Ascendance of a Bookworm

Chapter 122: Discussion on the Matter That Gray-robed Priests Work Outside

"What do you mean working outside?"

"… Work as a waiter to serve noble dishes at my restaurant."

"Oh," the Head Priest murmurs, as if he has remembered what we talked at my house before.

"To be a waiter, even a gray-robed priest must have the work experience of an attendant, right?"

"A gray-robed priest who used to be an attendant is surely gentle and amiable, with modest bearing and is the most suitable person. Even Gil who has just become an attendant, can serve well to some extent. Others will be qualified for the work soon after a period of training."

It would be helpful if there was one experienced person. But it is not a problem if a gray-robed priest has no attendant experience. The children of the orphanage are basically quiet and obedient, probably because they learn a lot from the attendants or the blue-robed priests, and are told not to be violent; or may because they grow up and are taught in this small orphanage from the time they were born.

As they are close to the models, it is not difficult to teach them to behave like that.

"… If you want the waiters to improve their behavior soon, why not teach the commoners in the Civilian Area?"

"There's a big difference in whether you know the noble family or not. They can judge a person according to his attitude, manner, wording, etc."

If education is so easy, Mr. Benno will not worry. Most of the waitresses in the Civilian Area also serve as prostitutes. Besides, when the restaurant is busy, even cook apprentices are asked to come out for help. But it's basically considered as a low-level job.

Even if we need to hire waitresses, most of the applicants must be women of humble birth. Then the exclusive atmosphere of the restaurant will be damaged. It's not easy to change their deportment and wording through education, just like what Lutz had suffered.

"People work in Mr. Benno's store shouldn’t be so bad. Don't you think his attendant is equal to the task?"

Mr. Benno's attendant, who the Head Priest knows, is Mark. Mark is by far the best one in the Gilberta Company. Because Mark is training the others, now the other attendants are all polite and good at wording and phrasing, but they won’t be allowed to do waiters' job.

Daplas who have been contracted to Mr. Benno's store are basically the children of merchants who want to obtain cooperation with the Gilberta Company. They can do dressing-related work and paperwork, but being waiters is not their duty. Besides, if you let them do it, they will launch a backlash.

"A gray-robed priest who used to be an attendant can definitely do the job. But without a guardian, can we have them work outside? Then who will be their guardian? And if only gray-robed priests can go out and get salary, there will be disparities in the orphanage. What do you think of that?"

If there is only one person, Mr. Benno can be his guardian. But if several gray-robed priests go to do the waiter’s job, I don't know how to find guardians for everyone. Besides, I have never thought about the salary gap that may occur in the orphanage.

"… I have no answer now."

"It's not hard to imagine. It's not an easy problem."

The Head Priest sighs slowly. It was not a simple question. But I know that I will not get his permission without the answer.

"I don't think I will get your permission right away today, but I just want to hear the idea of the Head Priest. … Sir, what do you think if the gray-robed priests go out for work?"

The Head Priest ponders on my question, tapping at his temples lightly with the fingertips, and narrowing his eyes.

"Hm. Yes. … I think it's difficult."

"Difficult?"

"According to your behavior, I can see there is a big difference between the outside and the temple. Do you think the gray-robed priests who know only things inside the temple can easily find their feet in the outside world?"

I recall the first time when I walked outside with Fran and Gil, and shake my head slightly.

"If they only stay inside the restaurant, I think it may be somehow manageable. But if they go out of the restaurant…"

If the waiters just need to serve the guests in a restaurant with nobles' rooms, there should be any problem in the behavior of the gray-robed priests. Although they do business, according to gray-robed priests’ behavior in Maine's Workshop, I think it is all right.

However, outside the restaurant, it's a world different from the temple.

"Besides, what will happen if a priest who knows the outside world by going out to work and wants to live that life? Can you guarantee their life outside the temple?"

"I think it is difficult… I cannot be a guardian because I am not an adult. Even if I ask Mr. Benno for help, all he can offer is to let them live there like those apprentices. The priests, who have get used to receiving everything as the grace of God, will have difficulty living alone.

They do the rough work for the temple, and then come back to have some food. In particular, because they earn some money by making kraft in Maine's Workshop, they have enough food and can be satisfied to some extent. If they live outside the temple, they will have to cook by themselves, or eat outside. However, since they have gotten accustomed to the shared noble food and the taste, I'm not sure whether they can endure other taste.

Even if the meals are not a problem, it will still be a little troublesome for them to go out, because the priests have never bought anything in person, and do not know the concept or the usage of money.

"And then the most I concern is the public's attitude to the fact that I hire a gray-robed priest who used to be an orphan as the waiter. Will they accept it with pleasure? Maybe not, right?"

"… I think it's difficult for them to accept it."

I remember the reaction of my family members when I wanted to enter the temple. People's comments and image on the orphans and the temple were not good. I think they may make some good comments when they see them work as waiters; of course, someone may treat them with severe prejudice at the beginning.

"Furthermore, some may feel it difficult to stay in the orphanage due to the difference between those who work in the temple and those who go out for work, like the boy named Lutz who has friction with his family, for his job is different from his family’s."

"… Yes."

If the job is different, the salary will be different. When the gap happens in the temple or the orphanage, where everyone calls for equality, it's not reasonable, and the situation will be worse than the friction in Lutz's house.

And as I am the orphanage director, I have to resolve the trouble.

… It's terrible.

The confusion caused by the sudden change is completely unpredictable. Imagining that I should take all the responsibility, I want to escape.

The gaze of the Head Priest is less sharp now, as if he has seen through my fear.