Chapter 88
Chapter 88
Episode 88
[Main Story] No.2 Betting Table (4)
"......That Trash Fobtime." Section Chief of the Assassination Daily. 7 years of service. 12-time recipient of the Reporter of the Month award. Nominated once for the Pulitsev Prize. Ranked 6th out of 525 voters in the Readers’ Choice for Best Reporter of the Year. A man destined to become the world’s strongest reporter……. I apologize on my grandfather’s honor.”
The location was outdoors.
Trash said this, his face bruised and swollen.
I offered him my 「crystal ball」.
“Number.”
“Yes?”
“Give me your number.”
“Yes. From now on, if any troublesome articles are to be published, and they must go through our Third Section, please contact me, and I will handle it immediately.”
“Once you’ve given me your number, accept the application for the location tracking device linkage.”
“…….”
“Are you not going to?”
“I already did before you even asked. I also applied for the device linkage that sends an automatic text message when the number is changed.”
Upon checking, it was true.
Wasn’t his reaction speed truly legendary, the speed of a madman?
As he prostrated himself, he even showed his belly and wagged his tail, trying to be cute.
Seeing this, my heart softened too.
“Let’s help each other out.”
“It is an honor!”
And so, Trash Fobtime’s phone number was saved in my 「crystal ball」.
This was also a good start for the Betting Table.
All assassins’ issues are funneled through the Assassination Daily.
It’s good to have one person on my side.
“Please go in, Professor Dante Hiakapo!! Loyalty!”
I returned to the set.
* * *
Gray’s filming proceeded with great success.
Of course, there was a minor conflict during the second part, the illusionary combat. The opponent was aggressive, and Gray was rude.
Amulet suddenly threw a throwing star. Then Gray flicked it with his finger and broke it.
Clang!
And ‘breaking something with a finger’ was an extremely rude gesture in illusionary combat. It was a gesture that disrespected the opponent’s illusion.
“Hey.”
“Huh?”
As Amulet’s expression turned serious, Gray blinked.
“Ah, sorry.”
Soon, Amulet conjured a blue flame from his finger. It was incredibly flashy. However, this could not be broken with just a finger. The flame was a [Phenomenon].
But the blue flame soon turned into a bright silver. Gray had overlaid a [Phenomenon] on top of a [Phenomenon].
“Hey, you can’t do that, can you? You just covered Kreutz’s symbol color with Hiaka’s symbol color?”
“Ah, really? I just did it to match my hair color….”
“Don’t lie and apologize! Everyone knows it’s Hiaka’s color! How dare you brazenly invade national symbols like this?”
“Oooh, sowy.”
Gray clutched the hem of his skirt and bowed his head, but Amulet’s eyes twitched.
What happened next was even more outrageous. Gray created a butterfly, and Amulet sent a bird to peck it to death. The bird’s neck was severed and it fell. The fallen corpse flew towards Gray.
Then it was caught by Gray’s finger and shattered.
“Hey!! You think you’re the only one who can do that!?”
“Ah, sorry. But honestly, it’s partly your fault too.”
“What?”
“You keep sending illusions towards my fingers.”
“When did I!? Don’t lie!!”
“If you say so….”
Rudeness that flowed out as naturally as breathing!
Amulet’s eyes trembled.
‘Kyaa! Well done, Gray!’
‘Go ahead and use your toes! Fingers are too good for that guy!’
At this, our side’s seconds cheered.
Conversely, the expressions of Kreutz’s seconds soured.
‘Amulet. Try a little harder…!’
‘Ah, damn it…! That, that insolent brat…!’
Everyone was driven mad by Gray’s rudeness, but I, on the other hand, found it amusing for a different reason.
Though others couldn’t see it, I could. Gray’s level was comparable to Amulet’s.
The other side was a genius, a graduate of the Imperial Academy, on an elite path, and a recipient of national support.
Yet, our side’s kid, whose family had fallen and lived like a beggar, had achieved a comparable level through sheer effort.
To put it in real-world terms.
It was like a delinquent girl who studied with library problem books in the countryside showing performance similar to someone who double-majored and earned a Master’s degree in their teens at a top university.
Potential [2.7] was that kind of thing.
“That concludes Part 2, the illusionary combat. We will now proceed to Part 3, the interview!”
Furthermore, the interview was also a decisive victory for Gray.
Despite initially being nervous, he spoke surprisingly well.
