16 15 The power of the boss is indispensable for improving the workplace, that is, the winner is the one who has the boss on his side..txt (1/2)

Tanaka Jiro, 28 years old, single, no girlfriend

Occupation Dungeon Tester (full-time) + Recruiter

Magic Aptitude 8 (General Class)

Officer of the Year: Warrior

Now, Jiro, do you know why you're here?

I have so many possibilities, I'm not sure which one it is.

I'm in one of the private rooms in what is called the small conference room.

It's a number two on my head, but it doesn't matter what number this is right now.

What matters is that Superintendent Evvia has called me in person and I'm in full-on lecture mode.

”Clever, don't you think a human being could at least fake it?

What choice do we have but to wave the white flag when such a chart of relationships is established: snakes and frogs, wolves and sheep, dragons and farmers?

And whether it's human or demon, it doesn't matter.

But it seems that the initial jab had an effect on Superintendent Evier, who was slightly swallowed up.

I think ”honor student” is the title that doesn't suit me the most.

Sometimes I feel closer to the title ”problem child” than I ever have.

I don't know why I was called out and I don't have a problem.

First of all, you can't be suicidal, lying to Supervisor Evier who is showing signs of anger.

I wonder what's going to happen afterwards.

”When you're going solo, you're not exactly in tune with your surroundings, so how can you say you have no particular plans for someone like that?

Kukku. That's it.

Well, I'm making a lot of sense here, but the point is that we're having these conversations because we understand from experience that this is the least damaging way to do it.

It's faster to show that you understand the problem than to just apologize and ask for an explanation of the problem.

The downside is that it can get pretty nasty with your boss if you get it wrong.

Fortunately, this guy?　Demons? is a reasonable man.

He's not the kind of guy who'd just go off on a rude awkward tangent.

This is just a way of giving you a reprieve to get in on the joke.

Now, here's the thing. There's an offer on the table for you to leave.

”Huh.

But it seems this was no time for jokes.

This is probably how the bloodlust recedes.

I'm sure I'd break a cold sweat or two if I heard that a decapitation stand was being prepared to sever my social standing.

I can clearly feel it going downhill from the top of my head.

”Don't jump to conclusions, not from us.

And?

I told you I was coming up. Some of our testers are trying to tell me that I should fire you. I hear, Jiro, that you almost killed one of your testers.

I was relieved.

There is no element of reassurance in the content of the supervisor's words, but at least it brings back some of the bloodlust that it wasn't a declaration of decapitation from the leaders above.

Furthermore, the smile on his face and eyes, as if to say that he is lecherous but mischievous, is also a reassuring factor.

It's rare for someone to so clearly express that he's playing with me.

And the biggest reassurance factor is that I have an idea of the story in question.

More to the point, it's a relief that I don't see myself in trouble so much.

...... I see you.

As for the rest, I'll check with him later. But it's true for now, isn't it?

The supervisor may think he's asking a normal question, but his sharp appearance makes it sound like he's choking.

You can calmly answer the question because you're not as heartbroken as the demon yakuza and the dark gentleman.

''To correct you, it's accurate to say that they threatened me and I threatened them back.

It was only yesterday.

It's easy to remember the gist of it without thinking it through.

Then you just explain the situation in a nutshell.

”Of course.

The director understands.

I've established that kind of trust.

By ”still,” you mean you didn't trust their side of the story?

”Do you people have no respect for the devil? We are deceitful and contract-driven. I have lived my whole life deceiving and being deceived. It's like telling black and white from white when you're a young man with only 20 years to live.

I might add, your words are the same.

That's when I realized.

So you knew that the nice man lied to me and yet you insisted that I should be fired through no fault of my own?

What can I say.

That was pretty funny, huh?

”Don't read my thoughts.

And while I thought it was comical, I'm more inclined to wonder if he could lie or if he was brave enough to do it.

”Are you trying to deprive the devil of his fun?　You're arrogant.

Arrogance?

I'm probably the only man on the planet who's ever been called arrogant by the devil.

That's not what I'm thinking about.

”If you don't like it, you should clean up your face a little better so I can have a little more fun.

'Don't make reading people's minds a hobby in the first place.

The raccoon and the fox, or perhaps in this case it was more of a mind game than a game of tricks.

