For whatever purpose, holding Sakura and Elysia hands, Ryan could only remain calm and confident. He wasn't an arrogant traveler who had become a savior by relying on some system. After over twenty years here, he was no different from the locals. Since leaving Changkong Academy, his path had been impeccable, with no one able to pick at it.
He had killed arbiters, fought against the Honkai, and saved millions of lives directly. Aside from his achievements, he had also been genuine with people like Elysia, fulfilling his duties as a friend and respecting their personalities.
Strength, achievements, respect—why should he care about others' opinions?
"You seem pretty proud of yourself. Are you this happy?" Elysia noticed something was off. Ryan didn't seem awkward, nor did he seem to have any ulterior motives. He just looked satisfied, which puzzled her.
"Of course I'm happy, If I can hold your hand, it's not something just anyone can do. You just have to do things quietly and you'll be qualified," Ryan said with a faint smile. He had never intentionally tried to get close or devise some strategy.
To think like that would disrespect the cruel apocalypse and treat someone like Elysia, a hero, as a toy.
"I don't understand, but it seems like we're not thinking the same thing," Elysia said, confused.
"Maybe. But I'd say even fantasies need strength as their foundation, at least we need to walk the same path," Ryan shrugged. The saying "beauty deserves a hero" comes to mind, but before fantasizing about beauty, one should focus on becoming a hero first.
The crowd was growing larger, and even traffic started to slow down, the streets packed. The three of them walked toward the venue, drawing gazes from passersby. This was the largest soccer stadium in Britain, capable of holding 80,000 people.
The once-popular league had been suspended long ago and was repurposed as a concert venue. The elliptical outer wall was adorned with huge posters, and several large screens broadcasted the event, allowing those who couldn't get tickets to watch live.
"It's quite lively here," Sakura remarked, looking around at the sea of heads.
There weren't even scalpers in sight, and it seemed everyone truly valued the opportunity. In these chaotic times, who knew when they would get another chance to hear Eden sing?
Some people were shirtless, shouting things like wanting to marry Eden and die together, quickly arrested by the police. Their fervor resembled that of religious followers.
"She's really popular," Ryan said. "Don't start with the lecture. I already did my research last night." Eden had risen to be an artist, a top figure in this world, her style universally adored, and she had moved beyond the realm of a celebrity, nearly becoming a star.
If it weren't for the Collapse, she would have become a defining figure in human civilization.
"The encyclopedia didn't exaggerate. Her popularity is really insane. No wonder she rejected several invitations from the Fire Moth," Elysia said excitedly, almost preaching.
"Eden is talented and rich. She donated 5 billion euros for refugee food donations before," Elysia continued, almost preaching.
"You're saying how much?" Ryan was surprised. Indeed, Eden's wealth wasn't just talk. "Then Möbius would probably really like her, and so would Vil-V."
"Everyone likes Eden. Let's go this way," Elysia said cheerfully. The Fire Moth had VIP tickets with a separate entrance, and the three of them headed to the other side of the stadium, where there were fewer people, most of whom were dressed in fine clothes.
While waiting for ticket checks, Ryan glanced around and saw a familiar face.
"Captain Heinrich, you're here too?"
He saw the Raven Captain, whom he had met once, dressed in a neat military uniform and holding the arm of an elderly lady.
"Dr. Ryan, don't I look like it?" The old man gave a nod of acknowledgment, casually scanning Sakura and Elysia before offering a knowing smile.
"You look like an old-fashioned soldier, so definitely not someone here to watch a concert." Ryan didn't try to hide his thoughts. This old man's stern face didn't look like someone attending a concert.
"Soldiers are people too. Just like you powerful warriors here, we're all human, and who could possibly dislike Eden?" The old man rubbed his beard with a smirk. "To get this ticket, my idiot son almost fought me. But of course, I won."
"You're talking nonsense, How could you tell such a shameful story?." The elderly lady knocked on his chest, and Heinrich chuckled awkwardly, taking his wife inside.
Ryan smiled kindly. At times like this, it wasn't bad to have a little comedy.
"Let's go in too."
"Isn't the anticipation higher now?"
"Yeah, a bit. And I'm pretty well-versed in music," Ryan replied.
"Hmph, here we go again with the boasting," Elysia teased.
The three walked down the hallway, with Elysia chattering away, giving her usual explanations, while Sakura, aware of the many eyes on her ears, felt tense. It wasn't until Ryan slightly tightened his grip on her hand that she relaxed.
It was like magic—she suddenly understood why Elysia had dragged her along.
