The Spirit of Chivalry (1)
A month had already passed since the first play began.
In that time, the Ackman Theater had started to look like a proper theater.
The free seats were still packed with the territory's residents.
Even the regular seats had seen a noticeable increase in travelers and merchants drawn by word of mouth.
And most importantly, the special seats right in the center of the stage.
'Kya, they showed up again this week too.'
Familiar faces were occupying their usual spots today.
"Isn't Viscount Russell really handsome?"
"I like Lady Lucia more. She's so beautiful……."
"You know that last scene? When Juliet says 'Who can stop me?' I was so sad, really… sob…"
"Me too!"
Adeline Rosenbelt.
And the two academy friends she had brought along.
The three of them could already recite the play's key lines.
And then.
'Why the hell are those guys here again?'
Two men with faces like they'd just bitten into something foul.
Casion, the second son of the Berhart marquis family, and his friend Edwin.
According to Burke, both were students at the Royal Academy.
But those two.
'Thanks to them, acting has lost all its flavor.'
Why?
Because their expressions stayed sour through almost the entire performance.
Especially.
They openly grimaced whenever I appeared on stage.
After the show ended, I overheard their grumbling as they left the theater.
"Seriously, what's so handsome about him?"
"Looks like he couldn't even hold a sword properly, that parasite."
"Still, Lady Lucia is……."
"Lady Lucia is beautiful, of course."
It had already been a month.
Five regular customers who came to watch the play every weekend.
'No, technically three?'
Two guys who had zero interest in the carefully prepared play.
They were seriously annoying.
"I should start preparing the next play soon."
At my quiet mutter, Lucia turned to me, closing her script.
"Already?"
"What do you mean, already? We only have one month left until the next play's scheduled release."
"Do you have the script?"
"You think I spent the whole month slacking off?"
I pulled a thin bundle of papers from my coat and waved it.
Lucia narrowed her eyes.
"Huh. Why is it so thin?"
It was definitely less than half the thickness of the Romeo and Juliet script.
"This one's an action play."
"Action……?"
"Look at those two."
I jerked my chin toward the two male students leaving the theater.
While Adeline and the girls were still gushing over Juliet's final lines.
The boys followed with the same sour expressions.
"I really don't get why they keep coming to watch this play."
"Really?"
Just then.
"It's obviously because they've fallen for Lady Lucia's beauty."
Burke cut in smoothly.
"Or maybe they're just tagging along after the girls they're crushing on."
"Aha!"
Lucia nodded as if it finally made sense.
"Right. But that's not the important part."
"Wait, hold on. You were supposed to explain the action thing, not change the subject."
"I was just about to get to that."
I tapped the script toward the door the boys had disappeared through.
"The girls are completely hooked on the tragic heroine and the forbidden love story. That's why they keep coming back to the territory every week."
"That's true."
Burke nodded immediately.
"They're very generous patrons who handle most of our special seat revenue. Haha."
"Then what about the boys?"
"They pay, so we should consider them customers too, shouldn't we?"
"It's ambiguous."
"Well, they're only here because of Lady Adeline, not the play."
Burke's eyes changed.
"Wait, if that's the case, then the action play is……."
I grinned.
"Heh. Sharp, aren't you? I'll explain the details at the training ground with everyone."
***
The training ground had essentially become a rehearsal space by now.
At first, the knights had been very unhappy about it.
Why should knights who were supposed to wield swords to protect the territory be falling, collapsing, and screaming on stage?
But even while complaining, they never slacked off on practice.
'They're surprisingly diligent.'
Thanks to the theater, the number of people passing through the territory had visibly increased.
The inns were bustling every weekend.
The market was breathing again.
The knights were well aware of that too.
"Alright, everyone's here, so let's start the explanation."
Confused faces all around.
I handed out scripts to those who would participate in the next play and gave a brief explanation.
"The story is simple."
"A noble mansion ambushed at night due to a conspiracy. The parents' deaths. The betrayal of a trusted vassal. And the knights who sacrifice their lives to protect the sole surviving young lady."
Brandt froze as he received his script.
"So……."
I pointed at Brandt, Torman, Milo, and the two new knights in turn with my finger.
"Your roles are important this time."
"Us, my lord?"
"That's right. Especially you, Brandt."
Brandt's shoulders stiffened.
"You're the lead."
"……Pardon?"
