Job Hunting for Reincarnated People: What Did You Learn in Your Otherworld Life? - Episode 1

[Synopsis]
"I rose to success in another world with a trash skill, and learned the importance of changing my perspective."
"I experienced a slow life in another world and felt the fulfillment of crafting and trade."
"The communication skills I developed surviving aristocratic society after my engagement was broken can definitely be put to use at your company."...

In modern Japan, it is not rare for young people to go to another world and return.
Because of this, especially in job hunting, what they did in the other world was considered important!

Saint, adventurer, hero, villainess...
The protagonist interviewer, "I," cuts down the young people who come to interviews armed with these tired, cliché tropes!

[Episode 1]
I am a job interviewer at Startoy Co., Ltd., a major Japanese game manufacturer. I am currently in the middle of interviews, and I was the only one smiling in the interview room filled with the tension of the young applicants.

Basically, pressure interviews are not my hobby. I want to speak in as calm a tone as possible and draw out the true feelings of the job seekers.

However, once you reach the third round of interviews, job seekers who are not easily dealt with appear one after another, so just smiling and asking questions doesn't tell me anything.

They—the otherworld travelers—have experienced fantasy, battles, and slow lives that would be unbelievable in Japan, but since there is no way to verify their claims, they are free to lie and embellish their episodes as much as they want.

Did the hero really save the princess?
Was the place they were reincarnated into really a villainess's world?
Was the skill really a trash skill?

I approach them with suspicion. An interviewer cannot simply believe them and say, "Wow, that's amazing." I sharpen my senses, keep my eyes peeled, and discern the truth. And sometimes, it is the role of an adult to teach these young people a lesson.

"Next person, please introduce yourself."

1. Yuina Sakuragi (27)

"I was summoned to another world as a saint and provided healing to the people."

Despite her cute appearance, she spoke clearly, and even though she was wearing natural makeup, she had an impression of overwhelming radiance. It is not the case at all, but if Startoy were hiring based on appearance, she would undoubtedly be the first choice.

"Ms. Sakuragi. What do you mean by healing, specifically?"

"Yes. I ran a Japanese-style cafe in the sanctuary and served food to the people."

"Food? Why?"

"Even though I was a saint, there were three others summoned besides me, so I explored what I could do as the one with the least amount of magical power. I was able to create a warm place where everyone could gather, transcending status and race."

"I see. Transcending status and race... what kind of people were they?"

"Yes. Commoners, nobles, demi-humans, and so on, without discrimination! Everyone sat around the table together."

As expected of someone who made it to the third interview. Yuina, answering without hesitation with sparkling eyes, is overflowing with confidence.

According to her resume, her alias in the other world was [Beautiful Goddess of Compassion]. How do you read that? Is it "Mimegami," "Bimegami," or "Bijokami"? I don't really know, but setting aside the fact that it sounds slightly lame when spoken aloud, I can fully imagine the magnitude of the confidence this title gave her.

You must have been pampered quite a bit. But our company isn't that easy.

Feeling a bit mean, I cupped my hands around my mouth to act as a megaphone and spoke.

Is that so? Then, who was it that actually came?

At my question, Sakuragi wore a look of confusion, saying, 'Eh!'

Um, as I said before... Of course, it was handsome noble knights. If you don't capture the hearts of handsome men, there's no point in going to another world!

See, I knew it.

Watching Sakuragi, who was stunned by her own words and had wide, round eyes, I nodded and said, 'I see. Handsome noble knights, is it?'

Truth be told, I am someone who traveled from another world to Japan.

If I use my skill, [Exposure], the person I question cannot tell a single lie.

The activation condition for the skill is quite simple: 'let them hear your voice while in a megaphone pose.'

There is a price to pay, of course; if I use the skill too many times in a row, I develop 'acute skill poisoning.' That said, it causes rather dangerous symptoms like slurred speech, hallucinations, and loss of consciousness, so I am careful about managing my physical condition during interviews—especially during the busy job-hunting season.

Well, I've been in this industry for a long time, so I can handle a certain number of job seekers without using my skill, and I've learned my own limits through experience.

Anyway, unless there's an extreme situation—like the opponent wearing earplugs or headphones, my throat being crushed, or both my arms being cut off—I can use the [Exposure] skill, and the interview room becomes my personal playground. Everyone loves a 'cheat skill interview rampage.'

My subordinates often tell me they're envious, but being a powerhouse isn't all that great. If I'm going to be a powerhouse, I'd rather be in front of the TV holding a controller, slashing through enemies, or going on a rampage in a giant robot.

