Chapter 45 - Reader: Selling out teammates

“Do you know the Starlight troupe? It’s the most famous acting troupe in the Chaos Continent. They are now looking for an actor to be their leading man. I think you are very suitable – you are very good-looking. If you are willing to play the lead role, the payment is very good. Will you consider it?”

Enoch didn’t wilt under Xiu’s ice-cold gaze. The thief’s temperament had always been impulsive, and he was the type of person who easily warms up to strangers.1 When he first caught a glimpse of the silver-haired elf, Enoch was convinced that no creature could be more like Cecil than the elf – Cecil, who was the most beautiful person in the world.

So Enoch left his companion and rushed off right away to accost the elf. Now Enoch was feeling a bit depressed. It’s true that his request was a abrupt, but isn’t the elf’s cold face giving off a murderous feeling?

A feeling that danger was near ...

The short-haired thief subconsciously tensed his body and his professional instincts made him start to look for an escape route. As his eyes swept his surroundings, he saw Du Ze. Enoch stopped and stared at Du Ze. His attention had been attracted by the silver-haired elf and he hadn’t noticed that he had a companion, and that companion is –

“It’s you?!” Enoch pointed at Du Ze and shouted: “Where were you taken to? Eric has been looking for you!”

Eh, the rival is looking for this young man?!

Du Ze did not have much time to think before Xiu acted. With a new grudge added to the old one, Xiu swiftly moved to Enoch. The speed of an Archer Saint2 is not something Enoch can match. Xiu grabbed the surprised thief’s face, then paused. His head jerked up just in time to see Enoch jumping on a roof while carrying Du Ze. The Enoch beside Xiu began to flicker before disappearing. It was only an illusion that Enoch produced when he carried off Du Ze.

Du Ze knows about this trick. It’s Enoch’s special skill: shadow shifting. This skill uses light and shadow to create an image to attract the attention of the enemy. It’s one of the skills that Thief King Jack created. Well, that’s not the point. The point is ... how did this innocent bystander get involved in the action again?

Slung over Enoch’s shoulder as he ran, Du Ze began to struggle but he was stopped by a word from Enoch.

“Hey? Don’t move, I don’t want to knock you out.”

The bitter reader asked gloomily: “Why did you grab me?”

“So you are not mute. Your voice is good. You don’t like to speak?” Even while they were escaping, Enoch was still quite talkative: “I don’t know why but Eric seems very concerned about you, so when I saw you I wanted to help but ...”

Youth, you are seeking the rhythm of death!3

Du Ze can’t help but make a sad expression. Before the Moe Lord confessed to him he thought that many things had a very philosophical reason behind them, such as why Xiu was angry in the Gnome Ruins, or why Xiu didn’t like the cute Ariel. Now some silly, cute person knows the truth and his tears are about to fall. Moe Lord, to ignore all of the younger sisters’ and brothers’ plot for the sake of an unworthy cannon fodder, is it really alright?

... But why is the rival looking for this young man?

Enoch used the various terrain to speed himself up. Xiu has not caught up with them and Du Ze suddenly realized that this was a very good opportunity.

“Where is my book?”

“What book ... Oh, you mean the book with two people on the cover?” Enoch’s voice was filled with curiosity: “What’s in that book? Eric looked inside and was shocked. That was the first time I saw Eric look so panicked.”

... Please light a candle for the lost innocence of the son of god.

“Eric wouldn’t let us look, so this thief stole it.” Enoch’s words revealed great regret: “But Eric put a lot of seals on it. I can’t take a look at it.”

Du Ze felt the urge to praise the son of god. Well done!

So now the evildoer is in Enoch’s hands? Du Ze thought that this development was quite good. After all, he wanted to find a place to hide it. Therefore it would be better to leave it with Enoch. Enoch couldn’t open it anyway.

His happy thoughts were interrupted by the thief who said with great ambition: “This won’t stop me! I know a lot of people and they say will soon be able to break the seals!”

