"Hey everyone, adventurers, over here!"
Lizel and the others were in the East Plaza in front of the bustling city center.
Today was for setting up, and the main event was tomorrow, so they needed to finish the work in one day.
It would be a full day's work, but the daily wage was quite good, and if they didn't let their pride get in the way ("adventurers shouldn't be doing menial tasks"), it would be a good request with no danger involved.
The fact that only three parties, including Lizel's, had accepted the request suggested that many adventurers were indeed too proud to take on such a job.
One of the people in a group that had sectioned off a corner of the plaza and was arranging lumber and other materials—presumably with permission—waved his hand widely, calling out to Lizel and the others.
"Thank you for coming today! We'd like to entrust you mainly with stage construction... um?"
"Ah, we're adventurers. I'm in charge of magic."
"Eh!? Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't expect a magic user to come...!"
"I'm not exactly a magic user, but I think it'll be fine."
Lizel smiled back at the woman, who spoke clearly and concisely like a member of a theater troupe, and who had briefly given him a look that seemed to say, "Why are you here?"
The theater troupe "Phantasm" is a group that performs plays while traveling from city to city, and country to country.
They seemed to have a decent reputation, and the troupe members distributing promotional flyers in the plaza were quite busy.
A completely mobile theater troupe without a fixed base of operations is difficult to manage with a large number of people. Food costs, living expenses, and various other funds are required, and providing security during travel also becomes more difficult.
It's probably cheaper to simply hire day laborers from among the adventurers at each destination for simple tasks. They seemed quite experienced in dealing with adventurers. Besides Lizel and his group, two other groups of adventurers had arrived, both consisting of young adventurers.
Contrary to the prevailing trend of adventurers embracing danger, these groups seemed to prioritize lucrative quests, suggesting they were either cautious or simply struggling to make ends meet.
They looked at Lizel and his group with complex expressions, wondering why they were there, but seemed relieved to hear that they were only there for magic power replenishment and wouldn't be involved in any heavy labor.
However, the question of why they were taking on such a job likely still lingered in their minds.
"Then, the two groups over there, please follow me! Those of you for magic power replenishment, please go to that carriage; the troupe leader is waiting there!"
The carriage she pointed to was very large, likely used to transport various stage props and construction materials. The materials currently neatly arranged in the square were probably also transported in this carriage.
With a clap of her hands, the woman hurried off towards the construction site, so Lizel and Gil followed the instructions and headed towards the carriage.
They weaved through the troupe members who were preparing the stage, stepping over materials as they approached the carriage, where a man was sitting on the open back of the carriage. He was probably the troupe leader.
He was intently writing something when he suddenly looked up and frantically scratched his head.
"It's not enough! This isn't enough, you idiot!! There's not enough love! Not enough adventure and excitement! Not enough friendship and romance!"
"Excuse me, may I speak with you? We're the ones who were hired for magic power replenishment."
"You're surprisingly good at striking up conversations..."
Lizel calmly addressed the man who had let out a heart-wrenching scream, earning a mix of exasperation and admiration from Gil. The man stopped moving abruptly at Lizel's words, staring intently at Lizel with wide eyes.
His disheveled hair was sticking up messily, and his black glasses were slipping down, seemingly ill-fitting. Seeing him stop moving without even bothering to adjust his glasses, Lizel inwardly tilted his head, thinking he seemed somewhat artistic.
"You're the troupe leader, right?"
"That's right! The troupe leader[1]! Can you replenish my magic power?!"
"Yes."
"The performance is in two weeks, can you replenish enough for that?!"
"I won't know until I see it, but probably."
"Look!"
He scattered the papers he was holding and rushed into the back of the carriage.
Picking up the scattered papers, Lizel saw they were scripts, with so many things written on them that the original text was almost illegible. Was it really okay to still be making changes when the performance was supposed to start tomorrow?
Gil didn't understand anything about theater, and Lizel, having always been on the audience side, wasn't familiar with the production process either.
He decided that if they thought they could do it, then they probably could, and while reading the contents, he gathered the scattered scripts.
" 'The Traveler of Illusion,' it's probably an original work."
"What kind?"
"From a quick glance, it seemed quite unique. The world view is distinctive yet simple, making it easy to understand."
"That's it! That's it! That's what I struggled with the most, you idiot!"
The troupe leader, carrying something in both hands, stumbled out from the back of the carriage.
