Chapter 218
Here's the translation without asterisks:
"What's this? It slightly resembles the lute Libertà used, but it's much larger."
"Is this a drum? But there are so many of them!"
Ah, once I started crafting items again after so long, I couldn't stop.
A week passed in the blink of an eye since coming to the spirit world. While I had Nel and the others gathering information during that time, I'd been working with dark spirits to create instruments for our live performance.
What Nel is holding is a magic bass based on an electric bass. Lady Esmeralda is curiously examining a drum set.
"And what is this board for?"
Ingrid is looking at the keyboard. It was the most challenging piece to recreate sound-wise, but I'm confident in its quality as a result.
"......"
Finally, Claudia holds a saxophone.
"Libertà, why is it shaped like this?"
For Claudia who was playing a transverse flute until recently, the saxophone's structure and sound production seem incomprehensible - she's making an unusually puzzled expression.
"I don't know why it's shaped this way, but it's a proper instrument too."
Taking the saxophone from her, I position it. Hmm, it's slightly big for a child's body, but it should work.
I start playing the first song that comes to mind.
Placing my mouth on the mouthpiece, I take a slow breath before producing sound.
"! That's quite a loud sound""I've never heard such tones before""Amazing! So cool!!""Yes, such powerful sound""But why? This melody feels like something that would play when an incident is about to occur"
Claudia's sharp. I'm playing the theme song of that detective boy with an adult mind.
When this song plays, the story begins - it does feel like the start of an incident.
Though I'd rather no incidents occur in the spirit world.
"Well, this is the kind of sound it makes. It requires considerable lung capacity, but Lady Claudia should manage fine?""That aspect isn't problematic, but mastering the scales seems difficult. Also, the sound appears to change based on breath volume."
After detaching the mouthpiece to try replacement parts, she accepts the assembled saxophone without refusal, examining how to use it.
"It will require practice, but I'll master it""Ask if anything's unclear""Yes, I'll do that"
Converting to new instruments would normally be quite difficult, but I have a feeling this group can manage.
"Libertà! Next, teach me about this drum collection!""Drum collection isn't wrong, but..."
The saxophone's atmosphere has made them receptive to the new instruments. Lady Esmeralda is fidgeting, eager to play.
To meet her expectations, I sit on the drum set's stool.
Facing her excited gaze, I smile wryly.
"Well, first you'll learn an 8-beat rhythm""Eight beat?""Yes, initially using both hands and right foot""Eh? Not just one drum?""Right, the right hand mainly strikes either this ride cymbal or the hi-hat metal disc on the left..."
Drums are crucial instruments using all limbs to create rhythm. Previously Nel and Lady Esmeralda each kept rhythm separately, but now Lady Esmeralda will take the rhythm-making role.
Starting slow, I gradually increase tempo to demonstrate the 8-beat.
"Ca-can I really do this?""Like I told Lady Claudia, I'll teach you""I-I'll do my best!!"
The seemingly simple yet unexpectedly complex drum movements transform Lady Esmeralda's excited sparkle into nervousness. Resigned, I yield the seat, guiding her hands and feet until she can maintain rhythm, leaving only practice for muscle memory.
"Next is Ingrid. Nel, wait a bit as I'll teach you together""Understood""Please guide me"
For Ingrid, it's the "board" - the keyboard. In this world without electricity, we could have thunder spirits generate power, but that would require constant spirit accompaniment or thunder magic tools.
Instead, we created magic instruments powered by mana rather than electricity.
"Well, like this""I see, there are many tones and you press the keys in rhythm accordingly""Right, memorizing scales might be challenging""No problem. From your earlier performance, I've memorized basic tones. With some application, I should manage immediately"
Ingrid's absorption speed is remarkable compared to Claudia and Lady Esmeralda. Starting with simple tunes like "Chopsticks," she quickly progresses to challenging pieces.
Subtly, she plays along with Lady Esmeralda's struggling drum rhythm.
