Karen found the machine after he walked a little further. He threw 2 mu into the machine and bought two bottles of water.
As the concert was about to begin, there was no one around in the hallway except a woman sitting on a bench ahead with her head buried between her knees. Karen wondered what was wrong with her. Maybe she was sick? Maybe she was going through something sad and depressive.
Because of the way she was sitting, Karen could not see her face either. "Geez! Why do I even care?" said to himself and he decided to leave there but he could not. He approached her and stood in front of her, but he did not know what to say. Then he swallowed and asked, "Sorry Miss, are you okay?"
...
Amy raised her head slowly. In front of her, she saw a 190 cm tall man with white skin, shiny jet-black hair, and eyes as black as his hair. The man's energy and the white shirt made him so different that although Amy realized that the man was not malicious, she could not give up her previous thought.
...
The woman raised her head slowly. In front of Karen, a woman was looking at him with her green eyes through her brown bangs. Even though the prominent redness in the white part was shadowing the beauty of her eyes, Karen could tell that these were the most beautiful and deepest eyes he had ever seen in his life.
...
"You were looking bad, and I wondered if you are okay." said Karen.
Amy stayed silent for a while longer. Then she replied "Thank you! I just have a headache."
After looked around for a while Karen said, "I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do for you, Miss? I can call your friends if you want to."
This time, Amy said without hesitation, "Thank you. After a short rest, I feel better now."
When Karen noticed Amy's outfit, he realized that she was a soldier. Since the 3rd city was close to SOU, it was natural for the soldiers to come to the concert, and it was obvious that she was not on a mission even though she was wearing her uniform.
Karen sat down right beside Amy. Thinking of the cold water he had just taken; he handed her the bottle. "The weather is very dry. There was a very scorching sun during the day. Maybe the weather hit you so it might be good to put it on your forehead." said Karen.
Pointing to the bottles on her other side Amy said, "Thank you, I can do with these bottles." and she pressed her bottle to her forehead and cheek. She already knew that her headache was not due to weather and again that water bottle was not the thing that relieved her ache.
"Judging by your uniform, you're from the organization. You must be tired. It might be good to rest, Miss." said Karen.
Amy sighed, "You're right, but I've been waiting for this concert for a long time. So, I can rest later." he replied.
Karen laughed and said, "Yes, of course, the loyal fans of the Purity shouldn't leave them alone!"
Amy smiled and replied, "Just a loyal fan would say something like this."
Karen liked what she said. Sighed and said "I'm chasing them with my friends since 9th city. We were able to watch only the last of it in 9th city but their concert in the 6th and 4th cities was amazing! Yet I needed to leave the convoy before I could make it to the two concerts in between."
Amy had heard that on Purity's tours, some fans formed a convoy to accompany them at every concert. However, it was the first time she had encountered someone who spent his time and money on it.
For a soldier who could be deployed at any moment, this was an impossible thing to do. Without trying to hide her excitement, she said, "You are a very loyal fan! I was able to come here only with my friends because it is close to SOU."
Karen said "If I had as much headache as you, maybe I would not have been able to attend. Yet you are here despite your ache." as he was smiling. Then he added, "Though I won't be able to watch some part of the concert."
Amy once again was fascinated by Purity and said "It's sad, but if I had a chance to see even a little of their incredible visual show, I wouldn't miss it. I understand you." Then, wondering why he could not attend, she asked why.
"I have a job that I can't put off in a half-day town here at noon tomorrow. It is impossible to go with a mechanical vehicle, as there are various jamming traps and the risk of radioactivity. I am thinking of going on foot. This region is very dry and hot in this season. Because of my secondar ability, being directly under the sun can be dangerous to me. That's why I have to be on my way at night." Karen explained himself.
Amy was a little surprised, but also upset. These days, it would be better if the secondaries do not easily tell everyone about their weaknesses, but Amy was surprised when the man just said his weakness that easily. However, if this weakness were so bad that he could not go to the beach or go on vacation, it was sad.
Amy startled as if something was on her mind and said, "I guess I know where you are going. Look what I say, just have fun at the concert tonight and I will give you a ride to your destination tomorrow right on time. I know shortcuts and routes where you will not be exposed to the sun during the day. On foot and by vehicle or amount, this journey takes up to 6 hours. So, even going out in the morning is enough."
Karen was surprised with the offer and said, "It would be great, but it would also be big trouble for you. You already look tired. I feel embarrassed if I accept your offer." he replied.
Cheerfully "No, please don't think like that. Besides, I will be more upset that someone who enjoys this concert more than me will not be able to watch the concert. Believe me, I gladly do it." said Amy.
Karen thought for a while then asked, "You really would do this for me, Miss?" Amy promptly replied, "Of course! Trust me!" said. Then she stood up and said, "The concert is about to start, enjoy! I'll find you at six o'clock in the morning."
Karen also stood up and asked, "How will you going to find me, Miss?" Due to Amy's natural reaction, Karen guessed that Amy did not know him. That is why he thought it would be difficult for her to find himself.
Both started to go walking towards the exit of the hallway. Amy said, "Leave it to me and don't call me 'Miss' please. It's a little bit late but I'm Amy."
Karen smiled and said, "Ah same goes for you too." But he realized immediately that he was not brave enough to say his name. He was afraid that if he said his name, this soldier's warm behavior would come to an end. In this world, there was a huge difference in social status between a SOU soldier and a feudal lord. And since Amy did not ask for his name, the conversation came to an end.
