Free Web Novel“Do all the wandering troupes nowadays perform with masks?”
Vieya was also watching the performance on stage, but unlike Jasmine, whose eyes sparkled with excitement, she wasn’t much interested in this play she had already seen several times before.
Even if the rain-enhanced “water-shaped play” looked livelier and more graceful on a day like this.
Thinking that—
A puff of cloud fell onto the hand Vieya was using to hold her umbrella. But since her other arm was carrying Jasmine, she couldn’t free a hand to wipe off the icy fluff.
“Meow~”
The black cat in the bag gave two helpless cries at the sight of the unmoving mother and daughter as if they had taken root in place. Yet neither of them turned back to look at her.
As the play reached its climax, waves of cheers rolled one after another, making the raindrops tremble.
The black cat, powerless, could only stare blankly. All she saw was an endless wall of people. Her faint meowing hadn’t even reached Vieya’s ears before it was drowned out by the cheers. A wave of sorrow washed over her—so this was the sorrow of humans and monsters never being the same.
Suddenly!
A cold surge swept in. The black cat shrank her head down, and saw the falling curtain of rain freeze solid!
At the same time, the crowd burst out with its loudest roar yet and immediately began surging toward the center of the stage.
Vieya, squeezed by the frenzied spectators, frowned. She quickly tightened her hold on Jasmine and whispered, “Hungry? I’ll take you to eat something good. This show is already over.”
“Okay, Mom.” Jasmine turned her head toward Vieya, her lashes trembling, her big eyes curving like crescent moons.
The play was wonderful, exciting.
But with Mom beside her, it was even better, something to cherish.
For a moment, Jasmine felt that being chased out of the Demon King’s Castle by other demons wasn’t such a big deal after all.
Thud!
Someone in the flow of people fell, but those behind didn’t care, continuing to shove forward, their twisted faces looking as if they wanted to squeeze their very souls out.
Even the knights and patrol soldiers meant to maintain order dropped their weapons and rushed in with the rest.
“Something’s wrong.”
Vieya shifted Jasmine onto her back and warned, “Hold on tight, Jasmine. No matter what happens, don’t leave me, understand?”
“Ah, oh.” Jasmine nodded repeatedly, hearing the seriousness in her mother’s voice. She shed her carefree mood and clung tightly, growing alert.
On stage, the Blue-Bearded troupe leader who had just performed the freezing-rain trick flung something into the crowd. Instantly, the mob boiled over.
“Ladies and gentlemen! Happy festival! Participation prizes for everyone—gems! Every spectator will get one, don’t rush!”
Seeing the audience below shrieking and jostling like monkeys, Bluebeard’s face showed a hidden smile. Taking advantage of the frenzy, he raised his arm and shouted, fanning the flames hotter.
“Alright, ladies and gentlemen! Next comes the Third Prize! One hundred magic scrolls worth one thousand gold each!”
Crash! The expensive beast-hide scrolls scattered into the crowd, provoking an even greater roar!
At the same time, the stage’s spotlights swung about wildly as if dancing a mad, ecstatic disco!
“What about the second prize!”
“Throw it here! Here!”
Those who hadn’t grabbed anything shouted up at Bluebeard, their faces red with frenzy.
“Ladies and gentlemen, don’t rush! Second Prize—ten slots only! Magic items worth ten thousand gold each!”
At his snap, ten masked actors brought ten wooden chests onto the stage. At his command, they shoved them into the howling, grasping crowd!
“On such a day of great victory for humankind, wouldn’t it be a regret if there were no historic grand prize to remember?!”
Bluebeard’s voice rang strangely—joyful yet sorrowful. Though chaos ruled the scene, his voice still reached every ear, as if it were the divine voice of order.
The crazed people began climbing the stage itself. Bluebeard neither blocked them nor stepped back. He spread his arms wide, that fat body dancing a ridiculous tap dance in the middle of the stage. The ten masked actors surrounded him devoutly, as if worshiping their god.
“The Grand Prize! The Grand Prize is about to be drawn!” Bluebeard suddenly grinned. All the spotlights on stage went dark at once, plunging everything into shadow.
In the sudden darkness, the people were left bewildered, unable to see what they should seize.
“Ladies and gentlemen. The Grand Prize has only one slot. A miracle of immeasurable value. And it cannot be seized.”
Bluebeard’s low voice spoke out in the dark.
Snap!
Thousands of spotlights flared back to life, banishing the blackness. The frenzied crowd froze as though drenched with cold water.
“Meow?” The black cat let out a puzzled cry.
The next instant, the blinding glare of countless beams made her blink. Standing at the center of the spotlights, Vieya froze for a moment, then slowly lifted her head—meeting Bluebeard’s gaze on stage.
He removed half of his jester-king mask and bowed toward her.
“Respected Grand Prize winner, please, come on stage to receive your reward.”
“Sorry, I’m not interested.”
Vieya paused briefly after speaking, then turned away without hesitation.
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Those who had been mere onlookers now seemed brainwashed. One by one, they stepped forward, blocking Vieya’s path.
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“It’s fine. Don’t be afraid.”
Vieya smiled and turned back toward Bluebeard, her expression once again cold.
“You’re with those masked ones, aren’t you?”
“Please, come on stage to receive your reward.”
Bluebeard bowed reverently, humble in appearance, but like a venomous serpent coiled there—ready to strike fatally at the moment prey entered its reach.
And that prey is me?
Vieya felt not only fury rising from the bottom of her heart but also amusement.
One or two, they can come to die whenever they want. But why choose the exact time I bring my daughter out for a meal?
Do they really think I’m some easy fruit to squeeze?
Suddenly, Vieya laughed, sweeping her gaze across the crowd before looking back at Bluebeard.
“I’ll ask you one question. Answer correctly, and I’ll come on stage to accept the prize.”
“...” Bluebeard remained silent, still bowed, as if tacitly accepting her terms.
“How did you confirm my whereabouts and identity?” she asked.
“Heaven and earth as the board, nine dice in response.”
Bluebeard replied ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) earnestly, uncaring whether her words were true or false. “All things have their roots. Tracing back to the source is not difficult. Besides, honored guest, you seem quite confident in the defenses of human cities. You made no attempt to conceal your movements. With a little effort, finding you wasn’t hard.”
“Thanks for telling me.”
Vieya took a step back, smiled leisurely, and in the midst of hundreds of people surrounding her—vanished without a trace.
“Authority Fusion, Fourth: Divine Speed + Sixth: Divine Concealment.”
“This move is Silent as Ghosts and Gods. Get ready to be wanted worldwide, you pack of idiots...”
Her light laughter faded into the heavens and earth.
On the stage, Bluebeard’s face darkened at once, the urge to put his mask back on gnawing at him.
