.｡.:✧ Chapter 42 ✧:.｡.

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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As I entered the room, numerous students’ gazes immediately fixed on me.

There were more students than I had expected, not just actors but also members of the costume and directing teams.

“That’s him?”

“Ugh, so annoying.”

“Shh, he’ll hear.”

“Let him hear. He thinks he’s something, just because he got lucky as a third-year.”

Most of the main roles were taken by third-year students, but the majority were fourth-years, so my absence from the last script reading had garnered some negative opinions.

Well, if I were swayed by students’ grumbling, I would have left the academy a long time ago.

Ignoring their comments, I took a seat where my name and role were listed.

There were many familiar faces, and some tried to approach me, but as soon as I entered, Professor Veritio followed, prompting everyone to take their seats.

“Good you came, Daniel.”

Professor Veritio looked at me with those dreamy eyes, as always. I wished he wouldn’t look at me like that, but it’s not like he would listen.

“Hmm.”

“It’s been a while.”

Sitting next to me were Arni Duratan, a swordsmanship heiress playing a villain role like me, and May, playing a subordinate.

Arni didn’t give me much attention, while May giggled next to me, seemingly excited to see how I would act.

The simple script reading began.

Professor Veritio instructed us to act out if we could, but just reading was fine if we found it difficult.

The story revolved around the lives of two men, Geldmea and Roben, bound by deeper friendship and loyalty than blood.

The refreshing and handsome ‘Geldmea’ was played by Ares.

‘Roben,’ a smart and mannered handsome man, was played by a fourth-year senior named Althric.

The script reading went smoothly.

Interestingly, both men had their own love lines, each entangled with two women.

I didn’t remember all the names.

Ares seemed torn between a pretty fourth-year girl and Rin.

Althric was conflicted between a fourth-year girl and Elise, a girl from Ares’s circle.

‘Ares must be in his element.’

Playing with women’s feelings was his forte, after all.

As I chuckled to myself, thinking about Professor Veritio’s accurate casting, May leaned in and whispered in my ear.

“What are you laughing about? Let me in on it.”

“……!”

I stiffened as May came closer, and memories of last night, when May whispered in my ear, came flooding back.

‘Who asked you to be so heroic?’

Embarrassed by my reaction, May initially looked surprised but then seemed to realize something, gRining and whispering again.

“Who asked you to laugh alone?”

“Hey…!”

This girl!

I was trying not to think about it, but she deliberately used a line similar to that night’s situation. Where did she learn such tactics?

Could she have won over Ares with these skills?

Worried about getting caught up in her teasing, I told her to ease up. After that, I scanned the script to see where we were when…

“……”

Rin, sitting directly across from me, glared with such intensity it was as if flames were about to burst from her eyes.

Seriously.

It wasn’t a joke; it felt like a lethal intent transforming her into the Commander. Despite her glare, I took deep breaths, trying to stay calm.

‘That’s a relief.’

Is academy life always this thrilling? It felt more challenging than living in the Demon Forest, bringing an unexpected wave of fatigue.

“Hey, it’s your turn.”

Rubbing my eyes, Arni Duratan, sitting beside me, nudged me with her elbow, signaling me to proceed.

Startled, I recited my line instantly.

“Yes, I am Gerry. The master of this arena.”

This was the scene where the two protagonists come to the arena to show their skills, and I, intrigued by them, engage in a 2:1 fight.

Apparently satisfied with my performance, Professor Veritio smiled contentedly.

Gerry’s memorable lines continued after that.

“Eris, Philea, Sera, Brita. They are all mine. Trophies of this body, won by defeating you.”

“Break the rock! Split the wave! Kill the sky! Only then can you take something from me, Gerry!”

“Your women are so sweet.”

“Even if my fists break, the fight does not stop.”

Each line I read made me cringe internally, but I endured.

‘Is this what passes for a top playwright?’

