Returning home in the morning after being out all night would evoke a strong impression of being teased, flattered, and becoming the life of the party during university days.
However, as a working adult, it doesn’t carry such a positive connotation.
Even after the same drinking party, the next day’s responsibilities weigh on your mind. If you drink to the point of staying out all night, your physical condition will naturally suffer.
If you end up taking a day off, you’ll be branded as someone who can’t manage either their physical condition or their time. For married individuals, there’s even the suspicion of infidelity.
In unscrupulous companies, one might also suspect illegal overtime, such as working through the night.
Therefore, it’s generally advisable to avoid actions that might lead to being perceived as returning home in the morning.
“I’m home.”
It’s currently seven in the morning.
Considering I went out right as the New Year began last night, I’ve literally returned home in the morning.
I, who am currently experiencing a “morning return,” have come back at a time when Suella and the others are likely awake.
If there had been more to do, I would have returned even later.
The cleanup was left to the unit Kirie-san sent, and as an outsider, I was permitted to go home, with the discussion about compensation to be held at a later date.
When I asked Kirie-san if I needed to explain the circumstances, she replied with a somewhat suspicious chuckle:
“I am fully aware of the circumstances, so please don’t worry about it. Indeed, I’ve found someone very knowledgeable about this matter.”
With that said, I have officially finished my New Year’s Eve work.
The only lingering anxiety, if I had to pick one, is:
“More importantly, I want you to bring my sister back with you.”
“I’ll go back after I’ve finished talking with you.”
The conversation between the two sisters, which sparked like a fire, after it concluded, is what remains a concern. I assumed it was about the treatment of that female oni, but I didn’t press for details. What I know is merely a fraction of what Kirie-san knows, and even that fraction is apparently only part of her overall understanding. Therefore, my role was strictly limited to combat. My report became unnecessary with a single word from my mother: “I’ll take care of the aftermath of the female oni called Haruna.”
Carrying such a slight unease, I returned home directly without any detours. While I did need to explain the situation, I felt it was more important to first let them know I was safe.
“You’re returning home quite leisurely.”
“Welcome back, Jiro-san.”
“Ah, yes, I’m back.”
I thought to myself as I returned, but Himik, who would normally greet me at the entrance, was not there. Wondering if she was still asleep, I went to the living room and found someone I hadn’t expected sitting opposite Suella, Memoria, and Himik.
When Suella saw me, she greeted me with a look of relief, and Memoria and Himik also said, “Welcome back,” to which I replied, “I’m home.” Finally, unable to stand there indefinitely, I offered a greeting to the demon who wasn’t usually present in this room.
“Supervisor, good morning.”
“Ah, a good New Year’s morning.”
The Supervisor held a cup of coffee, dressed simply in black sweatpants and a black turtleneck sweater, as it wasn’t work hours. Normally, I’d find a vibrancy in that attire, but I’m not in any mood for that.
“Jiro-san, I’ve provided most of the preliminary explanations.”
“Ah, I understand.”
Judging by Suella’s expression, I didn’t anticipate a major issue. However, the Supervisor only shows emotion when he deems it appropriate, so taking his expression at face value could lead to trouble. Still, based on Suella’s tone, it’s best not to be overly tense. And it would be wise to avoid the rough, evasive words, or questions probing the reason for his presence. The Supervisor was dressed in what appeared to be casual wear, but his reason for being here was clear. It was likely to verify the facts regarding my recent actions. My actions were a clear violation of regulations. While it was a request from someone within our circle, and the justification was saving a life, it doesn’t grant permission to break rules without following procedures. As an excuse, I had intended to report the matter to Suella and the others. And I was prepared to accept any consequences. While I could frame it as being unconcerned about escaping or hiding, some might call it defiant.
However, I never expected the Supervisor to be here at this precise moment.
“Your expression suggests you’re aware of your actions. I must say, you look down on me. Surely you can’t be oblivious to what’s happening in your own domain. Such an excursion in the middle of the night would inevitably draw attention.”
As if asking if I hadn’t even noticed that, he narrowed his eyes slightly and took a sip of the coffee that Himik had likely brewed. My only recourse, consumed by guilt for violating regulations, was:
“I am truly sorry.”
I lowered my head in sincere apology. It’s true that I saved a life. It’s also true that I helped resolve a problem that could have occurred in Japan. However, unless all of that is completely negated, I do bear some fault. That’s something I must address with integrity.
