The Clown was flustered. The humans he had thought were useful pawns had been subdued in an instant by burly men who had appeared out of nowhere.
"Now, now. Everyone enter slowly."
"No one's cutting in line now, are they?"
"Oh my. On such a good day as today, let's only take good memories with us."
The North Blinders organization members all wore cotton pants and white shirts. Their rolled-up sleeves revealed massive muscles along with writhing black tattoos. As the finishing touch, with their beards and scars covering their menacing faces, people became docile without even thinking of talking back.
"Hey. Are you alright?"
Legor grabbed the hand of the agent who had fallen to the ground and helped him up.
"Th-thank you. You people are..."
"Just think of us as volunteers."
"We'll handle this place, so go help where they're short-handed over there."
"Ah, yes. Understood. Thank you for your help."
After the agent withdrew, Legor poked the fallen mercenaries on the ground with his toes.
"My goodness. What's so great about one woman dancing and singing that they'd pull this kind of stunt."
"No, Brother Legor. Don't you know Lady Rose? She's not just at the level of dancing and singing. If the fans heard that, they'd have a fit."
"Quiet. What are the guys on the other side doing?"
"They've started cleaning up over there too. From what I heard, there were quite a few problems on the opposite side as well. It seemed busier there than here."
"Well, what a mess. Normally I'd be swinging my axe to my heart's content today."
"Hey, Brother Legor. But is this really okay?"
"What?"
"Aren't we the North Blinders? Suddenly doing traffic control at a concert venue like this. Doesn't it hurt our reputation?"
The subordinate didn't bother adding the unspoken comment that this wasn't work befitting their level. Of course, Legor knew that fact well too.
"I know what you guys are thinking, but we have no choice but to step up for this."
"Yes? Why is that?"
"Because the boss ' brother asked us to."
"Boss brother, you mean..."
There was only one person in Tirna that Legor called boss brother.
"Don't tell me, that man?"
"That's right. The benefactor of our big brother Balud. And the man who protected the North Blinders so we could come this far asked us to."
"...If that's the case, then we have no choice. Since we're doing it anyway, let's do it more earnestly."
Ossian's standing within the North Blinders was truly overwhelming.
On that day when rain fell endlessly, the legend of two people storming into an organization that had lost its essence and overthrowing it.
That very man had contacted them directly asking for help. Who could possibly remain still? Not responding to that call would mean they weren't worthy of being called men of the North.
"Boys! You all heard! We must do our best!"
"Yes! Big brother!"
The North Blinders organization members responded vigorously.
The Clown was flustered. The North Blinders members who had suddenly appeared had completely subdued all the chess pieces the Clown was controlling.
The plan to cause chaos among the people had failed from the start.
The Clown's eyes became menacing. That gaze turned toward Legor, who was leading the North Blinders. That bearded muscle mass was the culprit. At that moment, Legor tilted his head and looked around at the place where the Clown was hiding.
"Big brother. What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just felt like someone was glaring at me."
The Clown quietly hid deeper into the darkness. Legor had faintly noticed his gaze, which no ordinary person would ever detect.
The Clown instinctively realized. That man, while not at Osian's level, could resist his power. A possessor of power meant to counter outer beings in this world. If he recklessly attacked, this side would have to bear considerable losses too.
The Clown's eyes rolled around restlessly. A similar scent came from Legor and the other North Blinders members as well.
It was fierce, cruel, and savage. But therefore, it was strength that would never break.
-Hiss. Hiss.
The Clown felt anger at the plan's failure. But it was still okay. There were still many prepared chess pieces left.
Before long, 10 minutes remained until the concert started.
"Have most of the people who are coming in already entered?"
Osian, who had arrived backstage, looked at the audience seats. The countless seats were all filled with people. In the dark interior of the venue, the figures of people already holding glow sticks could be seen here and there.
'The real thing starts after the performance begins.'
Osian happened to encounter Rose, who had finished all her preparations. She shone beautifully like a star in the night sky even in the darkness backstage. She was like a being created for the world to celebrate.
"It's about to start now. Are you ready?"
"Perfectly."
"Not nervous or anything?"
"Not at all. Rather, I'm so excited that I want to run out there right now."
Though it would be natural to be nervous about being on stage after a long time, Rose's eyes were burning hot.
Osian chuckled and said.
"Then go and show them to your heart's content. We will do our best to support you so you can show the world's most beautiful stage."
"I'll look forward to it! Oh, but don't overdo it too much."
Rose headed to the prepared location with an eye-smile.
Joy, the direct security team member who had been watching their conversation from afar, approached and asked.
"You came back quickly. How was the equipment storage?"
"There was a bit of a problem."
Osian briefly explained what had happened at the storage. What had occurred there, and the danger factors that would come.
"...If you say so, then it must be so. You wouldn't lie or exaggerate about something like this. This might become the most dangerous security work ever."
"That's why I came."
"We should prepare too. Thanks for letting me know."
-Boom!
Fireworks went off inside the venue. People who had been sitting and waiting simultaneously burst into cheers. Tens of thousands of cheers mixed and echoed inside the giant dome venue. The trembling of the atmosphere could be felt directly on the skin.
It had begun.
The already dark surroundings became even darker. At the same time, intense fireworks and light burst from the central stage.
-Waaaaaaah!!!
The center of the stage opened left and right, and Rose slowly appeared from below. Receiving everyone's attention and the spotlight, Rose stood tall at the center of the stage.
