Headhunted to Another World: From Salaryman to Big Four! (2025) s01e01 Episode Script

♪
[lightning crashing]
[thunder rumbling]
[DEMON OVERLORD]
Hear your master's call!
[thunder rumbling]
Assemble,
my Four Elite Generals!
[fire blazing]
The Inferno Assailant,
Ulmandra!
[wind whooshing]
The Archmage of Storms,
Sylphid.
[rumbling]
The Earthen Bastion, Gnome!
And finally,
one whose skill will bolster
both the strength
and conviction of our armies
as we vie to claim this world.
Newest chosen
of my Elite Generals.
A soul summoned
forth from another world!
Vessel of the Big Four
and Master of Water
descend upon my land
and rise in my heaven!
Manifest before me!
[rumbling]
The Overseas Manager
Dennosuke Uchimura!
♪
What?
[UCHIMURA]
I, Dennosuke Uchimura,
am an insignificant salaryman.
TEIOH WORKS CORPORATION
DENNOSUKE UCHIMURA
After struggling
through job hunting hell,
I began work
with a hopeful heart.
[clicking]
♪
-A gift.
-I hope you don't mind me
[UCHIMURA]
However, while my colleagues
were steadily rising up
the ranks,
my efforts went
wholly unacknowledged.
♪
Then, one day,
I was transferred overseas.
That's the overseas factory
construction plan, isn't it?
I heard the manager
pulled some strings
and had it pushed onto him.
-Aw, man, that's brutal.
-[chuckles]
[MALE COWORKER 1C]
Like Sargasso,
it's a graveyard for losers.
[bag rattles]
♪
Hmm.
[gasps]
[indistinct chatter]
♪
We're lacking in equipment
and manpower!
We need more resource--
[MALE BOSS 1A]
Just shut up and get it done!
[UCHIMURA]
No matter where you are,
there's always something
you can do.
♪
Believing that I got to work.
The challenges were innumerous
and the sheer toil
they demanded
just about killed me, but
[machine whirring]
♪
Hm.
[gasps]
[chuckles]
[indistinct chatter]
[UCHIMURA] Just as things
were finally taking off.
[phone ringing]
What, I'm getting
transferred abroad again?
♪
[UCHIMURA]
But why?
Who am I even doing this for?
What is it all amounting
to anyway?
-[sighs]
-[scooter revving]
You got it!
[grunts]
[screams]
EPISODE 1
TIPS ON HOW TO PASS THE
ENTRANCE EXAM IN ANOTHER WORLD
[UCHIMURA] [gasps]
Where am I?
What is this?
Hell?
Another world?
The shores of the River Styx?
[DEMON OVERLORD] I welcome you,
Dennosuke Uchimura!
[whimpering]
How do you know my name?
[DEMON OVERLORD] Because
it was I that summoned you.
Last of the
Four Elite Generals,
the Overseas Manager.
My job title doesn't sound
at all strange to you?
[UCHIMURA]
Wait a general?
Who me?
A demoted salaryman?
[DEMON OVERLORD]
Dennosuke Uchimura,
you were assigned abroad
after your fifth year.
There you learned
the local language,
trained the rudderless
work force,
and successfully led
the business to profit.
[UCHIMURA]
He ran a background check?
[DEMON OVERLORD] Upon reviewing
your career records,
I was convinced that
you would make
the perfect addition
to my army.
[UCHIMURA] Glad he approves
of my resume,
but going from
international to infernal?
That's putting in my notice
with humanity!
It's not climbing the ladder,
it's falling from it!
[DEMON OVERLORD]
We welcome you to join us
as an Elite General,
with full benefits.
[UCHIMURA]
Full benefits?
[DEMON OVERLORD] You will have
pull and pay akin to that
of your world's
department managers.
[UCHIMURA]
Department managers?
[DEMON OVERLORD] You may select
your own subordinates
and will be furnished
with your own office.
Those terms are so good
I could almost cry!
