Chapter 160

【There are three stages ahead.】

【On each stage, you can obtain a script outline.】

【These three scripts were all penned by the movie tycoon, the Clockmaker, and depict various anecdotes from the pioneering era of Penacony.】

【You need to imagine the scene at that time, speak the appropriate lines, and perform fittingly so that the judges can feel the emotions the script intends to convey.】

【I wish you a perfect result!】

【By the way, the record for the highest score in this stage was set by a red-haired contestant.】

【His exquisite acting skills moved even the strictest judge to tears on the competition floor, and they highly praised him—saying it didn't look like acting at all!】

In front of the stage, the guide explained the detailed rules to Stelle and Firefly,

and took the opportunity to tell them a piece of news about the other contestants.

【Ah... haha... the situation is urgent, let's make this quick, Stelle.】

March 7th: "A red-haired contestant?"

March 7th: "How did I inexplicably think of one guy?"

Stelle: "I thought of him too."

Stelle: "Oh~ my dear friend, could it be you?"

Argenti: "Dear friend, are you calling for me?"

Argenti: "But unfortunately, I am still on the path of pursuing Beauty at this moment, and I do not know if I will go to clear the stage."

March 7th: "Uh... I just have a feeling it's nine-tenths likely to be this guy."

Silver Wolf: "Ha, would a Knight of Beauty really do something like this?"

Silver Wolf: "That's really interesting..."

Argenti: "Wherever there is beauty, there will be the traces of us Knights of Beauty."

Argenti: "Praise Idrila!"

The video continues.

【Oh, look at this pair of wonderful people, how much star quality they have!】

【Since you are a duo, I will prepare a two-person scene for you to act out!】

【The two of you—are you ready?】

After Stelle and Firefly stepped onto the stage,

the judge immediately spoke to them.

【We are ready.】

The two looked at each other,

and nodded together.

【Now, imagine that the two of you have received the call of the pioneers and are stepping onto the dream land of Penacony for the first time.】

【But here, yellow sand fills the sky, it is a desolate wasteland, not the paradise the Clockmaker spoke of at all!】

【You are driving a dilapidated old car on the wilderness of the dreamscape, drinking in the cold wind, choking on yellow sand, and having your path blocked by a vicious Meme of the Zone of Memories...】

【Now—Stelle, what kind of lines would express your disappointment with Penacony?】

After the line judge gave Stelle the imagined scenario,

they began to let her perform.

【Great! I love an exciting life!】

Stelle imagined the scene the judge mentioned in her mind,

and began to get a little excited.

【That's not right... I asked you to perform disappointment, why are you so cheerful...】

Firefly watched Stelle's performance,

and felt it didn't fit the theme of disappointment at all.

"Oh, then I'll change the line."

"What a vicious creature! Just ram into it!"

After Firefly's reminder,

Stelle imagined the appearance of that Meme of the Zone of Memories in her mind,

and began to show a fierce expression.

【That... do you usually express disappointment like this...】

Firefly felt that Stelle, this time,

still hadn't shown her disappointment.

【Disappointment..】

【I get it!】

【What a hellhole!】

【The Clockmaker is a liar!!】

Stelle thought for a while,

and finally understood how to perform disappointment.

She directly revealed a dejected expression,

and then cursed the Clockmaker.

【Very good! Next—although you are very disappointed, your partner is actually very excited.】

【Now! This young lady, you will say—】

The line judge gave Stelle an approving look,

and then looked at Firefly.

【Th-that's great!】

【I like this... ex-exciting life!】

Firefly, in an excited tone,

tried her best to read the line Stelle had just said.

It was just that her acting was slightly naive and stiff.

Furina: "Haha, Stelle and Firefly's performance is so interesting."

Furina: "Although it doesn't look very professional, the emotions are very abundant!"

Furina: "Especially Stelle's fierce look, it seems she really got into character!"

Stelle: "It's just acting, simple and easy, anyone can do it."

Firefly: "Ugh... I feel like my performance was a bit stiff."

Silver Wolf: "Stiff isn't the word, it just looked too silly.........."

Silver Wolf: "I'm saying, you really should have worn your armor to perform, then you definitely would have been much more relaxed."

Hu Tao: "Wear the Sam armor to perform....?"

Hu Tao: "Oh no...... my brain suddenly imagined this scene all by itself!"

