Entering a Company From Another World! – Chapter 356

The investigation into the city of Tokyo will be kept to a minimum.

The Isal Expeditionary Force, having crossed over to another world and established a base, were exhausted from their first day of travel. That evening, Eshlee, through her tearful efforts, managed to prepare a meal. She struggled with a grain called rice, using manuals to operate unfamiliar cooking appliances like a rice cooker, refrigerator, and gas stove. Relying on the simple recipes provided, she managed to prepare meals for their current country. Next was the bath. Using a machine called a water heater, she filled the bath with hot water and then joined Nisia for a bath to take care of her. When hot water flowed from the thin, elongated pipe called a shower, and when she discovered the existence of a hair dryer, she felt a sense of wonder, not insignificant for a woman, despite being a cleric.

Witnessing technology that did not exist in their former world, Eshlee became flustered. The unknown technology they experienced in just a few hours was not something prepared to welcome them. For the people of this world, these were ordinary items, not special. She realized that this technology existed as a matter of course. After understanding why a hero who came from another world would find Isal inconvenient, her decision was swift. While the two men lay down on bedding called futons, preparing for the next day, and Nisia was settling down to sleep, she seized the opportunity. Using her physically enhanced body and healing magic, she minimized her sleep time and devoted herself to reading the manuals. Eshlee’s sleep that day amounted to only two hours. She bypassed her mental fatigue by consuming the sugar from a fruit called a banana and managed to learn the geography of this country, how to use the basic public transportation, the concept of paper money, and the operation of the provided smartphone.

“However, isn’t the place where the most people gather in this country called Tokyo?”

Then, she prepared breakfast for the three of them who woke up with the sunrise. Honestly, while Eshlee was grateful for the convenience of this world, she couldn’t help but feel a tinge of anxiety about whether she could return to the inconvenience of her original world. Unaware of her struggles, the two men frowned. The breakfast menu on the table consisted of toast, soup, salad, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, and fresh juice made with a blender. To Eshlee, it was a completely luxurious breakfast, but she could tell from their expressions that the two nobles found it meager. Internally, she cursed them, thinking they didn’t have to eat it, but as Nisia silently began to eat, no complaints came from the two. As Eshlee, who had prepared the minimal breakfast required to entertain a Seraph and nobles with unfamiliar cooking equipment, felt a surge of panic at the thought of this continuing daily, she finished eating. Behind her, as Eshlee was cleaning up, the two men were discussing their future plans. Mages questioned Nisia’s plan. He had a strong researcher’s side and was keenly interested in developing new magic. However, he had a bad habit of strongly disliking anything that interfered with his research. Therefore, when working on other tasks, he often sought efficiency. He possessed skill and was knowledgeable about magic. Eshlee had heard from her information gathering before meeting him that he was rumored to have mastered several ancient magics. She had foreseen him challenging Nisia’s plan, but unfortunately, she was in the middle of washing dishes. With household chores falling entirely on Eshlee, her treatment by Arben and Mages was beginning to solidify into the perception of a maid holding the status of a saintess, with Nisia being an exception.

“This is information from an informant. Tokyo is a place where the Demon Lord’s forces have taken root, and it’s dangerous to go there. While we will eventually have to go, now is not the time.”

“Is that reliable information?”

“Yes, especially this building.”

Therefore, the two men began to confirm Nisia’s plan, believing that a meeting of high-ranking officials would pose no problem. The initial encounter, where they gained Nisia’s favorable impression, was also a lingering factor for the two of them. It was the result of their seeking even a small opportunity to prove themselves. Although they should have avoided a contest for achievements in this situation, Nisia did not scold the two proactive individuals and provided them with further information. Arben and Mages looked at the items, which were concrete evidence to support the danger of Tokyo, placed on the desk with slender, porcelain-like white fingers.

“This building is the headquarters of the Demon Lord’s Army? In that case, shouldn’t we focus our investigation here?”

“Are you an idiot? Do you think the enemy’s headquarters can be investigated so easily? You should be able to figure that much out, you fool.”

Instead of being impressed by the photograph, which captured the scenery as if it were real, they accepted it as something likely to be, and their ability to discern the information within it was truly remarkable. An enormous building they had never seen before. Before this photograph taken from a distance, they each expressed their opinions. However, as their gaze met the moment their responses, which reflected the differences in the nature of a knight and a mage, collided, sparks flew.

“The name of the base building appears to be ‘MAO corporation.’ However, the building itself is protected by a barrier, and the surrounding security is perfect. If you make a rash move, the outcome will be obvious even to a child.”

Nisia, as if unaffected by their exchange, calmly confirmed their plans while sipping the post-meal tea that Eshlee had brewed. Mages, as if having found validation, flashed a smug grin at Arben.

“However, it cannot be considered a good thing to leave the enemy’s whereabouts known and unaddressed.”

However, that expression was completely mirrored, as if Arben and Mages had switched places. Eshlee, wondering what they were doing, shook her head as if trying to endure the headache caused by her lack of sleep.

“Our objective is to find those with the potential of a hero. There is no need to venture into enemy territory and risk our lives. We should turn west and search.”

“The Demon Lord wouldn’t just leave those with the potential of a hero alone, would he? Do you think there are any prey left in a hunting ground where they’ve all been hunted down? We understand the risks, and I propose we search centering around Tokyo.”

Low risk, low return, or high risk, high return? Mages and Arben’s opinions clashed head-on. It was difficult to adopt both opinions since their fighting forces could not be split. As Nisia was about to make a judgment, she finished washing the dishes, wiped her hands, and entered the inn’s dining room.

