✦ Chapter 30 – Xiang Yu (1) ✦
「Translator – Creator」
𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝
As Phantom, it wasn’t long after my meeting with Professor Gaby, I was sitting at my desk, trying to refine the ideas I had brainstormed for <Farewell My Concubine>; suffering from a severe hangover after having drunk excessively the previous night.
“Ugh… My head…”
‘I must have been out of my mind, drinking that much Kaoliang liquor.’
I had accepted the lead role on the professor’s ‘recommendation.’
It was decided that until Phantom the playwright finished the script, I would receive guidance from the Geloroushina Theatre Company.
Professor Gaby, thinking it was a lot of hard work, treated me to Elven liquor, and I overindulged, leading to these repercussions.
‘But surprisingly, it did taste good.’
Perhaps because it was premium Elven liquor brewed from the World Tree?
It was strong, but its aftertaste was clean, and it had an excellent flavor. The best part was that it didn’t leave a lingering alcohol odor on my body.
And the thought of a guaranteed A+ got me excited, shouting, “Wow! Free booze from someone else!” and I ended up drinking too much, now paying the price for it.
It was the weekend, a precious time for academy students. My roommate, Maurice, had already gone out on a date with his girlfriend.
Here I was, stuck at my desk, playing with my pen. But I couldn’t afford to be lazy.
Adapting the story of Xiang Yu for the stage was going to be a challenge. There was a lot to cut, a lot to tweak.
“Ugh, this is tough.”
It was proving to be even more difficult than adapting the stories of Admiral Yi or Julius Caesar.
Xiang Yu and Liu Bang, the heroes of the Chu-Han Contention, were quintessentially Chinese heroes.
In China, with its massive population, the deaths of tens of thousands of people might not even register. Ruthless pragmatism, sacrificing even family and honor for victory, could be seen as a sign of intelligence.
…But the medieval sensibilities of this world were completely different.
‘I need to boldly revise any overly vile or cruel aspects.’
If the audience can’t empathize because they are horrified by the protagonist’s actions, the play will fail.
Moreover, the political background of the character Xiang Yu was problematic.
Xiang Yu, who displayed an unprecedented level of rebellious actions far surpassing those of Cao Cao from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
As a child, while watching the procession of the Qin Emperor touring the Huai region, didn’t Xiang Yu suddenly declare?
[I will kill that man and take his place!]
‘Even if it’s a story with an exotic concept, a mere noble making such a statement against the Emperor would have unimaginable consequences.’
And then there was the fact that Xiang Yu had killed his own lord, King Huai of Chu, the symbol of resistance against the Qin dynasty.
This wasn’t just about a cruel personality; it was an outright act of treason. If the protagonist commits such an act, the theatre may be thrown into turmoil.
I decided to make some major changes to the setting of <Farewell My Concubine>.
The unified Qin empire would be downgraded to a kingdom that had destroyed all other nations and stood alone. I would remove the character of King Huai of Chu and make Xiang Yu and Liu Bang descendants of kings whose kingdoms had been destroyed by the Qin.
The descendants of fallen kings seeking revenge and reclaiming their thrones—it was a solid motivation for the characters and would avoid unnecessary political complications.
For the rest, I planned to carefully revise any culturally specific elements that would only resonate within ‘China,’ adapting them to more universal values.
So far, so good… but…
“Ugh… My head…”
The Chu–Han Contention was a vast and complex historical period, and adapting it for the stage was a headache. The hangover wasn’t helping either.
Why couldn’t the Philosopher’s Stone have given me super intelligence too? Coming up with ideas is exhausting!
I was struggling to come up with a solid plot structure when…
Knock, knock, knock!
“Huh?”
Someone was knocking on my dormitory door.
Maurice wouldn’t be back from his date for a while, and even if he was, he would’ve just used his key.
“Coming! Just a second.”
I scrambled to shove my notes into my desk drawer before unlocking the door…
“Ah? Senior?”
“Hi, Balthazar. Sorry to bother you. Are you busy?”
…And there she was, standing in the doorway—Rosalyn Wenford, my senior and the epitome of a model student.
She’d entered the male dormitory once before, during the production of <Admiral Lee>. Now she seemed to have no qualms about breaking school rules.
✧❅✦❅✧
“How’s it going, Balthazar? Are you doing okay with your role as the lead in Phantom’s new play?”
“Yeah, I’m managing.”
Senior Rosalyn poured me a cup of fragrant tea, and I offered her an awkward smile.
When I agreed to play the lead in <Farewell My Concubine>, I’d made one condition: My identity as Balthazar Arture had to remain a secret.
