Chapter 3: Wataru Joins the Fray! The Ultimate Rock Band Tournament!

It was high noon on the day after Wataru’s battle with Garland! Wataru called Aria and Résistance to the plaza so they could resume their journey to defeat the Demon Lord!

“All right, you two! Let’s get back to beating the Demon Lord!” Wataru crossed his arms with a grin! In stark contrast, Aria and Résistance both wore sad expressions!!

“No.”

“Say whaaaaaaaat!?!?!?!?!?” Wataru could not believe Aria’s response! “Wh-Why not!? We have to leave as soon as physically possible to save Garland’s family! Yours too, Aria!!”

Résistance calmly interjected! “You have a point, Wataru. But, to be honest, it’s too soon. We haven’t properly recovered from our journey thus far. I think we should rest here for a few more days.”

“Okay, I suppose you’re right!!!”

“Exactly,” Aria agreed. “Besides, a new Payblade is coming out today. We need to line up at the toy shop.”

“‘Payblade’!?!?!?” Wataru parroted the unfamiliar name!

“Ohohoho... Allow me to explain!” Aria boasted. “Payblades are the toy in the Sky Kingdom right now! They’re all the rage with the kids! Payblade’s latest, newest expansion comes out today, and we have to buy it before everyone else does!”

It’s worth noting that Payblade was very similar to a certain toy that existed in Wataru’s world!

“That’s that. Ciao.” Aria sprinted directly towards the toy shop!

“But a delay in our quest could prove catastrophic...!”

“I understand how you feel, but there’s no sense rushing back in now. Take the time to recover.”

“Hm... But it’s not easy just standing around doing nothing!”

Résistance pushed a lock of her beautiful blue hair away from her eyes! “Then... Shall we go shopping, too?” she proposed.

The Kingdom of Sky was regarded as the most prosperous kingdom in all of the Wind Continent. The capital held a market at its entrance, and around its giant downtown area. Wataru and Résistance had gleefully turned a corner into downtown, where various shops and food stands decorated the streets. Wataru had experienced the marketplace on his first day in the city, but the downtown shopping area was easily double the size of the marketplace.

“Woah... Now this is a view!” Wataru muttered, looking left and right at the food stands displaying cuisines he had never seen before. He was in a different world, after all. Everything he saw was brand new and full of mystery.

On the other hand, most of the shopkeepers looked gloomy, most likely because they suffered from their families being kidnapped by the Demon Lord, or their businesses dying from the lack of sweets.

“It’s an expansive downtown. Quite exciting,” Résistance observed cheerfully, even as she picked up on the somewhat jaded atmosphere prone to urban districts.

“So, which shop are we going to!?”

“I would like to buy some jewelry, so I was thinking of going to Tot Hopic.”

Allow me to explain! Tot Hopic was none other than the fashion chain that Aria had aggressively crapped all over in the previous chapter!!

“Is this ‘Tot Hopic’ a jewelry store???”

“It’s a national chain that sells trinkets and such, to be precise. I like going there because they have some niche items that you don’t see in shops in the market.”

“Okay, cool!”

Wataru and Résistance weaved through the crowd with expertise, heading straight for Tot Hopic!

The duo arrived at the Sky Kingdom’s Tot Hopic location exactly ten minutes later!

“Is this the place!?”

The store was located down an alley in the downtown area, and exuded a slightly sketchy aura!

“Let’s go in.” As soon as those words left her mouth, Résistance opened the door and stepped into the store! Wataru followed directly behind!

“This place looks like crap!!!!!” He shouted as soon as he entered the shop!!!!!

“Quiet, Wataru! Use your inside voice!”

“Oh, my bad!” Wataru immediately apologized!

But please understand, Dear Readers, that it was only natural for him to feel that the interior of this particular establishment looked like crap! The shop was filled to the brim with some black-magic-voodoo items (a tapestry with text in an eerie font, discolored frog carcasses, etc!) that only a sinister witch would require! An upright Japanese citizen like Wataru had no business stepping foot in a place like this!

“Is-Is this really the place...???” Wataru asked nervously!

Résistance nodded! “Of course. Let’s go, the jewelry section is in the back.”

