Otherworld Company Chapter 40.1: It’s Not the Perpetrator that gets Inconvenienced, It’s Always Someone Else… So, Don’t Come Over Here!

Jiro Tanaka: 28 years old – Unmarried

Girlfriend(s): Suela Handelberg & Memoria Tris

Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Regular Employee)

Magical Aptitude: Eight (General Class)

　It’s not so much a mess as it is a peace of mind after the resolution of a relationship.

　“Why am I here?” (Jiro)

　There was a time when things were temporarily hectic in the form of being caught up in the possessiveness rather than romantic feelings of Toru Hizumi, but that was only yesterday, and as expected, with the mediation of a third party, that high-class lady Nostalfel seemed to move with an open mind, and Kitamiya’s transfer to our party ended smoothly and she was now our official member.

　And we, or to be more precise, I was still doing my normal business, as usual, attacking the dungeon with safety first… should have been my normal business.

　As I said at the beginning of this entry, we were supposed to finish yesterday’s messy work and spend our day off together watching Japanese and Hollywood movies that we wanted to watch together with Suela in our room.

　“…What am I doing here exactly?” (Jiro)

　And yet, the woman who should be next to me has just informed me that she has to go to work on her day off for an urgent job, and instead I have in front of me the woman I saw yesterday as well.

　I can express my feelings in one word: annoyed.

　You can hear it in my voice.

　“I’ll need you to do your duties.” (Kyla)

　In contrast, the young lady-like dragonman in front of me, whom I will no longer refer to as “Miss” is smiling with an air of elegance.

　Slowly, Nostalfel sits down on the sofa in front of her with her arms folded in a way that emphasizes her breasts, which are fuller than those of most women, even if they are inferior to Suela’s. She grabs a cup of tea.

　I am sitting across from her, and there are not a few cigarette butts left in the ashtray in front of me.

　This is not my room, nor is it the party room where I usually talk with Kaido and the others.

　It is a company meeting room.

　There I am, despite the fact that it is a holiday! I was there still.

　“Why bother calling me when I’m on my day off? Hey.” (Jiro)

　The reason I’m grumpy is quite simple: I’m being forced to do holiday work pro bono, which is probably one of the top three pet peeves of working people.

　I’ve always worked in this industry with no fixed work hours, and I’ve worked with Kaido and sometimes solo to accommodate the schedules of students Minami, Masaru, and Kitamiya, but I’ve never been called in on a day I’ve decided to take off like this.

　Fortunately, I had heard that Suela would be leaving in the morning, so I was thinking of going to a rental store and renting a movie in the morning.

　However, when the person I had been hoping not to see for a while, with whom I had recently caused and solved a problem, came in.

　I had a bad feeling, not as a tester, but as a member of society.

　“I’m sorry, I thought you were working since we are ‘in’ today, and they seem to be tackling the dungeon today as well.” (Kyla)

　“I’m sure we’ve got our schedules worked out, we’re on our own pace, there shouldn’t be any delays in the work, right?” (Jiro)

　I remember the constant reminders to keep the checks and balances while jabbing at them so as not to make them work themselves too much.

　If we continue to follow their pace, we are sure to work without a doubt.

　I am an office worker who has been brought up under the Labor Standards Act.

　We don’t compromise when it comes to holidays.

　Besides, the next words out of the mouth of someone who is telling you to work first thing will be easier than predicting tomorrow’s weather.

　“That statement could be perceived as being uncooperative, couldn’t it?” (Kyla)

　There it is.

　An invitation to the death march of a black company.

　They are telling you to work harder because everyone around you is working harder.

　If you keep hitting your quotas, your superiors are going to ask you to do even more. [T/N: I’m getting PTSD from this.]

　“Forgive me, now what? Can you cut to the chase?” (Jiro)

　I must let the nasty words slide.

　I have a general idea of what to expect from the word “duties” earlier, but I still don’t intend to make the mistake of misunderstanding without asking.

　“It doesn’t really matter, Chief Tanaka.” (Kyla)

　Chief, okay?

　Until now, or even in the past, I have never been called by a title.

　In other words, it must have something to do with it.

　I silently suck up my cigarette and shorten it at once.

　I have an idea about what she is saying.

　It’s about the recent personnel change, my position.

　I’m in the process of drafting it, not that it hadn’t occurred to me.

　“…so is this about helping your party?” (Jiro)

　“Oh, you’re going to talk honestly, I thought I’d have to use a little more subterfuge.” (Kyla)

　“The most useless thing in business is making people work against each other. That’s what I think.” (Jiro)

　“It’s a good attitude.” (Kyla)

　Do you think I can’t see the brown envelope that I often say looks like it could fit an A4 sheet of paper neatly on my desk?

　The fact that she proudly placed it where I could see it must mean that there is something about that paper that would force me to act.

　“I’ll leave the official order here, and I’ve told them that they can leave and join you in the afternoon for a more detailed meeting.” (Kyla)

　“You know they don’t pay me extra for overtime.” (Jiro)

　“I’m sure you’ll agree that the position comes with responsibilities. I would appreciate it if you would take care of it for me.” (Kyla)

　For testers, who do not have regular vacations, vacations are at their own discretion, and in this profession, where the concept of overtime pay is firmly prohibited, going to work on a holiday is a zero or non-existent option, as the only income is a small bonus.

　But that doesn’t seem to be possible.

　With a wave of her hand, the cup of tea she had just been drinking disappeared and she quickly walked out of the room as if she had done her business.

　“Damn it, it’s common sense to give advance notice.” (Jiro)

　Even if I were to say this to the inhabitants of another world, they might not get the message due to differences in common sense, but still, I can’t do it without saying it.

　I’m going to tell my party, revise my course of action, and cancel my date with Suela, a parade of terrible instances pulling my mood to the ground with so much force that it’s audible, and I feel like cursing out loud.

　I can’t even think of a way to save the day.

　The order form, which I pulled out forcefully so that it was slightly wrinkled, had the contents written in Japanese.

“I order you to go to Toru Hizumi’s party and assist them.” 

　The headline alone is enough to make one feel queasy, but as one searches for holes to try to make this matter go away, however, the fact that it is not possible upon glancing at the supervisor’s signature blocking any escape.

　“Aw, f*ck!” (Jiro)

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