༺ Epilogue ༻
I already knew her identity the mont I saw a crimson-haired woman on the rooftop.
She was Dina, the Monstrumancer who implanted a demonic monster into her body.
Among the Monstrumancers affiliated with Dante, she was soone who possessed a unique ability that no one else had—a freak who could devour everything.
When I played [Retry] and had to face Dante in the ga, she would appear as a nad mob.
At that ti, I could handle her easily because I had already beco proficient in the gaplay.
However, her power felt different from the ga now that I had to face her directly.
Well, it was understandable since the character I used to defeat Dina in [Retry] was Aria.
[Did she implant multiple demonic monsters in her body?]
The Dark Spiritualist, who had returned to my side, spoke calmly as she observed Dina. While her opinion was convincing, I shook my head.
“No, she only has one implanted demonic monster.“
[Huh? But…]
“The human body is not strong enough to accommodate multiple demonic monsters.”
It appeared as though there were multiple demonic monsters because she implanted a different kind of demonic monster.
And from what I had seen, it wasn’t an ordinary demonic monster.
“There might be demonic monsters that could consu mana. However, I have never heard of those that can devour souls to assimilate them as their own.”
While observing Dina, who was transforming into sothing even more hideous, I continued speaking.
“It is not a re demonic monster; she must have combined a yokai and a demonic monster into one.”
[And she implanted that into her body? It sounds unbelievable… However, it might be possible if it was Dante doing it.]
“Yes, that is right.”
It was a plausible abnormality if it was Dante, an organization that gathered nurous dark mages.
For example, there was the Human-Bone Centipede; a yokai that parasitized Emily’s body to manifest.
anwhile, Dina fused a yokai and a high-ranking demonic monster, and then implanted it into her own body.
It was the very definition of eccentricity.
It was an insane act fitting for a mad Dark Mage, but Dante had the capabilities to make it possible.
Perhaps it was sothing akin to Tam1Tam is known as Greed in Korean. It has the nature of Tao tie, a mystical beast known for its greed, and the outward appearance of a Qilin. It is popularly known due to God of High School., similar to a yokai from China—a monster that devoured everything, and eventually devoured itself.
Not only could its entire body turn into a mouth, but it could also devour things that had no physical form, like mana and souls.
[So what are you going to do? Can you resolve this?]
“It is surprisingly simple, that even you will be surprised.”
Upon hearing my words, the Dark Spiritualist seed to chuckle behind the black veil. She acted as if my answer was too ridiculous and leaned on my shoulder all of a sudden.
[Then why don’t you act sooner? Findenai and I went through so much because of her.]
“If my aim was to kill Dina, then I would have done that sooner.”
But my objective was to send off the yokai. Upon realizing that Dina was the mastermind behind the scenes, I concluded that there was no need to pursue her.
After all, she would simply co to us during the procession of yokai.
If I could handle the problem with Dina in the process of sending off the yokai, then everything would be fine.
[How are you going to do it?]
Dina gradually transford into sothing more hideous. Her entire body grotesquely turned into a mouth, causing people to scream and recoil in horror.
One couldn’t possibly laugh while witnessing such a sight.
Therefore, I intended to kill Dina as quickly as possible. Her presence here alone had already disrupted the procession.
So, I once again planned to bring out Legeton.
Originally, she appeared as a quite tough opponent. Her persistent stamina and recovery was impressive when she appeared as a nad mob. However…
“I should let her know that she will harm her body if she recklessly puts anything in her mouth.”
I retrieved the black gem from my pocket. Unfortunately, in the end, gas were all about being overgeared. And this very world was one ford with a ga as its basis.
And I held a gem that could only be called a cheat.
I swiftly threw Legeton towards the mouth of Dina, who had completely transford into a monster and lost her ability to think.
Gulp.
Dina’s movent halted after consuming it. Black light began to emanate from her body, and the dead began to escape from every mouth across her body.
[…Is that right?]
After putting up such a hard fight against Dina, it felt strangely anticlimactic to see her die so easily. From the Dark Spiritualist’s perspective, it must have seed unfair.
