Chapter 2

A Tragic Tale: Suppose a Fun Vacation Became a Business Trip

“Sigh… Why do I gotta handle all the big jobs?” Choline muttered. It was early morning, but her eyes were already dead.

The sea breeze caressed her cheeks.

They were floating on the waters between Azami and Rokujou.

Early that morning, she had boarded a Rokujou-bound high-speed steamship on Azami’s South Side, along with the soldiers and cadets who’d volunteered to be extras.

Everyone was on deck, chattering excitedly. Between their roles in the movie and the rare chance at a ride on a high-speed steamship, they were very excited. It was like this was a vacation. Choline herself had been excited until moments before—possibly more than anyone.

She hadn’t worn herself out early. Every tour group has someone exhaust themselves, but this time, the cause lay elsewhere.

“I never thought Rokujou would be in such dire straits… I guess it makes sense to choose me, since I’m from there, but…I dunno if I’m cut out for it.”

Back at the harbor, King Luke himself had briefed Choline on the true purpose of this excursion. The king of Rokujou, Sardin, had personally delivered a request for aid. His story read like the plot of a pulp novel. Choline had thought King Luke was joking and laughed in his face.

“I wish it wasn’t true…but if they’ve booked a high-speed steamship, they mean business. Ugh, the pressure…”

She’d left the briefing still struggling to believe Rokujou was in that much trouble, but the choice of ship—she wasn’t sure she’d even seen one of these before—had forced her to accept the gravity of the situation.

She let out another long sigh, staring at the waves below.

“And Chrome’s on standby back home in case something goes wrong there… Rol’s from Rokujou, too, but she’s in exile… Mena’s on vacation—I wish I was, too! I need time off, bad.”

Griping at the horizon was just earning her sympathetic looks from the soldiers nearby, like she was a little kid who’d forgotten to pack any playing cards on a road trip and was struggling to get over it.

Riho and Selen came out on deck.

“All the rooms here are super nice! Yo, thanks for running the show here, Colonel Choline.”

Riho waggled her fingers, then saw how distraught Choline was and moved closer.

“What’s goin’ on, Colonel? You drop your gummy bears overboard?”

“Don’t be silly, Riho,” Selen scolded. “She clearly forgot to pack a deck of cards.”

“I’ve got those, Colonel Choline!” Allan offered. “We’ll have to play Tycoon later.”

None of these comments were helpful, so Choline just bared her teeth at them.

“It ain’t that, ya clowns! Nah, fine, sure, sure, I dropped my gummy bears and cards in the ocean.”

“………So clumsy.”

“……I can’t tell you the real reason, and, man, is that stressful.”

Choline was under strict instructions to keep it to herself until she learned more about the request for aid. There were too many uncertainties right now, and they couldn’t afford to make any careless moves—King Luke had said they should all act as if they really were just extras until the other side made contact.

Frustrated, Choline decided to ask Phyllo about Mena.

“Phyllo, why’d your sister have to take a long vacation now? Something come up?”

Phyllo cocked her head. “I dunno,” she admitted. “…Even when we were mercenaries…she disappeared sometimes.”

“Huh.”

“…You don’t need to worry about her, though. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, I just figured it would be a blast if she were along for the ride here! She’s missing out! Such a shame!”

Choline was yelling at the water like the star of an inspirational drama.

“You sure brought a lot of extras,” Riho observed, glancing around. “They’re all volunteers, right? Bunch of fanboys.”

“Riho,” Selen said, “you’re a bit of a fangirl yourself.”

“Don’t be silly! I’ve got my eye on other stuff. I’m gonna collect Amidine’s used chopsticks or whatever and hawk that shit at massively inflated prices!”

“……That’s worse,” Phyllo said.

Riho ignored her. “Ha, scoff all you like! Oh, Micona and her crowd are here? Didn’t think they were the type.”

Her eyes had lit on a group of cadets whose armbands indicated they were upperclassmen. One of them was particularly dashing, a girl whose leadership qualities were every bit as impressive as her boobs. The head of the second-year students, Micona Zol.

When she saw Riho glancing her way, she advanced.

“Here she comes,” Selen muttered. “Ready to challenge us to another competition, I bet. Clinging to outmoded ideas about seniority and the absurd belief that upperclassmen are always superior.”

But Micona didn’t seem to be in the mood. Her glare was more aggressive—downright angry.

“What’s the meaning of this?” she snapped.

She was yelling already, but nobody knew why.

“Wanna explain yourself, lady?” Allan asked. “…Augh!”

Micona had kicked Allan in the shin as hard as she could. She was really mad.

Allan toppled over, and Micona breezed past him, glaring at the girls.

“Spill the beans! Secrets will do you no good!”

“Nobody has any clue what you’re talking about.”

Angrily barking questions and orders without subjects was just confusing everyone.

Micona suddenly collapsed in a flood of tears, as if they’d brought up a painful memory.

Once the initial deluge subsided, she managed to explain her anger, snot dangling from her nose.

“The other day, I was at Marie’s shop! Hoping for a chance to peep in her bathroom win— Ahem! To catch her fresh out of the bath! I skipped all the way there!”

“The corrected version was almost as bad…”

This calls for an explanation. Micona Zol was not just another cadet; she was also madly in love with Marie. Her passion for Marie was the equal of Selen’s for Lloyd—in superhero terms, Selen was the master of technique, while Micona was the master of raw power. One could call them the Double Stalkers. Oh, and the futuristic cyborg who fused technique and power? Alka.

“Just because you couldn’t peep on Marie in the bath doesn’t give you any right to take it out on us!” Selen declared. “Everyone knows most attempts at that end in failure! You must savor the lingering scents of a close call and consider yourself incredibly lucky if you catch a glimpse of Lloyd’s flesh, or your mental sanity will never survive intact!”

“Your mind is long since gone.”

Setting low-bar goals to attain a constant feeling of satisfaction was the key to any successful job performance. And, well, Selen’s idea of a job was just unusual.

“That’s helpful, Selen Hemein, but not the point! That’s not my issue here!”

Selen’s comment had been helpful? Oblivious to the concerned looks, Micona chewed on her thumbnail.

“Then what is your problem?”

“On that day, there was already no steam left in the bathroom. ‘Damn, blew it again,’ I thought and went around to the front window hoping to at least solace myself with a glimpse of Marie’s smile.”

“You do this, like, every day, then?” Riho asked.

“And…there was a strange man with Marie!”

“There was?”

“Yes! Early twenties, handsome, a gentle smile—chatting with her happily!”

At this point, the girls all figured out what had happened. Micona had clearly mistaken grown-up Lloyd for some sort of drop-in escort.

The girls all made faces, unable to just say, “That’s Lloyd.” No one wanted to explain.

Allan, however, had no clue what was going on. Rubbing his shin, he said, “Nice going, Marie.”

Now Micona was kicking his other shin. Allan landed facedown on the deck.

“Don’t say that! I thought Lloyd Belladonna was my only foe, but there was a dark horse candidate…and what they got up to…”

“……Details, please.”

Phyllo’s expression didn’t waver, but there was a hint of anger in her voice.

“Marie—usually so refined! She said, ‘At last, we’re alone together!’” Micona explained. “She sat the man down, animal lust in her eyes…and began taking pictures! Clearly part of the visiting escort package!”

She’d likely been taking the headshots they needed for the forged documents. Everyone who knew better let this pass, but…

“She started normally, from the front, but then she stood next to him, taking shots of them together! Then she started making him pose!”

Marie had realized no one was watching and turned into a pinup photographer, taking things way too far.

““““……Huh.””””

“And when she was done taking photos…then…then…” Micona wailed.

“Y-you can’t stop there!” Riho yelled.

“I couldn’t take it anymore and ran home sobbing! I didn’t see the rest.”

In actual fact, the photos had been more than enough for Marie, and she hadn’t done anything else. She was fundamentally a wallflower.

But Micona’s testimony cutting off at what seemed like a critical moment hit their fantasy-prone adolescent minds like a truck, and vivid images of what Marie might have done with grown-up Lloyd flooded every mind.

Just as the girls’ faces reached maximum redness, Lloyd came back. He’d been staring at the ocean from the ship’s prow.

“Boats are amazing! I mean, swimming would be way faster, but you can really enjoy the scenery on a leisurely trip like this. Uh, something wrong? Are you seasick?”