With a heavy, unceremonious thud, he placed it on the carriage floor and removed the cloth covering it.
The cloth flapped dramatically, but it also kicked up a huge cloud of dust. While Lizel and the others standing outside were unaffected, the troupe leader was directly hit by the dust and coughed violently.
The magical device that was revealed looked like a simple rectangular box at first glance, but it had lenses attached to various parts of it.
"This one device can project rain, snow, and even hail! It's amazing!"
"Hail? Is that even possible?"
"Can it really do that?!"
"I'll touch it."
Turning the box over, a round, crystal-like object was embedded in it. It was probably a magic stone for storing magical power.
Given that it's a high-output device, it probably wouldn't last for several years with just one infusion of magic like a normal magic tool, but a full charge would definitely last two weeks.
When I infused a little magic into it, it seemed to drain quite a bit of my magic power, but it seemed manageable.
I smiled and nodded at the troupe leader, who was striking a triumphant pose with both hands raised to the sky, his knees hitting the ground.
As expected of a theater troupe member, their emotional expressions are quite dramatic.
"If this works, let's add that scene and cut that other one! Let's also add in the scenes that were lacking in excitement!"
"Excuse me for being presumptuous, but are the troupe members okay with that?"
"I don't know! But they always practice all night after I beat them up, so they'll be fine, those rascals!"
It seems they're having quite a hard time. Not the troupe leader, but the troupe members.
Lizel sat down in the carriage and calmly infused magic into the magic tool.
Looking at the other adventurers sweating and working hard on the setup, I wondered if this was really okay, but it wasn't something they could do even if they wanted to.
If ordinary adventurers tried to fill this device with magic power, ten or twenty people wouldn't be enough.
The magic stone, which can be refilled, is designed so that you can't infuse all the magic at once, so I was wondering how long it would take.
"Get that out of the way!"
A high-pitched neighing of a horse and angry shouts echoed across the square.
I couldn't see anything from the carriage, so I looked at Gil, who was standing idly, and he subtly tilted his head.
The uneasy atmosphere in the square didn't subside, and the commotion seemed to be continuing.
"Ah... looks like these guys and the military police are having a fight. There's a big carriage behind them, so they're probably being told to move because they're blocking the road."
"We have permission to be here, you damn fools! Which one of you bastards was giving our guild members trouble?!"
The guild leader, who had been engrossed in his script as if oblivious to the commotion, jumped to his feet.
Lizel grabbed his arm, clearly intending to pick a fight, and stopped his magic replenishment to peek from behind the carriage.
He wasn't exactly hiding, but he judged that the agitated guild leader would immediately rush out if he saw the scene.
Lizel watched the arguing group intently, deep in thought. The argument didn't subside; in fact, they seemed to be getting more and more heated.
"I wanted to say hello anyway, so let's go."
"Huh?"
"You recognize the crest on that carriage, don't you?"
Lizel added that he recognized several of the people there, and Gil turned his gaze back to the commotion.
Gil didn't recognize anything at all, but if Lizel said so, then he must have seen something.
Even if he hadn't actually seen the crest, he could guess who the owner of the carriage was.
Holding the agitated guild leader's arm, he approached the scene of the trouble.
"So we're operating within the designated area, aren't we?"
"Even so, if you're going to pass through, you should clear the way..."
"Long time no see."
"...That's common sense... huh?!"
The seemingly serious military policeman showed his surprise upon seeing Lizel.
Seeing his expression, Gil felt a sense of déjà vu, and finally remembered that he was the military policeman who had visited the inn when Lizel was suspected of being a noble.
While Lizel rarely forgot a face he had seen, it was impressive that he remembered such a brief encounter so well. Lizel smiled and gave a small bow, then looked at the carriage surrounded by several military police officers.
"Is that the Viscount inside? I'd like to offer my greetings."
"Huh? Ah, no, but you're an adventurer... hmm? No, a noble... no, an adventurer."
Normally, the military police would have every right to yell at an adventurer for such impudence, but they seemed genuinely confused.
Their attitude was a mix of deference and assertiveness, and Gil sighed, understanding their predicament.
Those around them, unaware of the situation, seemed to think that two nobles were about to converse, but the guild members and adventurers who knew Lizel was an adventurer watched in stunned silence.
