Entering a Company From Another World! – Chapter 285

It’s been several days since Kawasaki’s attack. I haven’t heard from Katsu about what happened then, but judging by his expression yesterday, it doesn’t seem to have become serious.

Minami might be keeping an eye on things, but for now, it seems peaceful, which is a relief.

So, I decided to focus on my work and we returned to our normal operations.

As the days went by, tomorrow marked the official start of the newcomer training for the second batch of students.

More and more people were moving into the dorms.

Lately, the dorms had become lively, and many unfamiliar faces had appeared.

Even so.

“Ah”

It’s natural to run into people you know when you’re in the company building.

As usual, I was on my way to submit a report and thought I’d buy a coffee from the vending machine on the way home when I met someone I knew, in a sense.

“…Ah, how are you doing? Haruna-san?”

“I’m managing. And it’s just Haruna. We are siblings, after all.”

Haruna also seemed to have come to buy a drink, and her hand held a milk tea she had already purchased.

My relationship with Haruna is, on the surface, that of siblings.

I’m hiding it for now, but usually, she has horns growing on her forehead.

Other than that, she looks like a normal girl at first glance, so there isn’t much of a disconnect when people hear we’re siblings.

Perhaps there are enough common traits to distinguish us by our resemblance to our father or mother, and we exhibit the characteristics of Japanese people.

However, to anyone who knew our parents, the lack of resemblance would be obvious.

And I am, in a sense, the one who killed her older brother. Even if she says she doesn’t care, I can’t accept it myself, so I still feel awkward in this relationship.

I’d almost prefer it if she lashed out at me with her resentment.

Despite all that, she greets me with a smile.

I asked her once at a cafe if she resented me, and she said she didn’t.

“I see. There are many differences, after all. I was confused at first too.”

It’s not entirely because of that, but I try not to dwell on it, but I’m not so skillful that I can respond immediately. So, my responses tend to be non-committal.

“It seems so. I also don’t have many places to go yet, so I can’t say for sure, but I’ve realized this is another world. Also, I was able to meet a different-world Oni, you know?”

“Given the current situation, would that be a goblin or an orc?”

“No, it was a very powerful Oni named Kio…”

“…Instructor.”

I didn’t know what to talk about with her, so I ended up bringing up mundane topics about recent events.

The customs of Japan and the otherworld are different, but she was raised in an abnormal environment to begin with.

I had expected her to adapt quickly here. As expected, she accepted other species without any aversion, but it seems that someone with a top-class impact had approached her first.

“Did he say anything?”

“No, he just looked at me intently, patted me on the shoulder once, and then left. Did I do something rude?”

“Don’t worry. If you had acted rudely, you would have been embedded in the ceiling or wall somewhere. So, no.”

“Huh? Embedded?”

However, listening to her story, it seems she didn’t do anything specific.

I casually mentioned what an instructor would likely do, without realizing it was abnormal, and continued to think about what the instructor might have wanted.

Haruna’s eyes were wide with confusion, but I ignored it.

Knowing that Oni, perhaps he heard about Haruna from Evia-san and went to confirm her strength?

Then, he was disappointed and left just like that?

But the fact that he left without a word felt strange.

“Um, Brother-in-law, when you say ’embedded,’ was he that dangerous?” I understand he was a very strong Oni from his aura, but…”

“? Ah, his strength is probably in the top five of the Demon Lord’s Army? I don’t know the details, but I can definitively say he’s top-class in terms of danger.”

“Wow! Is he that strong!”

Haruna, unaware of my thoughts, became wide-eyed upon learning of Instructor Kio’s strength.

I heard Oni favor the strong, but are Japanese Oni like that too? I interjected unrelated thoughts, figuring I couldn’t predict his intentions, and decided to ask him later. I, on the other hand, proceeded with my original objective of buying coffee.

“Still, this is a strange space. When I was living my life before, I felt suffocated, and wasn’t very good at exercising, but here, I feel great, and my strength is increasing.”

After inserting money and pressing the button, I heard the clunking sound and took out the canned coffee from the dispenser. Haruna was there, showing off her strength with her slender arms, a slight bulging bicep visible.

Although her appearance and words didn’t match, her statement piqued my interest.

The clear difference between the outside and inside of the company is the presence or absence of mana.

“Haruna suddenly feeling stronger is probably related to mana, but you shouldn’t have a magic crest engraved yet. Yet, there’s a physical change?”

“Yes! I feel great when I’m here!”

Even with my magic aptitude of eight initially, I only felt that this was a strange space and didn’t experience a dramatic change in my body like hers. Her statement was like someone who was chronically ill suddenly becoming healthy. It wasn’t a bad thing, but I couldn’t ignore it.

“…Did mana exist in Japan in the past?”

“Brother-in-law, did something happen?”

My speculation was layered upon speculation, but judging by Haruna’s condition, it’s highly possible that mana or something similar existed in past Japan.

If a world without the concept of magic exists, then it’s strange for people like me with magic aptitude to exist in the first place.

“No, I was just concerned about Haruna’s condition changing.”

“Is something… strange about it?”

“It’s probably not a bad thing, but it’s better not to spread it around too much.”

“If you say so, Brother-in-law, I understand.”

They say magic aptitude is hereditary. Perhaps those like us with magic aptitude are a throwback to ancestors, or belong to such bloodlines. Maybe I should ask Suella or Evia-san about this.

