The morning is sure to come.
It ignores the human condition and makes its appearance shine to tell the beginning of the day.
Perhaps the moment a Japanese office worker realizes this is the moment he or she arrives at work and hangs up their time card.
It's the same for me.
The way their gloves are fitted, their claws are aligned, and their weapons are checked.
I wonder where our peaceful Japan has gone.
I'm aware that I'm dressed far from the way I normally dress.
Now, boys, it's time to get to work.
But that's my job.
It's my job.
Finally, you turn to your colleague who was doing the same check.
"I think each of you will know your quota for today. Don't skip work, don't cut corners, and don't get hurt, and that's the three points I want to emphasize.
The first vague Japanese smile that made me doubt my common sense disappears and is replaced by a powerful smile, like that of a businessman who answers me.
My job is to solve dungeons.
I'll do my best to clean out the dungeon today.
Create a dungeon that the brave can't conquer.
This is the story of a group of businessmen who stumbled upon a fantasy that emerged from the hidden world of everyday life.
Tanaka Jiro is 28 years old, single, has not had a girlfriend for 7 years, and is now a NEET!
Freedom!
I don't care if I disturb the neighbors. I'm sprawled out on my bed and I scream.
I've been working for a black company for six years, where working over 120 hours a month is normal, working on days off is normal, and the overtime pay is never full.
I've seen so many personnel changes that it would be a waste of time to count them.
I was covering my stress and frustration with a cigarette when my boss came into the smoking room and said to me, "You're going to smoke a cigarette, aren't you?
"You have time for a cigarette? If you're so bored, why don't you do more? You should give them yesterday's report, right?
At that time, I had stayed at the office and stayed up all night to finish a job that was on deadline.
Normally I would have laughed and apologized and went back to work, but I couldn't help but glare at my boss.
Huh? What's that look in your eyes, if you don't like it, stop it, there are plenty of replacements for you.
I learned then that the human heart can really kick in.
My boss must have thought I had gone out of the smoking room without saying a word and went back to work.
After listening to my boss take out a cigarette from his breast pocket, I went back to my desk via the office, and the first thing I did was to pack my personal belongings into a cardboard box.
Without touching any of the company's materials, I just stuffed my personal belongings randomly into the cardboard box and the job was done in ten minutes.
Chief, I'm quitting now.
I said that much and ignored all the voices that tried to stop me from leaving.
I stuff all my stuff in the car, including the contents of my locker, and turn the key in the ignition to go home.
Then a neet is born.
The first thing he does when he returns to his cheap apartment is light a cigarette.
"What am I going to do now?
I got mad and quit the company like a fly on the wall, but I don't regret it.
Rather, I want to pat myself on the back for a job well done, but despite being unemployed, my heart is strangely clear.
I turned my phone off.
I don't know if he's calling my cell phone from the office right now.
I don't care if people think I'm irresponsible.
Besides, I was sleeping or working on my days off and I have enough money saved up to not have to work for two or three months, but a year.
I'm not in a position to starve to death right away, so I'm just taking things easy.
We're going to have to work. I hate it.
I have some money saved up so there's no need to panic, but it's not like I can eat for the rest of my life.
Fortunately, I'm strong enough to think about working after a certain amount of time off.
Well, I don't have an ounce of energy to go back to that company.
Wow, looks like a mailbox disaster.
A quick look at the mailbox seen from the layout of the 1K room shows that it's so packed that I don't know how the mailman could have put it in there anymore.
I'm coming back to sleep. Or, as it should be, since I don't use this room except for coming home to change clothes, I felt like telling myself to at least clean up the mailbox.
You stand up, deliberately shouting, "Doko-ho," like an old man.
Ugh, it's stuck.
It's as solid as it looks. As if to prove it, when you pull the bundle of flyers, it only moves a little, but it won't come off any more.
d*mn, it can't be helped.
I crouched on the front porch, talking to myself, which had increased since I'd been living alone, and pulled out the flyer, dividing it into smaller pieces until it slipped out.
I ripped it up. ...... is a religious solicitation, if that's okay. So, this is a flyer from the local supermarket, ...... is three weeks old, hmm? What the hell?
I dropped the ashes into the ashtray once, mindful of the amount of ashes in my cigarette, and looked at the strangely tempting flyer.
'Call for testers? Um, what?
"Dungeon testers wanted!
Hundreds of people to be recruited!
breakdown
30 full-time employees
Seventy part-time workers
Age 16-35 years old
Dormitories!
Parking lot!
Martial arts experience preferred!
Salary, full-time employee, 300,000 per month plus risk allowance and commission
Twice a year
Part-time job: 3,000 yen per hour plus risk allowance + commission
Working hours Full-time employees 5 hours a day or more, two days off per week plus holidays
Part-time: At least three hours a day (must be able to work at least three days a week)
Job Description
We will let you test the effectiveness of the dungeon designed by the Demon King's Army against the brave men!
You have to challenge the dungeon, fight the monsters, search for the treasure and break through the hierarchy.
To prevent the risk of injury, you will need to prepare a consent form.
"Is this a stupid prank?
Exhale your cigarette smoke and stop reading.
The structure of the flyer is quite impressive.
You put a lot of care into the layout of the pictures and letters to make them eye-catching and the paper is not bad.
It is clearly a professional flyer.
But the content is lame. You pretend that the catch is obviously malicious.
It has your phone number and a map, not your address.
And that address is
It's the next town over.
You can drive, train, bus, or even walk if you try hard enough .
'It's an elaborate prank for fishing, isn't it?
I'm 90% sure it's a prank in my mind.
The pay is unbeatable and the holidays are quite tempting.
"No, no, no, no, I'm not going to sit here and listen to this bullshit.
Throwing flyers on the table and pushing them into the ashtray to extinguish the cigarettes.
"This is not the kind of company you want to work for.
I've never seen such a dubious job offer for a game tester.
Lying on the bed is the TV and a pile of games in front of it, and I played a fair amount of games when I was a student.
Because of my job, I have not played any games lately, but mainly RPGs, so I thought it would be interesting to see the contents of this flyer.
'Martial arts include kendo, right?
Another thing I saw was a worn-out kendo tool in the corner of the room.
It had been replaced every time my body size changed or simply broke down.
It was half a year ago when I was last busy with work, but I still continued to visit the nearby dojo.
Ninety percent of the time I've decided that it's just a prank, but the other ten percent of the time I've piqued my interest and offered terms and conditions that are suitable for me.
'Oh, I'm not busy anyway, so if it's a prank, it's a prank.
I find this excuse very hard to believe.
I'd like to work in such a place if there was one.
I've been harboring that desire.
What's with the cell phone and ......?
There are ten incoming calls, mostly from the company. I've received several calls from my senior chief, but I ignored them and typed in the number on the flyer and sent them out despite being troubled for a moment.
''Yes, this is the Demon King's Army Dungeon Tester, Suera.
'Well, um, I saw a flyer, are you still hiring?'
I thought it was just a prank, and I was expecting to hear an announcement that it wasn't being used, but the woman's response was much clearer than I had imagined, and I couldn't help but stammer.
Although she was definitely a foreigner from the name, I thought she was fluent in Japanese.
Thank you for contacting me. We are currently looking for both full-time and part-time positions.
I'm a full-time employee.
Wasn't the work ethic atrophied? However, he thought that he still had some time left, and decided that it was too much to ask for a part-time job at his age, so he chose a full-time job because of the salary and holidays.
"A full-time job, isn't it? I agree. Therefore, I would like to have an interview.
Well, I'm ready whenever you are.
"...... Okay. If so, may I have your name, age and phone number? We'll give you the date by the end of the day.
Okay. Name.
From there, the conversation progressed very quickly.
I gave him my name, age, and cell phone number, and he briefly told me if I had martial arts experience and what I needed to do, and that was the end of the call.
"Your call was taken care of by Suela. I'll see you tomorrow.
Isn't this a prank?
The last words are said, and I can't help but spill them over as I look at my phone, which has stopped saying anything.
Or was it a flyer for the bad guys? I'm afraid.
Then maybe you shouldn't have given me your phone number, and just hang up on me.
It's better to do it quickly than sorry.
If the next caller looks dangerous, we'll go to the police.
Yes, I'll definitely do that, I thought to myself, but I looked at the flyer twice, restlessly and fretfully.
Then you reach for a cigarette.
Just as you're about to take a drag to calm yourself down, your phone rings.
"What, is it company? This number.
The cigarette in his mouth fell out.
Ha-ha-ha, too soon.
The number on the phone wasn't a company number, but a number on a flyer.
"Wow, this is huge.
I ironed my suit and got a new shirt.
The building that welcomed me after I shaved my beard and wore the suit well and looked presentable was a huge 20-story building.
And it wasn't a tenant on each floor like a conglomerate, but the whole building was the building of the company I was applying for.
I've never heard of a Mao Corporation.
With a company this big, you should have heard of it, but I've never heard of it even though I live nearby.
"What's Mao and the Demon King? That's not even a pun.
I parked my car in the parking lot and looked up for a while, but I couldn't just stay like this.
I moved toward the entrance with a brown envelope containing my resume and other necessary documents in hand.
