After waiting for half an hour, it was Luvita’s turn to take the stage.
Holding the originium crystal embedded with voice amplification rune given to her by Tylene, the Blackwood Elf girl ascended the stage.
She was slightly disturbed by the stage’s lighting. Furthermore, as she was too nervous on her way up the stage, she did not close her magic network interface.
By the time Luvita realized what was going on, she was standing before over three thousand audience members.
No... Luvita remembers that the Chaos Demon mentioned that there were over eighty thousand more people watching the stage through arcanotech devices called ‘television’ placed all over Norland.
It was Luvita’s first time in her whole life being watched by so many humans. She felt like she was afflicted with a petrification spell, unable to move her body. Even extending her hand to close the magic network interface was beyond her abilities.
“Welcome...”
The hostess Tylene’s voice slightly alleviated the ‘petrification spell’ Luvita was afflicted with.
“Hello everyone. My name is Luvita.”
Luvita gradually regained her composure on the stage. Guided by Tylene, she introduced herself to the audience.
The elven girl’s voice sounded slightly hoarse. But, before she got on the stage, she had received training from the Lich Overlord. Of course, the ‘training’ she received was in regards to her singing.
Luvita had no idea what one must do to curry favors from humans. But, standing on the stage, she needed to make the humans like her...
Before she got on the stage, Joshua had proposed to her multiple different ‘character personas’ such as shy, kind, haughty, coy, and various others. Luvita was able to understand the majority of the terms Joshua mentioned. Nevertheless, there were still some things he said that she still couldn’t understand.
“Miss Luvita, did you come from the Blackwood Forest like contestant number 153, Oranka?”
After Joshua left, Sir Weissenasche took his seat. Sir Weissenasche raised his hand and asked Luvita according to the ‘script’ he was given.
“Eh... yes, that’s correct.”
Luvita nodded her head at the question. When she was about to squeeze a smile on her face, she suddenly discovered that, at the mention of her home, she couldn’t help but recall the sight of her home being burned by flames.
Because of that, Luvita’s smile froze stiff.
No... she must present a friendly smile on her face.
Luvita could imagine that she had a depressed look on her face. Those audience members were not here to watch her weep. Because of that, she forcibly moved her mouth to an ugly smile.
“Miss Luvita, you don’t have to force yourself. We all know about... the Blackwood Forest’s tragedy.”
Sir Weissenasche noticed that the atmosphere on the stage has gotten somewhat... stiff. He stood up on his own accord and tried to adjust the atmosphere back to normal.
“...”
Momentarily, Luvita didn’t know how to answer.
Sir Weissenasche had deliberately brought up that question. It was so that the audience would show sympathy for the elf girl for the Burning of the Blackwood Forest.
At this moment, Luvita could see that her votes were increasing on her magic network interface. It instantly rose to over a thousand votes.
Perhaps this was due to the audiences’ sympathy.
But... seeing the increasing number of votes, Luvita was unable to feel happy.
She noticed that there were many posts calling into question her being on the stage in the World’s Singers sub-forum.
‘Another Blackwood Elf?’
‘Since when did Norland National Theater become the rescue center for elves?’
Seeing the posts flashing past her eyes, Luvita held the originium crystal and wanted to say something to refute Sir Weissenasche.
But, she noticed Priestess Oranka standing at the back of the stage. Priestess Oranka shook her head toward her.
This young elven priestess was too impulsive. Oranka doesn’t wish for her to lose control of her emotions on the stage.
Being reminded to keep her cool, Luvita pursed her lips. She was forced to silently listen to Sir Weissenasche’s embellished soliloquy of how lamentable the Blackwood Elves were.
The votes increased to over two thousand... Using sympathy was indeed effective. But, Luvita was unable to accept it.
Right at this moment, a message suddenly appeared before Luvita’s eyes. It wrote...’Your music teacher is grabbing me by the collar waiting that stupid human servant to shut up.’
The sender was ‘Firebringer.’ If Luvita remembered correctly, that was the magic network username of that Chaos Demon.
As for Luvita’s music teacher... it would be that terrifying Lich Overlord.
Recently, Luvita has been learning the new styles of music from the Lich Overlord. Because of that, she barely had any time to rest.
