Pièce of the Singing Garden of Delusions Chapter 4

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Chapter 4

Owen: It was you, wasn’t it?

An Owen dressed in clown clothing like the rest of us glared at the tin doll as he asked his question pointedly.

Owen: Hmph…not only do you sing whenever you want, you only answer when you want to too. Selfish tin can. 

Nero: But hey, don’t we fit in like this? With these threads we can sneak into the back. 

Faust: We should. It’s a bit too dazzling for a shut-in like me, but…I suppose in here this outfit helps stand out less.

Let’s go find that girl and ask her about what happened. Sage, you’re alright with that?

Akira: Of course. Boy, am I lucky to have you guys along…

Rustica: That play had so many layers to it. Though the last act went a little haywire, we got to see all sorts of stimulating and fun scenes. 

Owen, thank you for having us with you.

Chloe: Will you go backstage with us? If you don’t feel like it, there’s the booths to hang around…

Owen: I’ll come.

Akira: Are you sure?

Owen: Totally sure. Don’t want me?

Akira: N-No! I’m just surprised, that’s all.

(I thought he’d up and disappear like usual by now…)

(He does seem to like this theatre troupe…and is probably in a good mood too.)

The curtains had already closed on the stage, and the madness that had taken over the tent gradually died down.

The audience members, like waking up from a dream, got up and started leaving the theatre, expressions devoid of that previous enthusiasm. 

Among that crowd was an old gentleman in a dapper suit, who seemed to be upset. 

Old Gentleman: Oh dear, how awful. Such cruelty to the actors that was. 

Even though the little lady was singing beautifully…

Rustica: I feel the same, good sir. Her singing was brilliant. 

I could hear the life shining out of her, like the dawn that beckons for the sunrise.

At Rustica’s friendly words, the old man’s face instantly lit up.

Old Gentleman: Hoho, you understand me, young man. Indeed, her voice is bright and strong.

Rustica: My thoughts exactly. Sir, do you come here often?

Old Gentleman: I do. I’m actually quite the regular old patron too if I do say so myself.

It saddens me to see how my fellow audience members’ manners appear to have worsened…if only they could let that girl sing comfortably, the way she wants…

Oh my, pardon me young sir. I must be going now…good day. 

After greeting the senior and seeing him off, Rustica came back.

Rustica: Anywhere you go, true art will always be appreciated by somebody…warms my heart.

Now then, shall we find our lady?

Likely because of our outfits, nobody questioned us as we walked backstage with ease.

Lennox: Sorry, do you happen to know where the clown girl is? The one who was just singing…

Troupe Member: Aah, she’s over there. Heeey, Iris!

Iris: Comin’!

The one who turned around was a girl in her mid twenties.

Curly black hair, alluring purple–iris coloured–eyes, even without her clown clothes on, she had an unforgettable presence to her.

Rustica: Hello, Miss Iris. It is a pleasure to meet you.

Akira: We’re…

Iris: Ah…

Before I could introduce ourselves, Iris stared eyes-wide at Owen in shock. 

Iris: The Lying Pierrot…?

Owen: …Who is that? You’re not asking me, are you?

He gave a small laugh at her question.

Resting his back on a wall with cracking paint, he tilted his head as if he were assessing her. His odd-eyes traced her figure up and down. 

Iris: Ah…sorry. I got the wrong person. There was a performer who wore similar clothes to you before. 

Anyways, I haven’t seen your faces before. And you big man, aren’t you the one who jumped on stage earlier?

Despite her questions she had a cheerful smile on her face. Unlike her mysterious get-up, she seemed to be an openhearted person.

Chloe: Uhm, so this and that happened, and now we’re here. Do you recognize this doll?

Iris: T-That’s…! Where did you find it?!

Rustica: So you do know this doll.

It was for sale at a flea market. We just happened to cross paths, and took it in. 

Iris: Is that what happened…thank you, and bless your heart for bringing it here!

This doll was the pierrot’s. It somehow gained the ability to sing and got sold for being creepy.

Faust: Then it’s good you’ve reunited. A little late for introductions, but we’re the Sage’s Wizards.

We came here to investigate the strange rumours surrounding this troupe.

Iris: The Sage’s Wizards? Do you mean, the guys who showed up at Her Highness’ coronation ceremony?

Akira: You know about the coronation?

Iris: ‘Course I do! The guests and the kids in town wouldn’t stop talking about it! So you guys’re the famous wizards…

From the portraits you looked to be a smiley bright bunch, but you’re actually pretty refined in person.

Nero: So those exaggeratedly happy pictures of us spread even to here too…

Faust: Well, that’s…fine. We watched your performance earlier, Iris. 

When you started singing, the entire mood of the audience began to change. Is it always like that?

Iris: Oh, well first…thank you for watching. I must’ve startled you if it’s your first time.

Before, everyone enjoyed it the same as usual…up until a while ago, when it started getting weird…

Now during my performances, my co-actors have their ears plugged. I’m sorry I didn’t handle that outburst sooner.

Lennox: No, what’s important is your safety. By “a while ago” do you mean around when the Great Calamity visited last?

Iris: You’re a good guesser. Yeah, it was around then.

Akira: Just as we thought…

Faust: This is probably the moon’s fault, then.

Flashy Suited Man: Iris!

An angry voice shouted. It belonged to a man with a deep scowl on his face, furiously walking towards us.

