Rick walked into the classroom and gave the students a polite gesture.
Perched on his shoulder was a robotic frog.
"Hello, everyone—actors. I'm the director of this test. Please call me Mr. Reca; that's the credit I usually use in the end roll."
At that moment, a woman in a formal dress entered from the doorway. Her attitude was slightly arrogant. "Mr. Reca, please mind your language. This is a classroom, not a set."
Rick clearly had no intention of giving her any face. "NG—Family actor. Wherever I am is the set."
This single action instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the students present.
From this scene, it was crystal clear that Director Rick enjoyed immense popularity.
This was also confirmed in the conversation between Dan Heng and March 7th.
Moreover, Rick showed utter disdain for the String Test and outright fired a Family member on the spot.
Under his guidance, the Family member only struggled for a few words before voluntarily leaving the classroom.
[Memory rewrite ability?]
[This has to be someone from the Garden of Recollection.]
[Probably. That kind of technique is usually only possible for Memokeepers.]
[Yes, that's the exact same ability as Black Swan's.]
— —
Seeing the nuisance gone, Rick stood at the podium and spoke passionately. "Young actors, I've reached an agreement with the producers. This exam will now be changed to an 'audition session'—are you ready? I will definitely find the most suitable role for each of you."
Not long after.
The audition session began. While waiting, the three little ones huddled together again.
The trio discussed Rick's performance.
Just then, Stelle was called away by a student volunteer—her audition had started.
Stelle slowly stood up and walked out of the classroom without looking back, as if she had made up her mind about something.
Led by the volunteer, Stelle arrived at the audition venue.
The space had been converted from a classroom: the front still had the podium and blackboard, while the back half had been transformed with a massive white screen.
"Stelle, welcome to the 'Audition Session.' The process is simple—you only need to answer a few questions. Of course, my judgment isn't based solely on your answers, but also on your every movement and expression in front of the camera.
I know you're a superstar of Penacony's grand festivities, so I hope you'll show that same level of skill here—Scene 1, Take 1, ACTION!"
Director Rick spoke, and the camera immediately focused on Stelle.
Stelle's face looked completely dazed, as if no medicine in the world could fix her.
"Hm… feeling off. CUT—'Assistant Director,' change the shot."
At Rick's instruction, the camera switched from wide to close-up. Stelle's face filled the frame, displaying her charm from virtually every angle with no blind spots!
Stelle seemed to sense the lens closing in. She gave a devilishly charming smile, bewitching everyone.
[It's Charm. She used Charm.]
[She's so beautiful. She's so watchable.]
[As expected of the Galactic Succubus—she successfully Charmed me.]
[That crooked-mouth grin—I knew things were about to go bad.]
[She's gorgeous, sure, but that smile means she's about to drop something massive on us.]
[This is what it means to smile with power.]
"OK, just like that. Let me see… Fantastic! You're truly a natural-born actor!"
Rick then proceeded with the questions one after another.
"So first question: introduce yourself."
Even without pockets, Stelle struck a hands-in-pockets pose. "Galactic Baseballer, also known as Bat • Ninja."
"Haha, cracking jokes at the examiner even during an exam—you've got real 'performance drive.' OK, second question: what's the strength you're most proud of?"
"Thick skin." Stelle said it casually, as if having thick skin was some trivial little thing.
"Excellent! 'Calm and open-mindedness' is an essential quality for stepping on stage, and a talent many actors can only dream of."
[Top-tier literal translation!]
[Director's a beast!]
[I feel like Rick already saw through something—that's why he's treating the Stellaron Hunter like this.]
— —
"Now for the third question. Let 'her' ask it."
Before Director Rick finished speaking, the camera cut. The robotic frog had its arms crossed, silently staring at Stelle.
"This child is the 'Assistant Director'—a reliable partner. Cinematography, continuity, editing… she's mastered it all. When it comes to selecting actors, her eye is even sharper than mine."
The Assistant Director cooperatively let out a "ribbit."
"Hm, her questions are very sharp. Stelle, go ahead and answer."
After a moment of thought, Stelle smiled brightly. "Ribbit ribbit ribbit!"
