Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Unexpected Problem (4)
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The day of the test arrived.
A grand piano was set up in the center of the lecture hall stage.
This time, Victor and I would be grading together.
We would sum our scores to select the final passing students.
The students gathered in the lecture hall.
"We will now begin. First..."
I called out the first name.
It was chosen at random.
A student walked up and sat before the piano.
And so it continued.
Then the next.
They had clearly been training hard on the fundamentals.
Everyone's skill was far superior to before.
Of course, they weren't flawless, but those mistakes were part of their growth.
Some students boldly chose difficult pieces to showcase their own color.
Others, conversely, chose stable pieces to deliver a more polished performance.
Victor and I paid close attention to every move and every sound.
Proficiency and expression.
And the conveyance of emotion.
The test started in the morning and continued well into the afternoon.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
We gathered in the lounge to hold a meeting.
Victor handed me his score sheet.
"About seven stood out."
He said.
Seven?
Isn't that too few?
It seems his standard was higher than mine.
That's just a difference in perspective, so I didn't intend to complain.
Especially since it was Victor's opinion.
"I have fifteen on my list."
"Let's check for overlapping names first."
I was glad I suggested that.
Believe it or not, they all overlapped.
We passed the list to Erdi.
"These are the students you will be teaching from now on."
"This many?"
"It's a good thing, isn't it? It went from three to fifteen."
"I suppose so."
Of course, that included Azella and the Bendelin siblings.
Well, whatever.
There would be no classes tomorrow morning.
We decided to give them a rest, assuming they'd be exhausted from today's test.
However, the advanced class would proceed as scheduled under the guise of an orientation.
We had time to spare, so maybe Victor and I should observe Erdi's class.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"It's a pleasure to meet you all. I am Erdi Bilet, and I will be with you for the advanced class."
A round of applause erupted.
Everyone was in high spirits; it was nice to see.
"Since this is the first day of class, two professors have come to visit to offer their congratulations."
Erdi introduced us, sitting in the back row.
"Ah, yes."
We awkwardly stood up and bowed our heads.
"Now, let's see what you can do. One by one, come up and show us your performance."
Erdi climbed onto the stage and pointed to the grand piano.
Right, he wasn't there for yesterday's test.
"Show us your full ability. Don't be nervous, just relax."
Now that I think about it, was Erdi always this talkative?
I was worried he was too introverted before.
"Miss Viviant, you first."
Erdi called her name.
The final boss right from the start?
Azella appeared.
With a confident gait, she sat on the stool and raised her arms without hesitation.
A melody burst forth immediately.
"Oh ho."
"...Look at that?"
Exclamations escaped both Victor's and my mouths simultaneously.
Her already outstanding skill combined with her solid fundamentals was enough to make one believe she was a professional performer.
She struck the keys fiercely until the very end, then exploded with emotion.
The students gathered in the lecture hall held their breath as she played.
My eyes met Victor's.
"No matter how many times I hear it, her skill is incredible. I understand why the professor praised her so much, a hundred times over."
I agreed.
I nodded silently.
She was simply that overwhelming.
Azella rose from her seat and stepped down from the stage.
"Next is..."
Coincidentally.
"Duke Bendelin."
The name tumbled from Erdi's lips.
Duke walked up with his collar slightly undone, looking nonchalant.
Beatrice watched him from behind with an anxious gaze, but he didn't seem to notice.
Duke stood before Erdi with a relaxed expression.
"I'm in your care, Professor."
"I look forward to it."
A spark of pure curiosity shone in Erdi's eyes.
The same went for Victor and me.
We fixed our gaze on the stage.
We watched with a mix of anticipation and worry to see what kind of performance would emerge from his fingertips.
At first, the melody sounded slightly unstable.
But as time passed, it gradually found its footing.
Unlike Azella, his style was quite improvisational.
A personality that expressed his feelings as they came.
The sound was somewhat rough, but it was charming.
It definitely drew you in.
In the middle section, a sudden tempo change that captured the listener's attention was a technique I had to admire, even from my perspective.
It made me understand why he had been so arrogant.
Victor and I closely observed Duke's performance, which we hadn't heard in a long time.
It felt as if he prioritized the flow of emotion over perfect technique.
A rather decent performance.
However.
There was a major problem.
"He has the power to draw you in, but..."
"...Hmm."
Victor whispered to me.
"Maybe it's because I'm comparing him to Miss Viviant, but he seems lacking."
Definitely.
His fundamentals were weak.