March 7th: "I have the image in my head too!"

March 7th: "Oh my god, I don't know why, but I feel like it's completely seamless!"

Stelle: "Hehehe, this contrast is absolutely amazing!"

Firefly: "Y-you guys, don't think of such strange images in your heads!!"

Silver Wolf: "Who told you not to perform it for us in reality?"

Silver Wolf: "Then we can only imagine it ourselves."

The video continues.

【Okay, very excited!】

【Then comes the next scene of the story—you found a job building a railway, but after working hard day and night, physically exhausted, you finally collapsed in the depths of the desert.......】

【Suddenly!】

【The rain falling from the sky moistened your lips and awakened your fighting spirit.】

【Now—Stelle, what kind of line is most suitable to express your surprise at this moment?】

The line judge gave the second scenario.

And let Stelle perform.

【Might as well let me die of thirst!】

Stelle did not stick to the prompt,

but instead put on a look of deep resentment.

Because after she imagined that scene for a moment,

she felt extremely annoyed.

【That's not right... This line doesn't sound very surprised either.】

Firefly shook her head,

not seeing any surprise from Stelle.

【Sigh, perhaps we just aren't meant to succeed...】

Stelle's face shifted from deep resentment to disappointment.

【The prompt has changed! You need to act surprised now, not disappointed...】

Firefly reminded her once more.

【Great, Penacony is truly full of opportunities everywhere!!】

Stelle performed as if she were changing masks,

and after Firefly's reminder,

she immediately shifted from a look of disappointment

to an expression of extreme ecstasy.

【But at this moment, your partner looks up at the sky and closes her eyes.】

【Raindrops fall, the view becomes blurry, and she says sadly—】

It was Firefly's turn to perform again.

【Ma-maybe we just aren't meant to succeed... right?】

Firefly tried her best to look sad,

and borrowed Stelle's previous line once again.

【Fantastic! Both of your acting foundations are truly profound!】

【However, lines aren't everything in a performance. Please continue this story on the second stage...】

【Next, you will face a test of physical movement!】

Lumine: "Why does it feel like... Miss Stelle is intentionally feeding lines to Miss Firefly?"

Paimon: "Yeah, yeah, I have that feeling too."

Paimon: "This must be on purpose, right?"

Stelle: "Tsk tsk tsk, as thoughtful as I am, I naturally have to take care of Firefly."

Stelle: "I know she isn't good at improvising lines, so I'll improvise 1. for her."

Stelle: "Besides, performing is easy-peasy for me!"

Silver Wolf: "You... you're quite good at this!"

Silver Wolf: "Looks like you're a veteran in the romance department too."

Stelle: "Average, average, just barely a love guru."

Firefly: "So... so you were thinking of me?"

Firefly: "Stelle, thank you, you're so kind!"

Silver Wolf: "Ha, this person, she really knows how to win your heart no matter what she does."

Silver Wolf: "How come I've never heard you say I'm kind?"

Miss Qingque: "Oh my, why do I suddenly smell vinegar?"

Miss Qingque: "Whose vinegar jar got knocked over?"

Miss Sushang: "What are you talking about? How come I don't smell anything?"

Guinaifen: "The smell is so strong, and you still don't smell it, Shangshang?"

Guinaifen: "Looks like you're still a bit too innocent."

Silver Wolf: "Go away, I'm not jealous!"

Silver Wolf: "I'm just standing up for myself!"

Firefly: "Uh... I thought you didn't like hearing these things."

Firefly: "Then... should I say these things to you more often in the future?"

Silver Wolf: "Don't, don't, don't, please don't!!"

Silver Wolf: "Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps."

Silver Wolf: "You should just stay the way you are."

Stelle: "Hey, if you can't handle the blessing, you can't blame anyone else."

Stelle: "Firefly, just keep telling me I'm good in the future, I love hearing it!"

Stelle: "I never get tired of hearing it!"

Silver Wolf: "You love hearing it, huh?"

Silver Wolf: "How about I have her turn into Sam and say it to you later?"

Stelle: "Cough, cough... B-bring it on!"

Stelle: "I can take it!!"

March 7th: "Look at that stiff-necked duck, you don't sound very confident."

Furina: "Sam saying 'you're so kind' to Miss Stelle in a soft voice...?!"

Furina: "This scene... just thinking about it is mind-blowing!"