Outwardly, there was nothing unusual, but a noble of that rank wasn't someone an adventurer could casually approach.
"If you can avoid it, you should! Honestly, you're so stubborn, even though you're trying to become the head of the military police..."
At that moment, the carriage window suddenly opened.
The curtain, meant to prevent anyone from easily seeing inside, was pulled back, and a head of shining blonde hair peeked out without any hesitation. The cheerful smile remained, but the words stopped when the person's eyes fell on Lizel.
Seeing the expression that gradually changed from a surprised stare to a smile, Lizel gave a small bow.
"Lizel, is that you! Wait a moment, I'll get out of the carriage."
"Please stay where you are. It's been a long time, Viscount Ray."
If the Viscount suddenly appeared in this place, which was already attracting attention due to the commotion, things would become even more chaotic.
Ray reluctantly complied, his expression clearly showing his displeasure at being restrained.
The head of the military police was probably the most surprised. The man who was once rumored to be a true nobleman, despite being revealed to be merely an adventurer, actually had a personal acquaintance with the lord he served.
Moreover, Ray, who was the epitome of free-spiritedness, followed Lizel's words. It wasn't anything particularly dramatic, but it was more than enough to shock him.
As if to add insult to injury, the boisterous theater leader was approaching, stomping his feet.
"You're the one who picked a fight with my cute troop member, you bastard!"
"F-fight...?"
"You're doing this within the permitted area, so stop complaining, you bastard! Although you did get permission, you've spread the materials out too much... Hey, it really is more spread out than usual! Even though it's within the grounds, setting things up compactly is basic common sense, you bastard in charge of setup!"
"H-h-h-I'm sorry!"
The leader, who was supposed to be heading towards him, instead delivered a flying kick to one of his own troop members. The military police chief, who was desperately trying to stop him, certainly lived up to his reputation for being too serious.
Ray, who had originally told them to avoid the area, laughed cheerfully at the sight of the military police chief and several troop members trying to restrain the leader, showing no intention of blaming the theater troupe.
Looking down from a higher position than usual due to being inside the carriage, he glanced at Lizel and Gil, showing a slight dissatisfaction with the difference in height.
"I delivered the letter I received, so rest assured."
"Yes, I'm glad you managed to meet them."
"Managed to meet them? This guy contacted them regardless of the letter and made them treat him to dinner!"
"Gil"
Gil smirked, looking down at Lizel, who was giving him a questioning look.
Ray was laughing heartily at the news that Shadow had been forced to pay for dinner.
"He made that stingy guy pay for dinner! Amazing!"
"It seems I've made an enemy... I apologize for the trouble, despite your kindness."
"An enemy? He wouldn't dislike you just because he had to pay for dinner. He's just a cautious man, so if something unpleasant happened, please forgive him."
"No, nothing in particular happened."
Even with the surveillance and everything else, Lizel's actions hadn't been harmed.
Compared to his previous life, where he was constantly under surveillance, being watched by someone wasn't a problem at all.
The only thing that could be considered harmful in Marcade was the abusive language he received from the young military police officer. Even that wasn't really abusive; it was something Lizel could easily brush off.
The final parting gift might make Shadow even more unhappy, but Lizel considered that a separate matter.
Ray narrowed his eyes, looking down at the smiling Lizel, and said, "That's good."
"Do you think I created this opportunity for you to meet him?"
"Wasn't that the case?"
"No, quite the opposite!"
Under what circumstances would a nobleman introduce an adventurer he favored to another nobleman?
Lizel thought that it would usually be to show off a capable subordinate while also giving the adventurer more opportunities for work and sharing the subordinate's skills with the other nobleman. It wasn't a common occurrence, but that's what he assumed.
However, he looked up at Ray, who had denied this, with a curious expression. Ray still had his usual cheerful smile, but it was tinged with a hint of mischief, yet it didn't feel unpleasant; it wasn't the kind of smile that suggested he was trying to use Lizel. The low, smooth voice, deliberately kept quiet so as not to be overheard, reached Lizel and the others without being muffled.
"I created this opportunity for you to meet him. I wanted you to remember this: he's eccentric, but he's my friend."
"...Such excessive praise is truly overwhelming."
It wasn't a simple matter of asking for help if something happened.
Ray's eyes held a faint hope, as if speaking to someone far above him, someone whose mere attention was a great honor.
