“Um, the remaining two of the Ebisu Hedgehog team that we were in… Can’t we hire them too?”
“Huh, of course, that’s fine…”
“Well, you see, those two were buried alive at that time, right? They still seem to have PTSD, you know? Their trauma seems quite severe, and it seems tough for them to work somewhere normally… So, I thought, maybe we could take care of them here until they settle down…”
“We’ll do our best for those two as well, so please, President!”
Yoshikawa-san said as she clasped her hands together, appealing to me.
“Of course, that’s okay! If anything, those two could even become employees…”
I said, thinking it was for the best… but their reactions were rather indescribable.
“Of course, it’s a grateful offer for us… but as a company, is it okay to suddenly hire people whose ability to work is uncertain?”
“President… if you run a business like that, it’ll go under right away, you know?”
“Huh? Oh… yes…”
Lowering the raised praise, Mars and I left the hardworking factory workers behind. As expected, when things settle down, I should leave the hiring responsibilities to Abukuma-san or Yoshikawa-san… I vowed to myself as the burning red sunset cheered me on, and we made our way home.
We were greeted at home with a feast prepared by the princess. She had prepared it as a celebration upon learning that Abukuma-san and the others had become employees. Sitting in front of a dining table lined with our favorite dishes, I sat seiza and reported again to the two that the labor shortage seemed to be resolved.
“So, thanks to all your help, the labor shortage at the company seems to be resolved. Thank you very much.”
“Well done, President.”
“Tonbo did well.”
Praised by the two, I found myself feeling happy, scratching my head to hide my relaxed face as I bowed again.
“No, no, it’s thanks to you two. Hime provided the goods, and Mars gave various advice, so we managed somehow.”
“But, you acted on it, Tonbo, and that’s something to be proud of. Tonbo, you’ve really grown since starting this business.”
“Well, I won’t deny that Hime is amazing, but Tonbo, you did great this time, taking responsibility and all.”
As they praised each other, I kept lowering my head more and more, almost to the point of prostrating myself. Hime’s hand patted my head as she said,
“So, isn’t there something for the hardworking product development department?”
“Eh? Um, would you like me to massage your shoulders if you’d like?”
“Hime don’t get stiff shoulders.”
I hadn’t even realized it because it was so natural, but Hime was a cyborg. Nevertheless, it’s a fact that I’ve been relying on them both constantly.
I wonder if something good has been exchanged at the junkyard…?
“Huh? What’s this?”
“Eh? What?”
“What did you find?”
When I took out something unfamiliar from the junkyard, both of them came closer to see it.
“It’s a letter.”
“Huh? And it’s written in Japanese?”
“What do you mean, what do you mean!?”
Yes, that’s Japanese.
As I presented the black envelope, which should have flowed into the junkyard connected to somewhere in space, both of them looked at it, and on its surface, in gold letters, it said, “A special invitation only for you.” Looking at it, I finally realized. Those words were just too… too suspicious.
“Well, we probably shouldn’t open this, right?”
“I think so too.”
“Hime has no objections, so let’s put it away.”
As everyone agreed to put away the suspicious black envelope, suddenly, unfamiliar music started playing from my smartphone.
[Anywhere in space, quick delivery, from today’s meal to dimensional piercing weapons, anything you want ]
“Eh, what’s this…? An incoming call!?”
The music that flowed from the smartphone seemed to be a ringtone. I don’t remember setting this… The caller was displayed as “Tita,” a name I had never heard of, of course.
[You know, the official in space, it’s the Goldhead Dragon Trading Company.]
“Oh no! Hang up, hang up, hang up!”
“Eh? Can I hang up?”
[Anywhere in space]
“Hurry up!”
“I hung up!”
I trembled as I hung up the call with trembling fingers, and slowly placed the smartphone on the table, trying to calm my pounding heart. At the same time, the music started playing again.
“Oh no!”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
[Anywhere in space]
“Hang up, hang up!”
“I hung up!”
[Anywhere in space]
“Hang up, Tonbo!”
“I hung up!”
[Anywhere in space]
“It’s persistent.”
“Just turn off the power!”
“I’m trying… It won’t turn off!”
Even when I held down the power button, the power wouldn’t turn off at all. With the button pressed, I looked at Hime and Mars’ faces.
“Is it bad if I answer?”
“Don’t answer, don’t answer.”
“Absolutely do not answer.”
I swallowed hard and slowly repositioned the smartphone on the table in an attempt to calm down.
“That’s right, Tonbo, just leave it there without doing anything.”
“Mar-chan, they said it was Goldhead Dragon Trading Company, but is it true?”
“To be honest, if it really is that company, it wouldn’t be strange no matter what they do.”