In the silly, cute person’s imagination, the Doujinshi, with a shy face, was surrounded a group of people. The Doujinshi sheepishly looked at them then lifted its skirt ...

“... Give it back!”

“You want to get it back?” Enoch said: “Well, you can do me a favor and I’ll give you the book.”

Du Ze knows that this must be because of the one last task that Enoch must complete before he can finish his apprenticeship. In the novel, in order to make Xiu play the lead role in the “Cecil” play, Enoch was forced to sign a number of unequal contracts, and so he became one of the Moe Lord’s little brothers.

“Chirp!”

The little Phoenix on top of Du Ze’s head seemed to have recognized Enoch: Aha, this short-haired chirp was the one from before who stole its mother chirp!

“Whoomp!”

The Angry Bird hit Enoch’s forehead, using its own round body as a weapon. Enoch reeled back and almost fell down from the roof. He barely escaped the light arrow that was shot from above. The thief stiffened. The light arrow had grazed his nose; it was as though death had just brushed past him.

Du Ze turned to look. In front of them was a massive clock tower where the backlit Xiu was standing. Xiu once again drew his bow shaped like branches and leaves – a gift from the Tree of Life. This bow is an artifact that can automatically generate magic arrows.

His intuition told Enoch that his whole body was the target this time. The shadow shifting skill uses too much power, so he can only use it once a day. The silver-haired elf’s fingers loosed the arrows. Almost at the same instant, a fire dragon leapt up and hit the light arrows. Though the fire dragon was scattered by the light arrows, the flames did cover Xiu’s sight for a while and gave Enoch enough time to dodge. The thief avoided the arrows and ran to one side.

“Stupid Enoch! You got in trouble again!” Honey kicked Enoch with her foot then looked at Du Ze. “Gee, isn’t this the man Eric is looking for?”

“Yes, so I couldn’t help but steal him but I got into a fight with that dangerous guy.” Speaking of Xiu, Enoch’s eyes brightened again. “I tell you, I finally found the right act-”

“That opponent is tough.” Brawny Bart interrupted Enoch’s words. He pulled out his big sword and looked across them, his sight directed at the tower.

The fire dragon’s flames gradually dissipated in the air. Xiu was standing above them with a cold face, his whole body emanating a freezingly cold and menacing air. Despite this, the elf’s face was still hauntingly beautiful.

“So beautiful ah ~ I think I can finally recover from the pain of being lovelorn ~”

Bart smiled wryly: “Miss, please be careful.”

Xiu pulled the bow string. In his forked fingers, three magical arrows automatically appeared.

“Whoosh!”

So fast! Bart’s pupils contracted. He could not see the arrow’s trajectory but he could determine the target based on the position of Xiu’s fingers. His sword flashed and when his sword hit the arrow, their powerful force told him that the enemy is an Archer Saint.

“Boom!”

The sound alerted the city guards of the Star Empire, but as they looked up at the fighting, they were stunned – at their level, they can’t possibly intervene. The captain looked up and exclaimed: “Hey, isn’t that Lord Antonio’s granddaughter?!”

Enoch was distressed at having to dodge Xiu’s arrows. While he was jumping around, he complained to Du Ze: “Why are your companions always so terrible?!”

That’s because you’re always stepping on his explosive point!

“Put me down.”

“Find me time to put you down!”

“Belch.”

With an abrupt burp, all of the arrows were engulfed in flame. An old man with a bottle of wine appeared, dressed in tattered robes, his face red from drinking alcohol. When she saw the old man, Honey exclaimed: “Grandpa!”

Bart gasped and saluted the old man respectfully: “Master.”

The old man waved his hand and looked at Xiu, still at the clock tower, with drunken eyes: “Young people do need to work off their anger but they shouldn’t go too far. This is the Imperial City. If you make, a commotion again, I, Antonio, will appear, (belch) very useless. The royals are very stingy, it’s not easy for this old man to drink wine (belch).”

Chapter 45.2 – Reader: Selling out teammates.

