by Dojyomaru
Excel sent a water snake after Naden and shouted, “Come to me, ancestor of the sea serpent race!”
“I’m not as old as your five hundred years!”
Their attacks collided, and the splash of water sparkled with electricity. The soldiers who witnessed this battle later reported it was like a fight between three massive beasts. Fortunately, the theme playing at the time was the theme song of a film where three kaiju fight a great war.
◇ ◇ ◇
The excitement on the battlefield was reaching its peak.
I was in a room deep inside the fortress the defending team was protecting, fighting with the reports delivered by researchers from the Royal Academy and Ginger’s Vocational School.
“Your majesty, reporting from Observation Point 8. Track number 28. Effect witnessed on defending side,” said a researcher.
Another followed up with, “Report from Observation Point 14. Track number 52. No effect detected.”
“Observation Point 2! The battle between Duchess Walter, Queen Naden, and Lady Magna has become too loud to hear the music!”
“Also from Observation Point 2! The aftermath of their battle has caused a large number of casualties!”
“Don’t talk all at once! I can write several things at once, but there’s still only one of me!” I shouted despite myself. I might have sounded angry, but it was a cry of desperation. I wasn’t Prince Shoutoku; if they talked at me at the same time, I wasn’t going to be able to hear them all.
If they were talking in front of my note-taking machine, Factory Arm, it would at least be able to think independently. But even if it could do that, it couldn’t respond, so I had to do what I could with my main body.
“I only need the records, so talk to the Factory Arm,” I said. “Also, let them do whatever they want over where Excel is. Even if we told her to lay off, she wouldn’t listen. Oh! But make sure you get all the data.”
“Yes, sir. It will be done.”
Having sent all matters that didn’t require me to talk over to the Factory Arm, the number of people dropped a little, and I was able to catch my breath.
The three simple receivers set up in the room all showed images of the soldiers fighting. They were going all out while listening to the loreleis sing.
I could only smile wryly at the fact that the showiest places were Aisha, Hal and Kuu’s, and Naden, Excel and Ruby’s, all people I knew personally.
...Watching this, it does look like the music has an effect.
Listening to music elevated the power of the imagination, which had an effect on magic. When cheerful music that urged the soldiers to fight played, the attackers pushed forward, and when music played that made you imagine a solid defense, the defenders pushed back.
The most impressive was the orchestral showdown between the theme of “an action-adventure puzzle-solving game that featured a mark similar to the Hojo Clan’s family crest” vs. “the theme that played in the rebel army base in the second installment of a major RPG everyone in Japan would know.” These were the pieces that gave me the strongest sense of offense and defense.
I tried having them played together, and I could clearly see that when the former played, the attackers gained momentum, and when the latter played, the defenders rallied. These two themes could probably be used in actual combat.
From the reports I’d seen, the presence of lyrics made no real difference. That was likely because, on the battlefield, there was no time to listen to them. However, in a situation where they could hear the lyrics, or where they knew the words in advance, like with the Lunarian Orthodox hymn that strengthened healing magic, the outcome might have been different. I wanted to perform tests under a variety of different conditions, and record lots of results.
“Your Majesty, we received a report from the medical team.” The head of the Work Songs Society, Morse, who had initially proposed this experiment, brought me some papers.
“By the medical team, you mean the group that has the legal loli lorelei Pamille Carol with them to test the effect of music on healing magic, right?”
“Legal... Uh, what are you talking about?”
“Uh, never mind that part. How did it go?”
“...It really does seem like their ability to form a mental image is the key,” Morse said as he handed me the report. “When they cast healing magic on the wounded while singing the Lunarian Orthodox hymn, the effect was different depending on whether or not the injured soldiers were believers of Lunarian Orthodoxy or not. This is a fascinating result.”
“Hm? The magic relies on a mental image, right? Wasn’t this the result you anticipated?” I asked.
The ones who had an image of the hymn healing people were the believers, right? If the followers of other faiths were told this was the mercy of Lady Lunaria, it wasn’t going to feel quite so real to them. In the country I came from, everyone sang the hymns during weddings, but unless they were Christian they probably didn’t have any image of the Lord’s grace.
When people prayed for divine intervention, it was either to Amaterasu, or to the Buddha. Or maybe their ancestors. That’s why I had a vague sense that hymns would only work for followers of the same faith, but according to Morse that was not the case.
“Sire. The predicted result was that adherence to Lunarian Orthodoxy would only be relevant for the magic users. If songs have an effect on magic, it should only influence the mages originally casting the spells.”
“Hm... Oh! I see now. As the recipients, the wounded soldiers’ faith shouldn’t matter at all. But it actually is involved somehow, you’re saying.”
“Yes. In short, recovery magic does not only exhibit a magical reaction from the caster, but from the subject, too. It’s truly fascinating.” Morse laughed with that handsome voice of his.
The recovery magic in this world cured external injuries by activating the body’s natural ability to heal. That was the explanation why it didn’t work on illnesses. Though the one elevating the body’s natural ability to heal was the caster, that ability itself belonged to the subject. In that case, the mental image of the subject might be important, too.
