Chapter 1009 – Let’s Do Business and Make a Living

000

With Zita performing brilliantly in front of him, Cleon shook his head and returned to the group he had parted ways with.

There, Noctis and Herti were laughing and clapping their hands, cheering on Zita’s performance.

＂What on earth is going on?＂

Cleon will approach those two people while talking to them.

Then, Noctis immediately realized Cleon’s return and turned towards him.

＂Ah, Klee- eh!?＂

But, eventually, when you call his name, you will make a strange voice.

＂… Noctis, my name is not Cleek.＂

Then, Cleon shook his head and answered as if he had no idea what he was talking about.

However, in response to Cleon’s response, Noctis actually raised his voice more.

“I didn’t call you names! I thought you wouldn’t come back for a while, but why are you taking your top off!?”

That’s right.

As a result of Cleon giving his shirt to Seth, he was now half-naked, revealing the physical beauty of his upper body, including his excellent abs.

“Ah. There are a few different circumstances…”

“Circumstances…? Maybe with that bard from earlier…!?”

＂That’s not the case.＂

Cleon noticed what she was thinking and shook her head and let out a sigh.

＂Mr. Cleon. What happened to that bard?”

And, Herti calmly asked Cleon a question.

Herti didn’t seem to care much about Cleon being half-naked.

＂Is it strange that I feel suspicious about Cleon taking off his top…!?＂

Noctis must have muttered that as he looked at Herti who was trying to continue the conversation casually.

“It seemed like she had business with me. First, it’s not an enemy. He’s dealing with the same enemy as us.”

＂Indeed…＂

At Cleon’s words, Herty must have nodded her head as if she understood.

＂What is his name?＂

＂Seth. It is said that he has visited this eastern country several times, so there may be records if you look for it. Since they seem to like ‘black liquor’, at bars and breweries…”

It was when Cleon was sharing information about Seth.

Clap, clap!

Then, soldiers in steel armor appeared holding spears and raised their voices towards the audience surrounding Zita who was performing.

“Ruler! Everyone, if you continue to gather here like this, you will disturb passers-by! Please disperse!”

Apparently, as Zita sang and people continued to gather, someone who did not like people stopping on the street reported it to the government.

Looking at such government forces, people would react negatively and say ‘Woo~’.

Herti also opened her mouth while watching her government troops.

“To the extent that the government military came to stop it. It seems like it attracted more attention than expected.”

“Ah. It would be best to call Zita soon. Zita!”

As Cleon said that, he raised her voice and called out to Zita, who was continuing to sing regardless of whether the government officials showed up or not.

However, Zita seemed to be distracted by her song, and she continued to sing her melody.

“I guess I can’t hear you.”

Noctis shook his head, and Cleon sighed again.

“Zita, the lyrics are nonsense, but the melody is good…”

“Is that so? I think it’s a good lyric because it seems pure and unadorned.”

As for the lyrics, Cleon and Herti seemed to have some differences of opinion.

＂Seueueup…＂

However, no matter what the lyrics were, Cleon was a little nervous.

The reason was because it was confirmed that the expressions of the government soldiers were gradually hardening.

In any case, if Zita did not stop singing, the audience watching her would not disperse.

If you resist the government army’s disbandment order any longer than this, ‘trouble’ will arise with them.

“It can’t be helped. I have no choice but to return Zita to reality, even if it’s just by force.”

＂Force…?＂

When Noctis made a ‘How’ expression at Cleon’s words, Cleon just walked into the center of the crowd where Zita was singing her song.

“Now, wait a minute, are you going in like that!?”

Noctis was the only one who made a move, but Cleon wouldn’t stop moving and would walk away, hurting the crowd.

“Wait, don’t push!”

＂We also want to be in the front row…!＂

There may have been some people who said this and gave Cleon a cold glare, but when a muscular man (shirtless) with a height of nearly 2 meters was pushing him and walking away, he quickly calmed down even if he raised his voice like that.

Thanks to this, Cleon was able to get in front of Zita without difficulty, and of course, if a sturdy man with his upper body removed appeared in front of the audience who were enjoying the cute girl’s dance and song, the audience would immediately create an unpleasant atmosphere. 〈 Br〉

＂What is that guy!＂

＂Stay away from our diva!＂

Boo! When a rather angry voice was heard, Cleon sighed and shook his head.

＂Why is this happening…＂

But soon, she will come to her senses and stop shaking her body.

＂Zita! It’s time to retreat. If she continues singing like this, she will be caught by the government and interrogated.”

