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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Seria Delroa of 4th year, Class C.
Since her first day of school, she had been the recipient of fervent love confessions from numerous male students.
Merely walking down the street, she became like a painting crafted by a master artist, fully aware of her own beauty.
Thus, she naturally grew accustomed to the attention from the opposite sex, and the envious glances from other female students were exhilarating.
Overwhelming superiority.
Being superior to other women in every aspect was the most crucial part of Seria’s life.
That’s why she joined the play as ‘Eris’ without any hesitation.
It was only natural for her to be in the most prominent position.
But unexpectedly,
Although she had heard rumors about the beauty of 3rd-year students, she was surprised to find them overflowing with formidable individuals.
Elise, who shared the lead female role.
With blonde hair and golden eyes, she exuded an elegance that belied her 18 years. At first, Seria thought she was looking at a princess.
Then, there was the villain and Gerry’s secretary, Arni Duratan.
The eldest daughter of the swordsmanship-renowned Duratan family, her fiery red hair and not just her appearance, but her sensual allure was undeniable.
And Gerry’s subordinate, May Plov.
Seria was already familiar with her.
She learned during the play that May was the dean’s niece, but also the back-alley empress who had set straight the delinquents of 3rd and 4th years with her bare fists.
Good.
Up to this point, Seria thought she could somehow manage.
But then, there was Rin, who played ‘Philea,’ competing for the same male lead, Ares.
The moment Seria saw her, she couldn’t help but admit Rin’s beauty was breathtaking.
Kind to everyone, a perfect superhuman with deep consideration.
Feeling a humiliating defeat to a younger student, Seria noticed during the play that Daniel McLean, playing ‘Gerry,’ had taken a liking to Rin.
And just now,
At the pancake stall, Daniel said,
“Ah, I miss Eris.”
Eris was the role she was playing in this play!
“Really, you think you won’t fall for me?”
Even though it was for the play, the frequent physical contact probably made it easy for even a 3rd-year brat to fall for her charm quickly.
“Just look at that.”
Seeing Rin’s impassive face and May Plov, who looked ready to pounce, Seria felt a sense of satisfaction without having eaten anything.
Feel the overwhelming sense of defeat for having your beloved taken away!
However,
“Come here for a sec.”
An unexpected woman approached Daniel.
***
Female Ares.
Fish friends in Seria’s pond fluttered their nonexistent teeth at me, but I lightly ignored them.
I simply brushed off the cookies she offered.
‘This is getting annoying.’
Somehow being manipulated by this woman led to unnecessary misunderstandings, but then someone unexpected approached me.
“Come here for a sec.”
The red goldfish in Ares’s pond.
Arni Duratan, with her fiery red hair fluttering.
She tapped my shoulder and called me behind the stage, and, curious but feeling it was a good turn, I followed her.
Behind the stage, not only was Arni Duratan there but also Professor Veritio, wearing a serious expression.
“What’s going on?”
Realizing that Professor Veritio was the reason Arni called me, I asked him, and Veritio turned to Arni and said,
“Could you possibly help Miss Arni?”
“Yes?”
“Help me with my acting practice.”
“Hmm?”
What was this all about?
With only three days left until the main performance.
“Professor Veritio also said your acting isn’t bad.”
He is an honest man.
When it comes to acting, he’s as sharp as a knife.
He never said it was good, but he also never said it was bad. Although I was a bit stiff at first, I thought I was performing reasonably well by now.
“Arni is doing well in other aspects, but she’s not quite getting into character for the final scene.”
“Ah.”
Arni Duratan’s role as ‘Helia.’
She was Gerry’s secretary, and in truth, the woman he truly loved.
After being defeated by the two protagonists, Gerry closes his eyes in Helia’s arms, and thus, they exit the play.
‘Indeed, that part did feel a bit awkward.’
I wondered if we really needed to practice to this extent, but Professor Veritio spoke up first.
“Arni has asked for this. She really wants to end this play on a high note.”
“Hmm?”
I thought she was just a sporty girl who knew nothing but the sword, but suddenly this?
It’s not like she was practicing incredibly hard all the time.
“Her family is coming.”
“……”
Arni bit her lip and glared at me, as if ready for a fight, though she said nothing more.
“Please, I’m asking for your help.”
It seemed there was a situation, and even Professor Veritio chimed in.
“I’m asking you. The completion of Gerry’s character comes with his death. But if Arni’s performance is awkward, it all falls apart.”
He wasn’t wrong.
‘After all, I don’t have anything else to do during the festival.’
I could be owed a small favor by the eldest daughter of the Duratan family, a renowned swordsmanship family.
