Chapter 38: The Disappearing Art of Black Magic

“Black magic is divided into three main branches: mental magic, necromancy, and curse magic.”

“…Oh.”

Granshar continued her explanation.

All three branches had names that suited black magic—eerie and ominous.

Sion listened with keen interest.

“I am a professor of necromancy… but I can use the basics of all three to some extent.”

“That’s impressive.”

“Hehe! You can praise me even more!”

“…You’re amazing.”

“Be more creative with your compliments! Seriously.”

It was as if she had never been crying just moments ago.

She seemed genuinely happy just to be giving a lecture to a student.

What kind of life had this professor lived?

“Let me show you necromancy first…”

Even under Sion’s pitying gaze, she continued her lecture undeterred.

She pulled a pouch from inside her robes, revealing some bones inside.

…Why does she suddenly have bones?

“O departed soul, rise once more into this world and devote yourself to me! Revival!”

Paah!

As soon as her incantation ended, the bones inside the pouch twitched.

Then, they tumbled onto the ground and began assembling themselves.

It was a fascinating yet grotesque sight, and Sion couldn’t look away.

The final result… was a small rat.

[Spell Name: Revival]
[Attribute: Necromancy]
[Tier: 1st Circle]
[Description: A 1st Circle necromancy spell that revives the dead using their bones or skin.]
[You have discovered a spell lower than your own circle!]
[A new spell has been added to your magic compendium.]
[You can now use the Revival spell.]

‘It’s registered. Necromancy magic.’

Compared to 1st Circle elemental magic, this was on a whole different level of power.

As long as bones or skin were available, the dead could be revived.

Of course, there must be restrictions, but still, it was an incredible ability.

“This is amazing. It’s much stronger than 1st Circle elemental magic. I think this alone could be used in combat.”

“Nya-ha-ha! You have a good eye. Black magic is naturally one tier stronger than other attributes. But in return, it has its limitations.”

Granshar lightly flicked the undead rat with her fist.

With a clatter, the rat collapsed.

Just like that, it stopped moving.

…It died from a single punch?

“The effectiveness depends on what kind of soul the deceased had, how many bones are available, whether they had lingering regrets in life, and so on… Many conditions affect the mana consumption. And!”

With a dramatic gesture, she pointed her index finger upward.

“Necromancy is harder to learn than other forms of magic. Because it deals with life and death, grasping its essence is extremely difficult.”

“So, it’s powerful, but hard to master and comes with great risks…”

“Ooh! You are quite intelligent. That is exactly correct!”

“I’m surprised this department still exists.”

“Wuuaaahhh!!”

With an exaggeratedly crushed expression, Granshar stared at Sion.

She overreacted to everything.

She seemed like the perfect person to tease.

“…Just kidding.”

“Don’t joke about such things!”

“Alright, alright… My apologies. So, should I try learning it? Could you recite the incantation again?”

“Hmph, you’ll obviously fail. Instead of trying it yourself, I’d rather show you different types…”

“I don’t mind failing.”

After Sion’s persuasion, she finally shared the incantation.

“…What was the chant again?”

“I already told you! ‘O departed soul, rise once more into this world and devote yourself to me! Revival!’ Like that.”

“……”

“I could tell you just sighed inside!”

“Ah.”

Sion was beginning to understand why the necromancy department was on the verge of disappearing.

“…O departed soul, rise once more into this world… and d-devote yourself to me!”

“With that lack of confidence, even a successful spell would fail—Wuaaah!?”

“Revival!”

Paah!

Sion chanted as if he was casting, but in truth, he simply activated the Revival spell from his magic compendium.

His target, of course, was the bones of the previously collapsed undead rat.

As expected, the bones rattled and started assembling once more.

“It’s done. Revival.”

“Huh?”

With a stiff movement, she examined the newly reformed undead rat.

Its jerky, unnatural movements remained the same.

This was no mere reassembly—there was actual necromantic energy within it.

“N-no way…! Ah! You… You’re not secretly a disciple of Kael, are you?! Did a Mental Magic professor brainwash a freshman into messing with me?!”

“Uh… Who is Kael?”

“The professor of Mental Magic! Hmph, but I don’t sense any mental magic residue…”

She stared deep into Sion’s eyes.

Then, as if realizing something, she gasped.

“…What is your name?”

“Now that you mention it, I never told you. I’m Sion. I don’t have a family name.”

“Sion!!”

She clattered her teeth together as if she had seen a ghost.

