Chapter 386: Getting Them Back

-----

Frank glanced at the Hitodamas with intrigue, he wondered if they were somewhat related with the Ghosts he was able to see in Terra, or the Dead Spirits, which were the souls of dead animals, people, or plants that after some time would be covered in a layer of phantom made of residual mana.

However, Hitodama were different, Frank was able to easily discern that they were not really souls of people, they seemed to be a different type of creature, after all, they were a Yokai.

Using his power knowledge over the Undead and all sorts of monsters, and as a Necromancer, he was able to learn a bit by merely looking at them.

Hitodama seemed to be made of the residual energy and emotions left by people after death. It was something, some kind of residual energy left across their bodies from the souls that inhabited them.

Through the natural mana in the environment, the people's residual soul energy, lingering emotions, and other things would end up turning into Hitodama, they didn't seem like malicious ghosts, nor any of the sort either. And seemed to aimlessly wander around the corpses where their emotions came from.

They were often seen as a bad presage, while other people saw them as a way for the dead to come to visit their loved ones.

"They are not malicious, they are merely dead spirits, the lingering energies of dead people become Hitodama… They usually disappear naturally after some time. However… I've seen that sometimes when Hitodama is filled with many negative emotions, they end up absorbing other Hitodama forcefully and evolve into a different type of monster. However, unlike the monsters automatically generated in the Domains, Hitodama doesn't turn into black smoke after dying, they are part of the non-illusory monsters. Although it is ironic because they are made of negative emotions… which is also what creates illusory monsters," said Matsuo.

On Earth, there were also "normal" monsters that didn't become black smoke after dying, which were often made of flesh, and descended from ancient lineages of true monsters that evolved from negative emotions to the point of becoming completely real. Across the entire world, there are many like these, but usually, the ones that cause swarms are the mass-produced illusory-type monsters, which emerge immediately by the materialization of negative emotions and corrupted mana. Meanwhile, "normal" monsters require to mate to reproduce, but they reproduce so fast that they sometimes become a problem as well.

There are special areas across Japan and the rest of the world where there are true monsters, which are often restricted from people entering.

Or so was what Matsuo explained to Frank as the two glanced at the Hitodama.

"I see… I wonder if there is any Hitodama made from my parents…" thought Frank, as he was guided by Matsuo to the grave of his parents while browsing through every Hitodama he found.

"So many colorful spirits…" said Kamei, trying to catch one but failing.

"To think that there are also endemic ghosts in this world, how amusing," said Gwendolyn, feeling fascinated about the new world.

"Here we are… Let me take them out for you…"

Matsuo quickly released some seals inscribed into the soil as a large door of stone opened, revealing the two coffins where their reconstructed corpses were.

Frank quickly analyzed them through his eyes, finding their corpses inside.

He quickly saved them inside his Inventory, as Matsuo closed the stone door and sealed things again…

"And done… Thanks for keeping them safe and even reconstructing them for me, it might make things even easier now," sighed Frank in relief.

"Ah, it's nothing… It was our fault that your parents died. We felt horrible after it… The least we could do is reconstruct their bodies and give them a proper burial in our clan's sacred grounds," said Matsuo.

"I do admit that your clan might have a large amount of the fault behind this, but it was also my fault. I was too weak back then, too stupid, too… Maybe too relaxed," sighed Frank.

"Frank…" muttered Matsuo.

Gwendolyn and Kamei patted Frank's shoulders as Gwendolyn ended hugging him. Matsuo felt sad over this, but also felt a bit of envy overseeing Frank with such a beauty! But he contained himself, as this wasn't the time for that.

"Now enough of this. We are past that problem already… You don't have to hug me like that," sighed Frank, feeling like a spoiled child.

"Fufu, but we like to cuddle sometimes, right~?" asked Gwendolyn.

"Ah! D-Don't talk those things in front of Matsuo…" sighed Frank, facepalming in embarrassment.

Matsuo was barely containing his laughter as he saw Frank acting like a spoiled kid with Gwendolyn. Although alongside that, he still felt envious! He wanted to be spoiled by a cute girl as well…

"(I have so many responsibilities I can't even find a girl…)" sighed Matsuo internally.

After things were done here, the group quickly walked back to the tower, and on the way, they met with Hinata, the shopkeeper of the Clan's trading area.

"Eh? Ah! F-Frank?! You're back, boy!" said Hinata, rushing towards Frank as she used a spell to float above Frank and pet his head.

"Though… Don't you look a bit more mature?! And you're so packed up with muscles!" said Hinata, while touching Frank's belly.

"It is nice to meet you again Hinata… This is Gwendolyn, my wife, and this is Kamei, my sister," said Frank.

"W-Wife?! Ah! S-Sorry!" apologized Hinata, as Gwendolyn glared at her with squinting eyes, blazing with bloodthirst…

"No, no, it's fine~ As long as you apologize and recognize that he is my man, it is fine," said Gwendolyn, as her tails began to wave around…

"Y-Yes… (How did this twink get himself a Kitsune wife?! And her power is… overwhelming…!)" thought Hinata. She was already quite the recognized member of the clan-based on strength, but compared to Gwendolyn… She wasn't much.

"Anyways… I might come back to the shop sometime in the near future, see ya," said Frank, as the group walked back to the tower.

"Y-Yeah… See ya…" said Hinata, still feeling a bit taken aback.

-----