I thought, “Wouldn’t it be nice if such a company existed?” and decided to write this.
Morning will always come.
Ignoring human circumstances, it shines brightly and announces the start of the day.
When a Japanese salaryman is most aware of this is probably the moment they clock in.
It’s the same for me.
The fit of my gloves, the position of my gauntlets, and the confirmation of my weapon.
Where in the world did the peaceful Japan disappear to?
I’m aware that my appearance is far removed from what one would normally consider work clothes.
“Alright, it’s time for you all to work.”
But I can’t help it.
That’s my job.
I directed words of confirmation to my colleagues, who were also inspecting their gear.
“I believe you all have the day’s quota in mind. Don’t slack off, don’t cut corners, and don’t get injured. We’ll stick to these three points.”
The characteristically Japanese vague smiles that make one question common sense disappeared, replaced by the strong smiles of genuine professionals responding to my words.
My job is to conquer dungeons, no.
“Today, we’ll go all out to scout dungeons.”
I create dungeons that heroes cannot conquer.
This is the story of salarymen who encountered a fantasy that emerged from their hidden everyday lives.
Tanaka Jiro, 28 years old, single, no girlfriend for seven years, and currently NEET.
“Freedomnnnnnnn!”
I don’t care if I’m disturbing the neighbors. I yell as I lie spread-eagled on my bed.
I had been working for a black company for six years, where over 120 hours of overtime per month was the norm. Holiday work was regular, and overtime pay was never fully compensated.
I had seen so many personnel changes that counting them was a waste of time.
While I was already clearing work with practiced ease, trying to ignore my irritating stress with cigarettes, my boss’s words in the smoking room became the trigger.
“Do you have time to be smoking? If you’re that bored, you have more to do, don’t you? Hurry up and submit yesterday’s report.”
At that time, I had stayed at the company overnight and pulled an all-nighter to finish a work deadline.
Normally, I would have just grinned sheepishly, apologized, and returned to work, but this time, I ended up glaring at my boss.
“What’s with that look? If you don’t like it, quit. There are plenty of people who can replace you.”
That’s when I learned that a person’s patience can truly snap.
My boss probably thought I went back to work after leaving the smoking room in silence.
I made a loud clicking sound of disapproval as my boss took a cigarette out of his breast pocket, then returned to my desk via the office and the first thing I did was pack my personal belongings into a cardboard box.
I didn’t touch any company documents, just grabbed whatever personal items I could find; it only took about ten minutes.
“Chief, I’m quitting my job now.”
I completely ignored any voices trying to stop me as I said that and prepared to leave.
I then loaded all my personal belongings, including what was in my locker, into my car, turned the key, and drove home.
And so, one NEET was born.
The first thing this NEET did upon returning to his cheap apartment was light a cigarette.
“What should I do now?”
I quit my job impulsively, but I don’t regret it.
In fact, I feel like I should commend myself for doing it. Perhaps it’s because I had accumulated so much dissatisfaction, but despite being unemployed, my chest felt strangely light.
My phone is off.
My company is probably calling my phone right now, but I don’t care.
Whether I’m called irresponsible or not, I don’t need to worry about it.
Besides, I usually slept or worked on my days off, so I had enough savings to last me a year, not just two or three months, without working.
Since I wasn’t in a state where I would starve to death immediately, I calmly considered my future.
I would have to find work, though I didn’t want to.
Thanks to my savings, I didn’t need to rush, but I couldn’t live on them forever.
Fortunately, I had enough motivation to think about working after a sufficient break.
Well, I had absolutely no intention of returning to that company.
“Whoa, the mailbox is a disaster.”
Looking at the mailbox visible from the layout of my 1K room, it was so stuffed that I couldn’t understand how the mail carrier had managed to fit it all.
It’s a room I’ve barely used recently, other than to sleep or change clothes, so it’s only natural, but I should tell myself to at least clean out the mailbox.
With a deliberately old-fashioned grunt, I stood up.
“Whoa, it won’t budge.”
The appearance was not deceptive; it was bursting with mail. As proof, even when I pulled at the bundle of flyers, it only moved slightly and wouldn’t come out any further.
“Seriously, what can I do?”
Complaining in a monologue that had become common since I started living alone, I crouched at the entrance and pulled out the flyers in small portions until they finally came out.
“Ah, it tore… Wait, it’s religious proselytizing? Then it’s fine. And this is a flyer for a local supermarket… Wait, it’s three weeks old. Huh? What’s this?”
While being mindful of the amount of cigarette ash, I flicked the ash into the ashtray and peered at the flyer that had inexplicably caught my attention.
“Looking for Testers? Let’s see, what does it say?”
“Dungeon Tester Wanted!
Recruiting 100 people!
Breakdown:
Full-time employees: 30
Part-time workers: 70
Age: 16-35
Dormitory provided!
Parking provided!
Experience in martial arts a plus!
