The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

#Chapter 155 Musician Hamel (15) - Hystia's Ensemble After the incident ended. A bloody wind swept through Misthaven. The Loyalist Faction, including chief executive Leo, had no intention of letting the traitors who had tried to deceive them and eliminate the boss live, and a suppression operation was carried out by them after their return to the city. The traitors tried to fight back somehow, but their resistance was minimal. This was because the majority of the leadership who had orchestrated the incident had mysteriously been entranced by the music and thrown themselves into the sea, leaving only a very few remaining in the city. Those who wanted greater power, those who wanted more wealth, those who longed for the days when they could act like thugs to their heart's content without worrying about others' opinions. These relics of the old era were all swept away, leaving only the Loyalist Faction and the low-level organization members who had simply followed orders from above. "—Let the witch Hecate be considered dead." However, the woman who should have been receiving their loyalty no longer had the will to lead the organization. "The next boss should be you, Leo. Anyway, all the competitors are gone, so there won't be anyone to oppose you becoming boss." "Please take back those words, Boss. You are the master of this organization. How could someone like me..." "Leo." Toward Leo who was hastily bowing his head, the woman spoke softly but firmly. "You know it too. The name 'witch Hecate' already has no value." Hecate's ability to reign as the organization's boss was thanks to the symbolism of being the previous generation's bloodline and the fear from rule by terror. Because everyone feared the witch as an oppressor and trembled at her cruelty, she could control the organization as she pleased. However, now that crown of terror had become tarnished. People would still fear the witch Hecate, but they wouldn't regard her as absolute as before. They would merely see her as a criminal who was somewhat stronger and somewhat more cruel than others. "Authority and such can be rebuilt as much as you want over time. Moreover, even though the organization's personnel has decreased, we've secured the traitors' assets and grasped the Mayor's weaknesses, giving us both financial and political breathing room. If it's now, you could change the organization however you want, Boss." Like Hecate had attempted before, they could gradually increase legitimate business operations and change the organization's constitution. Since the current republican government is trying to boost its military power somehow, with just a little greasing of palms, they might even be recognized as an official force. Power, authority, honor—they could obtain as much as they wanted if they tried to obtain it. Leo passionately argued like this, trying somehow to hold onto Hecate, but— "Please, Leo. Let me go now." —Faced with Hecate smiling sadly like someone whose heart had been half torn away, he could only close his mouth in the end. "...I'll think of it as temporarily entrusting it to me. If there's ever anything where you need our strength, please come back anytime." Leaving room for possibility like this was essentially his last desperate struggle. *** Misthaven is a city built on the coast. To the south of the city extends a long harbor, and to the west where the land is high, a dizzying cliff zone exists. The ocean view from the towering cliffs is famous for being very beautiful, but among Misthaven's residents, few actually set foot in this place. There was the simple reason that life was tough, but beyond that, it was also because this place was extremely dangerous. The waves crashing below the cliffs are rough, and the whirlpools created by numerous reefs mercilessly suck in boats and people alike without discrimination. The only visitors were some tourists who stopped by out of curiosity or fishermen who set up spots on the reefs. But recently, even those had disappeared. The incident that occurred at this cliff recently had spread from person to person, already having long since transformed into an urban legend. At the end of such a cliff, Hystia stared blankly at the sea. The sea that had swallowed the one she loved. "……." Hamel's body was never found in the end. The only thing Hystia could get her hands on was the one violin that Hamel had lost on his way to the cliff. The violin that had delighted citizens' ears with brilliant melodies would continue to maintain its silence, having lost its master. She had made it so. The most brilliant jewel in this decadent city, the pearl that had remained clean alone even in the mud, had been shattered by none other than her fault. "Hamel." The word she spoke had far too little strength. As if what was here was not a human being, but a doll whose insides had been completely emptied. Even tears did not flow. Because they had already flowed as much as they could and dried up. She was already finished. She was someone who had been broken as much as she could be broken. Yet there were only two reasons she still continued living. The first reason—she had finished fulfilling the minimum duty to those who had followed such a foolish boss as herself. And to finish the second reason, Hystia quietly lifted up the violin that Hamel had left behind. [———————] Sound resonated and spread. Notes and rhythms each fulfilled their roles, weaving together into a single melody. A performance with no audience, no gazes, no cheers, no applause. A stage where her only companions were the irregular sounds of waves and wind. However, in some sense, it might have been fortunate that it was so. [———————] In Hystia's performance, there were terribly many emotions lingering. It was regret, guilt, grief, despair, anger, and endless screaming itself. Even someone who knew nothing of the circumstances would be swept away by the emotions contained within, unconsciously shedding tears and clutching their chest—it was a tragic Requiem itself. Step. Hystia's two legs moved toward the cliff. Slowly, yet steadily, without the slightest hesitation. So that the timing of the performance's end would perfectly coincide with reaching the cliff's edge. [———————] Hamel had said. That he did not hate Hystia, so Hystia should not hate herself too much either. But she could not do so. How could she not hate? How could she not despise? He had disappeared because of her. How could she alone shamelessly continue that life? This performance was both the homework she had promised him and the atonement she offered to him. The cliff's edge had come right before her eyes. The piece she was playing had also reached its final movement. [———————《～～～》] Something—a foreign sound—intruded. "...Huh?" Reflexively, Hystia stopped walking and looked around. There was no one to be seen. There was only her alone in this place. Yet the sound continued to be heard. 《～～～～》 The newly heard melody seemed similar to Hystia's music at first glance, yet its atmosphere was quite different. When she played despair, the other played hope; when she sang self-blame, the other sang comfort. That melody was gentle, yet at the same time strict. It was sternly scolding Hystia, saying she shouldn't give up like this, that he had never taught such a performance, like him who was usually gentle but strict when it came to music. It was inviting her to follow along. Hystia carefully changed the way of her performance. [————————————] 《～～～》 The sounds did not easily harmonize. [———] 《～～～～～～～～～～～～》 Like how the dirty cannot easily harmonize with the clean. [—————————] 《～～～～～》 Like how the woman who was ruler of the underworld could not easily mesh with the man who was a street musician. [—————] 《～～～～～～～～～》 They were somehow out of sync, creaking, giving the audience discomfort and boredom, and their ending could hardly be called a perfect happy ending. [———————] 《～～～～～》 But if they still didn't give up and called for an Encore... Even if the audience didn't demand it, if the performers didn't give up and abandon everything... [—————] 《～～～～～～～》 Then, surely. 《[～—～—～—～—～—～—～! !]》 The day would come when even their melody would properly mesh together. With a trickle, tears that she thought had already dried up flowed over once again. But on Hystia's lips was a smile that, though sad, had not let go of everything. After the performance ended, no matter how much Hystia listened, no new sound could be heard. Was it her imagination that she could hear the musician's voice seeming to scold her, saying that indulging her whims was only this far? "...What a strict teacher." After giving a bitter smile as if feeling empty, Hystia looked down at her feet. One step. If she took just one more step, she would be able to achieve the goal she had originally come here for. She could end everything without suffering in life anymore, without immersing herself in filth. Knowing this, Hystia quietly turned her body and moved away from the cliff. One step, two steps—Hystia, who had walked until the sea was no longer visible, suddenly stopped in front of a certain shop. Discovering a hat with a wide brim and feather decoration, she put it on her head with somewhat clumsy movements. She felt as if the old and damaged violin had hummed softly, as if that were the correct answer.