Entering a Company From Another World! – Chapter 151

There were beings watching Jiro and the other Testers, and the Demon Lord’s Army frantically preparing for filming.

From the control room overseeing the virtual training facility, two shadows observed the scene from above. The surrounding members of the Demon Lord’s Army kept a certain distance from the two, focused on their work.

Unsurprisingly, these two were the Demon Lord and his aide, Evia. While the filming site before their eyes was bustling with a lively and harmonious atmosphere, they showed no particular emotion. They simply watched the scene, neither satisfied nor displeased, as if it were neither lacking nor excessive.

“So, the schedule is proceeding smoothly?”

“Yes. We are currently dedicated to collecting Testers not only in Japan but also abroad by providing them with magic tools. We have successfully secured many talents with a magic aptitude exceeding six.”

“Hmm, the world of heroes, indeed. It’s full of excellent people. It’s a world with well-established national borders compared to ours, thanks to its advanced civilization. It makes scouting missions somewhat troublesome due to procedures. However, this world lacks magic power. But there are many ways to overcome that. Does this mean we can expect even greater results next year than this year?”

The conversation between the two had nothing to do with the current filming site. It was a discussion about the future, using the present as a foundation, rather than the present unfolding before their eyes. The Demon Lord was kept fully informed of the Testers’ current situations, with no details spared. Of course, he was also aware of the low efficiency of most Testers in clearing dungeons.

“Survival of the fittest.”

This King, who upheld this principle, rewarded those who achieved results, but he considered others as mere tools to be exploited. Even potential heroes, the Testers, were no exception. And those being used remained oblivious. Being favored by the Demon Lord meant being a useful talent. And the scope of his value assessment extended beyond just Dungeon Testers. A faint smile appearing on the Demon Lord’s lips, even Evia, whom he was looking at, was merely a cog in his machinery for achieving a certain goal. The difference was whether it was large or small, or whether it turned well or not. Nevertheless, he was recognized as a leader by others because he consistently demonstrated his talent and achieved results. Absorbed by his strength, people admired him and followed him. This has become the current flow within the Demon Lord’s Army. Certainly, there were those who noticed this.

“It will undoubtedly improve from the current situation.”

“Hmm, is that so? Well, as long as they can make up for the delays, I don’t mind.”

Evia responded to the Demon Lord’s questions with practiced words, her expression unchanging. To her, the Demon Lord was like the sun, drawing people in. It seemed strange to compare the leader of the Demon Lord’s Army, whose master was the Moon God, to the sun, but there was no other suitable metaphor. His light illuminated and warmed everyone. And it also dried them out and blinded them. Just as there is darkness where there is light, there is harm where there is benefit. Even the sun is not omnipotent. Benefits do not negate the existence of disadvantages. The Demon Lord united and led more beings than anyone else, but he could not lead them all. He had many hands to help, but he was not without those who fell through the cracks. However, even if they realized this, they were content, which was why they did not voice their concerns. Even if the Demon Lord’s methods appeared ruthless, there were those who were saved by them. There were those who saw hope. There were those who admired him. Those who looked into the Demon Lord’s depths said they would scoop up what overflowed from his hands and support him.

“Heh, I hope we get a windfall like him.”

“An example like that is rare, isn’t it?”

Even to Evia, such a being was rare, showing interest in a single human. In a way, an exception. A Tester, wielding a greatsword, who somehow evoked the image of a certain demon. Even when clad in heavy armor, his body danced like feathers in the air, using rocky areas or monster heads as footing to deliver a strike sharper and heavier than his appearance suggested. And then he would engage in flashy maneuvers, drawing the attention of the enemy. Among the Testers, he was the only one capable of such action, able to adapt best to this environment. The Demon Lord nodded with satisfaction at his display.

“I understand, but let’s have some hope. After all, this world is the birthplace of heroes. Please continue to cooperate.”

“Yes.”

