-Clap clap clap clap clap!
With Lady Rose's entrance, applause poured out at the scene. Even though she hadn't started singing yet, people were already going wild just from her appearance.
The sound of applause spread like waves, echoing loudly throughout the opera house interior. Since it was a place designed for sounds to resonate grandly, even applause from one side seemed to be heard from all directions.
-Flash!
In sync with the sound, the lights repeatedly flickered on and off. It was shaped like bursting fireworks. It seemed as if they were visually embodying the sound.
Osian placed the glass he was holding onto the table. He continued to stare at Rose with an expressionless face.
Even amidst the gazes pouring from all directions, Rose remained still. She quietly closed her eyes, appearing to control her emotions.
That appearance was as graceful as a noble swan. An atmosphere and appearance that naturally drew people's attention.
'But her true strength wouldn't be that.'
With a strange sound from above, a machine rotating like a propeller approached Lady Rose. Rose grasped a device attached to the machine. It was what's commonly called a microphone.
-Thud.
As Rose brought the microphone to her mouth, the applause cut off immediately.
The lights that had been flickering in sync with the sound also disappeared. Silence enveloped all directions. This wasn't a result of someone's command or prior agreement. That made it even more surprising.
Rose still had her eyes closed. What was she thinking about? What was she trying to do? Everyone's gazes concentrated on her. An indescribable sense of anticipation and tension hung in the air.
[Ah.]
And finally. Lady Rose opened her mouth.
[Ahhh~]
At first, light humming. Just gentle vocalization to warm up her voice. But the result was anything but light.
'This is.'
The atmosphere was overwhelming. No, it changed as if a completely different world had unfolded beyond that. Machines responded in harmony with Lady Rose's voice. Instead of the sharp lights like applause, it was a soft and beautiful light that matched her tone. Yes. It was an aurora.
Musical notes danced in the light. At the same time, her sweet tone teased the ears. A flower field spread out, wafting with sweet fragrance.
Osian felt his body's tension naturally release without realizing it.
Rose's voice, amplified through the microphone, had the power to melt the knots in one's heart just by listening to it. Charm beyond charm - magical power. A miracle that was hard to dismiss as mere talent, one that defied comprehension.
'It's a completely different voice from when she spoke to me.'
Even though they say a singer's atmosphere changes completely when they sing, he hadn't expected it to be to this extent. Osian had thought he wasn't particularly interested in such things. But in this place, that thought needed some revision.
It wasn't that he wasn't interested, but that he hadn't seen anyone good enough to capture his interest.
-Click.
With the sound of mechanical devices engaging, Rose's body rose up. More precisely, the stage device she was standing on was slowly rising.
Additionally, three spotlights illuminated Rose standing atop a large golden cylinder. She rose high enough for everyone to look up at her. It was a height that would make one's legs tremble if they had acrophobia. But Rose continued humming as if it didn't matter.
-La la la~
People let out quiet sighs of admiration. Rose's figure, eyes closed and riding the melody, looked like an angel descended from heaven.
Beautiful lights danced around her in harmony. The ecstasy of sight and sound instantly captivated the hearts of everyone gathered there. It even stimulated the other senses beyond that.
In this moment, she was the protagonist of this world. Regardless of social status, regardless of how much money one had. Everyone looked up at her.
As if by nature, humans couldn't help but yearn while gazing at the stars in the sky.
At that moment, Rose's eyes opened.
Her beautiful night-sky-like pupils shone brilliantly. At the same time, the meaningless sounds became lyrics filled with meaning. The atmosphere changed once again.
From the omnidirectional sound devices hanging everywhere, instrumental sounds spread grandly. Within that, Rose began to sing.
Her voice was distinct. Even amidst the grand harmonies surrounding her, her presence was never erased. Rather, she contained all those countless sounds within her voice and led them according to her will.
Her own unwavering aria that never yielded. Grand and beautiful, flowing yet robust. The feeling was scholarly and abstract, but there was one thing that came through clearly.
It was Rose's attitude toward singing.
'I had a rough idea from the preparation stage, but entering the main performance is on a different level.'
Osian felt goosebumps rising on his skin without realizing it. What captured Osian's gaze most of all was the cluster of lights shimmering around Rose.
'That doesn't seem like light from stage equipment.'
It looked like aurora colors, and also like bright neon sign colors. That softly glowing fluorescent light, intertwining with Rose's voice, spread beautifully around her like drawing geometric patterns.
Sometimes soft curves. Sometimes sharp and lively right angles. Sometimes beautiful shapes.
'Can't other people see it?'
If not, they might be confusing it with the surrounding stage equipment. Osian couldn't shake the feeling that there was something about that light.
The music changed. The surrounding devices created beautiful light, and lights from below the stage also illuminated Rose at an angle.
Mechanical devices turned from behind the stage, and soon automatons in tailcoats appeared. One automaton played the grand piano placed in front.
Its hand movements were so smooth it was hard to believe it was a machine. The other automatons also played their respective instruments, creating harmony.
Everyone gazed at Rose in ecstasy. Rose also threw glances at the audience one by one from the stage. Sometimes smiling, sometimes casting seductive glances.
Just then, her gaze met Osian's. Rose looked at Osian and gave him a slight wink.
"Oh! My friend! Did you see? Rose winked at me!"
Allen shouted something from the side, but Osian didn't respond. Meanwhile, the stage heated up even more, racing toward the climax.
Just as the audience's response was reaching its peak. Rose, having finished one song, shouted from the stage.
"Thank you all for coming!"
-Waaaah! Rose! Rose! Rose! Look over here!
