Isekai Office Worker: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter (異世界の沙汰は社畜次第)

You're here again? What a pest.

Good morning, Selio-san.

You look as busy as ever.

Yeah, I'm busy.

I can't get any work done because of you.

I wouldn't mind if you let me be.

Looks like he's finally planning on monitoring me all day.

Hey, Selio!

What are you doing? Why aren't you helping in the almshouse?

Huh? Well, I was assigned to watch over this guy today,

so you'll need someone else to...

Just leave that guy alone.

He's merely the tagalong from another world who can't do anything.

Don't dump your work in the almshouse on me!

Okay...

Don't do anything inappropriate, otherworld commoner.

And that's how you ended up here?

Yes.

Gracious, what troublesome children.

I will fetch Selio, so kindly return to the other room.

Oh, in that case, let me accompany you to the almshouse.

Why?

Since the almshouse is part of the church, it's also under investigation.

Besides, if I go there instead,

Selio-san can continue watching me while doing his part in the almshouse.

Wouldn't that be more efficient?

THE OTHER WORLD'S BOOKS DEPEND ON THE BEAN COUNTER

I MADE A PLAN

So this is the almshouse...

You're currently caring for 28 children here, correct?

Where did you get that information?

It was in those documents.

Does your shamelessness come from being a civil servant? Or...

It's probably due to my personality.

Do the children have to graduate the almshouse at a certain age?

Indeed.

The almshouse only cares for them until the age of twelve.

After that, they must either train as monks or take civilian jobs.

I see. What kind of work do they...

Disciple, with all due respect,

you should act in a manner a little more befitting a disciple of Abran.

I'm not a disciple.

So, where do the children without families end up working?

Most of them apprentice with craftsmen.

Craftsmen?

They don't take jobs that make use of their magical energy?

I don't know what you've heard from where, but...

There are many children here

who cannot control their magical energy and had to leave their families.

We teach them how to control their power so that they may lead normal lives.

They're in the church's care to keep their magical energy in check...

Aresh-sama said the same thing.

Either way, I can feel his magical energy waves through my barrier.

It would be unwise to press him further.

You!

What did you come here for?!

I thought it would be easier for you to watch me this way

while you're working in the almshouse.

Selio, Fredrik should have been the one responsible for the almshouse today.

Th-That's...

Good grief. Come to me if something like this happens again.

That's likely impossible.

I'd wager this is a common occurrence, and snitching would only make it worse.

There's no need for a civil servant like you to come to the almshouse!

Oh! Kondou-san, you're here!

So you really are visiting the church!

What brings you here today?

I'm on my inspection.

What are you doing here, Shiraishi-san?

Lately, I've been helping out here in the almshouse.

Is that so?

Yes!

The holy maiden is doing other work?

Even though she's the only one with purification magic?

I happened to meet an orphaned child who came to the chapel and...

Oh, but this church...

U-Um, I thought the two of you didn't get along.

Huh?

I mean, this guy is trying to destroy the holy maiden's prestige.

Could he be talking about the plan to eliminate the holy maiden system?

Why would that make Kondou-san and I dislike each other?

Why? Because the importance of the holy maiden will...

I see.

This must be the reason everyone at the church has been so unfriendly.

That's right!

Once the holy maiden system's abolished, I'll be able to go back to my world.

I couldn't be happier!

Um...

The children here in the almshouse don't receive any sort of education.

Come again?

They aren't allowed to go to school,

and they spend each day here working

and doing all the housekeeping for the communal areas.

I really don't think it's a very good situation for these children's futures.

Um, Shiraishi-san...

I understand that not everyone can attend school.

But it's such a shame that they lose the opportunity

to learn just because they don't have parents.

This is a different world.

We shouldn't compare it to modern Japan.

Still...

Losing precious talent and human resources

over their birth or upbringing is a huge loss for any country.

Sigma, who made my abacus, is undoubtedly talented.

Not utilizing the kids' magical energy also seems a waste.

Above all, they have no freedom to choose their occupations.

So I was wondering if we could do something...

You're so kind, Your Holiness.

But it's impossible.

The almshouse doesn't have the time or money for that.

But even you, Selio-kun...

Didn't you have a dream job when you were a child?

That's...

The little children here often tell me their dreams.

"When I grow up, I want to become a sorcerer working in the castle."

"I want to become a knight."

It's wrong that they end up unable to honestly say such things anymore

and abandon all hope.

You must have come from a very peaceful world, Your Holiness.

The world I'm from sees war and discrimination, too.

We even have almshouses.

But we still have the freedom to achieve our dreams.

That's impossible...

It's not possible to change everything at once, no, but it's worth consideration.

It's difficult to expand an education initiative in one fell swoop,

but a potential approach is to open something similar to a private school.

If it's at the church, people will have easy access.

This, in turn, increases people's trust in the church and attracts worshipers.

It may be wishful thinking on my part,

but I believe it will also attract more and more volunteers over time.

Th-There's no way it'd go that well!

Wow, it'll be amazing!

Just like those open-air classrooms!

B-But what'll we do about study materials?

And what about our work in the almshouse?

If we organize the classes in shifts,

they can be smaller, and study materials can be shared.

We could split the almshouse children into three groups

and have all of them take turns working and studying on different days.

Just learning basic reading, writing, and arithmetic

will make you more valuable in town

and broaden your job options.

Those with talent may even be able to pursue further education.

You...

It'd be good to include a scholarship program.

The royal family could invest in and subsidize gifted children.

Nurturing talent will be highly beneficial

for both the royal palace and the kingdom.

With that decided, we should confirm the almshouse children's wishes.

Hold on a second! No one gave you permission to...

Let's go, Selio-kun.

Come on.

I'm busy, so hurry up.

You...

I really hate you after all!

I heard the bishop and the accountant are both currently away from the church.

Yes.

For some reason, they left despite being notified of the inspection dates.

Luckily, that's made it easier for me to gather documents.

I've urged them to return by the day after tomorrow.

Tell me what you make of the church so far.

I will include all the details in my report,

but there appear to be discrepancies between the titles and numbers

of nobles attending services and their donations.

Embezzlement, eh? Any idea where the money's going?

I'm still investigating, but at the very least, the almshouse,

monks-in-training, and their priest likely aren't involved.

Their priest...

Priest Siegvold?

Do you know him?

He's famous.

Not only is his family impressive,

but his abundant magical energy and looks are also top-notch.

On the other hand, his intense faith makes it difficult

for the nobility to get their hands on him.

His magical energy, you say?

Yes.

It's a precious resource required for both spellcasting and magical tools.

It's difficult to handle, demanding special knowledge and skills.

That's why children born with too much undergo training

at a church to learn how to reduce their magical energy.

By the way, Seichiro...

How's your resistance to magical energy and magicules?

Thankfully, I am slowly gaining some resistance.

That's good to hear.