As the first Mage God, Antonio is a legend. He is the idol of countless people in the Chaos Continent. All of his deeds can be arranged into an epic song for the bards to sing. No one knows exactly how strong Antonio is and it is rumored that he is only one step away from being a god. Antonio is not allied with any of the forces on the Chaos Continent. Right now he is a guest of the Star Empire. In the original novel’s plot, Xiu met Antonio through Honey. One glance was all it took before Xiu harvested a Mage God as a mentor.

This person is very dangerous – is what Xiu sensed. The elf form would be hard-pressed to fight him but perhaps the demon form can fight with this enemy. Xiu coldly calculated. If this person also hinders him ...

Antonio raised his bleary eyes and a brilliance shone through them.

“You are a good seedling and this old man doesn’t want to destroy you.”

“They shouldn’t have stolen my man,” the elf said coldly.

Everyone’s eyes went to Enoch who was carrying Du Ze. The short-haired thief stiffly smiled and put down Du Ze. When Du Ze walked to the clock tower’s edge, Xiu jumped down and tightly clutched Du Ze’s arm, like a dragon guarding his treasure.

Antonio took off the wine cork with his mouth, took a swig, and lamented: “Ah, looks like this was a misunderstanding. Young people always have a lot of energy.” His muddy gaze fell on Xiu: “You’re very good. Do you want to consider accompanying this old rogue?”1

If anyone else had heard this sentence, they would probably be so happy that they would faint. The person speaking is the first Mage God Antonio, a living legend!

Hearing Antonio’s invitation, Xiu was noncommittal. He glanced coldly at Enoch and the other people, then made as if to leave with Du Ze. With Antonio present, it’s not convenient for him to get rid of those people.

There will be time for that later.

Seeing Xiu and Du Ze turn to go, Enoch hurriedly shouted: “Hey! You really won’t consider it? My suggestion about you acting!”

Du Ze always felt that the gold mercenary team members were a few bricks shy of a load.2 Even when the Moe Lord clearly meant to kill them, they were still acting carefree and there is no sense of crisis. Enoch’s personality was especially rash.

Xiu remained indifferent and continued to walk away. Enoch saw this and shouted: “Black-haired brother, don’t forget our agreement! I’ll wait for you with the Starlight Troupe!”

Du Ze immediately felt Xiu’s hand on his tighten. Now some silly, cute person has confirmed it – Enoch really is a scourge! Every time after Enoch causes trouble, it’s this innocent bystander who has to suffer the consequences!!!

After finally escaping from Enoch et al, Xiu and Du Ze found a hotel in the Imperial City of the Star Empire. Du Ze could feel his companion giving off an intense chill so he thought it would be better to confess.

“That thief has the thing I want.” Xiu’s reaction made Du Ze speak very carefully, omitting the most dangerous words: “He said that if I help him with something, he will give me that thing.”

“What is that thing?”

Du Ze was silent. How can he tell the Moe Lord that he is after that doujinshi?!

Fortunately, Xiu did not cross-examine him about it but asked another question: “What does he want you to do?”

“... Persuade you to act in a play.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Xiu stood by the window and the sun spun a halo around his beautiful, delicate face.

“Do you want me to do it?” Xiu said: “Then say it, tell me what you want.”

– Until I become your entire *.3

Xiu’s voice was very cold but also indescribably tempting. Du Ze blurted out: “I want you to act in the play.”

In the sunlight, Xiu’s thin lips seems to curve up slightly. He went to Du Ze and gently gripped the back of his neck.

“As you wish.”

The next day, Enoch waited with the Starlight troupe for his savior. When he saw Xiu arrive, the thief almost cried from happiness.

“Are you willing to act in the play? Are you? Are you?”

Xiu did not immediately answer Enoch and instead asked the thief: “Why did you take him away with you?”

Enoch realized that Xiu was referring to Du Ze. For fear of Xiu leaving angrily, Enoch hastened to explain: “It’s a misunderstanding! A total misunderstanding! I have a friend who has been looking for him. When you rushed towards me, I panicked and took your companion...”

