When you hear the word “spring,” what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
Some people might say cherry blossoms, given the season, but others might also mention graduation ceremonies as a school event.
Conversely, some might say the entrance ceremony.
Now, why am I thinking about all this?
“Welcome to MAOcorporation.”
For some reason, I’m working as a receptionist for new hires who are about to join the company.
“Alright, new hires, head straight down this path to the lecture hall. There’ll be an orientation there.”
This is a pre-orientation session before joining the company. It’s held in early spring, before the entrance ceremony, and serves to explain the company’s business content. I’m currently at the reception, confirming attendance for those who previously responded to my emails about whether they could make it, and handing out materials for this orientation to those who have arrived. Kaido, who is helping with guidance, is standing a little distant.
The reason we’re doing this at a time when we should normally be preparing to delve into dungeons is because Keiri-san asked us to.
“Seriously, Jiro-kun, you’re a lifesaver.”
“Next time, please contact us a bit earlier. We have our own schedules, you know.”
“I know, I know~ Alright, when Suella gives me that look… I’ll be careful next time.”
“That’s your own fault.”
It’s for Keiri-san, who’s working with me at reception. Even though Dark Elves look similar to humans, it still takes some courage to talk to foreigners. The idea was that if a Japanese person like me were here, they wouldn’t feel as nervous coming to reception. Today, I’m wearing a suit instead of armor to welcome the new hires. It feels a bit strange to be in different attire than usual. I used to wear them all the time. The task itself wasn’t a problem, but Keiri-san only informed me three days ago, and only Kaido and I were able to make it. Kitamiya, Minami, Amelia, and Katsu aren’t here today due to prior commitments. Furthermore, other testers also couldn’t come due to their own plans. Keiri-san said she forgot to tell them. While Keiri-san is looking a bit distant, I don’t know what Suella said to her, but I wait for the new hires to arrive. The orientation is scheduled to start at 9 AM. It’s currently just past 8 AM, when reception opens. Some people arrived before reception began, but they were a minority. The early arrivals have now moved to the lecture hall, and we’re welcoming new hires who are arriving sporadically.
Among them is…
“Oh! Master! Good morning!”
“Don’t call me Master, Benny. I’ve never taken you as a disciple.”
“Nope, nope. I won’t give up until you take me as your disciple, Master!”
Ever since that mock battle the other day, Benny has been asking to become my disciple every time he sees me. There are individuals in the Demon Lord’s Army who are even stronger than me, and of course, there are many who can teach him to be a frontliner, which is what Benny desires. So why is he so persistent about me?
“It’s just because Master is a samurai!”
“I’ve told you countless times that I’m not a samurai, when will you accept it?”
Without even having to think about it, I realize he’s a fan of samurai and is therefore seeking guidance from someone he perceives as fitting that image, which is me. Honestly, it’s a bit of a bother, but I can’t just shoo him away because of his pure intentions. I hand him the orientation materials, and he looks at them with what seems like enjoyment.
“Haa, Benny, could you be a little quieter? You’re twenty today, aren’t you? If you’re a grown adult, you should act a bit more mature.”
“Yes! Understood, Master!”
Innocent. That’s the impression I have of Benny. He reacts to everything with novelty and seems to be enjoying life. It’s understandable given that he was a minor until very recently, but I can’t help but feel he’s a bit too innocent. I hope he maintains this attitude, but personally, I wish he’d be a little more composed. If he has that same energy in dungeons, his future doesn’t bode well.
“Yo! Bro! Looking good!”
“I’ve never become your brother, Bart.”
And then, from behind the innocently cheerful Benny, a massive figure emerges. It’s the Black man who tangled with me during that mock battle. His name is Bart O’Guren. When he lost to me, he seemed ready to threaten me, but after learning I was older and bumping into him in the dorms by chance, we became friends after a certain incident. Now, we’re quite close.
“You’re not sleep-deprived from having long phone calls with your children, are you?”
“Hahaha! No way. My brain might not be the sharpest, but I’ve got stamina!!”
“Try to stuff at least some of today’s lecture content into that brain of yours.”
