Jiro Tanaka, 28, single.
Her: Suella Henderberg.
Memoria Tris.
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee).
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class).
Position: Warrior.
“A battle to the death, huh.”
My life in this fantasy world is far removed from everyday life, but they were battles against opponents we couldn’t recognize as human. Instructors Kio and Fushio, though humanoid, were hardly human in appearance. Not to mention the opponents I’ve encountered in dungeons up until now.
I’ve cut down demons that weren’t human but nearly so in previous training, but this time, my opponent is a genuine human. This means I need to be prepared.
Moreover, it’s not right to stay silent about information like this, even if it’s unconfirmed. Thorough reporting and consultation are basic. Even with unconfirmed information, what should be consulted about should be consulted. But… am I being tested?
The Cockroach Man, Gee, in front of me, gives off a shady impression, both initially and afterwards. Whether it’s intentional or natural doesn’t matter, but I certainly can’t take his words at face value. Furthermore, there’s an order from the Supervisor: resolve this incident without relying on Suella or him. Does the Supervisor know about this battle to the death? Or is it just a coincidence?
If I’m going to trust and act, it’s better sooner rather than later. But if the intention is to obstruct my actions with misinformation… damn, my thoughts are starting to go in circles.
“More details?”
“I dunno? GAH!?”
“Can I hit him?”
“That’s not something you say *after* hitting someone!? And with a metal chunk, no less!?”
“Be grateful it wasn’t sharp.”
I tried to draw out information to improve the situation, but I’m not wrong for punching this guy who’s spouting nonsense that sounds like he just came here to mess around. I assess him while feeling a sensation like punching a sandbag through my Ore Tree.
“I can’t believe it.”
“No, no, it’s true!”
“Your very existence.”
“Me?!”
“As expected.”
My thoughts are running wild, and I’m not even cracking jokes. I pull out a cigarette, put it in my mouth, and light it. A familiar motion I can do with one hand. It’s an action I can perform even with my eyes closed, and the sensation of it filling my lungs calms my thoughts.
So, what should I do? For a prank, the behavior of these two is rather concerning. More importantly, Wadou hasn’t denied what this Cockroach Man, Gee, said. That’s what bothers me.
“Fuuuuh.”
Exhaling purple smoke as if to say there’s nothing I can do, despite my concern. As I finally catch my breath and consider what to do, I hear a voice that sounds exasperated, as if unable to comprehend the situation.
“What are you doing?”
“… You’re the Oni, right? And that guy?”
Whether it was good timing or bad, Himusumi and the others arrived. When they walked in, I had my Ore Tree drawn and pointed at the cockroach-like man, and behind Himusumi sat an Oni. It’s no wonder they’d ask that. And for Nanase, seeing a G, which I’d say every woman detests, personified right in front of her, it’s not surprising she’d hide behind Himusumi.
“It’s just a little trouble, nothing that will interfere with work. Also, if your business is done, you should go home.”
Sensing the air of departure as time is up, I lower my Ore Tree and switch my thinking. I don’t have enough information. I might not have enough time, but acting blindly isn’t wise. I’ll have to do my job and verify things myself within my capabilities. It’s a pain that Memoria, who can do the legwork, is on vacation. Since I can’t use her as a source for gossip or rumors, I’ll have to find another route. For now, I’ll get to work.
“Hmm, I guess I’ll just observe, then.”
“Then I will too.”
“Go home, you two!!”
I’m starting to think they want to hinder me. More importantly, don’t they have work to do? To linger in a space where there was someone they just fought and nearly died to… A normal person would… these guys aren’t normal humans, at least. And it would be sad if an Oni and a G were normal.
“Don’t get in the way… No, if you’re already getting in the way, then it’s perfect, become targets.”
“Hmm, are you looking for a sparring partner?”
“No, Wadou-san, did he just say to become targets?”
I might as well put them to work. My body’s a little stiff from fighting earlier. An Oni, who’s tougher than a human, and Gee, who doesn’t seem like he’d die easily, shouldn’t be a problem.
“Either way is fine. For now, Nanase, equip this.”
“… Is that a serving tray?”
“It’s a shield. Why would I prepare a tray for serving food? Didn’t we talk about this yesterday?”
“But it doesn’t have anything to grip it with.”
I hand Nanase two shields I had placed nearby, but she seemed unable to understand what they were. Or rather, she wasn’t confident. Thinking there’s no way there’s such a bulky serving tray, I point to the disc-shaped iron plate and explain.
“It’s a floating shield. You register your magic to it, determining the user. Then, all you have to do is channel your magic, and it floats.”
I take a drag from my cigarette and exhale smoke in a random direction. Nanase lets out a small, surprised sound and stares at the two floating shields. Originally, one shield would suffice, but these are a pair. Their surface area is smaller accordingly, making them more like small shields than shields. However, their size means there’s less worry about obstructing vision.
