Clank. Clank.
The massive mechanical cylinders of the stage equipment move. Pistons create a regular rhythm, and gears mesh together producing metallic sounds.
Soon it became harmonious. The rough sounds with regularity and proper rhythm began to harmonize with the surrounding noise.
Soon after, factory workers exhausted from hard labor walk around on stage. They were dancers for the stage performance.
Hissssss!
White steam erupted from the steam pipes. Like organ pipes, the pillars repeatedly shot out steam in sequence according to the music, then stopped.
[In the depths where darkness lies thick, the cold breath of metal. Oil stains on my fingertips, an indelible mark. Clutching my hungry stomach, I dream again today]
Rose's sorrowful voice dominated the stage. The dancers performed choreography matching the lyrics, and the stage equipment achieved maximum efficiency to make her shine even brighter.
[A faint song from an old radio, someday if I could stand on that stage, if my voice could reach.]
[Oh! Symphony of the steam city, ring out hotly! The song of machines, the breath of labor, awaken forgotten dreams! Until all gears mesh together to open a new era!]
Brilliant light illuminated the stage simultaneously with the highlight. Everyone involved in creating the stage showed their best performance in their respective areas.
From behind the stage, Osian could feel the stage vividly through all his senses, even though he couldn't see it properly.
"If I had the leisure, I might have sat comfortably in a seat and watched."
Osian muttered this and lowered his head. A bullet pierced through where he had been. It was difficult to tell where the silenced firearm had come from.
But it didn't matter. Osian's body, wearing the Moon Scar Cloak, became blurred. The shooter who saw Osian disappear from his position tried to quickly evacuate.
-Thunk!
But he couldn't manage to do so. Osian's Moonlight Blade, having approached without anyone knowing when, pierced through his abdomen. Crackle crackle crackle. The body froze instantly. Osian kicked the guy's body as it was. What had been a person scattered as countless crystal powder.
No sooner had he done this than a fireball flew over and struck where Osian had been.
"A high-level mage, huh. They really don't get tired, do they."
You might ask why a mage of that caliber would be here, but not all mages do legal and righteous work.
And in the case of some mages, since research costs are so enormous, they sometimes get involved in illegal work just to cover those expenses.
The mage currently using magic was of that sort. Fire magic. And quite skilled at it too. Probably definitely affiliated with a regular academy.
Osian spun the scattered crystals like a whirlwind. The hot flames and cold air collided and canceled each other out.
Osian disappeared from his position as if suddenly extinguished. Like a phantom, his form couldn't be followed with the eyes. The mage didn't panic and chanted a spell while pressing his hand to the ground.
Whoosh!
A magic circle was drawn centered on the mage, and walls of fire shot up. Sparks scattered, touching surrounding props and instantly spreading flames.
This was done thinking the opponent would be vulnerable to such wide-area attacks. But it was a mistaken judgment.
Thunk!
Pure white sword light surged through the wall of fire. The Starlight Sword swung from top to bottom and split the barrier. What revealed itself this way was a knight wearing pure white armor.
The mage's eyes widened, not having expected the armor to change. He tried to quickly grab a capsule from his waist, but it was too late.
Osian's sword pierced precisely through the mage's forehead. The mage collapsed, bleeding and spilling brain matter.
Immediately shaking off his sword, Osian scattered blue light and quickly dealt with the remaining stragglers around. At the same time, he used the Moon Scar cold air to quickly suppress the flames that had spread around.
"I've finished cleaning up on this side. How about over there?"
Osian sent a communication to the other bodyguards. Soon an answer came back with crackling sounds.
[Still in progress over here!]
[Same here.]
The sound of fierce fighting came through the communicator. Besides this place, intense battles were taking place in areas beyond people's sight.
The concert hall was vast and beneath the audience seats was space people couldn't even imagine. The fighting was taking place there.
Even if the aftermath of battle or sounds echoed, people probably wouldn't notice. They were currently completely absorbed in Rose's performance.
