My Alter Ego’s Path to Greatness - Chapter 83

#83

Elven Kingdom (3)

“Ha… I wonder what this is doing.”

Shapiron and his team members were waiting for Harris in a vacant lot near the academy, sighing.

He asked for a day’s time, saying he had things to prepare for the topic he confidently spoke of, but even as the promised time approached, he showed no sign of showing up.

‘As expected, that guy… I don’t like him.’

Harris, the man her proud father picked up after visiting the Aeon Continent, did not satisfy her in many ways.

Don’t you like that fierce face that droops from drowsiness every time you see it?…

‘That’s what it means to be a mercenary, right? ‘A group of people who run errands for others just to get a few bucks, but when they make a mistake, they immediately turn into thieves.’

Her knowledge was based on fragments of information she had heard only through storybooks and hearsay, but that didn’t really matter to her right now.

‘Besides, he said he had only recently learned elemental arts, so his skills may not have been that great.’

For Shapiron, who was born into a good family and showed outstanding talent from a young age, the level of elemental magic was bound to be brute force.

In the first place, spirits were inseparable companions in elf society, so it wasn’t really a wrong idea.

‘I admit that I barely survived in that harsh Aeon Continent, but even so, I am still a brute without proper education.’

In her mind, the areas other than the Elven Kingdom where the World Tree was located were no different from barren remote areas.

Of course, I knew that the powers of other continents were strong.

Because the size of the continent and even the scale of its military power were very different.

However, she was proud that the Elven Kingdom was the best in the world in terms of culture.

Even music, art, architecture, and literature…

‘Of course, dwarves are a little bit exceptional in fields like sculpture and architecture… but that’s in a different direction, and it’s not that we’re lacking!’

An ideology steeped in ethnocentrism to the core.

In a way, it was natural since she lived in a warm greenhouse, receiving only the consideration and love of those around her, and only hearing good things to see and hear.

So Shapiron wasn’t particularly interested in the song that Harris was preparing.

How amazing would it be if a song passed down from such a cultural outskirt was amazing?

‘But… But why did my father and the World Tree choose such a man…!’

As I thought about him, I got angry again.

She was a chosen one.

My mother is from a prestigious family and my father is a high elf who has been with me since the founding of the country.

I, too, was born with the aptitude for being a high elf and have shown off that talent since I was young, living up to the expectations of those around me.

Therefore, she had no doubt that she would become a high elf.

Because he was definitely the center of the world and the leading figure who would lead the new era!

‘Father’s bracelet… whatever! I don’t think it fell into the hands of a man like that, but I can’t help it since he said it was a fair price.’

Since it is a payment for the price incurred in the course of the mission, it can be compensated at the national level.

What really upset her was something else.

‘…I’ve never received that much attention from the World Tree before! …Hehe!’

Like Cecily, she was not already qualified to become a high elf, but just had the same aptitude as herself, and was even given a branch directly by the World Tree.

‘I’m better than that man in every way…’

That ignited jealousy in her, who had a strong sense of pride in herself.

She quietly controlled her anger by fiddling with the ring on the middle finger of her left hand.

“ah! This is Harris County. You’re late! “I waited!”

At that time, Timer, who was tossing around alone between Shapiron, a low-pressure worker, and Curie, a timid female member, smiled happily and waved her hand.

On the other side, Harris, looking as drowsy as usual, was approaching carrying something on his back.

“Oh, I’m sorry. It took some time to prepare in advance. “I’m really sorry for keeping you waiting.”

“No, it’s okay! Actually, I didn’t wait that long. “I was just a little bored!”

Seeing the two having a friendly conversation, Shapiron’s judgment was further distorted.

“We don’t have any more time. We haven’t decided what kind of stage we’ll set up yet. “Let’s take a look at what you’ve prepared first.”

As she said that, she summoned a mid-level wind spirit to block out the sounds around the clearing.

This was an act of good intentions.

Still, it was embarrassing for a member of my group to be embarrassed in front of other people.

She really didn’t have any expectations from Harris.

