Stone Mage: Revenge of the Villain System

"Hear ye! Hear ye! The theatrical performance of Queen Lovuska's Troupe shall begin in the next Week's End at the Amphitheater! Get your tokens to save yourself a seat!"

Ronin frowned as he was walking by the Banquet Palace and saw this herald with a booming voice giving away tokens.

Lovushka's troupe was making its tour back at the Academy now? So soon?

He thought that they plan to travel all around Magecia, or so their fancy posters said whenever he came by them.

[Be part of the web of wonders! Connect the world through the beauty of stories!]

That's what the posters always say. There was no town that Ronin had encountered from his Week's End wagon travels where he could not find these posters in a wall somewhere.

They sure travel very fast of they had managed to 'connect the world' in a matter of a year. What about the Elemental and Mecha realm? Did they already perform there too?

"Look at those stupid Lower Years not taking a token." He overheard a fanatic who just took the greatest token closest to the stage. "They're missing out on the best performance in their lives!"

"Well, I heard that Queen Lovushka's troupe is planning to stay here until the Astral Ball. Apparently, that was the reason they postponed their tour throughout Magecia." Her companion said.

"They were to be the hosts of the ball, with Queen Lovushka himself as the singer and having a duet with Apprentice Naehmnaid."

Calla Lily was an Apprentice Professor now, which was basically like an intern professor substituting or assisting their senior at times.

He continued to eavesdrop on the fanatics for more information, as Lovushka's constant appearance in the plot could not have been a coincidence.

"Oh, how exciting! And get this--- I also heard that all the plays they will perform will be a tribute to gods to bless this Astral Ball cycle. Maybe we'll get to see Queen Lovushka as Goddess Seelie!"

"Oh, I prefer him as Goddess Freya!"

"Doesn't that mean that they will have to work in tandem with the Monks, though? So they would not disrespect the gods or something like that."

"Yes, apparently, they do plan to coordinate with both Monks and Artisan students to make their plays both accurate and enjoyable to the masses."

Ronin rubbed his chin. This would mean.....

That Calla Lily would have to coordinate with the people she disliked the most. Not just, but she did mention that Monks and Artisans do not get along with each other.

So what is this troupe plotting, trying to mesh oil and water together? It's really suspicious indeed, and the 'honoring gods' thing about the Astral Ball sounds more like an alibi.

"You want a token, dark boy?"

The herald gave a grin to Ronin, and Ronin had overheard his thoughts.

(This must be the one Big Brother was looking for. This benefactor that ruined us.... I can't wait to ruin him and have his head on a platter for Big Brother.)

It was Sordido all along, wearing the disguise of one of Lovushka's troupe members.

It was a totally different appearance, so it must have been a Illuso Mage Focus that he had copied.

Ronin sneered. 'Had I not have my mind-reading skill, maybe you would have succeeded having my head on a silver plate as a gift to Pavone.'

'But fate doesn't seem to side with you brothers, it seemed. It did not side with you before, and it will not side with you now.'

He took a token and handed gold coins in exchange. "Sure. What will be the name of the play?"

"The Lion and the Hyena. It's a fable, woven from the tapestries of one of the oldest civilizations in the Celestus Realm." He answered confidently, head held high.

"The plays relating to gods are still on the works as the Monks were really meticulous in making sure everything does not disparage any gods."

'So he did not just join the troupe in a whim.' Ronin concluded from his answer. 'I wonder when he took over. But from what I remember....'

'Shouldn't Lovushka's troupe have a member that can see through disguises? That was why they were convinced that it was really Cermin that paid them to spred rumors about Rabuka in the Truth Serum.'

'The only reason why they did not realize it was me was because it was part of my skill. Even people with disguise as a Mage Focus can be figured out by people with a Mage Focus for seeing through disguises.'

'It is like when you multiply and positive and a negative integer together, it yields to negative and so the cancelling power should overcome it.' Ronin pondered. 'So either that member never interacted with Sordido yet....'

'Or they are keeping it a secret, colluding with him.'

Ronin was not interested in the fable and focused more on figuring out what Sordido plans to do now in behalf of Pavone, and how he can stop it.

Rabuka wanted to gain his files, so what does this bastard half-brother of his would do this time?

And would this be another way for a harem member to have a showdown with these cannon fodder enemies?

It's very likely too. Don and Calla were crossed out, and all that was left was Edelweiss and Marigold.

Things will sort out by themselves though, as Ronin had already set the ball rolling through his interference. All he needed was the pins to fall down to gain those V-points.

In a way, he had come to see these girls as V-points cows. The more they relied on themselves and separate from Cermin, the more V-points he would gain.

'I have woven a whole new tale for them. One that does not involve an idiotic protagonist to dictate how their life must go, aren't I just so great?'

Having such great effect on fate..... It's enough to make someone feel like a god.

Whether it was Edelweiss of Marigold next, Ronin will be sure to watch this new outcome he had created with much gusto minus the popcorn.

"I'll be to watch this Week's End. Will you be the same one selling and barking for all these plays throughout the year?" Ronin asked with a head tilt.

Sordido disliked that smug look of his. He was taller than Ronin, but the boy had grown significantly from his peers due to his constant level-ups that one day he might grew past Sordido too.

But even without that, his way of looking at him felt like he was being looked down upon.

"Yes. Please be sure to buy tokens for the next one, as we have crafted a great show for you. All of you."

Ronin sneered. "I look forward to it."

He walked past him, bumping his shoulder, with Sordido only gritting his teeth.

(He must know. He always know. But that doesn't matter.)

(We'll weave a tale of your defeat, arrogant daemon.)