After Jasper, the journalist, asked me for an interview, we decided to head back to our base as a group, regardless of whether or not I would actually agree to speak with him.
The carriage they had been riding in had taken a heavy beating when it overturned, and since they’d lost one of their horses, it would have been nearly impossible for them to reach safety before nightfall. For now, we managed to get it rolling with some makeshift repairs and the horse Yudum had borrowed, but it was far from a comfortable ride.
"You mentioned wanting to write about the Jamil Duchy," I said, trying to distract everyone from the bumpy ride. "What kind of article are you planning, specifically?"
"It depends on the results of my reporting, of course, but the main focus would be the incident from the end of last year," Jasper replied. "Attempting to frame another noble house is a scandal on its own, but in that case, several families conspired against the Ducal House, their superiors. It was a direct insult to the hierarchy and order that the nobility holds dear—something that could have shaken the very foundation of the kingdom.
"But the Jamil family managed to weather that conspiracy with minimal damage. If anything, they turned the situation to their advantage. People naturally gravitate toward promising territories and strong leaders. My job—my mission, really—is to understand the Jamil Duchy as a whole and share accurate, detailed information with the public."
I could feel his enthusiasm in every word, but he seemed to hesitate occasionally. It didn’t feel like he was hiding anything, though.
"Have you not decided on the specifics yet?" I asked.
"No. I’m talking a big game, but I’m actually only in my second year as a reporter," he admitted with a sheepish grin. "My work in the duchy won't truly begin until I rendezvous with my supervisor. I haven't even met them yet, so I don't know what our specific angle will be. But since they're only sending a few of us here, I’ve heard I’ll have a lot more creative freedom than I did at headquarters. This is a huge opportunity for my career."
"I see. So that’s why you’re so fired up."
"I truly apologize for my behavior earlier. Between the adrenaline of a brush with death and the excitement of the assignment, I think I was getting ahead of myself."
"It was a dangerous situation; it's only natural to be flustered. Besides, you've been perfectly fine since you calmed down. I was a bit surprised, but that was all. Don't worry about it. By the way, how did you know I was Ryoma Takebayashi? Even if you’d heard rumors, you wouldn't have known my face."
I steered the conversation away from his earlier embarrassment to satisfy my own curiosity. He laughed, looking relieved.
"I investigated every rumor I could find before leaving the Royal Capital. A boy with black hair and black eyes who possesses immense mana and is a master of magic. When you saved us with that Thunder Magic, I had my suspicions. Then you mentioned the Sea of Trees, and I was certain. To be honest, I thought the stories of a child living in such a death trap were just tall tales, but after seeing you handle those monsters... well, I don't think there's anyone else like you."
"So that's how you identified me."
"In fairness, there probably aren't many kids like the Owner out there," Yudum added.
"Is the Sea of Trees really that scary?" the little girl among the passengers asked. Her parents looked panicked by her bluntness, but there was no reason to scold a child under five for being curious. I gave her a reassuring smile.
"There are lots of monsters there. Usually, I have to hide from them or run away just to get anywhere."
"Scary place!" she chirped.
"It is, isn't it?"
Having just survived a monster attack, she seemed to understand the danger despite her age. I suppose seeing is believing.
"I’m only used to it because it's where I grew up," I said. "Where are you from?"
"Drenham Village! I'm going to see my uncle in Gaunago!"
I didn't recognize the name of the village, but she was happy to tell me. Her parents filled in the blanks.
Drenham was located two territories over from the Jamil Duchy. Its primary industries were spinning and dyeing fabrics using plants from the nearby forests. The parents were both dyers; I noticed the dark stains under their fingernails then. They weren't the hands of warriors, but I hadn't guessed they were artisans either.
"Papa and Mama's dyeing is super pretty!" the girl added.
"Is that so? So the two of you are craftsmen."
"We're not quite what you'd call artisans," the father demurred. "Most households in our village do it."
"There are even simple dyeing methods you can do at home with a regular pot," the mother added.
"I help, too!"
"That's very impressive."
As I spoke with the girl—who was every bit as energetic as Kormi—the carriage slowed down.
"Will it be alright if we turn left here?" the coachman asked.
"Yes, this path is fine. Please proceed," I said.
As we turned onto the road we had cleared recently, the jolting grew even worse. Since we had cut it in a straight line, it would only take a few minutes to reach the abandoned village, but the ride was brutal.
"I really should have filled in the ruts more when I was clearing this," I muttered.
"Bumps that aren't so bad on horseback are a different story in a carriage," Yudum noted.
"Did the two of you make this road?" Jasper asked.
