Thank you, everyone, for achieving the immense number of twenty thousand bookmarks.
This is an extra work completely unrelated to the main story, a rewritten version of the very early plot.
While it uses the existing setting, various encounters with people are different.
I hope you enjoy it.
I’m sleepy, just very sleepy.
How many days in a row have I worked without a break?
I barely remember the days of work, forcing my stumbling body awake with caffeine.
What has been my average sleep duration this week?
Responding to a sudden change in specifications from a client, and once that delivery was somehow finished, I’ve been working on orders with short deadlines, continuing an endless Death March. Time and intervals have lost all meaning.
I’ve managed to get by on barely the minimum necessary sleep, thanks to this sturdy body my mother gave me.
In fact, I feel like that sturdiness is working against me.
The sensation of my mind sharpening with caffeine only lasted for the first few months.
When did I start relying on nicotine to calm my nerves?
I’ve seen my peers leave, one by one, new kouhai joining and leaving repeatedly.
I question whether I truly need to work at a company like this, but the shackles of responsibility force me to work.
“Haa.”
Today is no different.
It’s Sunday, but why am I wearing a suit and heading to the company?
The lack of a morning commute rush is the only small mercy, but still, the fact that I’m the only one coming in on a Sunday creates an indescribable sense of weariness.
I arrive at my usual platform, and looking around, there are far fewer people compared to weekdays.
Seriously, why am I working myself to the bone? This question arises.
I feel it’s pointless to even sigh.
Sighing changes nothing.
“And then,”
“Huh? Seriously?”
Even in such a dark and gloomy state of mind, a bright voice reaches my ears.
A voice that’s cheerful, energetic, and full of vibrancy—it could easily be called annoying.
I look over with tired eyes, wondering who it could be, and see four people in casual clothes.
Judging by their appearance, they are probably high school students.
The scene of them talking happily reminds me that I too had a time like that, perhaps indicating I’ve grown old.
Waiting on the same train platform means we’ll probably be on the same train.
Going out so early on a Sunday morning suggests they’re going on a trip somewhere far.
Given the season, perhaps it’s a graduation trip or something similar.
I see. Instead of worrying about others and telling them to have a good trip, I should be worried about myself, considering how exhausted I am to the point where I might collapse tomorrow. I should be rushing to the hospital.
But, in my mind, the corporate slave whispers that I have to finish the deadline, robbing me of that choice.
How many times have I considered that it would be better to punch that damn boss and lose my job?
Ultimately, what I need is a trigger.
A trigger that will dramatically change my current life.
Without it, I’ll continue to be a corporate slave forever.
As I vaguely thought that, I found myself wishing the approaching train wouldn’t arrive.
“What is this!?”
“Isn’t this dangerous!?”
“Toh! Quickly get away!”
“My legs, my legs won’t move!”
An unsettling atmosphere emanated from the group that had been talking so cheerfully moments ago.
It took my brain a few more seconds to understand that something was wrong.
At that moment, I just quietly wondered what was happening and looked over to confirm.
“What is that?”
It was something that had been staining the gray concrete platform floor white, drawing strange circular patterns, rotating, and trapping the group of four.
Other passengers nearby also looked over, wondering what was going on, but no one did anything. This is the meaning of “the wise do not approach danger.”
Everyone watched from a distance, waiting for someone else to act.
Some people were pointing their smartphones and recording videos, but most were indifferent and not trying to get too close.
It was the same for me. My body was tired, I felt dizzy, and I’m sure if I tried to sprint now, I’d collapse from anemia. Such a bad condition.
So, I intended to do nothing.
The group of four panicked, trying to escape the white light, but they weren’t succeeding. What would happen if this continued?
As I watched, thinking about what might happen.
“Help!”
A girl with a strong spirit called out for help.
No, that wasn’t a plea directed only at me.
It’s natural to ask for help from your surroundings.
Yet, why was I doing this?
It wasn’t a plea directed at me.
A voice addressed to everyone, to the majority, not specifically to anyone.
If I ignored it, I’d only feel a little guilty, and no one would blame me.
Despite such words, I found myself sprinting with all my might, as if I had forgotten about my own condition.
Avoiding the few people, I ran at full speed, the fastest I could muster now.
These leather shoes are hard to run in, but with that attire, I was sprinting with all my might.
“Catch!”
Without hesitation, I approached the white space and reached out my hand.
I shouldn’t step in there.
