"————"
I slide my fingers along the strings of the lyre, plucking them with movements that have long since become second nature. Years of practice, tens of thousands of plucks—my fingers had been at this since before I could even properly think.
For me, everything related to music is as natural as breathing—so natural that it's laughable to even try to recall where it all began.
I open my throat, tighten my abdomen, and weave my voice into the music I've started to play.
What I sing are the words that just now surfaced in my mind, all of my emotions in that moment.
They all settle atop the music that was likewise pulled into existence at this very instant.
"————"
When a new song comes together, I might say I was "struck by inspiration," but honestly, even that phrase feels pretentious.
If I had to put it more plainly, "found" would be closer to the truth. The melodies and lyrics that appear in my head at that moment were all already buried somewhere in this world.
Some trigger causes that buried music to be unearthed.
There happened to be a trigger to find it, and I happened to be the one who picked it up—a gift that fell from the sky, music born of sudden inspiration. That's how I see it, more or less.
That's why I told Lady Priscilla that you don't need learning to make music. Throw away wisdom, knowledge, all that complicated stuff, and you can still do it.
Because even things that aren't human can sing.
Have you never heard a bird's song? Have you never listened to the chorus of insects? Have you never felt peace in the melody of a passing breeze, or the babbling of a stream?
Do they have what humans would call learning? Maybe they do, but I'd say they don't. At least, personally, I'd say they don't! And that's fine!
Have you ever felt music in the warmth of sunlight, the waxing and waning of the moon, the smell of earth, the crackling of firewood in a bonfire? I have! It's proof that music fills the world.
That this world is made of music, that music overflows within it, that this world is connected by music—this is the proof of that!
"————"
We bards merely borrow the sounds that already exist in this world brimming with music. We're meddlesome egotists who make what was already there slightly more noticeable and encourage everyone to touch it.
Without shame, without regret, spreading the word that good things are good—a self-centered mission, if you will.
Go ahead and think of us that way. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks of us.
But this music is wonderful, isn't it?
There's joy in sharing something funny with a stranger—laughing together because it's funny.
There's joy in raising your voice together—screaming out that something is fun, at the very moment it's fun.
Music has that. Music is allowed to have that.
Because the whole world sings—so who could blame anyone for singing?
Come, lose yourself in it. Lose yourself. Lose yourself.
Come, become absorbed. Become absorbed. Become absorbed.
Immerse yourself completely in enjoyment, fill your heart with delight, become a slave to wonder!
Use not just your ears, but your eyes, nose, skin, heart, and soul—every part of you—to enjoy the "sound" and the "pleasure"!
Frenzy swallows the audience whole, washing away the rising tide of "rage" in an instant.
Use your body to whip up the excitement, raise your voice and become part of the performance. When you lock eyes with the person next to you, you understand—your hearts are feeling the same thing.
Of course. Music is a friend who stays by your side, inseparable from your birth until your death.
You can see it. You can hear it. You can feel it.
It's the existence of music that calls out to you—we are always here!
"You dammit! It wasn't quiet at all, but thanks for listening—ah!!"
I sang my heart out, damn it!!
* * * Well, um, how should I put this... sorry, I got a little carried away.
Now that the grand performance is over, remembering how fired up I was just a while ago makes my face burn with embarrassment.
"L-Lady, that was incredible! I was so moved!"
Guh! Schult's pure gaze, completely devoid of any hidden agenda, is painful! Painful and ticklish! His clear red eyes, untouched by the world's filth, stab right into my heart!
I know he has absolutely no malicious intent, and it's not sarcasm—he's just a child giving a straightforward, honest reaction. I understand that. But the fact that I can't take it gracefully is my own selfishness!
I'm sorry, Schult... growing up means getting corrupted, you know.
"Hm? I don't understand. I'm sorry for not being learned enough."
Hyaa! His crestfallen face is unfairly adorable!
This kid radiates an aura that practically begs for mischief. Just a tiny bit—just the tiniest bit—would it be okay to touch him? Hehe...
