4. Daphne Epiphone (2)
“Sit down.”
The warrior’s voice was lower than it seemed. And Daphne didn’t seem to have heard any rumors about her. Daphne shook her squeamish head as she approached the chair. I still couldn’t believe that I didn’t run away and walked into this interview room intact. Oh, isn’t it fine? Daphne braced herself in the chair in a light-hearted state, as if the drunkenness of yesterday was still there.
I’d rather just say I’m sorry and leave.
It sounded like someone’s voice was not his own. But Daphne didn’t move. It seemed that the blue-green eyes sitting across from me were trying to tell me not to go out. I don’t know why he felt that way, but he couldn’t stay away from the hero staring straight into his eyes.
‘it’s okay. Even if this is just an illusion, even if it falls without any reversal.’
You can go back to living the way you used to.
Daphne comforted her not so much. It seems that the premise that they will reject him has already been laid. Daphne lowered her head as she met eyes with the giant staring at her with arms folded behind the hero. Perhaps the hero’s helper, Georg. That person was just terrifying for what he looked like.
“Don’t be too nervous.”
The warrior’s words seemed to be in a tug-of-war between coolness and kindness. Is it sincerity disguised as indifference, or is it just a pretense? Somehow, Daphne came to think that this was a true warrior look. Daphne’s eyes, which had been constantly shaking, were fixed on the basis of the warrior’s eyes. When Daphne regained her composure, the hero smiled and interlocked her hands.
“Are you ready?”
Daphne nodded at the hero’s question. Did the warrior wait for you? me? Daphne tried to furrow her eyebrows in wonder, but then opened her eyes hurriedly when she realized what she was doing.
“Daphne Epiphone. from Naia. Circle 4, Mage Tower graduate. My adventurer experience is in my second year.”
The hero muttered and recited Daphne’s history. My life listening to the voices of others was insignificant. Two lines of career written on that document. The little words that keep Daphne attached to this world.
“It hasn’t been long since you came over to the capital. Were you living in Naia until you joined the Magic Tower?”
“Yeah… .”
The hero exhaled with a hmm, as if he was interested, then unfolded the paper and held it up. Georg, the giant with his arms crossed behind the hero, frowned and lowered his gaze towards the hero. It was as if the warrior’s behavior was not to their liking. The hero accepted the terrifying gaze casually and started asking questions.
“What motivated you to apply for our party?”
“Oh that… that’s… .”
It was a typical question. Daphne stammered out the answer she had been thinking about.
“A sense of duty to save the world, no, to protect it,”
The turquoise eyes stared straight at Daphne. He seemed to ask if that was all he really wanted to say. Daphne’s purple eyes twitched. There was no need to choose words. Daphne hesitated but began to speak one by one.
“… I have that sense of duty, but I also want to change myself on this opportunity.”
That’s right, the hero’s eyes seemed to say.
“Yo, I mustered up the courage to apply.”
The corner of the warrior’s mouth went up slightly. Daphne didn’t know why the hero smiled at her answer. I just hoped in my heart that it wasn’t a mockery.
“What aspect of the applicant did you want to change?”
“I want to overcome my fear.”
it’s fear
The hero seemed to savor the words in his mouth. Daphne expected to be asked several more questions about this vague answer, but the hero looked at Daphne for a while and then passed on.
“good. So, let me ask you some other questions. I am from Naia. It was quite late when I entered magic. Proper magic—is it true that you started learning it when you entered the Mage Tower?”
Magic Tower and Naia. Those words made Daphne’s heart ache. A memory flashed through Daphne’s mind.
“… Yes, it is.”
The warrior let out a laugh. It felt as if my heart had been shackled and a warrior was holding the leash. Daphne’s heart fluttered at once, and cold sweat ran down her back.
“Do you have any other specialties? Like magical properties.”
“It hasn’t manifested yet… .”
But at the same time, it was a strange feeling. It was the same as being trembling in fear as usual, but somehow I was able to give all the answers to the hero’s questions. The interview went on and on as if it were going smoothly. As Daphne’s face turned pale from the ongoing tension, and Georg slowly contorted his expression, the hero set the paper down on the desk.
“The interview ends here.”
Daphne was exhausted from the lengthy interview. However, the two words of failing and passing were still weighing on Daphne’s head and heart at the same time. With a rustling sound, the hero rummaged through the drawer and took out a white piece of paper. Georg’s expression, which was watching the hero from behind, completely hardened from the moment before it was distorted.
“This, please go to the next room over there and fill it out.”
‘I’m sorry, but I’ll see you next time.’ – It wasn’t. Daphne received the pen and paper that the warrior gave her with a bewildered expression. The pen was a quality item that Daphne had never touched, and the paper was very stiff and of good quality. What is this. contract? She looked at the paper with a foolish expression.
