Puppet Circus

:: Hmm... It still seems to be on the fritz, though. ::

:: If we force it any further, it might break completely. ::

Tang, tang.

So saying it was broken wasn't just an excuse?

Bell was examining the popcorn machine in the store from various angles.

:: Since they've noticed on that side too, they'll surely target us. ::

:: Things are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠getting quite interesting. Yeah, well, a puzzle wouldn't be fun if it were too easy anyway. ::

" Seeing you mutter like that, is it not working out? Need me to lend a hand? "

:: Ah, I'm good on hands. I'll just take the ** thought**! Hahaha! ::

Then why was she glancing over in my direction every few moments?

I thought she was hinting for me to help.

Saying it was a problem she had to solve herself, Bell muttered something on her own.

" Was it too burdensome after all, I wonder.... "

:: Now, now. Don't worry about it so much. ::

:: Who knows, maybe that customer really was a serial killer and isn't coming back because their conscience was pricked. ::

Infected by her muttering, when I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠muttered as well, she teased me under the guise of consoling me, then—

:: When we get off work tomorrow, do you want to go with me to see a street play? ::

:: It's a kind of puppet show, and I'm sure it'll be a great change of pace. ::

She suddenly threw out that suggestion.

" A puppet show? "

:: Yeah. ::

:: It's a play where a puppeteer performs on the street using puppets. ::

:: I saw it on my way back from religious activities a few days ago, and it looked pretty entertaining. ::

Hmph. A puppet show, huh.

To be frankly honest, it didn't really pique my interest, but...

:: Let's go together, okay? ::

Look at this. She's the one who really wants to see it.

'A street play, huh.'

My first thought was that it would probably take quite a long time.

It was a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bit different from busking.

With busking, you can listen to a song or two and leave, sit and keep listening, or just hear the parts you like before taking off, but...

'With a play, it's a continuous story.'

It's hard to cut out halfway through.

It would be fine if it were short, but as a spectator, there was no way of knowing how long it would be.

She could probably just watch it alone, so bringing me along likely had something to do with that as well.

" Sure, let's do that. "

:: Oh! ::

Bell was the guide assigned to me by the angel-nim who reincarnated me into this fantastical world.

Since she had been following me around and hanging out with me all this time, it was only courteous of me to play along.

Shouldn't one clearly repay both kindness and grudges?

:: Hooray!! ::

:: You're the best, seriously. ::

She was rejoicing with utter enthusiasm.

Seeing her cheer with her eyes sparkling made me feel good.

It just so happened that the angle of the lighting cast shadows across her face,

so with only her face shadowed while emitting a red glow from her eyes, she ended up looking more like a mastermind plotting an evil scheme than an innocent child, though.

Haha. Quite a sight of an expression. If only I had a camera, I would have snapped a picture.

" Then let's head over right after we close shop tomorrow. "

:: Okay, okay. ::

:: I'll have everything ready. ::

###

" Mmm. No matter when I drink it, the juice here is absolutely phenomenal! "

Strawberry jam harvested from a piñata.

The silver-haired, red-eyed customer gulped down the juice made by processing that into a syrup extract.

She was a regular, but no matter when I saw her, she had such a mesmerizing aura.

Her antique dress paired with her noble-looking face made her look as if she had stepped straight out of a fairytale.

This, too, was proof that I had landed in a fairytale-like world.

" This flavor! It is profoundly rich and refined! It clearly shows that no impurities were mixed in, which pleases this lady immensely! "

After letting out a 'Kyaa—' of admiration, she delivered an impression that was not a single bit different from when she came previously.

After seeing off the customer like that.

:: Oh my! ::

Suddenly, a frantic shriek rang out.

Looking back, Bell had both hands cupped around her mouth while staring at the clock.

:: Look at the time already! ::

:: Hurry up and get ready to leave! That way we can go right away! ::

Usually, Bell showed a much stricter attitude regarding clock-out time.

Her excited demeanor insisted that we couldn't be even a second late for a fun show.

Haha. She really is just like a kid.

Through that thrilled demeanor, I could gauge just how much she was anticipating this street play.

" I need to do the closing cleanup. Wipe up the spilled jam and sugar, too. How about you pack up your things first? "

Strictly speaking, Bell wasn't a part-time worker at Sinus Candy Store.

She was merely staying with me because I was here, as my guide.

:: Forget it. ::

:: Who knows what might happen if I leave you alone right now. ::

Even so, the bond between us was as tight as if we were one body!

Look. She readily gave up on leaving first and was helping me do my job as a store clerk, wasn't she?

Receiving Bell's help, we finished closing the store.

" Let's hurry! Which way? "

:: This way. ::

Bell said the performance venue wasn't very far from the store.

And in fact, that was true.

" Hello, everyone! My name is Marie. Marie O. Net of the Net family. "

It seemed it hadn't been long since it started.

Around the time I arrived with Bell, the performer was just beginning her opening remarks.

" My specialty is puppet play. The person I respect is the great Necromancia practitioner, Dr. Victor-nim! And I'm hoping to join the Eclipse Circus Troupe! "

Marie nodded the puppet slipped onto her finger as she spoke.

Yet somehow, that hand puppet bore an uncanny resemblance to a piñata.

It looked just as though someone had emptied out a piñata's contents, shriveled it down, and shoved a finger into it.

:: Oh dear. Just how exhausted are you? ::

:: To overlap the sights from your part-time job even at a place you came to rest at. How pitiful. ::

When I voiced my thoughts, Bell added pityingly.

:: As expected. It was a good idea to come here. ::

:: You're still tired, right? The powder's effect must still linger. ::

:: In any case, what you need right now is proper rest and leisure. ::

" Then! I shall give it my very best! "

Marie began the play in a spirited voice.

