Heading To The Frontier

The first person to react upon hearing the words “Construction Company” was Takenotsuka, who had been identified as a Paladin.

“Pfft! A construction company? That’s the same as my old man’s job!”

Ekista-san approached Takenotsuka.

“Oh, Takenotsuka-dono, are you familiar with construction companies?”

“Sure am. Well, it’s basically like being a carpenter. My old man does demolition work too, though.”

Strictly speaking, a construction company wasn’t the kind of term used to describe an individual’s occupation or Job, but that wasn’t important.

What concerned me was that the moment they heard the word “carpenter,” Ekista-san and all the other important-looking people of this world had collectively put on disappointed expressions.

“Looks like you’re the only one who got a lousy Job, Kinoshita, but don’t let it get you down! Demolition work pays surprisingly well, you know. My old man even drives an Alphard!”

Takenotsuka threw an arm around my shoulders to console me.

He wasn’t a bad guy.

He wasn’t a bad guy, but he sometimes hurt people’s feelings without realizing it.

For starters, my Job was Construction Company, not Demolition Contractor, and I had no interest in large minivans.

Frankly, I could’ve done without his unsolicited encouragement.

Ekista-san explained what would happen next, but I couldn’t help feeling terribly anxious.

Three days had passed since we arrived in this world.

I was currently sitting in a corner of the training grounds, watching my classmates receive combat instruction.

Apparently, monsters were constantly trying to invade human territory in this world.

We possessed abilities that ordinary people didn’t have.

We had been asked to become heroes and mages and lend our powers to their cause.

It all seemed just like a video game, I thought.

Yeah, as though it had nothing to do with me.

Because I wasn’t really involved.

After just a little instruction, Kawakami had already learned to shoot chunks of ice from his hands.

Hirai had even mastered enough gravity magic to levitate in midair.

Even Takenotsuka, who had the worst grades in our class, was attracting everyone’s attention and expectations as a Paladin.

But what about me?

I had received some basic training in combat and magic too.

Unfortunately, I hadn’t achieved a single thing.

Well, my Job was Construction Company, after all…

As an experiment, I borrowed a hammer and a saw and tried using them, only to discover that I handled them astonishingly well.

It was as though I were a master craftsman with years of experience.

Unfortunately, there were already plenty of skilled carpenters in this world, and that wasn’t the sort of ability anyone was looking for.

As time passed, I felt increasingly out of place.

My classmates occasionally came over to talk to me as I sat in the corner of the training grounds.

There were a lot of good people in our class.

But I could clearly sense that Ekista-san and the other locals considered me a nuisance.

“Let us take a break for lunch. Everyone, you have worked very hard.”

Ekista-san had prepared a lavish lunch for everyone.

Combat and magic training seemed exhausting, and my classmates were eagerly devouring their meals.

But there was no way I could bring myself to eat, no matter how delicious the food was.

Unable to bear the situation any longer, I decided to consult Ekista-san.

“It doesn’t look like I can be useful the way everyone else is. So, could you perhaps give me some kind of work to do?”

“Let me see…”

Ekista-san rested a finger against his chin as he considered my request.

“Well, why not take your time and enjoy a leisurely life? Supporting your companions is a perfectly respectable role in itself. Although, with defensive capabilities as low as yours, I imagine you would die almost immediately on the front lines.”

“Ugh…”

“Of course, leaving the Royal Palace before that happens would also be an option…”

I caught a glimpse of coldness in Ekista-san’s eyes.

“Just a moment! Don’t you think that’s a terrible thing to say?”

The person who spoke up in protest was Imanaka-san, who had recently been identified as a Saintess.

She had previously been one of the most inconspicuous girls in our class, but ever since becoming a Saintess, Imanaka-san had carried herself with remarkable confidence.

Her entire demeanor had changed, and I felt like she’d become quite a beauty as well.

Was this the aura of a Saintess at work?

Come to think of it, the thick glasses she’d always worn had disappeared at some point.

Personally, I preferred a Saintess with glasses, but I supposed I couldn’t have everything.

I silently cheered inside my head.

(That’s it, Imanaka-san! Give him a piece of your mind!)

Hirai and Kawakami also voiced their agreement with Imanaka-san.

“Exactly. I can’t bring myself to help people who would abandon one of my classmates like this.”

“Yeah. I’d like you to make sure the noncombatants are properly looked after too…”

There really were a lot of good people in our class.

They were nothing like the characters in the light novels I’d read.

Usually, the protagonist would get ostracized, and then the whole revenge-and-comeuppance story would begin…

With several of the more powerful students speaking out one after another, Ekista-san began to panic.

“No, no, we have absolutely no intention of casting Kinoshita-dono aside. However, Kinoshita-dono lacks combat capabilities. Surely you understand that it will be difficult for him to accompany you in the future? Besides, finding work immediately in an unfamiliar world would be challenging. He knows absolutely nothing about the customs and everyday life of this world.”

Faced with his perfectly reasonable arguments, everyone fell silent.

But my entire future was at stake.

If I stopped speaking now, it was obvious that the game would be over.

I had to negotiate in front of everyone and secure the best possible future for myself.

“Then what should I do?”

“Well… We have not entirely given up on Kinoshita-dono’s abilities either. It is possible that some extraordinary power might awaken within you under the right circumstances.”

I certainly hoped so, but I wasn’t particularly confident myself.

“Then how about this? We could appoint Kinoshita-dono as the lord of Gaurea Fortress.”

“Me? The lord of a fortress?”

“There is no need to worry. Naturally, we will assign someone to assist you. And although it is a fortress, it is not on the front lines. There is very little fighting there. You can leave all military matters to the fortress’s general. How would you feel about using this opportunity to learn more about our kingdom?”

Apparently, serving as a fortress lord would also come with a proper salary.

That sounded considerably better than simply being thrown out on my own.

“Go for it, Kinoshita! It’s way better than running a construction company. If you’re a fortress lord, you might even be able to buy a brand-new Alphard!”

You really are obsessed with cars, aren’t you…?

It wasn’t because Takenotsuka encouraged me, but I decided to accept the offer.

I couldn’t imagine being offered better treatment than this.

That evening, I was introduced to the person who would serve as my assistant in Ekista-san’s study.

She was a stern-looking young woman dressed in a black suit.

She had a remarkably beautiful face and wore red-framed glasses.

She was probably somewhere in her mid-twenties.

Her skin was fair, and her hair was blonde.

Her figure was nothing short of perfect.

She possessed a mature allure that none of the girls in my class had.

“How do you do? My name is Karan McWell. As of today, I will be serving as your assistant, my lord. I look forward to working with you.”

She certainly gave off a cool impression.

And somehow, she seemed… angry?

Throughout our entire introduction, Karan-san didn’t smile even once.