The notes continued to dance around and one by one, smoky figures were getting carried one by one to their bodies. It was a bit unbelievable and creepy seeing all of them being carried out by these notes. And although I am a bit surprised by this method, it kind of looks fancy as I do this, and seems like the notes are bringing the souls of everyone from somewhere back to where they truly belong.

While I continue the job for quite a while, all of a sudden, Queen Tanya and Izmir are back on high alert. I frowned at first at what was happening and my Mother seemed to have read my mind.

"The enemies are here. It seems they are now responding to the sounds of the bell and they are now going to attack again. Queen Tanya and Izmir-chan have been on high alert always which is why they can detect any enemies suddenly invading the area."

Almira also started to speak on the speaker as well. "Don’t worry about them, Manato. Continue what you are doing. If you stop now, the rite will also stop and the soul of everyone who is now being carried might disappear forever. Don’t stop midway and let them do the defense and you do your task until it is over."

Hearing that, it seems my job is to keep this bell ringing the entire time while remaining defenseless. No, I am not entirely defenseless as Mother is here with me to protect me and everyone who is still under the rite, and that only comes to the worst situation where even Queen Tanya and Izmir can’t stop the enemies and their numbers. If the two can’t stop them, how can my mother do it?

Still, I didn’t think too much of it and just continued to ring the bell like my life depended on it. The process was a boring and slow one and the process of delivering the soul to the body is also slow enough that I am a bit getting impatient as well. However, I continue to ring it as I keep on the watch of what is happening outside.

Pixie occasionally flies around here and there, supporting both Izmir and Queen Tanya, carrying potions to help. As for my mother, she is setting up some traps all around and it seems they are set to trigger enemies entering the vicinity. I don’t know how that will help much but I hope it won’t be too damaging to the mansion those traps if they are triggered. I prefer no enemies breaching at all if possible.

That’s when I found a better idea. Since I can’t fight, then my followers will then go ahead and help.

"Everyone available, please help Queen Tanya and Izmir with the defense! Everyone will receive rewards after this is over, so please hang in there while the rite is currently ongoing!"

Without hesitation, the Summon’s Area opened and the Desert Wolves came running out, followed by Atlas, Tina, and the fallen angel, Laga which I was surprised since he hadn’t come out nor said anything else these past few years. I felt like they decided to live quietly in my Summon’s Area with his sister and decided not to join the affairs of the world and the circumstances of our battles with the Goddess of Life. Laga, appearing right now is a much bigger surprise than the attack of the enemies itself.

"Laga? Why are you here? I thought you were more content with staying on the Summon’s Area all these years?"

"Haha, just because I was a shut-in with my sister doesn’t mean I am just going to let my body rot without doing much help. Me and my sister are living rent-free here in the Summon’s Area with all of our needs and yet you didn’t ask for any sort of payment. Since you didn’t ask for payment, then if you ask for this kind of help, I am willing to offer some help, I might not be the most powerful fallen angel out there, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help."

And with that, Laga went off with the others who joined Queen Tanya and the others to the defense. I don’t know what kind of enemies are they, to begin with, but with everyone on the frontline, I kind of feel guilty that I am behind them doing the bell shake instead of helping them in the fight.

"When is this going to end?"

I continue to shake the bell for a few while. And here I thought that the process would be fast enough since everyone is currently under the right process and yet it feels so slow. What if the bell was never repaired? Then I will have to do this again and again until everyone is revived. That is a very tedious task. Although I am not complaining since it is doing its intended purpose, I can’t help but complain about the length of the ritual to finish the task.

Outside the mansion are the multiple noises of magic blasts, slices of enemies, monsters roaring, and the wolves barking and tearing monsters apart. I don’t know how long it has been going since the battle started but it feels like I have been here for many hours already. It was a bit annoying for some reason that the rite was taking so long.

"I can tell what you are thinking son, just be patient. Since the Goddess of Life decided to f*ck all of us up, then we can only endure this just so we can revert to their deaths and let them live again," Mother encourages me as I continue shaking the bell.

"It’s not like I am getting impatient but I am still not sure why this ritual is taking this long. It seems like everyone has already regained their souls?"

"Just be patient Manato. It seems they are going to awaken soon enough. You don’t need to endure waiting any longer," Almira said with confidence.

I was starting to doubt that when I saw Pandora’s body twitch. I wasn’t certain at first if her body was indeed twitching but it was soon followed by another movement and soon, her eyes were slowly opening. Not only her, but the others are also waking up as well.

"The Rite is now on the final parts, don’t stop shaking the bell, Manato. The final shakes are vital for solidifying their souls back into their bodies especially since they have been out of their bodies for a long. We needed to make sure their bodies don’t reject their souls as a result of that," Almira ordered.

"That was a thing?!" I frowned.

"Just don’t complain because it is indeed a thing. If you stop now, there might be a chance that their bodies will eject their souls outright without hesitation which will result in their permanent death. So if you want to avoid that from ever happening, then do it as I told you and no one will die. I know I may sound bossy now but that is necessary so that you won’t stop midway now that you are seeing them moving."

Hearing Almira’s explanation almost caused me to feel disappointed in myself since I almost stopped shaking the bell. If I had stopped there, would everyone die in the end? That is a very scary thought.

I continue to shake the bell and everyone dead has once again returned from the dead. They are slowly waking up, shaking their head, and seem to be still not sure what is happening, like they have just woken up from a very long dream. It didn’t take long for everyone to be awake again. This time, it was Almira who ordered me to stop shaking the bell.

"Manato, you can stop shaking the bell. Everyone’s souls have finally settled in and they are now back to normal. They are now alive and kicking once more. Great Job for hanging in there for so long."

I sat down on the floor, feeling my arm get numb from shaking the bell. I don’t know how long I was doing it but it was still bright outside when I started but now, it’s deep at night already. I am even hungry as well since I didn’t eat anything after I started.

As for everyone, Pixie escorted all of them to the medical room to examine them closely. My mother will join her later but not before leaving me something.

"Good Job, son. Here, have some of the pie I baked for you. You deserved it for lasting that long."

I nodded as I received the pie and the glass of juice. For the first time, it felt like I really needed this. Then, I noticed movements outside coming in. I was on high alert at first but I dropped my guard as I looked at the door where everyone who was fighting outside had finally stopped and returned.

"Is the ritual done?" Queen Tanya asked.

"Yeah, just finished."

"Where are they?" Izmir asked.

"They are currently being examined for now. As for everyone, good job. You all should have some deserved rest," Almira announced, signifying the end of the tiresome day.