Chapter 57
Chapter 57 - Interview
Since the battle against Smiley wasn't true combat, despite nearly killing Mei, there was no reward screen after its defeat. The massive crying kraken simply slunk back into the deep sea after bawling its eyes out for several minutes.
“Wow! You were right, babe! That fight really would've been impossible if it weren't for all the time we spent training inside the Impossible difficulty tutorial!” Mei said, smoothly reciting one of the advertising lines they had been given.
She was far more natural at it than Adam. Years of recording sponsored segments and ad reads for her YouTube channel had given her plenty of practice.
The three climbed out of the water and returned to the beach cabana, where Desmond and 3Y3 were waiting.
“That sure was unexpected. Luckily you three were here,” Desmond said, dramatically patting his chest. “Before that surprising interruption, we were about to conduct an interview. Are you three still up for it?”
They were under contract, so it wasn't as though they could refuse even if they wanted to. Mei simply nodded and answered for everyone.
“Yup!”
“Great. Then let's jump right into it,” Desmond said with his ever-present businessman's smile.
The three settled back into their beach chairs as 3Y3 floated into position, its camera lens focusing on them.
“First question. This one's for all three of you. How has life inside the Impossible difficulty tutorial been treating you? Let's start with Granessa, then Adam, and finally Mei.”
Granessa scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“Um... I was born there, so it's just... normal, I guess?”
“Mhm,” Desmond hummed thoughtfully. “For a native, it's simply everyday life.”
A message immediately appeared in chat.
SeeMuscleGirl-iClick: Can natives leave the tutorial?
“Oh, that's an interesting question from chat,” Desmond said after glancing toward the scrolling messages. “The answer is... it's a secret!”
He flashed a practiced smile toward the camera.
“There'll be a question-and-answer session once we've finished the interview, so hold your questions until then.”
He turned toward Adam expectantly.
“Uh... yeah, the tutorial's been good,” Adam replied before realizing how bland that sounded. “Actually, it's been a lot of fun. Stressful, but fun. I especially enjoy learning magic, even if it's gotten me into... some trouble.”
BlueDye: You still have a lot to learn. But... you're doing well for a first timer.
Adam smiled.
“Oh, thanks, BlueDye.”
Desmond nodded before turning to Mei, silently inviting her to answer.
She smiled brightly.
“I'll tell you all the truth.”
Adam glanced at her with a slight frown, suddenly wondering where she was going with this.
“I had a reason for choosing the Impossible difficulty tutorial. I wanted the reward at the end. It was very, very important to me.”
Her smile softened.
“The chatters from Earth have probably heard what happened to my home country, Japan. You all know it was overrun by dungeon breaks, right?”
Desmond's brow twitched. She had wandered away from the original question, but he didn't interrupt.
The chat from Earth quickly responded.
xYzXyZ (mod): Yeah, we know. Sorry...
SeeCuteGirl-iClick: Such a tragedy...
SweetSarah (mod): Your... um... your family wasn't still there, were they?
HottieHunter: My little brother was there on a class trip. Luckily he and his classmates escaped because they were in an area without a dungeon.
Frogman: My unit was dispatched afterward to rescue people stranded at sea. We nearly lost our whole squad to an aquatic monster. Luckily we had a high-level player with us.
A message from another world appeared among them.
Gojira: What a coincidence. My world is called Japan too. When you leave the tutorial, and after your world undergoes its awakening, you're welcome to visit. I'll personally show you around. Who knows? Maybe our homes are more alike than just their names.
Mei smiled, though sadness lingered in her eyes.
“Mm. Yeah. I was in America, but my parents were still in Japan. That's why I wanted the reward for completing the Impossible difficulty tutorial.”
She paused before her smile became more genuine.
“But despite that, I've had an amazing time here. I've met wonderful people like Skysandra, Granessa, Naomi, Ymir, and so many others. When I entered the tutorial, I thought I'd just be fighting to survive. I never expected to make friends like them, and I'm really grateful that I did.”
Another message appeared almost immediately.
BlueDye: Good to know you aren't one of those lunatics who enter the tutorial and immediately go on a killing spree. But... hate to break it to you, the Region Lord title you're after won't be enough to save a place that's already been overrun by multiple dungeon breaks. You'll still have to clear the region first. Otherwise the Region Lord effect won't activate.
Mei nodded.
“Yeah, I figured as much. Luckily, I also found out my parents are okay. So despite everything, the tutorial has been great.”
Desmond smiled and inclined his head.
“That wasn't the answer I expected, but I'm glad you've enjoyed your time in the tutorial.” He let out a quiet sigh. “It's a shame about that glitch, but at least your family is safe.”
“Glitch?” Mei repeated.
Desmond blinked.
“Oh... no, I meant the dungeon break. They aren't glitches. Sometimes it just feels like they are... you know?”
“...I guess?”