It’s easy to move on without even looking at what you’ve prepared, so I thought I’d just check the formalities and move on.

‘It’s only meaningful to match it if it’s above a certain level. Still, if you think you can do it well, you can teach at least the chords and put it on stage…’

Shapiron, who is serious about music, began to plan the stage on his own, wondering how he could help beginners learn without being noticed.

“and! What’s this? It’s my first time seeing an instrument, but it looks somewhat similar to a lute…”

“Oh, this is the guitar I used in my hometown…”

I heard Harris talking about something with Timer, who was preparing for a demonstration over there, but he kept his thoughts to himself. Falling in love, she no longer cared.

“Thank you for waiting. Actually, I brought an instrument, but it’s not enough to enjoy this song properly.”

Only then did Shapiron stop his thoughts and stare at him with his arms crossed.

I was planning to check his level first to clearly decide how to structure the stage.

“So, I prepared a magic tool that recorded the sound of the instrument. Of course, this will not help in communicating with the spirits, but this is a time to demonstrate.”

She snorted inwardly and looked at Harris with cold eyes.

He was holding a bead-shaped magic tool in one hand and carrying the string of an instrument similar to a lute on his shoulder.

‘…what? What is that instrument? ‘Does it look pretty?’

She was quite well-versed in musical instruments, so her mind was momentarily distracted, but she gritted her teeth and maintained a blank expression.

‘I wish I had asked earlier! …It must be late now, right?’

I had no choice but to find an opportunity later to ask, and for now I focused on maintaining a sense of weight.

“The title is ‘An Adventure in Search of Myself.’ “It’s a song by a famous bard from my hometown named Biz… It’s a song that my father really liked.”

Having said that, Harris summoned his spirits, activated the magic tool in his hand, and set it aside.

“Then let’s begin.”

And…

-Jiing~♪ Gong~♪

A sharp sound began to leak out from the magic tool.

Shapiron’s brow furrowed momentarily at the very unfamiliar sound of the instrument.

I had never heard an instrument that made such a sound.

‘Plus, the way the music unfolds is… unusual?’

~♪

The sound of the instrument Harris was carrying was mixed in with the sound coming from the magic tool.

Every time the string was plucked in his hand, natural power spread and resonated with the surroundings.

And the waves gradually harmonized with the spirits summoned around him.

In an atmosphere that was slowly escalating….

“To the end of the white sand beach~♪”

the song began with cheerful music.

The energy around me began to stir and shake due to the sensitivity contained in that powerful voice.

Exciting music and a devilish tone that matched it enveloped the vacant lot where they were.

The eyes of the other group members, who were tilting their heads to the side as they heard the music for the first time, gradually widened.

‘hmm? This…?’

And it was no different for Shapiron.

It was completely different from the music they had done so far.

Unconventional music that conservative people who value tradition and formality will inevitably feel repulsed.

But…

~♪

My heartbeat slowly began to speed up in tune with his powerful voice.

The cheerful beat made her shoulders shake without realizing it, and the violent sound shook her heart in response to the natural forces around her.

‘Wait, something’s strange? Emotions move to this extent? no way…?’

Like spirits, elves were beings that could not help but be greatly influenced by natural forces from birth.

It was not for nothing that they served the World Tree and considered spirits as their companions.

However, the wave of energy that started from that man named Harris went beyond the ordinary.

The emotions contained in the song spread through natural forces, forcing the elves who were sensitive to it to assimilate to those emotions.

‘Ah… How can this level of natural power be achieved with just a song…?’

Unlike his usual appearance, where he always seemed to have no energy, Harris was now radiating vitality from his whole body along with the music.

And the suction power contained in the singing voice shook the surroundings mercilessly.

My emotions were running wild, and it felt like an unknown force was sucking me into the music…

and… I was just excited.

~♪

A lightning and fire spirit that sparkles and glows brilliantly. A wind spirit that swirls around and spreads sound around.

Likewise, the spirits engulfed in those emotions were spreading their presence around in harmony with Harris, who was smiling cheerfully at the center of the stage.

