Chapter 98

EP.98 The Saint Who Isn't Just About Money

Sitting in my chair, I finally managed to eat three whole pizzas and could now face the other with a refreshed expression.

For some reason, he looked extremely pale.

"Y-You're amazing…."

He said this with a suddenly darkened expression.

Maybe he was sick. Yet, despite his condition, he didn't hold back from his work, and I thought he was a truly passionate person.

Although my starving stomach still had some room, I felt it would be wrong to take more of a sick person's time.

As I moved the dishes to the side,

his face, which had been seriously considering ordering another pizza, lit up.

I asked him to explain.

"You said you contacted me about the opening title, what is it?"

"Ah, really, really, desperately, I need your help."

This seemed like a non sequitur.

He seemed to recall something,

and his face soon looked like someone hanging by one hand from the edge of a cliff, about to fall.

When I showed my confusion, he realized his explanation was inadequate and apologized to me.

"Ah, I'm sorry. The opening title…."

After that, his explanation wasn't particularly significant.

He said that the current season of Rainbow Tales was about to end, and a new season, including the pre-season, was about to start.

"We're shooting a video that will be used for the new season."

"Ah."

Only then did I realize what an opening title was.

During the tournament broadcasts, videos that reinterpreted events from the game, or events that could have happened in the game, to make them more realistic were often shown.

With a new season approaching, it was time to shoot a video that matched the new concept.

In any case, that was something I was familiar with.

"Our platform has had the official broadcasting rights for Rainbow Tales for six years now, so it's become an annual event."

"Yes."

"The problem is that this director is not just meticulous… Sigh. You'll have to see it for yourself to understand what I mean."

I consciously tilted my head.

I understood that the director was very skilled and, as a result, very picky,

but how did that relate to asking for my help?

Seeming to realize the meaning behind my gesture, he scratched his head and finally spoke.

"The director is looking for you."

"Me?"

How does he know who I am?

As if to answer my renewed doubts,

he continued.

"Since the video will be aired at the beginning of the next season, it needs to be completed before the season ends, so we've been shooting it in advance. In fact, we've almost finished it."

"Yes."

"But the director saw a video of you… You, singing in a church…."

"Ah."

That one.

"He said he got inspiration right before completion and kept postponing the work."

"…."

"When I asked what the inspiration was, he said it was you. He insisted that the video couldn't be made without you and even started complaining loudly."

"Yes, yes."

Maybe he's an artist,

what a strange person.

"We tried to find a similar actor, suggested using CG, and even proposed airing it as is since it's almost complete, but he firmly refused. Thanks to him, we're in a real headache…."

I, who thought he was a commentator, asked.

"How do you know all this?"

"The operations team is in chaos because of this. My direct superior is also involved in that area. He keeps complaining about the director and dragging me to drinking sessions every day… but, please forget I said that."

"Yes, yes…."

His face, which seemed to have aged instantly, exuded the kind of sentiment only office workers can have.

Finally, he began to look at me with a tender gaze.

But it seemed more like the expression of someone who, hanging off a cliff, had just found a foothold.

"So, we thought…."

"Thought what?"

"That we could bring in the real person the director wants, the protagonist of the video."

"…."

Me?

"Finding someone based on a video is usually difficult, but the person in the video looks exactly like a character in a well-known game, so we thought we'd give it a try."

"Yes."

"Thanks to the two tournament broadcasts, we have a connection… and even though it's a long shot, we're desperate."

"Yes, yes."

"So, I took the initiative to contact you."

"I understand."

"And to be honest, I had my doubts until I called you just now. I apologize for that…."

"Doubts?"

"I wasn't sure if you were the same person as the one in the video. I thought it would be rude to ask directly, and I felt you might say no if I did."

He was right.

If he had asked me over the phone, I would have definitely said no, given that I had already faced scrutiny from my stream viewers.

He bowed his head to me.

"I thought our desperate approach might upset you. It's a huge imposition. I'm sorry."

"No, no, there's no need to apologize so much."

"Thank you. So…."

And finally,

he seemed to have explained everything and got to the point.

"I think I've explained enough. Can you help us? With the opening title production?"

"…."

A grown man was looking at me with bright eyes, saying he couldn't do it without me.

How could I refuse such a heartfelt and earnest request in those burdening eyes?

Of course, I could.

I'm not a philanthropist, and I don't have a hobby of jumping in to help others.

It was also troublesome, and I'm the type of person who feels more fear than excitement when faced with a new challenge.

The director is very picky.

Maybe because I've seen videos where actors were scolded by directors,

if I made a mistake and got scolded, I might cry.

…Not that I would cry in front of everyone, but that's what I mean.

And most importantly, if the video was shot, too many people would see it.

Honestly, I'm already facing difficulties in my personal stream because of the video of me singing in the church.

If I participated in an officially broadcasted opening title video, the impact would be enormous.

So, I don't want to do it.

I felt a little guilty knowing that the production would be delayed without me, but would they really scrap a video that's almost complete just because I don't help?

He must have exaggerated, saying he couldn't make the video without me.

So, I decided to refuse.

…Or tried to.

But just as I was about to open my mouth to refuse,

he took out a document from the black leather bag he brought and placed it on the table.

I was about to speak again, wondering what he was doing.

"Ah, by the way, this is a contract."

"Um, I'm sorry…."

"It says here that you only need to help for one day. One day, that's nothing. The director said you might only appear in a few shots, and the makeup time might even be longer."

"…."

"And this item here is the payment, the compensation."

"Eh."

Eh.

The amount in front of me was so large that I couldn't help but exclaim.

0, 0, 0….

A lot.

A huge amount.

An incredible amount.

A massive amount!

"…."

"Ah, did I interrupt you? I tend to get a bit deaf when I explain things. I'm sorry."

"Ah, no, it's fine."

"So, what do you think?"

"…Sure, sure."

I like the money.

…No, that's not it.

What I truly liked was the fact that someone wanted me so much.

After all,

he said he couldn't do it without me.

For a director of such a large company to refuse to make the video without me, it would be rude not to help. Yes, yes.

I also liked the choice of words, "help."

The idea that I could help someone else was something I never imagined before.

Just the fact that it was now a possibility made my heart swell.

You might think he was just packaging the job offer nicely?

"…."

I want to help.

I want to give help.

Anyway, I want to help.

It's not because of the money,

oh, I can't explain my feelings….

Hehe.

Author's Note

Thank you again, 1233779, for the 60 coin donation.

Thank you, OO726, for the 50 coin donation.

I also appreciate the anonymous coin donations.

I received a question from an anonymous donor, but I find it difficult to answer. To be honest, I don't know either…

Here's the afterword!

The comments for the last chapter exceeded 200.

I read each one carefully. Thank you.

I plan to proceed with the story according to my beliefs, but I will always keep your concerns and advice in mind.

But why do the comments explode every time Hawaiian pizza appears in the story….

I even seriously considered putting Hawaiian pizza in every chapter to get more comments. But then I realized that would be a bad idea.

So, please leave lots of comments even if there's no Hawaiian pizza. Before I turn a whole chapter into a block of text about my struggles with Hawaiian pizza, hahaha (threat).

Just kidding.

Oh, by the way, looking at the statistics, it seems someone is buying each chapter as a collection.

I'm a bit disappointed that I can't know who it is, but I deeply appreciate it.

Thank you for reading this chapter,

and I'll be back on Thursday night!