Uncle. I want this guy to play the prince charming.

Hoou hou!! Then, l leave it to you, Ian, to play Prince Malik!

Count Weissmall easily approved Yuas proposal.

EEeehh?! Can you even do that so lightly?! Im still a novice at acting, and we have the seniors around too!

Ian stuttered.

Thats what the lead actress wants, after all. What, itll be fine. The play were having this time around wont be possible without Inglis and Yua, and theyre both students of the Knight Academy. They dont have much experience performing either, you see. And so, there wont be any problem with you joining in. Are you okay with it, Inglis?

Yes, I dont mind.

To begin with, Inglis wanted Yua to choose the cast by herself, after all. No problem.

B-, but still!

Ian. I am also interested in your qualities as a performer. With experience, Im sure you will be a star. Yua thinks the same too, thats why she chose you! Isnt that right, Yua?

? I dont get it, I just like his face.

Well, you wouldnt get any good answer if you asked Yua about the qualities of an actor and the like.

Which means you have the beauty to strive for it! Take this challenge with confidence, Ian!

H-, haa

Just give it a try, what could go wrong anyway? I dont know why youre here joining a traveling troupe, butthe more things you can do, the better. In fact, being needed is even better.

Lahti, who had been watching from the side, clapped Ians back.

PriAh, I mean, Lahti! I- I understand. Ill give it a try!

Its settled then! Lets get started with the rehearsal! First, were going to read the script together!

After Count Weissmall declared so, the rehearsal fully began.

And then, after the practice for the day was over

So, anyway. What the hell are you doing here to begin with, Ian?

Lahti asked Ian.

Ah, Ian is me and Pullums friend from our hometown, ysee.

He explained to Inglis and the others.

Then, from Alucard in the north?

Lahti and Pullum were foreign students that came from Alucard, a neighboring kingdom to the north. When he said that Ian was a friend from their hometown, that meant he was also from there.

Yeah. Unlike us, this guys a noble with good manners, so, why a troupe?

Dont lump me in with you, Lahti. Im a good-mannered lady too, okay?

Pullum interjected from the side.

Shut up, were not discussing that now. Dont cut in.

Hey, Ive gone through a lot of etiquette classes. Who do you think I did all those for?

H-, hell if I care! Im talking with Ian right now!

Fufufu. Lahti and Pullum are close as always, huh?

J-, just drop it already! So, what happened?

Actually.. I no longer have a place to go back to

Ian looked down, his voice was trembling.

EH?! Wh-, what do you mean?!

What happened, Ian?!

Colors drained from Lahti and Pullums face.

Magic Stone Beasts! A huge Magic Stone Beast ravaged my familys mansion, my territory, my family, even the townspeople, everything was destroyed! Not only that, but it also caused a lot of damage to the Royal Capital. Although, fortunately, the Royal Family are all safe

Wha?! I-, I mean, its true that theres an increase in the number of Magic Stone Beasts, but still!

To-, to think such a powerful Magic Stone Beast to appear!

Glis, could it be!

Yeah. I guess its a Prisma?

The country Lahti and Pullum came from, the neighboring kingdom to the north, Alucard, was a snowy country. While it was a harsh place to live, it had the advantage of having relatively little frequency of Prism Flow.

Of course, the threat of Magic Stone Beasts wasnt completely absent, but as the damage was comparatively small, there was no Hyrule Menace there. As a result, their dependence on the Highland was low, and the Highland themselves didnt seem to be actively interfering with the country either, perhaps because they didnt find the barren, cold land to be very attractive.

The amplest country in the area was evidently the Charalia Kingdom, this country where Inglis and Rafinha were. It was understandable why the two major factions of the Highland had been focusing on this country, racing to gain influence over it.

Was that the legendary Prisma or not, I couldnt tell. However, I remember seeing it shining in seven different colors!

TskAlucard doesnt get a Hyrule Menace. If something like that showed up, theres no one that could put up a fight!

ButBut, Im glad that Ian is okay! Really, at the very least

Pullum was drowning in tears, grasping Ians hand tightly.

Yeah. Were glad youre okay, Ian.

Thank you, Lahti, Pullum! After that, when I was at a loss, it was Count Weissmall who picked me up. I always liked work of arts in the first place, and being exposed to the activities of the troupe is a good distraction.

S-, sorry, IEven though such a thing happened, I didnt know anything about it, and even said a lot of irresponsible things

No, please dont worry about it. Having met you and given support by you, Lahti, has made me feel more positive.