Superintendent Evvia, who seemed to enjoy that sort of thing, wasn't going to listen to what I wanted.

”No.

Of course.

He cuts me off cleanly .

I don't know what the initial tension was, but from the conversations we've had and my feelings, I can't help but think that Superintendent Evvia was just playing me.

”I'm doing this out of concern for your appearance. Do you have any doubt in your mind as to the competence of a man if you can't overlook something as trivial as this?

As Superintendent Evvia, when accused of something like this, we can't help but make a move to keep our relationships running smoothly.

Even if we, as a species, are aware that this is obviously a lie, we, as humans, will not be convinced.

So he went through the trouble of coming to create an environment that we can easily understand.

It may not make much sense when you explain to me, but it's a comedy.

I feel sorry for this kind of man who can't remember his name.

A pity that will be forgotten tomorrow.

”Yes, sir. The point is, all I have to do is try not to be read, right?

I love a man who is quick to understand.

Hi.

Her personality is quite hedonistic with a lot of lewdness in it, but she is so beautiful that she would run away barefoot, whether she is an idol or an actress.

If you like it, even if it's just a formality, you'll feel a little better if you're told you like it.

Now, Jiro, let's get to the point. but that's for the humans' convenience. I'm not suggesting that you suppress your anger or irrationality and play nice. Just keep out of trouble and prove yourself.

Then, as if flipping a switch, the supervisor turned serious and said, ”You don't think that's a word you should use to describe someone who's caused a problem?

”That's not a very nice thing to say to someone who's caused a problem, is it?

”Hm, I'm not going to tell the guy who can't. And I'm not going to tell him that we're all just trying to get along on the surface of things. People try to make camaraderie out of pretty things, but to me, that kind of group consciousness is just a nauseating, spiteful object.

My supervisor doesn't like the white-colored stuff.

He has flatly denied two of the three principles that boys' magazines promise: friendship, hard work and victory.

Remember, Jiro. I've seen enough of the human race to know that they are corrupt. The greedy, the pure, the wise, the foolish, you humans are just different in your individual consciousness. We are evil and we raise a weapon in our hands that can destroy us and bring it down on us in the name of a good cause. I did not do anything wrong by following my greed. I was not to blame for believing that I was right. It's all the enemy's fault. The other man's fault. The justice is mine. There was ever so much justice.

I wasn't so shocked by Superintendent Evvia's disgusting words.

That's what relationships are like.

You only believe what you want to believe and you look away or reject what's inconvenient.

Rarely do relationships exist where you can look at the dirty things and not be afraid of them, but only a few and most will keep a shallow and moderate distance.

How am I supposed to smile and tell them to get along with each other because they are my friends?

To a superintendent, it's all just a pale imitation of getting along.

I can understand and accept that.

'You're right and it's a good argument, but would you say that to me, a human being?

I'm at a loss for a response.

I can still tell them apart. you're Jiro Tanaka before you're human. I'll make an exception. Others will be, or not, depending on their efforts.

I don't feel bad that you're implying this is the way to go.

Even though I knew it was right in front of me.

As a plaything?

”F

No, you don't have to tell me.

I can tell by the look on your face.

Yes, you look really happy.

Jiro, even though it was ordered by the devil king, inviting a human into my dungeon should have been disgusting to me. But I'm more than happy to have a good time with this bargain.

A bargain, in your own mind, that's me.

It's good to be liked by your boss.

But...

Wait a minute, Superintendent, what did you say?　This company is a dungeon?

I'm sorry to break up the good atmosphere, but I feel like this demon has just blithely said something outrageous.

''What, you didn't notice it? No, it's because the concentration is slightly diluted to help them get used to the magic: ...... This company building itself is my dungeon. Otherwise, there's no way I could fill a world with magical power, even if it's limited, let alone have a gate that leads to other dungeons.

Yeah.

As you might have guessed from the leaked words, I'm halfway convinced that this company has no choice in the matter of building dungeons on earth.

It is true that this company is large, but there are several facilities that boast a physics-defyingly large indoor area.

There's a training room and a commercial facility in the basement.

The training room, the underground shopping mall, and so on.

And thus, this company's building.

