255. Idol
Normally, you wouldn’t delve this far into a story that isn’t interesting.
“… ….”
After hearing the entire story of the goblin, I exhale heavily and slowly stand up from the head of the goblin I was sitting on.
The guy slowly tried to get up, feeling relieved as if the knife pointed at his neck had been taken away.
When I glance at him, he goes from being hesitant to kneeling down naturally.
I sensed that it wasn’t over yet.
“That’s possible.”
Youkai who lived their lives by eating souls. In fact, I thought it might be a bit unreasonable to blindly criticize them.
To put it bluntly.
We also slaughter and eat things like pigs, cows, and chickens. For monsters, we are simply included in the category of beasts.
But that is their position.
Because I am a human, I only think from a human perspective.
“Even if everyone dies to me from now on, I won’t have anything to say.”
“…… !”
The goblin was so impatient at my words that he pounded his head and shouted.
“Yes, it was to survive! For us to live too! “I couldn’t help it!”
“… ….”
“Isn’t it only human life that matters! Even monsters! “We are hungry too, and we have no choice but to eat!”
I hesitated for a moment while listening to that story. I didn’t feel any weight or pity for their lives.
However.
“Really?”
I ask again.
“Are you really hungry?”
Did you feel hungry?
Then the goblin suddenly raises his head. He wanted to check what kind of expression I was asking.
I was still expressionless so I just looked at her.
It’s not Deius’ appearance, but Kim Shin-Woo’s appearance, but with a more lifeless expression than before.
If I were to be specific, Deius had a cold, expressionless expression, but I had a strong feeling that my emotions had completely died.
Because it was a prosthetic body created by Professor Per, the change in facial expressions was not as diverse as expected.
It meant that there was still room for improvement in her prosthetic body.
“…… Yes. Huh, I felt hungry. “Us too.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
The goblin must have felt uncomfortable with my answer, so it continued to look at me and tried to run away.
“I’m back!”
Soho, the delivery man we met earlier, suddenly opens the door and comes in. I came in because it was quite urgent, but when I saw the situation inside, I took a deep breath.
“Um, store manager?!”
In broad daylight, the store manager was kneeling down in her original state, and as if she realized that this was not a normal situation, she turned to run away.
Considering she was running earlier, it would be a bit awkward if I lost her.
Finden Eye was like that before, but I was a bit weak at chasing down fleeing enemies.
You could say that there is no means of pursuit.
But Soho suddenly stopped while trying to run, and then slowly turned her body again to look this way.
“So, you were the person the old dragon was talking about?”
“An ancient dragon? “Is this the guardian deity of this land?”
Did he notice that I came?
It may be closer than you think, or it may not be at an average level.
“The ancient dragon said that someone who shouldn’t be here has come because the land is heavy…… So he told me to just let him pass by.”
Hearing the expression of the guardian spirit, the goblin’s expression becomes tinged with despair, and Soho also realizes that the situation is wrong.
But I was rather surprised that the guardian spirit of this land was reluctant to me.
It turned out well.
I also asked a child named Soho.
“Are you hungry?”
“…… Yes?”
“I heard that monsters eat human souls because they are hungry. That’s why I’m asking you if you’re hungry too.”
“Oh, that…” … “I can’t eat souls.”
“… ….”
“Just eat. Bo, fried rice is my favorite.”
“Okay, I understand.”
After hearing those words, I looked closely at the child named Soho, and with a subtle reaction, I took one of the chairs that had been pushed away during the goblin’s rampage and sat down.
“I’ll take care of you here just for today. “It won’t be long.”
There is a long way to go back.
Even if it was the aftermath of the souls entering the land of rest, we could not waste a long time for them.
“I also have people who wait for me.”
Many faces come to mind.
A small smile spreads across my lips without me even realizing it.
Also, the warmth that fills my heart.
Like forgetting the importance of someone who is too close to you.
It was a time when I began to wonder whether I, too, was more accustomed to their favor and distance than I thought.
Being apart, I realized once again that they were precious people to me.
If I go back, I’m sure we’ll meet.
Unfortunately.
There were also people who could not see.
‘Dark spirit, Stella.’
In the final battle, before entering the door of the general store, they were not seen.
When defeating Raizer inside the general store, and when using Deius’ body to create a land of rest again.
The two people were not seen.
‘I’m sorry.’
Probably in a fight with God.
Or in the battle with Herald Hazard.
It must have disappeared.
I thought I was fully prepared for the breakup. Now I know.
In front of separation.
There can be no such thing as sufficient preparation.
I miss you.
But we overcome it and everyone moves forward.
Even though I had weak emotions, I also needed to get used to the somewhat awkward feeling of a breakup.
“Hey, over there.”
“Hmm?”
Soho wakes me up.
I know that I’ve been spending more time thinking like this lately, but I can’t stop.
Travel is about finding new things, encountering the unknown, and unwinding from the fatigue of everyday life.
Also, at some point, I miss the house where I used to stay.
The increased contemplation was evidence of longing.
“Are we all going to die?”
“… ….”
“Still, they ate human souls! Even monsters have their reasons! “We did it because we wanted to live too!”
“You can’t eat souls.”
“That’s true, but…” ….”
I asked Soho again, who was repeating the same excuse that the goblin had given earlier, because I thought it was meaningful.
“Did you really eat because you were hungry?”
“…… Yes?”
When Soho hesitantly asks why he asks such a question, I shake my head and give the answer in a different direction.
“The alley where 6 people died in the street earlier. “Did you see it?”