“I understand both of your opinions. Eshlee, what do you think?”

Seizing that moment, Nisia turned the conversation to Eshlee.

“M-me?”

“Yes, who else is there?”

Angels were inherently beings who guided. While she might formulate plans herself, she rarely proactively stated what should be done. As a guide, she first wanted the guided to think. She believed they had enough leeway and posed the question to Eshlee.

“…”

Eshlee stood there, contemplating. Arben and Mages’ eyes clearly conveyed their displeasure, but they did not voice it. Perhaps they had judged that there was nothing better than gaining her approval if it could be achieved, and for a moment, the dining room fell silent.

“Nisia-sama, may I ask a few questions?”

“You may. Speak.”

After a moment of thought, she decided that she lacked sufficient information and that it would be better to extract the necessary information from Nisia, who possessed the information that only Eshlee and the others lacked.

“Then, to what extent can the informant assist us?”

“It is impossible to guarantee combat assistance. As they also need to deceive others, please consider it as a limited ability to assist peripherally with low frequency.”

Questioning an angel was quite a brave act. However, Eshlee, deeming it necessary, had no hesitation. First, she sought assistance from an informant who seemed like an immediate asset, but Nisia made it clear she couldn’t openly help.

“Understood. Then, do you have any magic among your spells that would allow us to act independently?”

“Yes. If I store my magic in a medium, you can act separately from me. In some cases, a certain amount of combat may be possible, but consider it far from perfect.”

“Is combat the last resort?”

“It would be. This is enemy territory, and once combat begins, you’d best assume there will be no second chance.”

Eshlee confirmed whether she could secure additional options. It would be too conspicuous for all four of them to act together constantly. If possible, she judged it best to act in pairs, or even alone if they were being extravagant, and confirmed whether such methods were realistically possible. However, even that method was conditional, and for full combat, they could only act within Nisia’s magic dispersion range. Nevertheless, Eshlee’s expression did not change upon hearing this.

“Then, can we assume that the Demon Lord’s subordinates are under the same conditions as us?”

“!?!”

This was the question Eshlee considered the most important among those she intended to ask. As proof of this, Arben and Mages’ eyes widened as if they had realized something.

“That is correct. This country is not a vassal state of the Demon Lord, but rather other countries.”

Nisia smiled as if praising her for noticing.

“An environment without magic is like a death trap for the other party as well. While the difference in combat power is certainly there, the possibility of combat in this world is extremely low.”

Indeed, they had received reports of the Demon Lord’s influence, but it was not stated that this place was under the Demon Lord’s dominion. This meant that the Demon Lord’s forces were also unable to act normally in this land. The strength of Eshlee and the others did not lie in the combat power of Nisia, a powerful Seraph. It was the ability to act indefinitely, not possessed by the Demon Lord’s army, with her as the starting point. With Mages, they could create a point of origin and use teleportation magic. So, what should they do? Eshlee began to formulate a plan.

“First, what we should do is grasp the geography, expand our scope of action, and then secure informants and immediate funds.”

Considering the situation of their home country, the time they had left might not be much, but it wasn’t something that would bring about a time limit in a month or two.

“I believe we should minimize information gathering about heroes and enemy territories for now and strictly adhere to stealth operations.”

Having considered all this, Eshlee judged that although they had secured a base of operations, their foundation was not yet solid, and she focused on securing a foothold first. Arben and Mages, who were thinking about achievements, were so focused on securing heroes that they overlooked the process.

“…”

“Ah, they’re glaring at me again,” Eshlee felt the gaze of the two men. While Eshlee wondered if she had overstepped, she judged that she could not betray Nisia’s expectations and decided to ignore their gaze. While finding this displeasing, the two men were kept outside their scope.

“Before we can act in earnest, we must at least have an equal or superior understanding of the terrain compared to the other party.”

Whether fighting or fleeing, knowledge of the terrain was necessary.

“Very well. What you say is realistically possible. Let us proceed with that method for now. Are you both alright with this?”

“Yes, I have no objections.”

“No problem.”

The men, grasping its importance, did not interject with Eshlee’s plan. Leaving the men, who reluctantly agreed, aside for now.

“Then, I will leave understanding the terrain and earning funds to the two of you. Eshlee, there is something I want you to do.”

“Me?”

Nisia gently took out a piece of paper, handed it to Eshlee, and smiled.

“What is this?”

Although it was a flyer, it was not something within her knowledge base, and it was written with various characters on precious paper, with pictures of scenes different from the photograph Nisia had shown earlier.

“It appears to be an organization that believes in the gods of this world. It’s convenient. Although we serve different gods, they are nonetheless believers. We will ask these people to lend us some strength.”

If Jiro had seen this flyer, he would have dismissed it as a blatant scam and discarded it after a glance. However, Nisia, feeling indignant at the words “faith” without any trace of faith, decided to use them and planned to turn them into followers to solidify their base.

Today’s word: Once you take a step forward, it’s surprisingly easy to keep walking.

Thank you as always for your comments and reports of typos. If you find it interesting, please leave a review, rating, bookmark, etc.

*The first volume of the book is published by Hayakawa Bunko JA. It was released on October 18, 2018. The e-book version was released on October 31 of the same year. The second volume was released on December 19. The third volume was released on February 20, 2019. The content has been revised and augmented from the version posted on Shosetsuka ni Narou and includes previously unpublished interlude chapters. Please consider purchasing the new releases as well!

A comic adaptation is being serialized in Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third.” We hope you enjoy that as well.

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