And if you pass through the automatic door...
Hmm? What hit you?
You stop at the feeling of something soft, yes, like going under a curtain, but of course the only thing there is is an automatic door for a doorway.
There's no such thing as a curtain, of course.
"Is it my imagination or is it ......?
There's no point in sitting here, I see a counter that looks like a receptionist, so I try to head there, but I have to stop again .
'Cosplay?'
Or, more accurately, it's a special Hollywood make-up job or something.
I'm standing in an entrance hall with a clean white and gray color scheme.
Behind the gray glossy stone counter, there are two receptionist-like women, but neither of them is an ordinary woman.
"Was there ever a foreigner with long ears?
A race that looked like something out of an anime or video game, or to be more precise, an elf, or more specifically a dark elf with brown skin and silver hair and blue eyes, was sitting at the reception desk wearing a woman's suit.
Although there was a difference in hair length, with short hair on the left and long hair on the right, their faces and appearances were as neat and tidy as those of gravure idols, let alone capable of carrying the company's face, the receptionist.
But they should only exist in such a racial game .
I was worried that my fatigue was causing me to hallucinate, so I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to look again, but the result was the same.
'It's not like I'm tired, is it?'
The reality is still the same, it's Saturday, three days after that phone call, and as expected, I'm relieved of the fatigue I've accumulated in the black company. Shouldn't be.
I was wondering if I should go home, but I dismissed the fact that this might be a company with such a policy.
Um, excuse me, I'm here for an interview for a tester.
Rechecking the location of his cell phone, the man has the nerve and encourages himself to go to the counter fearfully and call out to the receptionist with long hair.
'Yes, may I have your name and the name of the person in charge, please?
I stand tall, thinking about how beautiful she is, even her voice is beautiful, and I can't understand it.
This is Jiro Tanaka. The person in charge is Suela, our tester recruiter.
Yes, Mr. Tanaka, right? I've heard a lot about you. I'll get Suella in to see you in charge. Please take a seat over there and wait.
Wouldn't it be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to have a dark elf smile at you and make your face hot?
Even if it was some kind of special make-up, that's certainly not the kind of experience you get.
I nodded as I remembered the last time my face was hotter than the sun, and sat down at the table I was supposed to be meeting.
I don't have anything on hand, but I don't feel like playing with my phone.
Then you check your documents to see if you've forgotten anything.
"Okay, I haven't forgotten anything.
However, it takes only a minute to check a document.
It only takes me a minute to review five or so documents, considering my previous work.
It's been a long time since I've spent five minutes to read something.
Now I'm back to the point where I don't have anything to do: ......
Hmm?
You hear your heels tapping the floor, and you can't help but look in your direction.
And I know.
There's something wrong with this company, mainly in a fantastical way.
"Here you go. Tanaka, may I speak with Jiro?
'Yes, sir! My name is Jiro Tanaka.
I'm Suela. This is Suela.
The woman who bailed lightly was a dark elf, unlike the receptionist .
And although I couldn't make out any of the details because of the distance between me and the receptionist earlier, the woman in front of me seemed to be the real thing.
In fact, if the make-up was so special that it seemed real, I wouldn't be surprised if this was a movie studio or something.
An intelligent dark elf with long silver hair tied up and silver-framed glasses, that's my first impression of the woman who called herself Suela.
'Well, over here, please.
Yes!
And maybe it's just a matter of taste, but she's more beautiful than the receptionists.
She's about 20 years old, but she doesn't look any younger than me because of her dignity that makes me think she can do her job.
I've decided to resign myself to the fact that this is the kind of company I'd like to work for, because it's so unrealistic, or rather, it's a mixture of reality and fantasy, with dark elves and suits.
It's a wonder I don't have feelings of failure or regret in mind.
If you follow Suera's lead, you will be shown to a small conference room on the first floor.
Have a seat. Is coffee okay?
Yes, I'm fine.
I feel like all I've said is yes, but I guess that's how it goes for interviews.
You have to appeal when you need to appeal, but otherwise it's important to have a minimalist answer.
You sit down and straighten your posture, remembering the tips for the interview.
"What?
But I had to make a fool of myself in front of the woman who was going to interview me.
"So you can see.
'What? That's great, is that a magic trick?
Don't nod your head in agreement with my response, and give me time to calm down, if possible, as I'm about to overheat.
I'm sure everyone would have the same reaction if a tray of coffee flew by.
'It's magic,'
Suera answered in a matter-of-fact manner that was even more confusing to me, as she accepted a tray floating in the air and took a seat across from me with a cup in front of her, so that she was facing me.
"Magic, huh?
I wonder what expression I have on my face right now as I'm answering like a parrot, I'm thinking, but at least I don't have an interview-worthy expression on my face.
When I say magic, the word magic comes to mind.
But what does it have to do with the company interview?
Do I have to be able to use magic as a condition of entry?
Please don't, I don't have the guts to declare great magic as a specialty like in some videos, and I don't have any skills. You might be able to do some banquet trickery with practice, but...
So we'll start the interview.
This is not the time to think about that.
If you don't answer the question properly, you'll have to straighten your back and straighten your posture.
Jiro Tanaka, what did I and the girls at the reception desk look like to you?
......
I'm going to have to answer some questions.
You ask that question, and all I can do is keep my mouth shut. And you have to keep your face on the wall.
"Uh,
Assuming some banter, honestly, what is your motivation for applying? I can't decide whether to answer honestly or not, because I was imagining an orthodox question like "What's your question?
But she doesn't mind that I'm troubled, and she's watching me intently in front of her, waiting for me to answer, as if urging me to go on.
Do I have to answer this? Yeah, I know, it's a job interview, and if I don't answer, people will think I have a communication problem.
Okay, we'll have to try to cover it up somehow.
Are you a dark elf?
I couldn't.
And it's over.
Losing my gaze, I answered honestly, but all I could think about was that I had done it.
Honestly, I was hoping that the Surprise Success sign would not appear, but it never did.
If I were an interviewer at a company, there's no way they would hire someone who looks at me and says he's a dark elf.
I'd like to escape from reality, but I can't do that.
Am I so tired that I can't tell the difference between the game and reality?
I think it's a good idea to get a full workup, whether it's a psychiatrist, an ophthalmologist, or a neurosurgeon. Now, why don't you just let me know when the interview's over?
I'm in a full-blown sweat, maintaining an affectionate smile as I await the verdict.
'You've passed.'
Huh?
"Huh?
I'm tempted to tell you to stop giving me that stupid look, but there's no way I'm going to mend my face after so many years of betraying my expectations.
What did you just say?
I said it's passed.
Apparently, it's not as if she heard "please go home" wrong.
While I was listening back, Suera was reading the paperwork calmly.
"Huh? But what about the interview?
I've never heard of an interview being decided by a single question.
And it's a question like, "How do you see me?" and "Do you think I'm a working man?
I used magic to read your memory. You're superficial, but you're not a man of character, and you have no history of misconduct. I have a martial arts background.
Best of all, she repositioned her glasses with her index finger and repeated the words.
"I have magical aptitude.
Oh, if it's magic, I don't blame you, wow, they read your head, that would make sense, wouldn't it? Okay, and I have magic powers too... yikes, I'm getting confused with a lot of things... ......
Magic?
Yes, magic.
The words "I'm not a virgin" came to my mind on the spur of the moment, but I shook my head and kicked him out.
I didn't realize that this interview was one where great magic had to be a speciality!
Do they use that kind of magic?
Yes, the magic of its source.
With that, Suera-san lights the flame in her fingertips with a light motion.
''I've been born for 28 years and I've never used magic before, you know?
''To be precise, magical aptitude, the point is that you have a vessel that can accept magical power.
...... Sorry, I'm not following the story.
'Don't worry, most of the people who have passed the test so far have reacted the way you did.
That's kind of comforting.
Apparently, my thoughts are normal to the extent that someone else reacts the same way I do, even though the current situation is abnormal.
A dark elf receptionist, magic tricks, and an interview that ended too quickly for me to follow.
"Have a cup of coffee and calm down.
Even if it was poisoned coffee I was drinking right now, I wouldn't be able to say no to that.
I drink coffee to calm myself, less milk, two sugars, and that's my coffee.
Let's take you through the process.
As I began to calm down, Suela made a quick wave gesture.
Then the room went dark and an image appeared on the screen in front of me like a new employee's presentation.
"You can listen to me while we drink.
A dark elf teacher, without having time to push out such an off-the-wall idea, Suera-san stood with a pointing stick in hand and explained the material on the slide show.
You will be able to find out if you are a good candidate for the job. Of course, as I said before, we use magic to read your memory, but we'll turn a blind eye to a few personality deficiencies.
What is projected on the screen is a deformed human figure.
''Your magic aptitude, but it's just an aptitude for magic, it doesn't mean that you have any magic at the moment.
With a thump, Ms. Suela pointed at the human belly.
It's empty to show there's nothing in it, of course.
"There's no such thing as magic in this world, or more precisely, this world, except within this company. So its magical aptitude naturally degenerates, but there are people who have a constitution that can accept magical power without degenerating.
It's called magical aptitude, and it's a purple wave that appears when there are two deformed humans, and it's divided into those who can soak through and those who can slip through.
