Chapter 09: Factory Tour: Part 2

After exorcising the giant monster who was producing a mysterious drug in the abandoned factory, a monster that looked like a salesperson suddenly appeared inside the factory.

It was truly unexpected.

As if it had used some kind of “Castling” to switch places.

“Huh…? He’s really not here. Even if you’re going to slack off, at least consider the timing!!”

The headless monster moved its hands as if scratching its non-existent head and shouted.

“Oh no, this is bad. I’ll get scolded by the customers. This is not good.”

The monster kept walking around inside the factory, as if being chased by a quota like a salesperson.

But it still had no head.

It remained a creepy monster.

I considered exorcising it right away, but the word “customer” it mentioned earlier caught my attention.

According to the president’s story, these monsters were sending products using the company’s name without permission. It was discovered when someone who found it creepy contacted the company.

So, who’s the customer…?

With that thought in mind, I tilted my head, and the headless man stared at me intensely.

“Hey! You there! Can you see us!?”

“……!?”

I had thought for sure that I hadn’t been noticed, but the monster’s words made me hold my breath involuntarily.

“Doesn’t anyone here know what happened to the man who was here earlier? We can’t do our work without him.”

“……Work?”

“Yes! Our company manufactures health supplements. Do you know about health supplements? Well, I guess it’s not surprising that someone your age wouldn’t know! Do your grandparents drink yeast or green juice? At our company, we handle everything from the production to the delivery of such products!”

While saying that, the monster put its hand over its chest and bowed in a respectful manner.

I’ve seen various monsters so far, and they’ve all been creepy, but this one has a different kind of eeriness.

Using “Alchemy Elements,” I refined my magic power and was about to exorcise it, but I changed my mind and faced it again.

“…… Hey, are your customers human?”

“Of course! Our company’s motto is to ‘faithfully fulfill the desires of our customers,’ and we offer a wide range of products. Right now, our product ‘Trimondol’ is receiving great reviews. It can make you 70 years younger with just one drink and bring back the radiance of your teenage years. We are currently working hard to produce more of it here.”

As the monster spoke, it took out something like a catalog and started talking rapidly.

I didn’t know what kind of magic was involved, so I ignored it and asked further.

“What does a monster like you do with money you earn?”

“Oh, no, no! We don’t take any money that our customers work so hard to earn! We just take a little… yes, just a little magic power equivalent to their feelings!”

“Is it really just their feelings?”

“Of course!”

If it say so, there’s no point in probing further.

It will likely lead to a dead end.

…But there’s something else I want to know.

“I have another question.”

“Yes, anything.”

“How many customers do you distribute your products to?”

“I’m sorry, but according to our company’s privacy policy, I cannot answer that.”

“How many monsters are working at your company?”

“Two.”

“Including the big man from earlier?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

That’s enough information for now.

With that in mind, I remembered something else I wanted to ask.

“By the way, do you know that monsters are increasing all over Japan? Is your company responsible for that?”

“No. That’s probably the doing of the ‘Theatrical Troupe Actors.'”

“…Actors?”

“Oops. I shouldn’t have said that much.”

The monster said that and shook its body.

Simultaneously, a right hand grew out of the headless monster’s neck.

The right hand grew smoothly out of its neck.

“I apologize. I shall take your life.”

“No way that’s going to happen.”

I opened my hand, and a pure white fairy appeared from it.

The mischievous fairy disappeared from my hand.

Then, It grabbed the legs of the headless monster and erased it.

“…Unbelievable.”

Next, the monster’s torso disappeared entirely.

Like a Daruma doll, the upper half of the monster fell to the ground.

“I can’t believe I was trying to make a business talk with an exorcist…! 』

When the right hand in place of the head touches the ground, he leaps cleanly with his fingers as it were.

“I’ve always wanted to do that once….!”

However, the upper half of the flying monster disappeared into thin air.

The fairy must have taken it somewhere.

Then, the remaining lower half turned into black mist.

After confirming that the monster had completely disappeared, I entered the factory.

The smell of blood inside was much stronger than when I saw it from outside.

It had a metallic, pungent smell.

Call it the smell of blood or the smell of life, whichever you like, but it was so intense that I felt like vomiting.

The source of the smell led to the red vines hanging from the ceiling.

The same vines that had the red buds hanging from them earlier.

I didn’t understand why the buds were producing blood, but if I thought of it as just another type of monster, I could accept its mysterious behavior.

“So, do I have to exorcise this one too…?”

Muttering to myself unintentionally, I looked up at the ceiling.

There were thick red roots spreading all over the ceiling.

…What should I do?

Would it be easier if I had some weed killer?

No, I guess weed killer wouldn’t work on monsters.

Troubled, I decided to use “Guiding Thread Silvate” to wrap around the vines and release flames with “Attribute Change: Fire.”

It was an oversimplified idea that plants could be destroyed by fire, but as soon as the red stems were hit by the flames, they shook violently as if repelled by it… and then turned into black mist and disappeared.

To prevent the fire from spreading in the abandoned factory, I made sure it was completely extinguished before leaving the factory.

…That was fast.

I unintentionally stopped and looked back at the factory.

I had been so anxious because it was my first job, but when it was over, it wasn’t a big deal.

It was pretty much the same as what I always do.

But I think if I hadn’t taken this job, I would have been afraid to move forward and continue to work alone. I can be certain of that. After all, I did something similar in my past life.

So, I thought it was a good thing I took this job.

But I also know I can’t dwell on the sense of accomplishment forever.

Earlier, the headless monster mentioned the word “Actors.”

That’s what’s bothering me.

For now, I’ll go back and ask Akane-san.

With that in mind, I left my first job location behind.

I managed to complete my first job safely.

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