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Also, I have changed the title of the series.
I hope you like it.
Now, please enjoy the story.
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single
Girlfriend: Suella Hendelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee) + Recruiter
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
Instructor Kio, an acquaintance, appeared from beyond the sandstorm. He burst through the seemingly sturdy wall with the casualness of someone going for a stroll, but then I remembered this was a dungeon existing in another dimension. Logically, it shouldn’t be possible to reach this position even with a rock drill. How did he get here? For this person, I have a feeling he might have arrived through sheer willpower or something similar, but from a magical perspective, it’s undeniably an abnormal situation. If I squinted, I could see a space shimmering with iridescence beyond the sand. If we assume that’s another dimension, then this instructor must have walked through it.
“Instructor, I have a question.”
“Oh, what is it?”
“How did you get here?”
I didn’t ask why he came here, but the question of how he got here came first, and it’s not wrong. This person’s arrival is theoretically, logically, and fundamentally impossible by normal standards. If it were Instructor Fushio appearing with teleportation magic, I might have been able to accept it. I wouldn’t understand how, but I would have prioritized the “why.” No, the way Instructor Kio appeared also feels very much like him. In fact, I’m somewhat convinced by the way he appeared, as it was within my imagination. If Instructor Kio had stylishly appeared via teleportation, that would have been acceptable, but to me, it just felt out of character. Appearing instantly via teleportation isn’t the worst, but I personally prefer an entrance where he appears with his back to me, saying something like, “Hmph, did you call for me?”
Now, let’s stop dwelling on this.
“Sheer willpower!”
“Only you can make that work! Let’s read the room, shall we?”
Instructor Kio’s stern face, complete with a thumbs-up, was remarkably refreshing. It was infuriatingly convincing. I don’t understand it, but was I a fool for taking things so seriously just before a critical battle? It felt like I was being told to look like a fool after putting in all this effort! I can’t complain, though!
“Calm down, Jiro-san. The fact that the Oni King has come to our aid is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“Haa, haa, indeed.”
This person? This *oni*? Although he holds the position of instructor, his true profession is that of a general, one of the strongest in the Demon Lord’s Army. However, there’s one thing you absolutely must not do when there are multiple generals present: never ask which one is stronger. Once, during a break in training, I casually asked who between Instructor Kio and Instructor Fushio was stronger, and his smile deepened, but he didn’t elaborate. Instead, he showed me hell. Blown away by the aftermath, I could only watch the clash between the ultimate sword strikes that cut through demonic magic and the supreme demonic arts that sought to suppress techniques, until Suella came to rescue me. I can still vividly recall that overwhelming scene. One of the participants who orchestrated that spectacle has come to our aid. It’s reassuring. I tried not to feel it, but I still felt the pressure. A minuscule amount, but the unnecessary tension in my body loosened.
“So? I was ordered by the General to recapture the company and came here, but do you have any information about the enemy?”
“You came unprepared!?”
That relief had to be re-engaged by Instructor Kio’s unexpected statement. It’s safe to say that the outcome of a job is determined by its plan. Only a newcomer is permitted to do only what they are told when instructed to do something. Well, when I was told to recapture it and crossed a dimensional barrier, I figured his stats were probably more toward the muscle-head side, but I never expected it to be this much.
“Huh? We’ll crush the enemy. Isn’t that enough?”
“There will be traps, won’t there?”
“Those can be dealt with by smashing them.”
“But what about when the enemy outnumbers us?”
“That’s even better, it just means more fun time.”
“By the way, have you ever challenged the President?”
“Oh! That was fun!!”
Ah, I suspected this during training, but this instructor is truly a combat-hardened warrior. He knows how to fight and how to use fighting as a method, but his priorities are completely messed up. Normally, the common sense of warfare is to gather information before attacking, but he seems to be getting away with the unconventional tactic of gathering information while fighting on the spot.
“…Will it work somehow?”
“I think it will. Probably.”
