"Keughhh!"

"Ugh! It's heavy!"

"Is a piano supposed to be this heavy?"

To express his gratitude, Owen bowed to each soldier who helped move the piano until they were sweating profusely.

The soldiers accepted the water bottles he handed out and in response to the boy's appreciation, they cheered him on to work hard before leaving.

This was the first mountainside village that was attacked.

The Marias tribe had abandoned the mountainside village stronghold after their Great Warrior was defeated by me and fled back into the deep forest.

Although this situation was akin to that of a rat fleeing back into its hole, Knight Commander Gloria had no intention of letting it slide.

The situation had escalated to a point where there was even a royal decree ordering them to bring back the culprit who had slaughtered the citizens of the kingdom from within the deep forest.

However, I had no intention of following her as I had other duties to attend to.

Just as Saintess Lucia's appearance was greatly welcomed by the soldiers and boosted their morale, in contrast, I needed to ensure that the deceased found peaceful rest .

After forcefully airlifting a piano here, I stood in the square of the ruined mountainside village.

As I waited for a moment, the Dark Spiritualist approached me.

[Everyone, including the soldiers who helped move the piano have left. Its just you and that child in this village now.]

"I see. Thank you."

[I'll take my leave as well. Being a Dark Mage, my presence here will not be a good influence anyway.]

The Dark Spiritualist remained hidden as it was.

With a calm demeanor, I closed my eyes and let my feelings settle. A cool breeze carried the drifting clouds and naturally obscured the scorching summer sun.

It seemed like it would rain.

Thinking so, I slowly reach out and place a spherical cover over Owen's piano.

Even if it rained now, the water wouldnt seep into the piano. And just in case the boy got tired, bottles of water were placed nearby.

"You should start now."

"Yes, I got it."

Owen, who had worn the elegant musician's attire he used to wear back in the old city he lived in, slowly sat down in front of the piano and began to move his fingers.

Ding.

He pressed a key and the sound resonated.

Slowly, those individual sounds merged into one, becoming a melody a dirge to call forth souls who met their deaths amidst injustice and agony.

They were like moths flocking to a light in the late night.

Hundreds of souls began to gather around me on hearing Owens performance.

While I could summon them more efficiently if I used Lemegeton, I didn't want to do that because it was a kind of coercion.

After suffering unwanted deaths, I didn't want to strip away their freedom once more.

I looked at the souls that had gathered around and asked.

"How was it?"

No one replied.

They simply listened patiently, waiting for me to continue.

"Are you feeling a bit relieved after driving away the Great Warrior yesterday?"

At that, numerous responses poured out.

Some souls responded that it felt exhilarating.

Another said they felt relieved.

Some trembled with fear.

With tears accompanying their words, another soul pleaded about the injustice they felt.

While others lamented, saying it was all meaningless.

Hearing all their responses, I nodded calmly.

Amidst all this, a soul directed a question at me.

[So, what was the correct answer?]

"......"

[Since you have summoned us, you must know the answer. How were we supposed to act?]

In the midst of their varying emotions, I smiled in response to their demand for an answer.

"All the emotions you all possess are the correct answers."

[......]

"It is true that you have met unjust deaths. However, unfortunate as it may be, you must accept that your lives have come to an end here."

It was a sorrowful event.

It was also a cruel declaration.

However, it was something that needed to be stated clearly and resolutely.

It wouldnt be surprising if many souls believed that they were still alive, leading most of them to turn into evil spirits.

Grudges werent something that you only held before you died.

They might be ordinary souls now, but because of the emotions they may acquire after death, they could become evil spirits.

And with so many of them closing their eyes simultaneously, there were high chances that they wouldn't just become evil spirits, but perhaps they would wander around like the yokai created from thought forms.

This was cruel for them, but...

"You no longer have a place on this continent."

I declared firmly, and with that, they split into two camps. Those who accepted their fate and those who didn't, each harboring their own emotions.

[This is cruel. You're so cruel.]

[I did nothing wrong!]

[Please, at least spare our children! Please! They're still so young!]

[Spare me, I said! Why should I die? I'm not dead yet!]

Their reactions were understandable.

I knew it was somewhat cruel.

However, it was something I had to do, and this was the only thing I could offer them.

