Entering a Company From Another World! – Chapter 559

In my company, all packages from external sources are first sent to a specialized department for inspection. Magical means are then used to confirm their safety and contents.

This rule doesn’t make an exception even for me, a general. In fact, due to my position, the inspections are even more thorough to eliminate any potential danger.

As evidence of this, I am holding a parcel stamped with seven inspection marks.

Simply put, it signifies it has undergone inspection seven times.

The sender is listed as Kirie-san.

The address is a certain location in Kyoto. I doubt it’s her main base.

Upon investigation, a location that appears to be an office showed up. It’s likely a branch of the Association or a related department.

“Have you finished your checks?”

“Ah, yes, yes. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

As I was about to open it, Keiri-san, who hadn’t left yet, peeked over. She probably has her own work, but this is related to her job. It’s worth her looking.

I peeled off the outer wrapping of the package on the desk.

“My, it’s made of good wood.”

“Looks expensive.”

A beautiful lacquered wooden box appeared. Keiri-san gently stroked its surface. Is her particular skill as a Dark Elf what allows her to recognize fine wood?

Next to me, who was nodding in admiration, I felt keenly that gold leaf detailing on the box meant it wasn’t cheap. Though I spend a fortune on weapons and armor, my commoner roots haven’t entirely disappeared. Understanding that this item was also costly, such words unintentionally slipped from my lips.

“What are you saying now? Come on, open it quickly.”

“Yes, yes.”

I untied the knot holding the wooden box shut, noting that the cord also appeared expensive. Carefully, I loosened it and opened the lid to find…

“This is the real deal.”

“Of course it is.”

The mount holding the arranged marriage photos was also elaborately made, making me wonder how many fortunes were spent on just that part alone.

With careful hands, I took out one piece and gently opened it. A faint, pleasant scent wafted out; perhaps the photo had been scented with incense or something similar. The elegant aroma didn’t offend us, but rather enhanced the sense of its high value.

As I slowly opened it, the photo revealed…

“Whoa. A handsome man.”

It was a portrait of a handsome man, even I, as a man, could genuinely admire. He had neatly styled black hair, parted at the side, and was dressed in a tuxedo.

“My, the son of an Association executive…”

“…”

As I skim casually through the profile, noting it wasn’t traditional Japanese attire, I felt a slender hand reach towards the wooden box. There was no need to consider whose hand it was. Only Keiri-san and I were looking at these arranged marriage photos, so naturally, it was Keiri-san’s hand.

“Keiri-san?”

I intended to ask if she was that interested, but when I looked beside me, I instantly regretted it. Keiri-san, with bloodshot eyes, was intently staring at the arranged marriage photos, calmly picking one up, closing it, then picking up another, and repeating the process. About ten photos were quickly viewed and then quietly returned to the box.

“…Jiro-”

Keiri-san emitted something unusual. Her cheerful demeanor from before had vanished, replaced by a Dark Elf radiating an aura as if she were heading into battle.

“Wh-what is it?”

Here I am, the one who can face an instructor head-on, being intimidated? I calmly analyzed my own feelings, wondering if I was afraid, and calmly replied to her words. My voice wavered, and I stumbled over a word for a moment, but that actually helped me regain my composure. However, my body tensed in a state of alertness, instinctively preparing to defend myself should the need arise.

“May I store this information in the most important classified vault?”

The “most important classified vault” is a safe-like space under my control, designated for storing items of the highest importance. Accessing it requires my authentication and the unlocking of multiple security measures. It’s said to take a week even for instructors or Evia to open, guaranteed. Only items of exceptional importance among those deemed significant within our faction are permitted in that vault. Putting it bluntly, I couldn’t justify unlocking that vault for something as trivial as arranged marriage photos, even for the sake of organizational exchange.

“You will allow it, won’t you?”

“Alright, alright, just stop looking at me like that.”

Faced with an irresistible pressure, I raised my hands in surrender. In terms of combat prowess, I could defeat her. However, I realized that displeasing her at this moment would not be wise, so I readily unlocked the vault.

“Honestly, it’s tiring to open this.”

“If you have time to complain, hurry up and open it.”

“Yes.”

I grumbled internally, wondering who was actually the superior officer. I then activated my magic. The “most important classified vault” is a space created within a spatial rift, an artifact of my contract with Valse-san, where items are perfectly preserved via time stoppage. Only I know the coordinates. Using the spatial manipulation techniques directly taught by Valse-san, I bypassed several security layers.

“Right, unlocked.”

A click echoed from the rift, and the vault opened. I complained that using this special genre of spatial magic was draining my magic power early in the morning, but Keiri-san, with careful hands, gently placed the wooden box inside.

“Close it.”

“You’re quite bossy.”

She quickly scanned the surroundings and told me to close it quickly. I then activated my magic to re-lock it. With an image of sinking it into the spatial rift, the operations were completed in an instant, and the door closed, making the vault disappear.

