Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Northern Band's Spectacular Show
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Having a ton of money really had its perks in all sorts of ways.
Plus, the habit of always carrying a wallet whenever heading out turned out to be a huge advantage too.
"Young Lady, I picked up some snacks from downstairs."
"Oh, thanks."
Our seats weren't just any seats—they were the highest and most comfortable ones right up front by the stage.
There had been people sitting there at first, but since we'd paid the rightful price... that should be okay, right?
The folks who'd taken my gold coins had grinned ear to ear.
Yeah, probably.
"Would you like some too, Mother?"
"...Shall I?"
"There's still a bit of time before it starts anyway. And they've got drinks here, so we can take it slow."
Lize and Rozalin were both comfortably seated, gazing down at the stage below.
This really felt way better than watching at some café or half-baked venue.
Especially compared to how Rozalin had been so apologetic earlier, glancing nervously at us.
Sure, I'd felt a little awkward buying the seats from the original occupants... but things were fine now.
Wasn't this enough?
"Camellia, that person getting ready down there is the band leader, apparently."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'm not totally sure, but I heard it's the guy with the massive mustache."
"Oh..."
He definitely looked the part.
Rozalin pointed to the man who'd climbed onstage alone, fiddling repeatedly with the instruments and such.
And that guy... his mustache was straight-up enormous.
Most people who grow beards go for chin straps, but this fellow onstage had grown out just a mustache—and what a mustache it was.
It was impressively bizarre in every way.
"But his hair's pretty short, huh..."
"Yeah..."
His hair was cropped short, and his clothes were super thin, but that mustache overshadowed everything.
I had no idea if all Northerners rocked this style, but the leader's look was undeniably unique.
"Doesn't a mustache that big itch every time you breathe?"
"I wouldn't know... I don't have one."
"...Fair point."
Yeah... no way to know.
Anyway, Rozalin and I couldn't stop talking about that mustache—it was that jaw-dropping.
Did he really walk around with it grown out like that...?
-Ah, ah.
"?"
We were still gawking at the mustache maestro when...
His voice, amplified through a magic tool, rang in our ears.
Looks like the band didn't just play instruments—they had singers too.
-Eh~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Huh."
-O!
"Huh...?"
The mustache leader suddenly faced the crowd and started making weird noises.
Eh, oh, oo, eh, ah, uh.
Definitely not actual words.
What the heck?
-Now, just repeat after what I did.
"Looks like... he's about to do something?"
"Yeah...?"
"And that magic tool's got some serious range, huh?"
"Totally."
No clue what he was going for, but for now, Lize, Rozalin, and I decided to watch quietly.
Of course, that didn't stop the commoners down below.
-Eeh~~~~!
"""Eeeeh!!!"""
-O!
"""O!!!"""
"...Wow."
The noise was insane.
The amplified sounds were loud, but the crowd's responses were even louder.
No idea why he wanted them echoing those weird noises back.
-Eh!!
"""Eh!!!"""
-Eh.
"""Eh."""
"........"
Couldn't tell what it was, but the plaza's vibe was definitely heating up.
-Eeeeeeh!!!!!
This went on for nearly ten minutes.
Or at least, it felt like twenty.
"""Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"""
-Ooooh!!!!!!
Right in the middle of the endless loop, the leader belted out the highest note yet—like this was the real kickoff—veins bulging in his neck.
Then... band members came sprinting from both ends of the stage.
...Turns out the band's show had started way earlier.
-Doom doom tak!
Unlike before, instrument sounds kicked in now.
The plaza, already hyped from cheering the leader, got even wilder.
"Welcome to our band's show!!!"
And then the leader's booming voice.
No magic tool needed—it echoed across the entire plaza for everyone to hear.
I seriously wondered if he'd cast some spell; that's how massive the volume was.
"Entry fee, viewing fee—all free! Have the time of your lives and make as much noise as you want!!!!"
"""Kyaaaah!!!!!"""
"""Woooah!!!!!!!!!!"""
"Pfft..."
The crowd erupted at his words, and Rozalin, who'd been intently watching the band from beside me, burst into laughter too.
Seemed right up her alley.
"......."
Seeing her so thrilled, totally unlike the worried Rozalin who'd fretted over finding seats earlier... it lifted my spirits too.
Just like the leader said, I wanted her to enjoy herself.
She'd been worn out from all the time at the Rose Family lately, and I really hoped she'd have a relaxed day today.
