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Jiro Tanaka: 28 years old – Unmarried
Girlfriend(s): Suela Handelberg & Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Regular Employee)
Magical Aptitude: Eight (General Class)
Job Title: Warrior
Cultural festivals are probably one of the most popular school events that every Japanese has experienced.
It is often said that the preparation for the festival was more enjoyable than the actual event itself.
This may be due to the atmosphere of friendly solidarity among friends and the group mentality that makes it fun, but I have been there myself, so I do not deny that.
Now, why am I suddenly talking about this?
“Damn, there’s nothing more boring than doing the preparation work alone.” (Jiro)
The ashtray is already piled up with the cigarette butts I’ve smoked up to this point.
The actual number of cigarettes I smoked was reduced after I got girlfriends namely Suela and Memoria, and also I became a dungeon tester, which is a physically active job.
But after yesterday’s hard work, after my reward, after my room date with Suela, a mountain of work appeared before me again.
Like a famous RPG in which you have to defeat a Demon Lord, document A appeared, document B appeared, document C appeared, and when they appeared in a row, I felt like escaping from reality.
Then, the supervisor, who appeared, reminiscent of the Demon Lord, said,
“It was overkill.” (Evia)
She simply said in one breath what had happened yesterday and handed me a single document without any further admonishment.
At first, I had goosebumps because I thought the document was a notice of dismissal, but it was the opposite.
A re-training notice.
Apparently, this incident had caused an increase in the number of testers other than myself to question their abilities, and if things continued as they were, there was a possibility that they would be hindered in their work and that the time until they reached their limits would be too soon.
In addition, with the second batch of testers about to join the company, it seems that the current situation is not good and they have decided to take steps to improve the situation.
“Your ability is now recognized by everyone, but how will that hurt the reputation of the other testers? Well, it’s a good thing that this time there was a reason why it couldn’t be avoided, but it can’t be left as it is. You actually confirmed their incompetence. I already didn’t think they were that good.” (Evia)
I recognize the look of Supervisor Evia as she lets out a sigh.
That’s the sense that she’s not happy about having more work, even though she had no choice.
That said, isn’t it strange that the responsibility for that retraining should fall on me?
I guess the supervisor must have predicted the minimum number, but I guess she fell short of that number by more than expected.
Well, no matter how well trained I am, they probably didn’t expect me to annihilate a dozen or so testers by myself.
“I want a draft by next week. The rest will be worked out by me, Suela, and you.” (Evia)
The supervisor maintained a strong attitude of “Apathy”, and she kept up the appearance of a woman who could do the job until the very end, and the result was a system of work facing the desk and the computer without ever standing…
Well, it is hard to say “no” when you are instructed by a supervisor who takes the initiative in doing the work.
That is why I have been working silently.
“While I was mumbling, the outline of the proposal was completed, but now it was time to see how it could be finalized.” (Jiro)
I stopped drumming my fingers and grabbed the cigarette I was holding in my mouth.
Checking the content on the screen for typographical errors and omissions, and then checking the style.
I thought of a way to retrain them for a job other than their current one, one that requires more proximity and physical strength.
What these guys are missing is a way to deal with the range they’re not good at and improve their fundamental status.
In reality, there are very few cases where being specialized is the only way to get the job done.
Even idols need to learn not only how to sing, but also how to dance, talk, sell, and keep in shape in order to be popular.
Everyone knows that.
“The question is, will they be motivated by that?” (Jiro)
From the public’s point of view, this is a sudden change of department or job title.
They must have thought they could handle this one job.
That’s not possible in the normal course of events.
It is like conquering the last boss with the initial basic job.
If they don’t understand that, there will definitely be complaints, and if they mess up, there will be another round of resignations.
I know what we have to do.
The question is how much to make them do it without frustration.
If they are dissatisfied, their motivation will naturally wane.
The Supervisor might just dismiss them with the word “pathetic” and cut them off before they could quit, but that is not the way to nurture human resources.
One of the most common examples of this is the lack of understanding of the speed at which subordinates are developing and the constant demand for instant success.
This tends to be seen in companies that neglect human resource development, are stingy with labor costs, and then rush to replace workers when their heads start to roll, as well as in companies that have a rapid turnover of workers.
The Supervisor seems to have a good handle on this. She would not do a hasty termination, but she would do it if it is necessary.
So, I’m just going to have to do my best to keep the Supervisor from doing that.
“What to do… There is a limit to sugar-coating, and I don’t have that authority, but I can see that it’s going to be a hard project.” (Jiro)
In the first place, it is rare to do a job with conviction.
