Entering a Company From Another World! – Chapter 205

I apologize for the late post.

I’m posting a day late.

“Kyakkyakkyakka, I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to fight a Demon Lord twice, even if it wasn’t the same one.”

“You seem to be enjoying yourself. We’re in a sorry state over here.”

Although the barrier that restrained the opponent could no longer be used, having an experienced backliner on my side was far better than any barrier.

Due to the Demon Lord’s soul magic and Instructor Fushio’s magic, I couldn’t engage in close combat for long. After repeatedly hitting and running, I’m now hiding within the instructor’s defense.

Exhaling a sigh, I spoke to the instructor, who was floating about a meter off the ground, enjoying a magic battle. He answered me, cracking his jawbone, his gaze fixed forward to ensure he didn’t miss a moment of this enjoyment.

“Jiro, your master is still young. To live is to constantly receive stimulation. To stop moving your feet out of exhaustion is synonymous with ceasing to live. Only by enjoying the stimulation can one truly say they are alive. After living as long as I have, it becomes difficult to seek out stimulation. And it’s even harder to find something as exquisite as this.”

Even as he wielded immense magic, to the point where I couldn’t keep track of how many spells he was handling simultaneously, his cheerful demeanor as he spoke of his life philosophy felt genuine.

“Is that how it is when you live a long time? I’ll keep that in mind for the future.”

In essence, it seemed the instructor was saying that life, or rather, living, is only worthwhile when enjoyed.

“Kyakkyakkyakka, quite right, quite right. That’s the right mindset. Humans develop an attachment to living long. It’s not just those in power. It’s a desire that arises precisely because life is finite. If one can be satisfied with that, perhaps it’s fine, but in your case, your wife will live a long life. You’ve prepared for a long future. The day will come when you understand my words.”

Instructor Fushio smiled with satisfaction at my response and manipulated his magic with even greater precision and power.

“Undead, I don’t mind you talking so cheerfully with my master, but don’t cast sloppy magic that drags me into it.”

“Kyakkyakkyakka, angels are so uncouth. You’re saying you can’t dodge magic of that level? Your master, whom you call master, has returned safely like this.”

“You…”

“Instructor, I know you’re having fun, but could you stop provoking my Himik? We are in the middle of a battle after all. Himik, I’ll buy you your favorite dorayaki from that store when we get back, so please get along for now.”

“I desire a dorayaki with coarse bean paste from Fukurouya.”

Having returned from the front lines, Himik, who had been trying to hide her aversion only moments ago, lost all traces of that emotion upon hearing the word “dorayaki” and stated the store name with a sharp expression.

“It’s only you, Jiro, who would try to bribe a fallen angel with sweets.”

The instructor gave a somewhat indescribable expression but didn’t press the matter.

Although it was a bit pricey, it wasn’t an exorbitant amount. If I could appease her with dorayaki, it was a small price to pay.

“Hiiiii! Am I alive?! I don’t know why, but I’m alive!! What kind of atmosphere is this?!”

Kaidou burst in with a head-first slide into the awkward air. He had gone out with momentum and held on for quite some time, but his face was dripping with sweat, his breathing was heavy, and his complexion was ashen.

Though it probably wouldn’t matter through his armor, he clutched his chest, reassuring himself he was alive. From the looks of it, apart from some scrapes and minor injuries, there were no life-threatening wounds.

“How should I know? You rest for a bit. I’m going out. Himik, can you go?”

“If my master goes, I will go anywhere.”

“Yeah, it looks like they’re running out of steam over there too.”

“Kyakkyakkyakka, Jiro, you observe well. Indeed, while they may still have mana to spare, they understand they are in a losing position. And more importantly, that one harbors a viper in their bosom. The longer it takes, the more disadvantageous it becomes, and additionally—”

Taking one last deep breath, I looked at the battlefield where Kitamiya and Minami, along with Instructor Fushio, were engaged in a barrage of magic attacks and disruptions, supporting the instructor. The Demon Lord’s soul, which had been fixed in place unable to move freely, had lost its initial composure.

It made sense. No matter how powerful the Demon Lord was, a significant amount of time had passed. I couldn’t measure it precisely, but the wristwatch I saw when I retreated to the instructor’s side indicated six hours had elapsed. No matter how resilient the Demon Lord’s soul was, Amelia’s body was still developing. Her body couldn’t keep up with her spirit. This might not have been an issue in a short battle, but in this prolonged one, the discrepancy between her spirit and body was slowly eroding her. Although her face showed no signs of panic, irritation could be seen. And then there was a miscalculation that was quite convenient for us.

