Earth Needs the Useless - 2
I wasn't rich enough to hire people on a whim just yet, and she wasn't someone I absolutely needed right now.
But...
Connections. That staggering bloodline as Charlotte's daughter. Even if Ria had fought with her mom and run away like a half-discarded child, I had no choice but to hire her.
It's a bit different from the picture I had in mind... but the value's just too high.
Maison Etoual was a massive corporation. And I was sorely lacking in corporate connections.
I've got Mukseong, so guild ties are solid, but...
It didn't matter if she didn't do anything useful right away. She could sit there for 3 to 5 years as a freeloader collecting a paycheck, and I'd be fine with it.
To grow the business, I have no choice but to scale up...
Right now, I was making money by selling "common, cheap stuff from Earth" and importing "rare, expensive items only found in other worlds." Things like those oddly premium Gremlin Pistols or Lumikite—luxuries hard to get unless you were a hunter or aspiring hunter.
But I couldn't sell to hunters forever.
When I started building ties with corporations, she'd be a huge help.
"What kind of compensation were you thinking? I'm not running a real company yet... the benefits or salary might not meet your expectations, Ria."
But my current situation wasn't swimming in cash either. No matter how massive her future value might be, I couldn't mortgage the present for it.
"H-Hourly wage of f-five thousand won...?"
"Pardon?"
That was weird. I'd kinda sensed it when she suddenly approached me asking for work, but this was beyond my imagination.
She really has no clue about the world, huh?
Of course, that didn't mean I'd exploit her unfairly. If I crossed a line, Roje—not her—would come charging in to punish me.
"I'll give you 3 million won a month. The work won't be super tough, and you won't need to come in every day."
"R-Really? Thank you, thank you!"
Who knows. Logically, as Charlotte's daughter, shouldn't she be working at Maison Etoual instead of this?
Unable to hold back, I casually asked her.
"Just one thing I want to confirm... You're Charlotte Anne's daughter, right? An Ria?"
"Y-Yes... that's right."
"Any reason you're choosing to work with me instead of joining her company?"
Ria's potential value was huge. But I wasn't at the point where lacking her would force me to scrap all my plans.
"W-Well, I... fought with Mom. So... I probably can't join her company!"
"Did you do something wrong?"
"Well... depending on the perspective, you could call it that—"
"Was it illegal?"
Charlotte ran a mega-corp. Not Korean, but she could've covered it up with money or power.
"Absolutely not!"
"Good. I believe you."
I was getting to the point where handling everything alone was tough anyway.
"Come to think of it, you mentioned earlier... you're prepping for hunter work?"
"Y-Yes..."
"What ability?"
"Um, ice-making and stuff like that, but I'm not great at using it..."
"Too bad."
"But I'm strong! So if you just tell me what to do... I'll work hard!"
"Oh? Physical enhancement type?"
"It's partially awakened, b-but yeah, super strength! For everyday stuff, not fighting monsters... if I try hard, I can—"
"Perfect."
I gave her a bright smile. I'd found someone to handle loading in my place.
"S-Sis?"
Break time. An Roje stepped into the hallway to take a call.
"He said he'd hire you? Good. How much salary?"
"Not a ton. Yeah, whatever. Work hard. Good luck."
The short call ended, and an uninvited guest approached Roje.
"What, what! Were you talking to my oppa? No way!"
It was Shin Yuha. Roje shook her head.
"My sister. She's gonna work with Isu now."
"W-What kinda work?"
"We were kinda business partners before, right? Now it's official—salaried employee."
Yuha stomped around, looking wronged.
"No fair! I wanna do it too! Work at oppa's company, get paid... call him boss... hehe."
"Nonsense."
"Why not! I could totally join!"
"He's got good judgment. And you're still an Academy student."
"Why! You've worked with oppa before!"
"Same here. He said he couldn't trust kids—told me to get an 'adult proxy.' That was my sister."
Yuha drooped her head.
"Ughhh..."
"You really like Isu, huh. For real."
"Duh? Even if not now, once I graduate, I'll definitely—"
"What about hunter work?"
"Uh..."
Roje smirked mockingly.