Seeing them, Rafinha bit her lips hard. She whispered to Inglis with a volume that couldnt be heard by Lahti and his friends.

Im frustrated. I couldnt be any help at all!

Youre so kind, Rani. But, we couldnt do anything, okay?

It had already happened. Not only that, it happened in a faraway country, a place they couldnt even see. Even at this moment, there should be someone, somewhere, who lost their lives to a Magic Stone Beast. This was what it meant to live on the Midland, the land which Prism Flow fell.

Rafinhas heart was admirable, as she was able to express her frustration over the affairs of a distant, foreign country. She was noble, compassionate, and strong. She was willing to take others pain as her own, even when it wasnt necessary.

It was easy to dismiss those qualities of hers as childish innocence, but, in the end, those who retained such innocence alive were the ones who would move the hearts of many and change the world. Inglis knew this from her own experience.

So, from a parents perspective, Inglis wanted to continue watching over her like this, but she feared that, one day, Rafinha would say something like, Well stop the Prism Flow so that everyone in this world can live in peace!

Inglis, personally, found that Prism Flow was extremely convenient, as it produced strong enemies for her on its own, so it would be troubling if it was completely gone. Of course, she would help if that was what Rafinha wished, but would it be possible to leave just enough for Inglis own use? Although, Inglis had no idea if such flexibility was even possible or not.

There there.

Yua scooted over then patted Ian on the head.

E-, erm? Miss Yua? What are you!

Consoling. Not working?

Senior Yua, Ians not a child!!

Said Lahti, dumbfounded.

Then, I know its early, but will you cheer up if we kissed?

EEeehh?! Wh-, what are you saying, Miss Yua?! Thats shameful!

Ians face turned red. He seemed to be quite the innocent person. It might not much of a consolation, but at least Yua managed to divert his mind.

But, were going to kiss anyway? Theres a kissing scene at the end of the play.

Eeehh?! Ah! Th-, there really is! M-, me, doing this?!

As he turned up to the last segment, Ians voice rose. The group hadnt gotten to that part in the rehearsal, so Ian probably didnt see it coming.

Right? Thats why, now, with me.

You mustnt!

Inglis hastily stopped Yua.

Mu?

Thats just for the play, not now!

The reason for that was if the kiss satisfied Yua now, there was a real risk that she wouldnt put her serious effort later during the fight, or even abstain from the very fight itself. If so, everything that Inglis set up until now would turn moot. She had to stop this, by all means.

For the time being, lets not play with Ian so much. This guys hurt pretty bad, you know.

Thats right.

Hearing that from Lahti, Yua pat Inglis shoulder with a plop.

Eeh?! Youre blaming me?

Yup. I mean, Im being serious here.

No, I am being serious too, senior!

Both of you! Anyway, please. Im begging you here. This guys a precious friend of mine.

You dont need to be so mad, Lahti.

Ian showed an unusual smile.

Ian?

I have to find a new way of life and move on, tooOtherwise, my family and close friends wouldnt be able to have rest. Everyone here all looks cheerful and happy. If I could spend some more time with all of you, Im sure I will find what I seek. Please, dont mind me too much, and I look forward to working with you.

Nice to meet you too! Being cheerful is my strength, you see!

Rafinha stepped forward and smiled at Ian. Her expression was saying that she wanted to help Ian to move forward. So long she didnt bother Ian, Inglis didnt see a reason to stop her.

Im just a supporting character who dances behind Glis, but if Glis ever does anything reckless and causes trouble, just tell her on me, okay? Ill scold her straight.

O-, okayU-, understood. Thank you very much.

Yua who oversaw the exchange turned to Inglis then pointed at Rafinha.

Guardian?

N-, no! I am the one who watches over Rani.

Is that so? Doesnt look like it though?

Thats just your imagination. As Ranis future Squire, I will be watching over her everything, from the way she lives her everyday life to the way she behaves on the battlefield.

Whilst Inglis was saying so, Ian replied to Rafinha for her remark.

However, for such a beautiful and well-mannered Miss Inglis to act recklesslyshe doesnt seem like the person to do that, you know.

Nope, she does.

Everyone present all spoke in the same breath.

E-, eeh?! Does she really?

Its true that I like to do the things I enjoy in the ways I want to do it. Still, I cant recall ever being reckless, though?

You werent here before so you missed itWell, youll know soon enough. Anyway, if youre fine with the role, then you have my support.

Yes. Thank you, Lahti.

Ian gave Lahti a sweet smile.