Stepping into the studio, Durandal and Elysia took their seats on a long sofa, while Eden settled into a plush armchair nearby.
"Hello to everyone watching at home. Welcome to Schicksal Interviews. I'm your host, Eden. Today, we have the distinct honor of hosting the two founders of Schicksal."
"As you might have guessed from the name of our show—and our parent company, Schicksal Media Group—these two are, for all intents and purposes, the big bosses behind the scenes."
"I have to admit, having the big bosses as the very first guests for our debut program makes this 'rookie' host a little nervous. I'm half-afraid that if I trip over my words, I'll be fired tomorrow just for stepping into the office with my left foot first."
Despite her words, Eden's poised delivery didn't betray a hint of a "rookie" vibe. Then again, as the saying goes, the "newbie" is often a hidden master in disguise—a rule that clearly applied to her.
"Now then, would you two care to introduce yourselves?"
Facing the cameras, Durandal didn't show the slightest bit of stage fright.
Though she hadn't been the subject of an interview before, her memories held countless instances of watching the Overseer deal with the press from the sidelines. The lens was a familiar sight to her.
"Hello, everyone. I am Durandal, the founder of Schicksal."
Following the script's requirements, Durandal kept it brief, delivering her line to the camera with a composed, stoic expression.
"Hi there! As for me... I suppose I was the very first member to join after Schicksal was established. My name is Elysia, and as you can see, I'm just a girl as cute as a blooming flower! ♪"
Compared to Durandal, Elysia's introduction was far more playful. She ended it by cupping her chin in her hands, framing her face like a blossom in full bloom.
Seeing that both guests had nailed their scripted parts in one go without needing a retake, Eden felt a small wave of relief.
She transitioned smoothly into the next segment.
"Wonderful. I'm sure our audience now has a good first impression of our founders. Moving on, I have a question for Miss Durandal. Tell me, what was your original inspiration for founding Schicksal?"
Durandal shifted her gaze from the camera to Eden. She paused for a moment, weighing her words.
"In a world plagued by natural disasters and mysterious illnesses, we need an organization willing to stand up and fight for all that is beautiful in this world. That is why I founded Schicksal."
Eden pressed further. "Could you elaborate on that? For instance, how does Schicksal plan to resist these disasters, and how do you intend to combat the mysterious outbreaks occurring across the globe?"
"Regarding the disasters, Schicksal has established several task forces dedicated to rescue operations, evacuations, and post-disaster psychological counseling."
"As for the illnesses, we are currently researching targeted treatments. I believe they will be ready for the public soon. At that time, we intend to collaborate with local governments to ensure these treatments are included in medical insurance at an affordable price," Durandal replied.
Eden nodded and gestured toward the green screen behind them.
In post-production, this would be filled with footage captured by a bystander—video of Elysia leading a combat squad to rescue the citizens of Nagazora City from the Zombies.
The video hadn't surfaced online yet, thanks to the intervention of Nagazora's local officials. But now, it was finally time to gradually pull back the curtain for the public.
In truth, entities like Honkai Beasts and the Zombies weren't entirely foreign to the common person. Honkai energy had been a shadow cast over human civilization since its inception.
Looking back at history, beyond the rise and fall of dynasties, it was a chronicle of humanity's struggle against Honkai Beasts.
For most, the threat of a Honkai Beast was perceived as no different from encountering a lion or a tiger in the wild.
What they didn't know was the "Truth of the Honkai"—the reality behind the two major disasters of the past decade and the root cause of the mysterious illnesses.
The Truth was that human civilization was being subjected to a "filter" known as the Honkai.
If humanity failed to pass, they would perish, and Earth would become nothing more than a silent "World Bubble" drifting in the Sea of Quanta.
Behind those "natural disasters" were Great Eruptions, events that birthed Herrschers—beings who embodied the Will of Honkai and sought to eradicate humanity.
And the "mysterious illness" was actually Honkai Sickness, the result of Honkai energy eroding humans who lacked sufficient adaptability or resistance.
At a certain stage, the victim would either die or be corrupted into the Undead.
These facts, however, would not be disclosed in this interview.
Currently, neither Schicksal nor the long-established Fire Moth possessed the prestige required to contain the massive social panic that would erupt if the truth were exposed.
Of course, Durandal believed that within five years, Schicksal would gain that level of public trust. When that time came, they would hold a grand conference to reveal everything to the world.
"We've received a submission from a concerned citizen in Nagazora City," Eden continued, bridging the gap. "There have been several incidents involving Undead attacks there recently. In this footage, we can see Miss Elysia herself leading the team to clear them out."
"Miss Elysia, if I may ask—given your striking appearance, why choose such a dangerous line of work with Schicksal? To be honest, I would think the entertainment industry would be a much better fit for your talents."
Eden used the video as a natural transition to shift the spotlight onto Elysia.
Elysia tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Hmm... if you're asking why, maybe I should be asking you, Miss Eden? If you had met me before Durandal did and invited me into showbiz, maybe I never would have joined Schicksal at all! ♪"
Eden played along, putting on a perfectly timed look of mock bewilderment.
Elysia giggled, sticking her tongue out playfully. "Haha, just kidding! ♪ To give you a serious answer: I suppose I was simply moved by Durandal's sincerity. Just imagine it—a blonde beauty like Durandal, clad in white combat armor and mounted on a magnificent white horse, extending an invitation to join her. I don't think anyone could say no to that, could they? At least, I certainly couldn't! ♪"
"Sincerity? I get the feeling it might have been something else..." Eden teased, her eyes darting playfully between the two of them.
Elysia leaned into the moment, sliding across the sofa to grab Durandal's arm and hugging it tight.
"Oh, don't just guess—you're absolutely right! ♪ After all, I've fallen quite hard for my dear Durandal!"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.