Volume Six: The End of the Moratorium

Chapter 81

The next morning, I woke up a little earlier than usual.

It was probably due to Hash’s lifestyle habits.

“Mmm… What a fine morning. The air is dry and pleasant.”

At this point, I had stopped feeling any discomfort at the disconnect between my thoughts and words—or rather, I had given up.

What I wanted to say usually came across well enough, and resisting it any further would just tire me out.

“Before preparing breakfast… let us offer a blessing for this day.”

Wanting to preserve the sensation I experienced yesterday, I felt the urge to move my fingers.

And also, to accumulate more performances toward acquiring the skill [Rhythm Step].

I also needed to increase the variety of instruments I’d played.

From the menu screen, I took out an instrument owned by Hash.

This time it was a violin—or rather, I guess this size does qualify as a violin.

I headed to the best-sounding room in the house—that is, the lounge—and into the sunroom where the piano was placed.

There were no signs of people around the house again today.

Alright then… It would be my first time playing a violin. I wonder if I can do it well.

“…No problem at all.”

Even the surprisingly complex positioning came naturally to my body.

From the angle of my jaw, to my elbows and arms, even my gaze—all of it moved as if guided.

The piece I chose to play was Pachelbel’s Canon.

A classic among classics—even I knew that one, not just Hash.

It’s the kind of piece you’d hear at graduation ceremonies. Or maybe in choral competitions?

“A song of distant days… was it? Such a poetic title it bears.”

And so, bathed in the morning sunlight, I began playing the piece alone.

While I played, my mind wandered to how the piece might have come into being—why it came to be so commonly played at ceremonies.

Maybe it was because people connected with the composer’s emotions?

I couldn’t help but think that way.

At the same time, I offered silent reverence to the great Pachelbel for leaving behind such a beautiful melody.

The highlight of the piece—the most stirring part—was about to begin.

It felt nostalgic.

I remember that in choir competitions, we had to sing this part with nonsense lyrics like “ran-rara-ran-rararan.”

I felt a bit embarrassed at the time, I recall.

Just then, I realized—somehow, Melt had ended up sitting right beside me.

She had moved the piano stool and was listening up close, nodding her head happily to the “ran-ran-ran-rararan” melody.

She looked so adorable doing that, I couldn’t help but smile.

Eventually—the performance ended.

(Thank you for listening, Melt. Sorry I didn’t notice you earlier. Good morning.)

“Thank you for listening. Good morning, Lady Melt. I apologize for not noticing the flutter of your fairy wings sooner.”

Yeah… the auto-poet mode is still going strong today.

“It was a sound I’d never heard before! Even though it’s small, it makes such clear sound!”

“Yes, this instrument is called a violin. It’s a bit tricky to produce sound with, but once mastered, it creates a very deep and beautiful tone.”

“Ooh! Do you think I could play it too?”

Even I know that the violin is notoriously difficult for beginners.

For now, I decided to show her how to hold it.

I gently guided her small body from behind into the correct position.

“Do I hold it with my chin?”

“Yes, gently at first. That’s it. Now bend your elbow softly… hold the bow lightly but firmly with your fingertips…”

“Ugh, this is hard…”

“Now rest it gently on the strings—the thread-like part—and slowly pull it across without trembling.”

As expected, the resulting sound was just shy of unpleasant.

But that’s to be expected! It can’t be helped!

“Eek! That was awful!”

“Haha, perhaps the violin was simply startled by a new player.”

“Oh—I’m sorry then!”

…She actually believed that because of the way I phrased it.

“Now then, let’s have breakfast. I’ll prepare it. You’re welcome to keep playing with the instrument a little longer, Lady Melt.”

“Thanks! Then I’ll practice just a bit more!”

Alright, Hash has at least inherited Cooking Lv1. Let’s see if he can cook properly…

“It’s ready. Chicken—or something similar, at least—burritos, omelettes, and tomato soup.”

This body just made a dish I’d never made before. I mean, I thought of the recipe first, but still.

Why does it look so… stylish?! Is that some kind of aesthetic buff?

“This food is so cute! All rolled up—it reminds me a bit of something from the school festival!”

“Yes, it’s quite similar, I think.”

“Let’s eat!”

The burrito was made by stir-frying the bone-in chicken with tomatoes and spices, then wrapping it up with chopped red leaf lettuce and shredded cheese inside a thin wheat-based crepe.

The omelette was a regular omelette.

The tomato soup was made from leftover vegetables, sautéed and simmered, with a bit of bacon added.

It was a resourceful, efficient use of ingredients.

“This is great! It’s easy to eat and perfect for breakfast!”

