Comprehensive Hero Dispatch Services, Inc ~Life of Peerless Adventures in Another World with a Beautiful Lady~ - Chapter 3: Suspicious, yet Delicious

Chapter Three: Suspicious, yet Delicious

Eskaia-san began by giving an overview of the company as well as all its relevant details.

“Our ‘Comprehensive Hero Dispatch Service ‘ was founded 20 years ago. We have 50 employees working with us. In addition to this Tokyo headquarters, we have five different branches, and we dispatch employees to the client’s location according to the requests, solving various problems for government agencies and other companies. We have a diverse range of clients, including government agencies, local authorities, and major trading companies. Although it may sound like an exaggeration, we are proud to have the top shares in the whole industry.”

If the clients include governmental and local authorities, then it’s definitely stable enough to receive work. But boasting them having top shares in the temporary staffing industry seems a bit exaggerated…

I hesitated whether to nitpick about it, but since there was nothing to gain from angering the other party currently, I decided against it.

“Since its founding, our company has been consistently profitable and has continued to grow even further. We are even expanding our business. For this fiscal year, we’ve decided to pay employees some special bonuses at the end of the period to continue maintaining profitability. Various benefits, allowances, and dormitories are provided to them, and when working at the dispatched location, travel allowances are also provided by the company itself. We offer 104 days of annual leave, 15 days of paid leave every year, childcare leave, bereavement leave, and other such benefits to ensure that employees can enjoy their private lives. Holidays are negotiated with the clients at the dispatched location, but any shortfall can be taken after the request is completed, and overtime allowances are also provided for overtime work. Furthermore, we have a comprehensive system to support various unique qualifications, and we pride ourselves on providing excellent career advancement opportunities.”

Eskaia-san’s explanation shifted from generic job details to all the different benefits. Although the base salary is low, I think the benefits are quite good for a company with 50 employees.

“Our working hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ELN: 8:00 to 17:00) which includes a one-hour break in between, which comes to a total of nine hours. Overtime is generally prohibited, but if overtime is required due to the client’s circumstances, overtime pay will also be provided. In addition, if long hours of overtime are required, you can choose to take an interval break after the request is completed or receive a certain amount of consolation money.”

So overtime depends on the dispatched location… Well, it’s understandable, since it considers the client’s circumstances…

“Regarding the salary, although the base salary in the job posting is a bit low, the starting salary for college graduates at our company, including various allowances, is around 250,000 yen after tax. We have secured one-room apartments nearby for those who wish to live in a dormitory, which are provided free of charge to all applicants. Additionally, as a unique feature of our company, besides the fixed salary, employees can increase their ’employee rank’ by receiving favorable evaluations from the dispatched location and obtaining various qualifications. Employees in the highest ‘S’ rank, which is the top rank for rank-based salaries, earn a monthly after-tax income of around one million yen. This salary structure is designed so that even young employees can earn with their evaluations and qualifications, so rest assured everyone has a chance.”

Wait! If the monthly after-tax income is a million yen… and if we assume an annual salary of 12 million yen on a net basis, then this is a ridiculously high salary. Is this company making that much profit even though the headquarters is such a rundown location…?

“In addition, bonuses are paid for a total of five months in summer and winter. This has been paid every year since the founding of the company. We expect good performance next fiscal year as well, so they will be paid so promptly. That’s our company’s business and treatment policy.”

Claude-san leaned forward with a strong face.

“So how about it, Shu, don’t you think our company’s treatment is as good as or even better than that of a large corporation?”

Ah… I might have chickened out… I’m scared… Is this the kind of company where if you decline, you’ll be coldly thrown away in the garbage the next morning…? Uh, I want to cry.

“Ah, um, I just wanted to confirm, but your company is not involved in any sort of criminal activity, right?”

It was a very rude question, but considering my future, I mustered up all my courage and asked Claude-san.

“Criminal activity? Of course not. Our motto is ‘help the weak, defeat the strong.’ We may help people, but we never lend a hand to criminal activities.”

