The Freak Show Foreman

With each page of the script, Ella suppressed her sighs.

Utilization of three-dimensional stage settings.

Elegant use of everyday language.

Scientific and realistic background settings.

It skillfully incorporated the latest trend in the performing arts, naturalism.

The script was so impeccably crafted that it seemed almost inhuman.

What was astonishing, however, was not just its technical aspects.

This script also contained a human insight.

The dialogues were infused with a deep understanding of the personalities and behaviors of the characters, such as the conversations between the triplets or the mutterings of the dwarf Jobel.

It was as if he had thoroughly examined the characters and their usual conduct, and this attention to detail permeated every line.

Perhaps, if she was the leader of a circus troupe, one could understand such dedication, but the other party was no ordinary person.

Wonderstein...?

The man who treated everything in the world as a pretense

Did he genuinely have that level of interest and affection for the performers?

It was hard to believe.

That’s when it all began.

Ella had lived in the world of acrobatics since she was born.

She had talent, and an eye for watching performances.

Her love for the circus field itself ran deep.

So, when she saw this high-quality script, her admiration for Wonderstein became difficult to suppress.

And she couldn’t forgive herself for feeling that way.

He was a devil. A murderer who killed neighbors and family members!

But look at this script. Let’s admit it. He’s a genius! There’s no doubt he loves the circus.

He’s a mad killer!

What does that matter? Perhaps even such madness is the attitude an artist should have!

Ah, circus life...

Our god was always a bit crazy, wasn’t he?

For the past two weeks...

A war had been raging in her heart.

Her hatred and admiration for Wonderstein.

The desire to enjoy the current situation and her self-loathing for feeling that way.

Her conflicting emotions had tormented her.

And now, finally, today had come.

"The fact that Wonderstein saved my own life... Why bring this up now?"She was conflicted.

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Back then, I could have just said, ’Let’s go together’... on that day when we first met."

Her first performance, where she received recognition from the audience.

"The promise that he had the confidence to persuade Master."

Master, who had become a body that could never step onto the stage again.

"Why did you have to kill my friends... Why did you have to kill the people in the village!"

The destroyed village.

The dead people.

"I would have rather... I would have rather... hoped you....kept wearing the mask until the end..."

The form of the man who revealed his true self.

Dozens of tentacles wriggling.

Thick spider legs piercing through human flesh.

Hundreds of sharp teeth.

Reptilian eyes embedded all over his body.

A sticky, meter-long tongue.

Threatening thorns protruding from his shoulders and back.

Pulsating green blisters.

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"Why did you have to deceive me like this!"

The man at the center of it all, as if erasing everything like an eraser, appeared.

The man who had extended his hand to her, saying, "Let’s go together."

The man who still smiled at her.

"Why are you coming now to disturb people’s hearts again!"

He found a handkerchief and handed it to her.

He helped her prepare for the performance throughout the night.

The one who leaped into the water to save her.

She had never shown any weakness in front of Wonderstein, at least as far as in front of him.

But now, her sturdy fortress had crumbled in an instant.

She had pretended to be strong, but she was still just a 16-year-old girl, she was still just a kid.

She couldn’t bear this suffocating, irrational, contradictory situation.It simply wasn’t fair.

With tears streaming down her face, she wailed loudly.

Wonderstein didn’t know exactly what she was struggling with.

But he knew it was because of him.

He recalled the messages that had suddenly flooded in.

[Ella’s favorability has increased by 1. As a reward for reaching affinity 15, she receives <Inspira: Spirit Link>. Current favorability: 15 (Next reward: favorability 30).]

[Ella’s favorability has decreased by 2. She loses the <Inspira: Spirit Link> reward for reaching below favorability 15. Current favorability: 13 (Next reward: favorability 15).]

[Ella’s favorability has increased by 2. As a reward for reaching favorability 15, she receives <Inspira: Spirit Link>. Current favorability: 15 (Next reward: favorability 30).]

[Ella’s favorability has decreased by 1. She loses the <Inspira: Spirit Link> reward for reaching below favorability 15. Current favorability: 14 (Next reward: favorability 15).]

