Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 621

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Episode 70.
The Velvet Invitation (34)
Amarilli brightened and gestured for them to come closer. It was just before Erichi could commit a rudeness against the director. Applicant Number 4, who had been in Group 1, hesitantly opened his mouth.
“I never imagined I’d be cast as Ludvik Skander, so… I just improvised however I could earlier, but I can’t quite grasp a clear image of the character. Still, seeing that you chose me makes me think there might be some possibility… The image keeps flickering in my mind like it’s about to come into focus… So if you could just demonstrate the role for me once, Director…”
Not only Applicant Number 4 who was speaking, but all the others had eyes gleaming with anticipation. Joshua looked around at them expressionlessly before answering.
“Watching a demonstration isn’t always beneficial.”
“But…”
“I’ve always wanted to see it just once in my life. The reason I even participated in this audition was actually…”
While the applicants spoke various things before Joshua with desperate expressions, Erichi, standing slightly behind them, let out a scoff and thought to himself. He’d probably play coy for a bit, then pretend he couldn’t help himself and go along with it. Without ever actually stepping on stage, of course.
When an opportunity for a demonstration like this came along, if you suddenly claimed you weren’t prepared when asked to perform, and then skillfully used your handsome face to muddle through it, wouldn’t your reputation stay intact and you’d seem like the best? Brilliant?
There were truly so many people in the theatrical arts world like swans who wanted to appear as natural geniuses, thrashing about desperately where no one could see them.
Just as Erichi had predicted, the answer fell from Joshua’s lips.
“Fine.”
As soon as they sensed the demonstration was about to begin, the other successful audition candidates scrambled to their feet. This was a moment no one could afford to miss.
Their director rarely gave demonstration performances. But if one was fortunate enough to catch such a moment as today, they said he would bestow in a single instant a wellspring of inspiration that wouldn’t fade even after years.
Some said that catching this opportunity to see a demonstration was an even greater fortune for continuing an acting career than passing today’s audition. Someone was calling out to failed applicants down the slope, and others were rushing over, not wanting to be late.
In the meantime, Joshua removed his hat and draped it over an empty chair, pulled off his poncho, and accepted a temporary prop—a black coat—to put on. The reason it fit perfectly despite Joshua not being meant to wear it was probably because everyone’s minds had already cast Joshua as the lead character.
Just as he was about to remove his round glasses and put them in his pocket, Amarilli approached and held out a large cosmetics box. Inside the open box were toners and powders, as well as various brushes, ink brushes, eyeshadows in diverse tones, lip tints, and cheek tints. Joshua shook his head.
“That’s enough. I’m just doing a demonstration.”
“You should do the demonstration perfectly.”
“Being too perfect isn’t good either.”
Amarilli, not understanding why Joshua said such a thing, persistently followed him with the box in hand.
“Still! You’ve prepared so hard for this—at least show some sincerity!”
After walking a few steps, Joshua stopped and silently reached toward the eyeshadow palette, picking up several shades with his ring and middle fingers. Dark pink, crimson, silver, and black. As he walked toward the stage, he applied them around his eyes and lips without even glancing at a mirror. The remainder he rubbed into the ends of his hair. He stepped over three cosmetics boxes and turned around on the stage.
…
Several people drew in sharp breaths, and a few held theirs. Someone whispered.
“This is absolutely insane…”
In mere moments, Joshua had completely transformed into the face of the mad baron, Ludvik Skander. It wasn’t just the makeup—his expression, his posture, even the movement of his fingertips had changed. The beginning of a demonstration that magically shifted the atmosphere and commanded all attention—the talent called demonic.
From the tomb where I imprisoned myself,
This hand that drags mine forth—
Can it spread the hideous shroud beneath the sun
And transform it into wedding robes, do you believe?
He deliberately chose the same song to show it was for Applicant Number 4 who had requested the demonstration. But unlike before, his voice didn’t stretch out with that dramatic, captivating tone that ensnared listeners. It was rough somehow, beautiful like a single melody but sounding lonely. There wasn’t even accompaniment.
Then, moments later, one of the applicants picked up the cello the musician had set down and began laying down a low accompaniment. Another applicant picked up a violin and wove in harmonies.
The performance harmonized so perfectly with Joshua’s song that it seemed as though they’d prepared it in advance, but of course they hadn’t, and the applicants themselves were seized with astonishment. Did I possess such talent?
A smile bloomed on Joshua’s face. It was the reaction he had hoped for.
Since that first summer when the 【Imperator】 performance—which had become his nickname—was staged, Joshua had lived as a student of Nenyaple, yet simultaneously as something inhuman, a strange existence outside all categories.
Because those close to him were few, outwardly he appeared entirely indifferent to others’ feelings, others’ circumstances, others’ plans.
At a summer performance for student actors, he’d casually thought it would be a fun memory, and had taken amateur participants one by one to coach them in acting—in hindsight, that was where the problem began.