“Who’s looking for him?” Xiu’s voice was calm but Du Ze somehow had the feeling of wanting to run away.

“A friend of mine, his name is Eric.” Afraid of Xiu misunderstanding this, Enoch began to speak for Eric: “He has no malice towards your companion. I can feel he has a good opinion of him.”

“Eric ...”

Du Ze silently backed away a few steps. He really felt that now Xiu regarded Eric as a rival he needed to eradicate – don’t ask him why!

But Enoch, who was clueless about this, continued to say: “When you meet Eric, you will see that he is a very good person. Right now Eric left to do something but he said he will be at the weapons contest. I can introduce you to him then.”

At this moment, Du Ze was enlightened. In fact, it’s not that Du Ze is an innocent bystander who got caught up in Enoch’s mess, the truth is that Enoch is a professional at selling out his teammates!4

Du Ze was frightened as Xiu nodded impassively. Enoch, that rash fellow who had absolutely no idea what he had done, triumphantly led them to the leader of the Starlight Troupe.

The leader of the acting troupe was very excited when he saw Xiu. After Enoch proposed staging the play, he was also thrilled at the thought of being able to put on a proper performance of one of the most challenging plays. The Starlight Troupe had already prepared everything that was needed. All they were missing was the lead actor.

The most important part of a play is the audience’s suspension of disbelief. “Cecil” is considered difficult to stage, but that was not because the acting is difficult. Rather, what was difficult was the ability to make the audience, both male and female, feel that the Cecil in the play was truly a stunning beauty. Everyone needs to be captivated by the beauty of Cecil, and when Cecil’s lover appears, the play is considered successful if the audience becomes jealous of the lover.

The Starlight Troupe’s leader now wants to cry. He finally found the ideal leading man. The face of the elf was beautiful even without makeup. After makeup, he would certainly look like Cecil. His long experience in the acting business made him certain that the elf would absolutely make everyone in the audience go crazy, but ...

Even if the audience is in love with “Cecil,” they will never be jealous of Cecil’s lover.

Because when “Cecil” looks into his lover’s eyes, it’s like he is looking at grass.

There’s already an issue with him looking into his lover’s eyes, don’t even mention what it was like when he was supposed to kiss his lover. The leader was in dire need of a drink. How many troupes couldn’t stage “Cecil” because of the first act when they had to make the audience fall in love with the lead actor’s beauty? The elf easily finished the first act yet he was stuck in the second act that depicted Cecil’s relationship with his lover. But this scene is also the most crucial one: it needs to make the audience feel jealous, then the next part will turn their jealousy into compassion. After they see the conclusion, the audience will be moved.

The other scenes were fine but the d***ed second act just wouldn’t work. The leader wanted to kneel in front of Xiu and beg him: “I don’t want you to see the heroine as a lover. Do you at least think of her as a person?”

After learning of the leader’s tragedy, Enoch hurriedly looked for Xiu. Du Ze was with the other onlookers watching the stage and he saw the two of them talking. Xiu looked to the side and said a sentence.

It was at that moment that Du Ze saw the world’s most wonderful face-changing performance from Enoch. The thief had a stupefied expression on his face, then he ran to talk to the leader. The leader’s also looked quite astonished at first but then his expression changed into one of determination, as though he was ready to do anything.

Du Ze suddenly had a premonition that something bad was going to happen when he saw the two men walk over to him. Enoch and the leader were both smiling cordially.

“Hey, brother, do me a favor. Can you play the heroine in the second act?”

******

******

If the heroine is him, I’ll kiss him.

I’ll kiss you, don’t worry about it.

– [black box]

*******

The author has something to say:

[System]: The BOSS Protagonist has appeared, HP:???? , MP:???? , SSS danger level

[Main Tank] Reader (Aggro Level Max): Heal, heal, heal, – hey, buff me, too!5

[Healer]6 Author (Retreating to Safety): I wish you happiness, haha.

[Main Tank] Reader (Was Pushed Down): WTF! You actually sell out your teammates!!!