Garage

The next day, Natsuo got up late and completely rested. After getting ready, he joined Olive and Gregory for lunch at the inn where they were staying.

“Finally you got up! It was about time!” exclaimed Olive.

Natsuo chuckled guiltily.

“Sorry, sorry… I was tired.”

He glanced at Gregory and immediately noticed his new tattoo. In his chest was now written Rockstar Isekai in a gothic font.

“When did you get your new tattoo? It’s cool” he commented.

Gregory grinned proudly.

“This morning. I wanted to remember the day of our debut forever.”

Natsuo smiled. Gregory looked big and intimidating, but he was actually very tender.

After lunch, they wanted to practice with musical instruments, but it was difficult to find a place where they didn’t bother anyone.

“I have an idea” said Natsuo.

They walked for Blossomhyl’s streets until they found an abandoned building. It was perfect!

System, give me a garage where we can practice. Natsuo thought.

New skill unlocked: GARAGE.

Natsuo used the skill and immediately the building in front of them changed shape. Now, instead of the house that was falling apart, there was a garage’s rolling shutter.

Gregory and Olive stared blankly at it.

“How does this help us with practice?” asked Gregory, genuinely confused.

Natsuo smirked. He approached the shutter and raised it, revealing a fairly spacious room that didn’t seem very welcoming.

“If we want to be a real band, practicing in a garage is a must” said Natsuo.

For some reason, he looked very excited. Gregory and Olive exchanged a lost glance before following Natsuo inside.

There was enough space for the three of them and the system even provided the garage with a sofa. Olive looked at it as if it was a treasure.

“Can we really use it?” she asked, incredulous.

Sofas weren’t something everyone could afford, it was a real luxury.

Natsuo nodded and she sat down carefully. It was comfortable!

Natsuo closed the shutter, leaving only a chink opened, and, incredibly, the room didn’t go dark, on the contrary: it was perfectly lit. The Rockstar System was amazing.

“Okay, from now on this is the place where we’ll practice. Make yourselves at home” he said.

“It’s amazing, now we even have a secret base with a sofa! I love it!” Gregory exclaimed.

Natsuo chuckled and summoned the drums for Gregory, who started practicing with his help. Even if slowly, he was improving. After the performance of the day before he was more determined to do better to fully enjoy the moment without struggles.

The next few days went on like this: the three of them spent their time in the garage, training both to play instruments and to fight, until the Anti-Silence Unit called them.

When they arrived at the Unit’s headquarters, the soldiers welcomed them and escorted them to a room with a few people sitting on chairs, waiting for them.

In the room there was Captain Richard More and, among the other three soldiers, there was also Alice.

“Welcome, Himura Natsuo. We have completed the preparations for the mission.” Richard greeted Natsuo. “I’ll illustrate the project for you, take a seat.”

Natsuo, Gregory and Olive took place, then Richard continued talking:

“We decided to organize a military campaign to have a better chance of success. During the journey, I’m sure you will meet a lot of silent monsters and I think more soldiers are required to wrap up safely. Unit 1, Unit 5 and the third division of the Support Unit will take part in the military campaign. You will complete the mission together.” He paused to let him ask questions, but Natsuo didn’t say anything, so Richard went on. “The three soldiers you see here will be your personal escort: they’re members of Unit 7, so you’re in good hands. Let me introduce them to you.”

Richard approached the first guy. He was slim, had ginger hair, freckles and brown eyes.

“He’s William Fletcher. He’s a bit shy, so he doesn’t talk a lot.”

William waved timidly his hand, avoiding eye contact with them.

Richard pointed with his hand to the other guy, who had brown hair and blue eyes.

“He’s Alan Blake. He’s responsible for your personal escort, for any doubt, ask him.”

Alan slightly raised a hand and smiled at Natsuo.

“And she’s Alice, but I don’t think there’s any need for introductions” Richard concluded.

Alice waved composedly to the three of them without hinting any emotion.

“Tomorrow morning will begin the campaign. You’ll head to the West Castle and take the rails to the closest station to the border, that is the line where Plague’s territory starts. It will be harsh: silent monsters everywhere, no signs of life and a dead silence piercing your ears. That’s also the place where silent monsters rise from Silence. What you’ve seen before it’s nothing compared to it, I hope you’re ready.” Richard placed on the table a map of Roselond. “Unfortunately, this area is very huge. Blossomhyl’s region is in a bad situation. Finding Plague will be difficult, but we suppose he hides in the heart of it.”

His finger ran through the map to trace the border, passing around almost half of Blossomhyl’s region. The situation was more than bad.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to send two Units into this infected region?” asked Natsuo.

From his perspective was a suicidal move. They wouldn’t survive a moment there.

“If it weren’t for your presence, it would have been out of the question, of course. But you can purify the infected areas, right?” He smiled coldly. “You’ll lead the way.”

“What? For so many people? It will take a century.” Natsuo sighed.

“I’m sure you’ll find a way. Just make another of your miracles.” Richard's tone seemed kind, but Natsuo felt a calm assertiveness behind his words.

“Yeah, of course” he replied. “I can’t let down my fans, after all.”