In the conference room, man-eating flowers began gathering one after another. These were monsters with petals so large that they seemed capable of devouring a person.
“Technically, they don’t need to eat people to survive. I assume it’s much like how real carnivorous plants can live without eating insects.”
“Evilham-sama, did you summon us for something?”
The man-eating flowers looked a bit bewildered, as if unsure why they had been called.
“Yes, there’s a reason I gathered you all here. It has to do with your performance in agriculture.”
At my words, the man-eating flowers began to murmur among themselves.
“Huh? Our performance in agriculture?”
“I don’t think it’s that bad…”
“Weren’t you slacking off the other day? Maybe that’s why he found out?”
“Oh, come on! If we’re pointing fingers, you did too…”
The flowers started bickering with each other, and I realized I’d need to move the conversation forward before things got out of hand.
“No, actually, your performance is good. Compared to other monsters, your agricultural results have been excellent. I wanted to acknowledge that. Well done.”
Upon hearing my praise, the man-eating flowers began to sway in delight.
“Wow, to think Evilham-sama would praise us!”
“It’s nice to know our hard work paid off.”
“Wait, you were slacking too!”
“Look who’s talking!”
Why are they starting to argue right after I complimented them? Do they secretly not get along?
Well, given that plants often compete for nutrients, it’s not surprising if members of the same species aren’t particularly close.
“Anyway, settle down. I’m not here to criticize anyone for slacking off a bit.”
I don’t mind if they take occasional breaks, as long as it doesn’t impact production. It’s hard to work continuously without any rest.
“Now then, because of your good performance, I’d like to appoint a leader among you to oversee the agricultural work.”
“A leader? But Evilham-sama, aren’t you our leader?”
“That’s right. We’ve always followed your decisions, Evilham-sama. We’re not about to take orders from other monsters.”
They’re saying some pretty touching things, aren’t they? To be this loved as a boss monster… it’s heartwarming, really.
But, this isn’t the time to get emotional.
“With the dungeon expanding, I’ve become busier. It’s getting harder for me to keep track of every task.”
I need them to understand that I can’t continue as I’ve been up until now. This understanding is crucial; without it, there’s no way forward.
“I see…”
“It’s true; we can tell how busy you’ve been, Evilham-sama.”
“Yes, exactly. Crafting, forestry, fishing, mining… as the dungeon’s activities have grown, I can’t oversee everything alone.”
I’d need more bodies than I have. If only I could clone myself, but alas, I have no such skill.
“So, I want to appoint heads for each industry, and I’ll take on a supervisory role over those department heads to ease my workload.”
“If that’s for your benefit, Evilham-sama, we understand…”
It seemed the man-eating flowers agreed, knowing how tirelessly I’d been working.
“To make this dungeon more comfortable, prosperous, and larger, everyone’s cooperation is essential. I can’t solve everything on my own.”
“Understood. So, who will be the leader among us?”
This is the challenge. Too many leaders can lead to disorganization, so I need to keep the numbers small.
Although I could just pick someone, I wanted to check something first.
“I want to respect your autonomy. Is there anyone among you who would like to volunteer as leader?”
In the leader I seek, I value initiative. While motivation alone isn’t enough, it’s certainly a good start.
The man-eating flowers are capable enough; the question is whether any of them have the personality to lead.
“Is there anyone?”
After a pause, no one raised their hand.
Guess I’ll have to make the choice myself—just as I was about to, someone hesitantly raised a hand.
“Um… would it be okay if I did it?”
One of the man-eating flowers timidly volunteered.
“Ah… if I recall correctly, your name is Ryuzetsu, right?”
“Yes, thank you for remembering.”
I was glad I’d reviewed their names and faces before the meeting. It would be disrespectful to get it wrong, even with subordinates.
“Ryuzetsu, do you think you’re suited to be a leader?”
I asked a slightly challenging question. Self-assessment is often uncomfortable.
“Well, I don’t know if I’m suited to it since I don’t have experience, but… I’d like to try.”
“I see, so you’re motivated. Does anyone have objections to Ryuzetsu becoming the leader?”
A leader needs to be supported by everyone; if someone is disliked, no amount of enthusiasm will help.
None of the man-eating flowers voiced any objections. Perhaps they were just passing the role onto Ryuzetsu…
“Ryuzetsu, one last thing. Being a leader carries responsibility, and you may have to work harder than before. Are you still willing?”
“Yes.”
He may have agreed without fully realizing the hardships, but I’m willing to bet on Ryuzetsu’s enthusiasm.
“Alright. Ryuzetsu, you’ll oversee the agricultural area starting today. Everyone, listen to Ryuzetsu.”
“Yes!”
And so, we appointed a new leader for the agriculture division.
“So, Evilham-sama, what should I do as a leader?”
“Let’s see. First, prioritize safety. Ensure no one gets injured during farm work. Mishandling farming tools, for instance, can be dangerous.”
“Understood.”
Even though monsters may repopulate if their numbers drop, I don’t want anyone to take lives lightly. That’s one of my core principles.
“Second, focus on quality. No one will be pleased with poor-quality crops, so pay attention to this while maintaining safety.”
“Understood.”
Poor-quality crops affect crafting as well, so I need him to take this seriously.
“And finally, if you have the capacity, I’d appreciate an increase in production. It’s important but not the top priority. Don’t put it above safety or quality.”
“Got it.”
With that, I’ve outlined his objectives.
“Do your best with these goals in mind. I’ll leave the specific methods up to you. If you’re ever stuck, consult with me or Littleham, and we’ll brainstorm together.”
This is crucial. Being a leader doesn’t mean making every decision alone.
It’s essential to create an environment where one can consult with others; otherwise, even a leader won’t be able to handle the role.
“I understand! Safety first! Quality second! Production third! I’ll work hard with these priorities!”
“And also, humans like Jeet will be coming to help with agriculture. Be sure to communicate well with them.”
I should also inform Jeet and the others that Ryuzetsu is now the leader, to avoid any misunderstandings later.
“I’ll do my best as leader to support you, Evilham-sama!”
Well, for now, we’ll have to see how things go. If any issues or areas for improvement arise, we’ll address them as they come.
