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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Grand Drama Club (3)
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Was it because he had long served as the advisor for the Drama Club?
Or was it because he was a professor who had encountered countless students?
Unlike the rambling Dahlia, Zenon, with his eloquent speech, was skillfully explaining the day's schedule to the new members.
"Before we welcome you, we intend to first assess your acting skills. It matters not what status you hold, or what extraordinary abilities you possess."
"What we seek from you is solely your ability to enrich our stage. Why? Because this is the Drama Club. We must stand upon the stage, truthfully convey emotions to the audience, and unleash the magic that stirs their hearts."
"Starting now, I will call out names one by one. The new member whose name is called will then come onto the stage and perform in a manner suited to the situation and emotion we present. Ah, it might be a bit much to ask you to perform right away, so I will offer a demonstration first."
Having finished his explanation, Zenon stepped onto the stage and asked the students in the theater,
"I will perform the role of an actor driven to madness. An actor who loved acting so much that he sold his very soul to the Seven Deadly Sins. Our new members, would that be acceptable?"
At his question, imbued with mana, all the students in the theater nodded or replied.
I, on the other hand, watched them and couldn't help but question it inwardly.
It was understandable. The performance Zenon had just announced he would demonstrate was not merely acting; it was Zenon's own story.
That wasn't the only curious thing.
'He shouldn't have been corrupted at this point, should he?'
As far as I remembered, the period when Zenon, mad with acting, sold his soul and fell to corruption was after next year's festival.
The catalyst for that was his jealousy towards a freshman who displayed acting skills superior to his own, despite his lifelong dedication to the craft.
'Was he thinking this way even back then?'
Watching Zenon slowly immerse himself in the emotion, it occurred to me that he was certainly capable of such a thing.
"I know what you desire."
As I pondered this, Zenon's voice began to resonate throughout the theater.
My gaze, as if enchanted, turned towards the stage.
I saw Zenon slowly drawing a dagger from within his clothes.
—Swish!
It was instantaneous. The moment Zenon drew the dagger, he immediately, without hesitation, slashed his own forearm.
"...!"
"I-is that acting?"
Most of the students either covered their mouths or stared, wide-eyed, completely engrossed in the stage.
"I have brought what you desire. So please, I beg you, covet it—my greed, my jealousy, my arrogance from all this time."
Zenon's right hand drew a black magic circle on the floor. Drip, drip, Zenon's blood fell onto the black magic circle.
He knelt. His expression changed.
He shed tears. He burst into insane laughter.
He conversed with a demon.
At one moment, he raged, and the next, he rubbed his hands together, pleading desperately.
"I will capture these wretched souls and these meaningless souls and offer them to you. So!"
Zenon rose from his kneeling position. The black light emanating from the black magic circle was sucked into his body.
"Allow me to convey my eternal story to all."
A hush fell over the theater. The distorted mana flow around Zenon returned to normal, and his wildly fluctuating expression calmed.
He turned his head. With a faint smile, his pale lips parted.
"Haha, how was it?"
He asked. How was his acting?
"...!"
At that, all the students, as if possessed, clapped their hands and cheered.
I, too, joined in the thunderous applause, filled with admiration.
Because I, too, had been immersed in his emotions and had received his feelings so poignantly.
I had to admit it.
It truly was acting so superb, it was as if he had sold his soul to a demon to obtain it.
*****
After Zenon's demonstration ended.
The new members took turns on stage, performing passionately according to Zenon's requests.
'This is serious.'
The problem was that the performances unfolding before me felt more like 'antics' than 'acting.'
"G-greed! I-I will take your head!"
Fran awkwardly swung his sword and shouted, in response to the request to portray a battle against the Seven Deadly Sins.
And upon hearing his shout, I heard Dahlia and Damon quietly muttering, hands pressed to their foreheads.
"I've never seen acting like that in my life... By the way, Damon, how many times have we told him that Greed is a woman?"
"Exactly seven times. I'm pretty sure he'll never get into a relationship. Absolutely certain."
Perhaps it was because I'd heard such an accurate assessment. My head instinctively nodded.
"He's good..."
"Indeed..."
"It's top-notch."
As they spoke, I heard absurd comments from beside me.
Turning my head, I saw Rose and Daisy, who had just performed their 'antics,' looking at Fran with envious eyes, while Lily, who hadn't yet shown her 'antics,' held her hands clasped to her chest, looking nervous.
"..."
Seeing that, I once again instinctively nodded my head.
It was understandable. The 'antics' Rose and Daisy had just shown on stage were more than enough to make them envy Fran's acting skills.
