Surviving as a Useless Bard in a Game

---

Why did I even show up with the army?

…If you ask the reason, it’s for safety.

“The Mad King’s last known location; he can handle an army alone and return to the northern end any time he pleases.”

His personality is such that he doesn’t avoid a fight. No, he practically enjoys it.

When he first met Skylar and me, he watched us with so much amusement, letting Skylar use her teleportation without interference.

Only someone who enjoys a fight can let weaker opponents go.

That was the nature of a street dog, not a leader.

“The reason the Mad King hasn’t returned after being caught by a teleportation trick.”

Perhaps that ‘aide’ is not a wizard or not skilled enough to teleport, and the Mad King is only capable of basic magic as well.

Is that some kind of good news?

I should have thought of it right after the Mad King disappeared. I completely forgot about such matters after that…

Anyway, what’s the Emperor doing here?

…I don’t know. There’s really no particular reason.

If I had to force a thought, perhaps he’s just checking the crew he’s going to sail with in advance.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Oh, yes.”

“Isn’t that a peculiar reaction? I’ve personally come all the way to the northern end.”

“Honestly, I don’t really understand why in such a shabby place.”

“You still don’t mind showing no decorum in front of the Emperor, openly saying what you’re curious about, huh? Don’t you even put wine in your shoe…”

“…Do you really need to mention that?”

“Just kidding.”

The Emperor said that with a smirk.

Unlike when I last saw him bare-faced, he was now wearing a black cloth across his eyes, so I couldn’t see his expression, but his face was vividly revealed to my eyes.

Her expression suddenly stiffened, and she began to stare at me quietly.

I felt a chilling gaze through the black cloth.

Red, circular.

“Can you see?”

“…Yes.”

“You’ve gotten quite capable of handling your body. Even though I brought a special cloth instead of a mask as a countermeasure for your eyes.”

“I don’t really feel like I’m controlling it; my body just moves on its own. It’s somewhat unpleasant.”

The Emperor laughed loudly for a moment and then slapped my shoulder a few times.

It was the appearance of a commander encouraging a soldier.

The guards behind her looked at me with strange expressions.

From simple emotions like curiosity and wonder to negative feelings like jealousy and envy, and positive feelings of love and fondness.

Everything was vividly visible, and I could also feel it on my skin.

I stared at them blankly.

They avoided my gaze.

…Ah.

After a short scream, I immediately controlled my magic power.

Slowly, calmly.

I turned my head to avoid their gaze. Turning around, I followed the Emperor’s back.

Many people followed my back.

Well, if we get technical about it, it’s the Emperor’s back they’re following, but it still felt awkward.

With no hesitation, the Emperor walked swiftly to the ruined northern end, to the center of the city.

Strong presences—those who sensed something unusual—gathered in one place.

Even without the Emperor calling them, they were already there.

“Just in time, everyone’s here.”

Tension was evident on their faces.

In the midst of it, Skylar was looking at me, not the Emperor.

As if asking why I was there.

I averted my gaze, making a troubled expression.

‘…By accident.’

He seemed to notice something just by looking at my face.

Now he can read thoughts too?

Heh.

With a light smile and a not-so-serious expression, he sat down by the campfire.

Others who were observing Skylar began sitting around the campfire. They realized there was no need for tension, and they trusted Skylar that much.

If he’s not tense, there’s no need for anyone to be.

“You’ve already heard about me from the Bard and the Wizard. The Emperor of the Empire, Eckhart, needs you.”

He got straight to the point.

Good choice.

For typical adventurers, the reward for the task is the most important, but this task is a bit different.

The Emperor of the Empire asked for our help and promised to assist actively, while the opponent is the most dangerous figure in the world.

A matter of survival, completely unrelated to fame, money, danger, or romance.

“Who is your leader?”

Scipio raised his hand first.

Skylar hesitated for a moment before stepping back.

He touched his beard and slowly approached the Emperor.

The Emperor’s guards tensed up, but the Emperor said it was okay, raising one hand to give a stand-down order.

“It’s me.”

“…Is it just me, or do all adventurers have short replies?”

