NOVEL WEB Chapter 28
“Ha, I know it sounds absurd! But we must not take this matter lightly! That person will surely be a stumbling block to our demon race’s plans…!”
“Stumbling block? What kind of stumbling block? Is it just a pen, not even a sword or magic?”
“Th-that’s…”
Well, it could be pretty amusing to hear the subordinate’s claim.
I asked them to comprehensively analyze the factors that caused the shift in the battlefield. But what I got back was nothing but nonsensical ramblings, right?
“The candidate for the Pen Hero has learned ancient sorcery, can brainwash and manipulate people’s minds, and has obtained the ability to shake the world with just a pen through some mysterious path…”
The demon lord glared with wide eyes and coldly chastised the legion commander.
“In this cold and desolate land, we are already busy preparing for the future of our race. How dare you belittle me with such trivial excuses?”
“It’s not an excuse! Don’t be complacent just because the term sounds ridiculous! You must never underestimate the candidate for the Pen Hero…”
“Immediately imprison the sinner in the brain prison. I’ll hold them accountable for the defeat later.”
“Your Excellency the Demon Lord! Please believe my words! The candidate for the Pen Hero! You must never take him lightly—!!”
The legion commander screamed as he was dragged away by the undead minions. The demon lord, glaring at him, muttered in disbelief.
“Humans, choosing all sorts of misfits as hero candidates. Are they starting to lose their grip as well?”
“Isn’t that a good thing? It means that discipline has loosened in the south, right? They can do such ridiculous things in the position of a hero.”
A subordinate who assisted him replied.
The demon lord, gripping the armrests of the burning throne, retorted.
“The Pen Hero candidate isn’t worth worrying about. But what about the candidate for the Sword Hero?”
“Are you referring to the half-elf girl? Don’t worry. So far, she’s just been wandering aimlessly.”
The Pen Hero candidate, Phantom, and the candidate for the Sword Hero, contemporaries.
Of course, it’s also to be wary of her outstanding abilities that have yet to awaken.
However, the reason the demons are paying attention to her movements is different.
“…We must keep a close watch on the Sword Hero candidate.”
The demon lord, rising from the flaming throne, headed toward the crystal set behind him and continued.
“That girl is abnormal. Perhaps it’s because she’s a filthy half-breed with the blood of two races? It’s said that there is something fundamentally lacking in her, as if she lacks what she should inherently possess.”
A dark red crystal, bubbling with the ominous power of sinister blood magic.
He touched the rippling surface of the ominous substance, which was neither identifiable nor usable, and firmly declared in a serious tone.
“Then, depending on the guidance of fate, we may willingly join hands with our demon race, pursuing tyranny and slaughter.”
<> <> <> <> <> <>
“Balthazar Arture? Are you not focusing?”
Slap!
“Ah!”
Along with a brief comment, a playful slap rang out.
I let out a small scream, having momentarily zoned out.
When I finally shifted my gaze, the one who delivered the slap was right in front of me.
“Even if the lecture is boring, is it okay for a student to ignore their teacher’s teachings?”
With dark purple hair reminiscent of violets, a smooth amethyst-colored eye, one side covered by a black eye patch, and ears longer than a human’s, she was Gabi, an elven professor at Bronde Academy.
“If you keep this up, Professor will be hurt, you know? We’ve been through it since our first year.”
“Yes, yes, Gabi-sensei.”
Thanks to the professor pulling my cheeks playfully, I stumbled over my words.
In succession, ha ha ha! The classroom erupted in loud laughter.
Then Gabi-sensei, removing her hands from my cheeks, looked around and announced.
“Alright, I know it’s right after lunch and everyone is feeling drowsy. But it’s not a long lecture today! If you concentrate, I’ll let you out 10 minutes early, so let’s all do our best.”
“Wow, you’re the best, Professor!”
“I love you, Gabi!”
“Shush now. Next, we’ll briefly learn about elven art, shall we?”
Returning to the chalkboard and picking up the chalk with her left hand.
Ordinarily, one would write with their right hand, but she couldn’t do that.
Years ago, she lost her right arm in battle.
Flap, flap!