“You readily admit your fault. Your earnestness is commendable, but a bit lacking… Well, let’s let it slide. I’m off duty for now. I’ll listen to your story until I finish this coffee. Speak.”
“Yes.”
In my previous company, they would have immediately rejected my actions without asking what happened. But my current workplace is willing to listen, which makes me feel more at ease. Whether that will be accepted, however, remains to be seen. What I did could be construed as hypocrisy, or a charitable act if you put it nicely, but in essence, it was cleaning up a mess. I understood that acting on my ability to help others would violate company policy, and I still did it. I came prepared for a suitable punishment and reported everything I had done from the end of the year until now.
“I see, you made contact with an organization in this world. Is it true that there was technology akin to magic?”
“Yes, without a doubt.”
“And an oni similar to our own oni… based on the description, it seems to fall under the classification of Ōni.”
The Supervisor occasionally asked for details, but he listened attentively to everything, from the terrorist acts and the oni disturbances to all the behind-the-scenes information as far as I knew. Despite saying he was drinking coffee, the cup remained on the table throughout my explanation, and the Supervisor listened with his chin resting on his fingers, propped by his elbow. We exchanged questions and answers periodically, and before I knew it, the coffee had cooled, and as I finished speaking, I received a fresh cup from Himik.
“Quite an interesting story, Jiro.”
“Do you think so?”
“Yes, the more I hear, the more intrigued I become. We’ve always been searching for information about Japan, but the underworld is not easily accessible. Organizations tend to hide their shady dealings. We’ve been looking for that very information, but found nothing but traces. I see, they were hidden in a secure location, making them difficult for even us to find, but to have grasped a lead in such a place…”
The “traces” the Supervisor mentioned weren’t about magical power but historical aspects. Excluding overtly strange occurrences, history accurately reflects the truth. Within it, I glimpsed the existence of hidden entities that are now considered entertainment, stories, or figments of imagination. These include the onmyoji and oni I encountered, as well as ninjas and the gods of mythology.
“Humans believe only what they see. Even when it comes to imagination, they are creatures who cannot create something without the materials to imagine it.”
The Supervisor explained that this is even more true in an era lacking information like today. This is precisely why, or rather, because we are the Demon Lord’s Army, we focus on this human nature. What others would dismiss as delusion, we declare to be real, and possess the initiative to search for it systematically, and to have actually found it, is simply astonishing. Furthermore, I understood that the information I provided, while problematic, was not a dire crisis.
“I understand your story. In conclusion, I will report this matter, but I do not intend to consider it a problem.”
“Why? My actions were…”
I wanted to ask if his words were truly genuine from the bottom of my heart, but out of habit, I ended up asking about the circumstances that led him to that decision. First and foremost, if my actions became known to others and were treated as an exception, it could lead to problems later. Therefore, I tried to state that my actions were a violation of regulations, but the Supervisor, as he took another sip of coffee, stopped me with a glance.
“Few, including myself, are aware of the events that transpired late at night. The fact that you offered personal assistance also played a role. The minimal leakage of information to the outside is also a significant factor. We are not unappreciative of such contributions. The Demon Lord would likely agree.”
In response to my demeanor, the Supervisor gave a wry smile at my actions, which were a violation of regulations, and proceeded to share his thoughts.
“Even if this matter were to leak, it would be treated as an exceptional case within exceptions. The probability of a similar situation arising is too remote to even consider.”
The Supervisor chuckled as if amused, wondering how many people would actually get involved in such troublesome matters and engage in charity work. However, if it was my imagination, his eyes seemed a little gentler than usual.
“The only ones likely to raise an issue regarding this matter are those disgruntled with the handling of Testers. However, that shouldn’t be a problem either.”
“You mean the conscription faction?”
“Ah, they’ve quieted down a bit after the recent incident, but they’re always looking for fault in us. When it came to that fallen angel, they even suggested turning her into the core of the magic furnace.”
“Hmph, I want no part of that.”
“We also don’t want our allies causing disturbances in my Dungeon. Even if we had to eliminate them, there’s no reason to negatively impact Jiro’s reputation.”
The “conscription faction” Suella mentioned refers to extremists who treat Testers like slaves. Although they have quieted down after the recent hero incident, they are apparently lying in wait for an opportunity. In reality, Himik has the experience of being turned into a Dungeon Core. Himik would certainly want to avoid that happening again, and I would too.
