In Leithanien, the Infected enjoy far more rights than those in Siracusa. Special residential districts are built specifically for them, and as long as one possesses a skill or demonstrates talent in certain fields, life is not much different from that of an ordinary citizen, even with Oripathy.
This is especially true for those skilled in Originium Arts and music. If you are Infected yet proficient in either field, then congratulations. Your life may not be one of luxury, but you will at least have stable work and a respectable income.
Vyseheim is no exception.
Before disembarking, Felix went to the lounge and found Nian and Ling huddled together in a corner. When he asked what they were doing, they only said they were hiding from someone, without giving any further explanation.
Upon learning that Felix intended to enter Vyseheim, which was governed by Countess Gertrude, the two women immediately patted their chests and volunteered to act as his bodyguards, insisting on ensuring his safety. Although Felix no longer required protection given his current strength, he still agreed.
As for disguises, Ling handed Felix a bamboo hat. Taking his Sankta identity into account, she thoughtfully left an opening at the top so that his halo would not cause discomfort or dizziness.
Naturally, the two women did not dress as they usually did. Rare opportunities to go out and enjoy fresh air were not to be wasted. They wore ordinary clothing common among the people of Yan, paired with veils reminiscent of wandering martial artists. Even so, their extraordinary beauty and otherworldly presence could not be fully concealed.
At their insistence, Felix retrieved Yan-style attire from his wardrobe and changed into an outfit befitting a wealthy young master. He now looked like a rich traveler visiting Vyseheim with two female companions.
The straw hat also carried a camouflage function. Aside from the halo, it obscured his facial features from onlookers, much like the hooded cloak he had once used.
Passing through the bustling market outside the city, Felix discovered that the outskirts of Vyseheim were not inhabited by the Infected. Instead, the area was dominated by farmland and pastureland, along with shops catering to visiting tourists.
The Venus's arrival caused no disturbance. Though the guards on duty cast repeated glances at the massive vessel, they continued to perform their duties with professionalism.
"So, Felix, where should we go to have some fun?" Nian took a deep breath. She usually preferred to remain in her workshop indefinitely, but since she rarely had the chance to go out, she was eager to enjoy herself. "How about a concert?"
"You have that kind of hobby?" Felix glanced at the travel guide she had purchased after entering the city. The guide detailed numerous districts within the mobile city, with the most prominent being the Afterglow District, comparable to a Lower City. It was home to the Infected population and housed a concert venue known as Afterglow Hall.
Beyond the Afterglow District lay the High Court District, an area off-limits to the Infected and inhabited by ordinary citizens.
"Are we staying in the Afterglow District?" Ling asked with a smile. Though she had not touched alcohol that day, her voice still carried a faintly languid tone. "Given your personality, Felix, you'd probably want to investigate and gather information there first, wouldn't you?"
Felix nodded slightly. According to his terminal, a concert by the renowned Infected musician William Fichte Czerny was scheduled in the Afterglow District the following day. Most tickets were already sold out, leaving only the costly VIP boxes.
Concerts featuring Infected performers were generally affordable, but VIP seating remained priced the same as elsewhere. After a brief consideration, Felix reserved a VIP box.
"Let's find something to eat first."
"Okay."
Nian seized Felix's hand and pulled him forward, while Ling followed behind with a gentle smile.
Leithanien cuisine balanced meat and vegetables, blending a rustic heartiness with refined elegance. Nian was quite satisfied with the meal. Although it lacked the spice she favored, she still requested extra pepper. While the three of them ate in the Afterglow District, they shared the space with several Infected laborers who lived ordinary, unremarkable lives.
As expected, there was no trouble. Though the three of them, posing as tourists from Yan, attracted a fair amount of attention, that was all. Vyseheim welcomed many visitors, most drawn by its reputation for music and the arts, and travelers from Yan were far from rare.
There were plenty of hotels in the Afterglow District. Felix noticed that most of them were occupied by infected operators from Tomorrow's Development, while the rest catered to merchants doing business in Vyseheim's Afterglow District. Their wares were, unsurprisingly, inexpensive musical instruments and maintenance tools, clearly tailored to the needs of this area.
Felix had come here to experience life. Otherwise, he would have chosen accommodations in the High Court District.
After wandering through the narrow streets for a while, they finally found a pleasant-looking hotel. There was a musical instrument repair shop on the ground floor, and next door sat a community café where several elderly people were basking lazily in the sun.
"Wow, this hotel looks pretty ordinary from the outside, but it's actually quite spacious inside."
He kicked off his shoes and collapsed onto the soft bed. Although the hotel was located in a relatively remote part of the Afterglow District, it was clean and well-equipped, giving him a comfortable, homelike feeling.
Ling lay back on the bed, her toes curling into the blanket as she pointed toward the view outside the window. "This room is mine. The one next door is for you, sister."
Felix did not particularly care about the room arrangements. His attention was already occupied with the intelligence he had recently gathered. Czerny had also moved to Vyseheim not long ago. Despite being infected, he had become a guest of Countess Gertrude after arriving in the city. After giving several solo performances, Czerny openly expressed his desire to find talented and capable musicians to perform with him.
The news had only been released about a month earlier, and since then, many renowned musicians had flocked to Vyseheim in hopes of getting closer to him.
While this might have seemed like blatant flattery, the fact that both infected and non-infected musicians were among them spoke volumes about Czerny's influence. His status and voice within the music world were beyond question.
Nian and Ling sat down on the bed to rest. Although nightfall was still some time away, they were accustomed to staying indoors. After so much walking, Nian was the first to feel tired. Ling, on the other hand, seemed perfectly fine. The moment she sat down, she somehow produced a gourd of wine and began drinking from it with ease.
Felix did not rest. He put on his bamboo hat and headed out again. This time, his destination was not elsewhere in the city, but the music store downstairs.