“Oh, yes.”
A voice creeping in.
It meant that she realized that it was not the work of a human, but of a monster.
It is easier to talk this way.
“This evening. Let’s go there with me. “You will know the answer.”
“… ….”
With an expression that seemed to solve her riddle, she kept her mouth shut and eventually just nodded her head.
The store became quiet again.
What is it? Why do only two of you know each other? Explain it to me too!
hehehehe, wouldn’t it be okay if I told my senior about it?
Is it because it reminded me of the dark spirit and Stella?
Because I felt like I could hear two people’s voices.
I calmly closed my eyes and savored it even though it hurt.
* * *
[Wow! I won!]
A dark spirit who raises his hands and jumps in joy. Herald Hazard’s staff rattles and shakes as if responding to her emotions.
[…] ….]
Stella, who was looking down at her own scissored hands, pursed her lips and offered the warlock a glance.
[How about the 2nd round of the 3rd round, senior?]
A proposal that is uncharacteristic of Stella.
Normally, I would have agreed, but the dark spirit snorted and crossed her arms.
[Why me? I won?]
[…] … Last time you asked me to do 3 rounds and 2 rounds, I did it.]
[That is that and this is this, right? And even then, I ended up losing.]
Rooftop of the Griffin Palace.
At the place where the fierce battle took place, the two souls were bickering and talking.
The Dark Spirit is proud of winning rock-paper-scissors, and Stella is quite disappointed.
Owen, who is playing the piano behind the two, asks with an awkward expression.
“What bet did you make this time?”
Deiado, Findenaido, Ericado.
Everyone left Gray Pond, but surprisingly, Owen did not leave and remained here.
However, the boy plays the piano every day, remembering the day when the fierce battle unfolded.
‘You are next after me.’
The next generation’s memorial service, as mentioned by Deius Verdi, who can be considered his teacher.
In order to achieve that, Owen remained alone in Gray Pond and was working hard.
The dark spirit answers Owen’s question with a smug smile.
[The right to meet Deius for the first time when he returns!]
“…… “Last time, it was your right to be hugged first, right?”
At that time Stella won, but this time Dark Spirit won.
But wouldn’t the dark spirit naturally embrace her when they meet again?
For some reason, Owen had that thought.
[I will meet first, and then Stella will meet! This is a decision!]
[…] ….]
Stella was disappointed, but a bet was a bet. I had no choice but to nod my head and accept it.
Owen, looking at those two people, continues to shed the fear he was holding in her arms.
“Mr. Memorial…… “Are you really alive?”
The two people’s eyes land on Owen at the same time. Owen thought for a moment that he had put a slip of the tongue into his mouth.
[I don’t know.]
[I hope he’s alive.]
Owen couldn’t help but be somewhat taken aback as the Dark Spirit and Stella gave such absurd answers at the same time.
Also, the two people had smiles on their lips, but strangely, it felt dark.
[Because all we can do is wait.]
“… ….”
That’s true. However, it was not something that could be easily accepted.
Stella slowly approached Owen and gently stroked her boy’s head.
From Noble mtl dot com
After she assumed the status of a goddess, Stella was in a somewhat ambiguous state, neither dead nor alive.
[Why do you think Findeneye returned to North Sweden?]
“Yes?”
[Why did Erica return to the academy?]
I couldn’t answer.
Isn’t it because waiting is difficult?
Isn’t it because it was painful to see the place where Deius disappeared?
I am only making such guesses.
[Why me and my senior? Do you think it’s still here?]
“… ….”
I can’t answer.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t a problem Owen knew about, and it wasn’t a feeling she could share.
Deius Verdi was nothing less than a benefactor to the boy and was his lifelong teacher and role model.
This is.
Because only women who have feelings of love can share it.
[We become a place for him to return to.]
“… ….”
[Because I don’t know where I will end up. But if he is alive, he will definitely come back.]
So the women did not say anything to each other, but they dispersed.
To be a place for him to return to.
“Yes, I see.”
Stella smiles at Owen, who nods his head saying that he finally understands, and continues her story.
[That’s the only thing we can do. So Owen, what can you do?]
“While the funeral director was away…… “You have to take on that role.”
The next memorial service is Owen.
Because that’s what he decided.
[That’s right, in the end, there are bound to be more people who die unjustly. Because evil spirits have no choice but to appear.]
Stella nods her head and offers one piece of advice.
[Recall hard what you saw and what he had done. Learn a lot from it.]
“Ah… ….”
But can she really do like Deius Verdi?
He brought salvation to the continent.
Can we follow in his footsteps who gave a great gift?
Owen couldn’t help but feel a little scared.
I wonder if his own incompetence will tarnish his achievements.
Seeing that, the dark spirit leaned against the piano and spoke.
[He made you his successor.]
“Yes… ….”
Undeserved honor.
Owen was blaming himself for not being able to properly satisfy the monsters of Claren, even though he only knew how to play the piano.
The dark spirit sighed and answered.
[Then why didn’t I teach you necromancy?]
“… ….”
That question pierced the core of Owen.
That is correct.
When I think about it, that’s true.
He just plays the piano, gathers souls, and watches over the spirits.
She did not receive any teachings other than that.
Deius Verdi was always speaking with his back.
I was the only one who didn’t understand it.
[Think about it carefully. Why did he, a necromancer, not teach any necromancer to you, his successor?]
“…… All right.”
On her advice, Owen looks down at her own little fingers resting on the keys of her piano.
In these two hands.
What her idol wanted.
What was it?