Ch.256256. Awakening

The softly fading sunset.

The sight of an empire’s city at dusk possessed a peculiar charm that couldn’t be seen in Griffin.

Though it’s just my personal impression, I think this Eastern atmosphere suits the sunset better than Western architecture.

I indulge in my own contemplation while watching people returning to taverns or homes after finishing their busy day.

I thought they might call it an “inn” here, but I was somewhat surprised that they simply used the term “tavern.”

Everyone is wearing clothes that look like they belong in a historical drama.

Suddenly, I’m reminded of Claren, the city of artists.

The monsters created through the creativity and anguish of artists.

I gave them physical form, allowed them to show themselves off, and let them disappear with smiles on their faces.

Also, meeting Owen, who would become my successor, was the greatest achievement from my time in Claren.

Back then, people disguised themselves and walked the streets so the monsters wouldn’t look strange.

What I wore at that time was attire from the Han Empire.

The Han Empire, known to have lost its former glory and now fading away.

Nevertheless, what they had built still hadn’t lost its luster.

“What are you doing?”

Soho approaches quietly and asks cautiously. She was definitely a kid like Owen, but for some reason, she appeared as an adult woman.

A voluptuous figure and seductive appearance. In a positive sense, she possessed a charm worthy of being called a monster.

Without any particular reaction, I turned my gaze back to the window.

“I’m watching people.”

Even on my way back, every moment included an aspect of travel for me.

Scenery that would have been unremarkable in Deus’s body felt fresh when viewed as Shinwoo Kim.

If you ask why that is.

Perhaps because I’m not seeing it as a foreigner borrowing a body.

But because I feel like a person who belongs to this land.

It was truly a good feeling.

“Aren’t you bored?”

She puts down the white bottle in her hand and gently pushes a cup forward.

I thought it was boiled tea, but judging by the bitter aroma rising, it seemed like quite strong alcohol.

“It’s still a long time until night, how about it?”

Despite Soho’s offer, I kept my gaze outside and asked indifferently.

“How old are you?”

“……”

“Don’t do unnecessary things. You’ll only feel self-loathing.”

“I, I heard men like this sort of thing.”

“There’s no place for you to step in.”

Though Soho was a monster, I could tell she was still young from her actions and speech.

It was somewhat surprising that she could change her appearance, but that didn’t make her childish traits disappear.

“Did the dokkaebi tell you to do this?”

“N-no! It’s not like that!”

She hastily returned to her original form and tried to make excuses, but quickly realized they wouldn’t work and finally kept her mouth shut.

“Um…”

Just when I thought she would stay quiet, she fidgeted with her hands on the table and carefully asked.

“What do you plan to do with us?”

I answered honestly to her, who was hanging her head low like a child awaiting punishment.

“I’ll eliminate you.”

“…!”

Her eyes widened as she suddenly raised her head and glared at me. The fangs she showed while growling were filled with killing intent, as if she would bite my neck at any moment.

“It was for survival! That’s all it was!”

“……”

“Uncle Changho has many hands, so he helps us a lot! Grandma Hachi helped me learn transformation skills!”

Her sense of injustice poured out.

Her eyes were slightly wet, but she wasn’t sobbing, which showed she was holding back quite well.

“Dongpa and Dongho helped me whenever I struggled with deliveries! We all have fun together! Everyone! Everyone is kind! They’re monsters who live kindly, so why do you say you’ll eliminate us without even looking properly!”

Bang!

Crash!

When she struck the table hard, the bottle rolled off and fell to the floor from the impact.

But our gazes remained fixed on each other.

“We eat at restaurants! We have festivals together! We drink and laugh together! Even the Great Dragon permitted us to live like this!”

“……”

“Who are you to do this! They’re already dead people! We didn’t kill them! Why are you destroying our peace!”

Suddenly, I had a thought.

Am I doing something I shouldn’t to this small girl?

Should I not show her the true nature of the small, cozy village she has believed in?

Even now, the reason the dokkaebi is absent is clearly because he’s gathering monsters to kill me.

Or perhaps he’s requesting help from the Great Dragon, their guardian deity.

I knew this, yet I deliberately let the dokkaebi go. There was no point in forcibly suppressing his desperate struggles; it would only drain my energy.

I was simply waiting for him to tire himself out.

“If you’re really that confident.”

I offer a lifeline to the girl with a look of pity.

“As I said earlier, come with me at dawn today. If you’re right, I’ll quietly pass by.”

How old it must be.

So damp and musty, with a pungent smell, looking like it might rot and crumble at any moment.

“…It’s a promise!”

A rotten lifeline.

* * *

Only late at night did the boy’s performance on the palace rooftop come to an end.

Thanks to the soundproofing magic that Archmage Rockpellican had cast on the rooftop for the boy’s practice, he could play freely not just at night but even at dawn.

Clap clap clap clap.

[You played well.]

The Dark Spiritmaster welcomed the end of the boy’s daily routine.

Lucia the Saintess had requested help, so Stella had temporarily gone there.

After all, Lucia was both Stella’s junior and something like a disciple she taught.

“Thank you.”