Ella’s favorability was fluctuating continuously.

Her emotions were clearly in turmoil.

As he scrolled through the message history, he noticed that Ella’s favorability had been fluctuating around the 15 mark for the past few days.

Wonderstein could roughly understand her feelings.

It was probably because of the difference between his current self, who was desperately trying to gain favorability and his past insane pyscho demon self.

And it was manifesting as this "Inspira" that was tormenting her.

Inspira.

He knew what it was.

It was from the first installment of the series, Tril Trilo 1.

Unlike the sequels that took place in various locations around the world, TT1 was set in a single city.

The sky city of Hippodrome.

A city in the midst of a circus festival.

It was thanks to this setting that most of the support characters that could be recruited for the party in TT1 were acrobats.

Acrobats with various skills.

This raised a question.

Why did these mere performers have special abilities?

The explanation for this was the "Inspira."

A deity revered by the clowns and acrobats.

Kirku, the mischievous and humorous deity, bestowed this gift upon his followers.

Trait: Inspira - Spirit Link

Target: Creatures tamed by Ella

Effect: When Ella silently calls the target’s name three times in her mind, she shares their vision and hearing. To release, she simply calls their name three times again.

Required Resource: [Ella’s favorability 15]

He heard that she had tried this spirit link and had suddenly lost contact with a pigeon, falling out of the window.

Unlike Yurakne’s Sincerity, it didn’t directly help him, but it could be useful for reconnaissance purposes.

He decided to help Ella get her emotions in order.

Forget about the affinity rewards; her current state would make future progress difficult.

This circus troupe couldn’t function properly without her.

"Ella."

Wonderstein called her name softly.

She had been crying for a while, but now she was trying to compose herself, wiping her swollen eyes with a leafy blanket.

She turned away from his gaze, and her nose twitched.

"Oh, stop it."

"Didn’t you want to ask me something?"

She sighed in frustration at his words.

"You used to pester me like this before. Why did you do that? And you always answered like this, ’I’m sorry. I just wanted to be with Ella.’ Oh, forget it. It’s my fault for getting bitten by that crazy devil. Ah, I thought I had already sorted out my feelings a long time ago, but these past few days have been so turbulent...

Ah, it’s over now, so don’t worry about it. I’ll just live like this. I won’t bother you anymore... "

Ella rambled on and on.

Her anxious mental state was palpable.

Her favorability remained at 14.

At this rate, if it continued to rise to 15 and she received Inspira again, she would likely agonize, fret, and even have a fit...

Wonderstein decided to throw the words he had prepared suddenly.

"Two and a half years more."

Ella’s expression stiffened.

"Promise. Two and a half years. If we make it to the Grand Circus Prix finals and finish the performance safely, I’ll leave. I won’t show up in front of Ella or anyone else again."

"W-What are you talking about...?"

Her trembling eyes.

Confusion and hope flickered in her gaze.

Two and a half years?

She had thought she would be a devil’s prey for the rest of her life...

"Really. I promise. I won’t harm Ella or Ella’s family, or any of the troupe members, whether before I leave or after I leave. My only goal is to make it to the Circus Grand Prix finals."

"Are you serious?"

Wonderstein chuckled at her words.

Human persuasion was pointless.

It would only have the opposite effect.

I am the antagonist.

I just need to talk about the contract.

"Isn’t it obvious why I treated the troupe members well from the beginning, and why I needed Ella? If you cooperate well with my goals, I won’t harm anyone."

"Two and a half years... two and a half..."

Ella clutched her blanket and took a deep breath.

It wasn’t so bad.

There had been times when she had felt desperate walking this endless road with this devil.

It was worth a try at that level.

She got up suddenly from her seat and ran to the riverbank.

And she washed her face, which had been smeared with tear marks, with water.

Ella, who had become much clearer in her mind.

She looked at Wonderstein sharply.

"Alright. I’ll make sure our circus troupe makes it to the Circus Grand Prix finals, no matter what happens. Don’t misunderstand. It’s not just because of threats. It’s a good challenge for me as an acrobat."