Nobody cared to say anything about Lloyd characterizing a high-speed ship as “leisurely.” They all just looked grim.

“…Close enough, Sir Lloyd,” Selen said.

“I feel pretty sick.”

“……Mm.”

The second she laid eyes on Lloyd, Micona advanced on him.

“Lloyd! Belladonna! What are you doing? Why aren’t you watching over her?! It’s your fault this home-visiting escort has his poisonous clutches in Marie!”

“Er? What are we talking about?” Lloyd said, looking lost.

“You fool! No, wait, Micona…stay positive. You can murder this escort in a back alley and then comfort a despondent Marie…heh-heh-heh. Turn this ship back to Azami!”

Little did Micona know the boy in front of her was this “escort”…and she would soon be face-to-face with him again.

Little did the girls know Marie was too much of a wallflower to have done any of the things they were imagining.

Speaking of which…

“Ah-ka-choo!”

“What is it this time, Marie? More dust? Or are you actually sick?”

“No, I think someone’s just gossiping about me. I’m allergic to rumors.”

“Well, good. Ready to head to Rokujou? A date with grown-up Lloyd abroad?!” Alka inexplicably held up a blindfold.

“I’m not supporting your date plans here, but…uh, Master? What’s that for?”

“Well, we’re gonna be flying there. And you’re afraid of heights, so this’ll help keep you from struggling. I’ll gag and hogtie you later!”

“First I’ve heard of it! And I’m not afraid of heights! Anyone would be scared if you dragged them above cloud level! Mmph! Mmph!”

“Quit struggling! For safety concerns, I’m gonna fly real slow! It’ll take all day!”

“Mm! Mmph! Mmaahh! If I’m that height for a full day, I’ll literally die! Aaaaah!”

Thus, Marie’s trip to Rokujou began with a screech of horror.

Little did she know an even more terrifying fate lay in store for her.

The ship made one stop at a port town on the border. It was just after noon on the second day…

“We’re here, Lloyd! Long boat rides do take it out of you…”

Heedless of the concerns of those aboard, the high-speed steamship had arrived safely in Rokujou Kingdom.

“Wow! So this is Rokujou!”

The town spread out before Lloyd’s eyes was made of stone—very different from Azami. It was the kind of city where any angle would make an amazing photograph. It had clearly captivated Lloyd’s heart.

Meanwhile, a crowd had gathered, waiting for the cadets to disembark, all merchants hoping to peddle souvenirs or snacks.

“Yo, buddy, fancy some manju?”

“Get your Rokujou’s famous sweet chestnuts here! They’re roasted over Fire Magic!”

Choline pushed them all back like she was used to this.

“Okay, okay. Sorry, folks, we’re here on business. Move along!”

Once sure no one was buying, they quickly vanished.

Allan stared after them, surprised by the aggressive sales. This didn’t seem like that kind of town.

“It’s like they got Azami’s East Side and West Side mixed together,” he commented.

“They do.” Choline nodded. “You’re on the money for once. Part of Rokujou’s distinct flavor is how the genteel and the disreputable all are living right on top of each other. The upscale homes of the West Side and the slums of the East Side, all in the same place.”

“Isn’t that bad?” Selen asked.

“It was always the kind of place where financial interests and mercantile wheeler-dealers gathered. Once magic stones became big business, the government invested loads of money in magic research and turned themselves into the kingdom of magic. But at its roots, the whole country’ll do anything for a quick buck. That’s Rokujou! Let your guard down a second and some unscrupulous hawker will strip the hair off your butthole, Allan!”

“Colonel! I am not that hairy!”

Dropping more warnings, Choline led her students to their lodgings.

It was a large stone inn a short way down the coast with a view of the beach. It wasn’t that far from town, but far enough the beach felt secluded. The cadets were very impressed.

“My, this isn’t half-bad!” Selen noted.

“Yeah. I was expecting something even worse…,” Allan agreed.

“Pfft, you nobles are such snobs,” Riho scoffed. Selen and Allan were both from the families of local lords. “But why put a bunch of extras up somewhere nice?”

“Good question,” Choline deadpanned. Fortunately, Riho was the only one looking this gift horse in the mouth. “Thank heavens everyone else is in vacation mode…”

If only she could be like them, blissfully ignorant. The colonel sighed for the umpteenth time that day.

“Colonel Choline, what should we do next? Stand by?” Lloyd asked earnestly.

Selen grabbed his hand, already carried away. “Obviously, this is free time! Come, Sir Lloyd! We must wander the winding streets of Rokujou, growing ever closer—!”

“You’re getting a bit too free there, Selen. Do you want the cops here after you, too?”

“Yeah, you’re representing the local lords and the Azami military! Restrain yourself for once!”

“…I’ll show Master around. Don’t worry. I know Rokujou.”

Phyllo tried to pull Lloyd away, but Selen stopped her…by throwing her arms around him and rubbing her cheek on his.

“Selen! Phyllo! At least drop your things in your rooms first!”

As Choline yelled at them, a luxurious carriage pulled up in front of the inn.

The students turned to stare, and a man in a black suit stepped out, looking very dashing.

Well-groomed hair, gleaming with oils—oozing sex appeal. He walked like a hotshot businessman, the kind who sleeps with every female client or business partner.

“Pardon me, but would you be the guests from Azami Military Academy?”

“Yeah, we are but… Oh, y-you’re…!”

Choline’s voice went up a notch. Similar noises were spreading through the student body.

“Huh?”

“Oh!”

“That’s…Amidine!”

“Wow! Amidine Oxo! Since his debut in The Cotton Kerchief of Happiness, he broke out big with Rokujou Holiday, but he’s only thirty-five! What a star! Sir, can I have your autograph? Make it out to Allan.”

One reaaaaally big fanboy here.

Amidine put a finger to his lips, silencing the crowd. He winked at everyone. How charming!

“Sorry, they’re like this about everything,” Choline said, remembering she was in charge. “But what brings a celebrity here?”

Amidine chuckled, scratching his neck. “You’re in charge, then? I’m just running an errand at the whim of my director.”

“The director?”

“Yeah, I’ve brought a message to all the extras from this film’s director—Sardin Valyl-Tyrosine. He wants to start auditions, so he’d like you all to head to the location right away.”

“A-auditions? Even though we’re extras?”

“Well, more like a meet-and-greet. There’s still a few named parts up for grabs, so some of you might end up filling those roles.”

“W-wow,” Choline squeaked out, surprised.

“Meet here in an hour,” Amidine said, handing her a map. “Cadets and proper soldiers alike. Tell everyone!”

With that, he was gone.

“Auditions?” Choline muttered. “Wonder if this has anything to do with the request?”

“What request?” Selen asked.

“Oh, no, never mind that. All right! Stow your stuff, change out of uniform, and gather in the lobby! We got auditions to handle! Girls, make sure your makeup’s on point! Guys, pluck them nose hairs!”

Meanwhile, Lloyd was giving himself a pep talk…

“It’ll be okay… The audition’s real sudden, but…I’ll be nearly six feet tall!”

Anxiety and hope swirling inside, he got ready for the tryouts.

An hour later, they were outside an auditorium.

The audition hall was packed to the brim.

The building housed large meeting rooms and waiting rooms, which ordinarily hosted merchant conferences, lectures, and music lessons open to the public.

Now the place was swarming with soldiers from Azami. Even in street clothes, there were muscles bulging everywhere, and it was a pretty intimidating sight.

Allan was at the entrance, speaking confidently. He’d gone all the way, slicking his hair back with scented oils. If you lit a match, he would go up in flames.

“Right, Lloyd! Time for our first step toward silver-screen stardom!”

Allan brushed back his hair with an audible splat.

“R-right,” Lloyd said nervously.

“Hmm, I see you’re feeling the pressure. Never fear! I’ve got your back!” Allan thumped his chest, like just being there solved everything.

“Ah-ha-ha, I don’t think you can watch each other’s backs during auditions…”

“You’ve got his back?” Selen sneered. “More like you’re holding him back! Sir Lloyd, we must show off our red-hot chemistry and get ourselves cast as a couple!”

She was just as bad.

Allan folded his arms, chuckling. “I’ve been studying up on acting the last few days! You sure you want to talk smack to a future movie star? I think you’d be better off getting my autograph now.”

Riho immediately handed him a piece of paper. “Hey, future star! Sign this check! I’ve got, like, ten blank ones for you!”

“You’re trying to screw over my future already?”

