Chapter 9
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Chaconne
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Ziiiing.
As the bow struck the string, a sharp note resonated throughout the cathedral.
Though the sound was somewhat unrefined, Yuhyeon's eyes were filled with ecstasy.
To think I'd hear this sound again.
He had played the piano consistently for composing, but it had been a full decade since he'd last held a violin.
Yet, the moment he gripped the bow, memories of the past began to resurface.
The posture for holding the bow and violin, the trembling of his left fingers, the motion of his body.
It was as if his own body was speaking to him.
Telling him he could never forget the violin.
What should I play?
Yuhyeon's eyes sparkled.
There were so many pieces he wanted to perform.
But before choosing a piece, there was something else he needed to decide.
What do I want to express?
Art, in essence, is the act of conveying one's pursued values or messages through an appropriate medium.
Even with masterful skill, if it contained no value, emotion, or message, it was merely the work of a technician.
So, what did he, in this moment, want to express?
A thrill.
Yuhyeon wanted to show Geye the emotion he was feeling right now.
The thrill he felt holding the violin. He wanted to convey that very feeling.
I will begin.
Yuhyeon lightly raised the bow. He secured the instrument between his chin and shoulder and gently placed his left hand on the neck.
The entire sequence was incredibly natural, as if he and the instrument were one.
The expressions of Charles, Martin, and Geye, all awaiting the performance, grew serious.
In the silence, so profound that the sound of a swallow could be heard clearly.
Yuhyeon drew his bow smoothly.
Immediately, with an elegant flourish, an intense melody poured forth from the very first bar.
Ziiiing!
A double stop.
A technique of playing two strings at once, its difficulty was matched by the weighty resonance that filled the cathedral.
As this was a solo performance without accompaniment, he had to insert double stops between melodies to express emotion and resonance.
The name of this piece, which made one's body stir just by watching the cascade of techniques, was none other than.
Bach's Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004, the Chaconnehailed as one of his masterpieces.
Yuhyeon's bow began to move with all his soul, like a human confronting a raging inferno.
Precarious, as if about to be consumed by the flames, yet the bow struck furiously, as if fighting back against the blaze.
Ziiiing!
A chaconne is a type of variation form, presenting a theme and then repeating it with various stylistic transformations.
Bach's Chaconne presents a theme in the first four bars, which is then varied sixty-four times.
In other words, it was a piece that tenaciously repeated a single theme over the course of 256 bars.
And so, for 256 bars, Yuhyeon battled the inferno.
A struggle so intense it was breathtaking, yet so arduous he could collapse at any moment. It was a truly precarious succession of melodies.
But those watching the performance could not even blink.
For it was a melody as sublime, perilous, and beautiful as a firefighter battling a blaze.
The intense melody began to slowly draw everyone in the hall into Yuhyeon's musical imagery.
W-what is this...
H-huh...
Wow, this is insane...
Some pictured a knight battling a dragon as they watched Yuhyeon play.
Others envisioned a firefighter confronting an inferno.
But there was a common thread in what they all imagined.
They all pictured a heroperilous yet brave, frail yet sublime.
And just as that musical imagery reached its climax.
Zing. Ziiiing!
The performance was over.
...Hup.
Haa.
Huhh.
Simultaneously, as if on cue, everyone in the hall let out a gasp of astonishment.
They looked at one another as if to confirm that what they had just witnessed was not a hallucination.
But it was a meaningless gesture.
For they could see in each other's eyes that they had all been touched by a different inspiration.
Finally, born from the tenacious repetition of 256 bars.
This was Yuhyeon's thrill.
Just before Yuhyeon began to play.
Pengkun stared at the quest window in surprise and muttered.
A sudden quest...?
Having been invited to the party, he too could see the quest Yuhyeon had received.
The reason for Pengkun's surprise was simple.
A sudden quest had appeared, the kind that only triggers when various specific conditions are met.
It was a quest unobtainable through normal meansone of the so-called hidden pieces.
In the past three years, Pengkun himself had only received a sudden quest once, a testament to how difficult they were to acquire.
- Whoa, a sudden quest, damn
- Isn't this gonna lead to a hidden quest?
- Beginner's luck? Is he really getting this at this timing? lol
'Hamdin' has donated 50,000 won.
- Man, I'm so jealous. Some people grind 10 hours a day and get nothing, and this guy gets one right at the start lol
- lol the whale is raging again
- Beginner's luck Hamdin who spends money and time
- As they say, some people are just born lucky
The viewers were in an uproar as well.
