The Nature of Talent
There's nothing more terrifying than a favor without compensation when you can't trust the other party. Of course, it wouldn't matter if I were handsome and looked kind. But in Aslan's body, I'm someone no one can possibly bring themselves to trust. Any attempt at goodwill from this body only backfires. So why not demand proper compensation instead? Even if they can't trust the man named Aslan, at least a relationship based on mutual benefit carries a minimum level of trust. I don't need to make them trust me completely. I don't even expect that. It's enough if I can just avoid the kind of hatred that makes them want to kill me.
"Young Master! Charlotte and Julia have both finished bathing. Shall I send them in now?"
"Go ahead. You've worked hard."
"As expected... You've changed a lot, Young Master."
"...!"
At the maid's muttered words, I flinched in surprise. Had it been that obvious? I thought I could relax since the passive skill was handling the adjustments, but I'd forgotten that the skill only changes one's atmosphere, not one's actual behavior.
"Changed, you say?"
"Well, there's that saying, isn't there? That people change when they're in love. There are some voices worrying that it's too soon for children, but I'm just glad this mansion finally feels lively. I'm rooting for you, Young Master!"
"...?"
Leaving behind those incomprehensible words, the maid withdrew. Come to think of it, on the first day I possessed this body, there hadn't been a single trace of laughter on the servants' faces. These days, they're all smiling brightly. Especially when dealing with Charlotte and Julia.
'So the children are the source of vitality, huh.'
Well, with such a gloomy man filling the dreary mansion, of course they wouldn't have felt like working. Now that children have arrived, flowers of laughter have bloomed on the servants' faces too.
Soon the door burst open, and wary footsteps cautiously entered the room.
"Come in. What business do you have?"
"Um, well..."
"We're here to work!"
"Work?"
Charlotte appeared boldly while Julia shrank back as if embarrassed. But their outfits were strange. Weren't those the clothes the maids wore? They looked custom-tailored, but why were the girls wearing them?
"Y-you told us to work! You said to earn money by working, and now what?"
"That's right. We felt bad just receiving things, so we wanted to repay you..."
"And what kind of work do you plan to do dressed like that?"
"We can do anything. Cleaning, cooking, whatever!"
"How are you going to earn a billion larks doing odd jobs like that? The work I have in mind earns far more money than that. Get out of my sight right now. Go change back into comfortable clothes and come again."
"..."
Charlotte lowered her head with a slightly disappointed expression. Julia glared at me with eyes brimming with tears before silently leaving the study.
'Did I speak too harshly?'
Feeling irritated, I'd ended up scolding them a bit too strongly. These were children born to stand in the spotlight—treating them like mere maids wouldn't do. I should have scolded the maids who dressed them that way instead of taking it out on the wrong people.
[Sylvia's Favorability decreased by 5.]
"What scheme are you plotting this time..."
"Oh. So what's got you throwing a fit this time?"
I replied nonchalantly to Sylvia's voice that had appeared behind me at some point. I was slowly getting used to it. To her appearing without a sound from the shadows. To her trembling with contempt for me for no reason. I was simply curious what kind of delusion she was having this time to make my life difficult.
"How could you make those children do such work? Do you even have a human heart?"
"What work do you think I'm making them do?"
"A billion larks. There's only one way for those children to earn that much money. How, how could you... using people's hearts for something so vile..."
"No, so what exactly are you talking about?"
"You want me to say it with my own mouth!? You shameless human!"
"Fine. You're right, so say it."
"You're trying to make them serve you at night, aren't you!"
"..."
"..."
"Hey. Are you joking?"
"...Was I wrong?"
This time I was genuinely surprised. When I glared at her contemptuously, Sylvia stepped back in confusion. I could tolerate her misunderstanding other things, but not this. After reading the atmosphere, Sylvia immediately bowed at a ninety-degree angle.
"I apologize. Since you are someone who would sell your conscience but never your dignity, you wouldn't possibly have such vulgar hobbies. You are indeed human trash who commits all sorts of evil deeds, but you are not the kind of scum who looks at children with lustful eyes. I have committed a great discourtesy."
"There seems to be a thorn in your words, but at least you understand now."
"Will you forgive me?"
