Chapter 189 - Prima Donna (1)

1

"Sold out! Every seat sold out again!"

The response to our dance dramas was nothing short of explosive.

"The legendary Wild Dance of Flaming Swords, so realistic that even the security force came running! Followed by Playhouse in Flames! And even Demon King Estelle! Our legendary streak of sold-out performances continues!"

"Dance dramas unfolding through the actors' expressions and circling dances!"

"Join the trend of a new era!"

Theater Troupe Bullshit grew rapidly. We hired a dedicated ticket seller and took on more actors. Even then, we couldn't keep up with demand, leaving us crying out in happy desperation.

"Welcome!"

[The current Heretical Encroachment Rate is 44%.]

"To a stage where every gesture of the hand inspires frenzy, and every sweep of the arm becomes a seduction!"

"Until every life becomes a single dance!"

[The current Heretical Encroachment Rate is 32%.]

"See the flames of aura and cheer!"

I trained the actors even more vigorously.

"Keep your chins up! Your bodies must always stay loose! When you're angry, you clench your fists. When you see something you can't stand, you frown. Your bodies need to respond to your emotions. The more closely your emotions and bodies align, the more naturally your aura manifests! Now!"

CLAP!

At my clap, the troupe members struck their poses in unison.

"Good! Next!"

CLAP!

The actors moved their limbs according to the choreography I had devised. Their hot breaths rushed across the stage, and beads of sweat dripped from their foreheads.

"Next!"

The movements the Earth Spiritfolk had often used in primitive times. The forms the Divine Art of the Demonic Heaven had accumulated over countless years. I blended these two sources to teach the troupe their choreography.

"Okay! Next!"

THUD!

With the most primal rhythms and the deadliest movements, the Hobgoblins stamped their feet. The three founding members led, supported by the newly recruited actors. Twenty-four troupe members danced with perfect timing.

[The current Heretical Encroachment Rate is 28%.]

I smiled.

"Good. Take a break."

"Ugor!"

"I thought I was going to die!"

"I'm exhausted... Boss Junior's training is way too brutal..."

The Hobgoblins sank to the floor. Groans rose all around, but their faces were anything but gloomy. They wore the expressions of people enjoying a good sweat, beaming with smiles reserved for those whose daily routines were not divorced from the lives they wanted to lead.

'Hmm.'

Would this be good enough by now?

'I think I can retire soon.'

"What?"

Sonia turned her head in shock.

Ever since I had possessed her, Sonia had been hovering nearby as a spirit. Watching her own body rise to fame as a great actor and go from strength to strength had made every day a happy one for her.

"Lord Kekereukker? R-retire?"

'I mean retire from your body. I came down to this era for a mission. Now that I can see a way to complete it, I should give your body back.'

"No! I mean, you mustn't!"

Sonia jumped.

"Retire after achieving this much success? That's absurd! You're the greatest actor in Guru right now...! One of the finest actors in all Earth Spiritfolk history, and the first prima donna in fairy history to achieve such tremendous success in Cavefire plays! Retirement is impossible! Impossible!"

'Wonderful.'

I smiled.

'Didn't you say your dream was to succeed as an actor? Well, you've succeeded. Now enjoy your successful life to your heart's content.'

"B-but!"

'Scared?'

"..."

Sonia shut her mouth.

I shrugged.

'Understandable. However much you wanted success, this isn't the result of your abilities. I made it all happen by myself. You're at a loss about what you'll do if I suddenly leave now, aren't you? Right?'

"Ugh... Grrgh..."

'You can retire too.'

I offered her the simplest option.

'A legendary actor, appearing like a comet and disappearing just as swiftly! Announce your retirement and say, [I've reached the top, so I'm no longer interested]. Sure, it'll cause a stir, but people might admire you even more.'

"..."

'Sounds pretty cool, doesn't it?'

On the surface, anyway.

'As long as you don't go onstage, no one will even know you've changed. You've made money. You've got an incredible reputation. You can enjoy a glamorous retirement.'

"I... suppose."

Sonia's lips moved hesitantly.

"Yes... You're right, Lord Kekereukker. I suppose I've been overthinking it."

'Good. Then you don't mind if I invite your parents to the next performance?'

"What? ... What?"

'Your family. After getting kicked out, you ought to show them how much success you've achieved without their help. Brag. Show off. They say showing off to your family is the most satisfying kind of showing off in the world.'

