Before Altaïr could finish agonizing over it, Sir Salonen excitedly continued, "And now we come to the most important part!"
The stage director launched into a long, romantically charged explanation.
Isis listened with rapt attention, but Altaïr found it both tedious and exasperating; the whole thing could have been summed up in a few sentences.
In short, a wealthy young nobleman was attacked by the Mountain God. Just as he was about to be swallowed whole, Miss Mushi rescued him. Their eyes met, and she took him back to her village, where the two spent a brief, sweet time together.
Altaïr could not fathom how an ordinary indigenous girl had managed to snatch someone from an Elder Dragon's jaws, but with Sir Salonen and Isis so engrossed, he decided not to spoil the mood by asking.
"Then we move on to Act Three: Separation." Sir Salonen's tone shifted and grew somber.
"The wealthy young nobleman receives a letter from his family. It says that something has happened at home and his father is gravely ill. As the family's heir, he must return.
"He leaves Miss Mushi a keepsake and promises to come back as soon as he has resolved the matter. Then, with immense reluctance, he boards an airship bound for the Old World."
"Why didn't he take Miss Mushi with him?" Isis asked softly, clearly invested in the story.
"Er, because of various practical considerations." Sir Salonen did not dwell on the subject and continued recounting the play's story.
Altaïr felt he could already predict what came next, and events unfolded exactly as he expected.
"The scene changes. When the wealthy young nobleman arrives home, he is shocked to discover that his father is indeed ill, but nowhere near death's door. The family business is still running as usual.
"The real reason they summoned him home was to make him marry his fiancée.
"His fiancée is named Gael, and she is a truly vicious woman. Her family holds crucial influence over the protagonist's family business, and she uses that power to force him to remain at her side."
"Uh."
"Is something wrong, Miss Isis?" Sir Salonen was paying close attention to the reactions of Isis, who had become deeply absorbed in the story.
"It's nothing, really. I just have an elder who's also named Gael," Isis said, scratching her head.
Sir Salonen smiled. "It isn't exactly an uncommon name. People share names all the time. Now, back to the story.
"Burdened by his duty to his family, the protagonist is forced to yield for the time being. What he does not know is that every letter he sends to his beloved on the far side of the continent is secretly intercepted by his jealous fiancée, Gael."
As he spoke, his gaze shifted to another actress in the dressing room, a tall, thin woman in a dark dress and severe makeup. She was clearly playing the villain, "Gael."
Isis glared at her. It was not the story's depiction of an "evil woman" that angered her, but the fact that the character shared a name with an elder she respected. She could not shake the feeling that "this woman is dragging Aunt Gael's good name through the mud!"
The actress playing the villain gave a helpless shrug.
Ever since taking the role, she had grown accustomed to such glares.
"Sir Salonen, you've been talking all this time, but you still haven't said what you need our help with." His head aching from the melodramatic plot, Altaïr reminded him with mounting impatience.
"Oh, yes, we're almost there! This is the scene!" Sensing Altaïr's impatience, Sir Salonen picked up the pace.
"The scene returns to the Great Forest. Her lover has left, and she has heard nothing from him since. Despite the objections and pleas of her family and friends, Miss Mushi takes the keepsake and sets out alone for the Old World to find him.
"But the journey is anything but easy. The Great Forest teems with danger, and even an indigenous girl like her would find it extraordinarily difficult to leave safely.
"Soon after leaving her village, she is attacked by a Hypnocatrice."
Altaïr stared at him in disbelief.
Wait. Now the Great Forest was teeming with danger again? Did this play have some rule that its Monsters did not eat outsiders?
"At the critical moment, several Hunters suddenly appear, repel the Hypnocatrice, and rescue Miss Mushi.
"Yes, this part is crucial. It is the biggest change in our version of 'Mountain God.'
"We depict the Monster's appearance and attack on Miss Mushi in detail, highlighting her determination to overcome every obstacle and find her lover. We also added a battle between the Hunters and the Monster to heighten the tension further.
"That is one of the main reasons our version of 'Mountain God' has received such acclaim. Hard-hitting battle scenes are rarely incorporated into stage plays, so many audience members find the experience remarkably fresh!"
Altaïr was speechless.
He was beginning to suspect what Sir Salonen wanted him and Isis to do.
"Incidentally, the battle between the Hunters and the Hypnocatrice was added based on Guild Master Ota's account. She was one of the Hunters there at the time."
"Wait, what do you mean, 'she was one of the Hunters there at the time'? This actually happened? There really was a Miss Mushi?" Isis could not help crying out.
"Of course." Sir Salonen gave her a puzzled look. "Didn't I say so at the very beginning? 'Mountain God' is based on a true story.