"Additional fifty percent salary reduction."
"..."
[Sylvia's Favorability increased by 6.]
As expected, this girl... She must be a masochist. At this point, it wasn't suspicion but certainty.
"We're back after changing!"
"Hmph."
"I told you to wear comfortable clothes."
"The maids recommended these."
"Wear whatever you want. Hmph."
I had been expecting casual everyday clothes they could move around in. What Charlotte and Julia appeared in were splendid dresses that noble young ladies would wear to parties. Still, seeing them dressed like this, they looked so elegant that no one would believe they were commoner orphans. Their birth really was different.
"So what is this high-paying work you mentioned?"
"There is no such work. Logically speaking, there's no way children like you could earn a lot of money. If there were, everyone would be rich."
"Haa? You tricked us? You did trick us! I knew it! I was an idiot for almost believing you even for a moment...!"
"That's why you need to study."
"Eh...?"
"Fill that empty head of yours with knowledge and be reborn as intellectuals. If you receive an education and become highly skilled workers, you'll be able to earn a lot of money, won't you?"
These were children who would become the protagonist's companions. That meant even though they were commoners, they possessed tremendous talent. Whether it was magic or something else, if I unearthed that talent, I'd more than recover my investment. They would probably gather a billion larks in less than ten years. That wasn't all. With Aslan's cursed body, no matter how much I struggled and researched, I wouldn't get results. To overcome the pressure from my sister Irene and the evil god Kali, the answer was to have these children study and put them to use in research. I couldn't use them for something as idiotic as torture. Charlotte and Julia were meant to create far greater value than that.
"This is a collection of literature. It's essential for building culture and vocabulary. And this is a history book. It will help you acquire basic common sense you're lacking. Lastly, this is a basic magic textbook. Make sure you finish reading all of these by the end of this month."
"Haaah? How are we supposed to read all these books...!"
"This much is basic."
"You haven't even read a single one of these books, Young Master... Aack!?"
"Be quiet."
Since she was saying unnecessary things, I poked Sylvia in the side. The books I'd given Charlotte and Julia were all brand new. Naturally so, because Aslan hadn't finished reading any of them. Being far from diligent, he had clearly given up after reading just a few pages. At least the basic magic textbook had some traces of notes, but even those didn't go beyond the beginning.
'Why can't I do it?', 'It said even commoners could follow this easy foundation, so why can't I do it no matter how hard I try?' Such scribbles started the notes, and later they ended with things like 'Damn magic! This is something only cowards learn! I was born to learn a superior magic called black magic!' so I'd erased them all.
'Julia seems interested... but Charlotte is definitely not. She can't concentrate at all.'
From a corner, pretending to read another book, I observed the children. Unlike Julia, who sat still and flipped through pages rustling, Charlotte kept fidgeting and changing positions. She also kept glancing around nervously...
It was the typical attitude of a child with no interest in studying.
'She's a talented child. Even if she hates it, I have to force her.'
It was nothing special. How many people in this world actually liked studying? Most successful people were the type who gritted their teeth through studies they hated. Even if they dislike it, I have to force them. Only then can they become educated people. Only then can they get good jobs and earn a lot of money. That's the most successful life.
...Wait a minute. Is this right?
'Damn it. It doesn't have to be studying.'
I'd been thinking wrong. Why had I automatically assumed talent meant magical talent? Though few in number, there were definitely children born with talents in the arts or physical skills. Was it really right to force a uniform educational method on them?
'What the hell was I about to do wrong?'
I'd almost made a huge mistake. Of course, even if I taught Charlotte magic, she would become a reasonably skilled mage. But that would be all. She wouldn't be able to bloom the outstanding talent worthy of becoming the protagonist's companion. So what I needed to do was make their true talents bloom.
Wearing the kindest expression I could manage, I strode over and grabbed Charlotte's wrist.
"You can't concentrate at all. Come outside. I need to teach you something else."
"H-huh?"
"...?"
"Ugh, uuu... S-sorry... I'll concentrate. I won't do other things. I'll study... hard... uuuu..."
At that moment, Charlotte began to sob, fat tears dripping from her eyes.
Ah. This wasn't what I meant.