Chapter 238: The Interview
Hayes bowed politely toward the seated first-year.
“Sorry to keep you waiting for so long, Junior!”
“No need to apologize. Once I get fixated on something, I'm the type who can wait patiently.”
“So you've really been looking forward to this interview?”
In response to the question, the first-year merely gave a meaningful smile.
Then he turned his gaze toward me, rested his chin on the table, smiled brightly, and extended his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Senior. I'm a freshman, Dion.”
His tone carried a somewhat carefree attitude.
……Right, Dion.
That was the name he was using.
However, hidden behind the mask of "Dion" was the true identity of this episode's boss.
The powerful assassin disguised as one of the Academy's janitorial staff—the Cleaner.
In the game, the interviewees featured in <Yggdrasil Morning> were always selected at random.
'And out of all those people, it just had to be the Cleaner.'
He was currently disguised as "Dion," a first-year student.
His goal was to participate in tomorrow's official Mock War and assassinate the Imperial Princess.
I deliberately ignored his outstretched hand and instead turned toward Hayes with the arrogance expected of a noble.
“This brat is the First-year Representative?”
“Yes! I saw him diligently picking up trash all over campus, so I thought he seemed like a student with excellent character. When I asked if he'd do the interview, he accepted immediately!”
“I see.”
I sat down in the chair directly across from him.
Dion still didn't lower his extended hand and finally spoke.
“Hey, Senior. My arm's getting tired. Can't you see my hand?”
“Where exactly did you learn the manners of asking your senior for a handshake while remaining seated?”
“……Ha.”
The moment I answered, he let out a quiet chuckle before finally withdrawing his empty hand and clenching it into a fist.
I absolutely couldn't shake the Cleaner's hand.
His unique skill was Transformation.
It allowed him to assume the appearance of anyone he came into contact with.
If I made contact carelessly, I'd only give him an opportunity to disguise himself as me.
I intended to eliminate that possibility from the very beginning.
Of course, the Cleaner probably had no intention of transforming into me just yet.
Still, there was no reason to hand him the option.
The most natural choice was to refuse him while acting like an arrogant noble.
For some reason, his face remained filled with a smile the entire time.
“Then let's begin the interview!”
Hayes pulled out his notebook and pen.
“First, our First-year Representative, Junior Dion! I was really impressed by how diligently you pick up trash. Could you share your determination for tomorrow's official battle with that same spirit of responsibility?”
“I'm simply doing what I can. I don't want to inconvenience anyone else, and I intend to carry out whatever responsibilities are entrusted to me.”
“Ohhh, what an outstanding sense of responsibility! Junior Villed, you heard that too, didn't you? As the Second-year Schuler Representative, doesn't having such a spirited junior make you feel a little nervous?”
Ignoring Hayes's exaggerated excitement, I rested my chin on one hand and stared directly into Dion's eyes before speaking.
“Indeed. Admirable. You seem to know your place well. Keep working hard picking up trash over there too.”
“Hahaha....”
Dion let out a low laugh before replying.
“That's right, Senior. Dirty things don't suit my taste. This time, I intend to clean everything up completely.”
“…….”
I simply stared at Dion in silence.
“Next question! I've heard that the professors are watching this Mock War because they're selecting promising first-year Schulers!”
After that...
“Now then, Juniors! There's even betting going on about who'll make it into the Contribution Score rankings! Who do you think will place...?”
The questions continued...
“I've also heard rumors that even President Tote will be attending to watch this year's freshmen! What are your thoughts on that...?”
……Hayes continued asking question after question.
After countless exchanges, the interview finally reached its conclusion.
“Finally, I'd like each of you to say a few closing words freely!”
Keeping his chin resting on one hand, Dion looked directly at me and spoke first.
“Tomorrow... there'll be quite a surprise that'll leave everyone completely stunned, Senior.”
Without replying, I silently waited for him to continue.
Apparently confident that tomorrow's "surprise" would succeed, he couldn't hide the sinister smile on his face.
“So you seniors can just sit there sucking your thumbs and enjoy the show.”
Beside us, Hayes frantically scribbled in his notebook.
“Ohhh! What spirit from a first-year! That's incredible!”
However...
I knew exactly what kind of "surprise" he was referring to.
I stood up and looked down at Dion.
“Well then, do your best. It's good to see someone so motivated.”
As I walked toward the exit, I briefly stopped and slightly turned my head toward him, who was still grinning.
“But don't assume everything will go exactly the way you want.”
“…….”
Dion...
No, the Cleaner...
Simply smiled back without saying a word.
Yet for the first time, I felt as though that smile had stiffened ever so slightly.
After finishing my afternoon classes and returning to the Livestock Shed...
An unexpected guest was waiting for me.
“Young Master, you've returned.”
“Ah, Senior Villed. Hello.”
It was MacGrim, wearing her pure white beret and sitting at the first-floor table.
As soon as I approached, she rose from her seat beside the Manager and politely bowed her head.
“I just came to chat with the Manager for a while.”
“Young Master, I'll be heading out for my patrol now.”
As MacGrim stood, the Manager also rose from his seat.
“MacGrim just arrived. You could rest a little longer.”