Love calls for Rose came from all directions. Her charm didn't discriminate between men and women. Rather, some of the women were more passionate about Rose.
"I've been on break for over a year recently. I did perform in Celestia in between, but that wasn't an official performance. Maybe that's why my frustration had been building up. But now that boring period is over too."
People who sensed that Rose's words were significant listened carefully to what she would say next.
"Today's stage is just the beginning. I'm going to break my long rest and start being active again. Naturally, in Tirna, the city we love, where there are more people!"
Murmurs spread at those words. People were divided between those welcoming her comeback and those thinking it was too early.
Rose smiled and said:
"I know. Tirna's situation isn't good right now. It might even be a crisis for the city. That's exactly why I can't just sit still and watch. People need hope. We need to extend a hand to those who have collapsed and fallen into despair."
For a moment, Osian felt that Rose was looking at him. It wasn't just his imagination.
"I've always sung for everyone. That thought has never changed. So even in this chaotic situation, I'll continue to sing. As long as there's even one person willing to listen to my voice. Oh, of course, since I've rested enough, I've come up with many ideas, so I'll show you stages that are much more wonderful and spectacular than before."
Everyone went wild at Rose Melody's declaration.
"Th-this is a scoop! Lady Rose is making a comeback! I had a vague expectation, but to hear it from her own mouth! I need to contact headquarters right now!"
Allen pulled out a communicator from inside his jacket. His expression contorted severely as he tried to operate it.
"This damn piece of junk! Why is it broken at a time like this!"
"Broken?"
"The communication won't connect. There's no way headquarters would have their lights off at this hour. Could the communication conditions be bad?"
Osian ignored Allen's reaction and surveyed the surroundings. People were surprised by Rose's comeback but seemed to welcome it in their own way.
The stage was successful and people's reactions were good. That much was fine. But Osian couldn't shake a strange sense of déjà vu.
A peculiar sensation that lightly tapped at his temples. A knight's intuition was telling him that it wouldn't end here.
-Click.
That sound came from somewhere. It was buried in people's murmuring voices, but Osian's transcendent hearing, focused with concentration, caught that minute noise instantly.
"Huh?"
Rose Melody reacted at the same time. Her gaze turned toward one wall of the dark opera house.
-BOOM!
An explosion occurred with bright red flames. A roar spread and people caught in the explosion's shockwave tumbled roughly. People screamed. They looked bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
Black smoke settled and black shadows began to reveal themselves one by one from inside.
-Step.
"Look at these bugs swarming in a place like this. Dirty lackeys of capitalism."
These were the words of a large black man with dreadlocks who had replaced one arm with machinery.
"Look at them all standing there stupidly. They still don't seem to know what situation they're in."
A twin-tailed girl with makeup so flashy it was rather messy showed open ridicule. She had dyed her hair different colors on each side and was full of piercings, revealing madness.
"What should we do, boss?"
The one who asked this was a man who looked to be about 2 meters tall. He had long limbs and pale skin. His sunken eyes were reminiscent of a skull. Yet he wore a black uniform, making his atmosphere quite threatening. He even had a sword as tall as himself strapped to his back.
"Hmm."
Everyone's attention focused on one man.
It was a man dressed like a worker. His build was sturdy and his impression was intense. He emanated an indescribable charisma like an aura, different from the others.
He wore a hat with goggles attached. Black oil was spread like paint here and there on his clothes, whether intentionally or not.
What caught the eye most about the man was the red muffler covering from his neck to his mouth.
Allen swallowed his breath beside him.
"Th-that! That red muffler, could it be the Red Liberation Army?!"
Since everyone was paralyzed with fear, Allen's cry echoed loudly throughout the concert hall. People's faces turned pale at the mention of the Red Liberation Army.
The wealthier they were, the more often they had encountered the Red Liberation Army's infamy.
"R-Red Liberation Army? How did terrorists get here!"
"Rebels have come this far. What the hell is the city government doing!" "Guards! Where are the guards right now! Hurry up and drag those bastards out!"
People who were afraid, people denying reality, people venting anger. Amidst that countless clamor, the man with the red muffler opened his mouth.
"Noisy."
With that single word, the crowd fell silent as if cold water had been poured on them. It was strange. He had only said one word, yet people were unconsciously overwhelmed by that man.
'This is unexpected.'
To silence these fat pigs with just one quiet word.
'His natural charisma is no joke. But more than that, his voice is full of killing intent. Especially hatred toward the wealthy.'
The reason those pigs suddenly shut their mouths was a kind of instinct. Facing a predator trying to devour them, they froze unconsciously.
'It would be hard to understand with their heads. That's a kind of instinct. The survival instinct humans should have. What the hell does this guy do?'
While Osian was curious, Allen muttered with a trembling voice.
"Lu-Lukai."
"Lukai?"
"Yes. The leader of the Red Liberation Army, a legend who finished off a country with guerrilla warfare. Red Muffler Lukai."
Ah. The name he had heard from Alensia came to mind belatedly. Red Muffler Lukai. He had thought it was an exaggerated name, but seeing him in person, it didn't seem to be entirely so.
"Y-you bastards! Do you know where this is!"
Just then, a fearless middle-aged man stepped forward. Lukai's gaze turned toward the middle-aged man. Seeing those eyes, Osian sighed inwardly.
'This will be crazy.'
Lukai looked at the large black man beside him. The man, presumably at least an executive, nodded.
-Click.
As he extended his prosthetic right hand, the prosthetic transformed with mechanical sounds. The gun barrel that protruded from his fingertips aimed at the spitting pig.
"Huh?"
-Bang!
With the gunshot, the man's head disappeared cleanly above the jaw.