There are ranks for magical aptitude, and the higher the number, the higher the aptitude. It is said that a person's magical aptitude is innate and cannot be changed by training for life. We'll have to wait to find out exactly what it is before we can test him, but I think Jiro-sama has at least a fourth level of magical aptitude, which is the minimum standard for passing the test.
'What? How do you know that?
''First of all, you can read the flyer, which only requires a numerical value of about one aptitude to be able to read it, and if you don't have an aptitude, it looks like a blank sheet of paper to begin with . Next is the warding at the entrance. If you are under two, you will not be allowed to enter and your memory of the interview will be vague and you will not be allowed to enter.
I was scared of her as she easily declared that she could manipulate my memory and said that if I was less apt, I could have been one too .
''And that the receptionist looks like a dark elf, they've been using a low grade cloaking spell to change their appearance. There is no way for a human in this world to find out for sure. But with a magic aptitude of three or more, you can spot them. Lastly, I use similar magic, but the content is the same. A magic aptitude of four is all that is needed to see it.
I'll confirm what I've put together in my mind with Suera-san who asks if it's all right so far.
''Let's see, in other words, if you put magic power into me, it's the magic aptitude that causes magic power to dwell in me, and the amount that dwells in me is my rank, so does that mean that I at least met the criteria for passing?
Yes,
The image has changed from a deformed image to a cup, with the amount of water used to give you a standard for magical aptitude.
And don't worry. It depends on your magic aptitude, but mental interference type magic is difficult to work on those with higher levels of magic aptitude, and Jiro-sama, who currently has no magic, will not be affected physically.
He'll feel my fear, and then he'll smile and say some additional information to reassure me.
It's enough to put me at ease somewhat. Beautiful women have a nice thing going for them.
"Do you know what your hiring criteria are?
I'm fine.
If this had been a strict man, I would still be confused, but men seem simple, and they can be vain in the presence of a beautiful woman.
That said, though, I've calmed down some.
Now, let me tell you what we do.
This is just the beginning.
It's a fantasy that I've heard, but more importantly, it's a job.
I don't want to work for a black company like the last one.
I'm going to take up the gauntlet and get ready to listen.
"The Demon King's Army has created a series of passageways connecting the hostile world of Isreal with the Demon King's castle, making seven dungeons in all.
The content is perfectly fantasy, but the presentation material is well made.
An overview of the world, descriptions of the dungeons, and photo documentation are attached.
Isual is a world where the gods who are opposed to the Demon King's army have built a world, a world of swords and magic that Jiro-sama knows as the world of beastmen and elves. We, the Demon King's army, have invaded this world and created a dungeon to serve as a passage to expand our territory.
If the material is real, and if this story isn't a movie or some other story, and it's real, it's pretty bad.
The bottom line is that I'm about to get caught up in a war between different worlds .
Since you have explained it well in advance, I can see your sincerity, but honestly, I'm beginning to shy away from it.
''But what I'm asking of Jiro-sama is not to be an asset for the invasion.
What?
She wipes away my fears at the right moment and speaks with absolute skill at presentation.
''We'll explain this later and I'll make a contract with you, so for now, please listen to me. The war between our army and Isual has been going on for almost five thousand years. Demon kings have invaded in various ways, but they always invade through dungeons. And this dungeon is both a passageway and a fort.
It also switched to a tower-like image.
"The current Demon King is a very cautious person. With all the previous kings facing off against brave men, they take defense very seriously.
That's probably true.
In most RPGs, you attack the dungeon with the final boss to defeat him in the deepest part of the dungeon.
You'll place monsters and set traps, of course, but you'll also place mid-level bosses, mazes, and traps in the corridors.
A straight line is like asking you to just attack.
''After ordering the seven generals to create the dungeon, we've reached the stage of opening the door to the world, but the Demon King thought that connecting Isreal with the dungeon again would only be a repeat of the past, so he came up with a plan.
Like what?
I can't help but agree with her good speaking skills, but when the conversation is so far removed from reality, I want to listen to the end.
Before I tell you what to do, this is a little off topic, but most of the brave men and women are from this world called Earth.
...... Seriously?
It's true.
I thought that was a fictional story.
if you say that's true, we're talking about more than just an abduction.
God's concealment and abduction were actually inter-world summonses.
And most of the dungeons were conquered by brave men.
Hey, is this trend possible?
The Demon King has thought of a plan. If a brave man can capture it, why don't we make a dungeon that a brave man can't capture?
What's that Marie-something idea.
Then why don't you have a senior level man standing by at the entrance?
Letting my mixed emotions of bad premonition and excitement, I finally offer a way to defeat the heroes while the level is low, but Suera-san shakes her head in disappointment .
''I can't tell you the details due to confidentiality, but generally speaking, the influence of the gods will inevitably weaken the power of the demon king at the dungeon's entrance. In addition, our forces will be weakened as well. If we can invade the dungeon to secure territory and increase the Lord's influence on us, the conditions will change, but it will take time to do so. We can't send our precious warriors to such a place.
Well, even if you connect the dungeon, it doesn't mean that the place will immediately belong to the invading army.
So it will finally become a position after spreading the mysterious substance called magic power over the place: ......
Until then, I don't know how long it'll take, but the dungeon will be weakened, and they'll be attacked by a stronger hero.
That's one less thing you'll have to worry about to win.
There are some fantasy elements, but the content is understandable.
That's why we need to secure a solid base, and to do that we want to invite people from Earth who have an insight that we don't currently have to invite as dungeon testers to help us improve and strengthen our dungeons.
I could see the story .
To sum up, the otherworldly heroes are strong and likely to be attacked in dungeons conceived by the Demon King's Army.
That's why I invite otherworldly heroes with the same strength to tell me what's wrong with the dungeon to improve and strengthen it.
Even if that's what it sounds like...
Even though it's clearly otherworldly, this is a worthy opponent of the humans.
I don't feel comfortable responding with an immediate "I understand".
"What do I have to do, do a dungeon attack and submit a report?
''Yes. In addition, this is to reinforce the Demon King's army as well. No wonder the seven generals and above won't participate, but the lesser demons will attack you with all their might and their lives are at risk. Of course, we will provide as much support as possible from the dark elves and other demon king forces.
The job is very simple, but it's a complete black company that includes the threat of death.
If I accept the job, won't it take me to a world where there's a demon king's army?
This is the kind of world we don't want to live in.
No, the dungeon will be moved from this company.
You are connected!
What is this company for? And the hours of work, full-time employees are required to capture a minimum of five hours a day, but it's not necessarily five hours in a row, and we can break it up into smaller portions as long as you submit a solid report.
The content of the report will have a bearing on the bonus. I almost lose my strength when Suela-san explained that
It's a good thing that there's no pattern of going to another world but not being able to return, which is a concern.
It's necessary that you use contractual magic to keep them out of the office, but would you like a tour of the facility?
Is there any danger?
"'I'm not the one who will be with you, sir. You'll be able to see the dungeon, no demons will attack, and no traps will be activated. It's a matter of perspective, so you will only be able to see the ground floor entrance to the dungeon, the food and shelter facilities, and the armory.
I'm coming, sir.
If you can't risk it, you have to go, even if it means you're limited in your view.
We'll never have this experience again.
I don't care about some fantasy mixed in with reality anymore.
Right this way.
I got up without hesitation and followed Suela-san who was leading me .
The first thing I was led to was an underground facility that led to the first floor of the seven different dungeons .
It was empty now, but the doors were lined up like elevators, a huge space that was like a gymnasium, except it was monitored by surveillance cameras.
This is the entrance to the dungeon. When you become a full-time employee, Jiro-sama will either have a party here or you will go to the dungeon solo.
Is that the entrance like an elevator door?
''That's right, each doorway leads to the Seventh General's dungeon, and if you attack them one layer at a time, you'll have the freedom to choose your own hierarchy for that.
Oh, you mean you're going to follow someone up the ladder?
I can go. But then there is no hierarchical record of your visit. You can only choose the places you can go. And this is the dungeon.
Without hesitation, he approached the dungeon elevator on the far left and punched in the numbers to open the door.
'Wow, another orthodox one.
This is General Demon King's dungeon.
It looks like a perfect cavern-type dungeon. It's like a cave that's been expanded into a maze.
We'll give you an idea of the layout when we train you, but unfortunately, we won't know any more until after we hire you. Would you like to see the other dungeons?
Please.
I'm sorry, sir.
The natural atmosphere of the dungeon, which was definitely not a movie set or anything, overwhelmed me, and I couldn't stop myself from getting excited as I peeked through the other doors.
Sometimes it's a forest, sometimes it's made of bricks, sometimes it's a stage like in a horror movie, sometimes it's a dungeon like a cliffy canyon.
There are seven dungeons in total.
'Yeah, if this wasn't the real thing, I think the film industry would be safe for the future.
As with any dungeon, it's not too powerful.
''I'm honored if you say so . I'll continue and go to the dorms.
Yes, sir.
I still can't get over my excitement, but Suera is smiling at me and leads me away.
Even if it's just a sales smile, I'd fall in love with her, so I hold my heart and follow her.