＂Hot?! Teacher! Before you know it, you’re on stage?”

“It’s a stage… It’s on the street.”

Zita gives Cleon a surprised look as she says she was unaware of Cleon’s approach until he approached her and grabbed her.

And the words she said were as if she was under the illusion that she was performing on stage.

＂Do you want to sing too, teacher!?＂

As she says this, she looks at Cleon with her sparkling eyes.

Of course, Cleon would be shocked and shake his head.

“Under!? Oh, no! Because it’s definitely not like that!”

Not only had Cleon never sung in front of people, he was the type of person who knew that he was not good at singing.

“Is that so… But I’d like to hear your song someday!”

“Well, that probably won’t happen in the future, but… Anyway. The show is over. Look over there.”

Cleon cleared his throat, shook off his embarrassment, and raised his finger to point at the ‘officials’ standing outside the audience.

Then, the government troops were glaring at this direction.

＂Are they knew audiences!?＂

＂It’s not that… It’s a unit that protects the security of Asteris. Zita, I came here because people were gathering and blocking the road while you were performing.”

＂Gasp…＂

Zita looked surprised at Cleon’s explanation.

“If we try to continue the performance like this, the government forces will try to force people to disperse. Maybe a fight will break out.”

“Well, you can’t do that! Everyone is having fun singing songs!”

At Cleon’s words, Zita shook her head and said that that was something that had to be stopped.

“Ah, I understand! That’s all for today’s performance!”

She nodded her head as if she understood Cleon’s words and hung the instrument she was holding on her back.

And, I will speak to the audience.

“Humans! Thank you so much for listening to my song today! See you later!”

As she said that, Zita hurriedly made her way through the crowd.

What she was heading to was the place where Herti and Noctis were waiting, standing at the very edge of the crowd.

And the audience, cheering or expressing disappointment toward Zita, made her way so that she could pass through them.

It was a completely different treatment than when Cleon walked forward.

＇Ha.＇

Cleon shook his head as he looked at the audience and Zita, and he himself tried to follow Zita, but-

＂… Huh?＂

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at something littered on the floor.

001

Four people sitting on a bench a short distance away from where Zita performed her performance.

After Cleon said that he couldn’t keep taking off her top, she went to a nearby clothing store inside the market to buy a style of top she didn’t normally wear.

＂Something is awkward.＂

＂It suits you well!＂

Noctis said that to Cleon, and Cleon briefly replied, “If that’s the case, I’m glad,” And sat down next to Zita.

And, Zita herself, who had attracted people’s attention by singing to the fullest, was staring blankly in front of her with an expression of excitement that had not yet subsided, and was holding the instrument tightly in her hand.

“Zita? Are you okay?”

When Herti puts her hand on Zita’s shoulder and shakes it, Zita shakes with her touch.

＂Hot…!? Trigram, it’s okay!”

Zita answered like that, but her expression soon became blank again and her gaze relaxed.

＂Mr. Cleon. This is…”

As if Herti was worried about Zita’s abnormal condition, she asked Cleon a question.

＂It seems like I used a lot of magical power while singing…＂

Cleon would make a simple diagnosis based on Zita’s appearance.

“Oh. So does that mean she could suddenly stop like yesterday?”

“Don’t worry, she didn’t use her magic that seriously, so if she rests a bit in a place with plenty of magic, she’ll be fine. Well, just in case, it would be better to stay quiet for a day or so.”

When Cleon said that, Herty nodded as if she understood, but then suddenly remembered that something important had happened.

“… Oh, if that happens, we’ll be in big trouble. I was planning to find a job for her later today. Is it too much to do today?”

“Ah. Now that I think about it, it was like that…”

Cleon also talks about her as if she had forgotten about him as she became involved in matters related to Seth.

“Well, the reporter said he wouldn’t do it… It’s a shame, though.”

And Noctis shook his head as she sighed.

His tone of voice seems to be that he is upset that he missed the opportunity to have a junior.

Then, Cleon seemed to think a little, and then she opened her mouth, looking at Herti and Noctis.

＂You mean… You guys saw the scene where Zita sang the song from beginning to end, right? … Honestly speaking, what do you think? Zita’s song.”

“You mean Zita’s song? Hmm… What can I say, the lyrics definitely seemed like they were made up on the spot, and I can’t say that the performance was that great. Strangely enough, I must say it caught her ear.”

“What makes Zita’s songs and her voice so special is that I have known her since I first met her.”