My rampage is just work.

It's a business rampage that I continue because it's in demand and offers a certain sense of fulfillment and reward. It's not like I want to show off how strong I am, or bully job-hunting reincarnators who are getting carried away.

However, since the president has instructed me to 'strip away the true intentions of the job seekers during the third interview,' I have no intention of hesitating to use my skill to conduct a thorough interview.

Then, did those handsome men feel healed by your cooking? Does a saint's cooking have healing powers?

No. The title of 'Saint' itself is a good brand. Handsome men came swarming around. They were fascinated by the Japanese food I made... Wait, I'm saying strange things again!

No, Sakuragi-san, please continue in that vein.

Um, I... No, that's not it.

Sakuragi is trying to deny it in a flustered manner, but there is no one in this interview room to save her. I will show no mercy, and the others waiting for their turn in the group interview are sweating coldly and looking down in silence.

There is no need to rush, Ms. Sakuragi. So, why did you leave that Japanese-style cafe and apply to our company?

I didn't leave it; the shop went bankrupt...

Bankrupt? Why is that?

At first, the food and sweets were well-received, but gradually people realized they were amateurish, and the number of customers decreased. When that happened, I couldn't pay the employees' wages, so I raised the prices of the food to earn money, which only drove customers further away... In the end, I couldn't pay the rent, and the manager of the sanctuary forced me to vacate...

Oh boy. She's practically on the verge of tears now. Poor thing, though it is my fault.

Watching Sakuragi, who is one step away from ruining her cute face, I shrug my shoulders in my heart and think, 'Good grief.'

In fact, there is no end to the number of cases where amateurs get excited about being transported to another world, start a business on a whim, and cause a catastrophe. It's only natural, as the other world is not a dreamland.

I want you to replace the location with Japan instead of another world for a moment. Whether it's a cafe, a restaurant, or a pharmacy, there are many shops that are forced to close down even when professionals run them seriously.

The cause could be the quality or price of the products, customer service skills, the location of the shop, or perhaps a stay-at-home order has been issued and no customers are coming in at all. Regardless, if you take production and management lightly, a shop will disappear in the blink of an eye.

There is no way it would go well for a complete amateur otherworld tripper to try their hand at being a business owner based on vibes alone.

Very occasionally, it seems that professionals get transported, but from hearing their experiences—such as 'I didn't really understand the units or value of money, like gold or silver coins' or 'I couldn't do accounting on a computer, and I went crazy trying to keep the books'—it seems that many cases don't go well because they are mentally broken by the gap between the other world and Japan.

According to her resume, Sakuragi had no experience in store management before her otherworld trip, so she falls into the former category. She started a Japanese-style cafe on a whim and hit a dead end.

I see. So, is that why you resigned from your position as a saint and returned to Japan?

I asked Sakuragi mildly, but nine times out of ten, she either fled back from the other world or was deported.

In this world, even if it is another world, it is by no means easy. Very few people can tell a heroic tale. Most trippers lie to embellish themselves, and Sakuragi seemed to be no exception.

However—.

...I, I returned to Japan for my studies.

This might be an unexpected development. I look at Sakuragi with a hopeful gaze, thinking she might not just be another mass-produced, vain saint who came crawling back.

In the other world, I rested on my laurels as a saint and started a cafe business based on vibes. My failure was starting it simply because it seemed fun, without knowing the demand for goods, the market rate for wages, or labor standards.

Sakuragi seemed to have regained his composure, despite having been flustered just a moment ago. He began to speak clearly once again.

Reflecting on my failures in the other world, I re-enrolled in university and studied management. The ability to grasp the flow of people, goods, and money will surely be useful at your company.

Do you have any track record?

I do not, but once I join your company, I will prove it with results.

Well now. That is quite a decisive statement. You have piqued my interest, Mr. Sakuragi.

I smiled as I flipped to the next resume.

***

2. Ren Sendo (21)

My surname is Sendo, and my given name is Ren! I was an S-rank adventurer in an other world called Tidalnia.

Sendo is, to put it kindly, bright and charismatic. To put it unkindly, he is a boy who gives off a light and flashy impression.

It is just my own personal statistic, but this type of person is the kind who slaughters powerful enemies with one hand in another world while traveling with cute and obedient party members. Aren't they the type of people who let loose so much in another world that you can't tell if the purpose of their journey is adventuring or building a harem?

