kscans

Chapter 105 - The Orchestra

The day after the three simultaneous Stampedes, Hayato was heading to Mist's Mansion in the Demon Capital.

His purpose was to restore the destroyed mansion.

While the Royal Capital and the Spirit Country had also suffered considerable damage, the Demon Capital's was the most severe.

What was important in this Stampede event was not to let the treasure fragments be stolen. Stampedes would occur even if the facilities remained destroyed, so he had to provide recovery support before the next one began.

Leaving the facilities broken was like fighting a boss with reduced HP. Plus, they wouldn't be able to obtain the treasure fragment. A swift response was necessary.

Hayato had that in mind, but it was also simply a request from Mist. If a friend was in trouble, he wanted to help them first.

He had received reports that the Maid Guild, Butler Guild, and Tamer Guild in the Royal Capital were safe. With that in mind, he had made his way here early in the morning.

Hayato surveyed the Demon Capital.

Various facilities had been damaged from the battle with the Underworld Dragon, but the NPCs showed no sense of tragedy. This was partly due to the disposition of the demon and Undead NPCs, but it was said to be because of their awareness of being under the protection of the Demon Lord Lunaria.

When Rosalie in her gothic lolita dress told him that, he had thought she was talking nonsense, but when he asked Mist, he got a similar answer.

In the Demon Country, the Demon Lord and her retainers were highly adored, and it was said that as long as they followed the current Demon Lord, their future was secure. In a country where the custom was to do as you please, not defying the Demon Lord had become an ironclad rule.

Thinking about such things, Hayato made his way to Mist's Mansion.

Along the way, Hayato thought about the Demon Capital.

Hayato didn't come to the Demon Capital often. Prices were generally high, and most things could be bought cheaper in the Royal Capital.

Also, players had to be careful when buying goods in the Demon Country.

While most crops didn't grow in the Demon Country, some were infused with magic and traded at high prices in the Royal Capital and the Imperial Capital. A Great Merchant Guild monopolized this trade, and it was a well-known fact that if you bought or sold large quantities without going through them, you would be severely threatened.

Even Hayato, who was ignorant of such things, knew a fair amount about it since it related to production.

Of course, there was no problem buying a few items for personal use, but in Hayato's case, being a production class, he insisted on five-star quality for most of his products. This required him to obtain materials in large quantities, which could get him into trouble. Aware of this, he generally avoided buying or selling in the Demon Capital.

(The Dragon Eater Replica is effective against the Underworld Dragon, but it has no effect on ghosts or zombies. I need weapons with an Undead Special Attack more than a dragon-slaying one, and many of the materials can be bought in the Demon Capital. Maybe I should ask Mist-san to buy them for me...)

In addition to weapons, he also needed to make armor for Ney and the others that would be effective against attacks from the Undead. The materials for that were also mostly available in the Demon Capital.

Hayato had his eye on weapons like the Holy Sword, which always came with an Undead Special Attack property, a crossbow called the Banish Crossbow, and an axe called the Zombie Crush Axe.

Requiem, the glove he had given to Relic before, also had an Undead Special Attack property, but it was ineffective without Hand-to-Hand Combat skills, so Ney's group and the mercenary group couldn't use it. Therefore, he had no plans to make it this time.

As for armor, the Vampire Mantle, Wraith Robe, and Dullahan Armor had resistance to the Dark attribute. They also had resistance to some Necromancy, so equipping them would make one stronger against the Underworld Dragon's attacks. However, performance aside, many of them looked creepy, so there was a possibility they would refuse to wear them.

(Then there's the countermeasure for Undead Festival. There's no equipment with a 'zombification immunity' property. The simple answer is not to die, but if there's any countermeasure, I need to prepare it.)

As he walked along, lost in thought, he arrived at Mist's Mansion.

Mist was standing near the entrance of the mansion, surrounded by butlers and maids. All of them were vampires.

According to her character settings, Mist was human, but she had become a vampire through a spell available at Necromancy level 100. Even so, she had a residence in the Demon Capital due to her noble birth in the Demon Country.

"Hayato-san, thank you for coming."

"You've had a rough time. I heard this mansion was the first to be targeted."

"It has been quite a nuisance. Just because it is a mansion where vampires gather, we were attacked as if we were a sworn enemy."

The reason was unknown, but Mist's Mansion was the first to be destroyed whenever a Stampede began.

Hayato had delivered recovery support items and repaired it before the Fire Dragon's subjugation, but it had been destroyed again in yesterday's Stampede.

(Come to think of it, it's strange. This place shouldn't be that important of a facility. So why is it being targeted? I could understand if it were a church or a temple, but it's not a resurrection point, so I don't see the reason. Could it be that there's a reason why this mansion's existence is a problem?)

