Ch.144144. The Greatest Necromancer

About a week had passed since I returned to the academy from the Marias Great Forest.

Since I had returned quietly, many students and professors didn’t know I was back. But through the lectures I resumed yesterday, I made everyone clearly aware of my return.

It was annoying that Findenai and the Dark Spiritmaster were treating me coldly for sending them back first, but I decided to let it go for now, thinking time would resolve things.

Besides, I had more pressing matters to deal with right now.

“Sniff…”

Elenoa Luden Griffin was writing a reflection paper in my research lab while sobbing. She had a sign hanging around her neck that read, “I am an idiot.”

I don’t know why she’s wearing something like that. Did Findenai play a prank on her?

Well, it’s not wrong, so I left it alone. Then another female student approached me cautiously.

Aria, with her long black hair tied back perhaps because of the summer heat, carefully handed me her reflection paper.

She too had a sign hanging around her neck.

‘Sorry for being in heat.’

“…Take that sign off.”

No matter what, making a student wear something like that seems wrong. Aria smiled brightly at my words and immediately removed the sign, breaking it in half.

“I-it was Findenai’s doing.”

As I thought.

I sighed and began reading Aria’s reflection paper.

– I deeply regret the incident where inappropriate drawings were made of Professor Deus Verdi. Actually, I didn’t draw them, Elenoa did… [omitted]… But wouldn’t this become a bittersweet memory of our school days? Aren’t I faithfully living the life of student Aria Rius as you wanted?! Like a curious, innocent child who wants to know everything… –

Crumple.

After reading that far, I unconsciously crushed the paper in my hand.

When I glanced at Aria beyond the crumpled paper, she was scratching her cheek with an embarrassed expression, but then…

“Please forgive me!”

She winked cutely, trying to act adorable.

If I were my usual self, I would have calmly accepted the student’s aegyo, but…

“Double the length of your paper.”

“Waaah!”

Since she had severely provoked my mood, I immediately doubled her reflection paper.

Aria trudged back to her seat beside Elenoa and began writing her reflection paper again on paper she received from Owen.

She glared at Owen, the whistleblower, but when I looked at her again, she quickly fixed her gaze on her reflection paper like a startled puppy.

They’ll be here all day.

While I was genuinely displeased about them drawing strange pictures of me, I decided to let it go since they’re both precious students and still young.

“Hmm.”

At that moment, Illuania was flipping through the drawings one by one beside me. I told her to rest at the hotel, but she insisted on coming here with Sevia.

She was looking through Elenoa’s drawings while holding the child in her arms.

Then.

“Pfft.”

She chuckled to herself and muttered.

“Maybe it’s because they’re still kids. Their imagination is lacking. It’s much more impressive than this.”

“…Excuse me?”

“What?”

Aria and Elenoa immediately looked at Illuania. I also frowned and glared at her, causing Illuania to cover the child’s ears and laugh awkwardly.

“An old habit slipped out.”

“Sigh, stop looking at those and go burn them. Findenai should be preparing.”

“Yes, understood! Coochie-coo, shall we go, Sevia?”

Illuania left with a bundle of drawings while holding Sevia.

I sighed and turned my head to look at the woman who shares my research lab.

Today was unusually crowded, so I was concerned about disturbing Professor Per Petra, who shares the lab with me.

“…”

But buried in her bushy pink hair, she was focused on her work with her lips tightly sealed.

According to Erika, her lectures are so advanced that students often find them difficult to understand, placing her among the geniuses.

No matter how I look at it, the way she moves her arms around—arms that look completely real—makes her appear like a mad scientist or a serial killer, nothing more, nothing less.

“Hmm.”

Professor Per sighed in disappointment. Since I had finished my work, I slowly approached her.

The two female students glanced at me, but when I glared at them, they immediately buried their faces in their papers again.

“Is there a problem?”

“Ah, Professor Deus Verdi. I’m disturbing you! I-I’m sorry!”

Professor Per apologized while scratching her head. I told her there was no need to apologize and stood beside her.

It was truly an exquisite prosthetic body.

I was amazed at how well it was made. I heard it was some kind of alchemy.

While I was curious, I had no intention of rudely asking about her personal research achievements.

As I stared at the prosthetic body, Professor Per answered, twisting her body shyly.

“Actually, the process of making the prosthetic isn’t difficult, but I don’t have anyone to demonstrate it on.”

“Hmm.”

“I tried it myself, but I think the feeling of using three arms would be quite different for actual users.”

I briefly wondered where she had attached the prosthetic arm to use it, but if that was the issue, I knew someone who could help.

“I think I can help you.”

“Really?”

“Would you wait a moment?”

After saying that, I headed outside the lab.

