Liberi Reader

Mr. Malkiewicz!

Over here. Please, this way, Mr. Malkiewicz!

Oh, so this is the right place.

Sorry. I'm not too familiar with the roads here, so it took me a while. Sorry to keep you waiting.

And thank you for agreeing to come pick me up.

No need to thank me. It's the least I could do.

Please, this way. The venue is in the district across the way.

R-Right.

......

Excuse me, but...

Yes?

No, never mind. It's nothing.

Today's forum takes place right before the Major's main events... doesn't it?

Yes, that's right. The General Chamber of Commerce organized this meeting, and while it is a forum, the format is somewhat relaxed. All spokespersons and corporate representatives will be in attendance.

Hm...

Just show the invitation letter and you'll be let in.

Of course. Of course... I have it right here...

......

Um, excuse me...

Y-Yes... I'm here. Yes, please, go ahead!

Pardon me for asking, but do you need any assistance?

Uhh... Excuse me?

Frightfully sorry. I noticed you've been adjusting your coat...

If you've run into any trouble, if there is anything I can assist you with at all, please don't hesitate to tell me.

Oh, no... My coat is fine. I mean, no, it's not a huge deal. It's just...

It's just... I'm not used to it yet... Sorry, this is a personal problem. Please don't worry about it.

Is that so...

You seem a little nervous?

Yes, just a little. Sorry.

It's my first time at one of these forums. I'm afraid I'm... still not quite used to this.

......

You needn't be so nervous, Spokesman Malkiewicz.

This forum is a meeting organized by the General Chamber of Commerce. The spokespersons who represent the Chamber are the most esteemed attendees...

Please, try to calm down.

But... I'm no big shot... certainly not esteemed. I... It was just a coincidence...

Something's gone wrong somewhere. I shouldn't be here...

You are too humble, sir...

I—

Sorry, I have a phone call.

Please, go ahead.

Hello? This is Malkiewicz... Please go ahead.

Y-Yes, not a problem...

It fits very well. I don't need anything more. Thank you very much.

Oh, no, I should be thanking you. For sending someone.

N-No, not at all! He's very kind, and he didn't offend me in any way whatsoever. It only took us so long because I was slow to get ready. Please, don't make things hard for him...

It's a joke...? Y-Yes... Of course...

Yes, I will be there shortly.

Okay, see you later...

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Not at all, sir.

About what we just discussed—

—Agghh!

Please watch your step, Mr. Malkiewicz!

We'll head upstairs via Corridor 4. Please follow me.

Uh, y-yes. Sorry.

......

......

......

The venue is right ahead. Please make your way there and show the attendant at the door your invitation.

Yes, yes... thanks.

In that case, please excuse—

W-Wait!

Go ahead, Mr. Malkiewicz.

Actually... I was going to say... I'm not one of those people you'd call esteemed...

So you really needn't talk to me like this. What I'm trying to say is... just call me Malkiewicz.

......

I'm afraid that... wouldn't be appropriate.

You are the spokesman for the General Chamber of Commerce. As a staff member of the Chamber, I admire your work, and you have my utmost respect...

If that's it, I really don't deserve your admiration.

I haven't done anything of importance. Perhaps everyone will realize I'm not cut out for this job after this meeting today.

And if I got a phone call right now, telling me I'm fired right this minute, I wouldn't be surprised at all.

You're overthinking it.

The General Chamber of Commerce must have appointed you spokesman after due consideration... Your abilities were recognized.

My... what?

......

I dialed the spokesman's number, and you answered.

Therefore, you are the spokesman.

I... I don't quite think so.

If I have to give a reason, all I can say is... perhaps it's just something Mr. Czarny came up with on a whim...

And I was only picked because I happened to be there...

I am sorry, but I beg your pardon?

......

No, it's nothing... Don't worry about it...

......

Actually...

Yes?

I... I've met you before, Mr. Malkiewicz. I was fortunate enough to work on a project with you.

Oh...

It's only natural that you don't remember. It happened a long time ago, after all, and it was only a brief collaboration.

Gerald, the team leader...?

You remember my name? I'm honored.

I knew you right away, actually... but, like you said, it was a long time ago. I wasn't sure if it was something I should bring up.

If I remember correctly, we were reaching out to newcomers for the knightclubs... and we were assigned to the same list of names.

Yes, that's correct.

Do you remember the knights we were assigned to contact?

I... I'm sorry, but I don't remember.

It was a few infected knights...

Right, right. Yes, the Infected.

Please... don't call them that...

They were just knights, unfortunate enough to get infected.

Yes... Truly unfortunate...

However, they were fortunate enough to have met you. Thanks to you, they were able to join a proper knightclub. I am sure that was more than those Infected... I mean, the knights could ask for.

About that...

I think you might be mistaken. We didn't actually finish that job.

What...? Hold on, if I recall correctly...

Was it... the time we tried to recruit the Flametail Knight, the Fartooth Knight, those ones?

Do you remember now? That's right. They had just won a few matches... You reminded them to review the contract the knightclub provided them.

The knights were still young. We couldn't bring ourselves to lie to them.

......

It's true that the knightclub's terms for the infected knights weren't very reasonable. I mean, they may seem fair at first glance.