“All right...!” Wataru couldn’t help but agree with Aria’s trash-talking assessment of this store, just a little bit.

The pair walked through a tight corridor toward the back of the shop! “There it is.” The jewelry section consisted of glass display cases mostly filled with the likes of silver chains and rings!

“Those are some gnarly designs!” Wataru commented as he gazed over the jewelry, all of which were sporting emo-cringe designs like skulls and crosses! “So, which one are you getting???”

Résistance crossed her arms before the display cases and contemplated for a moment! She was dead serious! The stakes were high! “How about... this one?” She pointed at a pendant that held a serpent wrapped around a cross!

“Okay... Why not!?”

“What’s with the face? You really don’t think this is cool, do you?” Résistance demanded, a little upset!

Wataru slowly shook his head in denial! “It’s not something I would wear, but I wouldn’t trash it! Whatever jewelry you want to wear is completely up to you! It’s none of my business!!”

Résistance suddenly looked taken aback! “...I thought you were just some apish guy, but it looks like you have some sensitivity in you, after all. I stand corrected.”

“Oh, uh...!?!?!? It’s nothing!!!” Wataru blushed a little at a compliment from a member of the opposite sex!

“People are always telling me I have bad taste. I’m kind of sensitive about it.”

“I didn’t know that! Then be confident in your taste! Nothing beats being different from everybody else!”

The merchandise sold at Tot Hopic was nothing that Wataru would have ever bought for himself! But no matter what a person’s tastes are, each one is unmistakably an expression of their individuality and their freedom! Wataru knew this at his core!

“You’re right...” Résistance flashed Wataru a gentle smile and brushed her hair out of her face! This feminine, age-appropriate expression was unbecoming of her career as an ex-Master! Wataru (as well as our Dear Readers, I’m sure!) couldn’t help but feel his heart skip a beat!

After their brief detour of the shopping variety, Wataru and Résistance walked back down the street, bathed in the golden-orange light of the setting sun.

With her newly purchased piece of jewelry safely stored in a paper bag in her hand, Résistance quietly spoke up! “Wataru...”

“Hm!? What is it!?”

“Aren’t you scared to face the Demon Lord?”

“Not even one bit!” Wataru answered immediately, staring straight ahead!

“Really...”

“Were you scared when you fought the Demon Lord!?”

“Yes. I was terrified. All he had to do was glare at me with those eyes as sharp as knives. I couldn’t keep my knees from shaking,” Résistance answered truthfully, recalling the terror she felt when facing the Demon Lord. “...Why aren’t you scared, Wataru? The Demon Lord is said to be the most powerful being in this world.”

“Now we’re talking! I’m excited!”

Résistance couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. “Wataru... I think you need to understand the threat you’re facing...”

“I believe!” Wataru answered with an uncharacteristically serious expression!

“...In what?”

“In myself! I have never compromised when it comes to training!!” Wataru declared proudly and powerfully! His tone was without a shred of doubt, and was filled with his steadfast confidence!

“I see... It sounds like you’re not just muscles, either.”

“That’s right! I’m always after the win, all day, every day!!”

Wataru was a hot-blooded fighting teen! Please understand, Dear Readers, that this does not mean he was some single-minded meathead! He always cared for others, and resorted to tricky tactics if that’s what was needed to be done to defeat his opponent! That was the kind of MAN Wataru was!

“Can I ask you... one more thing, Wataru...?”

“What is it???” Wataru stared into Résistance’s eyes, concerned for her suddenly subdued tone!

Her face twisted in something akin to agony or remorse, as if she was holding back unbearable pain! “This is the same as when we were in the marketplace, but... everyone we pass on the streets appears to be hurting. It’s all because I failed to defeat the Demon Lord.” Résistance deeply exhaled. “If only I had defeated the Demon Lord when I faced him, none of them would be suffering right now... And I did much worse than simply lose to him. I betrayed mankind and served him. How can I make it up to these people?”

Wataru was moved by her comment! Come to think of it, though, it was only natural for Résistance to feel terrible guilt for the suffering of the people of the city!! My sincerest apology to any of our Dear Readers who have purchased this book expecting a rainbows-and-daisies comedy! Still, I must touch upon Résistance’s internal conflict!!

