“I’ll post it as soon as it’s finished.
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single, no girlfriend.
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee)
Magic Aptitude 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
“Broha!?”
As I send him a sympathetic gaze, I watch Kaido, who is sent flying through the air, get slammed into the ground.
“Guboh!”
It’s probably because I’ve walked the same path that I have such a nostalgic feeling for the voice forcibly expelled from my lungs.
Three minutes into the training mock battle, he lies sprawled on his back, unmoving, but I admire that he didn’t let go of the iron swords in his hands.
The fact that he lasted three minutes was thanks to the sacrifice he made; it’s probably because his opponent, who stood there with a smile that would make anyone flee, had gotten better at holding back.
“But you shouldn’t have hit him directly with that, should you?”
By barely catching the afterimage, I can tell it hit his torso.
And that it was considerably held back.
Otherwise, without causing the phenomenon of sponges or cloth to fly off, it would have sliced through a human and spread a gruesome scene that would warrant an R-rating for gore before my eyes. The being Kaido faced is of that caliber.
Standing where I’m looking is the Ogre Yakuza, who, though I’ve grown accustomed to it, still emits a fighting spirit so intense it makes me feel like I’ll be crushed. He stands imposingly with his arms crossed, waiting with a smile for Kaido to get up. In one hand, he holds a ‘sword’ that has long since become a magic sword; in my mind, it has already surpassed the realm of a toy.
“Hey, Kaido, are you alive?”
“Heh”
“Heh?”
“There’s no response. He’s just a corpse.”
“No, don’t die. When I first started, I was critically wounded with one blow. I seriously saw the Sanzu River, so you’re still better off.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
As I walk over to the fallen Kaido and crouch down to check his condition, I see he has bruises, but he is far from critically wounded. He can fight without problems. He can also live his life, with only a little body pain. Conclusion.
“Alright, go.”
“You’re definitely using the wrong word! You didn’t tell me that! Fighting someone like that!!”
“You idiot, who said I’d listen to your wishes?”
“This is fraud! I’m calling a lawyer!”
“You can call one if you defeat the being in front of you?”
“This place is also corrupt!!”
“The genre is different, but perhaps so. However, we have a beautiful woman here. By the way, the beautiful women here seem to like strong men.”
“Kusoooooo!!”
“You’re honest about your desires.”
It’s surprisingly easy to get this guy going. I just need to dangle bait in the direction he’s craving. It was impressive that the reason he joined the company so quickly was so honest, you could almost call it manly.
“Kakakaka, you’ve brought another lively one.”
“Instructor Fushio, thank you for today.”
“Nothing, it’s always good to have people like that around. After all, it will eventually come back to benefit our side.”
“I hope so.”
I’m used to it now, so even with the skull standing next to me, I don’t mind. I watch Kaido, who attacks Instructor Kio with spirited blows. It’s been a week since Kaido joined the company, and my recent days have been a tough schedule of teaching Kaido theory in the morning, practical training with the instructors in the afternoon, and diving into dungeons alone at night. Thanks to my increased stats, the physical aspect, mainly fatigue, isn’t a problem for now, so I’m impressed by how convenient Magic Crests are.
“Oh, he got blown away again.”
“Kakakaka, Jiro, why don’t you join too? Then I could participate as well.”
“I have to go into the dungeon later, so it’s a bit problematic to end up half-dead.”
“Regrettable.”
“He’s apparently going to learn magic too, so please wait a little longer.”
“Understood, understood. Then I’ll save the fun for later.”
Instructor Kio, who cheerfully blows Kaido away, and Instructor Fushio, who chuckles knowingly next to him, both fundamentally enjoy fighting. I can say that with certainty, having been beaten down by them with all their might while they wore impossibly cheerful smiles. Furthermore, perhaps it’s because they’re from the Demon Lord’s Army, or perhaps it’s their villainous faces… either way, these two are exceptionally skilled at controlling the outcome without killing their opponents, a tactic that goes against humanistic principles. They inflict injuries, but not fatal ones; they cause pain, but not to the point of unconsciousness; they launch attacks that are visible, but impossible to dodge. Thanks to that, Kaido can undergo training that is almost indistinguishable from actual combat, pushing him to his limits and exhausting his stamina, just as he is now. While it might seem necessary from the perspective of an observer, there’s no doubt that the content is something the recipient would beg to be spared from. I had told Kaido to be careful because it would be physically demanding when he joined, but I doubt he could have imagined it would be this intense. At that moment, I suddenly recall the incident that served as Kaido’s trigger for joining.