"Every character in the play is based on a real person.
"Decades ago, Guild Master Ota and her teammates encountered Miss Mushi while on a mission in the Great Forest and listened to her story.
"Later, Guild Master Ota recounted the story in a tavern. A poet overheard it and adapted it, giving rise to the play 'Mountain God.'"
Altaïr and Isis looked at each other.
So there really was a wealthy young nobleman who ventured alone into the danger-filled Great Forest, recited poetry and wandered around in the middle of the night, was never attacked by a Monster, and even escaped from an Elder Dragon?
What kind of freakish luck did that take...?
"Ahem." Sir Salonen cleared his throat, drawing their attention back. "Here is the problem: the weak, unconvincing movements of ordinary stage actors simply cannot reproduce the tension of Hunters fighting Monsters.
"That is why we have always insisted on casting actual Hunters, or retired Hunters, in the Hunter roles.
"To be honest, this particular performance is a special show. We specifically invited Ms. Ota and her companion, the retired Hunter Mr. Scar, to play the two Hunters themselves."
Altaïr was speechless.
So while we were driving off the Chameleos, Guild Master Ota was rehearsing for a stage play?
What on earth were you doing, Guild Master?!
Sir Salonen's face filled with regret. "Unfortunately, something urgent apparently came up about half a month ago. Guild Master Ota withdrew from the performance, leaving only Mr. Scar to continue."
Altaïr nodded.
All right. I misjudged Ms. Ota.
"However, Mr. Scar threw out his back during the dress rehearsal just now. Judging by his condition, he probably won't be able to go onstage."
"That is always a risk when you ask two older people to perform. You do have a backup plan, don't you?" Altaïr asked, somewhat exasperated.
"Of course. We have understudies ready, retired Hunters who acted in several of our previous performances. They can ensure that nothing goes wrong."
Altaïr nodded. "Isn't that good enough?"
"But we don't want a performance where nothing goes wrong! We want something spectacular!" Sir Salonen suddenly grew agitated.
"We already advertised this as a 'special show' and even hinted that a 'mysterious Hunter' would make a special appearance. What will our regular audience think when they arrive and find it is exactly the same as every previous performance?"
"They might be a little disappointed, but it isn't a disaster, is it? You only hinted at it. You never made an explicit promise."
Sir Salonen's expression turned grave. "For those of us in the arts, disappointing the audience is the greatest failure. If there is truly no other way, I will have the understudies take the stage and complete the performance as usual. Afterward, I will personally apologize to the audience and explain the situation. But just moments ago, when I stepped outside for some air, I saw you two! Your looks! Your bearing! No one could be better suited! We can tell the audience that two young, active-duty Hunters are making a special appearance. This must be the Mountain God's choice! And please don't worry. We know Hunters are not professional stage actors and may not be skilled at acting. Onstage, you need only fight as you would during a Hunt and drive off the Monster represented by the mechanical stage prop!
"Immediately afterward comes a musical number in which Miss Mushi recounts her experiences to the Hunters. For that part, you only need to sit beside the campfire onstage and leave everything else to her!"
Sir Salonen pointed to the female lead standing nearby.
"Miss Mushi" smiled and gave them a thumbs-up.
"If that's all, then it seems... maybe... it really wouldn't be that hard?" Isis murmured to herself.
"It isn't that simple." Altaïr shook his head. "Even if Hunters are 'playing themselves,' the scene can't just be a wild brawl. The movements must be choreographed. With only a little over an hour before the show starts, we can't learn the choreography in time."
Sir Salonen hurriedly replied, "There's no need to worry about choreography! Fight however you like. Push aside the mechanical prop representing the Monster, or even smash it outright! We want that sense of impact!"
Altaïr continued to frown. "Even so, the Hunter characters have established traits of their own, don't they? We might not know how to use their weapons. The final result may not be as good as you hope."
"Good point. What weapons do the Hunters use?" Isis asked Sir Salonen.
"The female Hunter, Guild Master Ota's role, uses a Lance. The male Hunter, Mr. Scar's role, wields Dual Blades. There is also another male Hunter who uses a Bow, but he only mimes shooting from a distance. You two don't need to worry about him."
Sir Salonen looked at them with equal parts nervousness and anticipation. "Can you two use a Lance and Dual Blades?"
"Hmm. I'm a Gunlance user, but I can handle a Lance. As for the Dual Blades, this guy is quite skilled with them," Isis replied honestly, rubbing her chin.
Sir Salonen's expression shifted from nervousness to wild delight. "This truly is the Mountain God's choice!" he shouted.
Altaïr looked helplessly at Isis.
You really do want to act, don't you...?
So I have to act too?