Lizel, in contrast, simply offered his usual wry smile, but Ray seemed satisfied with this reaction and smiled back.
His cheerful smile wasn't the kind with hidden meanings like before, but a bright, lively smile that brightened the surroundings.
"Oh, that's right! Regarding the matter of the body of a suspected bandit found in the city the night before last, do you know anything about it?"
"Well, I've only heard rumors."
Ray nodded thoughtfully at the reply, which showed not a trace of unease.
"Gil, you should also properly protect your party members."
"I've been told that so many times..."
"Then that's good! Let's depart soon!"
Ray nodded emphatically at Gil, who clicked his tongue in annoyance, wondering why he was being addressed so informally.
He called out to the captain of the guards, who was somehow helping the soldiers gather supplies, and had the carriage move forward.
Finally, with a flourish of his hand befitting a nobleman, Ray's carriage disappeared from view.
"If he understands, then he should do his job."
"Even if he understands, he can't do anything. Even the country is being cautious."
Ray undoubtedly knew that the bandit was a member of the Forky gang, and that Lizel had been the target the night before last.
There were no people around at the time, but information can be obtained from anywhere. Ray had probably intended to protect Lizel if he confirmed that he was being targeted, but that plan was abandoned when Lizel denied it.
The fact that Ray entrusted the decision to Lizel's judgment and didn't mobilize the military police shows how he feels about Lizel.
Leaving an adventurer who might be involved with the large-scale bandit group, the Forky Gang, unchecked wasn't a matter of trust for a nobleman. That's why Lizel brushed off Ray's question.
"I don't think you'll catch any bandits even if he leaves it to you."
"I don't think he expects that much."
Despite having been subjected to a rather life-threatening attack, Lizel's interest in the Forky Gang was minimal.
Lizel gave a wry smile at Gil's words, knowing this, and headed towards the carriage to continue infusing magic.
Along the way, he received questioning glances about why he knew a nobleman, but he ignored them, and passed by the unconscious trope leader lying in the middle of the road.
He was lying face down and completely still, making him wonder if he was alright, but aside from the other adventurers who were also concerned, the guild members were stepping over his body as if he were a nuisance, so he was probably fine. It seemed he was just exhausted.
Sitting in the carriage as before, he continued infusing magic for twenty minutes. Finally, the magic stone began to show signs of being full.
As expected of such a large-scale stage prop, it required a considerable amount of magic power for two weeks' worth of use.
However, Lizel had no problem with a lack of magic power; he even had plenty to spare.
While chatting with the seemingly bored Gil, and just as he was about to finish infusing the magic, the guild leader came running, making powerful footsteps. He had apparently recovered.
"I can't believe I messed up! The performance is tomorrow, and I've completely ruined it, you idiot!"
"Are you going to be performing as an actor too, leader?"
"I'm playing the handsome, popular younger brother!"
The two of them involuntarily looked down at the trope leader, who was furiously scribbling on the script again.
With his messy hair and ill-fitting glasses, but conversely, with beautiful hair if styled and a face smaller than the size of his glasses, Lizel understood that anyone could become a different person on stage. Gil, however, looked down at him with a suspicious gaze.
Feeling it was rude, Lizel lightly tapped him on his firm stomach.
"...Okay, one more cup. I've finished infusing the magic, is there anything else?"
"That's amazing, you idiot! The last mage who tried this collapsed before even finishing one cup!"
"I have a decent amount of magical power."
He said the mage collapsed, but what happened then?
Mages are generally proud, but since he chose this request, he seems to have a playful side, so it probably wasn't a problem.
"Then the request is complete, right? How many silver coins do you want, you idiot!"
"Ten coins is fine."
"It said up to thirty coins for the magic user, didn't it! Take them!"
Despite asking, he was forced to accept thirty silver coins without question, and hee thanked them.
His tone and attitude were quite rough, but he wasn't tyrannical, and he probably had the strong trust of his troupe members.
They'll probably get beaten up tonight, but if you think of it as a form of interaction, it's somewhat endearing. Though it's probably not funny for them.
"I'm doing this anyway. Take them!"
"Tickets... are you sure?"
"They're for tomorrow! You don't have to come if you don't want to, but if you do, use them!"
"There are two tickets, but Gil was just standing there..."
"Do I look that stingy, you idiot?!"
The two tickets handed to me had beautiful illustrations, the play's title, the theater company's name, and the date written on them.