From such an intuition, I didn’t step into the white space, but instead, I grabbed a conveniently placed pillar with my left hand and, being careful not to step in, reached out with my right hand.
“Oh, uh!”
The first to grab my outstretched hand was one of the men in the group of four.
Pushing the girl aside, his intention was to save himself alone.
There was no time to criticize his obvious move.
For now, saving him was the priority.
“Pulling!”
Who knows where this strength remained, but my body, despite its accumulated fatigue, possessed more strength than I expected. Before I could hear a reply, I pulled with all my might.
A moment of resistance, but then his feet left the ground as if he had been acting, and he rolled onto the platform floor propelled by my pull from the white floor.
I reached out again, thinking I could save him.
But.
“What!?”
The moment I tried to extend my arm, a force like gravity pulled me backward.
No one was holding the hand I had extended.
As if a force was trying to pull me into that white space, I was instantly dragged in.
My body was thrown from the pillar I was holding, and the moment I stepped into the white formation.
“!”
“Kyaa!”
“Noooo!”
“Karen! Miki!”
The white formation then emitted a strong light.
My consciousness ended there.
And then, I found myself slowly opening my eyelids.
“Nn, ah.”
What is this? I feel like I’ve slept soundly for the first time in a long time.
When did I fall asleep?
I found myself lying down, looking up at the ceiling.
A ceiling I didn’t recognize.
For a hospital, it was quite a simple ceiling.
Stone walls, unfamiliar rugs; it seemed clean as if the cleaning was meticulous.
“Where is this?”
The curtains weren’t closed, so sunlight was streaming directly through the window, but the slightly fogged glass didn’t show the outside clearly.
I looked around the unfamiliar space, wondering what this place was, but my groggy mind and hazy head weren’t working quite right, and I couldn’t quite grasp the situation.
I sat up half-way from the bed and looked around.
“…”
How should I put it?
“This is a strange place.”
The furniture was unlike anything you’d find in modern Japan, and my still groggy mind couldn’t process the situation at all.
The bed I was lying on was the same. Perhaps because the springs weren’t working at all, I felt a sense of discomfort. Even the shelves and desk – should I say they were handmade? – the lack of uniformity in the items felt strange to someone used to mass-produced goods every day.
What was that strangeness?
I scratched my head vigorously, trying to force my brain, which craved caffeine, to wake up, but…
“No good. I can’t understand anything.”
I looked around for coffee, or rather, tobacco, but I couldn’t find what I was looking for.
“Haa, damn it.”
I took a deep breath to calm my irritated mind and somehow managed to get my thoughts going.
“Let’s see, I walked towards the station as usual, and then…”
I could remember who I was and what kind of person I was, and what happened before I fell asleep, but I had absolutely no idea what happened afterwards.
Just then, I heard a knock on the door.
“Yes?”
That reply was a reflex.
Just the reaction of replying to a knock when I heard one.
But, thanks to that reaction.
“Excuse me. You’ve awakened.”
“…”
I was a witness to an unrealistic scene and thought, “So, it’s a dream.”
I nodded to that fact and, wanting to wake up quickly and get back to work, I tried to pull the slightly stiff futon over myself.
“Wait a minute!?”
But as I hurried to get up, my path to sleep was interrupted.
“You are awake.”
“No, I’m sleeping.”
“Saying that so clearly right now is a lie, isn’t it!?”
A woman’s voice shook my body, creating vibrations that disturbed my sleep. Her outfit – should I say it was a sister’s habit? – made of dark blue fabric, revealing minimal skin. She also wore a hat, and only her face and hands were exposed.
I thought only people in costumes at the Shibuya Scramble Crossing during Halloween wore such outfits…
Unfortunately, the time I was trying to go to work was in the middle of winter, far from Halloween. It was strange that a woman dressed like that would greet me at such a time.
Seeing it right in front of me, I thought I was having a realistic dream because I was too tired.
I glanced at the woman who was desperately trying to wake me.
She had a beautiful Western-looking face, with slightly blonde hair and blue eyes. She spoke fluent Japanese, but I noticed something odd: the movement of her mouth didn’t match the language I was hearing.
“It’s not a dream, is it?”
At that point, I finally accepted the scene unfolding before me as reality.
“Yes, it’s not a dream.”
The woman looked relieved as I got out of the futon and faced her.
To her, I asked, still not fully accepting reality, considering the possibility of a prank, “So, where’s the camera?”
“Camera? Is that someone’s name? Sorry. There was no one among those summoned with you by that name.”
