Chapter 109: Chapter 108: Actors, Take Your Places

"Casting call for the comedic, musical, fantasy Shadow of Evil, *Frozen*.

"Do you want to become a world-famous Big Star? Do you want to create a beautiful fairy tale with Gelda? Do you want to earn a reward of up to Ten Gold Coins?

"Come sign up and audition! If you’re cast in any role, you’ll receive free lunch every day, with meat guaranteed at every meal.

"Casting Requirements:

"One male lead: Must be a Northern Domain local. Looking for someone with a simple, honest appearance, a positive and optimistic attitude, and a strong build. Age: 18-26 (flexible for candidates who otherwise match the physical description). Wilderness survival and ice-harvesting experience is a plus. Priority will be given to those who can sing and play the Arpeggio Harp.

"One female lead: Must be a Northern Domain local. Looking for someone spirited, brave, lively, and cheerful. Height: 5’3" to 5’7". Weight: 99 to 121 lbs. Age: 16-24. Must have blonde hair and resemble Gelda. Priority will be given to singers.

"Several traditional Northern Domain dancers;

"Several traditional Northern Domain folk singers;

"Individuals with a strong interest in acting, and several Underground Dwarves;

"Other roles..."

In a small clearing among the houses, a scholarly-looking old man was reading the announcement aloud.

The literacy rate in the Northern Domain wasn’t what you’d call rock bottom, but it was close—the average person seemed to have dropped out after fetal education.

So, just posting the recruitment notice and expecting people to read it was out of the question.

"If you have any questions, ask them now. The next reading will be tonight," the old scholar said.

He was in a hurry to get back to writing, anyway. A piece of promotional copy for the Northern Domain, good enough to be published, would earn him at least Ten Silver Coins.

He had just thought of a good idea, which he’d call ’Make Your Body Fit the Bed’.

Young people shouldn’t expect a job to adapt to them. They should change to fit the job.

The Northern People never complained about hardship. They took no days off and often worked 18-hour days. This allowed some of them to earn repeated promotions, some even becoming factory managers.

’What a brilliant idea. And the real-life model for the story wouldn’t even come to cause trouble; he was still busy getting whipped back at Northern Factory One.’ Still, he’d heard some of them were actually starting to enjoy the work.

The old scholar couldn’t comprehend it, but he was deeply shaken.

"No more questions? Good. Good luck with the auditions."

"A question!" Someone in the crowd raised their hand. "Is there really meat in the lunch?"

"Of course," the old scholar said, taking off his glasses. "I heard the actors get the same meals as us writers."

’And every lunch really did have meat. Just one slice, but that was still a lot better than what they used to eat. And if you really wanted a second slice, you could just wait until the end of lunch. If there were any leftovers, you could take them without getting a public reprimand. The rumor was that it was all because that group of Beastman Goblins had a real knack for raising chickens, ducks, fish, and pigs. The pork they raised wasn’t gamy in the slightest. It was amazing. Before, people only ate pork when they had absolutely nothing else.’

"What about the Ten Gold Coins? Is it really Ten Gold Coins?" It was the same person who had just asked.

The old scholar glanced over. It was a tall, blond young man dressed in rough-looking animal hides. ’No doubt he scrounges for a living in the mountain forests,’ the scholar thought, ’and rarely comes into the city.’

Next to him stood a companion dressed in a similar fashion, though much smaller and thinner. He had fluffy ears and a pair of antlers like a deer’s. When he noticed the scholar looking at him, he nervously tucked his ears beneath his messy hair.

"Yes, it’s really Ten Gold Coins. I can vouch for that," the old scholar said confidently.

’It was a casting call, after all. The offered amount was real, but who would actually get it was another story. At any rate, that was the pay for the lead actors.’

"Whoo-hoo, those Ten Gold Coins are as good as mine," the young man said smugly.

"But didn’t Dad say we were supposed to head back after shopping, Grove?" his companion asked.

"Giving it a try won’t take much time. And what if I get picked? Wasn’t it a prophecy that brought you here, Little Deer?" Grove said.

"Don’t call me Little Deer," he mumbled, regretting that he’d rushed out without a hat. "Besides, Grandma’s prophecy just said I should come *here*. It didn’t say anything about becoming an actor."

"Alright, Little Deer. Got it, Little Deer. Now let’s hurry to the casting location. That’s Ten Gold Coins! Ten Gold Coins!"

