I finished reading another report in the document room.
“Yes! They are interesting as always!!”
I nodded with satisfaction, reconfirming their exploits, which I had considered a sure thing since establishing this company.
I felt a sense of fulfillment, rare and long-awaited, that this enjoyable time was not being interrupted.
There was no sign of detection from the barrier either.
Figuring I could read more, I quietly got up and approached the bookshelf. Just as I was wondering which one to read next, my arm was grabbed firmly. I blinked in surprise.
“I’m surprised, I didn’t expect you to show up here.”
There aren’t many people who can find me.
Even Evia, I thought, would take several more hours to find this place. Yet, someone managed to defy my predictions.
“Personally, I expected Evia or perhaps Raidou to show up based on intuition, but to find me before those two is quite something.”
I indicated with my posture that I had no intention of running away, and the person who had grabbed my arm let go, offering a wry smile.
“Hey, Jiro.”
“I never thought I’d be ordered to capture the president of my own company. I’m busy preparing for the ceremony, what are you doing?”
The person who surprised me, despite being in a suit and not dressed for combat.
The central figure among those who had been rummaging through documents moments before.
Jiro Tanaka.
In a way, a rising star among the Testers, who appeared like a supernova.
“What, as you can see, it’s a little break. As the leader of the organization, there’s a lot that needs to be done… If I don’t do things like this, even my breaks are shadowed by guards. Don’t I deserve to be alone sometimes?”
I put on a playful act towards him. While he was initially tense and stiff, he now had the composure to offer a wry smile while maintaining an appropriate level of alertness.
“If you let the president have time alone, do you think they expect you to always be hiding somewhere? The guards are less about protection and more about surveillance, wouldn’t you say?”
Furthermore, the fact that he can even crack a joke like this shows good growth.
“Hahaha! You’ve learned to speak your mind.”
“It feels unnatural to have bodyguards for someone who’s considered one of the strongest in not just this company, but in the entire world.”
“That’s true, there aren’t many beings who can protect me. However, as the head of the organization, there’s also a matter of appearances. It’s not good for me to be constantly in danger.”
While I laughed and explained, he remained vigilant, watching to see if I would try to escape.
Yes, a good judgment.
“How about it, Jiro? Why don’t you stick around as my bodyguard? I think I could enjoy breaking with you.”
“Are you trying to slack off using that as an excuse?”
“No, no, you misunderstand. I do my work, you know. Even before taking this break, I finished my work for the day.”
If he had let his guard down, assuming I was content to have found me, I might have disappeared and taken another break somewhere. But that worry proved unnecessary.
“Evia said you weren’t finished yet?”
“I finished the urgent tasks. The remaining work doesn’t need to be done today.”
He gave me a wry smile, his eyes pleading with me not to trouble her too much, his fiancée.
I intended to respond positively to that sentiment and handle the situation appropriately.
Jiro’s directness was precisely what would fill the void left by Nōraifu and Kuzuri.
To ignore him would make me a C-tier leader at best.
One could only be considered first-rate by exceeding their expectations.
“But it would be a problem if the people below are struggling.”
“My, my, that’s a bitter pill to swallow.”
Despite his words, I had already made arrangements for today’s work to be completed without burdening my subordinates.
I had decided how to handle the work I had been memorizing while reading the documents.
Now, all I had to do was issue instructions; Jiro’s worries were unfounded.
Not wanting to point that out, I tried to change the subject with a wry smile. Then, Jiro’s eyes drifted to the bookshelf.
“Are those reports about us?”
“Are you curious?”
“Well, if you ask whether I’m curious about how our activities are viewed, then yes, I am.”
“Honest, I like that.”
He widened his eyes slightly, then, without changing his expression, he read the titles. He spoke with a hint of uncertainty, as if unsure what to make of them.
My hand, which had been holding his, was now free. I could escape if I wanted to, but a desire to talk to him a little longer grew, and I had no intention of running away.
“What do you think?”
“What do you mean?”
“Try to predict how I evaluate you all.”
“I can only describe it as having rather bad taste.”
“Hahaha! Is it the influence of Raidou and Nōraifu? That’s a very direct way of putting it. But you’re right. Still, what choice do I have? I am the Demon Lord, the source of all evil in that world. It’s not unreasonable to have a bad taste or two, is it?”
So, I’ll have him play along for a bit.
If Jiro is here, Evia should be here soon as well.
Once she arrives, my break will be over.
Then, I should at least be able to secure some final enjoyment.
Well, as Jiro said, this question is quite a wicked one.
The “correct” answer is entirely up to me.
If I overestimate myself, I’ll be seen as having high aspirations, or worse, as being conceited. If I underestimate myself, I’ll be seen as humble, or worse, as lacking confidence.
Now, he’s looking quite troubled. I wonder what evaluation he’ll give.
“…In my opinion.”
Hmm, by prefacing it like that, he’s making it clear that it’s his own opinion.
I waited for his words, feeling a bit of anticipation.