Salary: Full-time employees: Monthly salary of 300,000 + hazard pay + commission
Bonuses twice a year
Part-time workers: Hourly wage of 3,000 + hazard pay + commission
Working hours: Full-time employees: 5+ hours per day, 2 days off per week + national holidays
Part-time workers: 3+ hours per day (must be able to work at least 3 days a week)
Job description:
We, the Demon Lord’s Army, want you to test our dungeons to see if they are effective against heroes!
Please challenge the dungeons yourself, fight monsters, search for treasure, and break through levels.
Please note that there are dangers such as injury, so we will have you sign a consent form. Please prepare the following items.
“This is ridiculous, is it a prank?”
I exhaled smoke and stopped reading.
The flyer was clearly made with considerable effort.
It paid attention to eye-catching photos and text arrangement, and the paper quality was good.
It was clearly made by a professional.
However, the content was unacceptable. I dismissed it as an obviously malicious catch.
It even had a phone number, and not only an address but also a map.
And the address was…
“It’s in the next town!”
I could get there by car, train, bus, or even walking if I tried hard enough.
“It’s too elaborate for a prank.”
In my mind, I was 90% convinced it was a prank.
The salary and holidays were unusually attractive.
“Forget it, forget it. I don’t have time for this silly prank.”
I tossed the flyer onto the table and stubbed out my cigarette in the ashtray.
“There’s no way a company this convenient actually exists.”
Even for game testers, I’d never seen such a suspicious job posting.
I collapsed onto the bed, and my eyes fell on the TV and the pile of games in front of it. Even as a student, I had played a fair number of games.
I hadn’t touched them at all recently due to work, and they had become backlog, but since they were mostly RPGs, the content of this flyer did make me think it might be interesting.
“Martial arts… Kendo counts, right?”
And then my eyes landed on the well-used kendo equipment in the corner of the room.
These were items I had replaced whenever my body size changed, or simply when they broke.
Work had been busy, so I hadn’t been able to go recently, and the last time I went was more than six months ago, but I had still kept up with it by visiting a nearby dojo.
Even though I was 90% convinced it was a prank, the remaining 10% piqued my interest, presenting me with conditions that seemed to fit.
“Ah, I’m bored anyway. If it’s a prank, it’s a prank, so whatever.”
I admit I’m making excuses.
If such a place existed, I would want to work there.
I found myself harboring such a desire.
“Phone, phone… What the heck is this call history?”
Dozens of missed calls, mostly from the company. I ignored a few from my senior, the chief, and dialed the number on the flyer, hesitating for a moment before pressing send.
“Hello, this is Suella from the Demon Lord’s Army Dungeon Tester Recruitment Department.”
“Uh, hello, I saw the flyer. Are you still recruiting?”
I expected a recorded message saying it was no longer available, thinking it was a prank, but the clear and direct response from a woman surprised me.
Her name suggested she was definitely foreign, but I had assumed she spoke fluent Japanese.
“Yes, thank you for contacting us. We are currently recruiting for both full-time and part-time positions. Which are you interested in?”
“Full-time.”
I wondered if my willingness to work had faded, but I decided it was still lingering and took it as a given. It was too much to be a part-time worker at my age, so I chose full-time based on salary and holidays.
“Full-time, understood. We would like to conduct an interview. Do you have any dates that are convenient for you?”
“Uh, any time is fine.”
“Understood. In that case, may I have your name, age, and phone number? We will inform you of the schedule by the end of today.”
“Understood. My name is…”
From there, the conversation progressed smoothly.
After I gave my name, age, and mobile phone number, I was briefly informed about my martial arts experience and necessary documents, and that was all.
“This is Suella, who will be handling your case. Goodbye.”
“Is this a prank?”
After the final greeting, I couldn’t help but mutter as I looked at the silent phone.
Or was it a shady flyer? I wondered.
In that case, I probably should have just hung up without giving out my phone number.
Regret is useless, as they say.
“If the next caller seems suspicious, I’ll go to the police.”
Yes, I’ll absolutely do that, I told myself, feeling a sense of unease, but I couldn’t help but glance at the flyer again.
Then, I reached for a cigarette.
Just as I was about to take a drag to calm myself, my phone rang.
“What is it, the company? Wait, this number…”
The cigarette I had in my mouth dropped.
“Hahaha, that was too fast.”
The number displayed on my phone was not the company’s, but the one from the flyer.
“Whoa, it’s huge.”
I had ironed my suit and prepared a new dress shirt. After shaving and putting on my suit, I was greeted by a massive twenty-story building that was the company I had applied to.
“Mao Corporation? I’ve never heard of it.”
For a company this large, I should have heard of it, but it’s in my neighborhood, and I’ve never heard of it.
“Mao… Demon Lord? That’s not even a pun.”
I parked my car and gazed up for a moment, but I couldn’t just stand there. I headed towards what looked like the entrance, holding the brown envelope with my resume and other necessary documents. As soon as I passed through the automatic doors…
“Huh? Did I hit something?”
