63 Field Decision Required at 59 os (1/2)

Tanaka Jiro, 28 years old, with a girlfriend

Her Suela Hendelberg

Memory Tris

Occupation Dungeon Tester (full-time)

Magical aptitude 8 (general class)

Post Warriors

When you wake up in the morning to find Memoria sleeping next to you, you're so happy that even in your sleep-dazed mind you can see it.

Maybe it's because Memoria is a vampire, or maybe it's just her personal constitution, but she's not very strong in her sleep.

So when I stroke her cheek like this, she brushes against me like a cat.

It's my own personal privilege to relieve the stress of yesterday.

Suela is so steady that you don't often see her sleeping face.

Instead, she often wakes me up to be watched.

And as for Memoria's pattern, when this happens, you have to take your time to wake her up.

If you shake her, she'll open her eyes, but it will take a long time for her head to wake up.

You can either wait for her to spontaneously awaken or give her a cup of coffee or something to drink to slowly wake her up.

I asked her once what she would do if she was attacked.

Memoria at that time was calm.

”Reflexive eradication by instinct.

and told me about the automatic defense mechanism against killing.

It would be awful to be killed in your sleep, I thought with a wry smile at the time.

Well, so much for escaping reality to heal like this.

It's a good thing I woke up just as the sun was beginning to emerge from the clouds.

Being up early means I have more time to spend.

Just enough time to get the situation in order before the memory is awakened.

Well, what should we think about first?

The situation is a coalition of theocracies Trice and Eclair kingdoms that summoned the brave versus the empire that used the body of the past demon king to create a golem, plus the first demon king (the ghost) who became a disaster before being drawn into the war.

It's a three-way street.

Common sense tells me that I can't solve this situation or make it better.

There's no need for it to begin with.

And I don't have that sense of justice that says ”people are in trouble.

Then it's only fair to consider the next best thing, to stay out of this situation.

The best thing to do would be to cross the world and return to Japan, but it would take some time to do it since some idiot summoned a hero.

Then naturally, the choice naturally settles on better than the best.

Better to hide out in a safe place in a city or facility that can transfer for homecoming, which would be better.

The berths will make the arrangements for that.

And we have Memoria, which is probably not such a bad choice.

But.

Is that okay?

Can you just go with the flow and let everything happen?

Doubts start to creep into my head, asking me if I'm sure.

Something akin to impatience fills me, wondering if there is anything I can do.

No, you don't,

Deny as if swallowing your emotions and rethink the roots of this feeling.

Then you will see naturally.

The order was reversed, or was it a different position?

It's not what you can do, it's what you want to do.

What are you doing passively?

The idea prompted me to take a thought one step further and my head began to spin so straightforwardly that I thought it was just a matter of time before I realized what I was spinning.

...... Oh, that's how it works.

This time the emotions fell into place as if to reaffirm that this is what it feels like to be aware.

It's like you took a wrong first step in an unfamiliar environment.

Okay, the thinking is good, this time it's right.

Let's think about what I want to do in this situation, me as a member of society and me as an individual.

The first thing that comes to mind is to benefit the company, as a working man.

The first thing on my mind is the safety of Memoria and my safety.

Is it possible to combine these two ideas?

Seems difficult but not impossible.

Not impossible, but difficult.

What is in the best interest of the company in this situation?

The decline in the country's military might would be an obvious benefit.

Is it possible for an individual?

On the subject of possible or impossible

”What can you do?

Ignore the individual and think about what is impossible at first.

The first thing that comes to mind is to think of fighting against an army or guerrilla warfare, but you laugh it off with your nose.

There is no way you can do such a thing.

If we were to do such a thing, we would certainly have to rely on the strength of the verse.

I can see that I can stop them, and I don't have that kind of authority.

Next, I'll have to figure out a dark move, but I have no political position or organizational connections that would allow me to run the show behind the scenes.

Impossible, reckless, reckless

Those three words tell me on the surface and on the reverse side that there's no room for me to barge in.

Be still and don't do anything, my thoughts of an individual who is trying to drag Memoria into the mix are prompting this thought to end.

...... do what you want with it.

”You're awake?

No, it hasn't happened yet.

I hear a voice gently pushing my thoughts that are about to hit such a plateau.

The top half of Memoria's body wakes up with her head bobbing and shaking, and it seems that she is not yet fully awake as she claims.

You can find evidence of this with your eyes half-open, as if you are going to row the boat dazedly into the world of second sleep if you are not careful.

As if the afterglow of yesterday is still there, she covers herself with a sheet and picks up my words and wakes up.

If you can do anything about it, please consult with me. Jiro seemed somewhat cramped since yesterday. No, that's not true. Since you came here you have been trying to force yourself to conform to our rules ...... and since that time you have been trying to fit the mold.

You're gradually awakening your mind as you speak.

The pace of your tone of voice is starting to become more normal.

So, Jiro-san was about to do something, did you have an idea?

...... that's totally . If it's a story, this is where a helpful character would come and give you a plan.

I'm stuck.

If you smile to tell her that, Memoria will not answer.

......

He just stared into my eyes.

”I'm here to help you with your character.

A slightly sulky tone came out of Memoria's mouth, which held silence for only a few seconds.

Answer her, imploring her to help.

You're a heroine.

”...... is concurrently.

Well, then, will you listen to me?

Yes.

The sulky tone of my response, satisfied but also slightly dissatisfied, will not be fixed, and I'll continue with the conversation while patting my head to see if I'm right.

In fact, I can do this at the same time.

I'll take you at your word.

I wasn't thinking about what I could do, I was thinking about what I wanted to do.

”Yes.

”I am unhappy with the present situation, but the war cannot be stopped by individuals. The behind-the-scenes maneuvering is not an option for me either. I've been going in circles there. The trouble my actions cause for the company and the trouble you're in with them.

It's a feeling I had while working at my last company.

Don't lose money for the company.

Don't bother your co-workers.

Do as your boss says.

They say we're a cog in the wheel of society.

The gears themselves have no power, they just do their job.

If they don't, the load will either shatter the gears or crush the gears around them.

There is no freedom.

Once you question it, you know it's common sense, and if you don't like it, you can quit or go into high office.

There were two choices.

The limited choices that were screwed together, and I'm torn between whether or not to resist now.

I see. So, shall I tell Jiro-san about our common sense?

Memoria had already returned to her usual tone as she conveyed her feelings.

With that firm, emotionless but sure voice she conveys.

The demon king's army doesn't care about the process as long as you can achieve the result. Everything is your responsibility, and that's how you become a cog.

Squeezing my hand, she is seriously trying to tell me.

”That's it. So I'll push you back. This isn't trouble, this is a chance. You've got to outsmart me here, or you won't work for us, okay?

”...........

Ah, yes, this is not that company.

It's a company run by the otherworldly demon king's army.

There's no way I can apply my common sense to such a company.