“I’m glad it suited your tastes.”

“It did! It’s perfect!”

Melt stuffed the burrito into her mouth, filling her cheeks.

That’s not very ladylike, you know!

“Thanks for the meal! So, Hash—what will you do today? I’m planning to head to the Adventurers’ Guild to look for some requests.”

“Hmm… as for me, I thought I might try composing music today.”

“Composing…?”

“Yes, creating music. Though in my case, it might just be ‘writing down music I already know.’”

“I see, I see… Then when I come back, will you play it for me?”

“Of course, I promise.”

First, I’ll try composing the required number of pieces.

Also, I need to test whether I can transcribe songs I simply know from memory.

…Let’s try those trendy songs that were all over the internet.

Like “the noisy one,” “the one with the strong wind,” and “the good-smelling cosmetics one.”

After Melt left the house, I did the dishes and moved over to the piano.

I set up a blank score sheet on the music stand and started notating directly onto it with a pen.

I began with famous classical pieces—the ones that were also implemented in the game.

“…Once I’ve written it down before, it’s surprisingly easy to reproduce.”

In about an hour, I completed sheet music for several pieces I knew.

Since I had the chance, I played them to build up performance count.

The piece: “Pathétique,” second movement. A classic among classics. I knew this one even before hearing it in the game.

It felt like my hands were moving on their own—like another being entirely.

And as I played, I found myself wondering… is this piece really as sad as its title suggests?

It’s definitely melancholic… but somehow, I also felt like it carried the emotion of “a moratorium after lament.”

That must be Hash’s interpretation, not mine.

Maybe that’s why, at times, I unconsciously changed the accent of the notes—playing as though trying to erase sorrow in certain places.

“Whew… That’s three songs now, I suppose.”

Just as I lifted my hands from the keys, I heard the knock of a visitor at the front door.

I quickly checked the sunroom for signs of life nearby—seemed like there was only one person.

…They probably heard the piano. No way to pretend I’m not home.

Feeling a bit uneasy, I headed to the front door in my current form.

“Yes, I’m coming.”

When I opened the door, standing there was—

“Oh? And who might you be? Ah, no, that’s a strange thing for a visitor to say, isn’t it?”

—It was the president of Pigeon Trading Company.

…This might be bad.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Hash, a musician affiliated with the troupe that this home’s owner, Same, belongs to. You appear to be a friend of Same, am I right?”

“Ah, so you’re a musician! Yes, Same has treated me very kindly. I’m Popo, the head of a small business known as the Pigeon Trading Company.”

“I see, so you’re the company president. Same has told me a lot about you—how you’ve helped him greatly.”

AAAAAAHHH!!!! JUST NOW—
I LEARNED THE TRADING COMPANY PRESIDENT’S NAME FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!
Popo-san! I’m so sorry! I had never heard your name until now!!!

“It’s a bit odd to chat by the door. Please, come inside. If you’re a friend of my friend, then you’re a friend of mine as well. Please, do come in.”

“Haha, then I shall gladly accept your hospitality.”

Phew… at least my words weren’t translated into something weird…

I led him not to the dining room but to the lounge sofa, and asked him what brought him here.

“Actually, I came to hand over the deed and sales contract for this house to Same. Usually, you’d exchange the documents before finalizing the sale, but this time was a bit unusual—Same seemed to be in a hurry.”

“I see, that explains it. Have the documents already been submitted to the authorities—in this case, the state?”

“Yes, of course. That’s why I wanted to hand Same his copies, but…”

“Hmm, I’m only a temporary house-sitter. If Melt were here, you might have entrusted them to her instead.”

“That’s true… Hash, was it? If Same truly places his full trust in you, I wouldn’t mind handing them over to you either, but…”

“No, since they’ve already been submitted to the authorities, a delay in delivering this copy shouldn’t be an issue. I’ve heard that trust is everything in business, and I think it’s best not to hand over something so important to someone you just met today.”

Yeah, that was a very reasonable response. Pretty much exactly what I was thinking.

…So as long as women or music aren’t involved, I’m perfectly normal?

“Heh, it seems Same really is blessed with good people. I’m starting to take an interest in that troupe of his. Very well, I’ll hold onto the contract for a little while longer.”

“That would be very helpful.”

“By the way, Hash… I hope this isn’t too forward, but earlier I happened to hear your piano playing from outside. If you wouldn’t mind, might I ask you to perform one more piece?”

“Ah, so you’re also someone enchanted by music, President? Very well—then to celebrate our meeting, I shall offer you a piece, from one friend’s benefactor to another.”