Assistant Director: "…"
"Heh, you actually made her laugh. Truly a 'humorous' actor. Now, the final question—Nameless, your memory begins at the station of Erudition, boarding the train of Trailblaze. Along the journey you witnessed the will of Preservation, the resolve of The Hunt, the debates between Harmony and Order…
You've run through different sets and watched different stories. Now, have you found your own theme—or should I say, your 'dream'?"
Stelle immediately dropped the smile from her face. "How do you know all this?"
[Used the box weapon.]
[Didn't expect that, did you? The director's a Memokeeper—he can read memories.]
"Of course a director has to thoroughly read an actor's resume before the audition. Perfectly normal."
Faced with Rick's reply, Stelle found it reasonable enough. She began seriously considering the question he had just posed.
Not long after.
Stelle gave her answer. "No, I haven't found it yet."
"I see. That's fine—an open theme brings more 'creativity.' CUT—your exam is over. Let's see the results…"
This time, the camera finally turned to Rick.
"Most of your answers were very witty—like a true star in front of the lens. Combined with your experience winning Penacony's grand audition, the college best suited for you is—the Harmony Academy! How about it? Satisfied with this result?"
"Satisfied. This one's fine."
"Excellent. Thank you for trusting the director's advice—I'm deeply honored. Audition complete. You are now a student of the Harmony Academy. Please take this student ID."
With that, Rick handed Stelle a card. "Classmate, do you feel it? The 'dramatic tension' hidden in this campus is stirring.
And now, your own plot is about to begin—as the protagonist, don't let me or the audience down."
[I always feel this Director Rick isn't simple.]
[Memokeepers are rarely simple people.]
[The fact that he calls himself a director probably means he's seen the script.]
[Memokeepers are usually fairly neutral. They enjoy collecting and recording unforgettable moments.]
Though Stelle felt Rick was a bit off, she didn't dwell on it too much. She returned to the classroom alone and waited for March 7th and Dan Heng to finish their auditions.
A little while later, Dan Heng and March 7th also finished their exams…
Dan Heng remained calm as still water, while March 7th pouted with a tiny mouth.
"Sigh… that Mr. Reca guy actually said the college best suited for me isn't Harmony Academy—it's the Dreamweaving Academy!"
Stelle put her hands on her hips. "What? You look down on the Dreamweaving Academy?"
"No, I thought I had real acting talent! Turns out I'm going to the Dreamweaving frontier to do grunt work. Is that even fair?"
[HAHAHA, little March is too cute.]
[Civil Engineering's final destination—grunt work!]
[What's wrong with grunt work? Qlipoth's been grinding away forever, hasn't he?]
[Civil Engineering big sis March 7th.]
"Of course not—I couldn't refuse him. He kept insisting that in the Dreamweaving Academy I'd encounter a future 'full of dramatic tension.' He said it so seriously—it's actually making me really curious." March 7th spread her hands and countered, "Anyway, there's no loss in trying it out first. What about you guys? Which college did you get?"
"Harmony Academy." Stelle confidently quirked up the corner of her mouth.
"Sigh, as expected of Penacony's grand festival superstar. I'm so jealous."
At that moment Dan Heng delivered the finishing blow. "I'm also in Harmony Academy."
"Whoa, Dan Heng—I didn't know you had a secret star dream too."
Dan Heng explained, "Mr. Reca insisted repeatedly. Plus, he himself is a guest lecturer at Harmony Academy—I couldn't turn him down."
"Alright, alright, we get it—your star quality charmed the big director. Stop bragging. Anyway, we've finally finished the enrollment process. Next up, let's tour the school festival—starting with the 'Creative Assembly' Montana mentioned?"
On the way to the Creative Assembly, the three little ones brought up one thing. "Speaking of which, that Mr. Reca even asked about Belobog. How did he know?"
Dan Heng thought for a moment. "He also mentioned the Xianzhou Alliance. Probably saw the enrollment materials Himeko submitted."
"But did he really have to include the part where I broke the synthesizer…" March 7th wanted to complain more, but a very lively gathering appeared ahead. "Look—the students are all gathered here. So many booths! Are they all student clubs?"
[March 7th said it herself—that's concrete proof.]
[Yep, Elio is commonly known as little March.]
— —
The three little ones arrived at the first booth of the assembly.
