Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Translator: Penny
Episode 11: The Commoner's Press Conference [1]
Episode 11: The Commoner's Press Conference [1]
Eve Meitner.
Among the characters in Academy Swordmaster, she was the most frequently appearing S-Rank Hero. After the Yun Se-a Incident, she took on the role of the protagonist's mentor, providing special training to help him cope with the abnormally escalating difficulty.
When the Final Boss emerged prematurely, Eve judged that the protagonist wasn't ready. She sacrificed her life to seal the gate where the Final Boss slumbered, extinguishing her seemingly eternal flame of life.
In other words... she was one of those characters who had to die to facilitate the protagonist's growth.
"I'm sorry about your father."
"It's alright. We didn't have much time together, so I don't feel particularly sad."
"Just hurry up and leave. Why are you lingering so long?"
Now that the tedious funeral was over, I needed to rush to Yun Seong-ho's lab to quickly discover any remaining rare resources and craft the Hidden Pieces I planned to feed to the protagonist's group.
I also need to wrap up the press conference when I get back.
By now, Mr. Kim Deok-bae must be sweating bullets in the chairman's office, fending off the flood of journalists' calls and interview requests.
Since Yuseong Group's structure is so simple, they should be able to manage just fine without me after the press conference.
After all, most of Yuseong Group's operations revolved around simple tasks: brewing potions, managing inventory, checking for defects, and distributing the products to the Guilds—a process akin to a large-scale cottage industry.
The problem now was that it had grown into a full-fledged corporation.
Most of the employees were researchers, dedicated to developing new potions and improving existing ones.
Yun Seong-ho handled all transactions between the corporation and the Guilds. Despite his otherwise trash-like demeanor, he had a sharp mind for business. He must have meticulously organized the transaction ledgers well enough to hand them over to Mr. Deok-bae.
I also planted a Suggestion on Mr. Deok-bae to boost his work efficiency.
At least for now, Mr. Deok-bae would demonstrate the efficiency of a seasoned executive with over forty years of experience at a major corporation.
Thinking about it, it felt a little wasteful to have completely wiped out the nameless research team composed of orphans they had been secretly operating.
I should have spared about three of them. After decades of working there, they would have been useful as lab researchers.
It seems there's a limit to how many potion recipes I can memorize from the game.
The only ones I can reliably make are... Mana Amplification potions and Elixirs.
Hmm, those two should be enough.
As for the rest... I can just have the regular employees scour the place for them.
"You seem deeply focused."
"...Ah, my apologies."
For now, let's stop with this brief summary of the Yuseong Group.
That smile on his face... though it seems genuine, I can't shake the feeling that...
Information
Name: Eve Meitner
Age: ??
Alignment: Good, Stable
Skills
Thunder Emperor (S)
Can freely manipulate thunder and lightning.
Spring of Mana (S)
Mana regenerates endlessly.
Discernment (S)
Can enter a world where the target's memories are transformed into gates, allowing for verification of the truthfulness of their statements.
Attributes
Strength: B+
Defense: D
Magic Power: S+
Stamina: B
Agility: A+
Luck: C+
(Sacred Power stat has been changed to Luck stat.)
If I made even the slightest mistake, all the information about the original work in my head would be stolen, and I'd be branded as a madman.
"Hey, isn't that Eve Meitner, the S-Rank Hero?"
"Come on, why would Eve Meitner be here at this hour... Wait, what?!"
"Look, who else would confidently wear an outfit like that except Hero Eve?!"
"Should we ask for an autograph?"
"Don't bother. She seems to be counseling a student right now. Let's just be content with seeing her."
Heh, good kids. I was ready to roast anyone who approached rudely into a crispy treat.
My interview with Eve dragged on longer than expected.
I'd anticipated routine questions about my relationship with my father and some simple words of comfort, like "Don't worry too much." But it seemed Yun Se-a had reported the existence of this eye to Eve Meitner before I possessed her body.
She already knew Yun Seong-ho was a bastard.
"...When will this end...? Wait a minute."
If I had to endure this nagging for much longer, I felt like I'd fall asleep any second.
"Um... Chairwoman, are you interested in my eyes?"