“oh! and!”

“……!!”

Before he knew it, the other two audience members, excluding her, were intoxicated with the emotion and were waving their hands at him and cheering excitedly.

‘…I recognize your skills, but the song itself is more our Elven Kingdom’s…!’

As she tries to keep her composure.

Her spirit, which had been blocking out surrounding sounds, swayed slightly in tune with the energy contained in the song.

It wasn’t enough to disturb the soundproofing, but a mid-level spirit was responding to someone else’s song, not the summoner.

She frowned slightly.

~♪

But without her realizing it, her ears were constantly twitching to the beat.

‘…From what I heard, it’s not that bad. Because the direction is different! In the first place, it is foolish to consider superiority and inferiority in art.’

Without realizing it, I was thinking about denying my previous self, but now it was just a minor problem.

***

‘Wow, the elf’s voice is really deceptive.’

Harris was inwardly impressed as he finished the last verse.

I could see why they took pride in their singing.

Not to mention the timbre, even the structure of the vocal cords seems to be different from that of humans, as they can freely move between vocal ranges, and their affinity flowing through that voice synchronizes with the natural forces around them, further amplifying the effect.

‘Actually, I think it’s thanks to the “Child of the World Tree”.’

The affinity for nature, which was already strong, was further amplified through the medium of song.

Naturally, the original goal of communicating with spirits was also very successful.

Already, I could feel the reaction coming through the connection, making me feel like I was growing at any moment.

‘Still, I didn’t expect it to be this bad.’

I had sung it a few times for practice before coming here, but this was the first time I tried it in earnest.

Because of the time difference with Earth, there wasn’t enough time just to record the song on Magogu, get a new guitar, and revise the lyrics.

“and! Harris is great! This is my first time being so immersed in a song! “The song is unfamiliar to me, but it’s exciting and great!”

After the song, Timer and Curie approached him, their eyes sparkling and they continued to express exclamations.

‘I never thought the response would be this good.’

There were many concerns in the process of selecting the song.

Since the elves’ songs have a lot of sweet and lyrical aspects, it seemed difficult to satisfy them with a similar genre.

‘That’s why I deliberately selected exciting songs that I haven’t seen before in the Elven Kingdom.’

Although he was moved by Shapiron’s attitude and performed the song, he did not think he would be able to perform this song on stage.

After all, isn’t it more efficient for three people to tune in to the other three than to tune in to a song they’re hearing for the first time?

I just wanted to shock people with a different song and show them that I was this good…

“Let’s do this, this!” “If Harris sings this song on a properly prepared stage, it will attract a lot of attention!”

Nod!

“The sounds of musical instruments can be similarly imitated using the wind spirit and natural forces! “I think I can make the drum sound there!”

Timer is making a fuss and Curie is silently nodding next to him.

As I was swept up in Harris’ emotions, the song seemed to be firmly stuck in my head.

At that moment, something flashed through my mind.

‘Karma is given based on the impact you have on the world.’

So what is the impact?

‘Anything.’

Whether positive or negative, violent or moderate. It didn’t matter

whether it was accompanied by military force, political power, or financial power…

or whether it was ‘culture’ or whatever.

‘Dancing and singing are part of the elves’ life. So what if you can influence that? What if we could not stop there and spread culture throughout the world through them?’

In addition, as you can see by looking at them now, the synchronization of natural forces through the “Child of the World Tree” was a talent that definitely worked for the elves.

If used on the right stage, it would be possible to forcibly lead the trend.

Become the protagonist and lead the world’s transformation with art, not the sword.

If done properly, it would be a more efficient source of karma than anything else.

‘Is this… good?’

These were the people who started it.

Timer continues to chatter in front of him and Curie agrees with him.

Even Shapiron approached hesitantly from a little distance away.

A deep smile slowly formed on Harris’s lips.

“Now then… shall we talk in earnest about how to decorate the stage?”

At the meeting that followed, the song to be performed at the festival was unanimously decided, and the stage composition went very smoothly with everyone’s cooperation.

There were only five days left until the festival.