"How much would that be, approximately?" "It's a fixed salary of 500,000 yen per month." Huh? "Uh, did you say 500,000 yen?" "Yes. On top of this, there's also a commission based on demons defeated." Commission-based!? Eh? Wait a second! "What happens if I don't manage to defeat a demon in a month?" "Unfortunately, it will stay at 500,000 yen." Unfortunately!? Does this person even understand what 'unfortunate' means?! That means, even without doing anything, I'll still get 500,000 yen! "Are you sure that's okay?" "Well, there is something like a compulsory assignment in cases of emergencies or if work is not being done at all. Actually, this brown envelope was a sign of that." With that, he took out the envelope that had been delivered to this house. "Ah, so that's what it's about." "Yes. You see, Tadashi-san hasn't had any results for a year." Using a brown envelope in this day and age... Ahh right, Grandpa didn't have a cellphone. "Um, so you mean it's fine if I only defeat a few demons?" "That's right. Everyone has their own pace, after all." Earning a monthly salary of 500,000 yen plus bonuses for just winging it huh... "That's quite amazing." "We're not done yet." "What?" There's more? "The 500,000 yen is the minimum rank salary." "What do you mean by 'rank'?" "You're getting ranked based on how many demons of what level you've defeated." So... it's basically a promotion system! "Could you explain it to me in more detail?" *Thump Thump* "We have a grading system. It's simple, from 9th to 1st grade. Since Yamada-san would be a newcomer, he'd start at 9th grade. That's the previously mentioned fixed salary of 500,000 yen." I see, the minimum salary is 500,000 yen. "Does the fixed salary increase as your rank goes up?" "Yes, it does. For 8th grade, it's 800,000 yen." That's an increase of 300,000 all at once!? It's even higher than my current salary! "Does it really go up by that much?"

"You shouldn't be surprised by these figures. For the 7th rank, it's 1 million, 6th rank is 2 million, 5th rank is 3 million, 4th rank is 5 million, 3rd rank is 10 million, and 2nd rank is 30 million." That scaling is insane! This isn't an annual salary, is it? It's monthly, isn't it? "And the 1st rank?" When I asked that, he just raised his index finger and said nothing. "One billion..." Incredible... "Um, why do they receive so much?" "There's a desperate shortage of skilled personnel. It doesn't matter how much you study or which prestigious university you graduate from. It's like high school graduates becoming professional baseball players and earning billions." I'm no expert in baseball, but it's clear to me it's an impressive feat. "That's really amazing..." "We're not done yet." Still more!? What else could there be left? "Uh, what do you mean?" "We haven't talked about commissions yet." Ah right, commissions... Defeating a demon means a bonus on top... "How much does that amount to?" "I cannot mention the exact figure here. It's based on the rank an investigator has assigned to that demon and varies each time. But, I can give you this." After saying that, Kirigaya-san put a tea-colored envelope on the desk and presented it to me. "What, what is this?" "This is the bounty for the demon that Mr. Yamada took down the other day. Please take it, irrespective of whether you decide to take on this job or not." So I took the tea-colored envelope as instructed and peeked inside. One, two, three... There were ten 10,000 yen bills inside. "Huh? This much?" "That was the lowest rank demon. Hence, that's the minimum bounty." The minimum is 100,000 yen... For that weak demon, 100,000 yen. "And what about the others?" "Speaking of myself, the other day I received a bounty of one million yen." "Uh, and what rank are you, Kirigaya-san?" "I'm rank 4." In other words, this person earned 6 million yen this month, with a base salary of 5 million yen plus a bounty of 1 million yen. Well, he probably defeated more than 1 demon. "What do you think? Interested in a high-paying career switch?" The annual pay I worked hard for as a middle manager is just pocket change compared to what this person makes in a month...

Amazing... It's too insane. And though I'm not suggesting I've reached that point yet, this is a way for my salary to significantly increase. "What was my grandfather?" "I think he was rank 7." Huh? He is a Grand Mage, right? "Is that so?" "He wasn't very diligent. Although he appeared extraordinarily skilled, and I suggested he work a bit more, he mentioned having other things to do." Ah, researching magic, I guess. However, this clears up the mysterious source of Grandpa's wealth. He was earning a bit at the Timer Association while doing magical research. Even though he was always home, it's clear now how he was able to purchase this house and hold onto wealth. "I see..." "Today, I was planning on just providing an explanation. This is a life-changing decision, so feel free to take your time thinking it over. I've only mentioned the positives, after all." "Pardon. I would like to hear about the negatives as well." I do realize that I'm dazzled by the prospect of money. "Well then, let me explain. Though, when you think about it, it should be clear. The enemy is a demon. Not all demons are as weak as the last one we encountered. If you make a grave error, it could be deadly. And in this line of work, we're not able to assume responsibility for your death." That's the reason for the high salary... "Yes, that's right..." "You have a small child, and their age should be considered as well. Keep this in mind before you reply. There’s no hurry to come to a conclusion." You have a point... I need to think about this calmly. It's important to take a step back and consider this thoroughly. "Yes, I've got it. I'm looking forward to working with you." Hmm? "Yes?" "I want to do my best as a demon exterminator!" Huh? "You've already decided?" "Yes! I am certain!" Hey... What am I doing? "A..., Alright, got it. We'll move forward as planned." "I'm in your care." I'm thinking one thing and saying another? What’s going on? Could this be the work of a demon!? "Meow..." As Miriam's meowing reached my ears, I glanced her way to see her gazing at me as if i was an extremly pitiful thing. Suddenly realizing something, I turned around and saw Ruri peeking through the door, also giving me the same look.