"Ah..."

'Why? Don't you want to show off to your parents?'

"N-no. It's... not that at all..."

'Then I'll invite them.'

I took out an invitation and handed it to the nearby ticket seller. The ticket seller was another young elf. When fairies first entered the workforce, they found profitable jobs and ran themselves ragged.

"Please deliver this to the three-story building with the green roof on Fallen Leaf Hill."

"Head Choreographer."

The young elf ticket seller looked prim.

"I'm sorry, but I'm the troupe's ticket seller, not an errand runner. Others may consider it unimportant, but I take pride in my affiliation and profession."

"How admirable. Could I buy your pride for one gold coin?"

"Fallen Leaf Hill, you said! I'll be back in a flash!"

The elf raced away with the invitation and gold coin.

"Ah."

Sonia let out an "ah."

That was all.

She awkwardly withdrew her arm, looking as though even she didn't know why she had reached out.

'I've invited them to the VIP seats. I'll set the price at exactly what the cart you dragged out of the house cost. A symbolic price. What do you think?'

"... Yes. I think that's fine..."

Sonia glanced in the direction the ticket seller had run.

And time passed.

[The Black Dragon leader has successfully completed her quest!]

News of my companions, who had been quiet for a while, began coming in. Unlike the previous stage, we had each received a separate quest to carry out this time.

'The Black Dragon leader cleared hers first.'

Although I had overtaken her in the rankings, she was still the hunter reigning over the Tower's foremost guild.

'That's experience for you.'

But as I was inwardly admiring her, something unexpected happened. Just two days later, a smartly dressed elderly bloodsucking aristocrat came to visit.

"Hello."

"...?"

I was drilling the troupe as usual. Since we were rehearsing, I was sure I had shut the theater doors, but somehow the elderly bloodsucking aristocrat had entered without difficulty. He looked at me with a gentle smile.

'A stalker fan, maybe?'

Those types had begun creeping in recently. Still, his outfit was rather grand. A little too conspicuous for a stalker fan, perhaps? A black suit. Leather boots. His cane's handle was gilded, and silver rings clinked on his jacket.

"Um, sir. I'm sorry, but there isn't a performance right now. If you'd like to watch the actors train, you'll need to make a separate reservation with the attendant..."

"Hmm."

A low, resonant voice emerged from the old man's mouth.

"So we're at the point where I need a reservation to see you. I had no idea. Would an apology suffice?"

Huh.

The voice was that of a stylish old man, but something about the way he spoke... was familiar?

"..."

I discreetly raised my aura and wrapped it around him. But it stopped short, as if blocked by an invisible barrier. That would have been impossible without a mature mastery of aura. Black aura was gently spilling from the old man's cane.

"Ack, wait a minute. Don't tell me..."

"Heh heh."

The old man with the unfamiliar face chuckled in a familiar rhythm. My mouth fell open, and I pointed at him without thinking.

"Black Dragon leader...!"

"I knew it. I was sure it was you."

The bloodsucking aristocrat grinned like a child who had successfully pulled off a secret prank.

"But why? How did you end up looking like..."

"Look who's talking. People would love to hear that the Death King possessed an elf."

The troupe members, who had been immersed in practice, looked our way. Sensing danger, I hurriedly led the bloodsucking aristocrat into a dark corner of the theater.

"H-how did you know it was me? More importantly, didn't you clear your quest?"

"Yes. I cleared the quest, but I haven't declared the stage cleared yet. If I leave the stage and get unlucky, I might have to wait all alone until the rest of you finish. That sounded boring, so I decided to see what everyone else was doing."

"Wow..."

Fascinated, I looked over the bloodsucking aristocrat—no, the Black Dragon leader. I'd thought the outfit looked unusually flashy. So it was her taste.

"You've got some serious old-man style..."

"Thank you."

The Black Dragon leader smiled. It was the very same smile I had learned from her.

"The duchess would love it if you took a photo of yourself and showed her, too."

"I've been missing Raviel so much lately I feel like I'm going to die..."

"Someone listening might think it's only lately. Oh, as for how I knew you were the Death King, it was simple. I Transferred to the biggest Earth Spiritfolk city and asked whether anyone had suddenly become famous recently."

"You figured it was me just from that?"

"Who else could it be? Death King, you're the sort who wants a monopoly on every crazy stunt in the world, aren't you?"

