The count glances unconcerned as the paper in his hands burns away. No one would think the usually gentle count is such a cold person. 
Recreating a Beloved Story
Tsukasa:This is the translated version, and these three are concise versions. These are all the ones I could get my hands on.
Shizuha:Thank you, Tsukasa. It must have been quite the chore to bring the translated version.
Tsukasa:Not really. It was paperback sized.
Tsukasa:The oldest translated version, on the other hand, is seven volumes... I couldn't believe it...
Tsukasa:"The Count of Monte Cristo" is an extremely long story...
Shizuha:Edmond Dantes is imprisoned for treason - tricked by his fellow colleagues and rival in love...
Shizuha:And during the course of many years enacts his revenge on them. It's an epic story.
Tsukasa:You have quite the hard task ahead considering your role as the protagonist. Not only is the story very deep, but Edmond's life was full of drama.
Shizuha:Yeah. That's why I gathered all this material. I'll use it to get into the role.
Shizuha:You've read it as well, right?
Tsukasa:Yeah, I borrowed it from the library when I was in elementary school. But it was only in two volumes...
Tsukasa:I can't believe that was the concise version. I had no idea...
Shizuha:Yeah, the full version would be a bit too long for a small child.
Shizuha:That said, the concise version didn't miss out any of the important points, right?
Tsukasa:No. That's why I still remember the story, and I'm looking forward to the play.
Tsukasa:I don't know whether he redeemed himself through revenge...
Shizuha:But for what I could tell, he didn't regret any of it.
Shizuha:"Wait and hope"... A great deal of time and encounters made him say this.
Tsukasa:Hmm... All of the protagonist's life experiences seem to be expressed in words in the story.
Tsukasa:The same goes for Valentine - the role I play. That's why I have to read the story well too.
Shizuha:That's true, but I think the charm of this story doesn't stop at the original book.
Tsukasa:What do you mean?
Shizuha:Well, it was translated and adapted by a variety of authors.
Shizuha:There are different concise versions, and they all give off different vibes.
Tsukasa:Ahh, I guess the authors would have a different perspective.
Tsukasa:They say that each translated version is different depending on who translated it.
Shizuha:Exactly. So in that sense, each translation is giving birth to a new story different from the original.
Tsukasa:I see...
Shizuha:Besides, there are adventure stories and even sci-fi novels based on "The Count of Monte Cristo".
Tsukasa:What!? I didn't know it was so influential!
Tsukasa:I guess that just proves how everyone was mesmerized by it...
Shizuha:Yeah, many people were charmed by Edmond Dantes' - the Count of Monte Cristo's life.
Shizuha:It's going to be very hard to express his dramatic life and his revenge into one play.
Shizuha:But it'll definitely be worth it.
Tsukasa:l have no doubt the translators also had a hard time...
Tsukasa:But their sweat and tears are what make it possible for us to work on the play now...
Shizuha:I'm grateful there are so many books on it.
Shizuha:Let's use all their knowledge and create a never-before-seen performance of "The Count of Monte Cristo" fit for Frontier!
Revenge and Acting
Lalafin:"This is beyond words. How dare they lock me in such a dingy place..."
Lalafin:"And I did so well until now... Ugh..."
Lalafin:"This is bad... I'm so hungry my vision is getting hazy... Please, I beg you! Give me some food...! I will give you all my money!"
Lalafin:"Ahh... This is all I could get with all the coins I had... Tsk..."
Shizuha:"How's it going, Baron Danglars? How does it feel to be at the lowest point in your life?"
Lalafin:"Count... If I have to be honest, I don't like it one bit."
Lalafin:"I've always been a winner. I've made friends, and squashed my enemies... That's...until the bank didn't do so well anymore."
Shizuha:"A winner, huh? I guess you were. You rose to the top by gathering dirty evidence on your rivals."
Shizuha:"And sometimes you even went as far as getting rid of them. It was a clever strategy."
Shizuha:"But look at yourself now. You've lost everything. What do you have to say for yourself now?"
Shizuha:"The people you used... Those you squashed under your feet... How does it feel to be in their situation now?"
Lalafin:"...I was just unlucky. That's all. I don't like my situation now, but it's not my fault."
Lalafin:"Be so kind as to let me out of here, Count."
Lalafin:"It's not too late. I won't tell anyone you imprisoned me and your reputation won't be tarnished."
Lalafin:"Please...! I can't stand the thought of starving to death here...!"
Shizuha:"Tsk tsk... I see your arrogance hasn't changed one bit."
Lalafin:"Huh?"
Shizuha:"You haven't changed at all since you threw me in that cell. You couldn't care less what happened to others as long as you were safe."
Shizuha:"Well, actually you used others so that you could climb on top of them."
Shizuha:"And now you stand here for mercy. You are beyond words."
Lalafin:"Count of Monte Cristo... No, wait... You are..."
Shizuha:"Have you finally remembered Edmond Dantes - the captain you wrongly accused of a crime he didn't commit...?"
Lalafin:"This can't be... He died in Chateau d'If..."
Shizuha:"AHAHAHAH! I'm not as weak as you thought. It took me many years, but now I'm back."
Shizuha:"You never doubted your success, nor stopped treating those around you like pawns..."
Shizuha:"And yet you always felt safe in your position... I'm here to make you realize you are not!"
Lalafin:"Ngh... Wh-What is going to happen to me...!?"
Lalafin:Whoa! No matter how many times we go over it, I never get tired of seeing you transform from the count to Edmond Dantes!
Lalafin:"He was dead...! How is he still alive...!?" The baron must have felt like he was seeing a ghost!
Shizuha:Thank you, Lalafin. That scene is really pivotal so I'm glad to hear I'm performing it well.
Shizuha:Edmond wears a variety of different names throughout the story. I'm trying to emphasize when he switches characters.
Lalafin:He doesn't only become the "Count of Monte Cristo", but "Lord Wilmore", "Abbe Busoni" and a bunch of others...
Lalafin:He was a great actor! I'm sure he would've been great on stage too...
Shizuha:Heh heh, maybe!
Shizuha:But still, he never went back to his original persona after his revenge. He had to stay as the count for the rest of his life.
Shizuha:And he was able to do that because he was that good at becoming other people.
Shizuha:Although I cannot say if that meant he was happy.
Lalafin:Even after his revenge, he still wasn't happy...
Lalafin:That's one point of view to make his sadness stand out more!
Shizuha:Right? ...Yes, I think I'll stick to how I'm doing things now.
Lalafin:What do you mean?
Shizuha:Well, I can perform the count as the main character of a revenge story, but...
Shizuha:I want to show the person beneath the mask by fully expressing his sadness.
Shizuha:After all, he didn't feel fulfilled even after had his revenge.
Lalafin:I'll help you, too! Our play shouldn't just be fun, but it should explore all kinds of emotions!
Shizuha:Heh heh. Let's do our best!
Shizuha:What do you think of my costume? I love how it channels the black flame burning inside of the count.
Shizuha:The Count of Monte Cristo learns a great deal of things from Abbe Faria - a fellow prisoner.
Shizuha:His efforts and a pinch of luck are what made it possible for him to open up his own path after being betrayed by his own friends and being forced into prison.
Shizuha:If I ever hit a wall, I have to remember how much he struggled and came out on top. I hope you'll have my back!