Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Script (3)
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Sunday noon. Behind Endex's old building, I'm pruning the garden by the lake. Up on the ladder I borrowed from Beltos Elder, snip-snip-snip with the garden shears.
The lake view itself is great, but the branches surrounding it have just grown wildly, so lately I've been trimming them whenever I have time.
Thanks to that, guests occasionally drop by.
Deer coming to drink from the lake, rabbits, even wild boars. At this rate, monsters might show up next.
Ding.
That artificial chime cut through the peace. I pulled out my smartphone.
[Psycho: Where are you.]
It was a message from Elise.
[Why]
[Psycho: Is this really something you wrote?]
Talk about the bard, huh.
[Yeah]
Suddenly, my phone started ringing. Riiing- riiing-
"What."
Her calling? This isn't voice phishing, is it?
I picked up anyway.
"Hello."
—......
"What."
—......
"Voice phishing. Wanna die?"
A faint sigh leaked from the other end.
—Voice phishing, you idiot....... Is it really yours?
Her voice sounded raw and cracked, like she hadn't slept a wink.
"Yeah. It is. Why? Problem?"
—Fine. I'll send you the address. Come here. It's a small theater.
"I'm busy. Can't you come to me?"
Still plenty of branches to trim. Way more valuable than some Elise.
—There are 7 people here.
"......What do you mean, 7?"
I arrived at the small theater. Just as Elise said, people were already gathered. Four were seniors I'd seen in Endex's Latynel liberal arts class, and the other two were college students.
"Hey, buddy. This is really yours?"
James, a familiar face, spoke up. If I had to describe his vibe, typical well-bred noble.
"I started reading the second I got it today. It's seriously good."
Sounds about right for him. Praising a mere D- commoner comes so naturally and smoothly.
"Yeah. Never expected the bard to turn out like this. You're really in high school?"
Miller, the college student asking if I'm really high school.
A face I'd seen on pre-regression TV and screens. Means he'll become a pretty famous actor in the future.
"Then let's assign roles."
Elise said that and turned to me. Eyes saying you decide.
"Whoa~ Now that's tempting. Lots of early deaths, huh."
Miller fiddled with the script. James straightened up for no reason.
I pointed at Elise with my chin.
"Protagonist's you, obviously."
No matter how rude, narcissistic, stubborn ego-ball she is, honestly, visuals like Elise's are hard to beat.
Even now, her face could slap most celebrities silly, and it'll only get more perfect as she grows.
"Next, best actor for Duke something."
Miller raised his hand at the mention of the Duke.
"I'm debuting in a musical next year. Waiting on good results from drama and movie auditions. Means I'm active duty. Latynel minor, A+ grades. Could chat with ancients no problem."
The others nodded in agreement.
"Alright, Miller it is. I'll tell the Duke's actor a secret separately."
"For real?"
Miller chuckled. Elise looked displeased.
"......Shouldn't you tell the protagonist too?"
"You need to not know for a real reaction."
"What is this, some real variety show?"
"Immerse as the bard, and you'll react right. Don't know method acting?"
"Method."
I brushed it off lightly.
"Also, Latynel songs."
Elise pouted.
"Just bard and Duke."
Original's a musical, no helping it. Musicals need insane rehearsal time, tough even for students, so cut songs to minimum: two.
"La Vercit, Cro Bricscal."
Latynel songs: Lonely You, Cruel Sword.
La Vercit's a 2-minute original for the bard's emotions, Cro Bricscal's a 30-second hum emphasizing the Duke's mystery.
"Baron Jolange is James, Queen is Sasha, King is......"
Assigned all seven like that.
"One short."
Elise cut in. Maidservant left, yeah.
"You do it? She dies early anyway."
Face screaming she wants to die early, but I shook my head.
No time to waste on rehearsals, and there's someone better suited.
"Rae?"
"What? Trying to tank the play?"
"Nah. Saw her die super convincingly once."
First off, the maidservant's death is surprisingly crucial. Early on, flips the whole mood shockingly.