"Liliana. Your performance earlier was not bad. I commend you."
"Gyeh!?"
"What was that? That ugly sound is not befitting a woman's—least of all coming from your throat."
Just when Schult was about to fall prey to an adult's predatory instincts, Lady Priscilla appeared at just the right moment to cut in. Not that I was planning anything bad, mind you. It was just a passing thought—really, truly.
Incidentally, the moment Lady Priscilla showed her face, Schult's expression immediately brightened and he latched onto her waist. Not exactly a hug—more like he gently pinched a part of Lady Priscilla's red dress... and that modesty makes him an angel all the more.
Well, well. Having come to retrieve little Schult, and having turned what was essentially a disaster zone into a banquet hall...
"I never imagined it would have such an effect... Perhaps without realizing it, I have already reached the pinnacle of music. Yes, the very summit of the Goddess of Music!"
"Foolish. Understanding the difference between mediocrity and one's own capacity is important, but overestimating yourself is tasteless. Your song has merit, but declaring yourself supreme is premature. In this case, they simply happened to be in a state where they were easily swayed—that's all."
"Easily swayed, you say?"
In other words, what does that even mean?
Lady Priscilla fanned herself with bored disinterest as she surveyed the assembly hall. I timidly followed her gaze, and what I saw was a crowd of people.
Yes—people who had been cursing, punching, grappling, and eyeing each other's possessions had been released from that hostile tension and were now, at the very least, calmer.
They were still speaking sparingly to one another, but they were tending to those who had been injured in the scuffle, apologizing to each other... yes, that sort of thing matters.
Wow—my song really was something else! People who were at each other's throats have reached this state of relative peace. Truly the work of a master!
"Don't get ahead of yourself. The influence on their unstable hearts—minds that know nothing of peace—will linger. Those who were bound by suspicion and fear have simply had the poison drawn out by your song. Either way, once this root cause is eliminated, they'll revert sooner or later."
"Puh!? Ah, but, look—if that's the case, then every time their hearts get stormy, I could just wash it away with my passionate vocals and—"
"In theory, that might work. But as a treatment, it's the lowest of the low. Besides, this revelry isn't limited to just this assembly hall."
"W-w-w-what did you say!?"
I've never heard that before! Well, actually, Lady Priscilla had been avoiding what seemed like disputes along the way, and there were explanations that the entire city was affected... which is actually quite seriously bad, isn't it?
"P-p-please, we need to do something about
"Yes, that's the situation. Honestly, I have no obligation to try and save this city..."
"Lady Priscilla..."
Once again—cold-hearted, iron-masked! Schult gazed up at Lady Priscilla with trembling eyes at her latest declaration. I can tell just by watching—this Schult is remarkably normal despite being at Lady Priscilla's side. A perfectly, perfectly stable psyche.
Ugh, he completely satisfies the conditions for making me go "oh well, I can't help it" toward him.
I don't know if she felt the same way I did, but faced with Schult's plea—something I would have crumbled to and responded to sweetly—Lady Priscilla sighed and shrugged with a look of resignation. My heart leaps. I stare at my hand.
"Lady Priscilla, how old are you?"
"Nineteen."
"Oh, is that so? For reference, I'm twenty-two."
"I wasn't asking."
I just wanted to say it. What could it be? A difference in diet? The occupational disadvantages of being a wandering bard? Curse it all.
"I won't say Schult swayed me, but I lack the generosity—or the misplaced cowardice—to overlook the insolence of those who dare act rudely during my stay. I shall cut off the heads of every last member of the
While I was clenching my fists and trembling, Lady Priscilla had already settled on her course of action.
All her verbal excuses aside, it's plain as day to me that her true intention is to heed Schult's request.
"My goodness, Lady Priscilla, you're more compassionate than you let on♪"
"————"
"Gi-nyah!? It burned, it burned, my hair's sizzling!?"
It burned!? It actually burned!?
The instant I nudged Lady Priscilla's side with my elbow, flames engulfed the top of my head! The ends of my tied-up hair singed and curled up!? This time, I didn't even get a "ho"!