“For now, try to float it. Imagine channeling your magic into the shield.”
“Y-yes.”
As Nanase places her hand on the floating shield, which prioritizes ease of use, magic slowly flows into it. Patterns like circuits appear, and the shield slowly lifts.
“Ah.”
But its glow quickly fades, and an metallic clang echoes on the floor.
“If you don’t keep channeling it, it falls immediately, as you can see. If it had a magic stone equipped, it could store magic like a battery and keep floating, but this one doesn’t, so you have to keep channeling magic.”
Originally, floating shields are supposed to have a magic stone equipped in the center, imbued with various functions. But this one doesn’t. It only has the minimal functions of floating and moving. Giving her a high-performance one would not be good for training and would also save on expenses. It’s killing two birds with one stone, though I don’t need to mention the 30/70 split of the reasons. Now, if I add one more element to this, Nanase’s training will be complete.
“Himusumi, you’re on running duty.”
“Huh?”
“Run until I tell you to stop. You tend to run around a lot, but your stamina is too low. You get worn out too quickly. And Nanase, hurry up and make it float, this is defense practice.”
I order them to hurry up, but Himusumi doesn’t seem convinced. Frankly, has he forgotten that he was out of breath and nearly wiped out during the initial check? What’s important in this job is stamina, stamina, and more stamina—the ability to take action with a capable body. Even mages can’t be considered competent if they can’t run a full marathon with ease. Besides, I have no intention of wasting time with observation.
“I’ll make time for you later, so just run.”
I shoo him away like a dog, and only then does Himusumi slowly start to run. Honestly, he doesn’t look motivated.
“Well, that’s fine. Nanase, can you float it yet?”
“Yes, what do I do with this?”
“Hmm? Defend.”
After clenching and unclenching his fists a few times to test the feel of his fists, he steps in. A hard sound echoes through my fists. Naturally, vibrations are transmitted to my arm, but there’s no pain.
“Kya!?”
“Hey, hey, don’t stand still, I’ll start with a jab.”
No warning, no explanation. The first blow was deliberately aimed at the floating shield, but the next one is the real deal. Beings in dungeons wouldn’t offer such kindness as a warning. I’d say it’s generous enough that I missed the first one. Even with a light step, I’m sure it looks the part. Maintaining a rhythm, I circle around Nanase, throwing punch after punch.
“Just a m-moment.”
“Right, left, left. Take this! Don’t just follow with your eyes, use your other five senses. You’ll be deceived if you only use your eyes.”
Even though I’m taking it easy, Nanase struggles and works hard to move the shield and defend. Even factoring in her lack of familiarity with the movements, she’s moving reasonably well, but she wouldn’t be able to use it in an actual battle. Originally, this light punch—though it could knock out a common thug—is struggling to deal with attacks meant to defeat goblins, it’s not enough. At the very least, she needs to be able to handle my attacks with my Ore Tree with ease.
“Ow!”
“Don’t stop moving just because I tapped you lightly. The blade that pierces your body in that time…”
“Yes!”
Well, fortunately, she seems motivated. She listens to what I have to say. There are plenty of signs of improvement. Teaching her is certainly less stressful. With Minami, there were constant demands and requests, and each time Katsu had to suppress them and derail the conversation. The atmosphere was fun, but when it comes to teaching, this feels more fitting. Even with light movements, direct hits to her body are gradually decreasing. Even now, she stepped in a little early and threw a jab, but she cut my arm with a blow from the side.
“I’ll incorporate kicks too.”
“Yes!!”
Seeing that, I shift into a higher gear. She’s a quick learner. While shields are primarily for blocking attacks from the front, their uses are varied. Sometimes they can be weapons, and Nanase understands that. Her mind is open, or rather, flexible. She’s not just defending; by moving the shield and actively hitting me, she’s expanding her defensive range. Her movements are still slow, and there are still many openings, but they are gradually and steadily decreasing. The results are sufficient. When I add light kicks to jabs and mix in feints, she initially falls for them, but she learns to defend against similar attacks. Is this diligence something new? Teaching her is enjoyable because of her learning speed. I wonder how she’ll react next. I use a spinning back kick.
“Ngh.”
She dodges here. Above the defensive action, another option has been added. She dodges by crouching and, seeing my intention to change into a heel drop midway, prepares her shield like an umbrella. I get a little heated. Increasing to the next gear, from second to third, increases not only speed but also power.
“What are you trying to do, Himusumi?”
That was fortunate. The sound of metal colliding and sparks flying. I brace against the impact that nearly sent me forward, and my bones creak slightly. If I were still in the previous gear, the blade I’m now receiving in my gut with my Ore Tree would have pierced through my back and into my chest. Although I wasn’t neglecting to be aware of my surroundings, I was careless. A magnificent attack that exploited that. But…
“You were clearly trying to kill me just now. I know I’ve earned some grudges, but I don’t deserve to be killed!”
