“Good work on your newcomer training. To conclude today’s training, you will all challenge a dungeon. As a mock battle, you will face the same opponent you fought in the training room the other day, but remember that in the dungeon, there will be Blood, not just Soul. Steel yourselves.”
Today was the final day of our newcomer training.
We donned our work clothes, armor, instead of our usual attire.
As I watched Evia’s back as she explained today’s agenda on stage, I tried to confirm what we would be doing today in my mind.
“Hey, a moment.”
But it seemed that confirmation would have to wait.
I felt a tug on the hem of my clothes and was called in a low voice. When I just turned my gaze back, Kitamiya, in her witch-style attire, was standing there.
“About what you said in that email the other day…”
And with this timing, I could only think of one thing she might be talking about.
“Is this really the time to ask about this?”
As expected, it was about Nanase.
However, I was on duty, and I wanted to postpone it if possible.
“I know. But your constant glances have been annoying me. You didn’t bring up the problem, did you? But you bear some responsibility, don’t you?”
But if she put it that way, I, who had given her the job, was at a disadvantage.
While it wasn’t strictly forbidden to speak during work, the newcomers were listening attentively to Evia’s explanation.
In such a situation, I couldn’t overtly engage in conversation.
However, both Kitamiya and I possessed the ability to converse while listening.
So, I subtly gestured for Kitamiya to continue, while still listening to Evia.
My body, reinforced by magic crests, was convenient for such situations.
With concentration, I could even converse in whispers.
And as for Kitamiya’s comment about glances, it was probably about Nanase.
Today, as the culmination of our training, all the Dungeon Testers of our affiliation were gathered.
Naturally, Nanase, one of the ‘Wings,’ was also present, and perhaps seeing the results of the consultation she had with me the other day, she was sending glances towards Kitamiya.
“You weren’t in contact with her?”
Seeing that, I asked to confirm if there was any problem.
It seemed that things were progressing more smoothly than I had expected.
“I did contact her, and I even offered advice. Well, I kept a bit of distance. But she must have been holding a lot in. I was bombarded with one complaint after another.”
However, it seems that Kitamiya’s consultation service was on the verge of collapse due to the overwhelming success.
She had seemed reserved the other day, but perhaps women let their guard down when they’re with other women?
I felt her shrug from behind, as if to say she couldn’t handle any more.
“It might be rude to say it’s a bother, but what more am I supposed to do? Frankly, I’m at my wit’s end. Then, when I delayed my reply, this is what happened.”
“What’s the situation?”
“I told her to say it clearly. ‘Stop this harem nonsense and just look at me. If that doesn’t work, then give up and break up with me.'”
“She’s blunt.”
“It’s a situation where bluntness is necessary, isn’t it? Unlike with Jiro-san, where the women involved were content, if you don’t say it clearly, it’s the individuals themselves who get hurt.”
Haa, she sighed and grumbled, but Kitamiya, who was looking after her, was indeed caring.
Her words were unforgiving, but there was kindness within them.
Is it a matter of obligation?
At the time, she was the other woman, but before that, they were friends.
Her passion had cooled, and her feelings had solidified into a very pragmatic approach. She was able to calmly assess the situation enough to act decisively and provide the best course of action, even if out of obligation.
“What’s her reaction?”
“Women’s emotions are complex. If it’s impossible, do you think she can just give up?”
“…Is saying what she wishes for not an option?”
“That’s nonsensical.”
“Probably. So that’s the answer, then.”
“Yes. Her ideal is to return to the original relationship. In other words, to make Touru come to his senses and eliminate the other women.”
“The content is normal, but ‘eliminate’ sounds rather violent.”
“Women can be more violent than men sometimes, you know? Perhaps something that radical is necessary. If she’s doing what Jiro-san taught her, then there doesn’t seem to be much time left.”
Without looking away, and without just passively listening, our conversation progressed as I listened to Evia’s explanation.
I even had the leisure to reminisce about how I couldn’t have done this in the past, but I maintained a poker face and continued on.
“I see. I understand about Nanase’s situation. If necessary, I’ll listen again. Changing the subject, but what about Minami?”
“I’d like to keep it on hold, but she said she would act depending on the situation.”
“How will she act?”
“I didn’t ask. She’ll probably tell me later.”
“I’ll just pray it’s not a case of post-approval.”
“Well,” I thought, dealing with multiple troublesome matters at once was too much.
Suppressing a sigh, I glanced at the newcomers and then at my colleagues. They all had peculiar expressions on their faces.
“…Just in case, I’m telling you to be careful, okay?”
“I know.”
