Chapter 96 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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A portly man walking with a bored expression on his face suddenly raised an eyebrow.
"Oh."
"See? I told you so."
Jonas shouted at him enthusiastically.
He scrutinized my face with a serious look, then turned to Jonas and curled up the corner of his mouth.
"This time it's the real deal."
"I told you. At first, I thought you were someone from another troupe."
"It's easy to make that mistake. A bit..."
He turned his body while observing me.
"Not just red hair, but he even gives off Adrian Ascanien vibes."
"..."
Just in case, I'd cast a slight perception-distortion spell on myself...
He's spot on.
I masked my expression with a faint smile.
Jonas, on the other hand, opened his eyes wide, clearly disagreeing.
"Huh? Really?"
"You don't see it? It suits him somehow."
"I don't know."
He nodded readily at those words.
"Well, his features are a bit vague. Anyway, promoting while name-dropping him would carry too much risk, so we're good."
"But it'll definitely draw a crowd, right? Our troupe gets a star actor!"
"Ha ha, it's a bit early to talk about that..."
He whispered something to Jonas.
Then he approached me with a smiling face and patted my shoulder.
"Mr. Dietrich Granah. You want to stand on stage as an actor, right?"
"..."
Everyone else starts as a handyman first, so why me?
The situation unfolding already felt ridiculous, so I didn't respond, but he nodded on his own and said,
"Let's give it a shot."
* * *
"Wow~"
"You actually made it to the troupe."
When I warped into the room with a complicated expression, my friends—who had arrived at the lodging first and were listening in via artifact—turned to look at me.
"The actor has arrived?"
"..."
"Hey, if you were gonna say that, you should've let me check you first~ Our Luca didn't expect this to work?"
"And when were you asking if this was okay?"
I flopped down on the sofa, and Narke said with a grin,
"We couldn't sense it through Pleroma beforehand, but first impressions are everything, huh."
"Tell me about it. I didn't expect a path to open up this quickly."
Leo nodded seriously, without his usual playfulness.
Honestly, even I was surprised.
They said there were plenty of apprentices, so why push me into acting?
Without even testing my skills—what were they thinking?
Judging solely by appearances and deciding to take me along tanked my trust in the troupe instantly.
"But last time, he did pretty well for just 40 minutes of practice? When you did Faust, there was that perfect 'click' moment. You know what I mean?"
"No. Acting isn't the issue. It's just that the outcome wasn't what I expected."
As I'd thought before, this field wasn't unfamiliar to me.
Unfortunately, I was more used to screens than stages, but since my goal wasn't really to become an actor, it didn't matter.
I'd planned on doing odd jobs, so facing this result was just a bit disorienting.
That's when Leo asked worriedly,
"I looked into it, and that guy's super passionate about his troupe. Casual acquaintances rate him highly, but longtime associates all sigh first. You gonna be okay?"
Mariann Baum was the troupe's manager and one of the directors.
That meant if I screwed up the acting, I wouldn't even catch Mariann Baum's eye.
No, given the reviews, not catching his eye might be the best outcome.
I replied simply,
"I'll do my best. Thanks for the info."
"Just stick around a few days and build a rapport with Mariann Baum~"
Narke laughed as if it were all amusing, cheering me up.
I smiled in response.
Anyway, it was a good thing.
In a way, it was a far better opportunity than approaching him while doing odd jobs.
If I could catch his eye, I'd get more time—more proper conversations—with him.
* * *
It felt burdensome.
The next evening, I ignored the countless stares fixed on me and took my seat.
They weren't kind looks by any means.
Their thoughts were obvious.
If I'd had time to familiarize myself while doing odd jobs around the troupe, it might've been different, but getting thrown straight into acting class because I caught the director's fancy? No way they'd see me in a good light.
'Sorry, but it can't be helped.'
Plan or no plan, this was my position now. No half-assing it.
Especially if I wanted to impress Mariann Baum—I had to give it my all.
While I ignored the prickling stares, the door opened.
A middle-aged man with soft features entered the practice room, looking us over.
"Good evening, everyone."
Confused reactions rippled through the room. Someone cautiously asked,
"...Um, what brings you here, sir?"
"There's someone new taking lessons, so I came to see."
He headed straight to me.
"You're the new one who just joined, right? Your name?"
"Dietrich Granah."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Granah. I'm Mariann Baum."
We'd met.
I shook his hand briefly.
He studied me the whole time as he spoke.
"Chris was talking about you all day today.... I can see why. Looking forward to it."
He was referring to the director I'd met yesterday.
It was a bit awkward hearing "looking forward to it" before even starting lessons, but he probably meant he'd see if I was worth bypassing proper procedures to put here.
'Not that the lessons are much anyway.'
Hardly any teaching—mostly self-study.
Not surprising in a market flooded with talent. I hadn't expected much investment from this troupe either.
Soon after, the acting teacher entered. He greeted Mariann Baum warmly.
"You're already here, sir. And this is... the new guy starting today, right? Mr. Granah?"
"Yes."
"I'm Brigitte Huber. Nice to work with you."
"Likewise."
"Alright, let's begin. With a newcomer, we'll keep it light—just run some lines."
