Why play in a band if not for life?

Mental Strength: 100

Ability: [Sound Beyond the World]: Emit tangible sound waves with bass.

Addition: [The Later Ones]: Movement within [Changyang Earth · Xingtian] is unaffected by special environments.

Skills: Electric Bass Technique Lv9, Electric Guitar Technique Lv7, Music Production Lv8, Vocal Technique Lv7, [Great Music is Silent] Lv2

Marina Tsukihiro

Physical Body: 100

Reaction: 100

Intelligence: 100

Shine: 150

Mental Strength: 189

Ability: [CiRCLE]: Yes! Bang Dream!

Addition: None

Skills: Electric Guitar Technique Lv8, Livehouse Operation Lv9, Baking Technique Lv8, [Attribute Boost] Lv3, [Imaginary Field] Lv3, [Shockproof] Lv3...

Yuki Arakawa

Physical Body: 328

Reaction: 246

Intelligence: 100

Shine: 150

Mental Strength: 342

Ability: [Hundred Deaths No Regrets]: Nothing can kill her before her mental strength is exhausted.

Addition: Black and White Twin Guns: [Belobog of Goodness], [Chernobog of Evil]

Skills: Music Production Lv10, Jazz Drum Technique Lv10, Gun-fu Lv6...

The first volume is finished. Those who were waiting can start reading now~

Please, dear readers, at least read until the end of the first volume qwq

The upcoming plot is also very exciting, with plenty of twists and turns qwq

The romance will be very high concentration qwq I won't be writing pure combat chapters anymore, just occasional mentions. All major arcs will be filled with lots of sweet moments~

So please, dear readers, give it a look qwq

Chapter 1: Forgetting the Sadness Itself

The members of Kessoku Band, dressed in monochrome black or white short-sleeved shirts and matching denim jeans, sat in a hot air balloon. This balloon was more than twice the size of the one they had ridden before, as it carried a considerable amount of luggage. Ryo sat cross-legged by the luggage, Kita beside her controlling the flame, Ichiri lay by the edge of the basket, looking down, and Nijika stood nearby, gazing at the distant horizon. Shiko stood with her, holding a homemade telescope.

The sky, nearing sunset, was incredibly clear. The air at high altitude was also clean and vast, perfect for relaxing. Nijika casually pulled over a stool and sat on it.

Behind the stool was a large case, its opening half-ajar, revealing musical instruments within. There were several more such large cases, taking up the already limited space.

"We still brought so much stuff."

"Can't be helped. I can't create complex structures like musical instruments or machinery like generators yet," Shiko said, lowering her telescope. "We're almost at [Xingtian]."

In the distance, the silhouette of the snow-capped mountains was visible. The direction of Roselia that Arakawa had indicated was beyond the mountain range where [Xingtian] was located. However, none of them knew what lay beyond the snow mountains.

"Let's stop for a bit when we get there," Nijika said, looking at the sun, half the sky already dyed crimson. The sun was close to setting.

Kita let out a sigh of relief at Nijika's words. Controlling the hot air balloon's stability was mostly her responsibility, and despite Ijichi-senpai's assistance, she was still somewhat tired.

"Ah—I'm going to eat something good today. Wu-san, can you make the crepes from that shop in front of the station? The one that was really popular on SNS before we time-traveled."

"What's that? I only know how to make the regular kind," Shiko said, still idly studying the distant mountains. "Ichiri, remember to mark the snow line, roughly is fine."

Ichiri was drawing on paper and pen. From their high vantage point, they had a bird's-eye view of the land, perfect for sketching a rough map. This was Shiko's idea. Even if it wasn't useful, it was better to be prepared.

Shiko looked at the map; it was indeed quite rough, reminding her of ancient maps from history textbooks. It took her a great deal of effort to correlate it with the actual terrain.

"I... I can only draw this well..." Ichiri noticed Shiko's gaze.

