"Hey, Ann. Got a minute?"
"Hm? You’re... wait, who are you again?"
"We ran into each other during that mess with the Skeleton Horse. I never got the chance to introduce myself properly, so I figured I’d do it now. I’m Isaac Area. I just transferred into Luminous Academy this year."
A few days had passed since the incident on the plains. Isaac had tracked down Anhel, who had returned to her peaceful routine at Luminous Academy, and watched her intently as he introduced himself.
He fought a desperate battle to keep his eyes from being sucked toward her chest—prominently displayed in the red coveralls he’d seen countless times in the game—and forced himself to lead with his pitch.
"I didn't just come here to say hello. I want to ask you something. How would you like to become my exclusive engineer?"
"Me? Yours? That’s a bit out of the blue."
"I know, and I’m sorry for the suddenness. But you’re an incredible magic item engineer. If I sit around doing nothing, someone else is going to scout you first, right? Meeting you the way I did felt like fate. I couldn't let this chance slip away..."
"Hmm..."
Isaac laid on the flattery, desperate to win her over.
While his words weren't lies—he truly did want her as his personal engineer—his motives were also heavily laced with his own lecherous desires. He figured her affection level must have risen at least a little during the Skeleton Horse incident. Besides, when he’d made a similar offer to Neid, the other engineer had accepted almost instantly.
Isaac expected Anhel to do the same, but she simply shook her head in a flat refusal.
"Sorry, but I’m going to have to pass. I have no intention of becoming your exclusive engineer."
"What?! Why? Why not?! Look, I’m not just bragging—I’ve got real skill! You saw me holding my own against that Skeleton Horse, didn't you? I’m in a completely different league than the other students, and I can draw out the full potential of any magic item you build! We’d be the perfect team! So why...?"
"You might be strong, sure. But I’ve already got a prior engagement, and I plan on prioritizing that."
"...Are you talking about Hugo Clay?"
Hugo had been the one with Anhel during the recent crisis. Isaac had suspected as much, but hearing that she was already handling the maintenance for Hugo’s gear stung.
Frustrated at being beaten to the punch, Isaac tried to convince her to jump ship.
"You should really stop associating with a piece of trash like him. You’re in the Industrial Department, so maybe you haven't heard, but he’s a notorious scumbag around here. He’s the kind of guy who takes what he wants by force and discards women like trash. He’s definitely looking at you with ulterior motives, Ann. If that scum causes another incident, your reputation will go down with his. You should cut him off while you still can."
"Scum, huh? Funny, he seemed plenty popular with Melt and his brother. You’re a transfer student in the High School Division, right? Maybe you’re just listening to exaggerated rumors."
"It’s not like that! That guy is—!!"
Isaac tried to impress upon her just how wicked Hugo was, but Anhel clearly wasn't interested.
Having seen Hugo’s actions and the way those around him reacted with her own eyes, she saw no value in Isaac’s second-hand gossip. She raised a hand to cut him off, her expression one of mild exasperation.
"Look, regardless of what you say, my contract with Hugo comes first. It’s my job to look after his Blaster. It’s a demanding project, and I don't have the bandwidth to take on anything else right now."
"Wait! If an exclusive contract is off the table, then at least let me commission you for maintenance and—"
"I told you, I don't have time for other jobs. I’m about to start a major modification using that Flame Attribute Magic Crystal we just got. I can’t help you, Isaac. Go find someone else. See ya."
"Ah... Ann! Wait...!!"
Left standing in the dust, Isaac watched her walk away, muttering in a daze.
True to his childish temperament, he stamped his feet in frustration. Once he’d cooled down, he took a deep breath and began to reassure himself.
(Whatever. I'll just have to give up for now. It’s not like the game gave me an announcement saying she’s 'unrecruitable' like it did with Melt. I just have to be patient and wait for the right opening.)
Losing out on Anhel for now was a disappointment, but it wasn't the end of the world. If he timed his next request right, he could still pull her over to his side.
Besides... truth be told, Isaac was more concerned about Hugo.
The shift in Hugo’s personality after losing the duel to Zenon and supposedly getting amnesia was beyond abnormal. Isaac was certain that this was the root cause of the game's crumbling scenario.
(It couldn't be... could it?)
He had initially settled on the idea that the roles of Zenon and Hugo—the two who had broken the original plot—had simply swapped. But after actually interacting with Hugo, Isaac felt a profound sense of wrongness.
He began to suspect that Hugo hadn't lost his memory at all... but that another soul had taken up residence in his body.
If that were true, Hugo wasn't just a character; he was a rival competing for the same Seat of the Hero.
Whether he chose to crush Hugo or use him, Isaac needed proof that Hugo was a fellow reincarnator. Once he had that, he could use the information to his advantage.
(I think I’ll keep an eye on you for a while, 'Scum Hugo.' I'm going to dig up everything I can—including whether or not you're one of us.)
A smirk played across Isaac's lips as he plotted.
He was so focused on spying on Hugo and hunting for weaknesses that he failed to notice a single shadow lingering nearby, watching his every move.
With a faint ripple in the air, the shadow vanished, leaving Isaac alone.
Completely unaware of the irony—that he was being hunted by a watcher while planning to watch another—Isaac set his new plan into motion.