Chapter Text
“An asset is a resource controlled by the enterprise as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the enterprise.” - International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
In a parallel world, an ancient spell had worked perfectly as intended, safely summoning a Holy Maiden to save a kingdom in nigh mortal peril. The Holy Maiden would be, surprisingly, accompanied by another person, a stranger from another world caught up with his attempt to save an innocent teenage girl. Despite the confusing circumstances, the kingdom would have taken them both in anyway, promising them a good and comfortable life—with the Holy Maiden being the priority, of course.
In a parallel world, everything would have worked out, somehow.
*
The first thing Kondou Seiichirou sees is not the teenage girl he’d tried to save from some unknown portal that appeared out of nowhere—but various bushes. Flower bushes, to be exact.
It takes a short second for him to realize he’d fallen on several bushes, thus softening the impact from the unexpected fall. That, and…
Around him, several women gasp and murmur to themselves, clearly just as stunned as Seiichirou is. And worried, perhaps, basing on their fleeting glances and subdued whispers. Seiichirou notes their clothes and appearance—none of them are Japanese, and certainly not wearing clothes from modern times.
Just then, he hears another woman’s voice approaching close, gentle yet firm. He understands none of the words spoken; he can only faintly venture from the body language and facial expressions. Judging from the low, respectful bows towards the approaching woman, Seiichirou guesses she must be of high rank. A member of the nobility, perhaps?
Or beyond that, he muses to himself as the woman comes into view. Blond hair neatly tied into a bun, subtly pinned with gems and other accessories. She wears a simple yet elegant-looking gown, intricately woven with silver threads. The gown’s colors highlight the bluish hue of her eyes and the subtle pink on her cheeks.
Despite her rather simple gown, her bearing demands respect from everyone around her, her aura too grand to be ignored. For some reason, Seiichirou is reminded of high-profile personalities who once visited his previous workplace, or of that one time he met a high-ranking politician up close.
Seiichirou quickly lifts his body off the shrubs, gathering whatever strength that remains on his body. This makes the women step back a little, except the blond newcomer. In fact, she steps closer to him, a concerned look on her face.
She’s saying something to him, her voice soft. Unfortunately for both of them, Seiichirou can’t understand a single word that’s coming out of her mouth.
She’s speaking in a language that Seiichirou’s sure is never spoken back in his world.
Seeing Seiichirou’s bemused expression, the woman pauses and tilts her head, as if considering something. Murmuring to herself, she observes Seiichirou a bit more closely, sharp sapphire eyes on confused grayish blue ones.
Nodding, she then turns to one of the watching women, saying—ordering?—something. The woman bows, and quickly runs off. Before Seiichirou can wonder where she’d gone, the woman returns shortly, bringing someone along.
Seiichirou almost drops his jaw. Almost.
Sure, due to the nature of his job, he hadn’t met many people in his lifetime. The last he’d recalled, before he’d ended up in this strange place, were his co-workers whom he joined for lunch sometimes. The ones he’d closely worked with for the mid-year budget, revising documents over and over again until they got the numbers right.
And the young girl, pale and teary-eyed with terror, screaming for help as a strange-looking portal was sucking her in.
Seiichirou is sure he doesn’t recall a single person who is as strikingly arresting as the one approaching him now. His features are East Asian, from his black hair to the shape of his eyes, skin several tones lighter than any of the light-skinned people Seiichirou is acquainted with. Yet his clothes are not like Seiichirou’s—the clothes remind Seiichirou of those worn sometime during Europe’s medieval era.
A nobleman, perhaps?
After a few words with the blond woman, the beautiful—Seiichirou thinks there is no other term to describe the person before him—man stands before him, a polite yet cordial smile on his face.
“Hello,” the man says, and it takes several seconds before it registers in Seiichirou’s mind that he’s speaking in English. “My name is Jung Leewon, currently serving the Orr Empire. You must be…?”
Jung…Leewon? That’s Korean, isn’t it?!
“Kondou,” Seiichirou finds himself answering anyway, despite the growing puzzlement and shock. “Kondou Seiichirou.”
“Japanese…?” Leewon Jung mutters to himself, and further stuns Seiichirou when he suddenly switches languages. “I can speak Japanese, but I can’t promise I’m fluent at it. Do you mind?”
Dazed and still befuddled by the whole situation, Seiichirou can only nod, and allow Leewon to help him up and support him with an arm around his shoulders.
“Come with us, Kondou-san,” Leewon says with a reassuring smile. “I believe you need a good rest, before anything else.”
-
Jung Leewon tells Seiichirou he is currently at the heart of the Orr Empire.
Specifically, he’d fallen in one of the gardens within the Palace of the Dawn, where the Empress resides. In addition, the blond woman that had first approached Seiichirou was the Empress herself, Rosa Faria la Orr, much to Seiichirou’s deep mortification.
“Her Majesty says there is no need for you to apologize,” Leewon tells him as Seiichirou bows deep in apology. “Her Majesty understands—if anything, she wishes she could’ve assisted you better.”
“Please tell Her Majesty that I am deeply thankful for her concern and assistance,” Seiichirou answers. “It is because of Her Majesty’s graces that I’m in a better state than I was earlier.”
Leewon then relays Seiichirou’s message to the Empress, which she only answers with a warm smile and a nod.
And then—Leewon.
He says he’s from the other world, most probably Seiichirou’s, only that he was brought into the Empire through different circumstances almost a year ago. Right now, he currently works as one of the advisors for legislation, as well as a researcher to improve the Imperial Laws.
It’s a fortunate coincidence that he was present in the area, visiting the Empress. That, and probably is in the same situation as Seiichirou, although Leewon’s probably more adjusted to it by now.
“What’s the last thing you remember before coming here, Kondou-san?” Leewon asks after offering Seiichirou tea and light snacks.
For someone who said he couldn’t promise to be fluent in Japanese, he’s surprisingly good at it.
Seiichirou quickly summarizes the events prior to this, keeping the details as succinct as possible. When asked if he has an idea behind the portal that led him here, Seiichirou can only shake his head, at a loss on what to answer.
As such, the Empress and Leewon share a brief look, and then Leewon turns his attention back to Seiichirou.
“We’ve already relayed what happened to His Majesty—perhaps it won’t be long before They ask for your presence,” Leewon tells him. “While I cannot speak for His Majesty, I’m very sure They will provide you with everything you need, as well as assist you in anything.
“That said,” Leewon pauses, “is there anything you’d want, Kondou-san?”
It takes a while for Seiichirou’s tired mind to process everything he’d been told so far.
If this man says the Emperor will provide for everything and help me in anything, does that mean all my food, clothing, and accommodation are provided for? That I don’t need to wake at crack of dawn and work in an office until near-midnight? That I don’t have to take on a lot of workload and try to eat as much as my limited time allows?
Seiichirou is exhausted, very much so. He’s exhausted from working from morning till night, spending most of his life only working and sleeping.
Had he been a little less drained as he is right now, he would’ve provided a better answer. Or perhaps not, considering that he’d spent the last seven years being a cog in the corporate machine.
And so, in front of a concerned Empress and a patient fellow man from the otherworld, Seiichirou replies: “Please give me a job.”