SWNOVELXO Volume 1 Chapter 1 - Fired from the Company
“I’m quitting this company! I’m not going to do as you say anymore!”
How many times had I thought of saying this line?
Four years since graduating from university.
I was disliked by my direct boss, always assigned impossible tasks, and scolded if I couldn’t do them.
But without proper qualifications or the ability to work elsewhere, I had no choice but to accept it all.
Starting the day with the expectation of another bad day, I arrived at work, exchanged greetings with my colleagues, and was about to sit at my desk.
“Okita-kun, come here for a moment.”
Just as I was about to sit down, my boss called for me.
What could it be this early in the morning…
Another impossible task?
“What is it?”
Although I was reluctant, I was careful not to show it in my expression and headed over to my boss’s desk.
Sitting at his desk, my boss looked up at me while leaning on one elbow.
His attitude was really bad, but he was always like this.
“Okita-kun, you don’t need to come from tomorrow.”
“What?”
I couldn’t understand what my boss was saying.
“You’re really stupid, aren’t you? Let me make it clear. You’re fired. Goodbye.”
Wha…what is he suddenly saying?
“What do you mean? Did I do something?”
I hadn’t made any major mistakes.
“No, the problem is that you haven’t done anything. Our company can’t afford to waste money on someone like you. So you’re fired. Oh, but make it look like voluntary resignation, okay?”
“Why!?”
I didn’t want to quit.
I thought every day about quitting, but I never really wanted to quit.
After all, I don’t have much savings and I don’t know if I’ll have another job.
“No, it would be troublesome if it’s not voluntary resignation.”
“It’s troublesome for me too!”
“Okita-kun, consider this a kindness from me. If you refuse here, I’ll have to transfer you to ‘that’ room.”
That room…
The restructuring room…
The seniors who were assigned there quit within a month.
Should I endure for a month there and look for the next opportunity?
No, but I’ve heard that place is truly hellish.
I’m already on the verge of a mental breakdown. If I go there, I’ll definitely break down.
Even though I don’t have much savings, if I economize, I can survive for two months.
It might be better to quit before I breakdown…
“…I understand.”
I reluctantly agreed.
“Did you understand? That’s good.”
What’s so good about it? Damn it!
“Thank you for everything. I’ll be taking my leave now.”
“Yeah, that’s for the best. Oh, you won’t get paid leave.”
I know.
I’ve never been able to take paid leave.
Resisting the urge to punch my boss, I bowed and went back to my desk to clean it up.
And just like that, before 9 am, I was going home.
As I sat dumbfounded in my cheap apartment, I pulled the tab on a beer I bought from the convenience store on the way home.
And I drank it all in one go.
“Damn it! I’m really fired, huh? What am I going to do now!”
I had around 400,000 yen in savings.
I have to find a way to get by on that and look for the next job.
“Ah, if I knew this was going to happen, I should have got some kind of qualification.”
The company I just quit didn’t require any qualifications for the job, so I didn’t have anything except a driver’s license.
But now that I think about it, I should have quit that company earlier and gotten some qualification.
“Ah… but it’s too late for that now… what am I going to do…”
With a sigh, I mumbled to myself as I opened the next beer.
“I’m an unemployed guy drinking beer in the morning. Great. Maybe I should go to the park.”
The thought of myself drinking beer in the park nearly brought tears to my eyes.
“Damn it! I’m going to drink until I die today!”
I kept drinking beer from the morning, cursing the company and my former boss.
◆◇◆
“….Huh?”
When I opened my eyes and looked around, it was pitch black and I couldn’t see anything.
“Ah… It’s already night. Did I pass out from drinking too much…?”
I got up, turned on the light in the room, closed the curtain, and checked the time on my smartphone.
“Damn! It’s 1 am… I don’t remember anything.”
I was surprised, but looking at the large number of empty cans scattered on the floor, I guess it was to be expected.
“Haa… what am I doing…”
Feeling gloomy, I thought of watching TV and turned it on.
“A pachinko commercial, huh…”
Watching the pachinko commercial, I thought maybe becoming a professional pachinko player wasn’t such a bad idea.