“Is that why they have everyone sing the hymn when they use Area Heal? Not to have the casters hear it, but to make the wounded imagine themselves being healed.”
“I imagine that’s likely the case.”
I didn’t know if Lunarian Orthodoxy did that because they understood it. Like Merula had said before, it might have become a custom because it was most effective when they did it that way. From a routine, to a custom, to a tradition, huh?
Then, perhaps having listened to our conversation, Ginger came and handed me a report. “This is a report from that medical team. It seems there were non-religious songs that increased the recovery effect, too. One surprising choice was ‘the song sung by three villains’ from your world. When people heard it, they said, ‘I’m not gonna let them beat me,’ and it actually made them more energetic.”
“Oh, so that sort of image works, too, huh...” I said. “Maybe in addition to divine blessings, songs that make you envision relaxation and health, immortality and indomitable spirit might have an effect, too.”
Those three villains’ song definitely had an image of invincibility and indomitable spirit.
But a hospital (or church) with their theme playing, huh...? That sounded fun, but it would also make this country seem even more absurd. I felt like I’d get another lecture from Liscia, so I crossed my arms and groaned.
“We’ve made a discovery that should be useful to the research magic in an unexpected place. The researchers at the Academy should be thrilled. That alone is enough to have made this experiment worthwhile.”
“Yes, I agree,” Ginger replied. “I believe there is value in continuing the research.”
“I would like to continue with my research as well,” Morse followed up.
This sort of experiment was too big to carry out easily, but they could continue and develop their research usi
ng the data gathered here. Morse had drifted to Ginger’s Vocational School because of how preposterous his research seemed, but views of him were bound to change now. If his studies found acclaim, this research that had been overlooked as meaningless by the Academy might be given the chance for further consideration.
That sort of academic development should become a great strength for this country.
Unlike Fuuga’s Malmkhitan, which bordered the Demon Lord’s Domain, we had nowhere to expand our territory without fighting an external war. That was why we needed to develop on an academic and technical level instead. We needed more and more powers, like our knowledge in the field of medicine, and the carrier Hiryuu, which other countries did not possess.
While I was thinking about that, “Ah!” Ginger suddenly mumbled to himself.
“What is it?”
“It seems something has happened on the battlefield.” Ginger was pointing towards the place where Aisha and the others’ battle was unfolding.
◇ ◇ ◇
“Hahhhhhhhhhh!”
“Whoa?!”
Though Kuu blocked a swing of Aisha’s greatsword with his cudgel, he was still sent flying a good distance. He used his agility to flip through the air and land on his feet, but there was cold sweat running down his cheeks.
“S-Scary, scary. If I hadn’t jumped in time with the impact, I’d have been crushed, weapon and all.”
“Hahh... Hahh... Her strength’s in another league, isn’t it?”
Halbert, who was winded from having been sent flying earlier, lined up beside Kuu.
They were both very capable, and were now fighting together, but were still unable to land a single effective blow on Aisha.
Kuu put on a forced smile as he wiped his brow. “Ookyakya... You’re so strong it’s not even funny anymore, Bro’s Wife #2. Is Bro gonna be okay living the newlywed life with her when he’s such a weakling himself?”
“...Oh, that explains it,” Halbert said.
“Huh?”
“Earlier, I heard him grumbling, ‘My back hurts thanks to Aisha...’”
“...Not his hips? Just what are those two getting up to?”
Kuu seemed a little put off by this revelation, but Aisha must have heard them, because her brown skin turned a brighter shade of red.
“N-N-N-N-Nothing really, I just forgot my promise... and squeezed a little too tight...”
Isn’t it dangerous if she can accidentally injure his back like that?! they both thought in unison.
The two were even more weirded out now. In order to mask her embarrassment, Aisha swung her sword even harder. They still somehow managed to dodge the blades of wind that she produced with each swing.
“Whoa, watch out! She’s not holding back anymore!”
“Ookyakya! Scary, but... it’s not a bad situation. Hey, redhead!”
“What is it, whitehead?!”
“We’re gonna keep Aisha’s focus on us for a while.”
“...Sounds like you’ve got a plan. I’m in.”
They closed in while dodging Aisha’s blades of wind, then, as they swung their cudgel and spear at her, they spoke with their normal voices.
“What do you talk about in bed with Souma?”
“Is Bro ever proactive in bed?”
They decided to use dirty talk to catch her attention. When Aisha heard them, she turned an even deeper red.
“A-A-As if I could ever tell!”
Aisha kept swinging her greatsword, trying to pull the two of them apart. The two had done a brilliant (?) job of getting her attention. Then, sensing now was the time, Kuu raised his left hand.
Just at that moment, the track that began playing was the main theme to the game adaptation of a manga about a hard-boiled sniper. Then...
...Whoosh!
Something flew over Aisha’s ear from far in the distance. She turned to her side, and saw an arrow coming straight towards her, and Leporina, who must have fired that arrow, standing on a large boulder.
A sniper?! Oh, no!
Aisha tried to chase off the incoming arrow, but it came directly after Hal and Kuu’s attacks, leaving her off balance. There was no way to dodge or block it like this.
Am I out of options? she thought, only to be interrupted by the sound of hooves and the whinny of a horse...
