episode_0167

Ludwig van Beethoven. God of music. There was no need for any further modifiers. To put it bluntly, this man was too big a man to learn music just for the purpose of praising Wayne.

“Uh… Well, I’m from Earth. I’m not British though.”

When this person was alive, the country where I lived was not very famous, so I did not reveal my place of birth. However, just being from the same Earth seemed to be enough to create a sense of bond.

“So… Did you reach this place on your own, just like Peter?”

“Oh, for now, yes.”

The first time I came was a very unlikely accident, but the second time was strictly speaking a transaction with Prinia. Whatever the method, Prinia opened the dimension to me because she needed my power, so she can claim that she came with her own power.

“I see. I heard it from him too, but I guess the world has really changed a lot.”

“Mr. Beethoven….”

“Call me Ludwig. After finishing my life there, the only thing left to say is that name.”

“Ah, yes. Mr. Ludwig, how did you come here?”

“Hmm. As a person, what kind of voice did you hear right before you died? He asked me to make music on his behalf. It was a very strange situation for a deaf person to ‘hear’, but when I didn’t answer, the voice bargained with me to make my body, including my ears, sound fine this time.”

I don’t know who that voice was, but it seemed like it was the Sentai music god who was here, as he asked me to replace him.

“I just let out a sigh of despair at such a sweet offer. I’m sorry, it’s too late. It would have been nice if you had come 20 years earlier.”

“But the fact that you’re here now…?”

“Ah. Unlike my head, my heart didn’t think it was too late at all. My passion for music was still strong. The moment I realized I was in a deep sleep, I was already here.”

The next thing I wanted to ask was what made me listen, and suddenly my curiosity was resolved.

“Aha… So are you still making music?”

“Of course. They say I can stay here until my music is forgotten. Now that things have come to this, I plan to do my best as time allows.”

Uh… Beethoven’s music can exist as a god until it is forgotten. I felt like I had some idea of where he gets his faith as he only makes music and does not do any other activities here. And the fact that he will exist as a god much longer than me.

“So what is the main point? Looking at your movements, it seems that you didn’t stop by here by chance.”

“Uh… um….”

Since it was the other person, the pressure was 10,000 times more than when I asked Prinia. Still, I couldn’t keep hesitating after coming to see him, so I explained the situation honestly.

“Hmm. So, are you saying that we need a song that praises the heroes of the time?”

“Yes. So, yes.”

My original plan was to ask for the melody of an appropriate song that I knew, but it felt awkward to ask the person in front of me to do that, and it was also true that I was being greedy. After hearing my answer, Ludwig thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“Have you ever met a god from another Earth other than me?”

“Yes. I met a person named Peter Istvan.”

“Ah, that scientist. I’ve met him a few times too. I heard from that person that my name is widely known. Is it true?”

“It is not widely known. Even people who don’t know anything about music know the name Beethoven.”

There are many other named masters of classical music, such as Bach and Mozart, but in my personal opinion, Beethoven is the most famous.

“Hmm, then do you even know the name Bonaparte?”

“If you are talking about Napoleon Bonaparte.”

I could guess what topic he would bring up. Symphony No. 3 Eroica. Originally, the song was written as a tribute to Napoleon, and the name was planned to be Bonaparte, his last name. When Napoleon was crowned Emperor of France, the owner of the song was furious and changed the name from Bonaparte to Hero.

It was ironic considering that this heroic symphony is the greatest symphony that modern music lovers rank first. Of course, Napoleon already has enough name value even without this song.

“I am. I really hate that. I don’t know if that’s why, but when I hear that so-and-so is a hero, I start to have doubts. Writing a song itself isn’t difficult for me, but I don’t know if the person you’re trying to praise really has the qualifications.”

In response to his skeptical response, I reflexively said something negative. It wasn’t because I was angry that they wouldn’t write a song for me, but because it was absurd to compare Wayne to Napoleon.

“No, that sounds a bit strange. I don’t know if Ludwig misunderstood or if I misrepresented his words, but Wayne is a warrior, not a hero.”