A sudden act of violence! This is sheer panic! A tragedy never to be forgotten!
"L-Lady, are you alright!?"
Schult rushed over, face white with alarm, as I rolled on the ground clutching my burned head. Thinking he had to put out the fire immediately, he fumbled with a package, pulled out a bottle, and tried desperately to douse me with its contents. Even as he did, my head remained engulfed in hellfire— "Stop, Schult."
"B-but, Lady Priscilla..."
"That is my evening wine. Not only is it my property, but splashing it on her would only turn the songstress into a human torch. Entertaining, yes—but nothing more than that."
"Oh no, no, no, no—!"
Before being turned into a human torch, I rolled across the cold floor—roll, roll, roll, roll. Schult tilted his head and innocently asked, "Does alcohol burn?"
You fiends—master and servant, both of you tried to dispose of me with fire... But even if I were to die here, the soul of a bard would never perish! Every night, my songs would echo at your pillowside! Because music exists everywhere in the world!
"If that's what you want, then fine. Really, you're making a fuss over a few singed hairs. Stand up already."
"Huh? What about the vengeful hellfire? The scorching flames that should have reduced me to ash?"
Oh, she's right—I'm not on fire at all. What a waste of all that panic.
I brushed myself off with an embarrassed smile, feeling the stares of those around me, and returned to Lady Priscilla's side. And then, I made my pitch.
"So then, Lady Priscilla! Why not unleash a spectacular blow upon the Sin Archbishop to save Priestella in one fell swoop!? I'll be cheering you on as best I can!"
"Don't talk as if it's someone else's problem. You're coming along too."
"W-what!?!"
Earth-shattering! Heaven and earth inverted! A beauty cut short! Why on earth was I chosen!?
"I'm nothing more than a humble bard whose only talents are being cute, singing well, and being cute! If you take me along, the best I can do is entertain your eyes and ears!"
"I don't dislike that honesty. Besides, I told you—I have my eye on you. It would be a shame to lose that singing voice. More importantly, staying behind here with the rabble is asking for trouble. Stay within the range of my 'Solar Blessing.'"
"So you mean... you want to protect me because I'm too cute?"
"——Hoh."
"Hyaa! Lady Priscilla, you're so kind for pausing a beat before getting angry!"
Having already had my hair set on fire without any warning, even the mere fact that she warned me this time makes Lady Priscilla seem strangely kind. Wait, why is my heart racing? What is this feeling? My pulse is quickening, my palms are sweating, I'm having trouble breathing, the blood is draining from my face...
"There are other reasons to take you along. —About that troublesome proclamation from earlier. The Magic Tool used for that is at the City Hall, yes?"
"Huh? Ah, yes, it's at City Hall. Every morning, I wake up early, rub the sleep from my eyes, and fulfill my duties... Ah! But that doesn't mean I slack off on my singing! Granted, right before that I'm sleepy, or half-asleep, or even more than half-asleep, but once it's time to sing, I snap fully awake! Completely wide awake!"
"As long as we know the location. What I need is that Magic Tool—and you."
"I'm wanted...?"
"Your voice."
She corrected herself. Whoopsie.
But thanks to that, I finally understand what Lady Priscilla is getting at. In other words, Lady Priscilla is saying this: "Do to all of Priestella what you did to this assembly hall—using the Magic Tool...!"
"————"
"Huh? Lady Priscilla? What's wrong?"
"So you're the ones causing mayhem right in front of me. What have you done with the real Liliana? The real one couldn't possibly be this agreeable."
"So being smart and cute makes me a fantasy character?!"
I'm honestly devastated. What kind of image have people built up of me?
But I understand Lady Priscilla's plan now. If rioting like this assembly hall is happening all over the city, then it's time for my song.
Touring the city and holding concerts would be nice in its own way, but in a situation like this, that approach wouldn't be fast enough! The most efficient method is to hit it head-on!
