Chapter 67
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Test.
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Julia was a creature of mood.
That meant she often acted on her whims rather than sticking to rules, and as a professor, she had plenty of experience delivering lessons that were unconventional to the point of being outrageous.
But even for her, this was the first time a student had made such an absurd request.
"You just want to hear me play? And then you'll figure it out on your own, Ri?"
"That's what I said."
"You're serious?"
"Why not? Nothing stopping you."
Julia felt something snap in her mind as she watched Rimon respond with utter nonchalance.
Even if he refused to play.
Even if he couldn't properly read sheet music.
She had racked her brains trying her best to teach him as one of her students.
But Rimon's casual nonsense finally made her blood boil.
"...Ri, do you think violin playing is a joke? Or is it that you doubt my teaching skills? Or maybe you think I'm deliberately holding back on you?"
"No way."
In stark contrast to Julia's icy tone, Rimon's voice remained perfectly calm.
"If I thought playing was a joke, I wouldn't bother learning it. And I don't have any complaints about your lessons."
"Then why make a request like this?"
"Because right now, I think this is the fastest and most efficient way."
"Do you realize you're calling centuries of refined teaching methods from countless performers inefficient and worthless?"
"No, that's not my intent. I know that for most people, starting from the basics step by step is the quickest path."
Rimon shook his head slightly.
He too had once been the lord of the Sword Tower, training countless disciples over hundreds of years.
He understood the importance of foundational techniques and established teaching methods honed across centuries.
"But I suspect it'll be different for me."
That's why he knew.
That sometimes, there were exceptions who didn't fit the mold designed for 'average students.'
And Rimon figured that a Sword Master with centuries under his belt more than qualified as one.
"...And what's with the 'suspect' in that overconfident statement?"
"Because it's my first time trying this too."
No one could claim 100% success on a first attempt without sounding arrogant.
For a brief moment, Julia stared at Rimon in stunned disbelief as he spouted what might—or might not—have been humility with utmost arrogance.
She finally pressed her throbbing temples and spoke curtly.
"Fine. If it's what you want, I'll do it. But I have a condition."
"What condition?"
"Just once."
Julia held up one finger in front of the intrigued Rimon.
She stared straight into his eyes with her deep green ones, her voice deadly serious.
"I'll play just once, so learn whatever you can from it. If you don't pick up anything, I'm done teaching you."
Julia knew.
How ridiculous her condition was.
Playing required grueling practice until your fingers blistered and callused. It wasn't like a skill you could acquire just by watching and listening once.
So this was essentially a refusal. A warning to quit now if he really wanted to keep learning from her.
No sane person—or anyone rational—would accept such terms.
"Deal."
"..."
Julia closed her eyes and fell silent for a moment at the crisp reply.
With a soft sigh, she finally opened the case and lifted out an ancient violin.
Thanks to meticulous care, it gleamed as vibrantly as if freshly made, despite the centuries it had endured.
Stradivarius.
One of the three legendary instruments every violinist dreamed of, a treasure more precious than her own life. Julia checked its condition.
Confirming both she and the instrument were primed for peak performance, she turned a cold gaze on Rimon.
"What piece?"
"I told you. Your best."
Julia didn't bother asking if he was sure.
From the moment she took out the Stradivarius, she was no longer just a teacher—she was a performer. And as one, she never held back.
'If you want my best, I'll give it to you.'
She set up the digital sheet music.
Mind set, she tucked the violin under her chin.
She drew the bow gently across the strings and began the piece.
The first—and likely last—she'd play for Rimon.
One of her finest, and among the most celebrated violin concertos, renowned for moving countless souls.
Opus 8, No. 1–4 by Antonio Vivaldi, the Baroque master composer and violinist.
'The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni).'
Eeeeeeeng.
In that instant.
Julia forgot everything.
The Rimon before her.
The condition she'd laid out.
Where she was. Who she was.
Her blank mind held only the notes scrolling on the digital score and the melody flowing from the violin.
In that emptied void, she immersed herself in the performance.
Eeeeng.
'Restez (Hold position).'
Music was beautiful.
More complex than humanity, purer, more ecstatic, more emotional.
That's why she loved performing.
She wished she could be born as an instrument, not a human, if she could choose.
That's why she became a violinist.
Not because she played the best, but because the violin let her feel the deepest unity with the music.
