Pièce of the Singing Garden of Delusions Chapter 3

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Chapter 3

Having finished breakfast, we took to the skies after an elevator trip, and flew to the outskirts of Western Country. 

The rumoured Garden of Delusions was, as stated, at the end of a road beyond some mix of stores and houses.

Running alongside a river, were numerous tents and small buildings, with signboards of varying sizes.

In the middle of these tents, was a noticeably large one crowded with people. 

Announcer: Come one, come all! Have a seat, have a gander! The time has come for the curtains to rise on this bewildering, bemusing, bizarre show!

Mitile: What a crowd…! There’s even booths for drinks and snacks.

Shino: It’s a whole festival in here. I see some people wearing costumes too.

Chloe: I’ve only ever heard about it, so this is my first time coming here…this is what it’s like.

Rustica: It’s a different kind of liveliness than the Town of Affluence. I’m glad we came together. 

Akira: Yeah. I’m not really used to this type of atmosphere…thanks for coming along, everybody.

I turned around to see a floating Saccy, who gave me what appeared to be a little nod.

Lennox: There’s a possibility the Calamity is involved, after all. It’s my pleasure to be of help to you.

Shino: And I didn’t have any plans today.

Mitile: I wanted to help too!

Nero: It didn’t feel right to let the Sagey and you kiddos go alone. 

Faust: And in the worst case scenario, I don’t think having Rustica as the only adult would be enough.

Owen: I’m here too though?

“a certain performance they’ve been throwing there makes your head all loopy.”

During breakfast, I had told the others of the rumours that started around the time the Calamity last attacked. In addition to our original party, a few more members were added.

Owen: More ants to trail after me. 

Whatever. I just came here to make fun of the unfortunate. I don’t have time for babysitting.

Chloe: Owen, are you going already? Let’s watch at least one performance together!

Rustica: You’ve attended a show here before, right Owen? It’s our first time here, so it’d be very reassuring to have someone show us the ropes!

Owen: What ropes are there to show you about attending theatre. 

Akira: (This place has a totally different vibe from the Cosmos Circus we saw once before…)

It had the same energy and liveliness to it, but this Garden of Delusions had a more mysterious mood to it.

The colours of the buildings and signboards were gaudy and struck at your eye, like the red light district’s neon lighting. 

Announcer: It’s almost time for the curtains to rise! Hurry on to your seats now!

Lennox: Looks like we’re just in time.

Nero: Welp, let’s take our seats, shall we?

The tent was filled with audience members, whose seats surrounded the stage that was luxuriously decorated with blinking lights. 

As the excitement hit to a boil, a bell clanged, and signaled the start of the stage.

Chloe: W-Wow, that person’s arm is so twisted and bent…is this an illusion? 

Mitile: Over there, somebody’s gulping down balls of fire one after another!

Shino: I don’t sense any magic, and they seem to be human…how is their throat and stomach not burnt after eating that?

Talking Cat Person: Something smells of disgusting beast…could it be there’s a stray dog somewhere?

Talking Dog Person: I’ll shut you up with this catnip!

Akira: They’ve got animal tails and ears on, and are fighting like cats and dogs…

From eccentric street performances, to dance-like acrobatics with props, left and right were mesmerizing acts being performed.

There were wizards amongst the performers, using magic or tricks to deliver us hilarious performances that stood out to the eye.

...And now on stage was a lady in thin clothing, riding on another performer’s back like a horse and riding them around.

Nero: Heh, niiice.

Faust: Hey, we have kids with us.

Lennox: …

Mitile: Mr. Leno, why’re you covering my eyes? I can’t see the stage like this…!

Shino: Haha, he’s not letting you see. Guess you’re still a little too young to see this sorta stuff…

Faust: …

Shino: Ah, hey! Don’t you cover my eyes!

Drunken Person: Hehehe, I wanna go for a ride!

Owen: Sure, I’ll give you one. Should I hold the reins? 

Drunken Person: W-What the, who’re you?!

Hat Wearing Person: Hahaha, ain’t you lucky. I’m so jelly.

Rustica: In that case, how about I hold your reins?

Hat Wearing Person: Hic…!? We were talking to the lady, not you!

Drunken Person: Waaait, now that I look more closely, you fellas sure are good-looking…let’s go for a ride. 

Hat Wearing Person: Ahahaha! Ya don’t need it pal, all year round you get yer reins pulled on by the wife don’tcha!

The audience members were free to cheer or jeer, drink themselves to sleep, and to leave their seat or take a newly emptied one.

Faust: It’s quite rowdy…doesn’t seem like we’ll be able to watch in peace like this.

Nero: Definitely far from an aristocratic crowd, but this is what a theatre at the edge of town’s gotta be like.

Lennox: For sure. It’s not as dangerous as expected, though.

There are performances aimed at an adult audience…but everyone is honestly here to watch theatre as they like. 

Host: Now now, everybody! Next up is your long awaited, pierrot’s comedy act! 

It’s this troupe’s main attraction, the play of jests and laughter, “Let Us Meet On Walpurgis Night”. Don’t take your eyes away from the stage!

Akira, Chloe, & Rustica: …!

Along with that familiar phrase was a clown girl clad in flashy clothing who appeared on the stage. 

Clown Girl: La la la~

“Let us meet on Walpurgis Night”

“The night where wizards make the most merry  A tale of laughter that will be our little secret”

Chloe: This is the song…it’s as those kids said, it comes from this theatre.

Rustica: So this little doll does share some connection to this troupe.

Her airy voice echoed throughout the tent. The audience members who were doing as they liked earlier, were now captivated by her singing, watching intently.

