Gast 4* (THE LINK OF GUNSLINGER) “Preparation is key”

CARD STORY

Preparation is key

 

Gast: Hmm...

Ren: …

Gast: Hmmmmmm...

Marion: Tone it down, Gast. If you want to complain, do it in your room, not here.

Gast: Oops, ma’ bad. I was just overthinkin’ something.

Marion: About what? I thought the shooting competition was over. What are you worried about?

Ren: Your underlings, again?

Gast: No, no, I've got my own problems too!

Thing is… I’ve been asked to do an interview.

Marion: For the PR department?

Gast: Nope, for a magazine specialized in firearms, actually.

After the competition, they approached me for a feature in their next issue...

Marion: And? It’s just an interview.

It's a good opportunity to show off our team. What's there to overthink about?

Gast: Easy for you to say. I’ve never been interviewed before, and it’s seriously stressin’ me out...

Ren: You, bad with interviews? I can’t believe you. You always go on and on about stuff you don’t even know.

Marion: I take it that you had no problem handling the PR department’s interview right after your admission here, correct?

Gast: I mean, ain’t that part of the job?

Marion: So is that magazine feature. As long as you’re a Hero, you’ll go through that again and again...

I was on a special mission the other day… and also got interviewed. I did it because I thought it was the job a Hero had to fill. ⁽¹⁾

Do your duty as a Hero. That's an order.

Gast: Ugh… R-roger that.

Heeey, Ren, buddy, won’tcha at least do the interview with me?

Ren: I refuse. They only asked for you.

Besides, I’m not really good at that stuff either.

Gast: Don't say that, we'll get through this together and--

Ren: I'm going back to my room.

Marion: Me too.

Gast: Wai- I need y'all to think this through with me!

...Sighs. Just what am I supposed to do...

I hafta make up my mind somehow...

Uuu~~~gh...

Victor: My, that was quite the suspire.

Gast: Doctor!? What are you doin’ here!?

Victor: I am simply here to pick up samples I left in my room, however...

You have no need to act so astonished, I also live here after all.

Gast: Well, you got a point. It’s just that we barely see you in your room lately, so…

Victor: Leaving that aside, why the long sigh?

I ask this out of curiosity, not concern, of course.

Gast: Haha… Somehow I feel better with you bein’ upfront.

Truth is...

--

Victor: I see, a magazine interview...

Gast: You’re used to that kinda thing, right Doc’?

Victor: Indeed. I have been interviewed in various media, more as a researcher than a Hero.

Gast: I suppose you need loads of experience to answer that kinda questions perfectly.

Victor: In my opinion, it is less about the experience, and more about the preparation.

If you’re doing an interview for a magazine, you can expect to be interrogated quite a lot. You simply have to anticipate the questions and remember the possible outcomes.

Gast: Fair enough… Anticipation, huh...

Victor: If you don’t mind, how about I help you practice? I'll prepare the questions and answers with you.

Gast: What-? Is that alright with you? Weren'tcha busy just now, Doc’?

Victor: Taking a breather every once in a while can be beneficial too.

Gast: Well, I guess I'll just have to take your word for it... Thanks, Doc’.

Victor: No need.

Now, for the first question. You use a rifle as your weapon of choice in battle, but do you use it regularly?

Gast: Let’s see… I guess so. I collect a whole range of firearms, but I think my favourite is still the rifle.

When ya’ focus all your attention and manage to hit that distant target...

I like that tension in the air a lot.

Victor: Hmm, I see.

I saw in your profile that you enjoy playing darts in your free time. Do you think there are any similarities between fire shooting and playing darts?

Gast: Darts? How do you know?

Victor: If you disclose any information as a Hero, it is more than likely that it will be subject of further questions.

Gast: Is that so...

So, darts, right... Yeah, you could say that the ‘focus, aim and shoot’ parts are similar.

The satisfaction of hitting the target, the sense of accomplishment... Maybe that's what got me hooked.

Victor: I see, thank you for your intake.

Gast: (Doc’ sounds like he’s super used to lead interviews...)

(I'm sure I'll be able to answer a buncha questions like this during the actual interview.)

Victor: As mentioned earlier, your weapon of choice is a rifle, but I heard you are rather skilled in hand-to hand combat, are you not? Do you have a body sturdy enough to withstand pain, perhaps?

Gast: What!? Sturdy?

I… Guess? True that I've been working out a fair amount ever since I was a kid, and I was a bit of a trouble at times, so I think I'm sturdier than most...

Victor: As a Hero, do you wish to do what is best for the citizens and the world?

Gast: Well, yeah, of course! I'm still not sure what I can do as a Hero, but...

Victor: There are plenty of things you can do already. That being said, I need your help with something, for the sake of the world and its people.

Gast: I-I’ll help as best as I can.

Victor: Is that so? Fufu, in fact, I just came up with a new machine. I was hoping for someone to kindly run a test for me.

Gast: !? So all of that was just because ya’ wanted me to be your guinea pig!?

No, no, no, no way in hell! Forget what I just said!!!

Ren: Hey, shut up.

Marion: What’s your deal again, all by yourself... Wait, Victor?

Victor: I heard that Gast was going to be interviewed, we were simply running a practical test.

He seemed rather troubled by it, yet he answered quite smoothly. I am sure he will be able to handle the actual meeting without any issue.

Marion & Ren: …

Victor: I would like to discuss what we just mentioned with you again, Gast.

Gast: Hold it there, I toldya’ I wouldn’t!

(...But thanks to Doc', I feel a little less nervous. It was a practice all along, right?)

 

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⁽¹⁾ Marion refers to his interview during the Chinoiserie event.