Putting away the finger puppet she had playfully worn, she brought out the props to be used in earnest for the performance.

From a large luggage trunk reminiscent of a coffin, she began taking out puppets in earnest.

Mmm. To be honest, I was curious.

I had wondered what difference there might be between a doll in the toy world and other puppets, but...

I couldn't really tell the difference from native toys as much as I thought.

:: Can you look at a Westerner and guess their nationality? ::

:: And Westerners can't tell Asians apart easily either. ::

:: If you take it a step further. ::

:: When it's dogs of the same breed, similar size, and similar markings, even the owner often can't tell their own dog apart, right? ::

Aha.

So it makes sense that a pure human like me wouldn't easily distinguish the differences among toys.

:: Exactly. So from the toys' perspective, that's like a mannequin. ::

After hearing her explanation, the differences started catching my eye.

Should I say it looked like toy dolls heavily modified? Glue marks were visible here and there.

Should I describe it as an appearance combining a toy doll with a piñata?

:: You're quick on the uptake. ::

:: How did you know? ::

"...?"

At any rate, it didn't seem to be a resident toy of this place.

Seeing how parts that couldn't and shouldn't rotate were rotating smoothly, unlike the resident toys.

However, since I knew that doing so would kill the resident toys, that thing moving so fine had to be an exceptionally well-crafted theatrical puppet...

Thus, the performance began.

' As expected, it really isn't that popular, just like I thought. '

The toys passed by without even sparing a glance in this direction.

It was an utterly indifferent attitude, as if treating an invisible person.

Should I say it felt a bit like the attitude of the toys passing by the front of our store?

Though one could easily get discouraged by such indifference—

" Now! Act 1! Commencing! "

Even so, Marie not losing her spunk was quite pleasant to see.

Her sticking to her convictions whether people watched or not.

Wasn't that the ideal attitude of a true artist?

Even without any discernment for art, I could sense a certain aesthetic in that attitude.

Honestly, it was even somewhat admirable.

Of course, separate from that, after watching for about ten minutes, I could fully understand why it wasn't popular.

There were several issues, but to name only the main ones:

" Kyahahaha! Die! Just die! "

First was the content.

What on earth was she trying to express?

Marie was making the puppet dance ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with strings, but its movements were utterly crude.

Should I say it creaked like an unoiled doll?

- Kk, kkeuuu....

- Kill.. me..

At least the groaning sounds, which I assumed she was making via ventriloquism, sounded pretty convincing.

However, that was strictly the only part worthy of high praise.

And next was:

" ...You, you can see me, can't you...? "

"...!"

I had heard there were plays that involved the audience to draw reactions, but...

Applying that to a street performance where there wasn't a dedicated audience who came to watch, but everyone was just a potential spectator.. was questionable in many ways.

" Why pretend you don't notice when you can clearly see me? How hurtful. "

Startled by Marie suddenly thrusting her head forward, the toys fled in a hurry.

Marie only cackled with laughter as she watched their retreating backs.

" Run away, run! I won't chase you right now because I have to do my puppet show. But once it's over.. we're playing tag, okay? "

The puppet made out of you is going to be so very pretty.

In those words she added, one could even sense an artistic madness.

Seeing that, I felt like I could understand why they wouldn't make eye contact or pretended not to see her.

:: Don't worry. She doesn't mess with people sitting on this bench. ::

:: It expresses an intention of declining. It's a tacit rule. ::

And Bell's words were true.

Whether they were impressed by her attitude of carrying through her beliefs like I was,

or unlike me, they resonated with Marie's artistry,

people began taking seats next to me one by one.

" Ah! You came today too! Thank you! "

Judging by how that person brought juice to sip on, they seemed to be a fan who visited regularly.

Marie delivered lines through the puppet's mouth while winking at that spectator.

However, unlike the groaning sound, this time the voice was far cruder.

Isn't this way too different from the ventriloquism earlier?

:: Maybe there's a separate switch attached to the controlled puppet? ::

:: Like playing a pre-recorded sound when operating the switch with the connected strings. ::

Is that so?

My rating of Marie and her performance dropped by another point.

And.

" Yap! "

As she manipulated the strings this way and that, the theatrical puppet exploded with a peong.

And.

Cheolpeok.

- Should I describe it as an appearance combining a toy doll with a piñata?

- :: You're quick on the uptake. ::

- :: How did you know? ::

Ah. So that's what she meant.

She really made it by processing a piñata.

As if she hadn't processed it properly, the jam inside splattered all over the place.

Wait, if that's the case—.

"...She's playing with food? ::

:: Hold it in. This isn't the store. ::

:: It's a commendable attitude as a store clerk, but we came here as spectators. ::

:: Don't strictly impose the yardstick of our domain. You have to respect the artist's rules. ::

...Mmm. That's a fair point.

I realized I had gotten overly worked up as a member of the food service industry.

Just as Bell said, this was Marie's domain, and using food ingredients for art was also her freedom.

Even so, she is banned from our candy store.

If she ever shows her face by any chance, I will issue an expulsion order under my authority as a clerk.

In other words, I'll kick her out. I cannot tolerate candy I cooked with utmost care being used for such incomprehensible mischief.

Just as I was about to cool my excitement and watch the performance again—

- Act 1 is over!

- Now! Charge in!

A voice heard quietly. Yet it sounded strangely clear.

Partly because my focus had already wavered, I turned my head slightly toward the direction of the voice.

" Keoheok! "

I witnessed a spectator sitting a short distance away collapse while clutching their throat.

" Wh-What is this?! "

"Good, we took care of the most dangerous bastard! Sweep the rest away just like this!"

As if there was no longer any need to lower their voices, the voice that had broken my concentration just moments ago rang out loudly, and—

Syuk. Syusyusyuk.

Puppets in suits began storming the stage in perfect order.