"Mei-rin's already here?" Simon asked, eating a pudding dessert he'd bought from a street vendor."Yep.""Didn't Mei-rin say she'd join us tomorrow?"Dick grinned slyly, like a villain plotting something."Actually, Mei-rin's been in Langerstein for a week.""What?!""You'll see when you get there!"Guided by Dick, the three headed to a large grand theater located in the heart of Langerstein.Noblemen dressed to the nines and ladies in elegant dresses were entering the building. From the shouts of the staff, it seemed a play was just about to begin."Three kids."Dick said, confidently walking to the front of the line without waiting. The ticket seller glanced at them."......Hmm, do kids these days watch plays too? And all the tickets for the matinee are sold out."Dick smirked, leaning slightly and proudly pointing to the emblem on his chest."Just kidding, we're from Kizen."Then he subtly gestured to the two standing behind him.Simon sighed inwardly and roughly mimicked Dick's posture, while Kamibarez blushed and awkwardly followed suit.The effect of the name 'Kizen' was immediate. The employee instantly bowed deeply, rubbed his hands together, and began speaking in the highest honorifics."Ki-Kizen students, what brings you here? Is there perhaps a problem with our theater...?"Dick's smiling expression instantly turned cold."Why, do you have something to hide?""Ah, no, sir! Should I call the theater owner right away?""It's fine. We'll just quietly come and go regarding a request. Please don't bother reporting it to your superiors.""Yes, y-yes!"The three entered the theater with a free pass.A female employee, clearly nervous about Kizen's appearance, bowed respectfully and led the three to the best VVIP seats.It was on the second floor, a private space with a room and a table.The employee asked what kind of wine they'd like to order. Dick politely declined, saying they were on a mission, and tapped his forehead with his index finger as if flicking something away. Once the employee closed the door and left, Simon spoke."This is a really good spot."Being on the second floor, the entire stage was clearly visible. Kamibarez nervously looked around, then smoothed her skirt and sat down demurely."Are we really allowed to do this?""Of course, of course."Dick ran his hand over the armrest of the comfortable chair and crossed his legs."Isn't this why we go to Kizen? We're students, but we also have investigative authority. You have to know and use the benefits you have to live a life without waste.""So."Simon crossed his arms."When are you going to tell us why you brought us to the theater?""Hehehe, you'll see. Alright, it's starting!"The theater darkened, and mana lights illuminated the stage. The curtain rose, and a girl with sky-blue hair in a white dress appeared on stage.Simon and Kamibarez's mouths dropped open."M-Mei-rin?!"Dick started laughing, clutching his stomach."Hehehe! So she had such a fun hobby and tried to hide it from us, huh? No chance against my information network."Soon, Mei-rin and a male actor appeared and began their passionate performance."Stavarego! I cannot leave you behind!" Mei-rin cried."You must flee, Almacarina. The armies of another nation will soon overrun this place. Even if I die, you and the child in your womb must live."As the two began with a melodramatic exchange, refusing to leave each other, music naturally began to flow.‘I'm excited. I've never heard Mei-rin sing before.’As Simon waited with anticipation, Mei-rin clasped her hands in front of her chest and opened her mouth.-I lived in a fantasy.The moment he heard her voice, Simon felt a slight shiver.It was an incredibly clear and pure voice. The reactions of the other audience members were similar to Simon's.-Because you are here, I can fight against the dark truth.Mei-rin, who had been singing comfortably with her hand on her chest, gradually spread her arms and swayed slightly to the music.-Even if I were born a butterfly, I would not be able to make any flower bloom.Everyone was completely captivated by her voice. Kamibarez was, and even Dick, who had intended to tease Mei-rin, was too.And now, the highlight came.-The world!Gasps of admiration erupted from all directions.As the note reached its climax, her delicate yet powerful voice, emerging with a slight frown, was nothing short of miraculous. Her song increasingly melted the audience's emotions, and the piece now moved towards its conclusion.-Even if we never meet again.Soon, a rising flame effect appeared, and Mei-rin and the male actor scattered. After a moment of stunned silence, a fervent round of applause erupted from the audience."A-Amazing!"Kamibarez, completely immersed, was clapping with tears in her eyes. Simon also stood up and clapped.Simon, a country bumpkin to the core, had never seen a play in such a grand theater in his life, but the most astonishing thing was that the actress with such an overwhelming voice on stage was his friend.Moreover, Mei-rin, with such heavy makeup and in a dress, looked like an adult several years older, not someone her age.Soon, their song ended, and the play's timeline advanced 15 years.Dick began to yawn."Hmph."The story was nothing special, following a typical narrative structure.Mei-rin, separated from her husband, gives birth to a daughter alone, and when the child grows up, she wonders who her father is and travels abroad.Later, she falls in love with a foreign young man who helps her, but she becomes despairing when she learns that he is actually the son born to her biological father.