Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Special Physique
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The performance ended.
The next group took the stage in front of the fountain. I wondered if it would be another piano performance, but these were performance artists, pulling out costumes and props.
They seemed like a professional troupe, as a bunch of people quickly got ready. Watching them made the boy who had just played the piano alone look comparatively shabby.
Once the performance wrapped up, the yokai had all vanished before I knew it. The boy wiped his sweat, hurriedly gathered his sheet music, and shuffled offstage with hunched shoulders.
With such a swift stage change, he didn't even get a short round of applause before exiting.
I followed the boy as he slipped away. I thought he might be heading home, but he went to a sculpture in the nearby park.
It was a piece by some artist with piano keys painted on a rock. The boy sat down in front of it and started playing again.
[He's really putting in the effort.]
"......"
It was just a simple drawing of piano keys, so no sound came out, but the boy kept pressing down on the stone keys with his fingers.
Even though he was a pianist, his hands were calloused and bleeding.
The dark stains on the key painting suggested he'd practiced like this many times before, spilling blood.
Just as the Black Necromancer had said, he was working hard.
But was it okay for a pianist to treat his fingers like that?
The Black Necromancer's expression darkened as well, and she approached with worried eyes.
[Um, you shouldn't push yourself too hard.]
Was she happy that another person could see her?
It was the first time the Black Necromancer had spoken to someone else first.
"......"
But the boy just kept tapping the drawn keys without any response.
[You'll hurt your fingers like that.]
The Black Necromancer tried worrying again, but the boy didn't reply this time either.
[Hmm?]
Only then did the Black Necromancer sense something off. She waved her hand in front of the boy's eyes just in case.
But the boy acted as if he couldn't see anything, continuing exactly as before.
[He, he can't see me?]
The Black Necromancer panicked.
I felt a subtle unease crease my brow as I approached the boy too.
I'd seen him playing at the fountain just moments ago, and he'd clearly noticed the yokai around him.
But now he couldn't see them?
Maybe it was limited to yokai, or perhaps there was another reason.
I walked up to the boy.
"......!"
Spotting me, the boy startled and tried to flee, but I reached out and grabbed his wrist.
"L-let go! I don't have the money to give you yet!"
The boy twisted his body, trying to escape by force, but I sighed and replied.
"I don't know who you think I am, but I'm not here to collect money from you."
"......Pardon?"
Only then did the boy look at me properly. His eyes widened round, and he calmed down.
"Ah, I see. I'm sorry."
The boy bowed his head politely in apology. His appearance was sharp, from the small suit down—quite dapper for a pianist. Did he have debts or something?
"Your playing caught my attention, so I followed you."
"Ah, thank you."
Even after the compliment, the boy's expression wasn't all that bright. He seemed dissatisfied with his own performance.
I had no intention of dragging this out, so I cut straight to the point.
"So. Why do yokai flock to you when you play?"
"H-how did you know?!"
The boy looked up at me in shock. I gazed down at him impassively and answered.
"I am Necromancer Dayus Verdi. The only black mage recognized by the royal family."
"Ah, a-ah! You're that person everyone's been talking about!"
The rumors from Graypond had reached this city, making it easy to explain since he knew of me.
"If you wish, I can make the yokai vanish."
"Ah, no!"
The startled boy waved his hands frantically. He'd been so scared of the yokai earlier, but now he didn't want them gone?
I grew even more curious about the boy.
"Explain the situation to me."
Pushing firmly, the boy froze like his words were stuck, glancing at me uncertainly.
But now that he knew who I was, there was no escaping for him.
"First, my name is Owen Baltani. I used to live with my grandfather...... but he's passed away now."
"Hm."
"Actually, my grandfather was a pianist too. But... he was a bit of a unique one. No one really believed it, though......"
Owen glanced at me cautiously.
Then, as if resolved, he clenched his fists tight and continued.
"Since you've seen the yokai yourself, Necromancer, I'll tell you: my grandfather was a performer who soothed the grudges of the city's yokai."
"......Soothed their grudges?"
[Oh?]
What was this now?
But rather than disbelief, both the Black Necromancer and I reacted with interest.
"Yes, exactly. When my grandfather played the piano, the yokai would naturally feel satisfied and disappear."
"......"
"But the problem came after he passed. I've tried to soothe their grudges somehow, but......"
"It doesn't work, right?"
"Yes!"
That's why the yokai had multiplied in the city. The souls terrified of them had approached the living, causing harm.
The chain of events fit perfectly.
That explained why ghosts had suddenly infested the well-run Leon Hotel.
It was an intriguing situation, but didn't that make eliminating them even more necessary?
