Chapter 4

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

Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)

Position: Warrior

I managed to survive somehow. During the training sessions with Instructor Kio and Instructor Fushio over the past week, the two of them were truly like demons and devils. The afternoon training sessions, led by these two, were so brutal that the morning lectures seemed like a respite in comparison. Thanks to the steady increase in my stats, the number of broken bones decreased, but in return, the number of times I was sent flying and slammed into walls increased. The armor provided to me, similar in shape to kendo gear, felt natural to use, and with the improved mobility and defense, the number of injuries decreased. However, the number of times I received attacks definitely increased compared to before. Now, I might be able to withstand a punch from a professional boxer, but that would be like pouring water on a burning stone. Even if the gap narrowed slightly, it was only to the extent of evolving from a fly to a grasshopper. The only improvement was that the instructors found it easier to handle me.

"Hey, hang in there! If you do, you'll survive!! Hahaha!!"

"Kakakaka, you're getting more relaxed, huh? Here, gravity magic, here, paralysis magic, do you want a bonus?"

The two of them, with their vicious grins that haunted my nightmares, made it clear in no time that they were thoroughly enjoying themselves. They treated me like a new toy, taking pleasure in my growth and always adjusting their methods to maintain the perfect level of torment.

"Hold on! The wounds are shallow! Don't close your eyes!! Don't worry!! The treatment costs will be deducted from their salaries!! So don't close your eyes!! You'll die if you do!!"

I thought countless times that it would be fine to reach the goal. The new employee training was a living hell, a perfect fit for the words "hell on earth" or "ascetic practice." If it weren't for the warm healing magic from Suela, which was my only solace, I might have run away long ago. Suela was always more anxious than I was. Was my situation that bad? As a side note, when my injuries were worse than expected, she would sometimes give me a knee pillow, and that time was nothing short of bliss. At those moments, I was so close to death that I couldn't even entertain any ulterior motives.

Apart from nearly dying, I was getting by without much trouble, but the lack of social skills was causing me some issues. Voices naturally entered my ears as I sat in the back row, a spot that had already been established, and read through the materials before the morning lecture began.

"Look, it's that guy."

"Wow, the dropout?"

"Yep, he gets beaten up in training every time."

"Getting beaten up in such training must mean the rumors about his barely passing magic aptitude are true."

"The other day, he was even rushed to the medical room."

"How does he even get those injuries?"

Yes, not only was there a generational gap that made conversation difficult, but also, being beaten up every time had led to me being treated as a dropout. As a result, most of the gazes directed at me were either mocking or pitying. The loneliness was overwhelming. It was no wonder, as I learned from Suela and the instructors that other trainees rarely got injured. They were taught techniques step by step, almost like in a magic school. When I heard about their educational approach, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Why!?" The response was:

"You fool, I wouldn't create something that can be conquered with such a soft method."

"Kakakaka, if Jiro desires despair, I don't mind."

It seemed to be a simple difference in educational philosophy. Instructors Kio and Fushio focused on immediate combat readiness, while other positions had a more gradual approach. I decided that, despite the differences, the goal was the same, even if the methods varied. Both approaches had their pros and cons, but in my case, where I would need to form a party to explore the deeper levels of the dungeon, this situation was fatal. If I had better communication skills and could be a bit more lighthearted, the atmosphere might have improved, and I might have made some friends. However, my pride was involved, and I felt it was unjust, which made me somewhat stubborn. Deep down, I felt:

"I shouldn't be laughed at while nearly dying during training."

I wanted to shout it out loud, but such words would only result in a "What's with this guy?" and make the atmosphere worse. I thought about improving the situation a few times but decided that actions spoke louder than words.

"Hey, old man, can you get us some drinks from the vending machine? I'll have a café au lait."

"I'll have tea."

"Black coffee for me."

I was being treated like a lackey by a younger colleague who completely disregarded the social hierarchy. Usually, ignoring them would make them leave with a sigh. This time, I would do the same. I didn't care if the atmosphere became awkward. In such situations, it was better to remain expressionless and composed. I had cultivated this skill in a black company, and I was confident I could control it. All I needed to do was get through the morning lecture. I spent the morning lecture seriously.

"The afternoon training will be a joint session for all positions at the first training facility. Everyone, make sure you know the location."

But the handsome dark elf, a regular in the lecture room, threw a bomb I couldn't ignore and left.

"What should I do?"

I held my head, thinking. One problem gone, another comes. No, there was no point in worrying. The thought of feigning illness crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it. The company had convenient magic potions. A cold would be cured in no time, and the fantasy world was impressively efficient. Therefore, I couldn't fake an absence, and unauthorized absence was out of the question.

"I have no choice but to steel myself."

I was bad at group activities, and even if the result was due to my own actions, sometimes endurance was necessary to survive.

"Let's have lunch first, at least."

With an empty stomach, I couldn't do anything, and the lack of a strict lunch break was a small mercy compared to my previous job. I prepared for the afternoon session.

"I am Evia, the supervisor of this company."

A clear but cold voice signaled the start of the afternoon training.

