Jiro Tanaka, 28, has a girlfriend.
Girlfriend: Suella Handelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
When I woke up, I confirmed Memoria was sleeping beside me and, even with my sleepy mind, I was immersed in a feeling of happiness that was undeniable.
Memoria, perhaps because she’s a vampire or due to her personal constitution, isn’t quite herself when she first wakes up.
So, when I gently stroke her cheek like this, she nuzzles against me like a cat.
It’s a privilege only I have, healing the stress from yesterday.
Suella, on the other hand, is quite composed in that regard, so I don’t often get to see her sleeping face.
More often, I’m the one who gets caught gazing and is woken up.
And with Memoria, once she’s in this state, I have no choice but to wake her up slowly.
If I shake her, she’ll open her eyes, but it takes a long time for her mind to truly awaken.
In situations like this, I have no choice but to either wait for her to naturally awaken or give her some coffee or another drink to help her wake up gradually.
I once asked her what she would do if she were attacked in such a state.
At that moment, Memoria calmly replied:
“I would instinctively react and annihilate them.”
She was talking about her automatic defense mechanism against killing intent.
I thought bitterly at the time, “It would be unbearable if I were killed by her sleeping posture.”
Now, should I stop escaping reality with this kind of healing?
It’s fortunate that I woke up at a time when the morning sun was just starting to peek through the clouds.
Waking up early means I have more time to use.
It’s a perfect time to sort out the situation while Memoria is still waking up.
“Alright, what should I think about first?”
The situation is on the verge of being embroiled in a war. The setup is the Theocratic Nation Tris and the Eclair Kingdom, allied against the Empire, which created golems using the remains of a past Demon Lord, and the first Demon Lord (a ghost) who has become a disaster.
It’s a three-way conflict.
Logically, it’s impossible for me to resolve or improve this situation.
Moreover, it’s not necessary for me to do so.
And I don’t possess that kind of “I’m helping because people are in trouble!” sense of justice.
So, the next best strategy would be to consider how to avoid getting caught up in this situation.
The best outcome would be to transcend worlds and return to Japan, but since some idiots summoned a Hero, that will take time.
That leaves the choice naturally settling from “best” to “better.”
Hiding and waiting in a safe location within a city or facility capable of teleportation for return—this would be the “better” option.
Bass will handle the arrangements for that.
Memoria is with me, so it’s not a bad choice, all things considered.
But…
“Is that really okay?”
Am I just going to let things flow and be okay with that?
A doubt crosses my mind, questioning myself if this is truly alright.
Something akin to impatience wells up, asking if there’s anything I can do.
“No, that’s not it.”
I deny it, as if swallowing my own emotions, and re-examine the root of this feeling.
Then, it naturally becomes clear.
The order was reversed, or rather, I was in the wrong position.
It’s not about what I *can* do, but what I *want* to do.
Why am I being so passive?
As if prompted by that thought, my mind takes a step forward, and I realize how pointless all my previous fumbling efforts were.
“…Ah, so that’s how it is.”
This time, the feeling settles in, like a confirmation of what realization feels like.
It seems I made the wrong first step in this unfamiliar environment.
OK, my thoughts are clear, I won’t make a mistake this time.
In this situation, what do I want to do? Let’s think about it as a working adult and as an individual.
As a working adult, the first thing that comes to mind is how to benefit the company.
As an individual, the first thing I consider is the safety of Memoria and myself.
Is it possible to reconcile these two desires?
It’s not impossible, but it’s difficult.
It’s not impossible, but it is arduous.
What would benefit the company in this situation?
The decline of this country’s military strength is an obvious profit.
Is that something an individual can achieve?
If we’re talking about possibility or impossibility…
“What can I do?”
First, let’s consider what’s considered impossible, ignoring the individual.
Fighting the army or engaging in guerrilla warfare are the first things that come to mind, but I dismiss them with a scoff.
There’s no way I can do that.
To execute something like that, I would first have to rely on the forces of Bass and the others.
It’s obvious that I’d be stopped, and I don’t have that kind of authority.
Next, I consider something clandestine, but without any political standing or organizational connections, I can’t currently engage in manipulating things from the shadows.
Impossible, reckless, absurd.
These three words tell me that there’s no room for me to get involved, either openly or secretly.
The individual in me urges me to simply stand still, do nothing, lest I involve Memoria. This thought brings the current line of thinking to a close.
“…You can do as you please.”
“Were you awake?”
“No, not yet.”
A voice gently pushes my thoughts, which were about to run aground on the rocks.
Memoria, letting out a soft moan as she sits up, is indeed not fully awake, just as she said.
As proof, her eyes are half-open, and she’s swaying, on the verge of drifting back to sleep if she loses focus.
Still carrying the remnants of yesterday, she covers herself with the sheets and picks up on my words.
“You seemed to be worrying about something, so if there’s anything I can do, please consult me. Jiro-san has been a bit constricted since yesterday. No, that’s not right. Ever since coming here, you’ve been trying to force yourself to fit into our rules… You’ve been trying to conform since then.”