However, we normally wouldn't go into the fine print for the infected knights.

Right... normally, we wouldn't have done that.

Though this did have to do with the knights' future...

No one can predict the future.

Just like... Just like you.

If I hadn't taken a look at your file beforehand, I wouldn't have recognized you.

I looked in the mirror before I left home this morning. If the person in the mirror hadn't waved with me, I would not have recognized myself.

...In any case. Thank you for remembering who I am.

......

This is embarrassing to say, but I'm actually still wondering if this is all a dream.

It's just too surreal...

If this were a dream, I imagine it must be a pleasant dream.

Y-You think so?

Is it not?

Well... I don't think it's necessarily one...

To tell the truth, I think I might feel more terrified than anything else.

Terrified?

What are you terrified of?

Many, many things. I hardly get any sleep, and regardless of whether all this is real or fake, nothing good will come of it... The only difference it makes is that things are bad in entirely different ways.

The way you think is... peculiar.

R-Really...?

Yes. After all, you are experiencing quite the rags to riches story.

From a lowly office worker, you rose to the top and joined the big leagues... I think most of us have dreamt of something similar.

It's something that everyone has fantasized... Indeed...

What's so bad about it? It's not often that dreams actually come true.

Luck was on your side, Mr. Malkiewicz.

But I didn't really... I...

......

I understand.

Do you really understand? There are many who envy you for what you have gone through.

To tell the truth—At the very least, I envy you very much.

......

Maybe... this is why...

I beg your pardon?

Uhh, I mean, perhaps this is what's most terrifying.

It's all going too well, too natural, and it's all too structured... It all happened way too quickly.

......

Just two days ago, I was worried I couldn't pay rent for the month. I wasn't able to convince Maria Nearl to join our knightclub, and I was most likely going to get a pay cut.

That was when I ran into Mr. Czarny... He was very busy during the Major's preliminaries, and I helped run some errands.

And then...?

And then I took a phone call.

A phone call?

A phone call.

From now on, you no longer belong to the Słoma Food Company, nor the Mieszko Group——Please keep in mind at all times that you are representing the General Chamber of Commerce.

Wait...! I don't want to be...!

You have no right to ask questions.

I-I don't think...

......

No, I... I understand...

Very good. I wish you the best of luck.

There was no way I could possibly understand...

Even though, from head to heels, this getup is specially tailored to make me a big deal, that doesn't mean I've really become one...

Actually, I don't think this outfit suits me at all.

Nonsense... It looks great on you.

......

This may come off as rude... but I ask you to forgive me in light of us having worked together in the past.

What is it? Please...

A bit of advice, Mr. Malkiewicz.

As someone whom fortune has smiled upon, you should try to refrain from sharing your feelings to those who, like me, are less fortunate.

......

I really wish to empathize with the way you feel, but alas...

I can't.

There are many who wish to be in your position, myself included, but we aren't so fortunate.

Do you understand?

I...

I do... but still...

Perhaps you do have your worries. You feel fear, anxiety, and hesitation... but no matter what you are feeling...

You are well groomed and dressed to kill, you have the invitation in your hand, and you are walking inside this building as the spokesman for the General Chamber of Commerce.

Regardless of what you think yourself, in the eyes of everyone else, you are very much a big deal.

The venue is straight ahead, Mr. Malkiewicz. Please excuse me.

Wait...!

I wish you a pleasant day.

I heard you were once an entrepreneur, Mr. Malkiewicz?

Y-Yes... I founded a company with a friend before. A very small one...

It must have been a success?

No, not at all. You flatter me.

You're too humble! If we ever get the chance, please do share with us your stories of entrepreneurship.

Your thoughts on the treatment of the independent knights was thought-provoking too...

Thank you.

Right, would you like a drink? Let me get you—

W-Watch out!

M-My apologies... I am deeply sorry, Mr. Malkiewicz!

No, it's okay. No big deal. Please don't mind it at all...

My god, your clothes—

Clothes...? Uhh...

Oh, the wine...

I-I'm terribly sorry!

I-I'll fetch you some towels right away!

No, no. It's okay. I'm fine.

Uh, thanks...

Please wait a moment. Don't move. I'll wipe it clean—

Please, you don't have to...! I-I can do it myself!

Please take your coat off. I'm afraid it will be difficult to get the stain out. I will arrange for someone to get it dry cleaned.

Take my coat off...?

Oh... and if you are not satisfied with that, I can pay you for the coat...

......

Mr. Malkiewicz? Are you alright, Mr. Malkiewicz?

N-No, thank you... It's okay. This is good enough. Please don't pay me anything!

Huh? But...

It's no problem. I mean it... Thank you.

This will do... I'm sorry, I was in a bit of a daze...

It happens. I understand. You don't seem very well, though. Perhaps you are a little exhausted?

Were you thinking about work just now?

Uh... I suppose so...

I was just thinking about some advice I got from a friend.

I guess he was right. It turns out my own thoughts don't matter, a lot of the time...

Uh, what do you mean...?

Don't worry about it, please. I'm talking to myself, that's all.

It's just... even if I don't think I'm a big deal...

It looks like... I'm stuck wearing these suits for a while.