The reason why she worked so hard was not only to help the Holy Tree grow by gathering more Faith Energy as nourishment. Besides that, there was one thing she desired in her heart — to have her singing be acknowledged by the people of Norland. To be more precise, she wanted to become famous!
‘For the time being, I am unable to stop Sir Weissenasche’s one-man show. But Miss Luvita, shouldn’t you act more courageously at a time like this? Go ahead and speak your mind.’
Another message appeared in Luvita’s line of sight. She... finished reading the message.
Instigated by the Chaos Demon, the Blackwood Elf girl tightened her grip of her ‘microphone.’ She took a deep breath and then loudly shouted. “Sir Weissenasche! Could you please stop speaking?!”
She let it all out.
Luvita’s voice echoed through the theater. Sir Weissenasche stopped his soliloquy.
‘Continue. Your music teacher is clapping her hands happily.’ Another message came. It acted like a stimulant for Luvita.
Luvita’s eyes swept past all the audiences seated in the theater... Then, she glanced at the magic network interface, at those posts on the Mage Forum about some ‘rescue center’ for elves. After all that, she said...
“Everyone! I am not standing here as a Blackwood Elf!” Luvita shouted, “Instead, I am standing here as a singer!”
Luvita could already see Priestess Oranka’s expression crumbling apart. But, at this moment, the elf girl cannot concern herself with anything else.
“The only reason why I’m standing here is because I wanted you all to listen to my singing! I only... wanted my singing to be acknowledged! That is all!”
The words spoken by the Blackwood Elf girl were not at all charming. It could totally be said to be a declaration of provocation toward all the people of Norland.
But, after she finished saying all that, the theater grew completely quiet. The audiences were staring at the Blackwood Elf who just spoke of such ‘arrogant claptrap’ with shock.
“Interesting... In that case, let us hear your singing.”
At this moment, the girl sitting in a judge seat, Gallolie, spoke. Supporting her chin with the back of her hands, she was looking at Luvita with interest in her eyes.
“You know, the musical aesthetics of the citizens of Norland is far higher than that of you elves.”
When Gallolie said those words, a Day Banshee floated over to her and took a close up of her face.
Gallolie’s words could be said to be a very courteous response toward Luvita’s provocation.
At this moment, the rate new posts and replies were appearing on the Mage Forum reached an all-time high.
‘Is that Blackwood Elf planning to sing another sleeping lullaby?’
‘Miss Gallolie seemed to be angered.’
Gallolie was also able to see the posts appearing on the mage forum. As the camera shifts away from her, she reveals a bitter smile.
‘Mister Joshua, why do you want me to say these words that would cause disagreement with the Blackwood Elves?’ Gallolie sent a message to Joshua.
The words Gallolie said to Luvita earlier were said according to Joshua’s instructions.
‘To create drama.’
Joshua replied with three simple words. But, those words were enough for Gallolie to understand what Joshua was planning.
With a worried look, Gallolie looked at the elf girl on the stage.
Through the dialogue earlier, Luvita has been forced to the limelight of the competition. Should her performance fail to satisfy the audience, she... would be disdained by all of them.
“This is no different from pushing her to the edge of a cliff, Mister Joshua,” Gallolie mumbled.
Gallolie was able to faintly hear the discussions from the audience members seated behind her.
Those human nobles shunned people from other races to begin with. By showing the pride of an elf in front of the humans, Luvita inevitably evoked dissatisfaction from the audiences.
Gallolie could already picture the audiences would boo Luvita after she finished her performance.
But, right at this moment, the accompanying music suddenly started playing.
The crisp and tempo-rich string instruments resonated through the entire theater. Cello? No, it sounded a bit different. Then came a tempo-rich tapping sound.
Gallolie was trying her best to distinguish the instruments in the music. But, the moment Luvita started singing, she couldn’t help but stop thinking about the instruments.
“There’s a fire starting in my heart. Reaching a fever pitch...” With her slightly raspy voice, Luvita was singing.
That song of hers was not slow and melodious like the elven epics or human operas.
Her song was following a very tight tempo. Every single drum beat was pounding directly in the listener’s heart.
Anger could be felt in Luvita’s deep and low voice. Following the tempo of the music, the volume of her voice increased. In the end, Luvita’s voice rose to a high point.
