The new chapter begins.
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single.
Girlfriend: Suella Hendelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
It might seem sudden, but the passage of time feels different for everyone.
Sometimes it feels slow, other times it feels fast.
The sense of time probably changes depending on what you’re doing, who you’re with, and where you are.
What I can say is that although the time since I joined this company has felt long, it has also passed quickly.
Three months have passed since I changed jobs, and the rigorous workload, which I had to somehow complete efficiently, accurately, and quickly during the period when I should have shed my “newcomer” persona and transitioned to being a “customer,” probably made time feel like it was flying by.
While people around me seem to think I’ve been working here for years…
“You guys are such slobs!!”
“YES, SIR! YES, SIR!!”
It’s just my imagination.
I’m a brand-new rookie.
Why do I have to act like a drill sergeant?
I strike the ore trees into the ground, and all I see are testers running across the wasteland, all of them clad in what are nominally called training outfits—but are really just tracksuits—wearing their magic bodies and working hard on their physical training, starting with push-ups and ending with running.
Their subservient appearance is a stark contrast to their previous dismissive attitudes. While I might be wrong for getting angry, I’ll make an excuse and say that you guys are just as much to blame for making me angry.
It’s been a month since we entered the training room, but it’s a memory from a month ago, set against the backdrop of a special permission that accelerates time by 720 times, meaning less than an hour has passed in real time.
“Do you know why you’ve all been gathered here?”
“……”
There it is. That uniquely Japanese silent response, expecting someone else to provide the answer.
All the testers have been summoned for retraining. Even though their attendance has been noted and the date set, their attitude towards me is the worst.
Sitting in a corner of the conference room with an unmotivated demeanor. I’m a full-time employee, and most of the people here are part-timers. I can understand why they might not be motivated, but as working adults who have accepted a job, they’re failing miserably.
“It’s because your work skills are not up to par, and the company has graciously taken the time to provide retraining. Do you understand?”
At this point, I stopped using polite language.
Being overly polite to people with bad attitudes only makes them more arrogant.
While Kaido and the others are listening seriously, members like Himusumi, who have prided themselves on doing their jobs diligently until now, generally have a critical attitude.
I couldn’t possibly say “please” to people like that.
“We’re not going to do it, because we’re already working hard~”
When I, whom they previously considered beneath them, pointed this out, their rebellious spirit immediately flared up.
But, unfortunately for them.
“Then you have no intention of taking it?”
“I said we don’t. Can’t you even understand that? Are you an idiot?”
“Is that so? If you don’t want to do it, then fine.”
“Tch, then why did you call us here?”
“You’re fired.”
“What?”
This wasn’t just a warning.
My matter-of-fact dismissal sent the room into a frenzy.
Some even muttered that it must be a joke.
I marked the checklist I had in my hand, matching it with the seating arrangement and names.
“I’ll say this just once, so everyone can hear. This is not a threat. If you refuse the retraining, the company has given us permission to simply thank you for your service and declare you non-essential personnel. First and foremost, realize that you are not that indispensable.”
“You’re… you’re joking!!”
“Unfortunately, I am someone who separates my personal and professional life. I don’t make jokes at work. I will sell your equipment and transfer the money to your account. Your salary for this month will be prorated, so don’t worry. After all, you’re a part-timer. You’re not needed beyond that.”
I told them to leave if they understood, without even looking at them.
“H-hey, wait a minute!!”
“Wait for what? If you want to take the training, sit down first. If you don’t sit, then leave. Those are your only two options.”
“…”
I watched them sit down in silence and then scanned the room.
I have no intention of changing the checkmarks.
This is like a yellow card in soccer; ambition and a defiant attitude are two different things.
As I said earlier, my supervisor told me I could dismiss non-essential personnel if their behavior became too much to bear.
“I can see you’re wondering why I’m doing this. You’ve probably heard the rumors, so I’ll tell you: a second batch of trainees, your juniors, will be joining. The deadline is August 1st next month. It seems they plan to combine the retraining with their summer break, and we will be in charge of it.”
Perhaps it was because the first blow landed effectively, but now, many are listening in silence.