Iris: It’s the Assistant Manager…

Assistant Manager: Startin’ shit with the audience again, have you?! How many more lashings do I gotta give ya ‘til you learn your lesson?!

The man called the assistant manager threw his whip around as he shouted.

Without a second thought, he aimed a strike at Iris. 

Chloe & Mitile: …!

Nero: Hey, bastard…!

Assistant Manager: You’re the one begging me to continue throwing on that disgusting performance of yours, so what’s with the attitude?!

Iris: …Tch, shut up! Our sales went up ‘cuz of my act, didn’t they?!

Every one of our guests come to see that play!

Assistant Manager: Silence! You don’t get to talk back to me, you just needa sing!

He raised his arm for another strike, preparing to abuse Iris again.

Until Lennox grabbed his arm.

Lennox: I don’t think it’s good for business to wound your own actors. 

That play is the main attraction of this theatre. Your sales will surely be impacted if she can’t stand on stage. 

Mitile: Y-Yeah! Please stop with the abuse!

Assistant Manager: Damnit, let go of me! Who the hell’re you guys?! …Huh, there’re more of you than I thought…are you the newbies the traders brought in?

Forget the shrimp, I don’t remember asking for this bean pole…

Akira: Uh, uhm…

Lennox: …I was a bonus. I’ll be in your care.

Assistant Manager: I see…if that’s the case, I’ll look past this only once. Grab my arm again and you’ll be getting a beating in the discipline room. 

Newbies have a lot of work to do! Carrying stuff, repairing signs, refilling fuel…and you gotta clean up the props too.

Iris, come to my office. If you wanna keep on singing, you understand, don’tcha?

Iris: …

The assistant manager left, looking like he was about to spit on the floor in contempt.

Nero: I thought it’d be like this on the inside…but man does he piss me off.

Faust: No fear like having a scumbag for a boss. 

Shino: Iris. Are you really going to his office? You might get punished again.

Iris: It’ll be fine…it’ll probably be just another one of his annoying lectures.

More importantly, you only just came here, and now I gotta go!

Chloe: Don’t worry about that…but Iris, don’t you think it’s kinda dangerous to perform that play?

Rustica: It’s a shame, since your singing and acting were a delight to witness…

Iris' eyes wavered uncomfortably at the two Western wizards' words.

Seeming completely different from the lively girl before, she spoke in a small voice like a little girl’s.

Iris: …Yeah, I guess I oughta. I don’t think what’s happening to the audience is normal either…

But it was a song someone precious to me sang. I don’t wanna stop…

Owen: Exactly. You want everyone who hears that song to laugh themselves to death.

Akira: Owen, that’s enough…

Owen: I’m not criticizing her or anything. Isn’t it sweet that they can have so much fun?

Why don’t you let them laugh themselves to the afterlife. Give them what it means to have a happy life. 

Lennox: Wenny, shh.

Mitile: ?!

Akira: L-Lennox…?!

Lennox: Lords Snow and White told me that if I ever needed to scold Owen, this was the way to do it. 

How are you Owen? Do you feel like stopping now?

Owen: Those damn twins…don’t take their jokes seriously. I have goosebumps now.

Faust: …Anyways. Iris, I understand this is your job, but…

From what we’ve seen, the anomaly appears to only occur within the audience. 

Yesterday, our friends here heard the doll sing and were fine. So it’s possible that the anomaly is only linked to singing this song on that stage. 

Whether you continue singing, or give up that song, it’s our job to get to the bottom of this curse.

Akira: And we just received some orders for work…

While doing our tasks, let’s try and talk to the other troupe members.

Owen: Ehh…?

Shino: Ah, nice idea. Owen, you know the most about this troupe, so we’re counting on you.

Mitile: Looks like there’s a lot to do! It’d be nice if we could be of help, Mister Owen.

Chloe: Let’s go, Owen!

Rustica: This way, Owen.

Owen: Hey. If you’re gonna pull on my sleeves, do it in the same direction!

Nero: Sheeeesh, the kiddos fear nothing…

Faust: You guys, if you value your life don’t push Owen around like that…

Lennox: Nero. Is Rustica considered a ‘kiddo’?

Nero: Err…well more than me?

We split up into different groups, and began working around the theatre.

Lennox: So what you’re saying is…people hear the song, laugh themselves tired, and come back again for another performance. 

Red Haired Person: Yep. I dunno if they’re addicted to somethin’ or what, but business is better than usual.

Still gives me the chills to look at though. Everyone turning into a smiling pierrot that can’t take off its own mask…

Mitile: I finished repainting the signboard! I’ll start on this one next.

Red Haired Person: Aah, thanks bud. You sure work fast for a newbie.

Shino: Finished the wall repairs. Should I help out over here?

Red Haired Person: Err, wow. That’s a gutsy attitude you got.

Ponytailed Person: Hey, big boy! Didja clean out the storehouse yet?

Lennox: Yes, I finished it already.

Ponytailed Person: You finished all that?! What about the stage setting…

Lennox: Transported. 

Ponytailed Person: W-What in the…thank y’all so much! You guys’ve been a huge help!

Red Haired Person: We’re pals from now on, eh? That assistant manager is a lot to deal with…

Shino: About him, is he always like that? Threatening punishment and whatever while carrying a whip.

Ponytailed Person: Aah, yeah. Iris really is amazing. She can tell him what's up, while we shiver in fright.

Red Haired Person: And her acting and singing skills are top notch! After the Lying Pierrot, she’s our next big name actor. 

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