There are many times when silence is a good thing.
This is especially true when working.
You can concentrate on your tasks without being disturbed by strange noises.
In modern times, it is quite difficult to secure a space of silence in the workplace.
In large companies, the number of people increases accordingly, and as the number of people increases, so does the amount of noise.
It ranges from the subtle sounds of moving objects to conversations between people, and even the sounds of work from afar.
If the scale is different, it’s probably the same for small and medium-sized enterprises, isn’t it?
Regardless of whether it’s a lot or a little, it’s difficult to create a space of silence.
Even in an uninhabited mountain, the sound of the wind and the chirping of birds are familiar sounds.
If you want to create a truly quiet space, you’d probably have to build a soundproof room.
However, the effects of silence are numerous, considering how difficult it is to achieve.
One is sleep.
A quiet space promises better sleep.
One is the improvement of concentration, as I mentioned earlier.
You can concentrate on the task at hand because you are not diverting your attention to anything else.
There are other points I could mention, but I will omit them for now.
I don’t want to talk about silence right now.
So, have people experienced that silence can be a source of pain?
Well, as you can probably guess from the fact that I’m going on and on in my head, you might already know.
“Jiro-sama, would you like some more tea?”
“Yes, please.”
My stomach has been screaming in pain from the tension of that silence.
After that exchange between master and subordinate, I managed to finish dinner, which had been a heavy meal due to Instructor Fushio’s parting words, and now I found myself in the accommodation provided in this Jigen Room, specifically the supervisor’s private area.
I wouldn’t have been allowed in alone, so of course, I had a companion.
As if on cue, Tatte-san came to pick me up after dinner. Kaido was stunned, looking back and forth between Tatte-san and me. Kitamiya and Minami, seeing yet another woman involved in my life, weren’t just smirking, they looked utterly exasperated.
Since joining this company, I’ve had quite a few encounters with women, so I suppose it’s understandable that they react this way.
However, let me be clear: I haven’t done anything to warrant their expressions like Minami’s and the others.
But sadly, the instructors teased me, telling me to enjoy myself, which only fueled the misunderstanding.
I saw Kitamiya explaining to the puzzled Amelia, “It’s always like this,” and it made me sad to think I was perceived that way. But when I reflect on my relationships with women, I can’t deny it. And since I don’t hate it, but rather accept it, and even try harder, following my instincts as a man, there’s no point in arguing.
At the very least, I need to think about how to clear up this misunderstanding later. As I recalled the events leading up to this point, I received more tea from Tatte-san, who had brought me here. I watched the supervisor, sitting on the same luxurious sofa opposite me as I was, drinking her tea with a blank expression.
“…”
“…”
The only sound was the clinking of tea cups.
Under normal circumstances, the supervisor would have made a few small talk, and then come the teasing, mocking, or jokes. But with Tatte-san present, this was her reaction.
Since I arrived and exchanged greetings, we haven’t had any real conversation.
As a result, I’ve just been quietly drinking tea, letting the time pass.
And Tatte-san, who arranged this meeting, was…
“？ What is it?”
“No.”
When our eyes met, she just smiled broadly. Where had her assertiveness gone when she arranged this meeting? She made no move to change the atmosphere of the room.
She maintained a stance of quiet observation.
Frankly, I could do without this kind of tense silence.
Combined with the exhaustion from the day, I felt an urge to hurry back to my room and crawl into bed.
“…”
“…”
Alright, let me say it again, clearly.
The silence is unbearable.
I had a bad feeling about this before coming here, but I didn’t want to believe it would come true.
However, fortunately, this silence isn’t entirely unbearable.
I have hope that if time continues to pass and I finish this tea, I will finally be allowed to leave.
If I can get through this without losing my composure, I should be able to end this safely, as originally planned, without causing any further damage.
But.
“…”
There are times when I question whether it’s right to just pass the time in silence.
If asked about my relationship with the supervisor, I could say it’s not bad.
She pays attention to me, and I might even say we’re close, but…
If asked definitively, I might be at a loss for words.
The reason for that is that I know far too little about her.
My relationship with the supervisor began after I joined this company, so it’s understandable that I don’t know much.
But as I recall, I wonder if I never had the opportunity to learn about her, and if I half-decidedly neglected to try and find out.
We have almost no daily contact.
We only exchange casual conversation occasionally at work.
My impression of the supervisor is that she is always working. So, what about her private life?
All I know about her private life comes from Instructor Fushio and Tatte-san.
I know nothing else.
A sudden curiosity arose from the thoughts running through my mind.
And that curiosity told me, “This is a chance. This opportunity is a chance for you.”
With that realization, my options for action increased, and my mind became more at ease.
The tension lessened compared to before, and with the余裕 to subtly shift my gaze towards the supervisor, I could naturally see her.