Eeeeeeeng.
'Simile (As before).'
They called her the Witch of the Violin for playing at a Player's level without skills, but to her, it was only natural.
No matter their level.
No matter the skills.
Those who wielded instruments as tools to flaunt techniques could never match her, who became one with the instrument and poured out her soul.
Eeeeeeeng.
'The prey is bewildered by the clamorous dogs and the noise of the guns (Pursuing the prey bewildered by the clamor of dogs and guns).'
Julia could tolerate mockery of herself, but not of her playing.
Rimon's attitude had angered and disappointed her, treating music so lightly. But now, even those feelings were gone.
Until the digital score stopped.
Until the bow halted on the strings.
Until silence descended.
She had simply become the instrument, devoting her soul to birthing the melody.
* * *
"Haa..."
Was it exhaustion from the impassioned performance?
Or regret at parting from the instrument's melody, returning to mere humanity?
For reasons she couldn't pinpoint, Julia exhaled deeply as she lifted the bow from the strings.
Clap clap clap clap!
'Looks like Ri finally gets what real playing is.'
The enthusiastic applause rang in her ears, brimming with admiration. Julia turned to Rimon with a satisfied smile.
"Indeed, this is what top-tier means in this era."
"...?"
Her eyes widened.
The black-haired young man she'd expected to be clapping in awe was instead watching her intently, arms crossed.
Then whose applause was it?
Julia turned, puzzled, and froze in bewilderment at the source.
"...Ri, what breed of bluebird is that? It claps after hearing music?"
"Why so surprised? There are gorillas that drum with their chests. Birds that go wild for sound are a dime a dozen."
"First time I've seen one of those 'common' birds."
How do you raise a bird to clap with such passion?
Her lingering afterglow faded amid surging questions, leaving her dazed for a moment.
Regaining her composure, Julia turned back to Rimon.
"So, satisfied now?"
"Yeah, great performance. Learned a lot thanks to you."
"What did you learn?"
"What do you think? How to play the violin, obviously."
"...Ri, I'm not joking around."
Julia furrowed her brow.
To her, a lover of performance, the wager on her playing was no laughing matter.
But Rimon remained utterly nonchalant.
"What, you don't believe me?"
"Trusting a student is a teacher's virtue, but testing them is their duty."
"Can't argue with that truth."
He let out a chuckle.
Propping his chin on one hand, Rimon muttered as if pondering.
"Hmm. If quitting or running doesn't matter, no choice. Mimicking it should be fine, though."
As if sorted out, he dropped his hand from his chin, scratched the back of his head, and tossed out casually.
"Julia, mind lending me that violin for a sec?"
"...What?"
"You wanted proof I learned something. Figured I'd show you directly."
"Ri, what about your own violin? You must have one."
"Mine's a bit tricky to handle. To show exactly what I learned, yours seems best."
If she didn't want to lend it, he'd get another—wait just a bit.
Julia's lips trembled as he treated her irreplaceable Stradivarius like a convenient substitute.
Her anger now bordering on fury, she gritted her teeth and thrust the violin forward.
"Fine, try it. But if you borrowed my violin and learned nothing, expect a slap."
"Got it. I'll remember."
Whether out of respect for the loaned treasure, Rimon accepted it reverently with both hands.
His rare courtesy softened her rage a touch, but her cold glare remained.
From the moment he'd demanded her violin, her opinion of him had hit rock bottom.
'If you think a great instrument makes great playing, you're mistaken, Ri.'
But regardless of her thoughts.
Rimon ignored her stare completely.
He simply gripped the borrowed violin and assumed position.
"Hm, different build makes it hard to match perfectly. But this'll do..."
True to a beginner.
Julia frowned as Rimon wedged the violin between chin and shoulder, then fiddled with his posture, adjusting arm length by twisting his shoulders.
'...I knew he was a beginner, but this is too much.'
Masters could tell much from posture alone.
To her expert eye, Rimon's form was disastrous.
Beginner or not, it screamed failure—like he didn't even grasp basic violin holding.
Not opening sheet music was already a red flag, even if unreadable.
'What a waste of time.'
She worried he'd damage the instrument.
As Julia watched anxiously, Rimon finally settled the violin.
Once positioned.
The moment he parted his lips softly.
"Alright, I get the gist."
Chills raced down Julia's spine.