Once you understand and learn the procedure, all you have to do is to do it.
There is no room for an individual’s will to be fully convinced.
No, there may be a certain amount of room for the influx, but if one is concerned about such things, work will slow down.
Therefore, it is considered superfluous, and the work effort is cut down.
“Ahhh~!” (Jiro)
If we are too strict, we may reduce the number of staff, and if we are too lax, we don’t know if they will be useful.
The solution is a balancing game, but no one can come up with such a good solution in a flash.
My thoughts start spinning, and scratching my head only makes the itch go away, but it doesn’t solve my problems at all.
It’s almost six o’clock in the evening after spending all day at the computer writing up reports and training plans.
Since all the other members of the team have been given a leave of absence as of yesterday, I’m the only one in the party room, so I can make noise without disturbing the others, and there’s no problem if I make strange noises.
“Hmm…. What?” (Jiro)
Then the chime rang, and I thought it would be a nice change of pace, so I stretched out my back and headed for the front door.
“Suela?” (Jiro)
“How are you?” (Suela)
Suela was there.
Well, I’m happy she was there, but…
“You’re dressed like that.” (Jiro)
“Well, does it not suit me?” (Suela)
She was not dressed in her usual suit, but in an indigo-colored yukata with many white shooting stars drawn on it.
Her long hair was tied up and she was wearing a hairpin, which looked good on her tanned skin.
Then I remembered.
As I recall, there is a festival today at a shrine near where I used to live.
The shrine there is quite large and there are fireworks displays.
“No, you look great.” (Jiro)
“I’m quite pleased.” (Suela)
I was so relieved to see Suela smiling at me, I could feel my irritation from earlier draining away.
The fact that a beautiful woman has a healing effect on the soul is proven.
I should have said something more thoughtful to her, in fact, I was annoyed with myself for being so awkward.
“Did you come to invite me to the festival… Can Suela even go out?” (Jiro)
I thought that the fact that she came at this time in this outfit might be an invitation to a festival date, but Suela and her friends can’t move well in a space with no magic power.
This was explained to us at the beginning.
In addition, there was Suela’s appearance.
There are no long-eared dark elves anywhere on the planet.
Maybe they just haven’t been found, but I don’t know of any, and they are not common.
She is a beautiful woman, and if she were to go out, that alone would attract attention, and I don’t think this company, which strictly forbids the leakage of information, would give permission.
I try to maintain a calm mind so that the emotional ups and downs of being happy and depressed don’t show on my face.
“I received permission.” (Suela)
“Will your body be okay?” (Jiro)
I asked again, but it doesn’t seem like there will be a problem.
But the next worry will be about the lack of magical power,
“The hairpin accumulates magic power and uses illusionary magic to disguise my appearance to resemble a race of people from this earth, so there is no problem. However, the effect will wear off in about half a day, so I have to return home before then.” (Suela)
That, too, seems to have been solved.
The jewelry that is attached to her hair and the emerald-like gemstone that is attached to the body of the jewelry seems to have a fixed magic formula and magic power.
In the first place, it seems that it was necessary to send such personnel out to distribute flyers. They have prepared such magic tools, although they are extremely expensive.
Of course, it is not something that can be used so easily, but the fact that she can bring it with her is great.
“Come in and wait a little while, I’ll have to get myself ready.” (Jiro)
“Yes!” (Suela)
Then there was no reason for me to refuse.
I had just finished and was feeling a bit stuffed.
So, a change of scenery wouldn’t be a problem here.
I’m feeling a little more upbeat, whereas the gloomy feeling I had a while ago has disappeared.
For now, I need to get ready too.
It’s bad enough that I have to wait in front of my room all the time, but it’s not like it’s a mess.
I invite Suela into the room, and I head to the changing room on my own.
It usually takes a man about ten minutes or so to get ready, if his preparations aren’t too long.
Just getting dressed and doing a quick rinse would take at least that long.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” (Jiro)
“Well, I suddenly appeared.” (Suela)
“Are you ready to go?” (Jiro)
“Yes.” (Suela)
Even so, it’s not right to make a woman wait.
I quickly made preparations and called out to Suela, who was probably looking over my work at the table, and she replied calmly enough that I could tell she wasn’t in a bad mood.
We walk out together, car keys in hand.
I would not have done this if we were inside the company, but if we were in the dormitory, I held out my hand and she slowly took it in hers.
I feel her warmth, and we stay locked hands for the short time it takes us to get to the parking lot.
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