“Hmm.”


    Having finally stepped outside the manor and breathing in theboratory’s air, the sensation of escaping from that ce began to feel real.


    True to its name, leaving the Dream Demon Manor felt like waking from a long, vivid dream.


    My first move was to go outside theboratory and look for people.


    Seeing that the sun was shining brightly outside the window, it was probably not yet lunchtime.


    <em>The weather has turned warmer than I thought</em>.


    When I entered Dream Demon Manor, it waste January. Back then, there was a fiercest cold snap, but now, it was not as cold as it was then.


    <em>Could it be</em>…


    Ignoring the rising anxiety I was feeling, just as I was about to step outside…


    <em>Creakkk</em>.“So I submitted an inquiry to ren City Hall for now. Just in case.”


    “Well done. I’m also reaching out to some contacts I know.”


    Theboratory door opened and in came Owen, the pianist boy, and a disheveled pink-haired woman, Professor Fel Petra.


    Even though only five days had passed, seeing them evoked a feeling of warm joy in my heart.


    “Long time no see.”


    I calmly greeted the two.


    “Huh?”


    “Huh?”


    They both responded in exactly the same way.


    Professor Fel Petra dropped the bread in her hand, which she probably had intended to eat as a lunch substitute.


    On top of that, Owen’s music book, which he always carried with him, had also fallen to the floor.


    And then…


    “Soulllll Whispereeeeeerrrr!”


    “Professor Deusssssssss!”


    The two jumped towards me just like that.


    I would have fallen over if I hadn’t strengthened my thighs and soles with mana before their tackle reached me.


    Looking down at the two people who tightly embraced me, I furrowed my brow.


    “What are you both doing?”


    Judging from their reactions, I realized that it had been longer than just a few days.


    Although I appreciated their joy upon seeing me again, I didn’t like skin contact like this.


    “Wow! It really is the Soul Whisperer! Look at that scary expression!”


    “That scary manner of speaking! This bone-chilling voice! It really is Professor Deus! Wooah! You’ve finalllyyy returnedddddd!”


    However, despite seeing my displeased reaction, they seemed to be celebrating even more as they jumped around excitedly.


    It seemed like they needed some time to calm down.


    ***“One month.”


    Regardless if it was a long or short time; while I was in the Dream Demon Manor, the end of January had turned intote February, marking the gradual departure of the cold weather.


    <em>Even until the end, I still dislike him.</em>


    It was a moment when the emotional discord I felt towards the demon named Lehric deepened once again when I thought about this matter.


    No matter how much time seemed to pass in dreams, only a short time had actually psed in reality.


    But the five days I spent there had passed by so fleetingly.


    “S-so everyone made a ruckus to find you, Soul Whisperer.”


    “That’s right! Even Professor Erica returned to her hometown.”


    “…”


    A deep sigh escaped from my lips.


    Fortunately, the academy was still in the middle of its winter vacation.


    However, at the same time, an individual who seemed very likely to make quite an extreme choice came to mind.


    “What about Findenai?”


    I couldn’t help but worry about what she might have done during my absence.


    It wasn’t Findenai I was particrly concerned about, but the innocent people who might be at her mercy.


    The two who were answering me promptly until just now couldn’t immediately respond this time.


    Were there any problems?


    Could something really have happened to Findenai?


    Anxiety started creeping up inside my chest.


    Finally, Professor Fel opened her mouth under my urgent gaze.


    “Professor, I think it would be better to listen calmly for a moment.”


    “Isn’t Sir Soul Whisperer always calm?”


    Owen interjected from the side. And because of that, Professor Fel scratched the back of her head and took a deep breath to calm herself.


    “<em>Huff</em>, soooo. A lot has happened during the month when Professor Deus disappeared.”


    ording to the game’s flow, there shouldn’t be any major threats during this vacation time. However, the continent was already moving on apletely different course from the game.


    I wondered if Dante had taken action, knowing that I was absent.


    However, what Professor Fel recounted to me was a very unexpected story.


    “Someone iming to be the real Soul Whisperer has appeared.”


    “The real Soul Whisperer?”


    This time, I needed to pause and carefully consider my words. So, someone else was referring to himself as the Soul Whisperer?


    “They said Professor Deus used ck Magic to show false illusions of souls beingforted…”


    She warily nced at me while swallowing her saliva.


    However, Fel then kept speaking when I gestured with my eyes for her to continue.


    “He ims to be someone who can truly heal souls and guide them to the gods.”


    “That is ridiculous.”


    For the dead, there was only eternal rest or annihtion. Nothing more.


    Perhaps there were such things as Heaven or Hell, or the Six Paths of Reincarnation.¹


    But while I couldn’t be sure about this in my previous world, I could definitely assert that at least there was nothing like that in this continent.


    However, to im to be capable of guiding souls to the gods…?


    “A fraud, I reckon.”


    At first, it seemed somewhat interesting, but I began to think, to an amusing degree, that they were just ordinary folks; such people usually end up tripping over their own feet.


    However, looking at the expressions of both Fel and Owen, it wasn’t a problem to dismiss lightly.


