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Rondel is a world dominated by feudalism, where religious power is remarkably strong.
'Well, that's only natural.'
Even people from Earth who have never personally witnessed a miracle often show deep faith, so in a world where miracles truly exist, how intense must their beliefs be?
Rondel actively sends down apostles from the gods on occasion, and through oracles, it delivers messages as well.
That means it's a far more devout environment than Earth.
Moreover, since the entire world believes in a single god, religious conflicts are rare, which stands as the biggest difference from Earth.
Of course, in Rondel there are still those who are often labeled heretics.
But they are not branded as heretics due to a mismatch with competing religions; they are understood as those who truly deny the true god.
Denying the Creator is the same as denying the world, so heretic acts take deep root and are quickly erased.
'The name of the being known as the Creator and only god of Rondel is Sepia.'
Naturally, Rondel's religion is called the Sepia Church.
The headquarters and headquarters of this Sepia Church, where the leadership is located, is called the Holy Land Everhill, a country famous for not even the Brigham Empire daring to invade it.
The people who rule this holy land are the Holy King, the Holy Son, and the Holy Daughter—three in total.
The Holy King oversees the overall administration of the church, the Holy Son commands the army including holy knights, and the Holy Daughter commands all holy officials who perform miracles of the gods in the world.
In other words, the person Arcia found is someone with the talent to become such a Holy Daughter.
"Does this person have any other special traits?"
"Yes, there is only one special trait: the Holy Daughter's talent."
The Holy King, blessed by the only god Sepia, is chosen by bloodline from the Holy King family, but both the Holy Son and Holy Daughter are selected through the gods' choice every fifty years, regardless of their background.
'Can Man-kyung predict even the gods' choice?'
No, that can't be it.
It is said that the Holy Daughter and Holy Son candidates are selected, ranging from as few as ten to as many as thirty.
After that, the god conducts a competition with tasks personally assigned, and the god who observes all the processes selects the Holy Son and Holy Daughter.
In other words, the talent of the Holy Daughter refers to those candidates for the Holy Son and Holy Daughter.
"Can we take such a being and educate them?"
"Should we cancel the recruitment?"
"No, recruit them first."
However, we need to consider whether to recruit the Holy Daughter candidate and send them to the temple in a sponsorship system, or to recruit a holy official and educate them.
If the person I train becomes the Holy Daughter, her value cannot be calculated in money.
I was taken aback by the unexpected talent, but I clearly understood that she was a rare talent that could not be let go.
"Recruitment should be easy."
"That's fortunate."
According to Arcia, the information on this person is as follows.
[Ibril Barnet / Commoner]
Age: 15
Parents' occupations: Father (logistics company porter), Mother (kitchen assistant at a restaurant)
Family situation: Poor
According to Arcia, she is an extremely pretty girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, and she is working part-time at a convenience store because her family situation is not good.
Arcia probably discovered her while visiting the convenience store to buy snacks and grabbed her.
"Keep the contract deposit generously."
"Yes."
Ultimately, I decided to bring her in with a contract deposit of 200 million and monthly living expenses of 5 million roots.
Originally, the administrative officer responsible for the recruitment negotiation had planned to set the contract deposit below 100 million, considering her age, but according to my instruction, it was set at 200 million.
Most administrative officers would not understand, but the recruitment manager following Arcia had already received education from the talents and knew their growth speed well, so they could not raise an objection to the contract.
To them, I am the person who inherited the Reverdail Duke's eyes.
Well, I could worry that the recruitment is being led by Arcia, but since I am the one making the final decision, I faithfully followed her instructions.
"How was the talent recruitment? Do you think they're worth it?"
"Yes, with that level of activity, there won't be any problems."
By the way, Arcia changes the shape of her face with magic when she goes out.
She had a reason for changing her face: not only because she was well-known among commoners, but also to disrupt the existence of Man-kyung hidden by the transparency magic.
People with sensitive mana might feel something odd from Arcia's face, but they would not easily notice it even with Man-kyung.
Since Arcia carries the glasses I always use around, it would stand out if she recruits people, but it couldn't be helped.
"I'll leave it to you from now on. When you go out, visit a cafe or something and come back to play."
"Understood."