I wondered if even the royals would watch such a play, but what could I do?

Eventually, Gerry, also a villain, meets his end in Helia’s (Arni Duratan’s) arms.

Afterward, the protagonists grow, win love, and the play ends.

As the script reading concluded, applause filled the room.

I found it a bit boring, but some girls were in tears, and Althric, one of the main fourth-year characters, smiled with emotion.

“The script reading today was excellent. From today until the festival in three weeks, we’ll meet daily to practice. My assistant will inform you of the schedule.”

‘Every… day?’

Regret for participating washed over me, but having committed, I couldn’t back out now.

“Professor, is that all for today?”

Althric, seemingly eager for more, waited expectantly.

As if waiting for this moment, Professor Veritio looked at me and replied, “Of course not. I’ve reserved a training arena for today. We’ll conceptualize the characters’ duels there.”

It seemed the play had many combat scenes, and he wanted to prioritize them.

“Let’s all go together. Costume and directing teams, join me to discuss ideas.”

So, we all headed to the training arena.

As I moved aside naturally from May’s teasing approach, Rin came from the other side, and I ended up sandwiched between them.

“Don’t you think you’re too close?”

I complained about the awkwardness in front of others, but May just snorted and offered me candy.

“When someone is bravely trying hard, shouldn’t you applaud their effort? Want some candy?”

May’s attempt to change the topic.

Hearing this, Rin looked at May and me alternately with a shocked expression.

“What’s this all about?”

“Ah…”

I tried to explain, but May interjected sharply.

“I confessed and got rejected, so now I’m trying to win him over. Wanna join?”

“Are you insane…!”

I was taken aback by her blunt words, but May just popped a candy in her mouth, unfazed. It’s moments like these that remind me she’s the leader of a gang.

This is hopeless.

Then, as Rin began to say something in confusion, I quickly covered her mouth with my hand.

“Mmm! Mmmmmmm!”

I hastily silenced her, fearing she might say something outrageous. It seemed like the best decision I had made that day.

Not sure what she might have said, but…

After shaking off both of them, I headed to the training ground where Professor Veritio greeted me, along with Ares and Althric.

“Alright, remember the first scene? Geldmea and Roben fighting 2:1 against Gerry.”

“Yes, I remember!” Althric responded enthusiastically.

Ares nodded with a smile, and I sighed and confirmed that I remembered.

“We’re going to choreograph that scene. But we’ll only pre-plan the key scenes and dialogues, most of the fight scenes will rely on the actors’ improvisation.”

I had a feeling about what he was going to say.

“So, shall we do a practice fight? Immerse yourself in your role.”

Ares looked at me, and Althric, a bit embarrassed, and said, “Isn’t it going to be tough for him, playing the role of Gerry?”

Seems like he doesn’t remember my name.

I shrugged nonchalantly and replied, “It’s fine.”

Silently, Ares started warming up, and I walked to the end of the training ground. Althric, though confused, eventually picked up his sword.

Professor Veritio came to me next.

“Gerry is primarily a bare-handed fighter. Are you okay with that? I told them it’s fine just to pretend for the rehearsal.”

“No worries. Better do it seriously, it’s more authentic that way. Tell them to come at me for real.”

It seemed right to at least engage in some physical activity, otherwise, I’d feel restless.

Veritio seemed surprised but agreed and left. Soon after, the sparring began amidst cheers.

“Go Althric!”

“Amazing!”

“Don’t lose, Ares!”

“Ares is so handsome!”

Both of them were quite popular, given their looks, and the cheering was almost deafening.

“Finish him, Daniel!”

But then May shouted my name, urging me not to be intimidated. Rin joined in, spurred by May.

“Daniel is the most handsome!”

The surrounding crowd gave skeptical looks, making me feel more embarrassed and diminishing my fighting spirit.

‘How embarrassing.’

Nonetheless, as the two guys charged at me, I clenched my fists, ready for the bout.

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