Chapter 3

I will post the third chapter.

Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single, no girlfriend, occupation: Dungeon Tester (full-time employee)

Magic aptitude: 8 (General Class)

After receiving training, I was beaten up by Suela, a Dark Elf mage, yesterday.

In the past few days since the new employee training started, the illusion that mages cannot engage in close combat has been shattered, far beyond the horizon, to the other side of the dimension.

I, who had such thoughts,

"Jiro, how about life insurance?"

"What is this in the morning?"

I was receiving a life insurance pitch before work.

My current attire is a suit without a jacket, and this is my room.

Just as I was about to brush my teeth, wash my face, put on my suit, and have breakfast, the doorbell rang, and there stood Suela with documents in hand.

"No, there's no deep meaning. Yes..."

"Is there a shallow meaning?"

Her usual intellectual and confident attitude had changed; she avoided eye contact, as if declaring that she had something to hide.

The documents included life insurance, major illness insurance, hospitalization cost coverage, and various other insurance items.

Although I had already received an insurance card, the lineup seemed designed to fill in all the gaps in its content, making it impossible to doubt the lack of any attempt to hide suspiciousness.

"No, there isn't a shallow reason, but... there is... but... it will happen..."

"Your tone is unstable, Suela. And why the three-step conjugation?"

Despite her usual capable demeanor, her obvious unease piqued my interest, but there must be some reason she couldn't say.

Given that she is likely my age or even older, it would be inappropriate to take more time in this situation, as it could lead to being late, so I said,

"Um, can I have breakfast first? I might be late if I don't, and maybe after the afternoon training..."

"That's too late!!"

"Huh?"

I was startled by her sudden shout and felt flustered, but I didn't think it was my fault.

"Anyway, I'll order breakfast to be delivered, so can I come in?"

"No, that's a bit..."

"No excuses! Got it!! Yes, it's fine! I don't care if you have any male-specific gadgets or even a lover!"

I was about to say that it was inappropriate to be alone with a woman I wasn't close to in my room, but she confidently declared it was fine, leaving me at a loss.

Should I at least say that a lover is unacceptable?

"Breakfast will be here soon, so let's go in!"

"Um, sure?"

The momentum and the fact that Suela was in such a runaway state made it impossible to refuse.

The only consolation was that the things a man might have were still in unopened boxes, and the only mess was a beer bottle on the table from last night.

For some reason, watching her spread out the documents on the table without involving the room's owner reminded me of being unfairly assigned work at my previous job. Is this unavoidable in such a situation?

With a breakfast of toast, sausages, salad, and coffee, which arrived just 4 minutes after ordering, I received an insurance explanation before the new employee training started.

From well-known to obscure companies, even something like a dental insurance, everything was confirmed.

Her first impression of being capable was not for nothing, and I was shown her efficiency, which I would rather not have seen.

"Then! Please sign by the morning break!"

"No, I was going to explain the reason... but she's gone. Is the storm over? No, will it come again?"

Suela walked away with a brisk pace, her back straight.

Looking back at the room, the neatly organized insurance documents with sticky notes marking where signatures were needed remained on the table.

"Can I sign by the next break?"

Looking at the pile of documents and then at the clock, I realized I had just enough time to manage it, thanks to my experience from my previous job.

The only thing left was

"Is it just my motivation?"

I decided to sign the insurance documents, knowing that today's lecture would be tight.

Each document was thoroughly understood, and the necessity for the future was explained in a way that made me want to cry.

The high salary made it possible to pay for them.

Moreover, the training over the past few days had made me understand the need for such insurance due to the risk of injury or danger.

"Did I act too hastily?"

I wondered if I had joined a company even more black than my previous one, but the working conditions and hours were overwhelmingly better.

It could be considered a good workplace if I could manage risk.

For example, the high salary and the insurance documents I was signing were much cheaper and more comprehensive than at my previous job.

Most importantly, I was enjoying it.

The non-reality that had appeared in the form of work.

"Well, if it's not possible, it's not possible."

The optimistic thought of quitting and having my memory erased if things got too bad crossed my mind.

"Let's just finish the signing for now."

I ran the ballpoint pen and stamp to finish before the last sprint and the lecture.

"Did you sign?"

During the morning lecture break, while stretching to loosen up my stiff body from sitting, Suela appeared.