A sigh of exasperation escapes me as Bart flexes his bicep to show off his stamina. Despite bragging about his lack of intelligence, and perhaps contrary to his intimidating appearance, he’s twenty-two years old and married. He has two children, a five-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter. I wonder if it’s okay for the head of a household to be assigned overseas, but according to him, he can earn more here than in his previous job. The reason I became friends with Bart is related to the family he vowed to support. I happened to pick up a photo of Bart’s family and coincidentally ran into Bart, who was looking for it. At first, he snatched it back with a displeased expression, but when I asked him who the people in the photo were, and when I mentioned I would soon have a child born, his attitude completely changed. He has a fiery temper, but he’s a devoted husband and a loving father. From our conversations over the past two to three weeks, I’ve realized he’s not a bad guy.
“Excuse me, could you move your large body? There are people behind you.”
“Oh, Shua! You’re as small as ever.”
“You’re just too big.”
“Alright, alright, both of you, today is the day we’ve been waiting for with the orientation!”
And with this flow, she’s here too. Arms crossed with a sullen expression, emerging from behind Bart is Shua, the only woman in this trio. She has a strong personality, but perhaps that’s why she gets along well with the fiery Bart and the laid-back Benny. In any case, they’ve been spending more time together since that mock battle. It’s a good thing they’re deepening their bond in a foreign land like Japan. She responds to Bart’s teasing with a low kick, Bart laughs heartily, and Benny scolds him. I think they’re a mismatched trio, but they seem to balance each other out. The only potential concern is that they might all end up as frontliners. With that thought, I hand Bart and Shua their materials and finish the check-in.
“You seem to be in good shape.”
“Of course. Managing my physical condition is fundamental for a martial artist.”
“I see. It was foolish of me to even ask.”
Perhaps her strong-willed femininity, with its occasional display of athletic-department speech due to her dojo-honed upbringing, is different from Kitamiya’s. Kitamiya is of the career type, while Shua is of the physical type. Just being strong-willed women, they have different vibes. However, in a way, Shua might be more suited to be a Dungeon Tester than Kitamiya. In terms of physique, Kitamiya might have the advantage due to her height.
“Is it just me, or did you just have a disrespectful thought?”
“What are you talking about?”
Her intuition is as sharp as Kitamiya’s. However, don’t underestimate my poker face. Such provocations won’t faze me.
“Master, will you be attending the practical skills lecture this afternoon?”
While inwardly breaking into a cold sweat at Shua’s sharp intuition, I maintain a calm exterior and go along with Benny’s question.
“I’m scheduled to demonstrate. I’ll do my best not to make a fool of myself.”
“Oh, if you have time later, will you have a rematch with me? I’ve gotten a bit stronger since then!”
“Why are you ahead of me? It’s obvious I’m next.”
“If I have time.”
Japanese people tend to act cautiously, but I wish I could learn from this kind of characteristic assertiveness unique to foreigners. Japanese people tend to be fearful of risks and become passive, so I find their adventurous spirit enviable. However, being challenged to a mock battle every time I see them is a bit much. I watch the noisy trio leave and take a breath. Then, I look next to me and see that Keiri-san has just finished with reception. A dark-skinned man. He’s taller than me and appears to be well-built. His appearance, depending on the value system of his country, seems handsome even to me, a man. And most importantly, I admire his strong gaze. Noticing my gaze, he nods and walks away, and I watch his retreating back.
“Oh, you’ve got your eye on a good talent.”
“A promising newcomer?”
From the fact that I was staring intently, Keiri-san seems to think I’m interested in him, and she tells me about him with a smirk.
“Yes, he’s the most promising star among the overseas group. His name is Ishan.”
“And his surname?”
“Ah, his surname… He’s an orphan. Normally he would have refused our offer to scout him so he could take care of his family, but we were able to convince him by offering our support.”
“I see.”
“So, please be careful about that aspect.”
“Understood.”
Each person has their own personal circumstances. There’s no reason to spread them around, nor do I have any intention of doing so. I nod sincerely at Keiri-san’s words and turn to return to my work.
“Ah! Mr. Tanaka! Why are you here!”
Here comes the troublesome one. I almost blurted that out, but it’s inappropriate to say that to his face.
“I’m an employee here. My name should be on the schedule.”
“Ahaha, I thought it was a coincidence of having the same name.”
So, my response remains polite.
“In situations like this, should I lament the lack of individuality in my name?”
In my previous company, we were acquaintances from business dealings. A little while ago, we had the distance of being Katsu’s relatives. However, now, knowing the circumstances, I’m finding it hard to gauge the proper distance.
