Count of Monte Cristo Shizuha Kocho/Bond Story

*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.*

* Chapter 1
* Chapter 2
* Bond Level 15 Talk
* Bond Level 30 Talk

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!