War! Never War Again!
The last echo of the string flowing through my fingertips faded away.
I stared blankly at my slender, delicate fingertips, still light and effortless even after hours of playing.
Soft and squishy fingers without a single callus.
Yet strangely, there was no pain at all, no matter how many hours I played.
Has my constitution changed? Or maybe it's because the strings Uncle Garvan made are abnormally soft?
As I clenched and unclenched my fingers, tilting my head at the unfamiliar sensation, Luna, who had been immersed in the sound with her eyes closed, slowly opened them.
"Riaaa~? Shall we call it a day?"
As the music stopped, the complex magical symbols swirling around Luna dispersed like heat haze.
She stretched languidly and flashed me a bright smile.
"At first, I got interested because it boosted mana efficiency, y'know~? But the more I listened, the more I just fell in love with the sound itself. Your music feels really good~?"
A pure compliment from a grand mage made my chest tingle.
Luna snatched the guitar from my arms in a flash and hugged it close like a precious treasure.
"I'll analyze this some more. The rest of the time is yours~! If you need anything, just ask the golem at the door."
After Luna disappeared down the hall humming to herself, I finally collapsed onto the bed in the long-awaited silence.
"Haa... Finally, some rest."
Lying spread-eagled on the ceiling, staring up, the events of the past week—not even a full week—flashed by like a panorama.
I woke up in a strange world, learned the currency units from scratch while studying magic, self-taught a sound barrier spell...
Wrangled with Uncle Garvan to make an instrument, burned the midnight oil for three straight days after, until meeting Grand Mage Luna.
Not a single day to catch my breath.
"I've been through so much, I'm exhausted for real."
I buried my face in the fluffy pillow and sank into deep thought.
Why did I possess this girl, of all people?
Magic is so ridiculously advanced here—why is music a total wasteland?
And why on earth does music interfere with magic efficiency?
Questions piled up endlessly in my head, but in the end, I shook my head and stopped thinking.
They weren't problems that'd solve themselves just by worrying.
"Argh, whatever. It's rare downtime—who knows when I'll get more. Time for some light thoughts."
I shoved the heavy stuff to the back of my mind and switched to silly daydreams.
"Hehe... This bed is so fluffy and soft. Gotta get one like this for my house someday."
Comparing it to the lumpy bed in my two-story place, my stomach clock rudely growled.
Come to think of it, I hadn't eaten properly all day.
I stepped out and cautiously addressed the massive golem standing rigidly by the door.
"Um... could you show me to the kitchen?"
The golem gestured with its huge hand for me to follow, without a word.
The spacious, airy kitchen we reached via its heavy footsteps was silent—no sign of human presence.
No way they automated the kitchen too?
The utensils were neatly arranged, but everything was still and quiet.
I glanced back and forth between the hulking golem and my own face, deep in serious dilemma.
...Or does the golem do the cooking?
Chopping veggies and seasoning with those massive stone fists? The image alone made the kitchen look like it'd shatter.
That was when it happened.
"Uwak!" "Eek?! L-Luna?"
Luna popping out from behind nearly stopped my heart.
She doubled over laughing at my startled jump.
"Ahaha! Ria, your reaction is gold~ You look like a kid caught doing something bad~?"
"Weren't you researching the guitar? Why are you here...?"
"I was analyzing, but sensed you leaving your room, so I got curious and followed~? Hungry?"
I patted my racing chest and nodded.
Pointing at the motionless golem, I asked carefully.
"Um... Luna? If it's not rude, could I ask? Does that golem do the cooking?"
Luna blinked blankly at my question, then burst into laughter that shook the kitchen.
"Puhaha! The golem? With that build? Riaaa~, your imagination's too wild~! It's just a guide. The kitchen works like this."
Luna walked to the center, closed her eyes.
As if vividly imagining something, the quiet kitchen sprang to life.
Tsssk—!
Fire lit itself in the stove, knives floated slicing ingredients at even intervals.
Pots filled with water, ladles swirled in midair—it was eerie yet spectacular.
"Strongly imagine what you want nearby, and the magic circle reads your will and cooks automatically. Convenient, right~?"
After yesterday's whole-mansion dust purge, now the automated kitchen.
Watching invisible hands move in perfect sync, I couldn't close my mouth.
Mana's just overflowing here... So this is a grand mage's life.
Her overwhelming mana reserves and bold use for personal convenience filled me with a strange awe, realizing anew she stood at this world's pinnacle.
"So, just think of anything? Even without an exact recipe?"
Luna propped her chin on the counter and nodded like it was obvious.
"Riaaa~, how many years do you think I've lived here? I've registered pretty much every dish in the world, even finicky elf traditional recipes. No worries as long as ingredients are stocked."
Soon, steaming fried rice-like dish appeared before Luna.
She grabbed the plate and headed to the table, gesturing lightly.
"Go on, Ria. Imagine whatever you want."
