It was the next day before I knew it.
I woke rather early. Not intentionally as Leon was the one who woke me up, he said something along the lines of, 'How was your vacation?'
I almost had the urge to smack him right then and there. If only he knew what I went through. Surprisingly, he didn't ask much with regard to what happened. The same was true for the others.
Had they reached a point where they were used to stuff happening to me?
Or was there more to it?
In any case, I was soon led into a large room.
If I could describe the place with one word, it'd be 'chaotic'.
"Hmm - A little to the left, please. Yes, that."
We were in the makeup room, and everyone looked to be putting on some sort of makeup.
The one who seemed to be the most excited was Evelyn who hovered around the others while chirping about what they could do better and what looked bad. She was oddly excited about this."Is she okay?"
"...Truthfully, I don't know."
Leon shook his head while looking at Evelyn.
He then added; "She's changed quite a bit since returning from the Household and meeting Theresa."
"I can see that."
"Aoife. Your face is a little pale, give it a bit of flash and pop some color. We don't want you looking like a corpse out there."
"This bitc-"
"Kiera... Sigh. What am I going to do with you? Remove that scowl from your face or we'll really look bad in front of the cameras."
"I swear..."
"Theresa. Well, you're a child so it doesn't matter."
"Wait."
I also suddenly noticed it.
"Why is Theresa here?"
"The girls asked for her to be let in the interview, and nobody had anything against it." "Oh."
I absentmindedly nodded my head upon hearing Leon's words. If it was allowed then what else could I say?
"...And you."
Evelyn paused and frowned. She looked stumped. My eyes widened when I turned my head in the same direction she was looking at.
'What is she doing here?'
Standing before Evelyn was a young girl with glossy black hair that cascaded just to her shoulders. She appeared to be around Evelyn's age, and her dark, shimmering eyes seemed to absorb all the light around her. 𝘳ΆNÖ𝐛Ëꞩ
Evelyn raised her thumb.
"Your makeup looks good. Well done. I'm proud of you."
"...I still haven't put on my make-"
"Hai. It's so hard being the group's stylist. What...?"
Seeing how quiet the room was, Evelyn turned around. Only then did she realize that everyone was looking at her with even looks.
"What is it? Why are you all looking at me like that?"
She seemed to shiver under their collective gazes, and I continuously flicked my head between Leon and Delilah.
Yes, Delilah.
"What is she...?"
"Don't ask me."
Leon answered in a deadpan tone.
"I don't know anything. I will not know anything. Nor will I ever."
He then walked towards Evelyn and dragged her out of the room.
"Eh?"
I stared in his direction, stupefied. I only snapped out of it when a voice called out for me.
"Julien?"
"...Uh, ah."
It was Delilah.
She somehow made her way behind me before I knew it. Unable to hold my curiosity, I asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Supervising."
"In this form?"
"Mhm. It's less noticeable."
Was it really?
Doing a double take on her, she really did seem to think so.
'Is she not aware of her looks?'
While Aoife, Kiera, Evelyn, and most of the cadets were quite good-looking, Delilah still stood out quite a lot. Even if she looked different due to having become smaller, the invisible
Pressure that came out of her body was hard to ignore.
This was probably why nobody had approached her.
'Well, whatever.'
Nobody could do anything to her anyway.
Rummaging through my pocket, I took out a chocolate bar.
"Here, take this."
"Ah...?"
Delilah's feet slowed the moment her gaze fell on the chocolate. Looking around, she reached out for my hand took the bar, and snapped a piece off. I cocked my head at her action.
"You only going to eat one?"
"You eat it."
"Yes?"
"Take it."
"Oh."
Though I was confused, I eventually ended up eating the candy.
It was a little too sweet for me.
*
"Thank you very much for coming. I'm Dyrk Connoway. I'll be leading the interview today."
A man who looked no older than fifty came to greet us the moment we came out of the room and onto the stage where the interview was going to be held. He had short black hair neatly arranged into a middle split, and he wore a set of square glasses.
My first impression of him was that he seemed to be quite extroverted as he shook hands with
All of us.
"I've heard a lot about the five of you. It's a pleasure finally seeing you here. We will begin the interview in a couple of minutes while we wait for the other groups to attend. Please make
Yourselves comfortable for now."
"Thank you."
Everyone replied politely to the man. In total, there were over a dozen cadets that were going
To be interviewed. Those from the first year, those from the second year, and those from the
Third year.
Each year had several groups.
Of those, Leon, Evelyn, Theresa, Aoife, and Kiera formed one group.
I wasn't included nor was I participating in the interview. With the groups already having
Been made, there was no room for me.
Which was good.
I didn't really want to be in the interview.
But what attracted his attention, and the attention of the staff was Lyla who bowed her head
The most. About 60% degrees.
"How cute."
"Look at how cute she is..."
I could hear the whispers of the staff next to me as they all took in the sight in front of them.
Then...
"Who is she?"
"She's really pretty."
"Is she also a student? Eh? But she doesn't seem to be wearing a uniform?"
"They're all pretty but, she's..."
Everyone finally caught sight of Delilah who was standing a little further back. Her looks were
Undeniable as everyone found their eyes drifting in her direction.
"Cough."
Coughing, I locked eyes with the staff, and it was only then that they realized their mistake,
Hastily returning to their work.
How troublesome...
I turned to look at the girls who were huddled together like baby chicks.
"Are you guys ready for the interview?"
"Yeah, sort of."
Aoife glanced at me before she scowled.
"...Leon lectured all of us this morning." "Ugh. I can still hear the sound of his yapping in my ears."
"That's kind of rude, Princess"
"But am I wrong? Also, why are you calling me Princess?"
"Are you not?"
"Still..."