When the topic of the cafe came up, Arcia's face brightened.
"Then let's continue the hunt."
Level up, level up.
Talent is good, but we must not forget priorities.
***
In the Lheinhatz Kingdom, the Ford Convenience Store with the most branches is known for thorough staff education with kindness as its motto.
But no matter how hard the headquarters makes them say kindness, the staff don't always act exactly as everyone wants, just like people's tendencies can't be uniform.
"Good-bye. This is the Ford Convenience Store."
"Good-bye… Ford Con… venience Store."
Girl Ibril, who works at the Ford Convenience Store in Marinkopf City, District 12, Building 2, always had to hold her breath when dealing with her senior's half-hearted, half-mangled greetings.
Apparently, the boyfriend she recently started dating is a new knight of the fief, so lately she has become rougher in dealing with people, believing in that white paper.
"Ah, I want to get married. Then I wouldn't have to do such annoying work."
"Hehe…."
"Ibril, isn't that? When you marry a knight, the lord himself will give you a house as a wedding gift. It's said to be the rule that normal regular knights get 500 million, and high-level knights get 1 to 1.5 billion."
"Wow, giving a house as a wedding gift."
"500 million or 1 billion, it's a big sum for us, but it's pocket change for nobles, right? Anyway, marrying a knight will open up your life. Since he's a high-level military official, his salary is high too. Retirement pay and pension are full."
"I see."
"So, I have a boyfriend named Tony. He has a senior, who is apparently still single? Want me to introduce you?"
"What? I'm still a minor."
"Well, in a year you'll be of age to marry anyway. Tony-senpai is a knight, so he'll have that much judgment."
Moreover, the problem was that if they didn't want to work, they would just stay quiet, but they kept bothering Ibril by introducing her to matchmaking.
Suggesting matchmaking to a minor was simply lacking common sense.
Well, regardless of common sense, it was just a crime.
"Hey, that's fine. I plan to get married as late as possible."
"Where did a little kid like you learn to say such things? What if your looks go out of style?"
"Then people who like only your looks will automatically be filtered out. Studying is better than dating a boyfriend right now."
Ever since she was young, Ibril had heard many people say that pretty looks would make her life easier in the future.
So?
For some reason, she didn't want to be a career woman who saves looks for a job; she wanted to be an administrative official who recognizes intellectual ability.
But when she said such things, the response was always the same.
"Why study and suffer? Your family situation is bad, right? It's better to act a bit slyly."
Exactly like that.
Can't you study if you have no money?
Saying things people don't want to hear is also a skill.
Ibril did not like people who relied only on the opposite sex's abilities without any effort, whether male or female.
She thought the senior was not compatible.
"Don't say that…."
"Ah, customers are coming."
—Dang-dang.
"Welcome. This is the Ford Convenience Store."
Fortunately, before the conversation could drag on, a customer came and the talk ended automatically.
Of course, the senior did not like the appearance of the customer who cut off the conversation, but Ibril stared at the woman customer holding a basket, heading straight for the snack corner.
She had a plain appearance that could be seen anywhere, dressed in a robe.
The robe's pattern wasn't cheap, but it didn't look too expensive either.
But what?
A strange sense of otherness came from this customer.
In the basket she put down after shopping, snacks were stuffed without regard to price.
"Customer, this chocolate is a limited-time product, so I'll add one more…."
"It's okay. Just calculate it."
Any sentence that comes out of a convenience store once in a while.
The mindset of not caring about sales, price, or anything and just taking what's needed makes it look cool for no reason.
However, the senior, who didn't like the female customer from the beginning, muttered with displeasure.
"What? Trying to look rich?"
Apparently judging by the clothes that she is not a big deal.
As a result, Ibril's brows furrowed, but she didn't show it, left the position, and brought back the sale items.
"Still, just in case, take it. It tastes better than you think. I'm sure you'll like it."
While smiling, she added a chocolate bar to the goods Ibril had purchased.
"Thank you."
Since the customer sincerely expressed gratitude, Ibril felt strangely refreshed.
But the thoughtless senior added one more comment.
"While you're at it, take it."
"Senior, a little…."
"What do you mean?"
You meet all kinds of weirdos in a convenience store.