Like that hotel ghost scream—perfect fit.
"......True. Lots'll think it's a bland play. Intense first death grabs eyes."
Elise voiced my thoughts. Mildly surprised.
"Read a lot?"
"......Not that much. Just my senses are sharp."
She slyly avoided my eyes.
"Calling her first."
I pulled out my smartphone. Elise and the cast nodded silently.
Plate, the autonomous district outside with the capital Edshila's second-largest population and area. Called Trick-City for churning out machines, ideas, inventions nonstop. Hilton family has a villa there.
"Y-you-you-you, how dare you call me, Sion!"
Built on a cliff edge meeting the sea, unknown as Hilton-owned. Basement level 13.
"How can you call me!"
Rae, answering Sion's call, rolled on the bed wailing.
"I'm not talking to you! Nothing! No...... Huh?"
But her face flipped at whatever he said. Drool forming.
"......For real?"
Rae's face melted.
"Well then......"
She smacked her lips, twisted them, then burst out laughing.
"Letting you off just this once~"
Rae rolled on the bed again. Dozens of rolls, still on it. That huge.
"Ah~ Mo~ Since you're so sorry~"
Rae teased back laughingly.
"So~ What role?"
Smartphone replied. Rae's face hardened instantly. Drool gone.
Eyes wide, she sat up.
"......What?! Dies in 5 minutes?!"
Yelled.
5 minutes! Not 50, 5! Who does that?! What am I, chopped liver?!
"I'll do it!!!"
Hung up immediately.
"......"
But pondered a bit.
Festival.
Last Endex festival.
Not common for seniors to join last one.
Plus this play's Friday, prime highlight slot. Hot alumni from Endex alma mater attending too.
"......Ugh."
Rae called back. Sion picked up quick. Close call.
"Okay! Sion. Thought it over? Give me 5 more minutes. Just 10 total, I'll do it."
Rae had a dream.
Act on stage, in front of camera, anywhere. Become someone else.
Not just romance.
That experience aids her career and family goals.
No, definitely will.
"......Okay. No? Fine."
Less than 4. Sion's too harsh.
Rae huffed, corrected.
"Then 3 more minutes."
This reply longer.
Play runtime under 90, but 1-2 minutes huge. First death's key character, quick solid death max impact.
"Yeah...... uh-huh...... Really? Crucial pivot for drama...... Don't get it, but~ super important role?"
Made sense.
"......Fine. 1 minute. 1 more, I'll do it."
Last haggle. Sion silent, Rae tense.
After 10 endless seconds.
—Okay, 30 seconds extra.
"Yes!"
Rae clenched fists.
"30 seconds more! Deal!"
Hopped. Sion conceded, hung up.
"Phew~ I'm negotiation pro?"
Rae wiped forehead sweat, stepped off bed. Surveyed vast basement 13.
Secret villa packed with artifacts, cutting-edge mana suits. Hilton main base for Rae's Spectrum, Dad's legacy 'cave'.
—All good?
'Eri' said. Rae turned. Desk acrylic tank held sun-like mana clump.
"Yeah. Can do the play."
Rae's handmade AI. Not fully solo—finished Dad's legacy right.
Think super-smart secretary.
—Congratulations.
"Thanks, Berry~"
Rae stretched.
"Any jobs today?"
Her Spectrum: Avatar.
Equip gear or suit, amps mana and whole body power dozens-fold.
—Gunfight in Bebeto district. Bank robbers vs. police shootout.
"Deal! Going now."
Reached for suit. It flew, clung to her body.
Suit base: Mana Nano Infium Fabric.
Nano textile-mana fusion. Looks like full-body spandex, but tougher than knight plate—firmer, stretchy, flexible. Literal paradox mana composite.
Add Avatar Spectrum, even mid-tier supervisor can't handle her.
"Open hatch!"
—Yes.
Basement 13 ceiling parted. She kicked pavement in suit-form.
Kwaaaaa───!
One leap shot her skyward.
Bullet from cliff, she rocketed to Eri's gunfight coords.
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