Mei shrugged, though Adam noticed the brief look of panic that flashed through Desmond's eyes before the host smoothly moved on.
“Next question, same order,” Desmond said. “What was life like before the tutorial?”
Granessa shrugged.
“The tutorial is my world, so there wasn't really a before.”
“You're absolutely right. That was a rather silly question for you,” Desmond admitted. “Let's move on to Adam.”
“Well, my life was pretty normal. I went to U of M.”
He paused, realizing not everyone watching would understand.
“Ah, University of Michigan, for those who don't know what that acronym means. I studied sports medicine, which eventually led to me becoming a personal trainer. Originally, I planned on becoming an athletic trainer, but I decided it was better to help everyone rather than just athletes. I'd like to see more people lead healthy lives.”
He smiled slightly.
“Oh, the gym I worked at was actually where I met Mei, so...”
Adam shrugged.
“Yeah. Life was pretty normal, I guess.”
Desmond looked like he wanted to say. something, but for whatever reason, he held back and simply turned toward Mei.
Adam was fairly certain he knew what Desmond wanted to ask about. However, Adam had crossed those questions off the interview list himself.
He had no intention of telling the entire world about his past.
They didn't need to know that his mother had been murdered right in front of him when he was sixteen. They didn't need to know that the person responsible had never been caught, that the case had gone cold, or that Adam had spent years searching for the man who took everything from him.
No.
That wasn't something he wanted to share with millions of viewers.
“My life before the tutorial was exciting,” Mei said cheerfully. “I grew up inside a dojo in Japan run by my dad. I got to beat up other kids my age and older all day, which was very fun.”
She smiled proudly.
“Then, when I got a little older, my dad started teaching me how to use all kinds of weapons. Everything from knives to high-caliber rifles. He was a special forces soldier, so he put me through the same training he went through in the military. It was tough, but also super fun!”
She tapped her chin while thinking.
“Hmm... then I started playing video games, and those were even more fun. You know, in video games you can visit all kinds of fantasy worlds that don't exist in real life.”
She laughed.
“Or at least, I thought they didn't exist until the Game appeared and the Tutorials started.”
Mei continued counting on her fingers.
“Oh, I also used to cosplay for Instagram and had a YouTube channel where I reviewed different firearms.”
She tilted her head.
“Um... yeah, I think that's about it.”
Desmond stared at her for a moment with a surprised expression.
“Even after reading your file, it still surprises me when I hear about a Main Character who actually spent their entire life training themselves.”
“Do most MCs not do that?” Mei asked.
Desmond shook his head.
“Not usually. An MC is someone blessed by endless luck, so most of them coast through life on their world without facing many setbacks. They don't realize how much danger they could be in until they leave their world and encounter stronger enemies.”
A message appeared from the chat.
Avarice: MCs are cool, usually. But when one dies, their world goes to shit. Sometimes it gets so bad the entire world goes extinct.
Desmond nodded solemnly.
“Exactly. A world's MC is often its greatest advantage, but also its greatest vulnerability.”
SeeCuteGirl-iClick: Umm... Mei, please don't die. Ever. You think Granessa could give you her immortality? I'd rather Earth doesn't go extinct quite yet... or ever.
GodGamerKyle: Any gods in chat wanna curse Mei with immortality real quick? :PLEASE: 
NowYou’reThinkingWithMagic: Just cast the [Immortality] support spell.
BlueDye: :KEKW: 
GetCreativeWithMagic: It's still possible.
BlueDye: A 0% possibility isn't a possibility.
MagicNerd: It isn't 0%. I've researched that spell extensively. Any support class has a 0.000000000000001% chance of casting it. But I theorize Adam's odds increase to 0.00000000000001% thanks to Mei's Main Character luck boost.
BlueDye: Why do I feel like I'm talking to the same person? Do you have three alts?
NowYou’reThinkingWithMagic: No. I have two alts and one main.
BlueDye: :WaitWhat:
The chat immediately devolved into an argument over whether running multiple accounts to debate with someone counted as insanity or dedication.
While the mini-drama unfolded in chat, the interview carried on uninterrupted.
Desmond worked through a long list of lighter questions, giving the viewers a chance to learn more about the trio. Granessa talked about her favorite foods and the strange monsters she'd grown up around. Adam answered questions about his magic, his workouts, and what it was like adapting to life inside the tutorial. Mei enthusiastically bounced between stories about her hobbies, favorite games, and various embarrassing moments from her childhood, occasionally wandering so far off topic that Desmond had to gently steer the conversation back on course.
The relaxed atmosphere was a welcome change after nearly being eaten by a giant crying kraken.
Before long, Desmond glanced down at the tablet in his hands and smiled.
“Well, that wraps up the interview portion of today's broadcast.”
He looked toward the floating camera.
“As promised, we'll spend the rest of our time answering questions from chat. So if there's anything you've been dying to know, now's your chance.”
The chat exploded.