I stopped, feeling something soft, like passing through a curtain. But of course, there was only the automatic door functioning as an entrance. There was no curtain-like material.
“Am I imagining things… No!”
It was no use standing there. I saw what looked like a reception counter and started to walk towards it, but I stopped again.
“Cosplay?”
No, to be precise, it was more like special effects makeup for Hollywood. I was standing in a clean, white and gray entrance hall. Behind the gleaming gray stone counter, there were two women who appeared to be receptionists, but neither of them looked like ordinary women.
“Were there foreigners with long ears?”
They looked like a species from anime or games, frankly elves, or more specifically, dark elves with tanned skin, silver hair, and blue eyes, wearing women’s suits and sitting at the reception counter. They had different hair lengths, one short and one long, but their faces and appearances were so flawless that they could not only handle the receptionist role but also rival any gravure idol. But such a race should not exist outside of games. Worried that I was hallucinating from fatigue, and knowing it would be strange, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and looked again. However, the result was the same.
“It’s not that I’m tired, is it?”
The reality remained unchanged. Today, Saturday, three days after that phone call, I was supposed to have recovered from the fatigue accumulated from working at a black company. I hesitated, considering going home, but I also accepted the possibility that this might just be how the company operated.
“Um, excuse me, I’m here for the tester interview.”
Checking the location of my phone, I encouraged myself to be brave and approached the counter hesitantly, speaking to the receptionist with long hair.
“Yes, may I have your name and the name of the person in charge?”
My back straightened as I thought, “Her voice is beautiful too,” a nonsensical thought.
“Jiro Tanaka. The person in charge is Suella from the Tester Recruitment Department.”
“Yes, Mr. Tanaka. We’ve been expecting you. I’ll call Suella now. Please take a seat over there and wait.”
Being smiled at by a dark elf is probably an experience that happens once in a lifetime, if at all. Even if it was just special effects makeup, that kind of experience is certainly rare. I wondered how long it had been since my face had felt hot for reasons other than the sun, and nodded. Then I walked to the designated waiting area and sat down. I had nothing to do with my hands, and I didn’t feel like playing with my phone. So, I decided to check my documents to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything.
“Okay, I haven’t forgotten anything.”
However, the check was finished quickly. Checking about five documents took less than a minute compared to my previous job. In fact, it felt like a long time since I had read something so leisurely for five minutes. Now I was back to being idle…
“Huh?”
I heard a sound like high heels tapping on the floor and instinctively looked in that direction. And I was convinced. Something was strange about this company, mainly in a fantastical direction.
“Thank you for waiting. Are you Mr. Jiro Tanaka?”
“Y-yes! I am Jiro Tanaka.”
“I am Suella, and I will be conducting your interview this time.”
The woman who gave a slight bow was a different dark elf from the receptionists. And from a slight distance, I couldn’t tell the details, but the woman in front of me was undeniably real. In fact, if this was such convincing special effects makeup, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a movie studio or something. A dark elf with long silver hair tied up and wearing silver-rimmed glasses, that was my first impression of the woman who introduced herself as Suella.
“Then, please come this way.”
“Yes!”
And it might be a matter of preference, but she was more beautiful than the receptionists. Physically, I guessed she was around twenty, but her demeanor suggested she was capable in her job, so she didn’t seem younger. The bizarre combination of reality and fantasy – dark elves in suits – made me decide to just accept it as the company’s unusual nature. It was strange that I didn’t feel any emotions of regret or failure. Following Suella, who led the way, I was shown into a small conference room on the first floor.
“Please have a seat. Would you like some coffee?”
“Yes, that’s alright.”
I feel like I’ve only said “yes” since I got here, but I guess that’s normal for an interview. You have to showcase yourself when needed, but otherwise, minimal responses are key. As I recalled interview tips, I took my seat and adjusted my posture.
“Huh?”
However, I ended up making a foolish face in front of the woman who was about to interview me.
“You can see it too, then.”
“Huh? That’s amazing, is it a magic trick?”
Instead of nodding in understanding at my reply, I wished she would give me some time to calm down before I overheated. Anyone would react the same way if a tray with coffee suddenly flew towards them.
“It’s magic.”
Suella, who answered with an even more confusing statement, calmly took the tray floating in the air and placed a cup in front of me before sitting opposite me.
“Magic, you say.”
I replied with an echo, wondering what my expression looked like. It certainly wasn’t an expression suitable for an interview. When I heard the word “magic,” I immediately thought of *that* kind of magic. But what did it have to do with a company interview? Did I need to be able to use magic as an employment condition? Please, I don’t have the nerve or the talent to claim to be proficient in grand magic like in some videos. I might be able to do some simple tricks like for party entertainment, but…
“Then, let’s begin the interview.”
But now is not the time to be thinking about that. I need to answer the questions properly, so I straightened my back and adjusted my posture.
“Mr. Jiro Tanaka, how did you perceive me and the receptionists?”
