Chapter 107: The "Brothers" ensemble declined the song and dance troupe’s invitation...

Ilio raised his hand and plucked the strings. Bright, lively music immediately rang out. His practiced technique, full-bodied notes, and smoothly flowing melody all attested to his consummate skill as a musician.

Shu Li had never heard the piece before, but that did not stop him from following Ilio’s rhythm. By the end of the introduction, he had already grasped the general progression of the melody. At the appropriate passages, he shook his handbell, adding another layer to the music.

Simu and the other members of the song-and-dance troupe all looked surprised.

Because the situation had been urgent, Mary had simply grabbed an ordinary harp normally used by beginners for practice. No professional musician would ever have considered it fit for a formal performance.

Yet once the harp was in the black-haired young man’s hands, it produced a uniquely beautiful tone, exquisite enough to make anyone believe it was an unparalleled masterpiece of an instrument.

A classic ancient piece known throughout the continent, “The Beautiful Bakat River,” rang out across the open grassland. Lively, buoyant, and bursting with vitality, the music was made all the more delightful by the clear chiming of the bell. As they listened, a broad river seemed to unfold before their eyes.

Morning light spilled across the rippling surface, making the water glitter gold. Waterbirds spread their wings and danced gracefully through the spray. A hardworking young woman came to the river carrying a washbasin, her steps light and quick. Gazing upon the beautiful Bakat River, she began to sing its praises.

“Waters from the Land of Snow,

Flowing softly onward,

Winding past mountain after mountain,

Gathering into the beautiful Bakat River,

Rushing toward distant Cecilia.

You are the goddess from the north,

Nourishing the boundless earth,

Never asking for anything in return.

Beautiful Bakat River,

Flow softly onward,

Carry away my longing and sorrow...”

The familiar song took on a distinctive charm when sung in Ilio’s slightly husky baritone.

As the handsome, black-haired young man sang the final line, the harp fell silent. The chiming of the handbell gradually faded as well, bringing the performance to a flawless close.

Everything around them was quiet.

Both the members of the song-and-dance troupe and the haughty knights remained entranced, still immersed in the beautiful music and singing.

After a long while, Simu began to applaud, and the others quickly followed.

Ilio set down the harp, rose, and bowed to the knight captain at the head of the group. “Noble sir, may I ask whether you were satisfied with the piece my brother and I performed?”

The knight captain regarded him coldly. After a long silence, he said, “Not bad. You truly are qualified to enter the royal capital of Diyalan.”

“The Beautiful Bakat River” was a piece every musician was required to learn. Its melody sounded simple, but playing it demanded superb technique. The black-haired young man’s long, slender fingers were plainly those of someone who played often. The wanted fugitive they were pursuing possessed no musical talent whatsoever, much less the ability to produce such beautiful music.

“Thank you for your approval, sir.” Ilio bowed again, his expression filled with excitement, perfectly displaying the ambition of a young musician.

The knight captain frowned and barked an order. Digging his heels into his horse’s flanks, he led the way out of the troupe’s camp. The other knights received the command, raised their whips, and struck their horses’ hindquarters, swiftly following their captain.

Clatter, clatter, clatter—

More than twenty horses came and went like the wind, leaving behind a cloud of dust that gradually receded into the distance.

Once the knights had gone, the members of the song-and-dance troupe crowded around Ilio and Shu Li.

“Mr. Al, little Amo, you were incredible!”

“I never knew an ordinary instrument could produce such heavenly music in the hands of a gifted musician.”

“Mr. Al is amazing!”

“Little Amo was good too. He and Mr. Al worked perfectly together. The bell and harp blended seamlessly.”

“Mr. Al’s voice is so beautiful that it made my legs go weak.”

“It looks as though the rest of us musicians are about to lose our jobs.”

Ilio accepted their praise with perfect composure.

“Mr. Al, would the two of you consider joining our Miriya Song-and-Dance Troupe?” A calculating gleam flickered in Simu’s narrow brown eyes as she warmly extended an invitation to the brothers. “We’re about to travel to the royal capital of Diyalan to compete in the song-and-dance competition at the Festival of Wonders. If we win, we’ll have the opportunity to enter the palace and perform for the esteemed king and queen.”

Ilio did not answer immediately. Under the many ardent, expectant gazes fixed upon him, he sank into thought.