[DEMON OVERLORD] Of course,
should you decline the offer,
you will be returned
to your own world.
I cannot force you to accept.
[UCHIMURA]
He's pro workers' rights, too?
What a cool Overlord!
[DEMON OVERLORD]
What say you Uchimura?
-[groans]
-[MALE BOSS 1B] Tch!
You should have
just kept your mouth shut
and done as you were told.
Honestly.
[MALE BOSS 1D] Thanks
for the hard work and all,
but I'll be taking it
from here.
-Be a team player--
-Have materials
on my desk by tonight.
[grunts]
I'm afraid my efforts weren't
valued by my past employer.
In other words,
I was not able to meet
the company's expectations.
Those who fail
to pull their weight
are considered little
more than trash.
And someone like you
surely has no need of refuse,
Demon Overlord.
I think you should find
someone more qualifie--
[DEMON OVERLORD] Do not accept
the judgment of fools,
Uchimura!
Fools put value only
in what they can see.
They pay no attention
to work done
behind the scenes.
They are ignorant,
yet I have gazed deeply
and witnessed the iron
of your resolve.
[chuckles]
I knew immediately
that I had to have you,
that with me,
your true potential
could be realized!
♪
Hear me, Uchimura,
it is not your place
to judge yourself worthless
nor theirs'
who designated you so.
It is mine!
I, who summoned you here
for need of your worth.
Now, decide,
Dennosuke Uchimura.
Will you serve a fool
and be crushed,
or will you serve me
and rise up?
♪
Decide but I'm still not sure.
[ULMANDRA]
I must object to this.
[DEMON OVERLORD]
Ulmandra?
Please forgive
my insolence, My Lord, but
I cannot fathom
how a pitiful human like him
could function as one
of your generals.
[SYLPHID]
Indeed, I concur, My Lord.
[GNOME] No human can
shoulder such weight.
[UCHIMURA]
It's exactly as they say.
[DEMON OVERLORD]
Sylphid and Gnome,
you object to this also?
[thunders rumbling]
Very well,
a trial!
A trial?
[DEMON OVERLORD]
We shall test your abilities
before a decision is made.
That should quell
your concerns, yes?
But Demon Overlord, sir!
-I don't have abilitie--
-An outstanding idea!
Ugh!
[ULMANDRA] They say
otherworldly humans
have special powers!
-Ugh!
-Well let's see
how special they are,
by how well they withstand
the force of my deadly blow!
[UCHIMURA]
Oh, I am so about to die.
♪
[DEMON OVERLORD] Kindly
restrain yourself, Ulmandra!
Why did you stop
my attack, My Lord?
[DEMON OVERLORD]
When your emotions catch light,
they consume you
and strip your awareness.
Look at the man.
He has fainted from the shock
of the impending blow.
[groans]
Uh, seriously?
[SYLPHID]
He fainted just from that?
[GNOME] One might think
he was a normal human.
[DEMON OVERLORD]
Because he is a normal human.
What? You mean
he doesn't possess
some powerful magic
or special ability?
[DEMON OVERLORD]
None.
Just an ordinary man.
You'd make a human
one of the Demon Army's
Elite Generals?
[DEMON OVERLORD]
Indeed.
Unacceptable!
With all due respect, My Lord,
you cannot mean this!
[GNOME]
The Demon Army is but monsters.
A frail human
pushed into this war
between demons and demi-humans
would be figuratively
and literally eaten alive.
That said,
it's largely the unruly
demons giving rise
to the conflict.
What'd you say?
It's you demi-humans
and your complaints
-that make things tense!
-See, unruly.
[ULMANDRA]
Your holier-than thou
attitude really pisses me off!
[DEMON OVERLORD] It is true
that there exists friction
within our military.
But that's precisely
why I want him.
What I need from Uchimura
is not bodily strength
or magical power
but straightforward
resourcefulness!
Uh, what?
Impossible!
There's no way
I can stop that kick,
Demon Overlord!