The dormitory is for authorized personnel only. Regular and part-time employees alike are welcome to use it. But as a rule, only authorized personnel are allowed in. Even if you try to bring them in, they will be blocked by the warding system.
That's the kind of security that makes Earth's security services weep.
Private room or double room with room sharing. A private room is more expensive. Fees are deducted from your base salary, as are utilities such as electricity, gas and water.
Through an automatic door with not only warding but also solid modern security, the first floor private room and a double room are shown to me.
The private room is one bedroom, with a bathroom and a toilet, and of course the two are separate.
The two bedrooms are two bedrooms, and the facilities are very similar.
Bed, refrigerator, TV and washing machine are provided. You also have a cell phone to use for communicating.
What about the Internet?
It's generally available, although it will be monitored to prevent information leakage. But please keep in mind that if your information is compromised, there will be appropriate measures to deal with it.
Gu, what do you mean?
"The firing, of course, but also the manipulation of his memory of all company-related events, as well as the manipulation of his memory to make him think it was a joke in order to deal with the leaked destination.
That's very thorough.
This is a dead zone for us.
What?
"We dark elves are one of the few humans in the demon race that look like humans. We're not dead. But even so, without magic, our world feels very suffocating. Inside the company is no problem, but if we leave the house, we get mild dizziness like anemia all the time.
Some of them have fallen and are in mortal danger, Suela said.
"In a world like that, we can't just let the nations of this world know we're here.
The demon king's army can't move but the stronghold, and the other side can surround and destroy it.
And this is the birthplace of the brave. If someone from a rival organization came into the company and had the aptitude of a hero, would you and your friends be safe?
Why then?
I couldn't help but wonder if we're willing to risk our lives for this.
"Consider us Demon Lord's Army so serious.
She has always been serious, but now her expression looks even more serious.
''I know I'm asking too much. I've learned about this world, too. This world, especially the country of Japan, is peaceful. Past or not, people today are not at war. Besides, our conflicts are out of bounds to you. It's presumptuous of you to ask such people to risk their lives with money, however expensive.
I can feel my excitement fading.
I'm ashamed of myself for being so excited.
This is business, and she's not recruiting me for fun.
''But I'll tell you this. The Isreal people have forced themselves into this, but we are in a position to ask in good faith. I cannot allow the information to leak, but I will respect Jiro's choice. Please do not forget that.
Sure, there were a lot of things that I thought were horrible like memory manipulation and dungeon attacks, but I don't feel like I'm being tricked at the moment .
Maybe I just don't realize it, but is it naive to think that at least she can be trusted?
'I digress. I'll show you the other facilities.
With that in mind, I followed her .
Then I was shown a store where most things could be ordered, a company cafeteria that boasted an employee discount and had as many items as a family restaurant, and
Where's the violation of the firearms laws?
This is an extraterritoriality.
Armor and swords from your fantasies.
The shelves were lined with armor and swords.
I had never touched a bamboo or wooden sword before, so a real weapon was both scary and overwhelming to me.
"All the weapons here are made of iron and leather armor for beginners, but there are also magical swords.
Oh, you don't have a gun?
''Jiro-sama, in our world, and by extension, in a dungeon under the influence of the Demon King, guns are just peashooters, you know? If it's a goblin, or even more than that, it's better if I can make bruises.
Is it just my imagination that I feel like I've been implied to be a modern day person and not to lick fantasy?
I've always wanted to use a magic gun, but Suell-san says it's faster to just let the magic power crawl through and cut it with a sword.
We'll provide you with the initial equipment when we train you. But it's just the minimum equipment. After that, you can either buy the equipment from the store we have prepared for you, or you can get materials and have a giant in the company make it for you. Of course, both options are at employee discount prices.
"Giant?
Think of them as the dark elves of the dwarves. They are large in stature but very dexterous and good at blacksmithing. We are selective, but be aware that they are very bloodthirsty.
I wondered how much it would cost, and how much money I could spend, and how much otherworldly equipment I could buy with Japanese yen, but now I've heard a full explanation of the facility.
When I got back to the conference room, I was briefed on the payroll, holidays, and the rules and regulations, but this is nothing serious.
The rules I had to follow were: dungeon invasion duties, weekly interim report, monthly month-end report, and no disclosure of information outside the company.
And the demon king's army will not force us to participate in the other world's wars. We won't cut off medical welfare.
The rest of it wasn't much different from the company I was with.
I wondered where the company trip was going, but I didn't mention it.
A regular employee's salary is 300,000 base salary plus risk allowance and commission.
Needless to say, the base salary is 20% of the monthly salary and the hazard pay is 20% of the monthly salary, and the commission system is
We'll buy the materials from you when you kill a demon or a demon, except for materials to make weapons and armor and materials to store.
What do you mean?
The more demons you defeat, the more valuable parts you buy here, and the more cash you get paid.
They also give you a receipt for each purchase.
But that's...
Won't that be held against you by the Demon King's Army?
"The entire army has been informed. And we are the Demon King's Army, the weakest of the strong, and the weakest of the weak will be weeded out.
It seems that you don't have to worry about the bitterness, but it's hard to say when you think that my salary is involved in the very serious situation of the Demon King's Army.
I'm sure that a high salary is promised if you work hard.
As for holidays, we have two days off per week, the eighth day of the month to be exact, plus a holiday. You will have to work around your schedule according to your tester's condition.
At worst, you can take eight days off and then work through the rest of the day.
I'll also have 20 days of paid time off. We have a variety of insurance plans in case of health problems.
And lastly, Miss Suela pulled out a document in addition to the contract.
"Here's the agreement. This job is very dangerous. We will do everything we can to guarantee your life, but please don't expect too much. If you are dying or clearly incapable of fighting, the demon king's army may help you. But think of us as the enemy.
I think we're done here.
Miss Suella will ask if you have any questions.
"What if I turn this job down?
There has been no manipulation of memory, but to prevent a data breach, we will be taking steps to forbid you from discussing the contents of this room and from taking any action to record it. If you do not wish to do so, I can substitute one memory for another for today's.
Okay.
I'm tired of dressing up and leaning back in my chair.
Do you mind if I have a cigarette?
I said that because I needed some time to think about it now.
Come in.
I didn't expect to see an ashtray in front of me.
"Normally, I'd expect you to leave when you're out of shape, wouldn't you?
I've come this far, so it doesn't matter, even if it makes this story go away .
Feel free to light a cigarette and take a deep breath.
Compared to the people of Isreal, these people are polite and pretty.
I see .
." he replied lightly, but his mind is a jumbled mess, with so many factors jumbled together that he can't decide whether to take it or not.
Ms. Suela.
Yes, sir.
Why is the Demon King's Army at war?
Because I want to go home.
Do you want to go home?
I thought I would have some information to help me make a decision, but I thought I would have to talk about interests and so on, but once again I was wrong.
''It's been five thousand years ago. The name of the Demon King's Army is now firmly established, but the Demon King's Army was originally from Isreal.
Suera told a fairy tale that everyone in the Demon King's army knows.
The sun god and the moon god, brothers and sisters, neither good nor bad, their kindred were alike.
But calamity came out of nowhere.
With a little spark, the seeds of strife spread from place to place and soon the great circle of war blossomed.
Our Lord God, Luine, sacrificed her own body to shelter our doomed ancestors, isolating one continent from the next.
That's the root of the Demon King's army .
''At first, it seems that they sought to make peace through dialogue, but over time, Master Ruine was turned into an evil god, and we went from being the servants of the night to being the servants of the darkness.
Luine, the moon god, gave her a way to connect that continent to Isual, and the ancestors of Suela and the others made a path.
And so the dungeon began.
The rest is just a quagmire.
''What happened so long ago may not be any of our business. That moonlit continent is where I was born and where I belong. But I still feel it.
That we have a home.
"...to seek. Go home, live there, feel the wind, smell the air, feel the warmth, perish there. There isn't a tribe in the Demon King's army that doesn't feel it.
The chief of the tribe with the strongest desire to do so will become the Demon King.
It's all very impressive on a grand scale.
He didn't smoke and most of his cigarettes are now ashes.
Apparently, he listened to Ms. Suela.
Pressed them into an ashtray and put out the fire.
"Honestly, I don't know what that feeling is, and I can't judge it to be true.
The scales certainly tipped.
Part of me still suspects that the company itself is a colossal surprise to begin with.
If you think about it, I was the kind of person who found it troublesome to think this far. But as I got older, I began to reason and calculate the risks one by one.
I'll be thirty in two years, and I'm afraid enough to decide that I can't take it anymore, and after thirty it will be hard to get a job, and I'm afraid enough to decide that I'll have to turn down such a dangerous job, if it's true.
It's not something the body can be reckless with. It's like throwing away the rest of your life.
But I'm still an athletic kendo player. I'll try my best.
But I just thought it was funny.
I thought it would be fun.
I was trained in a black company, so I figured that if I could do it, I could do it, and sometimes it wouldn't be so bad to plow through it without thinking.
"Can I hire you?
"Master Jiro Tanaka, we, the Demon King's Army, welcome you.
Tanaka Jiro, 28 years old, single, has not had a girlfriend for 7 years, and
I became a dungeon tester.
