Chapter 69
Chapter 69
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Academy Festival (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A quiet room where the sunlight pours in.
First floor of the Academy's main building.
Located at the end of the hallway, this was a workshop and practice room created exclusively for Erdi.
Originally, upon my and Victor's request, the professors were each assigned a personal research lab.
He and I preferred the upper floors with a good view, but Erdi was different.
"The first floor is best. It has to be the first floor." "Why?" "Because going up and down the stairs is a pain."
It was a highly practical reason.
I thought he might have his own know-how regarding sound vibration or noise control.
Like how the sound is richer when you play the piano on the first floor.
Well, I suppose.
It's possible, but I hear the difference isn't that significant.
"Alright, fine."
For that strange reason, Erdi was assigned a personal research lab on the first floor.
And now, I was doing a final check with Edward there.
As for what we were checking...
It was the rehearsal for the commemorative concert at the opening ceremony.
Since it was the first event held at the Academy, it would be meaningful if the students opened the show.
Thinking that, I first requested volunteers from the students.
A full sixty people expressed their intention to participate.
Victor selected some of them.
"I've narrowed it down to ten for now."
Most of the names I had my eye on were among them.
And.
Erdi took on the role of helping them prepare for the concert.
He is one of only two people who can freely access my storage of records.
In other words, it means he can look at and choose from almost all the sheet music that currently exist in this world.
He must have selected the pieces from there.
"Did you find anything you like?"
He handed me a stack of sheet music he had copied in advance.
"Ohho."
Schumann's Scenes from Childhood.
I had digitized it long ago, and I have played it before.
It's a collection of 13 pieces, consisting of short, charming works with simple yet catchy melodies.
Despite the title "Scenes from Childhood," it doesn't feel particularly childish.
That's because, although they are short pieces, they require a fairly high level of expression.
In fact, rather than a collection for children, it's closer to a work Schumann wrote as an adult, reminiscing about his youth.
"There are 13 pieces, so it would be good to assign one piece to each student and have them perform."
"I agree."
It seemed the students also liked this music very much.
It looks like it will be a good opening ceremony.
"That's all for the explanation, let's start now."
We must not forget the reason why Edward and I came all the way here.
The rehearsal.
Right now, the theater is a mess with the Academy guides, led by Victor and his father, showing the guests around.
If we played there, it would definitely cause a commotion.
The rehearsal must be secret and quiet.
That's the rule.
"Azella. Show us."
Erdi called her name.
By the way, Azella's name was also on the list of selected students.
Since she is one of the Academy's proudest talents, it would be dereliction of duty for her not to perform on the celebration stage.
By the way.
"Erdi." "Yes?" "Since when did you two get so close?"
He was calling her Azella, not "Miss Viviant," wasn't he?
"Well... I see the advanced class students almost every day."
"That's true, I suppose."
Whether they were in awe of Erdi's skill, or if they simply didn't care about his background from the start.
It seemed lately they were following Erdi around quite a bit.
"You've changed a lot too."
What surprised me was Erdi's attitude.
Normally, he would have subtly drawn a line, saying something like, "Even so, Miss Viviant is a noble, how could I..."
Is this only possible at the Academy?
He is a professor.
Regardless, he is now in a position to teach them.
The fact that they've grown close is definitely a good sign.
'It's true that a position makes the person.'
While I was thinking that, Azella slowly walked over to the piano.
And then, she carefully began to strike the keys.
No. 1, The Strange Land and Its People.
It starts slow and calm, and a mysterious and beautiful melody continues as if embarking on a journey to a strange world.
This piece is the embodiment of purity.
The "strange land" mentioned here isn't some magical and fantastical city that only exists in imagination.
'Because everything is new to a young child.'
It's a metaphorical expression of the new emotions and experiences one feels in life as a kind of adventure, rendered warmly.
Apt, or rather, a perfect choice of song.
For Azella, her time at the Academy must have felt like an adventure.
Originally, anyone feels that way when facing something they've never experienced before.
Z2dKbDJFSCtSbEo3WFlpUEN0eDQxWW5PMzNJUmtITkJBdytqU2hiWGwyZ3RHSlJiLzNhczBkditXdWJQZWRWTw
Moreover, isn't this her first concert in front of so many people?
Erdi is the same.
It was only a little over a year ago that he played a clumsy William Tell Overture at a piano competition.
And what about now?
He has become a professor, something he never dreamed of.
He is struggling to put his own student on stage.
A world of difference.
That's the phrase for just this kind of situation.
"When you press the pedal on the last note, you're lifting it a bit too abruptly. That causes a disjointed feeling when moving from measure to measure, so you should be a little more conscious of it."
Erdi, who was listening to Azella's performance, gave her a few pieces of advice.
"Like this?"
"Much better."
She absorbs it literally and reproduces it on the piano.
They are perfectly in sync.
"You learn very quickly."
"That's because the professor teaches so well."
"If you give a difference in tempo between the left and right hands, it will sound much more natural."
"Professor, please help me."
"Then I'll ask you to take the right. I'll play the left."
"Okay."
Suddenly, the two of them leaned their shoulders together in front of a single piano.
Azella's cheeks flushed red.
"A slight rubato here." "Hehe."
