［夏の残響］コルディのメモリー

我超愛祭典。

熱鬧的聲音，加上大家開心的笑聲。

用不著說，每個人的目光都會集中在

我和馬戲團的夥伴們身上！

藝文之都的祭典本來是用來追悼亡者的鎮魂祭，

據說一開始是由音樂家們聯合發起的活動。

不過現在已經變成了每年例行的音樂祭，

有很多遊客會慕名前來參加。

流浪藝人們在街上賣藝表演，

舞孃們隨著音樂翩翩起舞——

充滿了藝文之都特有的風采。

這麼好玩的活動，我怎麼可能缺席呢！

雖然現在馬戲團的夥伴們不在身邊，

但我一個人也能用精彩的表演讓全場嗨起來！

我二話不說直接往廣場去，

只見廣場上有一群藝人在表演雜技，

圍在旁邊的小孩子個個看得笑容滿面。

事情就發生在我想湊過去

請他們讓我參一腳的時候。

「鎮魂祭上吵什麼吵，也不怕遭到報應。」

人群中傳來一名老爺爺的喝斥，

音樂瞬間停了下來，孩子們也收起了笑容。

這麼說起來，拉拉好像提過這件事。

這個祭典現在已經變成音樂祭了，

但是有個老人家不是很樂意看到這種轉變，

每年都會在祭典上引發糾紛。

對方覺得鎮魂祭應該要安安靜靜地悼念亡者，

載歌載舞反而會引來亡魂作祟……

「雜耍這種低俗的玩意兒只會髒了這塊地，

還不快點滾出去！」

說完後，老爺爺舉起拐杖到處趕人，

附近的觀眾紛紛走避離開了。

在這陣尷尬的氣氛中，

我聽見某處傳來了小孩子的哭聲。

「小弟弟，你怎麼啦？」

我在角落裡發現一個蹲在地上的小男孩，

聽到我的聲音後，他嚇了一跳，

抬頭看著我抽抽噎噎地說：

「我只是想來看表演……

可是有人說鬼魂會作祟……」

其他的部分我聽不太清楚。

嗯……他是被剛才的那陣騷動嚇到了嗎？

而且不只這個孩子，其他人也是……

還有那位老爺爺……

好吧！這種時候就該輪到我出場了！

要是讓團長他們知道我讓客人們一臉掃興地回去，

鐵定少不了一頓臭罵。

世界第一神槍手帶來的特別演出，開場啦！

聽到我大聲吆喝之後，

觀眾們的目光立刻集中到我身上。

剛才那個小男孩也在其中……

看好囉！我保證讓你破涕為笑。

看我的！快速射擊外加華麗的花式轉槍！

再接一套特技射擊！

我擺好帥氣的結束動作後轉頭一看，

只見孩子們全都開心地笑著為我鼓掌。

可是，只有那位老爺爺的臉上看不到一絲笑容。

……看來我的功夫還不到家，

沒辦法把歡笑帶給每一個人。

就在我有點沮喪的時候，

一陣輕快的音樂響了起來。

是剛才那群流浪藝人！

「也讓我們參一腳唄！大夥兒一起

把祭典搞得熱熱鬧鬧，讓大家看得開開心心！」

說完後，他們開始表演起各種雜耍。

就是要這樣才對嘛 ♪

老爺爺，你看好囉～我絕對要讓你開心地笑一個！

廣場上到處都是歡笑聲，

就在這個時候，四周突然開始飄來陣陣霧氣。

這好像不是普通的霧？

我有種不太好的預感。

「是鬼魂作祟……鬼魂真的出現了……」

不知道是誰冒出了這句話，

加深了人群的不安與恐懼，霧氣也變得越來越濃。

人們臉上的笑容一個接著一個消失了。

遇到這種情況，

我在馬戲團裡的那群夥伴會怎麼做……

我想他們一定會說：

「讓我們用最精彩的表演，讓大家忘掉不安，

為大家帶來笑容吧！」

我不能讓難得的美好回憶以恐懼收場！

所以……！

「來來來～各位看官照過來！」

我會帶來最精彩的表演，

驅散你們心中的不安！

我在詭異的濃霧中持續著我的表演。

大家別擔心……看著我就好。

就在這個時候，人群中響起一陣微弱的掌聲。

剛才那位老爺爺帶著微笑，為我送上了掌聲。

陸陸續續地，其他人的掌聲開始跟著響起，

原本緊張不安的人們也露出了輕鬆的表情。

哎喲？霧變淡了……？

這是什麼情況？

哎呀，管他的！現在最重要的是……

喂，音樂太小聲囉！

跟我一起嗨起來呀！這麼難得的祭典耶！

表演結束，請掌聲鼓勵！

我向觀眾們鞠躬致意，

然後聽見了那陣若有似無的低語。

「謝謝妳。我一直好想看這種表演。」

我回過頭，發現那個小男孩的身影越來越淡，

最後消失在空氣裡，只留下臉上的一抹笑容……

我看到的，該不會是……

就在這個時候，剛才那位老爺爺

頂著一臉不自在的表情過來對我說：

「剛才是我不好。我不喜歡外地人，

不想給他們什麼好臉色看，

但是妳的表演很精采。」

老爺爺終於笑了。

不久後，即將閉幕的祭典上，

開始施放弔慰亡魂的煙火。

我會盡我的一份心力，讓眼前這一幕永遠不褪色。

所以，記得要再來玩喔……

好啦！轉換一下心情……

這邊的觀眾、那邊的觀眾，讓我們一起嗨起來吧！

世界第一神槍手隆重鉅獻，將最美好的回憶——

獻給在場的您！

I just love festivals.