The teacher smiled gently and handed out sheets of paper to those of us in the row.
Typewritten one-page scripts.
'...Faust again.'
National classic—makes sense for a newbie.
Receiving the familiar script relaxed me, and faint chuckles came from behind.
"You have 10 minutes to analyze. We'll start one by one after that."
Unlike the school version, this script had the full, unedited long lines.
'Still, I know which part this is.'
I felt the tension in the practice room as I looked up from the script.
The two others who'd received scripts with me were still mouthing the lines, practicing, while everyone else watched me and them.
Turning toward the strongest stare, my eyes met Mariann Baum's.
Never thought I'd end up in an acting class here...
"Ten minutes up. Let's start."
But for catacomb entry, it was a bargain.
I looked away from Mariann Baum and closed the script.
* * *
'Hmm.'
Mariann Baum sat by the stage, stroking his chin as he watched the apprentice actors.
'Definitely promising.'
He particularly stood out.
Heard he was from a baron's house, but he had an air that made you believe he could be the baron himself—no servant vibes at all.
'Whatever. Good trait anyway.'
In these times when commoners could amass wealth, people craved nobility that money alone couldn't buy.
From any angle, he was marketable.
'The question is acting skill.'
Even if looks mattered more than before, no acting meant no audience.
Seeing they'd shoved yesterday's newbie straight here, everyone seemed hell-bent on getting him on stage...
If the skill wasn't there, no schemes would make me approve it.
"Ten minutes up."
The teacher tapped the desk lightly.
"Start with Mr. Bürpel."
Bürpel grabbed his script and stepped onstage.
At the teacher's cue, his eyes changed in an instant.
"Why does that fool never lose hope? Endlessly digging for gold and jewels with petty greed, and now rejoicing at finding worms!"
His firm voice filled the practice room.
Mariann Baum recalled memories.
His projection was always solid.
Emotions weren't bad either.
Viable as a young Faust.
But that was it.
Mariann Baum pressed his temple as he listened.
Part 1, "Night."
Before meeting Mephistopheles—Faust, versed in many studies but blind to the world's essence, tormented.
Here, Faust deems truth beyond human grasp, drinks poisoned wine to end it all.
Agony was there, but not the resolve to die.
"To dare resemble you—was that my sin? I had the strength to draw you near... but not to hold you."
'Wasting power in the wrong places.'
Watching the apprentice irked him more and more.
Closing his eyes, applause suddenly sounded.
"Good."
The teacher seemed to rate it decently.
He knew her standards were high, but facing it directly complicated his thoughts.
Mariann Baum kept smiling as he watched the next actor.
Apprentices were apprentices for a reason.
What he was curious about was the newbie thrown in without procedure.
Clearing his mind like that, the acting teacher suddenly clapped.
"Now, just the newcomer left."
Granah stood and walked onstage.
The teacher asked puzzledly,
"Your script?"
"If I don't have to read from it, I'll go without."
"Hm?"
Mariann Baum removed his hand from his chin and spoke.
"It's over forty lines, Mr. Granah."
"I know."
"Can't do just halfway."
"Yes, I know. If it's not mandatory, I'd prefer without. It's distracting."
Granah said with a calm smile.
'...Memorized it just now?'
Unlikely.
Meant he'd rehearsed this script countless times...
"Alright, fine. Go ahead."
All the better.
Now he'd see the real skill.
Mariann Baum gestured with a smile.
Granah nodded.
He fixed his gaze on one side of the stage, raising a hand to his chest.
"Why does that fool never lose hope."
Not firm, but a clear voice flowed quietly.
Mariann followed his gaze to the stage side.
Acting as if looking where his pupil went?
As that thought hit, he shifted to face frontstage.
"Endlessly digging for gold and jewels with petty greed, now rejoicing at worms... Can such a pure voice reach me here, wrapped in spirits!"
'Hmm.'
A section broken into paragraphs.
He connected it without pause as written.
Too long a phrase at once drops audience focus.
'Not stage-savvy, huh.'
But emotions flowed smoothly because of it.
No disharmony from endlessly repeating despair.
"Yet this once, I must be grateful. My thanks to you, most wretched on earth. From despair sinking all senses, you pulled me out!"
Granah raised his voice.
Unlike his cold, mirthless tone, a faint smile played on his face.
Mariann stared intently, lost in thought.
'Interpretating Faust starting to go mad.'
Not a bad choice.
Fits the buildup to deciding death for truth.
'Understanding's oddly high...'
Doesn't seem like he's been onstage.
Mariann stroked his chin, glancing around.
The teacher—who'd seemed uninterested—now beamed.
Probably thought "pretty good for a first-timer."
"To dare resemble you—was that my sin? I had the strength to draw you near, but not to hold you."
Unlike before, faint self-mockery laced Granah's voice.
Perhaps wary of overacting, his expression stayed understated.
'Yeah... interpretation's solid.'
Power stayed consistent, no wild swings.
Matched his own Faust perfectly—liked that.
But...
'Why does mana feel detectable here?'
In a place with zero nobles.
Mariann now fixed his gaze solely on Granah, expressionless.
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