"I didn't do anything," Yudum said. "I was just his guard."
"Which means Takebayashi-sama did all this alone?"
"I’m good at Earth Magic," I replied.
Despite the violent shaking, Jasper kept up his questioning. I admired his tenacity, but I was worried he’d bite his tongue if he wasn't careful.
Eventually, the carriage arrived at the base.
"Good work, everyone. I’m going to prepare a place for you to rest now, so please bear with me a little longer."
In the middle of the deep forest, the sight of nothing but simple huts made of Earth Magic probably didn't do much to ease their anxiety. They’d been through a terrifying ordeal, and I wanted them to feel safe as quickly as possible.
I used Earth Magic to expand the camp. I built one simple hut for the family of three, another for the three guards, and individual ones for Jasper and the coachman. To top it off, I strung some Cursed Rope around the perimeter for extra safety.
"Everyone, your rooms are ready, though they’re quite humble. I’ll prepare a meal as well, so please rest until then."
"Humble? Not at all. Thank you very much," the coachman said.
"I’m just grateful to have a place to sleep," one of the guards added.
"Thank you, Big Brother!" the little girl shouted.
They all thanked me and filed into their respective huts. Yudum seemed to have explained things well, as no one seemed confused by the sudden architecture.
"I told them about the Sea of Trees in the carriage," Yudum whispered to me. "I said you can't survive there unless you can do at least that much magic, and they bought it. They’re exhausted, so they were just happy to relax. Only that reporter was muttering about how the rumors were true. He’s as tired as the rest of them, but his passion is something else."
"He did say this assignment was a big opportunity. It’s a good thing to be passionate about your work." I paused. "By the way, how are journalists treated in this country? I grew up in the forest, so I don't know if they're reliable or if they just spread fake news."
If I was going to deal with more reporters in the future, I needed to know what I was getting into. Jasper seemed sincere, but my memories from my past life made me wary of the media.
"I understand your concern," Yudum said. "There have been cases where reporters went too far and ended up being sued. They have to turn a profit, so they chase sensational stories to get subscribers. But I think Jasper himself is fine. From what I heard, he seems genuinely committed to his work."
"I agree. So the question is his company. He didn't mention it earlier."
"You can ask him later. You don't have to decide on the interview yet, and even if you do it, you can stick to harmless rumors or things people in Gimul already know."
"Right. Let's get dinner started."
Thirty minutes later, I served a soup made from Vegetable Water-boiled Packs, and the tension finally drained from the adults' faces. Nothing beats a hot meal after a trauma.
"Would you like seconds, Jasper?"
"Please, if it's not too much trouble."
"Here you go."
"Ah... it's so warm," Jasper sighed. "For a moment back there, I was sure I was going to die. Only now do I truly feel like I'm alive again."
"Eating is vital for the body and the mind. Please, have as much as you want. By the way, Jasper, which newspaper do you work for?"
He froze for a second, a spoon in his mouth. He seemed to realize he hadn't actually introduced himself properly. He quickly wiped his face.
"My apologies. I work for the Propaganda Newspaper Company."
"P-Propaganda?" I stammered.
"Oh, a famous one," Yudum noted.
"It’s famous?" I asked.
In my old world, "propaganda" was a heavy word—associated with information warfare and psychological manipulation. It seemed like a terrible name for a news outlet. But Yudum didn't seem bothered by it.
"The Propaganda Newspaper Company is the oldest paper in the country," Yudum explained. "It’s a fixture in the history books. It was founded during the reign of King Masaharu the Tyrant. Back then, there was no such thing as a journalist. A few people gathered under the motto 'The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword' and fought against his oppression with truth instead of steel."
"Exactly," Jasper said proudly. "It was dangerous work back then. We didn't just write articles; we created the very culture of journalism. I'm proud to be a part of that legacy. Though, admittedly, the company has seen better days. We've lost a lot of ground to newer competitors and have been pushed to the fringes of the capital."
"I read it a few times when I was in the Royal Capital," Yudum said. "It wasn't exactly mainstream. The content was a bit plain—not much in the way of flashy news—but they didn't run the kind of radical, profit-driven articles the others did."
Between the name and the motto, there was no doubt an Otherworlder was behind the company's founding. The "Hero" probably set it up for political leverage. Even so, if the company had been around this long and avoided becoming a tabloid, they were probably trustworthy.
"Alright," I said. "I'll do the interview. Let's talk some more."
Jasper seemed decent enough, and with Yudum there to help, it seemed like a good opportunity. If I was going to deal with the public eye, I might as well start here.