Furthermore, the reason for being summoned as a Hero during past disappearances was unclear. Why Earth? Why not another world? From our perspective, it can only be interpreted as having some special power lying dormant. If there’s any connection here, perhaps…

“Well, that feeling of well-being will probably only last for a while. I also underwent newcomer training, and my confidence was shattered early on. Don’t get too carried away; it’s best to be steady.”

“I understand.”

Thinking about it won’t change anything. Unlike Amelia, Haruna’s straightforwardness means this is not her concern right now. Her goal is the peace of the remaining Oni. She joined this company to achieve that. Perhaps she could reunite with Instructor Kio’s clan and lead a better life than in Japan. She probably can’t afford to waste her thoughts on trivial matters. I offered her advice without revealing too much, trying to keep it unbiased.

“Ah, speaking of which, I was approached by someone named Ms. Kawasaki. She asked me if you were her acquaintance. Are you?”

“…Technically, we are acquaintances, but why?”

The surname Tanaka isn’t uncommon. That’s why there are several people with the surname Tanaka among the testers this time. Haruna was one of them, but when Kawasaki’s name came up, I felt a slight premonition.

“Well, this might not be the best way to put it, but she’s beautiful on the outside, but her aura is similar to the person who looked after us Oni. And, I felt like she might have some ulterior motive, so I ended up saying I didn’t know her.”

It seems her living environment fortunately allowed her to avoid that premonition. I reassured her as she bowed her head apologetically. Kawasaki approached her and asked about her relationship with me. If that happened after I rejected her the other day, it means she hasn’t given up yet.

“Did she ask anything else?”

“No, it was just small talk mostly. She said let’s be friends as fellow female testers, but was there a problem?”

Based on Haruna’s explanation, it seems like she was just probing. I’m not suspicious, but perhaps she was taking a chance. It’s common in places like the Adventurer’s Guild to have to doubt your colleagues, but to think it might happen here too gives me a headache. I’ll just give her a warning.

“You don’t need to worry too much about it, but here, information is, in a sense, a lifeline. Casually disclosing information to someone you’re not close to can lead to misinformation spreading. Also, asking about someone’s status is, in a way, considered bad manners. While some might want to show off their strength, it’s not necessarily good to make your strength clearly known to those around you. It can also expose your weaknesses. So, in a way, people who ask like that don’t leave a good impression.”

“Is that so? I’ll be careful.”

I might have to tell her eventually, but there was an incident where a Dungeon Tester attacked another Dungeon Tester, even if they were instigated. I can’t guarantee it won’t happen again. At the very least, one should defend themselves. And, indirectly, she seems to have gained some caution towards Kawasaki, which is a relief. After all, I was told by my mother to look after her. If I did nothing, I wouldn’t know what my mother would do to me later. This advice, including that selfish motive, seems to have been a sufficient help to her. I told her casual conversation was fine, but it was time to return to my room.

“Um, I understand it’s not good to ask you for help with work, Brother-in-law. But, um, could we perhaps eat together sometimes?”

Thinking so, I was about to say “Good luck” and leave when I stopped at her invitation. From the perspective of our relationship, this proposal itself is not a problem, but eating together within the company might not be viewed favorably. However, she is in a place where she knows no one but me, and she reached out to the only person she knows. Emotionally, if possible, I’d like to accept.

“…I’m sorry. Please forget my presumptuous request.”

As I hesitated to respond immediately, she immediately withdrew her request. She put on a polite expression, but it was clear she was dejected.

“Ah, it’s not possible right away, but someday.”

“Yes, um, please don’t overexert yourself. You don’t need to worry about me.”

She must have summoned her courage to ask. It’s not pleasant to refuse an invitation to become friends. My position is awkward, and I feel unable to move. Am I okay with being like this? I asked myself. That’s not right. Since when did I start thinking so restrictively? Those thoughts echoed within me.

“There were some good people among the foreign contingent. One who kept bothering me, calling me Master, Master. A strong but nurturing woman. And a brute who was all brawn and no brain, but had a good personality.”

“Brother-in-law?”

I chastised myself, thinking it wasn’t like me to mope around forever, and ended up giving her these words.

“Even if I told them to leave me alone, they kept pestering me. If I’m with people like them, there’s no reason I shouldn’t be with you, right? If I feel like it, let’s have a meal together sometime.”

“…! Yes!”

I’m clumsy too. This is the only way I can understand Haruna’s feelings. But even with such a clumsy method, she seemed happy.

“Well then, I have work to do, so keep up the good work.”

“Yes!”

After parting ways with her, my destination was not the Party Room. At this hour, they’re probably doing self-practice. I picked out the currently available training room and bought a few drinks on the way. This is a bribe. And as I offered them and chatted, I let slip these words: there’s a promising young girl among the Japanese, and she coincidentally has the same surname as me.

A few days later, seeing that the group of three had become a group of four from a distance, I let out a wry smile.

“? Is something the matter, Senpai?”

“No, it’s nothing. Alright! Work hard today, everyone!!”

“Wow, the leader has the most drive today, gozaru.”

“Did something happen, Ami? Do you know?”

“Hmm, ah! Maybe Katsu-kun’s lunch box has his favorite side dish!”

“It’s Tori Nanban today. Do you like that, Jiro-san?”

Ignoring that, I led Kaido and the others to challenge the dungeon.

Thank you as always for pointing out typos and for your comments.

This chapter is scheduled to end in the next one or the one after.

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*The first volume of the book is 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. 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 web novel, with the addition of unpublished intermissions. We hope you will also consider purchasing the new books!!

The comic adaptation is being serialized in Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third.” We hope you enjoy that as well.

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