Shall We Raise the Stakes?
Shall We Raise the Stakes?
The Editing Department of the Merhen Daily. Even as morning arrived, Sepia's nagging showed no sign of stopping.
But then it happened.
"What's all this commotion so early in the morning?"
A man in a suit appeared, his brow furrowed.
A large frame, slicked-back hair, a vaguely swaggering attitude. A staff reporter hurried to greet him.
"Ah, Deputy Vincent, welcome."
Vincent — the deputy head of the Merhen Daily's News Department.
Without so much as a glance at Sepia, Vincent directed his question to the reporter.
"What's going on? First thing in the morning."
The reporter stole a glance at Sepia's expression before carefully opening his mouth.
"Regarding the Chejeon combat event, sir. We had drafted a few pieces in advance about Ivan from the Knight Department winning. But it seems Deputy Sepia wasn't pleased."
"What's the problem with that?"
Vincent's eyes went round with disbelief. His gaze shifted to Sepia.
"Deputy Sepia. Don't you know that time is the most critical thing for us? You have to prepare this kind of thing ahead of time."
Sepia's eyes sharpened to a razor's edge.
"Time is utilized efficiently only when you're dealing with the truth. This is using falsehoods to fill the time."
"Ah, here we go again."
Vincent thumped his chest as if exasperated.
"If this isn't dealing with the truth, then what is? Do you want us to go observe the ecology of every passing baby ant? Let's take it easy, easy. Hmm? How many times has the Magic Department beaten the Knight Department so far?"
"Even so. It wouldn't be too late to confirm the results before writing, would it?"
"It would be late, you. How many years have you been in this business and you still don't get it?"
"I'd say I understand better than you do."
"Oh really? Then what's this?"
Vincent irritably dropped something onto Sepia's desk.
[ A Topic Wallposter Affixed to the Agora Board. ]
*A Declaration to All Professors of the Märchen Academy Magic Department
It was the extra edition written based on Plan's wallposter.
"I checked this on my way into work. You say you know better, so why are you spreading tabloid trash like this?"
"I spread it because it was worth spreading. You don't seem to have read the contents?"
"Ha... I swear."
Vincent wiped a palm across his face in frustration.
"Deputy Sepia. You're aware that the Editor-in-Chief will be replaced by someone else once Chejeon is over, right?"
"How could I not know?"
"You seem like you don't know a thing right now! Deputy Sepia. That person is from a knight background!"
Vincent suddenly shouted.
"Mages do not bend. They resist. They deny the world... You're circulating this kind of drivel as an extra edition? What do you think the higher-ups will say?!"
"Deputy Vincent."
Sepia spoke calmly.
"Are you going to keep doing your job that way?"
"Then what would you have me do? Something a bit unique?"
"You're already doing more than enough of that. A reporter who just scribbles down whatever the higher-ups tell them to — even a pet could do better than that."
Her emerald eyes blazing, Sepia continued.
"A journalist's duty. A journalist's ethics. Can we try not to forget those things? As a fellow deputy, I'm embarrassed for you."
Ha. Vincent sneered in disbelief.
Everyone else kept their voices down and silently focused on their own work.
To the other journalists, a clash between these two was no longer anything remarkable.
"Fine. Let's see how it plays out."
In the end, Vincent nodded.
"Deputy Sepia, you do what you want. I'll do what I want over here."
"I was planning to do that anyway. I couldn't do it your way even if you asked me to."
"Right, right. But, Deputy Sepia."
Vincent put on a meaningful expression and added one more remark.
"You might want to start keeping your desk tidy in advance. After the Editor-in-Chief changes, will we still have a reason to be seeing each other here? Give that a good, long think."
With those parting words, Vincent headed off to where the other journalists were.
"Ah, yeah. What kind of article is this?"
"Ah, Deputy Vincent. This is regarding a Magic Department student and a Knight Department student who got completely drunk and went flying on broomsticks..."
Tsk. Vincent clicked his tongue.
"Out of all things, a Knight Department student is mixed up in it. Hold it."
"Understood. What about this one? The Knight Department second-years are heading out for a dungeon subjugation, but it hasn't succeeded yet."
"Good grief, obviously you run it. Is that even a question...?"
Watching this scene, Sepia pressed her fingers to her forehead. Her gaze drifted naturally to the surface of the table.
[ Ivan's Perfect Victory. The Greatness of the 'Code of Chivalry' ]
[ A Declaration to All Professors of the Märchen Academy Magic Department ]
That article and the extra edition carried completely opposing content.
To be fair, Vincent and the reporter weren't entirely wrong.
The likelihood of the Magic Department winning against the Knight Department was vanishingly slim, and by any measure, the one taking the gamble here was Sepia.
And yet.
Even so.
'Plan.'
Sepia smiled.
Somehow, she just didn't feel like they would lose.
◈
"Haah... So much stress. I like the job. I hate the people."
Violet set her teacup down with a sharp clack—more like she slammed it.
It was lunchtime, and Violet was having a rare break with Sepia at the cafeteria.
"What's wrong, sis? Did the other professors say something again?"
"It's chaos. Chaos over here about why we're putting so much effort into Chejeon. And after it's over, chaos over there..."
Violet shook her head side to side as if she didn't even want to remember. Then she turned to ask Sepia.
"Sepia. What's the mood like on the journalists' side? Chejeon's only two days away now."
"How different could we be? Not much different from the professors' mood."