I’ll continue with the explanation in that vein, without dwelling on it.
It was inherently difficult for the Demon Lord’s Army to teach humans how to fight.
Their explanations of magic usage, physique, muscle quality, fighting styles, and common sense were all logical.
Still, the reason we, the first batch, were instructed by members of the Demon Lord’s Army was simply because they were the only ones available to teach us.
They’ve produced a considerable number of personnel for maintaining dungeons and managing shell companies, placing a significant burden on them. It wasn’t until I became a chief that I realized Suella and Keiri-san’s overtime was due to a lot of extra clerical work. Nevertheless, they apparently accepted it as a necessary expense. They had planned to handle the subsequent education themselves and have the testers provide instruction, but it seems the quality was lower than expected, leading to the additional task of retraining.
“Let me be clear: I won’t let anyone say ‘this doesn’t concern me.’ Just like at a convenience store, it’s natural to teach your juniors. Here, you must also know that you’ll be in a teaching position.”
Currently, I’m the only one the company deems capable of instruction. Kaido and Minami are nearing that point, but the imbalance is severe. Therefore, this retraining was planned to ensure that we could at least guide newcomers while continuing to clear dungeons, thereby securing reliable talent.
“If you’re not willing to do that, then hand in your resignation right here and now.”
“……”
Silence returns.
That’s understandable. While the pay and holidays here are good, there’s perhaps no other company like it. They even give special bonuses to part-timers, and shifts can be set at one’s own discretion. Plus, the pay is good. Although the work is physically demanding, the return certainly outweighs the risk. Those present are members who have, for better or worse, started to get used to the work. They clearly can’t make a snap decision to let go of a golden goose, whether that’s a good or bad thing.
“There’s a difference between quitting now and quitting later, but at least remember that anyone who can’t get through this training will be dismissed.”
However, such hesitation on my part is irrelevant. Unlike Japanese companies that offer encouragement and second chances with phrases like “do your best,” this is a company run by the Demon Lord’s Army, which eliminates the incompetent. They do things like that, and indeed, that’s what I’ve been told. The testers, hearing this, stir in confusion.
“If you don’t want to, then take the training seriously. If the results are good, there might be a raise. Good for you.”
With a carrot in the whip, some begin to show a little motivation, but the majority still can’t hide their anxiety. And it’s a bit amusing that even this minority is from our group, Kaido and Minami, who haven’t undergone the training.
“I will be the training instructor. Everyone, get your gear ready and assemble in the second training room in thirty minutes. Anyone who is late will be considered to have withdrawn from the training. That is all.”
I already have my gear ready, so I can go directly. I leave the conference room ahead of everyone else and head to the second training room.
“…I need to be careful not to overpromise.”
While the supervisor ordered this training, I devised the content. The supervisor gave me the go-ahead, assuming it would proceed as planned, but nothing ever goes perfectly. I need to stay focused. There’s something I haven’t told Kaido and the others. Originally, there should have been more time. The company hadn’t planned to secure combat power this urgently, but circumstances have changed. To be precise, the company’s estimate was too low. If I asked the testers how much of the overall dungeon our team had cleared, they might answer ten or twenty percent. I had predicted around half of that, but the supervisor’s words were cruel. 0.2%. That was the figure for the dungeon we had cleared. To achieve this in over three months… the scale of challenging the world, like fighting an army, would certainly be understandable for such a facility, leaving me stunned. At this rate, even if we maintained this pace for three months, it would take 125 years to fully clear it. No, the Dungeon Masters also increase the difficulty the further you go. This will definitely take more time. Moreover, the fact that I accounted for half of the cleared portion… it’s undeniable that our estimate was too low, even with the buffer. Because of this, the company is ostensibly calling this “training” to spur us on, but in reality, this entire plan might be scrapped. They told me to keep in mind that it’s a possibility, although not immediately, and that sent a shiver down my spine. I don’t want to be left adrift, and I don’t want to be separated from Suella and the others, so I intend to be strict. The result of that is…
“What was that!! Stop messing around!!”
