It was the day after my first win since I took over as the manager.
The great scorpions were winning and losing repeatedly.
If the main players played, they would win but if not, they would usually lose.
The participation rate of players itself increased after I started buying them meals on the day they won but the fundamental problem of fixed position had not yet been solved.
However, this did not mean that no progress had been made.
Under the sun, which shone so brightly as if threatening the playground into a steam bath, the elite members of the great scorpions were practicing on their own next to the adventurers who were training with their spears.
「Shida, I don’t see Sammy in the outfield…..」
「Sammy is scheduled for her monthly treatment.」
「I see. Right……」
In the process of understanding each of the players, I had learned some things about their position as “Schenker’s slaves”.
The great scorpions and all the members of it are from the Magical Schenker Group and they are all slaves owned by Sawadi Slayra.
They are to hold a position designated by the MSG for three years and as long as they don’t cause any problems during that period, they will be considered as retired slaves and will be allowed to marry and have freedom of occupation.
The members of the great scorpions are all retired slaves and being a member of the great scorpions and being able to play in league games is part of the “welfare” package that Sawadi Slayra has established for them.
While there won’t be any matches we can’t play because of insufficient players, the number of baseball players is still too low compared to the number of Schenker slaves.
Sheer numbers are a solution to most problems.
I once asked him if it was possible to send a non-retired player to a match, but he flatly refused saying that it wouldn’t do him any good.
「Alright, I have to keep the treatment date in mind when making the batting order.」
「That’s a good idea manager but……can you please not get in trouble with Sawadi-sama?」
「I did not trouble him at all.」
The bitter faced Shida is probably referring to when I discussed with Sawadi Slayra about changing the treatment date of the players that will be in a match.
Once a month, the slaves can receive treatment from Sawadi Slayra, who seems to be good at healing magic.
I discussed with him saying I don’t want any of the players to be unavailable on our match that day. However, he refused saying that changing the date would interfere with the players’ main job.
Putting yourself in the players’ shoes, you definitely would want to avoid any special treatment.
I understood that but…..it was probably not a good idea to discuss it in the street under the sun. Rumors began to circulate among the players that the manager, me, had a dispute with their master. From then on, I started being admonished like this whenever there’s an opportunity.
「Alright alright, here’s the rundown of this month’s players.」
「That’s great but, does that mean anything?」
「Of course it does. Look at it this way, by setting up players who are easy to schedule, we were able to lock in the same players’ position for about……half a month.」
「So, you’re going to use these players as a base and when the main adventurer group come out, you’ll switch them?」
I responded with a smile while waving my finger to the left and right in front of Shida’s eyes.
「They won’t get switched. We’re going to make these players with easy schedule the mainstay of our team.」
「But, we won’t win if the adventurers can’t join the team, right?」
「We will try to win.」
「Eh? How?」
「Basically, we will recruit those who can be our mainstay and train them. 」
Hearing my answer, Shida sticks her tongue out in disappointment and returns to practice while scratching the back of her head.
-0-
I am a stubborn man but I’m also a man of action.
I said that I would make it work through practice and recruitment and it was my job as the manager to make it happen.
So, I sent letters to my friends in the royal capital and followed up on my contacts to find someone who might be able to meet my needs……
For some reason, I ended up with the man named Sawadi Slayra again.
「In other words, you want me to build a pitching machine?」
「Mash what…..? No, what I want you to make is something that throws baseballs……」
「That’sss……I mean, you want me to make a magic construct that can adjust its velocity of the ball and can also throw a breaking ball?」
「Yes, that’s it! With that, I bet the batting practice and even defense practice will be more efficient!」
「Okay, I’ll try to make one……」
「Thanks! I would appreciate if you can do it as soon as possible as the team’s victory is at stake.」
-0-
It was great that Sawadi Slayra managed to get what I’m requesting quickly.
However, it was probably not a good idea to talk about such things in front of the headquarters of the Magical Schenker Group.
「Manager! Didn’t I tell you not to trouble Sawadi-sama again!?」
「I did not trouble him at all.」
「Manager, no matter how great a person you are in the world of theater, our master is a n.o.b.l.e. and a mage too! If you trouble him too much, he might kill you one day!」
「No, Shida, that won’t……」
「Mou, you better think of the consequence of your action a little more……」
Shida’s concern comes from the bottom of her heart though a useless one.
I could not help but just hang my head down and let her admonish me.
-0-
One busy and fulfilling day, we decided to have a good time.
After practice, Shida and I went to a store located in a slightly secluded part of the central city.
「So, what kind of place is this?」
「This is a well-known restaurant in Torquiva and it even has a great connection with Sawadi-sama.」
「I see……」
I casually looked at the wall of the restaurant and saw a sign that read “Special! Sawadi Set Meal! Only 8 dir”.
So, the great connection is the name of the menu?
「Owner, two omelet sets! And lemon wine!」
「Alright!」
「The set meal today is stewed pork chops with tomatoes.」
「Shida, why didn’t you order the Sawadi meal set?」
「They make great omelet here.」
While saying so, she gulped down a glass of lemon wine.
