This chapter ends here.
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, has a girlfriend.
His girlfriend: Suella Hendelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee)
Magic Aptitude 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
I pass through an automatic door, much like one at a hospital isolation facility, with a dark elf guard watching.
I head straight to the reception desk, ask for my room number, and then stride towards my destination.
“Amelia, what were you doing?”
“Stretching after dance practice. You can’t let your body get cold, you know.”
“I see, so you have time then. In that case, come with me.”
“That’s too sudden!? And what do you mean, ‘in that case’!?”
“I see, so that’s what it is.”
“Mike, you understand on your own without telling me!?”
Then, I realize that while we used Teleportation Magic to get here, we’re returning on foot. But that’s irrelevant now.
I tell myself I don’t have time to worry about such absurdities, and I get straight to the point with Amelia, who was stretching in her room.
By the way, to avoid a cliché Love Comedy scenario, I knocked properly before entering.
If I experienced the aftermath of a fantasy Love Comedy, my body wouldn’t hold up.
Amelia reacts to my sudden words as she opens the door, which is somewhat satisfying.
It’s like calling out and getting a reply.
“To explain in three lines:
Your body is starting to quit being human because of Mike.
To protect it, it’s mutually beneficial if we hire you.
That’s why the president told me to scout you. That’s all.”
“Whoa, that’s such a dry response. How am I supposed to react?”
“I’ll teach you how to react as a working adult?”
“A working adult’s reaction?”
“Barring exceptions, there’s no choice other than yes. That’s what being a working adult means.”
“Isn’t that why Japanese people overwork themselves?”
“Probably. So, what do you say?”
“Mmm, okay.”
“That was quick.”
“It’s not quick. I was just talking about this with Mike.”
“With Mike?”
“Ah, speaking of which. It was unavoidable that I entered her body given the situation, but it’s also a bit much to just leave it to her to figure out. I thought I’d talk about her future now that I have time. I can’t just go outside easily. So, I was explaining that it would be better for her to join this company, where you work and can respond in emergencies.”
“I need to ask Mom too, but I think this is better for me too.”
It’s not good to be too forceful without explaining anything.
But I also don’t want to be serious and intimidating, so I explain it casually with jokes.
Just like when I first met her, Amelia, despite being a High School Student, has a strong sense of values.
Perhaps children in foreign countries tend to have higher emotional maturity.
“I see. For me, it saves me the trouble of persuading you, but are you sure about this?”
“No problem! Besides, it would be a waste if I couldn’t use magic anymore after finally being able to use it!”
I honestly think she’s very Positive.
After being caught up in something like that, most people would feel aversion or a sense of unease towards using magic.
But she acknowledges that as a necessity, compartmentalizes it, and still manages to find enjoyable aspects.
It’s proof that she can switch her mindset effectively.
Even among adults, not many young people can think this way.
This is something one learns to compromise and adapt to through experience.
“I see. Then, how about we go for a workplace tour right away?”
“Is that okay? People here told me not to walk around too much.”
“It’s fine. I believe I have a decent amount of influence. If I make arrangements, it’ll be alright.”
Unauthorized entry is a problem, but if I explain it as a scouting matter, I should be able to get permission without issue.
A mobile phone is useless in this company, so I’ll look for an intercom nearby and use the one in the room.
“Yes, this is Suella from the Tester Department.”
“Suella, it’s Jiro.”
“Jiro-san! What’s up?”
“Well, the president asked me to scout one of the Heroes, so I was calling to see if I could get permission for an internal tour… Is now a good time?”
“It’s fine. You want a workplace tour, right? I’ll make the arrangements. Would the underground facilities and the Dungeon Gate be okay?”
“And the dormitory too, please. She’s likely to join my Party soon, so I want her to meet the current members.”
“Understood. I’ll take care of that as well.”
“Thanks, I’ll see you tonight.”
“Yes, see you later.”
I got the permission as easily as expected.
The problem is…
“Her?”
“That’s right. Well, I got permission. Let’s go.”
“Yes!! We’re walking and talking about love!?”
“We are not.”
Amelia’s tension inexplicably rose after overhearing that conversation.
She’s not at an age to be embarrassed, and she’s a girlfriend I can be proud of, but I don’t feel the need to fuel the fire.
As I reply curtly and walk away, Amelia, like a typical high school girl, asks me about when we met and how long we’ve been dating.
“This is the underground facility.”
“Wow, amazing! It’s like a fantasy!”
“Have you forgotten where you were until just recently? Are you losing your memory?”
