NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 123.1
In This World, Everyone Has Their Strengths And Weaknesses
On a calm afternoon, the serene sound of a harp echoed through the hideout of the Scarlet Lynx clan. Though it seemed out of place in a guild focused on training novice adventurers to become treasure hunters, the music carried not just beauty but also a soothing quality. The expressions of those listening were utterly tranquil.
With a final gentle plunk, the melody concluded. A mermaid girl named Ireissia, holding the harp, gave a graceful bow to her audience. Her doll-like beauty, paired with a shy smile, was enchanting. The listeners, captivated by her performance, responded with applause.
“Your harp playing is as beautiful as ever, Ireis! I don’t know much about music, but I love your harp.”
“Thank you, Lelei.”
“Absolutely! It really touches the heart. Plus, you’re skilled with other instruments too, aren’t you? You’re so talented.”
“For us merfolk, this much is quite normal, Hermine.”
Ireissia smiled modestly at Lelei’s cheerful praise. Even as Hermine chimed in, Ireissia humbly explained that she wasn’t particularly special. However, since there were no other merfolk around, no one could verify her claim. But honestly, that didn’t matter. What mattered was that her performance brought them immense comfort.
Listening to harp music with a drink in hand was a rare but delightful change of pace. While art could be hard to fully grasp, appreciating it on a personal level wasn’t difficult. Everyone loved Ireissia’s performances. As a bard, her skills were nothing short of remarkable.
“Ireis, you know,”
“Yes? Did I do something?”
“You’re great with instruments, you have perfect pitch, your voice is lovely, and you have great vocal range, so… why are you so hopelessly tone-deaf?”
“”Aroruuuu!!!””
Everyone collectively yelled, That’s forbidden! But the ten-year-old sitting cross-legged on the sofa showed no mercy. Ireissia, struck right in her weak spot, curled up on the spot, clutching her harp tightly. Her legs, which had taken human form, reverted to a pale blue fish tail, flopping gently under her sundress. Her emotions were so shaken that she couldn’t maintain her human shape.
Yes, Ireissia was tone-deaf. Merfolk were supposed to be naturally gifted in music, excelling at both singing and playing instruments, yet her tone-deafness was beyond help. Her crystalline voice only magnified the problem; hearing her sing off-key was oddly painful. She was aware of her issue, but no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t seem to improve. A truly perplexing mermaid.
“Aroru, even if it’s true, you can’t just say it outright when it’s something she’s sensitive about.”
“…Yuuri.”
“What?”
“Honestly, I think the final blow was from you, not me.”
“…Huh?”
Aroru mumbled as if pointing fingers at Yuuri’s attempt to smooth things over. Yuuri, confused, glanced at Ireissia, who looked utterly defeated as others frantically tried to console her. Truly, there’s nothing more terrifying than an innocent yet devastating blow. While Yuuri meant no harm, his comment had reinforced her insecurities.
“I’m so sorry, Ireissia.”
“It’s fine, Yuuri,”
“Ireis…”
“It’s true that I’m bad at singing… Why am I like this…?”
Ireissia’s shoulders slumped. Her delicate, ethereal beauty made her sorrowful expression all the more striking, prompting everyone to rush to comfort her. Unlike the mischievous charm of Hermine, Ireissia exuded an air of fragility. Even among beautiful girls, there were various types.
“But hey, Ireis, I think your singing’s getting closer to the right pitch!”
“…Really, Lelei?”
“Try singing for us! You’re much better than when you first started!”
“That’s true. You’ve improved a lot compared to before.”
Encouraged by Lelei and Hermine’s support, Ireissia hesitantly picked up her harp. Strumming slowly, she began to sing. Her voice was crystal-clear, resonating through the room with a strange, gentle power. It wasn’t a strong voice, yet it reached deeply into the hearts of those who heard it—a voice truly meant for a singer.
Her masterful harp playing accompanied her singing, creating a beautiful harmony—or at least, it should have. For someone with excellent pitch like Ireissia, everything should align perfectly.
And yet, something felt oddly off.
“…What is this weird sense of dissonance?”
“Yuuri.”
“Maybe it’s because Ireis’s voice is so beautiful that the mismatch stands out more?”
“If she heard you, Ireis would be crushed.”
Aroru shot a sharp remark at Yuuri, who muttered his observation. Yuuri didn’t want to hurt Ireissia and had no intention of voicing his thoughts to her. Still, there was something deeply unsettling about her performance. Yet, it wasn’t the kind of off-key singing that made you want to cover your ears and yell, Stop! It was simply… jarring.
Eventually, Ireissia stopped her performance, smiling faintly as Lelei and Hermine praised her improvement. The trio’s lively chatter painted a picturesque scene, but Yuuri’s mind was elsewhere. Even as he acknowledged their charm, his thoughts lingered on something else entirely.
“Oh, I think I figured out what’s causing the dissonance!”
“Huh?”
“Ireis, your singing is off by three notes.”
“…What?”
“If the harp melody is the main tune, your singing was three notes off, like you were harmonizing.”
“Oh my…”
Ireissia blinked, stunned by Yuuri’s comment. She tested it out by humming and realized he was right. Despite her tone-deafness, her keen ear detected the issue. Her voice wasn’t hitting the main melody but was instead harmonizing—three notes off. That explained the peculiar feeling.
With a troubled smile, Ireissia placed a hand on her cheek. Beside her, Hermine’s face lit up with excitement. Though Yuuri was puzzled by her reaction, her next words cleared his confusion.
“Ireis, that means you’re getting closer to the melody!”
“What do you mean, Hermine?”
“Yuuri, think about it. Ireis’s singing used to be much farther from the main tune, right? Now she’s only three notes away!”
“That’s… true.”
“Wow.”