Apparently, they were also giving tickets to the adventurers who helped with the setup, as several tickets were set aside separately.
I gratefully accepted them and promised to definitely come and see the performance. The troupe leader seemed happy despite his shouting.
And then the morning of the performance arrived.
The road to the East Plaza was overflowing with people, and the crowd became denser as I got closer.
The tickets seemed to be for seats in front of the stage, but it seemed that free viewing was also possible.
However, those watching for free would have to stand in a distant area to keep the aisles clear, which would put them outside the range of the magic device that Lizel had just recharged with magic power yesterday.
If the performance was excellent, even those standing would want to buy tickets to see it closer. The advance tickets had been a huge success, selling out for the first week, but there was still another week's worth of tickets left. If the response was good, those tickets would probably sell out quickly too.
As usual, I followed behind Gil towards the audience seats.
When I showed the tickets to a troupe member and looked for our seats, it seemed that the adventurers who had helped with the preparations yesterday were also there.
It was a work they had helped create. Even people who don't usually watch plays would have a special attachment to it.
Since there were no assigned seats, I intended to sit in any available seat, but I was led to the front, where seats were reserved for those involved in the production.
"Gil, you're sticking out."
"Shut up."
The adventurer, with his all-black attire and battle-hardened aura, could easily be mistaken for one of the actors in the play. Lizel is also thought to be playing a noble, but from the perspective of watching the play, he looks perfectly in character, so there's no problem.
Since they weren't going out on a job, both Gil and Lizel had taken off their jackets, but even without their jackets, Gil was still dressed all in black, and Lizel still looked like a nobleman, so there was nothing they could do about it.
When they sat down in the empty seats on the long bench, it was a little sad to see how the people on either side subtly distanced themselves.
It's about 20 minutes until the performance starts.
They hadn't expected to be shown to the VIP seats, so they had arrived a little early, giving them plenty of time.
Even though they had arrived a little early, the front rows of the audience seats were already filled by the time Lizel arrived, so it was mostly pointless.
Lizel, who basically has no experience with waiting, never imagined that the front seats would be filled an hour before the performance.
He was thinking of reading a book to pass the time, but then he thought he heard the shouting he'd heard so much of yesterday, and he looked up.
The adventurers who had helped with the setup yesterday also looked puzzled, so it wasn't a mistake.
"They're still going strong today, aren't they?"
"They seem pretty desperate for someone who's just trying to get pumped up."
Agreeing with Gil, who looked bored, he looked towards the stage wings.
It was as expected of a professional that the shouting only reached the VIP seats, but when he wondered what was going on, the woman who had gathered the adventurers in the square the other day appeared from backstage.
She didn't seem to be in costume, and she looked at them in her usual clothes, then hurried over.
"Are there any adventurers among you who can play the violin!?"
"No," was probably the consensus of everyone.
An adventurer who can play the violin—the combination is too unusual.
They felt bad for her, as she was desperately pleading, offering rewards and commissions, but no one answered. The situation seemed so bad that they were asking questions that were practically hopeless, questions that no one would normally even consider asking.
"There was someone practicing a musical instrument yesterday, who was that?"
"What the hell are you doing, you idiot! Spraining your hand by falling down? Are you a child? If you're a professional, you should manage your body, you idiot! If you don't heal by tomorrow, I'll kick you, you idiot! Just go to sleep today!"
"I understand."
Lizel nodded at the faintly audible voice.
The adventurers also seemed to sympathize, thinking of the violinist. They had already witnessed the power of the raging leader yesterday.
Fortunately, even without the music, the play could still be performed, but there would be a significant difference in the performance with and without it.
Still, since there was nothing they could do, the performance would have to go on as is. Lizel smiled, trying to comfort the woman who was clearly disappointed.
"I can't learn a new piece of music now, so we'll have to make do with the pieces I can play, is that okay?"
"Huh?"
"If you don't mind, I'd like to see the script."
The gaze from her side, which seemed to say, "Seriously, stop showing off your noble-like abilities," the gaze from the adventurer who was no longer acting like an adventurer at all, and the stunned gaze of the woman all fixed on Lizel.
"Hey, it's useless, you idiot! Let's start the meeting quickly!"
"I, I found him, Leader!"
"He's here, you idiot!"
