Greatest Alchemist? Chapter 417

Interview 1

Guided by Volton Knights, we found Xervus-san, and even Margrave Volton who was being guarded by Knight Commander Dorn-san waiting for us.

「Long time no see, Iruma-dono.」
「Margrave Volton, it’s great to see you. I apologize for bothering Xervus-san with this.」
「What, the bunch of nobles and merchants wanting to be connected to the Sanctuary have been asking the country and I if they could send people to you for a long time now. If a chance at a proper interview was arranged beforehand, then they’d have no more choice but to give up.」

It was then that Xervus-san chimed in.

「The interviews would begin shortly.」
「I see, then Iruma-dono, our appearance would be hinder. Let’s meet again after at the castle.」

Margrave Volton said so and went back.

Then, Xervus-san, our party, and the Great Spirits who manifested before we knew it sat down at the table that had been set up.

「……Iruma-dono, w-what is going here?」
「Ha, hahaha」

Xervus-san was stiff in the cheeks as he demanded for an explanation as to why five of the Great Spirits, namely Undine, Sylph, Dryas, Selene, and Nyx, had manifested.

「Is there anyone more suitable than us to see through the wickedness of people?」
「…………」

When Undine said that, Xervus-san couldn’t say anything more.

In the knights training camp-turned-venue, close to 2000 applicants had gathered.
Among them, the majority were women who wished to become maids, from girls Lulu-chan’s age to women who gave off the presence of long time veteran maids. There were indeed those pushed in by nobles, as well as women who just want a shot at even a slightly better life. Their numbers were headache inducing.

「Hmm, rather than maids, there are kids who should be sheltered in the Sanctuary.」
「Yeah, let’s check those too.」

As Undine and Dryas spoke, they took note of the numbers on the applicants’ chests.
It would seem some girls who weren’t at the age to be leaving the orphanages were also applying.

「Did news about this spread even to those places?」
「Takumi-sama, I believe that it was likely that the information circulated via the church..」
「Ahh, I see. Most of the orphanages are run by the Genesis Faith, huh.」

According to Sophia, in the orphanages in this world, children have to be independent once they reach 12 in the earlier orphanages. At the latest, they have leave at the age of 15 as an adult, but the boys who are able to do physical labor could be a soldiers, adventurers, craftsmen which were in great demand with the prospering Valkyra and Lomaria Kingdoms. However, there were few places of employment for the girls.

And so the interviews began, but……

「Eh! That’s it?」
「Indeed.」

When the butler interviews started with a few people, those acknowledged by Undine and the Great Spirits only amounted to two men.

「……umm, are there really only two people?」
「Yes, the rest were people tied to some noble somewhere or were sent by greedy company with worthless goals.」

When Undine said that so definitively, I couldn’t give a counterargument, so I was forced to accept it.

「My name is Sebastian. I am related to Xervus over there as cousins, though I hope you do not take that into consideration when coming to a decision.」

At a glance, he looked to be around the same age as Xervus-san, and they had a similar about them as to be expected of cousins. Grey, swept back hair, a neatly trimmed mustache, a straight back and good posture, he passes my image of what Butler Sebastian should be[1].

「MM, doesn’t he pass?」
「I think so too.」
「……passed.」

Sylph, Selene, and Nyx said he passes, but we haven’t even asked or spoken to him.

「Umm, Sebastian-san, could you tell us about your previous job?」
「Yes, I worked as the chamberlain of a ducal house. I had passed down my job to my son and thought to retire, but upon hearing about this from a credible source, I immediately retracted my retirement and applied.」
「A-a ducal……」

I suppose Xervus-san’s cousin would be excellent. In fact, he said that he worked as the chamberlain for the ducal family for many years. Sebastian said that if I were to hire him, my information would never be leaked to the ducal household. The opposite is also true, so he was trustworthy on that regard.

「Iruma-dono, there were two people that the esteemed Great Spirits have acknowledged, and both of them were my relatives so this has become quite a bit of an unexpected situation, but Sebastian is not only capable at his job, but he is also a trustworthy man.」
「Eh! The other person, the young one is also your relative, Xervus-san?」
「Yes. He is my grandchild, Jeeves[2].」
「My name is Jeeves. I have heard much more about Iruma-sama than grandfather. I may be inexperienced, but I am learning to be a butler.」
「…………」

The young man in his mid twenties standing properly beside Sebastian-san was said to be Xervus-san’s grandson. I left narrowing the candidates down to the Great Spirits, but is this fine?

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Footnotes:
1. I can only assume it to be Sebastian from the Black Butler. [↩]
2. Jeeves from the JP manga Please Jeeves. [↩]