"You must be having a hard time, too. Vent if you have any complaints. I'll listen to all of it today."
"Complaints? Hmm, complaints... I don't know?"
"What's that? No, wait. Hold on. You."
Violet's head tilted to the side.
"...Now that I look at you, why does your complexion look so good?"
Now that she mentioned it, that was true.
It had only been a brief conversation, but Violet thought Sepia's demeanor was strange somehow.
Sepia wasn't showing a shred of concern about Chejeon. Ever since earlier, she had been treating every matter as if it were just some casual thing to brush aside.
Then Sepia spoke up. And with a deeply meaningful expression at that.
"You must have seen Plan's skills during the evaluation. So? How was he?"
"He got picked as a representative because he deserved to be. He was impressive."
"That's your whole impression? I don't know—like, do you feel he's going to win Chejeon, or that he's going to lose? Can't you tell? Give me more detail."
"In more detail..."
Violet's eyes drifted upward toward the ceiling. Then she suddenly asked.
"...Is this an interview? You're not going to turn this into an article, right?"
"I know how to separate work from private life, okay? What exactly do you take your little sister for, sis?"
"Hmm."
Violet pondered for a moment before speaking.
"To be honest... Just being able to deconstruct a Mana Bullet isn't enough for me to say with certainty that he can beat Ivan."
"Right, right. True. But?"
Sepia nodded. Violet continued with an expression that had grown markedly more serious.
"But, oddly — really oddly — I keep getting this feeling that if it's Plan, he will win."
"Oh~ really? But weren't you suspicious of him at first?"
"That's because I jumped to conclusions on my own. Vanitas, and all that."
At her older sister's words, Sepia grinned a broad smile. She found Violet's faith intriguing.
"But sis, you know what, can I ask you just one thing?"
"What."
"You're under a mountain of stress from getting pushed around by the other professors, and you can't even be sure Plan will win Chejeon. But you're not giving up, are you?"
"Of course I'm not."
Violet ruffled her hair and let out a sigh.
"The attitude a true mage should aspire to... he's the only one who has it."
"Really? Well, when I look at Plan, he's kind of like you were as a student. Come to think of it, he really is."
"When I was a student, I didn't have a single professor cheering me on. Even now, thinking back on it, it stings. So at least I..."
But then, someone silently approached and stood beside Violet and Sepia. Both sisters instinctively turned their heads toward the figure.
Black bangs that hid her eyes. The sisters knew the identity of this still, silent woman all too well.
"Crap, that's the Chancellor's Secretary."
"Sepia, are you crazy? Right in front of her."
Sepia's and Violet's eyes went round all at once.
The Chancellor's Secretary wordlessly handed over a transparent Crystal Orb.
The sole purpose of this Crystal Orb was to convey the Chancellor's voice. Violet received it respectfully with both hands.
"Yes, Chancellor. This is Violet."
"There's something I wish to ask."
But beside her, Sepia was silently mouthing a protest.
'Sis, you'd better answer well. Got it?'
'Stay still. You're distracting me.'
Violet replied only with a mouthed shape of her own, raising one hand sharply as if about to smack her on the head.
"By now, the representatives should have been decided."
"Yes, Chancellor. That's correct."
"Do you believe he will win?"
Violet frantically messed up her own hair.
In her heart, she wanted to just say he would win.
But that was nothing more than her own personal conviction. It was obviously not a statement to make lightly before the Chancellor.
In the midst of her worrying, Chancellor Conet's voice came through once more.
"Your thoughts."
"Pardon?"
"Simply let me hear your thoughts."
Violet swallowed hard.
Her thoughts, she'd said.
When it came to what Violet thought, there was only one thing. Soon, her lips began to move, bearing her honest conviction.
"This student is a mage, without a doubt."
And so.
"I firmly believe he will change something."
No answer came back.
Watching from the side, Sepia frowned and flicked her finger.
Letters appeared on a memo floating in the air.
[If she asks whether he'll win or lose, you have to answer with win or lose. What kind of answer is that?]
Violet moved her finger as well.
[I don't know. I lost my head, too.]
[She isn't giving any response. What are you going to do now?]
[I said I don't know.]
But at that moment, Conet's voice came through.
"You would have recorded the situation during the evaluation, I presume."
Violet's answer shot out almost simultaneously.
"Of course. A visual record exists."
"Bring it with you. I will meet you in the conference room."
With those words, the light in the Crystal Orb faded.
◈
Violet carefully shifted her gaze.
With Conet at the head, the Magic Department professors were observing Plan's evaluation.
"...."
Conet replayed the visual record once more. This was already the third time.
The conference atmosphere was no different from before.
Just like the meeting that day when Summoning-type Professor Brody had vehemently opposed everything, all eyes were fixed on Violet with disfavor.
And then, once again, the playback of the visual record ended.
Conet propped her chin and considered. With an utterly expressionless face that was impossible to read.
Violet began to feel anxious.
Was even this much insufficient?
Was she not satisfied? Was she furious?
She could only hope that wasn't the case. Actually, earlier, the corner of Conet's mouth had subtly lifted.
Tap.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap...
Conet kept tapping her finger. The scene of Plan asking Elysis a question was replayed repeatedly.
Then at some point, Conet's finger stopped.
At the same time, her lips moved.
"Shall we raise the stakes a bit?"
All of a sudden, she shook her head.
"No, no."
Finally, the corner of Conet's mouth curled up into a smirk.
"Let's raise them enormously."