“Haha, I've rested more than enough. I'll be on my way.”
The Manager smiled kindly at MacGrim before disappearing behind the Livestock Shed.
MacGrim silently watched his departing figure before turning her gaze toward me.
Since she kept staring so intently, I was forced to speak first.
“……Want something to drink?”
“Yes. I'd like a blueberry smoothie.”
Apparently she'd liked it quite a bit.
Her answer came back at the speed of light.
I poured one of the smoothies I'd stored inside my Subspace into a cup and handed it to her.
“Here.”
“Wow, thank you.”
Holding the cup carefully with both hands, MacGrim took a sip.
Her expression looked as though she'd just obtained the entire world.
Then, as though suddenly remembering something, she spoke.
“The Manager talks about you a lot, Senior Villed.”
“……Really? Was he talking behind my back?”
“Huh? No, not at all! Actually... I don't think I've ever seen him talk about someone for that long before. It felt like he considered you someone very special.”
MacGrim continued excitedly.
“I think the Manager really likes this place. No... more accurately, I think he really likes you, Senior.”
“I feel the same way. He looks a little stern, but he seems like a genuinely good person.”
“……Why do you like the Manager?”
“We've crossed swords.”
Apparently surprised by my answer, MacGrim's eyes widened.
“……Huh? You fought the Manager?”
“No. We've been sparring every night with practice wooden swords. Once you've crossed swords with someone, you can roughly tell what kind of person they are.”
“……No way. That's impossible. You're just clashing weapons together. It's not like it's magic. Can you read people's hearts or something?”
“Right. You wouldn't understand. I used to think the same way.”
Before I knew it, I could already tell through our sparring that the Manager had completely opened his heart to me.
Crossing swords was a way of understanding the other person.
At some point, he'd cast aside his mask and begun treating me sincerely.
He no longer hid his swordsmanship.
Sometimes he even shared stories from his glorious past.
I'd never seen this side of the Manager in the game, so it had been quite unexpected.
'Since the Manager is an extra completely unrelated to the main story, the friendlier our relationship becomes, the better.'
Being able to spar with a former Knight Commander every day was worth far more than hundreds of thousands of gold.
“Oh, right. You're a Schuler too, Senior. There's only one day left before we face each other.”
MacGrim lightly clapped her hands as she changed the subject.
“Of course, I know how strong the second-year Schuler seniors are. I've heard about it over and over ever since I enrolled.”
“Then aren't you scared? Planning to forfeit tomorrow?”
“No. I won't give up. Professor Peria personally trained us twice.”
MacGrim's eyes were serious.
“There were some incredibly strong students among us. Strong enough that they didn't even feel like fellow first-years. You'll be surprised.”
I could roughly guess who the "strong students" she referred to were.
“Of course, the Mock War battlefield is enormous... so I don't know whether we'll actually run into each other. But if we do... please don't be too rough on me.”
MacGrim smiled playfully.
“I don't know. You've probably heard the rumors.”
The rumors claiming I was incompetent.
In truth, if I relied solely on magic...
I probably couldn't even defeat little MacGrim.
“The rumors? Yes, I've heard them. Things like how you bought your way into the Finders Department with money.”
“Then why?”
“But I think it's more important to make objective judgments than to be swayed by rumors that haven't even been confirmed.”
MacGrim looked straight at me with unwavering confidence.
“I won't judge you based on rumors, Senior Villed. The Senior I know is someone who gives people smoothies and praises the Manager. And above all...”
Her voice became slightly quieter.
“You remind me of someone I really admire.”
“Who?”
“……Hmm, it's a secret.”
After adjusting her beret slightly, MacGrim chose not to say anything more.
……
Some time later, after MacGrim had returned home...
Following a long training session in the fields, I took out the Obsidian Fragment from my Subspace.
It was one of the spoils obtained from Dubi's dungeon, an item known as the Fragment of Calamity.
'There's not enough time to craft anything with this.'
It was undoubtedly a valuable item.
However, with the official battle so close...
The only thing I could do at the moment was...
'At the very least, apply Enhancement Potion to my weapon.'
I took out my Titanium Sword from my Subspace and carefully wiped the blade clean with a dry cloth.
Then I soaked another cloth with the prepared Enhancement Potion and applied it.
A thin, even coating...
Almost as though I were oiling the blade.
As time passed, the Enhancement Potion slowly seeped into the grain of the sword.
'That should do it.'
Once it had been completely absorbed, I wiped the blade again to remove any residue.
I carefully examined the edge.
'……There's definitely a noticeable difference.'
Although titanium normally had a matte finish, after applying the Enhancement Potion, it now reflected the lantern's light.
Whoosh-!
I casually swung the sword once.
I'd been using this Titanium Sword for nearly a full year.
My body remembered exactly how it should feel to cut through empty air.
'It feels a little different now.'
I'd only applied Enhancement Potion.
Yet the sensation of slicing through the air felt subtly different.
The sound of cutting through the wind seemed noticeably sharper than before.
'In the game, applying Enhancement Potion not only increased durability, but also slightly raised attack power.'
That night...
I neglected none of my training as I prepared for the official battle the following day.
……And then, the next day.
The day of the official Mock War finally arrived.