"Do you need support?"
[No! We're fine over here!]
[Same here. We can handle it on our end.]
Two radio responses came back. One person short. There was someone who hadn't spoken yet.
"Step. How are things on your end?"
Step, the bodyguard with military background, hadn't responded since earlier. Was he too busy to radio? It was suspicious that the veteran couldn't spare even a moment's leisure time. Even if he was that busy, that was also a problem.
Just as Osian was about to move immediately, a radio call came back from Step.
[Don't come over here.]
"What's going on?"
[Dangerous guys have entered here. I'm desperately resisting right now, but it's not easy. The defensive line has been breached. They're gathering beneath the stage.]
Step was speaking calmly, but couldn't hide his labored breathing in between. Even through the communicator, Osian realized he had suffered significant injuries.
[I'm done for, so instead, please stop them.]
"...Yeah. Got it."
[Sorry. This was something I should have done.]
Regret seeped through Step's voice.
"Isn't this our job anyway? Don't worry and leave it to me."
Although Osian was a fixer brought in from outside, in this moment he was their colleague. Step let out a laugh through the radio at those rough words of comfort.
[Hearing you say that puts me at ease a bit. Well then, I'm counting on you. Hero.]
Osian immediately turned off the radio and moved. With clanking sounds, the armor pieces meshed together. The song was racing toward its climax.
'Heading to the equipment beneath the performance stage means they can interrupt in the middle.'
Osian recalled the shortest route to beneath the stage that he remembered. Going through the stairs would require a long detour. This couldn't be helped then.
Osian stuck his Starlight Sword into the ground, then spun around once in place. The ground was cut in a clean circle. Concrete over 1 meter thick revealed a smooth cross-section like butter.
Osian dropped straight down.
Boom!
The uninvited guests who had been gathering below heard the sound and turned to look at Osian.
"So you were all gathered here."
Osian carefully observed the enemies' appearance. Unlike the guys above, their eyes held no intelligence. No, he couldn't properly sense any life force to begin with.
"Ha. This damn clown bastard."
Focusing his eyes, he could see translucent threads hidden in the darkness. Those things were marionettes controlled by the clown. Some were made from corpses, and some were still alive. However, their intelligence had been suppressed, or they had been brainwashed with amplified emotions.
"They're not innocent guys anyway, so don't expect me to hold back."
Those who had their intelligence suppressed by the clown rushed toward Osian. The threads controlled their bodies, making them achieve even more explosive speed than usual.
Rather, because their bodies couldn't handle it, sounds of muscles tearing and bones breaking could be heard as they charged. Even so, as if they felt no pain, they came rushing while staggering.
Osian gripped his sword again with a coldly sunken gaze.
He swung his sword in time with their approach. Some were pulled back by yanking the threads, but there were far more who couldn't manage this.
Because a knight's sword, once it had set its target, never missed.
Slash slash slash slash!
Countless white lines cut through the air. Osian's form had advanced about 10 meters further than where he had been standing.
The space he had passed through was cut away, revealing sharp cross-sections and the people mixed in there were the same.
The marionettes exchanged glances with each other.
Some immediately activated equipment to burst onto the stage while the rest threw their bodies to block Osian.
They weren't just making simple frontal charges. Since they were those with special abilities, each utilized every attack method they could use.
Magic, black magic, psychic powers, modified weapons, high explosives. It was fortunate that it was built sturdily since it was a stage for large-scale performances. Otherwise, just these attacks would have caused the stage to collapse downward.
"Good thing it's sturdy."
Even in the storm of that offensive, Osian was unharmed. The cloak wrapped around his body spread wide and created wind. The remnants of destruction moved away from Osian in concentric circles.
Osian's form vanished from where he stood. Before anyone knew it, he was standing in the center of the marionettes, gripping his Moonlight Blade.
The sword danced. Those touched by the Moonlight Blade all froze white, making their defensive measures meaningless.
Crash!
