319 - - Three hundred and seventeen plays.

Yesterday, I returned from the Kingdom of Beryl and gave souvenirs to everyone. It seemed that Belle and Gina had been working hard while I was away, and it was very heartwarming to hear their many stories. Ruby's children's lunch was a big hit, and I feel like paradise is turning out well.

"Yuta, hurry up, hurry up!"

Okay. I'll be back in a minute."

Breakfast is over, and the excited Belle rushes me to hand the handbells to the little army + Gina. The bells ring with a ringing sound, as if they were looking forward to it. When a large group of people ring handbells all at the same time, even a beautiful sound is quite noisy.

"Now I'm going to teach you how to use them, so listen carefully. Each handbell has its own scale. ......"

I did my best to explain. I did not realize how difficult it is to explain a musical instrument. I thought I could at least teach nursery rhymes with handbells, but kindergarten teachers are amazing.

"Here, do..."

"Cue cue cue."

"Here, mi."

An army of little children making sounds while saying the musical scale I taught them. They look like they're having so much fun.

Hey, master, is this going to be all right?　

Gina asks anxiously. I'm very worried, too. Sara is relatively calm, but Marco and Kikka are also very excited.

"Gina, please help us.

"I don't mind helping you, but I don't know anything about music.

I can't do any better than I learned in music class. When I discovered handbells, I imagined a band of little kids plus Gina's band, and I thought it was the only way, but now I regret it a little.

"...... Gina, let's work together."

"Uh-huh."

Gina nods her head in confusion. She's a good girl, and I'm sure she'll help us.

"Okay, everyone, line up like I showed you."

The little army of children lined up in a neat row after cheerfully replying, plus Gina. Ordinary handbells usually line up horizontally, but not with spirits. The bells line up beautifully, floating above Gina and the others. ...... It looks like a mandala somehow.

When I give the signal, you will sound one note at a time, starting with the bells.

Oof, a bunch of little kids looking at me with extremely excited expressions on their faces. They want a signal as soon as possible. I give the cue like a conductor, and the top bell rings the handbells.

Lean, lean, lean. The beautiful sound echoes through the living room as the scale rises one step at a time. The little army of children plus Gina's cuteness alone could draw a crowd.

"You were all very good!

Perhaps I was careless in my praise. The belles and the fukus praised him, and they all gathered around. ...... It can't be helped if they did. I'll do my best to praise and pet them. I'm a little concerned about the stares of Sylphy and Gina, but it can't be helped.

After playing with them, we went back to the mandala formation again, and this time I asked them to make a sound when I pointed a finger at them. However, with handbells of two octaves, there are a lot of unused scales, and if I don't think about the composition of the handbells, there will be children who never shake them once. That is indeed sad.

Well, I will teach only seven notes, and I don't know any piece that uses all the notes. ......This time, we're going to group them by sevens ......Hmmm, that's complicated. I guess I'm not a good conductor.

And I didn't need a set of twenty-five handbells. One octave handbells were enough. I thought it would be cool to have a lot of handbells when I found them, but I guess I was being careless.

I made two sets anyway. We could have had four with two handbells per person, but we'll keep one per person this time.

Conductor Gina

One group: Belle, Rain, Tulu, Tamamo, Flare, Moon, Sarah

Group 2 Marco, Kikka, Fuchu, Uri, Mame, Shiva, Puru

Since the number of players did not match, I asked Gina to tell me the order in which to play. Well, I don't think it makes much sense, since the composition changes as the music changes.

When practicing a song, it is easier to practice if both of us who are in charge of the same note learn it together. Well, now that we are ready, let's start practicing this time.

****

"Now, please enjoy the performance of the Paradise Band under the direction of Gina."

Sylphy and Ruby and the others welcome us with applause. It's just a little rehearsal, but I've called everyone together for the presentation. I tried to talk to the spirits of the brewery, but they said they were going to make sake.

"Yuta! I'd love to hear you play while drinking!"

"No food or drink is allowed during the performance."

I warn Dineh with a snap. She still wants to drink even though she drank a lot of alcohol yesterday as a souvenir. No, I guess she can drink every day.

Gina looks like she's wondering why this is happening as she calls for the Paradise Band. They spread out in a fan shape around Sara and bowed with a bow. Yes, they are doing exactly as I taught them. So cute.

Gina also bows to us, then turns to the bells and starts conducting with her conductor's stick. When Gina points the conductor's stick at Bell, Bell rings the handbell with a big smile on her face. When Gina points at Sarah, Sarah rings the handbell.