I would be disguised as an Eastern-style elven warrior, so it would be difficult for people to recognize me.
‘I already live a double life, so I don’t need extra attention complicating things.’
Only three people knew the secret that I was the lead actor in Phantom’s new play — Professor Gaby, my roommate Maurice…
…And my closest friend at the academy, Rosalyn Wenford.
“I came to encourage you, but you look absolutely exhausted,” she said, sitting down beside me with a worried expression. “Are you feeling alright? You must be really nervous. You’ve been suffering because of the burden of collaborating with a genius, haven’t you?”
Well, not really.
I looked exhausted because of the hangover, not because I was stressed. And considering I was the renowned playwright, I didn’t feel much pressure.
But I couldn’t just admit, ‘I’m Phantom,’ here.
“Haha, well, something like that. Don’t worry too much. Thanks for the tea.”
I sipped the tea Rosalyn senior had made, glossing over the truth.
The subtle fragrance filled my mouth, making my mind feel slightly clearer.
…But the aftereffects of overindulging in Kaoliang liquor hadn’t completely subsided.
“Ugh!”
“Balthazar? Are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine. Just… a bit of a headache.”
“A headache?”
Why doesn’t this world have any decent hangover cures? I thought miserably.
“If you’re getting headaches, maybe you’re pushing yourself too hard, Balthazar. Are you getting enough rest?” she asked, her eyes filled with concern.
“Oh, senior, really, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it. It’s not what you think.”
“……….…”
My complexion was terrible, and I was clutching my head in pain. But since there was no smell of alcohol, she had no idea I was suffering from a hangover.
She seemed to think I was overwhelmed by the pressure of playing the lead role in Phantom’s play.
And then…
“It’s okay to struggle, Balthazar,” she said softly.
“Senior Rosalyn?”
Senior pulled me towards her, letting me rest my head on her lap.
Smiling warmly at me as I blinked in surprise.
She gently ran her fingers through my disheveled hair and whispered.
“Even if it’s just for a moment, relax and rest assured. Don’t worry about anything.”relax and rest for a bit. Don’t worry about anything.”
“Senior Rosalyn, I’m really fine. You don’t have to…”
“Whatever you need to do, if your heart is filled with anxiety and impatience, you won’t be able to accomplish anything. Just listen to me this time, okay?”
“…….…”
It was too late to confess about the drinking now.
The soft sensation of her thighs under the wrinkled skirt. While not as impressive as the princess’s, Rosalyn senior’s figure was still exceptional.
So much so that her generous ‘heart’ made it hard to see her face even when lying down.
Moreover, with the faint scent of roses wafting around, I felt like I was in an aromatherapy session, gradually drifting into slumber.
Although we had become quite close recently, this was the first time she showed such overt physical affection.
“Rosalyn senior? Is it alright to treat a mere junior like this? I think the male seniors might get quite jealous.”
“Hmph. Didn’t I tell you before? If such petty guys want to be jealous, let them.”
She patted my forehead gently, like comforting a newborn baby.
Her green eyes, full of maternal affection, gazed down at me as she whispered.
“And you’re not just any junior; you’re my savior, Balthazar. I’m still grateful to you.”
…My savior.
“Come to think of it, Rosalyn senior, aren’t you curious about Phantom’s identity? A lot of other students seem to be quite interested.”
She considered Phantom a savior, a figure of mystery and intrigue.
But I found it curious that she wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about uncovering his identity.
Whenever the topic of Phantom came up, her eyes would gleam dangerously, and I worried she might turn into a yandere at some point.
“Of course, I’m curious.” She chuckled. “But I don’t want to pry.”
“Really?”
“Phantom is… Phantom,” she said, gently poking my forehead. “Knowing that is enough for me, as their fan. It doesn’t matter who’s behind the mask; the value of their work remains the same.”
“……..…”
“Hehe, what’s with that look?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.
Consort Yu, the woman who stood by Xiang Yu’s side… Maybe she’d been like Rosalyn.
And with that realization…
“Thank you, Senior Rosalyn. My mind feels much clearer now.”
…the structure of the play became crystal clear.
The Great Conqueror’s Concubine, a Hong Kong blockbuster film from 1994, split into two parts, depicting the rise and fall of Xiang Yu.
✧❅✦❅✧
A few days later, in front of the Geloroushina Theater.
Once again, the crowd that had gathered to watch the re-performance of <Chaplin’s Comedy> after work came to an abrupt halt.
“Huh? What’s that?”
“Is that a painting? I’ve never seen that style before.”
The theater entrance, which used to display only Chaplin posters since the collaboration with Phantom, now showcased a beautiful Eastern-style watercolor painting.