“…”
I have to answer the question properly, but how can I! How could I possibly answer such a question? I had no choice but to fall silent and try to put on a suitable expression.
“Umm…”
I had expected some small talk, and had mentally prepared for straightforward questions like “What are your reasons for applying?” This question made me unsure. However, she waited patiently for my reply, her gaze fixed on me, not seeming to mind my hesitation. Do I have to answer? Yes, it’s an interview, so if I don’t answer, they’ll think I have poor communication skills. Okay, I’ll try to deflect it somehow.
“Dark elves, perhaps?”
I couldn’t. And it was over. My mind was filled with “I messed up” after I succumbed to her gaze and answered honestly.
I genuinely hoped a “Surprise Party Success!” banner would appear, but there was no sign of it.
If this were a company interview and I were the interviewer, I would never hire someone who answered “I’m a Dark Elf!” upon seeing me.
I want to escape reality, but I can’t.
Am I so tired that I can’t distinguish between games and reality? I should definitely go to the hospital on my way home. Yes, I’ll do that, absolutely.
At this point, I’m considering getting a thorough medical examination, whether it’s psychiatric, ophthalmological, or neurosurgery. Come on, give me the announcement that the interview is over!
Sweating profusely, I await the verdict while maintaining a fake smile.
“You passed.”
Huh?
“Huh?”
I want to tell myself to stop making such a stupid face, but after being repeatedly surprised, I can’t possibly compose myself.
“What did you just say?”
“I said you passed.”
Apparently, I didn’t mishear it as “Please leave.”
While I’m asking for confirmation, Suella is calmly flipping through documents.
“Huh? But, was that the interview?”
I’ve never heard of an interview being decided by a single question.
Moreover, asking “What do I look like?” feels like she’s mocking me as a working adult.
“I read your memories using magic. Only the surface, but there are no personality issues, and no history of misconduct. You also have martial arts experience.”
“Most importantly,” she says, adjusting her glasses with her index finger and continuing,
“You have magic aptitude.”
Ah, if it’s magic, then I can’t help it. That’s amazing. She read my mind? If that’s the case, I can understand. Right, and I have magic too? Oh no, things are getting chaotic with all this… wait.
“Magic!?”
“Yes, magic.”
The words “I’m not a virgin, you know” flashed through my mind, but I shook my head to clear them.
So this interview was about needing to be proficient in great magic!
“Magic, you mean the stuff used for magic?”
“Yes, magic, the source of it.”
As she says this, Suella casually lights a flame on her fingertip.
“I’ve lived for twenty-eight years, but I’ve never used magic before.”
“Strictly speaking, it’s magic aptitude, meaning you have the capacity to accept magic.”
“…Sorry, I can’t keep up with this conversation.”
“It’s alright. Most people we’ve hired so far reacted the same way you are.”
That’s somewhat reassuring.
It seems that while the current situation is abnormal, my thoughts are still within the realm of reason since there are others who react similarly to me.
A Dark Elf receptionist, magic that seems like a trick, an interview that ended in an instant. It’s all happening too fast, and my mind can’t keep up.
“Please have some coffee to calm down.”
Even if the coffee I’m drinking now were poisoned, I couldn’t have refused that offer.
To calm down, I drink coffee. A little milk, two sugars. That’s my coffee.
“Now, I’ll explain things step by step.”
Sensing that I was calming down, Suella made a quick hand gesture.
The room then darkened, and an image appeared on a screen in front of me, like a new employee presentation.
“It’s fine to drink while listening, so please hear my explanation.”
A Dark Elf instructor. Before I had time to dismiss such an incongruous thought, Suella, holding a pointer stick, began explaining the slides projected on the screen.
“First, the hiring standard for this recruitment is magic aptitude. Of course, as I mentioned earlier, we will read your memories with magic, but we can overlook minor personality flaws.”
The image displayed is a stylized human figure.
“Regarding magic aptitude, it only means you are receptive to magic; it doesn’t mean you currently possess magic.”
With a slight tap, Suella points to the abdominal area of the stylized human. It is shown as empty, indicating nothing is there.
“In this world, or rather, outside of this company, magic does not exist. Therefore, magic aptitude naturally regresses. However, some humans possess a constitution that allows them to accept magic without regression.”
This is magic aptitude, she says, as a purple wave-like pattern is displayed, and the stylized human figure splits into two. One absorbs the pattern, while the other lets it pass through.
“There are ranks of magic aptitude, ten in total. The higher the number, the greater the aptitude. The potential for magic aptitude is innate and is said to be unchangeable, even with lifelong training. While an accurate test will follow, Jiro, you possess at least a magic aptitude of four, which is the minimum passing standard.”
“Wha-? How do you know that?”
“Firstly, you could read the flyer. This is possible with an aptitude level of one. If you had less, it would appear as blank paper. Secondly, the barrier at the entrance. Those with an aptitude of two or less cannot enter, and their memories of the interview begin to fade.”
