Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 053
Chapter Title: Oh mein Gott (1)
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[Harvestable Lifespan: +27 days]
It was the first quest notification I'd seen since that prima donna with the hypnotic eyes.
"Alright, we'll take a break here for some free time. Head north from the square to find the local market, or go that way for a café street with great coffee. Take a look around and meet back here! It's 1:45 now, so you've got until 2:30."
Right on cue, the guide announced our break.
[Yeonwoo. You're planning to do it, right?]
"Of course."
[Something about that old man feels off the charts. You still gonna go for it?]
"That's exactly why I have to. What, you scared?]
Ever since we'd both fallen under that prima donna's spell, the Child Spirit had been wary of any ghost that seemed powerful.
[Hey, I'm a top-tier Child Spirit from Korea, you know? Super impressive one. No way I'm scared.]
Yeah, totally scared.
Looked like his pride had taken a hit.
I got it, though. He never said it outright, but the Child Spirit was an old-timer who'd toughened up next to my mother, Lady Kang Yeon-hwa.
'And yet that Salieri knockoff mesmerized him for a moment.'
Maybe that was the power of a true master in his field.
[You're really going? For real?]
"Yeah. For real."
[What if it's dangerous!]
"Not dangerous, so quit chirping."
The violinist was dressed in worn, frayed clothes.
But his violin gleamed softly, like it was well-cared for.
"Interpret."
[On it!]
The interpreter, who'd been hanging back, hurried over.
"What are you doing here?"
The violinist glanced over, probably wondering why this guy was approaching out of nowhere and muttering to himself.
[Me?]
"Yes. Talking to you."
[Hmm... Just enjoying the music right now. A living human who can see me—how rare. Since it's fate, let me share something good.]
A cranky-looking middle-aged man who'd been squatting next to the violinist, chin in hand, grabbed Yeonwoo's lapel and pulled.
Which triggered it—
*Ding!*
-Name: Niccolò Paganini (75/Male)
-Job: Virtuoso, Devil's Violinist
-Disposition: Chaotic Neutral
-Specialties: Performance Tricks to Fool God's Ears [S+], Impromptu and Flashy Melodies [S], Demonic Violin Performance [SS], Acrobatic Techniques Blended with Skill [S+], Magician of the Strings [S+], ....
-Affinity: Neutral
-Current Physical State: -
-Current Emotional State: Longing
***Some items are not yet available.***
***Detailed info on this individual is hidden.***
***Additional Harvestable Ability: Impromptu and Flashy Performance [A+]
Now I knew who the squatting middle-aged man was.
No wonder his stats were eye-popping. Only a master could trip over a legend like this, and S-grades everywhere. SS-grade? What the hell?
"Paganini?"
Yeonwoo said the name without thinking, and the man looked shocked.
[Oh, you know me?]
"I know you as the violinist possessed by the devil."
[What? Ha! So that's how posterity remembers me? Makes sense. The priest who saw my end thought I was fully demon-possessed. Nice guy, naive though. I messed with him a bit....]
"Why are you sitting here?"
Yeonwoo cut in smoothly.
[Enjoying this passionate musician's performance.]
Paganini gazed at the violinist with distant eyes.
[You might not know, but I was a genius.]
"Yes...."
[What's with that reaction? Anyway. No one ever doubted my talent. Even those who looked down on me praised me after hearing me play! Felt so good. Maybe that's why... eventually, I cared more about worldly pleasures and the money my name brought in than the joy of playing. Can't deny gambling played a part.]
Ah. Gambler too, huh.
[Should've eased up on practicing when I got sick. Might've held the violin longer.]
Self-mocking tone.
[That musician's violin's got rough strings, coarse tone, poor resonance—total junk. And the skill? Laughable! Not even my son's level! But... he babies it, so it's in decent shape.]
Paganini, who'd been ripping into it, softened.
[Despite the cheap junk and awful technique, he plays like the happiest guy in the world. That's all it took to make it worth watching.]
Envy clear on Paganini's face.
Yeonwoo asked,
"Want to play?"
[Hm?]
"If it was just nice to watch, you wouldn't stare like you're dying of thirst."
[...I look that thirsty?]
"Yes."
Precisely, the lifespan floating over his head said so.
Whatever.
"Playing... playing... Can't even remember the last time I held a violin. Of course I want to play."
"Will you?"
[But I'm dead. Can't hold one. How?]
"You can. Asking again. Will you?"
Paganini stared silently into Yeonwoo's eyes.