“………Mm,” Phyllo agreed.

“Mm, nothing! Whatever. Good luck to you both!” Allan boomed. “I’m gonna go sign up and prepare myself in a waiting room! From this moment forth, we’re enemies vying for the same roles! May the best man win!”

With a particularly overbearing grin, Allan sailed off inside.

“Lot of confidence for someone with his ugly mug,” Riho said.

“……This is news how?”

“He always starts out pumped and loses his nerve the moment it gets real.”

“……My point exactly.”

They all knew Allan better than he knew himself.

Alka and Marie showed up soon after. Marie’s blindfold was slipping off… Seemed like she’d got a panoramic view of the world above the clouds. She was almost as white.

“Nice crisp air up there! Oh, Marie, something ailing you?”

“…Master…you knocked the blindfold off deliberately…”

“Whaaat? I would neeeever.”

This little grandma definitely had.

Lloyd saw them and waved. “Chief! Marie!”

“Oh, Lloyd! I heard you’re auditioning. Here’s your clothes for today!”

Alka gave him a linen bag. Swaying slightly, Marie handed him a card.

“Lloyd, here.”

“This is… Oh, the fake ID! You took a new headshot for it so no one would guess I was using runes to look older!”

“Uh, yeah. Right.”

Lloyd remained convinced everyone could use runes, and Marie had long since given up trying to explain. Gazing with wonder at his new ID, he realized something.

“Oh, there’s no name on it.”

Marie winced. “Yeah, well, you can’t just use the same one, right? Lloyd, I figured you should pick it out yourself. Write whatever you like.”

“Oh, really? Hmm…”

Lloyd folded his arms, not at all sure what to do. Some people spend over an hour thinking about this every time they start a video game, and Lloyd was probably one of these.

Selen leaned in with some advice. “If you need a fake name, put Hemein for the family name. A trial run for when you marry into my family…”

“You’re such an idiot,” Riho said.

Naturally, Selen had a lot of crap to back up her suggestion. “Come now, Riho. The best way to make a lie convincing is to mix in some truth! Anyone marrying into the family of a local lord will very likely be forced to take their name.”

“The entire premise of this is wishful thinking…and we won’t let it happen!”

Phyllo loomed over her. “…Then let’s have him be my brother. We can be the three Quinone siblings.”

“Forget the family name; we need a first name!”

Lloyd was caught at the center of a tug-of-war, but then Alka snatched the paperwork away.

“Hey, Master! There’s only one of those! Don’t doodle on it!”

“Fool, I’m not doodling! I’m cutting the argument short!”

Alka had written in a name.

Roy Akizuki.

Not a familiar sound at all.

“What? That’s a weird name.”

“Whatever, it’s fine!”

“…Akizuki… An unusual combination of sounds. From the Domain?”

“Argh, time’s a-wastin’! Let’s do this!” Alka brushed off their questions, forcibly casting the rune on Lloyd.

Smoke started pouring off him.

“Wait, Chief! You can’t just— Augh! Sorry, I’ll go change in the bathroom!”

Lloyd rushed off—looking like a kid who had to pee.

A few minutes later, he came back a real man. Yeah, unfortunate phrasing. Let’s just move past it, please.

“Thanks for waiting. Can you hold this for me?”

Hot Lloyd handed the bag of his old clothes to Marie.

“Gladly!” she exclaimed, still not used to him. She sounded like a female manager talking to the captain of the school baseball team.

“I’ve seen this sight already, but…” Riho trailed off.

“I can’t get used to it,” Selen said.

“……He’s too hot.”

Knowing the real Lloyd just made this grown-up version all the more appealing, and they were all weak at the knees.

“Mm! Lloyd, like we practiced, try speaking differently,” Alka prompted.

“Right, to avoid anyone I know figuring it out, I need to sound cool, right?”

“Yeah, give the line I wrote you a try.”

“Um… ‘Don’t worry. I’ll never leave your side.’”

““““Gah!!””””

“Er, is something wrong?”

Nothing. They’d just all had heart attacks.

“Hmm…well, best of luck…Roy.”

“Thanks!”

The way Alka said “Roy” sure sounded like she was gazing at distant memories…

“Ugh, I hate feeling like this,” Riho grumbled.

“This is how those middle-aged women who get addicted to host clubs feel!”

“…I feel like offering up tribute.”

The other girls were too far gone to notice this change in Alka.

Marie smiled as Lloyd headed out.

“When he really is grown up, I can see him off like this every day…Huh?”

Phyllo had abruptly cut off Marie’s vision with a blindfold…tying it very tight.

“……Mm.”

“Phyllo? Why the blindfold—?”

Next, Selen’s belt wrapped around the witch.

“Ha!”

“Wait, Selen?! Why are you tying me up?”

Then Riho growled low in Marie’s ear. “Photos?”

“……How did you know?”

Marie’s reaction gave the game away. No getting herself off the hook now.

“What photos?” Alka asked. It was not a word she could let go unnoticed. “Fill me in.”

Selen told her everything…including a lot of completely spurious information provided by her imagination.

“I didn’t do that!” Marie protested, but as she struggled, a photograph slipped out of her sleeve.

A picture of grown-up Lloyd and Marie together, their faces pressed together side by side, posed like a couple.

“You…dropped a photo there…”

“Crap! That one turned out so well, I decided it would cheer me up if I ever got depressed and have kept it with me ever since! Aughhh!”

The belt had gone a bit too tight.

“…She’s guilty, Your Honor.”

“Yep, guilty.”

“Extremely guilty.”

“Would you rather be dust or ash?”

Interrogating Marie made the girls late for the audition, but…they had only themselves to blame.

“Aughhhhhh! It was a moment of weakness!”

Same went for Marie.

Meanwhile, a wave of heat was radiating in a nearby waiting room.

It was like MMA fighters or professional wrestlers hyping themselves up for a match. You could almost see the flames.

Some were reading the audition script reception had provided; others were doing stretches—oh, someone’s even doing vocal warm-ups.

“Aughhh! Let go! Get off me!”

“““Allan!”””

…Oh, it was just a bloodcurdling shriek.

Allan had entered the waiting room only to find a flock of drag queens—his ardent admirers—waiting in ambush. Most of the heat was radiating from them! It did seem rather fierce.

“It’s been faaar too long, Allan! Are you here to be an extra?”

“Hey! Don’t touch him there! And of course that’s why he’s here!”

“Why don’t you join us, Allan? With those muscles, you’d be at the top in no time!”

“Seems unlikely! Thanks, but no thanks!”

Adult Lloyd stepped in, saw the commotion, and thought, Man, Allan sure is popular! Never change, kid. Let me see. Anywhere still open? Oh, that corner’s pretty empty.

Lloyd found a corner left largely deserted—since no one wanted to push past the flock of Allan’s fans.

Lloyd, however, slipped right on by.

“Mwa-ha!”

“Hey! Don’t pinch me! No more pinching!” Allan roared.

The pincher took a step back…

“Oof! Sorry, honey…?”

…And he crashed right into Lloyd.

“Not a problem,” Lloyd said, smiling. Then he turned to Allan. “Mind if I join you?”

He settled down on an empty seat.

There was a cryptic silence.

Lloyd started getting nervous. Huh? Wh-what’s wrong? Did I do something wrong? Did they recognize me?

Lloyd thought his cover was about to be blown, but the admirers’ concerns lay elsewhere.

He was hot. Very hot. And they’d all worked up a sweat fighting over Allan…

“Oh dear…”

“My, my…”

“I’d better go powder up!”

The entire pack raced off to the bathroom to fix their makeup. They would likely be gossiping about Lloyd in there, like the girls during a mid-mixer break.

With the drag division out of his hair, Allan turned to Lloyd.

“You there,” he said.

“…Uh, yes?” Lloyd was trying to say as little as possible to avoid blowing his cover.

Allan slapped a hand on his shoulder, grinning from ear to ear.

“Thanks, dude! You deliberately jostled that shoulder to drive them off, right? You were a huge help!” Allan held out his hand.

Lloyd shook it, relieved his cover was intact.

“I’m Allan! Nice to meetcha.”

“Roy…Akizuki.”

“Roy, huh? You really saved my bacon there. They were getting all excited, pinching me in all the wrong places.”

“…Sounds rough.”

Lloyd wasn’t talking much. Allan leaned in, peering at his face.

“Hmm? Say, are you…?”

“Urk!”

