LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 80
The Bard of the Moon begins her performance.
In the quiet streets of dawn, a man runs around, noisily waking the sleeping people.
A Bard who began to make a name for herself in nearby cities. The Bard of the Moon.
No one knows her name or her appearance, but the alluring figure hidden beneath her black robe and her enchanting voice captured the interest of men.
Her modest chest wasn’t such a big flaw.
The mystery that her robe has never been removed added to her allure.
Perhaps today her true identity and face could be revealed—a hope. A desire to see her face. With such emotions cleverly exploited, her name spread ever wider today.
And, one interesting fact is that she has never been caught.
The term ‘Bard’ is synonymous with a modern-day celebrity.
Think about it. What would happen if a celebrity wandered the streets without a bodyguard, especially in a world lacking in security?
In that sense, the ‘famous Bard’ who always appears alone at dawn triggers enough cognitive dissonance among the people.
Right. A seemingly easy prey is still roaming around without a care.
Though she may only be famous in certain regions, a Bard who became well-known in such a short time… that’s money.
There was a chance she could be sold at a high price to a noble with strange tastes, or locked in a cage to be used as a canary—a decent business opportunity.
She had miraculously evaded capture multiple times, but could she escape even in the large city with the Southern Central Church?
“Nice.”
A woman in a black robe watches the movements of the people from a rooftop.
Her features immediately revealed that she was the Bard of the Moon.
The Bard of the Moon slowly surveyed her surroundings.
She was already aware that there were people targeting her. This was within her expectations. She would undoubtedly escape again without being caught.
It was an easy feat for her.
“This kind of attention. I see, I like it. It’s been a while.”
She giggled and lightly jumped off the rooftop.
She performed a roll upon landing.
And then, a scream was heard.
“Ugh… I’m really so weak. This body.”
She moves her body quickly before the people who heard the scream can swarm around her. With a bizarre manner of thinking of her body as another’s, she disappears from sight.
Time passes, and a song can be heard.
The melody infused with magic power amplifies the vital energy of the people. From basic physical abilities like strength to senses like hearing.
For her, infusing her song with magical power was merely a means to make her performance more audible to the audience.
With her enhanced hearing, she listens to the louder performance.
And there’s always a disruption during a show. It’s a cliché of the narrative.
“I found you!”
“…You’re fast.”
Her voice, imbued with magic, rides the wind and resonates towards them.
It was skilled.
Almost reminiscent of incantations.
Those who realized that the magical energy contained in her words was similar to mental attacks quickly covered their ears, but enhanced hearing couldn’t be blocked simply by that.
“No, wait, I’m not that fast at night.”
“…Sorry, dear.”
“I… I’m not a rabbit!”
Status effect, confusion.
Muttering incomprehensibly, the black-clad men stumbled and collapsed, clutching their heads.
Others with strong enough mental fortitude to shake off the mental attack continued charging at the Bard of the Moon.
Their aim was ‘capture.’
Though she wasn’t yet well-known across the entire Empire, a Bard known in the region was still worth capturing.
Anyway, the Church was rendered ineffective in this city due to the ‘Lone Angel.’
There was no way for the few guards present to control them all.
If they could cage the canary, heading to other cities to earn money would pose no problem. Everything was aimed at capturing that canary, the Bard of the Moon.
“I really don’t want to be a nuisance.”
The Bard of the Moon muttered to herself.
A long sword emerged from within her robe.
The word ‘swordsman’ carried an undeniable power.
If asked to name the strongest human of this era, everyone would choose the ‘Mad King,’ a swordsman. Regardless of reputation or personality, he was an unequivocal powerhouse.
In a world where one person could change the terrain, challenge armies, and wage war against empires… it was foolish to run at such an unknown strength.
The task was supposed to be capturing a powerless canary.
However, things changed when it came to wielding a sword.
Magic power flowed through the engravings and circuits embedded in the long sword. The unique patterns gleamed with a blue light.
“…Isn’t this just basic training engravings?”
“The circuits don’t seem to have any particular function either.”
“Let’s close the distance slowly. Together, simultaneously.”
She wouldn’t let her guard down. If she held a sword, she’d confront them as a swordswoman.
The Bard of the Moon, her face hidden by the robe, murmured.
It was inaudible.
The people who had just been her audience began fleeing without looking back.
There were no fools willing to risk their lives for mere curiosity.
Sure, there are many tales of foolish princes risking their lives to save beautiful princesses, but it didn’t make sense to risk one’s life for a bard whose face remained hidden.
It was a rational judgment.
“I can’t help but feel disappointed.”
“I don’t want to hurt your neck or hands. You’re a product after all.”
“Yeah. I get it. That’s something I’ve done a lot too.”
‘That’s something I’ve done a lot too?’
A question mark popped up among the men surrounding the Bard of the Moon.