Q. How does it feel to represent the Hiaka assassins?
A. It’s a bit heavy… (with a lisp). But whoever stood here would feel this weight. Still, I don’t want to get too caught up in the idea of representing everyone. In a marathon, the person in front is called a pacesetter. They are actually helping those behind them. I hope to be that kind of person.
Q. Weren’t you afraid when you stopped the falling airship?
A. Hmm… In a crisis, people show their reflexes, not their choices. I am a flawed person, but I had to do what I could, and I wasn’t the only one who fought hard there. It’s embarrassing to overstate my own contribution.
Q. Do you have anything to say as the Habanero family?
A. Yes! (laughs) But right now, I’m here representing Hiaka, so I’ll put it off for a bit.
She’s insane.
‘Ughhhhhh!!’
‘Well doneeeeeee!!’
Our side’s seconds jumped with joy.
My own clenched fist tightened.
Because she was so good.
Moreover, her words had a raw, captivating quality that shone even brighter during the double interview. Unlike Amulet, who was polite, elegant, and formal.
Q. Who do you think performed better in the illusionary combat?
A. It was a good match, but I think I was slightly better.
A. If not for the filming device, she would have died… lol
Q. You are both very beautiful, how would you evaluate each other’s outfits?
A. They’re pretty, but they’re unfashionable and lack sophistication. No one would talk to you at a party.
A. Looked like a Golden Goblin… lol
It continued like that,
Amulet was on the verge of losing his mind in anger.
【 Amulet† is trembling. 】
Seeing this, peace settled in my heart. The filming ended successfully, and I felt that Gray would be the main focus. Both in Part 1 and Part 2, Gray looked much better.
However, even while appearing so composed, she wasn’t entirely free from nervousness.
Once, she mouthed a question to me.
【 Gray : ‘Am I doing well…?’ 】
I nodded.
Keep doing just that.
【 Gray : ‘Huh? You’re nodding, but what do you know…?’ 】
【 Gray : ‘…….’ 】
And yet.
Up to this point, I thought Gray had won decisively, but the director’s thoughts seemed to be different.
【 Assassination Daily Director Bamur : ‘It’s fifty-fifty….’ 】
No, why is it fifty-fifty? Is he blind?
【 Assassination Daily Director Bamur : ‘Gray is much better than I expected, but…. her illusionary impact is weaker than Amulet’s.’ 】
【 Assassination Daily Director Bamur : ‘What even is that illusion of a bright blue butterfly? I’ve never seen anything like it.’ 】
Damn it. It was a prejudice against the unfamiliar.
People say they like novelty, but.
Those who say so are always a minority.
Hipsters like me.
Everyone prefers the familiar taste. This is also true in this game world.
【 Assassination Daily Director Bamur : ‘Hmm. Or is it? Gray is a bit better? Hmm. Still, I need to watch more.’ 】
Then, towards the end of the interview, an unexpected situation unfolded.
Q. Recently, many students have been going to Kreutz to learn unique illusionary arts. What do you think is the reason for this?
A. It must be the importance of the faculty.
Amulet glanced at Gray with elegant eyes and said,
A. Unlike some places that don’t even have proper professors, we have many great illusionary arts professors of Grandmaster level or higher.
These words pricked at Hiaka’s wound.
Perhaps because of that, Gray’s lips curled, and her lisping front tooth protruded.
【 Gray is choked up. 】
Q. Then, to Gray, if you had the opportunity to study abroad, would you consider coming to Hattengrad?
A. Hey. Don’t make me laugh. You know nothing…!
Gray suddenly moved out of the 「filming device」’s frame.
She was speaking to Amulet, not the interviewer.
“G-Gray Student…?”
Uh oh. Why is she acting like this all of a sudden? Both sides’ seconds began to panic. Amulet frowned in disbelief.
“What did you just say?”
“Don’t make me laugh…! Saying we don’t have proper illusionary professors, what do you know to say such things? It feels really disgusting!”
Amulet scoffed.
“What’s disgusting? It’s known throughout the world that many illusionary professors, including the Battalion Head Professor, were transferred due to unfair treatment. And if the treatment is unfair, doesn’t that mean the quality is also lower?”
“Fuck off, you bitch.”
Gray raised her middle finger.
‘Oh dear.’ ‘My goodness!’ The seconds were aghast.
“You pick up the trash we threw away and you’re bragging about it…! Interviewer, don’t listen to this bitch. She knows nothing…!”
Gray was agitated.
In fact, anyone would have been agitated in this situation.
Amulet sneered as if it were absurd.