“Nervous? I know! It’s a big audition! A huge movie!”

Lloyd’s silence did read as stress. Allan folded his arms, nodding.

“Right, lemme see if I can pay you back! I’ll tell you the acting fundamentals that’ll help you nail any audition!”

Relieved his ruse was intact, Lloyd forgot himself, responding like he always did.

“Thanks a lot, Allan! That would be a big help!”

“Mm? You remind me of someone…”

“Erp… Well, never mind that.”

“Yeah? Well, okay. Right, Roy, let me show you what I learned! Free of charge, least I can do! Teaching you will help me practice, too!”

Allan proceeded to give Lloyd a bunch of acting tips he’d read, like it was all from personal experience. Everyone knows the type: There’s always someone at the office who’s only been on the job a month but acts like a veteran the second a new hire shows up.

“First, even if you flub a line, don’t stop to apologize. You only quit acting if the director yells ‘cut’! It’s vital to stay in character, keep the scene moving, and get through your lines.”

“…Okay.”

“Same with ad-libs, improvs, and études. The key there is to never say no to what your scene partner is doing. Going against the performance flow is just being selfish.”

“Good to know.”

Despite his enthusiastically pompous lecture…Allan had never actually acted.

Lloyd ate it up regardless.

Just as Allan ran out of tips, someone from the audition staff stepped in.

“Uh, if your number’s in the thirties, please move to stand by in the hall. Remain absolutely silent so as not to disrupt the auditions in progress.”

“Thirties? That’s me. Roy?”

“Oh, me too.”

“Nice! Let’s get going. And remember, if you start freezing up, just imagine they’re all potatoes.”

Lloyd followed Allan out.

Whew, that was close. I wonder why everyone was so insistent that Allan couldn’t know the truth? That’s just making me extra nervous!

The reason was simple enough: Allan was a hopeless actor and would never be able to keep the secret.

But Lloyd was convinced Allan was a great performer, and nothing would ever dislodge this idea from his mind.

In the hall outside the audition room, applicants were seated in a row of chairs.

A group left the room, their auditions complete, and the next set of numbers was called. It seemed they were doing five at a time.

Hmm, no way to see what anyone else is doing… No, stay strong. I just have to act natural and do the best I can.

Lloyd relaxed a little, scanning his surroundings.

No one was doing vocal warm-ups out here. There were a few people gesticulating a bit, silently running through their lines.

And one person shaking like a leaf.

“I’ll be fine… I’ll be fine…”

That’s right—Allan. As always, he was losing his mind right before his big moment.

“Er, are you okay?” asked Lloyd—Roy now.

“Y-yeah…this is…in excitement! Don’t worry. They’re all potatoes. Potatoes…and getting nervous here makes me worse than a potato… I’m sorry for everything…”

“You don’t seem okay.”

“Uh… No, sorry, don’t worry about me. Man, this sure is different from pre-tournament nerves…”

“I’m scared, too,” Lloyd admitted. “I’ve never done anything like this! Being jittery is normal. But you don’t know what you can do until you try.”

Allan blinked, looking up at him. “R-right… Good point, Roy. Heh. Man, you sound just like my master.”

“Your master?”

“Yeah, his name’s Lloyd. He’s a little dude but really has it together. I’m proud to be his student.”

At this point, the staff called out, “Next group, come on in.”

Allan and Lloyd took a deep breath and went into the audition room together.

There was a long table at one end of the room with a panel of judges behind it, running pens across piles of paperwork. At the center of the table was a man with dark blond hair and an overbearing smile. He waved the applicants toward a set of chairs.

“’Sup, everyone, the name’s Sardin. Loosen up! Don’t go stressing it just because I’m the king. Make yourselves at home.”

He winked hard enough it made a ding, confusing everyone. What? This was the king of Rokujou? Make themselves at home? He was really gonna set the tone like this?

Next to Sardin was an extremely calm man with black hair—Amidine. He wore a top-class suit, rifling through documents like a veteran military strategist preparing for war.

When he saw everyone looking confused, he turned to Sardin.

“Your Majesty, you’re out in public. Introduce yourself properly.”

“Sorry, I’ve had to do this for every group! Guess I cut it a bit too short! Not like I’m lacking in ways to introduce myself or anything—I’ve got an endless supply!”

“No matter how many times you’ve done it, this is their first time meeting you. You have a royal responsibility to do it right.”

“Fair enough. My name is Sardin Valyl-Tyrosine. I’m the king of Rokujou and the director of this motion picture. Better?”

“Don’t ask me…,” Amidine grumbled. He finished going over the documents and looked up at the applicants.

“My name is Amidine Oxo,” he said, flashing a dazzling smile. “I’ll be playing the lead role in this film.”

“The real Amidine is something else! Just sitting in a chair, and you can tell he’s a star!”

Sitting or standing didn’t make much difference, really, but it didn’t take much to impress a fanboy.

Sardin shot Allan a slight frown.

“You seem more impressed with him! That’s enough to make a man royally jealous! As a king should be.”

“I am an actor,” Amidine said. “If you turn this movie into a hit, you might find yourself equally famous.”

“Good point, Amidine! That’s why I want to make this movie work. With your help!” Sardin beamed at the applicants. Then he got down to business. “You on the left, step forward.”

The soldier in front of Allan stepped forward nervously, bowed, and began reading the script.

Sardin grinned the whole time. Amidine didn’t bat an eye, but his pen ran across the page, clearly checking things off. This rattled the soldier… It was hard to keep acting when no one responded at all.

At last, he reached the end of the script, and Sardin asked a few questions. Some small talk ensued, followed by a few things about his postings in the army, etc.

“Hmm, thanks. Take a seat.”

The soldier let out of a sigh of relief and sat down.

“Your Majesty, keep the small talk to a minimum,” Amidine suggested.

“You’ve got to get to know them, Amidine!” Sardin protested, beaming. “Especially with amateurs—they’ll be at their best playing themselves.”

“The whole point of acting is to be convincing in any situation…but you have a point.”

“I know! Next!”

Allan leaped to his feet. “Yesh!”

Amidine flinched like someone had dropped an ice cube down the back of his shirt.

Sardin glanced at the documents, enthusiastically reading them aloud. “Hmm, Allan Toin Lidocaine! So you’re the famous dragon slayer who can summon legendary heroes!”

“Yesh!”

“……Uh, hmm. Well, best of luck!” Sardin was starting to look worried. He pointed at the script in Allan’s hands.

“Yesh!” Allan said, several times, like a broken record. Then he finally started reading.

A few minutes later…

“I’m a failure… A hopeless shell of a man…”

Allan collapsed in his chair, hanging his head, white as a sheet. A burned-out, hollow husk, he looked like he’d blown his life savings at the racetrack or had his marriage proposal brutally shot down.

Amidine scratched his head with his pen. “Never seen anyone apologize for every blown line…”

And Allan had blown his apologies and apologized for that, stressing his lines so hard his intonation was all over the map. The script was supposed to be a routine conversation, but Allan read it like an elementary school student reading their essay aloud. In other words, it was a disaster.

It was the inevitable fate of anyone who thinks they can act just because they read a book about it.

“Oh no…if a man like Allan goes down in flames… Professional auditions are serious business!”

Allan’s brutal death had definitely scared Lloyd.

“That was rough, Your Majesty.”

“Well, he can probably handle the action, maybe? Next!”

“That’s me… P-present!” Lloyd redirected his energy and shot up from his seat, bowing to Sardin and Amidine.

“Well, you’ve got good manners…”

But something was off. Sardin looked down at Lloyd’s paperwork and froze.

“Um?” Lloyd said, looking up from his script.

Amidine looked equally puzzled. “Something wrong, Your Majesty?”

“…Uh, no, nothing! Er, Roy, was it? Mind if I start with some questions?”

“Uh, sure.”

“If someone from another country was in trouble, what would you—as a soldier of Azami—do about it?”

This sure came out of nowhere. Lloyd blinked at him.

“King Sardin, what kind of question is that?”

“Never mind, I’m just curious.”

“Well,” Lloyd said. “It doesn’t matter if they’re a citizen of Azami or not. I’d do what I could to help. I became a soldier to help people, after all.”

“Oh? That’s good to hear.” Sardin sounded impressed.

Completely lost, Amidine waved a hand. “Your Majesty, this is an audition, not a job interview.”

“Fair enough! Go on and read your lines— Mm?”