She confessed to easily manipulating memories, and the thought that I could have been in that situation if my aptitude was lower frightened me.
“And you perceive the receptionist as a Dark Elf. They are using a low-level concealment magic to alter their appearance. Humans in this world undoubtedly wouldn’t be able to see through it. However, with a magic aptitude of three or higher, you can discern it. Lastly, I am using similar magic, but the content is the same. With a magic aptitude of around four, you can see it.”
Suella asks if I have any questions, and I decide to confirm what I’ve understood.
“So, in essence, magic aptitude means that if you pour magic into me, magic will reside within me, and the amount that resides is the rank? And that I, at least, have reached the passing standard?”
“That is correct.”
The image changes from a stylized human to a cup, illustrating magic aptitude with the amount of water.
“Also, please rest assured. Depending on your magic aptitude, mind-influencing magic is less effective on those with higher aptitude, and for you, Jiro, who currently has zero magic, it will have no physical effect.”
Perhaps sensing my fear, she adds this reassuringly with a smile. That alone makes me feel a little better. Beautiful women really have an advantage.
“Are there any other questions regarding the hiring criteria?”
“No, I’m fine.”
If she were a gruff man, I would still be confused. But men are simple; in front of a beautiful woman, they tend to posture.
However, it’s also true that I’ve calmed down somewhat.
“Then, I will explain the business content.”
This is where it gets serious.
What I’ve heard so far is too fantastical, but the job content itself is most important.
I’ve had enough of black companies like before.
I brace myself, ready to listen intently.
“Currently, our Demon Lord’s Army is creating a passage dungeon connecting our enemy world, Isal, to the Demon Lord’s Castle. We have completed a total of seven dungeons.”
The content is completely fantasy, but the presentation materials are well-made. They include an overview of the world, explanations of the dungeons, and accompanying photographs.
“Isal is a world constructed by the gods who are our enemies, the Demon Lord’s Army. In your knowledge, it’s a world of swords and magic, inhabited by demi-humans like Beastkin and Elves. Our Demon Lord’s Army aims to invade this world and expand our territory, thus creating these passage dungeons.”
If these documents are genuine, and this story isn’t from a movie or novel but reality, then this is quite problematic, isn’t it? Essentially, I’m about to get caught up in an inter-world war.
They are providing thorough pre-explanations, which shows sincerity, but I can’t deny I’m starting to hesitate.
“However, what we are seeking from you, Jiro, is certainly not to become a combatant for invasion.”
“Huh?”
She speaks at precisely the right moment to dispel my anxiety. This woman is definitely good at presentations.
“I will explain this later and it will be stipulated in the contract, so please just listen for now. The conflict between our Demon Lord’s Army and Isal has been ongoing for about five thousand years. Successive Demon Lords have attempted invasions through various means, but all have involved moving through dungeons. And these dungeons serve as both passages and fortresses.”
The image then changes to a tower-like structure.
“The current Demon Lord is a very cautious individual. While past Demon Lords have met their demise in duels with Heroes, this one places great importance on defense.”
That’s understandable, I suppose. Most RPGs involve clearing dungeons to reach the final boss at the deepest level. Naturally, they’d place monsters and traps, but also mid-bosses of executive rank, mazes, and rigged passages. A straight passage would be like an invitation to just be cleared.
“We ordered the Seven Generals to construct a dungeon, and we’ve reached the stage of opening the door to the world. However, the Demon Lord reasoned that simply connecting to Isal again would lead to the same outcome as in the past, and concocted a certain plan.”
“What kind of plan?”
Her storytelling skill is so compelling that I can’t help but interject. It’s unavoidable, but when the story becomes this detached from reality, I surprisingly find myself wanting to hear it to the end.
“Before I explain the plan, it’s a bit of a digression, but most heroes come from this world, Earth.”
“Seriously?”
“It’s a fact.”
I thought that was something from fiction.
If what she said is true, then this is more than just a kidnapping problem.
Kami-kakushi and abductions were actually otherworld summonings.
“And, most dungeons have been conquered by heroes.”
Wait, is this the direction where this is going?
“The Demon Lord thought, if heroes conquer dungeons, why not create a dungeon that heroes *can’t* conquer?”
What kind of Marie Antoinette-esque idea is that?
“In that case, why not have an executive-level officer waiting at the entrance from the start?”
Driven by a mix of bad premonition and excitement, I finally propose a method to defeat heroes while they’re still at a low level. But Suella shakes her head with regret.
“I cannot disclose the details due to confidentiality, but broadly speaking, due to the influence of the gods, the Demon Lord’s power is weakened at the dungeon entrance. Our powers are also weakened. If we invade, secure territory, and increase the Demon Lord’s influence, the conditions would change, but that takes time. We cannot send our valuable military strength, the Generals, to such a place.”
Well, even if dungeons are connected, the invaded territory doesn’t immediately become theirs.
