Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, has a girlfriend.
Girlfriend: Suella Henderberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
One, two, three.
Counting the repetitions with my breath as if humming, I bend my trembling arms, bringing my face close to the floor. Sweat drips down my chin with each rep. My T-shirt clings to me, soaked with sweat, a testament to how much I’ve trained. I used to think push-ups in a handstand were something only found in manga, but they’re surprisingly effective in practice. They not only build muscle but also train the core and improve balance.
I’ve had to fight in many situations that aren’t on solid ground since I started this job. Because of that, I understand the importance of balance all too well. Even if the Magic Crest strengthens my body with every battle, I can’t neglect my fundamental abilities. It’s true that a Magic Crest can grant immense power by absorbing magic through repeated battles, even with a weak body. However, the difference in fundamental abilities can’t be ignored. If the Magic Crest’s abilities are equal, the final difference comes down to the disparity in honed physical capabilities. In some cases, that difference in fundamental abilities can even bridge the gap in Magic Crest power. Most importantly, this is the best way to train how to move my body.
“Haa.”
After completing the set, I move on to the athletic facility. It’s a training facility designed to improve free-running, with the rule that you can’t touch anything other than the designated spots. Undaunted by the array of equipment reminiscent of some athletic show, I begin to run. I’m not just going all out; I’m focusing on using the minimum necessary force and keeping at least one hand free as I navigate the course.
“…!”
And yet, I’m struggling to achieve the shortest record. It’s common to go all out in a dungeon. However, if I always exerted my full strength, I wouldn’t be able to do so when it truly matters. Full exertion comes with a time limit. While training to extend that limit is necessary, I believe the key to finding a way out lies in controlling that full exertion. Just as increasing sales is necessary, sometimes reducing costs is also essential. But my results are not favorable. It might sound harsh, but just as there’s a reason why slacking off can’t beat full effort, the act of reducing one’s own effort is like imposing limits on oneself. It’s not easy to achieve peak performance under such conditions. It’s even harder when I’m not in perfect condition.
I’m not fully concentrated. I should be immersed in my training, but the scene from that time unexpectedly comes to mind. A full-power strike, and the monster that received it. I rhythmically hop across the stepping stones, clearing them as if shaking something off. As proof of this, the next thing that comes to mind is the final brawl from my business trip. I was dealing with the situation by delaying the opponent, who was stronger than me, because I couldn’t defeat their main forces. In the end, I succeeded in the rescue, so I can give myself a passing grade, but it wasn’t a perfect score.
“Ungh, haa.”
The results are poor, as expected, with such mixed thoughts. I finish below my target and ponder. After a short break, I gulp down the sports drink I had prepared to replenish the fluids I had lost. The sensation of my body absorbing the missing hydration conveys my fatigue. Today is a day off, and normally I would stop here, but…
“Should I do another set?”
I decide to do more today and return to the area with the training equipment. Overworking is not good, but right now, I just feel like moving my body.
“…Now then, what should I do?”
And once I start training, my thoughts get mixed up again right from the beginning. So, instead, I decide to accelerate those thoughts.
“What are you troubled about?”
“Suella?”
“Yes, it’s Suella, the Dark Elf, diligently coming to meet the lover who has abandoned her on his day off.”
“…I’m sorry.”
But even those thoughts are quickly braked. And if it’s her, whom I’ve been neglecting for my own convenience, then as a man, I have no choice but to surrender completely.
“He apologized sincerely, and since it seems you’re worried about work, I’ll forgive you this time.”
Fortunately, my choice wasn’t wrong, and Suella, with a sigh of “This person…” gave me a smile.
“So, what were you worried about?”
“…It’s about my status growth, a little.”
I claim “a little” out of petty male pride.
“?”
“It seems to be going well. And judging by the results, Jiro-san is contributing the most.”
“That’s true, but I feel like something is missing. Failures that I could normally accept, I can’t forgive, and I’ve been thinking about how I could have done better.”
“And that led you to training alone in the training room?”
Ah, how pathetic. I never intended to tell Suella this.
“It’s like your ambition is backfiring.”
“Something like that.”
