Isekai Office Worker: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter (異世界の沙汰は社畜次第)

THREE DAYS AFTER THE RETURN OF THE PURIFICATION EXPEDITION

Kondou-san!

Shiraishi-san.

Thank you for all you've done on all three purification expeditions.

You're so welcome!

My humblest gratitude for purifying the miasma, Your Holiness.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Er, Shiraishi-san...

I'd like to hear about the expedition.

Then why don't we have lunch together?

I'd like to hear about the progress on the cram school, as well.

Would you care to join us, Siegvold-san?

Indeed.

We need to make sure the disciple eats his meals.

Please stop calling me that. My name is Kondou Seiichirou.

But you are the disciple...

It attracts too much attention.

You leave me little choice. I shall compromise.

Master Seiichiro.

Very good, Reverend.

I conceded first. Please call me by my first name, as well.

Understood, Siegvold-sama.

THE OTHER WORLD'S BOOKS DEPEND ON THE BEAN COUNTER

I INVESTIGATED

What a beautiful place!

The holy maiden of two generations ago created this flower garden.

I had no idea this was here!

You didn't need a lunch?

That's right.

Kondou-san has to be mindful of what he eats or he'll overdose.

Huh?

Master Seiichiro has no resistance to magicules.

So he must be careful with his diet and lifestyle.

Magicules give you strength so long as you don't absorb too much,

and they're everywhere! Like air!

He came from a world unlike ours.

The air and food there must have been different.

Wh-What about Your Holiness?

I seem to be blessed with divine protection, so I'm unaffected.

Master Seiichiro has been suffering this tribulation,

yet he still works hard for our kingdom.

Please treat him with care.

Don't paint a weird image of me.

Don't worry, Selio-san.

I've been slowly gaining some resistance,

and I won't die unless I absorb a large amount of magicules.

You could die?!

Shiraishi-san, could you tell me about the purification expedition?

Yes.

There were no changes during the first and second expeditions,

but once the miasma was gone, light poured onto the tree,

and buds sprouted on part of it.

They're apparently proof that the purification is complete.

I heard that the sorcerers are now recording

below-normal levels of magicules there.

But when they investigated the surrounding area,

they found the footprints of a beast called a nepolic.

Aresh-san wanted to dispatch it at once.

It takes three days to reach the demon forest from the royal capital.

Staying out was more efficient than returning.

I would've done the same thing.

But...

Kondu-sama, you have a letter from Aresh-sama.

Nepolics have rather large territories, so our hunt is taking some time.

You have nothing to worry about. Just take care of your own health.

He's smart and talented.

Though he's a cold beauty with a way of speaking that makes him seem mature,

he's surprisingly childish at home and sulks if you don't pay attention to him.

He always wears a guilty expression when Valtom-san scolds him.

When he has work he doesn't want to do, he ends up clinging to me even more,

as if smothering his reluctance to go.

That's why he took on this sudden subjugation mission.

He wants me to praise him.

Apart, I cannot help but marvel at our past unmet.

Now that we're apart,

I can't help wondering how I managed to live before meeting you...

How about some fish?

Bro! Long time no see!

Sigma-kun. How have things been?

Oh, well, my boss hurt his hand, so I can't train under him right now.

He's looking for a new place that'll take me, but since I'm just a kid...

I keep getting brushed off.

Perfect timing, then.

I want you to make more of those calculators for me.

Really?!

You pay real well, so that's great!

How many?

Thirty of them.

Thirty?!

Also, Sigma-kun...

Have you ever thought about going to school?

Oh, it's Kondu.

Huh? Something's different.

Different?

Your magical energy's different from normal...

Oh, right.

The third order isn't around right now.

That's right, Kondu!

Did you bring me a sacred relic?

You have a good memory for such things.

I bid you also remember that I told you that'd be impossible.

Why do you want one so badly?

Huh?

Because those things have so much magical energy stored in them.

I'd be able to do all the research I wanted with that.

They store magical energy?

Doesn't that make them magic tools?

Ist-san, have you seen a sacred relic before?

I have.

You pray to them when you turn six.

Plus, I have loads of magical energy.

According to the prime minister, kids train to reduce their magical energy.

Now the church has a sacred relic to collect said magical energy.

Where exactly is that energy going?

Something feels off. Where should I start investigating first?

Sei-san, did you finish up with the sorcery department?

Nor, perfect timing. There's something I want to ask you...

Kondu.

Your Highness.

There's something I wish to ask you. Come with me.

Then I'll just be on my way...

It's fine. Join us.

Huh?

I heard you spoke at great length with Yua the other day.

Yes. We were discussing Her Holiness's work.

Tell me the details!

Then please take a look at this document here.

I shall!

A private school for

the almshouse children and the poor children of the city...

Did Her Holiness really come up with this?

This kind of flawless, pragmatic plan feels like something you would—

I'd expect no less from Yua! What a brilliant idea!

But why didn't she mention it to me?

She was probably planning to share it with you once her plan came together.

However, for Your Highness in all your wisdom to catch on ahead of time

and fulfill her wishes by supporting her cause...

That's exactly what I wanted.

That's right! You're absolutely right!

I was actually thinking the same thing!

Me and Yua are totally on the same page!

He's so excited, he started talking casually.

I agree.

Now, should you support her with your own funds instead of the national treasury,

it would further emphasize your stance on the matter

and make you dependable in her eyes.

That's how things work in our world.

Oh, is that so?!

Well, I was thinking of doing just that!

I shall go speak with Yua at once!

Sei-san, are you planning to make this happen with His Highness's personal funds?

The kingdom's budget is tight right now.

Besides, it's true that my country values self-sacrifice.

That must be how they raise workaholics like you, Sei-san.

Kondu, enjoy these with the rest of the accounting department.

Is His Highness aware of this?

His Highness gave me the order.

You don't believe me, do you?

His Highness may greatly admire Her Holiness,

but he is also a worthy heir as the first in line for the throne.

Yurius and Nor, the illegitimate son who was adopted out,

are both children of the current king and biological brothers.

Treats from His Highness?

I really loved these as a kid.

I see.

So he's aware of his little brother's likes?

Come to think of it, wasn't there something you wanted to ask me?

Oh, yes.

You've seen a sacred relic before, haven't you?

A sacred relic? Yeah, I have.

Those statues with magic crystals in them, right?

And as for magical energy...

They absorb it, right?

Is that common knowledge?

Only the royal family and the bishop know about it.

It's actually a secret, but I figure it's fine if you know.

That makes it a state secret.

No wonder different people say different things about it.

What happens to the magical energy once it's collected?

It's used for the barrier that protects the royal capital from magic beasts.

The barrier around the royal capital is kinda special.

It can even repel magic attacks from other countries.

Who would've thought not only the prime minister,

but even Aresh-sama was unaware of this?

The barrier around the royal capital must be

constantly replenished with magical energy.