Debut Tomorrow!
Wait, tomorrow? Garvan's chilling warning turned my mind completely blank.
Kidnapped by the Magic Tower and locked in a lab for life?
I'd just taken on a disciple and was finally set to enjoy my dream retirement life of casual performances—kidnapping was absurd!
Haa... I'm already too conspicuous as it is. If I take this shiny thing out, there's no hiding it.
I stared down at the synthesizer cradled in my arms, lost in serious thought.
Should I keep it safe at the mansion as a toy and stick to guitar in the square like always? But that sound was too good to hoard for myself.
Just as my lips were about to pout, Luna, who'd been watching from the side, clapped her hands lightly.
"What's with the heavy thinking? Just hide the mana flow so it doesn't leak out~."
"Huh? Is that possible?"
"Of course~! Why worry with a grand archmage right here?"
Luna shrugged, then casually opened the synthesizer case and brought her fingertips to an empty spot on the internal circuit board.
As her fingers danced gracefully through the air, faint silver engravings began to overlay the board's spare spaces.
It was like coating the entire board in a thin membrane.
Before long, Luna dusted off her hands and stood up.
"There, that should do it~?"
No sooner had she spoken than Edelrin, who'd been peeking, widened her eyes and reached toward the instrument.
"Whoa... Master! I can't sense any mana at all now! Up until a moment ago, it felt like something was humming inside, but now it just seems like an ordinary instrument made of metal!"
At Edelrin's fussing, I cautiously touched the synthesizer myself.
It was true.
Even with my mana-ignorant senses, the weird dissonance I'd felt earlier was completely gone.
Luna planted her hands on her hips and flashed a triumphant smile.
"Problem solved, right~? Even if you play it in the square, those Magic Tower fossils will just see it as a plain instrument—they'd never dream of the complex engravings hidden inside~."
"Wow... thank you so much, Luna! You saved my life."
I finally let out a sigh of relief and bowed to her.
As expected from an archmage. She's the only one I can rely on.
Just as the warm moment was wrapping up, Garvan's heavy voice cut in from behind.
"Speaking of which, kid. How're you settling the bill?"
"...Huh?"
I turned my creaking neck to look at Garvan.
He stood there with his thick arms crossed, scowling down at me with his usual gruff face.
"Last time with that guitar thing, I did it for free 'cause I was curious. But I never said anything like that this time. And that case? It's made of some pricey alloy."
Cold sweat instantly trickled down my spine.
He'd said the mana binding alone cost about 1 gold last time—what about this ridiculously sturdy, sleek black alloy case?
"Uh, um... sir. I don't have any money on me right now..."
"On credit? No way, no dice. My forge runs on strict prepayment."
As Garvan's oppressive presence closed in and I backed away in a panic, unable to think straight—
"Pfft...! Kyahahaha!"
Luna finally burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.
"Ria, you're way too gullible! The old man's just messing with you~. I already covered the materials and labor fees generously~."
"...Huh?"
At Luna's words, Garvan's scowl melted away, and he let out a booming laugh that shook the forge.
"Kehahaha! When else would I get to tease a weirdo like you? That face was priceless!"
"Argh, seriously, sir!!"
As I yelled with a flushed face, Garvan patted my shoulder.
"Like Luna said, I made it sturdy, so no worries. If it breaks or you need tweaks, come back anytime."
"Tch... fine."
I pouted but carefully gathered up my precious synthesizer.
On the way back to the mansion from the forge.
The sun was already shining brightly in the sky, and a cool breeze brushed my cheeks pleasantly.
As we walked the streets, a strange sense of dissonance hit me.
"Luna, come to think of it... the streets have been so quiet lately. No, I mean, I hardly hear those usual music sounds anymore?"
When I'd first arrived in the city, every corner had those gong-like—okay, bad comparison—brutal banging noises or off-pitch, rhythm-less screeching songs(?).
But in the last few days, those auditory terrors had vanished.
To my question, Luna replied casually, hands clasped behind her head.
"Mm~ Like I said before, the Capital Festival's coming up soon. Everyone's too busy prepping their stages to busk on the streets..."
She trailed off, glancing at me slyly with a mischievous grin.
"Plus, you've been snatching up all the audiences every day in the square~?"
"Pfft, that joke was pretty good."
As I laughed it off, Luna stopped walking and stared straight at me.
"Half of that's serious, though~?"
"...No way."
I averted my eyes awkwardly.
No matter how great my playing was, I couldn't have put every street musician out of business.
It had to be coincidence.
For my peace of mind, anyway.
As I mentally denied reality, Luna tossed out another question.
"So, Ria, you thinking of entering the festival?"
"The festival? Me?"
Caught off guard by the unexpected suggestion, I blinked in thought, and Luna sidled up close, whispering temptingly.
"It's basically the same as your daily square gigs anyway~? But on a proper stage, way more people will show up. What better chance to spread that 'real music' you keep talking about~?"
She had a point.
Instead of strumming guitar in the square every day, grabbing a spot on the crowded festival stage would deliver a bigger cultural shock to this world—much more efficiently.
Perfect for debuting the new synthesizer's power, too.
"Hmm... yeah, when you put it that way."
I nodded reluctantly.
"Fine, if you're so insistent, I'll do it. Festival stage or whatever."
"When's the festival, then?"
To my question, Luna looked up at the sky and answered oh-so-casually.
"Tomorrow."
"...Huh?"
I doubted my ears.
Had I misheard?
"Tomorrow. Starts in the morning~."
My brain short-circuited, and the moment it rebooted, I shrieked right in the middle of the street.
"What?! Why didn't you tell me something that important sooner?!"
Luna dug in her ear with her pinky, grinning obnoxiously.
"Eh~ I just threw it out there. Didn't think you'd bite and actually commit to the stage~."
Her brazen attitude made my neck stiffen.
"Ugh! Forget it, I take it back. I didn't submit any entry or anything—when did I say I was definitely in? I'm not going."
No matter how big the stage, tomorrow left zero prep time.
The synthesizer was freshly finished, and we hadn't even rehearsed songs.
As I waved her off firmly, Luna stretched her grin and slung an arm around my shoulder.
"For real~? You're skipping? Too bad. It's the perfect chance to show off that 'real music' to the whole empire— the biggest festival in the capital~?"
Her voice was sweetly persistent, like temptation itself.
Ah...
Right in the heart of the festival, thousands could gather.
A sure shot to shatter this world's lame music scene and spread a new culture.
The ultimate debut for this magic synthesizer's overwhelming sound.
"Haa..."
I sighed dramatically, raising the white flag.
"Fine, I'll do it. Happy now?"
"Knew it~! That's my Ria!"
As Luna clapped gleefully, a practical worry hit me.
"But seriously, if it's tomorrow, don't we need to tell the organizers or fill out forms? What if the lineup's full and I can't even get on stage?"
Luna waved it off.
"Nah~ No need. Festival performances are totally free-for-all. No procedures—just hop on any stage in the square and play~."
"Anyone can just jump up? Pretty chill."
I nodded in relief, but Luna slyly added a terrifying caveat.
"Yup, super free! Of course, with massive crowds for the once-a-year mega-fest... if you're no good, you might get booed off or pelted with stones as your rep hits rock bottom~?"
"...Huh?"
"But that doesn't apply to our genius musician Ria, who sweeps the square crowds daily~ Right~?"
Luna beamed innocently and patted my back.
This archmage...
The synthesizer, which had felt light moments ago, suddenly weighed a ton. I clutched my face in my hands.
Tomorrow: the Capital Festival.
And my forced debut stage was rushing right at me.