#891 In Search of Human Resources

Hey, everybody, it’s me again.

It feels like it’s been ages.

Amid my peaceful days, a nostalgic visitor arrived.

It was Ritheseus.

A former exchange student at the farm. 

He’s one of the young people who learned everything there is to know here and then graduated with honors.

Now, he’s leading the reformed new Human Republic as its figurehead. You could say he’s the most successful graduate we’ve had.

His visit to the farm after such a long time surely calls for a celebration.

However, it seems that he didn’t visit just to rekindle old friendships or because he happened to be passing by for some light-hearted reason.

“A shortage of personnel?”

“Yes. The Human Republic is facing an unprecedented shortage of talent,” Ritheseus says with an earnestness I’ve never seen before. “The current government is still using the old officials from the monarchial days, which means outdated thinking hasn’t been completely eradicated. Even as its president, they expect me to serve for life, assuming my son will take over after me!”

“Sounds more like a monarchy than a presidency.”

“Exactly, Lord Saint! They can’t grasp the difference between a president and a king!”

It sounded absurd, but then again, accepting change, especially to something as familiar as a governing system, might be harder than I thought...

The belief that the world you know will last forever... That might just be a hard illusion for anyone to shake off.

“But if we keep pandering to such outdated beliefs, the reform of the Human Kingdom will never progress! They’re more focused on marrying off their daughters to me in a bitter power struggle than on governance!”

“That’s a classic power struggle drama for you.”

“And now they plan to oust Eryngear if I marry her! If I keep them around, the Human Republic will never change! I’m sure of it!!!”

Wait, what?

Ritheseus is getting married?

He should have started with that; I need to send a wedding gift... Hmm, does he need a wedding dress? 

Should I ask Batemy?

“Right now, finding fresh personnel is more important than wedding preparations. We must secure fresh talent suitable for the new Human Kingdom.”

“Oh, right, of course.”

New leather bags for new wine, huh?

Ritheseus has become quite proactive. 

Was he always this aggressive? 

Maybe being president has really changed him.

“So, I came to visit the farm because...”

“Oh, don’t tell me...!”

Well, you see...

I’m more suited to leisurely toiling away with the soil here.

Plus, I get stomach aches around large groups of people... 

...Now I just sound like I’m playing truant!

“Don’t worry. I didn’t come here to recruit you, Lord Saint.”

“O-Oh...?”

“I’m looking for fresh talent.”

The way you say that... 

Am I considered not fresh anymore?

When you put it like that, I feel like jumping in too. 

Maybe I should stir things up a bit?

“I’m looking for a new generation with flexible minds to carry our new systems. That’s who we need!!!”

“I like to think my thinking is pretty flexible too.”

After all, I came from another world!

“I learned that way of thinking here at the farm. I’ve reached out to my fellow alumni to secure talent, but it’s still not enough... That’s when I remembered.”

Remembered what?

“That there are still people here at the farm, trying to enrich their minds with advanced thinking!”

Ah, you mean the Farm School students?

Indeed, even now, there are young people here learning.

Thanks to Sensei the Lifeless King’s love for teaching.

The farm exchange student program worked out better than expected, so now it’s an official system. 

We can’t stop now, or Sensei will burn out.

Just last year, we started recruiting a significant number of new first-year students. 

We plan to welcome students annually and have them graduate after three years.

Kind of like a high school in my previous world.

So today, if you go to the school area of the farm, you’ll likely find Sensei joyfully giving a lesson.

“Please, lend us your brightest students to join the upper ranks of the Human Republic! Their youthful vigor is what our future needs!!!”

Even with such a passionate plea, it’s hard to...

Ritheseus has certainly turned into an energetic workaholic...!

Back in his student days, he had all the makings of a laid-back light novel protagonist... Though he never really said, “Good grief.”

But even as a typical protagonist, Ritheseus is more on the timid side, missing every crucial point with the “strongest” of hearing.

Now, he’s like a president straight out of a young adult business manga.

He’s become... somewhat suffocating, perhaps?

‘Does position really make the man?’ I wonder.

“So, might I take a look around for any promising individuals?”

“Hold on, that’s a bit hasty, don’t you think?”

First of all, these students are still learning, not yet professionals.

They have much more to learn before being thrown into actual work.

The Farm School system is still in its early phase. 

The first batch of students won’t graduate for another year at least.

And you’re already looking to recruit?

“Lord Saint... I once studied on this farm.”

“Yes?”

“In your world, there was something called an internship!”

...This guy. 

He intends to get the students working while they’re still learning!

“They don’t have to stop their studies! A bit of job experience as part of their lessons, helping us out, could give them a taste of working for the Human Republic. If they find it fulfilling, they might join us full-time after graduation!!!”

You do realize they have the right to choose a different path, right?

“In that case, we’ll impose a hefty penalty fee.”

“That’s like a black company!!!”

Such a perfect trap; it’s almost predatory!

What happened to the easygoing protagonist, Ritheseus?!

“Being laid-back doesn’t cut it for a president...”

...So, the youngest and least experienced among us ended up with the role because everyone else thought it was too much trouble... 

Seems we underestimated the burden we were placing on him.

I’m only now fully realizing the gravity of the situation.

“So, Lord Saint, may I take a look at the students to see the future bureaucrats of the Human Republic?”

“Uh... Okay?”

Overwhelmed by Ritheseus’s silent pressure, I agreed.

Am I becoming unable to resist his aura of command?

***

And so...

“This is Ritheseus, the current president of the Human Republic and a graduate of the Farm School.”

“WHOOOOOOOOOOOOA?!”

The excitement among the students was palpable when I introduced Ritheseus from the podium. 

After all, it’s not every day the head of one of the world’s three major races pays a visit.

We’ve had the Demon King and the Mermaid King drop by for special lessons, but this is definitely on par with those events.

Even Sensei, who was lecturing moments before...

“To think a student I once taught would return like this... It’s the ultimate joy for a teacher...!”

...was moved to tears, overwhelmed with emotion.

“Erm, today, we have the president of the newly established Human Republic here to give you an accurate understanding of its workings. Ritheseus is also an alumnus of this school. He’s here to show you the great things that can come from studying here!”

That’s it for my commentary. 

Hoping this demonstration alone would suffice, I prayed for a smooth ending.

“Now, let’s hear from Ritheseus himself.”

Please...!

Let this go smoothly...!

I beg you...!!!

And then, Ritheseus’s first words:

“I’m going to have you all participate in a battle royale.”