Chapter 57 - 57 Glass Slipper
Steve, inspecting the second factory that has been operating for a month, receives a report from Nick beside him.
"The second factory's operation is going smoothly. It seems it was good to transfer veterans from the first factory here and educate the newbies while setting up the line."
"Well, the production number of the first factory has dropped because of that. Still, the reported defect rate hasn't changed compared to before the newbies were assigned, so I think we can call it a success. As long as they get used to it, that's fine."
Steve had allocated workers from the first factory to the second factory. He put newbies there for education, implementing what is called OJT.
Troubles come with new lines, and newbies alone cannot handle them. From the judgment that Nick's work burden would concentrate and he wouldn't be able to operate properly, he put newbies into the first factory line where production had already stabilized, and transferred those veterans to the second factory.
And that aim hit the mark.
In the second factory, as expected, standard work changes came many times at first, and it didn't go as planned, but every time a problem occurred, the veteran workers proposed solutions to resolve it. Nick mostly just received those reports, rarely acting on his own.
However, the sacrifice was the production number of the first factory, and work time extended by the amount of new workers entering.
"It was terrible when we started the first factory. Everyone was beginners, only having done farm work, never having cut wood. The trouble I went through being told to educate them..."
"If it's easier than that time, shall we lower your pay?"
"Since the number of people looking after things has increased, I'd like you to raise it."
"It depends on profits."
When told by Steve, Nick puffed out his chest.
"Since the delivery of safety shoes to the national army is decided, if production stabilizes further, that means we can get a raise, right?"
Safety shoes were originally intended to be sold to workshops outside his own factory. However, an order came from the national army, and an unexpected sales forecast was established.
The national army gives few weapons to conscripted citizens. And if it's armor, that number decreases even further.
It was a common sight for citizens without money to march barefoot.
Naturally, feet would get injured from traps or bad roads, and slowing marching speed was a worry.
Thus, cheap safety shoes became purchasable. This was Emmanuel's fine play, the result of selling the purchased safety shoes to national army officials.
Now, just as we were about to talk about the production plan from now on, Bella came to Steve.
"A message from the Main Village says Margrave Sowell is calling for you, Steve."
"Ah, finally came."
"Do you have a clue?"
Steve answers to Bella's puzzled face.
"I haven't reported on the reconciliation between Viscount Keard and Viscount Wall. The result should have been conveyed, but I think he wants me to explain the background."
"I want to go with you."
"There's no danger, so wait this time. Anyway, you can't attend the meeting with His Excellency."
"Mmm."
Bella knew Aurora wouldn't allow it, and was dissatisfied, but gave up accompanying Steve.
"So, Nick, about increasing production, another time."
"Understood."
Steve said that, and teleported to Sowell Land.
And immediately, a meeting with Aurora. As usual, the three of them, Steve, Aurora, and Harry, gathered in Aurora's office.
"Did you call me, Your Excellency?"
"You know why I called, don't you?"
"It's not just asking for a report."
Steve evades Aurora's question.
"I heard you sent shoes to Wall's daughter."
"Yes. You know well."
"Of course. Since Lord Wall boasts about it so much, it's heard abroad now. After all, it's the only glass slipper in the world."
As Aurora said, Steve had sent a glass slipper to Lucy. Officially, it was a wedding gift.
"That was due to a special contract, but do you know the contract contents?"
"Yes, that's why I called you."
"Then let me explain. First, the duel between me and Mitchell Keard that settled the conflict between Viscount Keard and Viscount Wall was done with Illusion Magic. And Illusion Magic was used on another one too. Namely, against Mitchell, who is normally immune to Illusion Magic."
"I wanted to hear that."
Aurora impatiently urged the next part, but Steve drank tea here to quench his thirst.
"Actually, when showing Mitchell the illusion of dying in the duel, Lucy told me to take responsibility and marry her. I hadn't told her the details, so she thought Mitchell was dead too. My plan was for her to cry and collapse at her lover's grave, but surprisingly, she didn't do that and tried to switch to me."
"She's quite strong. I want to learn from her."
Steve wanted to say "You're stronger, Your Excellency," but barely swallowed those words. And he continued explaining.