Even if each person's expectation was a feather, the weight Rose would feel would be like Mount Tai. Nevertheless, Rose didn't disturb a single posture or breath.
Rose threw off the hat she was wearing on her head with all her might, revealing her beautiful face to the world.
The projection artifacts filming her showed her figure not only inside the venue but also to the people waiting outside.
"Everyone! It's been a long time!"
-Waaaaaaah!! Rose! Rose! Rose! We missed you!
Some screamed with joy, some wept being overwhelmed with emotion. Some weak-hearted people even fainted from being unable to contain their joy. Rose embraced all those people's wishes and gratitude in her heart and said.
"Everyone. I have something to say before the performance. While I was resting, there were really many things that happened in Tirna. And we came to harbor anxiety, division, and wounds because of them."
People seemed confused by the suddenly started story, but they listened to her voice. There was some kind of magic in Rose's voice. The words she spoke entered deep into their hearts and caused vibrations in hearts that had hardened.
"I know this discord cannot be resolved with simple words telling us to reconcile. I don't intend to force that either. I just wanted to say this. I hope that at least those who came to see me today will be able to see the most beautiful stage they will never forget in their lives."
Rose raised high the microphone she held in her hand.
"Then let's begin!"
The stage equipment moved. Musicians began handling their respective instruments on the stage that turned like mechanical clockwork. The prelude rang out and finally the song began.
The moment Rose put the lyrics to her lips, all the people who had been cheering held their breath and listened intently to her song. People entranced in ecstasy gazed at Rose's stage as if bewitched.
'Certainly a magnificent stage.'
Backstage, in the darkness, Osian who was watching that scene placed his hand on the sword at his waist.
'Therefore, they move right now.'
Suspicious shadows appeared one by one backstage where only site staff could come.
It was a cold space where even the venue's cheers and heat couldn't reach, and those harboring sinister intentions had come there.
"Didn't you hear that this place is off-limits to anyone except site personnel?"
They didn't answer but exchanged glances among themselves, showing signs of checking whether there were others besides Osian. But soon realizing there was no one else besides Osian, they gleamed their eyes sinisterly.
"Hmm. It seems you won't understand with words."
Having sneaked in here secretly, they all had records that could classify them as dangerous persons. Among them would be chess pieces of that Clown fellow, and there would be those moving to target Rose of their own volition.
They decided to cooperate with each other since their goals aligned for now.
-Shing.
Osian drew his sword.
The sword that had been completely repaired shone with an edge sharper than before. Enhanced by Eldin's additional process, a subtle chill flowed from the sword itself.
-Whoosh
Starlight bloomed over the sword. Light that pushed away the darkness backstage fully illuminated the enemies' forms.
"Today is the day with the greatest stage. No one can be allowed to interfere with that."
Therefore you all must quietly shut your mouths here and now.
The shadows in the darkness rushed toward Osian.
Osian swung the Starlight Sword toward the one rushing at the front.
-Slash.
With a sharp sound, it was split from head to crown. And half-melted machine parts poured out.
'Automaton.'
What was deliberately sent to the front was a special automaton. From the side, an automaton's fist flew over with mechanical sounds.
The moment he stepped back to avoid the fist, another automaton that had already taken position would spit fire from the gun barrel on the back of its hand.
Osian took out his shield and thrust it toward the fist.
-Crunch!
The automaton's fist crumbled and was dismantled up to the shoulder joint as Osian swung the shield widely and threw it like a boomerang.
-Thud!
The shield flew and lodged in the chest of the automaton that was aiming its gun barrel.
Osian ran toward the fallen automaton and pulled the shield from its chest. Just as he held up the shield, lightning magic that flew in from the side exploded.
Acid rain poured from the sky, and a poisonous swamp boiled up from the floor. However, Osian was no longer there.
"Where is he?"
"Behind you."
When the flustered black mage turned around, the last thing he saw was pure white flames.
-Slash.
Osian's sword cut the black mage's neck. With the falling black mage behind him, Osian rushed at other intruders.
"St-stop him!"
"It's just one guy!"
Since they weren't originally the same team, their coordination wasn't good. They looked at each other to see who would go first. In the meantime, Osian cut three more necks.
The dead people weren't weak. Each of them was a skilled person boasting a considerable price on their head.
It's just.
"No one said such a monster would be the bodyguard!"
Osian's level was simply too high.
-Bang!
A mercenary who had been aiming at Osian through a scope from afar pulled the trigger. An anti-materiel sniper rifle beyond anti-personnel spat fire. What flew over wasn't a bullet, but something almost like a cannon shell.
The sniper who was confident Osian wouldn't be able to react in time saw a strange sight through his scope.
Osian's body was enveloped in blue energy and began splitting in mid-air.
'What?'
The bullet he fired hit one of the clones. The exploded clone scattered blue particles like dandelion seeds in the air.
"Aaaahhh!"
A nearby mutant froze solid as soon as it touched the crystal. Like preserving the process of screaming, the mutant became an ice statue in less than a second and fell sideways.
The Moon Scar Knight split into over ten clones rushed toward their respective targets.
The enemies were no match for the Moon Scar Knight. Even when they tried to retreat, they couldn't respond to the mirage-like elusive movements and froze alive on the spot. And they could no longer remain living.
The spectacular fireworks of the stage, the people's cheers, Rose's voice singing with all her might and the audience's group singing formed a harmony.
However, behind the stage singing of hope and harmony, the knight swung his sword.