The leader, who had come to call the woman, was seen in the distance, raising his fist to the sky in a triumphant gesture.
There he is.
He wondered if words were even necessary, but he was relieved to see that his attitude seemed to be appreciated.
Prompted by the woman who had called out, "Bring him here!", Lizel glanced at Gil.
"Hmm... let's coordinate our timing when the time comes."
"Huh?"
Smiling at Gil's puzzled expression, Lizel followed the woman who was guiding him.
When they were led backstage, everyone seemed to be completely ready, and the person kneeling on the floor appeared to be the original violinist.
He seemed to be the only one in the small theater troupe entrusted with playing the instrument, and the bandage wrapped around his wrist looked painful.
Thinking that external injuries would heal quickly, Lizel took out a healing potion from his pouch.
"It's a small one, so a sprain won't heal immediately, but I think it will definitely be cured by tomorrow."
"The god has arrived! Everyone, worship him!"
The troupe members, who knelt down in unison at the director's command, were perfectly in sync.
Lizel laughed amusedly at their beautiful, synchronized prayer, typical of theater troupe members, and handed the healing potion to the musician who was still in a prostrate position.
Although it wasn't an external wound, it must be incredibly painful, but he would have to endure it for tomorrow's performance.
With the muffled screams of the musician, who was gagged and held down by everyone while the healing potion was poured on him, as a backdrop, the leader approached quickly with the script in hand.
Looking at him again, the leader, dressed in his character's costume, was a handsome young man. Thinking how wonderful women are, given this amazing transformation, he accepted the script.
"I'm not telling you to memorize it! I'll just explain the timing! How many songs can you play, you rascal?! And what about your skills?!"
"These aren't songs you'd ever hear around here, so there's no way to explain them, but I'd say I know about ten songs that would fit the script you showed me yesterday. I should be able to play them well enough that even a discerning noble wouldn't be disappointed."
"You're really an adventurer? That's a lie! You're a savior, you rascal!"
Even though he was called a liar, Lizel smiled wryly and glanced at the leader, wondering if things would work out.
The leader's eyes were sparkling, indicating he had decided Lizel was capable; it seemed their efforts wouldn't be in vain.
"Besides, have you memorized the script, you rascal?!"
"I'm sorry, but I only skimmed through the copies that were distributed yesterday."
"You peeked! But I'll forgive you, you rascal! ...'They're thieves, should we cut off all their heads and make an example of them?'"
"'That's too soft, if you want to make an example, you have to pull their heads off while they're still alive,' wasn't it?"
"Perfect, you rascal! Now, the battle BGM!"
While admiring the captain, who had perfectly embodied his role for a moment, Lizel recalled the script and responded.
Although some parts were missing, the captain seemed to be making good progress with the explanation, perhaps because he had grasped the general flow.
Without even noticing the stunned looks from those around them, they continued to discuss the details.
Even the troupe members who had thought it would be better to have no music at all rather than using an adventurer seemed to lose their anxiety about a last-minute performance after seeing Lizel's composure.
They gently moved the musician who had finally fainted from the pain to the side, and each of them finished their usual preparations for the performance.
"I'm sorry if I cause any trouble."
"It's better than doing it in silence! My troupe members are great at improvising, so they'll cover for anything, you rascal!"
"That's reassuring."
"The musicians wear black cloth costumes and are always visible to the audience on the side of the stage, so wear this costume!"
It was almost showtime, and the cloth-like costume was wrapped around him.
The costume, properly wrapped like clothing, covered almost his entire body, and he couldn't put it on again by himself.
He adjusted the cloth that covered his eyes like a hood, pulling it down further.
"If I get caught, people will say I'm not acting like an adventurer anymore..."
"It's too late for that, you rascal!"
"That hurts a little."
With only his mouth visible, Lizel smiled wryly and walked onto the stage from the wings without any hesitation.
On a stage where even a person's walk can reveal whether they are an amateur or a professional, Lizel's walk, while not like that of the troupe members, wasn't something he needed to be embarrassed about. His elegant gait didn't disrupt the stage performance at all.
He stopped in the space designated for the musicians and quietly began to play.
The flowing dress didn't hinder his playing, but since it was made for a musician shorter than Lizel, his face was almost visible.
He had only recently started to look like an adventurer (or so Lizel thought), and if his face were revealed now, it would ruin everything. Only Gil, who was looking at him with a bewildered expression, would know that he was casually thinking such things while watching the play unfold.
