act9mini

Right, right. Yes, the Infected.

Please... don't call them that...

They were just knights, unfortunate enough to get infected.

Yes... Truly unfortunate...

However, they were fortunate enough to have met you. Thanks to you, they were able to join a proper knightclub. I am sure that was more than those Infected... I mean, the knights could ask for.

About that...

I think you might be mistaken. We didn't actually finish that job.

What...? Hold on, if I recall correctly...

Was it... the time we tried to recruit the Flametail Knight, the Fartooth Knight, those ones?

Do you remember now? That's right. They had just won a few matches... You reminded them to review the contract the knightclub provided them.

The knights were still young. We couldn't bring ourselves to lie to them.

It's true that the knightclub's terms for the infected knights weren't very reasonable. I mean, they may seem fair at first glance.

However, we normally wouldn't go into the fine print for the infected knights.

Right... normally, we wouldn't have done that.

Though this did have to do with the knights' future...

No one can predict the future.

Just like... Just like you.

If I hadn't taken a look at your file beforehand, I wouldn't have recognized you.

I looked in the mirror before I left home this morning. If the person in the mirror hadn't waved with me, I would not have recognized myself.

...In any case. Thank you for remembering who I am.

This is embarrassing to say, but I'm actually still wondering if this is all a dream.

It's just too surreal...

If this were a dream, I imagine it must be a pleasant dream.

Y-You think so?

Is it not?

Well... I don't think it's necessarily one...

To tell the truth, I think I might feel more terrified than anything else.

Terrified?

What are you terrified of?

Many, many things. I hardly get any sleep, and regardless of whether all this is real or fake, nothing good will come of it... The only difference it makes is that things are bad in entirely different ways.

The way you think is... peculiar.

R-Really...?

Yes. After all, you are experiencing quite the rags to riches story.

From a lowly office worker, you rose to the top and joined the big leagues... I think most of us have dreamt of something similar.

It's something that everyone has fantasized... Indeed...

What's so bad about it? It's not often that dreams actually come true.

Luck was on your side, Mr. Malkiewicz.

But I didn't really... I...

I understand.

Do you really understand? There are many who envy you for what you have gone through.

To tell the truth—At the very least, I envy you very much.

Maybe... this is why...

I beg your pardon?

Uhh, I mean, perhaps this is what's most terrifying.

It's all going too well, too natural, and it's all too structured... It all happened way too quickly.

Just two days ago, I was worried I couldn't pay rent for the month. I wasn't able to convince Maria Nearl to join our knightclub, and I was most likely going to get a pay cut.

That was when I ran into Mr. Czarny... He was very busy during the Major's preliminaries, and I helped run some errands.

And then...?

And then I took a phone call.

A phone call?

A phone call.

From now on, you no longer belong to the Słoma Food Company, nor the Mieszko Group——Please keep in mind at all times that you are representing the General Chamber of Commerce.

Wait...! I don't want to be...!

You have no right to ask questions.

I-I don't think...

No, I... I understand...

Very good. I wish you the best of luck.

There was no way I could possibly understand...

Even though, from head to heels, this getup is specially tailored to make me a big deal, that doesn't mean I've really become one...

Actually, I don't think this outfit suits me at all.

Nonsense... It looks great on you.

This may come off as rude... but I ask you to forgive me in light of us having worked together in the past.

What is it? Please...

A bit of advice, Mr. Malkiewicz.

As someone whom fortune has smiled upon, you should try to refrain from sharing your feelings to those who, like me, are less fortunate.

I really wish to empathize with the way you feel, but alas...

I can't.

There are many who wish to be in your position, myself included, but we aren't so fortunate.

Do you understand?

I...

I do... but still...

Perhaps you do have your worries. You feel fear, anxiety, and hesitation... but no matter what you are feeling...

You are well groomed and dressed to kill, you have the invitation in your hand, and you are walking inside this building as the spokesman for the General Chamber of Commerce.

Regardless of what you think yourself, in the eyes of everyone else, you are very much a big deal.

The venue is straight ahead, Mr. Malkiewicz. Please excuse me.

Wait...!

I wish you a pleasant day.

I heard you were once an entrepreneur, Mr. Malkiewicz?

Y-Yes... I founded a company with a friend before. A very small one...

It must have been a success?

No, not at all. You flatter me.

You're too humble! If we ever get the chance, please do share with us your stories of entrepreneurship.

Your thoughts on the treatment of the independent knights was thought-provoking too...

Thank you.

Right, would you like a drink? Let me get you—

W-Watch out!

M-My apologies... I am deeply sorry, Mr. Malkiewicz!

No, it's okay. No big deal. Please don't mind it at all...

My god, your clothes—

Clothes...? Uhh...

Oh, the wine...

I-I'm terribly sorry!

I-I'll fetch you some towels right away!

No, no. It's okay. I'm fine.

Uh, thanks...

Please wait a moment. Don't move. I'll wipe it clean—

Please, you don't have to...! I-I can do it myself!

Please take your coat off. I'm afraid it will be difficult to get the stain out. I will arrange for someone to get it dry cleaned.

Take my coat off...?

Oh... and if you are not satisfied with that, I can pay you for the coat...