The morning is sure to come.
It ignores the human condition and makes its appearance shine to tell the beginning of the day.
Perhaps the moment a Japanese office worker realizes this is the moment he or she arrives at work and hangs up their time card.
It's the same for me.
The way their gloves are fitted, their claws are aligned, and their weapons are checked.
I wonder where our peaceful Japan has gone.
I'm aware that I'm dressed far from the way I normally dress.
Now, boys, it's time to get to work.
But that's my job.
It's my job.
Finally, you turn to your colleague who was doing the same check.
"I think each of you will know your quota for today. Don't skip work, don't cut corners, and don't get hurt, and that's the three points I want to emphasize.
The first vague Japanese smile that made me doubt my common sense disappears and is replaced by a powerful smile, like that of a businessman who answers me.
My job is to solve dungeons.
I'll do my best to clean out the dungeon today.
Create a dungeon that the brave can't conquer.
This is the story of a group of businessmen who stumbled upon a fantasy that emerged from the hidden world of everyday life.
Tanaka Jiro is 28 years old, single, has not had a girlfriend for 7 years, and is now a NEET!
Freedom!
I don't care if I disturb the neighbors. I'm sprawled out on my bed and I scream.
I've been working for a black company for six years, where working over 120 hours a month is normal, working on days off is normal, and the overtime pay is never full.
I've seen so many personnel changes that it would be a waste of time to count them.
I was covering my stress and frustration with a cigarette when my boss came into the smoking room and said to me, "You're going to smoke a cigarette, aren't you?
"You have time for a cigarette? If you're so bored, why don't you do more? You should give them yesterday's report, right?
At that time, I had stayed at the office and stayed up all night to finish a job that was on deadline.
Normally I would have laughed and apologized and went back to work, but I couldn't help but glare at my boss.
Huh? What's that look in your eyes, if you don't like it, stop it, there are plenty of replacements for you.
I learned then that the human heart can really kick in.
My boss must have thought I had gone out of the smoking room without saying a word and went back to work.
After listening to my boss take out a cigarette from his breast pocket, I went back to my desk via the office, and the first thing I did was to pack my personal belongings into a cardboard box.
Without touching any of the company's materials, I just stuffed my personal belongings randomly into the cardboard box and the job was done in ten minutes.
Chief, I'm quitting now.
I said that much and ignored all the voices that tried to stop me from leaving.
I stuff all my stuff in the car, including the contents of my locker, and turn the key in the ignition to go home.
Then a neet is born.
The first thing he does when he returns to his cheap apartment is light a cigarette.
"What am I going to do now?
I got mad and quit the company like a fly on the wall, but I don't regret it.
Rather, I want to pat myself on the back for a job well done, but despite being unemployed, my heart is strangely clear.
I turned my phone off.
I don't know if he's calling my cell phone from the office right now.
I don't care if people think I'm irresponsible.
Besides, I was sleeping or working on my days off and I have enough money saved up to not have to work for two or three months, but a year.
I'm not in a position to starve to death right away, so I'm just taking things easy.
We're going to have to work. I hate it.
I have some money saved up so there's no need to panic, but it's not like I can eat for the rest of my life.
Fortunately, I'm strong enough to think about working after a certain amount of time off.
Well, I don't have an ounce of energy to go back to that company.
Wow, looks like a mailbox disaster.
A quick look at the mailbox seen from the layout of the 1K room shows that it's so packed that I don't know how the mailman could have put it in there anymore.
I'm coming back to sleep. Or, as it should be, since I don't use this room except for coming home to change clothes, I felt like telling myself to at least clean up the mailbox.
You stand up, deliberately shouting, "Doko-ho," like an old man.
Ugh, it's stuck.
It's as solid as it looks. As if to prove it, when you pull the bundle of flyers, it only moves a little, but it won't come off any more.
d*mn, it can't be helped.
I crouched on the front porch, talking to myself, which had increased since I'd been living alone, and pulled out the flyer, dividing it into smaller pieces until it slipped out.
I ripped it up. ...... is a religious solicitation, if that's okay. So, this is a flyer from the local supermarket, ...... is three weeks old, hmm? What the hell?
I dropped the ashes into the ashtray once, mindful of the amount of ashes in my cigarette, and looked at the strangely tempting flyer.
'Call for testers? Um, what?
"Dungeon testers wanted!
Hundreds of people to be recruited!
breakdown
30 full-time employees
Seventy part-time workers
Age 16-35 years old
Dormitories!
Parking lot!
Martial arts experience preferred!
Salary, full-time employee, 300,000 per month plus risk allowance and commission
Twice a year
Part-time job: 3,000 yen per hour plus risk allowance + commission
Working hours Full-time employees 5 hours a day or more, two days off per week plus holidays
Part-time: At least three hours a day (must be able to work at least three days a week)
Job Description
We will let you test the effectiveness of the dungeon designed by the Demon King's Army against the brave men!
You have to challenge the dungeon, fight the monsters, search for the treasure and break through the hierarchy.
To prevent the risk of injury, you will need to prepare a consent form.
"Is this a stupid prank?
Exhale your cigarette smoke and stop reading.
The structure of the flyer is quite impressive.
You put a lot of care into the layout of the pictures and letters to make them eye-catching and the paper is not bad.
It is clearly a professional flyer.
But the content is lame. You pretend that the catch is obviously malicious.
It has your phone number and a map, not your address.
And that address is
It's the next town over.
You can drive, train, bus, or even walk if you try hard enough .
'It's an elaborate prank for fishing, isn't it?
I'm 90% sure it's a prank in my mind.
The pay is unbeatable and the holidays are quite tempting.
"No, no, no, no, I'm not going to sit here and listen to this bullshit.
Throwing flyers on the table and pushing them into the ashtray to extinguish the cigarettes.
"This is not the kind of company you want to work for.
I've never seen such a dubious job offer for a game tester.
Lying on the bed is the TV and a pile of games in front of it, and I played a fair amount of games when I was a student.
Because of my job, I have not played any games lately, but mainly RPGs, so I thought it would be interesting to see the contents of this flyer.
'Martial arts include kendo, right?
Another thing I saw was a worn-out kendo tool in the corner of the room.
It had been replaced every time my body size changed or simply broke down.
It was half a year ago when I was last busy with work, but I still continued to visit the nearby dojo.
Ninety percent of the time I've decided that it's just a prank, but the other ten percent of the time I've piqued my interest and offered terms and conditions that are suitable for me.
'Oh, I'm not busy anyway, so if it's a prank, it's a prank.
I find this excuse very hard to believe.
I'd like to work in such a place if there was one.
I've been harboring that desire.
What's with the cell phone and ......?
There are ten incoming calls, mostly from the company. I've received several calls from my senior chief, but I ignored them and typed in the number on the flyer and sent them out despite being troubled for a moment.
''Yes, this is the Demon King's Army Dungeon Tester, Suera.
'Well, um, I saw a flyer, are you still hiring?'
I thought it was just a prank, and I was expecting to hear an announcement that it wasn't being used, but the woman's response was much clearer than I had imagined, and I couldn't help but stammer.
Although she was definitely a foreigner from the name, I thought she was fluent in Japanese.
Thank you for contacting me. We are currently looking for both full-time and part-time positions.
I'm a full-time employee.
Wasn't the work ethic atrophied? However, he thought that he still had some time left, and decided that it was too much to ask for a part-time job at his age, so he chose a full-time job because of the salary and holidays.
"A full-time job, isn't it? I agree. Therefore, I would like to have an interview.
Well, I'm ready whenever you are.
"...... Okay. If so, may I have your name, age and phone number? We'll give you the date by the end of the day.
Okay. Name.
From there, the conversation progressed very quickly.
I gave him my name, age, and cell phone number, and he briefly told me if I had martial arts experience and what I needed to do, and that was the end of the call.
"Your call was taken care of by Suela. I'll see you tomorrow.
Isn't this a prank?
The last words are said, and I can't help but spill them over as I look at my phone, which has stopped saying anything.
Or was it a flyer for the bad guys? I'm afraid.
Then maybe you shouldn't have given me your phone number, and just hang up on me.
It's better to do it quickly than sorry.
If the next caller looks dangerous, we'll go to the police.
Yes, I'll definitely do that, I thought to myself, but I looked at the flyer twice, restlessly and fretfully.
Then you reach for a cigarette.
Just as you're about to take a drag to calm yourself down, your phone rings.
"What, is it company? This number.
The cigarette in his mouth fell out.
Ha-ha-ha, too soon.
The number on the phone wasn't a company number, but a number on a flyer.
"Wow, this is huge.
I ironed my suit and got a new shirt.
The building that welcomed me after I shaved my beard and wore the suit well and looked presentable was a huge 20-story building.
And it wasn't a tenant on each floor like a conglomerate, but the whole building was the building of the company I was applying for.
I've never heard of a Mao Corporation.
With a company this big, you should have heard of it, but I've never heard of it even though I live nearby.
"What's Mao and the Demon King? That's not even a pun.
I parked my car in the parking lot and looked up for a while, but I couldn't just stay like this.
I moved toward the entrance with a brown envelope containing my resume and other necessary documents in hand.