It was about half a month ago. The day after we went drinking, it was the day Kaido was supposed to visit this company for a tour. The tour permission was granted more easily than I expected, and although he seemed a bit listless with a hangover, Kaido arrived without incident.
“Senpai, do you work for a movie studio?”
“With this much skill, you might be able to aim for an Oscar in Hollywood, but unfortunately, this is reality.”
Kaido, who had magic aptitude and thus wasn’t repelled by the barrier, was able to enter the company premises. What greeted him were the company’s employees, fully immersed in the fantasy. When I first came, I was met by the receptionist Dark Elf, but this time, there seemed to be some luggage being moved, and I encountered a scene of races like Goblins and Orcs carrying luggage like movers.
“I thought what Senpai was saying was a dream or something, but is this for real?”
“It’s better than not facing reality. For now, I’ll show you what I can. Follow me.”
“Us.”
“Oh, Jiro-san, is that person the one for the tour?”
It was good timing that we met Suella, who was probably checking the incoming deliveries. Although I had contacted her in advance, it’s always better to have a face-to-face introduction.
“Suella-san, thank you for your hard work. Yes, that’s my kouhai from my previous company—”
“My name is Kaido Tadashi! I have come with the strong desire to be taken care of by your esteemed company!!”
“Hey, your change of heart is too fast.”
And then, where did the lethargic attitude from just moments ago go?”
Suella appearing in her usual suit made Kaido straighten his hunched back and stand at attention, declaring his entrance with a bright smile despite not having observed anything.
“Senpai, senpai! Who is that beautiful woman!?”
“You’re too close. Get away from me for now. She’s Suella. Handelberg, the one who hired me. She was also my training instructor in the early days. I still rely on her.”
“Seriously!? I can receive guidance from her?”
“Uh, that might be the case.”
If I were to ask, Suella would surely agree.
Depending on Kaido’s desired occupation, that might also become a reality.
However, the possibility of that is incredibly slim. I wouldn’t mention it, though, because it would be inconvenient for me if they rejected my offer to join the company, thus dampening Kaido’s excitement.
To conclude, before I knew it, he was giving Kaido a sales pitch, ending with Suella saying, “I look forward to the day we can work together.”
“Yes, sir!!”
I was able to witness my junior being made to sign a one-way ticket that would change his outlook on life.
Most men would say yes to such a statement.
I can’t scold my junior, who was beaming, but I would at least tell him not to let his guard down, even just a little.
Truly, beauty is an advantage.
“Well then, I have work to do, so please excuse me, Jiro-san, Kaido-san.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Thank you for your hard work!”
Kaido’s reaction, as he bid farewell to Suella with renewed energy, was a stark contrast to when they first met.
“Senpai! I’m going with you, senpai!!”
His eyes sparkled with the same vigor as his voice, and he was completely recovered.
“For now, let’s continue with the company tour, shall we?”
“Yes, sir!!”
His rising excitement was enjoyable to watch.
As I continued along the same course I had seen during my interview, wondering how much higher his spirits would soar,
Whenever we met an employee, we exchanged greetings, and each time, Kaido’s smile would grow brighter.
Starting with Dark Elves, then demons, dragon tribes, and giants, our company has many beautiful women.
I don’t know if they intentionally gathered such members, but there’s no doubt they have such talents.
In this environment, the only ones who could complain about the abundance of beautiful women would be those with a penchant for male relationships or men with gynophobia.
My junior, who belongs to neither category, seemed unfazed, even by polite conversation.
“Senpai! I’ve decided!! I’m going to work here!”
