Arc 1, Chapter 5: From Elven Cafes to Dwarven Beats

As the morning sunlight peeks through the window, Mizuki lazily wakes up.

Mizuki: “I want to sleep longer… But it might be rude since here’s not my home…”

Mizuki heads to the bathroom to brush her teeth, get changed, and walks down the staircase to the cafe.

I wonder if they really did those 100 challenges…They wouldn’t, right? That’s too much…

In front of her was Eillia and the Punky Twins sitting together on a table.

Eillia was drinking her coffee, while the twins were bawling their eyes out. Besides that, all 3 of them look as if they were all members of the same underground fighting club.

All 3 of them have multiple bandages wrapped on their fingers, and also dark, round eyes.

Oh. Never mind.

As Eillia gulped down a cup of coffee, she slammed it on the table and let out a sly smile.

Eillia: “You know, I think I enjoyed winning… a little too much.”

Mizuki took a seat at an empty chair near them.

Mizuki: “So… Y’all did 100 challenges for real? How many times did you win?”

Eillia: “100.”

Mizuki was stunned, while the two elves continued weeping.

???: “Why are you so strong..?? You used to be as weak as a mouse…”

The pink-haired one exclaimed, which led Mizuki to sigh in disappointment.

Mizuki: “Last night I said that I bet that you two can win Eillia at least once… So I guess I lost the bet.”

Mizuki took out her wallet and pulled out a 1000 yen note.

Mizuki: “Here you go. 1000 yen… You can buy a good lunch or many snacks for yourselves with this…”

???: “What the hell is that currency?? We can’t even use it!!”

The brown-haired one yelled.

Oh, right. I’m in a parallel world.

And you know what, since I don’t know the Punky Twins' names (and I bet even the author doesn’t), let’s call those 2 Pinky and Brunette.

Mizuki: “But anyway… Based on the challenge last night, we said that if we won, you two would listen to whatever we say. You two haven’t forgotten that… Right?”

The Punky Twins freeze completely, like as if they are paralyzed.

Pinky starts shedding more tears as she hugs her own body tightly.

Pinky: “A…Anything but my body…”

Mizuki: “Like hell I want your loli body!!! Thank you very much, but I have standards. ”

Now her tears started to flow out of her eyes like a waterfall.

Pinky: “S… She said I have a loli body..!!!”

She hugged Brunette, who glared at Mizuki.

Mizuki sighs at the commotion, while Eillia facepalms.

Mizuki: “Eillia, is there anything you want? I think we will get nothing through these idiots, honestly…”

Punky Twins: “We are not idiots!!!”

The two elves shout in unison.

Eillia pauses and thinks to herself a bit before answering.

Eillia: “Can you two help us find a drummer and a bassist? We need those for… Our band.”

Mizuki looks at her and smiles.

However, the Punky Twins sigh in unison.

Pinky: “Maybe if you had asked us like a month ago, we could have helped… Due to the MLC being 1 month away and its popularity… Many drummers and bassists in Astrea are now taken…”

Mizuki: “Now thinking about it… Eillia, how many different races are in this country… And what are each race famous for?”

Brunette: “Hmm… So you really don’t belong here, huh?”

Mizuki tilted her head in confusion.

Pinky: “A human who can sing and play the guitar at the same time is considered rare in this country, you know?”

Eillia: “Well, let me explain. In this country, Aria, there are four races: Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Dragons. There are other races in other countries. Each race has different music styles, and is famous for an instrument or a role in a band.”

Mizuki: “Oh… That’s interesting.”

Eillia: “Humans are famous for singing, Elves are famous for playing the guitar, Dwarves are famous for Drums, and the latter for bass.”

Mizuki: “So… Majority of a race plays what they are famous for, I assume?”

Eillia: “Yep. Around 50-60 percent. And Mizuki, since specializing in 2 music roles can be a bit risky, a human to be able to play the guitar and sing at the same time is considered rare here…”

Mizuki puffed her chest out proudly.

