Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Theater Loading...
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She'd told me to become Gary and fight barehanded, but those two were different.
Ares was playing 'Geldmea,' and Aldfrick was playing 'Lovan'—both swordsmen—so I figured they'd be comfortable handling swords.
'Hmm?'
Aldfrick senior looked pretty awkward gripping the wooden sword. His face had that intellectual handsome vibe, and his body seemed built for physical prowess, so I'd pegged him as a brawny type.
'Ah, his stance is for spear work.'
His main weapon must be the spear. Swords were basic enough that he'd probably handled one before, but he still looked off.
In the end, Ares was the only one here wielding his preferred weapon.
Whoosh!
Ares charged first.
His eyes burned with real determination to take me down, but Professor Bertio seemed to think he was just fully immersed in his role.
And right on Ares's heels came Aldfrick senior, his expression already deep into the 'Lovan' character.
'Yeah, that's more like it.'
This might actually give me a decent workout.
I took a deep breath, recalling Gary's lines and actions from the script I'd read today, and clenched my fists.
This wasn't just about knocking those two down—it was theater.
'If I were Gary.'
The arena master who bursts in to threaten the two protagonists.
The play's final villain and the strongest man around.
So what I needed to do here was...
Thwack! Thud!
Ares's wooden sword slammed into my shoulder, followed by Aldfrick senior's striking my side.
They landed solidly, so the onlookers cried out thinking it was an accident, and even the professor startled and tried to stop us.
But without changing expression despite the hits, I grabbed both their necks and surged forward, slamming them into the arena floor.
"Guhk!"
"Kk!"
Both wanted to groan, but with their throats gripped, they couldn't even breathe properly.
I could mount them right now and finish it, but...
"Hoo."
I released their necks and slowly walked forward, hands in my pockets.
Right now, I was the arena master, Gary.
"Gack! Hack!"
"Tch!"
Unlike Aldfrick senior, who clutched his throat, a fired-up Ares jumped right back up and charged at me.
The skill gap was already clear.
Now was the time for Gary to dominate.
I drove a kick straight into Ares's gut as he rushed in. His eyes bulged in pain, but he still swung his sword at my face.
I leaned back while kicking, keeping out of reach.
My hands were still in my pockets.
Looking down at Ares clutching his stomach in agony, I pulled out my right hand and swung a fist at his temple. He squeezed his eyes shut, but...
Tap.
"Hit for real there and you'd be dead, man."
I just gave him a light knuckle rap and grinned, checking on Professor Bertio.
Aldfrick senior had lost the will to fight from the start and didn't look like jumping in, so this seemed like a good point to end the spar.
Professor Bertio stared at me blankly, then suddenly burst into tears.
"Ah, ah, aaaaaah!"
"What's with him?"
May muttered watching the professor freak out, but he didn't seem to hear.
Professor Bertio rushed over ungracefully, grabbed my hands with both of his, and yelled at ear-splitting volume.
"Gary! Gary was right there just now! No, wait—no! It was just you, Daniel, as Gary. We should change the character's name to Daniel even now...!"
"Please! I'm sorry, just stop!"
I panicked and held him back for real.
Lines like that with my name? Ew, cringe!
I managed to fend off renaming Gary to Daniel, but Professor Bertio’s emotional enthusiasm wasn’t fading anytime soon.
"It was perfect. Truly perfect. Geldmea and Lovan need some practice, but you? No need. You already were Gary."
"Y-yeah..."
I wasn't sure if I should be happy about that, but if it was good, then great, I guess.
The other students seemed a bit intimidated since I'd handled the two so roughly.
May and Rin were cheering happily, though.
"You two okay?"
"Ugh, hack hack! Yeah, I'm fine."
"......"
While Aldfrick hacked and clutched his throat, Ares stared at the arena floor with a shocked expression.
"Ares?"
"Yes... I'm fine."
"Good. You've done spars like this a hundred times at Aios Academy."