It was like medicine that had become poison after adding excessively precious ingredients. As the performance date approached, one by one, two by two, they seemed to lose their minds, and finally, after experiencing the real stage and being enchanted by its magic, several of them essentially abandoned their studies. While he had discovered new talents, since becoming an actor wasn’t an easy path, he had simultaneously destroyed both their daily lives and their futures.
Those who had studied at Nenyaple with aspirations of becoming a Mage or Scholar, only to have their ordinary futures destroyed and find themselves fixated solely on Joshua’s next performance, were called “victims.” Through two performances, five victims had emerged, though two barely managed to regain their senses and escape—that is, they left Nenyaple.
In his most recent work, two actors who had been cast as sworn enemies ended up hating each other for no reason whatsoever, and their relationship remained unrepaired even now, their names added to the new victim roster.
At this point, the professors had to call Joshua in for a meeting. I heard that when a victim’s parents demanded to know who had done such a thing, they fell silent the moment they learned it was the Young Duke. It was around that time that Maximian had angrily told Joshua not to worry about it anymore and to do as he pleased.
Unlike usual, Joshua didn’t brush off the matter with a smile this time. Others didn’t know it, but that argument had been their second round.
In any case, after that, Joshua stopped giving leading roles to student actors. He no longer performed demonstrations in front of them. For this performance, instead of inviting people from Morbianez, he brought none of those who had held leading roles in the previous performance. Only two students who had played minor roles barely managed to join.
And today, Joshua had changed the direction of his demonstration slightly. Rather than displaying perfection and instilling longing in people, he aimed to inspire them—to make them want to create something themselves.
The demonstration was brief. When the mere three minutes ended, everyone’s faces glowed as if passion itself had been transmitted to them. They all wanted to add something to what Joshua had shown them. Whether it was a supporting role, a staff position, or even carrying props—anything would do. In a sense, Joshua was also practicing how to control his own power. To live among ordinary people.
Just as Joshua stepped down from the stage, someone came running from the direction of the prop tent. A letter was in their hand.
“Director! Just a moment ago, something like this… well, a ferret brought it and left…”
Everyone looked bewildered at the mention of a ferret, but not Joshua. A name immediately came to mind—Tichiel. Among the animals that Tichiel raised and fed at Nenyaple, some had become so attuned to the Mage’s will that they ran errands for her.
Joshua reached out and took the letter, saying:
“Thank you.”
A director of remarkably proper courtesy. He never failed to express gratitude for anything. Standing in place, Joshua tore open the letter and read it slowly. Then he read it again from the beginning. It was rare for him to do so. After all, he memorized everything after reading it once. Yet he remained lost in thought, staring at the letter for a long while.
Eventually, as Joshua folded the letter, his eyes turned cold. Moments before, he had been restraining himself elegantly out of consideration for others, but not anymore. He murmured softly:
“Keltika?”
Then, as if suddenly returning to reality, he looked around. He saw the prospective actors still gazing at him, unable to shake off the emotion of the demonstration, the hastily constructed temporary stage, and then Erichi and Amarilli in turn. Then he spoke calmly:
“Everyone, due to unforeseen circumstances, I must postpone the opening of the performance. To next summer.”
“Pardon?”
“What did you say?”
Everyone’s mouths fell open, but no one was more stunned than Amarilli. Her face had literally turned pale and rigid. Anticipating this, Joshua approached Amarilli first and whispered something in her ear.
“…You understand, don’t you?”
Amarilli’s lips still trembled, but she managed to nod. Joshua embraced Amarilli’s shoulder once, then offered a faint smile to Erichi, who wore a bewildered expression, and continued:
“The performance opening is provisionally set for August, with temporary reassembly on May 1st. Until then, your schedules are free, but your employment will be maintained under the same conditions through August. Daily wages will continue to be paid. Should anyone wish to change or terminate their contract, please inform Crown. For any financial losses incurred, I will compensate you double, and I will arrange all travel and accommodation as you wish.
However, I understand that your confusion and displeasure cannot be compensated. This has all come about because of me alone. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”
Then he bowed respectfully to everyone. They all stood bewildered. Some, unable to accept that the Young Duke was bowing to them, hastily bent their own waists.
Joshua turned away, pulled out a handkerchief, and wiped away the makeup around his eyes. He removed his coat and shivered slightly in the cold for a moment before wrapping a poncho around himself. Finally, he took out yellow-tinted glasses and put them back on. Simple gestures, but as always, they were graceful and possessed a certain rhythm, captivating the gaze of many.
Yet Joshua was not composed solely of such beauty. He was a master of performance and a brilliant artist, but that was not all.
He remembered everything he saw, heard, and read. He mastered every discipline and art the moment he learned it. And should he choose to do so, he could see through human schemes and strategies as easily as reading a child’s mind—a transcendent genius known as “Demonic.”
In this moment, having reverted to Demonic Joshua, he spoke softly, his words directed at an invisible someone:
“Maximian is in danger. Of course I have to go.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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