"N-Necromancer, you're going to forcibly kill them, aren't you?"
"Yes. No matter how pitiful the yokai, the living are suffering because of them."
Human souls might be different, but I had no intention of caring about entities closer to thoughtforms born from ideology or belief.
To me, they were akin to man-made objects.
The only difference was that they had will. In modern terms, like self-aware robots—I didn't consider them human.
"But I don't want that! I, I want to satisfy them with my playing and see them off properly."
The yokai gathering to the piano suggested they wanted that too.
But Owen's skill just wasn't up to it, so they weren't vanishing.
"However, because of those yokai, other departed souls are trembling in fear and harming the living. That's why I've come to this city."
"Ah......"
The boy let out a sigh, his face panicked. He hadn't realized that far.
Seizing the moment, I asked about something that had been bothering me.
"You can see all the yokai, right?"
"Yes...... that's right. I see them all."
"But you can't see the departed souls?"
"......"
He could see yokai but not the souls of the dead?
Was that even possible? But the boy gave a completely unexpected answer.
"I, I can see them. I see all the dead people too."
However, he couldn't see the Black Necromancer. She waved wildly in front of him again, but no reaction.
Unable to withstand my stern gaze mixed with reproach, the fidgeting boy added the rest.
"But...... I only see them when I'm playing the piano. Normally, I can't see yokai or the dead at all."
"Hmm?"
[Wow, that's incredibly unique?]
It truly was a peculiar situation.
I asked him to play the piano again to verify if it was real.
But he refused.
"Street performers can only play at designated times for designated people. If I want to play piano again, it'll have to be tomorrow at lunch."
So that's why the next group had been lounging around, waiting for their turn.
"Then you'll perform again at the fountain tomorrow?"
"No. Tomorrow, I'll start playing at 1 PM on the rooftop of Purucheni, one of the city's tourist spots."
"Hm."
He was definitely a unique boy.
He couldn't see anything spiritual normally, but only during piano performances?
It might not just be something about the boy—perhaps his grandfather had some special power too.
And the yokai satisfying themselves and leaving on their own was intriguing.
"Very well. I'll visit you there tomorrow."
That's why I decided to observe the boy a bit more.
* * *
The next day.
The hotel's first floor had a restaurant for meals, so I had a simple bite there.
The landlady's cooking was quite good, making for a satisfying meal.
I'd told Iluania—who'd spent the previous day driving the carriage and following Pindenai to the church—to rest.
I'd assigned the Black Necromancer to Owen in case of any issues.
In the end, Pindenai and I headed out to the streets alone.
The surprising part was that Pindenai was wearing neither her nun habit nor maid outfit, but ordinary clothes.
Her hair was in a ponytail, with a plain white shirt and black pants.
But seeing her like this felt so awkward that my expression stiffened a bit.
"Where'd you get that?"
"I can't wear the nun habit anymore, so I bought this on the way."
Pindenai rested her hands on her hips. Like this, she didn't look like a resistance leader or a maid plotting against her master—just a mysterious beauty.
"What, you want me in the maid outfit? Missing it now that I'm not wearing it?"
"Never mind, let's go."
"You never say anything nice."
Grumbling, Pindenai glanced around slyly. Then, like a snake, she fluidly and naturally hooked her arm through mine.
A wave of revulsion hit me so hard goosebumps erupted all over, and I tried to pull away immediately—but her grip was already locked tight.
"What are you doing."
As I forcibly yanked back, Pindenai replied with strangely sentimental eyes.
"Just curious what it feels like to walk around like this with couples."
"......"
"Everyone else does it at least once, but I've never tried. I was just wondering."
With a flick, Pindenai unlinked our arms and flexed her hand—the one that had been entwined with mine—with a strange look.
"It's a weird sensation."
"......"
"Ah, I was just testing. You act like it's some big deal. I wondered what the appeal was with all the clinging, sucking, and biting."
"Hoo."
Remembering she was a woman who'd fled and fought for survival and freedom since childhood made me feel oddly uncomfortable for being so cold.
"I won't do anything."
That's why I said something out of character for me.
"I won't say anything about you walking around thinking like that either."
"Hm?"
Pindenai hadn't expected that response and grinned mischievously with her mouth agape.
"Then can I call you Dayus?"
"Don't get cheeky."
My face twisted in disgust automatically, but Pindenai replied nonchalantly, as if her face were made of iron.
"Tch, should've gone with 'oppa' to make it stick."
"Hoo."
This won't do.
"I'll be right back—need the bathroom."
My stomach was churning. I needed to throw up.