Burnt Earth and Buried Corpses
The burnt earth carried the faint, sporadic stench of corpses drifting on the wind.
Bulria Arishion knew exactly what had gone down in this forest.
Originally, he was supposed to come here, kill the shadow disguised as a dark elf, claim the credit... and wipe all traces of the incident clean.
But while Bulria had been slacking off on his duties, lost in his indulgences and delaying his schedule, the mercenary group—along with Eugene, Ashy, Adria, and Jenella—had taken out the dark elf and burned the entire forest to the ground.
"No bodies left at all... I even checked underground, just in case, but nothing. Looking closer, it seems they used corpse monsters. Extremely dangerous foes."
"Don't touch those bastards."
"...Pardon?"
Bulria rubbed his bloodshot eyes, heavy from pulling an all-nighter.
"I'll handle them myself."
"But young master—"
"Since when could a shadow defy its master's orders?"
The shadow bowed its head.
Bulria glared down at it before whipping around.
"Disgusting. Why the hell are you gathering these pathetic corpses to make that? Even dragging in the mutants."
The shadow kindly answered his question.
"It's the family head's command."
"I know. That's why I'm sitting idle—because it's Father's orders. Otherwise... I'd have killed you already."
The shadow didn't flinch.
It simply relayed the facts like a robot.
"In time, young master, you'll come to understand and accept it."
"Never gonna happen. I'm the proud son of a great archmage."
Bulria stormed off, and the shadow followed silently behind.
Inwardly, the shadow muttered to itself.
'Young master. You're the disgusting one.'
Pretending to be reformed without remembering the past. But the sins he'd piled up wouldn't vanish.
And like in the past, he'd crave power again, crossing the line into "evil."
Just like the great archmage had.
'Supplied corpses to the Back Alley.'
'Corpses only?'
'...Mutant monsters too.'
Even after returning to the academy, I couldn't fall asleep easily.
'Supplied corpses to the Back Alley.'
Why?
I thought of the ancient monster.
A chaotic mash-up of corpses and monsters.
But its power surpassed the average by far, and with its massive bulk, it could crush anyone not on its level just by sheer size.
'...To make something like that?'
Why would a ducal house bother?
They weren't black mages, weren't short on power, and money was no issue.
No reason to make them.
"...To figure this out, I'd have to flip the Back Alley upside down."
Heading straight for the Arishion family like this?
That'd be a dog’s death.
If I had to compare, it'd be like poking a megacorp like LG. So if I wanna dig, hit the subcontractors instead.
But do I even need to?
The monsters they made were impressive, sure—but crude.
Couldn't accomplish anything major with them.
But why make them at all? What for?
"Calamity descends upon the continent."
The oracle from the main god, relayed through Arcana, kept flickering in my mind.
Was this tied to the calamity?
Did I have to stop it? Could I even?
"Sigh."
I let out a deep breath and sat up in bed.
Sleep wasn't happening tonight.
'Maybe take a walk.'
"Eodukshini. Let's head out."
-Groooaaan...
"You sound like an old man. Snoring like that—go sleep properly."
Why the hell does this thing snore?
"Sigh. Useless."
I sighed deeply and leaped out the window without waking it.
Thud.
Landed lightly and scanned the area.
Late night—no one around.
Whew. Perfect weather for causing trouble.
'Just go flip the Back Alley now?'
Could I pull it off?
Yeah.
At full power, I could even handle top high knights like Professor Eroy.
But.
'...Cleanup's the issue.'
Might be someone stronger than Eroy lurking there too.
What to do?
Sighing repeatedly, I started walking slowly.
Something'd turn up eventually.
"...Hm? Eugene?"
A familiar voice called out.
I turned.
Nipella Aoman stood there in light clothes, holding a coffee in one hand.
"Professor Nipella?"
He adjusted his crooked monocle and asked,
"...What are you doing out? It's curfew."
"Curfew?"
"Of course...?"
Oh...?
Didn't even cross my mind.
"I'll head back then..."
As I turned dejectedly, he grabbed my shoulder.
"Of course, if a professor summons you, that's different."
Oh.
"Come on. Follow me."
He led me to the counseling room.
Pretty decent setup—popular with students, apparently.
He locked the door, activated soundproofing magic, disabled recording spells, then finally sat.
Slosh.
He handed me warm cocoa and spoke slowly.
"You looked troubled, so I called you in... Did I misread?"
"No, spot on."
