Melissa now sits across from Director !@(@#!#((!(#!)@: during an interview.

  Director: “Sooo… can you explain to me how one of my top talents got her knees broken?”

  Melissa (coldly): “She brought it on herself. She engaged with Elnora on her own initiative.”

  The Director sighs. “Ah, yes… the eternal spinster. Well, at least she’s still alive. Good to see my medical company reforms being used to the fullest.”

  The Director seems oddly cheerful despite one of her talents being literally crippled.

  Director: “Poor Lucile… Nocture was in charge of her evaluation and reinstatement. What am I going to do with her?”

  Melissa: “Honestly, she’s a failure too…”

  Director: “I appreciate you're honesty here Melissa-san, but I never understand why you wimp out in front of the other talents.”

  Melissa (stammering): “I-I think I’m more suited for supporting roles…”

  The Director suddenly slaps a small glowing ad onto her face. “Watch this please...”

  Melissa opens it—only to see a collage of her dream escapades set to idol music, ending with the tagline:

  “Introducing our Mysterious New Talent: Succu-chan?!”

  Melissa (ashen-faced): “I-I-I was sick! It was the fever!!!” she shrieks, hiding her embarrassment.

  Director: “Such talent… hidden right under my nose.” She licks her blocky lips.

  “Congratulations, Melissa. You are to become a full-fledged talent. Now—your training arc shall begin.”

  She taps her desk a few times. A small drawer opens, revealing a dark envelope sealed with the sigil ‘You Owe Me.’

  “Give this to Noctrine in the hospital. She’ll know what this means...”

  Melissa: “Can I refuse?”

  The Director simply taps the letter menacingly, saying nothing.

  Melissa grabs it reluctantly.

  Director: “Remember to pick up your producer on the way out.”

  She points to the umbrella stand—where a sword with an orange snot bubble is snoring loudly.

  Melissa’s expression darkens. She picks up Walletbreaker, who immediately yells:

  “OHHH, MELISSA! We’re gonna have a blast! Think of all the money you’ll make!”

  Melissa: “I already regret this so much.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Director: “Oh, and about the new talent I assigned to your division—don’t worry. She’ll just shadow you like a proper intern.”

  As if on cue, the office door opens. A polite silver-haired girl bows deeply.

  Haruka: “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Melissa-san. My name is Haruka. Please treat me well.”

  Melissa, unaccustomed to such politeness, stiffens.

  “Ah—yes, it’s a pleasure Haruka-san. Please learn well and follow along for now.”

  Melissa, Walletbreaker, and Haruka leave together—an unlikely, demonic trio destined to shake the very foundations of the world…

  That, however, is a story for another time.

  “Maaan, I’m bored out of my mind,” Hajime yawns, nearly swallowing his tongue. Even the blocky god yawns too.

  Hajime: “Hey, Deus, what do you even do to slack off here?”

  Deus: “Slack off? I never slack off. I manage the very foundations of existence. There’s no downtime for me.”

  Hajime: “You literally control time.”

  Deus: “Exactly. Time must be managed too! If it moves backward or forward too far, you’d never advertise to the right demographic!”

  Hajime: “If you’re the god of this world, then why’d you send me to this hell?!”

  Deus: “I didn’t call you here. It was supposed to be a female hero this time, but… something went wrong.”

  Hajime: “...So I got sent here because of a clerical error?!”

  He begins foaming at the mouth at that divine revelation.

  Deus: “We work with what we’re given. You can still be a properly mediocre hero for this season.”

  Deus clearly doesn’t care about mortal suffering.

  Hajime: “Can you at least send me home?”

  Deus: “Of course! Just sign the contract.”

  Hajime glances at Valiant—sweating as she furiously amends the glowing document.

  Seeing no point in continuing that line of questioning, Hajime sighs. “What’s your deal with Elnora anyway?”

  Deus (perking up like a fangirl): “She’s my most loyal, best-earning talent for five seasons straight! She’s the slop that keeps on giving.”

  Hajime: “Then what’s the point of the Selection if she always wins?”

  Deus: “It’s in the contract. You’re required to choose her at the end.”

  Hajime: “Wait—are all heroes contractually obligated to pick her?!”

  Deus: “Of course. That’s the whole premise!”

  Hajime: “Then why are you telling me this now?”

  Deus (grinning): “Because you’re not leaving until you sign. So what’s the difference if you know now or later?”

  Hajime (face paling): “Valiant… is what she’s saying true?”

  Valiant: “...Technically yes. The moment you sat in the chair, there was an OK button hidden under the leather. You’re already here to formalize the contract. But! You can still renegotiate!”

  Deus: “Caught that didn't you? Clever little lawyer you’ve got there.”

  Hajime realizes, once again, that gods don’t think like mortals.

  Hajime: “So what happens after I leave this place? Do I get assigned to the Pantheon of Heroic Goddesses or something?”

  Deus: “Once you sign, your patron god becomes your Producer-in-Chief. With Elnora alongside them, they’ll co-manage your next adventures.”

  Hajime (turning blue): “I don’t want another manager in my head—it’s already crowded with the compass!”

  Whalescalibur: “Aww, he thinks I’m his manager! We can make it official!”

  Caladblock: “Hajime… this place makes me feel so weak...”

  Valiant: “Sneaky little addendum you slipped in there, Deus—but that violates Article 37662, ToS Act 008639.”

  Deus: “Fine! We’ll switch it to ToS 763926, Version 3.”

  Valiant: “Acceptable. But Hajime shouldn’t strip naked during the summer episode—it’s not PG-13.”

  Deus: “The sacred summer arc must be ecchi!!!”

  And thus began the greatest of divine debates:

  The God of Bureaucracy vs. The Lioness of Legal Ethics — fighting over Hajime’s dignity.

  The deadlock continues, while Hajime sits pale as a ghost, realizing the sheer horrors hidden within divine contracts.