"Y-yes, I understand! Now that you mention it, it makes perfect sense! In that case, Lady Priscilla's reluctance to take me along is entirely justified! And besides, City Hall is where the city's brightest minds gather! I'm sure Mr. Kiritchika will be there too, and in times like these, he's rather dependable!"
"Naturally, there's almost certainly a Sin Archbishop at City Hall, so pest control will be unavoidable. Do try to avoid being collateral damage."
"I forgot about that!"
Right. The Archbishop of Lust should be at City Hall right now. If they've already made the building their base of operations, this plan is doomed before it even starts.
"N-n-n-no, but—but—but! By now, that Sin Archbishop might have tossed the building aside and gone somewhere else! There are way too many restricted rooms and classified areas in there to use for killing time. They probably got bored and left—Lust or whoever might have left too!"
Heh heh, brilliant deduction. After all, I'm the one who goes there every morning for work.
In reality, everyone there is always too busy to pay attention to you, kids who can't read numbers get shooed away, and it's generally just that kind of place!
So surely, by now, City Hall should be empty— "Yo-ho. Yo-ho-ho. Yo-ho-ho-ho."
The second broadcast reached us at exactly that moment.
* * * After hearing the second broadcast, we left the assembly hall in low spirits (though Lady Priscilla and Schult showed no visible change).
It took a while to get out because the people in the assembly hall, alarmed by the second broadcast, had become unstable again, and I had to offset that with my song.
Honestly, I can only call it a reluctant concert.
I never half-ass a song or skimp on my voice, no matter what the tune, but fundamentally, impurities have no place in a song.
To enchant people with a song, to sweep them up in it—that's how I approach singing, at least. I don't want to think of song as a weapon against mental attacks designed to provoke anxiety. Even if it ends up serving that purpose, if I—the singer—started thinking of it that way, I'd lose my sincerity toward music. And a song born from insincerity could never sweep anyone's heart away.
"Occupying the control towers, the Great Watergate... and then demands from the next broadcast..."
I staggered after Lady Priscilla, who strode forward without a moment's hesitation. I felt not so much a loss of confidence as a loss of purpose.
There's no doubt that I exist to sing. But what's needed in this situation—is it me? My song? The result?
All three originate from me, yet the three aren't clicking together.
That's how I feel.
"If the Magic Tool at City Hall is our goal, then we'll have to wait until after the third demand."
"Why is that?"
"The Witch Cult only needs the Magic Tool once—to broadcast their demands after the fact. After that, they only need to defend the four occupied control towers. City Hall loses its strategic value, so they'd leave. Though it's possible they'd keep the Magic Tool around for some twisted amusement..."
"Would they not do that?"
"If the one running things is the 'Lust' Archbishop who's using the Magic Tool, probably not. Behind that cloak of depravity lies a shrewd and cunning mind. That's what happens when a clever degenerate gains opportunity—a textbook example."
Schult had preempted a question I was also wondering about and asked Lady Priscilla instead. Schult has an impeccable sense of timing for when to ask questions without making Lady Priscilla angry (probably unconscious on his part!), and Lady Priscilla is soft on Schult, so she gives him thorough answers.
The explanation was simple enough for a child, so I could follow it easily.
In other words, the situation is progressing exactly as the Witch Cult intends.
"So it'll be after the third broadcast, once the demands are made. Once the Magic Tool is free, your song will be useful. While the city is filled with unease, people can't even gather their forces. You never know where parasites within the lion's body will spawn."
"Before it gets that complicated, can't Lady Priscilla just take that brilliant sword of hers and—wham!—take back the control towers from the Witch Cult?"
"Four control towers. If even one of the Great Watergate's gates is opened, the city will be flooded. Even I have only one body. I can't launch a counterattack without enough hands. I know there are a few people in this city who could serve as limbs... but to gather them, I need the Magic Tool."
What Lady Priscilla means by "limbs" are forces capable of standing up to the Witch Cult.
And as far as I know, there are people staying in this city who have demonstrated extraordinary results against the Witch Cult. Yes—
"I-I understand! After the third broadcast, we go to City Hall!"
