Chapter 47: The Everwinter Mechanical Workshop

After quietly sending Bronya home, Venti finally found himself with some rare free time. After all, the workload he had taken on recently far exceeded what he usually handled in a month.

Now, it was time to set aside some time for his own pursuits, such as the performance at the Goethe Hotel that he had agreed to with Pela on Sunday.

Although Madam Goldie had said not to worry too much, considering that she had provided the stage free of charge, it was only right to show some gratitude.

Venti, who didn’t care much about his reputation, didn’t think about who would benefit more from his performance. For him, having a place to showcase his talents, with some enthusiastic audience members, and perhaps a few cups of afternoon... tea, was more than enough.

Besides, a certain Miss Pela was probably searching all over the city for him right now. The technology he had shared with her had taken quite a bit of effort to obtain.

He had even been taken advantage of by Sampo in the process, nearly owing him a favor.

If he couldn’t make good use of it, he’d be left with nothing but regret.

And so, Venti wandered the streets of the upper district once more, strumming a few tunes whenever the mood struck him. The lively and cheerful rhythm of his music brought comfort to the listeners, and it was clear that the bard was in high spirits.

Of course, since he wasn’t performing for money this time, he didn’t charge anyone. It was fine if people listened, but he was content to entertain himself even if no one was around.

Venti played his heart out, and perhaps due to the new sensations he had gained after using his powers, his musical skills seemed to have improved significantly.

By the time he snapped out of his reverie, a crowd had gathered around him to listen. Among them was a petite figure struggling to push her way to the front.

The distinctive round glasses and the adorable, squirrel-like puffiness of her cheeks made Venti chuckle.

The bard’s smile was bright and cheerful, instantly drawing the attention of many young women—and some lovestruck young men as well.

Venti’s appearance was incredibly deceptive, especially paired with the white stockings rarely seen in Belobog, making him truly striking at first glance.

"——Venti, I finally found you!"

When she saw him smiling at her, Pela realized he had already spotted her. Though her face felt a little warm, she managed to squeeze through the crowd and make her way to his side.

"Hmm? Are you planning to be the protagonist of my new song?"

This mischievous guy, who clearly knew why she was here, was pretending to be clueless.

Pela adjusted her glasses and glared at him with a look that could have turned him into "Venti bacteria."

"Hey, why that expression? Are you worried about not being able to afford the commission fee? Haha, I don’t need Winter City Shields. Just treat me to another meal! Oh, and bring a glass of black bread ale!"

"...Fine. I’ll agree to that, but I have something urgent to discuss with you right now. Come with me first."

Unable to refuse him in front of the crowd, Pela had no choice but to grab his hand and quickly lead him away.

This move earned her quite a few "friendly" glances from the fans present, and some girls even seemed to be biting their handkerchiefs?!

This made her purse her lips and quicken her pace, muttering to herself.

What was it about this drunken bard that made him so appealing? Sure, he was talented, gentle, told great stories, was a good listener, and knew how to cheer people up, but still!

He was nothing like her, who was always calm and rational and never chased after celebrities.

After arriving at their temporary refuge, a mechanical workshop called "Everwinter,"

Pela was about to breathe a sigh of relief when a woman’s voice, tinged with suppressed laughter, teased her. "Pfft, haha. While I did ask you to help bring him here, I didn’t expect you to literally drag him over."

The voice belonged to the owner of the workshop, a woman with light brown hair, blue eyes, and a mature, trendy style.

Her name was Serval Landau.

In the past, everyone had called her the sharpest mind in the Silvermane Guards—until one day, she was abruptly dismissed from the military without warning, despite her close ties to the Supreme Guardian.

No one knew whether she held a grudge or if there was a deeper reason for her fall from grace, but one thing was undeniable—

Now, she was mercilessly teasing her hardworking and exhausted drummer, perhaps to vent her frustration over being underappreciated in the past, or perhaps for some other reason...

"Hey, hey. It was just a joke. Do you really have to introduce me like that?"

Seeing Pela whispering to Venti in a tone reminiscent of a novel’s narration, Serval’s mature beauty, untouched by time, showed a hint of embarrassment.

"At least leave me with a bit of mystery. Otherwise, I’ll just end up as a background NPC right from the start."

It seemed that this avant-garde mechanical enthusiast and lead singer was also well-versed in such cultural references.

"Hello, Miss Serval. It’s been a while since we last met. I’m Venti, a wandering bard."

Venti greeted her with a light chuckle.

"Hahaha. ‘Miss’? That’s a title I haven’t heard in a long time. I didn’t think an old auntie like me could still be called that!"

Seemingly amused, Serval laughed exaggeratedly, clutching her stomach, her eyes filled with teasing as she glanced at Pela.

The intelligence officer, meanwhile, made a subtle gesture, as if warning her not to continue with this forbidden topic.

"Alright, alright. To keep my dear drummer from getting all flustered, let’s set this topic aside for now."

Serval raised an eyebrow slightly, showing a warm and sincere smile.

"Anyway, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Venti. I’ve heard a lot about you, and I must say, you’re quite the rock-and-roll spirit. Personally, I really like your type."

While Venti was still processing the fact that he apparently had a "rock-and-roll spirit," Pela spoke up.

"——Serval, can you at least try to maintain the band’s image? You asked me to bring him here, but surely it wasn’t just to talk about this, right?"

After all, she had rushed here right after work and had taken on the task of finding him without complaint.

Now that she had brought him here, Serval was just leaving her out and saying all sorts of strange things. Was she expecting her to act like a novel’s heroine, getting all shy when her wingman mentioned her intimate interactions with the male lead, and then letting the atmosphere turn romantic?

She wasn’t some naive young girl. She was a capable Silvermane Guard, holding the position of intelligence officer.

The literary-minded girl, pretending to be oblivious as she let go of his hand, thought with a sense of righteousness.

"You hear that? That’s what she said. Honestly, who starts a serious conversation right off the bat when asking for help?"

Serval said, massaging her temples in exasperation.

"This isn’t Qlipoth Fort. We’re not here to report on military affairs. I just wanted to invite Venti over for a chat, right?

Oh, by the way. It’s almost dinner time. Why don’t you stay and join us for a meal, Venti?"

She glanced toward the inner room of the workshop, her tone gentle.

"My brother’s here too. He’s the one who really wanted to meet you."