Chapter 298 ·Euterpe

Euterpe

At ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍this moment, however, the adventurers had already begun to storm the main gate. The trembling door seemed about to be breached, and behind it the fox tribe guards waited in full alert, weapons in hand.

Boom, boom, boom!

The sounds of impact kept coming, and the door was being pushed more and more askew. Even though Queen Serea had said she had a way to deal with the situation, at this moment Avril still felt uneasy.

"For my god!"

With one last charge, the door crashed to the ground. Frenzied adventurers surged toward the shield wall formed by the fox tribe guards. A fierce battle was about to erupt—but just at that moment, a gorgeous firework exploded in the sky.

Pop!

The sound and the brilliant light instantly drew everyone's attention.

...

On top of the opera house roof, Serea, holding a sound amplification device, looked at Ackley who had just climbed up.

"Is the amplifier ready?"

"OK!"

Ackley confirmed there was no issue. Looking back, nora sat at the drum kit, and Molly glanced nervously at the piano score.

"I've never seen this song before. I haven't played it."

Molly seemed a bit anxious, after all, performing with the diva...

"It's all right. We trust you," said Tethys to reassure her, but Nora interjected—

"Actually, it's just because Miss Dogsius isn't here. You're our only choice now."

With that, everyone took their positions. As for why live musicians were used instead of a recorded accompaniment: in diva magic, live performance is a key component. Without musicians to cooperate, the effect of the diva's magic would be diminished.

Speaking of which, it should be mentioned that what was placed before Tethys was actually... an electronic keyboard!

To call it an electronic keyboard was not quite accurate; it was magic-driven, more appropriately described as a magitech keyboard, and its appearance meant that Serea's musical choices would no longer be restricted. Thus, "this song" came to be!

"Miss Candice, we'll block these crazy guys for you!"

A volunteer adventurer who was blocking the door in the opera house shouted up to the roof. These were adventurers who had chosen to stay behind to "protect"

Candice, and Serea replied politely.

"Thank you, I'll leave it to you."

But upon hearing those words...

"Did you hear that? Miss Candice said thank you to me!"

"Nonsense, she thanked me!"

"Huh? What's your problem?"

"What's your problem!"

The two began to squabble. Serea was speechless, but with them blocking the way, there was no need for her to mobilize the blood slave guard as reinforcements.

Taking a deep breath...

"Let's begin!"

"Mm!" x3

With those words, a low electronic synthesized melody began to resound, accompanied by the piano, and a sorrowful atmosphere quickly mesmerized all who heard it.

"This song... I've never heard it before..."

The adventurers' eyes glazed over, and even those berserk outside began to relax their bodies upon hearing it.

The sound transmitted through the amplified system; even those at the distant Xiyun Merchant Guild headquarters were moved by the mournful music.

Watching the "maniacs" who had stormed into the manor but suddenly stopped acting, avril looked in the direction of the opera house and murmured,

"So this is the Queen's method."

It was indeed very effective. In the Trading Post everyone stopped what they were doing in unison, all turning toward the opera house, following the music.

Titled "Euterpe," with the Chinese name "欧忒耳佩," this was a well-known BGM from the anime *Guilty Crown*; it became particularly popular because the character Inori Yuzuriha sang it in the anime, marking it as her signature character song.

As the prelude ended, accompanied by the poignant notes of the piano, the singing began to flow gently—

咲いた野の花よ~

あぁどうか教えておくれ~

人は何故伤つけあって~

争うのでしょう~

Through the mermaid diva's voice, the song's anti-war message was suffused into the melody. The moment the song began, the violence in every berserker's heart dissipated instantly. They began moving, step by step, toward the source of the music.

Elsewhere, the Supreme Church congregants hidden in civilian houses were still enjoying this sudden, beautiful music. But when they snapped out of it, they sensed that something was very wrong.

"Idiots! Stop listening! Go see what's wrong with those people out there! Why can't our 'divine power' command them anymore?"

The leading preacher ordered. Upon hearing this, one congregant ceased pouring out mental power and dashed outside. At the same time, that preacher intensified the transfer of his spirit, hoping to control the "addicts" outside—but...

"Impossible!"

He failed. His mental power could not penetrate those people's bodies. He had failed!

"Ah!!!"

At the same time, a scream burst from outside the house. Sensing the emergency, all of the church members drew their weapons. Suddenly, several potion bottles were thrown in from outside.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The potion bottles shattered, filling the room with a pale blue mist. When it touched their eyes, a terrible stinging pain struck, and instinctively they all clutched their faces.

"Cough, cough! Who are—?"

Before he could finish, maro and his team burst in, tightly restraining the three. With the use of magic-suppressing shackles, they were unable to use the magic runes they held.

"What are you doing?!"

"What do you think? Take them all!"

On Maro's command, the blood slaves hauled away the restrained preachers. The same scene was repeated across other parts of the Trading Post.

Leon and the Xiyun Merchant Guild's guards patrolled the Trading Post, using the Darkmoon clan's "special potion" to subdue any of the "addicts" capable of resistance—preventing bloodshed and preserving the Trading Post's safety.

As for the rest...

雨が过ぎて夏は~

青を移した~

一つになって~

小さく揺れた~

私の前で~

何も言わずに~

"Candice" stood atop the opera house's roof, cool lighting accentuating her gestures. In this performance, the sweetness of the girl's voice and the gracefulness of her figure intertwined. Outside the opera house, thousands of adventurers had gathered.

Some were addicts, others ordinary adventurers. And as a flood of "audience" was drawn, Serea's Faith Crystal was growing at a furious rate.

Meanwhile, "Euterpe" entered its finale...

名もなき者のため~

With the song finished, all disturbance inside the Trading Post truly ended. All the adventurers returned to normal, and every Supreme Church member was arrested.