Seeing how Aoife and Kiera were bickering, it didn't seem like I needed to be worried about
Them being nervous. I was kind of glad.
The less nervous they were, the less likely they would slip up and make any errors. Although
They weren't the only group that was being interviewed, a single misstep could be quite
Troublesome.
Actually, it didn't really matter.
I wasn't participating.
"Excuse me."
Right then, someone tapped me on the shoulder. Turning around, a girl with long black hair
And a mole right underneath her right eye met my gaze.
She seemed unfamiliar.
Who...?
"Excuse me? Is there something wrong with my face?"
"Ah, oh. I'm sorry."
Shit, I got caught staring.
I quickly made up an excuse.
"I was spacing out for a bit. I didn't really get much sleep."
"Haha, that's very understandable. I also have those days."
The girl laughed for a bit. She looked a little younger than I was, and her expression seemed
Peculiar.
"Do I know you from somewhere?"
I asked out of curiosity. It felt like I had seen her before, but I couldn't quite place where.
"Me? Well, I don't think you would. This is after all the first time the two of us are meeting."
The girl waved her hand at my question.
"That makes sense."
But who exactly was she?
"Who do I have the pleasure of meeting?" "Ah, right."
The girl extended her hand.
"Elizabeth Smith, the third year Black Star."
"Eh?"
No wonder she felt vaguely familiar.
So she was the famous third-year Black Star. I had heard rumors about her but never properly
Seen her due to her Guild Affairs.
Typically, starting from the second year and on, the cadets would spend less time in the
Academy to participate in the respective Guild that they belonged to.
The Guild they belonged to typically selected them through the Draft that happened each end
Of the year.
'I missed mine during the time I spent home.'
But I was quite glad.
After all, I didn't really want to be part of a Guild.
"I heard that you didn't join a Guild. What are your thoughts about joining one?"
"Well, I'm not sure."
I was able to quickly discern her intentions.
'Is she here to recruit me into the Guild she's in?'
If so...
"Not sure? I think you should consider it. If you join a Guild you'll be able to enter the Mirror
Dimension whenever you-"
She paused halfway through her sentence and looked up. Her face stiffened.
"Excuse me?"
"Julien."
And then a voice reached my ear.
When I turned around I saw Delilah standing right behind me.
When did she get here?
"Yes? Is there something you need?"
"No."
"Then..."
"I was curious."
Curious?
"Yes."
Delilah nodded and just stopped talking.
I blinked my eyes, unsure of how to proceed.
Elizabeth also looked awkward and a strange silence fell over. She seemed to want to say
Something, but whenever her mouth opened, she would close it.
"The interview looks to be starting. If you're willing to join a Guild please tell me. In any case,
I have to go now. It was a pleasure to meet you." Then, as if she felt too pressured by something, she excused herself.
Delilah's head turned, tracing her retreating figure. Then, turning her attention back to me,
She said,
"She got scared."
"I think so too."
I turned my head to look at Delilah who stared straight at me. As she blinked her eyes, she
Said,
"You have a scary face." "Really? This is the first time I'm hearing this."
Whenever someone commented about my face they'd say something along the lines of; handsome, indifferent, and stuff like that.
Never once heard scary.
And it wasn't.
Delilah was the one who had scared her away.
Delilah tilted her head slightly while closely examining my face. Then, she tilted it to the
Other side, and once more to the opposite side before finally breaking into a smile.
"Maybe?"
"...Very helpful."
I waved my hand at her.
"Alright, whatever. You were kind of useful this time so it doesn't matter."
"Mhm."
Delilah extended her hand, and I knew in an instant what she wanted.
Rummaging through my pocket, I handed her another chocolate bar. She then unwrapped the paper and handed me a piece.
I looked at the piece in my hand.
"No, I already had one. You can-"
"Your face is less scary when you eat chocolate."
"Is that true?"
"Yes,"
"Ah..."
That was something new.
"I'm going."
"Good luck."
Staring at her retreating figure, I shifted my gaze to the chocolate in my hand before placing it
In my mouth.
"Um."
It was still too sweet, but...
It didn't taste so bad.
Also, my face wasn't scary.
***
The interview was formatted like a Talk Show. One host, Dyrk Connoway, interviewed the
Guests with some questions about their personal lives, thoughts on some matters, and light
Banter.
There were a total of six groups. Two from each year.
"Is everything ready?"
Dyrk asked one of his assistants as he read through the script for tonight's show.
"Yes, everything is ready. All the guests are seated, and we're just waiting for you."
"Okay. Tell them that I'm coming."
With a light sigh, Dyrk placed the script down and massaged his forehead.
"What's the projected viewer rating for this?"
"...0.1%"
The assistant replied after some hesitation.
"That low?"
"They're only students and there is no fighting. This is already being quite generous."
"What about the second years? Didn't they just come from the Summit? Shouldn't there be a
Lot of views because of them?"
"About them... It's true that they're hot right now, but their fame still lags behind some of the
Other groups here. In particular, the third years. Their accumulated achievement is not
Something the first and second years can compete with."
"Is that so...?"
Dyrk closed his eyes.
"...Okay, focus on them more. We need to squeeze out as many views as possible."
The interview was going to be broadcast to the Empire. There was no real hype around it, and
It would be a miracle if people were interested in watching.
For Dyrk, who had taken on the project, this was a huge blow.
"I also heard this year's Summit winner isn't participating."
"Ah, don't remind me."
With a bitter smile, Dyrk shook his head and shrugged. Adjusting his glasses and suit, he
Straightened his back before taking his first step toward the studio.
"We can only hope that something happens today."
He closed his eyes and put on the most brilliant smile he could muster.
"...And even if nothing exciting happens, we can make it happen. Who knows, maybe we can
Make something out of this segment."
And with these words, he left.
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