When Noctis and Herti each answered Cleon’s question, Cleon nodded as if he had the same thought.

“Ah. I only listened to it briefly at the end, but it was a little different from other bard songs I’ve heard so far. And the result is this.”

While saying that, what Cleon took out from his pocket was a small pouch.

When Cleon opened the pocket that could be seen everywhere, there were a lot of coins inside.

＂This?＂

“People threw it while Zita was singing her song. Originally, bards prepared something like a bowl for people to throw coins into, but Zita didn’t have anything like that and just sang.”

＂Did you bring that with you!? At some point!”

Cleon would nod his head at Noctis’ astonishment.

＂As expected, Cleon. You’re quick~”

On the contrary, Herti looked somewhat admirable.

“… Well, anyway. What I want to say is that Zita’s singing ability is definitely an area where her talent shines. And she, Zita herself, seems to like to sing.”

Cleon must have put his hand on Zita’s shoulder while saying that.

“Yes. Isn’t Zita’s vocation, perhaps, to sing?”

“Are you talking about becoming a bard?”

＂Should I call it a minstrel… What I’m talking about is a profession that allows you to sing and perform more professionally. Actually, bards don’t have a very stable source of income, right?”

When Cleon said that, he seemed a little worried.

Herti blinked for a moment at Cleon’s words, and then the abacus started making a rapid crackling sound in her head.

And finally.

Ting-! And after finishing the final calculation, Herty opened his eyes wide and jumped up from his seat.

“That’s it!”

＂… Heh, Herti?＂

When Noctis looks up at her in confusion at Herti’s sudden action, Herti turns around and talks to Cleon and Noctis.

“Most bards travel around the continent performing, so they have to perform in places where they are not well-known, and their income is unstable, but if they stay in one place like Zita and continue to sing, they can definitely maintain their recognition. “

＂Yeah, I guess so.＂

“Then you can earn a stable income by singing regularly, right? And in order to do that, it is necessary to sing in a place where people do not disturb you so that you are not dispersed by the government forces like today.”

As Herti says that, she looks at Zita.

“In other words, you just need to provide an environment where Zita can sing while maintaining a ‘fixed location’ and ‘periodic schedule.'”

＂Ah, if that happens…＂

Cleon would nod his head in approval to Herti’s words.

＂And, based on the reactions of the audience we saw earlier… Clearly, many people will become Zita’s fans… If that happens, there will be a need for stores that can sell Zita-related products…”

“Huh…? Hey, Herty?”

Isn’t the story moving towards something that smells like money?

＂Zita!＂

＂Huh?＂

Herti grabbed Zita’s shoulder.

＂I will make Zita the best singer in Asteris! When you become famous, you have more opportunities to contact people, and most of all, you can interact with people by singing your favorite songs!”

＂Oh~? That’s right!”

“Yes! Hehe, I feel like this has the potential for a new business…! I think we need to make new songs regularly so that people don’t get tired of it…! Instead of supporting Zita’s activities at the Dark Dragon Company, a portion of her profits…!”

For some reason, just like in the canon period, Herti seemed to be quick-thinking in many ways when it came to business-related matters.

I never thought I would pay attention and see it as a new business target.

While Cleon was thinking like that, Herti was looking towards Noctis this time.

“Miss Noctis. I think that the power of the mass media is also necessary to raise awareness.”

＂Yes… Right… Right? … Oh, no way!?’

Noctis looked shocked, as if he knew what she was talking about.

“Well, if that’s the case, advertise in our newspaper properly!”

“Hehe… Noctis? “Which do you think is worth more: the right to exclusively cover articles related to the singer who will become the most famous singer in Asteris, or the money you receive from simply placing an advertisement in the newspaper?”

＂Ugh, ugh!＂

Noctis was also embarrassed by Herti’s words and couldn’t say anything.

＂Zita… Changed her job to the ‘Singer Class’… Kuul…”

Either that or not.

When Zita’s remaining magical energy ran out, she kept her eyes open, perhaps to suppress her activity level, and made the sound of a sleeping person.

＂… Anyway, should we consider that Zita’s work has been decided…”

Cleon would sigh while saying that.

Somehow, even though I felt like I wasted half a day just by setting up Zita’s work, I was able to feel at ease for now.

But Cleon didn’t know.

Could it be that Zita’s ‘Singer Plan’, which Herty started with this idea, would become the starting point of an unprecedented singer boom around the world, starting with Asteris, and would become embroiled in a major incident?〈 Br〉

Of course, it was a story that had nothing to do with Cleon today.