Wataru curled his right hand into a fist! “Résistance... You might have made the wrong choice back then...! If you truly want to atone for that, if you truly want to help the people of this city...!!” He slammed his fist hard against his chest!!! “You’ll have to fight with me... against the Demon Lord’s army!!!!!”

Résistance’s eyes widened! “I’m... neutral. I have to be...!”

“I know! But, still... In the end, no one can decide the path you take but you!!”

“Right... I’ll have to make a decision...!” Résistance said, quietly but firmly. She stared into Wataru’s eyes, her profile painted red by the setting sun, still burning bright far beyond the horizon!

And so concluded the warriors’ day off, that had been suddenly brought about by Aria’s want of a toy!!

It was ten in the morning, the very next day! Wataru was running down a street at 130 km/h as part of his training! Suddenly, a figure appeared before him!

“Brk!!!!!” Wataru slammed on the brakes, stopping himself just before running into the figure! “What are you doing, jumping in front of me like that!?”

The figure was a young man wearing blue jeans and a plain red T-shirt! “Are you Wataru? My name’s Rick. Please, I need your help!” the uninterestingly dressed, simple-looking young man begged Wataru!

“What are you saying, all of a sudden!?” Wataru was dumbfounded! He had no idea what was going on, but decided to hear the young man out!

“A competition was just announced out of nowhere. It’s called the ‘Wind Continent Ultimate Rock Band Tournament.’ I play guitar for this band called Dynamite Powerchord, and we signed up for the tournament, but...”

Wataru brushed aside the absurdity of rock bands existing in a fantasy world and remained silent!!

“As soon as we found out that the death metal band Hellspawn Slaughterers were in the tournament, all my band members ran for the hills! My band’s going to get disqualified! Please help me!”

The bombardment of bizarre terms and names left Wataru utterly confused!

“Um...??? Why... did your bandmates run away!?!?!?” Wataru asked, energetically popping some squats to clear his head!

Rick answered with a solemn tone! “Simple. They don’t want to be killed by the Slaughterers...!”

“Wh-What!? People will die at a rock band tournament!?” That was simply too ridiculous! “Rick, tell me more!!”

“Th-Those guys... the Hellspawn Slaughterers... they kill people during their performances...”

Wataru was more than a little surprised at Rick’s answer! “W-Wait a minute...! Murder is a heinous crime in any world! How can such a dangerous band enter any tournament!?”

“I mean, murder under normal circumstances is illegal, of course. But when it happens during a live performance, it’s treated as an accident unless there’s some sort of overwhelming evidence. That’s how the Hellspawn Slaughterers get away with it every time without getting charged for their crimes. What’s worse, these kinds of graphic performances are super-popular with their hardcore fans, and they’ve got a cult following.”

Wataru couldn’t contain his rage, mid-squat!

“Th-That’s not right! Those Hellspawn Slaughterers bastards! They’ll pay for killing people in their performances! Unforgivable!”

“That’s where I need your help! I’m begging you, you gotta join the tournament as the lead singer for Dynamite Powerchord!”

“But I’m tone-deaf!” Wataru confessed, returning to his squat reps!

“Heh, you’re being humble! I’ve heard the rumors. You took down Binker Tell, one of the Four Masters, with your song.”

“Urm. That is true, but...”

Rick suddenly fell to the ground, sobbing! He groveled on his hands and knees, rubbing his face into the pavement!

“I’m literally begging you on my hands and knees! We can’t let the Hellspawn Slaughterers keep acting like they own this place! I need your help!”

“All right...! I’ll do it!!!!!”

There is no way that even the most astute members of our Dear Readers could have ever foreseen this story taking on a radical side mission like this that had nothing to do with defeating the Demon Lord! But people’s lives were on the line! I must insist that Wataru accept this subquest!

And so, Wataru signed up for the Wind Continent Ultimate Rock Band Tournament as the vocalist for Dynamite Powerchord!!!

Immediately after their first meeting, Wataru and Rick went to a studio! While the building appeared to be a normal wooden residence by its exterior, the interior was a perfect rehearsal studio decked out with soundproof walls, mics, drums, a bass and a six-string guitar!