"Exactly! That bastard Yun Seong-ho shoving a monster's eye into yours still pisses me off... But you've overcome the pain so admirably. I want to study that."
Eve's eyes sparkled.
Haa... Wait a minute. So Eve knew Yun Se-a had a Demonic Eye but didn't stop me...? No, that's not right. I think I understand the situation now.
Yun Se-a, tormented by the Demonic Eye's pain, reported her suffering to Eve Meitner. But Eve couldn't find a way to alleviate it. Eventually, Yun Se-a was brainwashed by Yun Seong-ho... something like that.
If it's Eve, she'll definitely keep it quiet... And Eve would be the perfect person to research the various ways to use this eye.
"Ah, of course, I won't conduct any research if it makes you feel bad or uncomfortable. After all, it's like a brand for you..."
"Chairwoman, I don't think of this eye as a brand."
"......"
At my words, Eve seemed to grow serious and deployed a Soundproofing Barrier around us.
"This eye is like a lotus blooming from the mud—a gift born from my father's abuse. I don't know exactly what he intended to do with this power... but I want to use it to protect more people."
"........I see. This resolves the matter quite simply, then."
Eve hesitated for a moment, then reached into her Subspace Pouch and handed me something.
"Take this. It's my phone number. Since I have classes, we'll meet every Saturday to continue researching your eyes. Is that alright?"
"Yes, I'm more grateful than you know."
Good, is that all?
I had already figured out how to gradually discover the full potential of my eyes. Now all that remained was...
"Oh, are you heading to the press conference?"
"Ah, yes."
"Then consider this a gift for today's meeting."
Snap!
"......?"
Eve snapped her fingers, and my vision lurched violently, as if my spine had been snapped.
Crash! Bang!
"Ugh...!"
"Young Lady! Are you alright?!"
"Ugh... I'm fine. I'm just learning how... forceful you can be."
When I regained my senses, I was in the Yuseong Group Chairman's office.
Woooosh
"You've reviewed the documents, right?"
"Yes, I've already changed my phone number and blocked all private communications from other Guild Masters in advance."
As we rode the elevator down to the press conference hall, Mr. Deok-bae and I finalized our strategy.
1. My father, Yun Seong-ho, passed away so suddenly that we needed to appoint a new chairman. However, since I had already absorbed 100% of Yun Seong-ho's shares, there was no longer any need for such a process.
2. According to principle, there would be no issue with me immediately taking over the Yuseong Group. However, I judged myself academically unprepared to do so. Until my graduation from the Academy, I entrusted the chairmanship to Secretary Kim Deok-bae, who had perfectly assisted Yun Seong-ho in his duties.
3. After graduating from the Academy, I will assume the chairmanship.
"Simple, right?"
"Yes, straightforward enough."
Among the broadcasting stations that had scheduled visits was one owned by the Kim Family. I knew they would inevitably bombard me with disrespectful questions.
But I had already devised a perfect response.
Now, shall we begin the press conference?
"Senior, are we sure this is the right place?"
"Yeah, the text we got earlier said the press conference would be held here."
The reporters were from the Kim Family's broadcasting station.
"Wow... look at the intensity of these questions. They're brutal."
"...No matter how you look at it, this isn't something you'd do for a paycheck."
The questions were filled with rude inquiries about whether Yun Se-a, who lacked the blue eyes and white hair common to the Yun Seong-ho family, was truly Yun Seong-ho's biological daughter, and whether she was fit to inherit the Yuseong Group. There were also numerous other inappropriate questions that crossed the line.
"What choice do we have? If we don't ask these questions, we'll get fired."
"Sigh... that's a shame... Ugh?!"
Thud!
A sudden, dull sound echoed as the junior reporter collapsed beside them.
"W-what? You guys... Gah!"
Crash!
The senior reporter tried to resist, but men in black suits swiftly subdued him and forced something over his face.
And so, the two reporters, who had been walking along, worried about the young woman who was about to suffer a tremendous mental shock...
"Yes, we've secured them, Young Lady."
"Thank you for your hard work. Take them to the special room at the Main Residence. I'll be there right after the press conference, so please wait for me?"
"Mmph-mmph-mmph!!"
"Hngh-! Mmph! Mmph!!"
They were thrown into a black van and driven away to an unknown destination...