Tokyo: The evil god doesn't want to be the top star

"It's not enough that 'Gurenge' triggered a cover challenge and helped 'Cursed Blade' break box office records. How could a random little commercial be so popular?"

"You know, the music department calls me ten times a day, pestering me desperately, begging me to sign an 'exclusive cooperation agreement' with the highest commission rate."

"Besides, I'm in Osaka filming a project. I need to find time to help you check this month's share with Company Bethesda, discuss the soundtrack share ratio with the Cursed Blade production committee, and negotiate the mask doll advertising stand and portrait rights usage fee..."

In the apartment, Xia Fan was holding his cell phone away with some disgust, listening to Higashino Yoshiei's mumbling on the other end.

The movie-level shooting standards of SUN Advertising Company, the professional sword-fighting moves contributed by Xia Fan and the three Tanaka teachers, and Xia Fan's good looks and "psychic" acting skills that cannot be concealed by his topknot, make the first half of the advertisement worth watching.

When Aoi Jinguji finally took off her mask, revealing her peerless beauty, coupled with that magical slogan, it created a finishing touch to the reversal effect.

Therefore, once the advertisement of "Matsumoto Kiyoshi Israel Bio-Nile Dead Sea Black and White Mud Mask" was broadcast, the response became more and more enthusiastic.

After only a few days of broadcasting, people on the Internet have created various ghost-like secondary creation videos.

Some people even called the TV station and specifically requested that the ad be broadcast for longer periods of time.

The brand owner, Matsumoto Kiyoshi, a drugstore and cosmetics retail giant in District 1600 with more than stores, seriously misjudged the advertising effect and did not expect that the mask would be sold out as soon as it was launched on the market. Now the manufacturer is still working overtime to produce and stock up.

However, Matsumoto Kiyoshi's publicity and promotion department responded quickly and took a series of actions immediately.

Not only did it immediately increase its store promotion and advertising efforts, it also developed an additional product with a longer name, "Matsumoto Kiyoshi Israel Binilai Dead Sea Black and White Mud Mask Miko Rabbit Mask Limited Edition", and even wanted to purchase the advertising image authorization of Xia Fan and Jinguji Aoi to produce human-shaped advertising billboards.

It's completely an attitude of "even if there is no stock, we will do our best to seize the hot spot."

"Exclusive agreements have too many restrictions. I'll give it some thought. As for advertising image licensing, as long as I can get paid, I don't mind being made into an advertising billboard."

"As for other matters, let's follow your advice, Uncle Dongye..."

After ending the call with Dong Ye, Xia Fan smiled knowingly.

"The brand owner probably can't get the image authorization for that 'heroine', right?"

Given Jinguji Aoi's identity, she probably wouldn't agree to be made into a human-shaped billboard for a little money.

[You completed the oracle: worship the gods with Noh music, and the world was amazed. The gods granted you the blessing: Noh music mask]

[Noh mask: All living things have hundreds of faces, and each person has thousands of faces. By understanding the personality, we can create the corresponding 'Noh mask'. ]

The commercials continued to be popular, and Xia Fan naturally completed a long-pending oracle.

"Nou Mian? What kind of weird thing is this that has been bestowed upon me..."

Xia Fan read the description of [Noh False Mask] repeatedly, but didn't quite understand its meaning.

The biggest feature of Noh drama is that the actors wear masks called "Noh masks" on their faces. After putting on the masks with fixed expressions, the actors also pay attention to the performance style, expressing the plot with very few movements, which can be said to be a model of acting skills that rely on details.

As for Noh masks, there are more than 60 basic types, depending on the roles played, including old man mask, military officer mask, male mask, female mask, ghost mask, and vengeful spirit mask. Each basic type has many detailed classifications. If you count them one by one, there may be more than 200 types.

"I don't quite understand it, so I might as well just try it."

"Understanding personality... shaping Noh mask... how to understand... find the one you are most familiar with?"

