Time flies, and Turing has been in Luxie for over a month without realizing it.

"Alright, girls, do you all have the scripts?" Sister Dong Leimi said, clapping her hands towards the novice nuns sitting on the tiered seats.

"Considering some of you haven't received much education, we won't be performing the plays from the books for our annual celebration this time. We will perform a newly created drama."

"Have you heard of 'Sacred Heart Valley Fire'?" Sister Dong Leimi said, looking at the whispering novice nuns with a meaningful smile.

The nuns sitting below were very particular; they all unconsciously left some space between them and Turing, leaving a circle of empty seats around Turing. Except for Elizabeth, the absent-minded one, who couldn't understand the situation and sat next to Turing.

This doesn't mean that everyone dislikes Turing. On the contrary, they all adore Turing too much. Coupled with Turing's intimidating aura, people can't help but feel undeserving of sitting next to her.

"The final chapter of the New Testament, Chapter 13, 'Sacred Heart Valley'..." "It's the work of Lord Ochiai..." The little girls started chattering all of a sudden, and some people cautiously hid their gazes, sneaking a glance at Turing's direction, afraid of being noticed by her.

Beside Turing, Elizabeth uncomfortably shifted in her seat. Sensing the intense gazes around her, she might be regretting sitting next to Turing.

The New Testament book written more than a decade ago is the only biblical book that features families other than the Agio family.

That honorable family is Ochiai.

"Ochiai, would you play the role of Duke Oedipus, one of the main characters in this play? Is that okay?" Sister Dong Leimi walked up to Turing and said gently and warmly.

"First, let's not talk about you being the child of a duke."

"Just based on your feat of stopping the spread of another calamity, I believe no one is more suitable to play this 'righteous' role than you."

Turing just smiled and nodded simply without saying anything.

It was a polite and detached kind of smile.

Although Turing has never been a class monitor or a class representative, she is always the protagonist in whatever activity she participates in.

[It's the same this time, as usual.]

Turing picked up the script, planning to see which role she should play.

[What's this...]

[Did the drama club arrange for the male monks to sing at the end of the play?]

Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and Turing began to carefully read the list of male students.

[The male students... Ah, Merka is indeed on the list.]

"Sigh... I don't know if there will be any scenes left for me after the boys finish singing the poem," Turing muttered softly, holding the script.

"If not, I might still have time to find Merka backstage."

[Maybe I can finally see Merka this time.]

——————————————————————————

Literary Room, Anniversary Celebration, Autumn, Night

"You've said it many times, little Turing. No one will be willing to play your role," Sister Dong Leimi said with a wry smile.

Implicitly, since the most suitable person to play the role is right here, no one would dare to steal Turing's limelight.

"And the play is about to start."

"Just bear with it, alright?"

[Oh...]

[I didn't expect to have a small scene to act after the boys finish singing the poem.]

[I don't know if I'll have time to find Merka.]

"Speaking of which..."

"Where's Elizabeth?" Turing turned around and looked at the bustling crowd setting up the venue. Elizabeth's figure was not among them.

Memories of Elizabeth complaining about how boring and insignificant her role was in the past rushed to Turing's mind.

【She actually wanted to be the protagonist, right?】

【What if we ask her to play the role of the mother...how about that?】

Turing scanned the crowd, but still couldn't spot Elizabeth.

"That child...sigh, who knows where she's hiding." Domremy said helplessly.

【Forget it, it's about to start.】

【I actually wanted her to help me play my role.】

After a long time, the stage structure was finally set up.

Mysterious and melodious music accompanied the spotlight, descending from the sky and surrounding the actors who were filled with soul and emotions.

Many people had gathered in the semi-circular audience seats not far away. Unbeknownst to them, they would also be moved by the plot, shedding tears for Maria's compassion and being touched by Oedipus' determination.

In the story, Oedipus was dressed in golden armor, leaping and soaring, enveloped in flames, extinguishing the restless souls one by one.

But amidst all this, Turing's magic was perhaps more captivating than many flashy performances.

Gods descended, angels burned forests. Maria fervently pleaded to God for the innocent commoners. Oedipus was responsible for protecting Maria, who was trapped in the forest fire, buying her more time to withstand the angel's destructive attacks.

Many of their entourage perished in this fire, leaving only Maria and Oedipus. The two characters in the play had an uncanny understanding, almost like sisters.

Not to mention Turing's participation in the performance. She even unconsciously developed some attachment to Maria's performer.

