Osian didn't particularly like music. He didn't dislike it, but he didn't listen to it with the same fervor as others. Naturally, he couldn't understand spending expensive money on tickets to go to concerts.
But after hearing Rose's song, that thought changed. People often say that if some food doesn't taste good, it's because you haven't been to a place that does it well.
Osian thought that was just fault-finding. He thought people who said such things were just looking down on him as someone who knew nothing. But that wasn't the case. Places that do it well are really different.
He swung the Moonlight Blade as a puppet in the form of a pitch-black shadow was cut in half. Starting from the cut surface, frost covered its entire body and the puppet became fine particles that scattered like flower petals.
The writhing shadows, or black flame-like creatures, ignored Osian and tried to target Rose. The four-legged crawlers climbed up the metal pipes.
"As if I'd let that happen."
The full moon swallowed Osian. The pure white knight transformed into a moon warrior wearing agile and light-looking martial attire.
Osian, holding Moonlight Blades in both hands, split in all directions. It was Suwol (Moon on Water), the moon reflected in water.
The clones, each moving differently, cut down the shadows targeting Rose. Moonlight's clones possessed physical force. Though insufficient compared to the main body, that was a relative perspective. They were more than enough to kill such creatures.
The response from the audience grew even greater.
'They seem to see this as some kind of stage performance, which works out well.'
Since he'd come this far anyway, Osian intended to make it even more spectacular. Rose felt the same way.
Her voice echoed throughout the entire concert hall. Sometimes cheerfully. Sometimes plaintively. The soul-stirring resonance that shook emotions planted seeds in people's hearts.
The seeds received nourishment from the song and grew instantly. Longing, joy, elation, excitement. The bloomed emotions became brilliant flowers. In that gorgeous flower garden, Rose shone brightly like a star.
Super Star. The reason why outstanding people are compared to stars was right here.
Even Osian, displaying brilliant swordsmanship, was merely a supporting actor making Rose stand out at this moment.
-Screeech!
The black shadows cowered. The intense energy and mysterious light emanating from Rose weakened them.
At the same time, this light permeated Osian's body, granting him greater strength and vitality.
'My body is lighter than before.'
A knight's mobility greatly increases when wearing full moon attire. Though defensive power becomes vulnerable, one fights with skill and speed that surpasses that.
Speed was fast, body was light, and precision increased further. Though condition varies with circumstances, someone of Osian's level could always maintain peak condition.
Even considering that, his current physical state was abnormally light.
It was a feeling that he could continue fighting without getting tired. An elation as if he could fly in the sky right now. Even an intoxication that he could beat anyone right now.
'Is this the power of a priest?'
Priests possess not only the power to heal others but also strength-enhancing effects, so-called buffs. He thought those effects weren't that significant, but experiencing them directly changed his mind.
Achieving greater results with less effort was like using the principle of leverage.
Rose's presence was absolutely indispensable for future battles.
'But for now, first I'll eliminate the puppets that the clown is controlling.'
The shadows with sluggish movements couldn't get close to Rose.
Osian and his clones cut down the shadows but at that moment, Rose took unexpected action.
She, who had been on the highest stage, jumped down. Fortunately, a pipe suddenly rose up to support her body. The staff handling stage equipment were professionals in this field. They were on high alert for Rose, responding immediately to her movements.
Rose sang while riding the pipe, descending level by level.
'Hah, she's lost it.'
Rose was now abandoning her safe position and actually heading toward a place full of the clown's puppets. Has she gone crazy? Was she underestimating them because they were cowering and retreating?
For a moment, their eyes met. Osian let out a sigh internally.
'Even in this situation, she wants to give the best performance for the audience?'
Not caring about her own safety at all. That's not what a contemporary superstar should do. But at the same time, it made sense. Because she knew how to burn herself like this, she had risen to this position.
"I'll play along."
Osian gripped his sword with force. His body, having taken a stance, disappeared from its spot like a mirage.
At the same time, whenever Rose moved, blue slashes fell on the black shadows that approached her. Moonlight Blades flying from invisible space. Blue flashes cutting through darkness beautifully embroidered the air. Pure white frost powder scattered. The powder interacted with the stage lighting, spreading beautiful light in all directions.
Rose walked confidently through the dark shadows. And the beautiful moonlight protecting her. The frost that was cool to the point of being cold refreshingly cooled the heated atmosphere of the concert hall.
The last shadow froze white right in front of Rose's nose, then crumbled into powder with a cracking sound.
'This won't be the end.'
Osian, settled on a giant pipe, took in the entire stage at a glance. Though all the black shadows had disappeared, the ominous energy the clown possessed still remained in the concert hall. It was like old, ingrained grime - that kind of unpleasantness.
That sinister clown wouldn't retreat with just this much. Having faced the creature, Osian could tell.
'It will use even more extreme measures to realize its purpose.'
The clown was targeting Rose. Because the positive energy she possessed was diametrically opposed to itself. It tried to bring Rose down in front of many people. To break the hope people held. Where is it? Where is it coming from?
Meanwhile, Rose shouted into the microphone.
"Everyone! Welcome to Tirna! Since you all came like this, I can't afford to be leisurely, right? I'll go straight ahead without a break!"
Rose, as if she wasn't tired at all, immediately moved to the next song. New accompaniment echoed. The stage underwent another dramatic transformation.