“No.”

“Let’s skip that. Do you have any intention of accepting the proposal?”

“I’ve already accepted the proposal. If you’re human and have a body, you should know how dangerous collectors like the Mad King are.”

“Then, there’s no need for further discussion.”

Scipio placed a hand on the Emperor’s shoulder.

While her frame wasn’t small, being a woman, it certainly couldn’t be larger than that of a seasoned adventurer who had been through thick and thin.

The Emperor showed discomfort, but Scipio didn’t care and said what she wanted.

“There is a need.”

“Remove yourself.”

“If you want to earn someone’s trust or promises, show your face. Name yourself. That’s the basics.”

“I told you to remove yourself.”

Eckhart’s tone changed.

It was no longer the majestic tone befitting an emperor, but rather raw, adventurer-like bluntness filled with emotion.

Yeah. She looked like she was getting angry.

Scipio was equally upping her game.

While she had no intent to attack, the threat was enough.

Her guards slowly stepped back.

‘Who exactly is protecting whom here?’

I slowly stepped back and began my observation.

Aren’t heroes whose names are recorded in history effectively battling each other?

‘What good material this is.’

As a Bard, I still felt the remaining urge to guide my actions.

It didn’t feel like a severe crisis of losing my self, after all.

It’s common knowledge that watching a fire across the river is entertaining, even if you’re not a Bard.

“…The first magic was the plea for protection from a woman looking up to the heavens.”

“What are you doing right now…”

“Be quiet. It’s better that fewer people know my face as enemies.”

Words carry magic.

There was a time when Skylar forced a teleportation trigger, and she surely recited a similar incantation.

The Emperor’s magic power gradually began to leak out.

“And as night sews itself with dark threads, letting even starlight hold its breath, deep sleep shall descend. The wings of shadow shall cover the sky, as only the blind wind wanders the path. A veil of silence surrounds the world, unfurling a black cloak where light cannot reach.”

And before long, we found ourselves beneath the night sky.

Instead of the Emperor at the center, a small circle formed around the campfire where we were seated.

The sky turned pitch black, and the starlight twinkled.

Skylar stood up and began to observe the barrier closely.

At the end of the barrier, on the edges, the Emperor slowly removed the cloth covering her face.

Eckhart, Framea.

The Emperor who bears two names stood here as one.

“…You’re young.”

“Yeah. I’m young. Doesn’t everyone look young to an old man like you?”

“……”

Suddenly hit right on the mark, Scipio was left speechless, her mouth shut in a daze.

The Emperor snickered as she caught a glimpse of that moment and turned toward the campfire.

The companions sitting by the campfire slowly got to their feet.

It seemed the atmosphere wasn’t one to remain seated any longer.

Excluding the one creature who was utterly oblivious to the ambiance and lying back on the ground, everyone was now standing.

Ah, as I mentioned that being on the ground, the one who was clueless about the atmosphere was Fura.

“Everyone, look at my face.”

Everyone focuses on her words.

The Gray Cat also released her transformation, becoming the pale man I first met and knelt down.

Even Fura, the typical church person, who was blatantly disregarding the Emperor, flinched each time the Emperor spoke.

Auris, the little one who didn’t know anything, also gazed at the Emperor’s face.

Everyone was focused on one point, their eyes and ears locked in.

The reason was unknown.

I couldn’t understand it.

But I simply knew.

Why people discuss loyalty towards an emperor who doesn’t reveal his face, and why that damned Gray Cat transformed into the strongest figure, that of the Emperor.

“Scipio, foremost among those who chase the stars, now that you’ve all seen my face, can you trust me?”

“…Yeah.”

“My name is Eckhart. I’ve gathered a wandering Bard, a little Wizard, an ordinary Cat to catch the Mad King. Will you also contract with me?”

Laughter erupted among the companions.

It was dark even though it was morning, the sun was absent, and the stars gleamed brightly.

After we stood from the campfire, we randomly picked up a stick and etched a name into the ground.

A name that would be forgotten with time, yet simultaneously a name that the earth would remember.

The answer was already decided.

We contract.