As Suella says, my worries, to put it bluntly, are just impatience. The inability to defeat a rare monster with a single blow. Just that, and I’m on the verge of a slump. It’s a ridiculous story, like tripping over a mere pebble on the street. Perhaps because of the pause, I feel a thirst and reach for the sports drink I had prepared, but then I remember I drank it all and stare at the empty plastic bottle.
“Here you go.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Seeing that, she must have prepared it for me. She hands me something with a different flavor than what I was drinking. I thank her and accept it. As I take a sip, I can feel it soothing my overheated body.
“What kind of warrior should I become? How can I contribute more to the dungeon? Unlike others, I’m getting older, you know. That handicap is fueling my impatience.”
Human lifespans are short. Furthermore, the period of one’s prime is even shorter. If things continue like this, my growth will stop before I know it. I don’t want it to end. I want to reach higher. My limits aren’t here; they’re further ahead. Those common, youthful desires were rekindled by that one blow, and in that battle, I became aware of the wall of my limitations.
“It’s a pathetic story, but I thought that if I just trained my body, I might find an answer, but it was useless. The answer doesn’t come that easily.”
“Jiro-san, your worries are honestly difficult for me to understand, as I have a longer lifespan than you.”
“…Is that so?”
Indeed. Like Memoria, Suella is also a long-lived Dark Elf. While I feel disappointed that I can’t share this feeling of empathy, it’s unavoidable. Complaining about their race is out of line. Thinking this, I decide to change the subject, indicating that the gloomy talk is over, but she tightly grips my hand, and before I can speak, Suella’s words reach my ears.
“But, I can look for a way to solve your worries with you.”
“Suella?”
“Let’s worry together. There are limits to what one person can do for work, but when two people do it, the possibilities expand. Above all, when it comes to battles, I know more than you do.”
“…You truly are a reliable girlfriend.”
“Yes, I’m often told that, so don’t hesitate, okay?”
She’s truly reliable, my girlfriend. With Kaido and the others, I was often given a leadership role and felt like a pillar, making it difficult to consult them. But with Suella, I feel I can.
“Look at this.”
And the first thing I do is show Suella the tablet I brought along with the sports drink. It displays my status.
Status
Strength: 4203
Durability: 5059
Agility: 2744
Stamina: 3336 (-5)
Dexterity: 1988
Knowledge: 96
Intuition: 455
Luck: 5
Magic Power: 1897
Condition
Nicotine Addiction
Lung Contamination
Skills
Monkey’s Roar
Slash Attack
Then, as I slide my finger across it, the image switches to a line graph.
“It’s true that my personal growth speed is quite fast compared to Kaido and the others, but what do you think from your perspective, Suella?”
“Let’s see. To be able to grow this much in less than a year is truly remarkable. You’re definitely among the top within the Demon Lord’s Army in terms of growth speed.”
Suella, peering at the tablet in my hand, seriously scans the data and states her conclusion. Then, having grasped my current situation, she presents the problem.
“How much longer do you think this growth will continue?”
“…I can’t say for sure, but if it continues like this, it will be within a few years at most.”
“So, it is as I suspected.”
My physical peak has long passed. It’s not enough to say that even if I retrain, it will be difficult to return to my prime state and maintain it. From my perspective, my current growth rate is merely filling the remaining growth margin. The recklessness that comes with youth, pushing beyond limits, is too much for me now. There’s always an upper limit somewhere. That’s why…
“How can I break through that growth limit?”
“…I can think of several methods. One is to enhance the body with magic potions, but this is only temporary, and modifying the body comes with side effects. Some of them will naturally shorten your lifespan. Second is to incorporate the blood of other races through magic. By taking in the blood of Oni or our kind, Elves, you can inherit the lifespan and characteristics of that race. However, doing so requires exceptional compatibility between individuals, otherwise, you risk rejection and death.”
I’ve been searching for a way to overcome these obstacles. However, even in fantasy, these are not easy feats. There might be possibilities with unconventional methods, but the risks are significant. Suella herself presents them, but her expression clearly indicates she doesn’t recommend either.
“Another method is to contract with a special spirit. In a way, this might be the most realistic option.”
“A spirit, you mean… the one you showed me before? Can a human like me do it?”