I pondered for a moment.
How far could this magic kitchen go?
I wondered what it'd do with modern processed stuff like zero cola from my past life.
Eyes closed, I vividly pictured the sharp fizz and artificial sweetener taste of zero cola.
The kitchen stirred again.
Whoa, it works...?
But then utensils hesitated, jerking start-stop, emitting weird noises.
Like an overloaded machine glitching, it finally went psshhh and stopped dead.
"...Huh?"
A cute sound slipped from Luna, devoid of her usual leisure.
I panicked, cold sweat dripping—did I break this fancy magic setup?
"S-Sorry! I must've thought of something too weird!"
Luna waved it off, regaining composure.
"No, it's fine~! Not broken—just the new order was so unfamiliar, the computation circuits tangled temporarily. A reset fixes it."
One gesture from her restored the kitchen's silence, but she frowned, staring at me—shocked her cooking magic errored.
"Ria, what did you imagine~? Even weird nonexistent recipes get approximated from real ones... What food could crash the magic circle~?"
"Uh... Later, when there's a chance. Too complicated to explain now."
I wiped sweat, averting eyes.
Couldn't explain artificial sweeteners to a fantasy mage.
I'm a musician, not a scientist...
I never memorized synthesis methods or formulas anyway.
Luna looked disappointed but soon smiled slyly.
"Hmph, fine. You have to tell me later? Promise~?"
I calmed down, imagined modern-style fried rice like hers.
This time it worked smoothly, producing familiar-smelling fried rice.
Luna tilted her head at my plate.
"Hmm, similar to what I know but subtly different. Ria, you're full of surprises the more I learn~."
.
.
.
.
After eating, Luna stretched and suggested.
"Ria, wanna step out? Need special materials for research."
At her sudden proposal, I tilted my head.
"Materials? For the guitar? Your mansion warehouse seems to have everything."
"Mm~ Theory's rough-sketched, but need sound-related catalysts. The ones here are too outdated~."
Luna led with light steps.
Aside from checking money value on possession day and quick food runs or Garvan's workshop, I'd never properly seen the capital's heart, so I slung my guitar on my back and followed excitedly.
The capital's bustling streets outside the mansion were dazzlingly brilliant.
"Whoa..."
Scenery I'd missed from the carriage ride drew an involuntary gasp.
Above, intricately carved magic stone streetlamps glowed softly despite daylight; below, ornate magic-circle carriages glided smoothly.
Wasn't my place the capital...?
I'd thought so—big buildings, nearby plaza, decent hygiene—but this changed my mind.
"Your thoughts are all over your face. It's not far from your house~! Probably prepping a festival or something~?"
"That's why it's so decked out?"
Phew, safe—capital resident title intact.
Thankfully, no ear-splitting screeches today.
I savored the peaceful vibe, anticipation building as I admired the world.
Maybe the capital's music is different?
But that hope faded at the capital's largest music shop.
The sound from inside? Same noisy junk as the plaza, just uniquely grating.
What even is this...? Better than banging metal or screaming, but still unpleasant.
Peering in, someone played what might pass for an instrument with mana—still just chaotic noise.
"That's why I never cared about music originally~."
Luna pouted beside me, equally unimpressed.
I sighed, muttering.
"Yeah. That's not music, just noise..."
That was when the shop door slammed open.
A man in eye-searingly flashy performer garb stormed out.
"What'd you just say, brats? Dare call my performance noise?"
His brows furrowed menacingly.
I whispered to him.
Doesn't recognize Luna?
Haha... I hole up in the mansion so much, most know the name but not the face~?
Yup, grand mage perks.
Always thought staying home is best.
"Start trouble then whisper in front of me?"
Mistaking us for badmouthing, he raised his voice.
Passersby stopped, whispering—must be somewhat famous.
Seeing his face jogged a memory: four days ago, around when Garvan set up with Luna, this guy polluted my area with noise, calling it great art.
Cold fury surged.
Perfect timing. You're in for it today.
"Yeah, it's true, right? All noise, no substance. If you're so confident, skip words—bet with me?"
"A bet? Ha! Lost your mind, kid?"
He scoffed, scanning onlookers.
Laughter mixed with jeers rose, but I stood taller.
"Tomorrow noon, this plaza. Music duel. Who really moves hearts. I lose, I kneel and apologize. You lose... promise never to make that awful racket around here again."
Didn't want to perform for crowds, but couldn't pass blocking future noise pollution and spreading real music.
"Deal! Like a pup fearless of the tiger—tomorrow, I'll shatter that puny confidence before the whole capital!"
Unexpectedly, he accepted, sneered at my backed guitar, and stomped inside.
Luna, who'd watched thrilled, draped an arm over my shoulder, whispering gleefully.
"Riaaa~, was just gonna grab catalysts and bounce, but this got interesting~?"
With the grand mage's playful grin, the curtain rose on a music war to shake the capital's plaza.