Episode 11: The Ordinary Person’s Press Conference [1]

 

Eve Maitner.

Among the characters appearing in Academy Swordmaster, she is the most frequently appearing S-rank Hero. After the Yun Se-ah Battle, she voluntarily becomes the protagonist’s mentor to help them cope with the abnormally increasing difficulty level through special training.

Then, judging that the protagonist wasn’t ready when the final boss appeared prematurely, she sacrifices her life to lock the gate where the final boss was sleeping, extinguishing what seemed like an eternal flame of life.

In other words… well, she’s one of those characters who must die for the protagonist’s growth.

“I’m sorry about what happened to your father.”

“It’s alright. I didn’t spend much time with him, so I don’t feel particularly sad about it.”

‘Just leave already, why are you sticking around so long?’

Now that the bothersome funeral is over, I need to hurry to Yun Seong-ho’s lab to quickly craft rare resources I might have missed or hidden pieces to feed to the protagonist’s party.

‘And I have to finish the press conference when I get back.’

By now, Kim Deok-bae must be sweating bullets in the chairman’s office, dealing with the flood of phone calls and interview requests from reporters.

‘The Yuseong Group’s structure is simple anyway. Once the press conference is over, they can wrap things up fine without me.’

Most of what the Yuseong Group does is just making potions, checking inventory, verifying defective products, and distributing them to guilds-basically operating like a simple cottage industry.

The problem is that it’s now grown to corporate scale.

Most of the employees are researchers, handling potion development and improving existing potions.

Yun Seong-ho was solely responsible for transactions between the company and guilds. Despite being trash in other aspects, he had a good head for money, so he must have properly handed over the ledgers of past transactions to Deok-bae.

‘I also implanted a suggestion in Deok-bae to improve work efficiency.’

At the very least, the current Deok-bae should demonstrate the efficiency of a seasoned professional manager with over 40 years of experience in a major corporation.

Thinking about it, I feel a bit regretful about secretly eliminating all the nameless orphans who made up the research team.

‘Should’ve kept at least three of them. They must have worked there for decades-would’ve been convenient as lab assistants.’

No matter what, there’s a limit to memorizing all the synthesis formulas for potions I can create using the in-game crafting system alone.

‘At best, I can only make… Mana Amplifiers and Elixirs.’

Hmm, those two should be enough.

‘For the rest… I can just make the regular employees work hard to find them one by one.’

“You seem really focused, huh?”

“…Ah, my apologies.”

Let’s keep the summary about the Yuseong Group brief for now.

That face-she’s smiling, but…

 

Information

Name: Eve Maitner

Age: ??

Alignment: Good, Stable

Skill List

Thunder Emperor (S)

Can freely control thunder and lightning

Well of Mana (S)

Mana is endlessly generated

Insight (S)

Can enter a world where the target’s memories are converted into questions, can determine the truthfulness of the target’s statements

Stats

Physical Strength: B+

Defense: D

Magic Power: S+

Stamina: B

Agility: A+

Luck: C+

 

(Holy Power stat has been changed to Luck stat)

If I slip up even slightly, I’ll have all the original story information in my head taken away and be labeled a lunatic.

…

…

…

-Look, isn’t that Eve Maitner-nim, the S-rank Hero?

-Eh, why would Eve Maitner-nim be here at this time… Huh?!

-See? Who else would confidently wear an outfit like that other than Hero Eve-nim?

-Should I ask for an autograph?

-Stop it, she seems to be in a consultation with a student. Let’s just be satisfied with seeing her.

“Hehe, good kids. I was going to roast them nicely if they approached rudely.”

The meeting with Eve didn’t end as expected.

I thought it would just be some questions about my usual relationship with my father and simple comforting words like ‘don’t be too heartbroken’… but it seems Yun Se-ah reported the existence of these eyes to Eve Maitner before I possessed her.

She already seemed well aware that Yun Seong-ho was a bastard.

‘………When will this en… Wait.’

If I listen to this nagging any longer, I might just fall asleep right away.

“Um… Chairman, are you interested in my eyes?”