“...Why is there a recording studio in a fantasy world!?!?!?” Wataru exploded as soon as he entered the studio!!!

Rick curiously stared at him. “What’s wrong, Wataru?”

“N-Nevermind...!”

Even fantasy worlds have rehearsal studios! They do!! Of course they do!!!

“Now, Rick! When is the Wind Continent Ultimate Rock Band Tournament!?”

“A week from now. It’s not every day you hear about such a large-scale musical competition popping up out of the blue, but a lot of bands can’t afford to miss an opportunity like this.”

The clock has been set! There wasn’t much time left to goof around!

“Hm... Then we need to write a song as soon as possible!”

“Song? Don’t worry, I got you covered. We just wrote a track called ‘Sine-Cosine’s the Name.’ Let’s go with that.”

What an abhorrently horrible song title!!!

“There’s another one called ‘Trigonometry! You Can Do It Too!’”

Suddenly, Wataru could see the bizarre direction the band was skewed towards.

“I’m sorry, Rick! All I can do is rap! We need to write a rap track for the tournament!”

Rick looked back at Wataru, confused! “Rap? Never heard of it... But if that’s what you’ll need, that’s what we’ll do.”

“Thanks, Rick! And we need more members in the band! One guitar and vocals won’t cut it!”

“You got a point there. Anyone in mind?”

“Leave it to me!” Wataru said! He kicked down the door and stormed out of the studio!

It was just about eleven o’clock when Wataru gleefully returned to the studio!

“Here’s our band!” He shouted as he kicked down the just-repaired door, dragging two people into the building by their necks!

“Noooooooooo! I don’t want to be in a band contest!! Let me gooooooooooo!! I want to go hoooooooome!!”

“Wataru, what’s going on!? I don’t understand! Also, you’re choking me!”

Of course, the two new bandmates Wataru had dragged to the studio were the kicking and crying Aria and the utterly dumbfounded Résistance!

“H-Hey... Are they... okay?” Rick couldn’t help but be concerned!

“They’re fine!”

“I don’t want toooooo!! I’m supposed to be the frail heroine!! This isn’t in my job description!!”

“I don’t want this, either!”

Aria and Résistance continued to be Negative Nancys, but we can’t be bothered with this! The tournament was in a week!

“Aria! Résistance! I need your help! Lend us your strength!!” Wataru begged like he’d never begged before! Like his very own life was on the line!!

“O-Okay, if you insist that much... Besides, we could cheer up the people of this country with the power of music...” Résistance reluctantly agreed, moved either by Wataru’s passion or her guilt!

Aria, however, would not succumb so easily!

“Please, Aria!”

“No.”

“I’ll buy you all of the new Payblades!!”

“All right, I’ll do it.” Aria joined the band, just like that!

But one important question remained!

“I have to ask you guys... Can either of you play instruments?” Rick raised an eyebrow!

This, of course, was the looming question! What was the point of going through all that to have them join the band if they could not play any instruments!?

Résistance proudly answered! “Don’t worry about me. I played around with a bass guitar for like a year when I was fourteen. I thought it was cool.”

“All right, it sounds like you got the basics down.” Rick said, relieved!

“There was a time in my life when I dipped my toes in drums!” Aria proclaimed with a smile!

“Really!?!?!?” Wataru was surprised to hear about that side of her!

“I had to kick them really hard.”

“‘Dipping your toe’ doesn’t mean what you think it does, Aria.” Rick pointed out.

Who but Aria, our frail series heroine, could show such incredibly psychopathic tendencies!? How many women in this vast fantasy world could claim to have physically shoved their toes into drums!?

“We just don’t have much time until the tournament. Let’s start practicing!” Rick loudly declared!

The quartet of Wataru, Rick, Aria, and Résistance were now the midwives at the birth of the brand-new Dynamite Powerchord!!!

