Ch.3333. The Necromancer of North Sweden

The giggling laughter of the girl mixed with the screams of evil spirits, intensifying the horrifying atmosphere.

“Hey, ex-fiancée. This looks like magic, what do you think?”

After taking one last drag, Findenai tossed the cigarette to the ground and stepped on it firmly.

Erika, who had been overwhelmed by emotions and lost her composure until just now, regained her calmness as if she’d been splashed with cold water.

“It is a magical barrier, but it’s neither of the four elements nor of the higher categories.”

Swallowing her bitter emotions, Erika added:

“It seems to be a type of Black Magic.”

“Black Magic?”

Gideon’s voice cracked in bewilderment as he frowned and glared at the girl.

Still standing at the entrance, she was swaying her body from side to side rhythmically, enjoying herself for whatever reason.

“Evil spirits can now use magic too?”

The girl nodded at Gideon’s words with a smile and slowly approached Erika.

[Is that all? I prepared quite hard, couldn’t you explain my efforts a bit more elaborately?]

“…I have absolutely no knowledge of Black Magic.”

[Really? I see.]

Grumbling with disappointment, the girl genuinely seemed upset that her efforts weren’t being appreciated.

But even if they asked other Mages, they would get the same response.

The Griffin Kingdom had such strict regulations on Black Magic. Occasionally, black market merchants would sell related books, but that was only known to those in the know.

To begin with, ordinary Mages extremely detested the very concept of Black Magic and didn’t want to go anywhere near it.

[This is a very unique magic. It’s a miraculous barrier that breaks down the boundary between the dead and the living.]

“Breaks down the boundary?”

[Yes, quite fun things will happen from now on.]

Erika desperately tried to call out to the girl and grab her, but the girl’s form had already disappeared.

Forcibly suppressing her frustration, she could only wave her hand through the empty space where the girl had been.

“I don’t think that’s the problem right now?”

Findenai shrugged and pointed outside the railing. Enormous insects were pouring up and beginning to rush toward the three people.

[Kraaaaa!]

“Damn, losing my weapon is really bad.”

Having lost his axe in the battle with the warrior at the main entrance on the first floor, Findenai had no choice but to continue fighting with his bare hands.

“Worthless trash. Who dares to kill whom?”

Gideon bit his lip until it bled and drew his flame sword.

“So this is what connecting the boundary between life and death means.”

Realizing that they could now directly hit the evil spirits, Erika also began to respond by manifesting golden magic.

* * *

No matter how chaotic the academy had become, lectures continued to be held.

That was the only part where one could directly feel that the academy was still functioning properly.

But now even that was beginning to be invaded by evil spirits.

As the sky darkened and all the lights went out, the students listening to the lecture fell into confusion.

The professor also tried urgently to calm the students, but it was difficult to shake off the fear that was consuming them due to things like the baby cries coming from the faculty dormitory recently.

“Calm down.”

At that moment, a black-haired female student stood on a desk, emitting white light. The concentration of mana itself was unusual. Even in just that moment, those with insight could tell that her magical talent was considerable.

First-year Aria Rius.

Despite being of common birth, she was recognized for her outstanding talent and entered Robern Academy with top honors, a genius among geniuses.

“Let’s stay calm for a bit. Falling into confusion here will only hurt ourselves.”

Her statement was extremely rational. That’s why several students who regained their composure nodded in agreement.

“That’s right.”

Among them, the youngest daughter of the Griffin King who had entered this year, Princess Elenoa Luden Griffin, calmly continued the conversation.

“Panicking here will only play into the hands of our enemies.”

The princess clearly used the word “enemy” to raise awareness.

The students suddenly became composed and began to follow Princess Elenoa’s words.

“First, we need to assess the situation. We need to scout outside.”

Since the windows in the classroom were as if painted with black paint and nothing could be seen, they needed to step outside the classroom door.

“What do you think, Professor?”

Princess Elenoa subtly shifted the responsibility to the professor who had been conducting the lecture.

The professor suddenly nodded, becoming aware of his position.

“Y-yes. That’s right. I’ll go outside and check, so please wait a moment.”

Though not without fear, the professor, unable to withstand the pressure from the trembling students and the princess, went outside.

Only then did the students feel like something was happening, and they sighed in relief as they collected themselves.

Princess Elenoa naturally approached Aria. She sat down next to her and quietly asked:

“You’re quite composed. You’re Aria, the top entrant this year, right?”

“Yes, that’s right, Princess.”

“We’re classmates. No need for formalities.”

“Then…”

“Call me Elenoa, comfortably.”

