Entering a Company From Another World! – Chapter 38

Chapter 4, a new chapter begins.

Thank you to everyone who is reading.

Well, lately the weather has been fluctuating between warm and cold, and I’ve been worried about catching a cold, but when I think about it, I realize my attire hasn’t changed much, even in the dead of winter.

I’m posting this while appreciating my sturdy body.

Now, please enjoy.

***

Another side

“Well then, is that all for this matter?”

In the conference room on the top floor of MAOcorporation, top executives, unrelated to military affairs, gathered for a meeting.

At the seat of honor, the Demon Lord, a man, was cheerfully leading the discussion.

Beside him, Evia was managing the projection of images created by magic.

The content of these images was personnel organization, and several staff placements had been changed based on the results of a recent surprise audit.

This image was a record of those changes.

The expressions of the Demon Lord, who was not looking at the images, and the executives, who were, were polar opposites.

The majority, if not all, of the executives were demons; not a single human was present.

The gazes of these individuals occasionally focused on a specific point within the projected visuals.

“Your Majesty, it is true that the human has achieved results. However, isn’t it too soon?”

“Hmm, is there some problem?”

“Our history is inextricably linked with conflict with humans. If we were to include a human among us, wouldn’t it cause unnecessary trouble?”

The old dragonman was not pointing out anything related to an important position.

In terms of rank, it was a chief position, one step above a regular employee.

Normally, there would be no need for such an excessive reaction, but the individuals present, with the exception of the Demon Lord and Evia, were all conveying their denial without any hint of complacency or underestimation.

“I hear that he has become friendly with our employees, and even goblins?”

“That’s merely on the surface, surely. Humans are cunning and cruel; you can’t know what’s in their hearts.”

If one were to listen only to this conversation, it would seem like a situation where the Demon Lord is saying he’s trustworthy because they’re getting along, and a subordinate is offering cautious advice. But how much of those words would be genuine counsel?

To Evia’s eyes, or rather, from the essence of demons, it was clear as day that most of the members present loathed incorporating a foreign element like a human into their ranks.

Moreover, they felt a slight fear of their own footing and position being threatened.

Evia mused internally, “They have the ability, but are they perhaps growing old?” She couldn’t voice it aloud.

As far as Evia was concerned, she could declare it impossible. He had ambition but no ulterior motives.

In fact, the person being debated here had a personality that would be satisfied even as a regular employee, provided their compensation was guaranteed.

Knowing this, it was easy for her to dismiss the concerns raised here as meaningless, but—

“Hmm, if I put your words together, it seems he’s the only one opposed? But it’s puzzling. He demonstrated his strength in this scheme according to our principles. Then, as the Demon Lord, I must acknowledge that strength. What do you all think about that?”

“…”

There was no need to judge.

The Demon Lord’s Army operated on a meritocracy, utilizing anyone who demonstrated ability, regardless of their species or status.

This foundation, that of rising through merit rather than bloodline, would likely not be overturned as long as there was an unshakeable existence who had achieved it. Moreover—

“However.”

“Yes, if there’s no logic, it’s rejected.”

This existence known as the Demon Lord, though appearing as a young CEO with a perpetually smiling face, was in reality a good-natured youth who could pierce through the innermost thoughts of his opponents with terrifying sharpness. He discerned the inner thoughts of his subordinates who wondered why a human was chosen when there were more capable demons available, thus avoiding wasted time.

“That being said, if I only followed my own desires, it would end there. Well then, let’s do this. I’ll leave the selection up to you all. Choose personnel who can be inserted into that position. If, by chance, they prove to be more capable, I’m sorry, but you’ll have to give up your seat.”

The Demon Lord offered a compromise with a smile. Past Demon Lords were, to put it kindly, paragons of leadership, or to put it critically, dictators. They absolutely never considered the opinions of their subordinates and swayed their decisions. Whether this was good or bad was irrelevant for now. What could be said was—

“Hmm, is this about right?”

“Yes, it seems reasonable.”

The meeting concluded with the other executives showing signs of acquiescence to the Demon Lord’s words, not because of his kindness or goodwill in the proposal he just made. As they walked slowly down the corridor, the Demon Lord murmured, as if seeking confirmation from the female demon walking behind him.

“This way, they’ll have no more excuses. For us too, it doesn’t matter whether he stays in his seat or is replaced.”

“There’s a possibility that dissatisfaction might arise from the Tester side, but…”

“Heh heh heh, you’re quite something to ask that even though you know it. For a newly established department, there wouldn’t be a more convenient cog in the Demon Lord’s Army than that.”

The Demon Lord was confident. He believed their selection would be in vain. However, even if it was in vain for them, the Demon Lord had managed to demonstrate an action of giving them an opportunity to resolve their dissatisfaction. From an outsider’s perspective, it might look like a musical chairs game, with no one knowing who would end up in that seat, but the Demon Lord could speak with a certainty as if the future were already decided.

