Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Recorder's Debut
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I sat on the sofa positioned at a suitable distance from the stage and set the recorder down right beside me.
The playwright scurried over to my side and began explaining the stage he had prepared this time.
"What we've got ready is the love story of the century's greatest mage and a commoner girl."
Oh, nice. I love a good Cinderella story like this. Clichés are delicious in their own right.
"Lately, mages haven't exactly been getting the best reputation, so I wondered if we should scrap it... Is it okay?"
Pitol, the playwright, fidgeted nervously, glancing at me. I thought about mages.
Mages. Born with magic power, they were revered simply for existing in this world. Their magic always drew people's gazes and commanded awe.
Mages were arrogant. They knew better than anyone how extraordinary they were. They craved climbing ever higher and shouting their greatness to the world.
To control them, the imperial family spread malicious rumors about mages.
People began shunning mages more and more.
The mages felt wronged. What they wanted was respect and power, not fear.
So they started fighting for themselves.
The power struggle between mages and the emperor was inevitable.
Even now, knights and soldiers from the palace were constantly dispatched to suppress mages and bandits.
Later on, it even escalated to riots. It was a massive battle, big enough that Ryan got involved, and as the male lead, he shone there, earning great merit.
Of course, his swordsmanship was exceptional, but the decisive reason he won was thanks to magic tools.
Using a magic tool that could transport goods and a storage space that could hold anything, he moved food and weapons effortlessly, seizing the advantage.
One could say the mages' power, which had bowed to imperial authority, was simply stronger.
There was one odd thing when I read it.
It was an important scene as the first battle, so I remembered the line clearly.
[This battle was the first clash between Ryan and the mage. He told Resuan to be careful and took unwavering steps forward.]
Mages weren't exactly rare. Considering how many were scattered around, there had to be thousands.
No way all of them had quietly followed the emperor's orders...
Ryan having never fought mages before? Why was that?
It was common knowledge that Emperor Kies personally joined battles.
Why hadn't he sent Ryan?
Sure, the emperor risking his life won people's awe, but to me, it was an unsolved mystery.
Because Kies wasn't the kind of wise ruler who'd stake his own life to protect his people.
"Maybe we should change it after all..."
Pitol was sweating bullets. Snapping out of my thoughts, I shook my head.
"I'm fine with it, so let's proceed."
I had no grudge against mages. What mattered was the script. Pitol was the hottest playwright right now, so I planned to respect his story as much as possible.
Even to me, it sounded fun.
He knew just how to dole out the angst and the payoffs.
In my eyes, Pitol had a real talent for melodrama.
"Th-thank you!"
Pitol's face lit up like he'd met his savior.
"Think about that idea I mentioned last time, too."
I casually tossed him the bait about the melodrama I'd brought up before.
The stories here are all so stale.
"Y-yes, of course."
And Pitol took it. With the most innocent smile!
Perfect, everything's going according to plan.
Pitol bounced back to the stage excitedly. Everyone was waiting for what I'd say.
Having all these eyes on me was nerve-wracking.
I cleared my throat to steady myself and pointed at the recorder as I spoke.
"The reason I gathered everyone like this is to let you know we'll be recording today's play."
"...Pardon?"
"...What?"
Everyone looked dumbfounded. Probably because the concept of recording was foreign to them.
"...'Recording,' you say?"
The first to speak up was Rido, the male lead of this play and currently the most popular actor among the young ladies.
His neatly combed red hair framed beautiful hazel eyes. Fitting for someone who performed for nobles, he was handsome.
The moment I saw his face, I realized something new.
...Last time I saw him, Rido had been dazzling enough to hurt my eyes.
He was still handsome now...
Sadly, it didn't hit quite the same anymore.
Darsi had ruined the scale for handsome.
"Could you explain what that means?"
Rido asked politely. Time to explain the magic tool.
I took a deep breath first and widened my eyes. First impressions mattered if I wanted to keep dealing with these actors.
Not looking like the rumored villainous Marso, but not too easygoing either, I drew a moderate smile. Smiling was second nature. Few approached those with blank faces.
"I'm going to capture the play happening right now inside this magic tool."
"Capture the play..."
"The best way is to show you directly."
I picked up the magic tool and stood.
I held it out toward them.
"I'm using this magic tool to record and watch it alone later. That's why I'm paying the usual contract fee ten times over."
Actors' earnings depended on each play's success. It was an unstable system.
I had no intention of making them repeat plays endlessly, so I'd sweetened the pot way beyond their usual pay. Per play contract fees would make it quite lucrative.
"Let's start recording first."
This was probably a novel experience for them—recording a play. A thorough explanation was needed.
Plus, people had weird hang-ups about magic tools, so I needed to demonstrate it personally.
"Just act as usual. I'll capture your actions exactly on this screen. Then I'll save it and play it back."
Pitol shrank back a bit. Tense about the magic tool, probably.
"Fascinating. So, like this?"
Rido, eyes sparkling at my words, waved at the magic tool. Staring right at it without a hint of fear.
"Yeah, just like that."
I answered Rido while gauging everyone's reactions.
Surprisingly, no one showed strong aversion to the magic tool.
Thinking about it, it made sense.
These were people who came despite the bad rumors about Marso. They wouldn't balk at mere magic tool gossip.
I turned on the recorder and began filming the back of the theater one section at a time.
The actors stood frozen, staring at my actions in wonder.
"Everyone, look here."
I filmed the people on stage too. The actors, minus Rido, waved awkwardly.
When I asked for a word, they earnestly greeted with "Hello" and "Good day," which was adorable.
One thing they all had in common: utter confusion about what I was doing.
After finishing recording, I had the stage actors sit in the chairs below one by one. I turned off the lights like when the play starts. The actors tilted their heads.
I aimed the magic tool's screen at the stage and pointed to it.
Folks, I'm about to show you a new world.
"No, that's...!"
"Our faces are in there!"
The actors buzzed in surprise. I soothed them.
"I designed and commissioned this magic tool myself, so no need to worry. Doubting it is like doubting me."
The murmurs died down at my words. I continued explaining the magic tool.
"It's more like a blessing than a curse. A magical item that captures past moments exactly as they were."
I truly believed that.
Everyone misses past times and memories. But memories fade and distort.
How incredible is a device that preserves those moments perfectly?
I started playback on the magic tool.
First up was Rido greeting during recording. The close-up face showed not a single blemish.
Even modern actors would buy it—he was unflinchingly skilled on camera. Talent, huh?
"Hello!"
"Good day~"
The actors' greetings to the magic tool were captured perfectly too.
"You're smiling so awkwardly."
"Says you, stiff as a board."
People whispered, watching themselves on the magic tool. Seeing their faces seemed to ease the tension.
They marveled at each other's appearances briefly, then propped their chins, lost in thought.
They looked like they were pondering something.
Once the video playback ended, I spoke.
"That's how it captures the screen inside and plays it back."
"I get it."
"Me too. What an amazing item."
"No weird vibes either..."
Even Pitol, who had been scared, was now peeking at the magic tool.
The best way to dispel fear is hands-on experience.
I let the actors inspect and touch the magic tool.
"How does this even work?"
"Isn't it truly a divine blessing?"
They were shocked at the price but eager to try it.
Above all, being able to see their actions replayed seemed the real draw.
"Alright, now it's time for the play."
With preparations complete, I sent the actors back onstage.
The audience was just me—a performance solely for my eyes alone—as the curtain rose.