By the time we were drinking coffee in the company cafeteria, he had the expression of a man who had made up his mind.
I can guess the reason for his decision to join.
As a man, it’s not wrong, but as a working adult, I believe he made the wrong choice.
As a precaution, I discreetly performed a magical thought-check on him along the way, and there were no issues. I also received a hiring email from Supervisor Evia.
All that was left was his own will, but even that confirmation seemed unnecessary.
From there, things moved quickly, leading to the contract discussions.
“Senpai!! I’m quitting my company right away!!”
He ran off towards the sunset at full speed, and three days later.
“I’ll be in your care from today!”
“What about your company?”
“I quit!”
“What about the handover?”
“Senpai, you’re supposed to leverage your boss’s weaknesses, aren’t you?”
“What did you do?”
“Hehehe, humans can do anything if they hold a grudge.”
A new, yet familiar junior was born.
“Whoa, do humans fly like that?”
That junior has now become a person of the sky (physically).
“Master, it was similar back then, wasn’t it?”
“I feel like mine was a bit higher.”
“Kukukuku, was it now?”
I chose to ignore Instructor Fushio’s remark that he was a bit out of practice back then.
Instead, after a sound like his body hitting the ground, the clang of metal striking metal echoed.
Although it’s a rough BGM, this sound is just right between the instructor and me.
“You’re fighting so desperately. If you swung your sword more thoughtfully, you’d consume less stamina and create fewer openings.”
“He probably lacks the experience to realize that. Come on, people often say there’s a next time, right?”
“I don’t think there’s a ‘next time’ when fighting you with a real sword.”
“I’m not so kind as to allow for a next time.”
He implicitly meant that if I oppose him, I’ll be instantly killed. I understand.
Yes, I understand it enough to be ingrained in my body.
“Then, I and Kaido are fortunate. Because there is a next time.”
In fact, in interactions with superiors, whether in matters like these or any other, even the painful experiences become valuable assets.
Having a next time is what that means.
“Indeed, indeed. By challenging things desperately like that and gaining experience, it’s a fortunate thing.”
Still, it’s strange.
Kaido is swinging his sword and attacking right in front of me, and even though the conversation with Instructor Fushio is supposed to be fierce, this place is undoubtedly more comfortable than my previous workplace.
Since Kaido joined, the atmosphere has also felt a bit brighter.
“…”
“Huh? Did I overdo it?”
It seems I got a little too absorbed in my conversation with Instructor Fushio. Before I knew it, the training ground had fallen silent.
Instructor Kio, who had cleanly delivered a mid-section cut like an iai-draw and left Kaido collapsing, was comically poking him with a training sword as if to check if he was alive.
The person being poked, to be blunt, was utterly motionless, so I quickly approached.
He was a living example of how humans become incapable of anything when they exceed their limits.
“Come on, get up, Kaido.”
However, if I allowed this, we wouldn’t have enough time. Seeing an opening as Instructor Kio moved away, I spilled the contents of what I was holding into Kaido.
“Gasp!? I feel like I’ve seen something I shouldn’t have seen!? And… my whole body hurts!”
He woke up after I splashed him with water from a bucket, and surprisingly, he seemed energetic, with an expression that could win a funny face contest.
It was the same for me. It seems humans are surprisingly resilient.
“Drink this without a word.”
“Gulp!?”
Still, he had exhausted himself to his limits.
I took one from the holder on my hip, inserted the potion into Kaido’s mouth, whose facial muscles were the only ones still moving, and made him drink it.
He drank it down with difficulty, but it was a fantasy product.
It gradually healed Kaido’s body as it permeated his system.
“Phew! Potions really work. I wish I had these at my old company.”
“I’d rather not have a Death March with overtime after drinking potions.”
A few seconds after I gave him the potion, Kaido, who had sat up using his abs as the pain subsided, spoke. I responded to his comment.
The sight of piles of project proposals, the glow of the PC screen, and a face that, while not showing dark circles, was mentally drained, combined with the image of him drinking a potion, was just overwhelmingly unpleasant.
