Upon realizing Chara and Curiosity’s disappearance, the ghost roared in fury!


    Music, realizing this was an opportunity, steadied her ethereal silver flute. As she drew out the note that she was already playing, the spiraling mana bullet before her spun faster and faster, until it became a raging vortex that sucked in all the wind-element mana from its surroundings.


    A colossal, pressurized mana bullet condensed rapidly, its glimmering growing more intense by the second. The air around it quivered with excitement, as if anticipating the impending explosion.


    When she ended her note, the spiraling mana lanced through the air, rushing straight towards the evil ghost.


    [<b>Whistling Cannon</b>]!


    By the time the ghost noticed what was happening, it was already too late.


    <i>Boom~!</i>


    As the spell collided, it exploded out with a tremendous shockwave, its shrill sound akin to a screeching train coming to an emergency stop. Broken crystal fragments rained across the devastated flower field, the evil ghost, reduced to millions of tiny mana particles and nowhere to be found.


    Music, not na?ve enough to mistake this as a sign of her victory, promptly began casting her next spell.


    <i>Toooot~!</i>


    Suddenly, in a corner not too far from her, wind element mana spiraled inwards as a fast-growing vortex began to take shape.


    The newly reappeared ghost ravenously sucked in the surrounding mana as it swirled back into existence. The illusory ancient harp rematerializing alongside it, appeared noticeably less substantiated, its form so faint that one could imagine their hand passing through it if they were to attempt to grasp it


    Without waiting for the ghost to recover, Music unleashed her next spell.


    [<b>Whistling Bullet</b>]!


    A glimmering comet of mana zeroed in on the recovering ghost. However, before it could strike its target, the illusory harp’s strings vibrated, emitting a cacophony of dissonant sound waves. Instantly, a glimmering wave of mana erupted from the instrument, expanding outwards in every direction.


    [<b>Dissonant Chord</b>]!


    Compared to the ghost’s earlier uses of this spell, this time its power was significantly diminished. Consequently, the whistling bullet tore effortlessly through the glimmering wave of mana. Nevertheless, its harsh dissonance still managed to destabilize the penetrating spell just enough for it to detonate prematurely.


    <i>Boom~!</i>


    The exploding bullet sent out a violent shockwave. Yet, because of the way explosions scatter energy in all directions, by the time it reached the ghost, most of the shockwave’s power had already dissipated.


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    Not discouraged, Music quickly fired off a second, third, fourth, and tenth spell.


    However, the raging vortex simply strummed its harp, sending out repeated glimmering mana waves that rippled outwards in every direction.


    These mana waves, as crude and wasteful as they may have seemed, left no gaps to exploit.


    Given the current situation, Music’s only chance to land a hit would be to blow apart a glimmering mana wave as soon as it was conjured, and then land a decisive hit before the evil ghost could cast the next one. Or so she thought, but even as she blew apart one glimmering mana wave after the next, the subsequent explosion and turbulence only served to further destabilize her subsequent spells, sometimes even repelling as many as two at a time. And by the time the air had settled enough that this was no longer a problem, the ghost had already finished casting its subsequent spell, sending out another glimmering mana wave.


    <i>Boom~! Boom~! Boom~! Boom~!</i>


    With next to no openings to take advantage of, all the whistling bullets dispersed before they could reach their target.


    Finally turning the tide against the music spirit’s relentless assault, the ghost unleashed a roar filled with bitterness and fury.


    The unbridled malice communicated through its gaze was so palpable that it momentarily sent Music’s mind reeling, her mana contracting inward defensively. Even so, she was not discouraged. After all, whether her furious opponent realized it or not, she had unwittingly achieved her goal: to gain its full and undivided attention.


    The ghost, now focused entirely on her, charged furiously in her direction!


    The music spirit, not looking forward to being eaten, floated away hurriedly. Even so, she carefully maintained a subtle distance, ensuring that she was neither too far—and especially not too close. At the same time, she continued bombarding it with whistling bullets, both to keep up the pressure and to resist the glimmering waves of mana.


    Now, all she had to do was maintain the current situation until the curiosity spirit completed her preparations for the ghost sealing ritual. However, as she recalled Curiosity’s impudence, along with her cute and talented student, Music couldn’t help but feel pangs of both annoyance and rivalry.


    <i>Hmph~! That curiosity spirit is so shameless and cowardly!</i>


    Overcome with a wave of unjustified resentment, she took out her anger on the suddenly pitiful ghost.


    At the moment, she was playing a simple battle theme that heightened her combat awareness and increased her movement speed. She had intended to continue like this, when suddenly, an audacious idea crossed her mind.


    <i>If I beat up the evil ghost, the little spirit will see how brave and cool I am and want to pursue a music bond instead~!</i>


    <i>Then, we will become friends, and the nosy spirit will have to beg me not to steal her away~!</i>


    Feeling convinced, she acted without hesitation.


    In the next instant, she slowed down her song’s tempo, transitioning from quarter notes to half notes. At the same time, the previously upbeat and lively battle theme gave way to a gentle, wistful melody, reminiscent of the faint hum of wind passing by a quiet, desolate lake. In accordance, the number of mana bullets she was firing reduced by half, lessening her resistance dramatically.


    The music ghost, viewing this as the perfect opportunity, surged recklessly toward its seemingly weakened prey. However, as one of the oncoming whistling bullets collided against its glimmering wave of mana, something inexplicable happened.


    Instead of erupting with a loud and violent shockwave, the mana expanded outward in a soft ripple, calming down the air and leaving a serene stillness in its wake.


    [<b>Whistling Lullaby</b>]!


    Suddenly, the chaotic turbulence that had been hindering Music’s spells was gone!


    In the next instant, she ramped up her song’s tempo, transitioning from half notes all the way to sixteenths! What had been a peaceful, soothing melody abruptly twisted into a shrill, piercing sound, not unlike the wail of a banshee cutting through the stillness of the cave.


    [<b>Whistling Volley</b>]!


    In just two or three beats, the music ghost found itself confronted by nearly a dozen whistling bullets!