Chapter 19
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: A Performance for the Gods
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Offer a performance for the gods.
Yuhyeons gaze fell upon the violin held by the stone statue.
It wasn't that he had deliberately tried to find an instrument.
It was more accurate to say he had realized it instinctively.
Hummm.
And for good reasonthe violin was speaking to him.
As if to say, Look at me, over here.
Only the violin is real. A real instrument, made of wood.
Walking over to the statue, Yuhyeon slowly picked up the violin.
The instrument alone was not a stone sculpture but a genuine one made of wood.
Swoosh.
He carefully lifted the violin from its place on the statue.
As he checked the instrument's condition, Yuhyeon's eyes widened.
Its in pristine condition.
Despite having been left in a damp dungeon for a hundred years, the instrument was in the best possible shape.
This would have been impossible unless it was under some kind of special enchantment.
He then picked up the bow and skillfully assumed a playing posture.
Ting!
A message window appeared before Yuhyeons eyes.
You have acquired the Conductor of Melody's Violin (Legendary).
Description: A violin once used by the Conductor of Melody. It is imbued with a special blessing that keeps it in pristine condition. As a replica, it can only be used temporarily.
Durability: 11
...!
Yuhyeons eyes went wide as saucers as he read the message.
The practice violin he had used in the cathedral was a common-grade item, but this was a legendary-grade one.
Recalling how well he had played with even the practice instrument, he could hardly imagine the sound a legendary violin would produce.
A replica, so it can only be used temporarily.
That particular phrase stood out.
It seemed that whether he succeeded or failed, his chance would vanish after a single performance.
If that was the case, he had no choice but to make this one opportunity count.
Zing.
Yuhyeon lightly gripped the bow and plucked a string.
In that moment, an unprecedentedly sharp and brilliant sound pierced his ears.
!
It was a truly fantastical sound.
The rich bass and treble, the timbre of the stringsit was beyond beautiful, it was radiant.
Having plucked a string just once, Yuhyeon knew instantly.
This was no ordinary instrument.
Its on par with a Guarneri or a Stradivarius.
It was an instrument reminiscent of the Stradivarius he had once played, thanks to his patron.
The very instrument known as one of the world's three greatest violins.
Its incredibly sensitive.
The better the violin, the more sensitive the instrument becomes.
Of course, all instruments are sensitive, but violins are even more so.
The slightest change in finger weight, spacing, or pressure would prevent him from producing the desired note.
How long has it been since Ive touched something like this?
In other words, everything depended on the player.
Whether it became a sensitive, unruly colt or a celestial instrument capable of expressing any desired tone was entirely up to the performer.
This was why musicians practiced hundreds, even thousands of times for a single heavenly note.
Yuhyeon thought back to the Stradivarius Messiah he had once played.
An instrument hailed as the most perfect in the world, one he hoped to own himself someday if the chance arose.
Yes, Messiah.
At the same time, a thought flashed through his mind.
The inscription said, Offer a performance for the gods.
Could there be a more fitting word for a performance dedicated to the gods than Messiah?
Swoosh.
Having chosen the piece in his mind, Yuhyeon calmly raised the bow.
He then drew it smoothly across the strings.
Ziiing!
A warm and beautiful melody echoed through the dungeon.
Today, the sound of the strings was exceptionally gentle, as if caressing everything it touched.
This piece, which filled the listener with overwhelming emotion and warmth, was none other than.
Hallelujah, the final piece of Part II of Oratorio HWV 56, one of Handel's masterpieces.
It was the very same chorus, familiar to all and often sung at Christmas.
Handel's Messiah was composed in a mere 24 days.
The fact that this grand work of 52 pieces could be born in under a month was only possible because he had connected with God through the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, there was no better piece to offer as a performance for the gods.
Zing.
The bow and string slid against each other with a light grace.
The violin's reverent melody struck Yuhyeons ears.
A resonance that was cheerful but not light, pious but not heavy, filled the dungeon.
A pleasant, overwhelming feeling, one hard to find in a dungeon, enveloped his entire body.
Hoo.
Yuhyeons sense of time began to slow.
The world slowed to a crawl, and he felt his body and the instrument become one as he played.
This instrument, befitting its title as a divine object, was accepting his every note.
It was as if it were challenging him, saying, Lets see what else youve got.
The previous owner might have been someone special, but you'll find I'm not so easy to handle.
Yuhyeon smirked.
Then, as if dueling with the instrument, he moved his left hand without hesitation.
Pressing, plucking, caressingevery part of the process was fierce.
This is fun.
As he played, why did the piece Thrill, which he had composed in the past, come to mind?
Perhaps it was because of the current situation of offering praise to the gods, or perhaps because the act of taming this instrument was a thrill in itself.
But he couldn't lose focus. Now was the time to pour all his energy into the performance.
He had to burn himself to ashes to reach the gods.
Zing. Ziiing!
