Monster Company Tycoon – CH 8

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After that, I continued interviewing monsters who hoped to join.

The talk of a job shortage among monsters hadn’t been an exaggeration—applicants never seemed to stop coming.

The low-ranking goblin who came in after the skeleton had, when viewed without my glasses, eyes that looked very gentle and almost cute.

With my glasses on… I didn’t want to imagine it.

The goblin went on and on about its difficult family circumstances, pleading that it needed a stable job to feed its sick mother and young siblings.

Why would someone like that come to a place like this, of all places…….

I felt so guilty that I almost wanted to suggest it look into other dungeons instead.

Or there was…….

“If you just hire me, I’ll really work like a dog! Kruk.”

…a kobold that looked like a bulldog head and said that.

And…….

“I’ll take care of all the dungeon cleaning!”

…a slime that said that while eagerly crawling across the floor.

After the interviews ended, I sat with my head in my hands, resumes spread across the desk.

That was when Brownie flew over and asked.

“So? They were all more or less the same anyway, but were there any that stood out?”

“They’re all the same.”

They really were all the same.

It was at the level of low-ranking goblin 1 leaving and low-ranking goblin 2 entering.

Level, attack power, defense power—all similar, and no attributes.

On top of that, as if they had coordinated it, the certification section was completely empty for all of them, and their work experience was identical too.

I had been hoping for something like the ‘trap design license’ Brownie mentioned, but it was disappointing.

“I told you. Anyone applying to a dungeon like ours that doesn’t even have infamy yet is going to be low-level.”

Even the desired wages were all the same. 500 eon per week.

“What can you even do with 500 eon?”

“It’s enough to buy a few snacks in a human village and that’s it.”

According to Brownie’s explanation, 100 eon here seemed to be worth about 1,000 won in my hometown. That made it even harder to understand.

“What? But they all said they’re fine working for just that much per week?”

“That’s because they know it’s the exact amount that suits them.”

“Even so…….”

“Monsters have almost no opportunity to earn human money in the first place. Getting hired at a dungeon is practically the only way.”

“Is there a reason they specifically need to earn human money?”

Yes, this was the strange part. Why would monsters need human money?

“Monsters can’t form a society outside the dungeon. The temples strictly forbid it. If they gather in large groups and get discovered, a subjugation squad is sent immediately. In effect, the dungeon becomes their shield.”

Brownie said it as if it were no big deal.

“That’s why their level of civilization is far behind, and they have no choice but to depend on human society. Decent equipment, medicine, food—all of it has to be bought from humans with money.”

“Hmm…….”

From Brownie’s explanation, I realized one important fact.

If gathering in groups is controlled outside, but possible inside the dungeon… then the dungeon has to create an environment where monsters can form a society, doesn’t it?

“The Demon God is so cruel! If only monsters were all stupid, they’d live without even knowing what they lack. But they were given intelligence for nothing, and now they long for human society.”

Brownie’s words sounded a little chilling.

“I see…….”

No wonder a bitter taste lingered in my mouth.

“So how are you going to hire?”

I laid out ten resumes on the desk.

“What? You’re going to hire ten at once? Bold move from the start, huh?”

They were the result of carefully selecting based solely on the interviewees’ character and attitude from among all the identical specs.

“Here’s my thinking. Honestly, running two or three weak monsters is meaningless. Trying to save money just makes everything half-baked. In the end, we have to push with numbers.”

Why are swarms of rats or mosquitoes frightening as enemies in games?

Because even if each one is weak, when dozens rush you at once, the situation changes.

If you gather a hundred monsters that deal 1 damage each, it ultimately becomes 100 damage.

“But I’m worried. Ten monsters means 5,000 eon per week just in wages. Even assuming no other expenses and only salaries going out, that’s only nineteen weeks—about four months—before we’re out.”

If there was one good thing about my former company’s boss, it was that salaries were never late.

So I wanted to make sure my employees’ wages were properly paid too.

“We need to earn at least 5,000 eon every week—is that even possible?”

“Our dungeon has no infamy yet. Adventurers probably don’t even know it exists. Without promotion, it’ll be hard.”

So it was a marketing issue.

“Still, for it to function as a proper dungeon, I think we need at least ten monsters…….”

“Then just try it for now. If it doesn’t work out, you can cut them all. Under the pretext of a probation period! You haven’t even tested how they perform in real combat yet, right?”

