Chapter 5

Starting to post, I received my first rating and favorite, which made me very happy.

I will continue to work hard, encouraged by this.

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

Magic aptitude: 8 (General class)

Position: Warrior

It has been a month since the interview, and finally, the new employee training has ended.

"Phew."

Tomorrow is the official welcome ceremony, and since today is Sunday, there is no training, so I spent the day resting in my room. Now, after dinner, I am enjoying a drink.

"Life is wonderful!!"

These are words from the bottom of my heart, from the depths of my soul.

"I never thought beer could taste this good!!"

Usually, I would have a can of low-alcohol beer before bed, but with the raise, I decided to upgrade a bit. Not just better than usual, but definitely better than the beer I used to drink. On Saturday, my body was aching from the final training session, and I ended up in bed without even tasting the beer. However, despite my body aching all day, I can now enjoy the beer thanks to the magic technology.

"Still, humans need to feel alive."

I pour the cold beer down my throat, feeling it flow from my throat to my stomach.

"Really, life is wonderful."

Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to drink such delicious beer. I recall the past. On the day of the joint training, I somehow woke up before dinner and, feeling nothing unusual, went to the convenience store to buy some drinks to enjoy at home. Looking back, that choice was the end of my luck. A hand suddenly reached out, easily lifting me up and dragging me to a corner of the cafeteria.

"Drink up, drink up!! It's on me today!!"

"Hehehe, eat as much as you like, the food is on me."

The culprits who dragged me were the fierce gangster and the skull gentleman, now known as Instructor Kio and Instructor Fushio. I couldn't understand why they were so cheerful, and it was unsettling. In front of these two, who were in such high spirits, the only action I could take was to say, "Thank you."

"It's a special brew made by the demon race!! It's delicious."

"Hehehe, this is the Spirit Wine I made, it's safe for humans to drink, you know?"

Even with my body enhanced by magic runes, I usually drink a lot during business dinners. I thought a strong alcohol wouldn't affect me, but I ended up staying until the cafeteria closed, drinking much more than usual. I was slightly tipsy, and with Instructor Kio's constant smile and Instructor Fushio's satisfied attitude, I didn't deeply consider the reason for this drinking session. But who would think it could be the last supper?

The next day, without a hangover, I moved on to the afternoon training as scheduled, and what awaited me was:

"Yesterday was fun, wasn't it?"

"Hehehe, it really was."

Instructor Kio, radiating red fighting spirit, and Instructor Fushio, brimming with dark fighting spirit. I immediately turned around.

"Barrier!?"

But you can't escape from special combat. Because the story won't progress. The moment I turned around, I felt a barrier of magic hit my forehead. Relying on the chill down my back, I turned my head, which felt like a rusty tin toy, to see:

"!?"

I want to praise myself for not screaming. The two instructors, radiating even more fighting spirit than before, had me firmly in their sights.

"Well, Jiro,"

"Are you ready?"

"Y-Yes, I'm ready!!"

I don't know when my nickname changed, but I had no time to care. I wished for a bit more time, but the two, communicating with their eyes, made it impossible for me to say no. Seeking some solace, I looked to Suela for help.

"Please do your best."

Today, Suela, dressed in a well-tailored suit, didn't even meet my gaze.

"Alright, let's start the training."

Resigned to my fate, I took my usual position in the center, ready with my weapon.

"Ah."

Then I realized. Thinking about it, I lost in the joint training. Even though I said I would go to hell if I lost, I ended up losing and receiving additional training. I shouldn't have let my emotions take over. Even if I fought longer than others, losing is still losing. Perhaps they were in a good mood yesterday because they were thinking about today's training. Maybe they wanted me to have a good time before sending me to hell (training). If that's the case, I want to say:

"I don't need such consideration. Please go easy on me."

I was knocked back, attacked, and blown away, even when I tried to dodge or defend. The usual scene repeated, and I only managed to exchange blows a few times. The repeated slashes from the toy sword (magic sword) and the interference from the toy staff (cursed staff) were overwhelming. The toy sword that Instructor Kio held, which looked like a magic sword, was the first time I saw it that way. Thanks to Instructor Fushio's spine-chilling laugh, I vowed not to step into a toy store for a while. The various status-altering spells, which contradicted the light electronic sounds, were not lethal individually, but combined with the toy sword (magic sword), they seemed dangerous. If not for the knee pillow (perk) while I was unconscious, I would have given up. Honestly, the company seems as black as a black company. Still, I survived, even though I saw my life flash before my eyes a few times. I didn't die, and I couldn't figure out if it was due to my usual training or the instructors' precise judgment between life and death.