She sometimes takes me to good restaurants in the city after practice.
I need to know where to eat if I’m to treat the players who have won their games. If I know a good place to eat, my life will be easier.
In particular, there are many kinds of food in this city. You can even find rare food that you cannot eat in the restaurants of the royal capital in restaurants that I probably won’t even think of going.
Today, too, as I looked at the list of dishes on the wall to see if I could find some rare bargains, I saw the name “udon” among the names of various dishes.
「The udon I had the other day was pretty good and it seems like they have them here too.」
「You mean at Riello’s place? That’s an udon specialty store and nowadays, even small set meal shops have udon.」
「Recently, a noodle factory has been built and you can buy noodles from them so most restaurants have them. Well, our udon noodles here are handmade. How about it, Shida? Aren’t you curious? Want to try some?」
「No, thanks.」
「Well, I’d like some.」
The owner of the restaurant looked somewhat pleased when I said so and brought out a small bowl he had prepared.
The bowl was filled with amber colored broth and udon noodles. The lemon zest on top of it smells good too.
「Hou, this look good.」
「Owner, you won’t be able to make money if you prepare this stuff every day.」
「Maa, it’s fine.」
The owner replied with a grin saying “It’s not about making money!” as his wife kicks him.
Well, it’s difficult for ladies to understand a man’s obsession.
「Udon is available everywhere nowadays.」
「That’s true. When I did a demonstration and sold udon, we had a lot of customers and sold a lot of udon but……our regular customers got angry because they couldn’t even enter the store.」
「Events gather people, you know. Even our new year’s event held on the Schenker Street surprises me with the number of people who come.」
「That magnitude is completely different from ours.」
I was ruminating over a phrase as I watched Shida and the owner chat and laugh.
Event attracts people. Right.
Come to think of it, even theater troupes hold small street plays to advertise their performances…….
People would crowd the area to catch a glimpse of the actors and sometimes it would get so crowded that even carriages couldn’t pass.
「Right, it doesn’t have to be just guests.」
「I’ll be in trouble if anything else other than guests come.」
「No, sorry, I’m not talking about you.」
Chuckling, the owner waves his hand. I tap the drinking Shida’s shoulder.
「Shida, let’s go to Riello’s place afterwards.」
「Eh? You’re going to have udon after omelet?」
「No, we’re going to discuss baseball.」
「At an udon restaurant!?」
I nodded, quickly ate the omelet served, and immediately headed to Riello’s udon shop.
There are games waiting for me so I had to try everything I came up with.
-0-
Sawadi Slayra’s no-person pitcher(pitching machine) that was delivered to me was so awesome.
It was an excellent machine that could throw a variety of pitches at will. From tremendously sharp breaking ball pitch to a fastball that could even injure the catcher.
This is exactly what I asked for. It is no wonder he is a well-known researcher in the field of magic construct. With this, I can surely raise the level of my players.
I thought of an event centering on the no person pitcher.
I wanted to promote baseball to the Schenker slaves, whose number is still so small……
In addition, I will make this an opportunity to scout and gather sleeping talents.
「Those who want to challenge the no-person pitcher, line up here! The udon line is over there!」
「Even Roast-oneesan was strike out?」
「In fact, madam only managed to hit it after trying three times.」
「It should be easy. I’ll take the prize money.」
First of all, set the no person pitcher to a reasonable s.p.e.e.d. and hold an event in which a prize will be given to those who can hit the ball.
We set a goal for our group’s roster of rookies to try to hit at the maximum speed.
Unlimited attempt for each batter was set in order for us to see their talent and various potentials.
「Amazing. You are getting better and better in making udon.」
「I didn’t know this is how you make udon.」
「Let’s do it together and bring home the udon we made ourselves.」
Then, I asked Riello, someone from the Schenkers who runs an udon restaurant, to hold an event to demonstrate udon making and sell them at the same time.
Baseball is not a game where strength is all that matters.
Even those who came for udon would at least try to participate in the exciting no person pitcher challenge once.
This is a two step plan to unearth the raw talent that has been lying dormant in the mine that is the Schenker.
「You are quite talented. Why don’t you participate in our practice next time?」
「Eh? Who are you? Scary……」
「Wait wait wait! Manager, go away! You’re acting like a creep.」
As I was recruiting someone, Shida slapped me on the back and shooed me into a corner.
Why……
I tilted my head and Kwan, the rabbitkin pitcher, tapped me on my shoulder.
「Manager, it’s not good to suddenly talk about baseball with someone. When you are going to pick someone up, you should start with some harmless topic first.」
「Pick up……I wouldn’t do something as lame as that……」
「How are you going to seduce players then?」
「Seduce……well, that’s one way to look at it.」
「Well, let us take care of it for you today. You’re just going to ask them to practice, right?」
「……yeah, can you do it? That catkin who’s currently batting over there as a great spring……」
Before I could finish, Kwan hit her chest, smiled, and went off to the batter’s box.
I’m not trying to pick up someone……
Midsummer of Torquiva, the charming voices of women swinging bats cackle around…..
I was keenly aware that even though I was over sixty, I still had much to learn.
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