From that moment on, the band poured their blood, sweat, and tears into rehearsing for the tournament!!! Wataru and Rick dedicated themselves to writing a fresh rap track to defeat the heinous death metal band Hellspawn Slaughterers! Résistance gradually rediscovered her talent for playing the bass guitar! Aria worked hard at the drums to keep up with Résistance! Aria suddenly started kicking the drum bare-footed, rambling things like “Maybe this time my toe won’t bleed!!” The next day, Aria started complaining that “I really don’t know how this could have happened, my toe hurts!!!”

Through horrible trials and tribulations, there was an unbreakable bond forming between the bandmates. Although it may seem like they had completely forgotten about their goal to defeat the Demon Lord... they kept rehearsing for the rock band tournament, nonetheless!!!

A week had passed, and the day of the Wind Continent Ultimate Rock Band Tournament had arrived! Wataru’s party of four arrived at the mega-gigantic concert venue, Nadisom Square Garden!!

As they stood outside the venue, Rick looked up solemnly at the building and whispered to himself, “We’re here... We’re finally here...!”

“We are...” Résistance said, “But don’t worry. After our rehearsals, we can take down even the Hellspawn Slaughterers.”

“She’s right, Rick!” shouted Aria. “We’re the next Wind Continent Ultimate Rock Band!”

“Résistance, Aria... You’re right! Let’s do this!”

Aria and Résistance had really gotten into this band thing along the way!

“All right! Let’s go in!!!” Wataru started toward the entrance, primed to drop mics to the top!

A shady trio suddenly emerged before him, blocking their way!

“Y-You’re...!” Rick was in shock upon seeing who they were!

“Well, well, well... If it isn’t little Ricky. You still playing for that crummy little band... what was it, ‘Dyna-butt Pooperchord’?”

“Grehheheh! And here I was, thinking that all the other bands would be a no-show!”

“Whatever... You guys don’t have a chance anyway...”

The three men spitting these insults were none other than the members of the Hellspawn Slaughterers, the terrifying death metal band!!! They each wore a black leather jacket decorated with numerous steel spikes that looked like it would hurt a lot if someone were to run into them! Their faces were all covered with skull-patterned face paint, and their hairstyles were wild and varied; one wore a Mohawk, another pigtails, and the third was shaved completely bald! In short, they were dangerous people!!!

“You bastards... I’ve heard enough...!” Enraged, Rick stepped forward to confront the Hellspawn Slaughterers!

Wataru threw his arm out across Rick’s chest to stop him!! “Don’t do it, Rick!!!!!”

“Why not!? Why are you holding me back!?”

“We’re here for the Wind Continent Ultimate Rock Band Tournament! Win or lose, this battle should be fought with music! Am I wrong!?”

“N-No, you’re right...” Rick admitted through clenched teeth, his hands balled into fists!

The pigtailed member of the Hellspawn Slaughterers looked Wataru up and down! “Gweheheh! You’re the Wataru we’ve been hearing so much about...! Stupidly tall, like they’ve been saying!”

“Hm!? You know who I am!?”

The portly man with a shaved head chimed in. “Oh yeah, we know you... In any case, there’s no way we’re not winning this tournament...! Listen and weep, Wataru...!”

With that insidious comment, the members of Hellspawn Slaughterers guffawed their way into the venue! Wataru and Rick glared at them as they left!!

“Wataru... I want to win...! I want to beat those bastards...!”

“Let’s do it! We can win this!”

With renewed determination, the band stepped into the venue...!

Nadisom Square Garden was already packed to the rafters! There was barely any room to stand in the audience, and every seat was filled!

“Wow, Rick! How many people are out there!?”

“Probably... five thousand, give or take.”

Wataru and Rick were peeking out from behind the curtains as they made preparations for their performance!

“I can’t believe I’m about to play in front of all those people... I’m getting the jitters!”

“It’s all right, Rick! Deep breaths!”

A man of around 60 appeared on the glimmering stage! He was well put-together, wearing a black suit and slicked-back hair! He took the mic, and spoke with a sparkling smile!

“Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Wind Continent Ultimate Rock Band Concert! I am your host, Joseph Yokozawa! Are you ready to rock!?” The crowd went absolutely wild! They were already hyped to the max! “Allow me to introduce our contestants! While we had ten groups scheduled to perform tonight, eight of the bands were a no-show!” It went without saying that all of them were terrified of facing Hellspawn Slaughterers! “So, you’ll only be hearing from two bands tonight. The up-and-coming death metal band Hellspawn Slaughterers, and the almost brand-new Dynamite Powerchord!” The crowd responded with uproarious cheers and applause! “Are you ready? Let the rocking begin! Going first are the Hellspawn Slaughterers, a death metal trio with a sound to die for!!! Here they are!”

Joseph Yokozawa waved a beckoning hand offstage, and the Hellspawn Slaughterers ran on!

“Oh my God!!!”

“I love you, Hellspawn Slaughterers!!!”

Surprisingly, many of the Hellspawn Slaughterers’ fans were female! The vocalist with his Mohawk and eerie face paint gripped the mic! “Listen up, bitches!!!!! You ready to die!?!?!?!?!?”

“Oh, yeah!”

“I love it!”

The audience cheered right back!

“Dammit, they’re killing it out there...!” Rick bit his lip in frustration!

“Don’t worry, we’ll be great!” Wataru said encouragingly!

“All right, bitches!”

At the vocalist’s cue, the guitarist and drummer started playing!!! An explosive cacophony filled the venue!! The eccentric bassline of the Hellspawn Slaughterers’ guitar and drums created an aggressive, avant garde sound that electrified those who heard it!

“Grr... I hate to admit it, but they got real sound...!” Not even Rick could help but recognize the talent that the Hellspawn Slaughterers were displaying!!

As the venue grew more pumped by the second... The vocalist finally opened his mouth and began to sing!!!

“Hhhhrrrrrrrrwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!”

“Wh-What is that voice!?!?!?” Wataru was astounded!

“That’s the Death Growl*, the Hellspawn Slaughterers’ signature sound!!”

“Death Growl... How can a human voice produce that...!?”

The venue was filled with a demonic wail, that screeching roar known as the Death Growl!

(*Death Growl — A vocal technique used in musical genres such as death metal and screamo. The singer intentionally utilizes vocal fry to create a guttural growl that expresses visceral anger or hatred. However, the Death Growl requires very specialized techniques and requires practice. The untrained singer can easily damage their throat or vocal cords by attempting this. Train with caution. [6] )

As the Death Growl rolled through the venue, the hyped-up audience members began headbanging along with the beat! A special kind of unity engulfed the audience! Without warning, a purple magic circle over 50 meters wide appeared in the air over the audience!

“Wh-What is that!?” Wataru was astounded, once again!

“I-I don’t even know!” Rick scrunched his face in horror!

Résistance was suddenly standing beside them before either of them noticed her approach. “There’s no mistake... They’re trying to summon an evil spirit!”

“Résistance!?”

“S-Summon an evil spirit!? They can do that!?”

Résistance nodded! “Yes... It’s difficult to believe, but that singer’s Death Growl is resonating at a special frequency that allows him to communicate with evil spirits...!”

Naturally, the ex-Master Résistance would have expert knowledge on evil spirits!

“S-So... If this keeps up, evil spirits are going to respond to that Death Growl and materialize here!?!?!?”

“That’s right.”

“Dammit!!! Who goes and summons evil spirits during a concert!?!?!?!?!?” Wataru snapped, like any reasonable person would!!

He was right! Summoning evil spirits during a concert... was totally not cool!

“H-How can they do that, anyway!?” Rick asked!

Résistance answered him calmly. “I’ve heard of it in rumor that some humans worship the Demon Lord. Perhaps they’re that sort of group.”

“How could that be...!? They’re human! How can they agree with the Demon Lord’s plan to destroy humanity!? And help him through the power of song, even!!” Wataru couldn’t believe his ears!

He could understand how Résistance served the Demon Lord because she owed a life debt! But he couldn’t possibly imagine how the members of the Hellspawn Slaughterers could work towards the Demon Lord’s goal and ideals when they didn’t owe him anything!

“This is bad, Wataru! We have to stop them!” Beads of cold sweat were running down Rick’s face!

But they were too late! Bizarre metamorphoses were taking place in the crammed audience!

“Ahhhhhh!!! I’m turning purple!!!”

“Errrrghh!!! Mah head! Ah’m growin’ horns!!!”