The empty sleeve swayed with her movement.
And an eye patch covering her left eye, a disability that would be hard to overcome for an ordinary person, yet her attitude was lively and refreshing.
Indeed, it was said that her lectures were the most enjoyable in Bronde, always attracting a flood of applicants on registration days.
Just yesterday, students engaged in a rating war were showing nothing but laughter and joy in Gabi-sensei’s class.
“Now, pay attention. This is what elven landscape paintings look like. They differ significantly from human painting styles, don’t they?”
Gabi-sensei displayed her prepared teaching materials and unraveled a rolled-up scroll for easy understanding.
“Elven paintings tend to have a clear black-and-white contrast and emphasize harmony with nature. They also prefer using ink and rice paper rather than oil paints.”
Black-and-white contrast, harmony with nature, ink, rice paper.
If modern people heard this much, they might catch on.
Remarkably, these elves possessed an Eastern-influenced culture.
Even Gabi-sensei wore an attire that reminded one of a martial arts heroine from a classic novel.
And the course Gabi-sensei was teaching was the elective subject, {Cultural Exchange Between Elves and Humans}.
An invaluable opportunity for a Western-style fantasy character to learn about Eastern-style fantasy’s way of life.
“So I usually find it very enjoyable.”
How could one resist an enchanting elf teaching about Eastern fantasy culture?
However, at the moment, my thoughts were inevitably drifting elsewhere.
“…So, how should I write my next work?”
A more primal and thrilling hero, featuring action and romance, distinctly different from the noble hero archetype.
The number of candidates fitting that bill was, ironically, too many. Choosing any one of them only deepened my dilemma.
The exploits of Achilles, the so-called hero of the Trojan War?
Or the conquest of Alexander the Great, who built a vast empire across Eurasia?
Or maybe the biography of Richard I, the Lionheart, who mercilessly swept through the Islamic armies?
“Hmm, why’s there nobody who really piques my interest?”
A murmur slipped past my lips, quiet enough to not be heard.
Thanks to the Philosopher’s Stone, the time spent writing was significantly shortened.
But to complete a work, a brilliant idea was still indispensable.
It had to be something suitable for theatrical adaptation, and inspire that “This is great!” feeling.
And so I continued searching for the right candidate in my mind.
“Now, let’s learn about the traditional performing arts of the elven race this time. By the way, playwright Phantom’s play is all the rage these days, right?”
As Gabi-sensei finished explaining about the painting style, she rolled up the scroll and spoke.
“They say if you don’t watch Phantom’s works, it’s impossible to converse with the young ones. That’s why I keep a close eye on it. Even if I’m an old elf lady, I need to keep up my conversations with our assistants, right?”
Ha ha ha! Another round of boisterous laughter erupted.
Waving her hand to quiet them down, Gabi-sensei continued.
“Elven performances are quite different in style from human performances. We enjoy using glamorous choreography and exaggerated makeup, and it’s also common to musically reconstruct the actor’s lines.”
“Musical reconstruction? What do you mean?”
“Is it saying the dialogue in a rhythmic manner? That’s something humans do too, right?”
Every student, without exception, wore puzzled expressions.
It seemed they didn’t quite grasp the meaning from the brief explanation.
With a smile, Gabi-sensei cleared her throat.
As she opened her mouth to demonstrate an ‘elven-style’ performance…
“Ew, what is that?”
“Pfft, that screeching sound is weird! It’s like the buzzing of a mosquito, right?”
“Also, the rhythm is too intense. Is that a song or dialogue?”
…The students who listened generally reacted with distaste or burst into laughter.
The reading was more similar to song lyrics than dialogue. The strained falsetto was truly comical.
“Uh, huh?”
However, unlike the surrounding students, I couldn’t react joyously.
Because, in fact, I had seen that vocal style in my past life.
‘That’s the singing style of Peking opera!’
A traditional Chinese opera, similar to pansori in Korea.
The so-called “Beijing Opera” demonstration by the professor was simply a spectacle.
As a visual media enthusiast who had indirectly experienced classic movies, I was stunned by the unexpected outcome.
“Ho ho, how’s that? It’s quite different from human methods, isn’t it?”
