Ch.87[Episode 87] Actually, This Was an Advertisement!

Hero Grand Duke Po Ru Jak raised his sword.

In response, Demon Lord Teu Le Vante created massive energy spheres in both hands, floating them around her.

The two stared at each other cutely… no, fiercely, before charging at each other simultaneously.

“Cut!”

At that moment, the Administrator shouted the cut sign with an emotional voice.

As soon as that boisterous cut sound rang out, the Hero immediately collapsed face-down on the ground, expressing his exhaustion with his entire body, while the Demon Lord dispelled her energy spheres and started eating the remaining candy left on the set.

“Um, don’t you think this is different from the image we’re going for? Is that okay?”

Sir Dominica asked the Administrator with concern, but the Administrator, who was hostile toward Sir Dominica, burst out in anger.

“Go! Our job is to broadcast the Hero’s magnificent appearance to the world, you lowly thing!”

“There’s no need to speak so harshly.”

Sir Dominic glared at the Administrator.

The Administrator, seeming to realize his words were too harsh, cleared his throat a few times.

Some might be confused by this sudden change in situation, but this is actually part of an advertisement.

Didn’t you notice?

When Sir Dominic received a letter from Hyper Authentic, they didn’t say a single word about the letter while reading it?

The absurd and implausible scenario where they suddenly went to the Academy following the siblings who were going to school, despite saying they needed to go to work?

Why did the Chief of Staff, who suddenly accelerated, start playing a puzzle game matching candies of the same color?

And why wasn’t the Administrator visible despite Hero Grand Duke Po Ru Jak being present?

There were many other foreshadowing elements as well.

When all these clues are put together, there’s only one conclusion.

This is a character introduction video for the Demon Lord and the Hero.

“I never imagined you would make such a proposal on the spot. I couldn’t have anticipated it.”

Sir Dominic said to the Administrator who was filming the exhausted Grand Duke Po Ru Jak with a cannon-like camera.

“Well, confidentiality was essential for this project.”

The Administrator was quite polite to Sir Dominic, unlike his attitude toward Sir Dominica.

The reason was simple.

Sir Dominic was a knight and hadn’t yet fallen out with the Administrator.

Above all, the fact that he didn’t get along with the Chief of Staff who served the Demon Lord was seen as a positive.

The letter delivered by the Administrator’s subordinate, Hyper Authentic, contained the following:

‘Greetings, Sir Dominic. And you vulgar thing. Ahem. Excuse me. Please forgive the emotions I cannot hide despite writing this by hand.’

‘Currently, the Grand Duke is participating as a collaboration character in a puzzle game called Candy Destroyer Tales. Uncomfortably, the Demon Lord is also involved.’

‘But somehow, those vulture-like reporters have caught wind of this and started swarming around.’

‘Listening devices have already been installed in your home. I will compensate you later for this charade.’

‘This collaboration is a crucial turning point for the Grand Duke. It’s a step toward finally reaching 5-star status after remaining at 4-star until now.’

‘However, since the Grand Duke seems to think highly of that vulgar— Excuse me. Since he thinks highly of Sir Dominica, he suggested including Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica as Easter eggs in this character introduction video.’

‘Forgive my rudeness, but if Sir Dominic were a mediocre character, I wouldn’t have accepted the proposal even if it came from the Grand Duke.’

‘However, Enchant’s sales and download numbers have already surpassed mediocrity and gained the reputation of an “IP with anticipated sequels.”‘

‘This means your appearance in our video won’t lower the Grand Duke’s status. Excuse me. I didn’t mean to be dismissive. It’s just that vulgar—’

‘Let’s end this argument. If you wish to appear as Easter eggs in the Grand Duke and Demon Lord’s video, please come to the Academy. And look at the flowers at the Academy’s main gate.’

‘That will be the signal for natural video recording to begin.’

‘It’s fine if you don’t help. But if you do, we will compensate you adequately.’

‘Administrator, Administrar Order.’

Though Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica didn’t notice, listening devices had been installed in Sir Dominic’s house while they were away.

In truth, these devices had nothing to do with the Grand Duke’s affairs, but the Administrator’s effort to control even such variables resulted in this letter.

Old-fashioned, but currently the most effective method.

Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica recognized the Administrator’s intentions as he created a chaotic situation and sent his loyal subordinate Hyper Authentic.

The red line that flowed down Doremi’s neck wasn’t blood but a message.

Literally a red thread. In Feralant, wrapping a red thread around a knife symbolized an alliance.

That’s why Sir Dominic wasn’t particularly angry despite seeing a dagger at Doremi’s neck.

The Administrator had gathered various information about Sir Dominica before and had developed a strategy to properly convey his message.

Also, when Sir Dominic brought up the topic of the radio he had seen, Hyper Authentic pretended to tilt his head in confusion while touching his ear.

A clear signal that there was eavesdropping.

This must have been when it started.

When Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica began acting as best they could.

Wasn’t it strange?

That Sir Dominic brought up work stories before addressing his sister who had just had a knife to her throat, no matter how long it had been since he’d seen her?

In truth, Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica weren’t talented actors.

They tried to act as naturally as possible, but awkward and unnatural moments inevitably appeared.

Surprisingly, the journalists who were eavesdropping sensed something odd in Sir Dominic’s words but chose to ignore it.

This bad acting controversy was naturally resolved when Doremi and Dr. Phantom smoothly changed the topic to school, specifically the Academy.

In that moment, Sir Dominic truly became his usual self, filled with genuine curiosity.

The rest, as you know, culminated in the creation of the magnificent scene between the Demon Lord and the Hero.

“By the way, I was quite surprised.”

Sir Dominic said to the Administrator who was busily pressing the camera’s shutter button.

“About what?”

The Administrator briefly looked up from the camera to check the photos he had taken so far.

Dissatisfied with some blurry sections, the Administrator was about to delete a few photos but lamented that he couldn’t possibly delete pictures of the Grand Duke.

“About Hyper Authentic. He played the fool remarkably well.”

At Sir Dominic’s sincere admiration, the Administrator’s hand froze.

“…That fool actually believes it.”

“What…?”

Sir Dominic couldn’t understand the Administrator’s words.

How could someone ignore facts that even he, who hadn’t been in Gachaland long, knew?

“Well, Hyper Authentic has no opinions of his own and is ignorant, but he has conviction…”

The Administrator’s voice trailed off.

Instead, he finished defending Hyper Authentic by saying that he has excellent utility and is actually quite good as a secret agent because no one would suspect such a fool to be a spy.

“…Anyway.”

Sir Dominic was confused by Hyper Authentic’s foolishness but decided to move on, thinking that if self-absorbed people like Super Deluxe existed, then someone like that could exist too.

After all, Super Deluxe’s self-love was so strong that he had once kidnapped Sir Dominic.

Instead, Sir Dominic decided to ask about a more practical matter.

“What about the compensation?”

“Ah, compensation. We people of the Jak Grand Duchy are very clear about compensation matters.”

The Administrator, who had somehow produced a monocle and placed it between his eyebrow and cheekbone, straightened his back with one hand behind his back and the other on his chest.

“But offering choices is also the way of the Jak Grand Duchy. I hope one of our proposals appeals to you.”

The Administrator, displaying the meticulousness befitting an administrator of the Grand Duchy, presented Sir Dominic with three options.

[The Administrator wants to reward you for your help. There are three options…]

[One. You receive financial compensation. 2,000 Gacha Stones.]

[Two. You receive rare treasures as compensation. 3 Random Rare Accessory Boxes.]

[Three. You are introduced to connections from the Grand Duke’s family. Contact information for Star Epic Anderson.]

Sir Dominic carefully examined the options that appeared before him.

These were extraordinary rewards, almost excessive for the brief help he had provided.

The first reward alone was 2,000 Gacha Stones, suggesting the others were of comparable value.

“Isn’t this too much compensation?”

“Most people say that, but just as the Grand Duke’s help is never cheap, the helping hands extended to the Grand Duke should never be treated cheaply either.”

The Administrator spoke as if it were obvious.

Sir Dominic could sense the nobility’s noblesse…obli… well, something like that in those words.

“Well, have you made your choice?”

The Administrator asked, unhurried but somehow urging.

Sir Dominic shook his head and carefully examined the rewards for a moment.

And finally, he selected one reward.