I felt a twinge of unease as Instructor Kio laughed heartily, reminiscing about the past, but I also trusted him. If he can’t handle it, then to resolve this situation, it would be impossible for me unless some hidden, super-sized talent of mine were to awaken, like a certain protagonist. I scratched my head, sensing the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
“Are you Jirou?”
“Hm?”
My first impression was that he was out of place. When I heard a voice that was as quiet as the ringing of a bell, yet clear and resonant, I thought it was a misunderstanding, but it seemed I was wrong. As the dust settled, amidst the gathering of oni, and as the larger figures surrounded me, a particularly small silhouette slowly stepped forward. The sight of her parting the sand like Moses, combined with her blue kimono adorned with a golden rice stalk, suggested she was a noble being. Her petite frame, the hair reaching her shoulders, and her untainted pale skin were like powder snow, evoking the image of a snow woman. She seemed ethereal, and I wondered why she was here. But when I clearly saw her form, that impression completely changed. Two crimson horns rose from either side of her forehead, the mark of an oni. And despite her small stature, she wielded a massive great glaive, at least two to three times her own height. Her crimson eyes, matching her horns, were fixed directly on me. In her eyes, I saw a fighting spirit. Within her small body, which was heads or two shorter than mine, there was a radiating something that stirred the blood of an oni.
“Are you Jirou?”
“Ah, yes, I am.”
Without waiting for me to respond, slightly stunned by the incongruous equipment that contrasted with her initial impression, she repeated the question. Only then did I manage to answer.
“Is this how oni greet people?”
“I understood.”
Despite asking a question, I received no clear answer from the girl in front of me. As if by reflex, I felt something cold, and before I could even think, my nerves had me grabbing my ‘Ore Tree’. The fact that the stone pavement at my feet was cracking gave me the certainty that if I hesitated, my torso would have been tears apart.
“What!?”
“Oops, don’t move. You either, young lady.”
“Ngh.”
I couldn’t tear my gaze away, but I could tell from her voice that Suella and the others were also immobilized. In the meantime, the blades of the glaive and the Ore Tree ground against each other.
“Oni King-sama, what is this!! No way!?”
“Oops, don’t misunderstand. I’m not part of any rebellion. What I just stopped you from doing wasn’t as a general, but as a father.”
“Are you aware of the situation!? While we’re just standing here!!”
“I believe I am. Don’t worry, those behind the door will be taken care of in an instant. So, don’t interfere with your daughter.”
The words, cutting off Suella’s speech, left no room for argument.
“Aren’t you acting like a doting parent, Instructor!?”
Even facing the aura of killing intent, and circulating magic throughout my body, I had no reason to remain silent.
“Geez, not only has one trouble passed, but another has landed on us!”
“Jiro-san.”
Her strength was indeed astonishing, but considering the weight of the glaive, her weight wasn’t that significant. It was sharp and fast, but the sheer force was manageable considering the weight I had dealt with before. That’s why I was able to knock her away to create some distance.
“I don’t know the reason, or rather, I don’t have time to ask. Suella, the quickest way for us to win is for me to fight this girl. Isn’t that right?”
“…Oni King-sama.”
“Kahaha, I’m happy to have such an understanding disciple. You got it, whether I win or lose against Ina, I’ll settle this matter properly.”
“I thought it would be better if you lost quickly, but in that case…”
“Ah.”
“It will be until we take your life.”
I knew it! This combat-obsessed parent and child! Without even time to curse, the girl called Ina by the instructor attacked again.
“Wait, Instructor, doesn’t this girl seem different? I thought she was a quiet girl with few words just a moment ago!?”
The gentle snow had transformed into a fierce blizzard. I hate to say it, but her mouth, which looked like it was about to let out a “Ku-ke-ke-ke-ke,” gave her an unsettling aura, which was only amplified by her good looks. She manipulates the glaive, which should be too heavy for her, with remarkable skill. Threaten with the point, sweep with the blade – she wields a weapon capable of both thrusting and cutting with incredible grace. As a result, I have to start by adjusting my eyes to it. But hey, it’s not a number of attacks or a speed I can’t defend against.