Yeah, the dungeon core exists. If it's destroyed, I won't be able to exist, and I'll be obliterated.

Are you sure?　Tell me.

”All right, it's classified, but we're not putting it in a place that goes anywhere fast. It's called a dungeon, for God's sake. We have some protection. Jiro, how about you challenge my dungeon under the guise of security check and make me your enemy?　Now the other generals will follow you?

I don't want to create any more work for you, so I'll pass.

I think it was a quick turnaround myself.

It wouldn't be surprising if Superintendent Evvia's dungeon and other extra-stage backstage bosses were lurking around.

Orthodox? I'm having trouble with dungeons like this.

I don't want to live in an environment where I can't even level up when I'm dying to return.

I see. I heard that the Duke had some spare time on his hands, so I figured it was just as well.

As it is, please keep that duke busy.

A duke was supposed to be a high ranking title from the top to the earliest .

A demon and a duke, a different dimension of strength is visibly evident .

''You're so dull. Okay, we got sidetracked, but generally we're cool with it. We gave the man a job offer for a change, but that was it. I'm not gonna get involved beyond that, at least not for me. What do you do when you hear that?

Ignore it, I guess.

What?　Why?

Most of them think it's a hassle, but if you dare to reason with them, they're bound to lose it. How about that?

Keep going.

You cross your arms and lean against the back of the chair and urge me on.

I'm the one who broke the bridge of the Tengu's nose...even if such a being were to come close to me, they would only look down on me and think of using me as a tool. No, it's the thought of getting rid of them that comes first. I don't want to be attacked from behind, so it's impossible for us to have a business partner relationship at this point in time. He's the type who can only see short-term profit. So we'll just pretend it never happened. Or just pretend it's not there. It's in our best interest.

It's a stopgap measure, a stopgap measure, but there are only so many moves you can make.

I'll make the best, but not the best, move.

Boring.

You're cutting it to the quick.

Hm, as an organizer, you're not wrong. I just don't think I'd like it.

I almost chuckled at the fact that I was starting to get a taste for it, but when I thought the supervisor had moved away from the back, he grabbed me by the collar and pulled me into a guffaw.

'Crush.'

What?

For a moment my heart raced and my heart raced, and then he said something boisterous at a distance where I could kiss him.

Naturally, my heart that should have been racing began to beat in a different way.

Aren't you frustrated?　Your reputation in the eyes of those around you is at the bottom of the heap. Do you think nothing of being insulted by those who have recently gone beyond comical and thought nothing of it by being happy and worried about an achievement that doesn't make much difference anywhere, including the rankings?

Well, whatever.

So I let it out like I really do.

That's what I really think.

I'm a control freak, a control freak.

”Don't lick the devil.

I couldn't go on hating it.

”Lies don't work. I told you that. I don't like it. I don't like the fact that you're such a great liar.

Shit, it seems I've stepped through a huge mine.

A cold, madcap will pierced my eyes.

I was instantly hardened.

I couldn't move...it's not easy to bind.

It was as if my life was being held in a tight grip, and though it didn't hurt, something cold held me in place.

You can't lift a finger...not even a blink of an eye.

”We've checked out the backgrounds of every human here. The others weren't much fun or interesting at all. The human elite are no better to me than pebbles in the road. But you're not, are you?

Is this what a maniacal smile looks like?

He's having a lot of fun trudging through my past with his feet.

”You were a man to be crushed. You did it, didn't you?　Didn't I crush one person?

Mending, that's something every human being does.

But this devil won't allow it.

I look ugly when I'm mended, and I know that I am what's inside, and that's why I'm not going to let it go easy on me.

You want me to show you who I am.

Why do you push yourself so hard to the point of being trapped?　You think you're afraid to expose them?　No, no, I'm not afraid of that. You know it's not an object of fear, it's an over-useful blade that can be controlled by reason and wielded by emotion. A blade that hurts others, removes the threat to you, instills awe.

It's not that big of a deal, sir.

It's just like a legendary sword.

But if you ask me what I've done, it's probably what I've done.

At best it was upsetting and at worst it was biting a cornered rat.

Three years after I started working for my former company, I was just getting used to my job and could work by myself when the work flowed like a fountain.

It happened when the stress was about to reach its peak, when the company's employees were working at a rate of overheating, exceeding 120 percent.

