Yes. We can contact you by simply sending a letter to your store. And then if you’re going to be away for a while, we’ll need you to inform us. But you’re already sending letters to us regularly anyway, so I don’t think keeping in contact with us will prove to be a problem.

And then… The position I’m planning on giving you is the ‘Rank 3 Specialist’. It’s the lowest rank as far as specialists are concerned, but the conditions surrounding it are also the least strict. Moreover, although it’s the lowest rank, specialists are generally directly affiliated with me, so you won’t have to take orders from other specialists.” [Reinhart]

“…Can you go into more detail?” [Ryouma]

More specifically, I wanted to know more about the ‘Rank 3 Specialist’ and that part about ‘generally being directly affiliated with Reinhart-san’.

The rank 3 specialist is probably a hierarchy thing, but he said ‘generally’, so I wonder if that means there are exceptions.

“As you’ve imagined, the rank 3 specialist is the lowest rank, above which is the second rank, and then there’s the first rank. The rank is decided based on one’s history and achievements before becoming a specialist, as well as one’s contributions toward the family after becoming a specialist. One’s treatment is also decided according to one’s rank.” [Elize]

According to the madam, the only things the first and second rank shared in common with the third rank were the research funds and the status.

Beyond that the second rank specialists also received extra hands, as well as their own research facility. Both of which are meant to make it easier for them to conduct their experiments. When needed, they can also be given a small number of guards.

As for first rank specialists, they also have the authority to hold a soldier unit of their own.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that the knowledge of Rank 1 Specialists is a treasure. It takes a number of people to ensure the safety of such important people and their research facility.” [Serge]

“Speaking of achievements, a cure for the Cursed Wound is certainly more than enough to qualify you as a Rank 1 Specialist, but that position is really special. It comes with it considerable influence and reputation, which in turn bring with them a lot of trouble. That’s probably why you’re being given a Rank 3 instead.” [Pioro]

After Serge-san and Pioro-san added their input, things were finally starting to make sense.

On top of what they said, specialists also worked in different fields and required different facilities to show off their abilities, so the specific conditions varied for each specialist and were decided only after much discussion. Because of that specialists have a greater degree of freedom compared to other jobs. It fits me fairly well, actually. That’s probably one of the reasons why Reinhart-san recommended it in the first place.

Now that that’s cleared up, I wonder what he was talking about regarding ‘affiliation’ once one has become a specialist.

“That was an error on my wording.” [Reinhart]

Specialists aren’t alone in their field of expertise. There’s a lot of them in their respective fields, so there are times when two specialists end up in a teacher-student relations.h.i.+p after interacting with each other, or alternatively, they were already in that sort of relations.h.i.+p before becoming specialists.

In other words, he was just saying that I didn’t need to have that sort of relations.h.i.+p with a senior specialist.

“When you work as a specialist, most of the time I won’t be with you. At such times, I will be sending a representative, but this doesn’t mean that you’re subordinated to this representative. You can talk to him as your equal, share your opinions, and if necessary, you even have the authority to directly appeal to me.” [Reinhart]

Specialists are people that have formed a contract with a n.o.ble – in this case, Reinhart-san. If I were to think of them as something akin to an adviser…

“Frankly, it’s not a bad proposition… If anything the conditions are rather favorable to me, but as expected, I won’t be able to live as I have until now, can I?” [Ryouma]

Reinhart-san quietly nodded.

“First of all, once every few years, the specialists of a house must show off his abilities. To that end, they’ll have to submit some kind of research result and have those results prove useful for the territory.” [Reinhart]

In my case, I have my cure for the Cursed Wound, so I more than qualify to be appointed as a specialist.

But there’s a possibility that I could lose my right to be a specialist later depending on my work.

“…That’s indeed a possibility.” [Ryouma]

“Considering how big your achievement is, it’s possible to extend your time, but my wealth is acc.u.mulated from the tax paid by the people. Naturally, I can’t use it on someone who can’t give results. I believe you’re more than capable of protecting your position as specialist, but you will indeed be bound by a responsibility and an expectation to produce results.

Of course, I won’t ask anything unreasonable from you and you can continue your laundromat and your adventurer work as you’ve been doing until now, but you will certainly become busier and it’s possible that you’ll have less time to spend on other jobs.

…And one more thing.” [Reinhart]

Reinhart wore a remarkably more serious face as he spoke.

“If I were to give you the position of specialist, you will have you to reveal where you learned your abilities from and you will have to reveal your history. Although the information won’t be spread around wantonly, you’ll have prepare yourself for the information to be spread to related places.” [Reinhart]