It’s often difficult to feel the importance of something, even if you think it’s necessary.
Or rather, perhaps it’s better to say that it’s hard to establish a criterion for judgment.
The measure of important events often relies on each individual’s common sense, making it difficult to establish clear criteria based on shared recognition.
It’s not simply a matter of “shouldn’t” or “should,” but rather requiring a standard of “up to this point is acceptable, beyond this point is not.”
To give an example, classified information might be the easiest to understand.
Classified information is difficult to handle and involves many important matters.
Therefore, those who know such information are asked to judge whom they can share it with.
This applies not only horizontally between peers but also, in some cases, vertically between superiors and subordinates.
Up to a certain point, it’s easy to judge the acceptability based on one’s position and its convenience. However, emotions become involved.
Let’s say you are struggling with that classified information and seeking help. Suppose all the relevant personnel are too busy to assist. And suppose there’s someone who, while not privy to the information, could solve the problem if you explained the situation.
According to the rules, you shouldn’t ask for help, but it’s necessary assistance for the progress of the work.
A choice must be made between leaking information or delaying the work, and here, the word “importance” demands a standard.
Will you decide it’s okay to ask for help, judging it to be only “this much of a problem,” or will you maintain silence, including the subsequent cleanup, understanding that you absolutely must not leak the information?
The sense of importance changes based on individual perception.
Now, I’ve spoken at length about the word “importance,” but what I want to say is this:
“Huh? Could it be that I’m not welcome?”
“If you understand that, then you should also understand what to do next, right? Even if we know each other, you’re a working adult, so I expect you can distinguish between what you can and cannot do.”
I’m not blaming Katsu, but bringing her here without prior consultation this time is a “no” for the party and for me personally.
This is because the act of casually bringing a personal acquaintance into a shared personal space, thinking it’s just because they’re acquaintances, can only be seen as underestimating the importance of that community.
I hate to say it, but Katsu’s actions are probably the result of a thoughtless act based on the idea that “it’ll probably be alright,” with no basis for it.
That must be why she brought her here.
Given the flow of events, if I had said just one word at that moment, she would have been standing with us.
If that had happened, the unsettling atmosphere behind us would have turned into a hostile one.
The voice of Kawasaki, heard from the entrance, instantly tilted the atmosphere of the Party Room towards the negative.
The source of that worsening atmosphere, Minami, had all emotion drained from her face, and Kitamiya’s eyes were slightly narrowed.
It was clear that both had entered a battle-ready stance.
And Katsu, who had brought her, seemed to realize, only after the fact, that his actions were not good.
His actions, as a high school student, can be said to be a common mistake.
In that regard, his actions were not malicious; he probably offered assistance out of goodwill.
If a woman he liked requested his help, he would certainly want to help.
I understand his feelings and sympathize, but that’s only as an individual man.
From the judgment of a working adult, there is no room for mitigating circumstances.
When acting as a group, the criteria for judgment are the group’s will, and individual emotions are often perceived as selfish when directed against the group consciousness.
That’s why it’s often said in society that reporting, contacting, and consulting are important.
And, as I told Katsu earlier, our party is in a somewhat special position.
We have secured special training and guidance by pushing aside other parties.
Although the content might lead to regret upon experiencing it, thanks to it, our combat power, equipment, dungeon conquest speed, and even connections with executives within the company are unmatched by other parties.
Though few in number, we are at the top among our peers, with a considerable margin.
It’s easy to imagine what newcomers would think of us, such exceptional beings.
Envy or jealousy, it boils down to these two choices, and both emotions are accompanied by some degree of ulterior motives.
After all, becoming our friend is becoming like a brand name, a kind of catalyst for significantly raising one’s status within the company.
However, this brand name, or perhaps the crystallization of effort.
This is the value that we have built through our efforts.
Easily granting that value to others is naturally unacceptable, both emotionally and socially.
But it’s also a fact that those who realize that value won’t leave it alone.
We knew they would approach us through various means, trying to gain even a little profit.
That’s natural; people wouldn’t willingly take the stairs when there’s an elevator right in front of them.
Whether they wait in line or push others aside to stand before the door is up to each individual, but there will absolutely be those who move to secure a spot in front of that door.
And, such a person has appeared.
She didn’t peek in timidly or hesitantly, but instead smoothly opened the door and boldly appeared.
I appreciate her boldness, but her audacity, the kind that would get her an instant rejection in an interview, is unacceptable.
She didn’t flinch at me, who greeted her with a cigarette in my mouth, and her mind instantly processed the atmosphere.
She’s probably capable, but I thought I wouldn’t want her as a subordinate.
Just from our brief exchange, I can tell the woman in front of me is exceptional.
Kawasaki is not the type to support from below, but the type to mobilize those below.
She’s charismatic at the top, leading everyone, but on the other hand, her actions are too erratic for those below to understand, and they blindly follow her, believing “Kawasaki will be fine.”
Since she ultimately achieves results, our company, which overlooks the process, has found a truly excellent talent.
“It’s been a while, yet you still speak so bluntly, Tanaka-san.”
“It’s precisely because we’re old acquaintances. Remember that someone who gives you honest advice, not just superficial praise, is valuable, Kawasaki.”
“Yes, I will listen carefully.”
However, that excellence is a double-edged sword.
That excellence harms not only oneself but also those around them.
“…”
“…”
Kawasaki, who waited for my words with an unchanging smile, made it obvious that her purpose was to stay here.
From the presence behind me, I could tell that all our party members were using their magic-crested enhanced five senses through the door, focusing on this conversation.
If I let them interact, the situation would be swept away in ambiguity.
“I meant to tell you to leave without further ado, but you still have a thick skin, don’t you?”