— "I-I permit it! You two are destined for each other!"
Rose, who had been on stage, stammered those words.
For context, Rose's role was a teacher who had to chase away a noble lady seeking permission to marry her beloved disciple.
— "Ah, ahh! T-this is troublesome!"
Daisy, her face flushed, fell prostrate on the stage and said that.
For context, Daisy's role was a mage in a hero's party who had to face a corrupted hero, but it seemed she had completely misunderstood the meaning of 'face.'
'At least these two were somewhat better.'
I looked at a dejected Sage, then resented Zenon.
After all, Zenon had, of all things, given Sage the role of a woman blinded by love.
— "My chest is large."
Her blunt tone, the placement of her hands so awkward it was embarrassing to even mention.
Thinking back to the catastrophe that had just unfolded, my hand automatically went to my forehead.
"Next is S-Sa... no, Lily!"
Fran, with a triumphant expression, was descending from the stage, while Dahlia's still-distraught voice rang out.
"Emmanuel."
Lily, with a determined expression as if going to war against the demon race, made the sign of the cross, then immediately stepped onto the stage.
I watched her intently.
Honestly, I was excited. Because I was about to witness the Saintess's acting, something I could never have imagined seeing in the game.
Whether she 'acted' or performed 'antics.'
It was abundantly clear that the scene about to unfold would be something I would never witness again, not even for a billion gold.
"Here, I intend to treat you as a Drama Club member, not as the Saintess. Is that acceptable?"
Perhaps her status as a Saintess was indeed formidable, as Zenon, for the first time today, showed deference and asked Lily, who had just stepped onto the stage.
"Of course."
"Alright, what role shall we have our Lily perform?"
As Lily replied, Zenon immediately wore an amused expression and began meticulously flipping through his notebook, which seemed to contain various roles.
"This should be good."
"Anything."
"Could you perhaps portray a priestess banishing a demon?"
"Yes."
"Begin."
"Professor?"
Just as Zenon, with a satisfied expression, was about to clap his hands, Lily stared at Zenon and called out.
"Excuse me, but could I ask for a scene partner?"
"A scene partner? Ah, are you asking me to play the role of the demon?"
"Yes, if you can."
"Ha, haha! Of course! I shall come up."
Perhaps Lily's request was that agreeable. Zenon immediately stood up and began walking towards the stage.
"You can begin as soon as I step up."
Saying that, Zenon slowly built up his emotions. His expression changed.
It was fascinating. A moment ago, he seemed to be laughing with delight, but now he wore a smile filled with pure malice.
And Zenon wasn't the only one whose expression was changing.
'Oh.'
Lily's expression was also turning quite serious. Her once lifeless crimson eyes now held vitality. Her previously languid expression began to grow stern.
—Hiss.
I hadn't thought of that. As if she had been waiting for this very moment, Lily had already lit the cigarette she held in her mouth.
"Hee-hee, hee-hee-hee?"
To Lily, Zenon twisted his body vividly, approaching her.
Seeing him, Lily's delicate lips parted, and her slender hand reached out towards him.
"You foolish soul, dominated by greed."
"H-hee-hee?"
"You covet another's body and mimic them."
A pure white light emanated from her hand. Zenon, who was approaching Lily, scowled harshly.
"My faith is sharp enough to sever your vain desires."
"S-stop your nonsense!"
"My heart is holy, and it shall erase your greed."
"Y-you harlot of the heavens!"
Zenon lunged at her. The light held in the Saintess's hand burst forth, engulfing Zenon.
"Corrupted one, may you apologize to the one who loved your desires, and then vanish."
—With a blinding flash!
"A-aaaargh!"
The theater was enveloped in a pure white light. Zenon, playing the demon, collapsed on the spot, shedding tears and howling in agony.
"..."
The light vanished. Zenon, sprawled on the floor, twitched.
Silence fell on the stage, and the students watching blinked their eyes.
"Ha, haha!"
Breaking the silence was Zenon's laughter, as he lay prostrate.
He got up, tidied his disheveled hair, and gave Lily a thumbs-up.
"Lily, that was truly excellent."
"You flatter me."
"Alright, everyone, let's give a round of applause for Lily's magnificent acting!"
Zenon laughed heartily, encouraging the students to applaud.
Seeing him, the students had to clap with dazed expressions.
"Wow..."
Too stunned, I stood there, mouth agape, unable to clap.
Did she notice me?
The Saintess, descending from the stage, gave me a subtle glance.
Meeting her gaze, I quietly nodded.