Chapter 703: Who are you ?

Author's Preface
My hand slipped.

Gazing at the dumbfounded Saina with a wide grin, I manually manipulated the Meteor Iron Mirror to bring it closer while continuing my deduction.

"Elise Jitterdoll. It's true she appears as the 'Diva'...... but she absolutely cannot be involved in Orchestra."

That's because Elise Jitterdoll never became the owner of the music player. The biggest reason the members of Sternenblume, Andrew, and the pre-Divine Age humans could get involved with Orchestra was that, regardless of the duration, they were all owners of the music player.

Although the probability is infinitely close to zero, it isn't zero. If all the members of Sternenblume possessed it, does that mean they were passing it around amongst themselves?

"The only ones who can get involved with Orchestra are those who possessed Orchestra—the music player—in the past. Therefore, Elise Jitterdoll is absolutely not involved in Orchestra."

"Then, why does Elise Jitterdoll appear as the 'Diva'?"

That's the point. Right there lies the key to conquering the Unique Monster Orchestra of the Reverberating Nether.

Back then, the look on Elise's face when she swapped with Elma was far from "satisfied." Unique Scenarios aim for the conclusion of a story, and Unique Monsters are defeated with some degree of satisfaction. Or rather, there's a strong indication that they act specifically to attain that satisfaction.

If that's the case, reaching out toward that screen right now...... toward what is likely the reward item, is far too dangerous. This game will nonchalantly bake a bad ending right into one-time-only content. It's precisely because I'm certain of that that I have to proceed carefully.

"What is a music player for?"

"......Answer: The primary use is likely for listening to music."

"Exactly, to listen to music. In other words...... a music player is something that 'reproduces' a song."

To bring something that once existed back to life in the exact same state. For example, yes, Elise's song. But it's an occult object with an unknown mechanism, so is it really only the song that's revived? Who is the one operating the "DivaElise" without the involvement of her actual self...... assuming we define that as her soul?

"Hmm...... I might as well put on some dress-code-appropriate attire while I'm at it."

Naturally, I don't own formal wear, so I'll just wear the closest thing to it. Let's just use the Chalice here, and put on the bunny suit~.

"Now then, Saina. Orchestra may be over, but it'd be a real shame if this was how it all ended, right?"

"Question: What exactly are you......"

"What am I doing? ......It's obvious what you do at the end of a concert, isn't it?"

Come on, lend me your hands.

"I wanna see a little more of Elise-san's good side! Encore! Encore! Come on, Saina, repeat after me!"

"......Encore, encore."

Alright, come on. This is the true last call. Hold off on closing shop just a bit longer, Ms. "Diva"......!!

""Encore! Encore!""

Uniting my voice with Saina's, I continued to call out to the unnatural emptiness within this bar where the mask rested.

It happened when we had been calling out for about thirty seconds.

『............』

A pale blue flame floated up in the empty void.

"Oh."

"This is,"

A small flame flickered in the windless void, and as if it were a pilot light, it illuminated the dim shadows, solidifying their outlines.

The one who appeared was a single woman. The woman who had vanished with a look of intense frustration earlier...... Elise Jitterdoll. If there was one single difference, it would be the music player hanging from her chest like a necklace.

"Elise Jitterdoll won't appear. Which means the true identity of the Elise standing right there is an entity that reproduced her and is now operating her...... And there's only one entity capable of pulling off something like that, isn't there?"

Those who wished to confirm the future.

The one who wished for their culture to be known.

And who was the one who wished for this song to be heard?

"Elise Jitterdoll...... No, 'Pocket Aria Model G 10-82119'! That's your true identity."

『............』

No words were spoken, but that smile was likely the greatest answer of all. EliseThe music player smiled as she stood at the center of the stage.

"Hey, Saina."

"ResponseYes."

"Even a mere music player made it this far. There's absolutely nothing holding back a doll from screaming out her own identity."

"............Yes!"

Orchestra of the Reverberating Nether: "Additional MovementEncore". The true final battle of Orchestra, which had been far too long and featured far too strong an adversary, unfolded alongside cocktails that had been poured before I even noticed.

『───I am an observer.』

『───I sing, I sing. I obtained, I obtained. The spun melody is the spiral of life. To the screaming singing voice, an answer returns. In the echoing words, I saw a hero.』

『I have seen you through to the end.』

『───The question reached its conclusion through comparison. That is why, that is why.........!』

Light gathered in the right hand thrust out by the "Diva," who echoed a radiant singing voice completely different from before. Simultaneously, the golden bird mask resting on the ground floated up, as if beckoned by the light in her right hand.

『───Far, far away, a traveler gazing at tomorrow. Countless eyes watching countless worlds. In that case, you are a 'Migratory BirdMigrant'.........』

A mask. A bird mask with a beak like a plague doctor's, enveloped in a soft light.

『───Now, step forward, Sunraku. And you too, who are not human yet possess the brilliance of one......』

───Thank you.

With those words, the entirety of the song came to an end. A quiet solo without any instrumental accompaniment...... yet it was a mysterious experience where I felt absolutely no sense of loneliness. It felt exactly as if I were listening to it alongside dozens of others.

"What's wrong, Saina? You're crying."

"T-This is......... yes, an intelligence-based......"

"Emotions belong to the instinctual side, you know."

When I picked up the faintly glowing bird mask, it transmitted a subtle warmth to my hand.

"A pretty stylish ending...... but the feeling of accomplishment isn't half bad."

Karan, I felt as if the empty glass made a sound.

『Far away, the inquiry has found its answer.』

『Thank you very much for attending.』

『From all members of the ensemble, our most heartfelt gratitude.』

『You have cleared the Unique Scenario EX "A MelodySong Dedicated to You".』

『You have acquired the Title 【Magnificent Finale】.』

『You have acquired the Title 【Conqueror of the Canon】.』

『You have acquired the Title 【Song of the Migratory Bird】.』

『You have acquired the Title 【Elma's Seal of Approval』.】

『Loading.........』

『You have acquired the Title 【Audience with the Storm Emperor】.』

『You have acquired the Head Equipment "Reverberating Nether CanonYour Canon: Migratory BirdMigrant".』

『You have acquired the Item "Keep Glass from the Bar 『Masquerade』".』

『You have acquired the Item 【Tome of Truth "The Reverberating Nether": Canon】.』

Author's Afterword

The moment Elise appeared, the live stream switched to displaying a "This scene cannot be broadcasted" message, leading to a pretty chaotic uproar. And of all times, it happened right before Sunraku pointed out the truth.

List of Titles Acquired This Time:

【Magnificent Finale】

Clear Orchestra's Canon or Apocrypha routes.

【Conqueror of the Canon】

Clear Orchestra's Canon route.

【Song of the Migratory Bird】

Listen to Orchestra's Encore. The Title name varies individually for each player.

【Elma's Seal of Approval】

Harmonized with and achieved victory alongside the Elma-type original, Elma Sakishima.

【Audience with the Storm Emperor】

A Title earned for encountering Agatleo's main body. It's actually not that rare.