Her private life, after all these years supporting the Demon Lord’s Army more strongly and longer than I have. Not out of strange romantic interest, but simple curiosity about whether she has hobbies, and if so, what kind.
I heard that even the two instructors have hobbies, so it’s natural to wonder what she does.
“Supervisor.”
“…What is it?”
Perhaps that’s why I naturally put down my teacup and was able to call out to her without tension.
In contrast to me, she responded after a beat, as if to warn me not to have any awkward conversations. Her sharp gaze was fixed directly on me. Although there was pressure, I realized it wasn’t hostility; it didn’t intimidate me. So, I thought a little casual conversation might be acceptable.
“Well, I thought it would be strange if we didn’t say anything for so long.”
“Is there something you want to ask?”
“Yes, well. When I think about it calmly, we’ve never had this kind of opportunity to talk leisurely before.”
That’s why I want to try and challenge myself a little.
If asking as an individual is inconvenient, I will stand before her as a subordinate.
Although it’s unclear what position I’m sitting in here, I’ll still try to step in a little.
“We, well, perhaps you know a lot about yourself, but I know nothing about you.”
“…What do you intend to do with that information? You know, don’t you? You and I are boss and subordinate, and nothing more.”
“If you say that, all I can say is ‘yes’.”
The supervisor’s words, spoken calmly without changing her expression, are correct.
The supervisor evaluates me, but only as Jiro Tanaka, the Dungeon Tester. She certainly doesn’t evaluate me as Jiro, the man. Therefore, intruding into her private life is, in a way, something I shouldn’t do. I’m already involved with women like Suella, Memoria, and Himik, who are far too good for me. And I have a child with Suella. When Suella’s child is born, I will marry them and deepen our relationship further. Therefore, I should refrain from actions that would make me overly intimate with other partners. So, the correct choice, as a working adult, would be to remain silent and not say anything further.
“If I had to say, it’s just a hunch.”
“…”
But even though I understand it in my head, my heart doesn’t accept it. Not as a man, but as a subordinate who wants to become closer, I spoke those words one by one. I’m not thinking about what I want our future relationship to be. It’s just that if I were asked if I was okay with things as they are now, my answer would be no, and that’s why I spoke.
“Hah, just a hunch? You’re the first person who ever tried to get to know me for such a reason.”
Perhaps that was for the best. The supervisor’s expression, which had been tense until now, softened with a smile, albeit mixed with exasperation.
“Yes, I can’t think of any other reason. Just now, I realized I don’t know anything about you.”
“It’s hard to deny, but it’s just like you. I see, with such a thoughtless question, it’s understandable that it’s just a hunch.”
“It’s painful that I can’t deny it, but please forgive my thoughtlessness.”
“Is there any other reason?”
“Can’t you sugarcoat it a little?”
“No.”
From then on, our conversation became like the ones we have at the office. The supervisor would point out my flaws, and I would respond with a wry smile, saying I’d strive to improve, while she would offer a curt dismissal with only the corner of her mouth lifting.
“You’re strict.”
“That’s just me. You know that, don’t you? That’s why you’re having this conversation.”
“Yes, I expected as much.”
“Knowing that, you still want to have this kind of conversation? Are you a masochist?”
“I will deny that part.”
The supervisor chuckled, and I, while denying only the important parts, also found my usual tone returning.
“What do you want to ask?”
“?”
“You brought up the topic. If it’s a question I can answer, I will.”
As if to say I’m in a good mood now, the supervisor leaned back slightly on the sofa and chuckled, looking amused as she watched me, momentarily taken aback. I had expected the conversation to just flow along like this, so I was caught off guard. But well, if I can ask a question, I should.
“Well, if that’s the case… do you like sweets, Supervisor?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“No, it’s just that before, when I brought in cake, you knew the name of the bakery. And just the other day, you told me to buy cake. So, I thought you might like sweets.”
I thought I was asking a safe question, but it seemed to be unexpected for the supervisor. Perhaps she was expecting a work-related question. This time, the supervisor’s expression faltered for a moment as if she were caught off guard. Then, after hearing my reasoning, she understood and replied with an exasperated laugh.
“I am a woman, after all. I like sweets. Especially since the sweets in this world are so different from those back home. They never bore me.”
“By the way, do you prefer Western or Japanese sweets?”
“I like both, but I prefer Japanese sweets. The sweetness is just right.”
“Do you eat things like dorayaki?”
“I have, but you’re only asking about food questions.”
“Because food is about the only common topic I can think of.”
When it comes to topics outside of work, food naturally comes up. We, who are not undead like Instructor Fushio, cannot live without eating. Therefore, we naturally develop preferences for food. Understanding these preferences will be useful for future dining occasions.
“There are work-related topics, too.”
“Once the clock strikes five, Salarymen don’t want to talk about work.”
Nevertheless, the supervisor chuckled to herself, covering her mouth, as if to say it’s a sad fate of salarymen that work still creeps in.