However, the woman tilted her head as if she genuinely didn’t know, far from the disingenuous answer I was seeking.
If I were a modern person, I wouldn’t mistake an object like a camera for a person’s name unless I lived a life far removed from the scientific field.
And what did this woman just say?
Didn’t she say “summoning”?
That light, that strange phenomenon.
It didn’t take me long, with my otaku knowledge, to connect it to something called summoning.
“Seriously?”
“Seriously? Someone else?”
“No, rather, please don’t mind. It’s just words born from an inability to face reality.”
Regarding what happened, I couldn’t believe it without concrete proof, but it was certain that this was not a place I recognized.
Even if it were a meticulously crafted set designed to look that way, it was far too elaborate.
There might be some twisted TV station or video uploader who would stoop so low as to play a prank on a mere corporate slave like me for amusement, but flailing around here would only serve their entertainment, so I needed to remain calm.
More than half of me was gripped by a terrible premonition, but I was willing to gamble on a sliver of a possibility.
“Um, I’m confused, so can I ask you some questions to resolve this?”
“Yes, please ask whatever you wish, Hero. If it’s something I can answer.”
Just as I was about to ask a question, a thought, “Jesus,” flashed through my mind, intensifying my prediction and overwhelming me with the urge to clutch my head.
What do you mean, “Hero”?
At twenty-five, and nearing thirty when rounded, I had no right to be called a hero…
But let’s put that aside for now.
“Um, where is this place?”
My priority now was to grasp the current situation.
“Yes, this is the Grand Cathedral in Easlaria, the capital of the Theocratic Nation Tris, one of the foremost nations in Isal.”
Well, they hit me with it right from the start.
The heck is that?
Where is Isal? What continent? I consider myself reasonably knowledgeable about geography, but this country name is completely unheard of.
Besides, a country with “theocratic nation” in its name couldn’t possibly exist in modern times.
If I were a chuunibyou, it would be a worrisome amalgamation of delusion and reality, a kidnapping ring, but there was no such atmosphere.
Judging by her age, she was probably a high school student, or even younger.
The words coming from the woman, who was clearly younger than me, gave me a headache.
“Next, you called me a Hero earlier… what’s that about?”
“It is because, through the miracle bestowed upon us by God, you were summoned from another world to defeat the demon lord who is said to revive!”
Wow, a completely worn-out template development, damn it.
I don’t have the purity of heart left to be delighted by such a scenario.
“OK, I understand. What about the other people who were with me?”
Honestly, the more I understood the situation, the more I thought, “Seriously, give me a break,” and my thoughts were shifting towards how to break free from this predicament, but my calm side, which was thinking that immediate action would be reckless, was still functioning, so I was alright.
“There were three other people with you. Everyone else has woken up and is receiving their explanations separately. You seemed very fatigued, so you were taken to a separate room to rest.”
“Was I that tired to warrant such concern?”
“Yes, the person in charge of your treatment said that even a seasoned warrior wouldn’t be this exhausted.”
“By the way, how long did I sleep?”
“About a full day.”
“I see, that explains why I feel so refreshed.”
OK, this seems to be a standard summoning scenario.
Judging by the situation, they don’t seem to be imprisoning or brainwashing me, so it’s not like my treatment is that bad.
The fact that they’re concerned about my health suggests some level of kindness.
However, a theocratic nation means a country with a strong religious influence.
As an atheist, I can’t help but feel distrustful of such a state system, but I probably shouldn’t make any rash moves, or my tomorrow might not come.
For now, it’s best to assume I’m in another world.
The current situation is based on circumstantial evidence alone; there’s still a slim chance, akin to winning the lottery, that this is an elaborate prank, so I can’t believe everything.
However, I should probably prepare myself.
My clothes have been changed without my knowledge, and my belongings are nowhere in sight.
There’s little I can do in my current state.
It’s probably best not to make any unnecessary enemies.
Thanks to the most sleep I’ve had in a long time, or perhaps it’s some kind of summoning benefit, my mind is working at full speed.
I can’t sense anything else special, but I do wonder if that’s alright.
“Can I receive that explanation as well?”
“Yes! The Archbishop ordered that you be brought here once you woke up.”
“Understood. Should I change clothes for now?”
For now, I have no choice but to go with the flow.
I thought it would be best to change out of what I assume are pajamas, so I got up from the bed.
“Yes, here are the clothes for changing.”