“Yeah, you’re asking me? That means you’re also a Dungeon Tester, Mr. Tanaka?”
“Ah, I do that to a certain extent.”
“A certain extent, Jiro-kun. Despite everything, you’re the strongest among the Dungeon Testers, so if you’re too modest, the newcomers will look down on you.”
“What!? Mr. Tanaka is the strongest?”
“I said among the Dungeon Testers. Within this company, I’d say I’m in the middle tier.”
“…Haa, I see.”
Our conversation is cheerful, but thinking about the future gives me a slight stomach ache. I haven’t told Minami and Kitamiya that she’s joining the company yet. There’s also a possibility she might withdraw her application after this orientation. That’s the excuse, anyway. The truth is, I want to observe her a bit. So, I apologize to Minami and the others, but it’s my selfish desire to talk to Kawasaki without knowing their information yet.
“But, I’m glad to have a familiar face. It’s nerve-wracking to be in a new company, you know.”
“You’re like that? Even at our previous company, you seemed to get to the point pretty quickly.”
“What!? Is that the impression I gave?”
“Yeah, at least in my opinion.”
Thinking about our conversation, the impression that lingers is her skillful handling of distance. She doesn’t make the other person uncomfortable, yet she leaves an impression. She pays attention to things like her voice volume and gestures, which is evident. That’s why I deliberately stated my impression of her clearly, but she brushed it off easily.
“Well, there are many other newcomers besides you. Make the most of it and enjoy your new company.”
“Instead of leaving it at that, don’t you think you could offer some advice as a senior?”
“That’s true. Alright, I’ll give you just one piece of advice.”
“Oh, you’re willing to say something.”
She’s so elusive. And shrewd.
“Being able to face reality is surprisingly important.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
“Just what the words say. This isn’t a company where you can measure things by common sense. That’s all.”
“You’re saying something rather frightening.”
“I’m just stating facts.”
“Yes, that makes me even more anxious. Is it fun to scare your juniors?”
“I don’t have the hobby of enjoying myself with something like that. Look, I’m working too. I still have other people to check in. If you have time to talk to me, you should be reading the materials.”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
She was subtly trying to extract information about the company from me. It’s troublesome when someone knows how to use her appearance to her advantage. I hand her the materials and watch her walk away towards the lecture hall. This is the nth time she’s done this. As I prepare to welcome the next newcomer…
“Ah, um, please treat me favorably. Brother.”
“…”
I deserve praise for not sighing at the sight of the timid girl standing in front of reception.
“For now, please stop calling me ‘Brother’ within the company. Call me by my surname here.”
“But then, since we have the same surname, it might be a bit confusing.”
“That’s true. In that case, please use my given name.”
“Yes!”
I had already heard the situation from my aunt, Kirie-san, and my mother. It seems our company has successfully made contact with Japan. My mother apparently managed to arrange for Haruna, who is currently hiding her horns with magic, to join this company. When Haruna’s name appeared on the list of new employees, I yelled at my mother.
“It’s fine, it’s fine! It’ll work out somehow!”
She dodged me as usual with her typical pace.
“This matter is very important not only to us but also to our organization. Therefore, I implore you to handle this matter with extreme caution.”
Kirie-san had given me a stern warning. I wonder what this year will hold. With a child on the way, I can’t help but feel anxious that this is just the beginning of a tumultuous period. For now, though…
“The lecture hall is this way.”
“Thank you. Um, Jiro-sama?”
“Just ‘san’ is fine.”
“Yes! Jiro-san.”
I send off this demon girl. And then I ponder how to explain her to Keiri-san, who is looking at me with sparkling eyes, wondering about our relationship.
A word for today:
Spring is said to be the season of encounters, but I can only think of turmoil.
This concludes today’s entry.
Thank you as always for pointing out typos and for your comments.
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*The first volume of the novel is published by Hayakawa Bunko JA.
It was released on October 18, 2018.
The digital version was also released on October 31 of the same year.
Volume two was released on December 19.
Volume three was released on February 20, 2019.
The content has been revised and expanded from the version posted on Shosetsuka ni Narou, with the inclusion of an unreleased interlude.
Please consider purchasing the new volumes as well!!
The manga adaptation is also being serialized in Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third,” and was featured in issue 9.
We hope you enjoy that as well.
We appreciate your continued support of this work.