As she speaks, her mind seems to be gradually waking up.
Her tone of speech is slowly starting to return to its usual pace.
“So, Jiro-san, you were about to take some action, but did you come up with anything?”
“…Not at all. In a story, an archetypal helper character would appear and grant me a strategy.”
I force a smile, conveying my being stuck. Memoria doesn’t answer.
“…”
She simply gazes into my eyes.
“Isn’t there a helper character right here?”
After only a few seconds of silence, Memoria’s voice emerges, with a slightly petulant tone.
I respond to her implied offer of help.
“You’re the heroine.”
“…I’m also fulfilling other roles.”
“That’s right. Then, will you listen to me?”
“Yes.”
To my reply, she doesn’t drop the slightly pouty tone, a mix of satisfaction and slight dissatisfaction. I continue speaking while stroking her head.
Indeed, she can fulfill multiple roles.
I should take her up on her offer.
“I was thinking about what I *want* to do rather than what I *can* do.”
“Yes.”
“I’m dissatisfied with the current situation, but war cannot be stopped by an individual. And given my position, I can’t scheme behind the scenes. That’s why I’ve been going in circles. The trouble my actions would cause for the company, and the trouble it would bring to you, who are acting alongside me.”
I feel the same sensation I did when I worked at my previous company.
Don’t cause losses for the company.
Don’t bother your colleagues.
Do as your superior says.
They say we are but cogs in the social machine.
A cog itself has no power; it merely fulfills its role.
If it fails to do so, it will either break under the strain or break the cogs around it.
There is no freedom in that.
If you question that, you’re told, “That’s just how society is,” or “If you don’t like it, quit or climb the ladder.”
It was always one of two choices. I am now debating whether I can resist these rigid, limited options.
“Is that so? Then, Jiro-san, let me tell you about our way of life.”
Memoria, conveying her feelings, has already returned to her usual tone.
Her voice, while lacking in fluctuation, carries a solid sense of emotion as she speaks.
“As long as the result is achieved, the Demon Lord’s Army doesn’t care about the process. Everything is your own responsibility, and individuals who become like that, like cogs…”
She grips my hand tightly, trying to convey something sincerely.
“That’s the end of it. Therefore, I will push your back. This is not trouble; it’s an opportunity. In fact, if you don’t come up with a way to outwit them and achieve results here, you won’t be able to work for us?”
“…Hehehe, you’re right.”
Ah, yes, this is not that company.
This is a company run by the Demon Lord’s Army in an otherworldly society where cogs crush each other and claw their way up.
There’s no way I can apply my conventional understanding of business to such a company.
An inconspicuous person is just that insignificant.
Indeed, as Memoria said, I was falling into conformity.
Here, I need to do something unconventional.
My hesitations have cleared.
“I like you better when you seem like you’re having fun.”
“I don’t think I’m smiling very well right now?”
“But the atmosphere is better than it was a moment ago.”
“My smile is inherited from my master, you know.”
“Regret doing than not doing it.” With those words echoing in my mind, my mind, now unburdened, begins to build a foundation. And in the process of thinking about whether this plan is feasible, I realize the possibility of cracking the very foundation of this war.
“Memoria.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve thought of something. Would you like to hear it?”
“Anything.”
While still in the planning stage, I refine the details with Memoria.
“The more I think about it, the more it seems like this isn’t a business trip at all.”
“You seem to be enjoying it for something that isn’t.”
“Ah, I won’t deny it. After all, I’m going to take it out on the country, with justice on my side.”
If I’m to speak my inner feelings, it’s like they should pay for interfering with my work, right?
And as we consult, time passes. Realizing that action is better than continuing to talk, we quickly finish our preparations and head to the bar, where Bass will likely be waiting, for breakfast.
Contrary to the anxious feelings of yesterday, a smile is plastered on my face.
“Oh, looks like you had fun last night.”
“Don’t ask the obvious, it spoils the mood.”
“That’s the norm around here. Wait a moment, I’ll bring you some food.”
Sensing that my atmosphere was different from yesterday, Bass doesn’t say anything more and disappears into the kitchen behind the counter. And perhaps because it was prepared in advance, or perhaps they were lucky with the timing, the food arrives quickly.
“Here you go. The quality of the city has declined, so this is all there is.”
“It’s better than nothing.”
“No argument there. So, about the future…”
“Ah, wait, Bass, about that.”
As Bass brings up the topic of future plans along with the sandwiches for breakfast, I stop him. Memoria silently eats her breakfast, but I continue speaking without concern.
“We’ve decided to head to Tris.”
“Huh?”
Bass stares at me with his mouth agape, as if thinking, “What is this guy even saying?” He looks like a perfect example of bewilderment.
“I said, we’re going to Tris.”
“No, no, no, no, no! What are you talking about?! Are you sane? Did you take some weird drugs yesterday? Or are you feeling sorry for those summoned Heroes?”
“I expected you to say that.”
“Of course! If someone says they’re going to the heart of a country that’s about to go to war, they’re either crazy or a hypocrite who’s completely consumed by a fake sense of justice, like some idiot.”
