Chapter 127 - Memories of the Portrait
Days have passed since the incident at Sarah’s school, and things have mostly settled down.
With so many influential students, there were significant discussions about responsibility, but that’s to be expected.
Ultimately, the school has reopened after resolving the situation.
I didn’t delve into the details of the incident, confirming only that Sarah was involved and that it wasn’t something the Kikyo Society needed to get involved in. I don’t want to take on unnecessary burdens.
Our Intelligence Unit thoroughly investigated the incident and cross-referenced the information, but I left that to Josephine and Ortlinde. They’ll inform me if anything important comes up.
The school’s security measures and personnel were promptly reviewed and reinforced. It’s essential to ensure safety before letting the students return to school.
Despite the lingering concerns, Sarah seemed to be enjoying her school life as usual.
She’s a strong kid, despite her young age.
I also received letters of gratitude from the school’s Chairperson and several parents.
Apparently, the school held a briefing for parents and stakeholders, explaining how the Kikyo Society’s swift response resolved the situation. They were very appreciative, according to Sophie, who attended the briefing.
Many of these parents are influential figures in Exembra, and this incident has unexpectedly created opportunities for connections.
The letters expressed a desire to deepen ties, suggesting that they see value in maintaining a relationship with the Kikyo Society. This is mutually beneficial, as it adds to our network of contacts.
Recognizing the importance of connections, I decided to deepen a longstanding relationship today.
I received an invitation from Torietta-san, and there was no reason to decline.
We kept it a small gathering, with just me, Valeria, and Charlotte.
Charlotte’s engraving magic has significantly improved the performance of the Kikyo Society’s equipment.
However, her busy schedule with engraving and research means she hasn’t fully fulfilled her role as the Deputy Commander of the Fifth Combat Unit. This is something we need to address when we reorganize.
Tonight’s gathering is partly about strengthening the bond between Torietta-san and Charlotte. Torietta-san is particularly enthusiastic about getting to know Charlotte better. I’ll be there to facilitate.
There’s a discussion about incorporating engraving designs into the combat uniforms we’re designing, and I’m sure they’ll have plenty to talk about.
Torietta-san is also bringing a guest, but I’m looking forward to meeting them.
The meeting place is a trendy new restaurant on Central Avenue. It’s a nice change from our usual taverns and cafeterias.
When Valeria and Charlotte and I arrived at the restaurant, Torietta-san was already there.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. And who is this?"
"Right on time, Yukari-san. You know this person, right?"
"Oh, it’s been a while! Margaret Guerin, right? Do you remember me?"
I remembered. She was the interviewer from the magazine.
I’m not great with remembering people, but she made a strong impression. Plus, I got a bromide of 'Akki' as a thank-you for the interview.
"Onee-sama?"
"This is your first time meeting. She interviewed me for a magazine a while back. It’s been a while since then."
"An interviewer, huh?"
Yeah, I’m curious too. Why is an interviewer here?
We sat down and placed our orders. Then, I asked about Margaret’s presence.
"I didn’t expect you to know her. It’s a surprise. Is this a work-related visit?"
"No, no, nothing like that! I was just invited by Torietta today."
Apparently, Margaret had researched the Brillonvest, who make the Kikyo Society’s cloaks, and they hit it off, becoming friends after that.
"Interesting. So, it’s a casual gathering. Let’s enjoy ourselves tonight."
"I’d be delighted! Though, to be honest, I’m currently unemployed... hehe."
"Unemployed? Did you get fired?"
"No, no, the magazine went bankrupt. I’m still working as a freelance journalist, but it’s not very lucrative. I’m not sure if I should even call myself a journalist anymore. Maybe ‘unemployed’ is more accurate."
Hmm, that’s a tough situation.
Exembra is a competitive city, and it’s not uncommon for smaller magazines to go under.
"Margaret-san? You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself. Freelance journalists are still journalists. Interviewing our leader could help you get some work. What do you think, leader?"
"A well-written piece about Onee-sama could open doors for you. How about it?"
Sure, why not? I have a connection with her, and as a friend of Torietta-san, I’ll treat her well.
"That’s a good point. The previous article wasn’t bad. I can help with an interview. Just let me know when you’re ready."
"Everyone... thank you so much. Please, just call me Margaret."
Margaret, with tears in her eyes. I don’t consider this a favor. A good article will benefit me too.
"Alright, let’s move on from the gloomy talk. Charlotte, tell me more about the engraving designs."
