Kaido’s worries were the kind that most people would consider ordinary. He felt a sense of lack, a sense of dissatisfaction, and he didn’t know how to find ways to improve—a simple, common problem.
“You’re doing perfectly fine as an adult, Kaido.”
It felt like a big worry had just surfaced at the very last moment, but the uneasy expression I had sensed when he came to visit was gone. As I watched Kaido, who was now positively agonizing over what to do, I lay back on the bed and chuckled quietly, muttering to myself.
He was agonizing over how to not turn a blind eye to others’ troubles and how to help them. Seeing my kouhai taking on responsibility. I couldn’t help but feel happy that Kaido had grown from the person who had just worked himself to death at my previous company.
“Well, it’s good to be happy, but now that Kaido’s gone, I’m left with nothing to do… What should I do?”
Although it was good to be happy, with Kaido gone, I was once again faced with a lot of free time. This sickroom had undergone special magical treatment for medical examination hospitalization, and it continuously monitored my magic flow, so I couldn’t leave. I had already finished reading all the magazines and novels I had brought, and there was no television to watch at this hour. I could kill time if Suella and the others came, but it would take them a while. I had slept too much to feel sleepy again.
“This is troublesome. Should I read it again?”
Thinking it would be a waste to just zone out, I reached for an otherworldly historical novel that had been mixed in with the get-well gifts. The content was like a chronicle of some Demon Lord and Hero, and I had actually enjoyed it. I wished I could recommend it to Kaido if only he could read. Just as I was about to pick it up again, thinking that I couldn’t recommend it to him yet because he couldn’t read the difficult grammar, I heard a noise.
“Hmm? It’s noisy outside.”
This sickroom was a private room, and the soundproofing was quite good. Yet, my enhanced ears could hear the commotion outside. And my battle intuition whispered that trouble was coming. I closed the book that had been open, and for a moment, I considered burrowing under the covers. But I soon gave up, realizing that playing dead wouldn’t fool whoever was coming, so I decided to greet them.
“Yo! Jiro-! How have you been!”
As I thought that, I saw the company president open the door with a bang and couldn’t help but wear a strange expression. Frankly, considering the sheer scale of the organization, it was not something a large corporation could match. The president, who should be the head of an organization on a national level, visiting the sickroom of a salaryman—why?
“Don’t say it, Jiro, I know.”
Behind the president, who had entered with a smile, stood Evia, whom I hadn’t seen in a while. When I looked at her, seeking help, she placed her hand on her forehead as if complaining of a headache.
“Demon Lord, Jiro is confused.”
“Ah, my apologies! I got some work other than administrative processing for the first time in a while, so my excitement just went off the charts!”
However, she was also a professional. Without even sighing, she conveyed my feelings to me. In response, the president, freed from his administrative tasks, offered me an apology that I wasn’t sure if he was truly sorry for. Normally, I would have been angry, thinking he was mocking me, but unfortunately, I knew the agony of processing a large volume of administrative work, so I was also familiar with the feeling of liberation. Therefore, I suppressed the urge to nod in agreement and say, “I understand,” to the president and just said I didn’t mind.
“Now then. To be perfectly honest, our army has been in chaos with the cleanup from the other day.”
The president nodded at my words with satisfaction, his smile shifting to a more strained expression.
“Ordinarily, we would hold a parade or a ceremony for you, who repelled the Hero the other day, but the timing was unfortunate. It had to be limited to a small-scale conferment ceremony.”
“That’s regrettable.”
My heart did a little victory dance at the president’s words. I had learned etiquette thoroughly, perhaps even more than necessary, during my training, but I hadn’t had any real-world practice yet. The thought of suddenly being thrust onto a grand stage was terrifying, and while I was happy, I had to say it was regrettable due to my “corporate slave” nature. Thinking that I wouldn’t have to be so nervous if it was a small group, I urged him to continue. It was unlikely the president went out of his way just to deliver this message.
“Well then, let’s get to the main point.”
I knew it was coming. The president’s smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression.
“Let’s dispense with the flowery, roundabout words. Honestly, you’ve been too active. While the members like myself, Evia, and the Generals are generally willing to reward you generously, the old-fashioned grumps didn’t approve.”
I admired how he couldn’t betray any emotion on his face. The president spoke to me earnestly, without showing any signs of joy, anger, sorrow, or pleasure.