“Naturally. She’s my daughter?”
“Not at all alike!!”
“She takes after her mother!!”
“I understand!!”
While Instructor Kio’s words were understandable, my arms and legs moved busily, anticipating the opponent’s movements, all while engaging in this nonsensical conversation. According to one theory, the reason ancient Japanese warriors wore loose clothing like hakama was to make it difficult to read their movements. Whether this girl’s attire has the same meaning is unknown, but as a result, it’s difficult to predict her movements by observing her muscles and joints, as she moves freely in a kimono with long sleeves and a long hem. The only consolation is that the weapon I possess, the ‘Ore Tree,’ is classified as a great sword and is made of a material that is three-in-one: unbreakable, unbendable, and unchippable. It’s not like I paid a price that could buy a new car for nothing. However…
“I’m definitely going to claim overtime pay!!”
Why in the world do I have to engage in a battle to the death with such a young girl? Normally, when fighting a beautiful girl, one should say, “Stop!! We shouldn’t fight!!” or “You shouldn’t kill people!!”
“Looking away is sad, you know?”
“I’m not looking awayyyyy!!”
I guess I’ve gotten used to it. This atmosphere of fighting and killing. Instead of being afraid of the killing intent, even when the blade passes inches from my ear, all I feel is a tingling sensation that tells me where it was. My hesitant lunges indent the stone pavement, increasing the momentum of my downward strike.
“Hmph!!”
“Ah, yes, young man, yes, yes!! More! Play with me!!”
As the girl, who attacked me as if playing, I also felt the combat switch turn on, and with a ferocious smile, I swung the ‘Ore Tree’.
“Aha!”
The upward strike from below, which should have been capable of separating the upper and lower body if it had landed, was lightly dodged as if I were having a training session with a Tengu. The sensation of the blade cutting through empty air fueled my motivation even further. Alright, if that’s how you want to play, let’s play tag!! Taking a breath as if exhaling, I briefly, in less than a thousandth of a second, filled my lungs with air, braced my core, and transferred the force from my feet to my waist, then my back, shoulders, arms, and fingers, visualizing the sword line and bringing it to reality.
“Fast!! So fast!!”
Tsubame-gaeshi (Swallow Return). Adding a slight twist of the body, I used the recoil from the swing to attack the opponent. The girl seemed even more amused, sticking her glaive into the ground like a pole vault and distancing herself from the blade. Furthermore, after dodging, she used the recoil from my ‘Ore Tree’ hitting the glaive to spin vertically like a windmill and bring down her blade. But, as long as my feet are on the ground…
“Still more!!”
Moving my muscles and bones simultaneously with my brainwaves, I connected to a third Tsubame-gaeshi. The clash of weapons, I don’t know how many times it has been. I tightened my grip even further so as not to miss. Now, I wonder how I’m going to finish this troublesome job.
