Viers had made progress in his endeavor to find a replacement for Victa fuel.

Gasp! I just remembered a marvelous quote. A certain Dread Empress –don’t remember which one– already told the answer to me!

"You'd be surprised at the breadth of things that can be powered by the souls of the innocent. Fortresses, swords, my favourite chandelier."

Goddamn! It really is a guide of evil practicality. I give it a rating of seven stars out of five.

Although, unlike her Dreadful Majesty, I’ll be gentler in my treatment of the souls of the truly innocent. As for the not truly innocent, ask your god or goddess to save you.

I have souls, some are gathering dust in my Soul Prison. Those that don't have much value after I extract their memories. Not only humans, but I also have animal and monster souls too. Perhaps this is the way, turn Soul Prison into Soul Power Plant!

Now! Time to find ways to process my ever-growing soul collection and turn them into renewable clean energy… get it? ‘Clean’ cause it causes no pollution and ‘renewable’ cause there are souls all around me. I just need to kill the next poor bastard that chooses to be my enemy. There will be no lack of such people when I’m in a xianxia-esque world. Those bastards are basically volunteering for suicide by my hand.

***

Just as he planned before, Viers searched the area surrounding the Pecan Village with Euryale Sight to find other power-up opportunities and he indeed found some.

The most noteworthy of them all was a buried grimoire under a bodiless unmarked grave that he couldn’t open no matter what he did. If Dia and the Biome did not steal its thunder, Viers would be all over it.

Shame Viers no longer had much enthusiasm towards it. Naturally, he still regarded the grimoire as important but a former Level 5 dryad plus Biome Master as his familiar was hard to top.

The other special things he found were a Grey Mandarin and a Hundred Poisons Cleansing Herb.

At first, Viers didn't know about them, neither did his tenants. His Euryale Sight showed they were special but what were they best used for, Viers had no idea so he consulted someone that knew. Among the souls in his grasp, there was one that had the knowledge about herbology, one of the people he harvested in Osemore.

He used to be an apothecary apprentice, I believe. Since I wasn’t blessed with extensive knowledge about magical and medicinal plants like those xianxia MCs with pill making as their side job, I must make do with reading the soul of one who is well versed in the matter. How quaint.

The herb was self-explanatory while the odd-colored mandarin fruit was a cure for a certain rare digestive disease.

“Girls, prepare ourselves to be poisoned or catch a novel stomachache in the near future.”

“What? Why?”

“In the Fables, this is called Chekhov's gun.”

“Who’s Chekhov?”

“Actually I have no idea. Never met the man. I don’t even know his face.”

“What’s a gun?”

“A weapon.”

“What does that have to do with a fruit and a herb?”

“...You know what? Never mind.”

***

“Woaaah… Dia, your place is amazing, amazing, amazing!” Luca jumped around in excitement.

“Hmn, hmn,” Dia looked pleased as she puffed her chest. “Praise me more.”

“Thank you for inviting me. I have a gift for you.”

“Me too Luca. Here, have a super sweet syrup.”

Luca and Dia were giggling as they exchanged gifts.

They turned from mortal enemies into best friends in a matter of days, kids…

Viers shook his head as he sighed lightly.

The three of them were in Dia’s Biome, Viers brought Luca here. Naturally, the purple-haired girl was astonished, so was Viers the first time he arrived here.

“Alright girls, as promised, you both can explore and play around for a few hours as long as it's not dangerous. Dia, I’m counting on you.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Okay, kin.”

“Luca, take care.” Viers turned to the other girl.

“I know, Avel big bro. Ah! Dia, not fair!”

Dia ran out first with a giggle and Luca chased after her.

“Viers, you won't tell little Luca your true name?” Paina asked.

“There’s no need to burden her with a secret that might harm her. She is still young and hasn't chosen her Path.”

“Lord Viers, aren't you planning to make her join your camp one day?” Farley guessed as much.

“...She saved my life, Farley. It is only natural to repay her actions. As for the future, I have no intentions of forcing her to do anything. We all have our own choices to make.”

“After that splendid swan water performance, Isn't it already set in stone? It certainly is unforgettable for a young girl like her.” Clarissa twirled the edge of her tail.

“Well, life choices are hard. As you all well know. Whatever she decides, I’ll respect it. Come on, this is my first time cultivating in an environment with mana as rich as this. I wonder how much faster it would make me to Level 3.”