Osian's sword dance ended, and dozens of ice statues collapsed simultaneously. Pure white frost settled thickly on the ground like fog.
Screech screech screech.
Equipment activated and marionettes began bursting onto the stage. The stage was currently finishing the first song and entering the second.
Osian crouched down, then leaped up from his position with all his might.
The pressure of steam made the surrounding light explode. Beautiful fireworks of various colors and steam mixed with diverse hues decorated the stage colorfully.
Within that, Rose began singing the second song. The stage atmosphere changed, the stage equipment transformed, and it switched to a new mood.
Soon dozens of people began climbing up from beneath the stage.
"Huh, what?"
The stage management staff was flustered seeing this.
"The dancers aren't supposed to come out for this song. What on earth is happening!"
This wasn't scheduled. Soon after, he realized that those who had burst onto the stage weren't dancers.
"Wh-what should we do? We need to stop the performance! If it continues like this, Lady Rose will...!"
"Are you crazy?! If we stop here, the losses will be enormous!"
"But if it continues like this, it'll be the end!"
The people who had burst onto the stage showed bizarre movements while staring at Rose. The audience, thinking this was also some kind of promised performance, continued showing enthusiastic response.
Rose gazed at the people surrounding her with calm eyes.
Unknown faces. Moreover, their gazes toward her weren't kind. But Rose smiled broadly instead. Waving to the audience, she sang with a resounding voice.
Even in that moment when the threat against her approached right before her nose, she didn't stop singing.
Rose sang. With earnestness. Hoping for hope. Will soon became power, and power manifested through her voice.
Pink, sky blue, and emerald lights reminiscent of musical notes rose around Rose, spreading in concentric circles.
The marionettes swept up in it hesitated and stepped back. The audience became even more enthusiastic at this sight and waved their light sticks.
'Can I use it one more time?'
Rose looked at the marionettes approaching again and shook her head inwardly. Buying time was all she could do. This couldn't break through the situation.
'Still, I can't give up.'
Rose put strength into the hand gripping the microphone. The moment the marionettes gradually drew closer.
Pure white light erupted like an explosion from behind Rose. A pillar of light shot up like a fountain. From within it, a knight wearing a cloak like pure white wings revealed himself.
Waaaah!
Like a guardian angel, the knight stood behind Rose as if protecting her.
"Don't stop."
Osian whispered in a small voice that only Rose could hear.
"Do what you can do. I'll do what I can do."
A smile formed on Rose's lips, which had stiffened slightly. Instead of answering, she responded with even more explosive singing ability.
The knight moved in time with that song.
Matching the lyrics singing of hope, the knight gripped his sword and displayed brilliant swordsmanship. Each time he swung his sword, starlight drew beautiful pictures along the trajectory.
The marionettes struck by the Starlight Sword collapsed one by one.
The on-site staff who saw this felt thrilled.
"What are you doing! Activate the next stage equipment right now!"
"Y-yes!"
"Don't stop! If we stop here, it's over! Lighting crew! Move to the next spotlight as soon as I give the signal!"
"Understood!"
Rose's song and Osian's brilliant swordsmanship dominated the stage. The audience became even more enthusiastic about the new performance Rose hadn't shown until now.
Finally, Osian, having defeated the enemies, stood with his back against Rose's.
Screech screech screech. The stage equipment moved. Along with the sound of mechanical devices turning, the stage rose even higher. At the same time, pitch-black beasts wrapped in darkness crawled up on all fours from below.
"There's no end."
When Osian muttered in a tired voice, Rose whispered to him.
"You can show a different side, right?"
"What?"
"We can't stop like this, can we? So let's make it more spectacular."
Though he couldn't see her face, Osian could tell Rose was smiling broadly.
"Got it."
The spot where Rose and Osian stood shot up high in a cylindrical shape. The surrounding stage also moved in waves like organ pipes at different heights. The clown's marionettes climbed up the pipes, heading toward Rose.
Osian leaped down. Behind the pure white knight's back, a bright full moon rose.