The Invisible Performer
⋯How the hell did things end up like this?
On the way back to the mansion with Luna after keeping our promise, my head was filled with nothing but regret.
Huh? Feels like this has happened before somewhere⋯ Anyway.
Before coming to this world, the life I wanted was pretty simple.
In a world where you couldn't find a trace of music theory no matter how hard you looked, just resting peacefully without any headaches.
But the reality I faced was the complete opposite.
No music theory meant I had to create it myself, and no performers meant I had to play it myself.
In this situation where the tasks just kept piling up endlessly, I let out a deep sigh.
"Ria, got something on your mind? Your face looks like you're about to drop dead~."
Luna, walking beside me with light steps, peered at my expression and asked.
"If it's worries, yeah, I've got 'em⋯. Starting today, I have to perform in the plaza every single day. Luna, I really want to rest? But there's not even a moment to breathe."
At my lament-filled response, Luna rested her chin on her hand, thought for a moment, then tossed out a casual solution.
"Hmm, once we finish researching the guitar right now, you'll actually have plenty of free time~. If you wanna rest that badly, why not raise a music disciple and have them perform in your place~?"
"A disciple? Ugh⋯ No way in hell. Raising one would be way more hassle, obviously."
I waved my hands dismissively and grumbled.
"Look at that Kasian guy. I haven't even taught him anything, and he's already going nuts saying he'll figure it out himself. If someone like him pops up and self-studies on their own, fine—but I'd rather just perform myself than teach someone step by step."
"Then there's no solution, so what can you doo~?"
Luna shrugged like it was none of her business, then suddenly shoved my back with an excited voice.
"Anyway, Ria, if we keep dawdling, the fans'll be waiting! Let's hurry~?"
"Fans? What fans, seriously⋯."
Chatting with Luna as we walked, I reached my room in no time and grumbled while grabbing my guitar case anyway.
Luna had cast a perception-blocking spell on me in advance to dodge the crowds gathering out front, and we slipped through the throng at the mansion entrance, heading to the center of the plaza where we'd had our showdown last time.
The plaza was already packed with people who'd heard the rumors.
Thanks to the perception block, I wove through the crowd nimbly and only released the spell once I reached the center, opening the guitar case.
As the magic faded smoothly and my figure appeared, the people around started recognizing me one by one, murmuring in excitement.
"Hey? Look over there—she's here!"
"She really came! It's that girl!"
People swarmed like clouds, instantly forming a massive circle around me.
Countless eyes focused on my fingertips.
This was only my second time performing in front of a crowd, but the pounding tension in my chest hadn't gotten any less familiar.
Without a word, I lightly plucked the guitar string with trembling fingers.
Ding───.
It was just a single note's resonance, but the effect was tremendous.
The plaza, noisy as a marketplace, fell into dead silence in an instant.
In the hush where not even the breathing of hundreds could be heard, I slowly gripped a chord and began moving my fingers.
I took a deep breath and pulled out the melody that had swirled in my head while teaching Luna harmony yesterday.
I set aside the flashy, upbeat techniques from last time's showdown.
Instead, a serene, lyrical melody—like moonlight settling on a lake—flowed out along the strings.
The expressions of the people gathered in the plaza began to change little by little.
Those breathing raggedly found calm, and weary faces softened into peace.
"My heart⋯ it's at ease. Feels like my body's light as a feather."
"Is this really the music I knew? No, can sound alone even do this?"
Afraid even whispers might disturb the performance, the crowd held their breath.
Even after the piece ended, silence lingered over the plaza for a while.
As everyone was still lost in the afterglow of the melody, a familiar voice sharply sliced through the quiet.
"Master! So here you were! Your music! I think I've finally grasped about 0.1% of that noble harmony!"
It was Kasian, pushing through the crowd.
Ugh? Why'd he have to show up here?
His fingertips were crusted with blood from obsessive practice—total mess.
Burning with near-mad passion, he shouted.
"Please hear my performance once more! This time for sure!"
Seeing his pitiful hands, I harbored a sliver of hope: Maybe this time it'll be different?
But the moment he gripped his instrument and went to pluck the string, the familiar ominous noise prelude rode the air, and I screamed on instinct.