There was a commotion from the hall.

“What the— Huh?!”

Even as Amidine spoke, the door slammed open, and a woman burst in.

“Hahhhhh…hahhh…there you are!”

It was Micona. Selen, Riho, and Phyllo were all right on her heels, trying to stop her.

“Micona, stop! What are you doing?!”

But Micona shook off Selen’s belt, her breath so ragged she sounded like a monster. She advanced on grown-up Lloyd, snarling.

“Isn’t it obvious?! Your fate is sealed, home-service escort! I never thought you’d be a soldier, and auditioning here!”

Micona thought grown-up Lloyd had seduced Marie and had been unable to stop herself from kicking the door in. She was clearly in no mind to listen to any explanations.

“What a mess,” Riho whimpered. “Restrain her before she makes this worse! I don’t care if you have to skin her alive!”

“…It’s all Marie’s fault,” Phyllo grumbled, punching Micona.

There was a sharp snap as her fist sliced the air.

Weeping bitter tears, Micona had managed to dodge it.

“Don’t stop me! I’m gonna kill him and snare Marie on the rebound!”

“What a terrifying face and suggestion!” Selen wailed. “I can’t believe you’re even human!”

Riho scoffed. “Like you’re any better.”

Phyllo was still swinging, driving Micona back—toward the table where Sardin and Amidine sat.

“You soldiers sure are spirited… Oh?”

“Don’t stand there looking impressed, Your Majesty! Augh!”

Phyllo’s dropkick had snapped the table in two.

“……She dodged me.”

Paperwork filled the air like confetti. Grinning, Sardin said, “What’s your name?”

“……Phyllo.”

“Your last name?”

“…Quinone. Phyllo Quinone.”

“Hmm…well, I love your energy!” He grinned, suddenly very happy.

“Why are you hitting on her, Your Majesty?!” Amidine wailed. “Stop them!”

“Ha-ha-ha, I’m not hitting on her, Amidine! Oof!”

Phyllo had just used Sardin’s face as a stepping-stone to take a flying leap at Micona.

“Don’t get in my way, Phyllo Quinone!” she barked.

“……You stand before the king. Rudeness must be stopped with force.”

“You were way ruder!” Riho shrieked. “You stepped on him!”

Sardin’s face was certainly quite red, but his grin never wavered.

“Ha-ha-ha! So much energy! I love it!”

“Seriously? You’re way too generous…”

Selen managed to get her belt around Micona at last, restraining her, but the auditions were canceled, and the soldiers were sent home.

“…You couldn’t have done that before my audition?” Allan muttered.

That evening, as the sun set over the Rokujou shopping district…Lloyd, still grown up, was walking through the streets, mingling with the post-work crowds.

Obviously, he was not here to take advantage of his adult body to get involved in all manner of previously unexplored R-rated pleasures.

“Hmm…the auditions ended early. The chief and Marie aren’t here yet…”

Thanks to Micona’s disruption, Lloyd had been left with some unexpected free time and found himself wandering around aimlessly.

Marie was holding his usual clothing. If he went back to the inn looking like this, everyone except the girls would be surprised, and Micona might fly off the handle again…

Heedless to the calls of the nightclub doormen, Lloyd wondered how to fill the time.

Then a man came sidling up to him. He was dressed like a craftsman’s apprentice, but something about him seemed…not like the others.

This guy was clearly up to no good.

When he approached Lloyd…he tried to slip a piece of paper into Lloyd’s pocket with professional ease.

In a crowd this size, no one would notice. Normally.

But Lloyd was anything but normal and grabbed the man’s wrist just in time.

“Huh? What’s up?”

“How?!” The man glanced at his wrist in shock but quickly recovered. “So he was right about you… Didn’t think you’d clock me before I slipped you the letter.”

“Clock? Letter?”

“Sorry—this letter’s from him. It’s about the job, Roy Akizuki.”

“Him? Job?”

The man tried to lead Lloyd away. Lloyd forgot who he was supposed to be.

“Uh, sorry, I’m confused. And I’m not supposed to go anywhere with strangers… I could get in trouble.”

This was a line that would be totally natural coming from Lloyd in his normal state—but not from a man in his early twenties. It sounded like something a kid would say, so the man laughed out loud.

“Heh-heh, you’re acting pretty funny, there… Er, pardon me.”

Acting? The wheels in Lloyd’s brain started turning.

The way this man had slipped him the letter was like something in a movie. So was the line about a mysterious “him” and “the job.” And if this guy knew him as Roy Akizuki…

Is this an ad-lib? Improv? He’s an actor!

Not at all.

But Lloyd’s boundless capacity for positive thinking was carrying him further from the truth.

I see! The audition isn’t over yet! They just made it seem like it was canceled, but that was a trick! They wanted to see how adaptable we are! I thought they gave up weirdly fast!

This was totally wrong, but Lloyd was now convinced this was the real audition.

The grin on his face was taken as acceptance.

“I’m glad we have come to an understanding. He’s waiting for you… This way.”

Lloyd remembered Allan’s advice.

“The key to improv is to never say no to what your scene partner is doing. Going against the performance flow is just being selfish.”

I have to follow along! I’d better go where he tells me.

“Sure,” Lloyd said, lowering his voice theatrically.

Following Allan’s advice…he trailed behind the man.

Lloyd soon found himself in a narrow back alley, far from the main drag. He was taken into a bar that just screamed secret lair.

The bartender and customers were all sizing him up…which made Lloyd nervous.

He looked around the room. It was really dark and ominous—not much like any bar he’d seen.

The wall was decorated with swords, shields, and muskets, and there was a map of Rokujou spread out on a table. This looked like a military briefing room, which surprised Lloyd.

Weapons? Why?

Everyone here had clearly survived far more battles than your average barfly. And from the looks they gave him, they obviously weren’t stopping by for a pint after work.

Uh…what’s going on? He braced himself.

“Surprised?”

This voice came over the back of a chair behind the table. There was a man sitting in it, and he swung around to face Lloyd.

“Y-you’re…!”

It was King Sardin Valyl-Tyrosine, from the audition hall.

There was no trace of his former goofiness—now he radiated solemn dignity.

“Yes, I am Sardin. Thank you for coming, Roy. Have a seat.”

Lloyd did as he was told, quietly seating himself. But inside…

See? I knew this was all part of the audition! An improv! King Sardin’s acting totally different, and there’s guns and props on the walls!

…Like always, Lloyd was entirely misreading the situation.

“This may be a bar, but I’m afraid what we have to discuss is too grim to offer you a drink. My apologies.”

“Don’t worry, I can’t drink anyway.”

He might look grown up, but he was just a kid. Lloyd would never drink alcohol.

“Hmm,” Sardin said, muttering under his breath. “I suppose in your line of work, you can’t risk drinking anything you don’t bring yourself.”

His eyes bored into Lloyd.

“The king of Azami really stepped up—not just sending the elite cadets, but a professional like yourself.”

“The king? Professional who?”

Sardin took the blank look on Lloyd’s face as playing dumb.

“Ha-ha-ha, no need for the act.” He chuckled. “I know the king sent you here personally.”

Sardin produced the fake ID Lloyd had brought with him—the one Marie made.

“Look closely. It’s well-crafted, but the ID number is a dead giveaway; you aren’t that young! Yet this seal is real. In other words, this is a fake ID, but one made under direct royal supervision. A hidden message only another king would understand.”

Wow, he’s even using props to make his performance seem real! And he told that whopper about royal supervision so easily!

That was because he was totally right about the origins of the document in question…but to explain that to Lloyd, they would first have to prove Marie was the princess.

Sardin tossed the ID over to Lloyd, who was once again impressed with the king’s talent for ad-libbing.

Mindful of Allan’s advice—never say no—Lloyd did his best to play along.

“Well done, Your Majesty… So, assuming I am sent by Azami…why have you called me here?”

His voice quiet and grim, Sardin began to explain. “Rokujou is in serious trouble.”

“Hardly seems like it,” Lloyd observed, struggling a bit with the register of his voice. “Seems like these movies are really keeping business booming.”

“Perhaps that’s what it looks like from the outside, Roy.” Sardin shook his head. “But that money isn’t going anywhere legitimate.”

“Oh?”

“Everyone’s got their hand in the pot. Skimming off the top, calling it fees to use for their technology or materials…or just blatantly going right into the pockets of the middlemen. Safe to assume all that money is actually headed straight to Jiou.”