She might have felt aggrieved; Findenai and her risked their lives in the battle, yet I resolved everything effortlessly by tossing Legeton into Dina’s mouth.
“It just shows she was not a significant figure in this story.”
Of course, there was a reason why the two had to fight against her.
If Findenai and the Dark Spiritualist hadn’t fought and depleted Dina’s stamina beforehand, psychologically pressuring her, she wouldn’t have transford her entire body into a monster like that.
In that case, naturally, she wouldn’t have swallowed Legeton, which I tossed towards her.
In the end, if the build-up was solid, everything would unravel so well that the ending almost felt anticlimactic.
[It feels a bit unfair.]
Nevertheless, I ignored the grumbling Dark Spiritualist and focused on sensing Legeton, which had entered the woman’s body.
Actually, this was also an experint.
I felt the energy of Legeton growing stronger. This convinced that it was seeking out.
I also sensed that my connection with Legeton was becoming stronger.
I knew exactly when this phenonon started to happen.
It was ever since Stella fell asleep.
Stella, the Forr Saintess.
Ever since she started her rest within , my assimilation rate with Legeton had beco higher than before.
I was sure this was because of the Demon Lord Velica who was assimilated with Stella.
Originally, it felt like I was simply borrowing Legeton’s power.
But now, I had truly beco its owner.
Even though it was unintentional, thanks to Stella and Velica’s existence, I could see that Legeton had finally acknowledged .
“Grrraaah!”
Dina scread in agony as she twisted and contorted her body; her waist twisted and bones snapped. She couldn’t digest all the evil spirits running wild inside her.
It was natural.
“Saying she would devour everything is just an exaggeration. There is no way she could truly consu everything in the world.”
If her stomach really had unlimited capacity, wouldn’t she beco the ruler of this continent?
“She was rely a demonic monster with an insatiable appetite.”
Dina, who was still contorting, eventually could no longer control her body and collapsed. And then, the procession of yokai passed over her.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
As she gradually lost her human form, the yokai didn’t even recognize Dina’s existence when they trampled over her.
I manipulated my Mana to create a faint fog, shielding the surrounding people from witnessing her grueso demise.
“You should be a bit picky with what you eat.”
In the end, all that remained in that spot was an ominously glowing Necromancy Stone amidst a mass of semi-fluid corpses.
It wasn’t referred to as an item that ca close to the Holy Grail for no reason.
Its effects were evident.
[With this, everyone in Dante will know everything about you.]
“Well, that is fine.”
Daybreak was gradually approaching. And with the procession of yokai coming to an end, the people were applauding for our impressive performance despite their exhaustion.
[Legeton and your existence, everything has been exposed. Dante will now surely thoroughly prepare to face you.]
“I know.”
I reached out and Legeton recognized as its master, nestling into my hand. Because it was a bit dirty, I used magic to create water and easily washed it off.
“But I, too, will continue to grow stronger.”
I extended Legeton out once more, absorbing the soul of the recently deceased.
With this, it had beco the second ti that I arbitrarily acquired a soul that I bound to .
To prepare for the battle against Dante, I needed to replenish my strength; the soul of the Dark Mage Dina would be quite useful to .
[…You should be careful.]
Seeing that, the Dark Spiritualist worriedly stared at . Perhaps it was because of the impending battle with Dante, but her follow-up words indicated otherwise.
[I hope you won’t get too imrsed in Black Magic like I and Dante did.]
“…”
[When dealing with souls, no matter how strong one’s will may be, they would eventually co to see it as sothing expendable.]
I understood what she was worried about. She feared that I might abandon my current principle and beco an ordinary Dark Mage like the others.
[When soone begins to decline due to their lack of strength, they eventually lose their humanity, like that Monstrumancer just did.]
“I understand.”
[I hope that you won’t beco a monster as well in the process of defeating those monsters.]
“I will keep this in mind.”
At my words, the Dark Spiritualist cautiously hugged and then disappeared.
At the end of the festival, while bathing in the rising sunlight, everyone laughed and chatted happily as they cleaned up.