Torietta-san, driven by her own desires, quickly pivoted to her main agenda.
For a considerable time, the conversation was dominated by Torietta-san’s questions and Charlotte’s enthusiastic explanations.
Eventually, Valeria, Margaret, and I started our own conversation, as we couldn’t keep up with the technical details.
"Say, Margaret, you seem quite capable. Is it because of your work as a journalist, dealing with dangerous situations?"
"I was wondering the same thing. Journalists often face dangerous assignments, right?"
Journalists do deal with dangerous situations, and as a woman, Margaret would need to be prepared for unexpected threats.
"I get that a lot. Actually, before becoming a journalist, I was an adventurer."
"What!?"
"...I can’t imagine that."
No, that’s a joke, right?
"No, no, it’s not that impressive. I did small jobs, like gathering herbs and hunting weak monsters, just to earn a bit of money."
Really?
Even hunting weak monsters can be dangerous. Most people would find even a pack of wild dogs terrifying, and facing multiple threats could easily lead to serious injury or death. In this world, dealing with vicious monsters requires a certain level of strength.
Hmm, upon closer inspection, she does seem to have maintained her fitness.
Interesting. Not bad at all.
"Could you use Physical Enhancement Magic for me? At full strength?"
"Now?"
"Yes, quickly, please."
Valeria seemed interested too. Margaret hesitantly activated her magic.
"How was that? I feel a bit embarrassed demonstrating in front of you, Yukari-san and Valeria-san..."
Hmm, interesting.
It’s not bad, though it’s far from the Kikyo Society’s standards. For someone who hasn’t undergone our training, this is quite impressive.
I’ve been thinking that the Kikyo Society needs someone to handle media relations and public affairs. Our business has grown, and having a dedicated person would ease the burden on the Administration and Intelligence Units.
Margaret is a good candidate. She’s a professional journalist, even if only a former one, and is better suited for media relations than we are.
Her current combat skills are around the level of a mid-level trainee, but she has the knowledge and experience of an adventurer. This makes her easier to train than a complete novice.
As the face of the Kikyo Society, she needs to be more polished. She’s a bit rough around the edges, but she has potential.
It will take time, but it’s worth the investment.
I’ve taken a liking to her.
"Alright, Margaret! I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m serious. Join us at the Kikyo Society."
I looked her straight in the eye, serious and sincere. She’s unemployed, and the timing is right. Valeria seems to agree, nodding.
"Eh, eh, what?!"
"Margaret, you’re being too loud. What’s wrong?"
Torietta-san, snapping out of her trance, looked at Margaret with a puzzled expression. Charlotte, too, was confused.
"Why are you shouting? What’s the matter?"
"Margaret is joining the Kikyo Society. We’ll discuss the details later, but I’ll explain the job and the challenges involved. Then, we’ll talk about the terms. Take your time to think about it."
It’s a challenging role. Being the face of the Kikyo Society means being the public face and dealing with the world. It’s a high-risk position, much more dangerous than her previous work. She needs to be more than just competent; she needs to be exceptional. We can’t afford to lose someone in such a prominent role.
We’ll support her in every way to bridge the gap.
Her journalistic skills are beyond my expertise, but in terms of media relations, she’s a professional, better than we are. I can trust her with that.
Her current combat skills are around the level of a mid-level trainee, but her experience as an adventurer is valuable. Training a complete novice would be much harder. As the face of the Kikyo Society, she needs to be polished, but she has potential.
It will take time, but it’s worth the investment.
I’ve taken a liking to her.
"...Actually, Margaret was struggling financially. And I’ve heard you mention the need for a media relations person a few times. I thought this might happen. So, I brought Margaret along today."
Torietta-san had introduced Margaret, hoping to connect her with us. Despite her enthusiasm for the engraving discussion, she left us to our own devices.
"In any case, come to our headquarters. I’ll explain the job and the challenges involved. Then, we’ll discuss the terms. Take your time to think about it."
"Understood. I’ll visit soon."
I could tell she was interested, even though she was surprised. She seemed excited the last time I mentioned it in jest.
I want her to understand the risks and challenges fully before making a decision.
After the unexpected recruitment, we moved to a different tavern to continue our gathering.
Torietta-san and Charlotte had finally settled down, and the gathering felt more like a proper social event.
On the way back, I had to half-carry a sleepy Valeria and a nearly dozing Charlotte.
Still, it was a fun evening.
=== CHAPTER 127 END ===