‘......But why do they end up together?’In the end, to escape all societal prejudices and shackles, the two throw themselves into a river, and the play concludes.A sudden, abrupt development. Simon decided to just give up thinking."It's going completely off the rails. They should fire the play director."Dick clicked his tongue and said.With the play concluded, all the actors danced and sang one last time. Mei-rin also came out and sang along.And finally, the curtain closed and the lights brightened. The actors bowed, and the lingering audience members slowly rose and clapped. The three of them did the same.A moment later, the curtain opened again, and the audience began to leave."Alright, let's go!" Dick shouted excitedly."Where?""To Mei-rin's dressing room, of course! Our highlight starts now!"The three left the VVIP seats and walked towards the actors' dressing rooms.An employee tried to stop them, saying outsiders were not allowed, but upon seeing Dick's Kizen uniform, he gasped and stepped aside.Dick quickly scanned the nameplates on each door as he passed, then stopped in front of one door."Here it is."Dick lightly knocked, and a voice from inside said, 'Come in.' Dick grinned and gestured."Alright, let's go in, kids!""Yes!"The three opened the door and rushed in.Mei-rin, who had been neatly combing her hair in front of the mirror, belatedly noticed them."Wha—"Her eyes, momentarily dazed, widened as if they would pop out."W-W-W-What the hell?!"Then she stood up abruptly, her face turning bright red."Why are you guys here?!"Simon smiled gently and waved his hand."Good performance, Mei-rin."Upon seeing Simon, Mei-rin's face turned even redder, like magma. Kamibarez clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling."Your singing was so, so good, Mei-rin! And your dress is beautiful!""Thanks, Kami... No, more importantly, you crazy lunatics! How did you even know to come here?"Her gaze turned to Dick as she retorted."Tsk! You again?""Correct."Dick struck his current signature pose, flicking his forehead.It was a gesture designed to provoke anger and disgust, and a cosmetic item in Mei-rin's hand immediately struck his forehead."I want to be alone, get out!"***Mei-rin, having exceeded her tolerance for embarrassment, ordered them out, but they weren't the type to leave obediently.Simon sat on the sofa, munching on snacks, while Kamibarez stood behind Mei-rin, touching her dress.Mei-rin covered her face with both hands, then peeked through her fingers at Simon."Did you s-see?""See what?""My acting.""I saw it. From beginning to end.""&$%*&@#!!!"She made an incomprehensible sound and buried her face between her knees. Dick was busy laughing, and Simon spoke softly, trying to comfort her."Why are you so embarrassed? Your acting was good, and your singing was great.""It's a completely different problem when people I know see it!"Mei-rin fanned herself furiously with her hands, trying to cool her flushed face."But Mei-rin, how did you end up in a play?"At Kamibarez's question, Mei-rin revealed the truth.She had always been interested in theater. She often went to see plays and enjoyed singing as a hobby.The problem began when Serene came to find her during her training at the Ivory Tower. The two got into an argument and made a bet involving Jet Black Elemental Magic."Serene bet the Ivory Tower successor position," Mei-rin said, scratching the back of her neck. Simon, listening intently, chuckled quietly.He could clearly picture the scene in his head. She must have charged in recklessly again."And if I lost, Serene's condition was that I had to perform as an actress in a play myself.""Oh! So you got thoroughly beaten, huh?""I can't beat your mouth to a pulp, can I?"Dick immediately shut up. She covered her face with her hands again."But that fox, Serene...! I don't know how she did it, but she actually booked a performance at a grand theater in Langerstein and confirmed my role as an actress! Ugh, seriously...!""Considering you were forced into it, you looked like you were really enjoying yourself on stage," Simon said with a smile. Mei-rin blushed and stuck out her tongue in response."Still, I loved it so much! Mei-rin was the prettiest among the actors and sang the best!""......Thanks, Kami! Those two only think about teasing me, you're the only one."Just then, Dick hugged his own arms and spoke in a clumsy female voice."Stavarego! I cannot leave you behind!""Dieeeeeeeee!"Mei-rin shrieked, throwing whatever she could grab. Dick chuckled and ran away."Ugh, seriously! I'm going to be teased all semester! I really didn't want him to find out!""Hahahaha!"The four laughed boisterously and chatted.Mei-rin removed her makeup and changed into her uniform, then came out of the dressing room. Indeed, Mei-rin looked best in her Kizen uniform rather than a flowing dress."But Mei-rin, the role of Almacarina was a bit strange for you! She's the female protagonist's mother!"Mei-rin giggled, finding it funny herself."It was super weird! The director must be out of his mind. My 'daughter' is supposed to be in her thirties. In this industry, the lead role has to go to someone who acts well and is well-known, so there's no helping it.""Oh, my daughter Ludogorami. This mother's heart is breaking!""I'm going to rip you apart alive, seriously.""Ack! My bangs! Don't pull my bangs!"***Outside the actors' dressing room, where the four were noisily chatting.Leaning against the wall next to the door, there was a platinum-blonde girl shaking a fluttering feather. She chuckled softly and pushed herself off the wall.An employee with a feather stuck in his neck, looking dazed, brought two cups of black tea on a tray. She smiled with her eyes and lifted a cup of tea, and the employee walked past her to the side."That lady over there is paying for it."Besides her, a large man wrapped in a pitch-black cloak stood by the door. At the employee's words, the man's expression hardened."Get lost."Thud.At Dietrich's murderous aura, the employee with the feather stuck in him collapsed on the spot. Perhaps because the black tea on the tray spilled, or for some other reason, his pants became soaked."What a waste~"Serene said, taking an elegant sip of her black tea."Do you also have business with those people?""Remember this, human."Dietrich's eyes glowed red."If you use that filthy power on my daughter, that day will be the day the Ivory Tower crumbles.""Yes, yes."Serene replied leisurely."And adults interfering in kids' fights doesn't look good, does it? A Vampire Lord being such a doting father."Dietrich snorted."Are you going to claim you're one of those 'kids' too?""Well, I am seventeen, after all~"The two exchanged chilling smiles. Just then, the door burst open."Alright! Group 7 is finally complete, time for a drink!"Dick shouted. Mei-rin and Kamibarez followed, and Simon, who came out last, closed the door."Simon?"Kamibarez stopped and called Simon. Simon was staring at the floor.He saw a fallen feather and large footprints on the floor. Simon quietly smiled, then turned to her."It's nothing. Let's go."
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