“Yes, that’s right. Our company doesn’t participate in any crimes or such.”

Eskaia-san also leaned forward. Both of their faces were very close to mine. They need to work on their sense of distance.

“Um, I see. There’s one more thing I’m curious about though, so could I ask a quick question? I heard that some of your company’s employees are currently missing. Is that true?”

It was an extremely difficult question to ask to an interviewer, and definitely a question I shouldn’t have asked on the spot, but my future depends on this answer, so I decided to take a chance and go ahead anyways.

After the question, both of them, who had an odd sense of distance, directed their gazes to the table and ceiling. It was clear that they were unsettled by me.

Yeah, this smells fishy! They may not be involved in crimes, but it seems like a pretty shady matter! I definitely don’t want to be used as a sacrificial pawn or become a criminal.

“I can’t answer Shu’s question because it touches on the confidentiality obligation of the client, but let me correct one thing. They are not missing, but living abroad. That’s all I can tell you, as it’s a matter approved by the Japanese government.”

Claude-san, with his rugged face, clasped his hands in front of his mouth as his sunglasses gleamed. Uh-oh, this is a sign that I might be killed soon.

“Um, s-sorry. I was really curious… So they’re living abroad. That’s reassuring.”

Exposed to his sharp gaze, I lowered my eyes to the table, praying for this hellish pressure interview to end.

“Claude-san, if we have zero new recruits this fiscal year, we’ll face another push from the government. For now, why don’t we give Shu a provisional offer, and he can work as a part-time employee during the trial period starting tomorrow and officially join us in April?”

“Eskaia, you’re getting ahead of yourself. You’re the one who said that. Shu hasn’t even agreed to join our company yet. If he has the intention to join us, prepare an offer so that it can be sent out immediately.”

“I’ve had it prepared even before the interview began. All that’s left is the president’s seal.”

Eskaia-san and Claude-san were announcing the interview results without me. It seems like their decision will be dependant on my answer. After 150 consecutive defeats on the job-hunting battlefield, I was finally promised a victory and an end to this long and difficult job-hunting process, and I was guaranteed to start working as a member of society in spring.

But there’s something fishy, or rather, I have a bad feeling… I feel like if I choose this company, my life will be over.

“Eskaia, if Shu joins our company, will you be his supporter? We’re looking for an administrative assistant, and we have some applicants already. We can’t keep a talented person like you as an administrative assistant forever.”

“Sure, I’ll support Shu. I’ll make sure to train him properly!”

Huh? Eskaia-san will be my support staff. Does that mean I’ll be taught the job one-on-one by… Ah, seriously? If I sell myself to this company, I can work with a beautiful senior employee?!

Instinctively, I shook hands with Eskaia-san.

“I’ll be in your care. I’ve decided to join your company. Please continue to guide me in the future.”

“Alright, you’re hired. We’ll have a pre-employment training session tomorrow, so please arrive by 8 a.m.”

Claude-san immediately stamped the employment offer and stuffed it into my pocket and then slapped me hard on the shoulder.

“Um-um, excuse me. Could you let go of my hand?”

Eskaia-san, whose hand I was shaking, looked a little perplexed. But her hand was very soft and warm…

“Ah, sorry, sorry. I just got a little excited. Eskaia-san, Claude-san, I’ll be counting on you starting tomorrow.”

Feeling embarrassed for shaking Eskaia-san’s hand for so long, I shook it up and down quickly once more before letting go.

“Likewise. Nice to meet you, Shoma Hiiragi-kun.”

And so, I passed my final job interview just before graduation, I hit a miracle grand slam home run and ended my long and arduous job-hunting quest. I was finally promised to start my life as a working adult spring onwards.

—

Shoma finally broke through the 150-game losing streak in the job-hunting battlefield. What awaits him after joining the company though? A harem paradise, or perhaps the insertion of the hellish conflict arc flag?