She couldn't hide it anyway, so might as well face it with calm. How many people had noticed her ears along the way? Normally, Sakura would have felt uneasy. Her sharp assassin senses made her feel like a curse, surrounded by both disdain and curiosity. But today...
She didn't even notice?
Completely relaxed—or rather, her focus was entirely on Ryan and Elysia, and she was defenseless.
Maybe this was magic.
Elysia was lucky. Her ticket was in the first row, just ten meters from the giant stage, with big screens on either side. The heavy curtains were closed.
Ryan looked around, seeing the dense crowd and the bright lights of cameras. Then, something occurred to him.
In both his previous lives, this was his first concert.
He chuckled to himself. How strange. His first concert was in this collapsing world, and it was for Eden. What a curious fate.
While pondering, the soft sound of a violin began to play.
The top-tier sound system perfectly reproduced the music, the flowing melody calming the crowd. Then, the stadium's roof closed, and the lighting dimmed.
Ryan closed his eyes, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest, the melody feeling familiar.
"It sounds like Swan Lake, hmm, the bass is a little different," Ryan murmured.
Elysia was completely absorbed, while Sakura, with her assassin instincts, caught his words and turned to look at Ryan calm profile in surprise.
Wait, maybe he wasn't bragging?
Ryan seemed like a real expert. He slightly opened his eyes, saw the curtains closed, and noticed that the venue was now silent, with only the lights from phones resembling stars—dreamlike and surreal.
Then, the piano joined in. Ryan felt like he was seeing a gentle stream of water, a young girl by the river, her fingers gracefully touching the keys.
"It's a bit like Adelina by the Water(Ballade Pour Adeline), but more gentle, with arpeggios added," Ryan glanced at the absorbed Elysia and gently nudged her with his elbow. "Who composed this?"
"Eden, I told you, she's was a tottal talent," Elysia replied.
Could it be that Eden is like Möbius, just with a different skill set? Ryan thought for a moment and then chuckled at himself. It sounded good, so why worry about the details?
At that moment, the curtains slowly opened, and a beam of light focused on the right side of the stage. A grand piano appeared, and a long-haired girl sat beside it.
Her wine-red hair gently floated, her black dress outlining her perfect figure. The hem of her skirt bloomed like petals, revealing long legs wrapped in black stockings. She closed her eyes, deeply immersed in her music. The piano's soft tones gradually became more intense.
Not bad. She really is definitely beautiful and talented.
This was the tenth hero Ryan had seen. She was indeed different from the others. Eden was neither a researcher nor a warrior, unlike the rest.
So why did she become a hero in the first place? Ryan mind wandered as the music continued. After a while, he noticed the music had paused, and the entire venue erupted in thunderous applause.
He watched the girl gracefully rise, bowing before taking the microphone and stepping into the spotlight, gazing at the thousands of people.
"Thank you all for coming to my concert. Before this, I went to the north and witnessed the ruins and devastation, feeling the despair firsthand." Eden's voice was clear, but carried a warmth as well.
"But life must go on. The wishes of the deceased will be carried by the living. Wandering in the past is meaningless. I hope my voice can soothe the sorrow and confusion in your hearts."
"Like warriors guarding civilization, like doctors saving lives, I will express that emotion," she continued, evoking a sense of compassion and melancholy. Ryan nodded lightly, impressed by her bravery in witnessing destruction firsthand.
Some feelings can only be understood by experiencing them. Just like the massive applause that followed.
The slow piano melody resumed, and the venue again fell into silence. Everyone watched the beam of light on the stage as the girl gently lifted the microphone.
"Crying under the dancing tree shadows in the wind…"
"Looking at the unfamiliar version of myself…"
"The guitar plays for the ones who've passed…"
"The meteor falls for the ones who won't return…"
"'Don't leave me,' even such a plea…"
"Only the orange petals gently sway…"
Her voice was deep and sorrowful, filling the venue with a deathly silence. Ryan saw visions of a destroyed home, himself crying while holding his loved ones or comrades.
Indeed, whether praying to gods or pleading to anyone, the dead would eventually fade from memory, leaving only the deepest pain, just like the swaying petals—the future will not change by human will.
The world is this cruel. The Collapse had made everyone realize their own powerlessness.
Ryan hand stopped tapping the beat, frowning as he gazed at the lonely girl on stage. His mind flashed with countless memories.
He had nothing in common with the legendary figures. Throughout his journey, he had seen countless sacrifices and deaths. In the sorrowful melody, he slowly raised his right hand, gently touching his eye.
The damp feeling startled him, and his expression softened.
This Eden, she's something else.