The Play and the Smiles

"Will these be enough?"

Mo Bai stood behind the curtain of the plaza stage, discussing the upcoming performance with Moqu.

After promising to help Moqu with his performance in the Garden that day, he had gone right back to his ordinary life at the Academy.

It was only recently, after Moqu had recovered and left the Infirmary, that he invited Mo Bai to take part in the final performance of his theatrical career.

That was how Moqu had put it to Mo Bai. As for his reason...

Moqu had said he had no talent for acting.

Most plays were ensemble productions, and he simply couldn't draw people to his side the way Captain Brant of Rinascita could.

A one-man show? He didn't think he had the talent for that, either.

He knew his own limits. Lacking the charisma and ability he needed, he had decided to stop pursuing a dead end.

At least this time, though, he wouldn't be performing alone.

"Wow! This'll be my first time performing in a play in front of so many classmates!"

Lynae excitedly examined the many props Mo Bai and Moqu had prepared together.

Rover stood beside her.

Mo Bai had invited them both.

After all, there was no way one person could perform the story Moqu had chosen.

"The Voidworm Knights Battle the Voidworm"

The hero and the big villain in the title alone required two performers, so Mo Bai had recruited Rover and Lynae for the cast.

As for Mo Bai, he would follow the original plan and stay behind the curtain, using his Cursed Technique to supply props whenever they were needed.

Quite a few students had come to see the play that night.

Most of them either didn't know Moqu at all or had seen him perform before but had no interest in him.

They had gathered tonight because the play's title had caught their attention.

Sure enough, audiences in every world cared more about the title than the content.

"All right, don't touch everything. Just do what we practiced later," Mo Bai said, coming over to Lynae with a helpless look.

She was lively no matter the occasion, especially now that the issue of her identity had been resolved.

Unfortunately, just as her identity crisis ended, Mo Bai found himself having to report his whereabouts to the Academy from time to time.

As time passed, the play finally began.

Swish, swish—

Moqu played the Voidworm, while Rover and Lynae played the Voidworm Knights.

A while later, the bustle died down. The students who had watched the play returned to their dorms to rest.

"Thank you both for coming to help today," Mo Bai said to Lynae and Rover.

"No problem! We're good friends. But in return, you can't turn me down the next time I invite you out for a high-speed drive."

Lynae smiled, stretched her arms and loosened up, then flashed Mo Bai a V-sign.

"Sure. Once the Academy gives me permission to move around freely, I'll go." Mo Bai gave a wry smile.

Rover glanced helplessly at the exuberant Lynae, then shared a few thoughts with Mo Bai about the performance.

She was a seasoned performer herself.

She had reportedly performed with the Fool's Troupe at a carnival in Rinascita and even taken the top prize.

"Anyway, it was a lot of fun. Thank you for inviting me, Mo Bai."

"I couldn't have done it without you two."

After chatting a little longer with his two friends, Mo Bai waved goodbye to them.

Phew.

Mo Bai then looked toward Moqu, who was still standing on the stage.

With Rover and Lynae gone, nearly all the students below the stage had left as well.

"A lot of people came to see the play today."

Seeming to sense Mo Bai approaching, Moqu spoke to the empty plaza.

"But most of them came to see Rover and Lynae. They're the real Voidworm Knights, after all."

As Moqu spoke, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

Mo Bai couldn't tell whether that smile came from the joy of having such a large audience for the first time.

Or whether Moqu was forcing it because most of those students hadn't come for him.

With that thought, Mo Bai glanced back at the theatrical props.

Among them was the Voidworm costume.

Moqu had only played a mindless villain. How could a role like that make anyone fond of him?

"The special effects were so limited. They didn't capture how imposing the Voidworm was at all."

"Lynae and Rover were so cool. I bet they looked just as heroic when they fought the Voidworm before."

Moqu suddenly repeated a few remarks that seemed to come out of nowhere. They sounded almost self-mocking.

"I heard people say those things while I was onstage. Some weren't happy with the play, while others were only interested in the two Voidworm Knights."

Mo Bai listened, unable to tell what Moqu was thinking or what he should say in reply.

Everything Moqu said sounded like he was making fun of himself.

When Moqu finished, he rose from the stage, turned to Mo Bai and thanked him.

"Thank you for finding me my stars, and for being willing to work behind the scenes."

Even though he knew their collaboration had only been a transaction, he still wanted to thank Mo Bai.

"While everyone was leaving, I noticed some other students too."

A smile appeared on Moqu's face again.

This time, Mo Bai was certain his joy was genuine.

"They didn't complain about the crude effects or focus only on Rover and Lynae. They cared about the play itself."

As he spoke, Moqu looked past Mo Bai.

Behind him lay everything that went into the production—the result of all the work Moqu had put in for so long.

And tonight, for Moqu, seeing those few students had made it all worthwhile.

"When I saw those students smiling from the bottom of their hearts, I felt happy too. Thank you again, Mo Bai. I truly appreciate it."

Moqu bowed to Mo Bai.

He knew this play had only happened because of the promise he and Mo Bai had made back then.

Now that Mo Bai had kept that promise, they likely wouldn't have much to do with each other in the future.

That was why Moqu wanted to thank him properly.

He also felt a little fortunate.

Pestering that new student in the Cafeteria had been the best decision he had ever made.

"Wait," Mo Bai said as Moqu turned away.

Then, under Moqu's puzzled gaze, he took out his Tacet Disc.

"Let's add each other on Feixun. If you come up with anything funny later, send it to me. I'll help you see if it works."

Moqu immediately took out his own Tacet Disc.

"Okay!"