“We’re just past the halfway point time-wise. Next is Instructor Fushio’s training.”
“…After physical, it’s magic?”
Looking at the clock, I realized the afternoon training was approaching its midpoint. Kaido knew that a magical nightmare awaited him, just as a physical one had, and his expression, which had cleared up from the potion, turned somber.
“You brought this upon yourself. It’s because you requested the troublesome position of Magic Swordsman. Composite classes are difficult enough as it is. If you want to master it from the start, you have to do this much. And be grateful that you were only given two iron swords for initial equipment, leather armor, and a negotiation for a lowest-tier magical medium.”
A magical medium is, simply put, like a microphone. Normally, one can speak, but when it’s amplified through a speaker via a microphone, the voice becomes louder and carries further. Similarly, magic can be used without a magical medium, but using one enhances power and efficiency. What I gave Kaido was the lowest of the low, more like a teaching aid to help him grasp the feeling of using magic, but it was still useful. Apparently, magical mediums take a lot of trouble to make, so even the lowest tier is quite expensive. For composite classes, the price increases even further. Therefore, since Kaido was given a pendant-type one, we need him to undergo training thoroughly to meet expectations.
“Because… it just looked cool somehow, I couldn’t help it.”
“You can change your preference even now. Do you want to focus on one or the other?”
“No, if I give up now, I’ll definitely never get a girlfriend!”
“I see.”
However, when I heard that his reason for choosing this class was simply because it looked cool, I almost dropped my cigarette. Even kids these days would likely come up with more sensible career aspirations, but I decided to accept it as part of his charm. While I had mentally written him off as hopeless, time was short, so I stood up without dwelling on it.
“Ah, right, Senpai.”
“What is it?”
“You’re still planning to increase our members, right?”
“Ah, it’s true that just you and I aren’t enough. We have problems with our combat strength. We plan to increase our numbers if possible.”
He called out to me as if to stop me, so I indulged him, treating it as a break for Kaido.
“Th-th-then!! Let’s increase the number of girls!”
“What?”
“After all, it’s only men, so it’s a bit dull!! And if we have cute girls, our motivation will surely be different!!”
“You…”
While I understood he had an abundance of energy, I was struck with a headache. To cover it up, I lit a cigarette. I slightly regretted scouting him. Well, he wasn’t a bad guy, so I decided to forget about it quickly.
“Haa, I understand what you want to say. I’ll consider it, but our break is over. Instructor Fushio, it seems we’re ready. Please proceed.”
For now, it was probably best to keep the thought of women completely out of his mind.
“Kekekekek, understood.”
“Wha!?”
Instructor Fushio, who had appeared behind Kaido as silently as a monster jumping out in a horror movie, placed his dry, bony hand on his shoulder.
“Now, Jiro. How much of me should I unleash?”
“All of it.”
“Kekekekekek, leave it to me.”
“That’s too cruel!”
“Kaido, live.”
“What are you saying, the one who egged him on?!”
“Well, we don’t have much time. Let’s begin immediately. For starters, I’ll have you experience all the elements today.”
“That’s too much like a drill!? Senpai, help—”
“Now, I should prepare to enter the Dungeon. Lately, I’ve been getting home late, so I might be able to finish early today.”
“Are you ignoring me!?”
“To have the leeway to look elsewhere, you’re quite something. I suppose I should get a little serious myself.”
“Ugh!?”
An explosion sound was heard immediately, but it was probably alright. Despite the showy sound, I could see Kaido’s silhouette running with all his might through the smoke. There was no need to worry about him being incapacitated in one strike. Still, I was a little concerned, so I watched Instructor Fushio unleash some wicked magic with a toy staff.
“Here, here! This is Flame Spirit!”
“Fire! The fire is chasing me!?”
“Kekekekekekeke, next is water? Lightning? Wind? Curse? Gravity? There’s still more!”
Instructor Fushio is certainly fired up. However, he doesn’t seem to have forgotten the training’s objective, so it should be fine. For now, as a precaution.
“Instructor Kio, here are some healing potions. Please take care of him.”
