Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Paying the Tab (1)
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“Necromancers receive pure dark mana supplied directly from demons.”
The old man shook his head with a grim expression.
“The moment even a little of that dark mana builds up in you, there's no turning back. I've seen it happen to mages who fell apart because of it.”
These old-timers had seen it all.
It wasn't surprising they'd had experiences like that.
“The more they're tainted by the darkness, the more their personality erodes until they end up as raving lunatics. That's their fate.”
If normal mana is the energy that makes up the world, dark mana is the energy born from negativity.
Anyone who starts accumulating that stuff in their body would lose their mind.
“They're driven mad by their obsession with power and end up selling their souls to demons in a pact.”
“Why go that far?”
“Because it's incredibly easy and fast. No long training required—just go insane, and your power skyrockets exponentially.”
“No training needed...?”
“Of course, you still have to learn how to cast spells separately, but just being able to form circles that quickly is absurd on its own.”
The first necromancer I'd encountered was in the elf forest.
I hadn't realized it then, but now I knew.
Low-level necromancers were noticeably weaker than regular mages.
“Up to the 5th circle, as long as you have time, growth is practically guaranteed.”
That explained why necromancers were so few but so strong.
With enough time, they could churn out mages like a factory.
And if every one of them commanded undead, that was a force you couldn't ignore.
“They kill people and turn them into undead, then use those undead to kill more people.”
A repeating cycle.
They gather souls from the dead to summon demons, then kill even more people.
That summons even higher demons...
“And it culminated in the summoning of the Demon King during the continental war decades ago.”
“...Whoa.”
I was too stunned to even laugh.
“Ironically, the demons had no interest in ruling the continent. They just seemed to savor the pleasure of slaughter.”
“They're completely insane...”
As my expression turned serious, the old man rattled off something flippant.
“That's normal to them. If there were such a thing as a good demon, that'd be the crazy one, right?”
“Anyway, what's the point of necromancers summoning demons?”
The answer to my question didn't come from the old man.
It came from elsewhere.
Serena wore a sad expression, lost in memories.
“Immortality.”
“...Immortality?”
I started to ask more, but closed my mouth.
Serena looked heartbroken.
Archmage Closel shook his head too.
“The biggest confirmed reason is immortality. Growing endlessly strong without having their souls taken by demons.”
“What a ridiculous bunch.”
“Just one. There's someone who achieved something similar.”
“A lich?”
Lich's Life Force Vessel.
A spell that traps the soul and escapes death.
With the soul sealed away like that, demons can't take it.
“It's said he was once part of the Mage Tower.”
There was something off about the old man's words.
If records existed, it'd be fact—but this sounded vague.
Like some legend.
“The world doesn't record shameful history.”
“Hmm...”
“They erase it thoroughly so later generations never know. Even the empire's history is full of distortions now.”
History belongs to the victors, after all.
It's always written to favor them in the end.
“In any case, the problem starts with how to become a lich.”
“By gathering people's souls again?”
Contrary to my guess, the old man shook his head.
“To become a lich, you need to reach the 8th circle. But...”
He looked utterly baffled.
“The human body can't handle the mana of the 8th circle.”
“...Then how does anyone become a lich?”
That didn't add up.
You need 8th circle mastery to become a lich.
But humans can't withstand that much mana.
“Even interrogating necromancers, they don't know the method. Only that one guy does.”
Suddenly, the old man grinned.
The face he made when bursting with curiosity.
“That was true until we met you.”
What was this old coot about to say...?
“Mages who know of liches have their theories. But the matter's too grave to speak of lightly.”
“...?”
“Why do you think so many mages hang around your shrine?”
I'd thought it was curiosity about new knowledge.
Though an unusual number of skilled ones did gather.
They'd followed me around too.
“There might be a connection between liches and the power you wield.”
Something related to souls?
Suddenly, the pieces clicked into place.
Wasn't there one thing the necromancers were after right now?
Strange spells no one but me had noticed.
The false grudge I'd placed on the World Tree.
And the captured orc shamans.
“Old man, do you still have that book?”
“Hm?”
“The one the orc shaman could read.”
The bizarre methods those guys used might stem from sorcery.
Even corrupting souls into false grudges.
They had used blue flames, after all.
Pop—
The old men's mouths fell open.
Hands frantically rummaging through subspatial pockets.
As the worn book appeared, Gullak reacted violently.
“Chwiik!”
Flop—flop—
“M-Monster human! Where'd you get that?”
“Chris found it.”
“Human shaman! Amazing! I respect you!”
“...?”
No, these old-timers were supposed to be sharp-minded.
They could grasp meanings from just a few tossed words.
What about their life experience?
Polished to the peak of wisdom by years.
And yet.
“You didn't think of this?”
“Of course not!”
“...?”
“Who'd imagine orcs performing gut rituals to contact souls? Mere monsters!”
Hearing it, he had a point.
Honestly, I hadn't expected orcs to be this kind of race either.
Come to think of it, the first thing I met here was Gullak.
I'd woken up right on time near there and met his brother.
“Chwik! C-Can I read it?”
The book passed from the old man's hand to Gullak's.
The mood turned dead serious in an instant.
Trembling hands flipped the pages, until the old man couldn't wait and spoke.
“Ahem, Gullak, was it?”
“Yes.”
“What's it say?”
Gullak bared his teeth in a grin.
“Monster human. Nothing's free in this world. Don't you know that?”
This orc punk was definitely nuts.
Talking like that to the old man.
“Hey, you little shit, spill it already.”
“Chwik! Human shaman's free. I'll tell.”
Gullak, who had been so bold, shrank back and glanced around.
“Methods for kindling sacred flames are written here.”
Couldn't I already do that?
I'd been blazing them pretty well.
“Orc shaman way only! Totally different from what human shaman taught!”
“Hm?”
Different or not wasn't the big issue...
If he was saying that, it meant he'd recreated the flames with a completely different method.
Like playing gut ritual tunes on an electric guitar.
In other words, insane talent.
Gullak flipped the page, as if losing interest.
“Chwik! Human shaman's way is better! Old method's outdated.”
“...Surprisingly open-minded?”
“Orcs must change. Or we'll all die.”
Gullak began scanning the book with a serious face.
I even urged him to read it aloud, but he said it was impossible.
Characters he could read but not speak...
“Chwik! Ways to use the flames are here.”
Everyone's attention focused on Gullak.
“Method to send souls to the warriors' land.”
“...?”
“I didn't know either! Orc souls have a place to return to.”
Gullak's face twisted grotesquely.
That was...
A face welling with emotion?
Or a threat?
“Orc souls had a place to go... chwiik...!”
He even looked pitiful.
“Burn souls with sacred flames.”
“...?”
“Orc souls vanish to that place!”
Similar to a heavenly ascension rite that grants Buddhahood.
“Must send shaman's soul too.”
“That soul we saw before?”
“Yes. Book says it completes the ritual.”
Gullak looked up from the book again.
“When shaman's soul vanishes into the flames...”
An unexpected story poured from Gullak.
Something even I'd glossed over carelessly.
I never thought I'd hear it again.
“A blue gem appears. Orc treasure! Human shaman, here's your offering fee!”