“That… What is this?”
“It is a contract. We are busy at 1:00, so please understand that we were notified of the results right away.”
Daphne dazedly got up and opened the door to the office and tried to leave. Behind Daphne, the warrior’s voice called her. When Daphne stopped and looked back, the hero was pointing at the back of the bookshelf.
“You can go out through this door.”
Daphne nodded and squeaks. I walked like a broken doll to the door. profit. The hinges moved and made a noise, and Daphne was pushed into the break room-like space next to the office. Daphne looked down at the paper in her hand as the hinge creaked again.
“… Did I really pass?”
thud.
As if answering Daphne’s self-talk, the door to the common room closed behind her. Daphne still stood looking at the contract for a long time.
—
“… I am too tired to say anything.”
I shrugged at Georg’s words. I was more relaxed at the thought that I had finished one thing. The rest of the interviewees were sent home after a rough interview. As a result, only one applicant, Daphne, entered the break room with the contract. After all the interviews, I negotiated a contract with Daphne and even left a word to go to work tomorrow. It is perfect.
… No, now that I think about it, I don’t know why they did such a grandiose thing when they could have just searched and found it. I was holding an open interview to convince that muscle mass properly, but Georg didn’t look like he was persuaded at all.
“I don’t know what’s in your head.”
“Did you ever tell me?”
I gave a rough answer and organized the applicants’ documents. Well, thankfully, Georg didn’t bother me in the middle of the interview. Although he did make a few embarrassed expressions.
“Okay, let’s try to find out for now. What the hell is it like to drop so many applicants and only pick a 4th-circle female sorceress with bad rumors among adventurers?”
“I didn’t know that even the king cared so much about the gossip in the streets.”
Georg’s veins built up in his face. I was somewhat used to this guy’s response. Seeing how I kept my seat no matter what I did, it made me think that someone was really threatening me not to leave with a knife.
“If it’s a rumor that I’ve never seen a 4th-circle mage show off his skills, I’ll have to pay attention. Aside from the scandal that follows them.”
I let out a deep sigh.
“It seems more strange to live in a rural village on the outskirts of the country without knowing the ‘M’ of magic all my life, and not select a person who has reached the level of the 4th circle in 4 years after opening my eyes to magic. At least I’ve never seen or heard of such a talent.”
“I wonder if that was the reason why I was so comfortable with her. I must have forgotten that there is one more mage in our party. It’s inefficient.”
Another wizard in the party. I felt like I wanted to vomit. In the first place, if I could kick him out, I wanted to kick him out too, but right now, she must be enjoying her vacation on the west coast of the kingdom. Just come back, just.
“It’s inefficient not to bring Daphne’s talent with you, Georg.”
Upon hearing my answer, Georg’s expression seemed to ask, ‘A bastard who knows that kicks out two of the main members of the party?’
“Yeah, let’s say the talent is really great. Even so, it’s of no use if the magician can’t display his skills.”
Why is this guy throwing up so much over a decision? I’m not a puberty child, but I just want to refute my words unconditionally. I was well aware that Illroy was unreliable, but I thought that Georg might be the biggest stumbling block to my survival if things went on like this.
“Aren’t you interested in why Daphne isn’t performing well?”
“Is there any way to fix it knowing that?”
“All the guys who didn’t even try said that.”
Georg raised his voice even more. On the contrary, my voice only became tired and lowered.
“Anyway, I am against it. No matter how brilliant a wizard is in theory, I have no intention of forming a party if it’s to the point where I can’t use it in real life. If you insist, I will risk everything and report to the superiors.”
I tapped the desk. There was a sense of security in this place. Perhaps thanks to that, I was able to calm down in front of Georg, who spoke with such resentment.
“After all, you’re complaining about Daphne’s unstable skills.”
“I don’t think it’s a problem that can be dismissed so simply, but the biggest reason is that.”
Then I’ll understand, let’s think about recruiting. Did you know you would answer that?
“What if I fix Daphne before I go on an expedition again? If I make more than one serving.”
Georg snorted and glanced at me.
“Then let’s include Daphne Epiphon in the party, and I won’t swear at you again, just shut up and follow her. I will also go over the expulsion of Arjen and Isis.”
Oh, well done, Georg.
This, hopefully, might be an opportunity to resolve two of my insecurities at once. I grinned and raised the corners of my mouth. The warrior’s smile reflected on the shiny wooden desk looked quite mean and evil. Ouch, I can’t laugh like this. I turned to Georg, covering my mouth slightly, changing my smile to something less mean.
“That word must be kept.”
Georg nodded briskly, not noticing anything.
“Of course. You’d better be prepared. You need to feel the weight of the position you are carrying.”
be prepared maybe you should
I didn’t listen to the words, and started reading the contract written by Daphne again.
Go training arc 🤣