No matter how impressive the performance, if the foundation isn't properly laid, it's bound to falter.
In the middle of the performance, he was off-key several times, which was basic.
Whenever he attempted a fast passage, his fingers moved unsteadily, as if slipping.
Each time, it completely shattered the immersion.
This wasn't a mistake.
This was his skill level.
If he had attended the basic classes properly.
This wouldn't have happened.
Victor frowned.
At least once or twice.
He was seen shaking his head in regret.
Duke showed his own unique color, but his basic technique was a mess, so we couldn't ignore that.
This was the result of running forward without looking back.
He missed a whole month of class, so what could you expect?
The reason Azella's performance was so perfect was that there were no gaps in her technique.
The moment Duke's hands left the keys, a brief silence filled the lecture hall.
Everyone looked bewildered by the rather subtle performance.
Well, that's natural.
Azella was right before him, so they couldn't help but compare.
You couldn't see it in Duke.
The performer's attempt to convey emotion to the listener.
There was nothing there but the gestures of a thoughtless man engrossed in himself and the piano.
A sandcastle on the verge of collapse.
If I had to describe it, that's what the performance was like.
It looked flashy on the outside, but if one thing went wrong, it would collapse powerless.
It was quite anxious and nerve-wracking.
In other words, it lacked stability.
The curriculum isn't there for nothing.
The basics are the ground.
And the academy classes until now have taught how to lay that ground.
Now everyone knows that.
Everyone.
Except for Duke.
We don't know what he was doing during class hours.
It certainly wasn't basic practice.
"He exaggerates the tonal color with emotion, so it's definitely immersive. But the mistakes keep coming, turning expectation into anxiety."
"Exactly. If anything, he feels like he's regressed from a month ago."
"He has too many flaws."
"I wonder if he can keep up with the other students."
"I hope he can."
"It won't be easy. If it were the past, maybe. But now, he doesn't seem particularly outstanding."
Victor and I exchanged such words.
There was no malice.
We would point out his attitude, but we didn't intend to disparage the performance itself.
That is, if he improves from his current state.
If he truly repents and fully integrates into the academy, we won't pick on him anymore.
But can he do that?
That remains to be seen.
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After that, one by one, students came out and shared their music.
Erdi clapped with a satisfied expression.
"Just a moment."
And then he plopped down in front of the piano.
Wait, is he?
"As a token of my gratitude, I should play a piece for you as well."
I had a feeling he would, but he was actually doing it.
A dazzling melody burst forth like a torrent of rough rain over the keys.
Mily Balakirev, Islamey.
A piece considered one of the most difficult and dazzling in the history of piano music.
Its frantic tempo and complex passages could be called the ultimate test of technique for a performer.
It even received high praise from Franz Liszt, which says it all.
As expected.
The students' jaws dropped, captivated by Erdi's movements.
It was obvious even from the back rows.
"Who would have thought Professor Erdi could play such a piece..."
Victor muttered to himself.
"Actually, I composed it."
"Ah! Of course!"
I don't know whether to be happy about that or not.
Anyway.
Erdi's unexpected performance instantly heated up the lecture hall.
"T-This is the professor's..."
"Wow..."
Everyone was stunned, gauging the gap between him and themselves.
Erdi struck the final note hard and stood up from his seat.
Sweat was beading on his forehead; it seemed he had put quite a bit of effort into it.
This is the level the academy students must one day reach.
A rather terrifying "hello."
Just as the good atmosphere was continuing.
Erdi calmed his excitement and said one thing.
"I'm glad you all seem to enjoy it. Before we officially begin classes tomorrow, I have an announcement to make."
All eyes turned to him.
"From now on, you will have a performance test here every week. The format will be absolute grading."
"...Pardon?"
A student who couldn't understand Erdi's words raised their hand and asked.
"You mean a performance test?"
"Yes."
It's an academy, so of course there should be tests.
Anyway, this is a school too.
"But once a week seems like too much."
"Don't worry. I won't give you such difficult topics."
And one more thing.
"For now, the student who receives the highest score on the first test next week will receive a fitting reward."
"A reward, you say..."
"The position of representative for the advanced class."
"Ohh!"
Frankly, what.
It doesn't seem like much of a reward, does it?
Everyone seemed satisfied with that, their eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.
Well, holding any kind of representative position at the academy symbolizes considerable honor.
Erdi continued.
"However, for any student who receives a score below the standard..."
I swallowed dryly without realizing it.
"We will judge that their comprehension of the class is low, and they will be immediately expelled from the advanced class."