Translator: Yang_Wenli
Using the rune inscription on his palm, Joshua constructed a teleportation formation capable of summoning the Duke of Bones. The magic power capable of tearing apart space was provided by the Lich Duke. Nevertheless, the overflowing aura of death still caused the elves to feel a sense of suffocation.
Priestess Oranka immediately grabbed Gallolie. The other Blackwood Elves also moved to shield Gallolie behind them...
The appearance of the aura of death caused the lush garden to show signs of wilting. Priestess Oranka looked closely at the teleportation formation Joshua constructed. Fear appeared in her eyes.
At this moment, she began to suspect that everything Joshua did for them was... a trap.
It was all a trap so that he could offer the germinated World Tree to the existence on the other side of the teleportation formation!
Unfortunately, it was already too late for regrets. Before the owner of this powerful aura, Priestess Oranka didn’t even dare think about fighting. The only thing in her mind was how to escape from this terrifying place with the Holy Tree!
“My dear Prince Joshua, you’ve interrupted my evening piano session. I hope that you’ve prepared a proper explanation for this interruption... or, a musical score that could satisfy me.”
The Duke of Bones slowly walked out from the teleportation formation. The instant she stepped foot into the garden, all the plants started wilting. The soulfires moving in her eye sockets were fixed onto Joshua.
“I have a request for you, Lady Duchess.” In Joshua’s hand was half of the Duke of Bones’ soul. Because of that, Joshua was able to stand as an equal while talking to this powerful undead.
After interacting with each other for so long, the relationship between Joshua and the Duke of Bones was finally approaching ‘friends that like the same sort of music’ and ‘friends that could discuss movies together.’
“Request?” The Duke of Bones raised her head and took a glance at the magic formation. Her line of sight ultimately landed on Priestess Oranka and Gallolie. “Blackwood Elves? Truly reminiscing... If my memories serve me correctly, this place should be the human city of Norland. Did you all finally decide to scram out from that forest to interact with humans?”
“We’ve been attempting to interact with humans the entire time!”
Even though Priestess Oranka was being stared at by the Duke of Bones’ soulfires and was shivering uncontrollably, she was courageous enough to confront the Lich without any fear.
“When I last led my army and garrisoned by the Blackwood Forest, I saw no sign of you elves.”
“Army? Apart from the revolutionary war that happened in Farucci hundreds of years ago, there has never been any army that approached the Blackwood Forest... Could it be...”
Priestess Oranka looked at the Duke of Bones. She seemed to have thought of something. But, at this time, the Duke of Bones laughed ear-piercingly.
Having no vocal cords anymore, this Lich’s voice was as unpleasant as nails scratching on a chalkboard. Many Blackwood Elf priestesses covered their ears at her laughter.
“Son of Chaos, I wish to know why you summoned this Lich,” Priestess Oranka stopped guessing the identity of the Duke of Bones. She wanted to know why Joshua would summon such a dangerous Lich at a time like this.
“About that,” Joshua walked over to the Duke of Bones, “Allow me to introduce everyone. This person here is one of the Demon Realm’s Four Dukes, the master of the Forest of Twilight’s Shadow and the High Lich Overlord, Selonica Dalke...”
After Joshua announced the identity of the Duke of Bones, he took a pause. After seeing that the Blackwood Elves still had alarmed looks on their faces, Joshua decided to add emphasis to the most important thing.
“Miss Dalke is also an outstanding musician, composer, orchestra conductor and... a renowned film critic on the Mage Forum. I believe you all had seen her film reviews before. Her username on the Mage Forum is Lighchaser.”
Priestess Oranka and the other elves were all skeptical of Joshua’s words.
Not many people would believe that a dangerous Lich would be proficient in musical performance, composition and could even lead an orchestra!
“Regretfully, Son of Chaos, none of us has been on the Mage Forum’s...”
“I’ve seen them! Head Priestess Oranka, I’ve even... I’ve even replied to the review. My username is Black Leaf.”
Hiding all the way to the back, Priestess Luvita suddenly raised her hand in an uncertain manner.”
“I have an impression of you,” The Duke of Bones suddenly turned around to look at Luvita. The soulfires in her eye sockets burned even brighter, “You actually dared to question my opinions...”
“But... but I truly believe that Hachi should be together with his owner!”
At this moment, Luvita actually showed no sign of fear. Courageously, she refuted the Duke of Bones.
“Eh... I think it’s better for you two to settle this dispute on the forum. The others on the Mage Forum will also be able to join in this discussion.”
Joshua intervened before the two and put a halt to this meaningless quarrel.
“Son of Chaos, please continue to inform us the reason why this Lich came here...”
“The reason... I hope that you all will be able to learn more ways of singing from her.”
Joshua pointed to the teleportation gate. On the other side was the Duke of Bones’ castle. There seemed to be all sorts of musical instruments in that castle. There’s even an undead orchestra.
The magic formation constructed by the Blackwood Elves was capable of blocking the aura emitted by the Duke of Bones. Because of that, Joshua was confident that her arrival in Norland would not be discovered by the Sages.
“Learn? Son of Chaos, you plan to have a Lich become our music teacher?”
Priestess Oranka had the expression of someone seeing ‘a bunch of dragon slayers running into a dragon’s cave only to have the dragon enthusiastically sit down before them with the intention of teaching them how to barbeque.’
Joshua’s request somewhat shattered Priestess Oranka’s impression of the Lichs...
“That’s right. You all will be facing all the audience from Norland. Not every one of them will be fond of music in the style of elven epics. As such, if you all wish to obtain victory, you must learn more songs... Among all the musicians I know, the Duke of Bones is the only person to have performed all the musics I am acquainted with.”
Joshua opened his hand with the imprint from the Duke of Bones. The aura of death from the Duke of Bones started to spill out of his hand.
“Soul imprint... you... are the master of this Lich?” Priestess Oranka immediately noticed the relationship between Joshua and the Duke of Bones.
“No, not master. I think it would be more suitable to say that we’re partners or fellow music-lovers.”
Before the Duke of Bones could even say anything, Joshua corrected the Blackwood Elf’s mistake.
“I can guarantee your safety. This Lich is most definitely not interested in your souls or the World Tree. She has been the one performing many of my outstanding musical scores. Even the background musics in the Tylene’s records were performed by the Duke of Bones’ orchestra.”
Joshua felt that this was enough recommendations.
“Of course, it is also fine for you all to think that your elven epics will be enough to conquer the audiences of Norland. I am only providing you all with more choices.”
Frankly speaking, Joshua’s ‘World’s Singers’ was a program meant to transform the Blackwood Elf priestesses into stars. But, the only dirty tricks he could utilize would be in the selection of the competitors. Once they officially step onto the stage, how far they could go will be up to their own skills.
The Blackwood Elves grew quiet. Even though they were all very confident in their singing voices, they knew what Joshua said was not a lie.
Elven epics was the only genre of music they knew. Apart from them, they only knew some minor melodies that would not be enough to bring onto a stage at all. They wouldn’t be able to conquer the audiences from Norland with only those.
“Head Priestess Oranka, may I... give it a try?”
The youngest Blackwood Elf Luvita stepped forward. She was determined to make up for her negligence. The only method to do so would be to obtain outstanding records in the contest.