“Jiro, your sword is truly the arch-nemesis of mages. It not only absorbs magic but also absorbs the very mana within their bodies when struck. It must be incredibly difficult for the opponent. No matter how much they rage, they can’t conceal the fact that they’re becoming mentally strained. Kyakkyakkyakka, it would be a different outcome if they were merely a soul. But the shackles of a physical body seem to hinder that. Ore Tree, it’s a feat only a tree that absorbs mana to grow could accomplish. You’ve cultivated it well.”

Yes, the newly manifested Ore Tree was specialized for anti-magic. While its damage against bludgeoning weapons remained unchanged, its effectiveness against slashes was reduced. However, its true power lay in its magic, or more precisely, its efficacy against magic was incomparable to when it was a blade. It was as if it were batting away baseballs, deflecting magic instead of slicing it. While there was more resistance than when cutting, it allowed for the recovery of mana. If used properly, it could instantly solve the problem of long-range attacks.

Furthermore, I had an opportunity to attack Amelia up close once during the battle. I judged that with the current form of Ore Tree, covered and turned into a bludgeoning weapon, I could limit the damage to a fracture. I aimed for her arm. As expected, she erected a barrier around her arm for defense, but after a slight resistance, it was broken more easily than when cutting, absorbing her mana, and Ore Tree made contact with her wrist. At that moment, I felt the sensation of bone being crushed. Simultaneously, I felt the sensation of mana being absorbed from Amelia’s body. Trees absorb nutrients from their roots. Similarly, Ore Tree grows by absorbing mana and magical power from its roots. To think that simply manifesting this nature could produce such performance.

“Now, Jiro, go forth. By striking that blade repeatedly, even the Demon Lord’s soul will not be unscathed. Don’t worry, we’ve prepared thoroughly. Even in this dire situation, they should not die.”

“The fact that you can’t deny that pains me.”

Facing the magical storm unfolding before me, entering the vortex directly, rather than from a distance, would likely bring about a certain degree of fear. However, it wasn’t enough to paralyze my body. The instructors had once said that fear is a sensation that perceives an attack. It seemed that saying was functioning precisely. Furthermore—

“Master, I shall accompany you.”

“Yeah, I’m counting on you.”

With Himik by my side, it wasn’t the time to be afraid. Carrying the transformed Ore Tree on my shoulder, I slowly emerged from the instructor’s protective shield. From here on, communication would be minimal. Himik and I exchanged nods with a single glance. Then, my walk turned into a brisk pace, the brisk pace into a run, and the run into a sprint. A sprint we had repeated for several hours. The rain-like barrage of magic was now a familiar sight. And the opponent, now more wary of me, had a higher killing intent than before. Instead of fireballs and ice lances, it was a literal rain of lightning, constantly pouring from the sky like a thunderstorm, followed by invisible wind blades and sand spears that coiled like snakes. I pushed forward through a scene that could only be described as a testament to their varied arsenal. After all, I am a swordsman. My job is to go to the front and fight. I couldn’t fulfill my duty if I didn’t break through this.

“You won’t escape!!”

“Master, I’ll go around!”

“Alright!”

As I advanced, trying to evade the instructor’s attacks, they attempted to create distance from me. I wouldn’t let them, and I continued straight ahead, while Himik changed course to go around from the right.

“Yes, yes, this is a roadblock, gozaru!”

“I won’t let you pass!”

Then, a barrier and ice spears appeared to block their path, attempting to halt their movement even slightly. They were magics that could be shattered with a single sweep, but even that brief moment was a great victory. With my current speed, I could advance five steps in that instant. Five steps would cover ten meters. The Demon Lord’s soul glared at Minami and Kitamiya like they were bothersome gnats.

“Ignoring me won’t do any good!!”

Disregarding the fact that the instructor’s magic was flying in from behind, as if saying it didn’t matter, I advanced to a position where I was within striking distance with just two more steps. I could see their movements becoming reactionary. The balance of power, which had been maintained in a stalemate between me, Himik, Kaidou, Minami, and Kitamiya, had tilted to the other side with the addition of the instructor. It may have been slower than a tortoise’s crawl, but it felt like it was leading us to the result of victory. And when the end comes in sight, humans are fickle. My sinking spirits were looking for the right moment to make a final sprint, becoming increasingly elated.

“Human!!”

“So what?! Stay quiet, you freeloader!!”

My range, that is, the range where I could land a hit with Ore Tree. Connecting from a downward swing to a wrist flick’s Tsubame-gaeshi, I neutralized the barrier and transitioned into a roundhouse kick, adding a horizontal rotation to my body, without letting my supporting leg waver, using my raised leg as a stepping foot, and stomping down as if to crack the ground, leading into the third sweep of Ore Tree.

“You!! You!!”