_Another Side_
I was raised very, very dearly. Perhaps it’s because I’m the youngest among many brothers and sisters. When I asked for something, most of my requests were granted. If I expressed a desire for dinner, it was served that day. If I said where I wanted to go, I was taken there. If I said I wanted something, it was promptly procured. Even so, Father and Mother would scold me when I was wrong. Therefore, I was able to grow up without making mistakes in important matters. But that was all. How boring. When did I first utter this word? How long could I play innocently? I am the child of an oni; even as a female, that doesn’t change. I want to fight strong people. Father granted even that selfish wish. He brought people stronger than me to the mansion’s garden and let us spar. Naturally, I couldn’t win when I was small. Even when I repeatedly attacked with a wooden sword, I was easily dodged, parried, or deflected. And my weapon would be knocked away. I am weak, I cried many times saying so. Each time, Father and Mother denied it. They told me I was still young and could become stronger. Hearing that, I persevered. I trained to become stronger. Weak oni have no value. I don’t want to become a weak and pathetic oni. Even when I lost, I bit down and persevered until I won. After that, there was no one my age who could defeat me. But it wasn’t enough. Even if I reached the pinnacle at that moment, I couldn’t be satisfied. If there was a higher mountain nearby, I couldn’t rest until I climbed it. I want to become stronger. But I didn’t know. I was cherished. I knew that. I thought I knew. But I didn’t realize how much I was cherished. The fate of a defeated oni is predetermined. The loser fights desperately; surviving a serious match is a disgrace. But I am alive. I didn’t know the answer. I didn’t let them know. I didn’t want to know. That no one was truly fighting me seriously. What I seek is a serious battle. But no one gave me that. I hated everyone who acted in a way that denied my oni blood. But I couldn’t hate them. Father and the uncles who taught me martial arts all cared for me. They treated me like a flower that no one touched. Ah, it’s so frustrating, so frustrating. Everyone doesn’t give me what I want. Even if I reach out to get it, they pull it away. Ah, my passion will cool down. Please, don’t disappear. It hasn’t ignited yet. So, it smolders quietly within me. Telling myself so, I waited. I waited, letting everything but one part of my heart cool down. “Jiro.” Ah, when Father laughed and told me about you, and said he’d let me meet you, I thought the time had finally come. Oni and humans, destined enemies who cannot mix. Ah, I’m looking forward to it, I’m looking forward to it. Will you ignite me? Will you grant the wish I make, just once? Please, fight to the death with me. Ah, I love it. I love the swing I put into this strike. Ah, just as Father said. The person before me is serious, I understand. I understand that they are coming to sever my neck, my body. Ah, this is it, this is what I wanted. Come, let’s laugh and fight to the death.
_Another Side END_
I feel like I’ve just learned something incredibly significant, but let’s put it aside for now. It’s getting late.
“So? What do you want from me?”
“Fufufu, you cruel person, asking a woman to say it when you already know.”
“If I knew everything, I wouldn’t be in trouble.”
Finishing a job isn’t just about doing it. Even to write a single report, I have to meticulously examine the content and choose what to report. A family restaurant cook doesn’t make a dish different from the order. For some reason, this person is starved for battle, like she’s on the verge of starvation. With each exchange, she seems to regain energy, like she’s taking a meal and replenishing her nutrition. This can no longer be concluded with a simple “that’s the end.”
“For me, it’s only about fighting.”
“Then isn’t that enough?”
“No, it’s not enough, not enough.”
More importantly, she probably won’t end it. It won’t end until she cuts off my head. Unfortunately, “letting myself lose” isn’t an option on my list, so I’m going all out to win. The question now is, how do I win?
I guess there’s only one way.
“Is that so? Well, I’ve had my fill. Shall we settle the bill here?”
“Aha! That’s good, that killing intent, it’s top-notch.”
As if to reset, I ended the exchange and created some distance.
“Ah, I was actually planning to save this for later, but it’s about being adaptable.”
Slowly, I raised the ‘Ore Tree’ to an upper stance.
“I will end it with this single stroke.”
There’s no need for a second stroke in Jigen-ryu. I’ll demonstrate that here.
“It’s still lacking in training, but it’s a glimpse of ‘Un’yo’.”
“It looks delicious!!”
Presenting the ultimate technique before a girl starved for battle, she closes the distance I created, as if she can’t stand it any longer. The distance I created is ten meters. For her stride, that’s five steps, or less than a second.
“If you rush in so much…”
“Huh?”
But you see, for me, that distance is…
“You’ll spill it, you know?”
The girl who was in front of me is now behind me, and the raised greatsword is being swung down. All that’s left for me is the pain of my body creaking as I break through the wind pressure, and the sensation of something being cut through, along with the metal, in my hand. Honestly, I think I could have won without going this far. I hear a thud as something collapses. Slowly turning, I see a girl whose torso is cut diagonally from her right shoulder downwards.
“Are you satisfied?”
“…Ah, thank you.”
As expected of an oni, her vitality is off the charts. It’s remarkable that she can speak to me without any wavering. Her face, expressing gratitude, is full of contentment. She didn’t desire hesitation. Losing is fine. But I want to win against you who gave it your all. She sought a serious battle. She didn’t desire the result, but the process of winning or losing seriously. This is the result of responding to that. She must be satisfied.