"I will only explain this once. Everyone, listen carefully and do not talk. Today, you will fight monsters from the dungeon."

A female demon with reptilian wings, a long, black, pointed tail, curved horns on her temples, and flowing red hair like red wine, spoke coldly, causing considerable unease among us.

"Your opponents are selected from the ranks of the Demon King's, the Undead King's, and the Dragon King's subordinates. They are all the lowest-level Souls. Don't stumble here."

It felt like she was saying, "It's expected of you."

"The group formation is up to you. You can fight individually or in teams. This training is designed to simulate encounters in the dungeon, and the decision is yours."

She stood in the center, looking composed and professional, though some might find her cold and ruthless.

"The monsters will appear one hour after the start, with a ten-minute break in between, for three sets. You cannot leave the facility during this time. Don't worry, you won't die. If it gets too dangerous, gather around me, and I'll protect you with a barrier."

The tense atmosphere relaxed with her reassuring words, but I sensed a demonic quality in her sweet-sounding words. It reminded me of the deceptive words of Instructors Kio and Fushio. I noticed the clipboard she hadn't even flipped through. She didn't need to look at it because she had memorized it. It might have been a formality, but the absence of Instructors Kio and Fushio, Suela, and other position instructors was concerning.

"The training will start in five minutes. Prepare quickly."

I had no time to think, and even if I did, it wouldn't help. There was little to prepare, as I had no partners and only needed to check my equipment, which consisted of armor and a wooden sword. Even so, five minutes felt short. Checking my armor for any looseness took up the time. I decided to maintain my vigilance and observed the groups forming, mostly among the same positions, with a few mixed teams.

"Is that a magic swordsman?"

One group caught my attention. Among the hopefuls, a man dressed like a mage held a real sword, not a wooden one. A hybrid of a mage and a warrior, it was an interesting concept, but he seemed to be the only one with such equipment, suggesting it wasn't very popular. Whether he would be versatile or jack-of-all-trades would be revealed during the training. The group seemed to have him as the front-liner, with two others, a mage and a healer, in a slightly more defensive position. It was better than other groups, like the trio of mages who tried to make me run errands earlier. As the only solo participant, I was in a tough spot. This was my first time fighting dungeon monsters, and my body was tense.

"Let's do our best."

Fortunately, a deep breath was enough to bring me back to the right tension. I wasn't just pretending to be on the brink of death.

"Time's almost up."

My internal clock, honed by the rigorous schedule, was fairly accurate. I took another deep breath, focusing on myself. I needed to concentrate on myself, not just the surroundings, to avoid being the first to drop out.

"Time's up. The training begins now."

Under the calm voice of Supervisor Evia, the atmosphere changed.

"Barrier?"

"Seriously, I didn't even notice it activate."

"Was it prepared in advance?"

"If so, that makes sense."

No.

I instinctively denied the words from the group of mages and glanced at the supervisor. A single action without incantation. The barrier was deployed in the blink of an eye. The similarity to Instructor Fushio's movements made me think my judgment wasn't off. The demonic presence was unmistakable. However, there was no time to dwell on it. From the magic circle surrounding the training area, small, dirty green-skinned creatures appeared. They looked far less intelligent compared to the demons like Suela, the instructors, and Supervisor Evia. They were disposable pawns, swarming towards us.

"Fireball!!"

"Take this!!"

"Wind Cutter!!"

"Hey, watch out!!"

My main concern was avoiding friendly fire. With dozens of spells flying around, the only option was to dive and take cover.

"Is this a war movie?"

The training was effective, and I remained unharmed. I looked in the direction of the explosions. Numerous spells hit, and the goblins, reduced to particles of magic, vanished. It was a modern battlefield, and despite the difference between guns and magic, it felt like the Mongol soldiers who brutally killed the samurai. I watched in a daze as the goblins were eliminated before they could even get close.

"Boring, just goblins!!"

"Hmm?"

The male mage looked down on the goblins, and the female mage cast spells with a bored expression.

"Do I even need to be here?"

The role of a front-liner was to be a shield, and the scene before me made me question my purpose.

"Three o'clock!!"

"Opposite direction!"

"Can't keep up with the mana!!"

"Huh?"

But the overwhelming scene began to crumble.

"Did you not pace yourselves?"

The mages started to miss more often, and the goblins, initially attacking from one direction, began to spread out and attack from multiple angles. The number of goblins increased with each missed attack. I remembered that goblins prioritized numbers over quality.

"Short-distance runners, huh!!"

Despite only ten minutes passing, the mages' breathing was already labored. The attacks from one direction had now spread to two, and the number of goblins increased.

"Simultaneously!!"

"Keep it up!!"

"I know!!"

The situation was becoming chaotic. It was a common sight in the workplace when tasks were poorly managed. Without a clear priority, focusing on the current task led to losing sight of the bigger picture. The archers in the back were firing arrows, but the number of missed attacks continued to increase.

"Damn, take care of the three o'clock direction!!"

Realizing the situation was dire, I shouted, got up, and ran.

"Breath in."

I inserted myself between the mages and the goblins, holding my wooden sword and taking a deep breath.

"KIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE