Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [13]
Pela took a sip of her tea, speaking with a measured calm.
"It's close by, at the Goethe Hotel. The event is on a rest day, so it's bound to draw a crowd."
Since she had once been part of a band called "Mechanical Frenzy," where she even played the drums, Pela wasn't surprised by Venti's desire to find a new performance space—she didn't see other musicians as rivals.
After all, they each had their own style. Besides, her resume proudly stated her interest in pre-Belobog music history.
In terms of reputation, rock music was relatively new and still had a long way to go before it would grace the main stage at the Golden Theater. At best, it was popular among the youth, who often felt their talents were underappreciated and so gravitated toward this fiery music.
Belobog's mainstream, however, still leaned toward Venti's style of music.
In fact, more than a few had seen Tamila, a major star, personally invite Venti to join the Golden Theater. She claimed they desperately needed a "bard" like him, someone with true musical knowledge.
Even the lead guitarist of Pela's old band, Serval, hadn't received such an honor—unless she'd been willing to drop her electric guitar and take up classical music instead. But knowing Serval, the odds of that happening were next to zero. She'd never be one to trade her edgy style for a gown and an air of elegance.
With a mental chuckle over Serval's stubbornness, Pela turned her gaze to Venti, who also seemed deep in thought.
She couldn't quite understand why he'd pursue these low-paying gigs, but she trusted Venti had his reasons. All she needed to do was support him.
Well…probably because they were fellow book lovers! Yes, that was it.
"Hmm…a rest day would be perfect. Do you have time off that day?"
"Nope. Don't take us for idle hands. The Silvermane Guards only approve time off for serious injury or retirement."
Pela shook her head, her face turning a little grim.
"That can't be healthy, working non-stop at that level. How do you even handle it?"
"You adapt. After all—"
Recalling a certain figure, Pela's expression grew respectful.
"Even the future Guardian herself has been fighting alongside us. If she can manage, we, her subordinates, can hardly complain, right?"
"Oh, what's her name? Sounds like someone worth meeting!"
Venti's smile turned mischievous, imagining her surprise when she eventually met him in person.
"Lady Bronya doesn't have time to sit around with you like I do—she's incredibly busy."
Realizing she might've shared a little too much, Pela scanned the area cautiously before leaning closer to Venti, lowering her voice.
"Anyway, just forget about that. But promise me you'll share the story or poem you tell during the performance!"
"Of course. I'll make sure you get the best seat."
At his promise, Pela's expression softened, her smile warm and sincere.
In the dim light, her lips, still glistening from the tea, had an almost pearly allure.
"So, it's a deal. But if you're late again next time, I'll have to stomp on your toes."
"That's practically a reward to some people, you know?"
Venti chuckled, watching Pela falter, speechless and embarrassed. As a well-read person, she obviously had some idea about such things.
"Honestly…you're impossible."
Yet, despite her scolding, she couldn't bring herself to actually stomp on him. With a faint blush, she shot him a few warning glares, then stood up to pay the bill.
Facing the odd looks from the staff was a bit embarrassing, but since Venti's finances were stretched thin, she figured she'd pick up the tab so he could buy gifts for the children in the lower district.
But Venti wasn't one to take advantage of others so easily.
Outside, with the night chill settling in, Pela rubbed her hands together, breathing on them for warmth.
Venti, meanwhile, retrieved the mechanical bird he'd received from Clara. With some "repairs" through elemental power, the bird now looked brand new.
Its unusual design caught Pela's attention right away; after all, birds had officially been declared extinct in Belobog's history.
There were preserved images and replicas, but nothing this intricate—it looked like something out of a historical museum, not something a starving bard could pull out on a whim.
Raising her head slightly, Pela asked, "What's this?"
"A gift, for you."
"Never mind how you got it; it's clearly valuable. I can't accept it."
"Don't worry! I got it in exchange for a story from a very sweet girl. It may look nice now, but it was almost scrap metal before, and I spent ages fixing it."
He winked. "Plus, when I opened it up, I saw it still had functioning gears and components from the pioneer era. The storage unit's intact, too—it might even hold some information. I figured someone with your knack for secrets would know exactly what to do with it."
Though a little bashful at the "secret-finder" comment, Pela's curiosity about the relic outweighed her embarrassment.
It's not like Venti was lying. He didn't have the means to buy something this valuable, so he must have been repaying her in his own way.
With that, Pela graciously accepted, saying earnestly, "In that case, I'll make sure to look into it thoroughly. Once I've checked it over, I'll decide what to do with it."
"Exactly! Treat it well—it might just bring you some good luck."
At Venti's mysterious tone, Pela rolled her eyes with a soft smile.
What she didn't know was that the mechanical bird really did bring "luck" to its owner.
With the blessing of Barbatos, it had enhanced "smart navigation," "environmental recording," and "crisis detection" functions. Even simple tasks, like warming its owner with a comforting breeze, fell within its abilities.
It even held additional hidden features that Pela would discover in due time.
Once he confirmed the bird was operating smoothly, Venti offered, "It's getting late. Need me to walk you home?"
"Ah, no need. I'll be staying at the Intelligence Department overnight. It'd be inconvenient to bring anyone along."
Pela was so engrossed with the bird's seamless movements that she answered automatically.
Realizing her words a moment too late, she blushed, refusing to meet Venti's gaze.
Wait…didn't that imply that if she weren't going to the Intelligence Department, she would let him come over?!
"Is that so? Well then, may the gentle breeze see you through a peaceful night."
Without catching on to her slip, Venti offered his poetic parting words, bowing with a playful grin before dashing off like the wind.
Left alone, Pela glanced at his retreating figure, then down at the mechanical bird perched on her shoulder. Her expression was somewhere between disappointment and quiet wonder.
"Venti really can't stay still, can he?"
The bird tilted its head in response, meeting her gaze without a sound.
Feeling a bit self-conscious for talking to herself, Pela adjusted her glasses, putting on a serious face.
After a quick glance to make sure no one was watching, she let out a sigh of relief.
"Almost did something totally out of character again. It's strange—whenever I'm around Venti, I seem to lose my balance."
Was that a good thing or a bad one?
No one was there to answer her musings, and by the time the wandering bard encountered a new rift shortly after, he was already on the move again.