“I would say you are a group that can find enjoyment.”
“…”
I never expected such a response.
“And the reason?”
I was momentarily delayed in my response by his unexpected answer, but my interest grew even further as I waited for his reply.
“As I’ve gotten to know the instructors over a long time, I’ve learned that in this world, among the Demon Race, enjoyment is a key value.”
“Indeed.”
And then I realized he observed us very closely.
“At first glance, it seems like a society structured on strength above all else, and to some extent, it is. However, there’s a foundation supporting this strength-based hierarchy. It’s the joy found in emotions, the ‘joy’ in joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.”
Yes, we are not just about being strong.
There are different kinds of strength.
There are many beings who excel in physical combat power.
Without anything else, they would simply be a group consumed by battle, and it would be impossible to establish a nation.
Therefore, other elements are necessary.
Such as power, or wisdom.
Establishing a nation requires complex rules, and in doing so, the instrument of violence known as strength gradually becomes a hindrance, an obstacle.
Due to the nature of the Demon Race, strength is an inseparable and deeply ingrained part of our being.
However, this aspect of strength can create cracks in the social structure.
“For the Demon Race, the emotion of enjoyment signifies one’s capacity. Enjoying the strength of an opponent. That means acknowledging the opponent as strong, and using it as a benchmark for one’s own strength. The more one can enjoy, the more admirable it is for the Demon Race to accept their opponent.”
Therefore, there must be a reason to acknowledge that strength.
The reason for enjoying battle.
Jiro truly observes us very attentively.
“At first, I thought the instructors were simply a group of overwhelming combat fanatics. But I started to question it when even Memoria, a merchant, showed no aversion to fighting.”
His broad perspective extends not only within the company but also outside.
“But while fighting is commonplace, it feels like the barrier to fighting is quite high. If people liked fighting, it seems like quarrels would break out everywhere, but I’ve never seen such a scene. Although I’ve been approached by thugs, I’ve never seriously considered fighting them.”
And I was surprised that he took his observations to heart. Someone like an Isal would simply dismiss us, saying, “We demons are a barbaric race.” But he was seriously analyzing us.
“And for serious consideration, the most accessible emotion is enjoyment. Because it’s enjoyable, one can think seriously and become passionate. In a way, the Demon Race sanctifies fighting. That’s why I believe they enjoy fighting.”
Even while stating it as his personal opinion, his reasoning was sound, and even I could agree.
One might argue that individuals differ, but as a whole, the Demon Race fits this description.
“Therefore, when considering how to evaluate us, I concluded that you are a group that fights with unique ideas not found on the continent, and can find enjoyment in it.”
Finally, he concluded boldly, and then asked me, the leader of the group he evaluated as “able to find enjoyment,” how I would evaluate him.
“Sixty points.”
I gave him a somewhat harsh evaluation.
Originally, I would have wanted to give him around eighty points, but I chose to be critical this time.
“Where were the points deducted?”
“You evaluated your party, including yourself, as a group that can find enjoyment. In that respect, you are not wrong. However, you are underestimating yourselves a little, and that’s the first point. You are so invaluable to our company that ‘finding enjoyment’ doesn’t quite capture it.”
This harsh evaluation stems from my expectations for their future. I counted one point.
“Second, you are going to be a general. To settle for an evaluation of merely ‘being able to find enjoyment’.”
After counting the second point, I chuckled.
“Third, you let your guard down and let me escape!”
Because of my somewhat harsh evaluation, I momentarily lost focus, and seeing an opening, I attempted to escape from the document room.
I may get scolded by Evia, but please don’t hold it against me, Jiro.
If you’re going to resent someone, resent your own weakness for being disheartened by my minor deductions!
I activated Teleportation Magic and was about to transfer out of the document room when.
“Oh dear, don’t underestimate a High-ranking Spirit who governs dimensions.”
As I heard a familiar voice, I was teleported to the president’s office where Evia, with a beautiful smile and a hint of anger, awaited me.
“Welcome back, President. It seems Jiro successfully brought you to the president’s office.”
I see. Jiro, let’s forget about that deduction just now.
I was off guard because there was no homicidal intent or animosity. But it seems you were quite the trickster too.
The short-range teleportation I used in a rush prioritizes speed, which should make it difficult to interfere with.
Did you already have a High-ranking Spirit on standby to interfere with it?
“Heh, I won’t be fooled next time, Jiro.”
“President, do you really think there will be a next time?”
“Oh, there will be.”
Specifically, perhaps in about a hundred years.
Evia’s gaze was sharp, and as if to corroborate her words, the soldiers guarding the room strictly increased, and seeing the piles of documents on the desk, my break came to an end.
Today’s word:
Knowing how your subordinates perform their work is important.
This chapter concludes here.
A new chapter will begin from the next installment!!
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Pandora Pandemic Panic: Pandora’s Box Has Been Reopened, but we are dealing with it in various ways at our secret base and other locations!!
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