Chapter 178 - Postlude 6: "Music isn't so bad, you know!"
"By the way, can you lot play any instruments?"
...And so, greetings! It is I, Violia Nico Fortesia!
I was just enjoying a little tune!
The beginning of it all was a seizure of assets. Yes. A seizure.
The noble remnants from the old regime still linger here and there, and I've notified them: 'If you quietly obey the new regime, I'll overlook you. If there's any behavior that goes too far, I'll dismantle you immediately.'
Look, it's not like there aren't any decent ones among the nobles, right? Besides, there were many nobles who 'couldn't be crushed immediately.'
For example, if you crush a noble who runs a winery, the place of labor for the poor who worked at that winery will disappear.
Or, if you crush a noble who was running a transport business using the port of Elsemarin, the distribution in this country will stagnate.
...In this way, crushing all nobles was, well, not realistic.
Well, it's fine, you know? It's necessary for those with ability to stand at the top. If that ability is being properly demonstrated and they don't do anything 'excessive'... well, I'll overlook 'a little bit.' That's the privilege of those who stand at the top.
However, for those who 'go too far,' I will naturally crush them. Naturally. I'll impose excessive fines on them in accordance with the laws of this country. Ohohoho.
And, this seizure was a bit troublesome... a seizure at the place of those who boasted, 'Try and seize it if you can!'
Nobles mostly use magic, don't they? Plus, since they had money, their equipment was top-notch. That being the case, a place where such people are gathered in droves is a place where a considerable fierce battle is expected.
...I am the Queen of this country, and at the same time one of the strongest forces in this country. Plus, I'm also one of the top battle maniacs in this country. Ohohoho.
Therefore, partly as an example, I went out for the 'seizure' in person!
And so, I seized it. I seized an entire mansion's worth. It was fun! After all, fighting is fun!
Apparently, they intended to use their mansion as a shield, thinking 'If you lot go on a rampage, there'll be nothing left to seize!', but they were overrun without even the leisure for that.
Well, it's only natural. If we know the other side uses magic, we can prepare anti-magic equipment, and our pure military force is far superior.
...Ah, naturally, I also brought Doran, Chesta, and Keeb. So naturally, we could win overwhelmingly. Plus, Lital also came along, so we could win even more overwhelmingly.
By the way, I brought Giovan along as the 'person in charge of pricing and accounting for the seized items on the spot'... but it seems he took out one or two stragglers. Good work!
...So, we were cleaning up the seized items in the mansion after finishing off the nobles who had the additional crime of 'treason against the state' attached to them...
"Oh, what a nice instrument."
Among them, there was a nice instrument.
The luster of amber-colored wood. Smooth curves. Yes. It's a violin.
It seems it was being kept as a mere decoration, but the bow was also there and it looked playable, so I tried playing it for a bit on a whim.
I tried playing it, retuned it a bit... yes, yes! It can produce a sufficient sound! This is quite a good instrument!
So I just enjoyed a song as it was. It's a rare occasion, after all. At times like this, it's a loss if you don't fully enjoy things you don't usually do!
...And, when I finished playing, I could hear applause, so when I looked back, as expected, the group had gathered before I knew it.
"Wow, Milady, as expected. You're good. A 'bow master' here too, huh!" (T/N: Giovan is making a pun on Violia's skill with a projectile 'bow'—or in her case, a gun—and a violin 'bow'.)
"It's a wonderful performance, Violia-sama!"
Next to Giovan, who was smiling and applauding, was Lital, who was applauding with all his might. By the way, the ones who were opening wine that they apparently stole from the winery, thinking 'It's fine if Violia is on a break,' were Doran and Chesta. Oh dear, is the work finished?
...Well, my work isn't finished either! Then I won't worry about it anymore! Break! We're taking a break!
"...What's that?"
"This? It's a violin. Would you like to try playing it too, Keeb?"
"Yeah."
Whether he became interested in the instrument, Keeb came trotting over and peered at it. It's a good thing to be interested. So I lent him the violin I was holding and taught him, 'This is how you hold it'...
"...It's not making a sound, though."
"Ah, you have to rub it quite strongly or it won't work. Oh, you're touching two strings at the same time. Try to make it hit only the one at the very edge."
...While struggling, he somehow managed to produce a sound. Well, I suppose so. A first violin is like this. I also struggled while being taught by Mother when I was little. It's nostalgic...
Just as I thought that, suddenly, a low sound, boon, resonated.
Oh, I thought, and looked over there... and there was Giovan, who had brought a contrabass.
"Oh, Giovan. You can play an instrument too?"
"Well, yeah. I was a noble once, after all. After I drifted to Elsemarin, before I teamed up with Doran, I was trying to earn a daily living with an instrument... well, a much more efficient way was found immediately, and after that I ended up teaming up with Doran... so it's been a while, don't expect much."
Even though I was told not to expect much, it's quite a novelty, so I end up listening.
...And I listened to Giovan play a song just like that... but he doesn't use a bow!? He plucks the strings with his fingers and turns it into a song!
It's unusual, but well, he's not bad. He's not particularly good either, but he could probably earn a bit by playing in a tavern.
In short, it was properly a song, and I enjoyed it. Ohoho.
"...So, well, thank you for listening."
"Yes. I enjoyed it."
As a return for the applause earlier, I also send applause and praise. This isn't bad once in a while!
"By the way, can you lot play any instruments?"
And, here it is.
We've finally come to this.