“Alright! Leave it to me, I’ll make him a magnificent swordsman!!”
“Please don’t leave him with any trauma.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll create a man who can overcome trauma!”
Ignoring my worries, Instructor Kio gave me a thumbs-up with a formidable smile. So, he’s definitely going to end up with trauma. I thought, but I couldn’t say that even if my life depended on it.
“I see. I’ll look forward to tomorrow. Well then, I’m off to the Dungeon.”
“You should challenge me next time too!”
“I will eventually.”
I’d given him healing potions, so I figured Kaido would somehow get through Instructor Fushio’s training, even with that terrifying “hunt-to-kill” staff. Entrusting the supervision to Instructor Kio, I bowed and left the training room.
“Hiiiii!?”
I decided to take the scream I heard just as the door closed as proof that Kaido was still alive, and began to consider the current problem.
“New members, huh? Now, what should I do?”
It was good that we gained a member with Kaido joining, but with me as the frontliner and him as a frontliner/mid-liner, the balance was a bit off.
It’s undeniable that one or two more people will need to be added.
“A woman, huh? That’s a bummer.”
No matter what, I want to grant Kaido’s wish, thinking about how desperately he’s training.
However, considering the reality of scouting, it’s questionable whether we can even choose a gender, let alone appearances.
“Well, I’ll do my best, and then switch gears to replenish my items and tackle the Dungeon.”
These are completely game terms, but what I’m about to do is work.
I’ll focus on that without overthinking.
Suddenly, the image of the dancing girl I met at the park the other day comes to mind, but I had taken off my scouting glasses then, so I don’t know if she has Magic Aptitude, and I probably won’t meet her again.
I’ll push the thought aside and return to work.
Another side
Lately, I’ve been thinking about what life is.
I went to elementary school, then junior high, then high school, and before I knew it, I was a university student.
With each change in environment, my relationships changed. I wonder how long it was that I felt happy.
Elementary school? Junior high? I feel like I was already jaded in high school, at least.
When did I start finding social interactions troublesome? Was that in high school too? I feel like I’ve been vaguely sensing it for much longer.
It didn’t take long for such me to minimize my interactions with people and spend most of my time in my room.
The clicking sound of the keyboard fills the dim light of the room, illuminated only by the screen of my PC, playing an MMORPG, commonly known as an online game.
If my peers in the same lecture were to find out what a model university student is doing, they’d probably say something.
And then, I’d again try to create distance with a feigned smile.
That, in turn, gives me an indescribable sense of disgust.
Are human relationships that can be dismissed with a single word like “troublesome” really necessary?
This way, I find online relationships, where we don’t even see each other’s faces, to be more relaxed and enjoyable.
How wonderful it is that the world is constructed with a single click or a single keystroke.
“Oh, a rare item… “Hey! How many times do I have to tell you it’s dinner! Get out of your room already!” wtf!?”
Just as I was about to immerse myself further in this world, the door flew open?
No, based on my experience, “kicked open” would be a more accurate description of his action.
Surprised by his behavior, I instinctively straightened myself up, but that was apparently a mistake.
Caught in a perfect surprise attack, I was thrown backward by the recoil.
O-ouch, I hit my lower back, and it hurts.
“Honestly, it’s fine to play games, but I’ve told you repeatedly to come down for meals.”
“Ngh, don’t surprise me like that. I fell off my chair because of you, Gozaru.”
“Shut up, it’s your fault for not keeping track of time.”
“Ngh, you were so cute back then, where did I go wrong with your upbringing?”
“At least I remember taking care of you, but I don’t remember raising you.”
I look at the person who turned on the light, making the room bright.
I right the chair I fell out of and look towards the entrance. A small boy, and I must stress this again, a small boy, stands there with a tray in his hand.
“Hey, weren’t you just thinking something rude?”
“No way, Gozaru. There’s no way I’d think something like that.”
“When you say that and try to brush it off, you’re usually thinking about my height, aren’t you? So, no dinner for you, is that okay?”
“Anything but that! Please spare me the starvation tactic!?”
