7th Time Loop WN Vol. 5 Fan Translation

190

On the twenty-ninth day of the seventh month, the day of reckoning arrived.

After extensive coordination with the theater troupe and deploying numerous knights, the day of the "decoy operation," the day of the performance, had come. Due to the recent postponement of the opera's encore, the audience today was reported to be packed. In a dressing room backstage, Sylvia wore a slightly uneasy expression.

"Don't worry, Sylvia," Rishe, standing beside her, said reassuringly, squeezing her hand.

"Thank you, Rishe... Just standing on stage makes me nervous, it's been how many years? Hehe, this is the time when I should hurry and change into my costume!" Sylvia joked, but her complexion didn't look too good.

(Even if she puts on a brave face, she must be terrified.)

The unique feature of this theater troupe was that the program for the day wasn't revealed until the performance began. In the decoy operation, they decided to use this to their advantage.

In today's performance, a large group of performers would first appear and dance to cover the songstress. After the music faded into the dim light, the performers would vanish from the stage.

Then, the spotlight would illuminate the lone songstress. From there on, the songstress would sing alone. Due to the nature of the performance, the duration would be short, but they probably wouldn't have to wait long.

At the beginning of the performance, after the mass of performers had left, the moment the lone songstress was illuminated was the target.

After all, the audience and spies wouldn't know the content of the performance. Since they couldn't predict the next opportunity, they would likely launch the attack immediately after Sylvia was left alone on stage.

For Sylvia, who played the decoy role, such a plan was undoubtedly terrifying.

"Sylvia, Gutheil is with you," Rishe informed her, and Sylvia gave a lonely smile.

"Thank you so much, Rishe."

"Sylvia?"

"I... If this plan succeeds, and I can truly be free, I intend to disappear from Gutheil's presence."

Rishe gasped at her words.

"Why? But Gutheil promised to protect you, even if he knew everything."

"That's exactly why."

Sylvia smiled softly and squeezed Rishe's hand tightly in return. Her fingers were very cold.

"When I heard that his father was executed for treason, I was so scared."

Gutheil had also said that. When he talked about his circumstances, Sylvia had seen the pained expression on his face. When he knew nothing, Gutheil had thought it was because Sylvia was a war orphan. But the truth must have been different.

"Gutheil has been deeply hurt by the crime his father committed... That's why I wanted Gutheil to come, prepared for my secret to be exposed. Because I didn't have the courage to confess my sin to him myself."

Sylvia let go of Rishe's hand and hugged her tightly this time.

"Thank you for speaking for me at that time, Rishe."

"Sylvia..."

"When this day is over, I'll say goodbye to him... And disappear from your sight, Rishe."

Then she looked at Rishe's face and smiled a lonely smile again.

Even in such moments, Sylvia's voice was so beautiful it was mesmerizing.

"To Gutheil and you, Rishe, I've been nothing but trouble... But watch me. I'll do my best to be of some use to you."

"..."

"Now, I have to change into my costume!"

Rishe took Sylvia's hand as she tried to act cheerful.

"...That won't do, Sylvia."

"...Huh?"

And then, looking straight at Sylvia,

"Because, you are my friend..."

At seven o'clock in the evening, the premier theater in the Galkhein Imperial Capital was packed with many spectators. Rumors spread among the audience that "the increased security today is because the Crown Prince of the Ermiti Kingdom is visiting for diplomatic purposes." However, the baggage inspection was just a formality as usual, and everyone was relieved to enter without much hassle.

"I wonder what today's performance will be like."

"I still want to hear Sylvia's singing. I was surprised when she collapsed the other day, but I'm glad she's feeling better."

"The bell for the opening is ringing... The curtains are going up."

As the lights in the theater dimmed, so did the chatter. As the hushed theater fell silent, the deep crimson curtain began to rise smoothly. On the stage stood a group of women performers dressed in vivid peach-colored dresses.

In the dim light, their figures were faintly visible. But as soon as the live music began to play, the pure white women began to dance uniformly. Their chiffon dresses, transparent and billowing, trailed behind them as they danced. The audience was captivated by the ethereal music and the graceful movements that seemed weightless.

Enhancing the beauty of the dance were the falling petals. The white petals falling from above looked like snow, softly glowing under the faint light. As they descended onto the stage, they rose with each movement of the women, dancing in the air following the flow of the movement.

Eventually, as the melody grew softer, the large group of dancers stopped moving. Then, as they fluttered the petals, they disappeared into the wings of the stage. The only one left on the stage was the songstress, concealed among the dancers until now.

In the middle of the stage, she knelt, a translucent veil covering her head. Wearing a deep crimson dress and black gloves, she folded her hands as if in prayer. At the moment when the beautiful song was about to begin, the audience held their breath in anticipation.

A large fire was lit in the lighting fixture made of white cloth. As the stage was illuminated, the songstress, with graceful movements, reached for the sword at her waist.

At the sight of "The Songstress and the Sword," a rare occurrence, the audience slightly widened their eyes.

And then, it happened.

From a corner of the audience, there was a sound like the wind cutting through. An arrow was approaching the stage. Before the audience could comprehend, someone had shot the songstress.

Quickly drawing her sword, the songstress deflected it diagonally without hesitation.

"What...?"

With a short clink, the arrow was deflected and knocked down, and the songstress looked down at it as a matter of course. Following the songstress's movements, petals danced up into the air.

One of the audience couldn't help but raise their voice.

"What was that just now!?"

But they were glared at by the surroundings, and the audience hurriedly closed their mouths.

In the midst of the countless petals falling, the songstress gracefully swung her sword.

In that moment, as the veil fluttered, for a moment, the front-row audience didn't miss what was underneath it.

"...Is that, rather than a songstress, more like a goddess of war...?"

One of the audience murmured, something the imposter songstress with coral-colored hair didn't know.

(...I will absolutely not let Sylvia get hurt.)

Disguised as the songstress, Rishe, had declared war against her friend's enemies, directly to their faces.