No, no. It is not good to have prejudices before an interview. Well, let's start without using the [Exposure] skill.

Sendo-kun, please give me your self-promotion.

Yes! I have confidence in my ability to cooperate with others. This is because I traveled and fought alongside my companions in the other world. In particular, during battles, I acted as the command tower, giving instructions to my allies and successfully completing S-rank quests many times.

Wow. That is a template response I have heard so many times it has become tiresome.

The reason I was dumbfounded in my heart is that I know it is impossible for only those who have tripped to another world to be the command towers of their parties.

Even if one's otherworlder companions were surprisingly incompetent, it is impossible for a Japanese youth who just appeared out of nowhere to quickly win their trust and take charge of life-or-death battles.

If it were me, even if someone with immense charisma appeared, I would want a few years of observation before placing them in a leadership position.

You were able to fight well with your companions. By the way, how did you fight yourself, Sendo-kun?

Yes. I fought as an assassin. With the [10x Experience] skill that the Goddess granted me when I tripped to the other world, I leveled up like crazy, and it was just like—bam!

Here we go. Goddesses and cheat skills. I definitely want to dig deeper into this.

So, Sendo-kun, you used your [10x EXP] skill to go on adventures with your companions. It sounds like an enviable skill to me, but how were you evaluated by your companions?

A common interview question. But here, lies are not permitted.

I flash a gentle smile, cup my hands like a megaphone, and activate my [Exposure] skill.

Sendo puffs out his chest as if to say he expected that question—but, of course, the words that come out are not what he intended.

My companions told me not to get carried away... and that I was looking at the female members with lecherous eyes. Wait, what? What did I just say?

Hey, hey. That's quite a reaction. This is Startoi's signature [Exposure] interview, you know. Did you neglect your senior visits and company research?

Sendo-kun. Your companions had quite a lot to say about you. Were you really working together well?

No. I was kicked out because I was disrupting the party's harmony.

Ah, the classic 'kicked out'.

Japanese people who trip into other worlds get kicked out quite easily. 'Kicked-out travelers'—whose jobs are dead weight or whose skills are pathetic, but who are actually talented—are now firmly in the top three jobs elementary schoolers want to have.

However, reality is not that sweet.

The circumstances of being kicked out in another world are as heavy as a corporate executive involved in corruption; once you are kicked out of a party, joining another or finding a new job becomes extremely difficult, and you can't even manage your social life. It's a harsh world.

And so, with that in mind, I ask Sendo.

Were you satisfied with that expulsion yourself?

Well, yes. Thanks to my [10x EXP] skill, my stats were the strongest in the early stages, but I lacked practical experience and was holding my companions back. I relied too much on my skill, and before I knew it, my companions had even surpassed me in level. So, I accept it. But—

Sendo opens his mouth, clenching his fist in frustration.

I want to show those guys who kicked me out what I'm made of. Now, I'm thinking of steadily gaining a lot of experience and working hard.

These words came from the bottom of his heart. The strong will born from Sendo's reflection is genuine. I know this because I've been an interviewer for many years.

Can you do that?

After I was kicked out of my party, I spent a year working as a receptionist at the guild while attending an adventurer training school. So, I have the ability to set goals and keep working hard toward them.

Then, Sendo added with a laugh regarding why he returned to Japan, "Adventuring is an unstable life, and you can't keep doing it once you get old, right?"

Huh, that's unexpected. Treating adventurers like part-timers—he's got a pretty realistic view of things.

It's true that an adventurer's income is unstable. Furthermore, if the hero or the saintess saves the world, you're likely to end up unemployed, and as you get older, you're often exposed to the cold stares of those around you, saying things like, "That person is still talking about dreams and romance?" Of course, your physical strength and magical power also decline, and you end up having to count the remaining gold coins while keenly feeling that "my heart is still in the game, but my body can't keep up." It's a truly sad reality.

That's why, if I get hired by your company, I want to be involved in making games that allow people to keep chasing their dreams and romance!

A fresh start in Japan—that's not bad, is it?

***

3. Ryuto Hasekura (28)

My name is Ryuto Hasekura. I died once when I was a sophomore in college after being involved in a pile-up truck accident. However, God told me that my death was a mistake, and as an apology, he sent me to another world with the [Creation] skill.

Oh boy. I see this on resumes all the time, too. And it seems God is doing a very sloppy job.

What was something you worked particularly hard on in the other world, Hasekura-kun?

When I asked, Hasekura warned me, saying, "I won't lie, so you don't have to use your skill." It seems he did his research on the interview beforehand.

