Volume 3 Chapter 1 Part3 (1/2)
A while after the news programme ended, the broadcast receiver placed on the plaza in a corner of Vannes was showing a pair of man and woman. The man was a young man wearing a black tuxedo while the woman was a young dark elf girl in a red dress. In contrast to the man who was standing magnificently, the woman was looking tense. Right then, one of the audience said, “oi, isn’t the man Elfrieden’s King?” and in response, those who had seen the Elfrieden Army enter Vannes said things like “that’s right! I saw him when he entered!”, or “that’s Elfrieden’s King Soma!” or “there’s no mistaking him!”.
Not knowing that he was being talked about like that, Soma put on a gentle expression and put a 20 cm long thing with a rounded end 1 to his mouth and said [Good evening].
[Songs accompany the world and the world accompanies Song. There are songs that are handed down through the ages]
[W, wait, what’s that line!? That’s not what we rehea.r.s.ed, right!?]
Looks like that line was ad-libbed and confused the young girl.
[I’m this show’s presenter Souma Kazuya]
[I, I’m Aisha Udgard!]
[Hang on, Aisha, don’t be so tense. Smile, smile]
[Y, Your Highness too, why are you speaking politely!?]
[Well, I’m a presenter here. Can’t put on airs just because I’m the king, can I?]
[But you just went back to your normal tone while you said that!]
[Whoops, my bad]
Soma made a light joke and Aisha became the b.u.t.t of it. An Elfriedenian would have looked at those two warmly with a smile, but the people of Amidonia had perplexed faces on. They have heard that Soma was the one who ingeniously trifled with the brave Gaius VIII and valiantly killed him 2. They could not a.s.sociate that courageous and wise King with the young man who was teasing the dark elf they were seeing on the broadcast.
“His highness the Prince lost to this?”
“I know, he must be trying to get us to let our guard down!”
“But why? Vannes already surrendered, didn’t we?”
“Well, that’s … hm, I wonder why?”
Away from the bewildered residents of Vannes, Soma continued his presenting.
[Now then, this broadcast is Elfrieden’s first ever Music Programme. We have gathered ladies with all different kinds of singing voices of for this broadcast. These three are all wonderful talents, exactly what I’d call Lorelei]
This was the moment when the term that was this world’s equivalent of idol, the [Lorelei] was conceived.
[This programme was brought to relieve all you who are tired after a day’s work. Please have a listen to the Lorelei’s songs to the end and ‘relax’]
[Why is the last word in monotone!?]
[Don’t mind it. Anyway, it’s your line next, Aisha]
Prompted by Soma, Aisha fl.u.s.teredly continued.
[Ummm … We have three singers today but Elfrieden is currently recruiting those of you who are proud of your singing voices. M, myananyawyomya 3 …]
[Aisha, enunciation]
[Q, quiet down please. Umm … men and women of all ages, self-recommended or otherwise are allowed]
[Well, we certainly do want some male singers. Hum, but you can’t really call men Lorelei, can you. What should we call them then? Merman?]
[That’s a monster’s name already. It doesn’t need to be related to the sea, right? Ah, um … anyone who’s proud of their singing voice and anyone who loves to sing can apply for an audition at a “Lorelei” branch store in a city near you]
[Lorelei has branch stores!?]
[Why are you surprised Your Highness!?”
[Well, I’ve been leaving everything related to the auditions to Juna …]
[By the way, the main store is the one in Lagoon city]
[The one in Parnam is a branch store!?]
Someone in the audience in Vannes giggled as Soma did his retort. That person hurriedly covered his mouth. He thought he might get beaten up by the others if they saw him laugh seeing a broadcast. That was why the plaza in Vannes had been wrapped in a tense air for a while. Not knowing the tension in Vannes’ plaza, Soma continued.
[Now then, let’s call them in. The first Lorelei is a legal loli hobbit with the looks of a young girl but the heart of an adult, miss Pamille Caroll!]
[Miss Pamille’s favorite thing is taking a nap at lunchtime, but lately she’s been feeling really good and slept until morning, and then sleep in late. … um, Your Highness? Is this information really necessary?]
[Now then, let’s hear it for Pamille Caroll with “Koi no Dig Dug” 4 !]