I recall the black dog and white cat Suella summoned during that troublesome emergency training. However, I harbor the prejudice that spirits, being closely associated with nature, can only be controlled by Elves. At least, when it comes to contracting with humans, I imagine warriors would be the ones to do it.
“If I act as an intermediary, I can introduce you to spirits in my village. If you have enough magic power, courtesy, and perform the ritual, they will respond. The more powerful the spirit, the greater the price, but the more guaranteed the power.”
“Is that so…? But is it okay? Even as a lover, it’s quite a commitment for you to go this far for one Tester. Won’t you face any punishment from the Supervisor?”
If Suella says it’s possible, then it probably is, but I had intended to ask for training methods and combat technique instruction. I never expected it to lead to this. Worst-case scenario, I was considering asking Instructor Kio for hellish special training, so this is a welcome development. However, if it puts Suella in a bad position, that’s another story.
“There are no problems. Just like how there are secret menus in the cafeteria, this company has secret methods. If you become good friends with a member of the Demon Lord’s Army, you are permitted to lend your strength to a Tester at the discretion of your race and clan.”
“What is that, a hidden element system like in an RPG?”
“There were restrictions stating we couldn’t offer it ourselves, so it’s no wonder you didn’t notice. But I did say I would help if asked for assistance before a contract, didn’t I? To become stronger, not only is it essential to grow as an individual, but it’s also crucial to have allies supporting you from behind. This secret method is also something only you, Jiro-san, are utilizing, so please don’t speak of it to anyone.”
Come to think of it, she did say the Dark Elves would provide full backup before we made our contract, but this was part of it too? I only thought it meant insurance, treatment, and the provision of underground facilities. Could anyone normally notice this? It’s unreasonable to expect someone to realize a game-like system that can be used by gaining a certain level of affection. Well, perhaps in time, that Himusumi might hit it off with a female employee and notice it someday.
“So this is what ‘getting played’ means. And perhaps the instructors’ cooperation in training was also…?”
“Yes, otherwise, those who are Generals wouldn’t bother training an individual. Although in their case, the possibility of it being due to their mood cannot be entirely dismissed.”
“Ah, that’s true.”
Perhaps when I requested the Supervisor’s approval for the instructors’ cooperation in training Kaido, they granted it because they knew about this secret method. The thought that I’ve earned that much trust makes me happy.
“So, how long would it take to make that contract? It’s not something that can be done immediately, is it?”
“Yes, there are definitely uncontracted spirits, but whether the specific spirit you need is available cannot be determined on the spot. So, including confirmation and application for permission, it would take about two weeks.”
“I see. Then, I’ll keep working hard in the dungeon until the preparations are complete. Wouldn’t it be easier to contract with a spirit if I’m a little stronger?”
“Yes, it’s best to increase the possibility even slightly.”
As expected, I’m glad I consulted with someone rather than worrying alone. This way, I can see a glimmer of hope. In that case, there’s no benefit in continuing to overwork myself.
“Suella, I’d like to thank you for consulting with me.”
“A-about that, um, after we finish the spirit contract, would you like to go on a date there?”
“I don’t mind.”
I decided to cut my training short and thought about having a meal together afterward, but it seemed Suella had something else she wanted me to do. Personally, I think it would be nice to take my time and tour the place where Suella was born. The problem is Memoria, but if I consider making it up to her, the issue should be resolved.
“…A-at that time, could we stop by my house? …um, I want to introduce my lover to my family.”
“……”
“Is… is that not okay?”
Is this what they mean by feeling cornered? A bomb was suddenly dropped, and my thoughts froze for a moment. I wonder if Suella’s introduction means the “give me your daughter” kind of thing to her father? Can something like that happen in real life, like in a drama? While remaining silent, my thoughts raced.
“…I’ll make up my mind by then.”
But my internal musings were useless in front of Suella, who looked up at me anxiously. I quickly waved the white flag and nodded slowly. Suella then smiled, more brightly than usual.
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, has a girlfriend.
Girlfriend: Suella Henderberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
Today’s Word:
I realized that I am supported in this way.
This concludes this installment.
Also, I’ve added a flag for a change in occupation.
I hope you enjoy it.
Please continue to support this work.