They were happy to reminisce about the mories from just a few hours ago and were grateful to the yokai who had provided them with such a unique experience.
And from amidst the crowd, a boy approached .
He had removed his wig and changed from a skirt to pants, discarding the female disguise he had been wearing earlier.
I looked at Owen and asked.
“How was it?”
Before the festival began, I had told Owen to learn and feel a lot from today’s festival.
“I think I now understand why I couldn’t help the yokai disappear.”
I calmly remained patient, listening to Owen as he spoke.
“They wanted more than just my grandfather from . They had high expectations. They hoped to happily disappear through my help, and not just to be consoled.”
Owen had always followed behind his grandfather’s steps, and had never thought or acted independently about the yokai.
That was the mistake that led the boy down the wrong path.
“You showed that. It’s the first ti I’ve seen those yokai smile like that. It is the first ti I’ve seen them disappear with contentnt.”
A faint smile appeared on the boy’s lips as he stared at the bright sunlight, thinking of those unfortunate yokai who had now departed.
“Thank you for enlightening .”
I once again gently stroked Owen’s head.
“Your grandfather, Oster, was a perforr who brought comfort to those who listened to him play.”
However, Owen was different.
I recalled the impressive lody that built up excitent from the final performance Oster had left for Owen.
“You are a pianist who spreads joy.”
“……!”
Owen tightly clenched his small fist.
However, he had a sense of duty within him.
With his small hands, the boy could already see how many smiles he would be bringing to people’s faces.
“Co with , Owen.”
“Pardon?”
“I highly regard your abilities. You have the capability to walk the sa path as .”
However, it would be in a different way from mine. That was why I needed him.
“When I lose my way, I might need your music.”
Owen swallowed hard and tried to take my hand, but he hesitated for a mont.
“B-but without , yokai will reappear in Claren.”
In the end, Claren was a city of artists, and more yokai would be born from their imaginations, continuing to appear. However…
“That is why this festival was held.”
Of course, the opposite could possibly happen as well.
“I plan to create a thought form inspired by today’s event, called ‘The Night Parade of One Hundred Yokai.'”
“Pardon?”
In fact, thought forms were not just yokai. Thoughts could also attach themselves to any unique phenonon.
School ghost stories were a typical example of this category.
“Just as the imaginations of artists turn into yokai, the hopes of those who anticipate this event every year will create today’s scenery again.”
Each year, just for one day.
There would be a day when yokai beco visible to everyone.
“Ah….”
Owen exclaid. It seed like he had realized that now there would be no more problems since the yokai would disappear every year.
“There is no need for you to be here anymore.”
It was just as Oster wished.
I wanted to show the boy a wider world.
Just as much as I needed him, I also wanted to teach and show him many things.
“I see.”
Squeeze.
Owen slowly reached out and tightly gripped my hand, displaying a firm determination to walk alongside .
Just like that, we headed back to the inn. And the story in Claren, the city of artists, had co to an end.
The ti for us to leave had once again co.
As if it was an epilogue, Owen slightly flinched and then turned his head towards .
“By the way, why did my grandfather and I gain such abilities?”
I gently replied to him, who still couldn’t understand this one thing.
“What was your ability?”
“Huh? I-I can see spirits when I play the piano.”
I persisted with my questioning despite Owen’s bewildered response.
“What were you planning to do with that ability?”
“Oh, I was planning to help yokai peacefully pass away.”
“Yes, think about who needed that ability the most.”
“…The yokai?”
Owen looked at with wide eyes. I chuckled softly upon seeing the innocence in the boy’s eyes.
An elderly master who possessed extraordinary skill and could touch the hearts of people through his playing, even managing to comfort the yokai.
“They did not seek the both of you because you had this ability.”
And a boy who empathized with them, possessed a kind heart, and would never let go of the piano.
“It was they who chose you.”
Furthermore, it would be the final gift that the yokai left for the boy who never gave up on them until the end.
1
Tam is known as Greed in Korean. It has the nature of Tao tie, a mystical beast known for its greed, and the outward appearance of a Qilin. It is popularly known due to God of High School.
/genesisforsaken
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