Hasekura pushed up his square-rimmed glasses and opened his mouth again.

The place I was transported to was a small village on the verge of becoming a ghost town, but I put my efforts into turning it into a tourist destination. Specifically, I used my [Creation] skill to focus on producing local specialties and developing hot spring facilities.

I hear this one really often, too. He doesn't use the words 'slow life' or 'farming,' but it's that classic trope of using a skill that can create anything to build a dream location.

Did you just think, 'Oh, it's probably a slow life'?

Regardless of whether I read his mind or not, Hasekura had hit the nail on the head, so I calmly countered with, "Is that not the case?"

It's not entirely different, but since self-sufficiency and farm work weren't my hobbies, I built fully automated agricultural equipment and work robots. So, it's not 'slow'.

Hey, hey. The hardware upgrades are impressive.

There's nothing better than taking it easy, right? All I had to do was build the machines and put in the effort to teach the villagers how to use them.

I see. I will take that as one opinion.

Hasekura possessed skills that allowed him to do whatever he wanted, but what he actually did was replicate Japanese culture. And perhaps because they were new and rare to the inhabitants of that other world, they tended to be praised abnormally.

Even if you succeed with that, it's not your own achievement. It's nothing more than an imitation of great people from the past.

So, Hasekura-kun, it seems you've done some town planning, but what do you want to do if you come to Startoy?

Wouldn't you be better suited for the tourism or regional promotion division of a government office rather than our company?

Swallowing those words, I asked him for his motivation for applying to Startoy.

Then Hasekura answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world, saying, I want to make games.

With my Creation skill, I couldn't make console games or smartphone games. Of course, I wanted to play the games I loved in that other world, so I tried to create them many times. But precisely because I loved them, I didn't want to compromise.

I glanced down at Hasekura's resume. It stated that after returning from the other world, he returned to university, took programming courses, and developed his own app games.

I believe your company is the best in any world when it comes to game development technology. That is why I want to create the most interesting games possible at your company.

I see. What Hasekura-kun wants to do is not in the other world, but here in Japan. He realized that while he was in the other world.

For you, Hasekura-kun, what is the most interesting game?

I suppose it would be an RPG with just the right balance of levels and skills.

I can understand that feeling.

Entertainment requires a balance between comfort and challenge, and having an objective eye for that is important. Neither impossible games nor overly easy games are fun.

By the way, it seems Hasekura negotiated with a god and managed to return to Japan on the condition that he donate all the wealth he earned in the village of the other world and return his Creation skill.

A negotiation technique that can talk down a god—he's got quite a lot of nerve.

＊＊＊

And then, the job seekers left the interview room.

Sigh, I'm exhausted again today. Using skills makes me even more tired.

I stretched out with a groan and secretly yawned, trying not to be noticed.

Um, Department Manager... The last group in particular was quite a handful. I believed their stories about being huge successes in another world, so it's even more...

Haibara, my subordinate who was watching the interviews next to me, was in charge of the second round of interviews and squeezed out a voice full of regret.

She doesn't have a skill like my [Exposure]. She's a genuine ordinary citizen. So, I think she doesn't need to be that depressed, but it seems she was quite shocked that she couldn't see through the problematic children who had tripped to another world.

None of them had any achievements worth praising without reservation, did they? I really thought this year would be a bumper crop...

No, it is a bumper crop.

I chuckled and started tidying up the desk. However, I quietly lined up the last three resumes in front of Haibara.

They passed the third interview. Next is the president's interview. Could you prepare to send them an email?

What! Are you serious?

Haibara looked at me in astonishment. Then, when she cast her eyes down at the resumes in front of her, she seemed unconvinced, and her brow furrowed.

A saint who bankrupted a cafe, an adventurer who was kicked out of their party, and an anti-slow-life person, right?

That's fine. You can grow by failing and gaining insights. You also job-hunted in Japan because you were fired as the Demon King's secretary, right?

Stung by me poking at her past wounds, Haibara mumbled, Well, that's true, but...

Start-I has to make interesting games that won't lose to otherworld trips. To do that, we need to go beyond the other world.

I put my hand on the door to leave the interview room.

Job seekers, please do your best in the president's interview.

And I hope that when we meet next, you will show me your restart as fellow employees.

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Episode 2 https://note.com/cocozuba1234/n/ncf4e6161d1f1

Episode 3 https://note.com/cocozuba1234/n/ncf9ec1846890