Don't be afraid, I've truly come to bring you happiness.

Mortis, who was observing from the sidelines, witnessed all of this clearly.

Hailing's silence was deafening.

Her appearance was out of concern.

She was even willing to use outrageous methods like "fake playing" to keep Mortis on stage and in the band.

This was the most sincere protection she could offer.

However, under the carefully woven linguistic trap of Lin Yuanshan, this protection turned into the most hurtful blade.

Her bandmates admitted that she was just a "substitute".

Mortis's gaze towards Hailing dimmed little by little, until only a deathly disappointment remained.

The time has come.

Lin Yuanshan presented the final choice, his voice gentle and persuasive, like a true psychologist:

"Well then, Wakaba-san."

"Is it wearing a mask, barely surviving on someone else's stage?"

"Still, rely on your own hands to become a true guitar hero?"

Which one will you choose?

Mortis hesitated for only a moment.

Then, her lifeless eyes suddenly hardened!

"Hailin, I'm sorry."

"I want my guitar to sing too!"

After listening, Lin Yuanshan turned to the side and made a "please" gesture to Hachiman Kairin.

Hailing gave Mortis a deep look, then glanced at Lin Yuanshan, but said nothing.

She turned around and disappeared outside the door.

It became.

Lin Yuanshan secretly smiled with an expression comparable to Malik from Yu-Gi-Oh!

The first step in mind control is always to cut off the target's connection with the outside world.

Now, he has done it.

Chapter 9 The cicadas are chirping, and people are going crazy.

"Cicada, cicada, cicada, cicada, cicada"

The cicadas are chirping, and people are getting worse.

"Azui—!"

A desperate cry came from beneath a giant white sheep doll head.

"Dr. Lin! Why did I have to come to this awful place to suffer in the middle of summer?!"

Wearing the heavy mascot costume, Mortis felt like a steamed bun thrown into a steamer. The clothes inside were completely soaked with sweat, sticking stickily to his skin and emitting a desperate sour smell.

This is Amagi Brilliant Park, a popular family-friendly destination in the suburbs of Tokyo.

And she is the amusement park's mascot—the music sprite Macaron.

Under the shade of a tree, Lin Yuanshan was leisurely fanning himself with a small handheld electric fan, and solemnly reminded him:

"First, remember your persona, and add 'dragon' to the end of every sentence."

"I don't care about dragons! What about guitar practice? What about the guitar singing?! Dragon!"

Lin Yuanshan explained:

"Your body has already been tempered and refined by Xiao Mu, so it doesn't need any basic training at all."

What you lack is not technique, but an understanding of your own abilities and experience performing in front of an audience.

Because it was so hot, Mortis was practically brainwashed by the heat and wasn't easily fooled. He retorted:

"So what? What's the connection between this and me being dressed up like this, Dragon!"

Lin Yuanshan shook his head and said:

"Performance experience, of course, must be gained on stage."

"With so many visitors to the amusement park, it's the perfect stage for you."

"There are so many people at the tram station! Dragon!"

"Use your brain to think."

For some reason, Mortis always felt that Lin Yuanshan's words had a somewhat sinister undertone.

However, in reality, his tone is quite gentle.

"If you were to play a terrible tune at a train station with that face of Wakaba Mutsu, what would tomorrow's entertainment headlines say? Don't forget you're the guitarist of a famous band."

"Right now, you're just a mascot. Even if you play terribly, tourists will only think you're trying to be cute."

"...Alright. Dragon!"

Mortis was completely convinced by this seemingly impeccable fallacy.

"I sent you the tablature and instructional videos last night. Let's start with the simplest folk songs."

"But what I want to play is the electric guitar... Dragon!"

Mortis wanted to argue, but a group of children had already surrounded her, chattering away and completely interrupting her.

"Wow! Mom, look! It's a little white lamb!"

A little girl with pigtails looked up, her eyes sparkling.

Mortis immediately got into character, responding in a friendly voice, "My name is Macaron, Dragon!"

"Macaron, can you play the guitar?"

"of course!"

Mortis answered almost instinctively, then felt a sudden tightness in his chest.

Do I really know how?

Although I practiced briefly yesterday

But

Under the expectant gaze of her child, she had no choice but to steel herself and hug the guitar to her chest.

The moment my fingers touched the strings, a familiar feeling spread throughout my body.

A body forged through countless trials

Don't make me sound like some kind of monster!

Although my mind was still wandering, my body started moving on its own.

A smooth and simple melody flowed from her fingertips.

It is the edited folk version of "Little Love Song".

As mentioned before, she shares a body with Wakaba Mutsu.

Muscle memory is not erased by a change in personality.

What truly imprisoned her was precisely her own perception that she "couldn't make the guitar sing."

At this moment, Mortis, plucking the strings, showed no trace of a beginner's awkwardness.

She was stunned.

Eh?

Did I used to play the guitar?

However, live performances are always accompanied by unexpected events.

The little girl with pigtails wasn't very satisfied with "Little Love Song":

"Macaron Macaron, this doesn't sound good, change it! I want to listen to 'Magical Girl Moon Princess'!"

Lin Yuanshan frowned.

Come to think of it, children may not necessarily like folk songs with straightforward melodies.

Trying to recreate an anime song filled with electronic synthesizers using only a folk guitar is asking too much of a question.

Mortis, inside the mascot costume, thought the same thing, and she was just about to speak.

But his eyes met those of the little girl, big, watery eyes that seemed to speak volumes.

The human cub activated its skill—acting cute.

Outstanding effect!

Mortis was knocked down.

"I just can't do anything with you, Dragon!"

Lin Yuanshan, who was under the shade of a tree, covered his face upon hearing this.

He was just about to take out his phone and search online for guitar tabs for "Magical Girl Moon Princess".

Meanwhile, Mortis had already begun playing.

Indeed, although this animation wasn't a huge hit, its theme song was very popular, so it's reasonable that Mortis had heard it.

Of course, it's also possible that she's a seasoned anime fan who loves late-night magical girl anime.

However, this possibility is extremely slim.

At this moment, Mortis seemed to have completely let go, his fingertips dancing on the strings, and he even used harmonics in some places where the guitar range could not reach.

She managed to make a folk guitar sound like a piano.

She was completely bewildered.

It was as if this body had its own thoughts, and it could react automatically as long as the atmosphere was right.

A melody alone is not enough.

The little girl blinked and gave the command again:

"Macarons, macarons, stop just playing them, sing the lyrics!"

That brat!

It must be possessed by some evil spirit to be able to commit such atrocities against such a cute mascot!

Lin Yuanshan was even prepared to personally take her away.

at this time.

"The prayers that echoed through the distant sky transformed into a miracle."

A clear and sweet voice rang out, its tone almost identical to that of the original singer, "Mizuki Na*".

Lin Yuanshan looked in the direction of the sound.

A pink Pomeranian mascot appeared nearby without anyone noticing.

Another mascot of Amagi Brilliant Park is Tiramisu, the Flower Fairy!

The savior is here!

No wonder it's a renowned family paradise; even its mascot has this level of professionalism!

Even if someone says that the person behind Tiramisu is Mizuki Na* herself, Lin Yuanshan would believe it!

Mortis, who was playing the guitar, also visibly breathed a sigh of relief, though it wasn't visible through the hood.

The two of them, playing the piano and singing, showed a remarkable chemistry, and their outstanding performance attracted tourists from the surrounding area.

But that evil little devil did not give up.

As the guitar interlude began, she pointed with her little hand and shouted: