin liked women didn’t matter at all. Before I died of overwork in my past life and reincarnated here, I had consumed an endless amount of webtoons and web novels. From simple harem stories to pure romance, yuri, and gender-benders—I devoured them all without discrimination. In fact, I was so starved for yuri that I’d take whatever I could get. ‘Pretty things are good, so isn’t it even better when two pretty girls are together? I really don’t get why people complain.’ That’s why I enjoyed romance fantasy, and why I ended up reincarnated as the youngest son of my favorite couple after dying on a business trip.
In online communities, people might joke, ‘Oh, you lesbian, always thinking about seducing women,’ but in reality, it was a different story. One of my hotel employees getting cozy with a guest? Well, there was no rule against it, but… just thinking about it gave me a headache. Romantic entanglements were a field that couldn’t be approached rationally. Office romances were messy enough, but if it were a hotel employee’s fling with a customer, it would be even worse.
“I…”
That was why I had to set the mood and ask this final question. I didn’t care what she did after work or on her days off, but I needed to know if she could focus solely on her job while on the clock.
“Hup!”
Nairin downed the drink in one go and wiped her mouth, her expression turning resolute. Oof, that’s pretty strong stuff, is she okay?
“If that is my mission, then I shall certainly do so.”
The bumbling, trembling girl from a moment ago was gone. Sitting before me was a capable knight who, once she took on a mission, would complete it successfully without fail.
“That is the virtue a knight must uphold.”
It was a satisfactory answer. Yes, it was a simple question. It was just a bit awkward because it was no different from an employer asking about an employee’s sexual orientation. It’s only natural to focus on work while at work. I only asked because there are people who can’t do that simple thing. Nairin seemed to understand that, as she had pulled herself together and answered perfectly.
If I were the one being interviewed and the interviewer asked me something like that, I’d be flustered too. I only asked because this is a world where people jump into bed as soon as they lock eyes; otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered.
“Our hotel does not discriminate based on race, political affiliation, or sexual orientation.”
I stood up, reciting the motto of our hotel.
“Congratulations, Nairin. When can you start?”
“Huh?”
As I smiled and reached out my hand, she stood up awkwardly, stumbling over her words as if she’d bitten her tongue. The cool, capable knight from a moment ago had vanished, replaced by the bumbling goofball. She seemed to understand what I meant, and she grasped my hand with both of hers.
“Oh, ah! Yes, thank you! I will do my best!”
Seeing her bow at the waist, it was clear she was overjoyed.
“I can start working as early as tomorrow…!”
She answered with eyes sparkling, using a tone I’d heard somewhere before. Hmm, she’s being a bit loud; people are starting to stare.
“We’ll need to get your suit tailored first, so it will take a few days.”
“A suit, sir?”
“Armor is fine, but walking around the hotel in full plate mail tends to draw too much attention from the guests.”
“Ah…”
“To keep things neat and uniform, I think an all-black ensemble would be best… what do you think?”
“All black… that sounds wonderful…!”
“If you need anything else, feel free to tell me. Nothing is set in stone yet, so your opinion will be quite important, Nairin.”
“Yes, I understand!”
“My secretary, Shion, will take your measurements. You two will be seeing a lot of each other, so please get along.”
“Ah, I look forward to working with you…!”
“She’s my precious secretary, so don’t go trying to seduce her, alright?”
“O-oh, that will never happen! How could I ever…”
“I’m joking, don’t take it too seriously. Shion, you can handle the rest, right?”
“Yes, Master. Shall I proceed with the design draft you showed me earlier?”
“Stick to that as the base. If there’s anything else needed, listen to Nairin’s input and incorporate it.”
“I-is that really alright…?”
“You’re the one who has to wear it, so your opinion is what matters most.”
“I shall do so.”
“Then I’ll leave the rest to you. I have to go relieve Delphi at the counter soon.”
“Ah…”
“See you when the clothes are finished.”
I stood up, waved, and walked out of the restaurant. Seeing Nairin bowing enthusiastically behind me, I felt I didn’t need to worry about her being unable to do the job. Nairin, you lesbian… just do your job well. I’ll make sure to give you plenty of bonuses.
I checked my watch—5:30. It was about time to grab dinner and head down. If it were a quick meal, I could have eaten here, but the 13th floor was a high-end restaurant, and the downside was that it took a while to get served.
“Should I just grab some bread… did we have any of those sandwiches left from this morning?”
I had prepared those sandwiches for the staff after realizing quite a few of them came to work without eating breakfast. The response had been better than expected. Even Delphi, who ate them most often, seemed to like them.
“I really need to find someone to help cover the counter soon, too.”