Chapter 204: Backstage Progress
———Wiina———
<1: 03 pm>
“Certainly fortunate that most people don’t quite realize your inadequacy.” I remarked as the two of them slumped down.
“Man…” Scien muttered as she heard those words. “At least I won! This guy barely put up a fight! I bet he was on autopilot or something!”
“I don’t even know if that’s a thing or not!” He protested. They are in quite a slump despite technically not being a victim of any scrutiny. It’s quite clear that most people didn’t realize how clumsy their fight actually was. Those mechanical giants were capable of a lot more. Of course, those are just low quality models, so it’s not like that matter all that much, including destroying them on the spot for a quick laugh. It’s like losing your toys made out of trash, who cares.
“There probably is.” Scien said despite not being completely certain or having any proof. “So. Now what? I guess this is it for us?”
“That is the plan. You two could technically go right now, or stay backstage for as long as you want. Just so you know, the free food is in stock until the whole event is over.” I said while pointing at Lerim eating chicken noodle soup. She is ignoring everyone and enjoys the free food from the variety of meals and desserts. It doesn’t look like she has intention of leaving until the event is over.
“...Guess I’ll stay.” Scien said while Munsz didn’t say anything in response. “By the way, can I ask you a few things?”
“From me? I guess you could. I have the time.” It’s going to be a while before I show myself. No one but a select few should even know that I’m here right now, it’s going to be quite a reveal.
“Ah! Cool. So… Uhh…” It looked like she didn’t even think I would humor her. I guess from her perspective I am extremely secretive and looked like I would never answer anything that might pertain to my life. I am a living enigma for most of the world, after all. “...Where do you… Usually go? Place you like being at.”
“Just around here. I’m always around.” Even if I don’t have the intent to deceive, I normally don’t have a hangout spot anyway outside of my own home. “I was never the one to stay still.”
A bold face lies, but that’s how it goes. Usually such a thing can be easily disproven, and any flagrant deception would have quite the consequence, but have covered my trail well up to this point, and any that were left behind was me doing it for shits and giggles and wouldn’t lead to anything. I wouldn’t do such a thing if I was doing something extremely shady or important, but for this mystery it’s all lighthearted fun.
“I see…” She said while still looking quite nervous. She knew full well that the information given, even if it wasn’t false, basically gave her nothing to work with. “So are you like… someone from here?”
“Was that ever in question?” I asked, basically just confirming it. Such a statement would narrow things quite a lot, but for a world that doesn’t quite understand how ridiculous things can get, it basically gave them nothing.
“...I guess not?” She said, clearly rather confused about what to do or say in response. It seems she didn’t quite expect me to be so frank.
As for a different topic, they are certainly giving the students a lot of time to assemble a team. I’m sure many people are confused as to how it’ll all even work out, but it’s best for them to just go with the flow. They got plenty of time to figure things out, and as it stands no one really has the incentive to win anyway, so no stress for anyone involved.
“I’m sure you have a lot of questions on your mind, probably clouding you from possible consequences of digging too far, but I suggest you try to stay in line.” I said to her just in case she tried to pry into anything actually important.
“I-I understand.” She said, intimidated by my words despite my calm tone, then she walked towards Lerim instead. I guess she’s gonna be the one bombarded with questions now. Certainly someone who has a great desire for knowledge, certainly in line with science as a concept, though I supposed social study might be more fitting in this context.
I guess I’m just sitting here with nothing else to do or say. Teacher Munsz here isn’t very talkative and he is clearly afraid of talking to me or the others.
I don’t see that dog boy around much, but that’s because the backstage is massive. I doubt anyone is going to pass up on free food. The two people dressed in black isn’t in this room either, but they haven’t left just yet.
Everyone here is getting quite a hefty reward for showing up aside from the two teachers. They simply got a bit extra. For them, the salary is already above average and they got a bunch of employee benefits, not to mention they don’t really put themselves at risk.
“Why in the world did you even leave a trail to this planet in the first place?” Two people walked into the room while talking about something that probably shouldn’t be overheard by anyone. Thankfully they were talking rather quietly so only I made out the entire sentence.
“Look… We can talk about that later.” Rico said as both of them sat down at an empty table. “How about we talk about how… We’re not really bringing the best squad to the show. How about that? You were the one organizing things.”
“There’s only so much we can technically do. A lot of the stronger fighters are quite controversial and hard to control. They can’t even be considered vigilantes even if we’re being generous. The school’s PR might take quite a hit, you know?” Coach Wana replied.
“Stop with that excuse already. We all know no here means anything by it. Also, who is gonna complain about the top tier institution?” Rico said with a smirk. “Where else are they gonna go? They’re not getting this high value anywhere else. No one we know has offered anything in this niche anyway, not that they have been doing much out in public.”
