CIATB Chapter 259 Inari Rhapsody
Chapter 259 Inari Rhapsody
The concert hall doors were tightly closed, and an elderly security guard sat at the entrance.
Hyacinth and her two companions walked up to the dozing gatekeeper and greeted him:
"Hello sir, is the music hall closed today?"
The old man in the security guard uniform woke up from his nap, took out his glasses and put them on, and nodded.
"Oh dear... are you here for a music lesson? I'm so sorry, the music hall is under maintenance and renovation today. Please come back tomorrow."
"No, no, we forgot something inside. Can we go in and get it? We'll be out soon!"
Nightingale quickly stepped forward and spoke with the security guard, displaying the thoughtfulness and enthusiasm of a granddaughter, which made the security guard happily turn around and open the gate.
Just like everyone's warm and comforting little cotton-padded jacket, the nightingale fully demonstrates the liveliness of a young girl.
The three of them successfully entered the music hall.
The moment they stepped through the gate, everyone's attention was drawn to a melodious tune:
The music was melodious and pleasant, like a mountain spring flowing or raindrops falling into the sea. It was a violin piece with a somewhat vintage feel, but judging from the level of proficiency, it was definitely not something a classroom student could play.
This also alerted Hyacinth – the gatekeeper said the music hall was under renovation, so where was the music coming from?
"This might be a trap set by Xin Yuehu, Bai Ling, prepare to act!"
"learn!"
Hyacinth gestured to the white spirit inside the hat, and the white ferret immediately understood and opened her magical space.
—That's right, Kokoro only forbade magical girls from using magic, but didn't forbid stargazers from using magic.
Although the stargazers themselves have no combat ability and can only be used as portable storage and emergency medical supplies, storing a few weapons is still not a problem.
The three of them each took out a weapon from Bai Ling's magical space.
Nightingale shouldered the captured SCAR assault rifle, while Iris silently carried the AKM automatic rifle she had received from the Hero Association, and they followed closely behind Hyacinth.
This is the standard firepower issued by the Hero Association.
Although Nightingale really wanted to give the weapon she had seized from Fenrir the gray wolf girl to Iris, after some polite refusals, she accepted the trophy herself.
After all, this was a rare opportunity for Lin Muyao to provide support while dealing damage, and she was quite happy about it.
As for hyacinths...
The Glock pistol remained unchanged in her hands, but it was fitted with a 50-round high-capacity drum magazine, which significantly increased the firepower while maintaining mobility.
The Hyacinth Squad has upgraded its weaponry, doubling its firepower!
Let's go!
"We must catch that golden fox today!"
...
The three searched along the corridor of the music hall.
The interior of this teaching building is exquisitely decorated, with the walls covered with photos of the students in each music classroom and their admission details, as well as photos of the students themselves.
There were group performances and individual awards, a dazzling array of achievements.
As they passed a piano classroom, the three were drawn to a photograph on the exterior wall:
A crimson fox-girl sat on the stage, gently touching the piano. Her magical costume enveloped her petite body, making her crimson-gold fox tail appear exceptionally vivid.
Even though it's just a still photograph, it makes you almost hear the music she's playing on the piano.
"Is that Inari-senpai?" Iris asked curiously.
Hyacinth nodded.
"That's right, that's Inari. It's said that she's quite good at playing the piano and is occasionally invited to perform on world-class stages."
"I remember this photo was taken the first time she was invited to perform,"
Lin Muyao continued,
"At the time, many people just went to have some fun and maybe buy limited-edition merchandise as scalpers, but after she took the stage to perform, everyone's desire to have some fun vanished, and everyone started clapping."
"so……"
Hua Ling sighed with genuine emotion.
Unexpectedly, this Inari sage is quite talented, no wonder the people of the port city have set up so many memorial sites for him.
"Bai Ling, do you know Inari-senpai?"
"Huh? Me?"
The white ferret peeked out from inside the hyacinth hat, tilting its head.
"You're the first magical girl team I ever led! How could I possibly know Inari! She retired over a decade ago, when I was still studying at the Stargazer School in the Astral Plane."
"What a pity, I thought I could get you, Bai Ling, to help me get some autographs." Nightingale sighed helplessly.
"Hey! Is signing autographs all I'm good for?"
"yes."
"Nightingale, did you have to answer so decisively!"
After a brief moment of laughter, the three continued to follow the sound of the violin.
The music hall was empty, and every music classroom was deserted, except for the sound of a violin, which seemed to be deliberately guiding the three of them to the source of the sound.
Holding her weapon and keeping a watchful eye on her surroundings, Nightingale couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
Does Xin Yuehu really play the violin?
Although Fox sings quite well, it doesn't really have any "technique" to speak of; it's just trying its best to be cute, and it doesn't even showcase any musical instruments.
There's good reason to believe that Fox is actually bad at musical instruments.
"The sound is coming from that classroom in front."
Upon reaching the second floor of the music hall, Hyacinth led the way, stopping to listen attentively to the violin music playing in front of them.
The pieces had changed two or three times, but the playing technique remained highly skilled, making it especially pleasant to listen to in the otherwise quiet concert hall.
Is this a trap set by Xin Yuehu, or a flaw she inadvertently revealed?
Whatever it is, we must find out!
The three men raised their weapons and pointed them in unison at the classroom door in front of them, from which the violin music was coming from.
"..."
The hyacinth gave the nightingale a wink.
The latter immediately pulled a flashbang from his bag and nimbly threw it inside after Hyacinth kicked open the door!
A loud bang was followed by a bright flash. The three of them immediately slipped inside, raised their weapons, and aimed at the source of the violin sound.
Even after the flashbangs exploded, the violin music showed no signs of stopping and continued playing as always.
Hyacinth and the other two looked closely and saw only a speaker playing a recording and a projection screen hanging down, on which was projected a dark blue catgirl playing the violin.
The music stopped abruptly, and the catgirl turned around, casting her blue-green cat eyes at the camera and making a shushing gesture.
It was just a video recording, but Hyacinth clearly felt as if she was being directly watched, which sent chills down one's spine.
"Hehehe, you've been fooled, Hyacinth."
A cold laugh came from outside the door.
"!!!"
The three men were startled at the same time, immediately turned around, and aimed their guns at the door.
"Who is it! Who's outside?!"
"Who else do you think it could be?"
The catgirl's tail swept past the doorway, her voice cold and sharp, as if piercing the soul.
"I thought you would be more cautious after what happened yesterday, but it seems I was wrong."
"You're as reckless as ever, but that's in line with your style."
The Hellcat's voice was full of mockery, making Hyacinth grit her teeth, wishing she could rush out and beat the cat up right away.
But once he thought about his current dangerous situation and the fact that there was no telling how much heavy firepower was lying in ambush outside the door, he suppressed the impulse.
Who knows where that Cheshire Rabbit is!
The two sides faced each other across the wall, neither showing their faces, yet neither finding a weakness in the other.
But the instant a smoking stun grenade flew in through the door, Hyacinth didn't hesitate to return fire! A hail of bullets erupted inside the music hall in an instant!
...
While the music was in full swing downstairs, Su Tianqing sat in the Inari Music Studio on the third floor, playing with a small music box in her hand.
Inari's Music Box
This is a prop I collected in the music museum. It was placed in a display case in an inconspicuous way, and no one except me noticed it.
"I wonder what kind of memories this thing... will allow me to see...?"