At that moment, a trembling Pepeshi person spoke shakily. "H-hello, welcome to the Dessert Club…"
"Dessert Club?" March 7th scanned the various sweets on the table. "Did you make all of these yourself? That's amazing!"
"Th-thank you… I-I'm the club president, Chaletka …" Chaletka's voice grew quieter and quieter as she unconsciously lowered her head.
Looking at Chaletka's behavior, Stelle's mind automatically conjured an image of Huohuo. "I have a foxian friend who talks just like you."
"Really? Then she must be troubled too…"
March 7th looked at the desserts on the table with great anticipation. "So how are these sweets sold?"
Chaletka explained that she could provide the ingredients, but the buyer needed to design their very own banana pie.
March 7th just wanted to taste-test. Dan Heng silently shook his head. The major task naturally fell to Stelle.
Stelle naturally did not disappoint. She used golden Sleeping Bananas, added "Hunger" emotions, and finally mixed in the hotel's special chili sauce.
Dan Heng wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "You sure about this?"
Stelle's confidence was practically overflowing off-screen. "Don't question the chef's choice!"
"Fine!" Dan Heng looked at March 7th with eyes full of sympathy.
After a brief bake, Stelle's designed banana pie finally came out of the oven.
March 7th took one look—appearance was decent, smell was okay. "Looks pretty good. Let me try it."
She bit off a corner and slowly chewed. "Oh my gosh, this flavor! I've never tasted such a delicious banana…"
Then the second bite. "Ah… such a delicious dessert. The more I eat, the tastier it gets—like I can never get full…"
Third bite. "And… mmph!"
"A-and it's so spicy! What did you put in this?!"
At this moment March 7th's face was bright red, and her speech had turned into a major lisp.
"It's Jiaoqiu's medicinal food secret recipe!" Stelle stepped in front of March 7th and flashed a victory sign.
[Who said this pie is spicy? This pie is way too good.]
[You're just killing with kindness.]
[In the end March 7th got lisped from the spice—so cute.]
"You jerk, get over here!" March 7th grabbed Stelle and pinned her to the table.
Then she forcefully stuffed the remaining banana pie into Stelle's mouth.
"Sp-spicy… so spicy…" Stelle stuck out her tongue, panting nonstop.
"Serves you right!"
[Looks like the training on the Xianzhou wasn't for nothing.]
[HAHAHA, is it really this ridiculous?]
[Look how spicy she made Stelle—but Stelle's hand was ruthless too.]
[These two clowns—Dan Heng seems to feel the team just got a few times harder to lead?]
— —
After the farce ended, the three little ones moved on to the next booth—the Model Club.
Here were lifelike Sleeping Banana Monkey dolls with eyes full of wisdom.
The club president was one of the classmates from the group chat—named Richie.
Under his enthusiastic persuasion, Dan Heng showed no interest—probably due to his dream-entry experience—and Stelle wasn't fond of them either.
Only March 7th fell for it and paid to buy one.
Just as she was about to take one, Richie informed her that the ones on the table were all pre-ordered. The next shipment would arrive soon, and he'd personally deliver it to her door.
March 7th was speechless. "Sigh, whatever. Let's check out the other booths."
They hadn't walked two steps before two students wearing "Discipline" armbands blocked their path.
March 7th: "Hi, classmates, can you let us through?"
"Wait—don't go yet. The Discipline Department is searching for students violating school rules." The Discipline Department head scanned the three little ones. "Hm? Why aren't you wearing uniforms? Points deducted!"
Stelle helplessly spread her hands. "We're new students."
"New students? Remember my face from now on—when I show up, it's to enforce discipline!"
"Wait, Head—I've seen them on the Origami Forum!" A Discipline Department member grabbed the head's hand.
"They're the visiting Penacony shareholders!!"
"Wh-what? Penacony shareholders!?"
Stelle said nothing. She simply raised one corner of her mouth higher and higher until it formed a perfect "√".
[Crooked-mouth Dragon King.]
[She's genuinely abstract.]
[Born abstract saint—before she lost her memory, just how abstract was she that it's carved into her DNA?]
— —
The moment they heard "shareholders," the head rubbed his hands together and put on a friendly smile. "Classmates, that was just a joke earlier. Come, come—forget the booths ahead. Wherever the three of you want to go, go ahead. Want to visit my dorm? Come to my place too!"