While listening absent-mindedly to Hime and Mars’ conversation, I took a long breath and relaxed my tense neck, when suddenly, the smartphone, which no one should have touched, started vibrating intensely and began moving across the table towards me.
“Eh…? Oh no, it’s moving! It’s moving!”
“Tonbo! Dodge it! Dodge it!”
As I tried to float my hips and move back, the smartphone fell off the table and hit my foot. In an instant, the deafening music stopped, and a cool female voice speaking Japanese could be heard.
[Sorry to bother you so late at night. I am Tita from the Goldhead Dragon Trading Company.]
“Oh… I picked it up…”
“Eh? Eh? Eh?”
“Calm down.”
Completely floored, I was pulled up by the princess and gently patted on the back.
[Is this a good time for a call from Mr. Kawashima? We’d like to provide you with some valuable information today.]
“Wrong number, wrong number, this isn’t Kawashima’s phone.”
As Mars speaks into his smartphone, the woman on the other end lets out a villainous laugh.
“Oh, my! This is Corporal Popte-sama, formerly of the Magia Transport Regiment’s Third Ship. It’s good to see you’ve been thawed out safely, in good health!”
“Eh, you were in Magia!? And a corporal!?”
“…Is it your company’s policy to blabber personal information in public like this?”
“We have no contracts with Magia, of course… but we do have contracts with your ladyship and former ladyship. Pleased to meet you, Mizu.”
“Just barging into a family gathering like this is hardly polite.”
“Huh? Huh? What’s going on?”
“Oh, Mr. Kawashima, Tonbo Kawashima. What a charming name you have. I’m Tita from the Dragon Trading Company. Nice to meet you.”
“How does she know we’re here? If it’s electronic surveillance, there’s no way the princess wouldn’t notice… “
“Mizu, the souls of high-level Espers shine brighter than stars in the dark cosmos. To hide a Level Four Esper in a corner of the universe would be quite the challenge.”
“Wha!? Level four!? Wasn’t Tonbo’s skill a downgraded market skill?”
As the princess shakes me while saying that, how would I know! What even are levels!
“Didn’t you notice? Well, maybe it’s beyond the comprehension of incompetents like yourselves…”
“About the level of that skill… ah.”
Before I could ask the caller a question, Mars’s paw gently covered my mouth.
“Don’t say anything, Tonbo. You might give away too much.”
“Oh, that’s not the case at all, but if you don’t want to discuss it, let’s move on. Mr. Kawashima, you must be thinking something like this, right? Who’s this sexy-voiced lady? Where is she from? Does she have a boyfriend? Is she married?”
I might not know about the sexy stuff or boyfriends, but I’m definitely wondering who she is.
“I can’t provide personal information, but I can introduce myself as many times as you like. I’m Tita from the golden Dragon Trading Company. We’re merchants. We provide whatever anyone wants, to anyone. We’re the best in the galaxy.”
“She’s a death merchant. They’re the ones who dragged out the last war for a thousand years. They roll supplies and weapons around each faction, then flip sides when it looks like it’s about to end.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not true, Popte-sama. We only provide what’s asked of us to those who ask, always fair and clean salespeople.”
“So why did you call a backwater college student like me?”
“Of course, it’s for negotiations. Oh, if you’d rather not say. We always understand our customers’ needs accurately. What you’re looking for now, Mr. Kawashima, is a spaceship, isn’t it?”
“…………”
When I look at Mars silently, he nods with his short finger in front of his mouth.
“Spaceships aren’t popular on your planet yet, it seems. But don’t worry. We’re prepared to provide Mr. Kawashima with a spaceship capable of atmospheric penetration.”
“What’s the catch?”
“In return, what we want is your continued transactions with us using your powers. But we’re a profit-making company, and handing over goods on credit could attract complaints from other customers…”
“Get to the point.”
“Oh, pardon me. We found the Red Dragon you were swept up in the market before, very intriguing. If you could provide us with another one like that, we’ll exchange it for the spaceship.”
“When it comes to Red Dragons, they’re those dangerous monsters from the dungeon that got exchanged for the princess. To ask for something like that again… that’s impossible! Besides, with my skill, there’s a size limit, and I can’t fit a spaceship…” As I thought this, I looked at Mars, who was touching his mouth with his paw while looking into my eyes.
“…You understand, right? Tonbo’s skill has a size limit; he can’t fit a spaceship.”
“Oh, Mr. Poptee, surely you understand? We have many talented individuals selected from across the galaxy in our company. Something as simple as passing an elephant through a needle’s eye is no longer magic these days.”
“So, are you trying to involve Tonbo in the deal and use his power over there?”
“Oh, Lady, nothing like that at all. Of course, we always reserve proper seats for high-level individuals, but…”
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