Chapter 2 part3
The final part of chapter 2 arrives! And in case you didn’t notice, Overlap Bunko released the cover for the light novel. It looks really cool! I really want to get into the next chapter because we get to meet our heroine and learn the name of our protagonist (yes, the entire prologue never mentions his name), but I’m also busy with real life. I’ll work on it when I can, but I have no idea when the next post will come out. I’m also basically re-translating and reformatting the first two chapters so they look better and make more sense. I think that’s everything I wanted to mention. Enjoy the end of the chapter!
But there's one problem. I succeeded in extending the scope of my psychokinesis. But I have not achieved my goal of [Psychokinetic Vision]. Since I wasn't able to grasp it this time, I threw away this attempt and tried other methods. I spent a whole day blindfolded; I used my psychokinesis to 'see' in a dark room and was just barely able to fumble around in a line for a short distance; I crossed my eyes; I bought a 3D popup book, and, after closing only only one eye and looking at it, I closed both eyes and used psychokinesis to burn the picture into my mind.
As a result, whether it was due to one of these methods or a combination of them, [Psychokinetic Vision] became possible.
Normally, closing your eyes makes it dark. But if you pay attention, you notice that that darkness possess rippling colors, similar to what you see when you have vertigo. When I trained my [Psychokinetic Vision], the sensation of vertigo gradually decreased until it wasn't there; at the start I could only see a blurry shape, then I could make out distinct colors, after that the image started to have definite outlines, and before long I generally was able to see what I normally see with my actual vision.
With this, I can freely see anything within the range of my psychokinesis. Obstacles are irrelevant! Angles are unrestricted!
With psychokinesis being able to spread the width of the entire district, this new ability made it easy to misuse it. I used it to watch a movie from the premium seats of the movie theater without paying. I peeked up the skirt and inside the bath of the girl I liked. I even stole a manga magazine that hadn't been published yet. This is too much power! If my spirit isn't strong enough, I'll be consumed by the darkness and become a villain.
Is this the fate of those with power!? (insane laugh).
And what is fate! Do not call circumstances like this by such a thing!
While my irritation grows, the hell that is job hunting begins. Right. My four years of college have already finished. I have to go out into society. Even though it feels strange, I start job hunting in April. Studying for college no longer exists.
That said, the Japanese social advancement system is (in my opinion) crooked, but I'm not in a position to strongly upset the current state of affairs. It would be possible to physically destroy Japan’s political center, but it doesn't matter if the social system changes. I'd rather not have to see a distant future where I turn into the worst enemy terrorist. Those who try to accomplish something with violence are crushed by violence. It’s retribution, society is made that way. I read it in manga. It's probably false though.
Whether the cause is fate or social change, job hunting is a serious problem to suffer. The ideal is to get a job you like. It would be nice to choose a good job and to end up with profitable, easy work.
My favorite thing is psychokinesis. The thing I'm good at is also psychokinesis. I fully devoted myself to developing my psychokinesis while I was a student, so I should find a job where I can use it.
"I can contribute to the company by using my psychokinesis to increase my work efficiency!" (me in interview for potential job)
"… Is this guy crazy? Then try using psychokinesis or whatever." (mocking interviewer)
Then I would say, "Ok, I'll use it," (Invoke psychokinesis) (Lift interviewer off the ground) (Cause building to collapse) (The town is reduced to a mountain of rubble as I face the sky and laugh).
Just kidding; I can't resist making jokes like that. Being realistic, I guess causing a cup of coffee to float would be convincing enough. If it were me, I wouldn't let someone with such talent and versatile, user-friendly skills escape. There would be a strong unofficial job offer. Then actual employment, the introduction ceremony, newcomer's education, working busily, achievements/getting raises, special bonuses, promotion, going to marriage interviews, and of course doing plenty of psychokinesis training… wait, no, what am I thinking?
I woke up from my delusion. Even though I have super powers, I'm going to have a normal salaryman's life. I shouldn't use my psychokinesis in the workplace.
There are such things as super power secret organizations that are government sponsored. They do things like secretly repelling alien invasion; escorting the president if a sudden crisis occurs, or preventing a sudden downpour of nuclear warheads… I know such an exciting job doesn't exist, but I still can't give up on the idea. I would like to at least somehow end up in a conflict zone and annihilate all the enemy soldiers using a "mysterious power".
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I'm the only ESP'er in the country. How did that happen?
I don't even have any connections. I don't know by what means you apply for the president’s escort, and that the conflict currently occurring in the world is not a simple structure of defeating the enemy, but rather a complex thing with more faith, poverty and political speculation. Having no resources has caused me to become idle, what challenge is there? Seriously, I won't have trouble finding employment if a public announcement about super powers happens while I'm job hunting.