"Hehe, that’s right."

"...Phew, okay."

Ella suddenly extended her hand.

Wonderstein looked at her with an interested look and then shook hands with her.

"It’s two and a half years. Without harming anyone. Got it? Promise me."

"Of course.I give you my word."

At that moment, Ella felt Inspira returning to her.

Kirku seemed to be asking her.

Is the wandering of your heart over now?

And at the same time, a message appeared in front of Wonderstein.

[Ella’s favorability has increased by 1. As a reward for achieving favorability 15 (next reward: favorability 30), <Inspira: Spirit Link> has been granted to Ella.]

***

The riverside was bustling since early morning.

This was because the ringmaster and deputy ringmaster of the circus troupe, who were important guests, had gone missing.

Anais, who had been holed up in her office, finally came out and urged people to find them, and the crew members were able to find various pieces of evidence about their whereabouts.

"We found a slipper stuck on the window-sill of the deputy ringmaster’s room."

"And over here, judging by the fact that the leader left his shoes and socks by the window... "

"Come to think of it, a crew member sleeping in the lower cabin heard a sound of something falling into the water twice in a row..."

The situation was clear.

The deputy ringmaster had fallen into the water, and the ringmaster in the room next door had realized it and rushed to save her.

"Let’s go back and look for them."

"Captain, I’m sorry, but the chances of both of them being alive are low. Judging by the time, it was after midnight, and in such a situation, it’s not easy for sailors like us to get out. Moreover, isn’t the ringmaster a serious person? How could such a person... "

Upon hearing the captain’s words, Anais raised her head.

She had been annoyed for a while, but she was fundamentally level-headed and rational.

She was seeing the situation more calmly than anyone else.

"That gentleman is a remarkable magician. Haven’t you heard the story of him curing my illness? And acrobats are generally physically fit and skilled. There’s a good chance they’re still alive."

At that moment, a commotion outside the door caught their attention, and a crew member entered with a troubled expression.

"Um, um, Captain, Chairman... one of the circus troupe members wants to meet the Chairman..."

"Let her in."

Yes, they might have some useful information.

Anais greeted the woman who came to see her. She appeared to be in her early to mid-20s.

Anais, who had been bedridden for a long time and had become thin, felt a sense of withering when she looked at the woman’s body.

The crew members had said that there was a woman who was close to the ringmaster, but...

They must be on good terms...

Anais tried her best not to think of the nonsense brought up by the quartermaster, but her eyes couldn’t help but wander to the woman’s chest, waist, and hips.

Damn it.

"What’s the matter?"

Yurakne hesitated for a moment in response to Anais’ somewhat chilly response, then straightened her shoulders and stepped forward.

"This is... our deputy ringmaster’s pet mouse. It seems this little one has something to say to the Chairman."

"A mouse...?"

An albino mouse with red eyes.

Cheeks, riding on Yurakne’s arm, climbed down onto Anais’ desk.

Then it dipped its foot into Anais’ ink bottle and began to draw something on the paper.

It was... writing.

***

The sun was shining on the riverside.

The two of them, dressed in their original clothes, sat side by side to greet the morning.

Wonderstein extended a fruit that looked like a human head towards her.

"What’s this?"

"It’s a fruit from the rice-opening tree."

"...Where is it even from?"

Instead of answering, Wonderstein shook his own hand.

That was quite a convenient ability.

She accepted the fruit he offered.

It didn’t feel as strange to Ella as before.

They had secured their promise.

After they finished eating, about an hour passed.

Ella, who had been lying down quietly, suddenly opened her eyes.

"It’s almost here."

Woosh.

In the distance, they could hear the sound of a boat approaching.

Wonderstein and Ella got up from their seats.

"It’s been a short time, but I had fun."

"I think it’s long..."

Ella’s response made Wonderstein awkwardly lower his head.

"Hehe, don’t be like that. We’ll still see each other for two and a half years more."

"But we won’t see each other again after that."

"What if we want to see each other later?"

"That won’t happen. Not with a human like you."

In the distance, the boat they were leaving on approached.