I can’t get enough of the noise, laughter,

and of course, everyone’s sights locked

onto my circus troupemates and me!

There’s a festival in a city famous for art.

It was apparently started by musicians as

a ritual ceremony to mourn the dead.

But nowadays, it’s become more like

an annual music festival,

with hundreds of visitors coming from

all over to see it.

The streets are alive with

traveling entertainers and dancers.

It’s a festival that can only be

experienced in this city of art.

How can I not join in on the fun!

Right now, my circus troupemates

aren’t here with me,

but I’m more than enough to put on

a show that’ll set the place on fire!

I quickly head to the city square and see

traveling acrobats putting on a show.

Watching them were children with

bright smiles on their faces.

Then, as I was about to ask

the acrobats if I could join them,

something happened.

“Enough with the noise.

This is a ritual ceremony, damn sinners.”

When that elderly man came out

of the crowd and said that,

the music came to a complete stop,

and the smiles disappeared from

the children’s faces.

Wait, didn’t Vera say something about this?

I think she said, while this event’s

more like a music festival nowadays,

one of the elderly thinks otherwise,

and causes an uproar every year.

And, the ritual ceremony should be

held quietly to mourn the dead,

so making noise will incur

the wrath of the dead, or something...

“It’s absolutely ridiculous

how vulgar acrobatics are.

Get that filth out of my city!”

After saying that,

the elderly man swung his cane around,

causing everyone around him to

clear out and leave.

As the atmosphere grew awkward,

I heard the sound of a child crying.

“Hey there. What’s wrong?”

I called out to a young boy crouching down

in a corner, and he had a look of surprise

when we exchanged glances.

As he sobbed, he spoke to me.

“I just came to watch all the shows...

but...the wrath of the dead...”

That’s all I could make out.

Hmmm... Maybe the uproar

just now scared him?

But, he wasn’t the only one

who was shaken up.

Everyone was...

Even that elderly man...

Alright. Guess I’m up!

If the ringmaster found out that I let

an audience go home with gloomy faces,

he’d definitely give me an earful.

Gather ’round!

The world’s greatest gunslinger’s

special show is about to begin!

I captured the audience’s gaze the moment

they heard the boom of my voice.

Standing among them was that young boy...

Keep your eyes on me.

I’m about to turn that frown upside down!

Here I go!

Check out these ultra-fast quick shots,

and magnificent gun spinning!

Followed by...my trusty trick shots!

After I closed out my performance

with a cool pose,

the children responded with

smiles and applause.

But, the only one that wasn’t laughing

was that elderly man.

...Guess I’m not there yet.

I wasn’t able to put

a smile on everyone’s face.

The moment that thought

ran through my head,

cheerful music started to play.

It was those traveling acrobats!

“Let’s do this together.

We’ll brighten up this festival,

and put smiles on everyone’s faces!”

They then started putting on

all different kinds of performances.

Now, that’s what I’m talking about!♪

Keep your eyes on us.

There’s no way you can stop us

from putting a smile on your face!

The streets were alive

with cheers and laughter,

when suddenly...

fog started blanketing the area.

There’s something weird about this fog...

I’ve got a very bad feeling about this...

“The wrath of the dead... It’s real.”

Someone said the words that fanned

the flames of everyone’s anxiety,

and the fog started to thicken in response.

The smiles started to fade away...

one by one.

I wonder what my circus troupemates

would do at a time like this...

They’d probably say,

“Let’s put on a show that’ll

make everyone smile so hard,

they’ll forget whatever they were

worrying about.”

Fun memories are precious,

and I won’t let any scary ones

take them away.

That’s why...!

“Alright, everyone!

All eyes and ears on me!”

“Step right up for an exciting show that’ll

send your worries flying into the sky!”

As the creepy fog hung over us,

I carried on with the show.

...Don’t you worry about a thing, everyone...

Keep your eyes on me...!

Suddenly, I heard the faint sound of applause.

It was the elderly man!

As he clapped his hands,

I saw a huge smile on his face!

Afterwards, more and more

people started to clap,

their faces left with

no more traces of worry!

Huh? The fog’s been lifted...?

Just what the heck was that?

Oh well. More importantly...

Hey, bring the music back!

Make some more noise, everyone!

We’ve got a festival to enjoy!♪

Thank you very much!

I took a slight bow,

when I heard a voice whispering to me.

“...Thank you. This is what

I’ve always wanted to see.”

I look back and see

that young boy starting to fade,

till he finally vanished.

His smile never leaving his face.

No way... Was that...?

Then, the elderly man came to me

with an awkward look on his face,

and spoke to me.

“I apologize for my actions earlier.

I hate outsiders,

and I wasn’t in the best mood,

but your show really made my day.”

I finally put a smile on his face.

Soon after, fireworks shoot into the sky,

soothing the spirits of the dead,

and bringing the festival to a close.

...I’ll do my best so the smiles

we see here don’t ever fade away.

So, make sure you come back

for some more fun, okay...?

Alright, time to get

my head back in the game...

Hey, all you kids, grandparents,

and everyone in between!

Come join me for some fun!

Behold the world’s greatest gunslinger,

and leave with memories

that you’ll treasure forever!