“So Jiou…is siphoning your profits?”

“Yeah. A certain organization at the heart of Rokujou Kingdom is controlling everything and funding the Jiou Empire. It’s got to the point where Rokujou exists in name alone.” Sardin suddenly looked very tired. “They’ve got all reaches of the government under their thumb…and I’m afraid they’ve even figured out my weakness.”

“What organization is this? And what have they got on you?”

“A crime syndicate known as the Rising Blue Dragon. All our government policies are designed to enhance their profits. Weapon manufacturing and smuggling…arming and supplying extremist groups…even using necromancy to loot and pillage. We’re turning a blind eye to it all.”

“Necromancy?”

“Yeah, if you don’t fork over the protection money, they’ll make spirits possess family members, causing them to kill one another. And turn the dead into zombies, which attack…and that’s not something we can let slide!” Sardin clenched his fists in fury.

But the situation he’d described was so grim that Lloyd thought…

Wow, he has to be acting. There’s no way this is true.

The more Sardin talked, the more convinced Lloyd was.

Sardin took a deep breath, calming himself…and gestured to the crowd around him.

“I trust every man here. The Rising Blue Dragon have taken everything from them. Family, jobs… We’re the resistance. The idea of a king leading the resistance sounds like a bad joke, right?”

When he heard the word resistance, Lloyd glanced at the swords and muskets, thinking, Oh, so that explains these props. They’re all real, though…

Then he saw a familiar figure leaning against the wall. Amidine.

“Him, too?” Lloyd asked.

Amidine nodded. “Most of the film staff are Anti-Rising Blue Dragon members. We’re using the movie as cover to gather weapons—passing them off as props. And our location scouts are actually monitoring their activities, locating their hideouts.”

It must be hard to dream up this stuff on the spot—but I guess you can’t be a movie star without learning to improvise!

“And the movie was the perfect cover to bring in reinforcements from Azami.” Sardin grinned. “Your king is a wise man—from a few short lines, he knew exactly what we needed. We called it an audition, but elite forces like Allan Toin Lidocaine and Micona Zol? That’s the kind of backup we need.”

“We’ll be filming for two weeks,” Amidine added. “We’re hoping that’s enough time for you to wipe the Rising Blue Dragon out. Can you do it, Mr. Akizuki?”

By way of response, Lloyd stole a line from his favorite novel.

“If I didn’t have confidence, I wouldn’t be in this line of work.”

“Well put… Looking forward to working with you.”

“Any specific instructions? I’m sure you aren’t just leaving it all to me… Are you?”

Sardin handed Lloyd a photograph.

A blond woman was glaring at the camera.

“Who is she?” Lloyd asked, glancing it over.

“Her name’s Ubi. She should prove essential to discovering their hideout. Start by securing her. She’s…my wife.”

“No need to tell him that,” Amidine snapped, annoyed.

“It’s best to be up-front about these things, Amidine,” Sardin said bitterly. “That’s what brought us to this. My failure to tell the world about her is the direct cause of our current predicament.”

“Argh.” Amidine shook his head. “Mr. Akizuki, not a word of this to anyone until the matter is resolved.” He placed a finger to his lips with a wink.

So cool, Lloyd thought. Realizing he was slipping out of character, he clutched at straws, trying to keep the improv going.

“Uh, right…of course.” Lloyd glanced down at the photo in his hand. “If you want her secured, does that mean she’s imprisoned somewhere?”

Sardin nodded gravely, then clarified. “Not imprisoned…but an artifact has robbed her of her freedom. We’ve approached several times, but she always flees. She often appears in this vicinity in the dead of night… Here, take this. You’ll need it to secure her personage.”

Sardin took an old pendant out of his pocket and handed it to Lloyd.

“You found it, Your Majesty?” Amidine asked, his eyes going wide.

Sardin grinned. “Sorry for the late warning, Amidine. It was discovered in the things we bought from that merchant. I had a hunch…and that is the Saint’s Pendant. Since ancient times, it is said to have the power to banish evil spirits… It can counter the Jewel of Legions.”

“We’re supposed to be sharing information, Your Majesty.”

But there was a grin on Amidine’s lips.

“Ha-ha-ha, hadn’t you heard? Kings are notoriously bad at that.”

“News to me.”

Watching these veteran “actors” go at it, Lloyd carefully placed the photo and pendant in his pocket.

“Well, Mr. Akizuki,” Amidine said, turning back to him. “Your mission is to free her, take her to safety, and locate their lair—and with the backing of the Azami forces, wipe them out for good. Can you do it?”

“Of course. How does this pendant work?”

He held it up in front of him. A simple pendant, but in the lantern light, it took on a sinister glow.

“Well…it’s a pendant. I suspect you need to place it around her neck. The merchant said something about swinging it around, but…that makes no sense. Why make it a pendant, then?”

“Yeah, nobody would swing a pendant around.”

A very reasonable set of arguments. After all, nobody normal would ever think to do that. The only problem was…the person who made this wasn’t normal.

“First, find Ubi and use that pendant to lift the curse. Please, Roy.”

“Very well,” Lloyd said theatrically.

Amidine glanced up at the clock on the wall. “Your Majesty, it’s time.”

“Already? I’d better get back to the castle before anyone gets suspicious. Gotta act the fool again!”

“Act? That’s at least half-real! Nobody can act that dumb without a core of true stupidity.”

“Says the movie star.”

These two bickered like old friends. Like something out of a real movie, Lloyd thought. Even in an improv, they can trade cool one-liners!

“Roy.”

“…Uh, yes? I mean, what is it?”

Sardin rose to his feet and bowed low. “I must be going. I’m glad this discussion was so productive.”

Lloyd took this to mean the improv was over and snapped back to his usual self.

“Oh, okay! Good work, everyone! Thanks so much!”

“Er…uh, sure?”

Lloyd was suddenly acting like a totally different person, and both Sardin and Amidine looked surprised. Lloyd had already moved over to the wall, however, poking the swords and guns with great interest—inspecting the props.

“Heh…these are really well-made!”

“Uh…Roy?”

“Oh, yes! Well, I’ll see you tomorrow, Director!”

Seeing this transformation, Sardin said only one thing. “You’re such a professional! I expect great things.”

“Huh?” Lloyd looked confused, never connecting this to all that acting they’d just done.

Amidine patted him on the shoulder. “Mr. Akizuki, I’ll walk you to the main road. All these winding alleys must be a maze to someone new to the city.”

“Oh, thanks, that would be really helpful!”

“You really turn on a dime, huh? You could be a great actor.”

“Oh, really? Thanks!”

Amidine led Lloyd out the lair of the Anti-Rising Blue Dragon.

A short walk away, Amidine pulled out a match and lit a cigarette.

It was very dark here. The streetlamps didn’t reach this corner. The only light on their faces came from the tiny flame.

The scent of the match and the ensuing cigarette smoke tickled Lloyd’s nose.

He coughed lightly. He was a kid inside. No one around him smoked.

“Oh, sorry, mister. Should have waited till we were in the open.”

“Oh, it’s fine,” Lloyd said.

But Amidine looked genuinely regretful. “I just gotta have a smoke before I work.”

“Oh? You still have work? Wow.”

Lloyd was just worried about late hours, but Amidine winced.

“Yeah, well… Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to be Amidine Oxo all the time. If I could be someone else, go far away… That might be a weird thing for an actor to say.”

He took a drag on his cigarette, then scratched his head sheepishly.

“Mind if I take a look at that pendant? I’m worried someone foisted a fake off on him. Oh, and can I see the photograph, too?”

Lloyd happily handed over the photo and pendant.

In the dark alley, Amidine used the light of his cigarette to inspect the pendant.

Like a detective poring over evidence. Totally nailing the hard-boiled cop vibe.

“Damn…it is real.”

“Is that bad?”

“Mm? Oh, never mind, mister.”

They walked on. They saw lights ahead.

Lloyd wondered if they had reached the main road, but instead…he found himself in a harbor filled with freight ships. Waves lapping, the sea breeze brushing past them.

“Huh?” Lloyd said out loud, looking at Amidine. “Does this lead back to the main street?”

As he turned, something struck him in the chest.

The smell of smoke, not from the cigarette.

Lloyd looked down and found a small hole in his chest. He looked up at Amidine and saw a pistol in his hand.

He’d been shot.

Confused, Lloyd stared at Amidine, his expression asking, Why?