It's been found that I and Giovan dabble a bit, but... how about the other members? Well, I'm not expecting much...
"I'm completely hopeless. Never done it."
"Oh, is that so?"
First is Keeb. Well... he was originally a slave, and before that he seems to have been a villager... so he wouldn't have had the opportunity to learn an instrument. It's only natural.
"...Ah, but I've played the village organ."
"Oh! Is that so!?"
"Just a little. Really just a little, so I've already forgotten!"
"If that's the case, let's try it! I don't know about an organ, but there are several keyboard instruments in the castle! Right! Right!"
But if it seems like he can do something, I definitely want him to try! Music is fun to do alone, but it's even more fun when you have companions to play with!
I really enjoyed it when my whole family played a string quartet! Well, with the people here, a string quartet might be out of the question... but if we could play together a little, I'm sure it would be fun.
Besides, I want Keeb to experience this joy once. I end up wanting to make a cute boy do all sorts of things. Ohohoho.
"I learned the basics... so I think I can play, more or less."
"Well, you are from a branch of the prestigious Clarino family. I thought you would be."
Next is Lital. Well... this boy was originally a born-and-bred noble, so naturally, he would have dabbled in instruments...
"What are you good at?"
"The flute. I'm better at the vertical flute than the transverse flute. Also, I'm better at short ones than long ones. Because my breath didn't last very long..."
Lital was originally small, so a low-pitched flute that requires lung capacity might have been difficult. In the first place, if it were a huge flute, Lital wouldn't have been able to hold it with his height at the time...
"Chris-niisama is also good at the flute."
"Oh. In that case, I might take a seized item from this mansion and give it to him."
Well, this mansion seems to have a decent variety of instruments, and it might be fine to have that kind of fun along with the seizure! My enjoyment has increased!
"I can't do anything."
"I thought so."
Next is Chesta. Well, I know. I'd be surprised if this guy could play an instrument.
"Ah, but I can blow a trumpet!"
I'm surprised because this guy apparently can play an instrument. A real surprise!
"...Why is that?"
"Hmm? Because Rugel taught me. He said, 'It might be difficult to become a knight of the castle with a prosthetic arm, but you might be able to become a trumpeter.' Well, I ended up becoming a drug addict so I threw it away in the end."
Ah... so that was the situation.
If that's the case, yes... including Rugel-sama's consideration, Chesta's situation at the time seems painful...
"There was a trumpet. Want to blow it?"
"Eh, seriously? Then I'll blow it~"
There, Doran brought a trumpet along with its case. He found it well...
...As we watched Chesta to see how he would do, Chesta casually held the trumpet and...
"...You're unexpectedly good."
"Well... Chesta is more skillful than I am."
...S-somehow, it was unexpected... Seeing the guy who seemed least likely to have an opportunity to learn an instrument or music doing it quite skillfully, it's, well, unexpected...
"Hehe, how's that?"
"Yes... it's quite something. You should be proud."
I have no choice but to give honest praise. Somehow, I have a slightly unsettled thought of 'But it's Chesta, isn't it...', but it's complicated!
"And I really can't do anything at all."
"I thought so!"
And finally, it's Doran, but well, this is as expected! Since he's the one who would have had no opportunity to learn an instrument, it's only natural!
"Ah, but you can do that, can't you? Howling."
"...Is that an instrument?"
"Well, I guess not."
Giovan laughed and teased him, and they seemed to be having such fun.
...I haven't really heard Doran's howling... Especially lately, I'm rarely with him around the time of the full moon when he gets closer to a wolf. Sigh, howling aside, I want to touch that fluffy tail again...
"But you sing songs too, don't you?"
While I was thinking that, Giovan continued teasingly and smirking. ...Singing!? Doran!?
"Singing... ah, the songs passed down among werewolves. Then I certainly sang one in front of you once."
Doran has a slightly bitter face as if to say 'That one...', but I'm curious about this!
"I've never heard it!? Please, let me hear it next time!"
"...It's nothing great."
I'm curious! I'm curious! Especially since the current country has declared itself a 'Werewolf Protection State.' If I can know it properly, I want to know!
"I was better at beating a drum to match the song. That wasn't something that could be called an instrument either."
"Heh... I hardly know anything about werewolf culture."
"I suppose so. It's a culture that was erased from this world. ...Well, that's why there's meaning in leaving it behind."
"That's right. Shall we transcribe it? If we put it into sheet music, we can leave it behind, can't we?"
...Doran looks a bit happy while saying 'I suppose so.' Well, he too must have various thoughts about the past... but beautiful things must be kept for posterity. That is the mission of us who live in the present, after all.
So, after enjoying ourselves a bit, we worked again... and successfully finished the seizure of an entire mansion's worth of assets. The rest is Giovan's work. Good luck.
"It's not bad to enjoy music once in a while."
On the way back to the castle, while riding a dragon, I hummed a song a little... fufufu, it's not bad. That's right. Humans are creatures whose hearts are moved by music, and who are moved by music.
"If you think so, Milady. Could you please officially prepare a national anthem soon? It's not very dignified without one."
"Oh. That's right... certainly, if there's a song that all citizens can sing together, that would also be entertainment. Yes. It's not bad!"
...Well, it's not bad to get close to music once in a while. Because it was a little bit fun!
This will be another job once I get back to the castle. Establishing a national anthem... it's a big job. But I'm looking forward to it!
So, farewell! May you all have wonderful encounters with music!
Volume 1 of the manga adaptation will be released on December 18th.
Please see the activity report for details.