The idea that Leithanien's musical instruments could be used to perform Originium Arts was no exaggeration.
Each instrument contained a core that enabled the use of Originium Arts. Only with such a core could sound be produced in the first place, and only then could music become a medium for combat. With the right skill, one could truly replicate the martial arts legends of killing with the sound of a flute.
Felix's interest in musical instruments stemmed from the thought that such combat could be seamlessly integrated into Melira's repertoire. Although they already had their own equipment, the idea of forming a team that specialized in music and song while also being capable of fighting was undeniably appealing. He had even come up with a name for it: The Idolmaster.
Just as he stepped into the music store to take a look around, he saw a girl standing inside with a black halo hovering above her head. He immediately stopped and turned to leave in one fluid motion.
"Fufufu. Why didn't you greet me when you saw me, my king?"
A soft voice sounded from behind, accompanied by a faint, fragrant breeze. Arms wrapped around Felix's shoulders, carrying a cool and delicate scent. Long black hair spilled over his shoulders and neck, tickling him slightly.
Felix glanced at Arturia beside him and pressed his lips together faintly.
"My… king?"
"Yes. I like calling you that. Is that not allowed?"
Arturia smiled mysteriously, tapping her chin. "It's such an honor to meet the King here. Of course, if you really don't want to see me, you could always report me to Fede and tell him I'm right here."
Faced with someone who delighted in probing the depths of the terran heart and was high on Laterano's wanted list, Felix fell silent for a moment before asking, "What are you doing here?"
"It's a bit disappointing that you'd ask something so straightforward, my king." Arturia released his arm and gestured toward the café nearby. "Care for a cup of hot cocoa?"
Felix's mental resilience had grown strong enough that he was no longer afraid of Arturia's Originium Arts as he once had been. What troubled him now was her very presence. Her Arts could stimulate the most primal desires in the terran heart. Put simply, wherever she went, trouble was sure to follow.
Federico, also known as Executor, had been relentlessly pursuing Arturia's whereabouts. That pursuit was inseparably tied to just how dangerous she truly was.
Although Felix was not afraid of Arturia, he remained wary of the impact of her Originium Arts. For instance, if Arturia had played that melody in the slums during the defense of Lungmen, the infected who had been recruited there might have risen up in rebellion, resuming their actions on a grand scale alongside Reunion.
This was hardly surprising. That was precisely the nature of Arturia's ability.
"My king, I adore your eyes. They hold hope for the future, and just a trace of melancholy." Arturia sat across from Felix. She no longer used her body to close the distance as she had moments before. She could easily have brushed his legs with hers, the black stockings outlining their graceful shape, yet she chose not to.
"I wonder where your future will lead you."
"My future?" Arturia pointed at herself, let out a soft laugh, and replied, "I won't stop until I discover who I truly am."
"Even though you know that day will overturn everything you believe. And if Federico finds you, he may not hesitate to kill you on the spot."
"I trust Federico completely in that regard. At the very least, he would ask me first whether I am willing to wear those shackles."
Arturia smiled brightly. "My king, will you take me in?"
"You want to join Tomorrow's Developments?"
"If I were to join Tomorrow's Development now, I would merely become an ordinary operator with somewhat special Originium Arts. But I want more than that."
Arturia gazed deeply into Felix's golden eyes, a faint smile forming on her lips, elegant yet enticing. "I want to understand you better. That is the distance I wish to cross."
"I see."
Felix took a sip of his hot cocoa. "If your arrival can contribute to us, I will welcome you. But if it brings trouble, I may not."
"Ara, My king. How could I ever do such a thing?"
Arturia sighed softly. "There are major disagreements within Laterano regarding my King. Although Kazdel has stabilized, some Sankta are unwilling to accept the status quo."
"I know which cardinals in the Papal Court advocate war. What they seek is not profit." Felix laughed lightly. Other nations waged war for wealth or territory, but Laterano fought not only for victory, but also to defend its own traditions. After spending so much time in this land, Felix had come to realize that Laterano was, in its own way, the purest nation he had ever known.
"With the Pope present, those unpleasant voices in Laterano will be suppressed."
Felix looked at Arturia. "So now, you can tell me. What is your purpose in coming here?"
"Hm. I was thinking about where his student might go in the future." Arturia nodded. "He is a pitiful lost lamb, isn't he?"
After finishing his hot cocoa, Felix paid the bill and rose from his seat.
"Words alone are too weak, Arturia. If you truly wish to move forward, without companions and without strength, rhetoric is nothing more than empty talk."
He paused briefly before adding, "I hope that when we meet again, I will see something even more brilliant in you than I do now."
"My King, do you acknowledge me?" Arturia asked with a faint smile.
"I will not deny my admiration for you."
Felix pushed open the door and left, leaving Arturia alone in the café with her still-warm cup of cocoa. A faint, unusual flush rose to her face, then slowly faded.
"Oh dear. What should I do? My heart still races whenever I speak with my King."
Arturia let out a soft sigh. It had been a long time since she last saw him, yet his majesty and charm had only grown stronger. She had merely embraced him in greeting, and though he might not have noticed anything amiss, her own heartbeat had nearly betrayed her.
I want to play a song for my King…
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Announcement
Hello everyone!
I'd like to share a quick update. Due to a company transfer, I'll be moving to Japan next Monday to work at an overseas branch. Since this will be my first time living and working abroad, things may be quite hectic for the next few weeks.
Because of this, updates might be slower or slightly irregular during the adjustment period. I sincerely apologize in advance if this affects the release schedule.
And here are tomorrow's update portion, I'm updating now because tomorrow will be a busy day for me.
Thank you very much for your understanding and continued support. Once things settle down, I'll do my best to return to a more consistent update pace!