After a hearty performance, Gabi-sensei smiled, raising her head.
As she carelessly waved her intact arm above her face, she added subtly.
“But that’s not all, everyone! When discussing elven theater, this dazzling technique must also be included.”
Swish!
The sound of a crumpled piece of paper unfolding crisply.
The next moment, a series of stunned gasps erupted from the students.
“Wow, what’s that?!”
“Is it magic? How did you do that?”
“That’s so cool!”
The moment where nothing was laid over Gabi-sensei’s face.
Suddenly, a mask made of colored paper appeared on it.
However, Gabi-sensei’s tricks were far from over.
Swish! Swish! Whoosh!
“Whoa?!”
“W-wow! It keeps changing without even touching it?!”
“Professor, are you really using magic?”
With every light touch on her face, the mask underwent transformations.
From a red mask to a yellow mask, and from a black mask to a green mask.
It was an astonishing spectacle, as if the masks were teleporting.
Although magic exists in this world, actual magical performances are quite rare.
So witnessing such ingenious deception and magic was just as astonishing to the local folks.
And I, watching it all, was equally dumbfounded by the marvel.
‘Isn’t that a form of “changing faces” technique?’
Part of the Sichuan opera’s tricks, which originated in the Sichuan Province of China.
A circus-like performance that uses hidden strings to swiftly swap masks without touching them.
Of course, in Gabi-sensei’s case, it seemed she added a slight bit of magic too.
“What do you think? Isn’t it fascinating?”
As she removed the last blue mask, Gabi-sensei spoke.
“Since it’s already decided to end 10 minutes early, let’s call it a day for now. Next time, I’ll show you even more fascinating and special elven culture. Class dismissed!”
“Wow—!!”
“You’re the best, Gabi-sensei!”
Gabi-sensei bowed gracefully like an actor on stage.
In response, resounding applause erupted from the students’ seats.
And I, too, clapped fervently while silently celebrating inside.
Having witnessed Gabi-sensei’s two demonstrations of Eastern-style tricks.
I suddenly felt an instinct about whose heroic narrative I should write.
“Exactly. To discuss action and romance, skipping over this person would be a shame.”
The man who swept through the realm with a single sword while producing all sorts of idiomatic expressions in his lifetime.
And unlike his adversary, he loved only one woman in a romantic pure love.
“…My defeat was because the heavens conspired against me, not because I was poor in combat!”
Muttering (my quote) so that others wouldn’t hear, I rose from my seat.
Though defeated, he gained an immortal life through the adaptations and recreations of later generations.
Time to craft his dramatic journey into a play.
<> <> <> <> <> <>
Hours later, late afternoon had set in with dim light.
Fresh from a hot bath, Gabi emerged with a towel on her head and a gown, heading to the living room.
The exclusive accommodation provided for professors staying at Bronde Academy.
A cozy place she had been using for over a decade since accepting the teaching position.
“Ah, refreshing.”
She sat down in front of a desk piled high with letter paper and murmured.
A large amount of postcards that had flown into her today.
Verifying their content and organizing them was her final task.
The letters she received were always of similar types.
Tax notices from the empire, greetings from the World Tree’s relatives, and secret confessions of admiration from a few male students who had a crush on her.
…Yet, the news she had patiently awaited for years had yet to arrive.
“That kid still hasn’t contacted me.”
Once, they had made a sacred vow as teacher and student, but now sorry news had befallen their bond.
Recalling the girl who left her master’s side due to disagreements, Gabi held her forehead.
“Sigh, at least she shouldn’t be starving. I wonder if she’s managing to eat well.”
In any case, today’s letters turned out to be the same as usual.
After classifying them all as miscellaneous letters to read later, Gabi yawned.
If everything else was going to be like this, she planned to hit the bed and sleep.
However, at that very moment.
A peculiar letter buried in the pile of paper caught her eye.
“Hmmm?”
A letter sealed with unique red wax in the shape of a mask.
Feeling curious about the unfamiliar design, Gabi began to open the seal.
And slowly started reading the contents inside.
“A request for expert consultation on producing elven-style theater… from playwright Phantom?”