"Mitsuha, we're getting flooded with complaints from members!" (Adelaide)
"Huh? Whaaat!" (Mitsuha)
Adelaide, the daughter of the Viscount Reiner family.
Yes, I had been friends with her ever since the debutante ball job I took as my first job at the "General Store Mitsuha" consultation corner, and she absorbed the attacks from the men who flocked to me, as the damage control lady. She was in charge of the Sorority, an organization that trained students.
Since this organization could not survive without the provision of funds and supplies (food, drinks, cosmetics, etc. from the earth) from me, there was no one who could take away Adelaide's position. So even if she was the daughter of a viscount, she would be considered a high-ranking aristocrat. There was no need to worry about what would happen to the young lady.
...Or rather, if there was someone who would pick a fight with Adelaide, who was getting along well with the Lightning Archpriestess (me), Her Royal Highness the Third Princess (Sabine), and the Great Saint (Beatrice) (unofficial), I respect you.
No, I'm not being sarcastic, I'm serious!
If that was the case, they had to be prepared to turn the entire country, or even the surrounding countries, into their enemies...
It was not something a normal young lady could do.
However, the complaint was made against the upper management of the sorority.
And don't complain to me I have no idea what you're saying.
What on earth does this mean?
"W-what do you mean?" (Mitsuha)
As I was wondering about, I asked Adelaide-chan directly, and her explanation was...
"Mitsuha threw a party the other day. At that party, Mitsuha's entertainment team made up of servants, 'The Maid-san', debuted, right?" (Adelaide)
"Yes, I did, but..." (Mitsuha)
Of course, the Viscount Reiner family was also invited to the party, so Adelaide-chan also came with her parents.
The Viscount Reiner family was the second aristocratic family with a deep relationship with me, next to the Marquis Bozes family. Naturally.
"Did that become such a big hit that other noble houses started having their servants do all kinds of things?" (Mitsuha)
"Yeah, I know, but...I've heard that everyone has become quite skilled." (Adelaide)
I understood that professional people were angry about this.
"'Sorority' members are saying that was the praise they deserved, why did you let the maids do it instead of them...
We should create a song and dance team of aristocratic women, 'Aristocratic Daughter Opera Company,' and provide them with innovative music, choreography, instruction, costumes, and so on. So…" (Adelaide)
"What, what is that? That's it!!" (Mitsuha)
Of course, my response to that could not be any other way.
"I don't know~…….
That's not my plan. ...No, really!
I saw something like that when I went to a certain place with Her Royal Highness the Third Princess (Sabine-chan) and my vassal candidate (Colette-chan).
So, after returning, the vassal candidate (Colette-chan) had memorized the song by ear and sang it to someone who knew how to play an instrument, and apparently recreated the choreography that she had also memorized...
That's why the servants started practicing on their own.
So, I was able to save money by not having to hire a professional orchestra or musicians, and the members were given a place to present the results of their practice, and of course I received commission fees and incentives. I'm so happy to have received this! The matching costumes were provided free of charge by me." (Mitsuha)
"...what?" (Adelaide)
Oh, Adelaide-chan is really surprised.
Ah, did you think that all the unusual things that happen around me were my doing?
No, I don't mean to deny that, but this time it really wasn't my fault.
...Well, it can be said that the remote cause is my fault, but it's not a direct relationship, and as for "The Maid-san", I had no involvement whatsoever in its establishment or practice, really!
Colette-chan was in charge most of the time, with Sabine-chan occasionally coming over to coach.
At best, I offered drinks to everyone practicing outside of work hours.
...Ah, this is a separate job that I officially requested from an amateur opera group called "The Maid-san" outside of my regular work hours, so of course I'll pay the request fee in addition to my salary.
They practiced outside of working hours, such as after work or on holidays.
"Anyway, that's why it's not really my training.
I simply requested the work from an amateur opera company that had already completed its work.
It just happened to be an extracurricular club that employees of the Viscount Yamano (me) were involved in as a hobby." (Mitsuha)
"...Do you think the members of the 'sorority' believe that?" (Adelaide)
"No, even if you say that, the truth is the truth..." (Mitsuha)
Yes, this is really true...
"...Well, I believe you. Mitsuha doesn't mind telling big lies when it's necessary, but she doesn't tell unnecessary lies when it's not necessary...
