Rank 17 in daily?!
Rank 93 in weekly?!
Huh?!
Confused about what happened, I’ll post with the support of the increasing ratings and bookmarks.
Thank you all so much!!
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single.
Girlfriend: Suella Henderberg.
Memoria Tris.
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee).
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class).
Position: Warrior.
“Excuse me.”
“No, Jiro-kun, you came at the perfect timing and helped me out a lot.”
The person responsible for the mayhem with their madness and magic, and the interceptor who gives a thumbs-up while saying “thank you.”
It’s fortunate that we were stopped before we could have a showdown in the office that would have been like an unfinished ending to our adventure.
Currently, the aftermath of the recent brawl is being handled by several members assigned to the Tester Department, along with Suella’s contracted spirit, who are using magic to clean up.
Their efficiency is so high that if they broadcasted it on TV shopping for housewives, they’d surely receive a flood of calls for one unit per household. It’s being restored as quickly as if watching a rewinded video.
At this pace, it should be back to normal in a few more minutes.
As you can see, despite the brawl, there are no broken areas.
The biggest damage is…
Well, I jumped into the middle of it with my “spirit defense” and took the full brunt of the magic, making me arguably the biggest victim.
I’m currently receiving healing magic while being cradled by Suella’s lap.
“But when you suddenly jumped in yelling ‘Wait a minuteee!!’, I really didn’t know what to do. You were too reckless, even if it was to stop it.”
“That’s right, Jiro-san, I was terrified when the magic directly hit me, even with you trying to restrain yourself.”
“My body just moved on its own. I’m sorry.”
Keiri-san says it like she’s scolding me, and Suella looks teary-eyed. It seems like they think I intervened out of chivalry, but my actual reason was different.
While it wasn’t completely painless to be hit by magic, I’ve gotten used to enduring it. I reflected on how my body had become sturdier, but then I saw the scene where the stack of documents, which I presume were painstakingly created, was about to be blown away. My salaryman instincts kicked in, and I thought, “I won’t let it be redone!!” and my body just leaped out.
Well, since I realized at the beginning that my business trip was the cause, I thought I had to stop it myself, which led to this.
Though I can’t say it even if my mouth were torn open.
“Well, it’s fine. As long as you calm down and Suella does her job, I have no complaints.”
“…”
“Suella? Don’t tell me you’re still thinking of abandoning your work?”
“No, I admit I wasn’t calm either.”
“It was so sudden, wasn’t it? I can’t imagine Evia-sama would forget to notify you.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes~. Well, I heard rumors and casually asked if you were going to be okay being separated from Jiro-kun for three months, and I think that’s what caused it~.”
Keiri-san says with a laugh, “Suella’s expression when she dropped the stack of documents was hilarious…” but… Brutus, you’re the cause of that mayhem.
However, something is strange. I can’t imagine that supervisor would forget to inform their department about one person’s business trip, especially one that spans across different worlds.
Perhaps my business trip was decided very suddenly?
It’s unusual for them to have rumors precede official reports, so I can’t help but suspect there might be some ulterior motive.
But then again, even if there’s a sense of unease, it’s still a fact. Thinking about it won’t lead to an answer.
If so, it’s better to prioritize time.
“But, what should I do? I was expecting Suella to accompany me.”
“That’s impossible. I have my own work here, and they have their own department over there, right? Well, if Suella could defeat Evia-sama, it might be a different story.”
“I’m going to a small ancient shrine.”
“Wait!! What are you planning to contract with?!”
“The spirits I currently command are no match, but if it’s that person!!”
“Let’s calm down for now, Suella.”
I tense my abs to avoid being thrown off her lap and sit up, hugging my head.
If I think about it calmly, Keiri-san is right.
Somehow, Suella has been supporting me ever since I joined the company.
We naturally became lovers, and I thought we would continue to work together like this.
However, it’s definitely out of line to drag work from a different department.
“So, this business trip this time, I have no acquaintances there?”
“Yes~, I don’t have any connections with the Information Department either, and neither does Suella, right?”
“That would be the case.”
“Well, it will be what it will be.”
Even as I say that, I think some preparation and information gathering will be necessary.
“By the way, Jiro-kun, when do you depart?”
“It’s scheduled for next weekend, but I need to prepare various things.”
“Why?”
“I can’t bring things from here, can I?”
“Ah~”
While Keiri-san nodded in understanding, I lightly patted Suella’s head a few times, let go of her, and recalled the preparation guidelines given by the supervisor.
Naturally, when going there, bringing modern equipment is strictly forbidden.
Even if I did bring it, I don’t think it would be useful. It’s generally better not to bring things like compasses or survival knives.
It’s due to the difference in technological systems.
A single screw from here could be considered a lost artifact over there.
