“...I am Trashy Forbtime. Senior reporter at Assassination Daily. Seven years with the company. Twelve-time winner of Journalist of the Month. Once nominated for the Pulichev Prize. Voted 6th place out of 525 in ‘Journalist of the Year’ by subscribers. The man destined to become the greatest journalist on earth... I apologize in my grandfather’s name.”
We were outside.
Trashy said this with both eyes swollen shut.
I held out my Crystal Orb toward him.
“Number.”
“Excuse me?”
“Put in your number.”
“Ah. Yes. If troubling articles are about to go live and you need them to go through Division 3 first, just contact me. I’ll handle it immediately.”
“Once it’s registered, sync it with your tracking beacon authorization.”
“......”
“You’re not doing it?”
“I already did before you asked. I also submitted the notification sync so it auto-alerts if the number changes.”
I checked. He wasn’t lying.
His reflexes were absurd. Legendary-tier sycophant, truly.
And while he was already groveling, he even rolled over and wagged his tail.
It made it hard to stay mad.
“Let’s help each other out.”
“An honor, sir!”
And just like that, Trashy Forbtime’s number was saved in my Crystal Orb.
A solid start to the betting table.
Because all assassination scandals flowed through Assassination Daily.
Having one ally in that swamp was useful.
“Entering now, Professor Dante Hiakapo!! Salute!”
I returned to the studio set.
***
Gray’s shoot was a roaring success.
Of course, there was some friction during Part 2: Illusion Duel. The opponent was aggressive, and Gray was... rude.
Amulet suddenly hurled a shuriken. Gray flicked her finger and shattered it.
Clink!
But see—breaking something with your finger? That’s deeply rude in an illusion duel. It signals you’re dismissing the opponent’s illusion outright.
“Hey.”
“Huh?”
Amulet scowled; Gray blinked innocently.
“Oh, sorry.”
Then Amulet summoned a blue flame with her fingertip—extremely flashy. But that couldn’t be broken by a finger. Because flames were a [Phenomenon].
Then Gray turned the flame from blue to brilliant silver. She had layered [Phenomenon] over [Phenomenon].
“Hey, what the hell? You just overwrote Kreutz’s symbolic color with Hiaka’s, didn’t you?”
“Oh, really? I just used my hair color...”
“Don’t lie! Apologize! We all know that’s Hiaka’s color! You really gonna act like you didn’t just trample on a national symbol?!”
“Whoops, sowwy.”
Gray clutched her skirt and bowed. Amulet’s eye twitched.
What followed was utter chaos. Gray summoned a butterfly. Amulet summoned a bird and pecked it to death. The bird’s head was cut off midair and its corpse hurtled toward Gray.
It shattered on Gray’s fingertip.
“HEY!! You think you’re the only one who can do that!?”
“Ah, sorry. But honestly, it’s kinda your fault.”
“What?”
“You keep tossing illusions toward my fingers.”
“When did I do that!? Don’t lie!!”
“Forget it then...”
Disrespect rolled off her like breathing.
Amulet’s eyes were visibly trembling with rage.
‘Yes, Gray!’
‘Use your toes next time! Fingers are wasted on these people!’
Our team’s seconds cheered wildly.
Meanwhile, the Kreutz side’s expressions soured.
‘Amulet... Get your act together...’
‘Damn it...! That insolent brat...!’
Everyone lost their minds over Gray’s rudeness—but for me, something else was fascinating.
Others probably couldn’t see it, but I could: Gray’s skill level was nearly equal to Amulet’s.
Amulet was a genius. Empire-schooled. Elite path. National support.
Meanwhile, our girl? Her family collapsed, she lived like a beggar, and clawed her way up alone—yet she reached a similar level.
It’s like this:
Some backwater delinquent girl studying out of library workbooks ends up performing on par with a top-tier double major who got their master’s at age ten.
That’s what a [2.7] Potential looks like.
“We’ll end Part 2: Illusion Duel here. Next up—Part 3: Interview!”