It seems that only by spreading a mysterious substance called magic power can it become their territory…
For the period until then, we don’t know how long it will take, but the dungeon side will be in a weakened state, and they will be attacked by the strengthened heroes.
This alone reduces the chances of winning.
Although it involves fantasy elements, the content is understandable.
“Therefore, first, we will secure a solid base, and for that, we want to invite Earthlings, who have a perspective we currently lack, as Dungeon Testers to improve and strengthen the dungeons.”
I see the game.
To summarize, otherworld heroes are strong, and dungeons conceived by the Demon Lord’s Army are likely to be conquered.
So, by inviting otherworlders of similar strength, they will point out the flaws in the dungeons and improve them.
“But, even if you tell me that…”
This is clearly an act of hostility towards the prominent Human race of another world.
I hesitate to agree immediately.
“In short, do I just attack the dungeon and submit a report?”
“That is correct. Furthermore, this also serves to strengthen the Demon Lord’s Army. Naturally, those above the Seven Generals will not participate, but the demons below them will attack you with full force, so there is a risk to your life. Of course, we, the Dark Elves and the rest of the Demon Lord’s Army, will provide as much support as possible.”
The job is straightforward, but the content is that of a complete black company that includes the danger of death.
Wait, if I accept the job, will I be taken to the world where the Demon Lord’s Army exists?
“Isn’t this a pattern where I say goodbye to this world?”
“No, you will be moved from this company to the dungeons.”
“They’re connected?!”
“What do you think this company is for? Also, regarding working hours, regular employees are obligated to clear dungeons for a minimum of five hours a day, but it doesn’t have to be five consecutive hours. It’s fine to break it up as long as you submit a proper report.”
Suella’s explanation that the report content affects bonuses almost made me collapse.
Well, it’s good that the concern of being taken to another world and not being able to return seems to be unfounded.
“We need you to agree to a contract spell that prohibits disclosure to outsiders. Would you like to see the facilities?”
“Is there any danger?”
“You will not be in danger as I will accompany you. You can also observe the inside of the dungeons, demons will not attack you, and traps will not be activated. As this is a matter of future response, you will only be able to see the vicinity of the first floor entrance, the food and lodging facilities, and the armory.”
“I’ll go.”
If there’s no danger, I should go even if the observable areas are limited.
I’ll never have an experience like this again.
The fact that fantasy is mixing with reality no longer matters.
“Then, this way.”
I stand up without hesitation and follow Suella, who leads the way.
The first place I was guided to was an underground facility connected to the first floor of one of the seven dungeons.
There was no one there at the moment, but a wide space, comparable to a gymnasium, was lined with doors resembling elevators. Apart from being monitored by surveillance cameras, it was just a vast, empty area.
“This is the entrance to the dungeons. If you, Jiro, become a regular employee, you will form a party here or challenge the dungeon solo.”
“Are those elevator-like doors the entrances?”
“Yes, each door leads to the dungeon of one of the Seven Generals. If you conquer each floor, you will be able to freely choose your floor.”
“Oh, so I can go to higher floors by following someone?”
“You can. However, in that case, the floor record will not be kept. You can only select the places you reached on your own. And this is a dungeon.”
I approached the leftmost Dungeon Elevator without hesitation, entered the numbers, and opened the door.
“Wow, this is a pretty standard one.”
“This is the dungeon of the Oni King General.”
It looked like a complete cave-type dungeon. It felt like a widened cave made into a maze.
“I will teach you the deployment details during training, but unfortunately, that will be after you are hired. Would you like to see other dungeons?”
“Please.”
“Certainly.”
I was overwhelmed by the natural atmosphere of the dungeon, which was definitely not a movie set, and I couldn’t suppress my excitement as I peeked into the other doors.
Sometimes it was a forest, sometimes brick, sometimes a horror movie-like stage, and sometimes a dungeon like a cliff-lined gorge.
“There are a total of seven dungeons.”
“Yeah, if these weren’t real, the future of the movie industry would be secure.”
All the dungeons had an incredible presence.
“I’m honored that you say so. Next, we’ll go to the dormitory.”
“Yes.”
Suella, smiling and leading me, she seemed to be captivated by my unebding excitement.
Even if it was a professional smile, I followed her, my heart pounding, captivated by her.
“The dormitory is for staff only. Both regular employees and part-time workers can use it. However, unauthorized entry is generally prohibited. If someone tries to bring them in, they will be repelled by the barrier.”
This security system would make security companies on Earth cry.
“The rooms are private rooms or shared rooms for two people. Private rooms are more expensive. The rent will be deducted from your base salary, as will utilities like electricity, gas, and water.”
Passing through an automatic door with solid modern scientific security, not just a barrier, she showed me a single room and a shared room on the first floor.
The layout of the private room was 1LDK, with a toilet and bathroom, both separate.
The shared room was 2LDK, with similar facilities.
“Beds, refrigerators, TVs, and washing machines are provided. You will also be lent a portable terminal for communication.”
