Jiro Tanaka, 28, has a girlfriend.
His girlfriend is Suella Handelberg.
His companion is Memoria Tris.
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Role: Warrior
“Alright!! I got permission from the supervisor!!”
“Jiro-san, you’re really hyped up today.”
“You’re your usual self. Don’t you think you could be a little more excited?”
“I am more exhilarated than usual… can’t you see it?”
Sorry, Memoria. My level of understanding is too low to tell if you’re excited just from a small triumphant pose with both hands.
Indeed, if Memoria were to act as wild as Minami, I’d be more worried about what happened than happy for her.
“I see, I’m sorry I didn’t notice.”
“No, I’ll try to be more expressive.”
“Yeah, and I’ll get to know you better so I can notice.”
It’s been nearly half a month since I came here, and it’s finally time to make my move.
I have the reply from Supervisor Evia regarding the report and project proposal I sent.
While the gate route is uncertain, they said that as long as it’s inorganic material without provisions or life, a certain amount of correspondence is possible.
So, when I sent it as urgent information, prioritizing it, I received a reply in an astonishingly short time for Isal, where logistics take many times longer than in Japan, which would have received it the next day.
The report was forwarded directly from Supervisor Evia to the president, detailing the events surrounding the Hero summoning and information about the war, which I compiled after listening toバース.
They said I could do it because I could summarize it in a way that was easier to understand and with the correct format and style for that side, so I’ll overlook it even if I was essentially forced into it.
The main point was a project proposal I sent in a complementary format.
“Well, the troublesome approval is done. The supplies have arrived. Shall we head to Tris?”
“Yes.”
Suella’s seal, the supervisor’s signature, and the president’s direct seal. I held in my hands documents that served as proof that the company had given the green light to this project, or rather, plan.
If you ask me what’s the hardest part of working, I’d say there are many things.
But if you ask me what causes the most stomach damage, I’d say it’s the approval process.
Hours spent reviewing documents, negotiating with the other company, and reaching compromises, only for it to be rejected.
“What about this part?”
“Can’t you reduce costs further?”
“Can’t you speed up the deadline?”
“We’ve changed the specifications, so do it again.”
Being told to redo things multiple times just to get a single stamp is frankly disheartening.
I never expected it to pass on the first try.
That probably means they have high expectations.
I want to achieve results on my end as well.
I’ll tackle this matter with all my might.
Leaving the room where I’d been staying for the past few days, I went to the bar and foundバース sitting at the counter table of what used to be a bar, now mostly cleared of chairs and tables, looking rather deserted.
“バース, permission has been granted. Are you ready?”
“I’ve been waiting. Everything’s ready outside. Follow me.”
バース, who had been waiting while smoking an Isal cigarette instead of a Japanese one, crushed the butt in the ashtray and led us to where preparations were made.
Ahead of us was a covered wagon pulled by two horses, something usually only seen in tourist spots in Japan.
“The supplies sent with the documents are loaded inside. Enough food for the next city is also loaded.”
The two chestnut horses pulling it had excellent spirit and strength, clearly good horses even to an amateur’s eye.
Inside the wagon were disguised merchant goods, and hidden amongst them, supplies sent by the company.
There was also enough food.
“What’s the distribution situation?”
“The checkpoints haven’t been completely blocked yet, so traffic has slowed, but it’s still moving. However, it’s only a matter of time before they’re sealed. Also, there are reports of refugees starting to appear, fleeing from the war. If that number increases, they’ll be blocked. That’s our time limit.”
“Understood. I’ll be careful. I’ll leave the information gathering to you on your end, right?”
“In return, you’d better make those guys eat dirt, okay? Otherwise…”
“Otherwise?”
“We’ll pack up and make a quick getaway.”
“Wow, scary.”
バース playfully feigned a scare and then handed me a stack of papers, prefacing it as a parting gift.