Aaaand there it is! The Auto-Poet mode kicks in the moment I let my guard down!

Still, it’s a good opportunity—to increase my number of performances and audience count—so I’ll play something sincerely.

If it’s piano… then I’ll go with the third movement of “Pathétique”, the continuation of the second movement I played earlier.

This part wasn’t implemented in the game, but technically it’s not a separate piece.

However, it’s often performed independently and isn’t as widely recognized as the second movement.

If this counts as a separate piece, that would be a useful discovery.

Everything must be tested. So let me now present this third movement—the conclusion to Pathétique.

“Well then…”

It was intense, yet somehow sorrowful. The fast tempo felt like a desperate attempt to shake something off.

If the second movement was a moratorium, the third felt like a struggle to move forward.

I’m not sure I fully understand it, but Hash seemed to interpret it that way.

…Wow, these fingers are terrifying! They’re moving so fast and smoothly!

Eventually, this intense piece came to an end, and my fingers slowed as though exhaling their final breath.

“Thank you for listening.”

Then, the president quietly started clapping.

Applause…! That actually makes me really happy! I can feel it—Hash is genuinely moved.

“That was… a song I’d never heard before. And yet—I could tell how masterfully composed it was. Even hearing it for the first time, it felt like a masterpiece among masterpieces!”

“Indeed, it is a masterpiece. However… it is unknown in this world. It is said to be a song from another world, discovered long ago in some ancient dungeon.”

“Is that so!? Then it truly is a rare and precious piece!”

No matter what happens, I’m never going to claim I composed it myself.

This is a legendary piece written by a great figure from another world.

“I belong to a traveling troupe, and unraveling the songs of other worlds that lie dormant across this one brings me the greatest joy. People often call me a bit eccentric.”

“I see… I understand now. Um… I wouldn’t ask for that specific piece, but… would it be possible to commission a performance of some kind from you?”

“Hmm… What exactly do you have in mind?”

“Actually, we are planning a small celebration. Our trading company recently relocated its headquarters, and thanks to Same, we also made a significant profit not long ago. We want to commemorate our future success and invite our employees and business partners to this little victory party. Would it be possible for you to perform there?”

Oh, this is a golden opportunity. I could drastically increase the number of people who’ve heard my music in one go.

“If possible, we’d also love for Same to attend…”

Ah, that’s not going happen.

“Hmm… I have no problem accepting the request to perform. However, as for Same attending… When exactly will this celebration take place?”

“Yes, well, it’s a bit short notice, but we’re planning it for four days from now. The venue will be one of our warehouses—it’s a fairly spacious place that we’ll decorate for the event. While it’s not exactly designed for a piano performance, I can assure you that we’ll do our best to arrange the acoustics appropriately.”

“I see… I’ll accept the request. However, Seim likely won’t be back by then. At the moment, he’s in a rather precarious position. He’s decided to leave the troupe and officially align himself with this country. There are many things he must take care of.”

“Is that so… That’s unfortunate, but it’s probably necessary for Same to continue living here in this country. I’ll be sure to thank him properly another time.”

“Understood. I’ll be sure to relay your message to him. As for the performance, it’s four days from now, correct? If possible, I’d like to visit the venue the day before and test out the piano. Would that be alright?”

“Of course! Truthfully, we were struggling to find a performer to liven up the event. Many musicians are busy preparing for the New Year Festival contest this time of year, so few were available. I’m very grateful to you, Hash.”

“No no, I’m the one who should thank you—for giving me the opportunity to perform.”

“Now then, regarding your fee… We’d like around five pieces—something casual and suitable for a buffet-style reception. Would this amount be acceptable?”

With that, the company president—Popo—presented four large gold coins.

…Seriously? I mean, if you hired a professional musician IRL, you’d probably be dropping close to 200,000 yen…

“Understood. I accept. Consider this a service—I’ll play more than just five pieces if you have any requests. I’ll be happy to tailor the selection accordingly.”

“Really!? Incredible! What luck! I only came here to deliver some documents to Same, and now this! In that case, Hash, please come to the venue during the setup three days from now. Actually, we’ll send a carriage to pick you up—just wait here at your home.”

“Understood. And if circumstances allow, would it be alright if I brought Melt along to the celebration?”

“Of course! We’ve already sent invitations to those who accepted the guard duty request. Melt will receive hers at the guild later this evening.”

“I see, that makes sense. Well then, President, I look forward to seeing you on the day of the celebration.”

Alright… Totally unexpected, but now I have a perfect opportunity to dramatically increase the number of people who’ve heard my music!

With that, I saw the president off—and returned to my ongoing task of writing out sheet music under the name of composition.

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