...What are they doing?
Why has the genre suddenly become a romantic comedy?
Is it something like, I've become the mentor of the heroine of a music academy?
'This feeling is a bit ambiguous.'
An unexpected atmosphere.
"Erdi. It's not good to be too biased toward Miss Viviant."
"Ah, I understand."
Erdi laughed it off, looking embarrassed by my words.
Azella also quickly got up from her chair and scurried away.
Her expression changed in an instant.
Looking at her like this, she gives off a cold and stiff feeling again.
Originally, the image she showed me was that of an intellectual elite, pretty but with a somewhat stuffy impression, as I recall.
But just now...
'Forget it. Let's leave them be.'
Even if they're filming some kind of drama where they transcend status and relationships.
'No, what should I really do if that's the case?'
Just then.
"It's a lovely sight."
Edward chimed in from the side.
Right.
This man was here too.
"Youth is truly a wonderful thing."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm just saying it's nice to see that Erdi seems to be adapting well at the Academy."
He was making a long-winded excuse, but he must have noticed the strange atmosphere just now too.
"Hmm."
It's probably best to just leave it.
After all, they are both adults who can tell right from wrong.
It's not something I can meddle in.
By the way, it seems he wasn't just practicing all day in the advanced class.
This Erdi guy.
But my advice not to be biased was sincere.
Well, whatever.
He'll handle it himself.
I exchanged a glance with Edward and nodded lightly.
Actually, towards the end of the semester, I had a plan to teach the advanced class students myself as a kind of reward, once Erdi's role was over.
Azella had wanted that too.
Originally, that friend was interested in me...
Or maybe not.
'It feels like I don't really need to step in.'
It seems she is already satisfied with Erdi's lectures.
Well, she has spent much more time with him than with me.
I wonder if it's the power of affection, or if Erdi's skill is far greater than I knew.
Anyway.
Is there a place for me to butt in here?
I should think about it.
Though it seems the answer has already come to me without thinking.
The rehearsal continued for a while after that.
"It's about time for everyone to move to the theater."
I left the guiding to the two of them and stepped out for a moment.
By now, the guests from afar should be arriving.
I walked along the perimeter, avoiding the central garden and theater where the crowds were gathered.
A massive arched stone entrance built for the festival.
A carriage was coming from beyond it.
Soon, it stopped in front of me, and a man got out.
"Seeing you here, I couldn't be more pleased."
"Thank you for making the long journey."
Count Rosley.
I shared a brief handshake with him.
"Now! Bring it over!"
And then.
With a boisterous shout, the servants waiting behind ran over, carrying a heavy wooden box.
"Is all this..."
"How could I come empty-handed?"
As expected, a big spender from the East.
I recall he gifted me clothing once before.
Inside the box he brought were colorful glass bottles.
"Is this alcohol?"
"They're potions."
"Potions?"
The Count began to explain.
It seemed he had recently started trading with a new nation.
"Their level of magic is excellent. It's a bit awkward to say this, but..."
He lowered his voice and whispered to me.
"Some of them are dangerous."
"...I can't accept those."
Luckily, it seemed the potions he brought were not dangerous.
"I picked some that look quite interesting."
First, a healing potion.
"It can't be compared to the legendary high-level magic that cures all diseases, but it's said to have the effect of temporarily clearing the mind and alleviating pain."
It doesn't seem like I'll have a use for it right away.
And a potion of knowledge.
"If you drink this and read a book, you will never forget its contents."
In short, it means it affects memory and learning ability.
'Might be quite useful?'
Of course, I don't plan to use it when reading books.
The Count took out the last potion and handed it to me.
"This one is truly amazing."
"I'm curious."
"You can drink as much alcohol as you want and never get drunk."
"Huh?"
"It was difficult to obtain. A single drop is effective, so use it sparingly."
I wonder if there are any transparent potions or ones that make you breathe fire.
Even if there were, I probably wouldn't use them anyway.
'An alcohol detox potion, huh.'
It might be somewhat practical.
I'm not the type to enjoy drinking, but in noble society, you can't just refuse to drink.
"Then, allow me to guide you inside."
I guided the Count to his room.
"The banquet is scheduled at my father's residence after today's opening performance."
I wanted to hold it within the grounds if possible, but there is no suitable building here to hold a banquet.
The student cafeteria?
The pub on the first floor of the inn?
It's not easy.
Since my father's residence isn't too far from here, we decided to hold it there for now.
"Please rest comfortably."
After greeting the Count, I immediately went back to the entrance.
It's more comfortable to wait at the front since I don't know who might arrive.
About two hours from then.
I welcomed Aiolin, Duke Montella, and Professor Brosia, along with many other guests.
I guided them to their respective rooms.
Aiolin said she wanted to look around the venue, so I called Victor and asked him to escort her.
"Why aren't you going yourself, Professor?"
"I have somewhere to go."
The Emperor is coming tomorrow, so my work for today is pretty much done.
Finally.
Before the performance in the evening.
"Diana? Aria?"
"Wow! Mister!" "We're here, Young Master."
"Let's go quickly. We're late."
After putting the two people who were waiting at the residence with Theo into the carriage, I headed back to the Academy.