“Ku ku ku ku, is that so? I see.”
“Is it that amusing?”
“No, you see, I thought you’d ask about this world. You could have asked about magic or our technology, but I never expected a question about sweets. And when I asked why you chose that, you said you didn’t want to talk about work with your superior.”
How could I not laugh at that? The supervisor laughed merrily, and I could only respond with “Is it really that funny?” It’s true that I could have asked about magic, but as I said earlier, food was the first thing that came to mind. There was no deep reason; I simply brought up a safe topic. And the part about the salaryman’s nature was also the truth. However, the way I approached the topic seemed to be well-received by the supervisor.
“Perhaps my instincts as a salaryman rejected the topic of magic related to work.”
“You mean you don’t want to work overtime?”
“Yes.”
“I see, that’s an interesting thought.”
The supervisor nodded with satisfaction at this idea, which was different from her world. This conversation broke the silence, and as we shifted topics, time flowed by. Among those conversations were:
“Oh, so magic can be used for things like that too?”
“It’s rare for a technique to be used only for combat. More often, things created in the process of making life more convenient are repurposed by the military.”
There were also discussions about magic, as the supervisor mentioned, but the magic itself seemed to be related to daily life, like air conditioners and microwave ovens. Rather than work-related topics, they were more like discussions about convenient life wisdom.
“It seems to be the same everywhere, doesn’t it?”
“It’s the same with food. We don’t have Japanese curry, but we have stew. There are other similar dishes, but overall, our food culture is inferior to yours.”
“No, it’s just that Japan has an unusually diverse food culture.”
These were the kinds of conversations that could only happen between us, who have traveled between worlds. Things that happen on Earth also happen in this otherworld, and we understood and acknowledged the existence of similar technologies. As time quietly passed, we sipped the tea that Tatte-san had poured.
“Jiro-sama, isn’t it about time you went to sleep?”
“Is it that late already?”
Where did the initial tension go? I had forgotten the passage of time, enjoying the conversation with the supervisor. It was only when Tatte-san pointed it out that I realized the encounter was ending. I felt a sense of regret, but I couldn’t let it affect my training tomorrow. So, I gently placed my teacup down and slowly stood up.
“Supervisor, I’ll be taking my leave now.”
“Indeed. I’ve taken up your time.”
“Not at all. I enjoyed myself as well.”
“I see. Tatte, escort him to the entrance.”
“Understood.”
And Tatte-san, who had been so eager to ask probing questions, remained silent throughout, focusing solely on serving tea. As I followed her, wondering about this, I was called from behind.
“Jiro.”
I turned around and looked at the person who had called me.
“When you have free time, it’s fine. Don’t just spend time with them; sometimes, come with me.”
“Understood.”
I nodded honestly, assuming “them” referred to the instructors.
“Jiro-sama, this way.”
“Yes.”
Without another word, the supervisor signaled with her eyes for Tatte-san to let me go, and I left the room.
“…”
“…”
There was no conversation between Tatte-san and me on the way. As we reached the door separating the supervisor’s private area from the common space, Tatte-san escorted me outside.
“Thank you for your time today.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Heh heh, weren’t you surprised that I didn’t ask you anything?”
“…Was it that obvious on my face?”
For just a moment, Tatte-san pointed out my hesitation, realizing that I had debated whether to ask or not and instantly decided to just go home. The supervisor and Tatte-san… It seems that demons, in general, are good at reading people’s thoughts. While I was no longer surprised, I asked with a wry smile if it had shown on my face.
“No, you didn’t show it, Jiro-sama.”
She said this with a smile, stating that my expression was the same as always. So why, I wondered.
“It’s part of being a maid.”
She said this with a smile. And finally,
“Thank you for a pleasant time, Miss.”
Bowing slowly, I realized I had been used as a way for the supervisor to relax. Although I felt tricked, I could reconcile it by thinking that I had been useful to my superior and had enjoyed myself to a degree.
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
With that, I said goodbye to Tatte-san, who had bowed her head, and returned to my room.
“She showed me without me having to ask.”
I pretend not to notice her saying that softly.
**Today’s Quote**
Even if something happens, it’s not always a bad thing.
That’s all for this installment.
Thank you for your continued feedback and corrections.
If you enjoyed this, please leave a review, rating, or bookmark.
*Volume 1 of the novel has been published by Hayakawa Bunko JA. It was released on October 18, 2018. The e-book version was released on October 31 of the same year. Volume 2 was released on December 19. Volume 3 was released on February 20, 2019. The content has been revised and expanded from the version posted on “Shosetsuka ni Naro,” with the addition of unpublished interlude chapters. Please consider purchasing the new volumes.*
*Additionally, a manga adaptation has been decided for Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third.” It is currently in progress.*
*Thank you for your continued support of this work.*
