Chapter 107: A Night For The Yokai

"Wow, look at this. Wouldn't this suit him?"

"I think this will suit him better?"

The masquerade festival I proposed for Artist's Day was actually an idea borrowed from an event anyone in my previous world would know, Halloween.

Although there was a reason why I chose to propose this event, I had never planned on participating in the first place.

But when it was almost time for the event, people from Claren City Hall brought several outfits they had prepared for me.

I wondered how they knew my size, but the clothes they sent me were all quite a sight.

"The butler costume makes him look a bit boring."

"Why? I think he'll look well-matched with me in it."

When Findenai recommended that it matched well with her maid uniform, Illuania tilted her head while holding up a slightly revealing butler costume in the inn's dining hall.

However, it seemed that Illuania didn't like it that much.

From the start...

"I have no intention of participating."

There were things I had to do; I didn't feel the need to do cosplay because it was unnecessary for me to intrude into a festival for artists.

"No way! You should join too!"

"How dare you exclude yourself!"

However, Findenai and Illuania immediately bombarded me with exclamations. The two of them had already bought clothes, thinking it would be fun.

Among the artists, there were those who not only prepared their own clothes but had also sold items to others.

Therefore, the market had also unintentionally begun to liven up, becoming more active.

Artists began to consider the commerce side of things, not just drawing or sculpting.

It was going better than expected, prompting Claren Market to send me such a gift.

Illuania was excited as she grabbed the cloak she was wearing, twirling around.

She was cosplaying as a vampire.

"I've heard rumors about vampires before. They have a body that never ages; I'm kind of yearning for that."

Just by draping the cloak over her body and flipping her whole hair, she indeed already looked like a vampire.

Findenai was dressed in her usual maid uniform. She said she didn't need to wear anything different as what she always wore was enough.

On the contrary, it was rather strange that she even wore such clothes for daily life.

"Um, I feel embarrassed."

"Oh my! How cute!"

At that moment, Owen entered the dining hall. Illuania had led him to crossdress, and surprisingly, it suited him.

Illuania had indeed put her makeup skills to good use. She approached Owen, who was hesitating, and abruptly hugged him tightly.

"Why don't you try something like that too, Master Bastard?"

"Stop messing around with me."

Seeing my expression immediately contort, Findenai quickly shrugged her shoulders, realizing she had just crossed a line.

"So, what are you going to do? They sent so many clothes. Are you just going to ignore all of these? I heard you're participating in the festival's opening ceremony."

"......"

That was a valid point.

I ended up being in charge of starting the event for Artist's Day, partly because I purposefully managed to obtain it with some effort.

The reason why I proposed such a thing was because it was the most important part of today's event.

"Still, I have no intention to wear a ridiculous outfit."

Just as I was about to leave as I was since I had no plans of making a big deal out of it and doing cosplay, one item caught my eye among the neatly arranged clothes.

"......"

How could something like that appear in this world? It was something that I had missed so much.

Findenai, who was watching me from the side, asked what the problem was.

"That? It's a traditional costume from the East, you know? Haven't you seen it before?"

"...Right, I did not know that."

The coolness of the fabric that gently touched my hand spread pleasantly throughout my body. It was the beauty of silk.

Although not exactly the same, its appearance reminded me of a hanbok1, and I was unknowingly captivated by that.

It was a design that I thought I would never see in this world.

Just seeing that alone was enough to tug at my heartstrings. It felt like I unexpectedly encountered something that I had taken for granted and lost.

I felt sentimental, more than I had expected.

"I will go with this."

* * *

As the sun had set, lanterns illuminated the streets.

In the dimly lit artist's street, there were plenty of people adorned in peculiar yet charming disguises.

It was a unique event for everyone, allowing them to discard their usual selves and embrace the opportunity to become distinctive characters.

"Wow, it suits you well."

"Not bad."

And it was now time for this event to announce the beginning of the festival.