“Alright, Elenoa.”

Oh my?

Whether ignorant or bold, Aria immediately dropped the formalities. But that was enough to pique Elenoa’s interest.

“Can you tell me what you think about the current situation?”

Elenoa asked, tapping the desk as if testing her. Aria frowned for a moment and then calmly poured out her thoughts.

“It’s probably the work of those evil spirits that have been ominously floating around the academy. I can’t think of anything else.”

“Hmm, I see. But it’s the first time I’ve heard that evil spirits can use magic like this?”

“Same here… but.”

Aria approached the window and ran her hand over the darkness-blocked window, muttering.

“It seems to be a type of Black Magic. It must have required a lot of mana. I wonder if they extracted mana from the missing people.”

“You speak with such certainty?”

When Elenoa asked while resting her chin on her hand, Aria awkwardly smiled and scratched the back of her head.

“Sigh, I was curious to see how the academy would handle the evil spirit commotion, but now I can’t just stand by.”

Elenoa was planning to report this incident meticulously to the royal family.

She intended to expose the incompetence and reality of Robern Academy and uproot it from its foundation.

‘It doesn’t seem like this incident is related to me being a princess. Hmm, I wonder where my guards are.’

They were probably caught in this barrier too, but Elenoa was confident that they would come to rescue her soon, as they were extremely capable guards.

“What do you mean by not standing by?”

Aria asked Elenoa, who was twirling her flowing blonde hair with her fingers in regret.

Elenoa liked Aria despite the short time they had known each other, so she casually prophesied about the future of Robern Academy.

“At the very least, won’t it be closed down? Even for the prestigious Robern, this is no ordinary incident.”

Anyway, Elenoa could go to another academy or have instructors directly invited from the royal family to teach her.

‘I wonder if I even need to learn.’

It wasn’t just because of her royal bloodline. Elenoa was considered a genius even by royal Mages who gave her a thumbs up.

And the one who beat Elenoa in entrance scores was none other than Aria.

‘Quite an interesting child.’

Thinking that they would meet again even if Robern collapsed, she smiled slightly.

“Don’t.”

A fierce pressure constricted Elenoa’s entire body.

A fierce energy that couldn’t easily be felt even from her father, the highest authority in the country, or from absolute powers like the knight commander or the grand Mage.

“Huh…?”

With her voice barely coming out, Elenoa stared blankly at Aria.

Aria’s black pupils had already become cloudy and were spraying intense killing intent toward Elenoa.

“Don’t do it. This academy will eventually return to its original form.”

“What…”

CRASH!

“Kyaaaaa!”

“They’re in! They’re in!”

“What about the professor? What happened to the professor?!”

“Let’s run away first!”

“Nonsense! Fight back! Where would you run to?!”

Before Elenoa could finish speaking, the lecture hall door was smashed, and evil spirits that had gained physical form began pouring in.

Amidst the students who were either fleeing or fighting in confusion and chaos.

Elenoa and Aria were looking at each other as if they were the only two people here.

Calmly drawing mana from her chest and tensing her body, Elenoa finally uttered:

“You think this situation can be resolved?”

At those words, Aria slightly turned her gaze back to look outside the window.

“Yes, it’s possible.”

There was still only pitch-black darkness outside.

But tiny cracks began to form in the darkness, like a shell breaking.

“Because.”

There was an illusion that the murky and sticky air was escaping outside through the cracks.

The situation changed rapidly.

The evil spirits that had been rushing in instinctively turned their heads toward the window as light seeped in.

Some evil spirits writhed in agony as if they had encountered a natural enemy and began to flee in desperation.

Other evil spirits growled as if they had met a lifelong enemy and spewed curses, ready to kill at any moment.

The evil spirits’ barrier had not yet disappeared.

Their forces were still the same, and Robern was still at their mercy.

However, a small crack.

And one person stepping through the light that leaked through that crack.

There must have been an accident on the way, as the hem of his coat was slightly burned, and there were soot marks here and there.

Nevertheless, he maintained his appearance as neatly as possible, and there was not a hint of hesitation in his striding steps.

His calm eyes took in Robern.

With just that, the strange screams of the evil spirits ceased, and beings that had forgotten fear began to shrink back.

The wind changed rapidly.

It felt like the spring breeze entering through the crack was calmly embracing them, telling them to be at ease.

The only light illuminating Robern.

The spiritmaster of Norsweden.

Deus Verdi.

“He’s here.”

Aria reached out gently toward him beyond the window with an affectionate smile.

“My hero.”