“Is internet available?”
“It’s monitored to prevent information leaks, but it’s generally usable. However, remember that if you leak information, appropriate measures will be taken.”
“Umm, specifically?”
“Besides termination, all memories related to company matters will be manipulated, and a cover-up will be staged to make it seem like a joke to those who leaked the information.”
“You’re thorough.”
“This is a life-or-death situation for us.”
“Huh?”
“We Dark Elves have one of the few human-like appearances among the demon race. We don’t die. However, even so, this world without magic feels extremely suffocating. There are no problems within the company, but outside the company, we are constantly assaulted by a light dizziness, as if we have anemia.”
Suella explained that some have even collapsed and their lives have been endangered.
“In such a world, we cannot let the countries of this world know of our existence.”
The Demon Lord’s Army is confined to their base, and the enemy can surround and annihilate them.
Moreover, this is the birthplace of heroes. If by any chance someone among those who infiltrated the company possesses heroism-level aptitude, would Suella and the others, who are weakened, be safe?
“Then why?”
I couldn’t help but ask, why go to such lengths, risking their own lives?
“Please consider it a sign of how serious we, the Demon Lord’s Army, are.”
They had always been serious, but her expression now seemed even more so.
“I understand that I am asking for a lot. I have also researched this world. This world, especially Japan, is peaceful. While the past may have been different, people today are disconnected from conflict. Furthermore, our conflict is outside your concern and irrelevant to you. I think it’s presumptuous to ask people who are uninvolved to risk their lives for what is not a large sum of money.”
I could feel my excitement fading.
I was ashamed of how I had been jumping around just moments ago.
This is work, and she isn’t recruiting me for fun.
“But there’s one thing I want to say. While the Isal group is being dragged into this against their will, we are in a position of humbly requesting. Due to our position, we cannot allow information to be leaked, but we will respect Jiro’s choice. Please do not forget that.”
While I’ve thought about many terrifying things, like memory manipulation and dungeon attacks, I don’t feel like I’m being deceived at the moment.
Maybe it’s my own ignorance, but is it too naive to think that I can at least trust her?
“I’m getting off track. I’ll guide you through the other facilities as well.”
I followed her, lost in my thoughts.
Next, I was shown a shop where most items could be ordered in, and a company cafeteria that boasted a menu comparable to a family restaurant, with employee discounts.
“Where did the violation of the Firearms and Swords Control Act go?”
“This is extraterritoriality.”
There were fantasy staples like armor and swords.
They were lined up neatly on shelves. To me, who had only ever handled bamboo swords or wooden swords, real weapons were both terrifying and overwhelming.
“Everything here is beginner-friendly equipment made of iron, like weapons and leather armor, but magic swords also exist.”
“Oh, you don’t have guns?”
“Jiro-sama, in our world, and in dungeons under the Demon Lord’s influence, guns are just pea-shooters. Against anything stronger than a goblin, you’d be lucky to just get a bruise.”
Was it my imagination, or did she implicitly tell me not to underestimate fantasy? Suella said that while she admired magic guns, it was simpler and faster to channel magic power and cut with a sword.
“You will be provided with initial equipment during your training. However, that is merely the minimum. For any equipment after that, you have two choices: either purchase equipment at the stores we provide, or gather materials and request the Giants within the company to craft it for you. Of course, both options come with employee discounts.”
“Giants?”
“Think of them as a species like Dwarves or Dark Elves. They are large in stature but very dexterous and skilled in blacksmithing. They are selected, so be cautious as they have a volatile temper.”
I had many questions, like whether it would cost money, and if I could buy otherworldly equipment with Japanese yen. This marked the end of the facility explanations. Returning to the conference room, I was finally given a briefing on salary, holidays, and regulations, which were not particularly significant. The regulations I had to abide by were the obligation to clear dungeons, submit a weekly interim report, and a monthly final report, as well as a ban on disclosing information outside the company. The Demon Lord’s Army would not forcibly involve us in interdimensional wars. They would also provide continuous medical and welfare services. Otherwise, it wasn’t much different from my previous company. I wondered where the company trip would go, but decided not to ask. The salary for full-time employees was a base of 300,000, plus a hazard bonus and a commission system. The base salary was self-explanatory, the hazard bonus was 20% of the monthly salary, and the commission system was…
“Materials from defeated demons or monsters will be purchased by us, excluding materials to be made into weapons and armor, and those for storage.”
“Meaning?”
“The more demons you defeat, the more valuable parts we will purchase and pay you in cash.”
Apparently, I would also receive a receipt for each purchase. But wouldn’t that…
“Wouldn’t that make the Demon Lord’s Army resentful?”
“It’s a company-wide notification. And we are the Demon Lord’s Army; it is the survival of the fittest, and the weak are eliminated.”
