Chapter 77
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Partner
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In the utter silence where even the sound of an ant crawling could be heard, Rimon slightly raised his head.
And then he asked casually.
"How was it?"
"Pardon?"
"Did that song just sound like noise to you?"
"......"
Only then did it seem to dawn on them about the bet they'd made with Rimon.
The trio, who had been standing at the front of the audience with the most dumbfounded expressions, suddenly made an "oh no" face.
They exchanged glances with indescribable looks on their faces.
Just moments ago, they'd thought a bet like this was nothing.
The method was simple, after all.
They just had to say the performance was terrible, a noise pollution.
Appreciation was subjective anyway. No matter what others said, if it sounded bad to them, that was it.
But...
"Th-this is cheating."
"Cheating? What kind of cheating?"
"You said you'd perform without using skills, but you used one."
"Huh? Was that just now a skill?"
"Of course it was, you idiot! How could you pull off a song like that without a skill!"
They insisted that without a skill, that ordinary song couldn't have transformed like that.
So they had no reason to uphold the bet's conditions.
Watching the trio argue this point, Rimon neither protested nor got angry.
Instead, he wore a subtle smile.
"That sounds like you're saying our performance was just as brilliant as if we'd used a skill."
"......That's not the point. The issue is whether you used a skill or not."
"Well, from my perspective, it doesn't matter."
"What do you mean?"
"If we used a music skill, it proves we're qualified to perform here. And if we didn't, it proves we can put on a show rivaling any skilled player."
"......!"
The trio's faces twisted in shock.
"Fine, if you want to call it cheating, go ahead. I'll gladly apologize and step down."
Rimon chuckled softly at the trio.
Then he turned his head slightly, glancing meaningfully behind them with a sly smile.
"If you're confident you can follow us up and perform here."
The trio instinctively looked back and were at a loss for words again.
The street, which had been sparsely populated moments before, was now packed tight like a can of sardines.
The crowd's gazes—brimming with frustration that they couldn't clap or shout for an encore because of these guys—choked the trio.
'Take our place and perform?'
'In front of this many people?'
'After hearing a song like that?'
The trio broke into cold sweats.
Dazzled by the word "bet," they finally realized they'd fallen for Rimon's trick.
'We got totally played......!'
'This guy didn't propose the bet to win. He just wanted the chance to perform.'
They understood Rimon's scheme.
And that left them dumbfounded.
Because what they called a trick required absolute confidence that one performance could draw this massive crowd.
Including the certainty that the trio couldn't match that song.
It was absurd self-assurance.
'A high-level player with music skills might have that kind of confidence, but......'
Logically speaking, it made sense.
Unless it was a famous celebrity,
an unknown musician drawing this crowd with just a guitar and voice was nearly impossible without skill power.
'......Was that performance really a skill?'
Still, doubts lingered.
From his bold claim to perform without skills, and his unwavering attitude.
Above all, the subtle afterglow they'd never felt in any performance they'd seen or heard before made them wonder, "What if?"
"So, what's your answer?"
On one side, the pressure from countless stares boring into their backs and the rising doubts within.
On the other, their pride as musicians and the burden of stepping up to perform.
After weighing it briefly,
they finally sighed.
And with resigned faces, they asked,
"Do you take song requests too?"
As people first, before musicians.
The intense temptation to see more of that performance was something they couldn't resist.
And that marked the beginning of an endless relay of requests and encores from hundreds of spectators.
"What a mess."
[......I don't think that's something you should say, Team Leader.]
"Why me?"
[Because you're the one who caused this mess.]
"Why is this my fault? I just played a few songs they wanted."
[There's a limit to accepting encores. Who keeps taking requests for over six hours straight?]
Yuna Kyung clicked her tongue in amazement.
And rightly so—Rimon had been performing here for over nine hours already.
For any ordinary performer, this would have exceeded their stamina and passion long ago; their fingers would have blistered or cramped up.
But a Sword Master's body was extraordinary.
Even after hours of playing, there wasn't a single blister or drop of sweat.
[And now all those spectators have crashed right here!]
The problem was that not everyone was a superhuman like a Sword Master.
If the show had been mediocre, they might have left after a bit.
But the strangely captivating harmonies made them think, "Just a little more," hesitating until most stayed till the end.
And nine hours was more than enough to wear out every last one.
"Crashed is a bit much. They're just sitting down with blankets for a rest."
[That's what crashing means.]
Taking a quick break by sitting? Fine.
Borrowing chairs and tables from nearby restaurants or cafes at this junction? Improvisation.
Ordering food since they borrowed the seats, and even downing drinks? That could slide.