"Now you're accusing an innocent man."

"Anyway, I'm here to watch."

The Black Dragon leader poked her head out and looked toward the stage.

"Oh. You really are running a theater troupe. Dance?"

"Yes, more or less."

"I didn't know you were a good dancer too."

"We call it dancing, but it's really martial dancing. I choreographed it using movements from martial arts. It's a bit difficult, but I'm getting by on aura myself."

"So modest..."

Watching the troupe practice, the Black Dragon leader suddenly spoke.

"I want to see it."

The bloodsucking aristocrat's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"The Cavefire play?"

"Yes. Everyone's talking about it. I'm curious how incredible it must be to have the entire city enthralled. When's your next performance?"

"We haven't set a date yet..."

"Aw."

"We've got quite a repertoire ready. Hmm. This is a little embarrassing... Would you like to watch just the opening of a performance called [Playhouse in Flames]? I based it on our Tower's tenth floor."

"I'd be very grateful."

"Okay. Sit wherever you're comfortable."

I climbed onto the stage and clapped twice. The Hobgoblin troupe members practicing the choreography looked at me.

"All right, let's do our last rehearsal today. The group choreography at the beginning of Playhouse in Flames. Nobody's forgotten it, right? Good. Start when I play the music."

I slowly plucked out the background music with aura. With movements now familiar to them, the troupe demonstrated the choreography: children playing in the burning playhouse, the [Infernal Mansion]. Sometimes dazzlingly, but always following the movements the primitive Earth Spiritfolk had preserved. The opening of the Cavefire play concluded with choreography depicting the children fleeing every which way to avoid capture by the slave traders.

"Good work, everyone! Dismissed! You're welcome to stay and practice on your own. Let me know if you're staying. Yes, good work. Yes. See you tomorrow!"

After saying goodbye to each troupe member, I headed toward the seats. The Black Dragon leader sat in the middle of the audience seating, still in the form of an old man.

"What do you think?"

"..."

The Black Dragon leader said nothing. Was she lost in thought? Silently resting a hand on her chin, she stared at the now-empty stage.

"... This is incredible. Why didn't anyone think of this?"

"What?"

"I'll come back tomorrow."

The Black Dragon leader sprang to her feet.

"Black Dragon leader?"

"Wait for me, Death King. Even if you clear your quest, don't declare it! Absolutely not! Oh, sleep here tonight if possible. It'll be a nuisance if we miss each other... Transfer!"

The Black Dragon leader vanished. I sensed aura overhead. Looking up through the hole in the roof, I saw her figure floating in the air. But that, too, soon disappeared somewhere. Suddenly, I had been left all alone.

"What on earth...?"

I found out what was going on the next day.

[The Paladin has successfully completed her quest!]

Thirty minutes after the Tower's voice sounded:

WHOOSH!

The Black Dragon leader's signature Instant Teleportation activated. And the sight that unfolded before my eyes was utterly surreal.

"You! Why are you in such a hurry!"

SLOSH!

A strange sound rang out in the theater, which contained nothing but earth, stone, and wood. The sound of water. Where that sloshing sound echoed... sat a [bathtub].

Yes, the kind you soak in while bathing.

"The Gillfin Folk grow weak without water! How many times have I told you! Shoving me into a fish tank without warning and then teleporting...!"

A mermaid with gills fumed in the bathtub, splashing water with a flapping tail. Looking not especially apologetic, the Black Dragon leader soothed the mermaid with, "Yes, sorry, sorry."

The Gillfin Folk.

Could it be?

"Paladin...?"

The mermaid froze, then slowly turned her head. Our eyes met.

"Uh. You are the Paladin, right?"

"..."

The flapping mermaid tail slowly sank beneath the water. But it was only bathwater, so everything remained perfectly visible. The weakly waving tail... yes. It resembled a flounder swimming around in a sashimi restaurant's tank.

She was fully dressed. She was simply sitting in a fish tank, flapping her flounder tail.

"Sorry."

As a profoundly heavy silence weighed down the theater, the Black Dragon leader spoke without a care.

"I know you don't want anyone to see you like this. But there's something I really need to show you. You'll probably wonder why we didn't come up with this sooner, too. You went to music college, Paladin. You're the closest thing we have to an expert..."

"Black Dragon leader."

"Yes?"

"Die."

SPLASH!

And that was when the Black Dragon leader got drenched in bathwater.