The girl in the opera

"Ah, what a nice place!"

I exclaimed as I checked the aesthetics of the opera hall. It looked majestic yet homely. A unique feeling.

Goldy was checking out the place as well. However, I believe he's looking at the escape routes of the place, which is weird because he never does that stuff.

Okay, maybe I lied about that.

He started doing this ever since the Mediocre sect incident. Maybe what I did back then inspired him?

"What do you think, Goldy?"

I asked, in order to get his attention away from what he was doing. I mean, we're in an opera hall. We should enjoy the show too, right?

Goldy stared at me with a sharp gaze when I called upon him.

[You know that there are people here, right?]

"Yea…"

[Boy, oh boy, you're getting careless, aren't you?]

I understood what Goldy meant by that. However, there were barely people around. So, it's fine if we just talk with our mouths, right?

[Ah, I miss the paranoid Hua. I mean, you're supposed to keep my existence a secret, right?]

Goldy sighed.

[Look, I've got no problem in revealing myself and helping you out, but you should be powerful enough to take out the ones that might harm you. If I reveal my existence, that bastard will come in here to hunt me. Take that stuff into consideration.]

He looked serious as he lectured me. I was kinda happy he told me this.

After all, that means that I'm not the only paranoid one here.... We're in the same boat now!

Anyway, Goldy was right. I'm being kinda cocky when I'm still weaker than half of the populace.

I should stop doing that.

{You're right. I'll be careful about stuff from now on.}

I assured him. I'm gonna keep my surroundings in check, just in case.

And that I did.

When the opera started, I kept looking left and right rather than focusing on the opera itself, since I actually couldn't focus. I was so vigilant that the opera that I was intrigued about became an afterthought.

However, this behavior of mine irked Goldy, who was genuinely trying to enjoy the opera.

[Stop that, will ya? You don't have to be like this the entire time!]

I could see the frustration on his face… I wasn't that dense.

{But, you said…}

I was trying to irk him a bit more, but he wasn't interested in playing that game.

[I know what I said. And I know that you know that as well. So, stop doing this and watch the opera in peace!]

I could see him pout a little as he spoke. He looked kinda cute…

Wait, don't guys hate being called cute?

Meh, he's a dragon, so he technically isn't a human, right? So, I can call him cute.

I could see Goldy suddenly glare at me for no reason before turning back to the show.

I guess he heard me call him cute.

Ah, now that I think about it. Doesn't he literally hear everything I think?

Damn, I kinda feel bad for him, since he can't enjoy the opera due to my annoying voice nagging his brain during the entire time.

In that case, I have just the one choice before me. I should clear my mind of all thoughts and place my focus solely on the opera.

I would be able to do that, right?

#

So, the opera ended and thankfully my brain didn't rack up unnecessary thoughts.

With that, I hope Goldy could enjoy it as well.

As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed the opera as well, contrary to my expectations.

The me from the previous life never got to watch an opera. I had a biased opinion about it being a bit bad because of all the singing.

However, my perception changed completely.

The story goes like this.

A child who had everything.

She had loving parents. Although they didn't make much money, it was enough for them.

However, tragedy struck when the little girl's parents died. No one knew how they died though, which was the main plot point of this story.

She was adopted by her mother's sister, who was basically a wicked woman who didn't like how her sister seemed happy the entire time when she talked about her family.

So, her aunt's family decided to marry her off to a high ranking official, who was a really old man.

However, their greed made them ask the little child for the small fortune that their parent's saved up for her before sending her off to the old man, which the girl refused to do.

Seeing this, her aunt's husband promised that he wouldn't let her marry the old man. He even promised her that he'll take her far away from the place, to a place where she wouldn't have to bother about her aunt.

The child's heart melted before the heartfelt speech, so she agreed to transfer her fortune.

However, her aunt learned of this and made that old official's guards to take her away.

There, the child learned that the old man thought of her as a plaything for him to abuse.

This repeated abuse secluded her from the open world, that she would barely react to anyone or anything.

That's when she met up with a hired mercenary of her husband, who felt pity for her and wanted her to escape this hellhole.

He tried helping her escape, but before escaping, she stabbed a knife into the old man's throat for everything he did. Therefore, the mercenary and the girl ended up being fugitives and fled from their country.

In their journey of escapade, the girl ended up learning the way of the sword and became so revered as a sword saint that her country had no choice but to give her a hero's welcome.

There's also the part where she and the mercenary fall in love with each other, which isn't that important of an event.

Anyway, upon returning to her hometown, she learns that the culprit of the death of her parents was her aunt's family.

However, she believed in her kindhearted uncle, so she ended up slaying her aunt for the evil deeds, which was a big mistake.

She learned that her aunt never held any ill intentions other than pure jealousy towards her family, because unlike her husband, who played around with multiple women, her sister's husband was trustworthy.

However, her husband was the one who actually killed her sister's family upon hearing about the small fortune they had from her wife.

Not just that, every misfortune the heroine faced in her life was all because of her uncle.

Hearing this, she ends up singing a sorrowful song about betrayal and sadness before killing her uncle off.

However, the story wasn't supposed to have a good ending for some reason, so the sword saint ended up killing herself while the mercenary killed himself since his beloved was no longer in this world.

…

…

I was actually impressed, if you don't consider the mess that they did with the ending.

Why did she have to die? That makes no sense!

Why couldn't she have lived with her beloved?

But the romance doesn't make sense as well. We're talking about a teenage girl in her early teens and a mercenary in his late twenties. Now, how can I even consider that as proper romance? Isn't that illegal?

Anyway, what attracted me to this opera was the main actress; the one that acted out the journey of the said little girl.

She looked really young, but the emotions she was able to draw out with her songs were the real deal.

So, just like many other people, I walked over to the place where the actors were receiving their form of meet and greet, I guess…

That's when I noticed that even though the other actors had tons lined up before them, the young girl had none.

What kinda prejudice is this? Wasn't she the main actress of the show? Show some respect to her as well!

Anyway, unlike the others, I walked up straight towards her. "Young miss, that was a wonderful performance from you! I nearly cried hearing you sing, you know?"

I chuckled a bit. Earlier she looked a bit gloomy, but the complexion looked better now, which made me happy as well.

"Really?"

She asked with curious eyes. What is this? Has she never received any sorta appreciation? What's up with the people here?

Is this how you treat little girls? They should be showered with appreciation if they did something magnificent like this! I mean, literally any person should be, if they performed like this.

Then why?

Maybe, she's a monster who grows in power when someone appreciates her or something.

…

…

Haha! What am I even thinking? Where's Goldy when I say stupid shite like this… Goldy? For real though, why are you so silent?

[Something's wrong.]

{Huh? What do you mean?}

[The girl… I sense something about the girl…]

My goodness! Is she really some monster?

#