Chapter 31: Blue Quest
In terms of character alignment, Janna’s appearance was by far the most fitting among the auditionees for the role of Natasha, the half-elf character in Bloodshadow Rose.
However, Natasha played a major role in Act A, with nearly all storylines revolving around her.
The depth of the plot required the actress portraying “Young Natasha” to possess not only exceptional singing skills but also a high level of acting maturity.
Yet acting wasn’t just about talent; experience played an equally vital role.
For someone like Janna, a complete newcomer to opera, even if she entered the Nightingale Opera Troupe, she would most likely have to start from scratch.
She would need to accumulate experience through smaller roles before taking on a protagonist role in a major production like Bloodshadow Rose.
The Nightingale Opera Troupe would never recklessly assign a rookie to such an important project.
However...
Looking at Janna’s captivating face, coupled with the halo effect of having been personally invited by David Berg, even a seasoned veteran like Liji Silks found herself uncertain.
“Director David didn’t tell me which role I should audition for, but I’ve prepared in advance. I’ve rehearsed Bloodshadow Rose, Song of the Ocean, and Finch several times.”
“That I know. I was the one who personally taught you…”
Seeing Janna’s usual calm expression, with nothing giving her away, Liji Silks continued to ask curiously:
“Have you had any acting experience before?”
“No, but I have strong confidence in my facial expression control.”
“Facial expression control?”
Hearing such an amateurish remark from Janna, Liji Silks nearly rolled her eyes all the way to the back of her head. Then, as if recalling a certain possibility, she covered her mouth halfway and whispered in Janna’s ear:
“Then... are you and Director David, you know, that kind of relationship?”
Seeing Liji Silks' face full of gossip, Janna subtly curled her lips.
“I’m a celibate. Pursuing the path of a wizard is my lifelong dream.”
“Then why are you auditioning for the troupe?”
“To make money.”
This time, it was Liji Silks who was rendered speechless by Janna’s blunt honesty.
Just as she was about to press further, a crisp chime suddenly interrupted their conversation.
“Hello everyone, I’m the person in charge of this Nightingale Opera Troupe audition—Shuka Berg.”
Short brown hair, a cheerful and friendly smile, and facial features that bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to David Berg.
With just one glance, Janna came up with a few reasonable guesses about the boy’s identity.
“A relative David Berg planted in the troupe?”
As Janna’s thoughts began to wander, Shuka Berg continued speaking to everyone:
“It’s now exactly 9:00 a.m. Anyone who is late will be considered to have forfeited their audition and will not be admitted.”
As he spoke, Shuka Berg turned and walked to the staircase, calling over the young male attendant who had earlier shown Janna her seat.
He whispered a few words into his ear before returning to the group.
“There are forty-two auditionees present. I will divide everyone into two groups by drawing lots. The entire audition process will be public, and each group will enter the booth one after another. Of course, the booth is spacious enough that if members of the next group are interested, they may enter early to observe—as long as they remain silent…”
As he spoke, the young male attendant downstairs stepped forward carrying a box of drawing lots and silently stood beside Shuka Berg.
“Go around and let everyone draw their lots, then distribute the registration forms and charcoal pencils.”
“Yes, sir.”
Following Shuka Berg’s instructions, the male attendant walked past the auditionees with the box.
When he reached Janna, his hand trembled slightly as he handed her the registration form.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, esteemed Witch.”
Janna casually drew a lot from the box. Before she could unfold the paper slip, Liji Silks had already raised hers to show Janna.
“I got Group One, Number Nine. What about you?”
“Group One, Number Fifteen.”
After checking the number on her lot, Janna opened the registration form and scanned through its contents.
“Since everyone has drawn lots, please sit according to the number on your slip once inside the booth. Don’t sit in the wrong seat…”
“The registration form is quite simple. Besides your basic personal information, please mark the roles you wish to audition for under the character tags at the bottom. Hand the form to the judges once the audition begins…”
“And one last thing... The auditionees this time fall into two categories. One group is recommended by the Turin Actors Guild, and the other consists of those who were discovered and invited by scouts from the Nightingale Opera Troupe. Those invited will undergo the same role-based audition as everyone else. Naturally, the scoring criteria will differ...”
With that, the auditionees began filling in their forms with charcoal pencils.
After completing the basic information—name, gender, profession, address, and so on—Janna looked toward the lower half of the form that introduced the roles.
“So the Nightingale Opera Troupe is hiring ten actors this time…”
The role section of the registration form listed ten characters.
Each was followed by a brief character bio.
However, the bios were extremely terse.
If the auditionees hadn’t studied Bloodshadow Rose in detail beforehand, they would have no way of understanding the characters through the bios alone.
“Young Natasha, young Loki, young Natcha... Natasha’s father Payne, Natasha’s mother Nightingale... Bloodborn Count Charlotte, Manor Butler Cluru…”
Janna softly recited each character’s information.
Just as she was about to make her selection, a familiar ding suddenly echoed in her mind.
“Quest Panel.”
Her right hand, originally poised to mark the form, gently lowered.
Silently calling the Quest Panel in her mind, Janna quickly saw the task displayed.
【Today’s Quest: Participate in the Nightingale Opera Troupe audition and obtain a contract for a core role;
Quest Rewards: 500 Talent EXP, 1500 Skill EXP, and two random rewards.】
“This time… it’s a Blue Quest!”
Looking at the blue text on the Quest Panel, this was the first time since her reincarnation that Janna had triggered a Blue-level quest!
And aside from the generous Talent and Skill EXP, what truly excited her were the two random rewards.
“It seems this quest’s difficulty, based on the System’s judgment, is higher than any before…”