“I’ve gathered as much information as possible about the Heroes. I’ve written down their numbers, how they’re treated, their positions, and all the information I could gather. Read it on your journey. And burn it thoroughly after you memorize it, okay?”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“I’ve invested a considerable amount of money based on my expectations for you. Make sure you deliver results so I don’t regret it.”
“Yeah.”
The papers weren’t heavy to hold.
However, their significance felt heavier.
It’s the kind of weight you feel when you take over someone else’s work.
But it’s strange.
In my previous company, I would have only felt negative emotions like annoyance or hassle.
But since joining this company, perhaps something has changed.
I no longer harbor negative feelings towards this weight and accepted it naturally.
Memoria got into the carriage first, and then I followed, looking up atバース, to whom I owed much.
“Next time, let’s have a leisurely drink.”
“The bar might have changed, but come anytime. I’ll stock up on good alcohol for you.”
We naturally bumped fists.
He hit mine harder, as if to say, “I’m leaving the rest to you.”
It hurt, but I didn’t show it.
“Memoria, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
“Next time, be able to control the horses!!”
As we made our rather anticlimactic departure, withバース jokingly seeing us off as I entrusted the reins to Memoria, I waved one last time and left the bar.
The roads were empty due to the early morning and the war.
Merchants were trying to do business in safe places, and adventurers were either participating in the war as mercenaries or moving their bases elsewhere. Mercenaries were the first to leave the city.
Only those without a destination or who had decided to settle down, and the soldiers protecting the city, remained in this city that had become deserted in just a few days.
Thanks to that, the roads were clear, and we were out of the city in less than thirty minutes.
“I wish we could come back during peaceful times.”
“I agree.”
Though our stay was short, I didn’t think it was a bad city.
In peaceful times, there would have been plenty of places to enjoy.
Regretting this, I shifted my posture from facing the city to facing forward.
“Well then, can I go check the luggage?”
“Yes, you can, but unlike back home, the roads aren’t flat, so be careful of the bumps.”
“Understood.”
Swaying in the rattling carriage, I moved from the driver’s seat to the cargo area, being careful as we moved away from the city gates.
Among the stacked wooden crates, I searched for what I was looking for.
“Is this it?”
I found it quickly.
The box with the imprinted mark I was told about was easy to find. I unfastened the clasp and opened the lid.
“These are all things that would be bad if found.”
The contents were all things I’d seen in Japan.
Most were in various types of cases, but the cases themselves were made in Japan and were things not found here.
From among them, I took out a bag and sat behind the driver’s seat.
Opening the bag, I found documents and files, also common in Japan but not seen in Isal; they were white A4 papers.
The documents were bound with string, making them readable like a book.
I picked up the top document written in Japanese and began to read silently.
“…It’s more serious than I thought.”
The content of the documents was information about people who had gone missing back home.
Given the short time, it might not be complete, but a considerable amount of investigation had been done.
It seemed that some students participating in a school camping trip during summer vacation had gone missing.
At least twenty-three students were known to be missing, and teachers were also involved.
The campsite was at a facility in a mountainous area in N Prefecture.
It was a famous private high school that even I knew.
Because of that, it was widely reported in the news.
Seeing “Details described in attached documents,” I picked up a file labeled “Attached Documents.”
The contents were newspaper and magazine clippings, organized chronologically from when the incident was discovered.
They came from various sources, from major newspapers to gossip columns and local papers, offering different perspectives.
Despite only a few days having passed, the volume was too much for a single file and was divided into two.
It mentioned modern-day “Kamikakushi” (people vanishing without a trace), mass abductions in a certain country, comments from paranormal experts, the police’s movements, and considerable public attention.
Among them…
“As expected.”
There were also news reports about parents gathering information at the train station.
There were photos of original flyers using pictures of the missing, and photos of several people distributing these flyers, presumably connected through the parents.
Inside the bag, there were more than a dozen types of missing person flyers.
In Japan, probably due to past incidents, there was a very sensitive reaction.