“I’m not losing my memory!! It’s because I was inside a building until I became strong enough, so this is all new to me!!”
“Ah, I see… Then how did you train without going outside?”
“Honestly, I was basically taught how to use magic and swing a sword, and sometimes I defeated Goblins in cages.”
“That’s rather haphazard.”
It makes sense that she could go outside once she reached a certain level of strength.
Whether they maintained a human form or not, it’s certainly not a black joke to vocalize.
However, I can’t quite judge if such training is effective or if that’s just how initial training is.
After all, my initial training was a life-or-death ordeal with those two instructors.
That was undoubtedly abnormal, but that doesn’t mean I have any grounds to say that Amelia’s training was normal.
We chatted like that as we explained the underground facilities. We didn’t go into the shops, but we passed by weapon shops, armor shops, item shops, food stores, and even cosmetic shops that would interest women, touring various places in the underground facility.
We both pretended not to see the slime from the Dungeon Elevator displayed at a storefront.
“Speaking of which, I didn’t know you were two-timing, Jiro-san.”
“…I can’t help but be annoyed that I can’t tell you to stop that kind of talk, but I’ll offer an excuse. Suella and Memoria both agreed to me having two relationships.”
“Oh, really? Mike?”
“According to my knowledge, polygyny is commonplace in Isal. So, his situation is quite ordinary to me. However, I don’t know about their feelings. Only they themselves know if they truly consent.”
During that conversation, I felt like my evaluation of myself had dropped to “two-timing guy,” but I had prepared myself to accept such side effects, so I couldn’t deny it.
However, I silently vowed to punch Hands, the weapons dealer who playfully called me his third wife with a smile, later.
As a result, Amelia, who was walking next to me until just now, has put about two steps of distance between us.
Her eyes have narrowed slightly, as if to say, “You’re the worst.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t pour fuel on the fire, you ghost.”
“Hahaha, I’m just answering what I know.”
“Geez.”
Even if I wanted to complain, to an outsider, it would look like I was scolding a girl, so I can’t say much.
Realizing it’s useless to say anything, I continue to guide her.
“Where are we going next?”
“The entrance to the Dungeon. After that, I’ll introduce you to my Party members and we’ll be done.”
“Oh, what kind of people are in your Party, Jiro-san?”
“If I had to describe each one in a single word…”
“Describe them?”
“Uh… a subordinate, an otaku, a housewife, and a tsundere?”
“Are you talking about villagers from some place? Half of that wasn’t in words I know, but it certainly didn’t sound like members preparing to challenge a Dungeon? What do you think, Amī?”
“Hahaha, it didn’t sound like that to me either.”
“There’s no other way to put it. Well, you’ll understand when you meet them. They’re good-natured guys.”
Since joining this company, I’ve felt blessed with people.
At first, I was isolated, but before I knew it, I was able to form a group like this.
There are people I don’t get along with, but there are also those I can be comfortable with and call friends in equal measure.
Well, for better or worse, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
“Then, I want to meet them first! Those people!”
“Kaido and the others?”
“Yes! Because I’ll be working with them, right?”
“Well, that’s right, but…”
After a moment of hesitation, I realize we can’t enter the Dungeon without equipment.
So, if I only show them the entrance and not the whole thing, heading to the Party Room first won’t cause any problems.
My original plan was vague anyway.
It’s fine to make some changes.
“Then, shall we go?”
“Yes!”
Hearing Amelia’s energetic reply, I head towards the Party Room this time.
Amelia’s eyes catch sight of the fantasy-like staff members along the way.
“Mike, I didn’t know Goblins liked coffee.”
“Yes, I didn’t know that either.”
“Well, most people wouldn’t know.”
The sight of Goblins buying canned coffee seemed particularly memorable.
It’s a common sight now, and sometimes I even drink with them, but even the soul of a Demon Lord apparently didn’t know about this scene.
We then proceed from the basement to the upper floors, and after a few minutes of walking, crossing a connecting passage brings us just a stone’s throw from the dormitory.
“This place is normal.”
“Compared to inside the company, yes. I sometimes feel a sense of unease too.”
“Because it’s not normal?”
“Yeah. Well, here we are. Huh?”
Perhaps it’s the sudden shift from the fantasy scenery within the company to a normal modern building that Amelia hasn’t seen in a while that’s causing her slight discomfort.
I can understand how she feels.
When you’re constantly surrounded by fantasy landscapes, it becomes hard to tell which is the everyday reality.
And then we arrive in front of our Party Room, but it’s unusually Noisy.
“What’s going on?”