If the Underworld Dragon, or Veru, was intentionally targeting and attacking it, then this place could be considered a problem for the enemy. Knowing Veru, the whole thing could be a lie, but it might be better to assume there was a reason to attack even if they were exposed. That's what Hayato thought.

"Mist-san, if this place is being targeted, could it be that there's something here that would be a problem for the Underworld Dragon?"

"I see, that is certainly one way to look at it. However, there is nothing special about this mansion, you know? There are some health goods and such, though."

"A dragon that's afraid of health goods doesn't sound very scary, does it?"

Hayato had previously made and given Mist things like foot reflexology mats, magnetic necklaces, and sleep pillows. If there was a dragon afraid of such things, he would feel like scolding it instead.

Hayato asked Mist if there was anything else besides the health goods, but she said there was nothing but furniture.

(I thought there might be something to counter the Underworld Dragon, but I guess I was imagining things. Well, as long as Lunaria-san joins the fight, we should be fine, and if not, we can just call Ivan. There's probably no need to investigate that deeply. Right now, fixing the facilities in the Demon Capital from one end to the other is the priority.)

Once a Stampede started, facilities couldn't be repaired in the middle of it. If they weren't repaired before the Stampede, they wouldn't get the treasure fragment even if they defeated the Underworld Dragon. That would be meaningless.

Other players seemed to be handling the other facilities, so Hayato looked at Mist, deciding to focus on properly repairing this mansion first.

"Well then, Mist-san, what should I make? Last time, it was mostly furniture, I believe."

"It is the same this time. Ten tables, twenty chairs, and fifty each of plates, forks, and knives, please."

"Are the coffins okay?"

"Yes, the ones you made for us last time were safe this time. That alone was a great help. Oh, that's right. Besides the furniture and tableware, there is something else I would like you to make. Would that be all right?"

"Yes, please tell me anything."

"Thank you very much. Then, I would like five violins, and five each of flutes and trumpets, please."

"Violins...? Musical instruments?"

"Yes, that's right. They were broken, you see."

Hayato had only ever seen musical instruments in the game. In the real world, with the resource depletion of a century ago and the ability to express all sounds with computer synthesis, instruments were relics of the past, existing only in museum colonies.

In this game, musical instruments were used when using music skills. Music, song, and dance skills were used for buffs, which enhanced the abilities of allies, and using high-quality instruments allowed for greater effects.

Hayato had never seen Mist's skill composition, but at least six months ago, she didn't have those skills. This brought up the possibility that she had changed her skill composition in the last six months.

"Mist-san, did you switch to a support role?"

"Oh? Ah, no, that's not it. Actually, I am hosting some guests at the mansion right now. This time, their instruments were broken."

"Ah, I see. But their belongings are instruments? Your guests are vampires, aren't they?"

Mist's Mansion was a facility called the Vampire Circle where vampires gathered. Naturally, her guests would also be vampires. But this was the first time he had heard of a vampire playing a support role.

It wasn't wrong to do what you wanted, but he didn't think Necromancy and music skills had good synergy.

"No, no, they are ordinary people. Are you not familiar with the Orchestra Brunhilde? They are people who travel the world without settling down, playing music and seeking inspiration to create new songs."

"Wow! No, this is the first I've heard of them. I didn't know such people existed."

They might be a famous orchestra, but this was the first time Hayato had heard of them. Hayato was particularly ignorant about such things. Having found joy in making production items at his base, Hayato knew almost nothing about information that didn't seem related to production.

"Yes, I have them perform music and songs at the soirees I hold at the mansion. In exchange, I provide them with a place to stay and meals."

"I see. In that case, I would like to hear them myself sometime."

Mist smiled at Hayato's words.

"Then when the mansion is repaired, I will hold a soiree, so please come, Hayato-san. You will never tire of hearing that person's singing voice, no matter how many times you hear it."

"I'm looking forward to it. Ah, in that case, may I bring my clan members as well? I think they're stressed from the Stampede, so I thought it would be a good way for them to relax."

"Yes, of course. There is no dress code, so please, everyone come. Ah, but..."

"Is there a problem?"

"Oh, no, it's not a problem. I am not sure if Esha-san and Relic-san know, but there is an acquaintance of theirs in the orchestra."

"An acquaintance of Esha and Relic-san? Does that mean—"

"Yes, it is a former clan member of theirs."

A former clan member of Esha and Relic. That referred to the clan the Hero Ivan had been in. Cecil, who was in the Imperial Capital, was also a member.

"Her name is Noat Vabeck. She has such a wonderful singing voice that she's called the 'Prima Donna'... However, she can't, or rather, won't do anything other than sing, so back then she was also called the 'Lazy Diva'."

"It seems that clan is full of problem children. And Relic-san is so normal, too..."

Feeling like he both wanted and didn't want to meet her, Hayato switched gears and started making the necessary furniture and tableware, thinking about the recovery support first.