And if you pass through the automatic door...
Hmm? What hit you?
You stop at the feeling of something soft, yes, like going under a curtain, but of course the only thing there is is an automatic door for a doorway.
There's no such thing as a curtain, of course.
"Is it my imagination or is it ......?
There's no point in sitting here, I see a counter that looks like a receptionist, so I try to head there, but I have to stop again .
'Cosplay?'
Or, more accurately, it's a special Hollywood make-up job or something.
I'm standing in an entrance hall with a clean white and gray color scheme.
Behind the gray glossy stone counter, there are two receptionist-like women, but neither of them is an ordinary woman.
"Was there ever a foreigner with long ears?
A race that looked like something out of an anime or video game, or to be more precise, an elf, or more specifically a dark elf with brown skin and silver hair and blue eyes, was sitting at the reception desk wearing a woman's suit.
Although there was a difference in hair length, with short hair on the left and long hair on the right, their faces and appearances were as neat and tidy as those of gravure idols, let alone capable of carrying the company's face, the receptionist.
But they should only exist in such a racial game .
I was worried that my fatigue was causing me to hallucinate, so I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to look again, but the result was the same.
'It's not like I'm tired, is it?'
The reality is still the same, it's Saturday, three days after that phone call, and as expected, I'm relieved of the fatigue I've accumulated in the black company. Shouldn't be.
I was wondering if I should go home, but I dismissed the fact that this might be a company with such a policy.
Um, excuse me, I'm here for an interview for a tester.
Rechecking the location of his cell phone, the man has the nerve and encourages himself to go to the counter fearfully and call out to the receptionist with long hair.
'Yes, may I have your name and the name of the person in charge, please?
I stand tall, thinking about how beautiful she is, even her voice is beautiful, and I can't understand it.
This is Jiro Tanaka. The person in charge is Suela, our tester recruiter.
Yes, Mr. Tanaka, right? I've heard a lot about you. I'll get Suella in to see you in charge. Please take a seat over there and wait.
Wouldn't it be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to have a dark elf smile at you and make your face hot?
Even if it was some kind of special make-up, that's certainly not the kind of experience you get.
I nodded as I remembered the last time my face was hotter than the sun, and sat down at the table I was supposed to be meeting.
I don't have anything on hand, but I don't feel like playing with my phone.
Then you check your documents to see if you've forgotten anything.
"Okay, I haven't forgotten anything.
However, it takes only a minute to check a document.
It only takes me a minute to review five or so documents, considering my previous work.
It's been a long time since I've spent five minutes to read something.
Now I'm back to the point where I don't have anything to do: ......
Hmm?
You hear your heels tapping the floor, and you can't help but look in your direction.
And I know.
There's something wrong with this company, mainly in a fantastical way.
"Here you go. Tanaka, may I speak with Jiro?
'Yes, sir! My name is Jiro Tanaka.
I'm Suela. This is Suela.
The woman who bailed lightly was a dark elf, unlike the receptionist .
And although I couldn't make out any of the details because of the distance between me and the receptionist earlier, the woman in front of me seemed to be the real thing.
In fact, if the make-up was so special that it seemed real, I wouldn't be surprised if this was a movie studio or something.
An intelligent dark elf with long silver hair tied up and silver-framed glasses, that's my first impression of the woman who called herself Suela.
'Well, over here, please.
Yes!
And maybe it's just a matter of taste, but she's more beautiful than the receptionists.
She's about 20 years old, but she doesn't look any younger than me because of her dignity that makes me think she can do her job.
I've decided to resign myself to the fact that this is the kind of company I'd like to work for, because it's so unrealistic, or rather, it's a mixture of reality and fantasy, with dark elves and suits.
It's a wonder I don't have feelings of failure or regret in mind.
If you follow Suera's lead, you will be shown to a small conference room on the first floor.
Have a seat. Is coffee okay?
Yes, I'm fine.
I feel like all I've said is yes, but I guess that's how it goes for interviews.
You have to appeal when you need to appeal, but otherwise it's important to have a minimalist answer.
You sit down and straighten your posture, remembering the tips for the interview.
"What?
But I had to make a fool of myself in front of the woman who was going to interview me.
"So you can see.
'What? That's great, is that a magic trick?
Don't nod your head in agreement with my response, and give me time to calm down, if possible, as I'm about to overheat.
I'm sure everyone would have the same reaction if a tray of coffee flew by.
'It's magic,'
Suera answered in a matter-of-fact manner that was even more confusing to me, as she accepted a tray floating in the air and took a seat across from me with a cup in front of her, so that she was facing me.
"Magic, huh?
I wonder what expression I have on my face right now as I'm answering like a parrot, I'm thinking, but at least I don't have an interview-worthy expression on my face.
When I say magic, the word magic comes to mind.
But what does it have to do with the company interview?
Do I have to be able to use magic as a condition of entry?
Please don't, I don't have the guts to declare great magic as a specialty like in some videos, and I don't have any skills. You might be able to do some banquet trickery with practice, but...
So we'll start the interview.
This is not the time to think about that.
If you don't answer the question properly, you'll have to straighten your back and straighten your posture.
Jiro Tanaka, what did I and the girls at the reception desk look like to you?
......
I'm going to have to answer some questions.
You ask that question, and all I can do is keep my mouth shut. And you have to keep your face on the wall.
"Uh,
Assuming some banter, honestly, what is your motivation for applying? I can't decide whether to answer honestly or not, because I was imagining an orthodox question like "What's your question?
But she doesn't mind that I'm troubled, and she's watching me intently in front of her, waiting for me to answer, as if urging me to go on.
Do I have to answer this? Yeah, I know, it's a job interview, and if I don't answer, people will think I have a communication problem.
Okay, we'll have to try to cover it up somehow.
Are you a dark elf?
I couldn't.
And it's over.
Losing my gaze, I answered honestly, but all I could think about was that I had done it.
Honestly, I was hoping that the Surprise Success sign would not appear, but it never did.
If I were an interviewer at a company, there's no way they would hire someone who looks at me and says he's a dark elf.
I'd like to escape from reality, but I can't do that.
Am I so tired that I can't tell the difference between the game and reality?
I think it's a good idea to get a full workup, whether it's a psychiatrist, an ophthalmologist, or a neurosurgeon. Now, why don't you just let me know when the interview's over?
I'm in a full-blown sweat, maintaining an affectionate smile as I await the verdict.
'You've passed.'
Huh?
"Huh?
I'm tempted to tell you to stop giving me that stupid look, but there's no way I'm going to mend my face after so many years of betraying my expectations.
What did you just say?
I said it's passed.
Apparently, it's not as if she heard "please go home" wrong.
While I was listening back, Suera was reading the paperwork calmly.
"Huh? But what about the interview?
I've never heard of an interview being decided by a single question.
And it's a question like, "How do you see me?" and "Do you think I'm a working man?
I used magic to read your memory. You're superficial, but you're not a man of character, and you have no history of misconduct. I have a martial arts background.
Best of all, she repositioned her glasses with her index finger and repeated the words.
"I have magical aptitude.
Oh, if it's magic, I don't blame you, wow, they read your head, that would make sense, wouldn't it? Okay, and I have magic powers too... yikes, I'm getting confused with a lot of things... ......
Magic?
Yes, magic.
The words "I'm not a virgin" came to my mind on the spur of the moment, but I shook my head and kicked him out.
I didn't realize that this interview was one where great magic had to be a speciality!
Do they use that kind of magic?
Yes, the magic of its source.
With that, Suera-san lights the flame in her fingertips with a light motion.
''I've been born for 28 years and I've never used magic before, you know?
''To be precise, magical aptitude, the point is that you have a vessel that can accept magical power.
...... Sorry, I'm not following the story.
'Don't worry, most of the people who have passed the test so far have reacted the way you did.
That's kind of comforting.
Apparently, my thoughts are normal to the extent that someone else reacts the same way I do, even though the current situation is abnormal.
A dark elf receptionist, magic tricks, and an interview that ended too quickly for me to follow.
"Have a cup of coffee and calm down.
Even if it was poisoned coffee I was drinking right now, I wouldn't be able to say no to that.
I drink coffee to calm myself, less milk, two sugars, and that's my coffee.
Let's take you through the process.
As I began to calm down, Suela made a quick wave gesture.
Then the room went dark and an image appeared on the screen in front of me like a new employee's presentation.
"You can listen to me while we drink.
A dark elf teacher, without having time to push out such an off-the-wall idea, Suera-san stood with a pointing stick in hand and explained the material on the slide show.
You will be able to find out if you are a good candidate for the job. Of course, as I said before, we use magic to read your memory, but we'll turn a blind eye to a few personality deficiencies.
What is projected on the screen is a deformed human figure.
''Your magic aptitude, but it's just an aptitude for magic, it doesn't mean that you have any magic at the moment.
With a thump, Ms. Suela pointed at the human belly.
It's empty to show there's nothing in it, of course.
"There's no such thing as magic in this world, or more precisely, this world, except within this company. So its magical aptitude naturally degenerates, but there are people who have a constitution that can accept magical power without degenerating.
It's called magical aptitude, and it's a purple wave that appears when there are two deformed humans, and it's divided into those who can soak through and those who can slip through.