“Hey! Stop clinging to me!? What if you spill the miso soup and get burned!? I get it, now get off me!! I’ll bring your food now.”
“Mother!!”
“Who are you calling Mother!? I’m younger than you, you know!!”
I, Shiretoko Min, have the tackling speed comparable to a rugby player, but even so, I am a self-proclaimed delicate maiden.
The boy, who is half my head shorter than me, my childhood friend Tokorozawa Masaru, can only exert enough force to be held even while holding dinner in one hand.
After that, I clung to him to make sure I wouldn’t miss dinner, but Masaru is the kind of person who insists on eating properly, even if we’re fighting.
I knew his words from earlier were a bluff.
In other words, this whole sequence of actions is just our usual interaction.
As proof of this, when I let go, he sets out the dinner from the tray, along with tea, not on the desk where my PC is set up, but on the small table near the entrance.
“Honestly, hey, how long are you going to stand there? Your dinner will get cold.”
“Ooh, it’s Japanese food today, Gozaru~ It’s my first meal in a day, Gozaru~”
“A day? You didn’t eat breakfast or lunch?”
“It was a holiday today, so in recompense for finishing my report, I got carried away with games, Gozaru. *Gulp* I regret it, but I don’t regret it!”
“Don’t be so proud! Ah, you’ve messed up your room again. Tidy up your textbooks properly, and your laundry is piled up like this too.”
“Masaru, you must understand, *munch* this happens because it’s the natural order of things, *gulp*.”
“This is what happens because Min never does any housework!!”
I put my hands together and say “Itadakimasu,” and as I eat my dinner, I move my chopsticks while watching Masaru busily scurrying around, no, darting around.
“Truly, Masaru, you’ll make a good wife, Gozaru.”
“Who do you think made me good at all household chores!! And I’ve told you many times, I’m a boy!!”
“Don’t worry, Gozaru. In the world, there are boys who are like girls. Masaru, you look a bit boyish, but your face is relatively androgynous, and with some makeup and styling, it can be disguised within a wide range.”
“I don’t find that flattering!!”
“And I want to say, Masaru-tan is my wife!!”
“Who’s your wife!?”
“Masaru is, aren’t you? Anyone looking at the current situation would think so, Gozaru.”
My words seemed to pierce him deeply. He flinched, trembled his shoulders, and after a moment of thought, he leaned against the wall, covered his face with his hands, and wore a gloomy expression.
I can see a shadow above his head.
“…There’s no element I can deny in this situation.”
“The circumstantial evidence is all there, Gozaru.”
Preparing meals, cleaning, laundry, shopping. If I went downstairs, I’m sure there would be flyers for special sales and bargain prices on the living room table.
And they would undoubtedly be marked with a red pen.
“In the past, you used to blush when you saw my underwear, but you’ve grown so much. That’s gone too, lately,” I said.
“How many years have we spent together? This is nothing new,” Katsu replied.
I wanted to say something to my childhood friend, who treated a young woman’s underwear so casually, but I was too busy slurping my miso soup. I’d get revenge later.
Well, I’m a broad-minded person, so I’ll pretend I didn’t see his ears turning red.
As I ate, Katsu tidied the room beside me. The bookshelf was cleaned, the bed was made, and the trash that didn’t fit in the wastebasket was put into a trash bag.
The way he carefully made sure no dust got into my food showed he was experienced.
It took about thirty minutes, and by the time I finished eating, Katsu was sipping tea in front of me.
“Common sense dictates that cleaning during a meal is unacceptable,” Katsu said.
“For you to say that after you did it is very much like you,” I retorted.
“You’re indirectly telling me to clean it myself, aren’t you?”
“Even so, I love the Katsu who still cleans it up?”
I knew I was nitpicking, and I was also consciously choosing my words to evade the topic. A dark feeling stirred within me.
But my childhood friend…
“…So, how’s university?”
He understood my sensitive topic perfectly. His way of changing the subject was a bit rough, but he backed off before I had to ask him to, which made him one of the few people I didn’t find troublesome.