“A-a freshman in the Magic Department… They said there was a monster among them…”

“…A monster?”

“I never thought I’d meet you here! As expected, you’re incredible. Truly incredible!”

Granshar looked at him with eyes filled with awe.

Shion had nothing to say and just scratched the back of his head.

“I’ve already become famous among the professors in just two weeks…??”

It had only been two weeks since his admission.

For some reason, rumors about him seemed to be spreading more and more.

At first, he thought it was ridiculous, but considering everything he had done at the academy so far, he understood why.

After a brief moment, Granshar, now composed, looked at Shion with a serious gaze.

“If you learn black magic, you will undoubtedly become a great talent. I’m not joking—black magic is the bluest of blue oceans, and with your abilities, you will bloom in no time.”

Shion found her words somewhat tempting.

For an ordinary person, learning black magic was extremely difficult.

However, thanks to the existence of his ‘Magic Compendium,’ he could acquire magic just by observing it.

But…

“Did you just say ‘blue ocean’?”

“That’s right! A blue ocean!”

“Isn’t it more like a drying-up ocean rather than a blue one…?”

“Uwaah! That’s not true! It may have disappeared from the history of the magic department, but…”

Shion found it hard to agree with the claim that black magic was a blue ocean.

“Then, what kind of jobs can one get by learning black magic?”

“Uh… Well, necromancy can lead to a government job!”

“A government job? What kind of government job?”

“…Like… um… managing cemeteries?”

A government job was still a government job, but managing cemeteries?

It was obviously a night-shift job, away from people, and probably dangerous due to grave robbers.

…Rather than a blue ocean, it sounded like a job nobody wanted.

“Then what about mental magic?”

“Uh, hmm. An interrogator, a psychological counselor, or a psychiatrist…”

“Those all sound like mentally exhausting jobs. What about curse magic?”

“C-Curse magic is the most profitable! …If you take requests through underground connections, you can make quite a lot of money…”

Granshar slowly lowered her head.

None of these seemed like normal jobs, no matter how he looked at it.

How could this possibly be called a blue ocean?

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“W-Wait a momeeent!!”

Shion was about to open the clubroom door and leave.

Granshar desperately blocked the door in front of him.

“Please move aside. I just remembered I have an urgent appointment.”

“What urgent appointment?! I won’t move until you tell me!”

“I really do have an appointment. Why don’t you trust your student?”

“Then tell me what it is!”

“…Oh.”

Speaking of appointments, he actually did remember something.

“Wait, I actually do have an appointment… with Professor Huriju.”

Professor Huriju from The Essential Swordsmanship for Protecting a Mage.

During this week’s class, Shion had demonstrated a very impressive overhead slash.

As a result, Professor Huriju had personally scheduled a meeting with him.

“Then, I shall expect you on Wednesday evening!”

“Understood.”

“Good! Now, let’s continue the lesson!”

The appointment was set for Wednesday evening.

But today was not Wednesday—it was Thursday, the day of the club event.

Which meant…

“Oh no! I completely forgot about my appointment with the professor!”

He had already forgotten about his promise with Serenne, and now he had also forgotten about his appointment with Professor Huriju.

This was even more serious since it was an appointment with a professor.

Now was not the time to be struggling with Professor Granshar.

“Sorry, but I need to go meet another professor now.”

“Which professor?!”

“Professor Huriju.”

“H-Huriju…? You mean the one who teaches Yulseo Swordsmanship…? No way! Why would a combat faculty professor want to meet you?!”

“I’m telling the truth.”

Even when Shion tried to push past her with force, he couldn’t.

From the outside, this scene would probably look quite questionable.

Jumping out the window wasn’t an option either—he was too high up, and it would draw too much attention.

In the end, there was only one solution.

“Alright! If I come here again next Thursday, that should be fine, right?”

“A-Are you really telling the truth…? You’re not lying?”

“I mean it. If you don’t believe me, we can exchange numbers through our student IDs.”

“U-Uwah…”

Shion pulled out his student ID from his pocket and showed it to her.

With a touched expression, she eagerly entered his information.

She even went as far as calling him on the spot to confirm it.

Taking advantage of the moment her guard was down, Shion quickly opened the door.

“Then, I’ll see you next week.”

“You’ll really come? You promise we’ll meet next week?”

“Of course. I really need to go now!”

“If you’re lying, I’ll put a curse on youuu!!!”

Leaving her echoing voice behind him,

Shion dashed out of the clubroom, searching for Professor Huriju’s contact information on his student ID.