“Kinda surprised they’re laying low for so long. Aside from them basically telling people to get off their lawn, not much has happened, it seems.” Coach Wana said. They’re being a bit vague just in case anyone is eavesdropping. Not sure why they even talk here unless they want someone to hear this. Perhaps they are just saying things to mess with people’s heads. “For them, idling around for a year or two even after that event probably seems like only a few days.”
“A few days late to the party to have some fun, that’s for sure.” Rico said as she crossed her leg and rested one of her arms on the top rail of the chair. “Well. That’s neither here nor there. What do you think of some of the contestants here? You’re the one who chose them.”
I know that the only ‘contestant’ that is here right now is Lerim, and she is distracted at the moment, but should you be speaking about your assessment here of all places? Did they even realize we’re here?
“Obviously just a bunch of small fries, but in the context of anyone that aren’t us, they’re still some of the stronger fighters around that aren’t uncontrollable lunatics, but we already talk about that.” Coach Wana said. “I’d say the blonde one certainly has quite a lot of talent for someone who seems quite indifferent to it. It’s not as if she was carried by said talent either, she was clearly quite skilled and trained quite a lot, certainly no amateur who only fights in simulators.”
“Certainly don't mince words about the guy even when you don’t talk about him specifically.” Rico replied. “I’d say he was in a rather unfortunate position. His disposition isn’t well suited for outdoor activity, one might say. Never the one who likes to be in public space and likes being spotted for whatever reason. It’s rather surprising he even chose to come here and be humiliated like that.”
“Considering he doesn’t look particularly satisfied, it’s clear he was not expecting that outcome.” She remarked in response. “That little project seems much more successful in its beta stage, isn’t it? The launch didn’t grow and guide humans as well as you would expect.”
“The beta testers were chosen deliberately with top of the line stuff. No trauma or very detrimental flaws right off rip, and with the full game those who grew stronger were already strong. Even ten or so people would’ve been deemed satisfactory, though some were already destined to succeed even without such guidance.” This is going off topic from the school matters quite quickly. Good thing it doesn’t look like anyone else heard that or they were going to be confused and perplexed for years with no answers.
“Kind of a nothingburger project ain’t it? Didn’t she create at least three prototypes to perfect it?” Coach Wana said as they continued talking about that virtual world project that ran its course by this point. That whole thing could be considered a prelude to the Eclipse incident, even if they are actually not associated in any way.
“Who really knows what her expectation was. As it stands, the thing will stay running until its own heat death.” Rico said, not really caring too much about her business partner’s scathing comment. Well I doubt the one making that thing is snooping around, she has a lot on her plate.
Crazy how unnerving that encounter was. There was no argument or anything, and the chat was very short. “Aren’t we getting a bit off topic? How are the monster armies doing right now, since you’re staring at the screen for a while.”
“Didn’t even start yet, the chat between the audiences being split up is quite chaotic.” Coach Wana said. It has only been a few minutes since the announcement, they are all still trying to make sense of everything. “It’s basically there to act as a buffer. Leeching off other people’s hard work to create that.”
“You’re not even the one making it. Let’s be real here, the two of us aren’t the brightest tool in the shed. Those kids are way more tech savvy than we are.” Rico replied while shrugging her shoulders. “I’m surprised you didn’t just find another pair of schmucks to fill out the runtime. Surely you can find two more people.”
“We need at least one audience participation event anyway. The terrain vote barely counted.” She justified. Finding people to fight definitely won’t be hard, especially with the bottomless pocket of cash she has, so that part is probably true.
“What are they talking about?” Teacher Scien came back and asked. I guess the questioning didn’t go well since they barely said anything to each other at all. I can tell that much even if I wasn’t paying any attention.
“Nothing important. They are personal matters you don’t need to look into.” I said just to make sure she isn’t prying more into it. Meanwhile Teacher Munsz is obviously a bit concerned about possible eavesdropping on something important, and meanwhile Lerim clearly just doesn’t care and keeps eating. She’s eating some Asian dishes on the menu right now.
There aren’t a lot of people here right now during break time. Both Rico and Walsuna will go to the commentator booth to provide commentary, and the rest of us are stuck here. There are only six… or for the perspective of other people, seven. Seven people here.
“...Is she gonna wake up on time? I swear she has been sleeping there for ages.” Scien asked as she saw the person leaning on the wall with a cloak on and a katana still in her hand.
“She’ll wake up. You don’t need to worry about that.” I said with full confidence. It’d be extremely embarrassing if I can’t even do that much.