Backstage, Illuania and Findenai exclaimed when they saw me. Their interest was piqued since it was not attire that I would usually wear.

It was a hanbok, but more specifically, it was a shaman costume.

My grandmother, who was a shaman, had always worn an extravagant shaman costume, causing eye strain and even slight dizziness when one looked at it for too long.

According to my grandmother, dressing in flashy clothing was necessary so that the dead and deities could find their way to her without getting lost.

Well, I don't really care about this.

What I was wearing now was a shaman costume similar to that, but the difference was that it was black.

Honestly, it wasn't an outfit I particularly liked back then.

However, now that I was actually wearing it, it felt refreshing. It also felt like the right attire for what I had to do today.

"Alright, before we kick off this year's Artist's Day! Let's give the stage to the Soul Whisperer, Sir Deus Verdi, for preparing such an innovative idea!"

"This is not just any stage! They've also prepared a very special group performance, which is undoubtedly the highlight of today!"

Coming from the stage, the voice of the event host signaled for me to go.

Illuania carefully approached me and gave a final check on my costume.

"It may not be of much help, but I hope you won't be too nervous. You already look very cool right now."

Illuania grinned. Her words might have been quite encouraging if I were an ordinary person.

Unfortunately, I didn't need such a thing as I wasn't nervous at all.

It wasn't that I was trying to brag or anything, but I genuinely had no interest. After all, I wasn't the one doing the performance.

[I feel somewhat sorry for the people cheering you on.]

The Dark Spiritualist spoke from my side. Although it wasn't a wrong statement, I chose not to respond.

Illuania lightly tapped my chest and smiled satisfactorily, commenting on how neat I looked.

Findenai bid me farewell with a sneaky smile.

Lastly...

Owen, who unintentionally ended up crossdressing, was blankly staring at me.

He said he never thought I would have to perform, so he had been feeling a little out of his mind the past few days.

Even though the attendant told me I should go to the stage soon, I slowly turned towards Owen and approached him.

"What are you thinking?"

"...After you finish performing today, do you think you'll be able to annihilate all of the yokai, Soul Whisperer?"

Owen asked with hesitation. When I didn't bother to respond and just looked at him in silence, he bit his lips as if frustrated.

"I know that my failure has led us to this inevitable outcome."

"You were afraid of them, the yokai."

"That's right, but at the same time, I also pitied them. Now that I finally understand why they exist and what they want, it's frustrating that I couldn't grant their wishes. Because of my lack of ability, I was only able to send them away."

His words made me chuckle.

I slowly reached out and gently stroked the boy's head.

"When the night ends, all the yokai in Claren will disappear."

"..."

"However, do not judge that end to be as cruel as you think."

"Huh?"

He looked up at me as if asking what I meant, but I removed my hand from his head and patted his shoulder.

"Today is a festival; when it ends with the rising sun, you should be smiling brightly."

The Soul Whisperer, Sir Deus Verdi, is about to take the stage!

"So learn, realize, experience, and enjoy this moment."

I ascended onto the stage as if surrendering myself to the partly artificial cheers and applause.

"Wow! The Soul Whisperer has also dressed up to commemorate today!"

"It is said to be inspired by the traditional attire from one of the Eastern countries! You look incredibly cool!"

The hosts smoothly conducted the event as if they had done it many times before.

At my request, the interview was brief. It was now finally time for the last part.

"Could I ask you for a few words as you are overseeing the opening ceremony for today's festival?"

Holding the mic he handed over to me, I calmly opened my mouth to speak.

"Today's festival will be a very memorable time for all of you."

Perhaps it would be an unforgettable moment in your life. That was how shocking, bizarre, and frightening it might be.

However, it would also be joyful.

"So, whatever happens, I hope you will not be too surprised."

The audience seemed slightly tense at my words. But without waiting for them to be ready, I headed towards the piano placed at the center of the stage.

