I was standing in front of a giant skyscraper, looking up.

I wore black shorts and a plain white shirt, my basic summer style.

If judged solely on color, I wasn’t that different from people in suits.

But the total cost of my outfit was probably lower than just one of their ties.

To put it in other words, it was a little embarrassing.

Imagine. A complete buffoon dressed in shorts standing among the business elite, sharply dressed in business suits.

“This seems like the place… I’ll probably be turned away at the entrance.”

I took a step forward.

Though surprisingly, there were a lot of roughly dressed people around.

It made sense, though, as it was the headquarters of a guild with many dungeon clearers on staff, who often wore rough looking clothes.

“As expected, guilds are profitable…”

I entered the building and looked at some art pieces I didn’t quite understand.

Was having a fountain indoors considered fashionable?

If it was an indication of how much money they were making hand over fist, then it was quite ironic.

Running a guild is profitable, and while it’s not even worth putting into words, many guilds have been disbanded in the dungeon in pursuit of that profit. Even still, they still make a profit.

Safety was prioritized above all else, and people all over the world had no choice but to pay for it.

VIP protection, disaster relief, dungeon collapses, dungeon raids, the buying and selling of magic stones and monster materials.

The employment opportunities created by Cube and the awakening of humanity were countless.

By the way, magic stones apparently had an incredible energy conversion efficiency.

I was not familiar with science, so I didn’t know the details, but it was surprising that a single A-class magic stone could supply the energy of an entire town for several days.

There was no way Japan’s number one guild wasn’t making money.

It was now the top guild in Japan, with an impact on the country’s politics and economy as well as the global economy.

That was the strongest guild in Japan, Avalon.

“Um, excuse me…”

I spoke to the receptionist at the first-floor lobby.

I didn’t know why there were three receptionists, but they were all beautiful so I was nervous. They all seemed like serious office lady types.

“Yes, how can I help you?”

The receptionist smiled and spoke to me.

Her good personality was evident in her willingness to help even a poorly dressed person like me.

“Um, I’d like to meet Tanaka-san.”

“And may I have his full name, please?”

“Oh, it’s Issei Tanaka-san. He’s the Vice President!”

The receptionist looked surprised.

Well, if someone in this kind of outfit suddenly showed up and asked for the Vice President, they would be surprised.

If it were me, I would either turn them away or call the police.

“I’m sorry, but may I have your name?”

“My name is Kai Amachi. If you pass along just my name, probably… he’ll come meet be.”

The receptionist who up until just a moment ago was kind to me was now simply suspicious of me.

No way, does she think I’m a suspicious person? Well, he is Japan’s top Vice President, being under someone’s crosshairs probably isn’t rare.

In any case, I don’t think the A Rank Tanaka-san is going to lose to any thug.

“Please wait a moment.”

Despite that, I felt relieved that they were still going to contact him for me.

“Hello, please connect me to Vice President Tanaka…Ah, this is the reception on the first floor. Yes, Tanaka-sama, your guest has arrived. They said there was no appointment…Yes, the name is Kai Amachi…No, Kai, Amachi. Yes…Huh!? Oh, I see.”

Then the receptionist who was on the phone looked at me with a surprised expression.

“Um…Vice President Tanaka will be here shortly. Can you wait?”

“That’s good to hear.”

I decided to wait in the lobby’s chair.

The receptionist whispered something to someone else, but I wondered what they were thinking when the vice president suddenly came down to greet me.

It’s understandable since I’m just a recently graduated high school student who looks poor, not some CEO.

I waited for a few minutes while looking at the fountain.

I looked at the stats of many clearers, all of whom had magical power dozens or hundreds of times higher than mine.

Playing with this like it’s a Scouter is fun.

I wonder if there will someday be a super-clearer that shows up with a level that would blow up this Scouter? But please spare me the explosion.

“Haa, haa…”

Then Tanaka-san, who was out of breath, appeared in a sharp suit from the elevator and looked around.

His equipment during dungeon conquests had a magical swordsman feel, which was cool, but he suited a suit more.

He seemed to have run here with all his might, and his atmosphere was very intense.

Seeing his state, other conquerors and employees became frantic, wondering what was going on.

I felt a little embarrassed but still raised my hand slowly.

Seeing that, Tanaka-san rushed to me with such speed that the floor caved in and grabbed my shoulder.

“Kai-kun…Kai-kun, is it you!?”

“Yes, I’m, uh, how do I say it? alive…!?”

Before I could say anything, Tanaka-san hugged me tightly.

It was gentle, and he smelled good.

“I’m so glad…Really…Kai-kun…I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

“Tanaka-san…”

“I thought that might be the case. That choice couldn’t have been wrong. I’m glad. Really…What on earth happened, Kai-kun?”

“Uh, well, should we change the location for now?”

