Surprise Busking at Ariaadna Square
The massive open plaza formed a perfect circle around the clock tower, its spire rising sharply as if it meant to pierce the sky. Flowers and trees had been planted throughout the space to fill every gap, while elegant statues stood nearby, each displaying its own graceful pose. Between them, countless musicians showed off their songs and performances. Their wildly different styles somehow blended into an indescribable harmony that stirred excitement in the hearts of everyone passing by. When all of this met the fierce summer sunlight beating down, it sparkled so brilliantly that it created a beauty entirely different from the Vivaldi streets they had just walked. Passion, romance, freedom, youth... no single word could fully capture the sight. This was Ariaadna Square—the undisputed heart of busking in the city of art known as Vivaldi.
'Aren't they hot?'
In front of the clock tower at the center of that very square, Kain shook his head, unable to understand the people scattered all around him. As the clock's hour and minute hands hurried toward noon, the midsummer sun struck the ground at a direct right angle. The pavement sizzled, radiating heat. The iced Americano he'd been holding had only been in his hand a short while, yet half the ice had already melted. His own body maintained perfect homeostasis—one of the few perks he actually liked after becoming an absolute ruler—so that was fine. But why were all these other people swarming around like this on such a blistering day?
"It looks like it's about to start soon."
Arina, one of those swarming people, spoke while gazing at the stage platform beneath the clock tower. Instruments and cameras had been arranged on it, and the crew was deep in preparations for the busking performance. Since word that Layla would appear hadn't spread yet, most passersby simply glanced over before continuing on their way without stopping.
The only ones actually waiting for the show were Arina—who knew Layla was coming—and the handful of curious onlookers who had paused out of interest.
Tap. Tap.
Just then, someone lightly tapped Arina's shoulder as she waited for Layla's performance. When she turned her head, a single bony finger poked her soft cheek.
"Yahoo. Fancy meeting you in a place like this, Student Arina."
The listless gesture would tire out anyone watching. A gaunt man wearing a black hood despite the heat. Arina's eyes widened in shock at the sight of those hollow eyes staring at her from beneath heavy dark circles, and she cried out his name.
"Professor Karlsen?"
Professor? This guy?
At Arina's exclamation, Kain looked over with eyes heavy with boredom and indifference. He'd noticed some weird fellow approaching Arina from behind, but since he didn't sense any malice, he'd left him alone.
'I didn't realize he was a professor, though.'
Not that he'd had any intention of finding out who the man was in the first place. Only after Arina spoke did Kain take any interest, scanning Karlsen from head to toe. His power sat at roughly the early stage of seven-star. That was quite impressive, even for a professor at Benedict Academy.
'It's that guy from before.'
Now that he thought about it, the memory surfaced. This was the same man who'd been enthusiastically playing tag with Jealousy back on Melody Street. If he was a professor, then the woman Jealousy had disguised himself as was probably infiltrating the academy in that same role. Kain had learned a piece of utterly useless information he hadn't even wanted to know.
"What brings you here, Professor?"
Perhaps surprised to see him in Vivaldi Territory, Arina asked the question. Professor Karlsen proudly pulled something from inside his robe and held it out before her eyes.
Vivaldi Grand Concert Hall
Special Orchestra Performance
"Professor Vivaldi personally invited me to the orchestra concert."
The ticket fluttered stiffly, not tolerating even a single wrinkle—as if it had been treasured beyond measure. It looked sharp enough to cut a finger if touched the wrong way. The large title clearly announced it was a ticket to the Leni Orchestra performance. Arina clapped her hands together in delight.
"You're going to see this too, Professor? We're planning to go as well. We might run into each other there."
Her words were pure goodwill, completely without malice. Yet upon hearing them, Professor Karlsen's shoulders drooped slightly as he put the ticket away with a weak flutter.
'What a spectacle.'
Had he wanted to brag that badly? Maybe he'd secretly hoped Arina would envy him. After all, securing tickets to the Vivaldi Grand Concert Hall was like plucking stars from the sky, no matter what the performance was. He'd probably assumed she wouldn't be able to attend.
'Still, for a professor to brag so childishly to a student...'
The level of Benedict Academy suddenly felt utterly pathetic. If the Majoan were standing before him, Kain would have seriously asked whether it was acceptable for someone like this to be a professor.
"Are you here on a trip, Student Arina?"
Apparently oblivious to Kain's withering stare, Professor Karlsen looked back and forth between them and asked, "Is the person beside you your boyfriend?"
"He's my uncle."
"Ah, my apologies."
He hadn't spoken directly with the man, only observed from the side for a moment, but Kain now understood why Jealousy had run away so desperately the day before. Boyfriend? What boyfriend? Just what did this guy see when he looked at him to think he was dating a kid?
The disdain in Kain's eyes as he regarded Professor Karlsen grew thicker by the second.
"I'm late with my introduction. I am Karlsen, professor of curse magic at Benedict Academy."