Whether Napoleon was a hero who brought freedom or a warmonger who conquered the continent, it had nothing to do with me as a Korean-born person, but Wayne was a horse who traveled around the entire continent alone and dedicated his life for humanity just because he was chosen by Stella. He was just like a warrior.

Although he is dedicated, his life has been considerably longer due to Arjen’s intervention, and he has had to neglect humanity until recently. However, he is a ‘dictator who brought freedom’ and created a bureaucracy, appointing only people around him to important positions. It would have been difficult to bring in the person who had urged the order to be removed.

“Hmm?”

When Ludwig’s eyebrows twitched as if he wanted more explanation as to what I meant, I told him the story of what kind of person Wayne was, without leaving out any details. Of course, I completely left out any stories related to Arjen.

“…this kind of person.”

“I see. That part is definitely my misunderstanding. Let me give you a song.”

“Thank you.”

“But I think there might be a bit of a time problem if I compose a song now… I’ll give you a song I’ve already composed. If you’re a minstrel, you need songs.”

As I glanced at him as he began to search through the sheet music around him, I saw snifonia written among the sheet music. Symphony means symphony, and the number was 885.

So, does that mean it’s Beethoven’s Symphony No. 885? My curiosity soared through the sky, but unfortunately, there was no way I could know what the music was by looking at the score. First of all, I just thought it would be a great song because it was an odd number.

“Here it is. This is a song that hasn’t written lyrics yet, so write the lyrics yourself.”

The sheet music he presented to me was quite nice-looking and neatly made, contrary to the public opinion that it was a very bad handwriting.

“I will definitely repay this favor.”

“Okay. See you next time.”

As dramatic as the meeting was, the parting was simple. After receiving the sheet music, I said goodbye and returned to the underworld.

“Huh? What is that in your hand?”

Wayne expressed his curiosity as an unexpected object suddenly appeared. I answered with a grin.

“A great masterpiece that will drive you crazy.”

I don’t even know how to read sheet music, but since this is a song written by Beethoven, what can it be but a masterpiece? When I expressed overconfidence, Wayne sighed and said,

“Sheet music. But how do you play it? Did you solve that problem too?”

“Ah?”

That’s right. Even though I thought I had met Beethoven, I couldn’t think of the really important way to play. Wayne read my expression and laughed at me.

“P… idiot.”

I had no choice but to ascend to heaven once again and find Prinia.

“Priemon?”

“What is that funny nickname?”

“Tell me how even people who have never played before can play proficiently.”

“…How is that possible?”

“Is it too much?”

Since I had to go to Prinia repeatedly without a solution, I found Prinia again on my own, but it seemed like she had no solution for this as well.

“Ah. Come to think of it, there was a relic like that, right?”

“Wow! Is there a way?”

Nonsense. Is there a way to do this?

“Uh. In the world I live in, there are things called relics. Do you remember that in Poina, every living thing has its own superpower? A relic is an object that is not a living thing but has supernatural powers.”

“I see… Then is that relic by any chance?”

“Yes. When sheet music is recorded, the performer’s hands have the ability to automatically move along the sheet music. Because you understand the intention of the person who wrote the score, you can play perfectly regardless of what type of score it is.”

“Well, can I borrow it? I’ll do anything.”

“You do anything? Oh… that’s a really sweet offer, but unfortunately I don’t have that relic.”

“Who has it?”

“Stella.”

…I feel uneasy about something.

I suppressed the anxiety creeping up in my heart and wandered around looking for Stella. Fortunately, Stella nodded to my question.

“Yes. I have it. I have a lot of relics, so I don’t remember them one by one, but I’m sure there was such an instrument.”

“Can I borrow it? I’ll do anything.”

“Anything… Anything?”

“Huh? Yes…”

I was scared for no reason at the sudden change in Stella’s eyes, but I nodded hesitantly, thinking that I might not be able to get the instrument if I just picked up what she had already said.

“Hmm… Then first.”

Stella suddenly took off the clothes she was wearing and spread her legs.

“Suck it.”