"Luna!"
At my cry, Luna snapped her fingers lightly.
Poof!
"Gwaaaah! Master—!!!"
Kasian rocketed skyward without even starting his performance, vanishing beyond the distant horizon.
I watched his receding figure with a slightly worried glance and turned to Luna.
"Um⋯ Luna? Is it really okay to launch him like that?"
"Don't worry~. He's got some mana control despite appearances, so he'll land fine with a proper roll~."
Luna replied nonchalantly, like swatting a pesky fly.
.
.
.
.
After a few more performances wrapped up.
The cheers filling the plaza faded into the distance, and the way back was bathed long in sunset glow.
Maybe remnants of the perception block made the world look a bit hazy, but the lingering vibration of the strings on my fingertips still tickled pleasantly.
The moment we got home, I flopped onto the old sofa by the living room window.
Beyond the glass, the blazing red sunset stretched across the floor like a crimson carpet.
"Aaaah⋯ my poor body⋯. So yeah, Luna, that guy was yelling 'Master~' even mid-flight? At that point, it's not determination—it's a curse, right?"
At my grumbling, Luna chuckled and set down her teacup.
"It's fun, though. Mages are like that by nature. Once they latch onto something, they charge in headfirst~. Watch out, Ria. You might end up with a real bearded disciple~."
"Ugh, pass. I just wanna live quietly making my music."
I mumbled face-first into the sofa cushion. The soft fabric against my cheek melted away the tension.
"By the way, Luna, during the plaza performance earlier, people were straight-up crying. Was my music that sad?"
"Not sad so much as⋯."
Luna paused, gazing intently at the sunset sky.
"It felt like you touched something they'd all forgotten~. People here are used to magic that just chases results. Like, more mana means louder sound? Most music was like that even without spells. A sound that stirs the heart with no strings attached—purely yours—must've been a first for them~."
"That's too grand. I just played whatever my fingers felt like."
"That's the hardest part~."
Luna ruffled my hair with a playful grin.
"Alright, you worked hard today, so how about some top-shelf preserved fruit from the mansion stores for dinner~?"
"Ooh, yes please! Been craving something sweet."
"Great~, but tomorrow, that minor whatever you taught me yesterday—tell me more details on mixing it with magic⋯."
"Ah, can't hear you! I'm off to bed! Clocked out!"
As I plugged my ears and flailed on the sofa, Luna burst into laughter that shook the room, clearly delighted.
The orange sunset cast our shadows long, filling the house with sweet tea aroma and peaceful chuckles.
Had I ever spent such a leisurely evening in my past life?
The hardships since coming to this world weren't easy, but moments like this? Not half bad, really.
Everything was peaceful—in that exact moment.
──Swoooosh.
A resonance too refined for mere wind brushed past my ear.
I sat up from the sofa without thinking.
My gaze naturally turned outside the window, to the dark forest densely encircling the mansion.
⋯Huh?
It wasn't a hallucination.
From deep in the woods, where no human foot could reach amid the darkness, a melody drifted out.
It was the latter half of the piece I'd played in the plaza earlier.
I hadn't shown it to anyone yet, hadn't even notated it—just something looping in my head—and now it returned on the wind as intricate harmonies.
"⋯Luna, did you hear that just now?"
I asked, holding my breath.
But Luna just tilted her head, looking at me like I was weird.
"Huh? Nothing but wind to me? Ria, you must've overdone the mana in your performance earlier. Hallucinations from fatigue, right~?"
"But I definitely heard it. Someone continuing my song⋯."
I stared back at the forest.
Maybe Luna was right—it was just the wind.
No way I'd hear something a grand mage like her couldn't.
But a corner of my chest trembled oddly.
The certainty wouldn't fade: somewhere in that darkness, someone had heard my music and sent back a response.
"⋯Just a hallucination, huh."
I suppressed the weird thrill washing over me and sank back deep into the sofa.
No courage or energy to dash into that dark forest right now anyway.
Later—really later, when I had the energy—then I'd check.
Comforting myself like that, I couldn't fight my drooping eyelids and slipped into deep sleep.