“Being that definitive is almost refreshing.”
“What are you talking about so nonchalantly?! Listen, this isn’t like your world where things are sweet and easy! If you’re going to stop a war out of charity!”
“Who said I was doing this out of charity?”
“…”
I understand that he’s saying this out of concern for me, and the fact that he’s giving me advice like this shows he’s a good guy. He might have a cold side, but at his core, he’s a good person. However, being mistaken for a fool with a blatant sense of justice is unacceptable. I stop Bass, who looks like he’s about to tell me to take my act elsewhere, with my gaze.
“Let me say this first, this is close to a gamble, but I’m about to tell you about a chance with a winning possibility.”
From here on…
“Now, let’s talk business, Bass.”
“Business?”
…it’s work time. And when it comes to work, Bass is willing to listen. He narrows his eyes with a skeptical expression, urging me to continue.
“More specifically, it’s about a promotion.”
“Oh? Are you talking about jumping into the war to make a name for yourself? If so, I refuse. Who would willingly go through that hell?”
“No, it’s a gamble, but it’s a way to get promoted in a shorter period.”
“I don’t see what you’re getting at… What are you thinking?”
My expression is probably like that of Instructor Kio or Instructor Fushio. Enjoy the pinch, control the fear. They call it brain doping. It’s amazing how I can still laugh even in a dire situation, how I can find it enjoyable.
“Kidnap the Hero.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t mean kidnapping the Hero by throwing a burlap sack over their head and tying them up with ropes. More accurately, I mean taking them to the other world with their own two feet.”
“…”
Do you think this is a dream, a pipe dream? Bass’s eyes show not disbelief, but rather an 80% belief that it’s a desirable outcome at best.
“Do you think it’s impossible?”
“…Yes, I don’t think that gamble would pay off.”
“I agree.”
“Hey, then…”
“Normally, yes.”
I interrupt Bass, who looks like he’s about to yell at me, thinking I’m joking, and add a condition.
“However, when the current situation coincides with a certain condition, a winning chance emerges.”
“Condition?”
“Yes. From here on, I’ll need you to investigate. But based on past records, it’s highly probable that the one summoned was a student, a child between fifteen and seventeen years old. Whether they’re targeting this age group specifically or if it’s a coincidence, I don’t know. That’s not the important part. What’s crucial is that children of this age are susceptible to the word ‘special.’ Unless they’ve been raised in an extremely unusual environment, they won’t be able to see through deception. That’s where the key to this opportunity lies.”
“…What are you thinking?”
“A little persuasion.”
Bass’s face, which initially didn’t quite grasp my meaning, changes to one of semi-belief. I share the plan, which Memoria and I have refined, with him. And although Bass was initially skeptical, as I continued, his frown turned into a wry smile, and finally…
“Are you an idiot?”
“I won’t deny having my foolish moments. So, are you in or out?”
“There are limits to even disadvantageous gambles. There are loopholes. The probability of failure is higher. But it’s interesting.”
Bass laughs and pats my shoulder.
“Great. At worst, it’ll cost only your life. Low risk, high return.”
“Hey, to reduce that risk, I need your cooperation.”
“I know. Honestly, when I first heard that a human was associating with a demon, I thought you were a weird guy, but you’re an idiot.”
Finally, I’ve been promoted from “weird guy” to “idiot”? Or is it a demotion? Bass, as if he’s found something amusing rather than hilarious, keeps patting my shoulder.
“Alright, I’m all for this kind of talk. We need to get something from them as compensation for abandoning this base. I’ll ask around to those who might cooperate.”
“Oh, you have to enjoy a festival with a crowd.”
“No argument there!”
With the explanation complete, Bass’s cooperation is secured. This significantly increases our chances of success. Now, it’s a race against time.
“It seems you’ve managed to persuade him without any issues.”
“Yeah, I think we can pull this off.”
“We’ll need to arrange for supplies, but from here on, it’s a race against time.”
I say this to Memoria, who has been observing quietly while we eat breakfast, as we watch Bass depart. For me, the first hurdle has been cleared. I’ve often heard stories in business where the planning (the project) was successful, but the preliminary groundwork failed, and it couldn’t be executed. If I don’t prepare thoroughly, this plan will just be a pipe dream.
“Ah, whether we make it in time or not is a race against time.”
There are several turning points. The exchange with Bass today is just one of them.
“I need to produce results so I don’t get yelled at by the supervisor.”
“That depends on Jiro-san.”
The dice have been cast, and there’s no turning back until the results are in. If I hesitate now, I don’t know what the supervisors and instructors would say or do. It’s about to get busy.
“Well then, let’s get to it.”
This will be the greatest job of my life, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.
Jiro Tanaka, 28, has a girlfriend.
Girlfriend: Suella Handelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
Quote of the Day:
“A competition, in the sense of preparing the conditions for victory before the battle, is like a job. The difference in groundwork determines success or failure.”
This concludes today’s update.
We appreciate your continued support of this work.