Mizuki: “So I’m still a prodigy… Even in a different world..!!! Hahahahaha…”

Mizuki laughs like how a demon lord would, which led all 3 of the elves to look at her in disbelief.

Eillia: “But if we have to find a drummer… We have to head to the Dwarven town, huh..?”

Brunette: “Your best bet is there, but… Since every race has different music styles, it will be difficult to sync and play as a band…”

Eillia: “That’s true…”

Mizuki pauses and thinks for a while before letting out a huge smirk.

Mizuki: “It’s difficult. But not impossible.”

The Punky Twins look at her with disbelief again. Eillia, too. But slightly amazed at the same time.

Pinky: “You can, but… You two will be the worst of the bands, no matter how good y’all are! There’s a reason why famous bands here don’t team up with other races..!”

Mizuki: “Then we will be the first famous band to do that! And maybe I’ll ascend, from a prodigy into a legend!”

Punky Twins: “Keep dreaming!”

The elf twins said in unison before stepping up and leaving the cafe.

Eillia: “A… Are you serious?”

Mizuki nods.

Mizuki: “It’s just difficult, not impossible. And with a prodigy like me, I don’t think anything will go wrong either.”

Doubt.

Mizuki: “Let’s go on a journey. To find the best drummer and bassist for our band.”

Mizuki offers her hand.

Eillia: “B… But I’ll have to ask my Aunt…”

???: “I overheard everything.”

Eillia: “Aunt…”

Shaua starts walking towards both girls.

Shaua: “Eillia, you should go on a journey with Mizuki, knowing the two of you, both of you can do it!”

Eillia: “But Aunt… Won’t you feel lonely?”

Shaua pats Eillia’s head and gazes at her gently.

Shaua: “Going on a journey to find bandmates… Playing as a band around the world… These are some things a good band can start with. That’s what your parents and I did in the old times!”

Eillia looks up in inspiration. Just then, Shaua took out a huge baggage.

Shaua: “Here are your supplies and money. Now, go ahead and go on your journey!”

Did she really pack a whole travel kit in just sixty seconds? Is she a packing demon of some sort?

Shaua grabs Eillia’s shoulders.

Shaua: “And remember… To make more memories and have fun. This is the most important.”

Both Eillia and Mizuki smiled.

Mizuki took her guitar bag and started walking out of the cafe. She turns back to take a look at the cafe one last time.

Mizuki: “Eillia, what are we waiting for? We don't have much time left!”

Eillia smiles wider as she hugs her Aunt, before carrying her huge baggage and her guitar.

Eillia: “See you, Aunt… I’ll miss you.”

Shaua smiled.

Shaua: “Likewise.”

Eillia rushes out of the cafe, turns back, and gives her Aunt one last wave before both girls start heading to their destination.

Mizuki: “It’s short, but I had fun here. Next stop: The place where the Dwarves live!”

Eillia giggles.

Eillia: “It’s Dwarven town!”

Mizuki: “Eh… Whatever. Let’s go!”

Both girls start rushing towards the gates of Astrea.

And there, the start of a new legend.

                               ***

In a distant place, where there is nothing but rocky roads and wooden houses around, there is one girl.

The girl was sitting on a chair, in front of her was a drum, and a house.

The girl starts slamming the drum with her drumsticks aggressively, creating a very aggressive and rough rhythm that fills the air.

The house door opened, and a man stood in front, his arms crossed.

???: “How many times did I tell you, stop playing outside my house!”

But the girl didn’t listen; she started playing the drum more aggressively, so distorted and loud that it might burst eardrums.

???: “Stop that!!!”

The man steps forward. Just then, the girl stopped playing and threw the drumsticks violently on his face, causing the man to fall backwards.

???: “You wish!”

The girl yelled at the top of her lungs, before giving him the finger and sticking her tongue out.

???: “That’s it! You are dead!!!”

The man roared. And the girl starts running away from the drum and the man.

???: “If you can catch me, that is!”