Viers picked a spot under a tree and meditated, absorbing mana from the outside and channeling them to his Intio. Only when his Intio was full of mana he could attempt an Advancement to Level 3.

Clarissa reached Level 5 at the age of 16. What I do know, that Age of the Gods record is too dazzling compared to this age. A Level 3 at the age of 17 is already very extraordinary. Even Freya, the core disciple of the best sect in the world is only a Level 2 and she’s around my age. The current me is still far from Level 3.

Viers focused himself on the task, his tenants naturally didn't bother him.

The mana quality is so different from the outside. I could cultivate at twice the speed… no, thrice? More? Incredible…

While Viers was in the zone and earnestly cultivating, time passed.

“-ter… Big brother… What should we do? He isn't waking up.”

“No worries. You both can sleep here. It's very safe. Ah, kin!”

Viers finally opened his eyes. The Biome had gone dark.

“Shoot! Apologies. I lost track of time. Let's go back.”

“Kin, why don't we all stay here for the night?”

“Some other time, I promise you. After we informed Luca’s parents. If we all don't return tonight, they’ll become very worried.”

“Okay…” Dia became a bit pouty but she accepted Viers’ decision.

Viers brought the kids home. Dia -like Viers- had been sleeping under the roof of the Irvings since he introduced her to them. They came out not far from Luca's house, Dia had been practicing her Rift-making ability.

When they got close to the house, Viers suddenly halted his steps.

“Girls, we shall wait in that shack for some time.”

Viers pointed to Susan’s workplace, where she made clothes.

“Ehhh?”

“Why?”

The two kids were confused.

“Your mom and dad are busy at the moment. Come come. Don't be noisy and let them do their thing in peace.”

Perhaps Luca will have a sibling next year. They are no longer impoverished and have enough food to feed another mouth. I improved their farm too so it might be a suitable time indeed, Viers nodded like a sage.

Viers became the gentleman and led the girls inside. The night was a bit chilly so they covered themselves with fabrics that were in the vicinity.

They all cuddled together, feeling the very last remnants of winter. They conversed in small voices about small and trivial things. Like how many letters Luca could now write, that Dia wrestled with a pig a few days ago, and Viers was retelling the story of Cinderella for the fourth time.

Wrapped in blankets and under the gentle light of two moons, Viers felt he must immortalize this moment.

“Girls, never tell anyone about this, okay? This shall be our little secret,” Viers said to Dia and Luca at his side and the three tenants in his head.

Viers gathered the children’s hands and clasped them with his own. He activated his soul magic.

A sound, a song resounded in their hearts.

The five listeners were astonished.

“Ah! What?”

“Ooohh?”

“This tune…"

“...So peaceful.”

“I don't know the language but this is incredible.”

“Girls, calm down and listen. Close your mouth and open your ears.”

They did as Viers told and they were taken by magical melody. The song was complete with the melody, music instruments, and the female singer’s voice.

The start was the guitar and they were all spellbound soon after.

“Hitai ni kanjiru sunda kuuki”

The fresh air brushes across my brow

“Haku iki ga hazumu”

Each breath I blow is white

“Tomaru koto mo naku aruki tsuzuketeita no”

Put one foot in front of the other and don't stop walking

“Koko de furikaeru mou sugu da yo”

Turning back I finally see the first beams of light

“Asahi ga noboru”

The sun rises

“Watashi wa tabi suru”

I am on a journey

“Atarashii hi ni jiyuu wo suikondara”

To breathe in the freedom that comes with a new day

“Atatakai hi wo kakonde suwarou”

Let's sit down and huddle around a warm fire

“Tawaimonai koto hanashi nagara”

Chatting about all the things that come to mind

This is the reverse of soul search, he let out something from his own soul.

The kids fell asleep as Viers kept transmitting the sound from his soul to the others. Luca leaned on his right, Dia on his left.

“Fwaaa… I became sleepy too.”

“Good night to you, Lord Viers.”

“Taken to sleep by a song, Viers, you’re surprisingly romantic.”

One by one, his tenants fell asleep too.

As the only one left, Viers looked at the tranquil night sky and the two moons above.

Yuru Camp’s ending song, Fuyu Biyori. What a perfect song for this occasion.

Viers offered the song to these people that he held dear.