Xia Fan was thinking subconsciously, and a little light began to gather in his palm.

“So, is this how it was shaped?”

Soon, a human face mask made of light spots and without substance appeared in his hand.

[Noh Mask·Higashino Yoshihide: 0%…50%…100%]

Judging from the ferocious look in the nonchalant face, the owner of this face was Yoshihide Higashino who had just finished a phone call with Xia Fan.

"It's 100% complete. Now what? Should I wear it?"

Standing in front of the mirror, Xia Fan tried to put the "Noh mask" on his face.

The moment the mask touched his face, it "melted" into a layer of fluorescence, but his appearance did not change at all.

"This is fucking useless!"

"Wait, why did I say bad words..."

"Also, what's up with this tongue-twitching sound?"

Xia Fan complained twice in an exaggerated tone and suddenly shut his mouth.

"Not only the wording and tone, but even the expression of frowning one eyebrow and the walking posture are exactly the same as Uncle Higashino..."

Walking back and forth in front of the mirror, he found that his appearance had not changed, but the tone of his voice, the words he chose, and the subtle movements of his body were exactly the same as the familiar Higashino Yoshie.

Chapter 76 Competition Preparation

2024-07-13

"I see. Just like in Noh, if I make and wear the corresponding 'Noh mask', I can play the corresponding role with 100% fidelity?"

After slapping his face twice and shaking his head to let the fluorescence dissipate, Xia Fan resumed his normal speech and behavior.

[Faith +1...Faith +1...Cumulative Faith Value: 5034]

[The accumulated faith value exceeds 5000, and the gods are impressed by your contribution and grant you one wish]

[The gods sent down an oracle: the cumulative faith value exceeds 50000, and you will be granted one chance to pray]

At the same time, driven by "Sakura", "Red Lotus" and the mask advertisement, Xia Fan's faith value, which had been repeatedly increasing and decreasing, finally broke through the 5000 mark, and he got another precious opportunity to pray.

"The condition of the brain tumor has been relatively stable recently. Let's wait and see."

As the condition was not as urgent as before, Xia Fan decided to keep this opportunity to pray.

After all, the next wish required fifty thousand, which was ten times more than before.

Not to mention that under the influence of the "diminishing marginal effect of faith", the faith growth that "Sakura", "Red Lotus" and facial mask advertisements can bring in the future will be difficult to maintain.

Even if these works maintain their current popularity, it will probably take half a year to accumulate the exaggerated 50,000 faith points.

During this period, what if I need to use "prayer" somewhere else?

"By the way, Uncle Dongye seemed to have said that this month's salary has been transferred?"

Thinking of another important thing, Xia Fan quickly opened the online banking APP.

"Let me see... the manuscript fee, tax included, is over 4 million yen... This should be the consulting fee for Section 9. Did you include the hard work fee for Kanda Shrine?"

"The fixed creative fee for Gurenhua is one million yen... Well, the movie has just been released, and the royalties for the online songs and the soundtrack will probably come later..."

"For the commercial shoot, over 500,000 yen... It's not much, but it only took two days in total, so if converted into an hourly wage it's quite generous."

"The royalties from Sakura are over 1.5 million yen. The download growth has slowed down, and other royalty channels cannot be developed for the time being..."

"All in all, it's probably... 7000 hours of part-time work at a convenience store!"

After checking the details, Xia Fan found that the account balance had increased by a total of 7 million yen. He silently punched the air.

"If I work harder and take on more big jobs, I'll be able to pay off my family's debt soon!"

Leaving 500,000 yen for medical expenses and living expenses, he transferred the remaining 6.5 million yen to his mother's account in one go.

Of course, don't forget to attach the tax payment certificate to ensure that you have not "taken any evil paths" or "made money through illegal means."

"Horiie Tsubasa: The commercial was very interesting, Mr. Natsufan. Let's meet at the school music practice room tomorrow afternoon to discuss the campus singing competition."