Shu Li stood quietly and obediently beside him, his mind racing.

They must have been blessed by the goddess of fortune. The destination of the random song-and-dance troupe they had encountered on the road was actually the capital of the Dalia Empire.

This free ride was far more valuable than he had imagined.

Simu, the troupe leader, was extremely ambitious. She actually hoped to enter the palace and perform for the king and queen.

If the Miriya Song-and-Dance Troupe earned the king and queen’s approval, its status would rise, its performance fees would double, and it would be able to travel freely through all the major cities.

The royal capital was also Shu Li and Ilio’s destination. If they accepted Simu’s invitation, they might be able to meet the queen without difficulty.

The only thing troubling him was that half a month was far too long.

He wanted to return to the Elven Kingdom as soon as possible.

The mother tree, Fruit Number Two, and the Dark Elf were still waiting for him!

Ilio finished considering the proposal and smiled pleasantly at the glamorous troupe leader. “Thank you for your invitation, Leader Simu. However, my brother and I are accustomed to our freedom. Rather than building a career with a song-and-dance troupe, we prefer traveling across the continent. However...”

“However, what?” Simu frowned, disappointed by his refusal.

It was such a pity that she could not keep such an outstanding musician in her troupe.

In her thirty years of life, she had encountered countless gifted musicians, but none had been like Al. Despite his youth, his mastery of the harp had nearly reached the pinnacle of perfection.

Ilio stroked Shu Li’s head, his face full of indulgence. “Little Amo has always wanted to see the splendor of the royal capital of Diyalan, so I brought him along on my travels. Since Leader Simu has been kind enough to look after us, you may call upon me whenever you need my help during the journey.”

“In that case...all right!” Simu had never liked forcing others to do something against their will. Since he had already put it that way, she could only let the matter drop.

Shu Li looked up at Ilio’s flawless profile.

What a crafty answer.

He had tactfully declined without offending anyone, then made an inconsequential verbal promise to soothe her disappointment while giving himself a perfectly reasonable excuse to continue hitching a ride.

In truth, Ilio had displayed only a quarter of his skill. Anyone who listened carefully to the piece could still detect quite a few flaws.

Even so, ordinary humans regarded his music and singing as divine and wanted to recruit him into their song-and-dance troupe.

This incident had effectively taught Shu Li a lesson: when Elves or Fairies traveled beyond their homeland, they had to conceal their true abilities.

After breakfast, the members of the troupe efficiently packed their belongings, climbed into their respective carriages, and resumed their journey.

Shu Li and Ilio returned to the carriage carrying the miscellaneous supplies. The moment Shu Li smelled the pungent odor inside, he nearly vomited up his breakfast. He decisively lifted the carriage curtain to let fresh air flow inside and drive out the stench.

Ilio leaned back lazily and yawned, apparently planning to catch up on sleep.

Shu Li admired his nose. Even amid all these strange odors, Ilio remained completely unruffled. “Brother Al, how long will it take us to reach the royal capital?”

“Four days, if we travel quickly,” Ilio replied with his eyes closed.

“Four days?” Shu Li was torn. Merely reaching the royal capital would consume four days. Including yesterday, that made five. The remaining two days would not be nearly enough to sneak into the palace and meet the queen, much less make the return journey.

“We have plenty of time.” Ilio opened his eyes a fraction and looked at the worried Little Fairy.

“But...six days from now, I’m supposed to go to the Elven Kingdom to study.” Shu Li puffed out his cheeks.

Of course, he could not tell Ilio the real reason.

A trace of amusement flashed through Ilio’s eyes.

He knew what was troubling the Little Fairy, but he could not expose it.

After all, the Little Fairy did not want the Elves to know about his glorious exploits, so the Elves had gone along with his wishes and helped him keep them hidden.

“The king will not mind. Our most urgent task is to lift your curse,” Ilio said, patting Shu Li’s shoulder.

Shu Li lowered his head. “All right!”

The curse posed the greatest danger. Protecting his life had to come first.

If he died, everything else would be meaningless.

He could only hope the mother tree and the Dark Elf would understand his difficulties.

The carriage raced along, jolting so violently that acid churned in Shu Li’s stomach. Sitting was uncomfortable, but lying down was no better. No matter what he tried, he could not adapt. He wished he could reveal his wings, burst out of the carriage, and fly away.