“You let your guard down too much, Aisha.”
The person who came riding in on a white horse cut the arrow down. When they saw who the sudden interloper was, everyone’s eyes went wide.
“Lady Liscia?!” Aisha exclaimed.
“Whaa?! Bro’s Wife #1?!”
“Huh?! The princess... No, the queen?! Why is she here?!”
“It looks like fun, so I want in,” Liscia said with a smile. “Aisha, leave the rabbit over there to me. You stop these two.”
“...Oh! U-Understood!”
Having come to her senses, Aisha managed to give that much of a response, and then Liscia was off at a gallop, heading towards Leporina.
“Huh? I have to face Queen Liscia?! Master Kuu?!”
Kuu heard Leporina’s bewildered cries in the distance, but unable to do anything about them, he just gave her an off-handed, “Good luck!”
Leporina loosed arrows as she fled, but Liscia cut them out of the air as she gave chase. The fleeing Leporina and pursuing Liscia. It was a scene that looked like a rabbit hunt.
“Eeek! Stay away from meeee!”
“You’re fast, and you’ve got good aim. But a challenge always gets me fired up.”
Liscia looked like she was having fun, and she kept chasing the teary-eyed Leporina. As he watched, Kuu couldn’t help but mutter, “All of Bro’s wives are a little too energetic...”
“...You’ve got a point.”
Halbert could find no words to disagree with him.
◇ ◇ ◇
“Liscia’s so full of life,” I said to myself, sighing as I watched her enjoy her rabbit hunt on the other side of the simple receiver.
She was really in her element. Having to look after the children all the time lately must have left her itching for this. Cian and Kazuha were cute enough that she didn’t mind, but she was a warrior trained by Georg, and she must have wanted to really let loose sometimes.
Suddenly, one of the bureaucrats came in and said, “Y-Your Majesty! This is big!”
“What is? What happened?”
When I asked him, the bureaucrat caught his breath and gave his report. “They’ve breached the walls! Please, head to the hall and prepare to meet them at once!”
“They broke through... Seriously? I thought it was a stalemate...”
I looked to the simple receivers, but all I saw was my wives and companions fighting, the same as before. No matter where I looked, it seemed like the fighting was even.
“Yes. The heads of the attacking and defending teams have thrown the major players at one another, so the places that are being recorded are all at a stalemate. However, in the more ordinary spots, the ones not picked up by the broadcast, there was an ordinary fight, fought with ordinary means, and it has broken through the walls in an ordinary way.”
“Oh... Yeah, I guess that makes sense. It’s not like we’re seeing the whole battlefield.”
I was satisfied with their explanation. There was fighting in the places Ludwin and Excel weren’t concerned with, too, and a result had been decided there.
“It’s not really a satisfying conclusion, but... I guess that can’t be helped. I’ll take it on board as something to learn from.”
I didn’t know if we would be doing this a second time, but if we did, I wouldn’t have them fight in a big, chaotic melee like this. There would be proper routes, and the broadcast jewels would be placed along them.
I feel like that’ll bring it closer to *******’s Castle, though.
“Sire, hurry.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m going.”
At the bureaucrat’s urging, I returned to the hall where I gave my initial speech.
<
br /> ◇ ◇ ◇
“...And so, the winners are the attacking team! Also, the special award for the person who did the most to make things the most exciting goes to Miss Dran for blowing away both Silvan and Akki Taitei.”
“Yayyyyyyy!” ← The crowd roaring.
“...Th-Thanks.” ← Carla wanting to crawl into a hole and die.
“Whew, it’s all done. Lady Roroa was cute as a button, and the whole project was pretty interesting, on the whole, I’d say.”
“Yes. Lady Aisha was as strong and cool as ever.”
With the song battle over, Lucy and Velza, who were both at a restaurant with a terrace overlooking the fountain plaza, both gave their opinions.
Tomoe nodded in satisfaction as she sipped her tea. “Big Sister Liscia was so brave and wonderful, too. And Naden was cool.”
“The fighting was incredible, but the loreleis’ performances were amazing, too. That duet between Madam Juna and Madam Komari was simply enthralling,” Ichiha added enthusiastically.
Tomoe noticed that Yuriga was watching the broadcast in silence. There was no enjoyment on her face, only seriousness.
“What’s wrong, Yuriga?” she asked.
“...Hm?” Yuriga grunted hesitantly. She inclined her head towards Tomoe as if to say, “What?”
“No, um... it’s just that you were just staring so intently.”
“Ohh... I guess I was, huh? I spent the whole time thinking about the purpose of this broadcast. If he’s doing something on this large a scale, there must be some reason for it.”
“P-Purpose...”
Tomoe jumped a little at the mention of it. She had heard from Souma that this was all to, “Investigate the effect of music on magic.” But that information had not been made public. They might figure it out much later, but for now, the people only saw it as another show.
“Big Brother is trying to put on broadcasts that will entertain the people. I guess this is part of that,” Tomoe said. “Look, everyone seems to have enjoyed it, right?”
“Is that a job for the king?” Yuriga said with a sigh. “Honestly, your brother isn’t regal at all, is he?”