Staring up at the girl atop the roof, one adventurer, recovering from his mania, muttered,

"That's..."

"Candice! It's Miss Candice. She saved everyone."

"She... saved us?"

The adventurer was baffled, but his companion quickly recounted what had happened while he'd been out of control...

"So that's what happened. Miss Candice... no, that's the Goddess!"

As the lights focused on Serea, the glowing rings made her seem a Goddess descended to earth.

"Candice! Miss Candice!"

Everyone cheered, and, confirming that the riot in the camp was over, Serea gave Ackley a signal.

Snap!

All the lights went out, plunging everything into darkness.

"Huh? Where's Miss Candice?"

"Don't tell me she's going to run off again like last time..."

"Then what're we waiting for! After her! I still want an autograph—Miss Candice, wait!"

The crowd dashed headlong to the opera house. Seeing this, Serea spoke quickly,

"It's time to go."

Hearing this, tethys and Nora followed, but suddenly, a girl's voice called out,

"Wait!"

Looking back, it was Molly who stopped them.

"What is it?"

"Um... are you mermaids from Lake Nos?"

Hearing that, candice and Nora exchanged a glance, surprise flickering in their eyes. They didn't answer immediately, but below the opera house, the climbing adventurers were already on their way up to the roof.

"In any case, please, let me leave here with you. I beg you."

The girl bent forward slightly, her short red hair falling with her motion.

In the dim light, Serea noticed a pair of short, pointed ears—ears that resembled a human's, though hardly anyone would spot the difference. Yet having lived around Lola and the others for a while, Serea felt a vague sense of familiarity.

Appraise!

Molly! Level 21! Advanced Musician! Half-elf!

Half-elf?

Interesting...

Having heard the girl's request, tethys and Nora turned toward Serea, as if awaiting her decision. Serea decided—

"Come with us."

With that, Serea jumped from the back of the roof. Tethys and Nora followed. Molly hesitated, peering over the edge—it was more than ten meters down...

"Miss Candice!"

The others had already swarmed onto the roof. Clenching her teeth, molly jumped.

"Ah!"

During the drop, she experienced a burst of adrenaline. As she was about to hit the ground, a stream of water caught her, and Nora steadied her onto her feet.

"This way!"

From above, adventurers peered down into the alley. Serea had only one word:

"Run!"

Taking advantage of the darkness, the group's figures melted away into the night. The pursuing adventurers were forced to stop, but elsewhere, another chase had just begun.

...

On the other side, oran, having escaped the Trading Post, looked back to see that the chaos had now subsided. It was clear to him now: their action had failed, utterly and completely!

And the cause for this failure was—

"That woman... Where on earth did she come from?"

Muttering complaints, oran hurried toward Sedis City. But—

"Bishop Oran!"

Several men in black clerical robes appeared: men from the Supreme Church.

"Huh? You made it out too?"

Oran ran to meet them.

"You don't know, preacher. There's a little girl in the Trading Post who can use her singing to dispel our 'divine power.' All the people led by our god were enchanted by her."

A congregant reported. Oran frowned in confusion.

"Using singing?"

"It's true! Also, the missionary post in the Trading Post was occupied by the Xiyun Merchant Guild, all the preachers were captured! What do we do?"

Confronted with the question, oran pondered before replying.

"It doesn't matter. To ensure our secrets aren't leaked, come with me right away."

"Go where?"

"Back to Mani... Wait!"

Oran cut off mid-sentence, alarm bells ringing in his mind—these guys were suspicious!

He started chanting magic and summoned a magic shield, but the next moment, one person's hand passed straight through.

A skill for breaking magic!

Bang!

He was struck hard from behind, and Oran lost consciousness. Silver was standing behind him.

"Clean up the scene. Take him back."

With the order, everyone moved efficiently; two remained behind to wipe up, the rest melted into the darkness—flawless, experienced execution.

...

Elsewhere, Serea and her group took Molly into a dark alley.

"If you have something to say, now's the time."

"Um... You really aren't mermaids from Lake Nos?"

Molly threw out the same question again, but Serea didn't answer directly. Instead, she asked in return,

"Why do you think we're mermaids from Lake Nos?"

"Aren't you? I just heard there were mermaids in Lake Nos, and after seeing your 'diva magic,' I guessed as much."

Hearing her explanation, Serea raised another question.

"You came here to look for mermaids from Lake Nos?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I want to become a diva!"

She said this with eyes full of firm resolve, but—

"If you want to be a diva, why do you have to find mermaids? Can't you just go study at a human academy?"

"But..."

Now she looked troubled. Reflecting on her identity...

"Because you're a half-elf?"

"!!!"

At those words, molly jumped in fright, and warily backed away.

"Relax. Only I know, and I have no intention of exposing you."

Hearing that, molly no longer considered fleeing, though she was now clearly on her guard.

A forbidden existence caught between elf and human—in the Holy Dragon Empire she might be safe, but elsewhere, her fate was precarious.

Chances were, she'd been forced to enter human lands; in the Otto Kingdom, there was no way to have legal status, and for various reasons she would be all but unable to study in human society.

In that case...

"Miss Molly, you want to become a diva?"

Tethys took the initiative, and Molly nodded.

"Yes, since you already know what I am, I won't hide it. I'm a half-elf—with reasons I can't avoid, I must become a diva. Even if you're not mermaids from Lake Nos, if you'll let me accompany you to learn diva magic, I'm willing to give you anything I can offer!"

Serea said no more. After all, molly was seeking "mermaids," and as for the two real mermaids...

Tethys was closely observing Molly. And with one look, she'd already decided: this girl was the perfect model!

(To be continued...)

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