And that's how it is."
I had consulted Fitts-senpai. Asking someone else for advice about my student; I was truly shameful as a shishou. However, I still wanted to rely on someone else's wisdom. Zanoba was too pitiful after all.
"Making dolls?"
Fitts-senpai couldn't really understand. Whilst sitting on some chairs that were lined up inside the library, he listened to my story and then tilted his head in puzzlement.
"Yes. That's basically how it is."
Using earth magic, I create a simple doll to show him. It was a simple doll without any clothing, and was a bit like a Sa○bobo[2].
"A-, amazing..."
Fitts-senpai stared at my hands, and looked fixedly at the doll I had finished making. Then as though wondering if he could do it as well, he gathers mana into his fingertips and creates a wiggly something or other that was a bit like slime. Considering that he had just tried to copy me on the spot, he really was amazing.
However, it seems that it didn't turn out the way he wanted. In the end Fitts-senpai sighed and gave up.
"I can't do it."
Well, creating figures is something that I've been diligently practising for a long time now, and is an accumulation of the techniques that I've studied. If it was something that could be easily imitated just by looking, I'd cry. Nevertheless, it feels to me that if Fitts-senpai practised, he'd be able to do it. In the first place, he's someone who can use chantless magic.
"This is something that a normal person can't imitate."
"That's true. I had thought that another method involving carving from a lump of clay would work out, but..."
"Since he was clumsy with his hands, he couldn't do it, you said."
Fitts-senpai let out a 'Mmmmm' and was thinking about it with his hand to his chin. It seems to be a habit of his to bring his hand to his chin when he thinks. It might be because of the sunglasses, but it looks awfully uncomfortable. Incidentally, when he's awkward or embarrassed, he'll scratch his cheek or behind his ears. It's an action that's quite suiting of his age, and suits him really well. However, since elves are long-lived, he might not be as young as he seems.
"Mmmm, let's see. I'm not sure if you'll be able to use them as a reference, but there are people like him in the Asura capital as well."
"People like him?"
"Mmn. People who have things they want to do themselves, but lack the ability or skill."
"What do these people do?"
When I asked that, Fitts-senpai seemed a little reluctant to answer and scratched himself behind the ear.
"Ummm, well, they get slaves to do it."
"Hohh." [3]
According to Fitts-senpai, those people in the capital had the knowledge, but lacked the skill. That's why they would buy slaves, train those slaves, and had the slaves create what they wanted.
"According to what I've heard, that Zanoba-kun likes the dolls that you make, Rudeus-kun, and because he wants more of them, he wants to create them himself, right?"
"...Huh? Was that what I said?"
"Umm, that's how it sounded to me?"
Is that so? But still, normally even if you liked figurines, you'd just paint them yourself or remodel them; you wouldn't think to create them from scratch yourself. When I was alive, at best I was an average remodeller.
"I'm sure that Zanoba-kun wanted you as his personal doll-maker, Rudeus-kun, but he himself knew that it'd be impossible and so that might be why he said something like becoming your student, right?"
"Well, I don't think it'd be impossible though."
Employed by Zanoba in the Shirone Royal Palace, and spending each day making figurines. In the end, a lifestyle like that might not be bad. Working for a royal palace would probably mean a stable income. Speaking of which, how much does Fitts-senpai get from Princess Ariel each month?
...It feels like it'd be rude to ask, huh?
"Well, I'll try suggesting it to Zanoba once. Thank you very much."
"Mn, you're very welcome."
When I bowed, Fitts-senpai smiled bashfully. Why is it that I feel so startled when I see that smiling face of his?
It's a mystery.
The mysterious man, Fitts. Truly a mystery.