So,
“I need to get my equipment in the shopping district. They said the cost will be reimbursed, but I was instructed to procure it myself.”
The necessary items were basically written in the guidelines, but there will probably be other things needed.
In the worst-case scenario, I might have to go without equipment, but I want to avoid being inconvenienced as much as possible.
Fortunately, most things from the underground mall should be fine.
All that’s left is to avoid any pitfalls and think of ways to make the trip comfortable.
“Suella, you’re not scheduled to dive into a dungeon this week, so do you want to stay over?”
“Yes!! Then, I’ll finish up my work.”
“You know how to handle a Dark Elf, don’t you?”
“I don’t want to be called useless.”
If we’re going to be apart for three months, I at least want to spend time together until just before I leave.
I see Suella off as she efficiently resumes her work, and Keiri-san also returns to her work, following Suella by saying it’s important.
I’d just be in the way if I stayed here, so I’ll start preparing for my journey.
Even so,
“I’ll be coming here.”
When you need support, you naturally go to a familiar place.
I hadn’t heard that she had returned.
But, just in case, I stand before the usual slightly old-fashioned wooden door.
The sign for Memoria’s shop is of course closed, and the curtains are drawn.
I wonder what Memoria’s business is. I haven’t seen her for three weeks already.
When you haven’t seen someone for such a long time, you start to miss them.
While thinking about how I’m two-timing her, I reach for the door and pull it.
Naturally, the door…
“It opened? Did you forget to lock it?”
“I didn’t forget.”
“Whoa!?”
The door, which shouldn’t have opened, did, and I heard a reply I didn’t expect. I instinctively let go of the door.
“Even though we met after a long time, you’re surprised immediately. As one of your lovers, I’m shocked.”
“Sorry, Memoria. You’re back?”
“Yes, I’m back. I thought you heard from someone and came to see me, but judging by your expression, was it a coincidence? Should I be happy that you came to see me, or should I be disappointed that my expectation was wrong?”
This unhurried tone, there’s no mistake.
The girl who slowly emerged from the opened door.
Her demeanor has a mysterious fear that makes you think, “She’s a vampire, alright.”
As I catch a glimpse of her with a slight start, she’s wearing a hooded, dark brown robe that suggests travel, as if she just returned. Her fair skin, matching silver long hair, and red eyes are striking.
“So, will you help me clean the store this time?”
“Conveniently, I have some free time to help with basic cleaning.”
“I appreciate it. I’ll offer you some tea when we’re done.”
“If possible, I’d like some stories from your travels too.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Ah, and…”
“Yes?”
“Welcome back.”
“…I have returned.”
I thought I should say it before I forgot, and it seems it was the right decision.
Though it’s hard to tell, I don’t miss the slight blush on her cheeks.
After a moment’s pause, I follow Memoria into the store, her gaze averted.
Cleaning supplies are spread out, as if she had just been working.
Naturally, I pick up one of them and start cleaning.
“Is the store closed today?”
“It is, but there’s no set date for reopening yet.”
“Hey now, come on? This is our regular place.”
“I can’t help it. As soon as I returned, I received direct orders from the Demon Lord himself, so I couldn’t refuse.”
“That’s tough. Is it okay to ask what the instructions are?”
Though I suspect the answer is probably no, I didn’t want the conversation to end, as we wouldn’t be able to meet for a while.
I’ve been to this store many times.
I have a rough idea of where everything is placed, so I move things aside, dust them off, and put them back while chatting.
Using magic would be faster, but the drawback of cleaning magic is that it’s effective for large areas like gymnasiums but not for intricate spaces.
It simply increases the number of uses, but wasting mana seems foolish.
As for me, I simply can’t use that magic. When I asked Memoria before, she said,
“I use it depending on my mood.”
Perhaps she’s in that kind of mood this time.
Memoria, dressed in sturdy traveler’s clothes suitable for getting dirty, unlike her usual maid outfit, and I converse while cleaning the store efficiently.
“Yes, that’s fine. The content is also related to you, so it saved me the trouble of coming to pick you up since you came here.”
“…”
I thought about the content of the instructions and replied with silence, falling into thought.
At this point, I could pretty much guess.
If it’s related to me at this timing,
“Is Memoria’s family’s business a store?”
“They do that too.”
“And do they have a merchant caravan?”
“They do. I get the products for this store from them.”
“Ah~”
“By the way, I was away for about a month due to some trouble within the merchant caravan. My father was supposed to resolve it, but I was suddenly asked to go, which was really problematic.”
She’s truly a laid-back lover.
She declared her love and confessed, but it’s also due to my weakness for her. I’ve come to accept that her laid-back nature is part of her personality.
“However, if an opportunity like this comes up, it might not be so bad. Evia-sama seems to have taken notice of my resume.”
