"Why do you keep waking people up?"
I swatted away the hand that was reaching up to me, and Ferian spoke with an unconcerned expression.
"Let's eat breakfast."
"No. I'm going back to sleep."
As I tried to close the door, he caught it with one arm and held it.
"It's almost 8 o'clock. You need to live on a regular schedule. Especially you—you're too thin, so you need to eat properly."
Leave it to a doctor to say the most boring things.
"I said no..."
"Berto said he's going to the shipyard after eating. If you don't tell me what you want now, you'll have to use that room as-is until we leave."
"I'll come down after brushing my teeth."
It was too tempting to resist. There were things I absolutely needed for a smooth voyage.
"Wash your face too. You've got sleep in your left eye."
I slammed the door shut on Ferian, who was kindly informing me.
He was acting chummy again, just like last time, and the sheer audacity of him thinking that would work was infuriating.
"What a creep."
As I muttered with a shiver, I heard a small laugh from beyond the thin wooden door that offered no soundproofing.
On the land shrouded in darkness, colorful lanterns were raised.
Amidst the chattering crowd, I sat alone like someone from another world.
Today was the performance day of the Bella Luna Troupe, where the female lead was being held.
'I'm so nervous I could die.'
I sat there, legs trembling, staring fixedly at the simple outdoor stage.
None of the male leads had come.
After Ferian changed his attitude, at least on the surface, we got along well. But since I knew what was underneath, I couldn't bring myself to ask them to come with me.
I couldn't think of any excuse to go to the warehouse where the female lead was being held, and even if I did ask, I knew it would only arouse more suspicion.
I really couldn't thank Lucas enough for saving my life—a hundred times over wouldn't be enough.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting."
Finally, the chubby troupe leader appeared on stage.
"We will now begin the performance of the Bella Luna Troupe."
Behind the troupe leader, the troupe members carrying instruments came up one by one.
'That person...!'
Crimson, curly hair, and drooping eyes that contrasted with that passion. It was Serena, the female lead of Starlight Voyage.
As goosebumps erupted and I froze, the beautiful melody of a lyre signaled the start of the performance.
The troupe's performance was lavish. From musical performances to magic, acrobatics, and theater. Serena participated in every single act.
Sometimes as a musician and assistant. In the final play, as the heroine herself.
I silently watched the slavery she had spoken of in the original story.
And after the performance ended, I waited until the staff had finished cleaning up and left.
Only after even the lanterns were extinguished did I hide in the shadows and begin searching through the tents and warehouses.
Equipment, costumes, props—and the very back.
As I opened the door to the warehouse, I clamped my hand over my mouth to stifle the shock that threatened to burst out.
'That bastard of a troupe leader.'
Serena was inside an animal cage.
She flinched at the sight of me, then hesitated and backed away. The iron shackles around her ankles clanked.
"Shh."
I calmly pressed my index finger to my lips.
Then I took out a cutter from the large bag weighing down my shoulder and tried to cut the lock.
'W-why won't this work?'
It had worked perfectly when I'd practiced in secret at the inn.
Serena, who had been watching me warily, approached and extended her hand. Bruises were visible beneath her thin long sleeves.
'Should I be grateful she's at least not malnourished?'
As I sighed and thought that, Serena tightened the cutter without so much as a frown.
The lock fell to the ground with a light snap, and the iron grate opened with a creak.
"Huh? Wait..."
"Quiet."
Her gray eyes flashed, and I clamped my mouth shut.
Trapped inside the iron cage, she'd looked like a fragile woman, but now her gaze and actions seemed like those of someone used to this kind of work. She was even much taller than me.
'Her build is pretty large too.'
It almost felt like I was facing a man.
"You."
She gestured for me to come closer, and I hesitantly approached.
"Did you scope out the mercenaries' positions?"
I leaned my ear in, and her steady breath and androgynous voice tickled as they burrowed in.
She was the one who'd shown up out of nowhere, yet I was the one flustered.