Despite his words, Owen’s expression wasn’t particularly bright. He had continued playing the piano while recalling what the Dark Spiritmaster and Stella had told him today, but he didn’t feel like he had gained any insight.

Recalling the path Deus Verdi had walked, his teachings, and the actions he had shown him, Owen kept wondering if he could ever do the same.

Because his master was too great.

The more Owen worried, the more his heart broke, and he disliked himself for being unable to meet expectations.

“At least now I can see you, Dark Spiritmaster, even when I’m not playing the piano.”

That was one way he had grown as a spirit master. Previously, he could only see souls or monsters when playing the piano, but not anymore.

Although it might be somewhat different from Deus’s spirit sight, the boy could now see ghosts even without playing the piano.

Whether that was good or bad, he wasn’t sure.

[Owen, you still have many worries?]

“…Yes.”

[Hmm.]

The Dark Spiritmaster glanced around, and seeing that Stella wasn’t there, nodded and said.

[Let me help you a bit. Tell me your concerns.]

“……”

[I’m the one who spent the most time with that person. You know that, right?]

The Dark Spiritmaster took pride in that. Even though Findenai had met him much earlier, the Dark Spiritmaster was with him practically all day.

In terms of time spent together, the Dark Spiritmaster was overwhelmingly ahead.

“I’m worried whether I can fully embrace the Spirit Master’s beliefs… whether I can become his successor.”

[Hmm.]

Owen had hesitated momentarily, but once he started speaking, he began to pour out everything he had been holding inside.

“The reason he didn’t teach me necromancy… was it because I wasn’t qualified yet?”

[So that’s what you thought?]

“B-but! Necromancy is an extremely dangerous magic! There are terrifying people like H-Heralazard!”

Because he wasn’t yet qualified to handle such immense power. Because he might be swayed by it, Deus hadn’t taught him.

So to receive proper teaching from him, Owen needed to completely understand the beliefs about souls that Deus Verdi had shown, and his path.

“I, I don’t have that confidence. I don’t have the confidence to dedicate everything for souls! For the dead!”

Too heavy a burden had been placed on him. In the end, that was the only conclusion he had reached while playing the piano today.

He wanted to follow Deus somehow.

Indeed, “admiration” was the perfect word, but.

He couldn’t understand his actions. He didn’t think he could live such a dedicated life himself.

Was this some kind of shackle?

Or perhaps a curse?

Such thoughts suddenly occurred to Owen.

[Hmm.]

After hearing everything, the Dark Spiritmaster folded her arms. Her soft murmur indicated she was thinking, so Owen waited for a moment.

[I find it rather strange.]

Tilting her head, the woman provided a remarkably clear answer.

[Who in this world could possibly understand his beliefs and follow them? That would mean there would be two Deuses.]

“…Pardon?”

[Two Deuses? Wow, I could love one, but two might be… hmm, actually, thinking about it, that might not be so bad.]

Owen was confused by her sudden remarks, but the Dark Spiritmaster waved her hand and returned to the conversation.

[Ahem, anyway. Even I, who spent the longest time with him, respect his beliefs and think they’re noble, but I can’t follow them and have no intention to.]

“……”

[That’s because. It’s not something you can see and follow.]

What the boy was mistaken about was.

Thinking that the completed Deus Verdi had appeared from somewhere.

[His beliefs were. Built up through what he directly saw, felt, and experienced. Who on earth could follow such a thing?]

“T-then……”

What should he do?

Owen was about to ask such a question, but.

The Dark Spiritmaster smiled gently and provided a simple answer.

[You need to build your own from now on.]

“My, own……”

[Just as Deus, as Kim Shinwoo, experienced countless things, you too, Owen, should build up through what you’ve experienced so far and what you’ll experience in the future.]

To build beliefs right now and act accordingly?

No one wishes for or demands such a thing.

[Don’t misunderstand. Deus comforting the dead and creating a land of rest wasn’t something like a choice made with courage.]

If spoken of in such a way.

Deus would probably have clicked his tongue.

[Actions based on beliefs. They’re not like decisions.]

“……”

[It’s just that you act that way because you have to, that’s all.]

Owen felt his mind slowly opening up. Such kind teachings were awakening his thoughts.

[Deus wanted you to build your own beliefs. And to ensure they wouldn’t be distorted, he let you see his back.]

“Ah……”

Now.

Now the boy understands.

Why Deus Verdi always showed him his back. Why he made him witness all those noble actions he had performed.

[Deus.]

A gentle smile forms on the Dark Spiritmaster’s lips. She tells the boy about the wish his master held.

[He simply wanted to guide the experiences you’ll accumulate in a slightly better direction.]

Just as he had grown by experiencing many things himself.

He was giving Owen the same opportunity. He was gradually nurturing the boy by providing him with proper experiences.

[He didn’t do nothing. He simply taught you as he had experienced.]

As a result.

The boy came to admire Deus Verdi.

In fact, the Dark Spiritmaster already judged that the education had succeeded just with that.

[Deus would get angry if I say more than this.]

She had already said everything she needed to say, but.

The Dark Spiritmaster wanted to give Owen time, so she turned around and left.