An elven warrior with black hair, mounted on a black steed, brandishing a sword; thousands of soldiers swarmed around him, creating a breathtaking battle scene.
But the eye-catching spectacle didn’t end there.
“Aren’t those elves?”
“I think they’re from that acrobatic troupe the nobles love to watch. What are they doing in front of Geloroushina?”
Elven musicians, dressed in traditional attire, were playing drums, flutes, and other instruments, creating a lively atmosphere as the acrobats performed their routines. They had set up shop right in front of the theater entrance.
As the spectacle drew more and more onlookers, finally, there was a crowd’s full attention.
“Hup!”
Boom, boom, boom—!!
“Oh?”
“Wow! What’s going on today?”
The musicians launched into a performance, drums pounding, zithers twanging. The unexpected spectacle drew cheers from the crowd.
Then, the elven musicians began to sing in unison, their voices strong and clear.
⌠Vigorous when facing the beatings of ten thousands heavy waves! ♪⌡
⌠Ardent just like the rays of the red sun! ♪⌡
⌠Having courage like forge iron and bones as hard as refined steel! ♪⌡
⌠Having lofty aspirations and excellent foresight! ♪⌡
It was ‘A Man Should Strengthen Himself’, the theme song from the Hong Kong wuxia film, ‘Once Upon a Time in China’. Phantom, in collaboration with Professor Gaby, had recreated the Chinese-inspired song for this world.
⌠With all my heart, I strive to become a true hero! ♪⌡
⌠In order to become a hero, One should strive to become stronger everyday! ♪⌡
⌠An ardent man shines brighter than the sun! ♪⌡
While it was originally the theme song for the martial arts master Wong Fei-hung, it fit perfectly with the story of Xiang Yu.
As the final notes of the song faded, the musicians switched gears, their instruments now playing a different tune.
And then…
Swoosh! Boom! Bang, bang! Boom!
Fireworks exploded behind the musicians, lighting up the twilight sky.
“Goodness!”
“Wow! What are those? They’re beautiful!”
“Are those… fireworks enhanced with magic?”
Red and blue dragons danced in the sky, twisting and turning, battling for possession of a blazing sun.
As the fireworks faded, the Geloroushina actors appeared amidst the smoke, as if by magic.
“Next weekend! Phantom’s new play, <Farewell My Concubine: Part One>, will premiere at the Geloroushina!” an actor dressed in Eastern attire announced to the crowd.
“A special collaboration with an elven acrobatic troupe! The play will be performed for a limited time only. Don’t miss this opportunity! Gather at Geloroushina next weekend!”
“A new play from Phantom?! And it’s only for a limited time?!”
“Next week?! How am I supposed to wait that long?!”
“I know! It’s going to be torture!”
While a play was a product, it could also be used as a marketing tool. Phantom, the master of modern marketing techniques, had successfully piqued the audience’s curiosity. The crowd, who had come to see <Chaplin’s Comedy>, were now buzzing with excitement about the new play.
Day by day, time went by, and finally, the long-awaited weekend arrived.
The curtain rose on <Farewell My Concubine: Part One> at the Geloroushina Theater in the capital.
✧❅✦❅✧
“So, how’s it feel, Balthazar? Juggling a triple life as a playwright, an actor, and a student—all in secret?”
“Shut up. You know exactly how it feels.”
Maurice, my roommate, was teasing me with his usual mischievous grin.
I simply frowned in response.
<Farewell My Concubine: Part One>, which depicted the peak of Xiang Yu’s glory in the style of a wuxia novel, had accomplished its purpose.
The heated competition over student rankings had come to an abrupt halt.
…However, an entirely different problem cropped up instead.
“Air walk! Hyaaa—!!”
“Out of my way! This master will demonstrate the art of levitation! Woooaaah—!!”
Unfortunately, more and more would-be suicidal martial heroes, unable to distinguish fiction from reality, have appeared at the academy.
Seriously, these idiots…
Translator’s Notes :-
Definitely need a restaurant scene where the young master offends the protagonist and the protagonist vows to kill nine generations of the aloof young master — NOW THAT WOULD BE CINEMA!!!
— End of Chapter —
Translator’s Notes :-
The next release might be skipped (friday). I have got a job interview lined up and some possible travel plan for the weekend.
Also, please don’t forget to rate and review the novel on NOVEL UPDATES
⚘ ⚘ ⚘
If you liked the novel, do not forget to rate and review the novel on ⟿ NovelUpdates.
Also, if you cannot wait to see what lies ahead in the story, curious about what to unfold, I have added some ⟿ advanced chapters on the site.