Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Pachelbel, Canon (1)
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The charm of a canon lies squarely in its harmonies.
>A lyrical melody that repeats continuously.
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>It sticks right in your ear, and just listening to it lifts your spirits.
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>Add to that a bittersweet atmosphere that tugs at your heartstrings.
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>There's a reason it's called the cheat code of romantic comedies.
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>I added my own arrangement and struck the keys.
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>Erdi transcribed the score onto the sheet music.
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>Then, a single drop.
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>Without realizing it, a tear fell.
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>"...It's a truly moving melody."
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"The effect is certainly potent."
>The end of the sheet music was stained in a circular patch.
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>"How can you whip up music like this every time, Master?"
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>"It's a gift."
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>The song selection was done, and practice was proceeding steadily.
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>Soon, I just needed to contact Edward to set a date for the recital.
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>The problem, if there was one...
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>『I need to rethink the entry method.』
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>When I performed 'Clair de Lune,' a crowd of hundreds gathered in front of the theater.
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>I can still vividly hear the complaints from the nobles who came all the way from the provinces.
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>If I had refused them entry, it felt like a riot would break out, so I hastily added more performance dates.
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>This time, an even larger crowd is bound to gather.
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>If I just leave it be, something will definitely go wrong.
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>『Is there no way?』
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>Something to think about.
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>To find a solution, first...
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>"Master, your meal is ready."
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>"Ah, thank you."
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>Time to eat first.
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"Take my sword!"
>"Gwah!"
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>"I told you, you don't stab like that!"
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>The Capital's Orphanage.
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>Boys, each holding a tree branch in their hands, are running around playing.
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>They've overturned fruit baskets and are swinging their arms around wildly.
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>The knights are what they are trying to imitate.
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>It's because they recently went to see the Knights' departure ceremony held at the Imperial Palace.
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>"You'll get hurt if you run around like that!"
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>Joel Balois, the head of the monastery that runs the orphanage, scolded the children.
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>They're all making a fuss, saying they'll become knights when they grow up.
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>But.
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>『Are those even knights?』
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>It's just a bunch of reckless brats playing sword fight.
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>No matter how you look at it, they're far from being knights.
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>It doesn't matter.
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>As long as they look happy.
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>As Joel, grinning from ear to ear, was about to turn around, a person caught his eye.
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>A girl sitting alone in a corner, huddled up, doodling.
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>A child who was abandoned at the orphanage when she was a baby.
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>"Hey, Aria."
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>"Yes?"
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>"Why are you doing that? You should be playing with your friends."
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>"I like this better."
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>Aria was naturally a shy girl.
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>He thought taking her to the departure ceremony might make her a bit more active, but she was the same as ever.
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>Nothing had changed.
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>She always distances herself from the group, lost in thought or drawing by herself.
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>"Hoho. Is that so?"
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>Even so, Joel knew a way to grab Aria's interest.
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>"I was thinking of singing a folk song for the first time in a while. What a shame."
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>"Huh!"
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>Just as expected, she jumped right up and ran towards him.
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>Joel lifted Aria up with both hands and headed inside the building.
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>Just as nobles have pianos, commoners have folk songs passed down from mouth to mouth.
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>No one knows when it started.
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>Someone would just put a melody to a line like "I don't want to work today," and the next person would reply with a song like "Well, we have to make a living."
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>And that continued on.
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>It might be a stretch to call it a song, as it doesn't follow the proper form of a musical piece.
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>But this was the music and culture of the commoners.
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>Aria loved those folk songs.
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>Both listening to them and singing along.
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>If she had been born into a noble family, she surely would have become an outstanding musician.
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>Joel found that regrettable.
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>Anyway.
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>"What should we sing today?"
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>"The Old Tree and the Bluebird!"
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>"You really love that song, Aria."
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>It's a song that tells a poignant and moving story of an old tree that has lost its leaves and flowers to the weight of the years, and then welcomes a bluebird as its family.
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>It's closer to a children's song than a folk song, so even a young child could listen to and sing it without any resistance.
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>"Director! Hurry it up!"
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>Unable to withstand Aria's urging, Joel started the song first.
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>Soon, a clear and pure voice calmly layered over his.
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"For five consecutive days, you say?"
>"Yes."
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>I met with Edward.
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>It was to discuss the recital schedule.
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>My proposal was none other than a five-day continuous performance.
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>Considering the crowd that would gather, this was the best option.
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>We can't hold public recitals in the plaza every time.
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>Nor is it possible to move to a larger theater.
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>There is no theater in the Capital larger than 'Rune Moon,' which Edward operates.
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>What about a full remodel?
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>That would cost a fortune.
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>There is only one method left.
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>Divide the crowd into several groups.
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>A period of five days should be more than enough to accommodate that many people.
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>And one more thing.
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>Deliver letters to the audience in advance, and assign them a specific date.
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>If the people assigned to a certain date gather and line up at the theater, it will be much less chaotic.
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>"Are you sure about this? You'll be exhausted. Who was it that refused contact right after the departure ceremony, saying they were tired?"
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>"Me?"
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>"No. I asked who it was, I didn't say it was you, Master."
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>"That's why I added one more condition."
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>"A condition?"
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>There's only one thing that moves people.
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>"Let's split the theater's income in half. The 30% I was originally getting is too little."