A sinister chuckle.
A chilling sensation.
Predators don’t fear their prey. The same goes for humans. They do not fear those weaker than themselves.
Instinctively, they realized—she was strong.
There was no clear indication of ability, skill, or physique at all. Just her pure white skin, a body without scars, and even her beautiful fingers.
A body devoid of calluses.
The engravings and circuits inscribed on the sword were merely supportive for movements and strength. While a true sword was interesting, that was all there was to it.
What was visible suggested that the opponent was weaker than them.
However, instincts made their bodies tremble. Instincts screamed at them to turn around, to flee from her.
Their brains clashed between reason and instinct.
Finally, they made their choice. They trusted their rationality.
“There’s just one opponent.”
“That line is a cliché.”
The tip of the sword moved. People’s gazes focused on the sword. The three men surrounding her took their stances. If they attacked together, they could win.
Though their goal was capture, their instincts shifted their purpose from capture to victory, and from victory to murder.
If they didn’t kill their opponent right here, they sensed they would be the ones to die.
Having conflicted many times between instinct and reason while leading a life as mercenaries, those instincts became the side they trusted—their bodies uncontrollably shifting toward that side.
“Really easy to read. As always.”
It was as if she knew the dynamics of the back alleys and the instincts of mercenaries.
–
The user’s inherent strength is excessively high for the body to endure.
Currently moving at speeds, techniques, and strengths exceeding the limits of this body.
Temporary adjustment.
Adjusting to a level the body can endure, matching its level with the being currently using it.
[ Strength: 0(+7) ]
[ Technique: 2(+6) ]
[ Health: 0(+1) ]
–
With a sensation of time flowing slowly, she appreciates the sight of her head cleanly separating from her body, the world flipping upside down.
“Did you know that people whose heads have been cut off actually live quite a while?”
“Uggggh!”
Before they had time to mourn their decapitated comrade, two more charged at her. With a slight time difference, she skillfully slipped into the gap and struck their necks.
The enemies were skilled swordsmen. Not bards.
Those were… enemies. Strong adversaries.
The judgment arrived a moment too late.
The option to flee was already gone. Their comrade, who had collapsed from the magical energy mixed with her ‘words’ earlier, was blocking the door.
A magician capable of powerful mental attacks merely by uttering words.
A bard with mastery capable of enhancing the hearing of countless people, yet still not worn out.
A swordswoman who cut the heads off three skilled swordsmen with a single sword stroke.
It was incomprehensible.
Why on earth was such a being earning petty change by performing in a rundown bar near a miserable back alley, or why she had toyed with them despite having numerous chances to escape.
People tend to feel both admiration and fear toward what they cannot comprehend.
“What on earth… what are you?”
“Well, I’m not quite sure either. I’m just in a bind, you see. And it’s happened a few times! Isn’t that ridiculous?”
“……”
“So, since I’ve come back to the old days, I thought I’d enjoy myself a bit, you know. You’ve got to enjoy life sometimes. Who knows what brought me back?”
“……”
“Uh, did I kill you?”
–
The adjustment ends.
–
“Ah, feeling drained.”
Her voice was alluring, yet her manner unrefined.
It didn’t match at all.
It was a disharmony, almost.
The last remaining man charged from behind.
The Bard of the Moon flicked her wrist and held the sword upside down.
The mercenary who had charged from behind found the sword stabbed into his throat, unable to breathe. Blood blocked his airway. In his last moment, he did the one thing: he used his bloodied hands to pull off her black robe.
The Bard of the Moon revealed her black hair and pinkish eyes.
Her expression contorted.
While lightly resting her hand on the sword, she called out to the innkeeper hiding beneath the bar’s counter.
Her posture was exceedingly delinquent.
However, that stance could not be maintained for long.
She staggered briefly, yet managed to keep hold of her sword and barely regain her balance.
‘…I’m really exhausted. About to collapse.’
Refreshing.
Maybe just one drink?
“Just one drink, cold with ice. You get it?”
“…Y-yes! Sure!”
She enjoyed the dawn while sipping casually on her drink.
The bar was filled with blood and corpses; surely the innkeeper would take care of the cleanup.
What irked her more was that her clothes had gotten dirty. She couldn’t ascertain who had called her, but they didn’t seem to have sought her help, nor did they appear to have called her out of desire.
‘Hmm, I wonder. Perhaps it was Skylar?’
There aren’t many people who can wield magic capable of transcending time.
Actually, thinking about it a bit,
Considering Skylar, that guy wouldn’t likely use that kind of magic just because someone asked.
I don’t know. Let’s just drink for now.
–
Potential.
—The moon is the ruthless queen of the night.
Selina.
–
Summoning success.
Danger to life detected; options will be provided to the user.
–
Captivating eyes.
{Hidden}{Late Bloomer}.