“Now, what was the next appointment?”

“We have document approvals waiting in your office.”

“Hmm, can’t I just run away?”

“If you’re willing to increase the piles of documents by about three mountains, then perhaps.”

“I’ll pass on that, truly.”

In the past, when he grew tired of paperwork, he had literally run away. She had not pursued him but had calmly proceeded with her work. By the time the Demon Lord returned, she had prepared about four literal mountains of paper and was waiting for him. To the Demon Lord, attempting to flee again, she said one thing:

“Next time, it will be three.”

Even he, who generally understood everything, didn’t need to ask what “it” referred to. He probably understood it without asking. What was remarkable was her ability to halt the Demon Lord’s movements with just that single sentence. Without saying “Don’t run” or “Don’t work,” she had found a novel way to stop the movements of a being with the combat power of the army’s top. It was incredibly ironic that he couldn’t escape from the Demon Lord, and by extension, he couldn’t escape from paperwork.

“Have the orders been delivered yet?”

“Notifications to each department are scheduled for tomorrow.”

“Hmm, I wonder what kind of face he’ll make.”

“…”

Most of the recent audits were orchestrated by the Demon Lord himself. It was unprecedented and lacked any track record to test and reinforce defenses against the Hero using potential Heroes. They were operating on a trial-and-error basis, and there was still room for improvement in both work efficiency and organizational structure. The establishment of new departments in this reorganization was part of that effort.

“Well, it’s fine since I’ll be inspecting his workplace next time, but Evia, can’t we reduce the paperwork a bit?”

“We have new business ventures and unfamiliar tasks increasing, so it will remain this way for a while longer.”

“Haa, why didn’t the previous Demon Lord focus on training internal affairs officers?”

“Sighing won’t reduce the mountains of documents.”

“Hmm, since it’s troublesome, I’ll just finish it all at once with body reinforcement magic.”

“Have you forgotten that you did that the other day and sneezed, turning the documents into confetti?”

“Hahaha, perhaps I should ask the development department to make paper that won’t tear from my sneezes.”

“Paper that can withstand sneezes with enough power to crack the doors made by the Giants?”

“Yeah, that’s impossible.”

Recalling how her hair had been disheveled by the aftereffects, Evia’s gaze sharpened slightly. In the first place, paper that could withstand the sneeze of a being capable of blowing away an elephant with a light blow would already be fundamentally different from paper. Even if paper made from divine wood had a possibility, spending resources on such a thing would be less cost-effective and time-consuming than if the Demon Lord himself had exercised restraint.

“Hmm, are there any other departments that need improvement?”

“While the public-facing departments are generally fine, the commercial district, development department, and materials department are experiencing excessive workload due to concurrent duties among personnel. It might be necessary to redistribute roles slightly.”

“It can’t be helped, but problems inevitably surface when you try new things.”

“Yes, the corporate structure we’re implementing in this Japan is entirely new to us, so it’s unavoidable that we’re still figuring things out.”

“What about the Testers too?”

“Yes.”

“I thought so. This is also my first time working with humans.”

The new department discussed in today’s meeting was a department established under the Human Resources department to manage the Testers. Originally, the Human Resources department handled all matters related to Dungeon Testers, such as their management, review of reports, reporting to the development department, and distribution of initial equipment, in addition to managing internal and external personnel. It was deemed inefficient, so Evia requested the Demon Lord to apply for improved working conditions for the Testers. This could be considered a form of intervention.

“When looking at the Testers’ performance overall, it’s hard to say they’re good or bad. There are aspects that are good, but the negative aspects are more prominent. Even the older members tend to focus on those.”

“We should have paid more attention to the quality.”

“It’s still a period where we can observe and see, but if things continue as they are, it will come to a critical point. I’m not worried because I know you understand that. You’re already recruiting for the second batch, aren’t you?”

However, that intervention was also an act that pushed them to the brink by their review of reports, actual progress, and a combined evaluation. There was still distance before falling off the cliff, but the edge of the cliff was within sight. At that stage, they were expending effort. While they knew it was necessary, it was understandable if it was perceived as redundant expenses.

“Yes, already.”

“Then it’s fine.”

That is precisely why they must constantly strive, devise solutions, and make efforts to move away from the cliff’s edge. After all, reaching the position of a close confidant of the Demon Lord was not something that could be achieved through idleness. It was a position where one would be immediately thrown off if they lacked the ability to enjoy tea on the back of a wild bull. There was no option of doing nothing. Furthermore, the Demon Lord’s words, “it will come to a critical point,” were not directed solely at Evia but also at the Testers who were not present.

