I apologize for the delay.
I was feeling a bit unwell, which caused the post to be late.
This chapter concludes with this story.
Please enjoy.
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single.
Girlfriend: Suella Handelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
With the sound of our footsteps echoing, Suella and I walk along the approach to where the fireworks had just ended.
“That was fun.”
“Yes, fireworks were a very interesting experience.”
We walk slowly, hand in hand. After the fireworks ended, we stayed in the park for a while longer. Now that we are walking on a rather deserted path, the strange gazes we received during the festival are no longer directed at us.
Perhaps it’s because the lights are fewer now, making Suella’s skin tone less noticeable, but my thoughts are clear and undisturbed by anything else, allowing me to cherish this peaceful and calming time with Suella.
“Shall we go see even bigger fireworks next time?”
“I’d like that, but unfortunately, we might not have enough time. Besides,”
“Besides?”
As she reached for her hair ornament, I realized that the magic power consumed during our recent outing might have been more than I had expected.
“It might not be an issue if I don’t use magic, but I feel a bit uneasy in a state where I cannot use magic.”
“I see.”
To me, magic is just a recent, convenient, and familiar tool. But to her, magic is an integral part of life.
If you compare it to us modern people, it’s probably akin to electricity.
The thought of taking a smartphone to another world, only for it to run out of battery, sends a shiver down my spine.
“In that case, shall we buy fireworks?”
“Can you buy them?”
“We won’t have anything as spectacular as those, but we can get something similar.”
I doubt we can do it within the grounds, but surely we can use a corner of the training room, where we endure the attacks of instructors who unleash all sorts of destructive fire and lightning magic.
I thought about having a fireworks display along with a second party, but Suella shook her head.
“It sounds fun, but I’ll pass for now. I’d prefer to look forward to the next enjoyment a little further down the line.”
“Mm, understood.”
Given how cheerfully she said it, it would be too rude to insist.
When I was younger? No, I still consider myself somewhat young, but if I were a high school student, I might have wanted to enjoy myself more, pushed my own ideas, and only enjoyed myself.
The reason I didn’t end up like that is probably because I’ve become an adult, for better or worse, and can enjoy myself simply by walking and talking quietly like this.
“Speaking of which, this is the area where you used to live, Jiro-san. Don’t you have any acquaintances around here?”
“Ah, it’s not that I don’t have any.”
“Then we might run into someone.”
“Perhaps.”
“You don’t want to meet them?”
Perhaps it was my hesitant tone, but the atmosphere became a little somber, and my negative emotions were perceived.
I felt awkward about indirectly conveying that I didn’t want to meet them, but staying silent seemed like it would only worsen the atmosphere.
“We weren’t on particularly good terms.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, it wasn’t as good an environment as my current company.”
The people I was close to at my previous company were Kaido and the Chief. Apart from them, the relationships with the other members were frankly lukewarm.
Not bad, but not good either.
If you said we were work colleagues, then yes, but in our private lives, we didn’t interfere with each other.
That was our dynamic.
Simply put, I was so immersed in overtime work that I didn’t have the energy to socialize in my private life.
There’s also the reason that people’s true natures emerge when they’re cornered, but there’s no need to mention that.
“…Well, that’s about it. Besides, I got to meet Suella too.”
“Oh, you can’t ask for more than that, can you?”
“Regrettable.”
It might sound a bit cheesy, but it’s my honest feeling.
If I had stayed at my previous company, I would never have met Suella.
That’s for sure.
“Do we still have time to spare?”
“Yes, as long as I don’t use magic, we’re not exactly on a tight schedule.”
“Then, since we have time, why don’t we eat something outside?”
“That sounds nice.”
Having a beautiful woman like her who finds everything new and interesting makes the job change worthwhile.
Thinking this, I took out my smartphone to look for nearby places, wanting to do something more.
“Huh? You’re Tanaka?”
“Hm?”
“It is Tanaka, isn’t it?”
But as we exited the approach, a group gathered there called out to me.
I slowly shifted my gaze from my smartphone screen towards the voice, and I felt my mouth corners tighten.
“Kato, huh.”
“What the heck? I thought you quit your job, but you’re still here? If you were going to be here, you should have at least contacted me.”
“Are you acquainted?”
“Whoa, a beautiful woman! Is she foreign?”
“He’s someone who worked in sales at my previous company. How about you? Is your work okay? You shouldn’t have time to come to a festival like this, being so busy all year round at that place.”
He was a sales representative, so his hair was black, but unlike at work, he was dressed in completely casual attire. He’s two years younger than me, and we had dealings as fellow sales reps.
However, within that company, he was someone I disliked the most.
Because of his good sales performance, he often spoke casually to me and other colleagues, even those older than him.