There are ranks for magical aptitude, and the higher the number, the higher the aptitude. It is said that a person's magical aptitude is innate and cannot be changed by training for life. We'll have to wait to find out exactly what it is before we can test him, but I think Jiro-sama has at least a fourth level of magical aptitude, which is the minimum standard for passing the test.
'What? How do you know that?
''First of all, you can read the flyer, which only requires a numerical value of about one aptitude to be able to read it, and if you don't have an aptitude, it looks like a blank sheet of paper to begin with . Next is the warding at the entrance. If you are under two, you will not be allowed to enter and your memory of the interview will be vague and you will not be allowed to enter.
I was scared of her as she easily declared that she could manipulate my memory and said that if I was less apt, I could have been one too .
''And that the receptionist looks like a dark elf, they've been using a low grade cloaking spell to change their appearance. There is no way for a human in this world to find out for sure. But with a magic aptitude of three or more, you can spot them. Lastly, I use similar magic, but the content is the same. A magic aptitude of four is all that is needed to see it.
I'll confirm what I've put together in my mind with Suera-san who asks if it's all right so far.
''Let's see, in other words, if you put magic power into me, it's the magic aptitude that causes magic power to dwell in me, and the amount that dwells in me is my rank, so does that mean that I at least met the criteria for passing?
Yes,
The image has changed from a deformed image to a cup, with the amount of water used to give you a standard for magical aptitude.
And don't worry. It depends on your magic aptitude, but mental interference type magic is difficult to work on those with higher levels of magic aptitude, and Jiro-sama, who currently has no magic, will not be affected physically.
He'll feel my fear, and then he'll smile and say some additional information to reassure me.
It's enough to put me at ease somewhat. Beautiful women have a nice thing going for them.
"Do you know what your hiring criteria are?
I'm fine.
If this had been a strict man, I would still be confused, but men seem simple, and they can be vain in the presence of a beautiful woman.
That said, though, I've calmed down some.
Now, let me tell you what we do.
This is just the beginning.
It's a fantasy that I've heard, but more importantly, it's a job.
I don't want to work for a black company like the last one.
I'm going to take up the gauntlet and get ready to listen.
"The Demon King's Army has created a series of passageways connecting the hostile world of Isreal with the Demon King's castle, making seven dungeons in all.
The content is perfectly fantasy, but the presentation material is well made.
An overview of the world, descriptions of the dungeons, and photo documentation are attached.
Isual is a world where the gods who are opposed to the Demon King's army have built a world, a world of swords and magic that Jiro-sama knows as the world of beastmen and elves. We, the Demon King's army, have invaded this world and created a dungeon to serve as a passage to expand our territory.
If the material is real, and if this story isn't a movie or some other story, and it's real, it's pretty bad.
The bottom line is that I'm about to get caught up in a war between different worlds .
Since you have explained it well in advance, I can see your sincerity, but honestly, I'm beginning to shy away from it.
''But what I'm asking of Jiro-sama is not to be an asset for the invasion.
What?
She wipes away my fears at the right moment and speaks with absolute skill at presentation.
''We'll explain this later and I'll make a contract with you, so for now, please listen to me. The war between our army and Isual has been going on for almost five thousand years. Demon kings have invaded in various ways, but they always invade through dungeons. And this dungeon is both a passageway and a fort.
It also switched to a tower-like image.
"The current Demon King is a very cautious person. With all the previous kings facing off against brave men, they take defense very seriously.
That's probably true.
In most RPGs, you attack the dungeon with the final boss to defeat him in the deepest part of the dungeon.
You'll place monsters and set traps, of course, but you'll also place mid-level bosses, mazes, and traps in the corridors.
A straight line is like asking you to just attack.
''After ordering the seven generals to create the dungeon, we've reached the stage of opening the door to the world, but the Demon King thought that connecting Isreal with the dungeon again would only be a repeat of the past, so he came up with a plan.
Like what?
I can't help but agree with her good speaking skills, but when the conversation is so far removed from reality, I want to listen to the end.
Before I tell you what to do, this is a little off topic, but most of the brave men and women are from this world called Earth.
...... Seriously?
It's true.
I thought that was a fictional story.
if you say that's true, we're talking about more than just an abduction.
God's concealment and abduction were actually inter-world summonses.
And most of the dungeons were conquered by brave men.
Hey, is this trend possible?
The Demon King has thought of a plan. If a brave man can capture it, why don't we make a dungeon that a brave man can't capture?
What's that Marie-something idea.
Then why don't you have a senior level man standing by at the entrance?
Letting my mixed emotions of bad premonition and excitement, I finally offer a way to defeat the heroes while the level is low, but Suera-san shakes her head in disappointment .
''I can't tell you the details due to confidentiality, but generally speaking, the influence of the gods will inevitably weaken the power of the demon king at the dungeon's entrance. In addition, our forces will be weakened as well. If we can invade the dungeon to secure territory and increase the Lord's influence on us, the conditions will change, but it will take time to do so. We can't send our precious warriors to such a place.
Well, even if you connect the dungeon, it doesn't mean that the place will immediately belong to the invading army.
So it will finally become a position after spreading the mysterious substance called magic power over the place: ......
Until then, I don't know how long it'll take, but the dungeon will be weakened, and they'll be attacked by a stronger hero.
That's one less thing you'll have to worry about to win.
There are some fantasy elements, but the content is understandable.
That's why we need to secure a solid base, and to do that we want to invite people from Earth who have an insight that we don't currently have to invite as dungeon testers to help us improve and strengthen our dungeons.
I could see the story .
To sum up, the otherworldly heroes are strong and likely to be attacked in dungeons conceived by the Demon King's Army.
That's why I invite otherworldly heroes with the same strength to tell me what's wrong with the dungeon to improve and strengthen it.
Even if that's what it sounds like...
Even though it's clearly otherworldly, this is a worthy opponent of the humans.
I don't feel comfortable responding with an immediate "I understand".
"What do I have to do, do a dungeon attack and submit a report?
''Yes. In addition, this is to reinforce the Demon King's army as well. No wonder the seven generals and above won't participate, but the lesser demons will attack you with all their might and their lives are at risk. Of course, we will provide as much support as possible from the dark elves and other demon king forces.
The job is very simple, but it's a complete black company that includes the threat of death.
If I accept the job, won't it take me to a world where there's a demon king's army?
This is the kind of world we don't want to live in.
No, the dungeon will be moved from this company.
You are connected!
What is this company for? And the hours of work, full-time employees are required to capture a minimum of five hours a day, but it's not necessarily five hours in a row, and we can break it up into smaller portions as long as you submit a solid report.
The content of the report will have a bearing on the bonus. I almost lose my strength when Suela-san explained that
It's a good thing that there's no pattern of going to another world but not being able to return, which is a concern.
It's necessary that you use contractual magic to keep them out of the office, but would you like a tour of the facility?
Is there any danger?
"'I'm not the one who will be with you, sir. You'll be able to see the dungeon, no demons will attack, and no traps will be activated. It's a matter of perspective, so you will only be able to see the ground floor entrance to the dungeon, the food and shelter facilities, and the armory.
I'm coming, sir.
If you can't risk it, you have to go, even if it means you're limited in your view.
We'll never have this experience again.
I don't care about some fantasy mixed in with reality anymore.
Right this way.
I got up without hesitation and followed Suela-san who was leading me .
The first thing I was led to was an underground facility that led to the first floor of the seven different dungeons .
It was empty now, but the doors were lined up like elevators, a huge space that was like a gymnasium, except it was monitored by surveillance cameras.
This is the entrance to the dungeon. When you become a full-time employee, Jiro-sama will either have a party here or you will go to the dungeon solo.
Is that the entrance like an elevator door?
''That's right, each doorway leads to the Seventh General's dungeon, and if you attack them one layer at a time, you'll have the freedom to choose your own hierarchy for that.
Oh, you mean you're going to follow someone up the ladder?
I can go. But then there is no hierarchical record of your visit. You can only choose the places you can go. And this is the dungeon.
Without hesitation, he approached the dungeon elevator on the far left and punched in the numbers to open the door.
'Wow, another orthodox one.
This is General Demon King's dungeon.
It looks like a perfect cavern-type dungeon. It's like a cave that's been expanded into a maze.
We'll give you an idea of the layout when we train you, but unfortunately, we won't know any more until after we hire you. Would you like to see the other dungeons?
Please.
I'm sorry, sir.
The natural atmosphere of the dungeon, which was definitely not a movie set or anything, overwhelmed me, and I couldn't stop myself from getting excited as I peeked through the other doors.
Sometimes it's a forest, sometimes it's made of bricks, sometimes it's a stage like in a horror movie, sometimes it's a dungeon like a cliffy canyon.
There are seven dungeons in total.
'Yeah, if this wasn't the real thing, I think the film industry would be safe for the future.
As with any dungeon, it's not too powerful.
''I'm honored if you say so . I'll continue and go to the dorms.
Yes, sir.
I still can't get over my excitement, but Suera is smiling at me and leads me away.
Even if it's just a sales smile, I'd fall in love with her, so I hold my heart and follow her.
