They must have practiced quite a lot. There were no major points that needed correction. I simply watched once and gave some light advice.
At this rate, the presentation would surely be a very good one. I nodded to myself in relief.
“Well then, since there isn’t much time, I’ll head to the venue first. Everyone, please do your final checks and then head to the venue.”
When I said that, Court spoke with a smile on his face.
“Yes. Opportunities to give a presentation at the Fidic Academy cultural festival don’t come around often. I want to give it my all so it becomes a good memory.”
Court said that with a composed expression. I could feel a healthy amount of tension from him, making him look reliable. He seems much more courageous than Eliza.
While giving an acknowledging nod with a wry smile, Rocks stepped forward with his mouth curved into a ‘V’.
“…It’s your students’ big moment. Make sure you’re watching closely.”
“Of course. I’m cheering for you.”
I reflexively laughed while replying to Rocks, who was making an unexpectedly honest request. When they get to be around high school age, many students tell their parents or siblings not to come to school because it’s embarrassing, but perhaps that feeling isn’t common in this world.
Feeling a bit heartened, I headed to the venue a step ahead of them.
As soon as I arrived, cold sweat began to run down my forehead.
This is an unexpected turn of events. No matter how good one is at magic, this is a problem I feel I cannot solve.
I looked around the venue in a state of dazed despair.
There were only a handful of people at the venue.
“…Why are there no people, specifically at a time like this?”
There’s about an hour left until the presentation. Normally, it should be in a state where people are competing to grab a spot to watch. If it were a presentation by a high-ranking teacher, that’s how it would have been.
As I thought, is it because it’s a student presentation?
“…This is a problem. Everyone was so fired up…”
How can I gather people?
It would be too late even if I went around calling out to them. On the other hand, it would be strange to show off flashy magic beforehand to attract people. Perhaps something is going on at the other venues.
“What should I do…?”
At this rate, the students will be sad. While feeling frantic with that thought, I discovered a familiar silhouette at the edge of my vision.
A tall woman with a wild atmosphere. It was Karila, the boss of the Nevis family. Karila was leading about four young men, looking at the state of the stalls and the faces of the people walking by.
“Karila!”
Clinging to a sliver of hope, I called out Karila’s name. Then, despite being quite far away, Karila’s shoulders twitched violently and she turned around with great force. With a face full of surprise, she looked at me and opened her mouth.
“W-w-what, so suddenly… do you want something?”
Since Karila asked back while taking a step backward, I closed the distance in an instant and moved right in front of her.
“Uwah!?”
I grabbed the shoulders of the startled Karila and desperately made my request at close range.
“Karila! Please gather people! I suspect that because it’s a student presentation, people aren’t expecting much… if you could perhaps spread a rumor that there’s an interesting presentation at this venue…”
“I-I get it! Just calm down a bit! I’ll do something!”
“Is that true?”
“I-it’s true. I’ll act immediately. So, let go of those hands.”
For some reason, Karila struggled desperately to escape from my hands.
“I’m sorry. Did it hurt?”
“…I thought my shoulders were going to be torn off.”
Muttering that while looking at me with accusing eyes, Karila lightly rolled her shoulders and looked back at the men standing around her.
“You guys, mobilize everyone who’s free and spread rumors about this venue. Just saying that there’s supposedly an amazing presentation is enough.”
When Karila announced that, the men replied energetically and ran off in different directions. Even though she hadn’t specified where to go, they started moving without hesitation as if there were a pre-determined route.
While I was wondering about that, Karila looked at me and raised one eyebrow. A skillful thing to do.
“…Are you curious? I could investigate what they’re doing at the other venues.”
Being asked that, I was surprised. What I had been thinking about just now was something else, but since I had thought something similar just a moment ago, I decided to nod at Karila’s suggestion.
“Yes, please. I was indeed curious. Normally, there shouldn’t be a situation where there are no people at the venue for a presentation in this time slot.”
When I said that, Karila gave a smirk.
“Leave it to me. Oh, I’m not the one who’s going to investigate directly, okay? I’m asking Gaia.”
“Gaia? But since he’s an information broker, it’ll cost money, won’t it?”
“It’s not a large amount. Especially for the current Nevis family.”
Karila said that with a fearless laugh. However, she immediately changed her expression and scratched the back of her head with one hand, looking awkward.
“…Well, it’s thanks to you, though.”
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“Oi, oi! Did you hear!?”
“What is it, brother!?”
“Apparently, the prized pupil of that Academy Witch is going to give a presentation!”
“For real!? Then we’ve got no choice but to see it!”
Such shouting, which was almost too deliberate, could be heard in various places.
“I saw the preparations for the next presentation earlier. That’s gonna be amazing.”
“What did you see?”
“I can’t say that. But there’s no loss in seeing the presentation. That much I can tell you.”
While glancing at the exaggerated rumors being heard from all directions and the people who were surprised or looked suspicious of them, I looked at Karila.
“…Isn’t this a bit too much?”
I tried asking that, but Karila laughed through her nose and shook her head left and right.
“This much is just right. In the end, simplicity is best for the masses. It’s the same with gambling—if word gets out that a place pays out like crazy, gamblers will gather on their own. If you say a food stall lets you eat as much meat as you want for the same price, every hungry person will gather. Then, to gather people at this Fidic Academy, what should you say?”
“…That they can see amazing magic or new magic, I suppose.”
“Exactly.”
Hearing my answer, Karila nodded with satisfaction.
I see. Thinking about it that way, I recall that catchphrases for products and movies were often exaggerated. I think everyone has seen or heard of movies with the claim that “all of America cried,” or wine that’s a “once in fifty years achievement.”
Even if it’s illegal, Karila has been in the business of dealing with customers for a long time, so perhaps she is also skilled in those nuances.
“I understand. Let’s believe in Karila and wait.”
When I said that, Karila blinked her eyes wide in surprise.
“…It’s sad for me to say it myself, but I can’t believe you’d take such an attitude toward me.”
“What do you mean by that?”
I reflexively asked back at the mysterious murmur. However, Karila shrugged her shoulders and didn’t answer.
Just then, one of Karila’s subordinates came running toward us. He was a muscular, bearded man. He wasn’t particularly tall, but his thick body and appearance made him look quite large. Following behind that man was a thin, tall man.
“Sis!”
“Oh, did you find him?”
When the muscular man called out to Karila with a voice as deep and intimidating as his appearance, Karila replied by raising one hand. Then, the thin man who had been following behind looked our way.
“I was in the middle of gathering some interesting information just now…”
As the thin and tall man, Gaia, spoke with a look of dissatisfaction, Karila laughed loudly.
“Haha! Sorry about that. But this is an urgent matter.”
“…What is the business?”
At Karila’s words, Gaia immediately switched gears. He took a stance to listen and looked at Karila’s and my faces in turn.
Karila looked at that with satisfaction and pointed at me without looking back.
“The client is over here.”
Having the conversation turned to me, I nodded to Gaia and opened my mouth.
“Yes. Actually, only one presentation is supposed to be held in the early afternoon, but no people are coming at all. Since this hasn’t happened until the second day, I was curious as to why… and since it’s the students’ presentation, I want as many people as possible to come see it…”
Rather than a request, it ended up sounding more like I was consulting him about a problem. However, Gaia didn’t seem to mind and groaned with one hand on his chin.
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