I'd heard she was sharp and resourceful from her wandering lifestyle, but I hadn't realized it meant this.
"One on the left and one on the right. If you go right, you'll reach the main road."
"Your weapon?"
"She was carrying a sword—I don't know about anything else."
"No, you."
I pulled out my revolver and a dagger from the holster.
"Load this and hold onto it for now."
"Uh..."
Serena snatched the dagger and held it in a reverse grip like an assassin.
"Follow me."
I bent low, following Serena as she crouched, keeping my gun barrel pointed upward.
Serena, who had taken the right path as I'd described, stopped in front of a mercenary.
She gestured for me to wait, then disappeared somewhere alone.
"How did you—ugh!"
The mercenary was dispatched in an instant.
Serena wiped the blood from her sword and turned to me.
"Now you go."
"No, you..."
Before I could finish, Serena quickly disappeared back inside.
'That ungrateful—'
After all the trouble I went to save her, the female lead had abandoned me. She left without any intention of saving the world.
Just as I was about to move forward with tears in my eyes, I heard footsteps from somewhere.
I immediately lowered my posture and held my breath.
"Hey, what the—!"
The man who appeared spotted the fallen guard and blew his whistle before I could stop him.
Peeeeep—!
'Damn it. I should've just left when she told me to.'
I had to move quickly, even now.
I burst out into the open and aimed my revolver at the man.
"Eek—!"
"Move."
I gestured with the gun, and the man raised both hands and stepped aside, clearing the way.
I kept the man in my sights as I made my way toward the main road. Then something touched my back.
I turned my head and met the troupe leader's eyes.
"Ugh!"
I tried to aim the gun at him, but a fist slammed into my abdomen, and my body crumpled.
I couldn't breathe.
"Hmm, so there are women who come here of their own free will."
The troupe leader picked up my revolver and looked down at me, muttering.
If worst came to worst, I could just let him kill me. But Serena was still here.
"Run, Serena!"
I screamed with all my might. And the last thing I saw was the sole of a shoe filling my vision before I lost consciousness.
My bones ached and my body shivered. As I lifted my heavy eyelids, I saw legs.
"Awake now, are we?"
Son of a bitch.
The troupe leader sat on a chair, looking down at me on the floor with a nasty smirk.
"Seems you know Serena. So you came to take her place?"
The troupe leader sneered. But from his words, I could tell he hadn't caught Serena yet.
'Thank goodness.'
Still, it stung a little.
How heartless of her to abandon me and leave—would she even be able to meet the male leads now?
"From the looks of it, you can't use magic, and your stealth is abysmal. What did you used to do?"
My hands were tied behind my back. I had no choice but to squirm and struggle to sit up.
"Why, looking to recruit me?"
"Haha! As if. I'm simply curious about my slave's past, as her master."
What the hell is this lunatic saying?
As I was pondering how to provoke him, I caught a glimpse of Serena's face through the small window behind him.
'Could it be that the ungrateful female lead came back to save me?'
I was moved. I'd been cursing her for having a different personality than in the original, but at least her character hadn't gone anywhere.
'I need to draw his attention.'
I looked at the troupe leader and opened my mouth.
"I don't like the idea of being a slave. Let's make a deal."
"A deal? I can get whatever I want just by using you as a slave. Why would I need to do that?"
"Who knows. Serena's magical skills are excellent, so you fitted her with a control device. But she was still hard to handle, wasn't she? Am I wrong?"
"Hmm."
The troupe leader stroked his chin with greedy eyes.
"Then I suppose that'll work nicely."
He gestured, and the two men standing nearby approached and grabbed me.
"What the hell, get off me!"
I struggled, but it was useless. The two men tightened their grip on me.
"Do you know about slave magic?"
I didn't know what it was, but the word alone sounded filthy and horrifying.
The troupe leader approached with a cruel smile. His hand touched my forehead.
'This crazy bastard—he was a mage?!'