The floor of the venue was turning into a hellscape! At this rate, everyone in the audience would become possessed by the evil spirits!!!

“We don’t have time! Sckrpnch!!!” Wataru rushed the stage and punched the three performers in one swing, his fist causing a thunderous crack! as it broke the sound barrier!!! The three Hellspawn Slaughterers fell flat on their backs!!

The fallen vocalist faintly groaned in agony. “I-I’m sorry, my Demon Lord... We failed you...”

“They were tied to the Demon Lord, after all...!!” Wataru had defeated the Hellspawn Slaughterers, but the magic circle remained above the audience! “It’s not going away...!? Wh-What are we supposed to do!?!?!?” Wataru was in dire straits! Still, Dear Readers, he hadn’t given up! “We have to do it...! Aria! Rick! Résistance!” He immediately called his bandmates onto the stage!!

“You can count on me!”

“This is our time to shine!”

“Finally.”

They walked onto the stage with enthusiasm and swiftly set up their instruments!

“Wataru! I’m ready!” Aria called from behind the drums!

“Me too!”

“Me three!”

Rick and Résistance chimed in, holding their six-string and bass guitar, respectively.

“All right! We’re ready! Let’s let the audience hear our dripping track to wash away the evil spirits!!!”

“That’s it, Wataru! What a great idea!” Aria complimented Wataru, drumsticks in hand!

She hadn’t forgotten her job as the heroine, after all!

“Are we really going to be able to get rid of these evil spirits this way?” Rick asked nervously!

Résistance answered him boldly! “If they can summon evil spirits using their voices with the Death Growl, the opposite must be true! With Wataru’s hot-blooded voice, we can push these evil spirits out of the people in the audience... I think!” She wasn’t sure it would work, but it makes sense!!

“Let’s do it!”

With a mic in hand, Wataru began singing with a demonic expression!

Now, Dear Readers, I’ve included the lyrics below so you can sing along!!!!!

“Dynamite Rap”

Lyrics: Wataru Ito — Music: Rick

(20 sec. intro)

Hey, party people, is it getting hot in here?

We’re gonna blow the roof offa this place now, ya hear?

Everybody listen up, c’mon, lend me your ear

If you’re hearin’ my raw lyrics put your hands in the air!

(Bass solo — Résistance)

“Hellspawn Slaughterers”?

More like “Good Music Boycotters”

We’re like a blast of fresh water

Now try to keep up with this beat, clap your hands in the air!

(Guitar solo — Rick)

Wataru Ito’s here, and I’m rockin’ the mic

Stopped a truck with my hands like a little trike

Crossin’ worlds baby, and I’m ready to strike

It’s all in the rhymes man, we know what you like

Every other band you’ve ever heard’s gonna be leavin’ you bored

Check out the new hotness, we’re Dynamite Powerchord!

What’s more fun than facing mortal danger?

Hot-blooded to the max, Go! Go! Wataru Ranger!

Blastin’ through to the top we’re the number one band!

Yeah. That’s right. Uh-huh.

(Drum solo brought to an early end as Aria kicks through her drum with her bare feet)

Wataru powered through “Dynamite Rap,” the fresh track they had prepared for the tournament!! Rick and Résistance accompanied his rap with some hot-blooded chords! Aria continued beating a powerful rhythm, further smashing up the broken remnants of her drums!

“We out!!!” Wataru shouted, as exhausted as if he had emerged from a battle that had lasted a hundred years!

Aria looked worse for wear, too, after destroying the drum set with her bare feet for some reason! In fact, one of the pieces of the drum set had flown up and stabbed her in her forehead! Bright red blood gushed out of her face like a raging flood! ...But don’t you worry about her, Dear Readers! She can cast healing magic, remember?

Something began to happen down in the audience!

“I-I’m... Turning back to normal!”

“M-Me too!”

“Oh, yeah!!!”

The evil spirits that had possessed the audience began to vanish, one after another! Before they knew it, the giant magic circle hovering over the people had dissipated!!!

“You did it, Wataru!” cheered Aria!