The dormitory is for authorized personnel only. Regular and part-time employees alike are welcome to use it. But as a rule, only authorized personnel are allowed in. Even if you try to bring them in, they will be blocked by the warding system.
That's the kind of security that makes Earth's security services weep.
Private room or double room with room sharing. A private room is more expensive. Fees are deducted from your base salary, as are utilities such as electricity, gas and water.
Through an automatic door with not only warding but also solid modern security, the first floor private room and a double room are shown to me.
The private room is one bedroom, with a bathroom and a toilet, and of course the two are separate.
The two bedrooms are two bedrooms, and the facilities are very similar.
Bed, refrigerator, TV and washing machine are provided. You also have a cell phone to use for communicating.
What about the Internet?
It's generally available, although it will be monitored to prevent information leakage. But please keep in mind that if your information is compromised, there will be appropriate measures to deal with it.
Gu, what do you mean?
"The firing, of course, but also the manipulation of his memory of all company-related events, as well as the manipulation of his memory to make him think it was a joke in order to deal with the leaked destination.
That's very thorough.
This is a dead zone for us.
What?
"We dark elves are one of the few humans in the demon race that look like humans. We're not dead. But even so, without magic, our world feels very suffocating. Inside the company is no problem, but if we leave the house, we get mild dizziness like anemia all the time.
Some of them have fallen and are in mortal danger, Suela said.
"In a world like that, we can't just let the nations of this world know we're here.
The demon king's army can't move but the stronghold, and the other side can surround and destroy it.
And this is the birthplace of the brave. If someone from a rival organization came into the company and had the aptitude of a hero, would you and your friends be safe?
Why then?
I couldn't help but wonder if we're willing to risk our lives for this.
"Consider us Demon Lord's Army so serious.
She has always been serious, but now her expression looks even more serious.
''I know I'm asking too much. I've learned about this world, too. This world, especially the country of Japan, is peaceful. Past or not, people today are not at war. Besides, our conflicts are out of bounds to you. It's presumptuous of you to ask such people to risk their lives with money, however expensive.
I can feel my excitement fading.
I'm ashamed of myself for being so excited.
This is business, and she's not recruiting me for fun.
''But I'll tell you this. The Isreal people have forced themselves into this, but we are in a position to ask in good faith. I cannot allow the information to leak, but I will respect Jiro's choice. Please do not forget that.
Sure, there were a lot of things that I thought were horrible like memory manipulation and dungeon attacks, but I don't feel like I'm being tricked at the moment .
Maybe I just don't realize it, but is it naive to think that at least she can be trusted?
'I digress. I'll show you the other facilities.
With that in mind, I followed her .
Then I was shown a store where most things could be ordered, a company cafeteria that boasted an employee discount and had as many items as a family restaurant, and
Where's the violation of the firearms laws?
This is an extraterritoriality.
Armor and swords from your fantasies.
The shelves were lined with armor and swords.
I had never touched a bamboo or wooden sword before, so a real weapon was both scary and overwhelming to me.
"All the weapons here are made of iron and leather armor for beginners, but there are also magical swords.
Oh, you don't have a gun?
''Jiro-sama, in our world, and by extension, in a dungeon under the influence of the Demon King, guns are just peashooters, you know? If it's a goblin, or even more than that, it's better if I can make bruises.
Is it just my imagination that I feel like I've been implied to be a modern day person and not to lick fantasy?
I've always wanted to use a magic gun, but Suell-san says it's faster to just let the magic power crawl through and cut it with a sword.
We'll provide you with the initial equipment when we train you. But it's just the minimum equipment. After that, you can either buy the equipment from the store we have prepared for you, or you can get materials and have a giant in the company make it for you. Of course, both options are at employee discount prices.
"Giant?
Think of them as the dark elves of the dwarves. They are large in stature but very dexterous and good at blacksmithing. We are selective, but be aware that they are very bloodthirsty.
I wondered how much it would cost, and how much money I could spend, and how much otherworldly equipment I could buy with Japanese yen, but now I've heard a full explanation of the facility.
When I got back to the conference room, I was briefed on the payroll, holidays, and the rules and regulations, but this is nothing serious.
The rules I had to follow were: dungeon invasion duties, weekly interim report, monthly month-end report, and no disclosure of information outside the company.
And the demon king's army will not force us to participate in the other world's wars. We won't cut off medical welfare.
The rest of it wasn't much different from the company I was with.
I wondered where the company trip was going, but I didn't mention it.
A regular employee's salary is 300,000 base salary plus risk allowance and commission.
Needless to say, the base salary is 20% of the monthly salary and the hazard pay is 20% of the monthly salary, and the commission system is
We'll buy the materials from you when you kill a demon or a demon, except for materials to make weapons and armor and materials to store.
What do you mean?
The more demons you defeat, the more valuable parts you buy here, and the more cash you get paid.
They also give you a receipt for each purchase.
But that's...
Won't that be held against you by the Demon King's Army?
"The entire army has been informed. And we are the Demon King's Army, the weakest of the strong, and the weakest of the weak will be weeded out.
It seems that you don't have to worry about the bitterness, but it's hard to say when you think that my salary is involved in the very serious situation of the Demon King's Army.
I'm sure that a high salary is promised if you work hard.
As for holidays, we have two days off per week, the eighth day of the month to be exact, plus a holiday. You will have to work around your schedule according to your tester's condition.
At worst, you can take eight days off and then work through the rest of the day.
I'll also have 20 days of paid time off. We have a variety of insurance plans in case of health problems.
And lastly, Miss Suela pulled out a document in addition to the contract.
"Here's the agreement. This job is very dangerous. We will do everything we can to guarantee your life, but please don't expect too much. If you are dying or clearly incapable of fighting, the demon king's army may help you. But think of us as the enemy.
I think we're done here.
Miss Suella will ask if you have any questions.
"What if I turn this job down?
There has been no manipulation of memory, but to prevent a data breach, we will be taking steps to forbid you from discussing the contents of this room and from taking any action to record it. If you do not wish to do so, I can substitute one memory for another for today's.
Okay.
I'm tired of dressing up and leaning back in my chair.
Do you mind if I have a cigarette?
I said that because I needed some time to think about it now.
Come in.
I didn't expect to see an ashtray in front of me.
"Normally, I'd expect you to leave when you're out of shape, wouldn't you?
I've come this far, so it doesn't matter, even if it makes this story go away .
Feel free to light a cigarette and take a deep breath.
Compared to the people of Isreal, these people are polite and pretty.
I see .
." he replied lightly, but his mind is a jumbled mess, with so many factors jumbled together that he can't decide whether to take it or not.
Ms. Suela.
Yes, sir.
Why is the Demon King's Army at war?
Because I want to go home.
Do you want to go home?
I thought I would have some information to help me make a decision, but I thought I would have to talk about interests and so on, but once again I was wrong.
''It's been five thousand years ago. The name of the Demon King's Army is now firmly established, but the Demon King's Army was originally from Isreal.
Suera told a fairy tale that everyone in the Demon King's army knows.
The sun god and the moon god, brothers and sisters, neither good nor bad, their kindred were alike.
But calamity came out of nowhere.
With a little spark, the seeds of strife spread from place to place and soon the great circle of war blossomed.
Our Lord God, Luine, sacrificed her own body to shelter our doomed ancestors, isolating one continent from the next.
That's the root of the Demon King's army .
''At first, it seems that they sought to make peace through dialogue, but over time, Master Ruine was turned into an evil god, and we went from being the servants of the night to being the servants of the darkness.
Luine, the moon god, gave her a way to connect that continent to Isual, and the ancestors of Suela and the others made a path.
And so the dungeon began.
The rest is just a quagmire.
''What happened so long ago may not be any of our business. That moonlit continent is where I was born and where I belong. But I still feel it.
That we have a home.
"...to seek. Go home, live there, feel the wind, smell the air, feel the warmth, perish there. There isn't a tribe in the Demon King's army that doesn't feel it.
The chief of the tribe with the strongest desire to do so will become the Demon King.
It's all very impressive on a grand scale.
He didn't smoke and most of his cigarettes are now ashes.
Apparently, he listened to Ms. Suela.
Pressed them into an ashtray and put out the fire.
"Honestly, I don't know what that feeling is, and I can't judge it to be true.
The scales certainly tipped.
Part of me still suspects that the company itself is a colossal surprise to begin with.
If you think about it, I was the kind of person who found it troublesome to think this far. But as I got older, I began to reason and calculate the risks one by one.
I'll be thirty in two years, and I'm afraid enough to decide that I can't take it anymore, and after thirty it will be hard to get a job, and I'm afraid enough to decide that I'll have to turn down such a dangerous job, if it's true.
It's not something the body can be reckless with. It's like throwing away the rest of your life.
But I'm still an athletic kendo player. I'll try my best.
But I just thought it was funny.
I thought it would be fun.
I was trained in a black company, so I figured that if I could do it, I could do it, and sometimes it wouldn't be so bad to plow through it without thinking.
"Can I hire you?
"Master Jiro Tanaka, we, the Demon King's Army, welcome you.
Tanaka Jiro, 28 years old, single, has not had a girlfriend for 7 years, and
I became a dungeon tester.
