I Was a Small Fish When I Reincarnated, but It Seems That I Can Become a Dragon, so I Will Do My Best - Chapter 500
Wow, chapter 500.
11-15. Drum (Taiko) Performance
As the night grew deeper, a resounding sound finally began to fill the air. It was like a thunderous explosion echoing from deep within.
In front of the South Main Gate of the Oni Castle, the portable shrine had arrived. The Oni carrier who brought it, drenched in sweat, had collapsed on the ground. It was a scene just like the one I had witnessed in the past.
Other Oni were carrying water for the carrier to rehydrate. It seemed like a well-deserved break for them.
In front of the South Main Gate, the drums were already lined up. In the front row were five small drums, the second row had eight drums that reached up to the waist, and at the back was an extra-large drum. Of course, there were drums set up on the portable shrine as well.
Den was waiting in front of the drums set on the portable shrine. He was there! Which meant…
” ? Akari? .” (Light)
Suddenly, countless firefly-like lights appeared and simultaneously headed towards the portable shrine carrying the drums. As a result, the area around the shrine started to glow with sporadic lights. It seemed like the stage was now set.
We had found a good vantage point to watch this and were joined by Karna, Yuuzen, Theik, Thekil, and Hime-sama.
“Hey, where’s Dacia? And Uchikage?”
“I don’t know.”
I thought Dacia was looking forward to seeing the drum performance since she’d never seen it before. Maybe she’s watching it with the other devil somewhere? Well, never mind.
But where did Uchikage go? It’s unusual for him to leave without saying anything.
“Hehehe, these drums are amazing, aren’t they?”
“Yeah, when we heard them for the first time, we were completely shocked.”
“Don’t remind me…”
Well, I mean, anyone would be shocked. Even the Oni who have heard it many times still flinch at the sheer force of the explosion-like sound. Well, it’s all about the experience, I guess. We felt the same way.
But how many times have these guys heard it? That’s so cool. I’m only on my second time. It’s amazing that they could sleep through that sound.
Then, Alena pointed her finger. Uchikage was standing in front of the extra-large drum, holding a large drumstick.
“Oh, it’s Uchikage.”
“Huh? He’s going to play it!?”
“Hehe, Uchikage has come to understand the essence of being an oni. He’s been practicing since last year.”
“Hee~!”
So is that it! Ah, it would have been nice if I had woken up a year earlier!
Uchikage stood there with the large drumsticks resting on his shoulder. While he had a prosthetic leg, he could manage to hold that large drumstick.
He took a deep breath and then declared loudly.
“Everyone, thank you for gathering here. I’m delighted to see you all enjoying yourselves. Now, to close the evening, we have the drum performance! There’s nothing more delightful than the sound that resonates from the depths of our hearts, expressing our essence. Tonight’s performance is ‘Blazing Great Fire.’ Everyone, remember our essence well!”
With those words, Uchikage walked toward the extra-large drum. The other Oni accompanying him were all elderly Oni. Among them were a blacksmith Oni who had smithing my sword, a carpenter Oni who had built a shrine, and an Oni who made a fishing bait for treasure fish.
The small drums began to play lightly. It was the same performance I had heard before. The small sounds started, gradually growing louder. It felt like the embers were smoldering.
And then, Uchikage began to strike the drum. The resonating sound echoed through our bodies, even if we were consciously bracing for it.
The performance continued, and the second row of drums, while not as large as the extra-large drum, also began to play. Their sound pierced through us. I enjoyed the performance by just listening to the sound, feeling nostalgic.
It was truly nostalgic. Sensationally, it felt like it had been a year since I last heard it. In reality, it had been seven years.
What had happened when I first heard this? Oh, right, it was after I saved Alena. I think Reizen and I had been picking out new equipment for ourselves at the time. Back then, Houen wasn’t yet a part of our group, but I happened to run into him when I was on a quest to defeat Bedlock.
