-Finally, Mr. Alan!-

-My lord!-

-Over here, Mr. Alan!-

The waitresses who had been panicking just moments before now gazed at the old man with glowing eyes, their faces reflecting an unprecedented relief. The guards, on the other hand, were still struggling to control the enraged crowd that refused to settle down.

BZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

A buzzing sound filled the entire combat arena, making the loose stones, glasses, and other thrown objects tremble. The brawling spectators began covering their ears one by one, falling to the ground. The intensity of the sound kept increasing, and soon the building itself started to shake slightly. The few people still standing in the combat arena dropped to the floor, writhing in pain. The weaker ones began to bleed from their ears and noses.

-I remind you that the combat arena is a respectable place where brave and honorable knights duel. Therefore, I expect appropriate behavior from you; otherwise, I will have to ban you, dear customers.-

The old man, holding a rapier in his right hand, sheathed it back into the scabbard at his waist. The buzzing stopped, and the ongoing fight disappeared in an instant. The guards looked in astonishment at the scene before them, realizing that the old man’s control was so precise that they had not been affected by the ability at all.

-The Sonic Knight- Martin said aloud, having heard his story dozens of times. No one knew why he deserted the order and became a mere citizen.

-Ex-Knight- replied the blonde-haired girl named Alice.

-He served Duke Sworder, didn’t he?-

-That’s what the rumors say. It was a long time ago.-

-I wonder what happened... to abandon that status, power, and wealth- Martin muttered, feeling a bit down as he glanced at the small coin pouch in his shirt's inner pocket.

-Who knows, Foreigner... he probably has a fantastic backstory, just like yours.-

-Tchh! I’m just a simple man trying to make a living. I’ve told you that many times.-

-Whatever you say, but in the eyes of this lady, I know you’re hiding something big, hehe.-

Alice shamelessly glanced at Martin’s groin, making him blush with embarrassment and look away.

-Hehe, as polite as always. Any other man would have jumped on me after such a little joke.-

-You and your tasteless jokes.-

-I’m just a pure, innocent young woman waiting for her knight. I don’t know what you’re talking about, Foreigner.-

Alice had lived in the slums since birth. She was raised by her father until the age of ten when he had to go to war and never returned. Her mother, on the other hand, died during childbirth, so she never knew her. Alone and helpless with no close relatives, she was taken in by the local orphanage, where she suffered physical and psychological abuse. She endured it for five years until she found the courage to escape and live on her own.

The young girl had to wander the streets for years, facing many dangers, but she always managed to overcome them and move forward. She learned both good and bad things to survive. However, she never forgot her humble but happy childhood or her love for music and the harp, promising herself she would become the artist her father always dreamed of.

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Martin met her during his first days in the district, and she helped him without asking for anything in return, so they gradually grew closer and became friends. The girl was lonely and quiet due to her strange personality and appearance, but to Martin, it wasn’t abnormal at all—it was on par with his otaku friends who wore Naruto headbands.

-I’m glad you’re still a pure and innocent woman; it means you’re like a princess waiting for her beloved.-

The young girl’s cheeks turned red, and her eyes widened at the unexpected comment. A triumphant smile formed on Martin’s face as he stood up to talk to the organizers and collect his prize.

-That’s not fair!- Alice complained to Martin, who was walking away. He responded with a slight wave of his hand as a farewell.

The old man who had calmed the commotion in an instant was now speaking with some customers. He wore black leather pants and a white short-sleeved shirt, unbuttoned at the chest, revealing his toned and muscular physique. At his waist was a simple scabbard with the initials "A.V."

-You caused quite a stir this time.-

-I’m sorry, Mr. Alan, it wasn’t my intention.-

-I know, they’ve told me what happened, hahaha.-

Martin scratched his head uncomfortably at the old man’s sudden laughter.

-I never imagined someone could win like that, but creativity is part of being a warrior too.-

-Well… there wasn’t any rule against it, was there?-

-Of course not. Big Bull reluctantly accepted his defeat and paid for the damages.-

-I’m glad everything worked out then.-

-These things happen; every now and then, a problem like this arises.-

-This time it was my turn… it seems…-

-You’ve had two of these now, you troublemaker!-

The old man ruffled Martin’s dark hair while smiling in disbelief at the boy’s audacity.

-Go to reception for your pay. By the way, the final will be held tomorrow or the day after—I’ll be expecting you then, boy.-

Martin gave a slight bow and headed towards the reception. Old Alan was a kind and calm person who treated everyone equally, with no airs of grandeur despite his past. People genuinely respected him.

-Here you go, Foreigner: 50 sulphurs for the victory and an extra 20 for reaching the final. Congratulations!-

Martin thanked the employee and received the coins, quickly storing them in his pouch. After a month of integrating into society, he had learned that a sulphur, as the green sulfur coins were called, was roughly equivalent to one dollar.

Then there were the cuprums, copper coins worth 100 sulphurs, and at the top were the argentums, silver coins valued at 100 cuprums. However, there were also trade notes, which allowed one to exchange any amount of coins for a paper note at a bank—a primitive version of paper money.

"Not much longer," Martin thought to himself. He currently had a note worth 50 sulphurs and 3 cuprums. With today’s pay, he had 120 sulphurs and 3 cuprums. He just needed 80 more sulphurs to buy a fake ID.

A few days ago, while talking with Alice, she had given him the contact information of a "merchant" who made fake IDs for 5 cuprums. The only downside was that he lived in the Earthly District. Martin felt a bit anxious about it; he was afraid of the noblewoman he had met. She was the richest girl in the city and the future duchess, making the danger quite high. Not to mention she knew a great deal about his past circumstances. Deep down, he felt guilty for suddenly running away from the person who saved his life.

-Ladies and gentlemen, after a few minor inconveniences, we now welcome the hottest, most beautiful, darkest, exotic beauty straight from the underworld—the lover of darkness, the queen of the night, the daughter of delirium!-

Clap Clap Clap.

A round of applause greeted the blonde-haired girl with her hair tied in a ponytail. Her dark, gothic attire gave off a gloomy vibe despite the bright sun shining outside. The audience mostly consisted of workers in dirty clothes, maids in disheveled outfits, merchants, and humble folks.

-In a faraway and prosperous nation…-

-A princess lived without a heart…-

-She disobeyed the Goddess…-

-And brought sadness to her kingdom…-

Martin listened to the sad melody from the reception area. The girl named Alice was on stage, playing her harp and singing. She was quite a talented artist, but unfortunately, her style wasn’t very popular among people who preferred heroic tales, impossible feats, and more upbeat songs.

As he approached an empty table and sat down to enjoy the show, he noticed the colors of the people around him turning dark and dull. The girl had caused sadness and longing to bloom among the audience.

The daughter of delirium possessed a unique and special power. When she played her harp, she could influence others and make them imagine whatever she wanted. By using it for music, she could create real-time images of the story she was telling. In other words, she was a master illusionist capable of making anyone fantasize and delirious.

-Terrifyingly beautiful- Martin whispered as he watched the girl’s performance.

"She could perfectly be a dungeon boss, creating illusions and ensnaring the senses of the heroes who face her," the dark-haired boy smiled with amusement at the possibility.