At this time, a message from Horie Tsubasa popped up on the LINE software.

"The campus singing competition seems to be next week? I promised Kurokawa Tsubasa to help with 'treatment'. Although there is no prize money and it takes time, I have to participate..."

"But, what can I do on stage when I am tone-deaf? I can't just be a wooden man, right?"

Looking at this message, Xia Fan fell into deep thought.

……

The next day, Tokyo University of the Arts, practical teaching building.

"Good afternoon, Xia Fan."

"Good afternoon, Squad Leader Horie."

"It's not polite to greet someone by looking at their chest."

"No, I'm looking at the uniforms."

When Xia Fan walked into the music practice room he had booked, Horie Tsubasa, wearing a short skirt uniform and black stockings wrapped around her long legs, was already waiting there.

"So, classmate Xia Fan, do you know the selection rules for the campus singing competition?"

Horie Tsubasa crossed his arms over his chest and asked directly.

It seemed that this posture could relieve some of the heavy burden, so she often did it unconsciously.

"..."

Xia Fan shook his head in confusion.

"I knew it."

"The District 11 Campus Singer Competition, the competition in the East Arts Division, anyone who is a student at East Arts University is eligible to sign up and participate."

"The competition is divided into two forms: multi-person band combination and solo singer. After three rounds of auditions, preliminary rounds, and final rounds, campus representatives will be selected to participate in the subsequent 11 district college tour performances."

Horie Tsubasa adjusted his glasses, picked up the chalk, and started writing on the blackboard...

"By the way, if the students knew that the one competing against them was the original singer of 'Gurenge', the Queen of Changes, Kurokawa Tsubasa, and that she was preparing so seriously for the competition, they would probably give up on their own."

Looking at her "teaching seriously", Xia Fan couldn't help but complain in his heart.

"The first round of auditions will be next Tuesday, and we will compete as a duo. This means we only have five days to decide on the repertoire and performance format, and practice."

"As for me, I will naturally be responsible for the female lead vocal part."

"What do you think of Xia Jun's role?"

After writing down the "performance form" and "entry repertoire" with chalk, Horie Tsubasa turned back to ask Xia Fan for his opinion.

"What do you think I, with zero singing skills and zero stage experience, can think of..."

Xia Fan felt that the most thing he did today was to shake his head like an idiot.

"So, Xia Jun, are there any musical instruments you are good at?"

"Speaking of musical instruments, I do know how to play them, and I brought some with me today."

Under Horie Tsubasa's expectant eyes, Xia Fan opened his schoolbag and took out a thick and long...

Plastic children's recorder.

"This is……"

"This was my musical enlightenment teacher. Throughout the six years of elementary school, I practiced it every day and carefully washed and dried it afterward to ensure that there was no saliva residue in it."

“Beep, beep, beep…beep, beep…”

"Sorry, I haven't played Twinkle Twinkle Little Star for more than ten years, so I made a mistake."

After this introduction, Xia Fan picked up the recorder in an orderly manner and started playing it with all his might.

"As for the recorder, it's more suitable for a symphony orchestra. It's not suitable for accompaniment for a two-person live band."

"Xia Jun is a talented music producer after all, and a trainee signed to an agency. Do you have any other talents suitable for performance?"

Horie Tsubasa smiled gently, but the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

"I have other talents, too. I've performed live in front of thousands of people before, and it received rave reviews."

"Oh?"

"Please stand aside and help turn off the lights..."

"Oh, good……"

In the dim music practice room, with Horie Tsubasa's eyes filled with expectation, Xia Fan took out two thick and long penises from his schoolbag...

Pink glow stick (foldable and hidden oversized version, refundable if you can’t bring it into your bag).

Chapter 77 Bet

2024-07-13

"This is……"

"Then, I'll start."

Under Horie Tsubasa's dazed gaze, Xia Fan held up two pink fluorescent sticks and began to dance with great vigor...