Furthermore, he was thick-skinned and knew how to be polite at key moments, which made him well-received by his superiors.
You could say he was good at navigating society, or bad, he was two-faced.
Because of that, opinions were sharply divided, and I was on the side that disliked him.
While I dealt with him professionally at work, this is now complete personal time, and moreover, it’s at a company I’ve already left.
My response became sharp, as if I was trying to save every second. I subtly positioned myself in front of Kato, as if to hide Suella.
“It’s alright~ I’m on an ‘outside sales call’ right now. More importantly, hey hey hey, what country are you from? If you’re free later, want to go for a drink together?”
“Hey!”
“Tanaka, you can come too!! We were planning to go drinking with them later, and some girls from our sales department will be coming too!!”
As if what I was doing was meaningless, he chirped with a seemingly friendly smile, peeking around me to talk to Suella.
A sensation, like a switch to combat mode, ran through me, and my voice dropped an octave.
Did he not notice, or was it intentional? Perhaps it was his confidence, bolstered by the presence of several burly friends, that made him seem so at ease.
Violence is abhorred in Japan, but it’s not the only means.
Could it be the assurance of having an ace up his sleeve for emergencies?
I don’t know how many women he’s charmed with his naturally handsome features, but if he lays a hand on me, I won’t show any mercy.
I cooled the irritation of having my date interrupted with combat-focused logic and began to search for a way to eliminate him without involving the police.
“Could you please refrain from that syrupy voice and try again? Frankly, it makes me sick just hearing it.”
“Both of you?”
In an instant, my emotions were forcibly cooled from another angle.
No, they were blown away entirely.
If my previous emotions were a raging flame, then…
“Did you not hear me? I said, tuck away that shallow smile and come back when you’re ready.”
Suella’s voice was like a blizzard blowing across Siberia.
Her face held a sales-like smile, but the magic that subtly leaked out was of combat quality.
Even with magic restrictions, even a small amount would certainly make her combat abilities surpass mine.
Mere intimidation consumes little magic and can overwhelm an opponent.
In fact, my senses, which had been on alert for Kato, were now firmly focused on Suella.
Kato, on the other hand, seemed to have no idea what she was saying.
Naturally, the group loitering behind him could also hear Suella’s voice.
“Wow, Kato’s getting rejected. That’s rare.”
“Or rather, that woman’s personality is too harsh. Are foreign women like that?”
“No idea. But Kato getting cut down like that is hilarious, right?”
“Hilarious!!”
One could call it pathetic buffoonery. Jeers flew, mocking Kato, who had been utterly embarrassed. They didn’t look like they were happily anticipating a drink with Suella moments ago.
“H-hahaha, you have a sharp sense of humor.”
“I wasn’t trying to make a joke.”
“?!”
Would a Japanese woman speak so plainly? No, probably not.
I want to point out his face, Kato’s current expression that is desperately trying, and failing, to hide his humiliation, but I’m not that heartless.
“Kato, if you keep this up, women will dislike you.”
“Tanaka, you bastard.”
Today, I’m being constantly bothered by things related to dating a beauty, but it’s not so bad if I can laugh and say “serves him right.”
I want to hug Suella, who stripped away Kato’s pretense, but I’ll do that later.
“You must be stressed. We have plans later, so go on and have a drink with your friends.”
“Don’t get cocky.”
“I told you to stop being persistent.”
Thanks to Suella saying what she wanted to say, most of my anger has subsided, but the embers are still there.
My voice dropped to a level I wouldn’t have thought possible, as if I was surprised by my own words.
Though I wasn’t applying real force, I gripped Kato’s right shoulder with my left hand, my voice now carrying an intimidating pressure.
Come to think of it, I was somewhat envious of this guy.
I’d hear stories from the sales department about women they met during work, and about how he had free time while I was stuck working overtime.
I’d also heard rumors that Kato’s salary was better, though I don’t know if they were true.
When our boss reprimanded me, he would immediately break into a smile the moment Kato appeared.
I’d often blamed myself for not being good at navigating social situations, wondering why I couldn’t be like him, what the difference was.
Now, I feel like something has changed.
Perhaps it’s because I now recognize that I’m achieving tangible results, even if my work isn’t going smoothly.
Kato, who I thought was distant or superior, now seems small.
Kato looked at me with surprise. I had no further business with him.
I flicked his shoulder, making him twist around.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
My usual voice returned. Suella’s reply was also her usual voice.
I started walking slowly, pulling her hand, but no one called out from behind us.
“I’m sorry, for my acquaintance causing trouble.”
“Yes, I’m actually a little angry you know?”
“Eh?”
We walked a short distance from that spot, and for a few minutes, silence ensued.
