Chapter 57

Chapter 57 – In High Demand

The piece played was not particularly special or grand.

It was just a small melody that brought back a faint nostalgia of those early days now blurred in memory, so I improvised and played it.

At first, I struggled a bit with the unfamiliar style of the flute, but after handling it a few times, the flute began to sing beautifully, following my intent.

-????????~????????????????????~????????????????~

When thinking of the sound of a flute, one would normally imagine a high-pitched, resonant sound, like birds chirping.

This is natural given the characteristics of the flute as an instrument.

However, the sound of this obsidian flute was distinctly different from those ordinary, high-pitched sounds.

When I played the flowing waves, it sounded as if refreshing waves could be heard.

When I imagined the forest filled with lush and refreshing giant trees, it felt like I could sense the fresh air of the forest.

Indeed, it was a marvel among marvels that could turn everything I imagined into sound.

Of course, handling it was a bit challenging at times.

If my concentration wavered even slightly or I missed a beat, this finicky flute would keenly expose my weaknesses. It was like a fussy and noble young lady of aristocracy, to use an analogy.

However, having lived for over a hundred years, spending half my time on battlefields and the other half wandering the martial world’s treacherous terrains several times the size of all of Greece, I had countless memories to whisper to this flute.

There was an old-fashioned romanticism, like the days of Kim Sakkat, so whenever I left the temple to wander, I always had a bamboo hat, a cane, and a flute in my bosom, wandering for years, getting meals, and performing as a musician.

Having practiced desperately to the point of death, I had already reached the level of a master with the flute that I had spent nearly a lifetime with.

Just like... yes, like that thrilling dance I did with Atalanta last time, I continued a precarious duel with the obsidian flute, as if walking on a blade.

-????...

“Whew...”

Whether good or bad, they say everything eventually comes to an end.

The performance, which was truly beautiful and magnificent but equally exhausting, ended, and I was startled to find sweat trickling down my forehead.

How much concentration and mental effort did I put in, not for anything else but for playing the flute?

However, thinking as I did and imagining harmonizing with this mysterious little charmer that transforms thoughts into melodies, I concluded that it might be possible. No, I convinced myself that it must be so and moved on.

Having reached that conclusion alone, I glanced up slightly to see the classroom, which remained deathly silent even though the performance had ended.

“...What?”

Everyone’s mouths were agape, eyes staring at me in disbelief.

Among them were Jason, whose eyes looked like they would pop out, and Hercules, who seemed stunned as if he had witnessed an unbelievable sight.

And when I casually looked to my right...

“Wow...!”

Atalanta, who was looking at me with tears welling up in her eyes and covering her mouth with both hands, seemingly moved.

“Hmm~ Is it because it’s a different flute? Today’s performance was even sweeter. I’ll have to brag to the sisters later~”

There was Neri, clapping leisurely and nodding her head.

-Clap, clap, clap.

In the midst of the silence that ensued from the impact of the recent performance, the sound of clapping came from the center of the stage ahead.

“Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. A beautiful performance, with an intense yet sweetly affectionate duel between the musician and the instrument unfolding beneath it! The musician who awakens the instrument as if it were their own body has appeared for the second time in this forest!”

Everyone, applause!

Starting with the enthusiastic cheers of Marsyas, the music classroom erupted in fervent applause and cheers directed at me, as if waking from a slumber.

After the class ended.

“You said your name was Dianes, right? Where did you learn to play the flute?”

“Where on earth did you get a flute so impressive that it moved Teacher Marsyas?”

When I growled, visibly irritated, the hot-pink-headed leader of this group of five opened her eyes wide in surprise.

“Could it be that you don’t know us?”

“Oh~ Erainea, he’s the country bumpkin who came three days ago. It’s possible he doesn’t know our names.”

“Ah, right. He said he came from that unheard-of island called Passos, didn’t he?”

“Those disgusting crescent moon hunters are your work too, aren’t they?”

“Ah? Are you talking about those pathetic guys who were carried off with muscle pain earlier? That was a sight to see. Quite a commendable act for a freshman, huh?”

I had to retract my words about them being idols or models.

Just because they speak a little more politely, those sneaky eyes and their blatant, condescending behavior suggest otherwise.

They must be a primitive, ancient gang, relying on their looks and connections in the Forest of Heroes.

“Phew...”

Hmm... After the gods left, why do these immature brats come in not one but two groups, causing trouble one after another?

Is this a backlash from drawing too much attention early on?

The first round was delinquent high school girls, and the second round was a gang of bullies?

“Phew... Confucius, Mencius. Is this your will?”

I see.

Even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.1 Is it the grand plan to turn these lower versions into decent people before facing those Twelve Divine Demons?

-Crunch.

Suddenly, the burning Confucian soul awakened my strength and mission.

As I pondered how to teach this gang a lesson for making me exert my strength twice today, I loosened my hands.

“Are you still doing this?”

Suddenly, Atalanta grabbed my shoulder and, with her bright red hair fluttering like sunlight, she blocked my path and confronted the five-member gang.

“Oh my... Atalanta?”

“What? You said you hated men, causing a fuss with those ugly ones.”

“Why are you like this? After getting a reality check, you might realize it’s all pointless, right?”

-Hahahaha!

The gang openly laughed at Atalanta, who stood up to protect me.

Atalanta, who had been staring intently at this, let out a deep sigh and immediately launched a counterattack.

“What are you talking about? Are you the ones who weren’t even called by their own mother and father and begged to enter the forest?”

...Turns out, it wasn’t just a counterattack. It was a nuclear strike from Atalanta.

ED/N: The saying ‘even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’ originates from the Daoist text ‘Dao De Jing,’ written by Laozi. It is often used to emphasize the importance of taking the first step, no matter how daunting the task ahead may seem. ↩️