While it would be a superb blow in training, Himusumi’s blade held a clear intent to kill. Even so…
“You…”
You’re not sane. I thought that was something only seen in manga, but apparently not. The focus, no, her pupils, are entirely black. Yet, she’s clearly looking at me.
“So this is what ‘battle to the death’ means! You too!!”
I don’t know what flipped the switch, but not only Himusumi, but Nanase is in the same state. I understand what Gee was saying. Or rather, should I call it a glimpse? To forcibly activate the battle to the death, someone probably did something to a corner of their consciousness. With shields coming at me from both sides, I deflect Himusumi’s sword with the force of drawing my Ore Tree and smashing it away. Since when? Nanase and Himusumi are not in their right minds.
“Fireball.”
“Tch.”
Suddenly finding myself caught between them, Himusumi unleashes magic to deny me any thought and approaches, while Nanase, whose clumsy movements from before are gone, distributes the two shields between herself and Himusumi and begins chanting magic. Facing opponents who demonstrate such synergy, I naturally position myself where I can keep an eye on both of them.
“Hey, Cockroach Man!! Is this what you meant by ‘battle to the death’!!”
“It seems so. It appears my warning was too late.”
I deflect the homing fireball that comes at me like a curveball, and block the wind blade that flies at me like it’s trying to hide with my Ore Tree. Then, engaging Himusumi in a sword lock to create a moment of blankness, I confirm the current situation, and the worst possible words come back.
“What do you mean?!”
“If the truth be told, there should have been more leeway. It seems I was also tricked.”
“You mean it’s already in motion?”
“That seems to be the case. The two in front of you are proof. They’re doing their best to eliminate you.”
“Not as a Tester, but me.”
It’s fortunate that I’ve received new information, but the situation is deteriorating rapidly. I’m handling the two who fluidly and silently coordinate their magic and sword strikes with ease. But the problem is when this manipulation was done. They were normal yesterday, or were they truly normal? I don’t know when the manipulation occurred.
“Hey!! Stop watching and help me!!”
“Impossible, no.”
“Sorry.”
“Haa!?”
“At this point, we are definitely being monitored. If I were to help you, our position would be quite precarious. That person intensely dislikes having such moments spoiled.”
“Indeed.”
“You useless bunch!!”
They’ve chosen self-preservation. It’s understandable, considering they’re not close friends, or rather, it’s their first meeting. But this choice is a major blow to my favorability. I give them the middle finger and curse them, but attacks continue to fly.
“Tch, is there any way to cancel their condition!!”
“There is, or should be. There’s no certainty, but Testers are necessary pawns for the current Demon Lord’s Army. I doubt they’d leave unnecessary obstacles.”
“So you’re simply trying to eliminate me. What a nuisance!!”
I mutter that this is the worst, but the attacks don’t stop. I can’t attack even if I want to, but they’re attacking relentlessly. Handling them isn’t a problem. Himusumi’s sword and magic are fast but light, and Nanase’s attacks are moderately heavy but infrequent. They attack ceaselessly, but it’s not excruciatingly difficult. However…
“Defeating them without a scratch will be tough.”
Ignoring the magic and clashing with Himusumi, I check on Nanase’s condition, but there’s no sign of recovery. Personally, I wish she’d show a little more grit. In any manga, it’s unbelievable to be controlled so easily. At least show some sign. From the outside, I must look like I’m in training. Gee said the one who set this up is skilled at self-preservation. Surely, they wouldn’t want to be caught in a battle to the death unnecessarily. If I retreat to a place with a third party present…
“Oh, oh.”
Just as I thought that, the training room door opened. A bad feeling washes over me, but a glance ahead reveals Testers in various equipment swarming in. They carried weapons like ghosts, with the efficiency of stage actors ascending the dais. Among them were…
“Kaidou, Minami, Katsu, Kitamiya.”
My party members. Now, no matter how I deal with this, it feels like I’m being listened to by an unseen opponent. And as if to give me time to brace myself, Himusumi and Nanase’s attacks stopped. What’s more…
“A barrier, huh.”
As soon as all the Testers currently in the company gathered, the training room itself transformed into another world, a Dungeon. I wasn’t given time to prepare. Is this what they call a desperate situation? I haven’t even switched to my convenient magic body.
“What shall we do?”
Not that I’m expecting anyone to hear me. The situation has fallen to the absolute worst. It felt like I heard someone say, “Now, the stage is set.”
Jiro Tanaka, 28, single.
Her: Suella Henderberg.
Memoria Tris.
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee).
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class).
Position: Warrior.
Today’s Word:
“What should I do, huh. Seriously.”
This concludes this installment. Please continue to support “Corporate Expansion from Another World!? Rise to Power Record from Job Change!”