Grove grabbed Little Deer by the arm and took off.

Being tall with a long stride, and used to trekking through mountains and forests, Grove moved quickly. He asked for directions along the way and soon found the location for the casting call.

Winterfort.

Places in the Northern Domain that looked presentable and could hold a large number of people were a rarity.

They couldn’t hold auditions at Northern Factory One—it was full of DINGs and CLANGs. You wouldn’t be able to hear anyone sing.

Figxin had no objection. The castle had long since become a teleportation hub anyway. Besides, she now spent her days shut in her room, pondering the great question of Feilin’s future, and would agree to anything anyone asked of her.

When Zog heard about her predicament, he sent her a golden toilet—golden in name only—and suggested she sit on it from time to time. Perhaps, he said, it would help her think things through.

Grove and Little Deer stood before Winterfort, hesitating to enter.

He really hadn’t expected that auditioning for a Shadow of Evil would happen in such a formal place.

He was a little nervous.

Little Deer was even more terrified. Beastmen with shoulders broader than his head were storming in and out of the castle, one after another.

They even snarled at him as they passed, looking like they could devour him in a single bite.

"Maybe we should just go," Little Deer couldn’t help but say.

"W-well, if you want to leave, then... It’s not that I’m scared to go in, I’m just looking out for you, that’s all. I’m... not... not nervous at all. Let’s go!"

As he spoke, Grove puffed out his chest and flared his arms out to his sides, trying to look intimidating, as if his non-existent, massive back muscles were keeping him from lowering them.

Just as he turned, a wave of blonde hair drifted past his eyes, followed by a lovely face. It was dotted with a few small freckles that only made her look cuter.

In that instant, our hero was smitten.

"Excuse me, is this the casting call for *Frozen*?" The girl’s voice was just as lovely as her face.

"Yeah, this is the place! What a coincidence, we’re here to audition too! Maybe we’ll end up in the same Shadow of Evil, hahaha..."

Little Deer had never heard his big brother laugh so forcedly.

He usually sounded more like a honking goose.

"So why aren’t you two going in?" the girl asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Oh, well, it’s my little brother here. He’s never been to a castle before, so he’s a little scared to go in. As his big brother, it’s my job to look out for him."

Little Deer was about to object, but Grove clamped a hand over his mouth. He protested by stomping his feet in frustration.

"You two must be really close," the girl said with a light chuckle, watching their playful squabble.

Grove just stared, dumbstruck.

Saving throw: Failed. Status: Charmed.

"Why don’t we head in together, then?" the girl suggested, feeling a little awkward when Grove didn’t respond.

They made their way to a corridor on the castle’s second floor. After filling out registration forms and receiving number cards, all they had to do was wait for their numbers to be called.

The corridor was lined with several rows of long benches for the waiting applicants.

"Kristen... that’s a beautiful name."

Having seen her name on the registration form, Grove launched his next attempt to strike up a conversation.

Kristen forced a smile.

She wasn’t sitting on one of the benches; instead, she was standing off to the side, warming up her voice. She didn’t seem angry at Grove’s interruption, though.

’In fact, she found the goofy kid rather cute. He reminded her of the kind of little boy who would pull a girl’s pigtails, happy just to get the girl he liked to yell at him. There were no ulterior motives, just a simple crush. She missed that kind of straightforward connection with people.’

She was the second daughter of a minor noble house. Her family was well-off enough that they had bought a Magic Vision Device as soon as they became available in the Northern Domain.

That little device had shown her a whole new world.

Her original dream had been to become a stage actress, but after watching Demon Vision, she immediately changed her ambitions. She now idolized Raul and made it her new goal to star in a Shadow of Evil.

She had thought she would have to travel all the way to Twin Tower City for a chance to perform. Who would have guessed a Shadow of Evil production would come to the Northern Domain so soon?

And from the Legendary Zog Film Studio, no less.

"I’d suggest you take a look at the script," she kindly reminded Grove.

"I have! Of course I have! I know the whole script by heart!" Grove answered instantly.

Hearing this, Little Deer slapped a hand over his face. He really didn’t want to be associated with this guy right now.

Neither of the brothers could read.

Kristen didn’t call him out on his lie. There was no need to expose such a harmless bit of bravado.

"Number 46, 47, and 48, please proceed to the audition room."

A voice called out the numbers from down the hall.

"Let’s go. That’s us."