“Even if this matter is brought up as a problem, it can be dealt with. From the perspective of the Japanese organization, they likely believe you, Jiro, have some organizational backing. Given your bloodline, they might suspect you possess such potential, but they aren’t so foolish as to believe you achieved such results solely through individual ability. However, conversely, it also means that’s all they know.”
The Supervisor raised his first finger and pointed out that the inability to capture defining characteristics was fortunate. If an organization, such as Memoria, Himik, or any of the Testers, had lent a hand, it would have been a much more serious situation. Then, he raised his second finger.
“On our side, the ratio of information gained compared to the information provided is significantly larger. This applies to organizational matters as well as technological ones. Jiro, you only used magic crest reinforcement. Your opponents used onmyodo and oni, and we also confirmed the presence of divine artifacts, objects related to gods. The leakage of our technology is minimal, while the opponent, having exposed their secrets in an emergency, creates a significant difference.”
Finally, the Supervisor raised his third finger.
“You did not expose your bare skin or reveal how you generate magic power. The same applies to your weapon. If you had brought out your weapon, the Ore Tree, it would have been a problem. But if you overwhelmed your opponent with your bare hands, there’s no issue. Furthermore, the only witness was a young girl who is a thorn in the side of her organization, and overall, we suffered virtually no damage.”
He concluded that the benefits outweighed the losses. In summary, it seems the evaluation was based on the minimal information leakage and the significant amount of information about the enemy brought back, which would be compiled in a report.
“However, Jiro, you must understand that all of this is a result-oriented assessment. The Demon Lord’s Army does value good results, but we don’t disregard the process. Your independent actions will be evaluated accordingly. If you don’t want to make enemies around you, think a little more before acting next time.”
“Understood.”
However, the warning was clear. There are rare individuals who are allowed to act as they please. But not all of their actions are viewed favorably. The unwritten rule of society is to minimize offense. I reflected on my actions and considered the future.
“Excuse me, Supervisor. I have something I’d like to consult you about regarding this matter.”
“What is it?”
As a result, I decided that now would be a good time to bring up the matter of the female oni and my mother, thinking it was fortunate that the Supervisor was here.
“Tell me in detail.”
His smile widened, as if he had found something interesting. Nodding at his smile, I explained that my mother intended to keep the female oni, named Haruna, under her care. I mentioned that soon I might be contacted with the results of this, or my mother might consult me to bring about the outcome she envisions.
“I see, that’s convenient.”
“Convenient? As in, not inconvenient?”
The Supervisor smiled even more gleefully. This company is generally secretive. I expected a defensive reaction to contact from an external party, but instead, he called it convenient.
“What I can say for now is that we don’t believe the status quo is ideal. Jiro, compile this matter, including that, into a report. Well, there’s no need to rush, but if you want to rest, I recommend finishing it soon.”
“What about you, Supervisor?”
“Me? I’m on vacation, too. Is that so surprising? Even I take time off.”
The Supervisor, implying with a meaningful look that I shouldn’t pry further, finished his coffee and stood up. I asked if he was heading to work, but the Supervisor, unusually, let his guard down and said he was going to enjoy his long-overdue vacation. I walked to the entrance to see him off.
“For this occasion, it’s considered an observation of the progress of the child between Jiro and Suella, and to confirm that the fallen angel there is behaving herself. Don’t slip up.”
“Understood.”
The Supervisor, giving me one last piece of advice, then reached for the entrance door instead of using teleportation.
“Oh, Jiro.”
“Yes?”
“The Demon Lord wishes to have a meeting with you soon. I’ll inform you of the date later.”
“Huh? What?”
“Prepare yourself so you don’t make that foolish face.”
With that staggering parting gift, the Supervisor departed.
Today’s Word of Wisdom:
Always take responsibility for your actions.
That concludes this installment.
Thank you, as always, for your feedback and for pointing out any typos.
If you enjoyed this, please consider leaving a review, rating, or bookmark.
*The first volume of this novel has been decided to be published 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 was released on December 19.
The third volume was released on February 20, 2019.
The content has been revised and expanded from the original submission on “Shousetsuka ni Narou,” with the inclusion of unpublished interlude chapters.
Please consider purchasing the new releases!*
*A comic adaptation is also being decided for Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third.”