She'd sever my limbs
and crush my organs
till I looked like
some grisly Greek statue!
[DEMON OVERLORD]
Calm yourself.
The proficiencies
I expect from you
are not physical in nature.
Ah!
Now, then, for your talents
I shall present you
a fitting exam.
[UCHIMURA]
An otherworldly entrance exam?
[DEMON OVERLORD]
Listen well, Uchimura.
Our Demon Army is attempting
to form unifying pacts
with the surrounding tribes,
such as the salamander
and werewolf.
However,
negotiations
with the Minotaur Tribe
have thus far proven
particularly challenging.
Did you say minotaurs?
[DEMON OVERLORD] For your exam
you will have to take control
of this endeavor and seal
a pact with the minotaur!
[UCHIMURA] I have to do
what with the who now?
[DEMON OVERLORD]
Using your diplomatic acumen,
gain the minotaur's trust,
and usher them
into our Demon Army.
[UCHIMURA] That's harsher than
the [bleep] entrance exam!
[DEMON OVERLORD]
Your predecessor Ulmandra
will fill you in
on the details.
Dismissed!
♪
Why is this happening to me?
Quit dragging your feet
and pick up the pace, worm!
[UCHIMURA]
What's with the menacing aura?
[ULMANDRA] Not that hurrying up
will stall your failure any.
[UCHIMURA]
Isn't that punching down?
Still, it's not as
if Ms. Ulmandra is wrong.
I'm just a useless
salaryman devoid of magic
and lacking in ability.
I can't become
an elite general.
[DEMON OVERLORD] Do not accept
the judgment of fools,
Uchimura!
[UCHIMURA] Funny, all I ever
wanted was to work for someone
who actually valued me
for what I could do.
[DEMON OVERLORD]
I, who summoned you here
for need of your worth.
[UCHIMURA] A boss who believes
there's potential in me.
I want to prove him right.
To live up
to the Overlord's expectations
as much as I can!
[ULMANDRA]
Right, we're here.
This is the room that
the Chieftain of Minotaur Tribe
is currently occupying.
Uh. Hold up.
Isn't this a bit excessive?
[ULMANDRA] You'll understand
when you see him
and just so you know minotaurs
are famously ferocious.
If you don't want to wind up
as a human carpet
steer clear of the hoofs.
[smirks]
[UCHIMURA]
What?
[UCHIMURA] I don't quite know
what awaits me inside
but whatever comes
I'll face it!
♪
[UCHIMURA]
There's no way I'm facing this
herculean hellbeast!
[thuds]
[groans]
[UCHIMURA] Does this qualify
as workplace harassment?
A lack of power
seems to present
an insurmountable
liability here!
Fine, I guess
I'll have to step in.
Watch how our kind negotiate,
you might learn something.
Thank you, Ms. Ulmandra.
♪
My Lord Tarius,
are you open to continuing
with our discussions today?
[UCHIMURA]
I'm saved!
If my predecessor
can just mediate
the treaty instead, then.
[grunts, thudding]
Ingrate!
How could you be dissatisfied
with such a massive room?
Ah!
How come you still not get it?
[ULMANDRA]
I've about had it up to here
with your demands!
[grunts]
[UCHIMURA] Oh, no,
she's terrible at negotiating!
-[door thuds]
-[panting]
[ULMANDRA]
Jeez.
♪
In the beginning
the Minotaur Tribe
was receptive to the idea
of forming a pact.
Negotiations with Lord Tarius
were proceeding
smoothly until
[ULMANDRA] So, then,
do you approve the terms
as have been put forth?
-I say nay.
-[ULMANDRA] Huh?
My answer for you is nay!
[ULMANDRA] He became
confrontational for no reason!
gonna be bull-headed,
minotaur or not!
I came back several
different days to try
and wrap up the negotiations,
but he just kept
rejecting everything.
And if that wasn't bad enough,
he brought this pile
of weedy trash
to strew around the room.
I swear
there's no reasoning with him!
[thudding]
[ULMANDRA]
I've done what I can.