The two of them realized that the concert was about to start when they heard the guitar tuning sounds from outside and started to walk faster.
A winged creature hovering around at the exit of the hallway caught Karen's attention. The winged creature landed on Amy's hand and said to her rented tents are not big enough for more than three people and her friends have drawn lots and decided who stay with whom and which tent since it would have been late to decide after the concert. Amy had to share the tent with Al and Sonya.
Karen saw secondary people that can gemmate themselves, but it was the first time for him he had seen a gemma like a fairy which has an induvial mind and able to speak.
After having heard the news Amy became sad and he stopped giving his attention to the gemma aside and asked her why she was sad. Amy told him that they are married and do not have much time to go on a holiday because of their job they are constantly separated even in duties. So, she wanted to leave them alone. She was worried to disturb them.
While laughing Amy said "The weather is hot, and I have a sleeping bag. I can sleep outside." There were feudal lords and noble soldiers bounded to SOU but judging by her uniform it looked like that she was just a middle-class soldier and sometimes treated like a second-class citizen or barbarian in the society. However, the kindness of this soldier to concede herself to her friends to make them comfortable gave Karen an idea.
Karen said, "Look what I say, Miss... I mean Amy, you can stay at my tent tonight. My tent is very big, and I share it with a friend of mine. You know that I owe you. What do you say?"
Amy said "I don't know what to say. Is it okay for both of you?" thoughtfully.
"I think that he will also come with someone too, so it is totally okay." And he thought to himself, "I guess she will be bothered by him."
In the end, Amy accepted his offer and they parted by agreeing to take her sleeping bag and find him after the concert.
As she walked towards the middle of the field Amy thought if she was being rude or not. How right was it to sleep in the tent of someone she met ten minutes ago? If the man had bad intentions, she would arrest him, and it would be over. At worst, she would kill him.
She was startled when to think something like that. "Can I kill something like that?" Amy muttered to herself. On the other hand, she was wondering what it would be like to sleep next to someone who has such a big and intense energy.
It would be the first time since she would sleep soundly after she had come from a mission in a desert-covered area. The thousands of energies she felt in her bed at night would turn into one and it would take some of the tiredness brought on by sleeplessness. If the man had naughty intentions, maybe she could tolerate it.
She startled again. This time she muttered "I forgot to ask his name." while talking she immediately sensed the energy approach to her excitedly from her back.
A nice voice said, "Who's name?" and wrapped his arms around Amy's neck. She said, "It's none of your business my impudent student." without even looking at the owner of the voice. Roy leaned in a little more and hugged her even tighter, as Amy was so short for his height.
"My mom finds me a new daddy at the concert then she says to me that it is none of my business," said Roy.
Amy grumbled unperturbedly "Who's your 'mom'?" and she stepped on Roy's foot. Roy backed away with his hurt foot. "Is that a lie? You are both my master and my mother..." said Roy with a grumpy face.
Amy "Don't talk like that everywhere. They would think it's real." said. It was true that she raised him, but she was not his biological mother.
For changing the subject, she looked at her adopted son and said, "Did you come here to see the quality gap between you and Purity?" while grinning.
Roy forgot the pain of his foot and said, "Not at all!" Then he turned his head the other way.
Roy performed as the vocals of a band whose members were all SOU soldiers. He also had lyrics and compositions that were not bad at all compared to his inexperience, but he could not get Amy's approval to peruse.
He felt upset because of it. But then, with a mischievous grin, as if seeking revenge, he said, "We are so devastated by the quality gap that we need consolation. We learned from other masters that you will be staying in Sonya and Al's tent. There is a room for you in our tent, come to us."
This time Amy kicked where Roy was, but Roy dodged the kick. But something invisible in the dark tripped Roy and made him fall.
"You immediately fall for bluff attacks," said Amy. After waiting for Roy to get up, she added, "I'd rather sleep outside than spend the night in the tent of five teenagers. If you do not buzz off now, you will spend the night with the medical team, not in your tent. Then blended in with the crowd.
Karen slowly sat down next to Jame. "I thought you left without saying goodbye to me," said James.
"I will leave early tomorrow. I found someone to take me there." replied, Karen. At that time, Karen's favorite song started playing. Jame was aware of it, and he cut out talking more about it.
They were far away from the stage but even if they can hear it even it is not so loud, it was enough to enjoy. Karen really loved this song. The song was about how empty life is and how useless people are dealing with it. The song reminded him a couple of years ago... how empty and pointless.
He shook his head as if by doing so he could shake himself out of these thoughts. As he lowered his head, he saw the woman in the crowd. It was dark, but he could pick her out very well.
She was a very lithe woman with a height of around 160-165 cm. She was quite attractive for a soldier with her tight uniform and straight brown hair that went a little over her shoulders. Karen wondered if she was primar or secondar.
Behind the woman, a teenager over the age of thirty, if it is primar, fifteen or twenty, if secondar, came and hugged her. They just watched the concert for a while like that. He wondered what kind of relationship the woman and the teenager had.
A few minutes later, the woman stepped on the boy's foot. Apparently, it was looking like that the boy said something to make her angry.
The teenager drew back from the woman as if he were in great pain. After talking for a while, the woman gave the boy a bluff kick. The boy fell for the bluff and tripped over something Karen could not see in the dark.
The woman left the teenager on the ground and blended in with the crowd. Karen smiled. When Jame, who did not know what Karen was smiled at, asked what he saw and Karen said, "It's like I saw a vicious mother."