She arrived quickly, about 30 seconds after the lecture ended, without messing up her stylish outfit, which was incredibly efficient.

"Is this it?"

"Let me check."

When I handed over the insurance documents from my bag, Suela checked them on the spot.

But the speed was extraordinary.

I wanted to ask if she was really reading them, as it was so fast.

Her movements were like counting the number of bills in a stack as she read through the documents.

"Any problems?"

"No problems, rest assured, I'll make sure it's done, yes."

"But, what for?"

"There's no time, I'll explain later."

Her attitude was one of panic.

I couldn't think of the right words to describe it, but the idea of panicking over an insurance contract, if I were to imagine it in modern terms,

was simply forgetting to do it and panicking.

A referral from an insurance company.

That's all I could think of.

But whether it was the former or the latter, it seemed unlikely given her usual image.

"Yes, the documents are complete. What? What are you saying. Make sure to talk to the general affairs department. If necessary, use charm magic, hypnotic magic, or compulsion spells to push through. Otherwise, you'll have to work on weekends this week."

She seemed to be muttering to herself, but it was actually telepathy, a magic that seemed more convenient than a mobile phone but could only be used within the company's magical energy.

It was essentially an internal phone or PA system in a fantasy setting.

The content, however, was something I might hear in modern society as well.

"Yes, I'll be there in 3 minutes. Sorry, Jiro, can I keep the insurance card?"

I hesitated, but it was unavoidable.

If I had been subjected to a conversation about a black company in a fantasy setting, I would have been put off.

Honestly, I was surprised that I could smoothly take the insurance card out of my wallet.

"Yes, I'll return it to you this afternoon, so don't worry."

No, I can't feel reassured by your attitude, but I couldn't say it.

When faced with a smile that made me think, "Is this the kind of loving smile a popular nun would give?" I could only be captivated.

Even if something happens later due to today's insurance-related events, I couldn't say anything in this situation.

"Ha, good luck?"

"Thank you. Then, I'll take my leave."

She bowed beautifully and left.

Although the morning's events were abnormal, I decided to consider them as a temporary conclusion.

After all, I was under the scrutiny of curious gazes from around me, and the only thing I could do to escape reality was to remember that smile.

Beautiful women benefit from everything...

"What will I be doing this afternoon?"

But even as I tried to escape reality, anxiety seeped through.

"No, no, if I don't do anything, I'll start thinking weird thoughts."

I reached into my bag to get a cigarette.

"But, I'm quitting."

When you move your body, your respiratory system naturally tightens.

I felt it acutely during the first afternoon training, but if I quit smoking, I wouldn't suffer as much.

Addictive substances are hard to let go of.

I thought that would be the case,

"Status screens are convenient."

When I first checked my status, the "abnormal status" section had "nicotine addiction" and "moderate lung contamination" written in it, which made me aware of it.

Moreover, tapping on it displayed specific bad statuses, which was amusing.

Nicotine Addiction

- Calms the mind

- Reduces organ function

- Reduces endurance

Lung Contamination

- Reduces endurance

- Reduces lung function

With such explanations and specific negative numbers in parentheses next to the statuses, I couldn't help but quit smoking.

"But, my appetite has increased."

Compared to the past, I eat a lot more.

To be honest, I hadn't eaten breakfast for years.

I had been living a life where sleep was more important than eating in the morning, but in the past few days, I had been eating three meals a day.

I believed that with the increased exercise, I wouldn't gain fat but would build muscle.

"Thinking about it, mages seem like they would get fat, don't they?"

This is a complete bias, but casting spells from the back doesn't seem like exercise.

It doesn't involve movement, and using magic doesn't seem to burn fat.

Moreover, the descriptions of mages consuming nutritional supplements or food to replenish their magical energy seem to be quite common.

While this conclusion might not be entirely wrong, it's a simplistic and ridiculous assumption.

However, I noticed that a few women nearby seemed to react to my words, but I ignored it.

For me, who aspired to be a front-line fighter, this thought was merely a pastime.

Moreover, even if I became a mage, I might end up in a position where I need to increase my physical strength to use magic, so the idea of becoming fat wouldn't apply.

If I kept thinking about such things, the break time would pass, and the lecture would start.

In the end, the time passed without resolving my doubts about Suela's actions.

Conclusions can come late or early.

In this case