Ilio, in contrast, slept soundly while leaning against the carriage wall.

Shu Li was deeply envious of his ability to sleep anywhere.

On second thought, however, Ilio must not have slept well the previous night because he had been taking care of him.

Guilt stirred in Shu Li’s heart.

If not for him, Ilio would never have had to endure any of this.

Shu Li patted his cheeks and steadied himself. He warned himself not to be delicate. He had to learn how to survive in different environments and lay the groundwork for his future travels across the continent.

He adjusted his position, leaned against the window, and distracted himself by admiring the scenery along the road.

They were traveling along a rough dirt road barely wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side. Dense forests lined both sides, while slopes and hills rose in the distance. The entire area was deserted.

Apart from the troupe’s procession of carriages, they occasionally encountered people traveling on foot.

Most wore ragged clothes and walked with hunched backs, their faces sallow and their bodies painfully thin.

The sight left Shu Li sighing with emotion.

This other world was even poorer and less developed than he had imagined.

The carriages traveled throughout the morning. As noon approached, the road grew somewhat smoother, and the jolting diminished. The forests on either side gave way to vast fields.

The fields were planted with crops.

Shu Li often helped the Elves tend their wheat fields, so he recognized the wheat at a glance.

However, this wheat was utterly different from that grown in the Elven Kingdom. It was in terrible condition, growing unevenly, with shriveled grains that made it look almost indistinguishable from weeds.

Shu Li frowned slightly.

Was the standard of agriculture in this other world really that primitive?

It was not difficult to imagine what kind of lives the common people led.

When the troupe passed through a village, the villagers welcomed them enthusiastically.

Simu got out of her carriage to negotiate with the village chief, hoping they could rest in the village and have lunch there.

Before agreeing, the village chief made one small request.

Nothing festive had happened in the village for a very long time, so he hoped the troupe would put on a performance for the villagers.

Simu readily agreed.

Performing a single number was an effortless task for them.

Ilio woke at exactly the right moment and took Shu Li out of the carriage, shamelessly helping himself to their hosts’ food and drink.

After the meal, the troupe fulfilled its promise. The young women changed into brightly colored skirts and performed a splendid group dance for the villagers, accompanied by the musicians’ singing and instruments.

The villagers applauded excitedly, as thrilled as though they were celebrating the New Year.

Shu Li sat to one side and watched. The villagers, whose clothes scarcely covered their bodies, stood in stark contrast to the brightly dressed song-and-dance troupe.

Once the performance ended, the troupe bade farewell to the reluctant villagers and continued on its way.

Before nightfall, they had to reach Otto City, one of the four major cities of the Dalia Empire.

The road leading toward the large city grew progressively smoother. Once the carriage stopped jolting, Shu Li finally had time to do what he wanted.

He took a thick notebook from Ilio’s pack.

He had “picked it up” from the adventurers who had slaughtered one another when he visited Mr. Serpent. Written in the Continental Common Language, the notebook recorded the customs and traditions of various countries, making it extremely useful.

He had been concentrating on his studies at the time and had read only the beginning. Then a series of events had occurred, leaving him too busy to continue.

Before departing on this journey, he had deliberately taken the notebook out of his storage ring and placed it in Ilio’s pack.

Now that he had time, it was the perfect opportunity to cram at the last minute.

The notebook’s owner must have been obsessively meticulous. Everything was clearly organized and divided into distinct categories, making the information easy to understand at a glance.

Shu Li quickly found the section concerning Otto City.

Seeing him reading so intently, Ilio reached out and tapped his forehead. “You would be better off asking me.”

Although the carriage was no longer jolting, it still swayed from side to side. Reading for too long under such conditions could strain his eyes.

“It’s fine,” Shu Li said. “I’ll read it first and ask you about anything I don’t understand.”

Ilio relaxed against the carriage wall again, yawned, and closed his eyes as if dozing.

Shu Li turned the page and silently committed its contents to memory.

Suddenly, the carriage lurched violently. Shu Li snapped the notebook shut and tried to steady his swaying body, but Ilio stretched out a long arm and pulled him close.

“What happened?” Shu Li asked in surprise.

Ilio listened for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. “We’re being robbed.”

“What? Robbed?”

Shu Li stared blankly.