The clothes handed to me were, how should I say it, fantasy-style clothes that didn’t seem to suit me with my black hair and black eyes.
I wondered if they were common in this world, but I accepted them with a wry smile, unable to shake off the feeling of cosplay.
“Is something wrong?”
I called out to the woman who showed no signs of leaving the room.
I felt resistant to changing clothes in front of a woman of that age.
“No, well, I neglected to ask for the Hero’s name.”
Ah, so that’s it.
Indeed, after waking up, I hadn’t introduced myself even once.
“My apologies, my introduction was rather late.”
Since all my business cards and everything else had been taken away, I had no choice but to resort to words.
With the otherworldly clothes clutched to my chest.
“My name is Jiro Tanaka. I don’t know what they call me here, but my surname is Tanaka, and my given name is Jiro. I’m just a humble salaryman.”
As I gave such a casual introduction, the woman in front of me muttered my name with a small, babbling mouth.
“Jirou-sama, is it? My name is Eshlee. I will be taking care of all your needs from now on, so please treat me favorably.”
Although there was a slight oddity in her pronunciation, she called my name and bowed politely.
I felt like asking what “taking care of all your needs” entailed.
“Nice to meet you.”
For now, establishing a good relationship is the first step for a working adult.
“Then, Jirou-sama, I will help you change.”
“No, thank you.”
However, there are some things that cannot be accepted due to cultural differences.
With a smile, I politely declined Eshlee’s offer to help me change, putting on my best professional smile.
After that, there was a bit of a back-and-forth about whether to help or not, but I somehow managed to get her to leave the room and succeeded in changing into the unfamiliar clothes by myself.
Led by Eshlee, I proceeded down a long corridor.
Soldiers in armor, nuns dressed like Eshlee, and men in priestly robes. The composition was too peculiar for a cosplay event, and I was shown a scene that made it difficult to escape reality, my spirit reaching a state of near resignation.
If this is what it’s like on the way, then true escape from reality will be even harder.
“This way, please.”
Finally, I was guided to a heavy door guarded by soldiers. At that point, I could no longer deny that this was a place different from Japanese civilization.
Nodding to Eshlee’s words, I entered the room that the soldiers had opened. I met someone who held a high position even within this cathedral, but…
‘Wow, he looks really suspicious.’
Looking at the Archbishop, a plump man with a gentle smile, my past experiences sounded an alarm.
I thought it was perhaps presumptuous to judge him as untrustworthy from first impressions, but my intuition had been honed by black companies.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that my ability to discern untrustworthy people had been sharpened.
“Archbishop-sama, I have brought the Hero.”
“Indeed. Well done, Miko Eshlee. You may withdraw.”
“Yes.”
Even from this exchange alone, one could understand the hierarchy, and yet, the way he spoke, his gaze, and even his demeanor exuded suspiciousness.
Seeing how the Archbishop, who served God, looked at me, giving a sequential gaze from my chest to my hips, I etched into my mind that he was definitely a bad person.
At first glance, he didn’t look unlikeable, but he reminded me of a client who would smile and make unreasonable demands.
She was perhaps the only ally I had. To push away Eshlee, who had guided me this far, felt like a negative move.
In this situation of being alone and without allies, was he trying to instill an even deeper sense of loneliness?
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Hero from another world. I am Grotta, who holds the position of Archbishop here.”
Or was he seeing me as a tool from the very beginning?
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Archbishop Grotta. My name is Jiro Tanaka. Tanaka is my family name, and Jiro is my given name.”
Faced with someone exuding such an aura, I had no choice but to respond with a professional smile.
For me, who had survived several years in black companies, which felt as concentrated as coffee brewed many times over, such pretense was hardly difficult.
“Hmm, the sound of names from other worlds is indeed peculiar.”
“Yes, I often hear that Japanese names are difficult to pronounce in foreign lands.”
He had heard the names of other summoned individuals who were probably here before me, so it was natural for him to find my name unusual.
It was good that the conversation began with a smile, but I still had some lingering anxiety about how it would proceed.
“Now then, Lord Jirou, how much have you heard so far?”
“Only the barest outline. That I was summoned from another world to defeat the Demon Lord using miracles. I haven’t heard details about the current situation, the reasons behind it, or why I was summoned from another world.”
It’s a common trope that this type of person is good at verbal sparring.
If I were to speak freely according to my emotions, I would be easily manipulated and led into a situation that suited them.