And the interview? Total sweep for Gray.
It was hard to believe she’d been nervous earlier. The girl could talk.
Q. How does it feel to represent Hiaka’s assassins?
A. Bit heavy... (toothy smile). But that weight would’ve been the same no matter who stood here. I’m trying not to get too swept up in the idea of “representing.” Like in a marathon—sometimes the one in front is just the pacemaker, helping those behind. That’s the kind of person I want to be.
Q. Weren’t you scared when you stopped the falling airship?
A. Mm... in crises, people act on reflex, not choice. I’m lacking in many ways, but I had to do what I could. And I wasn’t the only one fighting there. So it feels embarrassing to praise myself too much.
Q. Anything you’d like to say as a member of the Habanero family?
A. I do! (laughs) But since I’m here on behalf of Hiaka today, I’ll save that for another time.
Insane.
‘Woooooooo!!’
‘Crushing itttt!!’
Our seconds were bouncing in place.
Even I clenched my fist.
Too good.
Plus, there was an unfiltered quality to her speech that really shined in the dual interview. Totally different from Amulet, who was formal, graceful, restrained.
Q. Who do you think did better in the duel?
A. It was a good match, but I think I had the edge.
A. She’d be toast without the cameras lol
Q. Both of you are stunning—can you comment on each other’s outfits?
A. Cute, but tacky. Not very refined. No one’d talk to her at a party.
A. Looks like a golden goblin lol
And so it went—
Amulet was about to lose her mind.
【 Amulet† is trembling with rage. 】
By this point, I felt at peace. The shoot was going fine. Gray would definitely be the highlight. She looked better in Part 1 and 2 both.
Still, despite her poise, she was nervous.
At one point, she mouthed something to me.
【 Gray: ‘Am I doing okay...?’ 】
I nodded.
Keep going just like that.
【 Gray: ‘Eh? You don’t even know what I’m asking...’ 】
【 Gray: ‘......’ 】
But then...
Even though I thought she was winning by a landslide, the director apparently had other ideas.
【 Director Barmur (Assassination Daily): ‘It’s even...’ 】
What? Even? Are you blind?
【 Director Barmur: ‘Gray’s much better than expected... but her illusions lack impact compared to Amulet’s.’ 】
【 Director Barmur: ‘And what even was that weird blue butterfly trick? Never seen that before.’ 】
Damn it. Bias against the unfamiliar.
People say they love novelty.
But the ones who say that are always the minority.
People like me. Hipsters.
The majority prefer what they already know. Same in this game-world.
【 Director Barmur: ‘Hmm. Or maybe Gray is a bit better? Hm. Still need to see more.’ 】
Then, near the end of the interview—an unexpected twist.
Q. Recently, many students are studying abroad at Kreutz to learn unique illusion arts. Why do you think that is?
A. The importance of faculty.
Amulet glanced sidelong at Gray with elegance, then added:
A. Unlike some schools that don’t even have proper professors, we have several Grandmaster-tier illusion professors.
A direct stab at Hiaka’s wounded pride.
Maybe that’s why Gray’s lips tightened—and her snaggletooth popped out.
【 Gray is flaring up. 】
Q. Then Gray, would you be interested in studying abroad at Hattengraj if given the opportunity?
A. What a joke. Don’t talk like you know x-shit...!
Gray suddenly stepped out of frame.
She wasn’t talking to the interviewer. She was yelling at Amulet.
“C-Cadet Gray...?”
Wait, what the hell?
Both sides’ seconds panicked. Amulet scowled in disbelief.
“What «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» did you just say?”
“Don’t be ridiculous! ‘No proper professors’? What the hell do you know!? That pissed me off!”
Amulet scoffed.
“What pissed you off? Everyone knows your professors, like that Battalion guy, only came over ‘cause they were treated unfairly. You think that kind of talent means high quality?”
“Fck you, btch.”
Gray flipped her off.
“Oh god.” “Holy sh*t!” Our seconds were losing it.