‘Maybe I can use it to escape from May.’
At most, helping with the last scene after rehearsal would take about 30 minutes.
“Alright, I understand.”
“Thank you.”
Arni, seeming to have a reason for her request, bowed deeply.
***
After the drama team’s social gathering.
Ares was wandering around the stalls with his friends.
Many friends were with him, including Arni and Elise, who were also in the play.
Sen was there, but not as lively as before, just following behind, and Hayun had already been disowned by her family, so she didn’t need to stick with Ares.
However, the most noticeable today was Adriana.
Usually tying her hair up, today she let it down and wore a revealing outfit, sticking close to Ares.
“Ares, shall we try that?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Seeing Adriana clinging to Ares without hiding her voluptuous figure made the other women step back.
“Doesn’t this seem strange?”
At Elise’s comment, Arni nodded as if she had been waiting to agree.
Normally, Adriana did try to appeal to Ares but not in such a bold and aggressive manner.
She used to soothe everyone like the big sister of Ares’s group, making concessions, but today, for some reason, she was unusually forceful.
“It seems she has her reasons, so it might be best to let her have her way today.”
At Arni’s suggestion, Elise covered her mouth with her hand, surprised.
“Arni, are you saying that? Usually, you’re so headstrong?”
“Ahem, surely there must be a reason. Sen, you too, hold back today and let Adriana take the lead.”
“Ah, I wasn’t really in the mood for it anyway.”
“……”
Since the incident with the gang, Adriana had been concerned about Sen’s seemingly absent-minded state, but neither Arni nor Elise could interfere.
Each had their own roles to play in the upcoming festival.
***
“Ah, I’m exhausted.”
Having been dragged around all day by May and Rin, I was more tired than expected.
The stalls outside were already packed up, waiting for tomorrow in the darkened evening.
“Not too bad.”
In my previous life, I was expelled almost immediately upon arrival, so I never experienced events like this. It was surprisingly pleasant.
A time to feel the warmth of human connections, gathered closely together.
Living in the forest had dulled my senses, but it seemed I still missed human warmth.
As I opened the window to breathe in the fresh air,
Scratch, scratch
A strange sound caught my attention.
“Hmm?”
It seemed to come from above, but what was it?
Peering out the window and looking up, I could definitely hear an odd noise.
“What’s this?”
It sounded a bit like insects crawling, but this was no ordinary sound.
Then I noticed someone else had caught the sound, peeking out from a 4th-floor window.
“What’s that noise?”
Sen, with her white hair fluttering. Her tone wasn’t forcedly lively as before but was her usual emotionless self. I shrugged and replied,
“Sounds like it’s coming from your floor?”
“It’s above us. Do you know anything, Daniel?”
“How would I know?”
“You knew I was from the Chokugen Faction.”
“Are you upset?”
Without another word, Sen turned her gaze back upwards and then, deciding action was needed, climbed out the window to ascend further.
“I need to check it out, it could be the Tudogs.”
“Hmm.”
While I was still wondering, a commotion suddenly erupted from the rooftop.
I considered going up when something huge fell from the roof.
“Hm?”
A bug the size of a human forearm hit the ground with a thud, then scurried away at lightning speed.
‘Was that?’
Doubting what I just saw, I frowned, and then Sen came down from the rooftop into my room.
I almost got hit by her foot since I was still sticking my head out the window, but I managed to dodge in time.
“Damn.”
To Sen’s evident frustration, I asked with feigned seriousness,
“What was that just now?”
“I don’t know. It seemed like a bug, but it was weirdly hard. I tried to catch it, but it was too gross.”
Typical girl reaction, I guess.
“Wasn’t there a pattern on its shell?”
I thought I saw something, so I asked, hoping for confirmation. Sen’s eyebrows twitched. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded silently.
“Really?”
Pressing for assurance amid my unease, Sen, convinced I knew something, responded,
“Yes. It was too dark to see clearly, but it looked like a circular pattern with spikes.”
“…”
“You know something, don’t you? The Tudogs are moving, right?”
“Tudogs?”
I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
If it were just the Tudogs, it wouldn’t matter much. But this wasn’t about such trivial beings.
The ancient beasts living in the deepest parts of the demon forest.
I couldn’t even remember how much blood I shed to reach their lair, where just one could shake the world, densely populated by those beasts.
The hidden entities why humans call the demon forest ‘Hell.’
“The ancient beasts.”
Unlike other creatures, these had a high intelligence similar to ours and possessed overwhelming power.
‘Someone is summoning one of them here.’
Towards this bustling academy festival, someone was calling an ancient beast here.
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