Mr. Tanaka hugged me with his undivided attention.

It was a bit embarrassing, or rather, very embarrassing, with the surrounding glances.

Tanaka-san was seriously crying.

“Ah, yes. Let’s do that. Shall we go to my room?”

I was then taken by Mr. Tanaka to his workplace.

We rode in a bigger elevator than my house and headed to the top floor.

When we opened the particularly heavy wooden door of a room on that floor, and past that was Tanaka-san’s office or study? That kind of feeling of room.

“Get some tea and snacks for guests. Ah, for two people. That, and call for Midori.”

As soon as Tanaka-san arrived in the room, he gave instructions to someone over the phone.

It seems I can also meet Midori-san. She cried a lot too, so she’ll probably cry a lot if she sees me…

Tanaka-san and I sat on luxurious chairs with a desk in between.

“So, Kai-kun, can you tell me what happened? You hadn’t returned for a week so… as it was I thought…”

(Should I not talk about the eyes yet? It’s not that I don’t trust Tanaka-san, but I still don’t understand it myself.)

“Well, you see, I have no idea either.”

I decided not to talk about the Eye of God yet. In the first place, I still didn’t understand it myself, so I’ll talk about it when I understand it a bit more.

Then, I told him that I woke up and I was home. To be honest, it was a crazy story, but Tanaka-san still believed me.

“I see, that’s fine. I always thought that there could be no mistake in your choice during the Trial of the Heart.”

“Haha, I might have put up too much of a cool front.”

When I blushed a little, Tanaka-san lowered their head again.

“… You might say you forgive me, but I still can’t forgive myself. I’m really sorry.”

“P-please stop! I took it myself, and you tried to die in my place, didn’t you?”

“Well, honestly… it was only a sense of obligation. So, if I had been in the same situation, in the end, I might not have been able to make the same choice. I said I would be a sacrifice, but in truth, I really didn’t want to die, to be honest.”

Still, Tanaka-san didn’t raise their head.

I didn’t know what else to say so I decided to change the subject.

“Oh, right. Did you move Nagi’s room, Tanaka-san?”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah, I don’t think it’s going to make up for what I did…”

“No, I was really happy about it. But, no that I’m alive, You can move my sister to the general…”

“No! I can’t allow that. Please let me take care of her.”

I suggested moving Nagi to a general ward, but Tanaka-san leaned forward and strongly refused.

He told me that he had made a vow that day, and received it as a wish, so he at least wanted to be allowed to do this.

“A-alright… please do it within reasonable limits.”

I gave in. Tanaka-san was stubbornly refusing, so I thought it would be rude to push any further.

“Don’t worry about it, even though I’m like this, I’m making quite a lot of money now.”

Well, that’s understandable.

They rose up as a clearer and even became the Vice-President of this guild.

“Oh, right. I’m supposed to be dead…”

“Yeah, I’ll take care of that. I reported the death to the association, but I’ll say it was a mistake. So, you can continue your activities as usual.”

“I see, thank you very much!”

“Kai-kun, what are you going to do from now on? I hope I don’t come off the wrong way but if you are in any financial need…”

“No, no, this much already is more than enough.”

“However… my feelings won’t settle that easily. Oh, I know! How about joining my group? If I recommend you, you could even pass the test–“

“You can’t.”

I restrained Tanaka-san with my hand and strongly rejected his proposal, opposite to what I had suggested earlier.

Tanaka-san seemed to have thought it was a good idea and was surprised by my refusal, but she quickly reconsidered.

“An unranked like me getting into Japan’s top Avalon guild through Tanaka-san’s introduction is nothing but a connection-based employment. You forgot about my rank, Tanaka-san.”

“…You’re right, sorry about that.”

Tanaka-san looked a little down.

I was an unranked, an awakened person with little magical power.

I couldn’t forget about that. If I joined Japan’s top guild like this, I would either be bullied or rumored to be Tanaka-san’s illegitimate child.

That’s why I had made up my mind.

“So I’ll get stronger.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll get stronger, and if you really want me to join as a clearer, please invite me again.”

I asked Tanaka-san for a handshake.

He looked surprised at first, then smiled and shook my hand.

“It’s a story that would be impossible normally, but I somehow believe it. Have you gotten stronger than a week ago, Kai-kun?”

“My eyesight has improved a little.”

I returned a smile.

After that, I was tackled by Midori-san, who had joined us.

She was still regretting the last incident and didn’t listen even when I said it was okay.

So, from now on, Midori-san finally agreed with the condition that she would heal me for free whenever I asked.

Honestly, I was grateful since I tended to get injured easily.

“Are you sure that’s okay? If there’s anything I can help you with…”

“Oh, Tanaka-san! I have one request!”

“Hm? Oh, yeah! Anything, just say it!”

“I want a weapon, so can you recommend a good store?!”