At this time, Christina and the others hadn't noticed Lucy's words and actions. It was a secret between Steve and Lucy.
"Originally, the scenario was for Mitchell to watch his parents' movements, but showing Lucy like that would complicate things. So, I showed Mitchell an illusion of Lucy crying and following him."
"And how does the glass slipper connect to that?"
"Yes. I measured Lucy's foot and made a glass slipper that fit perfectly with magic. And I told her: 'This shoe is a magical shoe that will break if you don't bear Mitchell's child within 10 years. Mitchell is not dead. Everyone is just seeing an illusion of his death. Will you accept this shoe? Even if you accept it or not, I will not marry you.'"
Lucy switched her target to Steve immediately upon seeing Mitchell was dead. There was no lie in her love at first sight for Mitchell, but since a super excellent item like Steve appeared before her eyes, she thought switching to him wasn't bad.
The women's intuition Christina felt was not to be underestimated, and she saw through Lucy's essence perfectly.
Originally, it was supposed to show Lucy's sad appearance to Viscount Wall, but Steve, whose plan was disrupted, suddenly set the condition of the glass slipper. And he couldn't show the truth to Mitchell, so he ended up showing the illusion of sad Lucy.
Here, Aurora understood the general situation.
"So, you compromised with the glass slipper. But if so, wasn't a promise to give it after birth okay?"
"Your Excellency, humans sometimes give up. So, to prevent giving up midway, giving the reward first and taking it back if the goal isn't achieved is the best way to work hard."
"I see. Using the feeling of not wanting to lose what one has held."
"Yes. I thought a smart Your Excellency would understand. Also, this matter is known only by me and Lucy, so please don't tell others. Especially if it gets to my family women, various troublesome things will happen."
Humans have a strong feeling of not wanting to lose what they have once held.
Taking a bonus as an example, even if told to give more if performance is good, some might settle for an average bonus and give up working hard midway. But if given a bonus assuming good performance first, and told to recover the difference when actual performance is finalized by settlement, they try hard to achieve good performance somehow.
"Anyway, it was neither a tragedy nor a happy end, a hopeless story."
"It was hard to summarize that well. I can only hope Lucy takes this secret to her grave."
Steve sighed heavily, remembering.
"So, will the glass slipper really break in 10 years?"
"There's no such convenient magic. I don't want to be hated, so if no child is born after 10 years, I'll have to sneak in and break the shoe. I can't be told it was a lie."
"As for me, I welcome no conflict between nobles in the western region, so I really want the two young ones to work hard. By the way—"
Saying that, Aurora glared at Steve.
"What is it?"
"It's strange that the daughter of a Viscount has it, and I don't."
"Will you give birth within 10 years, then?"
At Steve's joke, Harry burst out laughing loudly, and got glared at by Aurora.
"Of course, I won't say it's free. I'll purchase safety shoes from my territory army budget. Regularly every month. Shoes are consumables anyway, so I'll issue them to those with military duty obligation. Is it okay to contact size and number later? Depending on the situation, let's make a 10-year purchase contract."
"If it's Your Excellency who usually takes care of us, no need for transaction terms, but if you give it, I'll take it without hesitation."
"Then, next time something comes up, I'll return the favor for the usual care."
Thus, a new contract was concluded, but Nick doesn't know yet that his busyness will double because of this.
Receiving the new contract proposal, Steve decided to make a glass slipper for Aurora.
Later, at the wedding of Viscount Keard and Viscount Wall, the topic becomes Lucy wearing the glass slipper and Aurora attending wearing the glass slipper.
Thinking it was a symbol of reconciliation between the two families, when unrelated Aurora wore the same glass slipper, other noble ladies also started saying they wanted one, and assuming it would be the same as the stainless steel statue, orders flooded to Oclair Trading Company, and Oclair would be troubled and cry to Steve.
However, making too much would lower the value and lead to a drop in Lucy's motivation, so there was no intention to sell, and Oclair who cried to him had to endure. But, getting Aurora's permission, a sign saying "Glass slipper sales prohibited by Aurora" was posted on the shop front.
The effect was immediate, and after that, there were no more requests for glass slippers.
And Oclair would get a headache thinking this happens every time Steve makes something new.