As if to show that he had seen what needed to be seen, he slowly turned his gaze away from the scene and vanished like heat haze. With impressive speed and precision, which even Evia, skilled in magic, could only describe as admirable, the Demon Lord departed via teleportation magic. Evia watched him leave in silence. The Demon Lord was truly the hope of the Demon Lord’s Army. The king who would achieve the Demon Lord’s Army’s long-cherished wish since the continent was divided long ago: continental unification, world fusion. He needed to carry out the work he deemed necessary, which required him to witness the scene unfolding below.

“…I wonder if he can understand the scenery that Lord is seeing.”

And yet, even while looking into the depths of the Demon Lord, unable to stand on the same footing, everyone shared the same dilemma. It was because of this dilemma that Evia spoke words directed at a man who had earned the Demon Lord’s recognition. Words tinged with a rare melancholy for Evia. The man, who was directed these words, unheard by anyone and melting into the air, was the one wielding a black iron greatsword, cutting down summoned monster souls. A man who, in less than a year since joining, had shown growth that made one’s eyes widen. An exception who led his companions and was the sole one to achieve results. Furthermore, he had expanded his social circle within the Demon Lord’s Army. Evia dreamed that perhaps such a person could stand alongside that distant figure. Unlike us, who follow from behind.

“…I’m thinking strange thoughts.”

Such thoughts crossed her mind, but were quickly dispelled with a wry smile, her lips twisting slightly. The sun, by its very nature, was solitary. It was foolish to think that an ordinary person could stand alongside such an existence. Even demons possessing immense power had submitted to him. Undead, who had transcended the limits of life, had submitted to him. Forest dwellers, who had received the blessings of all lands, had submitted to him. Giants, capable of shaping all things, had submitted to him. Insects, who created life and manipulated it at will, had submitted to them. Mechanical beings, embodying ancient power, had submitted to them. Dragons, the rulers of the sky at the pinnacle of life, had submitted to them. Compared to the talent of such beings, he, who lacked in radiance, size, and everything else, had even momentarily considered him comparable to the Demon Lord—would that be foolish? Rather, the question became whether a being comparable to the Demon Lord was even necessary.

“Nonsense.”

She tried to dismiss the thought, deeming it a waste of time, but a voice in the back of her mind kept questioning if that was truly the case. Though her spoken words were akin to self-suggestion, fragments of her dream refused to leave her mind. Jiro, severing the head of a giant snake, a Basilisk, and carrying the colossal sword on his shoulder, appeared in Evia’s sight. As if triggered by defeating the Basilisk, his human companions gathered around him, followed by a Dark Elf woman, and then by a new face, a Fallen Angel, who approached them. For a fleeting moment, that scene overlapped with her past memories. The Demon Lord, before he was the Demon Lord, and the companions who gathered around him. Among them, there was one man who alone stood beside the one who was not yet the Demon Lord.

“Hmph.”

Without remembering the end of that story, she cut off her thoughts. Leaving the shadows of the ‘two’ figures remaining in that scene, Evia returned to her work.

Another side end

“…”

I had a feeling someone was watching me. The sense of being observed, which I had ignored because there was no malice, finally broke, and I let out a sigh of relief. As I rotated my shoulders, loosening my tense body from the scrutinizing gaze, Kaido strode towards me.

“Senpai! What do you mean, ‘just fight normally and it’s easy’? I almost got petrified! If Min-chan hadn’t provided support, who knows what would have happened!”

“One statue would have been made, I suppose.”

“You say that so casually!”

“Of course. I was confident I could handle it.”

I brushed aside Kaido’s opening words and recalled the filming situation. The filming proceeded smoothly. First, we cleared out the weaker monsters, and then defeated the major threat, the Basilisk. Since the primary focus was on the frontliners for the footage, the resulting work would likely be comparable to Hollywood productions. During the battle, Kaido, who tried to stand out unnecessarily, boldly entered the line of sight of an opponent I had warned him about, and thus bore the full brunt of its effect.

“Kaido-senpai, I told you, didn’t I? I told you not to stray from my support range. Because of that, I had to run fifty meters!”