"Good. No one can enter now. And I'll keep this conversation to myself."
Saying that, he closed his eyes briefly, as if urging me to take my time.
I hesitated.
Should I spill?
Only Adria, Ashy, and Jenella knew about today.
This needed to stay top secret.
If word spread, who knows what chaos—and fallout for us.
"Pretty heavy stuff, huh."
He opened his eyes, intrigued.
"?"
"Fall for someone?"
"??"
What?
But he looked smug.
"So even you, Eugene, are a normal 17-year-old. Makes sense. Even as War God's priest, unrequited love isn't easy..."
"Not that."
"Oh? Not?"
"Nope. Absolutely. Never."
"Shame."
Shame my ass...
He seemed genuine.
Scary guy.
No way anyone's confessing to me anyway.
I've wrecked too much havoc... Anyone into that needs their head checked.
"Then something more serious... Uh, you didn't knock up a girl or anything?"
"Hell no."
"With all the scandals lately. Or schoolwork troubles?"
I stared at him.
Why so nosy?
In my past life, I'd counseled with teachers.
But.
'Yeah. Grades suck, so community college it is. Got the cash for that?''I want university—''University? What makes you think you can? Fine, homeless on the streets suits your career path. Perfect fit.'
They had zero interest in me.
No reason to care about a bullied, talentless, ugly, broke kid.
That neglect turned my life into hell.
'...This world's different, though.'
Guess I'm pretty messed up right now.
These random thoughts keep popping up.
I gave a bitter smile and pulled a paper from my pocket.
"Mana oath? Must be serious."
"Yeah. If you don't want—"
"It's fine. For confidentiality."
I, Nipella Aoman, swear upon my mana:
To never disclose the contents of this conversation to any third party.
Violation shall forfeit my mana entirely.
He signed without hesitation, like it was nothing.
I felt the line connecting our hearts.
Break the terms, and it'd mercilessly strip our mana.
"...Professor?"
"If a student's troubles need this security, it's the least I can do."
He handed back the paper casually.
This could ruin his career, reputation, everything.
Yet no hesitation?
Why? What'd he trust?
"You once told the principal you'd been bullied here."
"..."
"You said you lived in the forest your whole life, so it didn't add up... But even if it was a lie, there must've been a reason. A valid one."
He clasped his hands, staring straight.
No doubt, no falsehood in his eyes.
The real "teacher" I'd only imagined.
"So I get it. And that pain you sometimes show... Plus, you saved my life."
Saving his life doesn't mean handing over everything.
Most folks just say thanks and forget.
Everyone I'd known did.
"I won't say I'm unconditionally on your side—that's useless. But I will help you."
"Why?"
"You're a student here before you're my benefactor. And I'm a professor."
Nipella smiled warmly.
An adult's genuine kindness.
...First time seeing one.
"Can you tell me what happened now?"
...I finally opened up.
"...Like that."
I skipped reincarnation.
They wouldn't get it, and Arcana said, 'Past life's just the past. Ignore it. You're not weak enough to be chained by that.'
I'd mentioned sending the bully lookalike here, though.
Might've been her way of freeing me from it entirely.
So I stuck to today's forest events and intel.
Nipella's face grew serious.
"...The Arishion family, pulling strings like that."
"Know anything?"
"No. I handle continent-wide policing... but steer clear of top dogs like them. Too risky—not just my life, but my family's. And they hide traces meticulously; never spotted anything."
But.
"If that's true, I can't sit idle."
"Planning to hit the Back Alley first."
"Back Alley? We cleared them of Arishion ties... Guess that was bullshit."
A furrow deepened on his brow.
He pondered, then spoke.
"Stay put, Eugene. This is professor work."
"No."
I shook my head firmly.
"I'm War God's priest before I'm a student."
"Even the War God wouldn't want his child in danger."
"Doesn't erase my duty. I have to stop this. And I've got the power."
"...True. But honestly."
He sighed deeply.
"That place is hell. Swarming with corpses, criminals everywhere, human trafficking routine... I'm worried about your mental state."
"I'm fine. God protects me."
And that shit wouldn't shake me.
It'd just piss me off more.
No crumbling.
"...Can't be helped. Any oracle from the god?"
"Yes."
I lied calmly.
"God commanded me to stop this."
"...Then no choice."
He nodded.
"I'll dig deeper first. You stick to school life. Remember—you're still a student. Time to study and goof off worry-free."
I nodded.
...Bit back the urge to say carefree studying's impossible.