“Even as King, I don’t run the country alone, and it’s a sad reality that not everyone is cooperative with me. I had intended to grant you a peerage and territory so you could gain experience and become a General, but it didn’t work out as planned.”
I nodded at the president’s words. It was true that I was in a somewhat ambiguous position within the Demon Lord’s Army, caught between being an outsider and an insider. Furthermore, my tenure was only a year, which could be considered that of a newcomer. No matter how much I achieved or how many accomplishments I piled up, I simply hadn’t had enough time to earn their trust.
“Well, I’ll continue to persuade them and reward you in due course regarding that.”
“Reward me, I… I…”
That’s precisely why, while I was happy to be recognized for my one great achievement, I didn’t want it to cause friction. I was sure the president’s promise to reward me wasn’t a lie. That’s why I thought I should decline here. It was just the result of working myself to the bone, not something I had intentionally achieved. Although my life was on the line, I was able to grow, and the outcome was satisfying in my own way. If that’s what they said, then quietly stepping aside was also a part of surviving in this world. Besides, my life had become longer. I thought I could get promoted slowly from here on out, but it seemed the president had other ideas.
“Ah, but rewarding merit and punishing demerit is the duty of a King.”
The president preempted my attempt to decline, holding up his right palm to stop me from saying anything further.
“If I do nothing, it sets a bad example for others. Remember this: this reward is not just for you, but for me. It’s something you should keep in mind if you intend to manage an organization from now on.”
“That’s right, Jiro. If you were to refuse this reward, it wouldn’t just affect you, but the evaluation of all the other Testers as well. Moreover, the Testers’ standing within the Demon Lord’s Army would become even more precarious. Humility isn’t always a virtue.”
The president’s serious expression shifted back to a smile, and Evia picked up where he left off, speaking to me. Her words were fresh to me. Come to think of it, that made sense. I had always tried not to cause trouble for those around me, but I hadn’t considered the consequences of refusing recognition. While being recognized and praised was certainly good, it also invited the jealousy of thoughtless individuals, which was why I hadn’t been particularly eager for it. However, looking at it from the opposite perspective, if I declined this offer, it would set a precedent where defeating the Hero would result in no reward whatsoever. What kind of twisted logic is that? And, most importantly, the president wasn’t saying there would be no reward, but rather that he would reward me in a different way, implying he would find a suitable arrangement.
“Understood.”
“Yeah, I thought you’d say that.”
Wriggling after being told all this wouldn’t be wise. Besides, I had nothing to lose. By normal standards, refusing would be abnormal. This time, I would accept it as a reward for my hard work. Now, I was genuinely looking forward to what I would receive. If things went smoothly, would it be a temporary bonus in the form of an annual bonus? From a materialistic perspective, I could expect a considerable sum. Yes, and with a child born, it might be time to seriously consider buying a house, something we had discussed a while back. Given the circumstances, a housing complex deep in the Dungeon would probably be safer than the dormitories, so I was thinking it could serve as a down payment for land and a building.
“For now, we’ve gathered volunteers to prepare this as a pre-celebration. Evia.”
“Ah, here’s the memorandum.”
“Memorandum?”
I was expecting something like a pay stub, but instead, Evia handed me a thick menu that looked like something from a high-class restaurant, calling it a memorandum. I opened the menu, which looked to be made of expensive leather, and peered inside.
“Whuh?”
A choked, unpleasant sound escaped my throat. I was expecting to see an amount that would allow me to buy a house, but that wasn’t the case.
“What is this?”
“It’s just a small token of our gratitude. The real reward is yet to come, but for now, this is just a bluff to show that we’ve rewarded you. Was it insufficient?”
“No, I couldn’t possibly say it was insufficient…”
“Is that so? I must say, I find it rather lacking.”
“Lacking…”
From the president’s tone, I could tell this was a genuine prepayment, not a bluff. And considering Evia’s way of speaking, it probably wasn’t much to them. I looked at the memorandum again. First, it was from Instructor Fushio, which was the easiest to understand.
“Just from Instructor Fushio alone, an absurd number of zeros are being deposited…”
“Hmm? According to the local currency, I heard it’s about the same as winning the first prize in a lottery.”
“No, honestly, this alone is sufficient, but next is Instructor Kio.”
