Nozomanu Fushi no Boukensha (LN) - Volume 7 - Chapter SS3

Troupe Member Rentt 

“Well, this is a problem. What should I do?” 

I was walking through Maalt when I suddenly heard that. Curious, I looked over and saw a small group of men and women standing around. The one who spoke was a plump middle-aged man; the rest of them looked attractive by comparison. It was hard to tell what this group’s purpose was at a glance. But as much as I liked to assist people, I couldn’t stop and help every troubled person I encountered. 

I tried to walk past them, but then someone said, “You there! Wait a moment,” and grabbed me by the arm. It was, once again, the plump man. I noticed the instant he started to move and could have avoided him, but he could’ve fallen over if I did, so I didn’t. However, I suspected that I made the wrong choice. These people seemed like nothing but trouble, but maybe I was fated to get involved in this. 

“What?” I asked with a sigh. 

The man didn’t respond right away. Now that he got a good look at me, he seemed intimidated. I had a skull mask, a robe, and a well-worn sword, after all. Adventurers were used to seeing men like me, but any civilian would see me as dangerous. The man still didn’t back off, though. 

“I have a favor to ask,” he said after he mustered up his courage. When I saw how serious he was, I gave up on figuring out how to get out of here quickly. 

“I’ll let you tell me what it is, at least,” I said. 

“So, essentially, you can’t use the theater you were planning to and you’re not sure what to do. I see, so you’re a theater troupe.” 

I listened to their story, and it turned out that they were a traveling troupe who’d arrived in Maalt the other day. Maalt wasn’t that big, but it was at least big enough to be considered a city, so it had its fair share of entertainment. There was a small theater in Maalt where troupes periodically performed. Troupes from Maalt itself performed there, of course, but some came from outside town too. These people were one of the latter, and they were supposed to put on a show at the theater for a few days starting tomorrow. But the head of the theater suddenly decided against it. 

“That theater’s owner is just the worst,” explained the troupe’s leading actress. “He said a local troupe insists on using the theater, but he’s the one who called us to this town in the first place. Oh, it’s so frustrating.” Her glamorous face was fit for the stage, and her mannerisms were refined and conspicuous. She was the kind of person who you’d want to see act. 

“Liesse, it’s just how things are. Traveling troupes like ours are treated this way everywhere,” said another actor. At first glance, he looked docile and timid, but something about him made it hard to look away. It was easy to see that he was another performer. “I just hope we get our own theater eventually. But we sure don’t have the money for that yet. Let’s forget about this town and try somewhere else.” 

I was an absolute amateur at anything regarding performing, but every member of the troupe had an interesting aura that I didn’t have the words to describe. I only talked with them a bit, but it was enough to make me curious to see their show. There was no way I’d actually be able to, though, which I thought was unfortunate. But the middle-aged man, who seemed to be the leader of the troupe and a manager rather than a performer, showed me that wasn’t the case with the next thing he said. 

“We’ll perform in the town square if we have to. As long as we have enough space, we can make it work somehow. But it’ll be hard to have backgrounds or acoustics without a proper theater.” 

That gave me an idea. “If I can secure a location for you and do something about the backgrounds and acoustics, would I be able to watch your show?” I asked. 

“What? Oh, yes, but we didn’t get permission to use the town square.” 

“No, I have another idea. I’ll see if I can make it work, but if it doesn’t, then I’m sorry.” 

The man shook his head. “We’re out of options anyway. If there’s even a slight possibility, we’ll take it. We’re trying to come up with something as it is.” 

“Got it. But why did you stop me anyway? You’re lucky I thought of something, but I don’t think there was any reason to assume that I could help you.” 

“Oh, I wasn’t really going to have you do anything about that, but...” 

Then the troupe leader told me why he stopped me, and the answer was shocking. 

I never thought I would end up on the stage myself. But I didn't say that. What I did say while I was up there was the villain’s dialogue written in the troupe leader's script. He wanted to hire me to play the villain. The man who was supposed to play the part fell terribly ill, so they happened to be seeking out a replacement when I was passing by. 

The villain was a masked sorcerer who used dark magic. The leading actress played a woman who was kidnapped by the sorcerer as a sacrifice, and the timid actor played a confident knight who set off to rescue her. Surprisingly, the show was received favorably for all four days it ran. 

As for the location, I talked to Lorraine. I asked her if the troupe could borrow the land she owned on the outskirts of town, and she was quick to give permission as long as she got to watch. She also solved any problems with the backgrounds by using her illusion magic. Lorraine’s versatility was greatly appreciated by the troupe. 

“Then I shall sleep. It will come to you too one day, in the deep darkness, quietly. Ah, I will be waiting,” I cried after being slashed by the knight. Then I fell from the side of the stage and disappeared. 

Lorraine was waiting there for me. “You’re a surprisingly decent actor, Rentt,” she said with a laugh. 

“All these actors are more brutal than monsters. Well, not really, but they’re a good troupe. I hammed it up, but they’re all really talented, so I guess it worked out.” Even when I flubbed my lines, they changed up their own to make it seem like I didn’t mess up. Anyone could have played my role, really. I just happened to look the part. 

“They do seem like a good troupe,” Lorraine agreed. “I was even thinking about introducing them to an acquaintance I have in the Empire.” 

“You should do that. I would hate to see their talent squandered by lack of opportunity.” 

“I’ll do that then. By the way, did you hear what happened at the theater?” 

“Hm?” 

“So many people came to watch this show that they didn’t have much of an audience. They should have stuck to their plans.” 

“I see. I guess they made a big mistake.” 

Lorraine laughed. “Well, this was pretty fun. Tell me if anything like this happens again.” 

“Hopefully it doesn’t, but I’ll consider it.”