After enjoying the performance at Lilie's venue, we decided to make our way to Erial's show next.
However, we had been moving from one venue to the next in such a flurry that we decided to skip the immediate time slot for Erial's performance and catch the one after. This gave us about thirty minutes to spare, so we decided to take a stroll around the area near where Erial was stationed.
Since Gluttony's assistance made travel instantaneous, we had plenty of time to indulge in a little sightseeing. We eventually arrived at a cluster of stalls located quite close to Erial's venue. Despite being called stalls, they didn't sell typical festival fare like food; instead, it seemed you could buy or rent musical instruments here.
According to the guide Camellia had given me, these instrument rental and sales areas were scattered throughout the festival grounds. Since the Harmonic Symphony allowed anyone to perform or sing freely, visitors could rent an instrument on the spot if the mood struck them.
"Hmm, when it comes to instruments... I think I'm only capable of mastering the castanets. Aoi-senpai, you can play the piano, right?"
"Only a little," Aoi replied.
"You have the air of such a refined lady, Aoi-senpai. I bet you'd look wonderful sitting at a piano."
"Fufufu... Hm? Wait a moment. 'Look' the part? Are you suggesting my actual personality is different?"
"...No comment."
"Hina?"
"Ah, let's go look over there too!"
"Wait! Come back here!"
I watched with a smile as Hina dashed away with Aoi in hot pursuit. They certainly were close friends. To be honest, instruments were out of the question for me, too. Maybe I could handle the castanets or a tambourine? A recorder... no, I didn't even remember which holes to cover anymore.
I didn't actually plan on playing or renting anything, but I scanned the various stalls anyway. Many sold instruments in shapes I’d never seen before, which was quite interesting. There really was an incredible variety.
"Welcome! How about it, Kaito-san? Why not take this chance to make your debut as a musici—bugyaf!?"
The owner of the stall I’d leaned into was wearing a bird costume, so I punched them reflexively.
"What was that for!?"
"...Because it was you, Alice."
"That's a horrible reason! Kaito-san, aren't you way too violent toward only me? I'm not looking for that kind of 'one and only' treatment!"
"Anyway, setting that aside..."
"Don't just brush me off!"
"Seriously, though, you're everywhere."
She’d been in the Hydra Kingdom, she’d had a shop at the Six Kings Festival, and though I hadn't found her yet, she probably had one at the White God Festival too. She really did pop up everywhere.
"You've got quite a variety here. Are these violins?"
"I am a legendary master craftsman, after all! The instruments I make are known as legendary masterpieces."
"Heh, so they're like the Stradivarius of my world?"
Come to think of it, I felt like she was responsible for most of the legendary items in this world. Hadn't she also been called a master craftsman for weapons and models? As I browsed the instruments with those thoughts in mind, I heard a familiar voice nearby.
"This way!"
"W-Wait, Eingana... Why the rush?"
"It's the legendary stall from the rumors! It's famous among musicians as a phantom shop that only deals in legendary masterpieces. Its appearance is unpredictable, and encountering it is considered a sign of immense luck. To think we'd find it—what a stroke of fortune!"
I turned toward the voice and saw a woman so tall she stood out even from a distance. It was Eingana, and she was dragging Flare along behind her. So they had come to the Harmonic Symphony as well. The height difference between them was truly staggering.
In a state of excitement rare for her usually calm demeanor, Eingana approached Alice's stall, her eyes sparkling.
"Ah, marvelous! Every single one of these is a treasure rarely seen!"
"...Was there even a point in dragging me along? You could have come to look on your own... Hm?"
"Ah, hello."
"Oh! If it isn't my Comrade! So, you've come to the Harmonic Symphony as well? What luck to cross paths in a place like this!"
When I gave a small nod to Flare, she greeted me with a happy smile, clearly delighted by our meeting.
"...Hey, Eingana! Looking at instruments is fine, but greet our Comrade first."
"Ah, truly wonderf—Hm? What is it, Nizbel? I'm concentrating... Oh? If it isn't Miyama Kaito. Hello."
"Ah, yes. Hello..."
Apparently, she’d been so absorbed in the instruments that she hadn't even noticed me. Setting that aside, I had unexpectedly run into more Six Kings' Executives. Worrying about Lilia's reaction, I stole a glance at her where she stood a short distance away. She gave me a beaming smile and a thumbs-up.
For some reason, she looked quite pleased.
Yeah. In short... apparently, running into the Four Great Magic Dragons was perfectly fine.
Serious-senpai: "I see, it's because she loves dragons... Come to think of it, Lilia was actually proactively seeking out the Four Great Magic Dragons herself..."