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>"Let's do that."
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>Huh?
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>He accepted it more readily than I expected?
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>Then, while I'm at it, one more thing.
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>"Let's sell merchandise too."
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>"Merchandise, you say?"
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>I took out the sheet music for the canon I had prepared in advance and handed it to him.
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>"We sell this. As a limited edition."
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>"Ohh!"
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>We would sell the sheet music of the music unveiled at the new song recital to the audience as they exited, in the form of a souvenir.
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>It would only be available for purchase during the performance period.
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>Would there be any noble who wouldn't open their wallet upon seeing this?
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>We spread the classic music, and make money at the same time.
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>It's a brilliant plan, even when I think about it again.
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>"As expected, Master has the temperament of a merchant."
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>"Does that make me seem vulgar?"
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>"That's not for me to say! I am just curious as to why your feelings have changed."
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>Indeed.
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>Until recently, money was not a priority for me.
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>As a noble heir, my life was far from being destitute.
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>I had three square meals a day, and a butler who managed my every move.
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>But why now?
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>It's because of Erdi.
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>If it were just me, it would be fine.
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>But if I have to provide for Erdi as well, it gets a little tight.
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>Management fees for the territory, wages for the mansion's staff, the interest I have to send to Count Harborland every month.
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>Our family isn't penniless, but we don't have a lot of extra money either.
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>The money Erdi gets from delivering newspapers is a pittance.
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>It's better to earn what I can now, for the future.
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>Moreover, it's only right to repay the favor I've received.
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>"I'll set the recital for a week from now."
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>"Good. Please make sure to promote it well until then."
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>I said goodbye to Edward and went outside.
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>The scorching sun makes me squint.
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>In this situation, I have to wear a robe too.
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>I've unintentionally become a celebrity, so if I don't at least do this, a big fuss will surely break out.
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>When I arrived at the mansion, Erdi was already there waiting for me.
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>We went up to the room together.
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>"Come to think of it, Erdi."
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>"Yes."
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>"Why don't you try holding a solo concert of your own soon?"
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>Erdi seemed to ponder for a moment, then opened his mouth.
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>"I think it's still a bit too early for that. It's plenty enjoyable enough just helping you out for now, Master."
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>"Is that so? Let me know if you change your mind. The door of opportunity is always open."
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>Using a skilled person like Erdi as nothing more than my assistant is something I swear I could never do.
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>When the time is right, I plan to put him on the stage.
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>I have no plans to reign as the king of piano in this other world.
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>To be honest, I'm not even qualified for such a role.
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>I just want to play the role of igniting the hearts of countless performers and audiences.
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>That's enough.
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>I want masters like Erdi, who are hiding in obscurity, to come out, present their own works, and get a chance to stand on stage.
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>Ultimately, to raise the cultural level of the Empire by a single level.
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>My goal is to create a world like that.
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>When that time comes, I'll clear the deck on my performer life and be able to leisurely enjoy music for my own hobby, just by going to theaters.
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>Just imagining it gets my heart racing.
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>"So, Erdi, please do your best."
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>"Pardon?"
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>"It's a gift."
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>For now, I should finish up my practice.
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The day of the recital.
>A large banner was hung at the theater entrance.
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>- Anton Tilberg Piano Solo Concert, Five Days Straight
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>『Is this for real?』
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>Where did he get something like that this time?
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>I can never figure out Edward's taste.
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>Avoiding the people who started loitering around from dawn, I headed for the back entrance.
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>"I'm here."
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>"I'm counting on you again today."
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>"They're already starting to gather."
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>"But, you see...there's one problem."
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>Edward looked at me with a worried expression.
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>"The sheet music for your canon has started circulating in the black market."
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>"What? We haven't even started selling it yet? Wasn't the official sale supposed to start today?"
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>Sheet music that hasn't even been made public is circulating in the black market?
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>How is that even possible?
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>"I looked into it, and it's not a fake or a forgery being sold under false pretenses."
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>"Tell me the details."
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>The circumstances of the incident were as follows.
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>Some merchants who were interested in the limited edition souvenir sheet music asked some nobles, and it seems a deal of some sort was made between them.
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>The plan was for the nobles who saw the recital to buy up the sheet music in bulk and pass it to the merchants, who would then resell it in the black market at a high price for profit.
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>In short, it's hoarding.
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>To secure the market and draw a reaction, they put the sheet music they didn't even have yet on a sales list.
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>Since it's obvious it will be in their hands, they're trying to take reservations first.
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>"Is that profitable?"
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>Enough for merchants to be eyeing it?
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>"It certainly is. The collection of performance pieces we published last time sold hundreds of copies in the blink of an eye, didn't it?"
>Right, that's true.
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>Plus, since it's a limited edition, the price might be whatever they want it to be.
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>I'm the one doing the work, but the merchants are the ones making the money.
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>"Should we limit purchases to one per person? That seems like the best option for now."
>"No. I have a better method for you."
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>They're hoarding because it's a limited edition?
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>Then just cancel the limited edition.
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>"Edward."
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>"Yes."
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>"Contact the workshop and tell them to print as many of those sheets as possible."
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>"Pardon?"
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>You dare try to line your own pockets in a sacred theater?
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>You're about to take a loss.
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