V. Kyrie’s post-anemone-bullying plan
“Humu. So that’s what I’ve talked to with Fred.”
I’ve told the whole team (Landlady Ingrid included) about the conversation I’ve had with Fred that night at the diners. It wouldn’t be fair if Fred and I would be keeping what we’re doing on our own despite of the members of our team (including Landlady Ingrid). We’ve come to an agreement that we should be including their inputs as well.
Editor Seria had left already. She said it’s getting late and she needed to check if her apartment at the city was still holding out on its own. It made me wonder how she’s been living despite being a head editor on their company.
“Hmp! I’m envious. I never got to do stuff like this with Fred. Freeeed write something for me tooooo!!”
Ara (aneki) was whining. It’s natural so I just let her be. She’s always treated me like a rival and I don’t know why. Maybe she’s trying to set it up like a romcom story, our team I mean. But that shouldn’t be an option because we’ve pledged support with Landlady Ingrid’s romance.
“Yeah, sure. But I’ve agreed with Kyrie’s terms on this. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to encounter being offered assistance from a human brimming with talent on every normal day here. So maybe we could model something like a supporting character, just for you.”
“You know Fred. It would be just like the— Ah no. Forget about it.”
“I’ve considered that possibility Ingrid… And I won’t make it happen anymore.”
Landlady Ingrid’s statement made me wonder what she’s supposed to say. There might have been more behind those two lovebirds that we don’t know. But I’ve brushed off the idea and focused on the present.
“Okay then. I’ve gathered you guys here to talk about Anemone.”
“Figured you might think about that. You see, Fred. I’m pretty sure Kyrie did not offer you her hundred pecent assistance to help you compete with Anemone. We all know the extent of her talent and she’s helping us just for fun. She might have extended her utmost help only for you. But not because she wanted to see you improve, but might be because she’s getting tired of your pitiful state already. Fufufu. Or maybe, because she’s decided it would be more fun to watch you that way.”
“Humu. Ara have a point. Fufufu. Seeing Fred as he is right now… Fufufu… How cute.”
“Hey guys… I couldn’t follow.”
I just said that to make fun of Fred, of course. I need to pull one on him fast or he’s going to pull me in his mysterious pacing that’s way out of my style.
“In any case. Yeah! Anemone has declared war on us. And it’s on.”
“Aaaaahg. There it is.”
“Shush, Ingrid. I, a prideful demon from a royal bloodline, who’s accomplished his duties as the ‘previous’ Maou of Mytherion, shall not yield to any challenge from any adversary!”
Landlady Ingrid couldn’t do anything but to just hold her aching forehead due to the childish display of our very own mangaka.
But I saw nothing that could have negative impact on us. It would just be like a friendly competition being held by my Highschool Junior Manga Artist and my employer Mr Manga Artist.
Humu. This would really be fun to watch.
Besides…
“Ah, wait... Fred. I think you’re misunderstanding something.”
Before things get out of hand I’ve told them about the meeting I’ve had with Anemone too.
“It’s not just you that I would be lending a full support on your manga. Humu. You know me.”
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“Eh? What do you mean Kyrie?”
“Ara had a point, but I really just want to see my highschool junior and my current employer do a catfight on their works. Well, why? It cures my boredom.”
---
“Are you serious, Kyrie-senpai?”
“Humu. It would be more fun to watch it that way. Don’t worry. I won’t be interfering much on both of your works so it would retain the identity it had as yours. But trust me, I’ll be helping out so they would be at a quiality where they could compete with each other proudly.”
“But still, you’re Maou spence-sensei’s assistant.”
“Let’s say I just really need the money. Besides, I’m pretty sure I could manage helping out the two of you.”
---
It was a flashback a day before our current discussion. I’ve talked with Anemone about helping her as an assistant.
“Humu. While working as Fred’s assistant. I’ll be working as Anemone’s assistant too. Fairplay.”
The members of team Fred, including Ingrid suddenly went silent, and jaw-dropped. It seemed they had not expected the possibility every single bit. It just made me wonder how much trust they have put on me.