"Tomorrow, the dungeon."

Regardless of the outcome, I survived. From now on, I will only receive training from those two if I apply for it again or if I fail and have to retake it. I feel relieved but also determined not to fail. But for now, I need to relax. After the welcome ceremony, I will officially become an employee and challenge the dungeon. The training period's mental processing finally caught up, or maybe it was the beer that pushed it aside. I think about tomorrow. The dungeon, a term that only appears in games or novels in modern Japan, is something I've been training for intensely for a month. The fact that it actually exists and I will challenge it tomorrow is quite moving. Or maybe it's more like the excitement of a child before a field trip. In fact, I couldn't sleep and ended up drinking to relax because I was too tired. Being excited and unable to sleep is both embarrassing and a sign of lingering childlike wonder.

"I'm not a kid, but..."

Holding the empty beer can, I look down at my body, which has tightened up in a way that belies years of neglect. My stats have improved significantly since I was hired, and I can feel the results. I wonder how long it's been since I last felt the results of hard work.

"Well, time to sleep."

I can't stay up too late or drink too much and risk oversleeping tomorrow. I'll save the excitement for tomorrow and focus on getting a good night's sleep.

In the lecture hall, where we usually sit in casual clothes, everyone is dressed in suits today. On the stage, a row of unique individuals stands, seemingly contradicting the idea of uniformity. Among them are, of course, Instructor Fushio and Instructor Kio. I see them for the first time, and I assume the others are instructors from different departments. They give off a similar aura of strength, and their presence is overwhelming. Noticing my gaze, they smile in a way that would make a child cry and an adult faint. I, who have become accustomed to it, remain calm and bow silently. Then, I shift my gaze to observe the others. A well-built man with a reptilian eye and a scar, wearing a topless outfit; Suela, who looks like a dark elf in a kimono-like outfit; a small figure in a deep hooded robe; a brown-skinned giant over three meters tall, wearing fur and a metal helmet; and a woman with antennae and compound eyes, wearing what can only be described as a revealing outfit, with parts of her body covered in chitinous armor. A few men are fixated on her, but do they realize the predatory look in her eyes? This is not a place to let your guard down. Everyone on the stage exudes an aura of absolute strength, and I wonder how amazing a hero must be to defeat them. The banner for the welcome ceremony, hanging above such a unique group, seems surreal.

"Time to start, everyone is here, right?"

Finally, the cold and stern-looking supervisor, Evia, in a suit, steps onto the stage. She stands out even among the unique individuals, and the atmosphere in the room tightens. It's not just tense; it's constricted. The physical pressure forces even the drowsy to straighten up.

"First, I want to commend you for completing the training. Out of the fifty-eight hired, only the thirty-seven of you have completed the training course."

The welcome ceremony begins without formalities or an opening speech. She announces that a third of the initial number has left, but it doesn't shock me as much as it does the others. Reactions vary: shock, accomplishment, and determination.

"I have something to give you. Look at your desks, there are boxes on each table, right?"

Following the supervisor's instructions, I look at the object on my desk. A black paper box, about ten centimeters on each side, has been there since I sat down. I didn't know what it was at first, so I left it alone after touching it a few times. What could it be?

"Open it and take out the contents."

I don't know how to open it, but when I lift it, it comes off easily, revealing the contents.

"A pendant?"

A crystal-like pendant, about the size of a die, hangs from a leather cord.

"It's a soul stone. You must take this with you when entering the dungeon. If you don't, you will 'die.'"

The air freezes. The supervisor's words and the pressure make someone drop the crystal-like pendant on the desk.

"Hmph, some of you seem to think you're strong because you passed the training. Let me tell you, we don't make dungeons that easy for you to conquer."

The lecture hall, already quiet, now feels colder than a room with the air conditioning on full blast.

"Of course, there is a risk of death. You've experienced it. If you think you won't die in combat with monsters, you're wrong. If you enter the dungeon, you'll only suffer and won't get any useful information. We don't need useless information."

The supervisor's cold words, as if dismissing them, make me feel something, but it's not fear; it's more like a rebellious spirit. I want to shout, "Bring it on!" I'm curious about the deepest level, and I can't help but smile. But I'm not the only one.

"That's not a joke! I didn't sign up to die!!"

"Right!! I heard about injuries, but I can't risk my life!!"

"Right!! This is ridiculous!!"

A few people stand up and shout their complaints.

