Pièce of the Singing Garden of Delusions Chapter 7

[xuebingcode]

Chapter 7

But at one point, a certain name began to be noted down a lot.

Lennox: “‘It was like I was in a wonderful dream’ the girl said again as she showered compliments about the pierrot. All I could do was reply sullenly.”

“I’m sorry Iris. The me who isn’t wearing the Pierrot’s mask can’t smile.”

“But, just as you describe it, the time you spend talking to someone like me is the greatest dream I could ever have.”

Iris: …

His retelling of events in his own writing was expressive.

Like he was talking about someone he admired, he complimented Iris’ singing, wrote about how his heart beat faster whenever she visited, and how angry he felt whenever she was hurt by the managers.

All sorts of things like that were written from corner to corner of every page then on, using that literary skill of his as a playwright. 

Mitile: …He lived his whole life like this, harbouring those feelings…

Nero: To him, this ‘garden’ was more like a cage with walls he couldn’t see. 

He didn’t have anywhere to run to, and nowhere to belong. Staying here might’ve been easier for him.

Chloe: That’s why Iris was so important to him…

We were sympathetic to Liebe and the matters of his heart, each wizard letting out their own words for him.

And like he was watching a play Owen looked down on us, opening his mouth to speak next.

Owen: When I came here before, I hated that pierrot and his pasted on, boring little smile.

Thinking I could tease him, I followed him to this room’s door, and heard a singing voice inside.

Liebe: …La la la~

“Let us meet on Walpurgis Night  The night where wizards make the most merry”

“A tale of tragedy that will be our little secret”

Owen: Hmm. Nice song.

Liebe: …?! W-Who…

Owen: Does it matter who I am? You were that pierrot on stage earlier.

Hey, what’s that script you got there? The lyrics were different from that performance. 

Liebe: I-It’s…, …

Owen: Can you finish a word? Geez, once the mask’s off you can’t even smile.

Liebe: …T, Those..

…Those are the next part of the lyrics. This song has a second half, not known to anybody.

This play…”Let Us Meet On Walpurgis Night” isn’t a comedy.

It’s a tragedy, where the Lying Pierrot hated by everyone, gets revenge on those who made fun of him.

Owen: And he’s your self-insert? So you plan on taking revenge against everyone in this theatre troupe.

Liebe: …That was what I wanted to do at first, but, what I want doesn’t matter anymore. I’m used to the abuse now.

There’s someone who I don’t want to, though.

She…Iris, doesn’t deserve to be in a place like this. She should be somewhere where she can shine most…

Owen: Cure Memini. 

Liebe: …Hot...?!

My book is burning…!

Ahhh, no. It’s ashes now…

Owen: Hahahaha! That face you made…it’s much better than that boring fake smile of yours!

The you I see right now, is full of life.

Liebe: …Haha…

Owen: Huh…? What’re you laughing at.

Liebe: Thank you. For burning it…

These lyrics were just my selfish wish…that’s why I kept them hidden after I wrote them…

If she found out that the Lying Pierrot performed on stage bearing these disgusting feelings, she’d probably despair…

Owen: Don’t make it sound like I did you a favour. So annoying…

Just perform it. Isn’t being selfish and free the traits of a Western wizard?

Liebe: Huh…?

Owen: Don’t keep the things in your head as writings, turn those delusions into reality.

What lies deep in your heart isn’t a story of love, but a devastating revenge drama…

Accept that you’re a disgusting wizard, and let everybody know. I know it’ll feel so good.

Liebe: But…if I do that, the manager might do something awful to me…to her too…

Owen: So whiny. Even if you hide it, deep down you will always be you. You weren’t meant to be loved.

So if you’re gonna be hated on either way, why don’t you get rid of them all, the stage, the guests, the troupe, tear them all apart.

Liebe: …

Owen: That makes for a much better show.

Akira: (Is the reason why the manager hasn’t shown themselves in years because…)

…Huh…?

I blinked, and the wizards were gone. The only one left was the tin doll sitting on the wooden crate.

With a faint clank, I saw a figure beyond the shredded curtain in the darkness.

Akira: Who is it…?

The one standing there, was a pierrot who wore similar clothes to Owen. 

His face was blackened by the shadow of the pillar, but underneath that mask I could see his lips forming a crescent shape smile.

???: “Iris is pretty good! She’s attractive, her singing’s gotten better. In the future she’ll surely become a nice woman.”

“That hardhead of hers is her only flaw, but it’ll just make taming her all the more worth it.”

The voice intonated their words like they were singing, and was full of energy.

Along with their exaggerated actions, they looked to be graceful despite being in a dusty storage room.

???: “She’s much more interesting than a pierrot who doesn’t smile nor cry when you take off his mask. He’s used goods now.”

“It was nice having him do whatever I wanted, but I do regret it a bit.”

…The manager said in bright spirits. I prayed that it was just a drunken joke.

Iris. As if I’d ever let the same things that happened to me happen to you.

Akira: …You’re…the Lying Pierrot…no, Liebe?

He didn’t answer my question.

Just like the dream from yesterday, I saw him talk and perform cheerfully within the dim lighting.

Like I was his audience, and this was his stage.

Lying Pierrot: At long last, they have found me a buyer. 

The date I am traded off, will be the day of Walpurgis Night. Isn’t it perfect.