Fundamentally, there was a significant difference in values between the Demon Lord’s subordinates and Japanese people. In Japan, a mistake at work could be fatal in itself, but it didn’t necessarily lead to death. However, in the Demon Lord’s Army, it was different. A mistake at work meant death. If a life was spared out of leniency, one had to shed tears and offer words of gratitude. The Japanese, who might think it’s okay to fail, and the Demon Lord’s Army, which strictly commands that failure is unacceptable—this difference was by no means small. Simply meeting quotas would not allow one to survive within this company. One had to demonstrate value. If you said, “I made an effort,” and followed it with “but,” there would be no tomorrow. How many among the Testers understood this? Certainly, none of the Testers who had quit so far.

“A lifelong wish cannot be granted simply by wishing for it.”

Another side END

Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single.
Girlfriend: Suella Handelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (full-time employee) + Recruiter
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Rank: Warrior

“A promotion?”

“Yes, your previous actions were evaluated, and an order has arrived for you, Jiro-san.”

“Isn’t that fast?”

After submitting the report from the previous audit to Suella in Human Resources, she handed him something with the same hand. He stared at it as if he had seen something unbelievable. Then, confirming that it was neither an illusion nor a prank, he took the brown envelope, presumably containing the order, from Suella and spoke his unfiltered thoughts. He had only been with the company for less than half a year. In a normal company, no matter how excellent one was, such a thing would not happen unless there was a connection. Yet, this time, not only was it being discussed, but the order had already arrived.

“The Demon Lord’s Army operates on meritocracy, so I can definitively say it’s not due to any connections.”

“Is that so? Then I shall be happy that my merit has been recognized.”

“By the way, I’ve also been promoted.”

“Keiri, don’t just jump in like that.”

Given that she was his superior, he had harbored a slight desire to get closer to her. Now that he had finally grasped the reality of the object in his hand, that feeling was fulfilled. While one could dismiss it as vanity, any man would likely feel the same. Amidst this, Keiri, resting her chin on Suella’s shoulder, gave him a mischievous smile and waved the paper she held between her slender, beautiful fingers. Her enhanced eyes, due to her training, caught the content, specifically the part about her rank.

“Section Chief, congratulations.”

“Thank you. And to add another piece of good news, Suella has also been promoted. A Section Chief, no less! I wonder how much the management allowance will be.”

The fact that she could no longer flaunt her vanity like this was a painful point. However, she had been promoted; his desire to congratulate her sincerely outweighed his vanity.

“In that case, we must celebrate together today.”

“Yes, if possible, let’s invite everyone and eat together.”

“Oh? I thought you meant celebrating just the two of us. May I join you?”

“Oh, if I leave you out, you’ll sulk, won’t you? It’s okay, isn’t it, Jiro-san?”

“Alright, I’ll tell Kaido and the others that Keiri-san will be paying for everything to celebrate our promotions. We’ll go to Dragonize.”

“Wait a minute!? Isn’t that the most expensive restaurant in the underground mall!! If you’re paying for that, I’ll have to eat bread crusts for breakfast, lunch, and dinner this month!? Normally, Suella, who got promoted the highest, should be the one paying!”

“Then we’ll need to make a reservation.”

“Suella!?”

My wallet… will become lighter. Keiri’s earlier assertiveness vanished, her Cheshire cat-like smile replaced by the expression of a prisoner plunged into despair. Ultimately, she ended up pleading with Suella, as if she were appealing to a benevolent official, lamenting the betrayal of her best friend. Keiri’s words were reminiscent of a period drama, while Suella’s response was motherly, like “There, there.”

“I’m a Chief, huh? Hmm? …Tester Section? Was there such a department?”

While the flow from leading him on to stopping him was a complete act, as usual, I set aside their antics and looked at my own order. It was only a few lines of text. It didn’t take long to read, and it seemed like a natural progression from regular employee to chief, with no particularly unusual content. However, the department it belonged to was a department called the Tester Section. I myself am a Tester, so I had never heard of such a department, and a question slipped out. Testers are personnel managed by the Human Resources department. And there was no Tester Section in the Human Resources department. I briefly wondered if I had made a mistake in my memory, but—

“It was established recently. With the admission of the second batch of Testers decided, Evia-sama planned to create a department to further their education, facilitate smooth dungeon evaluations, and improve the quality of Testers.”

“Is that so? Well, it’s certainly more efficient this way.”

It didn’t seem to be the case. As Suella, stroking Keiri’s head while she clutched it, explained, I nodded in agreement. Indeed, the previous handling of matters had been quite peculiar. Human Resources is fundamentally a department that considers internal personnel placement, and it cannot be said to be a department that directly supports personnel who conquer dungeons. Well, I don’t know how many companies in the world have dungeons, so I can’t say for sure, but it’s likely inefficient. Just as the saying goes, “Leave it to the experts,” creating a specialized department and dedicating oneself to the task is something done by all companies. Then—

“As a Chief, what will I be entrusted with? Perhaps coordinating the Testers?”