For something so cute-looking, it says terrifying things without a care.

Of course, companies do have probation periods to verify actual work ability and organizational fit, but….

“We’ll figure out the best approach by running it ourselves… Wait.”

Brownie suddenly stopped talking and looked toward the direction of the entrance.

“I just heard money. A jingle.”

“Huh?”

“Someone must have put money in the prayer box!”

And without waiting for a reply, it zipped away in an instant.

The office was far from the entrance—how did it hear a coin drop?

Brownie returned quickly, clutching a brass-colored coin tightly to its chest, looking thoroughly alarmed.

“This is bad! Whatever it is, just hire them first! There’s no time to think.”

“Huh?”

“When the sun rises, a challenger is coming! Look, someone put 100 eon in the prayer box!”

Until yesterday, the prayer box had been empty. Someone really put money in?

“If a challenger comes and the dungeon is empty, we’re in big trouble!”

“You said no one would know it exists because it has no infamy!”

An adventurer was already charging in when we hadn’t prepared anything!

And I had only just finished interviewing monsters!

“I don’t know! They must have stumbled on it by chance while passing by. What do we do, I’m so nervous and so happy! The dungeon is finally opening its doors! I’ve waited so long for this moment!”

Brownie spun around clutching the coin, looking like it didn’t know whether to cry or laugh.

I was so confused that my head was spinning.

“Th, then hurry and contact the applicants who passed……. But how…….”

“What’s complicated about it? We have this.”

Brownie opened its mouth wide toward the desk. Just like when it had handed me its hidden emergency funds before.

From inside its mouth, a palm-sized object covered in dirt popped out.

“This is… a stamp?”

“It’s the dungeon authority the Demon King transferred to you. Stamp this on the resumes—bang! Then the monsters will be bound to this dungeon. It’s a contract!”

“A contract is made just by stamping it?”

“Of course, it’s a limited contract that only lasts until you pay the promised compensation. Once monsters are bound to the dungeon, you can summon them anytime, anywhere. Hurry and make the contracts!”

I picked up the stamp and examined its underside.

Carved in unique characters was [Hiring Complete]. It was the same stamp that had been pressed onto my resume.

“Hurry! Hurry!”

“I’m doing this right, aren’t I…?”

Unable to resist Brownie’s nagging, I stamped the ten selected resumes one after another.

Bang!

The moment the red Hiring Complete stamp was pressed, the paper began to glow red.

Brownie shouted at the glowing resumes.

“The contracts are made, so report to work immediately! You slaves!”

No sooner had the shout ended than the resumes flew into the air and transformed into the monsters I had interviewed earlier.

Murmur, murmur.

They looked around blankly, unable to grasp the situation, then finally cheered all at once.

“Whoaaa! I finally got a job!”

“Mom! Dad! I can finally be a dutiful child!”

“I’m a proper dungeon monster now too! Kraaah!”

The monsters hugged each other or dropped to their knees on the floor, savoring the joy of successful employment.

The quiet dungeon became noisy with monsters.

“Thank you so much for hiring me! I’ll work hard!”

“No matter what adventurer challenges us, I’ll do my best to extract fear! Clatter.”

I couldn’t bring myself to mention the probation period to them when they looked so happy.

I thought with a benevolent expression.

Yes, since it’s come to this, they’ll all become full-time employees…….

I just need to somehow earn 5,000 eon each week, don’t I? I’ve already earned 100 eon, after all…….

Now I only needed forty-nine more adventurers who paid 100 eon each to visit.

“Quiet down! You slaves!”

Brownie shouted, pouring cold water on the cheering.

“From now on, you must work for this dungeon with your lives on the line! Listen to me carefully, and also listen carefully to Chihuahua, the chief administrator here!”

The familiar nickname, coming out of nowhere, made me waver for a moment.

“Chihuahua? Why are you calling me that too?”

“Well, because your name was Chihuahua when you signed the contract with the Demon King.”

“No, that’s…! That’s a nickname. It’s not my name!”

“There’s nothing I can do about it. The contract was clearly made between the Demon King and Chihuahua, wasn’t it? So if you’re not Chihuahua, all your authority over the dungeon disappears too.”

If I lost my authority here, I couldn’t keep working at the dungeon.

In the end, I ground my teeth and had no choice but to accept Brownie calling me Chihuahua.