I didn’t specify what I meant. Kitamiya would likely understand without me saying it.
Then, I turned my gaze forward again.
“Troublesome things are everywhere, aren’t they?”
“I’ve really come to feel that since joining this company.”
My gaze was probably overlapping with Kitamiya’s at this point.
A lone woman standing in her robe.
Kawasaki Midori.
Her actions within the company could be described as proactive and spirited, if one were to put it kindly, but to me, she could only be called ambitious.
And I’d add that she possessed a precariousness like a teeter-totter, where it was impossible to tell which way she would fall.
“Haa, I just want to do my job at a leisurely pace.”
“If you do your job leisurely, Evia-san will get angry.”
“No doubt about it.”
When I expressed my slightly dejected thought that I might have to work with someone who could become a bomb, Kitamiya pointed it out, and I let out a wry smile.
Unlike the opponents I had faced before, the lack of direct harm so far was neither good nor bad.
Only God knows how Kawasaki’s actions will influence things in the future.
I resigned myself that there was no point in thinking about things I couldn’t know, and with a serious expression, I noted that it was almost time.
“Alright, split into the personnel I’ve previously announced and begin your assignments!”
While we were chatting leisurely, Evia’s explanation had ended.
Now it was our job.
The total number of Dungeon Testers exceeded one hundred, but over eighty percent of them were newcomers.
The experienced ones accounted for just over ten percent, not even reaching twenty percent.
Therefore, we would proceed with dungeon attacks led by supervisors. However, one person would have to mentor about eight newcomers.
Naturally, there were those who could and those who couldn’t do such a thing.
So, it was decided that we would divide into parties and lead larger groups.
Our party, ‘Moonlit Perch,’ would consist of myself, Amelia, and Katsu. Another group would be Kaido, Kitamiya, and Minami.
‘Wings,’ composed of Himusumi and Nanase, would form one party. ‘Golden Hill,’ the mage party, would form another. Kamizaki’s ‘step beat’ would be split into two parties, one with two members and the other with three.
A total of six parties would be responsible for leading approximately sixteen people each.
Furthermore, using the same dungeon would be inefficient, so each group would enter a different dungeon.
“Amelia, Katsu, let’s go.”
“OK!”
“Yes.”
After watching Kitamiya, Kaido, and Minami depart, I led the two of them towards the pole with the flag marked ‘A’.
“Jiro-san, the place we’re heading to is the Dragon King’s Dungeon, right?”
“Ah, it seems that’s what they decided based on my combat power.”
“Are you alright? That place is quite dangerous.”
“There are no safe dungeons. You have to accept that. But it’s always better to be cautious. Stay alert.”
“Yes!”
“Yes.”
As I passed by the group of poles with the ‘C’ flag, I happened to glance at the center of that group and saw Himusumi, Nanase, and Kawasaki.
Whether it was planned or not, I had a feeling about it.
I believe the area that Himusumi and the others were headed to was the Lunaria Dungeon.
“I hope nothing happens.”
“Hm? Jiro-san, is something up?”
“No, I just hope nothing happens.”
“???”
I seem to be becoming quite suspicious.
Thinking that this was not a good trend, I refocused my gaze and headed towards my assigned area.
“Hey! Master! Are you in charge of us!?”
“Yeah, Benny, still as energetic as ever!”
“Hahaha! Today is the day my Kotetsu will breathe fire! Please look forward to it!”
“Alright, brother.”
“Oh, it’s you.”
“Good work, Jiro-san.”
And there, I found familiar faces.
Benny, a cheerful Italian-looking handsome man; Bart, a burly Black man; Shuya, a petite woman who looked no older than a middle schooler; and my stepsister, Haruna.
The multinational party approached me after noticing me.
“Oh! Are you guys the Master’s Party Members!?”
“Yes! I’m Amelia! Amelia Miyagawa! Nice to meet you!”
“Likewise! I’m Benito Carini! You can call me Benny! My dream is to become a great samurai! And this nice guy over here is—”
And indeed, he was Italian.
Benny was good at communication.
After cheerfully greeting Amelia and breaking the ice, he smoothly transitioned to introducing Bart.
“Bart Olgren. If you’re brothers’ friends, you must be strong too. I’m counting on you this time. And you little guy too.”
“Yes, I’m Tokorozawa Katsu.”
“Katsu, right? You can just call me Bart.”
Bart, who introduced himself next, grinned and gave a thumbs-up, his white teeth gleaming in contrast to his dark skin.
Katsu, who usually worried about his height, didn’t seem bothered in the least in front of his nearly two-meter-tall physique.