I shouldn’t be speaking to a Section Chief in this manner, but there were only people I considered family members around Suella right now. While I do distinguish between public and private matters, I felt it was alright at this moment, which is why I continued speaking in a private tone.

“That will be Keiri’s role. Jiro-san, you’ll be in a supporting position. If there’s a team struggling with dungeon攻略, you’ll enter and provide assistance and guidance.”

“So my job is to intervene? That sounds difficult.”

“It means you are expected to do so.”

“What about you, Suella?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Then I will meet those expectations.”

I’ve been assigned a task that requires considerable discretion. Dungeon攻略 cannot be achieved overnight. It involves training and practical experience, acquiring skills, scrutinizing information, learning, and improving efficiency. This is the basic principle, and it’s difficult to solve areas that are stagnating. First and foremost, I must possess the ability to clear the situation myself. Secondly, excessive assistance can lead to the collapse of the team’s coordination and over-reliance on me. Thirdly, doing too little will not lead to overcoming the slump. I must find the right balance and intervene appropriately. On top of this, I have to engage with personnel that I’ve been avoiding. This will likely not function under the pretense that I’m here because of Suella’s orders. I must always take the initiative and, if I deem it necessary, apply to Suella to act, otherwise I will have no standing. Just thinking about it reveals the accumulated trouble and effort.

“Um, I’d appreciate it if you two didn’t carry on this conversation with me in the middle.”

“Yes, let’s end our break. We’ll decide on the restaurant later, Keiri, and it’s time to get back to work. There’s a mountain of handovers to do for our department transfers.”

“Ehh, I’m inheriting it from that person.”

“That’s neither here nor there. Work is work. If you slack off now, you’ll just create more trouble for yourself later, so do it seriously.”

“Yesss.”

“In that case, I should also get back to work. I’ll bring you the draft for my assistant role, but by when should I have it ready?”

“As soon as possible would be ideal, but currently, I’m also busy with handovers, so please aim for about a month. The new department is also expected to begin operations around that time.”

“Understood. And also—”

“Yes, hmm.”

Keiri’s gaze shifted, and after a quick confirmation that no one else was watching, she stole a moment to plant a kiss on Suella’s lips.

“My, aren’t you sudden.”

“You don’t refuse me, so I can’t help it.”

“We’re at work.”

Her status was still overwhelmingly higher than mine. If she hadn’t wanted it, she could have easily avoided or blocked it. Yet, Suella, while warning me with her lips, seemed pleased by the atmosphere. Even though it was a moment of impulse, it ended with just a tap on my chest, and she returned to work. I don’t think it was my imagination that she secretly smiled only for me at that moment. And sensing this, Keiri also quickly waved me away, as if telling me to leave.

“Well then, see you tonight.”

“Yes.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

It would be an interference to stay here any longer. Besides, I had gained more work. If there was something to be done, it was better to finish it sooner rather than later. Leaving the Human Resources department, I began to mentally construct how I would proceed. And after wandering in thought for several minutes—

“So, I’ve been promoted.”

“Congratulations.”

My feet led me not to the party room where Kaido and the others were waiting, but to a corner of the underground mall: Memoria’s shop. As I entered, she closed her book with a snap, a habit that had appeared since our engagement.

“Suella and Keiri have also been promoted, and we decided to celebrate tonight. How about you, Memoria?”

I quickly finished explaining and got straight to the point. According to Lord Skegob, when interacting with multiple women, one should try to be open and fair. Regardless, I had no choice but to invite Memoria, which is why I came here.

“I’m happy, but unfortunately, I have plans starting tonight.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll postpone it.”

“No, I’ll be closing the shop for about a month starting tonight. I’d hate to delay your celebration, so please go without worrying about me.”

“A month? What happened?”

“It’s a personal matter.”

I was surprised by the sudden announcement of the closure. The person who said it, however, looked unfazed and calmly tried to conclude the conversation. Memoria, as in the beginning, rarely spoke about herself. She always ended it with the phrase “personal matters.” Well—

“Is that so? Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No, but…”

“If something comes up, I’ll ask for your help.”

“Please do. I intend to be resourceful enough to help the woman I’ve fallen for.”

And recently, that has changed slightly.

“Also, the celebration for my promotion will be held after you return.”

“That, hmm.”

“If a vampire sulks, my blood will disappear.”

Adding that I couldn’t possibly allow that, I gently pulled my face away from Memoria’s.

“You’re so forceful.”

“That’s strange, I feel like I heard a similar phrase just now, but—”

“Hmm, I can accept the second part, but at least when it’s just the two of us…”

“My apologies.”

My face was once again pulled closer.

“Hurry up and finish that business.”

“Yes, it seems I should return as soon as possible.”

“Ah, if not…”

“The vampire will sulk.”