Chapter 15

Translated by boilpoil Edited by boilpoil

There’s also people at the rehearsal site besides Bright and co., some are talking with each other, some are watching, and suddenly something disrupts the crowd.

“Where’s the little bitch?!”

A voice full of rage attracts the attentions of all those present. Bright also looks towards its source. The crowd by the doorway parts like the Red Sea. When Bright sees who it is, he tragically realises the person is here for him.

The big and strong man, almost appearing to be flattening a small blond beauty as he rages forth like a torrent, roars at Bright, “number 199, I want a duel!”

Bright is expressionless.

What did he do wrong? Can someone give him a ‘previously on’ segment?

This is the first time Bright faces the Beauty and the Beast CP directly. He only heard the sound of them doing physical exercise when he’s atop a tree the last time. He knew their appearances only from the few times he saw them in the first episode.

As they face each other, Bright finally has the chance to observe them up close. The blond Beauty is like a real-life version of an SD . He’s petite and delicate. His golden hair is luscious and curly, almost shining under the lights. The big man has a trimmed beard. There’s a forest growing out from the exposed parts of his chest, arms and his lower legs. The hair is abundant while being black, hard and straight.

This is the combination of Beauty and the Beast, the pairing of Pan Jinlian and Li Kui .

While he was observing them, so were the other party.

This taciturn man is certainly charming. His body firm and posture straight. His facial features orderly and certainly pleasant to the eyes. Especially the brown eyes that are deep and rational, but not especially cold. As if he is having deep thoughts, or is lamenting, having the power to accommodate and overcome everything. It makes one want to delve deeply and explore.

Seeing the Beauty in his arms appearing stunned while looking at another man, the Beast’s expression looks more and more distorted. Appearing aggravated, he admonishes, “coward, are you scared?!”

The surrounding people are closing in on them. Rehearsing for a show and stuff is way too boring. They’d rather watch exciting productions like ‘wife vs. mistress’ over here.

They are spectating on the one hand while critiquing on the other. They’re fueling the flames on purpose to agitate the people in question.

“What’s up with Beast?”

“Probably jealousy. Many audience thinks Beauty fits with 2Hr more.”

‘2Hr’ is the new nickname the contestants gave Bright. It was obvious that since he proved his own abilities, ‘Sexually Inept’ is no longer appropriate for addressing him. The contestants who were at the venue with Bright that day spread the word of his accomplishment. In the end everyone, disregarding the will of the one in question, talked all about the accomplishment the same way as a hero they admired.

This nickname also irritated Beast to a certain extent. He wasn’t happy originally when Bright robbed him of the glory and attention that were supposed to be his. The reckless man decided to give this bitch a lesson when he heard a few people talking about it.

Bright also wanted to give a lesson to this person who kept scolding him. Though the show forbids infighting that wastes resources without reason, so he is enduring.

Seeing how Bright isn’t taking him on, the Beast’s fury rages more severely. He takes it out on his punching bag, shaking the blond teenager violently, “do you want to bang him?”

“I didn’t…” The face of the Beauty crumples up, looking pitiable. He counters stutteringly, but his eyes quickly glance over Bright, appearing terribly guilty.

“Fuck off, you bitch!” The Beauty was slapped hard onto the ground. He struggles a bit without being able to crawl up.

“The fuck you pretending?” The Beast appears dissatisfied, and keeps hitting and kicking him.

Seeing his raised foot about to stomp on the kneecap of the teenager, Bright opens his mouth, “have you got permission from the show for a duel?”

The Beast, startled, stopped his act of violence.

“You’ve agreed?”

Bright nods, “how will you make the show approve?”

The teenager curled up in foetal position on the floor suddenly chimes in, “if it’s a talent show performance…”

“I’ll go apply to have the show as a duel! Just you wait!”

As if afraid of Bright regretting his decision, Beast pushes the onlookers away hurriedly. The set-piece of a group happened to be on his way, and was kicked to smithereens as he rushes through.

Seeing how the situation failed to escalate to a fight, the crowd disperses.

“Why?” Watching the blond beauty struggling to stand back up himself, Bright does not have any intention of helping him.

From the moment the Blond coerced Beast into making the duel into their talent show program, Bright could tell he was led into a trap. In the relationship dynamic of the Beauty and the Beast, the weak-looking Beauty that always seemed to be beaten is the dominant one.

Seeing how Bright looks as if he has figured it out, the teenager stops pretending, pats the ashes on his body away, and stands straight.

“He’s too annoying, too overbearing. I can’t meet more customers like this.” The Beauty says flatly, wiping the blood off the side of his lips.

“His lower left leg is his weak point. It was fractured when he was boxing underground.” Then the Beauty complains a bit more and gets some ice for his face. Then he waves, smiling, “eh, good luck.”

“He’s got his eyes on you. You sure are charming.” His roommate, who saw the whole exchange, said in jealousy. Otherwise, Beauty wouldn’t have given up on Beast so easily. It was easier to make them fight each other and lose. To be honest, he also wanted a piece of a 2Hr session.

Bright doesn’t think so, however. He thinks this is what Beauty wanted people to think. Through two men duelling for him, emphasising his own appeal. After all only prizes that are being fought over have value. The more brutal and bloody the fight, the more his own value rises.

Bright didn’t reveal this, because he just so happens to be worried about having no performance for his show. Even the poetry recital he is so confident about was rejected. Serendipitously, however, someone offered a show to him.

Having a fight is better than a talentless hack singing or dancing or acting, right?

The only thing he is worried about is with how the show is morally decrepit like that, a simple fight will never satiate their appetite. He would have to be prepared for a fight to the death.

Seeing him deep in thought, his roommate probes him, “compared to the ginger full of lies, I think he suits you more. He’s frank and candid about it; heard he has good technique too.”

“Not interested.”

His roommate smacks his lips, “bullhead.” He’s been slacking off for long enough, and his companions drags him away to rehearse their play. Bright walks about casually, figuring out what others are doing for their shows. Then he picks up his shattered moral principles and left.

While heading back to his dormitory room he met the handsome trainer.

“You’ve heard?” He guessed.

“Gossips travel the fastest.”

“I thought light did.” Bright chuckles. Having just resolved the problem with performing, he is in a good mood. Also, he is talking with a non-hostile third party. That he did not have to worry about killing or be killed by him in competitions, that he is not really part of the show, that his roommate heard he was contracted, and so on and so forth, makes his attitude almost friendly.

Hopkin is stupefied by the cheerful-looking smile for a second, and he swallows unconsciously. He feels the beast inside him starving, and his saliva dripping.

He wants to tear that mask of serenity apart. He wants to tear the man, who still seems to believe in light, apart. To make him realise in excruciating pain that what is the fastest is not light, but the gravitational pull of the black hole. Like this celestial object whose spacetime curvature is so great not even light can escape, he will capture all the light and hope headed for the man, and devour him in darkness.

Now is not the time, however. Now he must wait, to save the best for last. To savour him slowly. To enjoy the process of the hunt.

Hopkin relays the arrangements of the show, that is to say, himself, to Bright.

“Beauty and the Beast: The Campaign of Love. The finale of the talent show is a three-way collaboration by you, Beauty and Beast. As the pair is an official CP, they will be given advantage in the form of weapons.”

That means he has to fight with his bare hands, being treated unfairly. Bright is not terribly surprised. Instead, he can formulate a response knowing the arrangements of the show.

Bright is waiting for him to ask about weapons, but the man’s thoughts are completely off target.

“Campaign of Love, what hopeless romantic named this?”

Hopkin, “…” I’ll give them bazookas instead of guns.

Author’s notes: Hopkin says, I definitely did not name that.

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