“If you’re satisfied, then that’s fine. Now, get treatment.”
“That’s a rather rude thing to say.”
But that satisfied expression quickly turns into anger. Her eyes, which watch me as if she’s about to bite, convey a plea not to tarnish the battle.
“There are three reasons. First, if you die, the instructor will kill me. Second, if you die, I’ll have a bad aftertaste.”
The first reason will undoubtedly come true. It’s a miracle I haven’t had my head torn off while we’re talking. Ah, I’m not hearing any strange whooshing sounds of wind resistance from any sudden movements, am I? The second reason is also sincere. Why should I be satisfied killing a woman? Unlike oni, who are inherently combat-oriented, I’m just a former salaryman.
“Third, are you content with just one battle?”
“Eh?”
“So, are you okay with just losing? I wouldn’t be.”
The third reason is just a superfluous addition. It’s just a provocation to make her show the will to survive.
“…I don’t like losing.”
“Then hurry up and get treatment.”
Really, for my own life too.
“Will you promise to fight me again?”
“…Next time, with my magic body.”
“Fufu, for now, I’ll put up with that.”
Nodding, she faints. Seeing that, the oni rush over in a panic.
” ” “Young Ladiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!” ” ”
“You’re loud, hurry up and treat me.”
” ” ” “Yes!!” ” ”
Her closed eyelids fluttered open at the gruff voices. I can’t possibly interfere with them using talismans, medicine, and magic for treatment, so I adjust the ‘Ore Tree’ on my back and walk towards Instructor Kio, who stands resolutely. It’s like a condemned prisoner walking to their execution, but it’s just my imagination.
“So? Do you have any last words?”
“I believe there are grounds for leniency, don’t you think!?”
“Shut up!! My own daughter was wounded!! As a parent, I can’t help but want to kill the opponent!!”
“That’s a logical point and I sympathize, but it’s unreasonable, isn’t it!?”
I was forced into a death match without any recourse. I wish they would listen to my opinion a little more. With that thought, I met Instructor Kio’s gaze directly for several seconds.
“…Hmph. I guess I’ll take out this anger on the one behind the door.”
Apparently, I get to live.
“Here! Why are you treating her so slowly!? Finish up quickly, we’re leaving!”
Watching the instructor, who took his frustration out on several oni before leaving, I finally felt like I had a moment of respite.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Ah, sorry it took so long.”
“No, it’s fine as long as you’re safe.”
Suella softly hands me a drink. It’s water, but to me now, it’s more precious than anything, quenching my thirst for life. Memoria gently takes the empty cup as I drain it in one gulp.
“That was splendid.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“Your catchphrase was perfect, too!”
“I didn’t say it with that intention!!”
I can’t quite tell if Memoria’s words are praise or teasing. But I know she’s looking out for me. As proof, her position is such that she can support me at any moment. Pretending not to notice, I gaze at the large door looming beyond the oni.
“And then…”
“Yes, it’s just beyond that door.”
I want to avoid overtime work any longer. We took a detour, so the time limit is approaching. However, because of the detour, our fighting strength has been bolstered.
“Alright, let’s go.”
Even a few minutes of rest makes my body ready to fight. I head towards the door to finish the remaining work. Before that, I glance at the girl being swarmed by the oni. I give a small wave towards her through a narrow gap and walk past. She continues to watch me without my noticing.
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single
Girlfriend: Suella Hendelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee) + Recruiter
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
Today’s Word: No more overtime!!
Also, absolutely avoid any additional work!!
This chapter concludes here. The reason the new character’s speech pattern became an imitation of Kyoto dialect is the author’s personal preference. Women who speak with a Kansai dialect are cute, aren’t they? This character was born from that fantasy. Of course, she is planned to appear in the future. Let’s continue to create a dungeon that even heroes cannot conquer!!
Revised: Corporate Expansion from Another World!? Rise to Power Record from Job Change, please continue to support us!!