“Hmm, you are quite calm. The others, if I may say so, seemed quite flustered by the sudden turn of events.”
“I am of a different age than them, so it’s probably the difference in experience. I am a bit more of an adult, and the experience of knowing that it’s better to calmly assess the situation can only be learned through facing many situations.”
“I see, the truth then.”
Despite trying to proceed cautiously out of a sense of crisis, was I being a little too suspicious?
They seemed to agree with my words, but they definitely didn’t.
I have no hostile intentions, and besides, I was summoned here through their summoning ritual.
They must trust me.
“Then, I will explain as much as I can.”
“Please treat it favorably.”
This was not a seated conversation but a standing one, held surrounded by soldiers.
So, they were wary of me too…
As I listened to Archbishop Grotta’s story, the things I had to do became clearer, and I grew more depressed.
“To summarize, my mission is to defeat a being called the Demon Lord, who possesses a more resilient body than humans?”
Given the current situation, the country allied with the Theocratic Nation Tris is the Eclair Kingdom, along with several other smaller allied nations.
Only the Eclair Kingdom is considered an equal; the others are treated as vassal states.
There is an opposing nation called the Hanzibal Empire.
Relations with the allied nations are good, and a state of truce exists with the opposing nation due to signs of the Demon Lord’s revival.
Therefore, for now, they can concentrate on the battle against the Demon Lord.
This much is fine.
If they had to fight the Demon Lord while being at war with other countries, it would have been ridiculous, and I probably would have wanted to criticize them.
The problem lies ahead.
The being called the Demon Lord has subordinates called Generals, who are exceptionally strong. Ordinary soldiers are no match for them, and the Demon Lord possesses the strength to command these Generals.
I was summoned through a summoning ritual that grants special powers to defeat them, and according to the Archbishop, I have also been granted these special powers.
It seems they will investigate my abilities later…
Wait a minute, you old fox.
You’re appealing to my emotions by telling me about the Demon Lord’s atrocities, but essentially, you’re asking me to take a huge risk.
What reason would I, a person from another world, have to clean up the mess of another world?
I do have a sense of justice, but there’s no way that emotion would surface when facing a life-threatening situation.
If I were being truly honest, this is a request I would immediately refuse…
“Yes, that’s correct. Of course, we will provide full support so that the hero can be successful.”
“I see.”
If I refused here, who knows what this old fox would do.
It’s not as if there haven’t been those who didn’t obey in the past.
People like this would either use smooth talk to manipulate you or, if that failed, bury you in darkness.
This is no different than a boss who presents you with only two choices: yes or yes.
No matter how I answered, my life was already in their hands, so there was only one possible response.
“I understand your hardships. It must be fate that led us to meet through this summoning. Though my strength is small, I will cooperate.”
I plastered on a smile and acted obedient, my policy for now being to gain as much strength as possible.
I should probably assume that they can see through this facade.
“Oh! As expected of the hero. With that courage, we are equivalent to gaining an army of ten thousand. We sincerely hope you will use that power to slay the Demon Lord!”
This smile, this attitude, would surely appeal greatly to a teenager.
I slowly walked closer and shook the offered hand.
“Yes, I will do my best.”
I spoke those insincere words.
What I’m being forced to do, no matter how I struggle, is to kill living beings.
Although this event is embellished with pretty words, in the end, killing cannot be separated from it.
Now then, everyone.
Although I have somehow taken on this job, let me state one thing here.
This hero business is undoubtedly a worse working environment than any Black company.
After all, my main job is to participate in war, so you can imagine.
Defeating threats to help people?
The fact that they leave such pretty words to others indicates the level of danger involved.
They live in comfort and safety while leaving the danger to others, and I suspect they will be the ones to reap the rewards in the end.
A structure of exploitation is in place.
For now, it seems I have no choice but to become a cog in that structure.
“Ah, I wanted a trigger to change my life, but I wish they hadn’t set me up with a Black company like this.”
With a salesman’s smile, I thought to myself.
Today’s quote:
Change doesn’t always mean change for the better.
Thank you for your usual feedback and for pointing out any typos.
If you enjoyed it, please feel free to leave comments, ratings, and bookmarks.
This week marks our commemoration of 20,000 bookmarks, so the next main story update will be on Sunday. Thank you for your understanding.
We are currently serializing another work:
Pandora Pandemic Panic – Pandora’s Box Has Been Opened Again, But We’re Fighting Back With Various Things in Our Secret Base!!
Please also check that out!
