After giving everyone the rundown, I asked Gluttony-san to teleport us to the site of Lilie-san’s event. The atmosphere there was quite unique. It was a strange sight—something resembling a massive cave or perhaps a shrine. I found myself wondering exactly what kind of performance was held here.
As I was pondering this, Lilie-san emerged from the shadows of the shrine right on cue, as if she had sensed our arrival, and walked toward us.
"Hello, Miyama Kaito-san, and welcome to everyone in your party. I am glad you could make it."
"Hello, Lilie-san. I’m sorry to bother you while you’re busy."
"Not at all. My subordinates are so efficient that I’ve actually been feeling a bit idle, so there is no problem whatsoever."
I exchanged a few pleasantries with the gently smiling Lilie-san. Even so, I didn't want to keep her for too long, so I moved quickly to introduce Sieg-san.
"Um, Lilie-san, this is..."
"I see, so you are Sieglinde-san. You may already know me, but I am Lilie. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Y-Yes! Th-The pleasure is all mine!"
Facing the leader of the Seven Princesses, Sieg-san bowed with a level of nervousness that was plain to see.
However, Lilie-san was kind and possessed the ability to read the surface thoughts of others. Even though Sieg-san was stiff with tension, the conversation proceeded without a hitch, and Sieg-san successfully obtained the autograph she had been hoping for.
Once the others had finished their brief greetings as well, I spoke to Lilie-san again.
"By the way, Lilie-san, what exactly happens here? I see what looks like a shrine."
"To put it very simply, it is a place to listen to music... but with a little twist. This shrine becomes completely pitch-black once the performance begins."
"So, essentially, we’ll be listening to music in total darkness?"
"Precisely. Have you ever noticed how, when you close your eyes to sleep, sounds that are usually faint suddenly seem loud? The concept here is that by listening in the dark, you can feel the music more vividly."
That made sense. I’d had similar experiences, like how the ticking of a clock suddenly sounds much clearer when I'm trying to fall asleep. I also recalled hearing that if one of the five senses is blocked, the others become sharper.
Come to think of it, since Lilie-san’s true form, the Magic Flower, blooms in the deepest reaches of caves where no light reaches, this venue was likely designed to replicate that environment.
"Due to the nature of the performance, we limit the number of guests per session. I have already prepared seats for Miyama Kaito-san and your party, so please, do enjoy the show."
"Thank you very much."
After our talk with Lilie-san ended, we stepped inside the shrine. The interior didn't really feel like a cave; it was filled with rows of seats, giving it the feel of a theater auditorium.
Perhaps to accommodate different species, there were seats of varying sizes. One of the World King's subordinates guided us to our places.
"It feels a bit like waiting for a movie to start," I remarked.
"It certainly has that vibe," Hina-chan agreed.
Aoi-chan and Hina-chan sat on either side of me. I smiled and replied to Hina-chan as she chatted excitedly. Checking my watch, I saw there were about five minutes until the start. Our timing had been perfect.
As we engaged in light conversation, a voice echoed through the room via amplification magic.
"The lights will go out in approximately one minute. Please be seated and wait for the performance to begin."
A minute after the announcement, the lights vanished. It was truly, utterly pitch-black. It was so dark that I couldn't even see the two girls sitting next to me. As I was processing the sudden void, I felt someone firmly clutch my hand as it rested on the armrest.
"...I-It’s even darker than I thought it would be."
"Hina-chan, I remember you being a bit of a scaredy-cat... Are you doing okay?" Aoi-chan teased.
"Don't be silly, Aoi-senpai! It's just dark. I’m totally fine!"
Judging by the position, the hand gripping mine belonged to the person on my right—Hina-chan. Despite her brave words, she was clearly feeling a little rattled by the darkness.
I didn't say anything, of course—that would have been tactless. Instead, I simply gave her hand a gentle squeeze back, hoping to ease her anxiety even just a little.
A few moments later, a faint sound reached my ears. It sounded like a flute, though the melody was very delicate at first. Then, gradually, other sounds joined in.
The melodies of various instruments—pianos, violins, and more—began to resonate, slowly growing in volume.
Perhaps because the world around us was a void of shadow, the music sounded incredibly vivid. I could clearly distinguish every high note and deep resonance. Listening to music in absolute, pitch-black silence was a first for me, but I quickly realized how brilliant the idea was.
I sat there and let myself be swept away, enjoying the beautiful performance and the music that sounded clearer than anything I had ever heard.
Serious-senpai: "So far, he’s collected autographs from Tiltania, Camellia, Jutia, and Lilie. That leaves three more... I'm also curious to see where Nizbel and the others might turn up."