“That’s right. That bastard Yun Seong-ho shoving a monster’s eye into your socket still pisses me off… But you endured that pain splendidly. I want to study it.”

Eve’s eyes sparkle.

‘Sigh… Wait, so Eve knew Yun Se-ah had the Evil Eye but didn’t stop me… No, I get the gist.’

Yun Se-ah, suffering from the pain of the Evil Eye, reported it to Eve Maitner, but Eve couldn’t find a way to relieve it. So Yun Se-ah ended up brainwashed by Yun Seong-ho… something like that.

‘Someone like Eve would definitely keep it secret… She’d be great at researching various uses for these eyes.’

“Ah, of course, if you feel uncomfortable or displeased, I won’t proceed with the research. Since it’s like a brand to you…”

“Chairman, I don’t consider these eyes a brand.”

“…”

At my words, Eve grew serious and deployed a soundproof barrier around us.

“These eyes are like a lotus flower blooming from the mud-a gift born from my father’s abuse. I don’t know what he intended to do with them… but I want to use this power to protect more people.”

“…I see. That simplifies things.”

After a brief moment of contemplation, Eve took something out from her dimensional pouch and handed it to me.

“Take it-my phone number. I have classes, so… let’s meet every Saturday to research your eyes. Is that okay?”

“Yes, I should be the one thanking you.”

‘Great, is this the end?’

I’ve also found a way to slowly discover how to utilize these eyes. Now all that’s left is…

“Ah, going to the press conference?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Alright, a gift for today’s meeting.”

-Snap!

“…….?”

When Eve flicked her fingers, my vision wobbled as if my waist had been bent.

-Crash!

“Guh-ack!”

“Ah, miss! Are you alright?!”

“Ugh… I’m fine. I learned today that you’re quite violent.”

When I came to my senses, I was in the Yuseong Group’s chairman’s office.

…

…

…

-Vroom

“You’ve read the documents in advance, right?”

“Yes, I’ve already changed my phone number and blocked all private contact attempts from other guild leaders beforehand.”

On the way down to the press conference venue via elevator, I coordinated with Deok-bae in advance.

1. My father, Yun Seong-ho, died too suddenly, necessitating the appointment of a new chairman. But since I’ve already absorbed 100% of Yun Seong-ho’s shares, that need has disappeared.

2. In principle, I could take over the Yuseong Group immediately, but I’m deemed academically unprepared. Until I graduate from the academy, Secretary Kim Deok-bae-who perfectly assisted Yun Seong-ho in his duties-will act as chairman.

3. After graduating, I’ll take over as chairman.

“Pretty simple, right?”

“Yes, very straightforward.”

Among the broadcasting stations scheduled for interviews, some were owned by the Kim family. They’ll definitely throw disrespectful questions at me.

I’ve already prepared perfect countermeasures.

Well then, shall we begin the press conference?

…

…

…

“Senior, is this the right place?”

“Yeah, the text message said the press conference would be held here.”

The reporters from the Kim family’s broadcasting station.

“Wow… look at the intensity of these questions. They’re downright vicious.”

“…This doesn’t seem like something we should be doing for a paycheck.”

They had prepared a slew of rude and over-the-line questions-questioning whether Yun Se-ah, who lacked the blue eyes and white hair common to the Yun family, was truly Yun Seong-ho’s biological daughter, whether she was fit to inherit the Yuseong Group, and other invasive inquiries.

“What can we do? If we don’t ask these, we’ll get fired.”

“Sigh… That’s such a sha-Gah?!”

-Thud!

Suddenly, the junior reporter collapsed with a dull sound.

“W-what the- You guys… Gah?!”

-Crash!

The senior reporter tried to resist but was swiftly subdued by men in black suits, who then forced something onto his face.

Thus, the two people who had been walking while worrying about the young girl who would face a mental shock…

“Confirmed, we’ve secured them, miss.”

[“Good work. Escort them to the special room at the main house. I’ll head there right after the press conference, so wait for me.”]

“Mmph-mmph mmph!!”

“Hng-! Mmmph! Mmmph!!”

They were thrown into a black van and taken somewhere…