How thick was this guy's skin? Despite Kain's obvious disregard, Karlsen smiled casually and extended his hand for a shake. Kain stared at the offered left hand, then turned his head in annoyance.
"If you're offering a handshake, shouldn't you get rid of what you're holding first?"
At Kain's words, a loud croak came from Professor Karlsen's left hand.
"It was a joke. Isn't it good to play around a bit when trying to get close to someone you've just met?"
Karlsen withdrew his hand and gave an unpleasant smirk. Did this guy not understand the difference between being witty and being rude? Kain had never met anyone worse at human relationships than himself.
"It seems difficult to get close to your uncle. What a shame. Next time, I'll prepare a wittier prank so we can definitely become friends."
Why did he assume there would be a next time? Kain had zero intention of ever meeting this bastard again. Thoroughly done with that overly optimistic way of thinking, he openly ignored the man and pulled out his smartphone.
Boom!
After the brief exchange with Karlsen, the time had already reached noon. The moment the clock tower's hands both pointed skyward, an intense drumbeat rang out, instantly capturing the attention of every passerby. Below the tower, the band members—who had finished setting up—took their positions and began playing their instruments freely, building up the rhythm.
Along with the familiar prelude came reactions from the crowd: "Where have I heard this before?" "Ah, this intro..."
Then, as if to answer their questions, the woman at the front of the band whipped off her sunglasses and threw them aside.
"Hello, everyone!"
It was as if a veil had been lifted from before their eyes, like turning a page in a book. For a moment, people who hadn't yet processed the situation simply stared at her face in blank confusion.
"It's Layla Ruby!"
At someone's shout, people flooded toward the clock tower in an instant. In less than a minute, the area in front of the tower had become packed. Kain's stress level—which had already risen from the summer heat and Karlsen—shot up even higher.
"Tsk."
Broadcasting staff were trying to control the sudden crowd from a distance, but it clearly wasn't easy. This was true star power. It was a scene that explained exactly why Layla Ruby was considered one of the greatest singers of the era. Worried that Arina might get swept away, Kain pulled her protectively into his arms.
'Doesn't look like anything too serious will happen.'
The initial chaos gradually settled thanks to the broadcasting crew's desperate efforts, and order slowly returned.
"We will now begin Layla Ruby's surprise busking performance!"
Only after confirming the entire situation did Layla Ruby raise her microphone again. As Arina watched from her prime spot at the very front, she suddenly turned her head toward a suspicious presence beside her.
"Ooh! Layla Ruby! The real Layla Ruby!"
His excitement was so intense that a red flush had spread across his normally deathly pale face.
"To think I'd get to see Layla Ruby perform here! It was worth carrying these with me every single day!"
In a display of passion Arina had never seen from him before, Karlsen raised both arms high. In his hands was a large placard.
A headband with the exact same phrase was tied across his forehead, now visible beneath the hood he'd pushed back. Those usually hollow eyes now burned with intense madness directed entirely at Layla Ruby.
"Layla Ruby, huh... She's a wonderful singer. I'm a fan myself."
"Especially her debut song—it's so refreshing that I still listen to it occasionally while studying dark magic."
Watching him, a memory of something Professor Karlsen had said in the past flashed through Arina's mind. Back then she'd thought it was just his usual empty flattery, but now she realized his fandom ran far deeper than she'd imagined. After all, he'd casually pulled out a placard that even she—who had known about the busking beforehand—hadn't prepared.
Perhaps his earlier boasting about the Leni Orchestra ticket had been petty revenge for her mentioning that she was going to see Layla perform.
"The first song I'll be performing is my debut track, 'Like First Love'! Everyone who knows it, please sing along!"
"Ooh!"
As if on cue, his favorite song began to play. Professor Karlsen shook his placard with even greater fervor. The familiar prelude filled with her lyrics, and his writhing grew more and more intense. His skinny arms waved wildly beneath the baggy black sleeves, looking as though they might snap at any moment.
The people who had gathered at Layla's appearance were now visibly inching away from the madness Karlsen displayed. In the middle of the chaotic crowd, a single peaceful safety zone had formed around him. Completely unaware of the appalled stares directed his way, he wept openly to the music, sobbing with overwhelming emotion. The pathetic sight finally became too much for Kain.
"Is academy life okay?"
He had sent Arina there trusting the reputation of the continent's greatest magic academy, founded by the Majoan. But seeing a man like this holding the title of professor filled him with sudden unease. Was it really right to keep sending Arina to Benedict Academy?
"......"
Faced with Kain's rare moment of doubt, Arina couldn't bring herself to say that everything was fine. Even she—who usually looked for the good in people before their flaws—found Karlsen's behavior utterly embarrassing. Unable to enjoy the Layla performance she'd been anticipating, Arina squeezed her eyes shut, desperately trying to ignore the shameful sight of her professor that she wouldn't want to show anyone.