The Legend's Treasures and a Surprising Proposal

The polite guide stopped in front of an ivory door as massive as a building. When he lightly placed his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hand on it, the heavy doors silently slid open to either side. As they parted, the serene interior came into view. I barely managed to suppress a gasp of admiration.

It wasn't overwhelmingly ornate or anything like that. Quite the opposite. It felt impeccably neat and clean, without any superfluous decoration. Soft lighting illuminated the calmly subdued marble walls, exuding an air of true luxury.

"Please, follow me inside."

"Yes."

We followed the guide onward. Soon, the doors closed automatically behind us, cutting off all outside noise and deepening the silence even further. In that profound quiet, I could almost feel the weight of the years the master of this house had walked.

"Ah...."

Monica let out a small exclamation as we walked the corridor. No one scolded her for the breach of etiquette. She wasn't the only one making sounds—I and Temi were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just as awestruck.

Transparent display cases lined the walls. Inside them, worn instruments and yellowed sheet music were meticulously exhibited.

These were treasures that would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠make any musician's eyes roll back in envy.

The guide paused silently for a moment, allowing us to take ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in each exhibit as we passed. Traces of a master's lifelong devotion to music alone. The weight of it pressed against my skin.

"Whoa, I've heard that piece so much since I was little."

Temi's eyes sparkled at the sheet music. Though she hadn't formally studied music, she loved it deeply and had a keen interest. Otherwise, she wouldn't have rushed here with us right after returning from her travels.

As I glanced at Monica with that thought, her eyes were shining nearly twice as brightly as Temi's. She'd been acting strangely on the way here, but that seemed forgotten now. I chuckled softly and kept walking.

We strolled past the exhibits until we reached the end of the corridor, which opened into a spacious dining room. Selenie sat at the far end.

"Welcome. Did you enjoy the tour?"

"Yes. It was truly an astonishing experience."

"I-I agree!"

Selenie smiled warmly at our responses.

"Thank you for accepting my invitation. Please, take any seat you're comfortable with."

As we sat, servants promptly began bringing out the food. It all looked exquisite at first glance. There were many dishes I'd never seen in the capital, but nothing that would divide tastes. It seemed the menu had been carefully selected with us in mind.

"Then."

Once the courses were set, Selenie picked up her utensils, and we followed suit, beginning the meal. The food tasted as good as it looked—no, even better. Especially the duck breast steak, glazed with a reduction of citrus fruits. It was divine. Selenie seemed to favor it too, taking several bites.

Watching her, I suddenly recalled my first time here. Back when my Earth memories had just awakened, leaving me in utter confusion amid the jumble of recollections. Earth's knowledge would pop up unexpectedly, causing me no end of trouble.

It happened once during a meal with elves. Seeing an elf devour beef so relishfully, I'd blurted out in shock, "Elves eat meat too?" Naturally, my father and brother had stared at me like I'd lost my mind.

Yes. Elves here weren't strict vegetarians. Only some beastkin races were. Selenie herself ate everything balanced and with gusto, no pickiness in sight.

Lost in those memories, I continued eating. Midway, Selenie asked us questions, and we fired some back. Mostly light chit-chat: how we'd gotten here, how long we'd stay, when we'd each started music. We peppered her with music-related queries too.

The meal ended in a wonderfully warm atmosphere. As it concluded, Selenie lightly dabbed her mouth with a napkin and spoke.

"I hope the meal was to your satisfaction?"

"Yes, it was splendid."

"Me too!"

"Very satisfying for me as well."

Monica had warmed up enough to speak steadily now, no more trembling. She wasn't usually like this. Meeting her idol must have been a massive shock.

Understandable. It wasn't just a meeting—we'd toured the exhibits, dined, and chatted.

Selenie smiled, relieved.

"I'm glad to hear that."

Before we could respond further, she continued swiftly.

"The reason I invited you all is that today's performance left a profound impression on me."

Monica let out another gasp, eyes widening. If Storm had been a purely original composition of mine, I'd have reacted the same. But I knew better—others might not, but I did. It was originally a master's work. I was merely spreading it in this world.

"Thank you."

So instead of overjoyed celebration, I bowed my head calmly in gratitude. Selenie's eyes sparkled faintly at my reaction. But before I could ponder why, she pressed on.

"No need for thanks. If anything, I should thank you for letting me hear such a wonderful piece. Especially since it happened in my establishment."

Her expression turned slightly bitter as she said that.

"N-No! You actually helped us, Lady Selenie!"

"Even so."

That last bit was Monica, by the way. She already seemed a bit out of it, words tumbling out fast. Temi and I could just sit quietly.

Selenie exchanged a few more words, paused briefly, then said,

"Well. Actually, I have a favor to ask of you all."

The request that followed was utterly unexpected.

"Would you perform with me at my music hall a week from now?"

"Pardon?"

"What?"

I couldn't help blurting it out too. How could I not? A sudden invitation to collaborate?

I might have understood if she'd just asked for an encore performance. My skill might not match other geniuses, but the piece was a master's. Hadn't everyone today—including those who looked down on humans—watched in a trance?

Selenie, seeing our stunned faces, spoke as gently as possible.

"It's too sudden, isn't it?"

"Well... yes, frankly."

"I'm sorry. But I didn't want to miss this chance."

"Chance...?"

She pondered my question briefly before replying.

"When I first came to this city, it was a place of pure musical exchange. Other artists were here too, of course."

"I see."

"Yes. But over time, the spirit of exchanging music purely, without regard for status, faded."

Her words brought to mind the elves who'd trash-talked openly today. No genuine desire for exchange there.

"That's why I opened a place named after myself. I wanted pure exchange to continue, at least within my hall if not the whole city."

"Ah...."

Monica nodded with a mix of admiration and sigh. Selenie gave a wry smile and continued.

"I've tried to fix it. But people's hearts aren't easy to change. Especially... lately, there've been more picking fights with humans."

"Only humans?"

I was a bit surprised. I'd assumed those elves were typical elven supremacists. Selenie corrected that notion.

"Yes. Probably wariness over the Empire's rising power."

"Ah...."

This time, I sighed. I'd heard such stories. Especially northern elves, whose prowess had closed the gap quickly, felt particularly on edge. Once outright ignored, now they occasionally showed open hostility.

"So I thought of a way."

"What way?"

"Regular exchange events at my hall. And I'd like you all to join me on the first one's stage."

I could guess the reason. She'd always wanted her events free of discrimination. Standing on stage with humans—the most discriminated against—would send a message.

"Of course, the compensation will be generous."

As she spoke, she called for something. A servant promptly brought a box.

Click!

Bright radiance burst from the opened box.

"...!"

"Gasp!"

I widened my eyes in shock. How could I not? It was a branch of the World Tree—the dream material for any musician.