“You’re just happy you picked up the trash we threw away! Don’t listen to that btch, interviewer! She doesn’t know sht...!”
Gray was fuming.
Anyone would be in her shoes.
Amulet laughed bitterly.
Q. Then Cadet Gray—do you believe Hiaka has great illusion professors?
A. Not just ‘great.’ Just like I’m more skilled than her, our faculty is way above theirs. Way above...!!
Oh no.
Then she stormed off frame again.
She pointed at Kreutz’s seconds—and dropped a bomb.
“Honestly? I bet our senior professor could beat your chief professor in illusions.”
“What!?”
The whole room froze. Amulet, Kreutz, director, even the Camera Orb all turned to stare at our side.
Then Gray turned to me.
“Right, Professor?? You’re stronger than him, right!?”
Oh god.
I had to hide.
Didn’t know why, just instinct.
I ducked behind Wilhelm’s back.
But Gray sealed my fate.
“Don’t hide...! Dante Hiakapo......!”
Then—Spotlight. On me.
—FLASH!!
‘Oh sh*t.’
My scalp went hot. The crew had lit me up.
Now everyone was staring.
This wasn’t in the plan.
I wasn’t even supposed to show my true ability. That’s why I’d made Cain as a puppet senior professor!
But Gray didn’t know that. She just got emotional, seeing Hiaka insulted—and dragged me in.
“......”
I waved my hand like I didn’t know anything. But a sub-director approached with a mic.
Q. Any comment, Professor Dante?
A. ......
What do I do.
How did it come to this?
I raised my palm weakly and gave Wilhelm a pleading glance.
【 Senior Professor Wilhelm: ‘Hmm?’ 】
【 Senior Professor Wilhelm: ‘You want help?’ 】
Yes. He was in that Cain strategy meeting—he should know the whole situation.
【 Senior Professor Wilhelm: ‘OK.’ 】
Then Wilhelm took the mic and said loudly:
“It’s true.”
Wait. No. No, it’s not!
He knew my situation. Why would he—
Then he flinched.
【 Senior Professor Wilhelm: ‘Oops.’ 】
Oops!?
Too late!
His declaration exploded like a bomb.
The assistant director recoiled.
“Did you just say it’s true!? That Hiaka’s senior professor outperforms Kreutz’s chief in [Illusion]!?”
“Yes, I mean, uh... yes.”
Wilhelm stammered, then whispered to me, ‘Let’s go with it.’
I whispered back, ‘Let’s go with what? Shut this down already.’
‘Aw, come on! Just say you’re Cain’s student or something.’
‘......’
Sure, I had considered that.
But if I could avoid it—I should.
So I glared.
He deflated.
‘Fine, fine... I’ll stop, jeez.’
Good.
Then—
“Hey, old man! Wanna duel my professor!?”
Gray yelled.
What now!?
Everyone’s gaze shifted to the Kreutz side.
● Chief Professor Horup†
Head of Illusion Assassination.
Ranked 711th on the continent.
And mind you—there’s a big gap between 900s, 800s, and 700s.
This guy was a real Grandmaster.
That monstrous professor locked eyes on me with a vicious glare.
And Assassination Daily never misses bait like this.
“Professors, may we arrange it? Hiaka vs Kreutz! A duel of professors’ illusions!”
No. Absolutely not.
Win or lose, it would cause problems.
Senior professors aren’t supposed to beat chief professors. It’s unnatural.
Usually, even three seniors couldn’t take down one chief.
‘Wilhelm!’ I cried out in desperation.
He was the only adult I could turn to.
【 Senior Professor Wilhelm: ‘Hmm?’ 】
【 Senior Professor Wilhelm: ‘Ah! Right, this won’t work...’ 】
He finally came to his senses—and nodded solemnly.
Please, this time—no more nonsense.
Then he jumped up and shouted:
“Absolutely not!”
“What!?”
“I said no! A duel between a chief and a senior professor!?”
Yes!!
Well done! Now there’s a reason to cancel this!
“...Not for free!!”
You’ve got to be kidding me.