I clenched my fists, and my breath came heavier.
Honestly, I can't deny there's a part of me that's hesitant. But if I don't go to City Hall, I won't learn whether Mr. Kiritchika is safe—well, even if I did learn of his safety, he wouldn't exactly be useful in a combat capacity.
But having him there would let me sing with a lighter heart, I think.
"Until then..."
"Take Lady Liliana on a tour of the shelters!"
"Eh? Yes, take me to the shelters—wait, what!?!"
Schult answered eagerly, but what was this about?
Lady Priscilla nodded with satisfaction, and upon seeing that, Schult blushed happily—leaving me, the one being discussed, completely out of the loop.
So close, yet so alone.
"Now that we know your song is effective against this wave of anxiety, your cooperation is needed regardless of how you feel about it. You've been looking troubled for a while now, but you don't have the luxury of that right now."
"W-what does that have to do with touring the shelters!?"
"Using the Magic Tool to dispel the curses all at once is part of your role, but there's a time gap before that can happen. In the meantime, the hearts of these ordinary people, shaken by unease, will be left unattended."
"Ah..."
"Before you stand before that Magic Tool, your audience may have already perished. To prevent that, making rounds as a preventive measure aligns with your own wishes as well."
I finally understood the meaning of Lady Priscilla's proposal.
Before my song can reach them, people might start hurting each other, like the fighting in that assembly hall. When that time comes, even the song of salvation might be too late.
I can't save everyone, probably. But reaching out to the places I can save is not wasted effort.
"As I see it, you have quite the stage presence. But right now, your state of mind is fragile. You might falter at the critical moment. So build up experience."
"Experience...?"
When it comes to experience in singing, I've had more than I can count. I've never used the phrase "stage presence," and I've never been ashamed to stand on a stage.
What exactly is Lady Priscilla telling me to— "I don't know what's troubling you. But what's needed isn't a song you sing for yourself—it's a song you sing for others. Come to terms with being someone who sings for others. Build that experience."
"————"
"Consider the discourtesy of making me walk to be repaid by the result."
With that, Lady Priscilla folded her arms in her usual manner. Her ample chest. Flat as a board—my own. I stared at my hand. Then clenched it tight.
To put into song something beyond myself. That way of singing— "Lady Priscilla is truly kind after all. I understand it perfectly!"
"Be quiet, Schult."
I feel like I'm witnessing a heartwarming exchange, but I'll channel my own newfound determination into tackling this tour of the shelters.
With the meaning of Lady Priscilla's words—both the parts I agree with and the parts that make me tilt my head—I'll embrace it all and sing, play, and dance, for the future of this bard, Liliana!
—.
——.
———.
Well, with that resolve, I toured the shelters, comforting people who were lashing out or falling into despair, and then came the third broadcast.
"—Hmph. They beat me to it. How annoying."
Lady Priscilla gazed up at the darkening sky and murmured those words.
I, too, who had been listening to the same thing, understood what that sentiment was directed at.
Natsuki Subaru had made a broadcast using the Magic Tool.
His words were clumsy and far from powerful, but perhaps he was able to engrave something other than anxiety and fear into the hearts of the people throughout the city.
The same thing we had been trying to do—through song.
If that's the case, then it shouldn't matter who does it.
"We've been beaten to it, but it seems City Hall has been vacated as expected. For now, let's regroup with everyone and begin the battle to reclaim the city! I—will make sure I sing properly!"
"Don't look so obviously relieved."
"N-no, no, not at all. I'm not relieved."
I'm only slightly relieved—mostly, I feel disappointed.
It's as if my role was stolen, and I missed my chance to become the "Songstress."
On the other hand, there's a certain satisfaction in having witnessed the birth of a "hero."
—Though that satisfaction became irrelevant the moment that hero's reckless demand resulted in a joint assault with Lady Priscilla!
But hey—my chance to sing still hasn't passed! Damn it!
—Next time, "Clash of the Incomprehensible Women"—