"They're thieves! Let's cut off all their heads and make an example of them!"
"That's too lenient! To make an example, you have to pull their heads off while they're still alive!"
The play progressed without any problems, and the performance moved into a battle scene. As the audience watched the well-trained troupe's compelling performance with bated breath, Gil calmly thought to himself, "Normal people don't move like that." This was his unique way of enjoying the play.
He glanced at Lizel, who was playing a powerful yet elegant piece of music, thinking that being a noble must be quite demanding.
Suddenly, he felt as if his eyes met with a pair of hidden eyes, and he furrowed his brow.
The sword fight in the play was reaching its climax. The bandits and the protagonists were clashing swords, parrying blows, and preparing for the final decisive move.
While still watching Lizel, Gil felt a faint sensation from behind him, the same sensation he had felt the night before last.
Lizel's lips moved. The audience was engrossed in the fight and wasn't paying attention to the musicians.
"5, 4," Gil understood the intention behind the silent countdown.
"3," the protagonist's sword was raised. "2," the sword deflected the last bandit's weapon. "1," the deflected weapon spun through the air, just before falling. With the count of zero, darkness enveloped the stage for a fleeting moment.
Few noticed the sound of metal clashing, masked by the sound of the bandit's weapon falling. Those who did notice didn't find anything unusual.
As the darkness slowly lifted, the audience, apparently thinking it was part of the performance, burst into applause. Despite the sudden accident, the troupe members continued their performance without showing any signs of distress.
The audience didn't notice the broken arrow that had fallen on the stage, nor the small knife thrown from the audience that was now stuck in a pillar.
Of course, no one noticed Lizel's smile, except for the troupe leader, who briefly glared at him.
Afterward, the performance concluded without further incident, surrounded by the enthusiastic applause of the audience—a resounding success.
"Explain yourself, you bastard! You suddenly plunged everything into darkness, what did you do?!"
"I just used some dark magic. I already apologized for causing trouble."
"I never expected you to do something like that, you idiot!"
After calming down the raging troupe leader, Lizel finally received his forgiveness by waiving the commission fee and giving him a small healing potion. He then quickly left before anything else could be said.
The troupe leader, who had also noticed the arrow, seemed to understand the situation and, while still yelling, indirectly showed concern without pressing the matter further. It was probably the best judgment as the leader of the group.
The other guild members, unaware of the situation, were repeatedly expressing their gratitude, and only the troupe leader was yelling, which the other members found strange.
Ultimately, since the performance was a success, the troupe leader also expressed his gratitude, so it seemed Lizel wasn't resented.
"If you knew they were coming, you shouldn't have volunteered to perform."
"I don't want the performance I helped with to get a low rating, do I?"
Walking along the now deserted street with Gil, Lizel smiled wryly at Gil's slightly sharp words.
He thought Gil was worried about him, but like the troupe leader, this party member's concern was difficult to understand.
Was the attack planned assuming that it wouldn't be prevented during the performance? The arrow they found after the performance was indeed the same kind used by the bandits.
He wondered what would have happened if the play had been ruined, but since it ended successfully, there was no problem.
"You need to do something about this."
"I'm kind of looking forward to it, seeing how they'll move next."
Lizel smiled, and Gil, genuinely mocking the attackers, gave a small smile.
They probably thought they were playing with a weakling, hoping to see this seemingly confident man, protected by his bodyguard Gil, become anxious as he realized he had stepped into a dangerous world. They were completely unaware that they were being manipulated. Like pets confined to a cage, they had no idea that their every move was being observed and treated with condescending affection.
It was unthinkable that the man he followed could be weak, yet the feeling of being underestimated by them made him uneasy.
They must live in a world where failure to recognize the strong means certain death.
Gil imagined what would happen to them because of a single misjudgment regarding one person, and a smile of amusement twisted his lips.
He wouldn't act now; if Lizel wanted to wait for the next opportunity, he would follow his lead. After all, he could kill them all whenever he wanted.
"You have a wicked look on your face."
"That's just how I am."
Gil scoffed dismissively at Lizel, who smiled softly in return.
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Author Misaki Note:
I think after this, Gil will tell Lizel, "That black outfit doesn't suit you."
[1] Note: I think the troupe leader is male but its kindof hard to tell.