They, too, knew just how significant a sudden quest was.
These quests usually offered great rewards or led to chain quests with progressively better rewards.
This one explicitly mentioned a 'Chain Quest' in its rewards, so it was a given that even greater rewards would follow.
He had literally landed a big one. But that wasn't the only surprising thing.
W-what the. Is that for real?
Pengkun's eyes widened.
- Why, why?
- What is it now?
That guy is... bringing out a violin?
- ?
- ??
- ???
Everyone's gaze was filled with question marks.
He played the piano yesterday, right? Don't tell me he can play the violin too...?
It was only natural to wonder, as Yuhyeon, who had handled the piano yesterday, had now brought out a completely different instrument.
Pengkun muttered to himself.
I've heard that real musicians often play multiple instruments, but...
As is well known, many of history's greatest musicians were recorded as having mastered several instruments.
Musicians like Liszt or Johann Strauss, names everyone would recognize, were such examples.
But this was right after the sudden quest 'Impress Geye' had appeared.
He wouldn't bring out a hobby instrument in a situation like this. Does that mean he's confident he can play the violin just as well?
A thought suddenly occurred to Pengkun.
What if Yuhyeon could play the violin as well as he played the piano, and what if he chose the Bard class?
I just had a chilling thought. Imagine if that guy picks the Bard class and plays two instruments.
- That's overkill. Wouldn't that be on a national power level?
- There are plenty of garbage builds that use multiple instruments... it's just that no one can play multiple instruments at a high level lol
- I heard there's only one person in the whole world who has two instruments at level 7.
- Stop talking about stuff only you guys know and explain it so we can understand.
As Pengkun voiced his thought, he let out a scoffing smile, as if dismissing it as absurd.
Ah, let me explain what this is all about. The Bard class is...
In Wonderland, the Bard is a type of buffer class that provides buffs through musical performance.
They can grant special buffs unobtainable through items like potions and can adapt their buffs to the situation, making them a versatile support class.
They're so important these days that high-level parties will even drop a healer to make room for a Bard.
What's more, different types of instrumentsstrings, woodwinds, brass, keyboardsprovide different buffs, making it one of those classes with a very high 'ceiling' for potential.
However, it wasn't a class with only advantages.
'C2C' has donated 10,000 won.
- But they're a pain to level, right? Super weak early on, so you can't even get into parties?
Yes, in the early game, their buff effects are almost negligible, and their combat skills are severely lacking.
The Bard class had an inherent drawback: it was extremely difficult to level up.
Across all classes, the Bard was infamous for having the highest difficulty.
Most players who started the class, drawn by its late-game potential, ended up quitting in tears during the early grind. Even among those who managed to survive, half gave up on combat and switched to life skills.
The kind of build where you just spam performance skills to become a royal court musician or a salon performer.
The gear cost is also way higher than other classes. It's so expensive that you pretty much have to be rich to even start.
- The instruments are expensive, the sheet music is expensive lol
- I checked the auction house, and piano prices are insane.
- Well, the expensive instruments cost as much as a house...
- The only way to get them is to buy them, yeah. They don't drop from monsters.
There were only two ways to obtain instruments in the game.
Buy a handcrafted one from a workshop NPC, or purchase one made by a crafting player.
With crafting being difficult and no monster drops, while demand was high, it was only natural for prices to skyrocket.
- Honestly, I feel kinda bad for Bards
- lol if you choose a 'romantic' class, you have to accept the downsides
- Not being able to dual-wield like other classes is a real drag too.
In Wonderland, skill trees generally followed the main weapon.
Skills like the familiar Mace Mastery or Sword Mastery.
Similarly, Bards also had separate masteries for each instrument type, like String Mastery or Keyboard Mastery.
In theory, as long as you had enough skill points, you could master multiple instruments.
However, among the top-ranked Bards, there was no one who played multiple instrumentswith only one exception.
The instruments are expensive, and they eat up the same amount of skill points, so none of the top Bards use multiple instruments. Except for that one number one ranker in America.
The problem, as always, was the cost of the instruments. They were so astronomically expensive that no one could afford to master multiple instruments even if they wanted to.
That's why most players opted for a setup centered on string instruments, which were more combat-focused.
Woodwind builds, which handled life skill buffs like farming, had been obsolete for a long time.
This is why I said I got chills just imagining it earlier. With that level of skill, his buffs would be insane. If a player like that could use multiple instruments... man.