“It’s the same as always. I attend lectures, earn the credits needed for graduation, maintain a moderate social life, and spend the rest of my time at home. That’s all,” I replied.
The dark feeling that had stirred within me retreated.
“Amidst that ‘same as always,’ I’d like to ask why I’m the one who wakes you up in the morning and prepares your breakfast and lunchbox.”
“You’ve forgotten dinner,” I said.
“Ah, I forgot about cleaning and laundry too. What would you do if I weren’t here?”
“I’d probably starve to death,” I said.
“That’s too easy! Get a job!”
“But I refuse! I don’t want to work unless it’s a job I, as a samurai, find appealing!”
“Don’t underestimate society!”
“Those aren’t words a high school student should be saying.”
“They aren’t the words of a university student about to enter society either,” Katsu stated.
Katsu’s words, “Get a job,” brought back the words my parents had constantly told me since I was little. *What do you enjoy just living like this? Live so you can face the world properly.* The nagging words began to flow repeatedly in my head like a curse song the moment I remembered them. The warm feeling I had moments before turned suddenly cold, making me feel nauseous. I shook my head violently, trying to drive them away, but they showed no sign of disappearing. My throat felt tight, as if bound by cold chains. Pressure. Something I had come to feel strongly recently, something unavoidable in life. Was it necessary to live like this, feeling this pressure?
“If it is necessary, then what kind of job do you think *you* would want to do, Minami?”
“?”
But his voice, watching me intently, pushed away my gloomy thoughts.
“…Let me see,” I said, deliberately slowing my speech as if I had forgotten what I was thinking. Katsu, who seemed to be looking away as if he hadn’t noticed my strange behavior, put down his teacup and prepared to talk.
“A fantasy world seems fun.”
“Fantasy? Like in games?”
“Yes. A world with magic, non-human elves, beastkin with animal ears, and fighting dangerous creatures. I want to do that kind of work.”
“Don’t bring up jobs from anime. Those don’t exist in reality.”
I knew that. But when asked what I wanted to do, that was the first thing that came to mind. I couldn’t picture myself as an office lady, a nursery teacher, or a nurse. I couldn’t imagine myself in any realistic profession that people usually aspire to.
“I was just saying,” I mumbled.
That was all.
“What? I thought you liked games, so you’d say something like game creator.”
“I want to be a consumer of games. Making them sounds like too much trouble,” I said.
“Why? You’re good at drawing, aren’t you?”
“It’s just a hobby. I don’t want to work,” I whined.
“What kind of answer is that? So you always end up there.”
That’s all there is to it. So, I interact with the few people who don’t cause me pain and just live passively. How am I supposed to live when I can’t find meaning in such things? Unlike the heroes in games, I’m not driven by justice or any strong impulse. If things continue like this, I can clearly see a future where only one NEET, a recluse, is born. Perhaps that’s why I wish this ordinary, mundane daily life could last forever. I want it to not change. Is it selfish to wish for that?
“I would like some dessert.”
“First, go take a bath. I’ll give it to you after I wash the dishes.”
“My childhood friend is like a mother.”
“Who’s a mother?!”
So I’ll pretend I didn’t see it. I’ll pretend I didn’t see my childhood friend take back the job-seeking pamphlets he was probably going to show me while clearing the dishes.
“Katsu~, where’s the bath towel~?”
“It’s already out. Get in quickly.”
“If you want, we could go together—”
“Are you seriously asking?!”
Another side END
Shiretoko Minami, 19 years old, single, no boyfriend, with a guardian (childhood friend)
Magic Aptitude: Unknown
Position: Undecided
Today’s Word:
I’ll get serious starting tomorrow!!
This time, I’ll be adding new characters. In addition to a kouhai who speaks like a subordinate, I’ve added an otaku character and a motherly character, three characters who were relatively easy to write. I’d like to add a few more characters. I’m writing while thinking, “Wouldn’t it be nice to write characters I like?” and I hope everyone enjoys it. Please continue to look forward to “A Dungeon the Hero Can’t Conquer!!”