The color of the lights changed and the stage's atmosphere instantly changed as if removing a mask. Accordingly, Rose's atmosphere also changed. She, who had been like a flame of the people singing of hope, had somehow become a single girl.
And Osian stared intently below the stage.
"What's he doing up there?"
Loraine, who had barely managed to get A-grade seats, opened her mouth wide upon spotting a familiar person on stage.
"Huh? What is it? Oh, isn't that Osian?"
Diolan, sitting in the next seat, saw Osian in Moon Scar attire and smiled as if finding it interesting.
"I knew he went to work as a bodyguard, but he's also appearing on stage. Did he finally debut?"
"Would that be it, you idiot! Anyone can see something happened!"
Osian was busy fighting against black shadows. Though people around might not know, to Loraine's eyes, that definitely wasn't a staged performance.
'Is someone targeting Rose?'
Loraine could only think that way. The scent of battle passed by her nose. It was the acrid smell felt only where fighting was taking place.
"Ah, damn. I came to see Rose's performance today!"
But having realized this, she couldn't just sit and watch.
"Hey Diolan. Go get my weapon."
"What? Why should I?"
"Damn it. Is this the time to argue? Don't you feel anything seeing that?"
When Loraine frowned, Diolan grumbled and got up from his seat.
"Sigh. Fine. I was hoping to have some fun for once."
"Move quickly!"
After Diolan answered that he understood, he took off his boots. At the same time, his body turned into black fur and disappeared as if melting into darkness. The audience sitting around was so focused on the stage that they didn't even notice Diolan's disappearance.
Loraine watched the stage where the song had ended with anxious eyes.
"What on earth is happening?"
The very next song began.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
And the moment the area below the stage seemed to vibrate, the stage cracked and colorful balloons began shooting up through the gaps.
-Waaaaaah!
The audience whistled or shouted as the balloons spreading throughout the concert hall in an instant far exceeded thousands in number.
People who thought this was also one device for the stage were simply delighted by the shower of balloons. But Osian was different.
'So this is what it was preparing.'
Controlling other people like puppets or handling black shadows was just misdirection. The clown had deliberately bought time for this.
'I can sense an intention to somehow interfere with Rose.'
Osian stabbed an approaching balloon with Moonlight Blade. The balloon popped helplessly. But more balloons filled the empty space.
'Not all of them are dangerous. Most are misdirection. But dangerous ones are mixed in here and there. It's hard to distinguish until you actually touch them.'
And another problem arose.
Trill-ring-ring.
Music box sounds echoed throughout the entire concert hall. It wasn't the melody of the song Rose was preparing. It was somehow lyrical but made listeners feel eerie.
When the music box sound played through the concert hall speakers, people were confused. Being Rose's fans, they knew this wasn't Rose's song.
'Since Rose draws power from singing, it's using this interference tactic to prevent her from singing.'
This must have been bewildering for Rose too. Instead of the prelude to the song that should have come out, a completely unexpected melody was playing. But Rose didn't show signs of confusion. Being swayed here would be admitting it was an accident.
'I can't help with this. Rose, what will you do?'
Osian watched Rose. Rose, who seemed to ponder for a moment, smiled brightly.
"Everyone! Aren't the balloons wonderful! The staff made them with their best effort for today!"
People who had been puzzled by the music box melody showed interest in Rose's words.
At the same time, Rose stood at one side of the stage and gently pressed the floor with her foot. As the floor button was pressed, an acoustic guitar hidden in the stage floor popped up with a twang.
Rose stylishly caught the acoustic guitar and took position.
Diri-ring~
Rose's fingers struck the guitar, creating a beautiful melody. At first it seemed like she was just getting the feel at a basic level, but at some point she created a single melody.
It was similar to, no, exactly the same melody as the music box currently echoing throughout the concert hall.
'No way.'
Osian looked at Rose with amazed eyes. He realized at once what Rose was trying to do.
"Everyone was surprised that unexpected music started playing, right? Hehe, of course you would be. It's a comeback stage after so long, but it would be boring if everything went according to plan, wouldn't it?"
Rose created harmony around her while playing guitar. The music box that had been asserting its presence arbitrarily began to be gradually drawn to Rose's voice and guitar sound.
"So as a surprise show for all of you, I prepared a new song!"
-Waaaaaah!
A sudden new song announcement at a comeback stage. The audience, who had been bewildered at first, screamed as if the world was ending. Osian was amazed.
'The new song is originally a lie. This wasn't planned at all.'
But Rose naturally shifted the atmosphere. She sublimated even what's commonly called an accident into one stage.
Soon Rose began accompanying to the melody. Her lips opened and a sweet song flowed out.
Unlike the previous flashy and powerful song, this one was quite emotional. There was no new song. What she was doing was creating a song in real-time on the spot.
Without blueprints, prepared materials, or time. Like building a building relying on momentary judgment and instinct.
Nevertheless.
'There are no crude parts.'
As if she had prepared for this moment for a long time, Rose's song naturally harmonized with the music box sound. The music box sound that had made people feel eerie was instead influenced by Rose's song and warmed their hearts.
Even Osian, if he hadn't known the situation in advance, would have firmly believed that Rose had really prepared a new song.
'This is the pinnacle.'
The position called the pinnacle of any field cannot be reached through simple effort alone. Talent. Overwhelming talent that dares not allow others to follow.
'And this is genius.'
Why Rose was the greatest star of the era. Why she made her name known beyond Tirna to the entire continent.
The reason was right here.