Q. Ah, so in Gray Student’s opinion, there are many great illusionary professors in Hiaka as well?
A. It’s more than great. Just like I was at a higher level than her, our faculty’s level is much higher than theirs! Much, much higher…!!”
Uh oh. No.
Then Gray once again moved out of the frame.
Pointing at the opposing side’s seconds, she made a bombshell statement to the interviewer.
“Frankly! Our senior professor is better at illusionary arts than your Head Professor!”
“Excuse me??”
At those words, all eyes, including Amulet, Kreutz, and the director’s 「filming device」, turned towards our side’s seconds.
Then Gray looked at me and asked.
“Right, Professor?? Honestly, you’re stronger…!?”
My god.
I need to hide.
For some reason, I felt I had to.
I crouched behind Head Professor Wilhelm’s back with that thought.
Gray drove the nail in.
“Hey, don’t hide…! Dante Hiakapo……!”
Then, a spotlight turned on above my head.
—Flash!!
‘Ah, for crying out loud.’
My head felt hot. The filming crew had turned it on.
Then, all eyes were fixed on me.
I was flustered.
This was completely unplanned.
In the first place, I shouldn’t have revealed my abilities much. Wasn’t that why I created the puppet known as Head Professor Kain?
But Gray, unaware of that fact and choked up by the insult to Hiaka, dragged me in.
“…….”
I waved my hands, indicating I didn’t know, but suddenly an assistant director approached and offered me a microphone.
Q. Please say a word, Professor Dante.
A. …….
What do I do?
How did the situation get like this?
I briefly held up my palm and signaled SOS to Wilhelm with my eyes.
【 Head Professor Wilhelm : ‘Hmm?’ 】
【 Head Professor Wilhelm : ‘Are you asking for help?’ 】
That’s right. He was present during the Head Professor Kain meeting, so he would know the context precisely.
【 Head Professor Wilhelm : ‘OK.’ 】
Then Wilhelm snatched the microphone and said loudly.
“That’s correct.”
Uh oh. That’s not it. You should say it’s not.
I’m going crazy.
Why is the person who knows my situation so well acting like this?
He flinched belatedly.
【 Head Professor Wilhelm : ‘Ah.’ 】
What ‘Ah’? It’s already done.
Wilhelm’s confirmation was like a bomb.
The assistant director, startled, asked again.
“You mean it’s correct!? Are you confident that Hiaka’s senior professor uses [illusionary arts] better than Kreutz’s Head Professor?!”
“Yes, no, uh…. That’s correct.”
Wilhelm, stammering his agreement, whispered to me, ‘Let’s do it.’ I whispered back, ‘Do what? Just try to stop it quickly.’ ‘Hey! Let’s do it, Professor Dante. We can just say you’re Kain’s disciple.’ ‘…….’ I had considered that direction too, but it was better to avoid it if possible. ‘…….’ So I glared at him, and he deflated. ‘Alright, alright… You’re being serious. I’ll stop it.’ Good.
It was then.
“Hey, mister! Wanna fight? With our professor??”
Gray suddenly shouted.
Why is she acting like this again?
Then, everyone’s gaze shifted to the other side. To Kreutz’s Head Professor.
● Head Professor Horup†
Head Professor of Illusionary Assassination Arts, Horup.
Ranked 711th on the continent.
The 900s and 800s are different levels, and the 800s and 700s are also different.
In other words, he was a definite powerhouse among the [Grandmasters].
That monstrous professor glared at me with a menacing gaze.
And the Assassination Daily never misses a scent of such bait.
“Professors. Could we arrange a meeting? Hiaka vs. Kreutz! A professor’s illusionary combat!”
No.
This, win or lose, regardless of the outcome, could stir up trouble.
In the first place, it’s unnatural for a senior professor to defeat a Head Professor.
Normally, it would be difficult for even three or four senior professors to defeat a Head Professor.
‘Head Professor Wilhelm!’ With that thought, I urgently called out to the elder on our side. He was my only lifeline now.
【 Head Professor Wilhelm : ‘Hmm?’ 】
【 Head Professor Wilhelm : ‘Ah! It really won’t do like this, will it?’ 】
Wilhelm, who had finally come to his senses, nodded with a grim expression.
I hoped he wouldn’t spout nonsense this time.
He stood up abruptly and shouted.
“It cannot be done!”
“Excuse me??”
“I said it cannot be done! An illusionary combat between a Head Professor and a senior professor!?”
That’s right!
Well done! If he rejects it, it becomes a valid reason!
“…Not for free!!”
I’m going crazy.