“So, does this mean the merchant caravan for this business trip is…”
“It’s mine.”
My guess was perfectly correct. I thought it would be an inter-world business trip without any acquaintances, but it seems the difficulty has decreased slightly.
“Although, when I say merchant caravan, it’s just you and me.”
Retraction. It seems the difficulty has increased considerably.
I had envisioned a small to medium-sized merchant caravan of about ten people, but it was not a caravan, but an individual.
I mistakenly thought the merchant caravan mentioned earlier would be involved, but that was not the case.
“Isn’t that called peddling?”
“It can be called that.”
“It can only be called that…”
“No, I am a merchant, and you are my bodyguard, so we are a merchant caravan. Besides, large merchant caravans attract attention.”
Certainly, as the number of people increases, safety increases, but attention also rises proportionally.
With more people, there would be more things they could do, but rumors would spread, increasing the possibility of the information gathering being leaked.
Therefore, it would be better to act with fewer people, reducing the risk of exposure.
The purpose of my business trip itself is like sightseeing. That makes more sense.
“A base has been prepared there. We just have to move between them in order.”
“That’s convenient.”
“Yes, as long as we’re careful of monsters, bandits, and also nobles who are like filth, clergymen who don’t understand what’s pure, and merchants who are only driven by greed.”
“It’s full of danger.”
“Yes.”
I don’t know if I can feel at ease because Memoria is with me, or if I can’t feel at ease because of the harsh environment there.
The way she uses the word “even” leaves me questioning. It seems the destination is quite dangerous.
I wonder if it’s a close call compared to the most dangerous places on Earth.
“How will we travel?”
“I’d say a carriage, but we’ll be walking to the first town, so please pack your luggage in this bag. Magical bags are conspicuous, so they can’t be used.”
“It seems like we’ll really have to pack the bare minimum.”
“Also, I forgot to mention, to hide my vampire abilities, please don’t rely on my combat power there.”
“It really is full of danger.”
The more I hear, the more uncertainties pop up.
“Memoria, have you been to Isal before?”
“I’ve been there several times for peddling, so I have no problem with the geography.”
“Then, can you tell me what supplies I’ll need? I’ve never done anything like this before.”
Unlike here, there isn’t a convenience store if I forget something.
I have to do what I can to manage as much as possible.
“If you can secure water, start a fire, and prepare an animal, and have a blanket for warmth, you’ll be fine.”
“Hey, I’m going on a business trip, right? I’m not going on a survival expedition, am I?”
“I’m joking.”
Please, try to maintain a more discernible expression when you’re joking. I’ll try my best to understand.
I admit, I did think that if I had those things, I could probably survive.
Ignoring my state of mind, the majority of the store cleaning is finished, and now it’s time for my business.
“Please wait a moment.”
Memoria leans the cleaning supplies against the wall and enters the back storage.
It’s probably only a minute or so.
She returns with a hooded cloak of the same color she’s wearing in one hand, and a shoulder-type leather bag in the other.
“Both are common items used for travel.”
“I see.”
“That will be fifty thousand yen.”
“You’re charging me!? Well, of course.”
“It’s a business, so even with lovers, the lines are drawn clearly.”
I feel a sense of calm watching her work the register so nonchalantly. I find a sense of comfort in this exchange after so long.
“Please give me a receipt for everything later.”
“Understood. Next is food. Here are the preserved foods of Isal.”
“I figured, but… they look unappetizing.”
“They are, indeed, unappetizing. It’s common to make soup with them.”
And then I’m shown a black something that looks like a rock, called dried meat.
Honestly, I’d prefer to bring canned food if I were to eat this, but that doesn’t seem possible.
“Is it okay to bring seasonings?”
“It’s fine if you transfer them. I’ll be bringing some too.”
“All right!”
Hearing that, I can’t help but do a fist pump.
Even for overseas business trips, the food situation is usually a concern.
No matter how bad the food is, it can be salvaged with seasonings.
Now that I see hope, I decide what to bring while consulting with Memoria.
I was worried if it would work out, but now I think it will.
“The total comes to seventy-four thousand five hundred yen.”
“Will this be reimbursed?”
I receive the receipt at the very end of the payment, and looking at the amount, Memoria and I share a laugh.
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single.
Girlfriend: Suella Henderberg.
Memoria Tris.
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee).
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class).
Position: Warrior.
Today’s quote:
I thought I was going to a fantasy world on a school trip, but I’ve realized it’s back to a proper work assignment!!
This is all for now.
Next time, I plan to go to Isal.
Thank you all for your readership and support, which allowed me to quickly increase my ranking!
To meet your expectations, I will increase the update frequency from once a week to twice a week and work even harder.
Please continue to support this work!!