“You look like you have questions, mister.”

“Y-yeah.”

“But the answers are simple. This is my job. As the boss of the Rising Blue Dragon.”

“Y-you mean…?”

“The resistance Sardin’s leading? The whole thing only exists to keep tabs on him. Poor fool’s dancing on the palm of my hand. But I’m impressed he managed to make a deal with Azami at the Reiyoukaku without us noticing. He’s craftier than he looks.”

Amidine pointed his gun at Lloyd again.

“This is good-bye. See you in hell when it’s my time.”

A ship whistle rang out.

And so did his pistol.

The bullet went through Lloyd’s chest—and he fell backward into the ocean.

Amidine crouched down on the wharf, taking a drag on his cigarette as he watched the water where Lloyd had fallen.

“Unpleasant work,” he grumbled. “Two to the heart… You gotta be a monster to survive that.”

He held up the pendant he’d stolen, inspecting it in the moonlight.

“Can’t believe he really found it. The Saint’s Pendant… Well done, Your Majesty.”

Then he looked at the photo.

“All for the love of a woman, huh? That’s all it takes to drive a man.”

Some time passed.

“No signs of the body surfacing… Must have been caught by an undercurrent.”

Amidine put the pendant in his pocket, certain Lloyd was dead. Then he flicked his spent cigarette into the water.

A figure emerged from the shadows, like he had always been there—like he was part of the scenery.

“Hi there!”

He had the pleasant breeziness of a captain on shore leave or a warehouse janitor.

“You’re—,” Amidine began.

A cheery young man with a black backpack and a deep tan stepped out from behind the older gentleman.

“’Sup, movie star! How’s it going?”

“Fine,” Amidine grumbled, looking tired already. “Shouma, Sou…how long have you been here?”

The older man—Sou—smiled faintly. “Mere moments,” he admitted.

Shouma started firing questions at Amidine like a tabloid reporter.

“Just wanted a progress report! I mean, you taking photos of the king’s directing work? We’re sponsoring this deal! We wanna know it all!”

“I said it’s going fine. Between the acting and the crime boss, I’ve got this country wrapped around my finger outside and in.”

“Splendid,” Sou said.

Amidine looked displeased. “Why are we working so hard to popularize movies? If you just want to line Jiou’s pockets, there’s way more efficient ways to make money.”

This was a reasonable question. But the response?

“Isn’t it obvious?! We wanna see Lloyd in action! Have the whole world watch, and the whole world know he’s here to save them!”

“Film is unshakable evidence. We are the root of all evil, and Lloyd will stand against the threat we pose the world. In a movie. That will finally free me from the yoke called hero.”

“Which is why we gotta release all the demon lords, right, Sou?”

“Release them, and have Jiou conquer the world… We’ve had our setbacks, but all manageable.”

“…Right,” Amidine replied. He didn’t know who Lloyd was or what that “yoke” crap meant, so their explanation was clear as mud.

It was like being pitched a plot filled with jargon and made-up terms. Amidine nodded like a student pretending to follow along in class. These two were his sponsors, after all.

The two of them jabbered on about how great Lloyd was and what future developments lay in store. When they were satisfied, they turned to Amidine.

“Anyway, we’re gonna go eat some offal stew.”

“Looking forward to the movie!”

And with that, they vanished into the darkness.

Having to deal with their inane chatter right after the unpleasantness of murder left Amidine with a towering rage and nowhere to unleash it.

“Was this ever what I wanted to do? Damn it all.”

Amidine swore, but the boat whistle drowned it out, and no one heard him.

…And yes, shortly after Amidine left, Lloyd popped out of the water like nothing had happened.

“Amidine! Huh? He’s gone!”

Lloyd clambered onto the wharf, wrung out his clothes, and looked around.

The harbor was deserted.

“Oh dear…I had no idea the improv was still going! But I guess it was.”

He scratched absently at the bullets embedded in his chest, looking remorseful.

“That gun prop is amazing! It doesn’t hurt at all, but this blood looks so real!”

Because it was real? Like it’s a real gun?

Lloyd sighed. “Amidine was waiting for me to surface. He must have thought I was an idiot for staying down there and got tired of waiting to see what I’d do next. Maybe I was supposed to go on the offensive?”

Amidine did not think Lloyd was an idiot, on the grounds that nobody can actually hold their breath that long.

“No point in fretting over it now! I just have to be a better extra tomorrow! Oh! It’s so late! The chief and Marie will be waiting for me!”

Lloyd shook himself like a dog, and his clothes were instantly dry. No normal human would ever be able to dry their clothes like that, but at Lloyd’s level, you’re as good as the spin cycle on your average washing machine. Little-known fact!

He trotted off toward the main road, where Alka and Marie were getting sick of waiting for him.

Meanwhile, in the shopping district of Rokujou…stallkeepers were barking in the rapid-fire local accent, selling all kinds of food—rice, noodles, foreign delicacies, you name it. These shops didn’t care if you didn’t normally top manju with custard, deep-fry ’em, or serve ’em with donuts; if it sold more, they’d do it, no questions asked.

Alka and Marie were at a noodle shop, slurping offal stew. Soy sauce–based soup, gooey offal, crisp veggies, and burdock. It was great.

“We need him to eat this so he can make it for us later,” Alka said, grinning ear to ear.

“It’s good, but…my mouth is still stinging…”

Marie had bandages plastered all around her face and was scowling at her food.

“Just punishment for pushing your luck! Be glad you got off so light. Taking photos like you’re a couple…”

“I have no excuse.”

“I’ve moved on…but this is an odd kingdom. They’ll take in anything popular and make it their own. I guess you can call them open-minded.”

Alka glanced around at the people and buildings.

“Probably why Eug targeted them.”

A shadow passed over her face.

“You mean the movies?” Marie asked, swallowing her offal.

“Yeah. By all rights, motion pictures won’t become a thing until civilization is a lot further ahead.”

“Even still photos are really expensive.”

“And even those are ahead of their time… Same with telephones. Eug’s twisted ambitions are showing up all over. And Sou and Shouma are mixed up in it.”

Marie took a sip of tea, remembering what Eug had said.

“I’ll force this world to develop itself…and the demon lords are just one means to that end.”

The demon lords provided the threat. When humans found themselves in trouble, they’d accept the anachronistic weapons Eug offered.

“She’s laying the groundwork, making people more willing to accept advanced technology.”

“But, Master, the world progressing isn’t inherently bad. War with the demon lords is, of course, but…”

But making people’s lives better was a good thing.

“No, Marie,” Alka argued. “The problem is what lies beyond that—with Eug’s real goal.”

“Her goal?”

“Yeah. Inside the Last Dungeon…”

But before Alka could reveal the truth…

“Wow, these stalls are so international! That’s what I call passion!”

“Then maybe we should eat something entirely new. This offal stew, perhaps?”

Talk about a coincidence! Shouma and Sou were sitting at the next table.

“Ah!”

“Ah!”

Neither group had expected this. An awkward silence followed.

“Sou! Shouma!” Alka roared. “Your fate is now sealed! Whatever you and Eug are up to, it ends—!”

“Offal stew for two,” Sou ordered, ignoring her entirely.

“What? Wait,” Alka spluttered, but Sou just finished placing his order.

Only then did he turn to her. “We haven’t spoken at length in some time,” he intoned.

“At length, is it? You planning to repent your past misdeeds? You think I’ll let you off the hook now?”

“Heavens, no,” Sou said in exactly the same tone he’d used to order food. “The gears are already in motion. Nothing can stop them now—and I thought a warning would be fair.”

“You certainly don’t lack for confidence.”

“Confidence is vital to deeds like—”

“Sir, your offal stew! Enjoy it while it’s hot!”

The food came shockingly fast. Sou did as he was told and started eating immediately.

“Mmph…well, as a runeman…huff…I am unable to even die. Guilt itself is…chomp…unavoidable, yet— My word, the texture on this offal is marvelous!”

“Stop trying to enjoy stew and deliver a dramatic speech at the same time!”

“Burp… Have to eat it hot! My point is, I am part of the legend of the ancient heroes, so the only way I can vanish is if there is a modern-day hero. One admired far and wide. A sensation that delights one and all.”

“And you’re seriously trying to prop Lloyd up as this hero? The movies are just one step, all part of your efforts to advance society?”