[Your words tempt me like a rope from heaven. If you're asking if I want to, if I'll do it—hell yes!]
"Good. Contract made."
Yeonwoo smiled, satisfied.
***
The change came suddenly.
"Huh? What's Yeonwoo doing over there?"
The staff, gathered in the square the guide had set free, opted for rest over sightseeing.
Of course their eyes turned to Yeonwoo.
He was already tall and handsome, subtly drawing gazes.
But at some point, a unique aura clung to him.
-Yeonwoo’s voice is like, why talk? Straight drugs. Heard radio’s been pushing hard to book him.
-Kinda get a buzz just looking in Yeonwoo’s eyes, right? That star aura? Same with Kwon Sung-hyun. No wonder he brought him.
Yeonwoo now rivaled Kwon Sung-hyun in presence among the staff.
So eyes naturally went his way.
"Into busking?"
"Think he plays well? Should we check it out?"
Staff started standing one by one.
"Huh?"
They'd been talking about the performer, but suddenly Yeonwoo took the violin.
"No way, he's gonna play?"
"Looks like it."
"Camera! Where's the camera?"
"I got it! Video ready!"
"Nice. Staff instincts...."
No one ordered them, but they grabbed cameras naturally.
They knew instinctively.
What they were about to capture was priceless.
And their expectations became reality.
***
"You want to play my violin?"
"Of course I'll pay for it."
"...You look like you'd have a better one."
"No. I want yours. Deal? Hate it?"
"Not hate, but...."
"I'll pay usage fee and make you more money."
The beat-up hat in front held pocket change.
The violinist's face clouded with doubt.
Asking to borrow an instrument could be rude, insulting.
Normally, he'd snap.
But.
'Weird... Can't get mad.'
The rude request out of nowhere, yet no offense taken.
Felt like he had to agree. Give violin, money, all of it.
Without realizing, he handed over the violin he cherished.
"Thanks."
Only then did he jolt, realizing.
His baby was already in the guy's hands.
'Feels like I got charmed.'
The violinist stepped back, dazed.
Dude didn't seem like he'd damage it or run.
"Won't abuse your kindness."
His barely steadied heart shook at the bright smile.
But what shocked the violinist more was the performance that followed.
"...Oh mein Gott."
The bow, horsehair taut, scraped the strings powerfully.
The notes that followed were chilling.
♪♩♬♪♬♪
Bow relentless on strings.
Fingering swift, flawless, precise on the violin.
"Famous guy?"
"Look at that technique."
"Shh! Quiet."
Smooth fingertips trilled, hearts trembling in sync.
Staccato-legato contrasts tensed and relaxed the crowd.
Even passersby stopped, staring at the young man.
No one dared breathe lest they break his focus.
The square fell under the violin's spell—haunting, irresistible melody.
Didn't know the piece, but captivating enough.
And.
"Hoo...."
Final fierce note, bow off strings.
Silence blanketed the square.
Trapped in afterglow, all stared blankly at Yeonwoo.
*Clap...*
*Clap...*
Small applause from somewhere snapped them out.
Then.
*Clap clap clap! Clap clap!*
Thunderous cheers filled the square unprecedentedly.
***
"Hoo...."
Arms and shoulders ached.
[Haa. Yes. That's it... This is what playing violin felt like!]
Just one piece.
But as the status showed, Paganini used insane technique.
"Couldn't you go easy? Abusing a beginner's body like this?"
[Abuse? In my prime, I played like that every minute!]
That's what they call abuse.
But wait.
'Why's it so quiet around here?'
Yeonwoo rolled his sore neck, looking around.
For some reason, the square brimmed with stunned onlookers.
"Hey, you... Are you a violinist? If it's not rude, may I have your name?"
The violinist who'd loaned it broke the silence.
"Not a violinist."
Not a lie.
Paganini had played via Yeonwoo's arm, 'master' title or not.
Just the arm.
[One more. Just one more piece.]
What? This old guy?
[For real! Please, just one more!]
Paganini begged, dropping his detached air.
Yeonwoo looked to the violinist instead of answering.
"Mind if I play one more?"
Their eyes met; violinist flinched.
Throat bobbed.
Eyes glazed—
*Clap clap clap!*
Huge applause erupted.
"Oh my god!"
"Unbelievable!"
"What playing!"
Crowd exclaimed wildly.
Money piled in the hat.
"Encore!"
"One more!"
*Whooo!*
The heat.
"Water? Of course."
Violinist swallowed hard, nodding faintly.
[Good. Softer this time?]
Paganini muttered excitedly, moving his hands again.