The melody Yuhyeon built up grew denser and denser, and it gradually began to change the place where he stood.
A cathedral. The damp dungeon was transforming into a hallowed cathedral.
And the moment Yuhyeon felt this with his entire being.
Ting!
A familiar notification sound reached his ears.
The violin's durability has been depleted.
Ah!
For him, who had been completely immersed in his performance, it was the most unfortunate message.
Suddenly, the violin in his hands began to slowly fade away in a haze of light.
Yuhyeon, in a moment of regret, reached for the dissipating violin, but.
The replica's durability has been depleted. The violin will now disappear.
Sssss.
The haze of light simply slipped through his fingers like grains of sand.
Yuhyeon clenched his hand in the empty air, a feeling of loss washing over him.
Its been so long since Ive played an instrument like this.
The sensation of the performance still lingered in his hands.
The remnants of an instrument that had accepted his every note.
He had expected it, but for it to disappear so easily.
It was a replica. That means an original exists.
But Yuhyeon did not despair.
The existence of a replica meant that an original remained somewhere in the world.
There was no reason for someone capable of bestowing a top-tier blessing on an instrument to leave only a replica behind.
The very reason for a musician's existence was to wander the world in search of a player of a matching caliber.
We will meet again.
And if that day ever came, it would be different from today.
He would play the unfinished performance to his heart's content.
Ting!
Trial 2: Offer a performance for the gods (Complete)
Trial 3: ???
A familiar notification sound was accompanied by a message window.
It was the welcome news that the trial was complete.
It reached them.
Yuhyeon clenched his fist in joy.
His performance had reached the Conductor of Melody.
For a musician, there was no greater joy.
Ting!
You have acquired the trial completion reward.
You have acquired a Broken Violin Bow (Legendary).
Description: A bow given only to those acknowledged by the Conductor of Melody. Its durability is completely depleted, making it unusable. If you can find a blacksmith capable of repairing divine objects, its original form may be restored.
Durability: 03380
Legendary!
In that instant, a violin bow materialized in Yuhyeons hand with a flash of light.
The bow used by the Conductor of Melody.
Yuhyeon held the bow in his hand.
The feel of the smooth, polished wood traveled up his skin.
Though he had no instrument, he naturally assumed a playing posture.
I can feel it. This is the dedicated bow for that instrument.
He knew it instinctively the moment he gripped the bow.
Yuhyeon stared at the bow intently.
What kind of wood is this made from? It looks incredibly luxurious.
His professional habit kicked in as he tried to identify the wood, but nothing came to mind.
Bows are typically made from the highest quality Pernambuco wood, known for its high elasticity and resistance to moisture.
But the texture against his skin felt utterly unfamiliar.
It was as if it were made from a wood that didn't exist in this world.
The bow hair doesnt seem to be made from horse tail hair either.
He was more knowledgeable about music than anyone, yet this was an object so foreign that even he couldn't identify it.
Perhaps, befitting its title as a divine object, it was made from special materials not found in the real world.
Itll be hard to use until its repaired.
The bow was completely warped, and the hair was frayed, making it impossible to use as it was.
Yuhyeon swallowed his disappointment and placed the violin bow in his inventory.
It said its a bow given only to those he acknowledges.
Yuhyeons eyes narrowed.
Just how skilled was this musician, the Conductor of Melody, to be the one acknowledging him?
While he was pleased to be acknowledged, a curiosity about the man's greatness began to bloom within him.
This makes me want to meet him even more.
You have cleared all dungeons. The exit will now open.
Please exit the dungeon within 1 minute.
Rumble.
Piles of rock began to fall from the ceiling.
It looked as though the place would collapse after one minute.
Well then, shall we go?
Yuhyeon headed toward the dungeon exit with a light step.
Ill be able to meet him soon.
Only one step remained before he could meet the Conductor of Melody.
It was time to face the third trial.
Whoosh.
After exiting, Yuhyeon found himself back at the game's starting point.
There were rumors that you could respawn at a random location instead of the starting point, and this seemed to be one of those cases.
Is it because the cave collapsed at the end?
By now, evening darkness had settled in.
It was the time when all the NPCs had finished their work and were heading home.
Looking around, Yuhyeon soon spotted someone still nearby.
It was Olsen, the training grounds instructor.
Instructor!
Youre back!
Olsen stopped organizing his equipment and greeted Yuhyeon.
He quickly scanned him from top to bottom to see if he was injured.
Though he didnt show it, he had been just as worried about Yuhyeon.
You seem to be in one piece. Thats a relief.
It was a dungeon that had been abandoned for over a hundred years.
There was no telling if monsters steeped in demonic energy had appeared.
It wouldn't have been strange at all if something that shouldn't exist had emerged.
I might have died if not for your teachings, Instructor.
Too much humility is a vice. With your skills, you should have been able to handle the monsters around here with ease, no?
Olsen chuckled, thinking Yuhyeon was just being modest.