“I’m stepping out for a bit. You work diligently while I’m gone.”

“Just a bit?”

After confirming it was securely stored, Keiri-san swiftly left the office. She left without acknowledging my commands as her superior. Was there really something about those arranged marriage photos?

“Did she know someone… No, that can’t be it. Then what was it?”

I couldn’t grasp the reason for her drastic change in demeanor and could only tilt my head, unable to find an answer.

“Right, I don’t have time to dwell on this. I need to move quickly.”

Though Keiri-san’s behavior had left me momentarily stunned, I also had my own matters to attend to. I resolved to finish my work efficiently and vowed to see Yukiera and Sachiera awake today, then threw myself into my tasks.

Then, without any issues at all. The phrase “the calm before the storm” briefly crossed my mind, but work concluded uneventfully.

“Dang, I didn’t make it again today.”

“Welcome back.”

I finally entered my house at nine in the evening. For a child, it was already bedtime. My child, watched over by little spirits, slept soundly, a sight that was indeed dear, but I couldn’t help but clench my fist in silent regret.

Suella, seeing my reaction, gave a wry smile and gently took my suit jacket, hanging it on a hanger. To avoid waking the child, I quietly returned to the living room from the bedroom, where a delightful aroma tickled my nostrils. Dinner had long passed, but it was Himik’s cooking, prepared with me in mind, as she knew I’d be hungry. The scent made my stomach rumble.

“Let’s have dinner first, shall we?”

“Ah, let’s do that.”

I thought about a bath after work, but Himik’s cooking seemed to be ready first. Accompanied by Suella, I headed to the dining table.

“Were you asleep?”

“Ah, unfortunately.”

“I see.”

“Memoria seems to be doing well.”

“From here on is when I truly shine.”

Memoria was there, enjoying some wine. Vampires and wine; a classic combination. She was sipping red wine from a glass, and her snack appeared to be dried goods she brought herself, rather than Himik’s cooking. It looked quite delicious, and I resolved to ask for some later.

“It’s ready, Giro.”

While I was savoring the sleeping faces of the children, Himik appeared with a tray holding steaming, fragrant dishes. “For two?” However, the tray held not one, but two servings. That means…

“I’m back.”

“Indeed, good timing.”

Evia had also returned. Unexpectedly, my fiancées were gathered. I took my usual seat, with Suella to my left and Evia to my right. Memoria sat in front of Suella, and Himik, after serving the food, sat before me.

“Would you like a drink?”

“No, I just came back to get dinner. I’ll pass tonight.”

“You seem busy.”

“Thanks to some idiot causing trouble, I have no time to rest.”

Memoria offered wine, but even Evia, who usually accepted, shook her head. “Some idiot.” The tone suggested it wasn’t someone within our inner circle. If not, it must be Isal.

“You seem busy too. I heard a package arrived from the censorship office to the Association.”

I was about to ask about that, but Evia preempted me. This likely meant there wasn’t enough information to discuss in depth, or it involved classified matters. Deciding not to pry further, I went along with Evia’s narrative.

“Still, it was just the arranged marriage photos. Then there’s documentation regarding the venue. And then…”

What Himik prepared was simple pasta with salad and soup. The portions weren’t large. Given the late hour, it was a light meal, easy to digest. While eating, I presented Evia with the information she was concerned about and, caught up in my work, remembered something I’d forgotten.

“Speaking of which, Keiri-san’s behavior was strange.”

I stopped eating my pasta, recalling how Keiri-san’s demeanor changed after looking at the photos.

“Keiri?”

“Yeah, after looking at an arranged marriage photo, she suddenly radiated an intense aura.”

When Keiri-san’s topic came up, Suella, her longtime friend, immediately perked up, wondering if something had happened to her friend.

“If you don’t mind, could you show me that photo?”

“The photo? Well, I suppose it’s okay.”

Though it was considered confidential, Evia, with her gaze, also indicated she wanted to see it. Thus, for the second time that day, I opened the vault. I brought out the elaborate wooden box and revealed its contents. It was the same box, containing the arranged marriage photos I’d seen that morning. However, seeing my fiancées handling arranged marriage photos didn’t strike me as particularly amusing; I found myself eating my pasta with a rather awkward expression.

Perhaps sensing my inner turmoil, Evia glanced at the photos, quickly flipped through them, and returned to her meal.

“How is this material made?”

Memoria’s interest was piqued not by the photo itself, but by the mount it was displayed on.

“Would you like more?”

Himik, uninterested in the photos, noticed my bowl was empty and refilled it.

“I see, so that’s what it was.”

Finally, Suella slowly returned the arranged marriage photos to the box.

“Keiri was trying to psych herself up, wasn’t she?”

She nodded, seemingly understanding, her expression suggesting she had figured out why Keiri-san had adopted such an intense aura. She then smiled, as if to show me that my worries were unfounded, and gave me a warning.

“Things might get tough starting tomorrow.”

Today’s word: There is always a trigger.

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