The rest I leave to you.
[gasps]
[UCHIMURA]
What a raging hot mess.
[thudding]
[grunts]
[growls]
[UCHIMURA]
I know,
she did leave me in charge
and all, but
♪
[growls]
[UCHIMURA] [whimpering]
He's a gargantuan monster!
Can we even
hold a conversation?
[ULMANDRA]
You see? What did I say?
Difficult negotiation,
isn't it?
Impossible for a mere
human like you!
[UCHIMURA]
Huh.
BAR
[MASTER]
Welcome back.
[music on radio]
[UCHIMURA]
The usual, please, Master.
[MASTER]
Coming right up.
♪
[deep sigh]
[UCHIMURA] She said
she's leaving it to me,
but if the client refuses
to negotiate,
then there's no way
for this to progress.
Oh, thanks.
Refuses?
Come to think of it,
I faced a similar
situation before.
-No. No. -He just
kept saying "no" to me,
to the point that
I was almost ready
to give up
on the meeting entirely.
-No! No! No!
-Uh, wha
No!
No, no!
[gasps]
[gulping]
DEMON OVERLORDY
♪
[UCHIMURA]
All right,
time to settle this account.
[ULMANDRA]
I'm sorry to report
that he was completely
uncooperative as usual.
I sincerely doubt
he'll prove any more
receptive to some ignorant,
bumbling human.
[DEMON OVERLORD]
Is that so?
I guess
we'll just have to see, then.
[sighs]
[weeds rustling]
-[grunting]
-[Ulmandra gasps]
[ULMANDRA]
Uchimura, why are you raking
through those weeds?
[UCHIMURA] I thought I'd go try
having a conversation
with Mr. Tarius.
Do you lack sense
as well as power?
You saw yourself just
how thick-headed he is.
He has no interest
in making a deal!
Ms. Ulmandra, you're cutting
your losses much too early.
These proceedings
have barely even begun.
[gasps]
[UCHIMURA] Dimensions
of one's skull are irrelevant
in the context
of a negotiation.
It isn't bone that's blocking
these discussions
from progressing.
It's a misunderstanding.
Faced with that, the only hope
to overcome is to identify it,
which requires persistence
and building
a relationship of trust.
♪
So, just watch,
I'm off to seal this pact.
[ULMANDRA]
That hopeless expression
he's had is gone and instead
[chuckles]
♪
Ah!
[door thuds open]
[door shuts]
[ULMANDRA] You in there,
Uchimura, Lord Tarius?
[gasps]
[ULMANDRA]
Ah!
It's like a complete
and utter pigsty in here!
What could have caused this?
[ULMANDRA]
Did negotiations fail?
[UCHIMURA] Ah, good morning,
Ms. Ulmandra.
[gasps]
Vandal!
What have you done
to our sacred demon castle?
And where is Lord Tarius?
Why isn't he in here?
[gasps]
He didn't leave did he?
Nah, he's just off
putting the finishing touches
on the pact
with the Demon Overlord.
[ULMANDRA]
Huh?
A pact with the Overlord?
What do you mean by that?
It was agreed yesterday.
The Minotaur Tribe
and the Demon Army
are finally becoming allies.
We're becoming what?
I secured Mr. Tarius'
approval for it last night.
In just one night?
There's no way!
He's been nothing
but quarrelsome
since he got here!
So how?
How'd you do it?
"If you know yourself
and your enemy
you needn't fear the result
of a hundred battles."
Ey?
[door clatters open]
[UCHIMURA]
It was your belief that
Mr. Tarius refused
to negotiate,
wasn't it, Ms. Ulmandra?
[ULMANDRA]
Well, yes.
But that's only because he
-It's nay.
-[ULMANDRA] Huh?
My answer for you is nay!
[UCHIMURA] Believe it
or not but Mr. Tarius
was under the impression
that the negotiations
were going well.
There was a similar situation
where I had to negotiate
with the head of a foreign
national company back home.