The pace is a little slow, but the song is sparkling and starry.

"Wow, that's a pretty song!

Sylphy murmurs in admiration. I know, I know, I know. It's hard to find such a cute and lovely musical group. Huh?　Was it a song you were just praising?

The last note is played, and after a short pause, the musicians, led by Gina, bow with a bow. I stand up and clap as fast as I can. Oh, the belles look so smug after all their hard work. Flair's smug face is especially good.

Next, the first group except for Gina switches with the second group. Oh, Marco comes out with full of confidence. Marco seems to be the type of guy who has stage courage. Kikka is a bit timid, but I guess she'll be fine since she's a familiar member of the group.

Since the rehearsal time was short, the two groups played the same sparkling and starry tune, but this one was also fun and cute with Marco, Kikka and small animals + slime ...... like a fairy tale or fantasy.

The two groups finish their performances, and once again the audience expresses their excitement with a round of applause. It was harder than expected, but the handbell souvenir was a good decision.

The audience is smiling and smiling, both Sylphy and Ruby and the others. The first performance of the Paradise Band was a great success. Hmm?　Let's pretend we didn't see ...... Nomos look like an old man .......

After the first and second groups have finished their performances, the first group comes out on stage again and everyone bows with a bow. The first performance of the Paradise Band has been successfully completed. The belles gathered around with big smiles on their faces as they applauded and praised the band again.

"Belle, you did it well!" "Que que que que!" "Good job!" "Koo koo!" "That was perfect! ......"

"Yes, they were all very good. Did you have fun?"

When I pat the excited belles to calm them down and ask them how they feel, they respond in their words and attitudes that they had a good time. The belles are having fun, and we are having fun. It's a win-win situation, isn't it?

Satisfied with their report, the Belles rush to Sylphy and Ruby and the others, and are happy to report again and get praised by them. Cute. Oops, let's ask Gina and the others what they think. Fukuchan and the others are getting compliments from Sylphy and the others, so it's easier for us to talk to them now.

Gina, Sara, Marco, Kikka, how was the handbell performance?

"Ah, Master. Well, it was fun, wasn't it?　But when you conduct, it's hard to make sure you're in the right order and to get the timing right."

Gina says with a slightly tired expression. Well, conducting is a big burden because you have to control the whole performance. I could conduct, but it would surely look better with Gina conducting than with me, who has one foot in the door as an old man. I'll try my best to be a stage manager or something like that.

"Well, I'm sure you'll get used to it, so let's take our time and practice. Giving directions to the spirits like this is always useful for a genie magician.

"Ah, Master!　So this is part of the training of a genie. I didn't realize that."

Gina looked at me with respect when I said something like that.

"Ummm...yes......... that's right. Communication with spirits is important. Yeah, uh, how was Sarah and the others?"

As a master, I can never say that I only thought it would be absolutely lovely ...... if the bells rang handbells. He acts a little suspiciously, but he tells the story to Sarah and the others to cover it up.

"It was fun and I learned a lot."

"I wish I could have played a lot more."　

"I love the beautiful sound."

You got simple feedback. Sarah's response was serious. Marco wanted to make more sounds. Kikka liked the sound of the handbells. The feedback is simple, but it seems that they enjoyed playing with the handbells.

"I know a few other songs we can practice."

Sarah and the others nodded happily when I said that. The problem is that we really only have a few songs in our repertoire. Once we have completed the nursery rhymes we know, let's figure out what to do next.

"Yuta, one more time!"

While I was talking with Gina and the others, Bell and the others gathered around, excited by everyone's praise.

"One more time, you mean you want to have another concert?"

"Yes."

Bell's little arms and legs are wiggling and his motivation is high. However, the spirits are coming to visit Paradise tomorrow, so we can't keep Ruby and the others company while we prepare. Instead of a concert, we'll have to ask them to endure practicing a new piece of music.

"Well then, let's practice a new song. I'm sure the spirits who are coming to visit tomorrow will be happy to hear it.

"Oh."

The belles nodded their heads in agreement, as if they had imagined playing in front of everyone. They seem to have no problem practicing their new song.

But they can't be too lazy in paradise. It's time to show up at the labyrinth city, or Gina's parents will be worried and Meral will get tired of waiting. Also, if we don't start selling herbs soon, Marie is going to be emotionally unstable because of her thirst for profit.

I think we should make arrangements to leave for the labyrinth city after the spirits who are coming to visit Paradise return.