What had I done afterward? Oh yeah, I met the two members of Thunder Bolt on the way. Our first impression of each other was terrible, but somehow, they’ve become our comrades now.
Um, next, I took on adventurer activities in the Salletana Kingdom. I remember completing various small tasks. Was it Hippo Grass? I had to deliver that, and they were very grateful.
DOOOON!
Uchikage struck the extra-large drum. The performance seemed to be reaching its climax, intensifying more and more.
As we enjoyed the performance, lots of Devils had gathered on the roof of the Oni Castle’s keep.
It was the first time these Devils had heard a drum performance by their fellow Oni comrade. They wanted to enjoy it without any disturbances, just with their comrades.
“Wow, this is amazing! I wish we could have seen it a bit earlier!”
“Yeah, you’re right. You can’t hear a performance like this anywhere else around here.”
Atrak was drinking alcohol while using the performance as background entertainment. Lurimkos sat beside him, pouring him drinks.
“DaCiA-SAma, I waNt to SEE it Up CLosE!”
“Endure it here.”
“aDi-bAa…”
“Hehe, this is just right. Yaqi, if you came out, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the performance.”
“oHkAy.”
On Dacia’s lap, Yaqi watched the performance. Mana sat next to them, smiling at the sight.
The inner Yaqi immediately retreated, and the outer Yaqi reappeared. Although their eyes blinked strangely, they continued to use binoculars to watch the performance.
Igal, Iubola, and Abyss were waiting behind them. There were supposed to be several other devils here, but they were no longer around. Although the loss of long-time companions had been quite shocking, everyone present had fought through it.
“Dalosraina-sama… Kuti-sama… I never thought both superior devils would pass away.”
“It was a surprise for me too…”
“Don’t be too somber. It would ruin the mood here.”
“Sorry, Abyss. I owed both of them so much…”
“Iubora, too. Kuti-sama taught you how to use your slate, right? And Dalosraina-sama taught you the transformation skill, if I recall.”
“Yeah.”
Iubora and Igal looked a bit melancholic as they gazed up at the sky. Just having others who could grieve with you made things more bearable.
“By the way… I’m still amazed that Atrak-sama and Lurimkos-sama are alive.”
Abyss stated this with a hint of bewilderment.
Atrak turned to look at her, then took another sip of his alcohol, revealing jagged teeth.
“Well, we’re kind of gods. It wouldn’t do if we were that easy to kill.”
“I can’t understand what you’re saying…”
“We’re gods. We wouldn’t be here if we were stupid enough to die.”
“I don’t understand!”
The group chuckled at her outburst.
The members gathered here had all fought diligently to stop something during this battle. Their abilities were indeed impressive, even if they hadn’t been able to utilize them to the fullest.
“Anyway, it doesn’t matter that we’re alive. Let’s offer a silent prayer for Kuti and Dalosraina. Because Kuti told them about you guys, you were able to notice. And Dalosraina… I don’t remember, but she found us. That’s why we were able to prevent it. As one of the mighty warriors of devils, let’s pay our respects to both of them.”
Lurimkos spoke while clasping her hands together. With her index fingers still bent, she spread her hands apart.
The other devils followed suit. They continued this until the final sound of the extra-large drum.
Thunderous applause could be heard from below. They unlocked their hands, spread their wings, and stretched as Atrak awkwardly gazed at the entire group.
“Dacia, Mana, Yaqi. Abyss, Iubora, Igal. Well done.”
At Atrak’s words, everyone bowed their heads. After seeing them, Atrak nodded in satisfaction, cracked his bones with a “pop,” and returned to his original position.
“Alright, I’m heading home. Dacia, I’ll leave it to you.”
“Yes.”
With those words as the last, all the devils except Dacia vanished. It was Lurimkos’s ability that allowed them to eliminate the distance to the home they currently lived in.
Dacia took a deep breath and nodded strongly.
“I have to be the guide to the sealing place… I don’t really want to, but it can’t be helped.”
Saying that, she spread her wings and glided down.