"Never mentioned it."
In the ancient starry sky.
Facing the girl's anticipation, the silver-haired youth opened his mouth without hesitation, shattering her hope.
"You didn't?"
As if regaining hope, like a drowning person finding a lifeline, Uta's spirit seemed to be instantly drained. Her spiritual body visibly shriveled.
"Kill me!"
Head bowed, Uta spoke calmly.
"Why kill you?"
"Do pirates need a reason to kill?"
Looking at the girl, Kouta smiled, "Yes, pirates don't need a reason to kill, but... didn't I say it?"
"Say what?"
"We are adventurers. Adventurers cannot attack civilians. Even though you harbored ill intentions and attacked us, I! I can't bring myself to attack you, just like I can't attack any ordinary person!"
Uta's childhood was actually similar to Perona's.
But it was also different.
Similar in that both lost their families at a very young age and were both adopted by pirates.
The difference was that one followed genuine pirates, evil pirates, while the other followed pirates like Shanks, who adventured with their own sense of justice.
Therefore, their values were bound to be different.
As for Kouta killing Perona, first, it was because she sought death. Second, he did it with the intention of nipping evil in the bud.
After all, Perona followed Moria, and Kouta didn't sense any flicker of hope within Robin's heart, who, despite being in darkness, yearned for light. Thus, he felt no regret or guilt in killing Perona.
But the person in front of him was different.
Not to mention growing up with Shanks.
After Elegia was destroyed, she had remained here. Now, she was an ordinary civilian, not a pirate.
And Kouta truly saw the kindness deep within Uta's heart. Unlike Perona's heart, which was shrouded in darkness and chaos, Uta possessed genuine kindness.
Therefore, when facing Uta, Kouta lacked the ruthlessness he showed to pirates and was instead more patient.
"Adventurers..."
Uta lowered her eyelids, and she thought of the Red-Haired Pirates again.
They were so similar.
Shanks, although a pirate, never did the usual pirate work. Instead, he often mingled with civilians.
But this gentle Shanks had, in the blink of an eye, transformed into a demon and destroyed Elegia, which had welcomed them so warmly.
It was this transformation that led Uta to firmly believe that all pirates were inherently evil.
But the silver-haired youth in front of her now said they weren't pirates, but some kind of adventurers.
Were there really adventurers?
Once a person firmly believed in something, it was difficult to change.
This was precisely Uta's situation now.
Even A Hua and the others had taken a year of sailing to gradually accept the term "adventure group," let alone Uta.
As if sensing Uta's confusion, Kouta didn't offer further explanations.
He didn't need everyone to understand; he only needed to believe himself that he wasn't a pirate.
"Alright, I don't know how you've spent these years consumed by resentment, but people's eyes often don't see the truth of things. The truth is only revealed when you personally understand the entire sequence of events."
"Shanks, that guy, although sometimes he's a bit of a slacker, is a man with great responsibility and his own unique style."
"Since he considers you family, he wouldn't abandon you. You, who grew up with him, must know this."
"So, while I don't yet know the truth behind Elegia's destruction..."
"I do know that there must be another answer that you are unaware of."
In fact, by saying these words, Kouta was already hinting at the truth to Uta.
However, this truth was too cruel for the girl before him. He was still contemplating whether to reveal all the truth he knew to her.
But if he didn't tell her, she would eventually find out on her own.
Because they had come here precisely to investigate that so-called "Song Demon."
The moment they entered Elegia, he and Bichuan had simultaneously sensed a disgusting aura hidden here.
This aura was not the true aura of a demon.
But it was powerful enough.
Powerful enough to surpass the peak of this world.
Although Kouta had sensed residual demonic energy in Elegia, because the entity was currently slumbering in an unknown space, Kouta couldn't pinpoint its location.
His current goal was to find that Song Demon and eliminate it.
As for how to find the Song Demon...
He glanced down at Uta.
Wasn't the girl in front of him the key to finding the Song Demon?
Uta, who had been able to unleash the Song Demon at a very young age, should be able to release it again now with the so-called musical score.
Looking at the pensive girl, Kouta extended his hand and invited her, "What do you say? Want to join us and search for the truth that has puzzled you for so many years in the ruins of Elegia?"
"Is there truly another answer?"
Uta looked up, the grayness in her eyes shattering at this moment, gradually being replaced by brightness in her dark pupils.
"Yes."
Kouta nodded without hesitation. "You've been here for so many years, you must have heard the legend of the Song Demon. And the truth I know about Elegia's destruction is that it was caused by that entity."
"Really?"
A glimmer of hope appeared in Uta's eyes.
Like a drowning person clutching at the last straw.
"Mhm!"
This time, Kouta gave Uta hope, although this hope was a bit cruel.
Then, Kouta stepped forward, took Uta's hand, and with a turn, vanished from the starry sky.
Outside.
"Mmm~"
"Finally out."
Kuina woke up in Kouta's arms and quickly stood up, looking at the girl still standing on the giant stone with shock.
"This ability..."
Even with her current strength, she had been instantly pulled into that virtual world by Uta without any defense. One could imagine the girl's power.
"It's fine."
Kouta patted Kuina's back, then nodded to Uta below and casually introduced her to the people on either side.
"This is Uta, a singer who aspires to use her voice to bring peace and happiness to everyone."
"You even know that?"
Hearing Kouta say that, Uta looked at him with astonishment.
She was certain she had never met Kouta, and Kouta himself had told her that Shanks had never mentioned her.
How could the silver-haired youth know so much about her?
Could he truly be a god?
Thinking of the bizarre starry sky and the insignificance of oneself within it, Uta was beginning to believe her own guess and what Kouta had said.
After all, a "god" wouldn't lie to a mortal, would they...
With this thought, more light filled her eyes.