As a result, Min, who had to exert herself at the last minute, was not in the best of moods. She glared at Kaido, who had acted impulsively, and complained. I decided not to mention that I could have managed by kicking the Basilisk’s face if necessary. It would serve as a good lesson for Kaido, who had been getting a bit too full of himself lately. While Kaido was left speechless by Min’s scolding, the rest of the companions began to chat amongst themselves.

“Honestly, you created a blooper reel just as I expected.”

“That’s true, but Karen almost made a mistake too.”

Kitamiya looked at Kaido with a dumbfounded expression, wondering why he was being lectured by someone younger. Amelia agreed but, perhaps with a touch of mischief, covered the corner of her mouth, which was curved into a crescent moon, with one hand and spoke about the previous filming.

“!? Th-that wasn’t my fault!”

“Is that so? Even if the monster’s surprise attack was the cause, your incantation was flawed, and your magic failed. If Jiro-kun hadn’t stepped in to support…”

“Ah! Enough! And aren’t you okay too, Amī? You took a solid hit, didn’t you?”

Mike, who had become Amelia’s pseudo-spirit guardian, chimed in with a teasing tone, joining in on the conversation with Kitamiya. Sensing she was at a disadvantage in the conversation, Amelia abruptly changed the subject.

“It’s not as serious as you’re worrying about. I’ll get it checked out later.”

“Don’t postpone it just because you’re a girl! Katsu, come here and treat Amī.”

“Understood. Amelia-san, let me see.”

“Okay.”

With this conversation as a starting point, the area around me gradually became more lively. Once one person spoke, it acted as a catalyst, and the conversation spread. That’s how our Party is.

“Good work, Jiro-san.”

“Master, good work. I have a wet towel prepared. You should use it.”

“Thanks. Ahh, that feels good.”

“Master, you smell a bit old.”

“Shut up, I’m aware.”

The two who had been watching until the end also approached. Himik, floating alongside Suella, offered me the wet towel she held. Taking it, I wiped my face, and a sense of refreshment washed over me. I must have been sweating a lot. While I could still feel the potential to move, I had indeed felt discomfort. Such small considerate gestures were honestly helpful.

“Is the filming finished now?”

“We have a video editing meeting later, so there are still things to do, but the filming itself is over. Is something the matter?”

“Yes, I received a letter from my grandfather. I came to deliver it, but I waited until after filming because I thought it might bother you beforehand.”

“Your grandfather, you mean Muil-san? A letter from him?”

“Yes, I believe it’s about the contract with the spirits.”

Saying so, Suella handed me the letter. I removed my gauntlet, entrusted it to Himik, and took the letter, checking its contents.

“…”

“What did grandfather say?”

“It seems the preparations for the contract are not progressing as expected. Even if it fails, there are many opinions opposing the ritual to contract a high-ranking spirit with me, a human.”

The letter, which began with an apology, contained passages that conveyed Muil-san’s anger in some places, and spoke of postponing the contract with the spirits. It concluded by stating that while he would have liked to apologize in person, he wrote the letter in order to lay the groundwork for moving the matter forward.

“The wall between species is large, isn’t it?”

“It sounds ironic coming from you, Jiro-san.”

“Does it?”

“Yes, Dark Elves, Vampires, Fallen Angels… considering how many different species are around you, it’s a bit much for you to be concerned about the wall between species.”

“Now that you mention it, I suppose that’s true.”

“My Master has a great heart!”

“Why are you so confident?”

With the year-end approaching and things being hectic, one less event would be a welcome relief for my schedule, but the fact that it might have repercussions later left me with a sense of unease, and a complaint escaped my lips. My premonition that something might happen simply because the year was drawing to a close.

“I hope it doesn’t have any repercussions later.”

I muttered these words silently, so that no one could hear them, despite my outward demeanor of being unconcerned.

Today’s word: “The calm before the storm; busyness can pile up.”

That’s all for this installment. If you found it interesting, please leave your thoughts, ratings, and bookmarks. I look forward to your continued support for this work.