But! Honestly, I'm afraid of the "fame tax". I know that I won't like it if I go on SNS and am suddenly insulted for becoming famous. It's possible that an 'army' declaring 'war' on psychokinesis users could appear on my feed. I could be followed around by the media, journalists would repeatedly dig into my past, turning up old friends and relationships, self-proclaimed experts would offer their unneeded critiques, and as soon as they get tired of me I would be thrown away. Scary! I don't think I could endure it. It would cause my spirit to break.
But if I waste time worrying about whether there are any good methods to incorporate psychokinesis into my job, the years and months will pass without mercy. I spread out my job hunt around the neighborhood and repeatedly attend interviews while keeping my psychokinesis hidden; and while being pressed by completion of my studies and spending every day laughing maniacally *Hii-Hii*, before I knew I was going to get a job at a medium-sized venture company.
I was secretly astonished. Really, nothing happened. Although I was training very hard with my psychokinesis, I wasn't contacted in my school days by a secret organization, and I also wasn't contacted by a beautiful 'isekai'1 heroine either.
What do I do now? I will become a full-fledged member of society. If the unusual comes, it better come early! It seriously should arrive early because it's hard for an old man to take part in a big adventure!
Is it not coming? Is it really not coming?
… it won't come.
I graduated from university and got a job. It so peaceful, it make me want to vomit.
I became a working adult and the days quickly passed me by. Newcomer training was like a surging wave. The job description and actual working conditions were completely different. Even though it was 8 o’clock startup, I was forced to arrive at 7 o’clock. In the evening, I punched out my time card at 8. No paid overtime. Repeated holiday work (unpaid). Immediately getting phone calls after returning home exhausted. Unreasonable demands. Imposed liability. Salary doesn’t pay. When I missed a customer by mistake, I was abused and my promotion was canceled.
It's tough. It's tough, but human beings can become domesticated animals2. I got used to the work after a year, and I also learned how to cleverly gain influence and skip things. When juniors enter, 'evil' senpais will push the brunt of the work their way. In two years, life began to turn around after a while.
One day I got home late at night to my apartment, untied my necktie and used psychokinesis to pull out a beer from my fridge. I threw my body on the sofa and turned on the television. I was watching late night anime. It was one with super powers. The protagonist was a passionate teenage boy, and he was pointing his sword toward a beautiful girl in revealing clothing while crying out, "Why did you betray me!". The beautiful heroine-like girl silently cried while she attacked him with the power of darkness. The protagonist intercepted it with an agonized look on his face. The old man who was the mastermind was watching it all on a monitor with a smirk *niya-niya*.
Ahh, I'm jealous…
I use my psychokinesis to crush the empty cans of beer into golf balls and throw them into the trash can. What's the difference between me and this hero? I’m definitely stronger. Ooooo, the heroine is condensing the darkness to make a double-edged sword3. If I did something like that, I would definitely end up being a foolish bastard and cut Mt. Fuji in half or something.
Ahhh, now I'm even more jealous… I wanted to have a life like that in my youth.
I reflect on how sad and lonely I look; gulping *gaba-gaba* down a beer held in my hand while watching low-quality late-night anime. Certainly, I chose this kind of life. I was afraid of the 'famous tax', emphasized safety and did not publicize my psychokinesis. I was afraid to stand out. Perhaps there's some truth to that fear. Nevertheless, "if you don't enter the tiger's cave, you can't catch its cub"4. It's true that living without taking risks results in an extremely boring life.
Tears ran down my cheeks. Is it OK as it is? My life. Is this really OK? Doing work I don't like very much, being used to death by my boss, possibly being replaced at any time, dying and then being forgotten about 10 years later, am I really willing to just be another one of society's gears?
I ask myself repeatedly, re-igniting the flame in my heart that had gone out after 2 years of a working adult's life. I can still go back. But. The resolution I had when I was a student won't be enough. My way of thinking must change.
If extraordinary life won't come to me, I will make an extraordinary life myself.
Let’s make a fateful rival. Let’s make a cute and strong heroine. Let’s create a secret society by gathering together strong characters and fight the darkness of the world. Let’s make a fantastic enemy to fight. I have the power to do that.
I drank a second beer and stood up with determination.
Oooooooooooooo!
I decided!
I'm quitting my job!
I'll do it!
I'll really do it!
I'll create the supernatural secret organization!!!
1: I know I should properly translate this word, but I couldn’t resist
2: I assume this means that people can get used to things
3: Your typical fantasy-style sword, aka broadsword. A katana would be a single-edged sword
4: Japanese idiom meaning “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”