Episode 34: Frustration and Determination
“Hmm, dungeons that are open to the public are no different from leisure facilities, so they might not be considered experience. Okay, thank you. Next person—”
The examiner was saying something, but Yuma had almost no memory of what followed.
He staggered out of the company and sat down on a bench outside. All he knew for sure was that he had definitely failed.
“Haa… are interviews this tough? I was too naive.”
Exhaustion washed over him, and his spirits sank. Did his father let him take a leave of absence from university because he knew this would happen? He was someone who knew the harshness of society well.
Did he foresee that his job hunting wouldn’t go well?
“Maybe I should just go to university…”
Yuma was starting to feel weak, but he shook his head.
He had made such a grand declaration that he wanted to get a job, he couldn’t possibly say he failed so easily. It was too uncool.
Yuma had to get a job somehow, no matter where. But he couldn’t picture it working out at all. At that moment—
“Here!”
A canned coffee was suddenly thrust next to his face. He looked up to see a man with a bowl cut and narrow eyes standing there.
“Well, have a drink! You look like you’re about to die.”
“Ah, thank you very much.”
He took the canned coffee without understanding why and thanked him.
“I also took the GIG Corporation interview. But no, no, I definitely failed. And I was feeling down and about to go home when I saw a student who was even more depressed than me. I saw you during the interview, so I couldn’t help but worry. Well, drink some coffee and calm down.”
“Hah, haa… are you from Kansai?”
“No, I’m from Chiba.”
–He’s a fake Kansai person! he thought to himself, but he no longer had the energy to call him out on it.
“Are you a high school student? Amazing, trying to get a job at a Dungeon-related company at that age.”
“Ah, yes, well… but I didn’t think it would be this difficult. I thought the competition would be lower because it’s a dangerous job.”
“Ah, that’s an old story. Dungeon research has advanced, and the weapons to defeat Monsters have also improved. If safety is improving, students will jump at the high rewards. I’m one of them, by the way.”
“I see…”
“Well, don’t be so down! I’m Akito Tennoji. If we’re lucky enough to get a job, let’s meet on the field. What’s your name?”
The man who called himself Tennoji smiled broadly. His narrow eyes became even narrower.
He thought he was a strange person, but he felt a strange sense of kinship.
“I’m Yuma Mitaka.”
“Yuma, huh? Then, let’s meet again, Yuma. See ya.”
Tennoji said that and left. Yuma felt like that guy could get hired with just his communication skills. Thinking that, Yuma stood up and decided to go home.
On the way to the station, he noticed a large bookstore.
–Come to think of it, I’ve only been getting Dungeon information online. If I’m going to study seriously, I should buy some books.
“I’ll stop by.”
Yuma passed through the automatic doors of the bookstore and entered the store. It was a fairly large bookstore.
He looked for the Dungeon-related section and found it immediately. It was taking up a considerable space, so it must be popular.
“Hmm, let’s see.”
He looked at the books on display and saw various titles.
『The Secrets of Monster Subjugation Taught by a Top Seeker』
『Easy Dungeon Utilization Techniques: How to Profit from Low-Level Magic Gems』
『Monster Encyclopedia: The World’s Rarest Creatures』
『From Dungeon Novice to Salaryman Seeker』
『Job Hunting for Dungeon-Related Companies: 100% Job Offer Acquisition』
『Dungeon Company Strategy Guide Taught by a Career Consultant』
“Wow, they even have job-hunting books.”
He picked up a few books and flipped through the pages. As expected, they were packed with information that wasn’t available online.
Above all, it was good that the source of the information was clear. With online articles, it’s sometimes hard to tell if they’re true or false.
He decided to buy about three books. Of course, the focus was on job-hunting books.
“I need to make sure I don’t embarrass myself at the next interview.”