It was a place where kids teamed up and beat on each other for exams. Spars like this were everyday stuff.
Still, Ares looked a bit dazed, but Professor Bertio started giving acting advice to both of them anyway.
*
"You know, Daniel? They say after just two days without exercise, the world starts looking beautiful."
I grinned back at Eve, who was smiling while sipping her chocolate-loaded coffee.
"You know, Eve? Even exercising all day for two days straight won't burn off that stuff you're drinking."
"......"
As Eve stared at her coffee like she'd been betrayed, Tana sighed from beside her and glared at me.
"Eve's pretty, so it's fine. You think it's easy having a figure like this?"
"H-hey, Tana? It's okay..."
"Let me explain! Look at Eve's chest. You think it's easy being that pretty and big?"
"Ta-Tanaaa!"
"Argh, hold still! And her butt? Look how plump and perky it is! Perfect for popping out kids easy!"
"Tanaaaaa!"
Eve started whacking Tana with the book she was holding. Tana blocked with her hands while cracking up laughing.
'Sigh.'
Lately, I'd been getting dragged around by the girls (Rin, May), so being with these two felt oddly relaxing.
It felt like just yesterday we'd banded together as loner friends, but now we were inseparable besties, always hanging out as a trio.
Of course, theater practice had kept us apart lately.
"Hey, Daniel, isn't your hair getting a bit long?"
"Yeah, kinda shaggy."
The two eyed my bangs, which were starting to poke my eyes.
I knew it too, so I curled a strand around my finger and replied.
"Wanna cut it, but can't because of the play."
"Hmm?"
"The play!"
Tana looked puzzled, but Eve—ever obsessed with theater—lit up and urged me on.
"My Gary role requires pulling all my hair back into a topknot. They told me not to cut it."
I'd asked about a wig, but they nixed it because it couldn't handle intense movement.
At least Gary was modeled after me with black hair, so no dyeing needed. Lucky.
(Aldfrick senior had a bridge put in his hair, FYI.)
"Oho?"
Suddenly intrigued, Tana unwound the hair tie from her wrist and approached me.
"Don't."
"Aw, why not? Just once. I wanna see!"
"Yeah! I'm curious too."
I surrendered to their bickering and let them have my hair. They gathered even my bangs up and tied it back.
'Feels kinda naked.'
I'd never been one to fuss with my hair in my past life either, so baring my forehead like this was new.
Tana finished tying it, and Eve stepped forward to scrutinize my face.
"......What?"
"No, just... seeing you like this, you really look like a Daniel."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you look like Daniel."
She said it with a smile, so it must've been a compliment.
"What! Now you totally look like a thug!"
Tana didn't seem thrilled, but a thug vibe suited Gary anyway.
"Wanna untie it?"
Somehow they'd tied it so tight I couldn't undo it with both hands.
As I struggled, soft hands appeared from behind.
"I'll do it."
Hayun came over and undid the tie, placing it on our table.
"Hayun! You've been so busy lately."
"Yeah, you look tired."
"Festival prep."
While I'd been doing theater, Hayun had gotten friendly with them and naturally sat next to me, chatting away.
"Class A isn't doing a cafe?"
"We are, but I've got my own thing. Planning a stall to sell accessories."
Hayun, cut off from family support and living like a miser.
She used to be a cool beauty; now she just looked like a cold, broke beauty.
"You're working hard."
It was admirable and sad seeing her so independent at her age, so I patted her shoulder. She glanced at me.
"Then buy something from me."
"I don't really need accessories..."
I started to refuse apologetically, then had a good idea.
"How about checking out the costume team?"
"Costume team?"
"Yeah, they can't make everything by hand, so they're buying stuff. I can hook you up."
Something sparked deep in Hayun's calm eyes.
"Okay."
She shot to her feet.
Her energy was like a warrior heading into battle.
"Swing by my room before practice today. I'll be ready."
"Sure."
I watched her pumped-up back as she left and silently bid farewell to her wallet.
Fighting, flower beggar girl.