This time, you don't have to tell any lies; you can just refuse, so there's no need to tell any troublesome lies." (Adelaide)
"Ah, yeah..." (Mitsuha)
Surprise! Adelaide-chan understand me very well!
"...But whether I believe it or not...and whether it's true or not, it doesn't matter at all.
Those people are looking for that kind of response, and it doesn't matter who produced it..." (Adelaide)
"Isn't it?" (Mitsuha)
...That's right.
Isn't it the same thing in the New Continent's "Society"?
Even though it was a group of children under the age of 10 who were the ones who got the reputation, the older children in the main group got jealous and came to talk to me directly.
Even though they were already called Saints and could choose their betrothed as much as they like...
However, the Sorority here was still just a friendship group and had not achieved the spectacular results like the "Society" in the New Continent.
So, my evaluation of all the subscribers was that at most they were girls with the potential to get a little closer to Sabine-chan, Beatrice-chan, and me.
Unlike the Society in the New Continent, in this Sorority, the three of us didn't interfere much, and were kept at the level of honorary members.
...Yeah, I guess it means "I want to be popular" and "I want to have a track record."
I understand that feeling!
I could understand how painful it is...
But it was the result of everyone's actions that made everyone in Society so popular.
I never did anything because I wanted to be popular.
"...But, you must be quite bullish to make such a request to the three of us, Sabine-chan, Beatrice-chan, and me, everyone in the 'sorority'..." (Mitsuha)
That was right.
They were all daughters of aristocratic families, so they might be strong-willed or calculating, but they all had common sense, and I was sure they weren't all that bad.
...That was the kind of girl I chose.
"Ah, that's because that request is not for Mitsuha and the others, but for me.
Her Highness Sabine, Lady Beatrice, and Mitsuha are each close friends with the other two, forming a solid triangle, right?" (Adelaide)
……Yeah. It's not a love triangle though!
And in reality, Colette-chan is digging into it even more!!
"On the other hand, I am friends with Mitsuha, but I think that Her Highness Sabine and Beatrice are only connected through Mitsuha, that is, we are friends of friends... " (Adelaide)
"Ah~……" (Mitsuha)
In fact, Sabine-chan liked Adelaide-chan and was trying to incorporate her entourage. Although she hadn't told them yet...
However, from the perspective of those who didn't know about this, they thought that Adelaide-chan only had a connection with me, and that she hasd no direct relationship with Sabine-chan or Beatrice-chan.
And as for my relationship with her, it was different from my relationship with the Bozes family or the royal family. I just came to this country, and I just accepted the job related to Adelaide's debutante ball as a contract job. It was not like I was helped or owed any favors.
I just knew her because she was the daughter of the person who ordered the job.
Moreover, the Viscount Reiner family was a lower-class aristocracy, and as a bonus, it was an emerging aristocratic family. No matter how good they were as a human being, they were clearly of a lower rank when viewed from the earl and marquis families.
No, that was normal at this level of civilization, and it was not that the children of Sorority were to blame. As a daughter of an aristocrat, it was only natural that she could not ignore such hierarchical relationships.
The friendliness of everyone in Society was extraordinary. You shouldn't think based on that.
...Perhaps there is a child who is thinking of kicking Adelaide-chan down and becoming a negotiator with us...
That's definitely not possible, but there may be some kids who don't know the current situation, have a lot of pride, and think it's only natural that their wishes will come true.
It's not that she's a bad girl, it's normal in aristocratic society, and I think that's expected...
So, instead of doing evil things or doing behind-the-scenes maneuvers, I thought about increasing the number of allies and followers within the Sorority and using my own ability to take control of the Sorority.
That was not a bad thing. It was just that she was a hard worker who wanted to move up.
However, it would be easy to dismiss this request simply by saying it's no good, but I wonder if that's all there is to it...
Adelaide-chan was pushed up, and after that, various arbitrary demands were made, and people thought that they deserved the most favorable treatment...
In Society on the other side, high-class Micchan No. 2 was in charge, so I was involved in various things as her deputy. No matter what I said, the commander in chief was Micchan.
...But in Sorority here, Adelaide-chan, who was lower than me, was in charge, so I didn't show up much and left everything to Adelaide-chan...
Did that backfire?