Chapter 245.1
The sacred grounds of the Divine Dragon were filled with unrest.
No matter how long they waited, the Sojourner’s Psalm had yet to begin. The words Ahid had spoken earlier must’ve been echoing in the minds of the praying believers.
He claimed that the Sojourner’s Psalm that had continued for two thousand years would come to an end, which would prove that no god existed in the Underground World.
Though they weren’t completely blinded by his claims, anxiety and unrest were impossible to conceal.
The tension grew with each passing moment, like a wave of unease, and it reached its peak.
At that very moment, a lone girl appeared on the stage before the altar.
It was Ellen. When she raised her hand, the girls of the Fan Union below the stage responded.
They had been informed of the situation through <Thought Communication Leaks>.
“Let’s go!” (Ellen)
“Yeah!” (Fangirls)
The Fan Union girls rose onto the stage and formed a line for the Demon King Hymn.
As magic circles appeared on their bodies, ceremonial robes for the occasion materialized.
“Everyone, I apologize for the delay. My name is Ellen, and I’m a member of the Demon King’s Choir of Dilhade. We will be serving as the Psalm Choristers for the Festival of Sacred Song.” (Ellen)
At her words, the believers collectively let out a sigh of relief and resumed their prayers with renewed devotion.
“Our country is very far away, far more so than the people of Geordal can even imagine. There, a king called the Demon King rules the land, and the people live in peace.” (Ellen)
Her words reached out to the crowd with a gentle sincerity.
“The reason we came here was to learn about Jiordal. The Demon King told us to come and see the people who live in this country. I think what he meant was for us to understand what you believe in, and what kind of future you dream of.” (Ellen)
Ellen’s smile was pure and warm.
“We’ve only just arrived in this land, and there’s still so much we don’t know. But there’s one thing I’ve realized clearly: the people of this country love music. We’re the same. And our Demon King loves songs just as much.” (Ellen)
The Fan Union girls smiled brightly at Ellen’s words.
They began drawing magic circles, and from them, the sounds of orchestral instruments poured forth.
It was the <Music Performance Synial> spell.
“This song is to help you understand our country and our Demon King. He is a great ruler who loves everyone, and we are the bridge that will share his boundless love with you all. We are the Demon King Choir of Dilhade. Please listen.” (Ellen)
The Fan Union choir spoke in unison.
“Demon King Hymn No. 6: ‘Neighbor.'” (All fangirls)
The elegant sound of string instruments filled the air, their graceful melody soaring through the underground city of Jiorhaze.
The music, reminiscent of the vast sky, had a refreshing quality that set it apart from the music of the skyless Underground World.
As the draconids offered their prayers, they couldn’t help but be enchanted by this unfamiliar music, which captivated them so much it shook them to their magic power.
What sort of solemn hymn awaited them?
The believers leaned forward, listening attentively.
“Oh, dear God, I never knew such a world existed~~???”
“Ku-Ikku, Ku-Ikku, Ku-Ikkuuuuu~???”
…Then as if to thwart their enthusiasm, a sudden and dramatic key change and chorus were thrown in.
However, this very surprise seized the believers’ attention, grabbing their hearts.
The Demon King’s Choir, with its bouncy rhythm and lively melody, made sure not to let go of that grip.
“Don’t open it~?”
“Woo-hoo~?”
“Don’t open it~?”
“Woo-hoo~?”
“Don’t open it, it’s the forbidden gate~?”
The choir sang merrily to the lively accompaniment.
The Underground Congregation had probably never heard such a joyous hymn.
Everyone was blown away.
“Tell me, God~? What is this? What is that~?”
“First, knock on the door~?”
“Gently tapping won’t work, no-no~?”
“Ku-Ikku, Ku-Ikku, Ku-Ikkuuuuu~?”
“I’m just a neighbor~? Just a mere neighbor~?”
“Alone and at peace… Or so I thought~?”
“But before I knew it, something crept closer, what is it~??”
“That’s the devil’s hand~?”
“Who are you~?”
“He’s the Demon King~?”
“Ah~? God told me this~?”
“Thou shalt love thy neighbor, love them~?”
“Open your heart~? To the forbidden gate~?”
“Ah~? Beyond it lies filth~?”
“A place no one knows~?”
“A place of impurity~?”
“Do not enter~?”
“You mustn’t enter, but oh no, no~?”
“He’ll tell you everything~? Everything not in the scriptures~?”
“Ku-Ikku, Ku-Ikku, Ku-Ikkuuuuu~?”
“Oh, dear God, I never knew such a world existed~~???”
“Ku-Ikku, Ku-Ikku, Ku-Ikkuuuuu~?”
The light rhythm and bouncy melody gave the believers praying solemnly the urge to move their bodies along.
Perhaps, having only known strict hymns in Jiordal, they had been craving a song like this.
As the energetic interlude continued, Ellen walked to the front of the stage.
“In our country, everyone sings joyfully together, not just the choir but everyone else too. Please, join us in singing this song from Dilhade.” (Ellen)
She called out loudly so the congregation could hear her.
“The word ‘Ku-Ikku’ is an ancient magic word that means ‘joy without reason.’ It’s like saying, ‘It doesn’t make sense, but it’s fun, so who cares!’” (Ellen)
The deeply devout believers listened intently, absorbing her message with earnest sincerity.
“I may not understand the complex relationships between countries, but I believe we can at least enjoy something together. Let’s sing this absurdly fun song, as absurdly joyfully as we can! I think that’s where relationships between people begin. Let’s save the complicated stuff for after the fun!” (Ellen)
With a voice that could carry anywhere, Ellen made her plea.
“It’s a wonderful song… But…” (Believer A)
“Yeah, isn’t it… a bit disrespectful, though?” (Believer B)
“But this is the Sojourner’s Psalm, and all songs should be brought by the gods’ will.” (Believer C)
“And there’s rarely a song that touches the heart like this one.” (Believer D)
“Still, how do we interpret this song? How should we take it?” (Believer E)
“Listening to it as the Sojourner’s Psalm is one thing, but for us to sing it… is it really okay?” (Believer F)
The believers seemed a little confused, perhaps due to differences in values.
“Stay calm. For situations like this, we have the Eight Song Sages of Jiorhaze, the experts on sacred songs.” (Believer G)
“Oh, right! What kind of reaction will they have?” (Believer H)
The congregation turned their attention to the special seats in the front row.
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