I must have heard
"no" a million times.
I begged him to reconsider,
but nothing made a difference.
The more I protested,
the more emphatic
he became, so I thought,
"This negotiation's
completely fallen through,"
and gave up.
However,
he was so energized
by the whole thing
and even asked
to shake my hand.
Wait, but why?
To them,
the impassioned back-and-forth
was just how business
was done,
a warm-up before
we got into the details.
They liked that
I was a good sport.
[UCHIMURA]
In some cultures, butting heads
is an integral part
of diplomacy.
That's where
the misunderstanding came from.
A misunderstanding?
So, the reason he came off
so aggressive throughout.
That's right. Once
we got past all the bluster
and got talking,
he explained it.
When you told him
you were going to break off
negotiations
rather than hit back,
he was perplexed,
and didn't understand.
-Oh!
-Oh, and one more thing.
Apparently, it's considered
common courtesy for
members of the Minotaur Tribe
to furnish their lodgings
with hay
when they're invited to guest.
-Common courtesy?
-That's right.
As big-bodied as they are,
they prefer not to risk
their host's furniture.
However, the hay
he brought was taken away.
He was practically
sleep deprived
having to bed
on the stone floor.
The hay was for him to sleep.
He was frustrated
that he couldn't quite
articulate his thoughts.
At least, not in a way
that was easy for you
to digest.
Then my real failure
was making no attempt
to understand the thoughts
and feelings of another.
[TARIUS]
No.
[ULMANDRA]
Lord Tarius.
Fault is mine also.
Did not know
it was rude to fight.
I am sorry.
Hm.
[chuckles]
Thank you muchly, Uchimura.
-All of this because of you.
-Nonsense.
Your own foresight
brought you here
and we're proud to be
working with you.
[ULMANDRA]
A misunderstanding.
Most people wouldn't
have picked up
-on a thing like that.
-[TARIUS] Bye!
[DEMON OVERLORD]
Picking up on the things
that people all too
readily overlook,
that is indeed
Uchimura's talent.
-Demon Overlord.
-Demon Overlord.
[DEMON OVERLORD] Exemplary
performance, Uchimura.
Well done.
You have earned your place
as one of my
Four Elite Generals.
Having overcome
the trial presented to you,
no one can question
your capabilities.
Do not you agree, Ulmandra?
Hm.
[DEMON OVERLORD] Uchimura,
kindly hold out your right arm.
You mean like this?
[DEMON OVERLORD]
Behold proof of your position.
Wear it with pride.
♪
[gasps]
[DEMON OVERLORD]
There's no need to hold back
because you are new.
Act in accordance
with your principles.
Follow your intuition
and do only
what you feel to be right!
♪
[UCHIMURA]
Demon Overlord.
Thank you for giving me
this opportunity, sir.
[ULMANDRA]
Hey, Uchimura.
♪
Sorry, but I don't get it.
Just shut up and raise
your arm, you idiot!
Uh.
♪
I am the Inferno Assailant,
Ulmandra.
I am the Overseas Manager,
Dennosuke Uchimura.
This is how members
of my clan welcome
those we consider
to be new friends.
Try not to forget.
[UCHIMURA]
Ms. Ulmandra.
But don't get the wrong idea,
a welcome is a long way
from an acknowledgement!
Got it.
[both panting]
[ULMANDRA] You're
a talent worth utilizing!
We'll be needing your help
for other negotiations,
Uchimura!
Understood!
Ms. Ulmandra, let's get to it!
[DEMON OVERLORD]
When we help each other,
we elevate each other.
An organization that
does as such is strong.
However, as things stand,
our army is immature,
fractious,
and as yet incomplete.
Uchimura is our light.
The bright spark
that will guide us forward.
And perhaps even one day
make us shine!
[MASTER]
"Only by meeting eye to eye
do we truly understand
each other."
It's exactly the same
with fish.
Do you want to become sashimi?
Do you wish to be
boiled in a stew
or perhaps just fried?