I didn't interrupt Rozalin, who was already immersed in the show. Instead, I quietly alternated my gaze between her and the stage.
"La~la~ lalala~"
It was the kind of stuff people in my past life called band music.
Totally different vibe from anything I'd heard here so far.
The tunes I'd known before were drilling right into my ears.
Not just because they were loud...
The music was good, but the volume was overwhelming.
"La~ lalala~"
Unlike me, Rozalin didn't seem bothered by the noise—she was humming along beside me.
Well, the songs were solid.
And with magic tools producing sounds instead of just classical stuff like piano, violin, viola, or contrabass, it felt fresh.
For the audience, who were hearing this for the first time—unlike me, who'd known it from my past life...
They were losing their minds.
The music was loud, the leader's voice louder, but the crowd's frenzy topped it all.
Rozalin and Lize were beaming, totally into the band's tunes.
"...It's good."
"Camellia, what'd you say?"
"Oh, nothing. Must've misheard."
"Really? Man, these guys are fun. Right?"
"Yeah, seems so."
Plenty of thoughts bubbled up.
Lots to take in while watching... but I stayed quiet.
Just watching Rozalin's delighted face, and Lize quietly tapping her fingers to the beat—enjoying it low-key like me.
*
"I'd heard Northern music was super fun before, but I had no idea it'd be this great."
"Yeah. Everyone else in the plaza was loving it too."
"It was nothing like the other bands that came through. Felt like a circus!"
Back at the mansion, Rozalin was grinning from ear to ear, gushing about how much fun she'd had.
Lize nodded along from her seat nearby, clearly agreeing.
They'd enjoyed it even more than I'd expected, which made me happy too.
It'd been ages since they'd had a carefree blast like that.
"Camellia, Camellia. Next time a Northern band comes, we have to go again, okay?"
"Sure, let's do that. Judging by the crowd's reaction today... they'll probably come back for sure."
No bands had visited before, and this was their first show here... so who knows when.
But it wasn't a big deal.
Worst case, I could just pay to invite them.
"Young Lady, mind if I step away to help the other servants for a bit...?"
"Of course. Something urgent?"
"Uh... the other servants called me..."
"Hmm... yeah, if it's work, no helping it."
At the garden entrance, some servants were peeking in and calling for Lize.
No idea the details, but if they needed her... better send her off.
Personally, I'd have loved keeping Lize by my side, but she'd be back after.
So I let her go.
"Camellia, are you good at singing?"
"Out of nowhere?"
"Just curious."
Rozalin's sudden question.
Probably sparked by the band's songs today—makes sense, like she said.
Still, kinda abrupt.
"Hmm... I think I'd be average? Never took lessons, don't sing much... not really sure."
The question caught me off guard, but the answer was straightforward.
I genuinely had no clue.
I didn't sing often, and no formal training...
Didn't even know many songs to begin with.
Sure, I'd learned music as a cultural subject, but not really songs with lyrics?
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. What about you, Mother? Are you good?"
"Me? Uh... pretty good, I think?"
Her sentence ended like a question.
Good? Bad? Meh?
"Can I sing a line for you? My Academy friends gave kinda vague reactions... so I'm not sure myself."
"Sure...?"
Rozalin had a lovely voice.
I'd expect good feedback usually.
But hearing about her friends' lukewarm responses... I started suspecting it might not be great.
Not that it mattered if Rozalin wasn't a singer.
She had way too many strengths beyond that.
"Ah, aah. Ahem..."
She cleared her throat, glancing at me shyly.
Looked like she really lacked confidence in her skills.
"Here goes...?"
"Sure."
Rozalin spoke hesitantly, and I nodded.
No idea what song, but pro or not— it'd be my first time hearing her sing.
I was excited.
"The love I~ finally found~"
"...."
"The one I've waited for~ my whole life, you~"
She swayed gently.
Eyes closed, singing softly in her beautiful voice.
My earlier doubts vanished—it was stunning.
Really... truly.
"Beauuutiful...?"
More than one line, actually.
Just a few verses, sung quietly as she slowly rocked in her seat across from me.
"Camellia...?"
Then she looked at me, eyes anxious—like seeking confirmation, worried if it was okay.
I needed to respond, but words failed me for a moment.
She sang that well.
I totally got why her Academy friends hadn't given straight answers.
Who was I to judge? It was so beautiful, I couldn't just toss out a casual reply.
"...It's good."
All I managed was that vague response—like what her Academy pals might've said.
...Even I thought it sounded dumb.