Chapter 1-3
The plaza with the water fountain certainly had a lot of people.
Since it was a good place for relaxation, it was probably a famous sightseeing place for travelers. The plaza was circular in shape, with the water fountain in the middle. The tiles on the ground made formed a geometric pattern that looked like a magic formation. I didn’t understand the theory, but this water fountain was probably influenced by magic, becoming something like a symbol.
Food stalls had been set up on the outer edge of the plaza, and it was bustling with people everywhere.
…Except for around me, that is.
“No matter how I look at it, they’re avoiding me.”
Nobody was around me, who had sat down at the water fountain. Even though there had definitely been Beast Race couples flirting around here just a moment ago.
Clau and I had split the flyers in half, and I sighed as I flipped through my stack. The flyers looked detestable, as I hadn’t been able to hand out even a single one of them. Even so, just how loathed were Mixed Breeds? Even though I didn’t have any intention of doing something bad like pickpocketing, they ran away once I came close, and even when I was walking normally, I was strongly avoided.
Even the troupe was better. At least they didn’t run away from me like scattering spiderlings.
“Even though I think I have a pretty cute appearance too.”
I peeked into the water fountain the moment it stopped, and a child with a honey-colored bob cut stared back at me. She looked like a stuffed toy, with ears that were big like the those of the Beast Race, but tapered like an elf’s. Because of her big blue eyes, she looked like a doll. If she didn’t have that bluish black colored birthmark at the corner of her right eye, I think it wouldn’t be conceited for her to call herself a beautiful girl.
Avoiding me just because I was a Mixed Breed, even though I looked like an innocent child, what a tough world this was. Well, it wasn’t like they were throwing rocks at me, so considering the level of bullying, I comforted myself by thinking that it might still be alright.
“Ocht, what are you spacing out for?!”
As I gazed at the water fountain spraying out water again, Clau put his hands on his hips and glared at me. I understood that he was mad that he was the only one working.
However, even so,
“It’s because no one wants to take them.”
“Ah…”
Clau immediately understood the reason, and he grimaced. It wasn’t a pitying expression, but a vexed one.
“Even though Ocht is so cute.”
Yep. In the future, you should say that to the person you fall in love with. I knew that he was probably influenced by his mother, but I was worried that Clau would become a womanizer, rather than a gentleman.
“How about you?”
“I’m also about so-so.”
Considering the number of flyers left in Clau’s hand, there was still a long way to go. This plaza was pretty spacious. Since the people here wouldn’t come to take them on their own, it was pretty difficult to hand them out.
At that moment, I suddenly had an idea.
…I see. It would be fine as long as we got them to come take the flyers.
“Clau, starting now, loudly say the words I tell you.”
I got close to Clau’s ears and quietly conveyed what I had just thought up. There weren’t any people around us, so there wouldn’t be a problem if I talked normally, but for some reason, having a meeting in secret felt more business-like.
Besides, if I didn’t treat this as work, I would be embarrassed, since what I was going to do would be super conspicuous.
“Got it. But, are you okay with this?”
“Yep. L
et’s get this over with quickly.”
I nodded at Clau, who was worried about me, and handed all the flyers over to him.
Then, I stopped moving my body and closed my eyes. It was alright. I should be able to do it. Rather, I had no choice but to do it.
“Now, now, everybody, folks here and there. If you’re not in a hurry, listen now!”
I felt people look over suddenly after hearing Clau’s adult-like tone.
“To those who come from afar, crossing past mountains! Black and white, good and bad are all unbeknownst to you when you hear no evil!”
When I heard footsteps heading towards us, my ears quivered. Thanks to the Beast blood inside me, I had very good hearing.
“Now then folks. Sitting here is a pitiful Mixed Breed girl!”
My heart was pounding furiously, but I couldn’t move yet. I needed to be careful not to show any expression, so I could appear as doll-like as possible.
“Though a Mixed Breed, she’s different from your normal Mixed Breed. She was unable to speak a single thing before her mother’s death, but once her mother died, what came out of her mouth were songs from another world! She knows thousands of songs, the song of a doll who understands nothing. But just why is it so pleasant to the ear? Now then, my friends. With the final performance drawing near, may I present the “Grim Troupe”! Today, we have an exhibition performance!”
That was well said.
The words I had told Clau should have been long and difficult to say. Even then, Clau had been able to say it word for word without any mistakes. From now on, it was my turn.
I suddenly opened my eyes. There were more people circling us than I thought. However, in order to act as if I didn’t know anything, I made sure to keep the same facial expression.