Noticing this, Claudia joins the music too.
As Ingrid and Claudia begin playing in their own rhythms, Lady Esmeralda grows serious.
A good cycle is forming.
"Now, sorry for the wait Nel""No problem"
Finally, it's Nel's turn. I intend to entrust her with bass.
"This bass handles low frequencies, supporting the song's foundation - a crucial instrument. Having kept rhythm with the cajon before, I believe you can handle this"
I present the red bass created with dark spirits.
Hesitantly accepting it, she slings the strap over her shoulder, mimicking the posture. Timidly, her fingers touch the strings, producing a deep "boing."
"It's quieter than expected""Try channeling magic""Like this?"
Volume adjusts with magic power - a golem technology adaptation replacing amplification scrolls.
All instruments here are essentially small golems, each with a specialized golem core for musical performance.
Responding to Nel's magic, the bass resonates louder.
Startled, Nel's ears twitch as she repeatedly plucks strings, discovering that neck positions alter pitch.
"Libertà, pressing here versus here makes different sounds""Right, like lutes, bass changes notes by adjusting neck positions"
Finger movements will be most demanding with this instrument.
I take my own blue magic guitar (not electric) and play lightly.
"Your instrument sounds different""Want to try this instead?"
The guitar's flashier tones widen Nel's eyes. I offer to switch if she prefers guitar, but she shakes her head.
"I like this one. Somehow, I prefer this sound"
Rather than flashy tones, the bass's resonant lows appeal to her as she repeatedly plucks strings.
"Understood. Then let's begin teaching""Bring it on!"
The chord techniques I'll teach now are the first major hurdle for beginners. While learning all chords is ideal, we start with basics.
"Li-like this?""Yes, yes. Fingers okay?""Fingers are fine, but it's difficult""If they move that well initially, you're fine. Took me ages to smoothly play basic chords""How long?""About a year to move properly, two for satisfactory performance. Though I was doing other things simultaneously too"
Maybe due to status corrections, everyone learns remarkably fast. Though none have musical skills, they grasp basics quickly.
Lady Esmeralda has already internalized the 8-beat, jamming with Claudia's sax and Ingrid's keyboard.
Hmm, our ladies' absorption capacity is incredible. Took me much longer to reach this level.
"Even Libertà took time to learn""Naturally. My current skills stem from past efforts""Are you really our age?""Should be"
Nel's already grasping concepts, feeling her way to match the trio's music.
"I think I like this song"
Amina spontaneously sings along.
Still rough, with uneven rhythms and unfamiliar instruments, yet I sense the birth of something new.
Dark spirits who helped create these instruments join the rhythm, sparking a small impromptu concert.
Though meant as practice, they've begun improvising.
Joining in, I play guitar along.
Using this world's instruments until now, such sounds must be uncharted territory for the spirits.
Even known songs sound different. This might become the world's first original piece of its kind.
At least, I don't recognize it.
Everyone earnestly layers their sounds, inspiring Amina's improvised vocals.
Even if encores were demanded, this exact song couldn't be reproduced.
Later recollections would inevitably differ - an irreplicable piece.
"Let's increase the tempo!"
As the rhythm quickens, the transformed song takes new shape.
Sometimes this is nice.
A brief respite before our main battles.
"Then how about this sound?""Then I'll do this!""...!""Fun!"
A tender moment earnestly creating music together.
Recently we've been too busy for such pure enjoyment.
That's why.
This time feels exceptionally joyful.
The heat concentrated in fingertips - not for live performances nor pleasing spirits, but purely for our own enjoyment.
That luxurious pleasure.
The improvised piece ends awkwardly.
"Hey hey!! That was super fun!! Let's do it again, again!"
Yet from that clumsy ending emerges a new beginning.
Amina's excited smile spreads to us as we naturally prepare the next song.
Thus, time was forgotten as we delighted in our new instruments.