As Soma said that, a somewhat carefree tune played. At the same time, the broadcast projected the image of a balcony in a wide hall. There stood a lovely young girl who looked about twelve years of age clad in a dress with lots of frills attached. This must be the Pamille Caroll he was talking about. Pamille brought both her hands over her chest and began singing in a bell-like voice that matches her appearance.
A lovely young girl singing in a lovely voice. Seeing the spectacle, the people of Amidonia thought, cute, but they didn’t question whether the song was good or bad, they were just perplexed. The Royal Broadcast was showing a young girl singing. Was the scene happening before their eyes real or not?
“What’s with that girl. She’s really cute”
“Yeah, well, she’s cute … but is it okay to use the Royal Broadcast like this?”
“Don’t ask me. Like I’d know that”
“Lord Gaius would never have used it for anything frivolous”
“Is this kind of thing normal in Elfrieden?”
Conversations of such nature were exchanged all over the place. Is this the difference in culture between Elfrieden and Amidonia? Was the King of Elfrieden the one who produced this broadcast? The people in the citiy of Vannes occupied by Elfrieden received a particularly big shock.
“I see … we’re in Elfrieden now”
Someone from the audience muttered that. That nonchalant remark spread among the audience like water soaking into parched soil.
“Vannes is now Elfrieden Kingdom territory, is it?”
“Well, that’s what occupation means, I guess”
“Which means we’re no longer in Amidonia anymore?”
“Huh, so there’s no problem with showing this kind of broadcast anymore?”
Meanwhile, in a different place from the confused people of Vannes, the broadcast continued. Pamille sang her song to the end while scattering her charm, then Soma and Aisha came back on stage.
[And that was miss Pamille Caroll with Koi no Dig Dug. I must say ~ music is really nice, isn’t it]
[I wonder why. I was thinking “That’s music, isn’t it” despite myself]
[Now then, continuing on to the next song, let’s have the next talent sing us a song full of spirit. Her best part is her volume forged singing sailor’s songs in men-infested fis.h.i.+ng grounds. A simple cat-eared girl born in the Nine Headed Dragon Archipelago. Nanna Kamidzuki]
[Miss Nanna’s dream is to be able to eat her favorite fish Tuna whole, but she could never do it out at sea where they were on the lookout against food snitchers … um, is this really, actually necessary?]
[Now let’s give it for Nanna Kamidzuki with “Love Song Sagas.h.i.+te” 5]
[Ah, so you’re completely letting it pa.s.s …]
The next singer to appear was the lively cat-eared young girl Nanna Kamidzuki in a light punk costume. Her healty limbs liberally exposed by her sleeveless top and short pants and her peeking navel drew out her charm that was lovely despite its androgynity. As Nanna began to sing she jumped down from the balcony.
“Wha!?”
“H, hey …”
That scene made the audience hold their breaths, it was probably something not rehea.r.s.ed. They noticed the fixed orb hurriedly being moved. Her singing voice continued so there was no problem but for a while Nanna wasn’t showing on the broadcast. When she finally returned, Nanna looked to be enjoying herself dancing on the stairs underneath. As the audience sighed in relief, they were drawn into her song and dance.
“Good on you missy! More!”
“The song’s good too, huh. It feels lively and bright”
Having gotten used to it by the second performance, those voices came out from among the packed audience at Vannes. A young girl was enjoying herself singing and dancing. Every man who saw it would enjoy himself too. Unexpectedly, however, the women of Amidonia were more shocked than the men. Their attentions were focused on Nanna’s fas.h.i.+on show.
“Isn’t she cold wearing that?”
“It’s fine since she’s indoors, right?”
“But looking like that … isn’t she afraid she’d be yelled at for leading men astray?”
The Princ.i.p.ality of Amidonia was first and foremost a military focused country. The men are expected to be strong more than anything, and the women modest and supportive of them. For that reason, besides in formal occasions, women weren’t allowed to dress up. The reason was that by dressing up, they would entice men and become a source of weakness, which was troubling. To say nothing about wearing those clothes that expose lots of skin 6 and standing in public view, that might have had gotten her arrested for upsetting the public morals.
“I suppose she wouldn’t get arrested in Elfrieden”