Well then.

　Master has entrusted the servants to me.

　What a high honor!

　In other words, that means that I've automatically become the top servant. Higher than even the house steward. That means, from other people's perspective, I'll be a……

“Madam?　Just kidding.”

　I'm in such a good mood that I've even started talking to myself.

　Inside the room that Master has given to me, which was too large and elegant for someone like me, I was taking a look at the list of slaves I received from Phillip, the president of the Maurice Company, trying to find servants.

　The plan I have at the moment consists of three stages.

　First, I will get four men as candidates for the position of butler, chef, gardener and a stable-hand; and also, ten women as candidates for all-purpose maids who can perform any job.

　Next, I'll give each of them a high level of education and raise their abilities to the level where they are acceptable for serving Master.

　And finally, I will fill in the rest of the necessary personnel as their subordinates.

　Well, this is for the best.

　It's a shame that I'll have a large number of women get close to Master, a shame indeed, but it can't be helped to some extent considering the men to women ratio in Firstest. But that is where my scheming, excuse me, I mean education will keep them in check.

　All the servants to be employed will be men and women who are slaves. I don't intend to hire ordinary people. The reason for that, I'm scared of betrayal.

　Even with the slave contract, it's somewhat scary if you ask me. I could read from Phillip's speech that the ‘jailbreak' was not knowledge only Master knew about. There are several potential enemies, and with the current situation where I don't know where they might come from, I can't help but to be this cautious about betrayal in order to protect Master.

　……Casually, one word crossed my mind.

　Brainwas.h.i.+ng―― Maybe Lucisama was feeling like I'm feeling now. If there's someone you want to protect, do everything and anything to keep them from harm, no matter the cost. Yeah, I will do so as well.

　However, I can't use brainwas.h.i.+ng. Therefore, I will protect Master using my own means.

　That is, make the servants dependent. Give them relief, entice them, and have them put their faith in us. Completely steal away their hearts so that they never try to betray us. And place that faith in Master.

　Perhaps, even Master thought this far and that's the reason he decided on the 『Mansion for Servants』. As one would expect from Master. That far insight of his is admirable as usual.

　Picking up slaves with as miserable of a past as possible, I put them on the servants list.

　――Here is where Master comes in. An environment where the weak can be saved. For them, this will be their own paradise. A world where such painful pasts, such broken hearts, such unreasonable circ.u.mstances can be thrown away. Just as it was for me in the past.

“Fuu, I guess these should do.”

　Having compiled the list, I cleaned the house as I waited for Master's return.

　…………It took me until nightfall, and yet I didn't finish all of it. It's unexpected that it took this much just for one single mansion.

　Looks like I'll really need to increase the number of employees as soon as possible……

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　The next day.

　Having Master spare a bit of his time for this matter, we went to the Maurice Company.

　Having no particular issues with my choice, the slave contract was finalized smoothly under the presence of the President.

　The contents of the contract are simple and clear, but compared to mine, “unable to attack” wasn't listed. The main points are basically to have a good master-slave relations.h.i.+p that doesn't denigrate them as humans.

　After the contract was completed, my busy Master gave a light greeting to the slaves, and immediately after he went back to the slime forest.

　Well then, with this we got a total of 14 servants, both men and women.

　They all looked at me with frightened, hopeless eyes.

　Dear lord, it seems there's still a long way ahead. If they were to properly look at the current situation in which me, a Dark Elf, the object of persecution is just standing before them without issue and Master's simplicity, they may realize there is nothing to feel frightened or lose hope about.

　But apparently, there isn't a person cunning enough to think rationally while their emotions have been crushed. Still, I see no madness in their eyes. If it's like this, then it's only a matter of time before their faith and dependence take roots.

＜Status Details＞

Named after shogi pieces (The word in bold is the one being used in this translation). From easier to acquire to harder.

Swordsmans.h.i.+p

s.h.i.+eldmans.h.i.+p

Archery

They use the “Form” or “step” system of martial arts. From lower to higher.

From lower to higher, then it changes to the “Dan” system of martial arts, which means Grade.