Chapter 26: The Show Must Go On (2)

The plan was this.

While I focused everyone's attention at the party with a [Performance], Ibi would pick their pockets and steal their jewelry.

It's a time-honored combination of a bard and a rogue, boasting a rich history and tradition.

And what if we added Rine's newly learned 「Presence Erasure」, which she acquired upon reaching level 4?

Wouldn't that be the icing on the cake?

Of course, since it was still a 2nd Circle magic, it couldn't achieve the ultimate goal of complete invisibility, but it was more than enough to go unnoticed as long as she hid within a crowd.

Therefore, it was a very useful spell until she learned the higher-level magic of the same family, 「Invisibility」, and its usefulness was doubled especially if there was a rogue like Ibi in the party.

So, once again, it was a 'trinity'.

“The show must go on. Yeah!”

The participants who had been dancing, the band that had been playing the music for the dance, everyone stopped what they were doing and watched my [Performance] as if mesmerized.

Every time I plucked the strings of the lute I had snatch—no, borrowed for a moment from one of the musicians, I could see their pupils sparkle as if reflecting a star.

I felt like a rock star.

There wasn't any special lighting here, but it felt as if all the spotlights were directed at me.

It might not have been far from the truth, since the eyes of all the spectators were shining like lights.

The 「Attention Seeker」 trait was being fulfilled, and I could feel the monster of my need for validation inside me running wild with excitement.

As my music and soul resonated, while I was playing a so-called soul-infused killer guitar solo—or rather, a lute solo, Ibi was, as planned, robbing the spectators who couldn't take their eyes off me.

She would pick wallets from pockets and jeweled accessories one by one, and when her hands were full, she would pass them to Rine, who was following right beside her, and Rine would put them in her pockets.

Not a single person in this place had yet noticed their stealthy actions.

Then, my eyes met with the two who were glancing this way, and I gave them a wink to signal that they were doing well.

“Kyaaaaaaah──!!”

Simultaneously, a scream-like sound erupted from among the spectators.

The two of them flinched in surprise at the sound that came from nearby, but no.

It wasn't a sound of them being caught, but a cheer.

They probably mistook my wink as being directed at them.

In fact, looking at the area where the cheers came from, there were even a few people who looked like they were about to faint.

If someone next to them hadn't quickly supported them, they would have surely collapsed on the spot.

‘──Ha.’

At that sight, one corner of my mouth naturally curled up.

This was getting fun.

So I turned my body and, this time, winked at the opposite side.

“Waaaaah──!!”

And again, a cheer close to a scream burst out.

‘Yes, this is it…!’

I had been in the ‘center of attention’ state from time to time, but this was the first time I had received cheers in front of so many people.

‘Praise me…! Praise me more!’

A thrill ran through my whole body.

I felt like I could do anything right now, things I normally couldn't do for various reasons.

For example, approaching the spectator who had just screamed and bringing my face seductively close to theirs.

It was something I would normally be too embarrassed to do, but now I could do it as much as I wanted.

Because right now, I was a rock star.

When I let go of the face I had held, I could see that they were completely enchanted by me, even though I hadn't taken off my mask.

Everyone around was looking on with envious eyes.

I could feel even more eyes focusing on me due to this bold performance.

This must have been good news for the two who had immediately resumed their work after realizing the sound wasn't because they had been caught.

And yet, for some reason, Ibi was looking at me with an expression that seemed to say, ‘what a show-off’.

Well, anyway, the fact that she was looking at me and not the spectators' pockets probably meant she had finished her work.

It was time for my [Performance] to come to an end as well.

At that, I returned to the center of the stage, played the final phrase, and then, after taking my hand off the strings, I raised it high in the air.

As I did, beads of sweat that had formed on my forehead dripped down, but I didn't feel sticky at all.

Rather, I felt refreshed.

As if I had poured everything into this performance.

For a moment, silence fell upon the stage.

But it was only for a moment.

Soon, a thunderous applause began to pour in.

Not just the spectators, but even the musicians all applauded me in unison.

When I looked around at them and gave a flamboyant bow, an even stronger round of applause and cheers came back.

I tried to wait until it all subsided, but since there was no sign of it, I eventually made a gesture to calm them down first.

“Did you all enjoy the performance?”

Yes!!

The immediate reply came with the force of a roar.

“First, I would like to ask for a warm round of applause for the President who has prepared this party.”

Clap clap clap clap──

At the ensuing warm round of applause, the President, who had been suddenly pointed out, had a very bewildered reaction.

But that too was brief, and swept up in the atmosphere, he eventually responded to the applause.

Then he immediately called over a butler who was nearby and began to whisper secretly, and seeing him gesture towards me, it was clear he was giving an order to bring me over.

The second objective of this [Performance] had also been achieved.

“Well then, everyone, please enjoy the party. For today, let's drink and dance to our hearts' content without any worries.”

Sure enough, that butler came right up to me and.

“The President would like to see you.”

He relayed the message.

I gave him a grin and then immediately said to the spectators.