But the weirdo in this position was clearly the senior.
Fortunately, the customer seemed patient, so even if she had listened to the story, she didn't mind.
Then a sudden situation brought cold air to the convenience store.
"Ah, Miss Arcia. I've been looking for you for a long time."
"I'm starving."
"Then, let's go to a nearby restaurant…."
"This will do."
Although she hid it under normal clothes with a black scabbard, three male knights and one sharp-looking female secretary rushed into the convenience store and complained to the female customer with a gruff voice.
"Hah! Will you eat these? These are defective products…."
"It's okay. I can drink poison without any problem."
"Miss Arcia, but…."
What's defective about the products sold in a convenience store?
They are made in a clean factory.
Well, there are people who treat convenience store food as defective.
People living in the capital who have the idea that all commoners' food is defective.
"It's okay. Ah! I left the cash register in the capital."
"I'll calculate it. The lord gave me too much activity expense."
Naturally, both Ibril and the part-time senior's expressions turned pale.
This was clearly the wrong case.
From the circumstances, the woman in front, Arcia, was clearly a noble.
How likely is it to encounter a noble in the Lawrence Marquis territory with a population of 7 million?
And here I am enjoying that useless glory.
Ibril swallowed dry saliva, and the part-time senior's complexion turned so pale that it looked like she was about to faint at any moment.
"I-I'll help calculate. 104,500 roots."
The calculation went smoothly.
The sturdy knights bowed to the female customer and offered to carry the convenience store bag, but Arcia separately carried the chocolate bars Ibril had recommended.
The two people at the convenience store prayed that she would leave without saying anything.
But….
Ibril watched Arcia peel one of the snacks and put it in her mouth, then suddenly pointed her finger at Ibril.
"Let's take that blonde woman."
"Eh? Is that girl the target?"
"Yes."
"Understood."
Ibril let out a 'Hic!' and was frightened, while the part-time senior next to her was greatly relieved because she herself was not pointed out.
"Miss, don't be surprised. I have no intention of harming you. I am Administrative Officer Cecil of the Lawrence Marquis territory."
"Administrative officer of the lord's castle?"
"Yes, that's right. Here's the seal."
But the situation was strange.
If she was an administrative officer, that was the dream job Ibril had longed for.
When the gorgeous career woman, who seemed to be expressing her ideal, greeted her politely, Ibril's expression softened as she accepted the business card.
"By the way, what business do you have with me…."
"Would you like to work at the lord's castle?"
"What?"
And when Administrative Officer Cecil offered a proposal Ibril could never have imagined, Ibril's eyes widened.
"As you know, our lord is a disciple of Duke Reverdail. The lord is very good at discerning people's talent, similar to his teacher. I hope the lord will take you in."
After listening to the subsequent explanation of Administrative Officer Cecil, Ibril looked stunned, saying she couldn't believe it.
"The lord?"
"Doesn't that appeal to you?"
"Ah, no, it's great, but it's sudden."
"It is an opportunity that must be taken without fail if you think about the future."
"But our house has a lot of debt, so I have to work."
"If it's not rude, may I ask how much debt there is?"
"That, um. I heard it's about 100 million."
"I'll give you a contract deposit of 200 million and 500 monthly living expenses generously. No problem, right?"
"Hup… Then, of course, I'll accept it. But I'm a minor, so I need my parents' approval."
"Of course. But the most important thing is the young lady's thoughts."
Is she dreaming?
Ibril pinched her cheek like a fool.
"Um, Administrative Officer, what about me?"
"That's none of your business."
The part-time senior, forgetting her previous actions and blinded by the bait, dared to join the conversation, but Administrative Officer Cecil coldly shook her head.
The senior's disappointment, which she didn't like.
Ibril found that expression very refreshing.
Then, looking at Arcia, who was idly peeling and eating snacks in the back while constantly nodding her head.
"Ah! Then that person…!"
The lord of the Lawrence Marquis territory and the name Arcia.
Ibril was able to realize her identity belatedly.
"Yes, he is Marquis Klein. Because his face is so well-known, he hides his true appearance with magic."
"Hah."
Ibril's eyes sparkled even more, and the part-time senior who was greedy for the bait swallowed her breath.