“Next, it’s me. I’m Shuya. As you can see, I’m a martial artist. As a fellow woman, I’ll learn from you.”
“Yes! Nice to meet you, Shuya-chan!”
“Chan’? I’m older than you.”
“Huh?”
“Eh?”
The introductions continued in this manner.
Amelia made a slight blunder here. Shuya, though petite and appearing to be a middle schooler at first glance, was a full-fledged adult woman.
However, Amelia, unaware of this, judged solely by her appearance, and Katsu seemed to have done the same, letting out a surprised question.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. I don’t mind my height. Really, I don’t mind at all, even if people often mistake me for a minor because I’m short. Really, I don’t mind at all.”
She seemed accustomed to such reactions.
Perhaps it was because she was addressing someone younger.
Shuya repeatedly tried to convey that she didn’t mind and that it was fine, but her cheek twitched noticeably under her smile.
She seemed to be trying not to show a childish reaction to her younger interlocutor, but she didn’t seem to realize her efforts were in vain.
After the exchange between Amelia, who apologized sincerely, and Shuya, who forgave her by saying she didn’t mind…
“Next is me. My name is Tanaka Haruna. I’ll be in charge of recovery in this party.”
“And she’s the one you absolutely should not anger in this party. Be careful, or you’ll get blown away like Bart.”
“Th-that’s not true! Shuya! Don’t say strange things.”
“That hurt, you know.”
“But wasn’t it Bart’s problem for sexually harassing Haruna? Bart, be nice to girls.”
It was my stepsister, Haruna.
She seemed to be utilizing her past experiences as a healer.
And while I was worried if she had integrated well into the party, her flustered reaction to Shuya’s teasing suggested that there was no problem.
Feeling relieved, the introductions of the other Dungeon Testers followed.
I memorized each person’s name and face. When only two remained, he appeared.
“Now, you are…”
“My name is Ishan. My weapons are a one-handed sword and shield, as you can see, and I can also use a bow. Nice to meet you, Tanaka-san.”
“Nice to meet you. An all-rounder, huh? It must be tough, but do your best.”
“Yes.”
His strong gaze surprised me slightly, but I didn’t show it and asked his name.
His neat features suited his straightforward eyes.
I had only seen his profile before, but seeing him from the front, his handsome appearance was even more apparent.
His dignified features and demeanor, suited to his tanned skin, lacked the awkwardness one might expect from someone holding weapons, a sense of newness.
Usually, one might wear the weapon and armor as if they were being worn by them, but with him, it was different. He made it seem as if wearing weapons and armor was his natural state.
“And finally…”
Leaving him with such a striking impression, I moved on to the last person.
“Yes! My name is Katagiri Sayaka! I’m nineteen years old and joined as a full-time employee! My position is frontliner! I’m a martial artist! I requested this party because I heard the Dragon King’s Dungeon is the most profitable!!”
“Oh, uh, is that so? You’re quite energetic?”
There was a woman so full of energy that I almost forgot about Ishan’s impression.
“Yes! Energy is the only thing I can afford to exhibit freely!”
A sporty girl with short hair, perhaps?
She had brown hair and black eyes, and at nineteen, her face still carried a youthful innocence, as if she hadn’t quite shed her high schooler sensibilities.
“I see. That’s good, but, Katagiri.”
“Yes!”
“What about your weapon? As a frontliner, you should have been issued one.”
“I heard that martial artists are the least expensive profession, so I’m aiming to be a martial artist! Therefore, my weapons are these fists!”
However, a girl appeared who blew away that impression.
Wearing long sleeves and long pants, and leather gloves. She was a girl with a bob haircut, dressed in minimal, lightweight clothing that covered most of her skin, and she greeted me with an outward display of her energy.
Katagiri Sayaka.
I remembered her from this greeting.
She was the girl who had asked the problematic question during the newcomer training lecture, troubling Lois-san.
How desperate for money was she? I couldn’t help but think, as her actions were solely focused on saving money.
I almost wanted to ask if her equipment was really okay, but seeing Shuya as an example, I reconsidered.
Thinking that I could just take that into account and lead her, I held back my words.
“I see. That path will be tough, but good luck, okay?”
“Yes! If possible, I’d appreciate your guidance and encouragement during your free time!”
And my first impression of her was undoubtedly summarized by these words.
What a resilient child.
Today’s word:
It is best to realize the words as planned.
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*The first volume 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.*
*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 version posted on Shōsetsuka ni Narō, with the addition of unpublished interlude chapters.*
*Please consider purchasing the new release!*
*A comic adaptation is being serialized in Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third.”*
*We hope you will enjoy that as well.*
*Thank you for your continued support of this work.*