“Pachinko, huh… well, I’ve never done it before.”
I don’t gamble.
I only ever played mahjong as a casual bet with friends back in university.
“But having a job where you don’t have to worry about human relationships might be nice…”
I’m not socially inept per se, but I’m not particularly articulate either.
If I have to work with people like that awful boss, I might as well choose a job that doesn’t involve dealing with people.
I continue to absentmindedly watch TV while pondering my job search from tomorrow onwards.
“Would you like to become an [Adventurer]? Adventuring is a dream-filled job! The Frontier is waiting for you.”
“An adventurer, huh…”
I muttered under my breath while watching the tasteless commercial.
I heard that the world had drastically changed 30 years ago.
It was before I was born, but it seems to have been a moment that overturned common sense.
Apparently, gates called [Gates] appeared all over the world, and going through them would take you to another planet(?).
And in that world, unknown powers were at work, delighting many people.
Magic, skills, unseen resources and creatures… and humans.
Yes, there were humans in that mysterious world.
This was confirmed as soon as the gates appeared.
Because they initiated contact from their side.
The otherworldly people sent envoys to each country.
Their demands were as follows:
They had created the gates and connected the worlds.
They requested aid due to a shortage of food.
In return, they would cede land.
However, the designated land could not be violated.
Any country that refused or broke the treaty would have its gate closed immediately.
Of course, no country refused these demands.
A lack of resources is a common issue for all countries.
However, there were several countries that violated the treaty and had their gates closed.
And Japan has not violated the treaty.
Therefore, there is a gate in this country.
Moreover, Japan provided more than just food aid, it provided a lot of assistance.
This has paid off, and there are several gates in this country and we have received land in various places.
To be precise, it seems that we are borrowing the land or something, but I’ve forgotten the details.
Not only Japan, but many other countries have adopted this approach.
Countries all over the world called this other planet the Frontier and pushed for its development.
At the same time, they allowed civilians to gather resources.
Those who received permission are commonly known as [Adventurers].
By the way, all of this is learned in school.
“If I become an adventurer, I might not have to work with annoying people.”
Even as an adventurer, there are times when you form parties, but if you don’t like it, you can dissolve or leave.
“Not bad.”
I’m 26 years old, so I think I’m still just about young and it’s not too late.
Honestly, I don’t want to work for a company anymore.
If so, it might be worth trying to make a fortune as an adventurer.
Being an adventurer is dangerous, but it pays well.
In fact, there are many people who have made a lot of money, and there are star adventurers who are in high demand on TV and in magazines.
I picked up the sword that was lying in the corner of my room and unsheathed it.
This sword is my treasure, a gift from my father.
Of course, it’s not sharpened.
“I do remember some swordsmanship… although it’s been a 8-year gap.”
I learned swordsmanship from my eccentric father until I was 18.
I stopped practicing when I learned to have fun at university, but I used to practice every day since I was aware.
“I don’t know how strong the monsters of the Frontier are, but I’ve heard that even high school students are becoming adventurers, so there’s no reason I can’t do it.”
By the way, the reason I’m unnecessarily cool is because I’m drunk.
I’m aware of that.
“Should I do it…”
I wanted to live a normal life.
Work hard at a company, get married, and play with my kids on holidays.
That’s what they call a normal life.
But in reality, I was fired from my job and I don’t even have a girlfriend, let alone a wife or children.
“What’s the point of crying over a drink… No! There isn’t any!”
I sheathed my sword and stood up with my eyes closed.
“My name is Hajime Okita! I share the same name as someone from the Shinsengumi!”
Saying that, I swung my sword in an Iai cut.
However, I was quite drunk, and the sword slipped out of my hand and got stuck in the dresser.
“Ah!! My sword and dresser!!”
“Shut up! Neighbor!! What time do you think it is!?”
I heard a shout from the neighbor.
My neighbor is a nice person who gives me leftovers, but he’s a bit of a rough character.
“I’m sorry!!”
I should sleep already…
I drank too much.