“I will be leaving for a moment to discuss the list of songs to be played next and other matters with the President.”

At that, the spectators let out disappointed sighs, but perhaps because I said I would be talking with the President, no one tried to stop me.

“I would like everyone to stay here and not leave. I will be back to perform again. Understood?”

At these words, the sighs turned back into cheers.

I could see the President, with his arms crossed, looking at me with a ‘look at this guy’ expression.

“Well then, enjoy!”

As soon as my words ended, bam!

A cheerful melody began to play as if it had been waiting.

The musicians must have been itching to play after watching my [Performance].

“Let's go.”

I then gestured for the butler to lead the way.

As I followed the butler, I once again gave a wink to Ibi and Rine, who were looking at me.

* * *

The butler guided me to the mansion's reception room.

The atmosphere was quiet, a complete contrast to the hall.

Though the gorgeous chandeliers and glittering gold and silver were the same as in the hall.

No matter how far away from the hall it was, the entire mansion was noisy, so the sounds of the party could be heard intermittently, but.

“I don't believe I've seen your face before.”

It wasn't enough to drown out the President's voice, which he lowered, pretending to be solemn.

“Is this your first time here?”

“It is.”

“It seems the band has found a good musician.”

An impressive performance.

The President said with a smirk.

“Everyone was so captivated they couldn't take their eyes off you.”

“Thank you.”

“Seeing you earlier, you don't seem like a clueless fellow, so I'll ask you directly. Are you interested in working exclusively for our company?”

Of course.

You'd be tempted.

“I will hire you as our company's exclusive bard to entertain our important clients.”

Just a moment ago, I had literally played with those ‘clients’.

“Then you will no longer have to make a living by earning a penny or two playing on the streets.”

The President's attitude suggested he thought there was no way I would refuse this offer.

“Somehow, it doesn't sound like all I have to do is perform.”

“Ha, you say the obvious.”

So he smirked at my question and reacted as if telling me not to play innocent.

“If you knew how powerful the clients we deal with are, you'd be drooling too. And who knows. If you catch the eye of one of our clients, your life will be turned upside down.”

This time, I couldn't hold back the laugh that escaped.

Even if such a thing happened, he had no intention of letting me go anyway.

“You have a good voice, you're an excellent musician, and you seem to be quite a smooth talker.”

The President, however, seemed to have taken that laugh as one of anticipation.

“Thank you.”

“I'm curious about your face.”

Take off your mask.

At the President's words, the corners of my mouth rose again.

“Then we shall negotiate the terms.”

“You'll regret it.”

“Regret?”

“Well, as you wish.”

It was then.

Who are you people?

Suddenly, a voice was heard from outside the door.

The President is busy right now… Ugh!?

Before the President could be surprised by the sudden scream of the butler guarding the door, the door was thrown open.

“Wh-What are you bastards!?”

The President, seeing the two people, Ibi and Rine, who had barged into the reception room, shot up from his seat and tried to shout, but.

“Guar──”

“Shh.”

“──!”

In that time, he saw my face, as I had already taken off my mask, and froze.

Watching his pupils gradually turning a faint pink, I placed my index finger to my lips and gave a playful smile.

『Quiet.』

The President nodded his head as if mesmerized.

Then, as if belatedly realizing this was not the time for that, the moment he tried to shout again.

“……?!”

He seemed to have just realized that he couldn't make any sound.

“I told you so.”

He kept opening his mouth as if trying to say something, but no sound came out.

“You'd regret it.”

But he had no idea why, so his face was filled with terror.

And then.

“Rine.”

The moment Rine, who had finally taken off her mask, revealed her face, the President gasped in silent astonishment.

Anyone could see it was a face that wanted to scream, ‘Y-You're…!?’

“─, ──!!”

Of course, he couldn't say a word.

That remained the same even after I put my mask back on and released the 「Word Command」.

Although he was freed from the domination of the 「Word Command」.

“Try anything funny and I'll put a hole in you.”

Because Ibi, who had approached at some point, was holding the sharp tip of her dagger close to his neck.

“Long, black hair…!”

At that, the President, able to speak again, instead of shouting for the guards.

“A face so beautiful, it takes your breath away… a human…!”

Began to recite the characteristics of the ‘suspect’ he had heard about not long ago from the clients he was hosting at this very party.

“Don't tell me, you're…!”

In a tone of complete disbelief that he had so brazenly revealed himself before him like this.

“Yes. My face is quite breathtakingly beautiful.”

For a moment, Ibi looked back at me as if she had seen something she shouldn't have, but what could I do when I was not being arrogant but simply stating a fact.

“And, you're right. I'm that guy. The one who burned down your entire auction house.”

“You, son of a bi──”

“Lower your voice, slave-trading trash.”

“──Ugh!”

As Ibi pushed the blade against the President's neck, a thin trickle of blood flowed down.

I approached the President, who was at a loss, a mixture of anger and fear, and.

“I showed you my face as you requested.”

I continued nonchalantly.

“Now, shall we negotiate the terms?”

Well, to be frank, it wouldn't be a negotiation, but a threat.