I placed my hands on the keys. And along with the cool sensation, it was surprising how it felt like lightly pressing them made it seem like sound would simply bounce off.

It was my first time sitting in front of a piano with the intent of playing it.

I pulled out a black jewel wrapped in cloth from my pocket, discreetly placing it next to the sheet music where nobody could see it.

"Are you ready?"

As I asked that, another ghost who had been with me all along, Owen's grandfather, Oster Valtany, nodded with determination.

[After my death, I never imagined that I would borrow someone else's hands to play the piano.]

"That was your request and your final performance in front of your grandson."

[I just wanted to show my grandson that playing the piano could be enjoyable.]

"Yes, do what you have to do."

My hands and one foot on the pedal were slowly losing their feeling.

It was a sensation unlike any I had ever felt before.

It wasn't a complete possession of my body, but rather partial. I only allowed Oster to possess my hands and one foot.

My hands gently pressed the keys, and simultaneously, as if I was playing the music myself, a splendid performance emanated from my fingertips.

It was such a mysterious experience.

The scene that was unfolding right before me could only be acquired through countless years of skill and effort.

I didn't particularly like music.

However, I could feel the piano's reverberation emanating from my hands, spreading out in all directions with endless creativity, not confined within the sheet music but communicating with others.

It is indeed extremely impressive.

This was an emotion that I could never give to anyone else in my lifetime, but at this moment, it was pouring from my fingertips.

The audience marveled at my skillful performance, gaping in amazement. And Owen, who had been sitting in the audience with Illuania and Findenai, looked at me in disbelief.

He would probably realize soon whose soul I was borrowing for this performance right now.

The once-serene music gradually intensified. The tones, slowly building up tension like a downpour, had even momentarily made me enjoy the performance.

Not only that.

Did they also notice Oster's performance?

Yokai were gathering from all over the city, filling the sky.

As if they couldn't miss this opportunity, they were listening to Oster's performance, trying to disappear. However...

"Do not easily succumb to satisfaction."

With a crafty smile, I directed my mana towards those yokai.

As mana visibly poured out into everyone's eyes, astonishment and screams erupted from the audience seats.

Since I couldn't continue the performance if I wielded my mana, the Dark Spiritualist began to channel it in my stead, transferring it into Lemegeton.

The Necromancy Stone emitted a bright light, letting everyone see the yokai.

"Kyaaaaaaccck!"

"W-what is that!"

"D-demonic monster! It's a demonic monster!"

Yokai began to appear before people's eyes. They screamed and tried to run away, but the host, whom I had briefed earlier, hastily grabbed the microphone.

The host's voice was trembling, he also seemed a bit shocked by the appearance of the yokai.

"Th-this is an event prepared by the Soul Whisperer and his party for this occasion! W-we apologize for the confusion! This is a performance by a professional team, so please take a seat to allow others to watch."

The people who were confused either had disbelief in their eyes, or sat back down with reluctant expressions.

However, people would understand if it was a professional team wearing masks who had suddenly appeared, rather than yokai.

Since we had already managed to deceive their eyes through mana, they would attribute the mysterious movements to it as well.

[You're really insane for making these monsters visible to people.]

While Oster continued the performance, he uttered a word, prompting me to chuckle.

"Just for one day."

The yokai themselves seemed bewildered, perhaps realizing they were visible to humans. However, I didn't stop.

"I thought that letting these monsters take over the city for just one day would not be too bad."

That was the reason why I made people wear masks.

We hosted this festival with eerie yet unique disguises.

I would let those yokai fully enjoy this single day to their heart's content. Therefore, they wouldn't close their eyes in solace from the piano performance, but instead from satisfaction because of the joy of the festival.

A faint smile crept onto my face.

The surroundings were still softly lit by lanterns.

It was truly befitting the extravagance of a festival for the faceless yokai.

The Night Parade of One Hundred Yokai 2had just begun.