“I sure did!!!” The word ‘impossible’ was not listed in the dictionary of Wataru, the hot-blooded fighting teen!!! His hot-blooded rhymes had miraculously exorcized the evil spirits from the cheering crowd!!!

Two days later, the band had reconvened in the rehearsal studio!

“I’m sorry, Rick... I can’t believe they didn’t declare a winner for the Ultimate Rock Band Tournament...” Aria said consolingly!

When all was said and done that day, the Wind Continent Ultimate Rock Band Tournament had been shut down by the authorities! No winners were announced, and no plans were made for future tournaments!

Still, Rick smiled! “It’s all right, Aria. After everything that’s happened, the tournament doesn’t matter all that much.” He took a moment to pause! “I’m just happy that the four of us gave a performance of a lifetime out there! The power of our song chased those evil spirits away! What other band in the whole Wind Continent can say that!?”

“Indeed,” Résistance said with a smile.

“And it’s all thanks to you, Wataru...!” Rick said, turning to Wataru!

But Wataru didn’t respond! He stood completely still, his head bowed!

“What’s wrong, Wataru...?”

Tears were pouring down Wataru’s cheeks! That’s right!! Wataru! Was!! Crying!!!

“W-Wataru...!”

“Rick... I’m so glad...! I’m happy that... we could be in a band together!!!” Wataru spoke through his tears!

Rick, Aria, and Résistance turned their gazes on him with kindness!

“Wataru... Aria... Résistance... Thank you so much for all of your help.”

“Well, Rick... What are you going to do, now?” Aria asked!

Rick stared off into the distance, eyes brimming with hope! “Let’s see... I can’t rely on you guys forever. I’ll gather up the old members and reunite the OG Dynamite Powerchord.”

“All right!!! You can do it!!!”

“You got this!”

“If you ever need a cool bassist to come and save the day again... You can always call me.”

Wataru, Aria, and Résistance gave Rick their heartfelt support!

As suddenly as they’d formed, the new Dynamite Powerchord disbanded...!!!

Meanwhile, in the Demon Lord’s castle...

Having received the report that the Hellspawn Slaughterers had been defeated, the Demon Lord Deus was uncharacteristically shaken, too disturbed to even finish his cream puff.

“Curses! We went through all that paperwork to host the Wind Continent Ultimate Rock Band Tournament...!” Deus wandered around the room holding his half-eaten cream puff in his hand. With each step, a clip or clop echoed through the throne room. His slime messenger could only huddle before the throne, unsure of what to do with his jiggly body. “I gave those Hellspawn Slaughterers the chance they had been begging for... Hmph. Humans.” Deus continued mumbling to himself as he paced in erratic circles around the room.

Clip, clop, clip, clop, clip, clop...

The slime timidly spoke up. “M-My Demon Lord... Forgive me, but I fail to see the urgency. The Hellspawn Slaughterers are mere humans. I don’t find anything notable in their defeat against Wataru.”

Deus stopped dead in his tracks and turned to his subordinate, staring down the gelatinous existence before him. “...My apologies. I momentarily lost my composure,” the Demon Lord said calmly, before flourishing his crisp, white coat and returning to the throne. He sat down heavily and returned to eating the cream puff. “Nom... Continue.”

“Y-Yes, My Demon Lord! Another matter to report... is that the other human traveling with Wataru, Aria, is also a dangerous girl!”

“A girl...? How is she dangerous?”

“The girl appears to be quite ordinary, virtuous, even! But she’s got some real issues!”

“Issues...?” Deus had no idea what the Slime was talking about. “...Be more specific.”

“Blood runs down her face, and she puts her foot through drums!”

“...Huh?” Deus was even more lost. Who could have blamed him? What human would do such things, much less a frail-looking girl? Still, Deus concluded that, since this was coming from his trusty slime messenger, it must be true. “Oof... Well, no matter. We still have plenty of time... Two of the Four Masters still remain. They will defeat Wataru for me...!” He tossed the remainder of his cream puff into the air, catching it deftly in his mouth and swallowing it in a single gulp.

To be continued in the next chapter: “Wataru VS the Third Master! The High-Steaks Cook-off!!!”

*Sources:

[6] The Big Book of Death Growling For Little Thrashers — Isekai Tensei Publishing