If one didn't look at Maria's subtle expressions in the audience below, the overall atmosphere of the play was still very harmonious.

【Is there one actor missing compared to the plan?】

As Turing performed, she noticed some slight inconsistencies in the performance.

【That guy, I thought he was just nervous before the competition, I didn't expect him to not show up at all.】

Turing, perhaps subconsciously, had started to meddle in other people's affairs just like Merka.

A wisp of smoke gathered on the stage, growing stronger and gradually enveloping the heroic figures.

Turing knew this was the signal from the choir.

Several actors coincidentally exited the stage one by one, wearing sacred robes and walking to the center of the stage. The smoke dissipated along with a warm voice singing.

【Merka...Merka...where are you?】

Turing went backstage and observed carefully behind the scenes. Unfortunately, the angle was not good, and they were all wearing robes that covered their faces, making it almost impossible for Turing to determine which one was Merka.

At most, she could roughly identify a few figures based on their physique.

Just as Turing anxiously shifted her gaze among the people, the sacred song was over.

The boys lined up and left the stage.

Turing's mood suddenly became restless.

【How coincidental, every time I'm about to meet Merka, there are various reasons to keep us apart.】

【Merka must be intentionally avoiding me.】

【With his talent, he's capable of that.】

"Damn it...if I miss this time, I don't know when I'll have the chance to see Merka again." After Turing finished speaking, she looked at the golden and majestic helmet in her hands, gritted her teeth, and made a certain determination.

"Miss Shakespeare, can you help me with a performance?" Turing handed the helmet to a girl beside her without asking for her consent, and had already started removing her upper body armor.

"What...what? I can't do it! Sister Ochiai...please don't put me in a difficult position." In reality, Turing was one of the youngest novices, but her composed personality always made the 14 or 15-year-old girls feel a sense of superiority.

"You can do it. Don't be modest, you have the ability." Turing didn't randomly choose someone. She chose a girl with relatively outstanding magical abilities.

"Just put on the helmet, and you'll be Oedipus. After that, there won't be any lines for your character. Just do some magic tricks and exit gracefully."

"Thank you for your help, Shakespeare."

Poor common girl Shakespeare had never seen such a scene before. Bombarded with compliments from her idol, her cheeks instantly turned crimson, and her mind wandered off. Without thinking, she agreed.

Turing took off their armor and handed it to Shakespeare, then walked directly to the dressing room behind the art room.

[I can't use magic to travel, as Merka might be even more familiar with my magic fluctuations than with their own address.]

[Once detected, they will immediately run away.]

[Merka... Why are you hiding from me?]

[In the end, why did you reject me that day?]

[I at least want to know the reason... sigh.]

Turing didn't know why they kept pursuing someone who had clearly rejected them. They just couldn't bear to give up, feeling a glimmer of hope and willing to persist.

[Moreover, we happen to live in the same place, Laxiss, and work in the same area. Doesn't that prove that the gods silently support us?]

Turing naively thought. Little did they know what machinations and dangerous crises lay hidden beneath the arrangement of fate.

"Elizabeth... what are you doing here?" Turing passed through the dressing room and arrived on the second-floor corridor, where they saw Elizabeth squatting between two iron cabinets, looking pitiful.

It wasn't hidden yet not conspicuous either, so it wouldn't be difficult to notice her.

"Ah... are you here to catch me?" Elizabeth's voice was small and plaintive, completely devoid of her usual bluster.

"Can you please not tell anyone that I'm here..."

"I can't even do a small role well. It might be better without me."

"But you shone so brightly at the Smoke Fairy Festival. Turing, you will never understand how it feels for someone like me." Elizabeth's tone hinted at a troublesome atmosphere.

[Why is she suddenly mentioning the Smoke Fairy Festival?]

"Tsk..."

[I shouldn't care about her. If I wait a while longer, Merka will leave.]

[But...]

Turing stared into Elizabeth's eyes, a layer of gloom gradually enveloping their depths.

[What if...]

[Does Merka hate me for this?]

[Because they hate this about me, so they...]

"Get up quickly, there will be a large crowd here soon."

"If people see you here, won't you be embarrassed?"

Turing pulled Elizabeth up from the ground.

"Why don't you go outside? Go back to the dormitory first, then no one will notice you." Turing lightly patted Elizabeth's dusty pants and gently touched her back.

Turing's tenderness was breathtaking.

"Because... Sister Dungremy said there will be people checking attendance outside the venue. We have to stay in the venue and not leave early..."

Turing smiled.

[So naive...]

...

[Just like me.]