Eden had fully expected the audience to storm out in anger, but she never anticipated that her own charm and the uniquely crafted stage effects would not only quell their fury but also spark an anticipation far beyond her expectations.
So, with a soft laugh, Eden stood there in her opulent court attire, looking every bit like the truth-seeking queen who reigned in the kingdom beyond the setting sun.
Listening closely, the crisp and clear notes danced from the live band's keyboards, rising and falling like a morning salute to the dawn or an elegy for the dusk.
Facing the holographic projection of a setting sun, an elegant woman with wine-red long hair and golden, shining eyes stood before a magnificent palace.
"When the stars grow dim and the wine runs dry, my king, why do you remain in this desolate land? Is it to await the song of triumph, or to seek the truth you demand…"
The woman sang her poetic lines as though no one else was there, as if she weren't on a makeshift concert stage in a stadium, but in the golden hall that symbolized the pinnacle of artistic achievement.
The audience below, whether they had seen opera before or not, were captivated by this imaginative performance.
By the time Eden's act came to a close and the holographic projections faded, the crowd remained immersed in the opera's spell.
Only after a long pause did the stadium erupt into thunderous, lasting applause.
As the stadium lights brightened, everyone slowly snapped back to reality, realizing that the opera's finale also marked the end of tonight's concert.
"Come on, I know a great barbecue spot nearby—let's grab some food and drinks~"
Kevyn had already planned out the evening.
She knew that once the concert let out, catching a bus or taxi would be nearly impossible.
So, why not hang around nearby, eat and drink, and wait for the crowds to thin out before heading home?
But just as Kevyn was about to step forward, Durandal spoke up: "Let's wait a little longer."
"Wait for what?"
Kevyn was puzzled.
Mei and Su also turned curious eyes toward Durandal.
"We're waiting for the crowd to clear out, then we're heading backstage to take a look!"
Durandal lowered her voice as she said this.
"Huh?"
Kevyn's face lit up with excitement, but she quickly caught herself and feigned hesitation.
"W-Would that really be okay…?"
"What's wrong with it?"
Durandal pointed toward a small group of people who had also stayed behind, chatting in their seats.
"It's kind of an unspoken rule—after a concert, celebrities usually don't leave right away."
"Even if they tried to drive off immediately, they'd just get stuck in traffic at this hour. So if fans are lucky, they might just get a chance to meet the star, take a photo, and so on. And we're not the only ones with that idea."
Following Durandal's gaze, Kevyn indeed spotted others who had lingered, occasionally glancing toward the backstage area, and felt reassured.
At the same time, Kevyn felt a surge of inexplicable confidence.
She put her hands on her hips.
"With looks like ours, there's no way big sister Eden would refuse to see us!"
"You think Eden is like Elysia or something?"
Durandal remarked dryly.
Elysia: ?
She hadn't even said a word—how did she get dragged into this?
Whether Eden would make an exception just because her fans were a group of beautiful girls—frankly, Durandal wasn't sure.
But one thing she was certain of: whether Eden wanted to see them or not, she had to!
That was Durandal's plan for the Flame-Chasers organization.
Some people might be optional, like… well, never mind, there was no "like."
But there were some you absolutely couldn't let slip away.
Kevyn, Elysia, Su, and Mei—most of them were already secured.
As for Vill-V, the bait had been cast; it was just a matter of waiting for her to bite.
Among the remaining members, Aponia, Kalpas, and Sakura absolutely could not fall into the hands of the Fire Moth or any other organization—that would spell trouble.
Who knew if Sakura had already joined the Cocoon?
Probably not yet.
And the most crucial one, without a doubt, was Eden, the money-making prodigy.
The others mentioned earlier, while capable, were hardly reliable with finances—if they weren't like Vill-V and Mobius, always with their hands out, it was already a relief.
Given how these folks burned through cash like it was nothing, Connie's modest savings wouldn't last them more than two months.
So, they had to secure their cash cow, Eden, no matter what.
If worse came to worst, Durandal had a few classic tunes up her sleeve to win over the superstar—that shouldn't be a problem.
Wait a minute…
Durandal suddenly realized—was she really about to dive headfirst into the entertainment industry?
Well, she could only comfort herself with the thought that even the organization Schicksal had produced several generations of Kallen Fantasy games, and Anti-Entropy had released the Arahato anime.
By the time of the post-Honkai era, even "Big Duck" had worked on an Arahato game—even if its sales were a total flop.
All in all, what was wrong with the Flame-Chasers starting a side business to make ends meet?
After all, money doesn't grow on trees. Economic foundations determine the superstructure, right?
And so, once the stadium had mostly cleared out, Durandal and her four companions made their way toward the backstage.
At the same time, quite a few others had the same idea and were heading in the same direction.
The security staff at the stadium were long accustomed to this kind of situation.
Most of them stepped forward to hold the crowd back, while one went inside to consult with the agent handling these matters.
The agent was about to refuse when Eden, who had just changed into casual clothes after removing her makeup, walked over and said, "Let's meet them."
"But there are way too many people out there—security says it's close to a hundred!"
The agent shook his head, disagreeing.
Eden thought for a moment, then turned to her assistant.
"We should still have some of the fan merchandise left from earlier, right?"
The assistant nodded and hurried off to bring over a box of merchandise.
"Here's what we'll do: take these out and hand them out. Once someone receives one, they leave. If we run out of merchandise, let the remaining people come in, and I'll take photos with them."
Eden laid out the plan.
The agent checked the amount of merchandise in the box, nodded, and instructed a nearby security guard to carry it out and follow the plan.
The spot where they were talking wasn't too far from the backstage exit, but with the noise outside, most people wouldn't be able to make out what was being said.
But Durandal and Elysia were no ordinary people.
Having overheard Eden's words, the two of them pulled Kevyn and the other three—who were originally near the front of the line—all the way to the very back.
Kevyn: ?
Seeing the security guards preparing to hand out merchandise—which, though plentiful, would likely run out before reaching the end of the line—Kevyn grew anxious.
Facing Kevyn's confused gaze, Durandal simply said, "Patience."
--+--