Frankly, I didn’t know how to react even if I were handed the maximum prize amount of the year-end lottery. The president’s reaction, “not a significant amount,” further confused me. Was it because I defeated the Hero? Was it because I defeated the Hero? While bewildered, I pointed to Instructor Kio’s section.
“It says ‘Diamond,’ but the weight and quantity written next to it are strange.”
“It’s not a mistake, is it? Raidou said it was adapted to the local customs. He said he heard that when people get married, they give rings as decorations.”
“They’re too big.”
Two hundred carats. That’s insane, right? And that’s for four people, like Suella and the others. The price must be astronomical, right? The contents of this memorandum already felt problematic. But there was more, so I suppressed my trembling fingertips and gently scrolled down.
“From King Uuor… it says ‘Royal Craftsman’?”
And then this. Even though I hadn’t seen him since the last time I showed him the Ore Tree, I had received a congratulatory gift from the Giant King. It was written as “Royal Craftsman,” and I didn’t quite understand. However, the fact that I didn’t understand made me uneasy.
“Ah, those are elite craftsmen directly raised by a Warlock. Even a great noble would find it difficult to commission all of them. They’ll surely offer their skills for free!”
So, I got my hands on world-class craftsmen from another world. When I saw “King Uuor,” I thought he might have a craftsman’s temperament, but I never expected it to come in this form. In Japan, they would be like master carpenters or craftspeople. I didn’t know what they could make, but I decided I’d ask them for help if I needed anything. Or rather, what should I even ask for? Leaving that question unanswered, I moved on.
“From the Tree King… ‘Seedling of the World Tree’? Huh? The World Tree?”
“That’s just like him. Lunaria is probably trying to deepen her connection with the Dark Elves as a whole by fostering the relationship between you and Suella.”
Hearing “World Tree,” a crucial element in games, neither the president nor Evia showed any surprise. Huh? Was my sense of values mistaken? Or was it more important that the Tree King was concerned about my relationship with Suella?
“Uh? No comment on the World Tree?”
It was so shocking that I couldn’t help but point it out. The president just laughed and said it was fine.
“It’s a rare tree in the Dark Elf village, but it’s not that unusual. It should be quite convenient for you, Jiro, who has contracted with a Spirit.”
“…By any chance, what’s the price?”
“I think it’s better not to ask.”
“Right.”
At this point, I wondered how much value these items I had received so far held.
“…”
“Oh? No comment on Amili?”
“No, where should I even begin?”
“Well, I think she really went all out. Even nobles rarely possess something like that.”
“We have one at home too, but I’ve never owned one personally.”
“…’Magic-Powered Mobile Battleship.’ Do you have a use for it?”
“Yes, it’s quite useful when traveling across the continent.”
“It’s especially helpful for escorting important figures with guards. As for maintenance, it’s like an independent Golem itself. It’s difficult to build, but maintaining it doesn’t cost much.”
I never thought I’d be agonizing over what to do with a weapon sent like a cruiser. No, even if they sent me a cruiser, I’d be in trouble, but a battleship? Is it okay for an individual to own one? Considering the head of the country here has permitted it, maybe that thought is wrong, but I can’t help but question it.
“…Evia.”
“What is it?”
“Thank you. I feel the most relieved.”
“Is that so?”
“Oh? Are you embarrassed?”
“…”
“My apologies. So please don’t try to increase the amount of paperwork in silence.”
However, I felt that if I pointed it out, I would lose. Looking at Evia’s next item, in a way, I thought it was the most normal. It was the ownership of a piece of land on one of the floors in the Dungeon under Evia’s jurisdiction. In other words, real estate. The gifts from the Generals prepared so far were so extravagant that my senses had become numb. Ah, I’ll ignore the area and location conditions written in the item description. I can’t see the vast area in such a prime location! Blurring out the exchange between the president and Evia, I looked at the president’s item, which was written at the very top of the list and had been overlooked until now. Ah, it’s time to face reality.
“… ‘Guardian: Demon Lord Insigne Runallos’.”
I read out that item, and as Evia, who was staring at me with a resigned expression, confirmed this was reality, I looked at the president.
“Looking forward to working with you, Jiro-!”
It was the first time in my life I felt the urge to punch the president, who gave me a thumbs-up with all his might.
Today’s Quote:
Sometimes, not accepting is also an insult…
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P.S. 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.
This version includes revisions and additions to the content originally posted on Shosetsuka ni Narou, with the addition of previously unpublished interlude chapters.
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