Episode 33: Self-Promotion
Otemachi, Tokyo. Here lies one of the Dungeon corporations, “GIG Corporation.”
Yuma, clad in a Recruit Suit his parents bought for the interview, stood before the office building housing GIG Corporation.
“I’m nervous… it’s my first time.”
He stepped into the building and headed to the fifth floor, where GIG Corporation was located. The building was stylish with a lot of glass, but the building itself wasn’t that big.
GIG Corporation, located in one corner of it, wasn’t a large company either, but—
“Excuse me.”
What Yuma saw upon entering the room was an overwhelming number of students. Everyone was dressed in black hair and similar suits, waiting for their turn.
–There are this many!?
He thought there might be a concentration of applicants since the company hired twice a year, in spring (April) and autumn (October), but this was too much.
What surprised him most was that there were several women, even though it was a “Seeker” recruitment.
“Seriously… it’s completely different from what I expected.”
Yuma sat on a chair lined up in front of the interview room, waiting for his turn with a restless feeling.
The students sitting on either side of him seemed to be university students. They looked incredibly intelligent.
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind. This was a “Seeker” recruitment interview, not a general job recruitment.
He was called into the room with five other people and sat on the chairs lined up.
In front of him were three interviewers. They looked to be in their forties or fifties. Dressed sharply in suits, the interviewers exuded an aura different from school teachers, making him inevitably nervous.
“Let’s begin. First, could each of you introduce yourselves? Starting with the person on the far right.”
The interviewer in the middle took the lead. Was this person the most important? The female student who was pointed at stood up.
“I am Kouzaki Miyoshi, a fourth-year student at Olbert Women’s Academy. I am deeply impressed by your company’s spirit of helping people suffering from serious illnesses. I have also obtained the national qualification of ‘Dungeon Paramedic Level 2’ for employment. Thank you for your time today.”
The female student bowed deeply. Yuma couldn’t hide his surprise at her overly formal self-introduction.
–Do I have to say something like that too? And what’s a ‘Dungeon Paramedic’!? Is that even a qualification?
“Thank you. Next, please.”
While Yuma was panicking, the next student stood up. A tall university student who looked like an athlete.
Since Yuma was sitting in the middle of the five, he began to feel nervous as it was his turn next.
“I am Arimine Yujiro, a fourth-year student at Itsutsuhashi University. I have been studying daily in the Department of Dungeon Research at the university. I have also participated in about forty Dungeon experience events hosted by Elceed Corporation and Aithas Corporation! Thank you!”
Itsutsuhashi University is such a prestigious school! Go to a bigger company, Yuma cursed in his mind, desperately thinking about what he should appeal.
“Hahaha, you’re energetic. I see, the Dungeon Research Department at Itsutsuhashi University… it’s famous. I know Professor Nakane, is he still doing well?”
“Yes! He is still teaching energetically.”
“I see, that’s good. Thank you. Next, please.”
Finally, it was his turn. Yuma slowly stood up and took a small breath.
“I, I am Mitaka Yuma, a third-year student at Otori High School. I also want to help people, so I applied for a position at your company. I don’t have any special knowledge or qualifications, but I have entered Dungeons many times, so I want to make use of that experience.”
He desperately endured his voice from cracking and managed to say it somehow.
“Oh, you’re a high school student. Most of the people who come for interviews are university students or working adults, so I feel even more motivated. By the way, you said you’ve entered Dungeons many times, about how many times have you entered?”
“W-Well, yes. I-I’ve entered more than a hundred times and defeated Monsters!”
“Oh! That’s amazing.”
–It’s not a lie, it’s not a lie! I was defeating Metal Slimes, though.
“Then your ‘Mana Index’ must be quite high?”
“Eh? Ah, no… well, my Mana Index is zero…”
“Could it be that when you say you’ve entered Dungeons, you mean the lower floors that are open to the public?”
“Well… yes, that’s right.”
He heard a chuckle from next to him. The female student sitting on the far right was covering her mouth and laughing.
The other students also seemed to be holding back their laughter.
Yuma’s face turned red with embarrassment.