While Gallolie was taught musical appreciation and standards, the first thing she felt when listening to this song as an ordinary audience was that it was... dynamic.
Even though Gallolie could hear other female voices singing the chorus, the audiences behind her paid no heed to them at all. Some of them were already clapping their hands according to the tempo of the music.
Luvita could hear the applause from the audience. But, she had no heart to concern herself with them. When she followed the music to finish singing the lyrics, when her voice rose to its peak heights... a trembling sensation filled her entire body.
It was a very cozy feeling. Luvita was unable to describe that feeling with words.
Gradually, the song approaches its end. Finally, Luvita finished singing the song with her slightly hoarse voice.
When the accompanying music disappeared, when the singing stopped, the entire theater was completely quiet.
The audiences were all sitting on their seats. There was no applause or hiss and boo to be heard.
Slightly uneasy, Luvita looked at the surroundings. She felt that she might’ve messed up everything.
She breathed out and prepared to leave the stage to accept Priestess Oranka’s punishment. But, at that moment, she stopped her footsteps.
Energies... were bubbling in her body.
She looked at her arm in disbelief. Faint green light was gathering at her hand.
The light was not magic... Instead, it was Faith Energy that could be used as nourishment for the Holy Tree.
These Faith Energies...
In shock, Luvita turned around to look at the white projection screen behind her. A terrifying number was being displayed on the screen.
Thirty-two thousand four hundred and twenty-one. Over four thousand more votes than that Lia girl.
An applause. Another. Luvita started hearing applause sounding from the audience seats behind her. Those nobles and mages were all standing up and applauding her. They were giving this Blackwood Elf a standing ovation.
“You’ve proved your singing to everyone, Miss Elf,” Gallolie also stood up to applaud Luvita. “That said, I am very curious... What is the name of the song you sang.”
When Gallolie asked that question, the audiences all started paying close attention unanimously. The applause stopped in a few short seconds.
“It’s called ‘Rolling in the Deep...’” Holding back her tears, Luvita answered Gallolie.
.........
“Are you all leaving? Why not stay and finish watching the performance tonight?”
Sitting in the other theater’s audience seat, Gallolie looked at the undead ensemble that just finished their performance. Behind him, Herolia and Messai had stood up with the intention of leaving Norland Nation Theater.
“I’ve seen enough. Besides, Mister Joshua, this is only the qualifier competition, no?” said Herolia.
“Of course. Regretfully, I will not be present in the following competition.”
“Is that so? But that’s fine, we will definitely be able to meet again, Mister Joshua.”
After leaving those words, Herolia pushed open the door and left with Messai.
“Over thirty-two thousand votes...”
With a wave of his hand, Joshua opened the magic network interface. The discussions about Lia were replaced with discussions about a Blackwood Elf called Luvita.
“Your student is quite popular,” Joshua said to the Duke of Bones conducting the ensemble at the stage below.
“Student? How could that foolish elf be qualified to be my student?” The Duke of Bones ruthlessly ridiculed Luvita with her ear-piercing voice. “She was off-key on multiple occasions. Those humans, their ears are simply rotten.”
“There’s quite many people praising your musical performance too.”
Joshua was used to the Duke of Bones’ harsh criticisms toward everything. On the Mage Forum, this Lich Overlord was a renowned sharp-tongued film critic.
“Joshua... are you really planning to let those two hateful things out like this?”
Suddenly, the Duke of Bones placed down her conductor baton. Black mist started rising before Joshua’s eyes. The mist transformed into the Lich Overlord. With her back lowered, she stared at the sitting Joshua with her soulfires.
“If I am to kill that woman here, it would be akin to declaring an official all-out war against the Nation of the Holy Church.”
Joshua had considered getting rid of Herolia directly. After all, the entire Heresy Tribunal relies on her singing to operate. If she was to lose her life here, those inquisitors would all fall into chaos.
“True. Our Demon Realm’s selfish and dysfunctional overlords will not be able to resist the assault from those fake followers of God.”
The Duke of Bones made clear judgements. She was not misled by her arrogance.
“That situation will not persist for much longer...” Joshua raised his head to look at the ceiling.