Chapter 87
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: A Troublesome Friend
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Which was more important?
Earning a living?
Or art?
They'd been arguing back and forth for quite a while, each clinging to their wildly differing philosophies.
As she listened to the two of them running endlessly on parallel tracks, Yuna Kyung muttered with an incredulous look on her face.
[To think he can chat so easily even against the team leader... As expected of someone the team leader calls a friend.]
'What do you mean "chat easily"? The guy's just stubbornly thick-headed.'
[That's exactly why they click. Normal people would bow their heads and submit the moment the team leader glares at them. They can't hold out like this.]
'Am I some thug? Going around intimidating people with my eyes?'
Even as he shot back at Yuna Kyung's jab, Rimon had to admit she had a point.
Eugene was undeniably bold, after all.
"Ah, by the way, partner. Talking so much has left me famished. Mind if I order a few more dishes?"
"...Yeah, go ahead and eat your fill."
...Though maybe it wasn't boldness so much as a complete lack of self-awareness.
Whatever the case, whether it was his plan to make up for all the starving in one go...
Rimon clicked his tongue lightly as he watched Eugene wolf down another table full of food.
'The guy's a born artist, through and through.'
[Because he's used to starving?]
'No, because he never even glances at what others think.'
[Is shamelessness an artist's innate trait?!]
'Not always, but the ones with enough conviction to hit the gas while everyone else stops at a red light? Those are the types who tend to leave their mark in art history.'
[That's not conviction—that's just being crazy! If he were driving, it'd be a massive accident, and instead of art history, his name would end up in today's incident reports!]
'Hm, yeah, most of them do kick the bucket before they make a name for themselves.'
[Is an artist's life some deathmatch where you risk it all!?]
'Similar, in that they value their art more than their own lives.'
Rimon chuckled.
In modern times, maybe not.
But just a few hundred years ago, most artists were treated like the dregs of society—barely better than beggars.
And yet, the ones who still became artists were one of two types.
Those guaranteed wealth and status, like nobles or priests... or those prepared to starve to death in pursuit of their art.
But even among them—especially the latter—only a tiny fraction left their names in history.
Most just scraped by, day to day.
Just like Eugene, who even now, while shoveling food into his mouth, could only think about music.
"So, partner, when's our next performance?"
"Hm... Funny you mention that. I actually need to talk about that. I probably won't be able to perform with you for a while."
"What? Why?!"
"I've got some stuff going on."
"No way! No matter the circumstances, we have to perform!"
Eugene shouted with the firm conviction of a debt collector.
His attitude was so resolute—and so brazen—that Yuna Kyung, listening in, briefly wondered if Rimon was actually the one in debt.
"Even so, my situation right now is pretty tricky."
But Rimon was just as stubborn.
Melting the fragments of starlight was important, sure... but right now, stopping the assaults took priority.
If he let the beasts run wild, it wouldn't just be the Seven Dragon Society—civilians could suffer massive casualties at any moment.
"What kind of situation, exactly?"
"It's complicated to explain."
"I'm your partner, aren't I? So I have the right to know why we can't perform."
"Hm, fair point?"
Judging Eugene's argument reasonable, Rimon gave a rough outline of his circumstances.
Skipping the parts about being Rimon Asfelder, his ties to the Seven Dragon Society, or how his head hurt chasing dangerous criminals.
And so, a moment later.
Eugene blinked blankly and asked,
"So, before, you figured out some rule and could cheat the system... but now that rule's gone, and you're stressing over it?"
"Why'd you summarize it like that?"
"I just repeated your explanation verbatim...?"
"Oh, really? Then yeah, that's about right."
If anything flipped out at his half-hearted response, it was Yuna Kyung more than Eugene.
["Oh, really?" is not the way to put it! What kind of explanation was that?!]
'Can't exactly tell him the Seven Dragon Society's under attack or reveal my real identity.'
[Even so, there's a line! No one in the world would buy that incredibly sloppy explanation!]
"OK, got it."
[And why is this guy nodding along?!]
Yuna Kyung stared like she'd spotted an alien.
But oblivious to her outburst, Eugene nodded to himself and patted Rimon's shoulder.
"Don't sweat it too much, partner. Life's all about that one big break. Even without the rule, you'll hit it eventually."
"If I sit around waiting for that one break, the company's gonna go under first."
"You dipped into company funds? Oof, that's rough."
"...What the hell are you talking about?"
Rimon asked, dumbfounded.
Eugene tilted his head right back at him.
"Huh? You went to the casino, lost a ton, got buried in debt paying it off, so now you can't perform with me anymore... right?"
"How do you twist my words into that?"
"Isn't that what happens with gamblers and stock traders? They strut around all proud after finding the 'winning formula,' lose everything, then hunt for the next one?"
[Puhahaha!]
'...That funny to you?'
[Of course! Calling the team leader a gambler? Man, you really do see new things the longer you live.]
'You're already dead.'