[Then, why did you provide us with this opportunity?]

An old soul, resembling the village chief, approached me slowly.

Using him as the starting point, I slowly scanned the crowd. From the young villagers to the children, the village old ladies, the members of the local defense force, the dispatched knights who had died, etc.

I looked at the numerous people and answered them gently.

"It is to listen."

[......]

"It is to listen to your stories. To give ear to the sadness you carry within you. Please unburden yourselves to me."

I was Deus Verdi, the Soul Whisperer.

"You must have many stories you wish to share. Soon, you will all fall into a deep sleep for a long time. Therefore, to ensure you remain undisturbed during that time..."

This was a place I had prepared for the deceased.

"Sit around me and share your stories with me. A short nap will not hurt you."

I slowly bowed towards them, showing them respect.

"Please give me the opportunity to bring you comfort."

And thus began a slightly lengthy farewell.

* * *

Before she led the Knights into Marias Great Forest, Knight Commander Gloria gazed towards the mountainside village with her childhood friend, Lucia.

Dark clouds hung heavy in the gloomy sky, appearing prepared to release the rain at any moment. Nevertheless, a soft piano melody flowed out from the village.

And then

Tearful cries mixed with shouts of anger and sighs of resignation filled the air.

And towards the end, voices of gratitude echoed.

Hearing the various sounds, Gloria was experiencing complex emotions for the first time in her life.

Whether it was joy, disgust, or awe, she was unable to discern it, but she was sure of one thing: within the village, the Soul Whisperer was performing some ceremony for the deceased.

Witnessing that, Saintess Lucia shut her eyes tightly and prayed.

Not wanting to interrupt her prayer, Gloria waited for a moment.

After about ten minutes, Lucia slowly opened her eyes because she couldn't take too much time either, as she also had to enter Marias Great Forest.

"Let's go."

After Lucia ended her prayer, Gloria hesitated for a moment at the words of the Saintess, and asked as she could no longer contain her curiosity.

"What is Deus Verdi doing there?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, can't you hear those tremendous sounds? It doesn't seem like it will end in just a day or two."

That statement was true.

It would likely take quite some time.

He would never just simply send away any of those souls. That was the type of person he was.

And that was why, Lucia could trust and rely on him to do that.

"He's comforting the dead."

Because he was the Soul Whisperer.

Because he was someone who comforted souls.

As if waiting for that response, Glorias expression changed subtly.

"Is it really possible?"

"Huh?"

Lucia tilted her head and made a puzzled sound as she did not expect to hear such a question from a knight like her childhood friend.

Even though she knew that talking about such things didn't suit her, Gloria still continued.

"After all, they're people who have died unfairly. What can he, someone who is practically a stranger, offer the victims of a massacre?"

She hadnt said anything wrong.

It was indeed impossible to completely resolve everything, and Lucia also knew that it was a form of arrogance.

"Youre right, at best, all he can do is take passive actions."

He would simply listen to their stories, empathize, converse, discuss, and argue with them. He would spend a very long time with the dead.

"But if you look at it from a different perspective, other than him, there's no one else who can do that, right?"

At that statement, Gloria was momentarily stunned speechless. Lucia was right.

It was the only act Lucia, the Saintess, couldn't carry out. This was something only the Soul Whisperer, Deus Verdi could do.

"He's not there to comfort them with sweet talks. He's not going to try to convince anyone to simply close their eyes."

He probably would just sit there and cry with them.

Upon hearing that, Gloria wondered if Deus Verdi could even shed tears.

Afterall, he seemed so cool-headed, as if he possessed no tear glands at all.

However...

"Our knights must be there as well, right?"

"Of course."

"...I hope he treats them well."

Thinking of the comrades she had been with, Gloria slowly closed her eyes.

She wasn't praying to God.

It didn't feel right because she feared that her wishes might be sent to the wrong place, like a letter with a wrong address.

The prayer of the Knight Commander was directed towards the man who was shedding tears inside the village.

After that, she felt a slight relief.

It wasn't just because he was comforting the fallen knights, but because when she thought of the possibility that if she were to close her eyes on this battlefield, he would send her off as well.

That notion somehow brought deep comfort to her heart.