Shouma jumped in, motormouthed, unable to sit by any longer. “Prop him up? Come now, Chief! We’re giving him the boost he needs! Passionate twists! Passionate battles with demon lords! I just want that kid to experience all the satisfaction and fulfillment he could ever want! A goal, I might add, that is far less dubious than your habit of treating him like a dress-up doll.”

“How dare you! I have never! He enjoys being my dress-up doll! I think!”

Ever heard of how people who are too similar never get along? This was exactly one of those situations.

As Sou watched their futile argument dispassionately, Marie spoke up.

“The ancient hero,” she identified. “The man who saved the world.”

“Yes.”

“However heroic you once were, those of us from Azami will not easily forgive your actions since.”

“Nor should you. I am now the villain the new hero must defeat. And that is how things must be if I am to disappear.”

This could well be taken as sour grapes. It pushed Marie right through anger into disgust.

“You’re putting the world in peril. Doesn’t that take its toll on your heart?”

“I lost my heart a long time ago. However…”

But before Sou could say more, Shouma grabbed his shoulder. “Run for it, Sou! I pushed the chief too far!”

“I’m not a washboaaaaard!” Alka’s fist shook, a sinister aura writhing behind her.

Sou rose to his feet, scratching his head. “Most unfortunate,” he mumbled. “However long Alka lives, she remains physically undeveloped, a future bleak enough to make anyone give in to despair.”

“This situation did not demand impromptu exposition!” Alka roared.

Sou swiftly dropped payment on the table and fled with Shouma.

“Wait, we’re not done—,” Marie called. They paid no heed.

“The past decade or so, I have felt tinges of emotion once again,” Sou murmured. “Perhaps there are still those who desire my legend. Most unfortunate. We must eliminate them if I am to succeed in my goals.”

“Quit muttering and move!” Shouma yelled. “The chief may be unstable, but she can still catch us if we don’t book it!”

“Come back here! I demand recriminations! Reparations! And then your heads!”

Abandoning Marie entirely, the three raced off into the moonlit streets of Rokujou.

Meanwhile, back at the cadets’ lodgings…the girls were repenting their failures at the audition in a lounge with a bay window view of the ocean.

“Thanks to Micona going berserk, that sure was a complete disaster,” Selen said. “You’re supposed to be the mature one here! Have you no sense at all?”

“You’re one to talk,” Riho muttered. Just who was it that spent all her time stalking Lloyd?

Meanwhile, Micona argued the point—rather sensibly.

“Then tell me, Selen Hemein. We all know you dote on Lloyd Belladonna. If you discovered some cabaret girl taking him for a ride, would you not try to kill her? Of course you would.”

“Argh…you’ve got me there!” Selen wailed.

“Nah, killing really ain’t the answer.” Riho sighed.

Allan would normally go after Selen for something like this, but…

“…I’m a hopeless failure.”

His disastrous audition had left him a miserable heap of self-pity. Without any external prompts whatsoever, he kept saying things like “I’m a failure,” “Help,” or “Sorry I was ever born.” Anyone would get like that after giving a performance to rival any text-to-speech system, or maybe one of those cheap automated translators in a sci-fi film. And doing so right after arrogantly giving someone else acting tips.

The only person attempting to help Allan through yet another dark place on his life was Phyllo.

“……Mm,” she said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“I know! You’re right, Phyllo. The only thing they want from cadets is action! It doesn’t matter if we get any lines! You really make an excellent point.”

“……I didn’t say any of that.” Phyllo frowned, regretting getting involved.

Riho sprawled back on the couch. “Allan ain’t wrong, though. Auditioning extras ain’t gonna get us cast as anything bigger than Passerby 1 in the end credits. They’re looking for types, not talent.”

“Exactly right! And Amidine was there, star of Rokujou Holiday! I’m sure he spotted Sir Lloyd and my potential immediately! We’ll be cast as a couple, our passion captured on-screen! Cameras rolling all through our wedding night, capturing the action for eternity!”

How any acting talent could be spotted amid the chaos of the day was a mystery.

The mention of their wedding night left Riho beet-red. “You want them filming that?! That’s just porn!”

Deadpan, Phyllo raised both hands, beckoning as if to say Bring it on.

“……I don’t even need them filming,” she said.

“Your friends are exhausting, Riho Flavin,” Micona offered sympathetically. “I don’t envy you.”

“You’re the last person I want sympathy from…” Riho sighed.

Micona had caused more problems than anyone else today. But at this point, she noticed a conspicuous absence.

“So where is Lloyd Belladonna anyway?”

“Excellent question!” Allan exclaimed, sitting up. “I didn’t see him at the audition, either.”

Just as they mentioned his name, Lloyd returned. Back in his usual form—an adorable boy with a gentle smile.

“Hey, everyone, sorry I’m so late.”

“’Sup, Lloyd. What kept you?”

“Uh, kind of a long story. Had trouble tracking the chief down…”

“Welcome back, Lloyd,” Allan said, bowing low. “I missed you at the audition hall. How fared your performance?”

“Uh, I think I kinda blew it. Still, no point crying about it now.”

“Oh! I’d expect no less from you!”

“But your advice was really helpful, Allan.”

“Mm? When did I give you any?”

“Whoops,” Lloyd muttered and quickly tried to cover his mistake. “Er, uh…y-you forgot?”

“Huh…did I? I don’t remember…”

If it came out that Lloyd was Roy, Micona might well go berserk again, so Riho and Selen hastily stepped in to help.

“Y-yo, Allan, you totally gave him tons of tips! Right, M’lady Selen?”

“He did! Very specific advice, like a veteran actor!”

Allan was starting to feel like maybe he had given Lloyd some help. He’s definitely the type who gets easily hypnotized.

“R-right, now that you mention it! Sorry, I guess I did. Oh, that reminds me, I ran into this dude at the audition named Roy. Such a nice guy! He seemed familiar, but…”

Before Allan could finish the thought, Choline staggered in, looking exhausted.

“Kids! It’s almost lights-out!”

She plopped herself down on the couch, appearing ready to go straight to sleep right there.

“You look really bushed, Colonel Choline. I thought you were relaxing at the inn while we auditioned?”

“No such luck, Riho!” Choline wailed. “I was on standby, stressing out the whole time! When the hell are they gonna make contact anyway?”

“Contact?”

Choline winced and hastily tried to cover her mistake. “Y-yeah. I mean, Amidine spoke to me earlier, right? Surely he’ll be back to offer me a lead role!”

“Ever the optimist,” Micona growled.

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Choline stuck out her tongue, saying, “Soooorry.”

“I’m afraid that will not be happening, Colonel Choline,” Selen declared. “The director has already chosen his lead actress.”

“O-oh? Well, can’t compete with the director’s muse. Shame!”

But even off the hook, Choline just looked worn out. She sighed.

“Anyway, back to your rooms. I’ll be going to bed myself soon. Ugh, if only Mena was here, too… Solo standby is grueling… Zzz.”

She fell asleep.

“Solo standby? What, did she need someone to play cards with her?”

“She mentioned ‘contact.’ I bet Colonel Choline’s hiding something again…” Riho definitely got a whiff of something major going on here.

“She’ll catch a cold sleeping here,” Lloyd fussed. “We’d better take her to her room.”

Little did he know the contact Choline had been waiting for had come to Lloyd—in his grown-up form.

“…Mm,” Phyllo said, hefting Choline over her shoulder. She, too, was more deeply involved in this incident than she could possibly know. “…I’ll drop her off…then join you in your bed, Master.”

“Not happening!” Selen snapped. “Sir Lloyd lies with me!”

“Do you all wanna spend the night in a hotel or the slammer?”

“……If Master’s with me, I could go either way.”

Ignorance was bliss. Let’s leave it at that.

In the depths of Rokujou’s shopping district…a woman was gazing up at the night sky in a secluded corner.

Her pale skin reflected the moonlight, taking on an unearthly pallor. She spoke not a word, but then—her eyes shifted, looking to one side.

“……”

A girl with narrow eyes had appeared, out of breath—Mena.

“Hahh…hahh…I finally tracked you down!”

It was rare to see Mena look this intense. Her eyes met the moonlit woman’s.

“…Go home,” the woman growled and vanished into the darkness of the night.

“Wait! Come back!” Mena called, giving chase, but she’d already run herself ragged. It didn’t take long before she tripped and fell.

When she staggered back to her feet, there was no sign of the woman.

“Why would you run from me…Mom?”