"Is that all you have to say? Then leave. It's meaningless to use those who are dissatisfied, and we have no use for them. Don't worry, we'll pay you for the training period."

As the supervisor gives them a cold look, magic circles appear at their feet, and they vanish instantly.

"I explained this at the beginning. This job is a matter of life and death. Those who misunderstand it as an exaggeration are just fools. I'll say it again, we don't want such people. Only those who are prepared to stay. Of course, as we promised, we will do our best to ensure your safety, but it's not absolute. Answer now, stay or leave."

I thought a few more would leave after that exchange, but

"Hmph, only three. The rest, I'll let your results speak for you. Now, back to the explanation. When I said 'die,' with this soul stone, the probability of dying is almost zero. It's designed that way."

The supervisor shows us a similar item.

"This is proof of completing the training, a key to entering the dungeon, and your lifeline. The dungeon is filled with a high concentration of magic, which this stone absorbs and combines with your magic to record information. Once you enter the dungeon, it automatically generates a temporary body for you, a body made of magic based on your soul. Even if you die in the dungeon, you will be forcibly teleported to the company's medical room, and your body will be regenerated based on the recorded information. Whether it's your heart or head, the damage is to the magical body, the etheric body. I guarantee your real body will be unharmed. You can die in peace, but it will hurt like hell."

The supervisor's sadistic smile is chilling. I can't help but pull my chair back a bit. It's a survival instinct. But the temporary body makes it feel more like a fantasy.

"However, it's not all-powerful. First, it only works in the dungeon. Outside the company, it's just a decoration. Second, the cost to create one is more than you could pay in a lifetime. Lose it, and your fate is sealed."

The last part is clearly a threat, but it's understandable due to the cost. It's a reminder not to lose company property. Handling it with care is essential.

"Third, while it prevents physical damage, it doesn't protect against mental damage. We can provide trauma care, but recovery is up to you. If you exit the dungeon with injuries, they will reflect on your real body. If you don't want to suffer, treat yourself. Oh, and limb loss will cause phantom pain, but as long as your soul is intact, your body won't be permanently damaged."

That's a relief, but the supervisor's tone is unsettling. It's as if limb loss is a possibility.

"Lastly, this is based on experience. I was nearly killed by the previous hero. If I can be in that situation, you can easily be in the same position. Stay focused when entering the dungeon."

I missed the chance to ask, but I'll investigate on my own. I don't want to end up with a disability. The entire ceremony was a series of warnings, leaving no room for complacency.

"Understood?"

I understand, but the excitement of a field trip is completely gone. The others look equally anxious. The supervisor doesn't seem to care about the mood.

Can I really enter the dungeon in this state? Maybe I should get beaten up by the instructors and get used to it before entering the dungeon. What should I do?

"Umm, can't we make the atmosphere a bit brighter for such an important occasion, Miss?"

"No, the strictness is appropriate, and it's necessary information."

It's about our safety.

"Is it? Being too strict won't make subordinates follow. Balance is important in society."

"True."

Who am I talking to during the ceremony? My seat is in the back, and there's no one on either side. So, there's no one to talk to. But then,

"Hey!"

"Who are you?"

"I'm the Demon King!!"

Suddenly, a cheerful, handsome man is sitting next to me.

"..."

"Ahahaha, surprised? Did you expect someone more strict, with a battle-hardened aura?"

The self-proclaimed Demon King, understanding my silence, puts his hand on his chin and ponders.

"Well, I find it a bit restrictive, but Evia says it would ruin the ceremony, so I keep it low-key."

Only someone very close to the supervisor or in a higher position would call her by her first name. So, the self-proclaimed part is probably true, and the person next to me is really the Demon King. He walks casually to the stage as if he belongs there. The other colleagues don't notice, but the instructors on the stage do. They kneel as if on cue, welcoming the self-proclaimed, no, the Demon King. It's a subtle but powerful display of authority.

"Hey! Everyone! I'm the Demon King! To put it simply, I'm your employer and the CEO!"

His confident declaration leaves us speechless. The equation "Demon King = CEO" seems to hold, but his sudden appearance makes it hard to react. Should we kneel like the instructors?

"No, no, you can stay as you are. You are employees, not vassals. Formality is necessary, but respect is not!"

His charisma is overwhelming, showing his capacity.

"First, congratulations on completing the training! And I hope you received my 'whip.' No need to say it; I can see it in your faces. You took it seriously. I won't just send you back like that. After the whip, it's time for the carrot."

He shifts the focus from the supervisor to himself.

"From today, we