[Ah, don't hit me with facts like a coward!]
'Want a knuckle to the forehead instead of facts?'
There was a bit of misunderstanding midway, but after some clarification, Eugene got the gist and tilted his head.
"Hm, not sure I follow, but I get that you're in a bind."
[Normally, you'd call that giving up and—gah!]
"Yeah, long as you get it."
Rimon shoved a whole cherry tomato into Yuna Kyung's beak.
No point in detailing things he couldn't explain fully anyway, and he had zero interest in rehashing for someone who'd at least bought the vague version.
"But partner... that rule thing. It's really gone?"
"What're you on about?"
Rimon gave her a bored look at the out-of-left-field question.
"Plenty of music has a total mess of a rhythm. But even the messiest songs—if you really listen—let you feel the rhythm."
"No clue what you mean."
"Don't think. Feel!"
"You think I'm some famous actor or a Seven Dragon Society master?"
"Ughhh..."
Maybe struggling to put it into words.
After a brief head-scratching session.
As if struck by inspiration, Eugene broke into a bright smile and held out an item to Rimon.
"...Why're you giving that to me?"
"You don't have your instrument today, partner."
"No, why does that mean you're handing me your guitar?"
"Just take it. You'll see."
Hesitating for a moment.
He finally took the surprisingly heavy guitar.
He knew if he didn't, Eugene would hold it out like this for hours.
But Rimon soon realized.
It had been a mistake.
The second he took the guitar, Eugene shot up from his seat.
That sudden move.
His slightly parted lips.
And above all, that smile.
They revealed Eugene's intentions to Rimon.
"Hey, you don't mean...!?"
But the realization came too late.
Before Rimon could stop him, Eugene had already taken a breath.
Aren't you hungry?
...Echoing clearly through the restaurant in the form of song.
All eyes turned at once.
From the servers hustling trays, to the families calmly eating, to the owner yawning at the counter.
Everyone in the restaurant froze with stunned expressions at the song bursting from the center.
But Eugene didn't stop.
As if oblivious to the stares.
Or maybe reveling in them.
He just kept singing, beaming with cheerful energy.
I want to eat a sweet pie.
I want to eat warm soup.
It is the food of my soul.
'...Damn it all.'
Rimon rubbed his dry face.
He was brazen enough to earn even Yuna Kyung's admiration, but right now, the embarrassment was hard to bear.
Bursting into an upbeat song in the middle of a restaurant? He could shrug that off.
The problem was Eugene's singing itself.
[What is this trainwreck of a song?!]
'Even you think so?'
[Obviously! I have ears, you know?]
Sure, Eugene was still inexperienced.
Fine if Rimon backed him up.
But solo? His technical shortcomings stood out so much that his greatest strength—his emotion—barely came through.
Even accounting for that, though, this song was an utter disaster.
Pitch, rhythm, tempo.
Everything was all over the place.
[His singing was decent before, right? Why's he butchering it like this all of a sudden?]
'He's not butchering it. He's mauling it.'
[What's the difference?!]
'The difference is he's not trying to sing badly on purpose—it's just turning into a mess because he's composing and writing lyrics on the fly while singing.'
[...What do you mean???]
Her beak agape like she'd been shot.
A beat later, Yuna Kyung finally got it and gawked even wider.
[Wait, so this is an improv song?]
'Yeah.'
[Not something pre-made?]
'If it was, the notes wouldn't be jumping around like this.'
Now grasping why Eugene's singing sounded so awful, Yuna Kyung asked in utter bewilderment.
[No, seriously, why? Did a sudden burst of creative passion overwhelm him or something?]
'He's telling me to follow along.'
[Huh???]
Yuna Kyung looked utterly lost.
But Rimon offered no more explanation.
He simply gazed intently at the joyfully singing Eugene, then picked up the guitar with a sigh.
[Uh... wait a sec.]
[Team leader? What are you planning?]
[No way, right? You said it's improv? So there's no sheet music at all?]
As if realization dawned late.
Yuna Kyung asked in a fluster.
She was spot on.
Rimon's talent for playing any instrument perfectly after one look was astounding.
But that relied entirely on his Sword Master super-senses and physical prowess.
To improvise along to a song that wasn't just new—but being composed live, ignoring chords, rhythm, everything?
Impossible, as far as Yuna Kyung was concerned.
'Jeez.'
Truth be told, Rimon felt the same.
With his limited playing experience, he had no idea how to match this improv.
But in the end, he didn't let go of the guitar.
Eugene sang on steadfastly amid the bewildered stares of everyone.
As if certain Rimon would follow.
That left him no choice.
'Well, I've just had headaches lately. Might not hurt to play along and clear my head a bit.'
When good ideas wouldn't come, a mood changer was a valid tactic.
A little bitter.
A little absurd.
A little fun.
Amid those mixed feelings, the moment Rimon plucked the string.
Ding—
Yuna Kyung and everyone else watching Eugene with slack-jawed shock had their jaws drop even further.