I understood the rest. While there seemed to be no need to worry about resentment, it was a little unsettling to think that my pay was tied to the harsh realities of the Demon Lord’s Army. It was certain, however, that significant financial rewards were promised if I worked hard.
“Regarding holidays, it’s a two-day weekend, but more accurately, it’s eight days a month, plus national holidays. The schedule will be arranged according to each Tester’s physical condition.”
So, I could worst-case scenario take a total of eight days off and then work straight through.
“We also provide twenty days of paid leave. Various insurance plans are also available to accommodate illness.”
Finally, Suella produced another document besides the contract.
“It’s a consent form. This job is extremely dangerous, to the point of risking your life. We will do our best to guarantee your life, but please do not expect too much. If you are near death or clearly unable to fight, there may be a chance the Demon Lord’s Army will help you, but generally, consider them an enemy. We will also attack you, thinking of you as an enemy.”
I assumed that was all of the explanation. Suella asked if I had any questions.
“What if I refuse this job?”
“There will be no memory manipulation, but to prevent information leaks, we will take measures to block you from speaking about what happened here and to record your actions. If you don’t like that, we can also change today’s memories to a different content.”
“I see.”
Overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events, I was tired of maintaining my composure and leaned back in my chair.
“Can I have a smoke break?”
I said this because I felt I needed time to think, but…
“Please do.”
I hadn’t expected an ashtray to be placed in front of me.
“Normally, you’d be told to leave the moment you lose your posture, wouldn’t you?”
I thought, I’ve come this far, so let it be whatever it will be. Even if this opportunity is lost, so be it. Without hesitation, I lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.
“Compared to the people of Isal, you here are polite and cute.”
“Is that so?”
I replied casually, my mind in disarray. Various elements were intertwined, making it impossible to decide whether to accept or not.
“Suella-san.”
“Yes?”
“Why is the Demon Lord’s Army at war?”
“Because we want to go home.”
“Go home?”
I asked the question hoping for some deciding factor, expecting talk of vested interests or something similar, but my expectations were once again overturned.
“It was five thousand years ago. While the name ‘Demon Lord’s Army’ is now firmly established, we were originally from Isal.”
What Suella said was what the Demon Lord’s Army called a fairy tale. There were the gods who presided over the sun and the moon, who were brothers. They weren’t particularly close, nor were they distant. Their subordinates were similar. But disaster, as they say, strikes suddenly. The seeds of conflict spread like wildfire, sprouting everywhere and eventually blooming into the grand flower of war.
“Our Overgod, Luine, sacrificed herself to isolate and shelter our ancestors, who were on the verge of extinction, in a separate world on a continent.”
That was the origin of the Demon Lord’s Army.
“At first, they apparently sought peace through dialogue, but as time passed, Luine was branded a false god, and we went from being creatures of the night to creatures of darkness.”
The moon god, Luine, granted them a way to connect Isal with that continent, and Suella’s ancestors created the path. That was the beginning of the dungeons.
“After that, it was a quagmire.”
They fought, and fought, and fought, and fought, and for an endless stretch of fighting, it was apparently two thousand years ago that the conclusion between heroes and the Demon Lord began to sound the bell of ceasefire.
“The distant past may not matter to us. This continent, with only its moonlight, is my homeland and my place. However, even so, I can still feel it.”
“We have a homeland.”
“We long for it. To return to our homeland, to live there, to feel the wind, the scents, the warmth, and to die there. There isn’t a tribe in the Demon Lord’s Army that doesn’t feel this.”
The leader of the tribe with the strongest desire becomes what is called the Demon Lord.
“There’s quite a grand scale to this story.”
Most of my cigarette had turned to ash without me smoking it. Apparently, I had been engrossed in Suella’s story. I pressed the cigarette into the ashtray and extinguished the embers.
“Honestly, I cannot comprehend that emotion, nor can I ascertain if it is the truth.”
However, my scales had certainly tipped.
“For one thing, I still suspect this company itself might be an elaborate prank.”
When I thought about it, I was the type of person who found thinking all this out troublesome. But as I got older, I started overthinking things and calculating risks.
“In two years, I’ll be thirty. I can’t afford to push myself anymore, and after thirty, it impacts job prospects. I’m scared enough to know that I should refuse such a dangerous job instantly if it were truly real.”
My body, in the first place, isn’t built for recklessness. If I die, my entire future life would be in vain.
“But, you know, I was in the kendo club in high school, a sports-oriented club. I believe I have grit.”
But, you know, I found it interesting.
“Someone like me…”
Under the spirit of ‘it can be done’ forged in a black company, I thought it wouldn’t be so bad to just charge ahead without thinking sometimes.
“Will you hire me?”
“Jiro Tanaka-sama, we, the Demon Lord’s Army, welcome you.”
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single, no girlfriend for seven years, and…
I became a Dungeon Tester.
For now, I will post the written parts as they are completed.
Regarding the novel, I am merely a novice with a bit of flair, but I would appreciate any typos, omissions, or feedback.
I look forward to your continued support.
