### Chapter 2: The Harpist (5)
Once hailed as a musical genius, Trissa had long since become accustomed to the kind of applause and cheers that echoed around her.
Calmly, she stood up and offered a slight bow to the audience.
As the wave of cheers swelled even louder, she smiled and began to pack away her harp.
Indeed, just as the audience had been discussing, in the heat of battle or during a march, when faced with an emergency, the harpists would often summon a simplified version of the four-string harp. Heck, they could even pluck the strings with one hand while wielding a weapon with the other!
All that mattered was getting the skills out there; the music didn’t have to be overly complicated.
Sure, the fancier and more beautiful the tune, the more effective the skill was, but trying to focus deeply on performing in the heat of battle was downright challenging.
So, generally speaking, the usual tunes played by harpists were pretty basic, just enough to get by with a rough recovery effect.
Today, however, Trissa’s full-on dedication had left everyone in awe, elevating the everyday admiration for her to new heights that exploded like a pop star’s ego.
Even Trissa was surprised by her own performance; it seemed like ages since she’d played a piece that satisfied her so completely.
Now, in order to uphold the pure lineage of harpists, the God of Harmony appeared to have heard her prayers, blessing her with a flawless performance.
As she slowly descended from the stage, she was surrounded by eyes filled with admiration and awe.
Morris approached nervously, feeling like a total fool after witnessing the genius of the harpist’s skills.
Why poke the bear for no reason?
Trissa wasn’t just the daughter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs; she was a harp-playing prodigy with an unlimited future ahead.
Sure, he liked the ladies, but at least while trailing behind Trissa, he better keep it to himself. If she found that offensive, why should he be a thick-headed dolt?
“Lady Trissa, your music was simply exquisite! Even the God of Harmony, Muse herself, wouldn’t do better!”
Trissa shook her head, “Muse governs the beauty of music; how dare we mere mortals even compare? Please don’t say such things again.”
Come on, Morris knew what he was doing. He could sense his flattery was scratching her itch just right.
Trissa’s verbal denial might have been just for show, but the subtle expression on her face clearly revealed she was secretly enjoying Morris’s compliments.
“Hey, Lin, you might as well smash your harp and admit defeat now. Otherwise, stepping on stage again would just humiliate you!”
Morris crossed his arms and shouted at the quiet Lin Nan in the corner.
“Yeah, if it sounds bad, I’m the first to throw a tomato!”
“Hahaha, what’s the point of forcing yourself on stage? Just kneel down and sob, begging Lady Trissa for forgiveness. Who knows, she might have a soft spot and spare your battered harp.”
“Ah, too bad you’re not of the Demon Race. If you could apprentice under Lady Trissa, it could have been a legendary tale.”
Amid the noisy chatter, Trissa glanced over at Lin Nan with an air of superiority, hoping to see dread, fear, or shame etched across her face.
But to her immense disappointment and growing irritation, the unassuming demoness appeared unfazed, as if Trissa’s stunning performance was just another Tuesday for her.
Trissa could barely suppress her irritation and said stiffly, “So, you still intend to take the stage?”
Lin Nan nodded slightly, avoiding the curious glances of the demons around her. The lively and cheerful spirit she’d had when entering the tavern was nowhere to be found, replaced instead by an icy aura that made anyone who approached her involuntarily step back, as if just being near her might give them frostbite.
Even when she passed by Morris, he instinctively retreated a half-step.
But then Morris felt insulted and raised his fist, “Hey, Lin! What’s with the attitude?
If it weren’t for the wager still being on, I’d have you taste my fist right now!”
Lin Nan didn’t spare him a glance, striding confidently onto the stage.
“Whoa, I’m about to—”
Morris prepared to confront the girl who dared to disregard demons of noble birth, but Trissa’s gentle hum interrupted him.
“Count! Let’s hear how she plays before making any decisions.
You know, offending the God of Harmony and impersonating a harpist is a serious crime.”
Morris rubbed his hands together and grinned, “You’re right! Deceiving the gods? That’s capital offense!
I get it, Lady Trissa; I’ll make sure to give her a good show afterwards!”
In the corner of the tavern, for some unknown reason, Adeline suddenly became a little anxious when she saw Lin Nan take the stage.
Why was she worried about a total stranger? It couldn’t possibly be because of Xi, could it?
“Xi, what if she loses? Will you step in for her?”
Adeline’s voice trembled, “Forget it; the answer doesn’t matter to me anymore.
I know a bit of wind magic; halfway through the show, I’ll snuff out all the torches, and you can help her sneak out during the panic.”
Xi stared at her deeply and decided to remove Adeline from the k*ll list.
Had she known that just this statement had brought her back from the brink of d*ath.
“What are you looking at? Make a decision!” Adeline urged.
“We’ve only known each other for an hour… you…”
Adeline huffed, “What? Too proud to have a bold woman? I find you pretty annoying too; you’re just a pretty boy with too much makeup; it’s bad for your skin!”
Xi, “…Alright then.”
Taking advantage of the darkness to commit m*rder was indeed a smart move.
Adeline, feeling a weight lifted from her shoulders, leaned against Xi’s shoulder and turned to watch the stage.
At this moment, Lin Nan’s graceful and elegant harp had appeared before everyone, glowing softly like a luminous pearl.
Needless to say, just the appearance of the harp was leagues above Trissa’s.
The demon crowd couldn’t comprehend how a non-demon could conjure such a luxurious and precious harp out of thin air. If one claimed she had no ties to the demon race, surely no one would believe it.
But all that was irrelevant now.
In the face of Trissa’s flawless performance, with the God of Harmony as witness, even if Lin Nan boasted the most exquisite harp, she was unlikely to reach Trissa’s heights.
With their oath to Muse, the audience’s ears seemed to have sharpened significantly.
Even the slightest discrepancy was easily detected.
Morris was sharpening his kn*fe, ready to strike when she reached the halfway point. By then, everyone would have figured out the outcome of the wager, and surely the God of Harmony wouldn’t hold them accountable for their rashness and impulsivity.
Yes, they were merely acting as instruments of divine retribution against the liar. What punishment could they hope to receive?