I absorbed the information, making sure not to let it leak.
Information about the missing students, their faces, ages, and genders, piled up in my mind.
“Whew.”
“Are you tired?”
“Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve done paperwork, so it’s taking a toll.”
My main work involves physical labor, so compared to before, paperwork has decreased.
After a long time, I felt a fatigue different from physical exhaustion.
Memoria, who was worried from the driver’s seat, asked if I was okay. I replied that I was and resumed reading the documents.
The road ahead is long, and I don’t know when I might encounter trouble.
While I have the leisure, I need to absorb as much information as possible to understand the current situation in Japan and Isal.
Scratching my head, I resigned myself to the task and then started readingバース’s information.
“This is again…”
“What’s wrong?”
“I guess propaganda is the same everywhere.”
Hero summoning is a national project.
I expected some kind of action, but they were quick.
They seem to be actively working on capturing the students’ hearts.
According toバース’s information, several Heroes appeared on the stage, their faces displayed, and gave speeches for peace, showing off high-achieving students.
Justice is like a die.
Depending on the direction, the number shown and its meaning and content change.
As I read, I glimpsed the country’s actions of charming these Heroes.
The justification that makes people move, the fuel of status and honor, and…
“The ‘return ticket’ as an ignition source, huh?”
They seek help, draw out goodwill, and by offering rewards, they draw out greed, then provide the assurance of being able to return, and make them act.
And they don’t mention any of the disadvantages of being a Hero.
It’s like a scam, exactly as expected.
With the guarantee of being able to return, a person can afford to offer help.
The question is whether students can endure being tempted with money, honor, and even more materialistic things, enough to put up with it.
How much the situation changes before I take action is the bottleneck.
According toバース’s information, the students, unaware of the situation in Japan, are being slowly poisoned.
“If this continues, it looks like they’ll create convenient talent.”
That would be for the people running the country, not for the individuals themselves.
I don’t know if they know the truth, but if things continue like this, the future is clear.
“Now, it just depends on additional information.”
It didn’t take long to read all the information on the papers.
It takes time to memorize, so I read it over and over.
To avoid being attacked by bandits or magic beasts and rendered unable to read anything, I read it quickly. Now, I’ll read it carefully.
As I was absorbing the information about the students from Japan, my gaze suddenly stopped.
“This guy is…”
My gaze stopped for no particular reason, just a hint of déjà vu.
Amelia Miyagawa.
She’s a half-Japanese, half-American, with an American mother.
She’s a bright-looking girl who looks good with blonde hair, despite her young age.
If that were all, I’d just think of her as international, but there was something familiar about the attached photo.
“I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere… but I can’t recall.”
Where? I tilted my head, but nothing came to mind.
It wouldn’t do to get stuck like this, so for now, I memorized her information.
I’ll worry about it when I remember. For now, I’ll just move on.
The carriage swayed, a stark contrast to the well-maintained roads of Japan.
But thanks to my body, enhanced by a magic crest, the bumpy ride didn’t make me sick.
Occasionally, I’d look up at the sky, get a brief impression of peace, and use it as a mental break as I continued to read the documents.
“Even in another world, am I still checking documents? Is this the proper role of a salaryman?”
As I flipped another page, I muttered the thought.
Even in a fantasy setting, such habits remain unchanged.
“Vampires don’t change quickly either. It’s rare for humans, who live short lives, to change.”
“Indeed.”
Together with Memoria, who made me feel like this was my own situation, we occasionally exchanged words as I diligently reviewed documents in the carriage.
Jiro Tanaka, 28, has a girlfriend.
His girlfriend is Suella Handelberg.
His companion is Memoria Tris.
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Role: Warrior
Today’s Quote:
“Minor matters before major ones. I’m the type to finish the small details first.”
That’s all for this installment.
In the next installment, I hope to be able to perform a Salaryman Unlimited power-up.
Thank you for your continued support.