“Please make sure those two don’t escape until I return.”

“Ah, yes! Understood!”

“Owen, tell me immediately if they bully you.”

“Yes, Spiritmaster!”

The eyes of the two girls, who were trying to seize the opportunity of my departure, became unfocused again.

I’ve been too lenient with them.

That’s why they’re doing strange things with my face.

Well, to be precise, it’s Deus’s face, so I’m not particularly offended.

After going outside, it took some time, but I was able to find someone who could help.

“Why are you in a place like this?”

[…]

The Dark Spiritmaster was sitting on the railing of the academy rooftop, looking at the surrounding scenery. While her behavior was unusual, she still wouldn’t look at me.

“Sigh, let it go already. It was something I had to do alone.”

Apologizing to the souls I forcibly used in the Marias Great Forest was naturally my responsibility.

There was no need for the Dark Spiritmaster to join me.

[What do you do when a student makes a big mistake?]

“…”

[You tell them to bring their parents, right? You also contact their family. Aren’t I in a similar position? When you make a mistake, I think I at least deserve to bow my head alongside you.]

“There’s no need for that.”

At my words, she turned her head abruptly, got down from the railing, and strode toward me.

She seemed genuinely angry, unlike her usual self.

[Who taught you how to handle necromancy?]

“…You did.”

[Without me, you’d still be dabbling in the basics of necromancy, let alone proper techniques, and would have been devoured by Lemegeton, right?]

The Dark Spiritmaster’s words became quite heated.

I thought time would resolve things, but it seems that approach backfired.

It seems I made her fester inside.

[Can’t I do that much for you? Go together, kneel down, and apologize? Am I not in a position to do that?]

The Dark Spiritmaster glared at me with clenched fists and a confrontational posture.

In response to her attitude that seemed to challenge me to speak, I opened my mouth.

“Yes, you’re right.”

[…Huh?]

Perhaps she didn’t expect me to accept so easily. The Dark Spiritmaster looked surprised, but I continued.

“If that’s how you want to see it, you certainly have the right.”

After all, the Dark Spiritmaster had become quite important to me.

She stammered in confusion.

“But don’t misunderstand. It’s not because I was ignoring you or keeping you at a distance.”

Rather, I had instructed her to leave first because I didn’t want to put her through such hardship because of me.

[A-ahem. Yes. I understand.]

The Dark Spiritmaster cleared her throat awkwardly and averted her gaze. Though it wasn’t clearly visible, through the translucent cloth, I could see the corners of her mouth trying to curl up into a smile, which she was forcibly suppressing.

After giving her a moment, the Dark Spiritmaster regained her composure and asked in what seemed to be a better mood.

[Did you properly apologize in the Great Forest?]

“I did my best. Not everyone accepted it, but I paid an appropriate price.”

Thanks to Saintess Lucia’s healing, I’m fine now, but when I first came out of the Marias Great Forest, I was covered in blood and lost consciousness again.

After all, no soul would easily forgive being forcibly used.

“And I brought back something.”

[Brought back what?]

To the Dark Spiritmaster who tilted her head in confusion, I slowly extended my hand.

A burning red sphere.

Some might think it’s just a small fireball, but the Dark Spiritmaster was different.

[Horua?!]

I nodded slightly to her as she widened her eyes in surprise.

“It’s much weaker now, but since guardian spirits are ultimately spiritual beings, I was able to collect it.”

At my calm answer, the Dark Spiritmaster looked dumbfounded before finally letting out a hollow laugh.

[A Saintess, an archdemon, and now a guardian spirit that lost its land. You’re truly amazing.]

“You missed one.”

[What?]

“Isn’t the continent’s greatest necromancer also with me?”

When I looked at her with a faint smile, the Dark Spiritmaster opened her mouth briefly, then her shoulders trembled before she exclaimed proudly.

[Of course! Naturally! I have no intention of stepping down from the top position yet! Keep striving!]

“Yes, I’ll work hard. Let’s go now.”

As I turned around, the Dark Spiritmaster followed, saying she was fine with it.

[Hmph, you’re being unusually kind today, seeking me out. I should sulk more often.]

Her humming response made me feel not too bad either.

I hadn’t planned it, but in this state, it shouldn’t be difficult to ask her for a favor.

Back in the research lab…

I pointed to a prosthetic arm lying there and said.

“Get in.”

[…]

“Professor Per said she needs an actual user. I thought you might feel similar since you don’t have a physical body.”

The Dark Spiritmaster stared at me blankly before slowly clenching her fist.

Then, just as I expected, she exploded.

[Y-y-you idiot! You tricked me! Used me with sweet words! Bad man! Trash! Necromancer!]

“…You’re a necromancer too.”

[Shut up!]