There couldn't be a more fitting moment for the Lying Pierrot to bring this all to a conclusion. I’ve memorized my tragic play down to the last page. 

Celebrate with me, the end of this theatre troupe. With the true “Let Us Meet On Walpurgis Night”. 

He continued unveiling his plans for the final performance. 

Among those, was a plan to kill the manager so that they couldn’t interfere.

Lying Pierrot: Dealing with the manager wasn’t hard at all.

I pretended like I was obediently going to bed with them, just like usual, when I slit their throat. 

I bet they never thought I’d oppose them. Not even in their dreams. Cleaning up after a wizard’s death is so quick and easy.

After that…is to successfully complete the performance. I will end it all. I’m going to free her from this garden.

His last words were so earnest that they teared at my heartstrings. 

When he drooped his head low, the mask that hung at his eyes fell to the ground with a clatter.

Lying Pierrot: Please, please…

In the darkness, the pierrot hung his head low. It was when that silhouette of his began to take in the wavering light from the candles that…

???: …Sage. ….Master Sage!

Someone was calling for me, with a loud voice.

And like I was waking from being deep asleep, my vision brightened.

Owen: Master Sage.

Akira: Ow?!

I blink rapidly from the hard slap I receive on my shoulder.

Looking around me, I could see my wizards staring at me.

Lennox, who held me in his arms, let out a sigh of relief.

Lennox: Thank goodness…you suddenly fell, like a puppet who got its strings cut off. 

Akira: Whuh?! S-So sorry…! I don’t know how, but I was listening to Owen’s story when I started dreaming…?

Owen: Wow, was I that boring?

Akira: No, it’s not that…! I think…in my dream, I met with the Lying Pierrot…with Liebe.

Iris: With him…?

Akira: Yes. I couldn’t talk with him, but it looked like he was acting out what was happening in that book…

Faust: No wonder…when Owen started talking about the past, the doll’s presence must’ve grown stronger.

For those without magic or any natural resistance to it, they can be easily influenced.

Nero: And as proof, while you were sleepin’, you talked about everything that happened in that book. 

Akira: I did…? Then…

Rustica: We heard all about the story from you.

I don’t think we got through all of it however…

Lennox: …You’re right.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be forgiven. Even if I somehow escaped with my life, I’m sure I’d spend my days in the darkness cowering in fear still.”

“At the very least, I want to send you to the moonlit forests…”

“My hands are dirty. I don’t think I can ever live with someone as pure as you.”

“So I hope you can forgive me, for only wishing for your freedom.”

…This appears to be the last of Liebe’s writings.

Shino: …He was planning on offing himself with the rest of the troupe.

Nero: That’s why we haven’t been able to meet with the manager. They’ve long left this world.

Faust: And the missing playwright Liebe had turned into stone as the Lying Pierrot…

Owen: It’s all make-believe. This entire theatre troupe. All delusions.

Only Owen’s laugh filled the silence of the room, like a hand knocking at the bottom of an empty pot. 

Owen: To think he actually took my words seriously and took someone’s life.

On top of that, he couldn’t fulfill his plan and died in an accident! Just hilarious. Even in death he can still make you laugh. 

Mitile: You didn’t have to say that…

Chloe: So it was a song about revenge the entire time…

Rustica: Hatred, sadness, anger…he wrote down his spiraling emotions in his book, covered himself with a mask, and laughed it off…

Those days of suffering caused the creative cogs of his brilliant mind to run with abandon.

Faust: He’d gone blind in his madness. His final performance was supposed to be his grand work, yet it all ended without him acting it out. 

It makes sense that with the influence of the Great Calamity, his strong regrets and obsessions to end this theatre troupe with that song were amplified to make those who listened have their hearts and bodies eaten away at. 

Iris: But why…

Iris, who had been standing in silence for a while, whispered quieter than a single breath. 

Owen: That pierrot despised this troupe. If the higher-ups found out about that, he’d probably break down into pieces.

I thought that this time I would rip that smiley mask off him, but…

He looked at Iris, and smirked at his newfound toy.

Owen: There was still something interesting to be discovered.

The bell had rung with the echo of a scream, signalling the start of the next show. 

Still nervous, Iris’ eyes moved towards the sounds of the cheering. 

Iris: This is bad…it’s time for our night show.

Owen stretched out his arm in front of her, stopping her in her tracks. He had reached for the tin doll in her arms.

And quietly, kindly whispered to her.

Owen: Wanna know? The ending to his tragedy. 

How about I stand on stage instead of that pierrot doll. 

Akira: …You, Owen?

Owen: I’m just appeasing his spirits. In place of the poor pierrot who died halfway to his goal, I thought I could act it out for him instead.

So, where’s the script?

Iris: It’s…here…

Nero: Hey hey, you serious? Why’re you getting the itch to act now all of a sudden?

Faust: What are you planning?

Regardless of the questions, Iris took out a bundle of paper and handed it to Owen who snatched it from her hands.

And making it a point to show us, he opened the tin doll’s little door and took out a tiny bottle.

Owen: The script I burnt to ashes is in here. Because of the bits and pieces we heard throughout yesterday and today too, I’ve even remembered how its melody went.

I’m going to complete the stage he dreamed of.

Akira: Wait, Owen…!

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