......If it hadn't spread until the entire street turned into a full-blown party zone.
And that was the result.
Long past midnight, the crowds still buzzed, and the music street had morphed into more of a booze fest.
[What is this, a festival? A concert? It's not even a planned gathering—why the sudden drinking party?]
"Tell me about it. If they're throwing a party, they should share with me. These kids have no manners these days."
[Is that what matters right now?!]
"Of course it does. I poured my precious time into free performances, and if I can't even get a drink from the party I sparked, that's just sad."
[So you're admitting it's all your fault?!]
As Rimon bantered with Yuna Kyung while watching the revelers chug away,
a can of beer suddenly appeared before him.
"Lonely wolf, want one?"
"......Why am I a lonely wolf?"
"Hmm, how about king of the strays? Or noble tiger?"
"It's not about the species—I'm asking why you have to compare me to an animal."
"Because you give off that friendless vibe. That's why no one dares approach; they just watch from afar."
Rimon was speechless at her innocent reply, but Yuna Kyung nodded in agreement.
[Well, you do look pretty intimidating.]
'Do I really look that scary? I even changed my appearance to blend in.'
[Pfft, yeah right. Think a dragon in wolf skin looks cuddly to rabbits?]
'......'
For a moment, he debated plucking every feather from his cheeky ex-subordinate turned blue chicken.
Then Rimon sighed softly.
He took the cold beer can and bluntly addressed the one who'd offered it—the hooded performer who'd been with him the whole show.
"Call me Rimon."
"I'm Yujin. Call me friend, with affection if possible."
After hours of performing together, they were only now exchanging names. Impressive in their own ways.
Even more so since they were the most energized, despite the audience collapsing.
But neither Rimon nor Yujin minded.
They just sat side by side, clinked cans, and chatted casually.
"Thanks for the guitar."
"Yeah, you really nailed it. Never knew my guitar could do that."
"That's 'cause your playing was so sloppy. Why hit the strings like that? Might as well let a record player handle backup and just sing."
"Record player......?"
"You know, machines that play songs from records or CDs."
"Oh, amps? Nah, I don't use those. Songs lose their soul without live performance."
"Soul, huh? Cool word."
Rimon chuckled unwittingly.
In this era where even good music was judged by skill levels,
Yujin's casual use of "soul"—a term that felt outdated even to him—was oddly refreshing and amusing.
To such a Rimon, Yujin said cheerfully,
"Must be my lucky day."
"Not getting kicked out?"
"That too, but I got to sing my heart out for the first time in ages. And I found an awesome guitarist partner."
"Partner? What partner?"
"Duh, my music partner from now on."
"Who?"
"You, friend."
"......When did that get decided?"
"Probably when you borrowed my guitar and gave that killer performance?"
Yujin beamed.
When Rimon first asked to borrow the guitar, she'd just been intrigued.
But matching his playing ignited a thrilling rush and ecstasy that obliterated any casual thoughts.
"Now I can't settle for solo acts anymore. So you gotta take responsibility."
"Watch your words; that could be misunderstood."
"But it's true."
Despite her light tone, Rimon's cheek twitched at her serious eyes.
"Even so, my playing's just a hobby. No plans for debuting or anything."
"Perfect! I'm not into debuting either."
"Schedules would clash if things got busy."
"No prob—I'm freelance; I set my own."
"......"
It felt like talking to a wall.
No matter how much he refused, she'd cling like a trainer trapping him with a fancy Poké Ball: "It's fine, be my partner!"
Rimon stared at Yujin, who nodded with a bright smile.
'I was about done sightseeing and ready for real training.'
He'd realized what his playing lacked through this.
And knew how tough filling that gap would be.
He'd planned to stop wandering and focus on taking over the Seven Dragon Society.
That would make him busier than ever—no time for this.
Yet, despite knowing that full well, Rimon didn't flatly refuse Yujin's offer.
'Who'd have thought I'd find a training clue right here.'
Playing with Yujin,
as fragments of starlight melted away,
he'd felt control over yet another constellation's power.
Rimon made a subtle expression.
The power that only responded to his Shadow Heart Violin before now reacted to ordinary playing—a huge step.
'Song? The person? Not sure what triggered the constellation's power exactly, but......'
He crossed his arms.
No guarantee hanging with Yujin would yield results.
But against mighty constellations, he couldn't ignore even a slim chance.
After brief thought, Rimon asked bluntly,
"Just to confirm—guitar's fine, but other instruments okay too?"
Rimon Asfelder.
It was the historic moment when humanity's last Sword Master, who'd swung only swords for centuries, decided to pick up a hobby.