People with outstanding abilitiesbe they physical, mental, or technicalreceive a weighted bonus in Wonderland.
A prime example would be someone with exceptional dynamic visual acuity continuously aiming for an opponent's weak spots to land consecutive critical hits.
In fact, users with superior physical abilities, like Olympic medalists or martial artists, were often top rankers in combat-related classes.
In other words, if Yuhyeon were to become a Bard, it was a foregone conclusion that he would receive a related bonus.
Of course, he doesn't have any skills yet, so he's just a player who's good at performing. And even if he becomes a Bard, it's only possible if he can afford the instruments.
Just as Pengkun was lost in these thoughts.
I will begin.
Having finished his preparations, Yuhyeon gripped the bow and took his stance.
It was the signal that the performance was about to start.
- Wow, I'm so excited
- Is that a baby violin? It's so small and cute lol
- Shh, the performer is entering
Pengkun glanced to the side.
Charles was watching with reverence, while Martin wore an expression of intrigue.
Geye, however, still looked indifferent, as if he had no interest.
I hope he takes that guy down a peg.
He hadn't really befriended Yuhyeon, but as someone who had suffered humiliation at the hands of many NPCs, he felt inclined to side with a fellow player.
They would also be doing content together for the next few days, so he hoped things would go well.
With that in mind, Pengkun looked at Yuhyeon, cheering for him inwardly.
At that moment.
Ziiiing. Yuhyeon's bow grazed the strings, and a melody rang out.
...!
And soon, something incredible began to unfold in the cathedral.
Returning to the present.
Having finished his performance, Yuhyeon slowly lowered his bow.
Huuu...
Yuhyeon let out a small breath, so quiet that others wouldn't hear it.
He didn't want to blow away the intense, dizzying moments of the six-minute battle against the inferno with a single exhale.
Finally, as the raised bow came down, he felt himself gradually returning to reality.
From the private space shared only by the violin and Yuhyeon, back to the real world.
He'd felt it last time as well, but it was always a regrettable moment.
Because this special experience could only be felt while playing an instrument.
Back in reality, Yuhyeon slowly opened his eyes.
...
He looked at the people before him.
The gazes of Charles, Martin, Pengkun, and Geye met his.
Did they feel it?
It certainly wasn't as perfect as his performances in the past.
There had been mistakes in the middle, minor notes off-key.
But his heart had been more desperate than anyone's, and it was a performance into which he had poured his entire soul.
Under those circumstances, could they truly have felt the musical imagery he had just expressed?
He soon had his answer.
...Hup.
Haa.
Huhh.
Because everyone in the hall let out a simultaneous gasp of astonishment.
The suspicion in Geye's eyes had long since vanished.
Charles was harder to read. It was as if his look of trust had ascended to an even higher level.
Just as Yuhyeon was mulling over these thoughts.
Tiring!
Geye was moved by your performance.
A familiar sound accompanied a welcome notification.
It meant the quest was a success.
I did it...!
This was the moment he had earned the chance to perform a successful ensemble with Geye.
It was also proof that he had delivered a satisfying violin performance.
It was then.
Tiring!
Geye's favorability has risen from Worst to Maximum.
First Achievement!
You have acquired the title 'First Impressions Are Just First Impressions'.
Description: You are the only player to have changed an NPC's favorability from Worst to Maximum in a single moment.
Tiring!
Martin was moved by your performance.
Martin's favorability has risen from Neutral to Maximum.
Tiring!
Charles was moved by your performance.
Charles's favorability has surpassed Maximum and risen by another level!
First Achievement!
You have acquired the title 'Fanatic'.
Description: With an outstanding performance, you have turned a listener into a believer. From now on, this NPC will believe anything you say, no matter how absurd.
The notifications and messages rang out so loudly it was dizzying.
W-what is all this...
Yuhyeon's eyes shook violently.
You have raised the favorability of 3 NPCs to Maximum simultaneously with a single performance.
You have become the first player on the beginner server to acquire two First Achievements at once.
The two First Achievements have created a synergy. Existing rewards will be greatly enhanced...
Calculating rewards based on appropriate criteria...
R-rewards?
Yuhyeon's eyes widened.
Tiring!
Calculation complete.
Your Charm has increased by 10 due to your special performance.
A temporary buff has been granted within the cathedral.
This is an incredible achievement!
You are the first player to grant a buff without using a skill!