I intended to be patient at first, but delays piled on delays. They were told that time could be extended and they wouldn’t age, which led them to become complacent and show no motivation. My patience snapped on the third day. I repeatedly yelled, reprimanded, and instructed them, but if they thought my initial warning was just a bluff, there’s nothing I can do. I could see their nonchalant attitude about trying to gloss over things. At first, it was meant to be foundational physical training, but if that’s how you intend to act, I won’t show any mercy. I erased the word “mercy” from my reason and beat them all up, not caring if it left some trauma, knowing that memories are overwritten. After that, I simply went through the training menu in silence. I’m not telling you to do it. Just one word.
“I don’t care anymore. Get yourself fired.”
They might call it shirking responsibility, but I don’t care. I continued the training, taking only the members who were motivated, my usual Party Members. The others were completely ignored. I coldly told them to get their own food. For me, fewer members to instruct meant less labor power. And that would only breed a sense of crisis. At first, it’s fine. Those who believe they’ll be taught anyway take excessive breaks. But gradually, they began to feel a sense of crisis at being neglected, and Nanase was the first to act. She apologized and earnestly joined the training. I simply let her participate without saying anything. Next was Himusumi. Being completely ignored and witnessing the training inspired him. At this point, the participants paused. However, when they saw mock battles, they couldn’t help but realize the difference in their strength. And then, albeit belatedly, they realized they were falling behind. From then on, participants joined in a snowball effect. Within a week, even if reluctantly, everyone had started to take the training seriously. However, this training room cannot be used indefinitely. Magic power is also limited, and due to time differences, continuous use is restricted. Naturally, to make up for lost time, the training had to become even more intense, and the content became denser than planned. Well, to get the participants to agree, I performed twice the amount of the menu, and before I knew it, everyone was following my instructions without complaint. It seems that a boss who leads by example is more followed than one who just talks…
“Alright!! Cool-down finished!! Everyone gather around!!”
Their movements were orderly, a stark contrast to the beginning. They lined up by Party, awaiting my next words.
“The training is now concluded!! Check your status later. The results should be apparent.”
“Yes!!”
The training, which included physical conditioning, mock combat, and continuous soul combat, along with methods for close-quarters combat and conversely, long-range combat, not just focusing on magic, should have significantly impacted their Magic Crests. The supervisor, monitoring from the observation room, can undoubtedly see this. I also feel a sense of accomplishment for having completed it. It was worth it to guide them with a heart of stone, as Kaido and Minami repeatedly called me a demon. It’s understandable that those who initially underestimated me now see me as an object of fear.
“You have three days of paid leave starting tomorrow. Don’t leave any fatigue behind. That’s all. Dismissed!”
Satisfied with the results of the work, believing there would be no problems, I dismissed them. Now, all that’s left is to file the report.
“No problem. This way, there will be no disruption even if Jiro isn’t here.”
“Eh?”
I went to the supervisor with the report, and just as I thought there were no issues, I was told I was being fired?
“Jiro, you’ll be on a business trip starting next week.”
“A business trip?”
Ah, it wasn’t that. I was relieved for the moment. But a business trip? I considered what the supervisor, whose gaze had shifted from the documents to me, might say, but I had no clue where I would be going. I hadn’t heard of any branches in Osaka or Hokkaido, or even overseas, so that possibility was there.
“Yes, you were originally scheduled to go to broaden your horizons, but the training results are better than expected. In that case, it’s better to move it up. Don’t worry. Even though it’s called a business trip, it’s more like training.”
“Training? And where is it?”
The word “training” made my mind flash a momentary alarm, but I pushed it aside. Logically, I probably don’t have the right to refuse. After all, saying “I can’t” is the kind of phrase a working adult should rarely utter. Since there was no reason to take the risk of refusing a situation I didn’t dislike, I simply asked about the destination, picturing potential locations.
“Isal.”
The destination of my business trip was, unexpectedly, another world.
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single.
Girlfriend: Suella Hendelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
Today’s word:
Certainly, since we’ve come from another world, that possibility exists. It was a blind spot though!!
This concludes this part.
This chapter was written with the thought that while works traveling between worlds are common, a business trip to another world is probably rare.
I hope you all enjoyed it. Please continue to read.