"It's okay, I'm not blaming you. It's impressive to draw this well with no experience. Thank you for the trouble, this was supposed to be my job anyway," Shiko said, looking down listlessly. "Speaking of which, there really are a lot of audience members..."

"Huh? Audience?" Kita turned her head sharply.

Shiko's expression turned slightly tense, and she shrank back, as if to avoid making eye contact with the audience. "Even with the aerial live show as a gimmick, there are too many people! Does that mean Kessoku Band is really this popular...?" She returned to the cases, picked up a shoulder-strap keyboard, played a few notes, and began adjusting it.

"Uh... what are you doing? Little Shiko?" Nijika was still bewildered. Could it be that this time...

Ryo sighed, picked up her bass, and gestured to the others. The others immediately understood. Nijika grabbed a small drum, Kita took her guitar and microphone, and Ichiri put down her work, taking the lead by starting to play her guitar.

Y.O.L.O

The quintessential rock anthem played out in the air.

The basket swayed violently, but fortunately, everyone was experienced enough to avoid any dangerous situations. Music truly possessed a magical quality. As the melody progressed, they felt as if they had become one with the heavens and the earth, soaring together in the endless sunset. Shiko gradually let go of her initial restraint as she played, finding her rhythm.

As the song neared its end, Shiko's eyes flashed. She missed a beat. However, she quickly rejoined, though her playing sounded a bit strained.

As the last note faded, smiles bloomed on the faces of the others, but Shiko's expression remained serene. She quietly put her instrument back on her shoulder.

"Whoa—drumming in an environment like this is pretty nice—oh, Shiko, you're back?"

"Yes," Shiko stood up, a helpless look on her face. "Can you explain how she managed to create a situation where we had to sing 'Y.O.L.O' in mid-air?"

Kita thought for a moment. "She seemed to think we were holding an aerial live show..."

Shiko's lips twitched twice. "It seems my imagination is quite vivid. Performing here?" Shiko glanced outside; they were at least several hundred meters above the ground.

"Fortunately, she didn't just jump off on a whim. I'm sorry to have caused you trouble."

"Shiko, you've already helped us more than enough," Nijika said dismissively. "Besides, that incident must have been an even bigger blow to you... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up."

The last sentence was directed at everyone.

Shiko shook her head. "The sun has already set, let's head down first."

The edges of the setting sun had completely disappeared below the horizon. The environment quickly grew dark, and the snow-capped mountains were cast in shadow.

At the foot of the snow-capped mountains, a tent was set up. Dinner was simple, just rice cooked in an iron pot over a campfire, served with curry—it had a definite camping feel.

"Here, Kita, your crepe." Shiko handed Kita a crepe that had materialized directly. It definitely wasn't as delicious as one made step-by-step, but they couldn't ask for more right now. After all, if they had to make it properly, no one would know how, and the person who did know was no longer with them.

"Thanks," Kita took it and took a bite. Her expression shifted, as if she'd remembered something, and she turned her face away.

No one spoke while they ate. Since that day, the atmosphere of the entire band had become somber. Nijika wanted to change things, but she herself lacked the mood to liven up. They could only hope that as time passed, they could slowly return to their usual selves.

Shiko stared blankly at the flickering flames.

"I wonder," she said, as if speaking to others, or perhaps to herself, "when will this illness of mine... be cured?"

Since that day, she would occasionally fall into a deep sleep and then wake up. Others told her that during these times, another version of her was active. That version of her was very cheerful, very happy, living in a world where Miss Marina was still alive, on a nationwide tour with Kessoku Band. Moreover, she didn't seem to have any superpowers. Fortunately, when combat was necessary, she could always take control of her body in time, so as not to be a burden.

However, Shiko thought, she had already become a burden in some ways.

No one answered her.

"Tonight's guard duty rotation is me, Ryo, Little Kita, and Little Bocchi, in that order. Is that okay?" After dinner, Nijika began assigning tasks.