Clown Girl: “The lying pierrot is a popular fellow  Able to get a laugh out of anyone”

“Like cackle cackle hee hee hee ah ha ha ha”

Other performers gathered around her as she danced and sang. Bitten by a toy dog, she pretended to be hurt, and joked around comically.

And at the drop of a pin she changed her act, ripping off the cloak around her shoulders and twisting her body. Behind her mask I could see her charming smile.

Clown Girl: “Let me be your partner  Do with the jester of me as you like”

Akira & Chloe: W-Wow…

Hat Wearing Person: Phewie! This one’s a sure masterpiece!

I couldn’t take my eyes off the performance and its frequently changing tone and expressions.

The audience was mesmerized, clapping along happily, but…

Drunken Person: Yah yah! Gyaha! Aahahaha!

Freckled Person: Eehee, heehee, hehehe!

Shino: …Hey, is it just me or are these guys acting a little weird?

Mitile: Y-Yeah, I think so too…that movement just now wasn’t that funny…

Nero: They seem to be getting abnormally hyped…

As the play continued, the audience’s laughter became more and more erratic. 

Cutting breaths, bending themselves backwards, their laughter became as piercing as broken alarm clocks. 

Lennox: …Lord Faust.

Faust: I know. Satillquinart Mullcreed. 

When he said his spell, the sound around us became distant, like we were underwater, or had a membrane wrapped over our ears. 

Faust: It’s best that you younger wizards and the Sage don’t listen to her singing now. Your consciousness might be taken over. 

Akira: O-Okay…

Mitile: What’s wrong with everyone…?

Frightened by the crazed enthusiasm, Mitile and I huddled each other. 

Up on my shoulder was Saccy with their furs on end.

Owen: Haha, this is awesome. The entire theatre has gone mad. It's hilarious. 

Like they all turned into clowns…pierrots. 

Jacket Wearing Person: Hey, you’re performing this weird crap again?!

Someone had come from the entrance of the tent. They were carrying a rolled up ball of scrap paper, and threw it at the stage. 

Jacket Wearing Person: My wife has lost it because of this damned performance!

She can’t do a darn thing around the house now. You stop this lunatic song now!

Freckled Person: Gyahaha! Yea yea! Stop it!

At that criticism other members started following along, laughing as they began to throw things at the stage.

Rustica: For being immersed in a performance this is…going overboard.

Chloe: I hope she’s okay…if anything hard is thrown she might get hurt…

Regardless, the girl continued her performance, and so did the audience and their malicious actions. 

But when a vase was thrown and its shards littered the back of the stage, the girl finally spoke up.

Clown Girl: …Tch, give it a rest already! If you think you can do whatever just ‘cuz you’re audience members, you’re dead wrong!

Drunken Person: Shaddup! Don’t get cocky with me!

Jacket Wearing Person: The hell d’you think you’re sayin’ to paying customers?! You need a beating!

The theatre grounds turned violent, and the enthusiasm became unbearably uncomfortable. 

The enraged man got on stage, and grabbed at the girl.

Mitile: Ah!

Akira: No…!

As I yelped, a large shadow rushed forward.

Lennox: Haah!

Lennox had ran to the stage, covering the girl and blocking the angry man.

He was grabbing the man’s hand, twisting it slightly.

Lennox: Get off the stage. Now. That was too much.

Jacket Wearing Person: W-Who the hell’re you…?! The security guard?!

Lennox’s Sheep: Baa!

Jacket Wearing Person: Uh, huh…? Sheep? If you have animals on you, are you a performer too?

Blue Haired Performer: Iris, are you hurt?!

Small Performer: Mister, I’m so sorry about that! Our dear guests, please calm down!

Owen: Iris…

Aah, so it’s you. 

Akira: (...?)

Owen quietly mumbled to himself in a voice like he was brandishing his blade. 

But he was soon drowned out by the bustling troupe members entering from the sides of the stage after hearing the commotion.

Even still, the theatre was trapped in a vortex of laughter. 

Cackle cackle, heehee, ehehe. Distorted voices of laughter filled up the tent space.

Chloe & Rustica: …

Faust: …Looks like we were right for coming.

Nero: Is this the work of a curse, or some type of spirit? Everything changed when she sang.

Faust: There is an anomaly occurring here, but it’s nothing on her end.

Is there something with the performance that’s affecting the audience…?

Owen: Hehe. This place really is the best.

It’s a gathering of strays at a trash heap, licking each other’s wounds…

Akira: Uhm, Owen. When you came here last was it also like this?

What happened just now was definitely more than “gone loopy”.

Owen: No? Last time wasn’t this chaotic at all. Audience manners have become so polite nowadays.

Anyways, that girl took off her smiley mask even though she’s the pierrot. She’s not worth her salt as an actor. 

Tin Doll: *clatter clatter*

Owen: Ow! What the hell? Did this thing just pinch me?

Chloe: Isn’t it mad?

Rustica: It does like her song, so maybe it felt insulted? 

Tin Doll: *clatter*

Akira: Was that a nod?

Shino: This thing can communicate now?

Chloe: Hey hey, helloooo. If you can hear me, please do something!

Lennox: I’m back, everyone. Sorry for running off like that.

Mitile: Welcome back! Mr. Leno, are you alri…wait, what?

Faust: You…those clothes…

Shino: You too, Faust. You’re all flashy now.

Nero: Not just him, you, me, and everybody here too.

Owen: …

We all found ourselves in new outfits. They were showy, clown themed clothes, meant for shining on the stage. 

Rustica: What wonderful apparel. I would assume we had these commissioned specifically for this outing. Is this someone’s present to us?

Chloe: Don’t look at me! I didn’t have the time!

Akira: Then, who exactly…

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