But it’s not like I’ve betrayed them or something. No betrayal really happened.
I was just acting my role as the overly-talented prodigy that comes once every millennium. Having two talented mangakas to coach should be…
“Humu. If you’re thinking how I would cope up with the workload then I’ll be telling you. It would just be child’s play to me.”
“Wooooow. Hyper flex.”
“Bu-bu-but… Kyrie-chaaaan. What if Seria and Old man finds out about this?”
Of course the first one who would react would be the ever concerned citizen imouto-ara. It seemed that aneki got tired of the topic already and swapped out so she must be resting already.
Humu. Guess I won’t be seeing aneki or the third until tmorrow.
“Well with regards to that, I’ll put my trust in you to keep yourselves quiet so…”
“Ugh… What an unreasonable, selfish request… I’m going to ask you this Kyrie. Do you really think… You’re would be better than Old Hag with regards to steering Fred’s career progress? This is professional talk here. Answer me truthfully.”
I could see where Landlady Ingrid is coming. And if it’s real that Fred’s really got zero experience from this world when he came here, it’s just fair that she would talk as if she’s Fred’s guardian and talk about his future.
She must have thought I just take things for fun because I have the capability to almost everything I put my effort into.
Humu. In that case…
“At the end it will be up to Fred as to who will he be trusting himself with more. Editor Seria’s talent and experience is genuine. I have the talent but my experience is incomparable to hers. Of course she would be ahead in every aspect. Yet, Fred still accepted my offer.”
Landlady Ingrid looked grumpily at Fred while he gestured to deny parts of it.
“Fred is a rational thinker, unlike the abomination living at unit5. I’ve experienced it firsthand during my highschool days. I need to plan things with her a bit more. But still. I’ve informed you guys about this. We’re still running a democratic society here at our little cradle, so… let’s have a voting session on whether I should extend help on both Anemone and Fred.”
---
“Humu… I didn’t really expect that outcome.”
It was a landslide. Besides Anemone who’s totally agreed upon the idea (considering she’s needing any help she could get), I didn’t expect both Landlady Ingrid and aneki-Ara to vote for yes too.
Kyrie-coaching Plan total votes:
-Me: yes ofc, it’s the talented me
-Fred: yes due to circumstances
-Little Annette: yes due to desperation
-Landlady Ingrid: if Fred says yes, she says yes.
-Ara: unanimous decision between her three identities. Yes
I say at my couch. It’s already past ten. I was already hearing Landlady Ingrid yawning downstairs; thanks to the peeping hole she’s created. I steadied the couch at the side of my tea table, outside the veranda.
The light of the moon shined down on the visible vast fields from the second floor of Landlady Ingrid’s apartment. I could not remember already but months ago, this was the same time that Fred and Ara arrived from talking about the first draft.
The cool breeze, indicating the coming of the winter blew and passed on me.
“Humu. I really wonder what’s going on with Fred’s mind? Is it really intentional? Or It’s really just a fluke? To be able to write something that has two references. Just how much is he hiding from me and Ara… And even with Ingrid.”
Siiiiiip…
“Pu-haaa!... Humu. This is good as always.”
The tea I’m having was something that Ingrid had always been giving me. She said that It’s a special blend that her mother thought her before she passed away. I’ve been finding the same recipe and it seems like the internet couldn’t provide me of something even similar to this.
Humu… This is bad… I might have been getting addicted to alien stuff.
“Fu fu fu… As if that would happen.”
The calming effect of the tea helped me regain my busted brain cells due to a day of hard work. That was when the idea of how I could gather little information from Fred bit by bit came upon me.
“But this…”
I was reluctant. It would break the code of conducts currently working at the apartment complex. But it’s worth a shot. All I would need was a neatly laid planning and make sure nothing would come out from me or get found out.
It’s worth a shot.
“Humu. I wonder if they’re still awake. For starters I’ll check Fred.”
I looked at the connecting door towards his studio to see if the light was still up, and it was.
I finished my tea and tidied up my things. Then I knocked at the studio.
The night would be another long night for the rest of us.