After living in the wilderness, they began taking turns on guard duty. Miss Arata had given them some tips on what to do while on watch, so it was going relatively smoothly. However, this kind of work, which required constant alertness, was no longer assigned to Shiko.

She stood up and walked in the direction of the snow-capped mountains. Ichiri immediately followed, accompanying her silently.

Moreover, she needed someone to accompany her wherever she went.

Under the starry sky, the snow-capped mountains stood majestically before them. Reflected by the snow cover, the ground was as bright as day, appearing mysterious and noble. Shiko exhaled. At this moment, she understood perfectly why snow-capped mountains were often symbols of holiness.

She sat down and silently prayed to heaven and earth. The starlight reflected by the snow cover slowly cleansed her soul, and she temporarily cast aside her distracting thoughts.

"Actually... sometimes I think that version of Shiko is pretty good too," she heard Ryo's footsteps approaching.

"Ryo-san..." Ichiri looked at Ryo. Shiko didn't move.

"Although it's not good to say this, I actually envy that version of you," Ryo sat down behind Shiko. "Only she can live carefree in a beautiful world. Seeing her smile, I can't help but feel happy too."

"...Do they think so too?" After a while, Shiko asked as if in a dream.

"...Mm," Ryo replied after a slight hesitation.

Ichiri didn't answer.

"Do you want my illness to be cured?"

"Of course." Neither of them hesitated to answer this.

"No matter what kind of Shiko you are, I like you. Since you want to be cured... then I hope you get cured!" Ichiri said, her words coming out intermittently.

Shiko closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, the morning sun was shining through the gaps in the tent.

Chapter 2: The Riverside Camp

After breakfast, the group boarded the hot air balloon again and proceeded along the mountain range.

"Can't we just fly over the mountain peaks?" Kita asked.

"Hot air balloons can't fly that high," Shiko said, raising her hand to shield her eyes from the sun and looking at the cloud-piercing peaks. "Not to mention, the quality of this hot air balloon of mine can't be guaranteed."

"Since Miss Arata pointed in this direction, she must have come this way too. There should be a mountain pass at a lower altitude ahead," Nijika pointed into the distance.

"Is it over there?" Ichiri, who was holding binoculars, pointed in one direction. The others looked and saw a noticeable depression in the mountains, with patches of lush green in the valley, and what seemed to be a winding river.

"A river? I've never seen one before."

At noon on the second day after setting off, they reached an area they had never set foot in before.

The hot air balloon landed by the river.

"It's grass!" Kita exclaimed, stepping out of the basket. Before she could even stand steady, she ran off. Having stayed in the barren, arid desert for so long, she could finally feel the breath of life!

It felt like her skin was getting moist!

"Wait!" Nijika, also feeling refreshed, chased after her.

In this wide valley, the freshly thawed snowmelt flowed across the land like a long snake. Shiko reached her hand into a small stream, feeling its icy chill.

This was the source of a great river. The Yangtze River and the Yellow River both began in places like this. She observed the shimmering light spots dancing in the water with emotion. Such streams nourished the vast alpine meadows nearby. Walking on them, her feet sank into the soft ground, a comfortable yet guilty feeling of disrupting nature.

"There's always a feeling like you can see fish in a stream," Kita said.

"Even in reality, there wouldn't be fish in a place like this," Nijika corrected.

Suddenly, beneath Kita's feet, a patch of ground began to rise! Blades stabbed out from the earth, but the iron wall created by Shiko instantly blocked them. The source was then incinerated by flames, which had reacted and turned it to ash.

"Ehh~ Party pooper~" Kita opened her status panel.

Ikuyo Kita

Physical Body: 115

Reaction: 100

Intelligence: 156

Shine: 170

Mental Strength: 164

Ability: [Kita~]: Manipulate sun-like intense flames

Affix: [The Later Ones]: Movement within [Changyang Earth · Xingtian] is unaffected by special environments

Skills: SNS Account Operation Lv10, Electric Guitar Technique Lv3, Vocal Technique Lv6, [Dawn of Atonement] Lv10,