No, I really had a tough time. The skeletons were manageable, but when I had to face the Skeleton Knight
A S-Skeleton Knight?
Olsens eyes widened like saucers.
If he was thinking of the right one, a Skeleton Knight was an elite monster.
Moreover, there wasn't a single elite monster in the vicinity of this village.
If there had been, he would have certainly cut it down immediately.
To these outsiders, an elite monster is like a walking disaster.
Each one was akin to a walking catastrophe.
Olsen, assuming Yuhyeon had naturally fled, spoke urgently.
Youre lucky to have escaped with your life. What color was its grade? No, I suppose its too much to ask you to check its grade while running away.
A white or yellow grade might have been manageable, but anything higher would have been a disaster.
If a black-grade one had appeared, he would have been the only one in this village capable of facing it.
Ill have to go investigate the dungeon tomorrow.
In contrast to Olsen's urgent demeanor.
It was black, Instructor. And you dont have to worry about that. I won.
Yuhyeon replied in a calm tone.
Wh-what? Is that true?
This is proof that I defeated the Skeleton Knight.
He then showed Olsen the ring he had obtained from the battle.
Ring of the Skeleton Knight (Epic)
Only after seeing the ring could Olsen believe Yuhyeons words.
The Ring of the Skeleton Knight! So you weren't lying about winning!
A look of astonishment crossed Olsens face.
A black-grade elite monster was dozens of times stronger than monsters of a similar level.
Since Yuhyeon had entered the dungeon at level 1, the difference might not have been dozens, but hundreds of times.
Clearing the dungeon alone is surprising enough, but to defeat an elite monster on top of that.
Even though he had taught Yuhyeon his secret sword technique, it was still difficult to comprehend logically.
However.
He was someone who reached the fourth stage of the special training.
If his sword hadn't broken, Yuhyeon might have even cleared the fourth stage.
The thought occurred to him that for someone like that, it might just be possible.
Yuhyeon was a genius of effort, a man who possessed a magical ability to make the impossible possible.
Im proud of you, truly proud. Teaching you my swordsmanship was the best decision of my life.
Olsen spoke to Yuhyeon with genuine sincerity.
Yuhyeon felt the same way.
I was also truly fortunate to be able to learn swordsmanship from you, Instructor.
Yuhyeon took out the bow he had received as a reward from the dungeon and spoke.
Instructor, do you happen to know of a blacksmith who can repair divine objects?
Hmm.
Olsens eyes narrowed as he looked at the bow.
A blacksmith who can handle divine objects.
It seemed that only a dwarf would fit that description.
As he pondered, an unexpected person came to Olsens mind.
One person comes to mind. A blacksmith I knew during my days as a knight.
During your knight days, you say?
He was a blacksmith from another village, yet he was very interested in the Conductor of Melody.
During his time as a knight, Olsen had befriended a blacksmith by chance.
He was a dwarf who, strangely, was not from Hemona yet showed an immense interest in the Conductor of Melody.
It was because of the words Conductor of Melody that he had been able to befriend the perfectionistic and stubborn dwarf.
He felt that such a man would surely have the answers Yuhyeon was looking for.
Youll be heading to a large city soon, I imagine. If so, make sure you go to Lutetia. You should find a smithy there called the Whales Armory.
Olsen took a pen from his pocket and quickly scribbled his signature on a piece of paper.
Ting!
You have acquired 'Olsen's Letter of Recommendation'.
Description: A letter of recommendation with Olsen's handwritten signature. Showing this letter to the owner of the Whales Armory will grant a large amount of favorability.
With this, you should be able to get the information you want there.
Yuhyeons eyes widened.
He had heard that receiving a letter of recommendation from an NPC was no easy feat.
He had just obtained a precious item that could grant a large amount of favorability in an instant.
Thank you, Instructor!
Haha, its nothing.
From defeating the Skeleton Knight to obtaining a legendary item.
Olsen felt as if he were witnessing a series of miracles.
When his own student was performing such miracles, a mere letter of recommendation was nothing at all.
Where are you headed now?
I was thinking of going to the cathedral to finish my practice. If Charles is there, I could help him with his practice a bit, too.
Haha, if youre planning to defeat my father, Id advise against it.
Olsen gestured for him to stop.
My father told me. He said he closed the cathedral doors early in case you came to practice after clearing the dungeon. You must be exhausted from battle, you should rest.
Haha.
Yuhyeon laughed awkwardly.
As Olsen said, his fatigue was nearly at its limit.
He considered taking a short nap at the inn, but he quickly decided it would be better to log out.
There was something he needed to do as soon as he got home.
Ill be going then.
Alright, Ill see you tomorrow, in good shape.
Yuhyeon bowed to Olsen and logged out.
I think I can finish it now.
He had gained an incredible amount of inspiration while clearing this trial.
This might just be the greatest piece I've ever composed.
With new inspiration flooding his mind.
He wanted to pour out this feeling as soon as possible.