“Only you, Tanaka-san, evaluate me like that. Others don’t say such things.”
“Then, those others must be blind.”
Knowing that, I didn’t back down and maintained my attitude.
Unlike the prickly atmosphere, this was a sticky, clinging one.
“I believe I asked Katsu-kun to make an appointment, didn’t I?”
“Showing up just now and asking if this is a good time to talk isn’t an appointment. Besides, making a high school student schedule an appointment is questionable. Furthermore, showing up without prior notice, let alone without waiting for a reply regarding the appointment, makes me question your common sense.”
“Just as it’s not common sense to respond while smoking.”
She’s acting tough, but what is this confidence of hers?
Her attitude suggests she doesn’t think I have a good impression of her, so why isn’t she backing down?
She can’t possibly think it’ll work out, can she?
I pushed the cigarette, about to drop ash, into a portable ashtray, extinguished it, and lit a new one.
Kawasaki showed no sign of disgust at the gesture, and as always, looked at me with a smile.
“I can largely guess, but your main point is to ask us to let you join our party, isn’t it?”
It’s not that I’m compromising with an unseen emotion, but it’s also a waste of time to keep endlessly discussing common sense here.
So, when I brought up the topic, Kawasaki jumped on it like a fish finding water.
“Yes, that’s right. My Magic Aptitude revealed in the entrance examination when I joined this company is seven. While I may not be a significant asset right now, I will be very useful in the future?”
Kawasaki’s method, adding that she was confident in her athletic ability and intelligence, made it seem like a salesperson pitching a product to a client.
Emphasize the good points as much as possible and minimize the impression of the bad ones.
A discussion of risk versus reward.
“Unfortunately, our party is well-equipped with combat power, and we have enough personnel. Moreover, we don’t judge who we admit based on Magic Aptitude. Also, you should have been warned at the preliminary briefing. Excessive appealing will result in penalties.”
“Yes, I am aware of this party’s reputation within the company. It’s true that you don’t need replacements at this moment. However, can you be sure how long that momentum will last? Nurturing successors is a challenge constantly demanded by any organization. Taking action early is never a loss. Furthermore, whether my current actions can be considered excessive appealing is a statement lacking decisive evidence.”
She retorts to everything I say.
The conversation flows smoothly, like trying to grab at a curtain or a willow in the wind.
I don’t get irritated, but it’s frustrating.
Kurosaki and I knew each other from our previous company.
Katsu and Minami are relatives.
Depending on how this conversation is explained later, Kawasaki might not face any penalties at all.
“Is that so? Then, our conversation ends here. If your purpose is to request to join our party, then as the person in charge of this party, I refuse. If you want to talk about future possibilities, bring evidence to support it.”
“Then! That evidence!?”
“Your proactiveness is commendable, but if you fail, it won’t mean anything. Rather, it will lower your evaluation. You know, ambushing only works when there isn’t a certain level of skill difference. No matter how talented you are, we’ve been through our share of tough fights. Even with this relaxed expression, I don’t do foolish things that expose gaps.”
Her conversational approach is skillful, and she probably intended to get a jab in and find a loophole, but that won’t fly.
I smoothly pulled a ballpoint pen from my pocket and stopped it with my index and middle fingers, just like in some manga, and warned the surprised Kawasaki.
“I won’t say don’t approach Katsu and the others, but keep it strictly as a private relationship. If you try to blur the lines between public and private, approaching us won’t bring you any benefit.”
“Th-thank you for your warning.”
At that moment, I directed a genuine, albeit slight, killing intent towards Kawasaki.
She couldn’t easily deflect the pen I held down, which stopped her movements.
The murderous intent from my half-closed eyes and the core of my magic that slightly leaked out.
This is a fraction of the power I use during combat.
The skills instilled by instructors and honed in this company would not leave someone like Kawasaki, who until recently was no different from an ordinary person, unscathed.
Her smile contorted, beads of cold sweat ran down her neck, and she seemed to understand my threat that if I got too carried away, she would learn the consequences.
“You weren’t here today. That’s fine, isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s right. I wasn’t here.”
It’s laughable that we’re facing each other and conversing like this, with someone eavesdropping on the situation.
However, we confirmed that nothing happened that day, and I gently released my fingers from the ballpoint pen.
As if freed from something, Kawasaki took a step back, her gaze briefly shifting toward the other side of the room, and then she left without a word.
“Haa, what a hassle.”
I took a sigh of relief once the entrance door closed and I sensed her departure.
I don’t like probing each other’s intentions.
I smoked and exhaled, feeling the exhaustion from the dialogue that had somehow concluded.
It was a bit forceful, but I decided it was necessary, as it would have been more troublesome if she had secured a commitment then or interacted with the party members.
“If this continues, I’ll have to think of countermeasures.”
I slowly turned my neck, stretching my stiff body, and as I turned back to enter the room.
“Hahahaha! She’s been chased away, gozaru!!”
Minami, laughing with her hands spread wide as if she were some demon king, and Kitamiya, whose mood had improved, were drinking tea.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No, it was just bad timing, wasn’t it? So, you don’t need to be so down.”
“That’s right! That’s right! Let’s eat something sweet!”
And Katsu, who was feeling dejected as if he had done something wrong by chasing Kawasaki away, was being encouraged by Kaido and Amelia.
One difficulty resolved, another arises.
I truly haven’t had a moment of boredom since joining this company.
Today’s word:
Learning can also come from failure.
Thank you for pointing out my usual typos and for your comments.
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*The first volume of the book is published by Hayakawa Bunko JA.
It was released on October 18, 2018.
The digital 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.
This content is a revised and expanded version of the content posted on Shosetsuka ni Naro, including unpublished interlude chapters.
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A comic adaptation is being serialized in Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third.”
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