Having seen Sin Mal and Theresa off, Shu looked at the other three with a sense of helpless resignation.
Following that little comedic interlude, everyone's attention had been significantly diverted. Now, even as they refocused on the task at hand, the atmosphere was no longer as suffocatingly tense as before.
But while the internal psychological pressure had diminished, the external, real-world pressure remained completely unchanged.
Their objective hadn't changed, but everyone felt slightly more confident... Yes, confidence derived entirely from Theresa's misery.
At the very least, they were participating voluntarily, not being forced to perform under duress. Furthermore, they would be using false identities and avatars. Even if they failed spectacularly, the embarrassment wouldn't fall upon their actual selves.
The Magical Girl Troupe and the other contestants, however, were performing in their true, physical bodies.
Thinking about it from that perspective, the pressure was significantly reduced.
"Alright, we are scheduled to perform later in the lineup, which gives us more time to practice. Let's not waste it." Mei clapped her hands and picked up her bass guitar once more.
"Everyone, let's run through it again."
"Right!" Kiana had been keeping her guitar strapped to her back the entire time.
The guitar didn't have an exaggerated shape, nor did it feature any outstanding design elements or rare materials. It looked like a completely ordinary guitar of decent quality.
It wasn't a luxury brand, and it didn't possess any exorbitant added value. It looked like a standard guitar you could pick off the shelf at any normal music store.
Yet, one could easily see Kiana's dedication in this completely ordinary instrument.
Countless stickers were plastered across the guitar. Every single one was applied perfectly flat, with no overlapping edges and no duplicate designs. Each sticker had been meticulously selected by Kiana herself.
While Mei's and Bronya's instruments lacked Kiana's colorful decorations, the profound emotions they poured into them were equally apparent.
No one here was treating this as a simple joke. Every single one of them had, to varying degrees, poured their hearts into this endeavor.
Yes. This is exactly how it should be...
Only a band like this can truly be called a band.
Shu sat back down at his keyboard, slightly adjusted his microphone, and rested his hands on the keys.
Feeling the keys that had become incredibly familiar to his touch over the past two weeks, Shu revealed a faint, subtle smile.
Wasn't he exactly the same?
...
"To all our friends in the live audience, and the billions of viewers watching from behind their screens—Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening!"
The host's voice, amplified several times over by the microphone, echoed through the massive venue, instantly igniting the crowd's enthusiasm.
"Welcome to The Voices of Arc City! I am your old friend... Uh, I don't think I need to introduce myself!"
"But I am not the main event! Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night! We have gathered the absolute finest singers and idols in all of Arc City, bringing you the most moving melodies!
"However~ As the old saying goes!
"'A swift horse is common, but a true connoisseur is rare.'
"Will a dust-covered pearl finally shine? Or will a newly risen sun illuminate the dark night? We cannot know!
"We may not have authoritative musical mentors to guide us, but we can provide the most fair, just, and open stage for this competition!
"And now! Please welcome our four heavyweight—"
With a dramatic wave of the host's hand, the massive screen behind him instantly lit up. Four giant, distinct posters unfurled one after another, accompanied by a heart-pounding, majestic symphony.
"—'Voice Judges'!"
"Pffft—Cough, cough!!"
Watching the live broadcast in the waiting room, Shu nearly executed his second spit-take of the night.
I really can't handle this anymore...
"First, let us welcome our first Judge! She is the iron-blooded commander of the Fire Moth's Titan Mecha Squad! A Valkyrie who has been stationed at the absolute forefront of the Shenzhou defensive line for years, forging our defenses with fire and blood!
"Her voice is as heavy and solid as her armor, and her critiques are as sharp as her greatsword! Let us welcome—Judge Murata Himeko!"
At the front of the stage, the leftmost swivel chair slowly turned around.
Himeko, wearing a sleek, tailored burgundy suit and holding a glass of red wine, offered a bold, unrestrained smile. She raised her glass to the camera in a toast, looking incredibly elegant yet wildly free-spirited.
"Next! She is the elegant Vice-Captain of the 'Immortal Blades'! A Reaper on the battlefield, and a flawless maid in daily life!
"She can flawlessly dispose of enemy corpses, and she can flawlessly process every single musical note!
"Her gentleness is a deadly poison, and her voice is the salvation of the soul!
"Let us welcome—Judge Rita Rossweisse!"
The swivel chair on the right side of the stage turned around.
Rita, wearing her signature maid outfit, stood up elegantly, executed a flawless curtsy, and sat back down.
She wore her perpetually unreadable, perfectly elegant smile.
"Third! The identity of this Judge is the absolute heavyweight among heavyweights!
"She is the Grandmaster of the Taixu Martial Arts Dojo! Known in the martial arts world as the 'Immortal of Mount Taixu'!
"When our great Captain Shu is absent from the base, she is our fortress's absolute final trump card!
"Her critiques will strike directly at the depths of your soul, making you understand the true 'Dao of Melody'!
"Let us welcome—Judge Fu Hua!"
The center swivel chair turned around. Fu Hua, rarely seen wearing a sleek white suit, gave a slight nod to the camera before returning her hands to rest formally on her knees.
Compared to the completely relaxed Himeko and Rita, Fu Hua seemed significantly more rigid and formal.
"And our final Judge! She is the former leader of 'The Roost'! The current Matriarch of the Cioara Family! And the Principal of our very own Fire Moth Academy!
"She leads her family with wisdom and educates her students with compassion! Tonight, she will use those piercing eyes, capable of seeing through the world's illusions, to find the voice that can truly move human hearts!
"Let us welcome—Judge Natasha Cioara!"
The final swivel chair, colored deep purple, turned around. Natasha, wearing an elegant, luxurious purple dress and gently fanning herself with a folding fan, offered a polite, refined smile.
"Let us welcome our four Judges with the most thunderous applause!!"
Following the host's roar, the audience erupted into deafening applause and continuous screams of excitement.
"Aunt Himeko?! And the Class Monitor?! Wait, what is even going on right now?!" Kiana cupped her face with both hands, squishing her cheeks together in utter bewilderment.
"I never expected the Class Monitor to participate in an event like this..." Mei also felt completely caught off guard.
It felt like Fu Hua was entirely out of place in this environment. Even though she was wearing a white suit, she still radiated an aura that didn't match the setting at all...
It could only be said that their preconceived notions of Fu Hua were simply too strong.
"Bronya genuinely thought Rita would participate anonymously as a contestant alongside the rest of the Immortal Blades. Bronya did not expect..." Bronya stroked her chin, her face incredibly serious.
As for Shu...
Shu had completely given up.