The Blind Love Life of the Returning Hero: The Companions I Lost in Another World Resurrect in the Modern Era and Indulge Me - Episode 26

At the appointed time, Riri, Seika, and Jōsuke were already gathered at the meeting spot. As Hayato approached, Riri waved energetically.

“Good morning, Hayato!”
“Morning. Looks like everyone except Gō is here already.”

When Hayato greeted them, Jōsuke replied while looking at his smartphone.

“Got a message from Gō. He says to meet him directly at the location.”
“I wonder what kind of place it is?”

Seika said with a voice full of anticipation.

“Let’s go find out.”

Guided by Jōsuke, the four headed toward a high-rise building about a 10-minute walk from the station. The modern structure of glass and steel stood out among the surrounding buildings with its distinct sense of luxury.

Entering the building’s lobby, the marble floor absorbed their footsteps in quiet stillness, while warm lighting created a calm, refined atmosphere.

“So this is it?”
“According to Gō’s message, it’s on the 12th floor.”

Taking the elevator up to the 12th floor, they saw an imposing door at the end of the hallway. That seemed to be their destination.

“Hey, you’re here! Been waiting for ya!”

The door opened, and Gō greeted them with a beaming smile. He wasn’t wearing his usual business suit but was dressed casually.

“Come on in!”

When they stepped inside, the space far exceeded their expectations. The entire floor was a spacious office furnished with high-end furniture, where state-of-the-art office equipment was neatly arranged. The cityscape was visible through the windows, and natural light brightly illuminated the interior.

“Whoa!”

Riri gasped in astonishment. Seika’s eyes were wide open too.

“Gō, this is…?”

As Hayato questioned him, Gō proudly spread his arms.

“Iron Village Entertainment, or IVE for short. It’s a new production company I launched as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Tetsumura Group. Actually, it’s already officially registered as a company.”

At his words, the group collectively gasped in surprise.

“You started a company? Impressive,” said Jōsuke, sounding genuinely impressed. As a company owner himself, he seemed to immediately grasp the implications and significance of this move.

“That’s right, a formal company. The capital comes from the Tetsumura Group, and we’ve furnished it with all the necessary office space and equipment. From now on, I want you all to operate as talents affiliated with this IVE.”

Gō continued his explanation. He said that by establishing the production company as a subsidiary under the Tetsumura Group, they secured a stable business foundation, making it easier to procure high-end equipment and recruit personnel.

“But… something this large-scale?”

Hayato couldn’t hide his bewilderment. Originally, he’d thought it would be a small activity among friends, but before he knew it, a professional system had been put in place.

“I want to support this endeavor with everything I’ve got.”

Gō’s voice carried sincerity.

“Passing down memories as stories—that kind of activity needs the best possible environment. Now, let me show you around the facility.”

Gō guided them further inside. In one corner of the large floor was a space equipped with the latest PCs, high-performance cameras, audio recording gear, and more.

“This is the streaming studio. We’ve spared no expense, incorporating the latest tech from our group’s electronics division.”

The moment she heard this, Riri approached the equipment and began inspecting it with visible excitement.

“This is amazing! This is the latest motion capture system, right?! And this editing software – even the corporate license for this is crazy expensive!”

Her eyes sparkled, and her hands moved over the equipment with the smooth expertise of a professional.

“Glad you like it.”

Gō smiled with satisfaction.

Next, he showed them the office space. Each member had their own dedicated desk, and meeting rooms and reception areas were also fully equipped.

“We’ve planned with future expansion in mind. If needed, we can lease the floors above and below too.”

While giving this explanation, Gō led them to another room. Several people were waiting inside.

“And these are the staff members who’ll be supporting you all from now on.”

Following Gō’s introduction, the staff members greeted them one by one. Specialists in their respective fields were gathered here: editing professionals, sound engineers, marketing personnel, and more.

“They’ve been ‘temporarily transferred’ here from the Tetsumura Group. We recruited volunteers from within the group.”
“Volunteers?”

Seika tilted her head.

“Yes, actually, quite a few employees are interested in VTuber activities. Especially younger staff members – we got a lot of applications.”

As he explained, the staff members nodded. Among them were young people well-versed in VTuber culture, as well as veterans with extensive experience in media production.

“Nice to meet you.”

After Hayato and the others exchanged greetings with the staff, a warm, relaxed atmosphere filled the room.

Once the tour concluded, they gathered in a conference room. Hayato was once again struck by the sheer scale of the situation.

“Gō, I never expected you to go this far.”
“Of course. We’re passing down our story – I didn’t want to do things half-heartedly.”

Gō said this with a serious expression.

“Besides, this has real business potential too. I want to build this into a proper, viable enterprise, not just a hobby activity.”

Jōsuke nodded admiringly.

“Impressive, Gō. Not forgetting the business perspective either.”
“Regarding individual contracts and compensation, I’d like to discuss them with each of you separately.”

Gō pulled some documents out from the desk.

“The basic structure will be a contract work agreement with the Tetsumura Group, but I intend to adjust the pay and activity conditions to suit each person’s situation.”

Jōsuke was already looking through the documents, and Seika was peering at them with keen interest. Riri looked slightly nervous but her eyes were shining with anticipation.

“When do you think we can start?”
“Once Riri’s preparations are complete, we can start anytime, I’d say.”

Hayato asked, and Gō answered. Then, everyone’s gaze turned toward Riri.

“My preparations should be finished soon, I think. I brought the data for my 3D model avatar; I just need to adjust the movements. Then, I need to review the streaming software settings and—”
“We’ll proceed with promotion and announce the debut stream. So, I think we can start streaming in about a month.”

After hearing Riri’s status, Jōsuke adjusted the schedule. Hearing that, everyone grasped the plan. The path to realization was unfolding at a surprisingly rapid pace.

“Alright, it’s settled then! From now on, as Iron Village Entertainment, we take the first step on a new adventure!”

Gō held out his hand, and the other members followed, stacking theirs on top. The moment five hands came together, the vivid memory of the life-or-death oath they’d once sworn in another world flashed back. Determination and nostalgia mingled on each of their faces.

It seemed to herald the beginning of a new “Hero’s Adventure” in the modern world.