"Doesn't seem like that oppa thinks so."
"M-Maybe if I confess for real, he'll accept!"
"That's your problem. You might not know, but Isu's cold-blooded."
"So? That makes him cooler!"
"If you're not useful, he has no reason to meet you."
"Liaaaar..."
Yuha denied it, but she knew it too.
"Lately, he meets your mom more than you. Makes sense. Mukseong Guild Master Lee Seoyeonn is way more important than some Academy kid Shin Yuha."
"I-I drink tea with them too!"
"Because you're useful. Not as Shin Yuha, but as Lee Seoyeonn's daughter."
"That's mean!"
"Mean or not, it's true."
"Hic... snif..."
Yuha sobbed, looking dejected.
"So, become useful. Someone who brings him value when you meet."
"So basically, study hard and become a great hunter!"
"Yeah. Like your mom said. Someone far more capable and valuable than you—who's proven their worth."
"Eeeeek!"
Yuha lost the argument and fled down the hall.
"...Hey. You dropped something."
Roje spotted a small piece that had fallen from Yuha's pocket. A melted horn.
"Ha."
Lately, Yuha had been attending classes. Her test scores weren't stellar yet, but the rotten mindset and laziness that had wasted her talent no longer held her back.
That horn was a school award for her practical exam feat.
She'd soloed a "Red Horned Goat"—a monster tough for a whole team to take—turning it into steaks. Melting its rock-hard horn with overwhelming talent and firepower.
Even pro hunters would've drawn media buzz for that. An Academy student had done it.
And she just lost the trophy like an idiot.
Not weird. For Yuha, that was routine. Something she'd repeat endlessly.
Any student achieving it once before graduation could brag forever. For her, everyday stuff.
Hate that.
Roje was a wall to others too. An absolute, unreachable genius.
Yuha was a genius to Roje.
...
Like how Roje's sister had seemed like a genius to her as a kid.
Ten days flew by since I suddenly gained a subordinate.
"A-All... stacked!"
Hiring Ria was way smarter than I'd thought.
"Good work."
"Th-Thank you."
She bowed deeply, desperately hiding her embarrassment.
Nice...
Her strength exceeded my expectations. A bit regrettable for the cost if I thought of her as just a porter, but I was plenty satisfied.
"Alright, you're off for the day."
"R-Really? Already?"
"You finished, so go home."
"B-But... only two or three days a week, and today only two hours... feels too shooort..."
"No more work."
She came once every ten days to haul stuff, check Gremlin Pistols, even sell them door-to-door in my place.
I'd worried at first if she'd handle sales, but revenue was solid—better than expected.
Reason... yeah, I get it.
Like Roje, Ria had that mysterious beauty charm. Makeup, cute clothes, and she became an irresistible salesperson.
"Still, maybe... clean up a bit?"
"Cleaning? Yeah, it's getting a little dirty."
From my view, no need yet, but half the goods here were food. Better hygiene never hurt.
"Sure, go ahead. I've got stuff to do—don't come into my room. Text if it's urgent. Stay away from the containers."
"Yes!"
No need to stop someone seeking work. I nodded and headed to my office next to the warehouse.
"It's been a while."
"...You've come."
Twenty days since contacting Frozenstorm Colony. A year there.
"Did the burnt offering go well?"
"I acknowledge it. Your plan was flawless. We've offered it and earned the right to choose a blessing."
Their "blessings" came as three options—pick one.
"Were you waiting for me?"
"I intend to respect your opinion."
"What blessings appeared?"
Shatinbelle spoke.
Hmm...
Translating her archaic, theological speech wasn't easy. But I got it.
Her options:
1. Reduced wood consumption for planks.
2. When resident happiness is negative, delays despair onset.
3. Double Moonlight Fiber yield.
"A bit disappointing."
"You think so too?"
"Yes. Ideally, population-related. Or happiness, or even adventure."
"Wait, the first one isn't—"
She didn't get it. No point nitpicking.
"Not the worst. Go with Moonlight Fiber."
"Why? We're growing Moonlight Grass in the fertile soil—production's plenty. It'll pile up like trash."
I smiled faintly.
"Because we need it."