I took a deep breath.
“Ahhhhhhhhh-”
I sang in a ethereal voice as if I was communing with the spirits. The song was only on the level of one used in a chorus contest, though. I cheated by humming over the few parts I didn’t remember. Surely the words they had never heard before sounded mysterious to them.
Particularly perhaps because this world had magic, there weren’t any electronics; far from a TV, they didn’t even have radios. Also, even record players had not been invented, much less things like CDs and cassette tapes. In short, all of their entertainment came from live performances, and places where you could listen to those were limited. After hearing an unusual voice, especially one with a beautiful tone, people should quickly start gathering here.
Just as I expected, people quickly started to gather when they heard the song. Clau started handing out flyers immediately. With this, we would be able to finish handing out the flyers early.
Nevertheless, I slightly reflected on myself, as saying a thousand songs might have been too much. Other than the songs for the chorus contest, there were popular songs and nursery rhymes, and if those ran out, the only songs left that I knew were anime songs or songs from the figures singing back at home. There was a song about a girl brandishing green onions that I had watched over and over again, but what should I do? Was it a song I should be singing enthusiastically in front of people?”[1]
No, but it was the same as an anime song. Even if a song about espers, aliens, time travelers, and a young female friend was still fine, having an otaku girl interweave anime songs was a bit…you know? [2] I would get too excited, so I didn’t really want to show it.
…Or rather, my past self, who had them completely memorized, seemed hopeless. Yep, my past life was my past life. It was best not think too deeply about it.
“Now, please take one folks. Don’t hold back, ye who are free!”
Right around when it was getting gradually closer to anime or Vocaloid songs, the flyers Clau had been holding were all handed out. I felt relieved. I was glad. I was really glad.
“Now then, the exhibition performance ends here. Those interested in her songs, by all means, please come visit the “Grim Troupe”!
Just as Clau gave a bow, I also stopped singing.
My throat hurt because it had been quite a while since I last let out a loud voice for a long time.
I relaxed, like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
For a while, the crowd started talking amongst themselves, but the presence of people gradually disappeared. Now that I had stopped moving, there was nothing interesting to see, and not only that, I was a Mixed Breed. The people should have been eager to leave. When there were almost no signs of life, I opened my eyes.
Clap, clap, clap.
There was a sudden applause, making me blink.
“Amazing. I enjoyed it, thank you.”
A boy with cabbage green hair brightly smiled at me. I didn’t know what to do, so I vaguely smiled back. What a weird person, smiling at a Mixed Breed.
“I’ll definitely come to see you at the performance.”
At those words, I bowed. Based on the setting I had told Clau, I was unable to speak outside of singing. As long as there was still an audience, I could not destroy the setting.
The boy stepped forward until he was close to the unmoving me. Looking at him from up close, I saw that his eye was also cabbage colored. I absentmindedly thought that he had a good face, and that he looked just like the fantasy avatar of a handsome youth.
“But, it’s better if you don’t really show off songs from another world, you know? After all, bad people will come to catch you if you do.”
I was startled at the words he whispered into my ear. Just when I almost accidentally let out my voice, Clau got in between me and the boy.
“Dear guest. There is another performance at the troupe’s public stage later, so please come then.”
“Yep, I’ll do that then. See ya, Lil’ Doll.” [3]
The boy waved his hand as he quickly turned around.
Just what on earth was that? …He was very composed for his age, and his words were pronounced very cleanly. I couldn’t hear an accent at all. Maybe he was a noble traveling incognito.
At any rate, I was tired.
I leaned against the water fountain, this time because I was tired from the performance.
“Ocht. That was amazing. The flyers are all gone.”
“Yep.”
I gave a positive response to Clau, who was somewhat excited. Even so, I didn’t think it would go that smoothly. I breathed a sigh of relief.
At the same time, the boy who had spoken to me just now came to mind. That person, just why did he believe that those songs were from another world? Or were those words that the boy said just a joke about the show being better than he had expected?
Well, I guess it didn’t matter. I pulled myself together and held my hand out to Clau, who was still talking excitedly.
After all, since we had finally come to town, it would be a waste to just sit around idly like this.
“Shall we go to the Otherworld Shop?”
References
[1] Vocaloid reference of Miku holding a green onion I’m pretty sure.
[2] Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya reference.
[3] He calls her “ドールちゃん”. Doll-chan doesn’t really sound that good to me as a nickname, so I used Lil’ Doll instead. (The fact that Doll-chan is also 2 syllables instead of the 3 syllable Doo-ru-chan also irks me).