It’s fine that they glare at me with hatred as I approach. But I will simply fulfill my duty. Without hesitation, I strengthened my will to inflict even the slightest damage. Whether I could land the third blow before them was a very close call. The battle, whether I could hit or not, seemed destined for a draw, with their counter-magic and Ore Tree clashing. In the slow-motion scene, I saw them forcibly move their shattered left wrist towards me. Before that, I tensed my jaw, concentrating on being a hundredth of a second faster, and sped up Ore Tree’s strike. But my efforts were in vain. A few moments before my Ore Tree landed, their magic was completed. The instant I realized it would be intercepted, I calculated an immediate escape route.

“!? ”

That was supposed to happen. That’s what I intended to do. Until, from the magic circle at the tip of their left hand, white chains shot out, entwining my left hand and sealing one arm. And then, as if to prove that this movement was not the Demon Lord’s will, I saw Amelia’s face contort with astonishment.

“Nuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!”

I knew it was impossible. But I instinctively knew I had to do it. I forcibly tilted my body, changing the position where Ore Tree would strike. That effort severed the wind blade loosed by the Demon Lord’s soul, which was attempting to cut off my left arm, as if it hadn’t moved of its own will.

“Full-power attack!!”

And then, before I knew it, I was shouting. My feet unconsciously broadened their stance, and I switched from hit-and-away to an infight in place. Abandoning the idea of running away, I focused on moving around in place, circling to protect my left arm entangled by the white chains.

“Himik!!”

“Understood!!”

Where I alone was insufficient—

“Minami!! Kitamiya!!”

“We get it!!”

“Here we go!!”

—the others.

“Kaidou!!”

“Us!!”

—filled the void. With my left hand sealed, my movements became even more sluggish, and the number of attacks decreased. In that time, we completed our encirclement and fought without giving them a moment’s rest. That decision was correct.

“Damn!! This light! This technique! Is it him!? That one! The Sage!! Is it you!!”

This time, a magic circle appeared on my left foot, and chains wrapped around it in the same manner. The Demon Lord, recognizing the technique, seemed to have guessed who was using it. But that had nothing to do with us.

“Kyakkyakkyakka, an opportunity, a rare opportunity!!”

Instructor Fushio, seizing the moment when their attacks dwindled, generated a giant bone arm from the ground, grabbed Amelia’s legs, and cast “Mana Drain.”

“Kyakkyakkyakkyakkyakka!! This is the taste of the Demon Lord’s magic! How black and turbulent!! Sweet, how wonderfully sweet!!”

The instructor, drawing in the soul through the bones he grasped, exhibited an ecstatic smile.

“I will not lose! I cannot lose!”

They were trying to resist, but it was probably futile. White chains reappeared, binding their entire body and rendering them immobile. Meanwhile, the instructor’s absorption process continued.

“…”

I silently watched the Demon Lord’s soul, who was struggling and trying to break free from its restraints, within Amelia. Then, slowly, I approached.

“Aaa, I am, not yet!”

“Your job is done.”

As if cutting through the black miasma-like smoke that still billowed, I swung from my left shoulder diagonally.

“Ah.”

Perhaps that was the end.

“Leave it to your successor, and rest well.”

The bones that were restraining my legs released their grip on my ankles, and their body slowly fell. I caught them.

“It’s over. The Demon Lord’s soul no longer exists within this girl.”

“On the other hand, there’s no chance it transferred to you, Instructor, right?”

“Kyakkyakkyakka, nothing of the sort could happen. What I absorbed was merely the Demon Lord’s magic power, devoid of will or anything else. There’s no possibility of me being possessed.”

Instructor Fushio peered at Amelia, who had fallen quietly, and examined her. Her vacant, skull-like eyes, glowing with a blue flame, indicated she was no longer in danger.

Finally, it was over. In the end, no one was killed, and that was that. It was the closest to the best possible outcome.

“Or, perhaps it would have been better to feign possession here and fight Jiro? I wouldn’t mind, you know.”

“Please spare me. I’m completely broken, body and soul.”

I believe it’s a good way to conclude, being able to exchange jokes like this at the end.

Today’s word:
Even if it takes time to end, and even if there’s cleanup work left, it’s good that it’s over.

This is all for today.
If you enjoyed it, please leave reviews, ratings, and bookmarks.
*The first volume of the light novel has been decided for release by Hayakawa Bunko JA.
It was released on October 18, 2018.
The e-book version was also released on October 31 of the same year.
The second volume will be released on December 19.
The content has been revised and expanded from the work posted on Shousetsuka ni Narou, with an additional unpublished interlude included.
Please also check out the new release!

In addition, a manga adaptation has also been decided for Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third.”