    “Actually there’s talk among the kingdom’s people about appointing him as the new Soul Whisperer.”


    “T-they’re even protesting. If you go out to the city, there are banners all over.”


    “…”


    They wanted to rece me, who was chosen directly by King Orpheus, with someone else as Soul Whisperer?


    It could be seen as a direct challenge to the king’s authority. However…


    “It must be because of my absence.”


    The correct answer came out with a sigh.


    Ultimately, they were only able to be this active because I wasn’t there.


    “He provoked people as a method to encourage them… by having theme out and voice their criticisms or rebuttals against you, Professor.”


    Also, since I was absent, it naturally made it seem like I was fleeing.


    “I-it was just bad timing! Bad luck!”


    Although Owen said this with an exaggerated reaction, in the end, could this really be dismissed and passed off as bad luck?


    Since this person knew I wasn’t present—Or more precisely, I wondered if he had been stirring up this radical behavior because he <em>knew</em> that I was in the Dream Demon Manor.


    At the same time, the name of a man came to mind.


    “Could the man who calls himself Soul Whisperer be named Mul?”


    The culprit who stayed in Room 109 and summoned Romuleus, who had devoured the Dream Demon Manor.


    The man whomitted suicide right after telling me that we would meet again outside.


    At my question, both of them were visibly startled and vigorously eximed.


    “Yes! Yes, that’s right!”


    “H-how did you know?!”


    “<em>Huff</em>.”


    That was what I would want to ask myself as well.


    The Mul in the Dream Demon Manor was a fake. However, he acted as if he knew he was fake.


    I didn’t know what trickery he employed there.


    However, it seemed like I hade to stand in stark contrast with quite a bothersome existence.


    “Even within the religious circles, they are supporting that side. After all, they have been feeling ufortable… around you, Professor. Also, that fraud allegedly acted in the name of god.”


    Certainly, in religious circles, they must have supported Mul as being the true Soul Whisperer.


    “A-at least the Saintess said it was a hasty judgment and stopped them!”


    “Lucia did so…?”


    Various thoughts came to mind, but anyway, I needed to steer the conversation back to the original topic—where Findenai had disappeared to.


    The answer naturally came out.


    “Could it be….”


    As I clenched my fists and stared at the two, Professor Fel quickly spoke while avoiding eye contact.


    “<em>‘Th-the timing is just too perfect, isn’t it? Th-those motherfuckers must have done something to Master Bastard!’</em> She then left after shouting like that.”


    “<em>Huff</em>.”


    Professor Fel seemed to tremble as she was not ustomed to letting out such harsh words from her mouth.


    However, it didn’t end there; Owen then proceeded to add more information.


    “People from the Verdi Household in Norseweden are also moving along with her. They’re all very angry…”


    “Darius and Deia?”


    I understood their sentiments.


    I was grateful for that. However…


    “Everything has be so chaotic.”


    It was indeed chaotic.


    “S-sh-she was about to split someone’s head open! She said she’d find out even if she didn’t know, and wildly wielded her axe!”


    Pretending to swing an axe around with both hands, Professor Fel mimicked the way Findenai had caused amotion in theboratory before.


    “Alright, I get it.”


    I had heard enough information.


    For now, I needed to contact the royal pce and inform them of my return.


    “I will go to the Dean’s office.”


    There was a method ofmunication with royalty there.


    The two wore expressions that showed they were curious about where I had been all this time. However, understanding that handling this matter was more pressing, they didn’t question me further.


    I then left the two in theboratory.


    Amidst the spring breezeing through the window into the empty corridor…


    <strong>[Huh?]</strong>


    At the end of the corridor, dressed in a ck robe, I locked eyes with a woman’s purple irises.


    Her appearance, covered with a semi-transparent ck veil below her eyes, remained unchanged.


    However,pared to when she was 18, she clearly exhibited a more mature demeanor now, evident from her physique and vibe.


    <strong>[D-D-Deus?!]</strong>


    Startled, she called my name in a flurry and immediately rushed over.


    <strong>[Y-you’re not dead, right? You didn’t go into eternal rest? You’re alive, right?!]</strong>


    “Yes.”


    Watching her make a big fuss, I couldn’t help but form a gentle smile.


    I wanted to say I was d to see her, but the words wouldn’te out properly.


    <strong>[Deusss!]</strong>


    In my own way, I weed the Dark Spiritualist who was running towards me with tear-filled eyes.


    "Long time no see, Jenny."


    <strong>[<em><strong><strong>Puwaaaack</strong></strong></em>!]</strong>


    Even though, as a soul, she could fly around, seeing her slip and fall in the corridor made me forget about the current situation. A hollowugh escaped me.<ol>1. 六道輪廻 (Rokudō Rinne) refers to the Six Realms of Existence or Six Paths of Reincarnation in Buddhist cosmology. These realms depict the different states of existence into which a being can be reborn based on their karma and actions in previous lives. The Six Realms include realms of gods, demigods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hell beings, representing various levels of suffering and happiness depending on one''s deeds and moral conduct. In other words, it is Sa?sāra.</ol>


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!