Well, despite the hyperbole, what happened was simple.

The incompetent just couldn't read the atmosphere.

The gears that were barely turning in line under the unspoken rule that each department would follow each other's lead without pointing out the slightest mistake were only distorted by the boss's persistent scratching of the little bruises.

The target of the attack happened to be me, and I had already put up with it so long ago that I could easily burst the bag.

My mind went cold and I worked harder than usual, as if my brain's limiters had been released.

If he had done this on purpose, he must have been great, but there was no chance of that when he was smugly telling me what I was doing and how I was contributing to the company, with a smug look on his face.

All I can think about is how to get the job done efficiently and get this boss off my back.

One after another, I kept thinking about how to convert my past frustrations into anger and make him/her disappear.

Humans are creatures of the dark, aside from their roots.

The closest example would be the surprise party.

A bad example would be my surprise party, where I kicked my boss to the curb like this.

I took control of the 120% availability rate I'd been suppressing with emotion and used it to power my anger and ran a 200% availability rate.

One by one, I took away the work, and I followed my black emotions and turned my boss into a mere figurine sitting in a chair.

That's a very long time to bring up.

The result is that that seat is now occupied by someone else.

It's because you're a coward. It's not my fault.

I'm reminded of the sensation I had at that time, and my voice, which I squeezed out of my chilled body that had barely begun to move, naturally has no power.

You listen to the weak voice as if it were someone else's and look at a part of me that is covered in dust.

Humility seems to be a peculiar characteristic of this country, but to me it's only ironic.

There's nothing more reliable than self-evaluation.

The part of my character that the supervisor refers to as my character is definitely underestimated in my opinion, in an evaluation that varies from over- to under-estimated.

You said you weren't much, but you're not, and what you have is great. Jiro, what you have is ambition.

The thing that was dusted off to reveal itself.

People say that ambition is a bad thing. But it is not. It is a necessary motivator for self-improvement. How can you beat the man above you and establish your position? It would be a shame to leave it buried.

The supervisor pulled it out lovingly.

”Polish it up, you're the one who can do it.

You don't like selfish people, do you?

”What does the exception say, I am the Devil. The devil has watched mankind grow and fall. Sometimes he has helped, sometimes he has counseled, sometimes he has been involved. I won't let go of the one thing I haven't found in a long time that could be of interest to me.

I slowly let go of the collar that I had grabbed, and the madness I had been showing slowly and quietly fades away.

I'll see how you do. I'll see if you fall or rise.

Translation?

”You can look forward to being a dull man. I'll turn you into a man who enjoys himself.

That's very direct.

I don't know why they expect me to go this far, or if I'm worth that much.

But if you say so, I'm at least ready to change my mind.

”Hm, be a little more considerate.

Tough.

'What do you mean, it's still the sweeter one for me.

It's hard to evaluate.

I thought I had made it a little better in my own way, but I got people to notice the changes, but it wasn't enough .

I'm going to take a little too long. You just do the best you can and think about how you're going to handle this.

I'm the supervisor who calls it quits in spite of me.

”I'll take that as a yes.

When he finished, he got up and left as quickly as he could.

A woman who left no trace of her presence in the room, leaving a huge ripple effect on my mind.

What to do.

The word ”no smoking” has disappeared in recent years.

Surprisingly, in this company, there is no such thing as a separate smoking area, which has become the norm.

The exhaled smoke is quickly absorbed by the magic of the place.

I don't know how it works, but if this is a dungeon, it seems to have some function at least to purify the air.

All you have to worry about is the ashes and the cigarettes you've finished smoking, so you can smoke anywhere.

You may be careful in public, but for smokers, this is a great company to work for.

Ignoring ...... is the easiest thing to do.

And slowly, as I breathe in the smoke, I think about my relationship with the other testers .

At first it was an age difference in values that rubbed against each other, sullied and curved, and now it's developed into a mid-factional war.

The first thing that comes to mind is the status quo, or perhaps ignoring it.

Pretend they didn't exist and they won't notice the flying winged insects, and that should last a while.

Meanwhile, I'll come up with a solution.

It would have been better, but now that the supervisor has put us in the crosshairs, we'll just have to do our best.