Jobless Rising! ~I’ve Become a NEET. I Acquired Lewd Skills and Lived a Life of Sex in the Other World and in Japan. Before I Knew it, I Was Impregnating A Harem of Ladies?!~ - Chapter 41: Minato’s Return and Touya’s Part-Time Job

Chapter 41: Minato’s Return and Touya’s Part-Time Job

“…That concludes my report.”

“…”

Kokuryouin Minato had returned to Rishinkan, the gathering place of the Tényōshū.

To think she’d live to pass through Rishinkan’s gates again. Just a short while ago, she hadn’t even considered it possible.

“So, Harakara…”

“He’ll heal his wounds and come back for a rematch. But his target won’t be me…”

“You mean this Kougou Touya?”

“Yes.”

Rishinkan’s grounds were about the size of a small elementary school. Traditional Japanese houses and training halls stood on the property, though nearby residents shunned it as a “yakuza mansion.”

Many of those coming and going had intimidating faces, and the reputation wasn’t entirely undeserved.

In a secluded building at the back, Kokuryouin Minato was reporting the events to her father, Kokuryouin Kōei.

“Still, to think a warrior of such caliber was out there unaffiliated…”

“Yes. He stood in front of me, shielding me without flinching at Harakara’s demonic energy. His body and mind are far beyond an ordinary person’s. To face a demon with just his physical strength, without any Kyo-shin energy…”

“…”

Faced with the space where Minato and Harakara fought, any normal person would have fled in terror.

Yet Touya had strolled right in, unfazed. Hearing this, Kōei concluded he was no ordinary man.

“He learned about demons. This man…”

“He’ll join the clan as my apprentice. He’s currently jobless, unmarried, and without a girlfriend.”

“…I see.”

Kōei said nothing about Touya becoming his daughter’s apprentice.

Though the man was an unknown, Kōei was grateful for him saving his daughter. Plus…

(I forbade her return until Harakara was defeated… That was my call, so talking to Minato feels a bit awkward…)

That guilt made it hard for him to interfere with her wishes. Kōei, a father wary of being disliked by his teenage daughter.

(I know she understands it was to protect the clan… Oh, Minato… Please forgive your dad…)

Keeping those feelings hidden, Kōei merely nodded solemnly.

“Then I’ll inform the administrative department to process Kougou Touya’s onboarding. Residency documents and such…”

“I’ll guide him on the necessary paperwork.”

“Understood. And… just to be safe, I’ll have a background check conducted.”

“Yes.”

First, they needed to investigate who Kougou Touya was. His birthplace, his life, any criminal record.

As someone joining the clan’s ranks, even at the lowest level, and serving as his daughter’s apprentice, this was a natural decision for the Tényōshū leader.

“And… these are the stones mentioned in the report.”

“The catalysts that enhance your Kyo-shin techniques? …Indeed, they hold some kind of power.”

Minato showed her father the three stones, still in their box. Kōei had heard about them in the report and was astonished that Touya could reliably supply them.

(Few could draw power from these stones and apply it to Kyo-shin techniques. Only someone with Minato’s sensitivity to energy could manage it. They’re not catalysts anyone can use, but mastered, they’re a trump card.)

For Touya to supply such a trump card made securing him a significant gain.

“Keep these stones for now. Few others could use them anyway.”

“Yes. …About my return… Regarding the Motomune faction…”

“I’ll handle them. Don’t worry about it.”

“Understood.”

The Tényōshū leadership wasn’t strictly hereditary, but in practice, it was close, often limited to certain families. Over its long history, factions had formed around those families.

As an organization with strong government ties, the Tényōshū leader wielded influence over politicians and other powerholders. Naturally, some within the clan actively sought the position.

Fortunately, factional conflicts weren’t as intense today. But in the past, they’d led to bloodshed. When internal strife grew, dealing with demonic energy inevitably took a backseat, leading to worsening public safety and rising crime rates.

Maintaining the clan’s balance was a priority Kōei couldn’t ignore as leader.

(Stones, and a man who can fight Harakara hand-to-hand… Will the current Tényōshū have the capacity to accept such an outsider?)

*

Two Days Later

“What!? Senpai, you landed a job!?”

“Yeah, so, Morimura-san…”

“Hell yeah! That’s awesome!”

Two days later, I was at my part-time job, telling Morimura-san and Kurumi about my new job.

This might be my last shift here for a while… right?

“Senpai, you were actually job hunting…?”

“Of course!”

Nah, total lie. I wasn’t job hunting at all. Honestly, my body’s not cut out for regular companies anymore.

Damn…! That Cui…! Turning me into this…! Thanks, though!

“So, where’re you going? Another car dealership?”

“No, no, totally different industry.”

“Really? What kind of place is it?”

Kurumi tilted her head cutely. Oh, right, what does that company do again…?

“Uh, land development? Surveying, stuff like that.”

“Your own job, and you’re that vague about it…?”

Fair point… I should probably get better at explaining this.

“It’s called Tényō Development…”

“What!?”

“Tényō!?”

Both of them looked shocked. Huh, is it that well-known?

“You know it?”

“You’re asking that? Tényō Development’s an old company that’s been a government contractor forever. How’d you get in as a mid-career hire…?”

“I used to hear about Tényō Development people at my old job. They’re on a salary system and make pretty good money… Wait, Senpai, did they offer you a salary too!?”

No clue if those employees were Tényōshū members, but yeah, Kurumi would know from her cabaret days.

Morimura-san’s been running this place forever, so he’s probably heard plenty too.

“Yeah, they said 6 million yen flat for the first year. No bonuses, so divided by 12… about 500,000 yen a month.”

“Whoa, that’s huge!”

“If you climb the ranks, it’s a company where you can break 10 million, right? Damn, you really scored.”

Well, technically, with the magic-infused stones they’re buying, my income’s gonna be a bit higher than that!

“Senpai~! Treat me tomorrow~!”

“Sure thing!”

“Come back sometimes to make ice for the whiskey, yeah?”

“Anytime!”

Heck, maybe I’ll swing by as a customer next time! Back at the dealership, I barely drank, and I never had time to hit up bars anyway…

“Alright! Today’s Touya’s job celebration! Let’s close up early and have a little party!”

“Yay!”

“For real!?”

Man, life’s starting to roll my way! Sure, I’ve been attacked by demons and faced danger in another world, so it’s maybe a net zero or slight plus, but still!

Whether I can keep living this free-spirited life depends on how things go as Minato’s apprentice and Erinabel’s retainer.

It’s a big life choice… Guess I’ll try it out and see if I can stick with it.