Suella, who would usually reply, “Oh, I don’t mind,” to my apologies to break the silence, responded differently this time.
Perhaps I unconsciously expected such a response, as I was surprised, slowed my pace, and looked at her.
“Do you know why I’m angry?”
Suella looked at me, her eyes fixed on mine with a serious expression, not a smile.
From the conversation, it’s likely connected to Kato from earlier, but she doesn’t seem angry about being hit on.
“…Sorry, I don’t know.”
“I suppose not. If you knew, Jiro-san, you probably wouldn’t have responded like that.”
“…”
I truly didn’t understand why Suella was angry.
My silence was a result of that.
“Jiro-san.”
If this were my old company, I would have just apologized with some weak excuse and ended it, but now, the thought of not wanting to lie or make excuses to her made me choose silence.
We had stopped walking at some point, and facing each other, she slowly placed her hand on my chest, gently touched my name, and spoke.
“You are not a god. You will make mistakes, you will falter. You are human, and that is unavoidable. However,”
“Don’t you think you should have confidence?”
“Eh?”
Her words settled into my heart as if they were a perfect fit.
“What I’m angry about,” she continued, “is that you are neglecting the confidence you should possess. You face everything sincerely, but you lack the confidence that should accompany it. You are straightforward, yet you don’t trust yourself, trying to achieve things by forcibly convincing yourself you can.”
She was conveying to me what she had seen and felt from observing me. I simply listened.
Indeed, perhaps I lack confidence.
The reason I work hard like that is partly because I’m competitive, but also because I feel like I’ll lose something if I back down now, and that makes me anxious.
Being desperate, being lost, and even being by Suella’s side was all filled with anxiety.
“I have seen what you have done. You are achieving results. Therefore, Jiro-san, please believe in yourself. You might think you can do it, but that you can’t reach the top, but that’s absolutely not true.”
Something deep within my heart, like a pillar, was supported by her words.
“You can do it. Because you’re the Jiro-san I fell in love with.”
“…”
“Jiro-san?”
“For now, just like this.”
“Yes.”
Something warm welled up from deep within my chest.
Today, I’ve shown myself in such an uncool light.
I was seen frustrated by my work not going well, then comforted when I was dejected, then insulted by a former acquaintance and rescued.
And now, I’ve even gained confidence.
Ah, today I am the epitome of uncool.
I love the woman before me so much that I can’t even utter the words “Thank you.”
The roadside doesn’t matter.
I gently embrace her.
Ah, I’m receiving so much goodness.
But, I finally feel like I can leave the nest.
Until now, I was just a cog turning with the power of those around me. Now, I will become the cog that turns.
Ah, I’m embarrassed that I thought work was troublesome.
Wasn’t I a fool for thinking it was a bother?
It’s not just Suella.
The supervisor, Keiri-san, Kaido and the others also trust that I can do it, which is why they give me work.
Moreover, why didn’t I have the spirit to respond to that trust?
“Thank you, Suella.”
“You’ve become quite dashing, Jiro-san.”
“I was uncool today, so I’ll show you how dashing I can be.”
“I’m not worried.”
I embraced her again, happy that she received my first words of thanks with a smile. I want to live up to her expectations, which I can hear from her chest.
Maybe for the first time. I want to work.
Yes, that’s how I feel.
It’s all thanks to her.
“Shall we go somewhere to eat?”
“Yes, I am a little hungry.”
Still, for today, I’ll ask for your forbearance.
I decide to suppress my desire to work for a bit, and with Suella, head out into the city to refuel.
The lingering gazes I felt along the way no longer bother me.
I can now proudly claim that her side is my rightful place.
Another Side
“Re-training Project Proposal.”
I read the document, along with the accompanying attachments. The outcome far exceeded my expectations, and I couldn’t help but smile.
The atmosphere, which had felt somewhat lacking, has been improving over the past few days.
“I thought it would just remain a projection, but they’ve broken out of their shell faster than I anticipated.”
While I’m glad, I’m also a little displeased that I wasn’t the one who achieved this. I’m not so naive or honest as to hide that feeling.
If they had remained stagnant, I would have considered taking some action, but I’ll consider it a reduction in effort.
“I’m looking forward to what comes next.”
I place the document on my desk. Next to it are several resumes. The admission of the second batch of trainees is approaching.
Another Side END
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single.
Girlfriend: Suella Handelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
Words of the day:
Effort requires results.
However, believing in yourself is crucial to support that effort.
Today, I learned that.
This concludes today’s entry.
I wanted to have Memoria and other female characters interact more with the protagonist, but creating a harem is difficult (sweat).
I plan to improve this aspect in the next chapter.
I look forward to your continued support.