“Well, I thought only Kaido would be here, but did Minami come too? Well, it doesn’t matter.”
When I went out, I thought it was only Kaido, but I assume Minami and the others came for some reason, so I open the door and go inside.
“Katsu~ I’m hungry, Gozaru.”
“You should work a little too!!”
“But I refuse, Gozaru!! I believe working is losing, Gozaru.”
“I’ll take away your meal, then?”
“For shame, Gozaru!?”
“You, bring that table over there!”
“Hey, I’m older than you!!”
“I’m your senpai, you’re my kouhai, got it?”
“Grumble, is it a hierarchy society here too!!”
As I thought, all the members were gathered.
However, their actions were somewhat Noisy.
In the kitchen, Katsu is cooking and instructing Minami, who doesn’t want to move, to get the dishes.
In the living room, Kitamiya is using Kaido to move a table.
What’s more…
“Jiro-san, welcome back.”
“Welcome back.”
“Suella, Memoria, what are you two doing?”
“Yes, Minami-san proposed we have a welcome back party for Jiro-san, so we were helping out.”
“Me too.”
Suella and Memoria were also cooking something.
It’s a dish I’ve never seen before, so it’s probably a dish from Isal.
I have a lot of things I could ask, like about their work, but…
“Minami, you see…”
My happiness takes precedence.
I watch Minami, who seems to be moving agilely to place the dishes, despite his apparent reluctance to work.
“Everyone, including me, was lonely.”
“I see.”
Those who don’t notice me were probably planning a surprise.
I guess I came back at a bad Timing, but since Suella already spoke, it’s too late.
“Ah!! The leader is here, Gozaru!!”
“Eh!? Kaido!! You said Jiro-san wasn’t back yet.”
“I don’t know, dude!? Ow!?”
“Anyway, the food is ready.”
If we converse, the members who have the benefit of Magic Crests will notice.
Kitamiya scolds Minami, who is frantically trying to continue his work, for the miscommunication. Kaido, suffering the consequences, bumps his toe into the leg of a table and cries out in pain. And Katsu, with the maturity of a seasoned adult, finishes cooking.
“They’re like this.”
“They seem like fun, Mike.”
“Yes, they’re quite a good Party.”
Seeing such a scene, all I can do is introduce Amelia to a sight that makes people’s impressions easy to convey.
They’re such straightforward guys.
“? Who is it, Gozaru? Do you know him, Katsu?”
“No, he looks like one of Jiro-san’s acquaintances.”
“Could it be a new girlfriend!?”
“No way. Jiro-san, is she someone new?”
It’s only natural that they would then focus their attention on Amelia.
They stop their work, and their gazes converge on her standing behind me.
I give Amelia’s back a gentle pat and step forward.
“She’s Amelia, a prospective newcomer. She was going to be a Hero in her world. Get along with her.”
“Eh? Jiro-san?”
“Introduce yourself.”
At this point, all I can do is let things flow.
“Ah, I’m Amelia Miyagawa. I’m half American and half Japanese. Um, I was about to become a Hero. Nice to meet you all.”
“I’m Mike, her guardian spirit. Nice to meet you too.”
“Nice to meet you all.”
“That was casual!?”
“Hahaha, I never expected to be accepted so easily.”
“Well,”
“That’s true.”
“Indeed, Gozaru.”
“That’s how it is.”
“It’s because it’s Jiro-san.”
“Hey, what do you mean by that, you guys.”
It hasn’t been long enough to feel nostalgic, but this atmosphere, which makes me feel like I’ve returned home, gently pushes in the new gear.
Then, the gear naturally starts to turn with its own power.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Then, this will also serve as a welcome party, Gozaru! Kaido-senpai, pass the ingredients, Gozaru.”
“Me!?”
“Who else but you?”
“Senpai, here’s the list of ingredients.”
“Then I’ll make one more dish. Memoria, what about you?”
“I’ll help too.”
Without regard for her status as a Hero.
Let’s welcome her as a mere colleague.
“It’s fine to make noise, but you all have work tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
“But I have the day off.”
Despite the loud booing, a new colleague is joining a place where we can have fun.
This is the result of this business trip.
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, has a girlfriend.
His girlfriend: Suella Hendelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee)
Magic Aptitude 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
Word of the day:
It’s also a senpai’s job to help the newcomer take their first step in fitting into the place.
I apologize for the late posting time for consecutive updates.
It took some time to refine the composition.
This concludes the current chapter.
I plan to start a new chapter next time, but I will be taking a break from updates for about one to two weeks due to some revisions to the work.
Thank you for your continued support of this work.