"You don't need many lines. You're a knight who speaks with his sword."
Brandt looked both relieved and even more anxious.
I immediately called Torman over.
"Brandt, Torman. Grab some sticks and do a quick sparring demonstration."
"Right now, my lord?"
"Yeah. Just a short one."
With puzzled expressions, the two stepped forward.
"Sir Torman, I'll go first then."
"Alright!"
Clack-.
Tap-tap-.
Clack-.
Controlled movements.
But the sound of wooden sticks clashing was weak and hollow.
Up to this point, it was just ordinary training.
"Good. That's enough."
Everyone looked confused.
"Do the exact same thing one more time."
The two took their stances again.
"Now, don't be surprised. Just do it exactly like before."
I channeled mana and wrapped it around their sticks.
"W-whoa!"
Milo, who had been watching with a sullen face, reacted violently.
Blue illusory blades bloomed over the wooden sticks.
And the moment the sticks clashed.
Bang-!
A dazzling flash erupted, and wind burst outward.
Once more.
Thwack-!
This time, a long streak of light extended from the tip of the sword and sliced through the air.
It wasn't real aura.
Of course, it couldn't cut anyone.
But to the audience, it was different.
Blue sword light.
Exploding flashes.
The sound of wind being torn apart.
And within it, Brandt and Torman moving like real knights.
Ah.
They were real knights.
Anyway.
"Haha. Hahaha……"
A laugh escaped Burke's flushed face.
"My lord. This is really……."
"It's a hit, right?"
"Yes. Any man would feel his blood boil. Those two definitely……"
"Exactly."
I folded the script.
"Romeo and Juliet will run until next month. And during that time, we'll prepare the next work."
"We'll need promotion as well. In that case, I'll draw up a marketing plan……"
As expected, Burke was quick to speak.
"No. We don't need any special promotion. Starting with the next performance, we'll show a short trailer after the show."
"A trailer?"
"A preview performance."
I tossed a stick to Brandt.
"What are you spacing out for? Practice starts now, practice!"
***
Casion Berhart had been feeling quite pathetic about his situation lately.
The second son of a marquis family.
A promising swordsman at the Royal Academy.
Someone like him was spending every weekend traveling to a rural territory to watch a play that only girls would like.
'What the hell am I even doing here……'
Of course, there was a reason.
To build a connection with Adeline Rosenbelt.
At first, it had been to check what this Ackman territory play was that all the girls were crazy about.
But when he actually came.
"Sob…… Juliet……."
"Sob sob… Poor Romeo……"
The girls were shedding tears over an unrealistic story.
All because of some immature lovers torn between family and love.
'Ridiculous.'
Still, there was one consolation.
'Lady Lucia…….'
Anyway.
So today, the boring performance ended as usual.
Just as I was stretching and about to stand up.
"One moment, we have a promotional announcement for the next performance. If you wouldn't mind staying in your seats a little longer, we would appreciate it."
Viscount Russell spoke from the stage.
What was he up to now?
A snort escaped me.
'I'll sit through it, just to see.'
Well……
Adeline was still seated too.
Anyway.
That wasn't important.
Soon, the empty stage transformed into a dark forest.
Tree shadows stretched long.
Mist hung low.
And in the middle stood a single knight.
A black cloak.
Worn armor.
And a sword in his hand.
Blocking his path were three bandits.
'Hmm.'
I uncrossed my arms.
Swords clashed.
Bang-!
Blue sword light burst forth.
'Aura?'
Crack-!
Even upon closer inspection, a very clear aura was unfolding on the stage.
'How could a knight of that level be in this rural territory?'
The knight began cutting down the bandits one by one.
Sword light sliced through the forest.
Finally, a massive bandit appeared.
Gulp-.
The knight lowered his sword.
The bandit's axe flashed in response.
And the moment the two weapons were about to clash.
Pop-.
"What the—!"
The illusion vanished.
On the empty stage stood Viscount Russell with his annoying grin.
"Well, that's the end of the trailer."
'What?'
"Following Romeo and Juliet, starting next month we'll be presenting a new chivalry play."
Wait.
That's it?
"We look forward to your anticipation, and advance ticket purchases can be made at the counter in the back as you exit."
Thud-.
Edwin, who had been sitting beside me, stood up roughly.
"Hey. Where are you going all of a sudden?"
"To buy tickets. You come too, hurry!"