Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: The Greatest Necromancer
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A week had passed since returning to the academy from the Marias Great Forest.
Many students and professors hadn’t even noticed my return because I’d come back quietly.
But through the lectures I resumed yesterday, I made sure they all knew I was back.
Pindenai and the Black Necromancer, who grumbled about me sending them ahead first, were a bit annoying, but I figured time would sort it out, so I let it slide for now.
More importantly, there was something I needed to resolve right away.
“Sniff.”
Elenoa Luden Griffin was sniffling in my lab as she wrote her letter of reflection.
A sign hung around her neck that read, ‘I am an idiot.’
I had no idea why she was wearing something like that. Had Pinden A pranked her or something?
Well, it wasn’t wrong, so I decided to leave it be.
Then another female student crept up to me slyly.
Aria, perhaps because it was summer, had tied up her long black hair and was cautiously handing me her letter of reflection.
She also had a sign around her neck.
‘I’m sorry for going into heat.’
“……Take that sign off.”
No matter what, making a student wear something like that wasn’t right.
Aria beamed brightly at my words and immediately removed the sign, snapping it in half.
“P-Pindenai’s fault.”
As expected.
I sighed and began reading the reflection letter Aria had written.
- I deeply regret the incident where I used Professor Deus as a model for an inappropriate drawing. In truth, I didn’t draw it; Elenoa did…… (omitted)…… But won’t this become a bittersweet memory of my school days? Am I not faithfully living the life of the student Aria Rias that you wanted, Professor? As a curious, innocent girl who’s wondering about everything…… -
Crumple.
I crumpled the letter without realizing it as my grip tightened while reading up to that point.
I glanced at Aria over the letter, and she scratched her cheek with an embarrassed look.
“Pretty pleeease!”
She winked and tried to act cute.
Normally, I would have just calmly accepted the student’s charm.
“Double the length.”
“Eeeek!”
But she had thoroughly provoked me, so I immediately doubled her reflection letter.
Aria trudged back to the seat next to Elenoa and started writing a new one on the paper she got from Owen.
She glared at Owen, the whistleblower, midway, but when I looked again, she cowered like a puppy and fixed her eyes on the paper.
Looks like she’ll be here all day.
Honestly, drawing weird pictures with my face was unpleasant, but since both were precious students in their own way and still young, I decided to let it go.
“Hmm.”
At that moment, Iluania was flipping through the drawings one by one beside me.
I’d told her to rest at the hotel, but she’d come all the way here with Sevia to hang out.
She was holding the child in her arms and browsing the pictures Elenoa had drawn.
Then.
“Pfft.”
She chuckled to herself as if something was amusing and muttered.
“Maybe because they’re still kids. Their imagination is so lacking. Mine are way more impressive.”
“……What?”
“Huh?”
Aria and Elenoa immediately turned to stare at Iluania.
I frowned and glared at her too, and Iluania covered the child’s ears while giving an awkward laugh.
“Old habits die hard.”
“Sigh. Stop looking and go get burned up outside. Pinden A should be preparing.”
“Yes, got it! Uwushoo, shall we go, Sevia?”
Iluania grabbed a bundle of the drawings, hugged Sevia, and headed out.
I sighed and turned to look at the woman who shared the lab with me.
With so many people around today—unusually crowded—I worried it might bother Professor Per Petra.
“…….”
But she was buried in her bushy pink hair, lips pursed in concentration on her own work.
According to Erica, her lectures were so advanced that students struggled to follow, placing her in the genius category.
The way she moved that arm—which looked nothing but real—around made her seem like a mad scientist or dismemberment killer, nothing more or less.
“Urgh.”
Professor Per let out a sigh of frustration.
Since I’d finished my tasks, I slowly approached her.
The two female students glanced at me midway, but when I shot them a glare, they buried their faces back in their papers.
“Is something wrong?”
“Oh, Professor Deus. Sorry for disturbing you! S-Sorry!”
Professor Per scratched her head apologetically.
I told her there was no need to apologize and stood beside her.
It was an incredibly intricate prosthetic body.
I was amazed at how she’d made something like this. I’d heard it involved some kind of alchemy.
I was curious, but I had no intention of rudely prying into someone’s personal research.
As I stared openly at the prosthetic, Professor Per fidgeted shyly and explained.
“Actually, creating the prosthetic itself isn’t hard, but I don’t have anyone to demonstrate it on for real.”
“Hm.”
“I tried it myself, but using three arms feels different from what actual users would experience.”
I briefly wondered where on earth she’d attached prosthetic arms before, but for that, there was someone who could help.
“I think I can assist you.”
“Really?”
“Please wait a moment.”
With that, I headed out of the lab.
“Make sure those two don’t run off anywhere until I get back.”
“Y-Yes! Got it!”
“Owen, tell me right away if they bully you or anything.”
“Yes, Necromancer!”
The two girls, who’d eyed my exit as a chance to scheme, lost focus in their eyes again.
I’d been too lenient with them.
That’s why they’d done weird things with my face.
Well, technically Deus’s face, so I wasn’t hugely upset.
Once outside, it took a little time, but I found someone who could help.
“Why are you in a place like this.”
[…….]
The Black Necromancer sat on the academy rooftop railing, gazing at the scenery.
Her unusual behavior puzzled me a bit, but she still wouldn’t look my way.
“Sigh. Cheer up already. It was my responsibility alone.”
Apologizing to the souls I’d forcibly used in the Marias Great Forest was naturally my duty.
The Black Necromancer didn’t need to come along.
[What do you do when a student commits a serious mistake?]
“…….”
[You make them bring their parents, right? Contact their family too. Isn’t that my position? When you mess up, don’t I have the right to bow my head alongside you?]
“No need for that.”
She whipped her head around at my words, hopped off the railing, and strode toward me.
She looked genuinely angry, unlike her usual self.
[Who taught you to handle necromancy?]
“……You.”
[Without me, you’d still be fumbling with basics, half-eaten by Remegaton. You wouldn’t even know proper necromancy.]
The Black Necromancer’s tone grew heated.
I’d thought time would calm her, but it had only festered inside.
[I can do that much for you, can’t I? Go together, kneel, apologize—what’s wrong with that?]
She thrust her clenched fists forward, grinding her teeth with a grin as she glared at me.
Her attitude dared me to speak if I had anything to say, so I opened my mouth.
“Yeah, you’re right.”
[……Huh?]
She hadn’t expected me to accept so easily and looked flustered, but I continued.
“If you want to think that way, you absolutely have the right.”
The Black Necromancer had become quite important to me by now.
She stammered in surprise.
“But don’t misunderstand. It wasn’t because I was ignoring you or keeping distance.”
I’d told her to leave first precisely because I didn’t want to make her go through hardship because of me.
“Ahem. Got it.”
The Black Necromancer coughed awkwardly and averted her gaze.
Though hard to see through the translucent fabric, her lips seemed to twitch upward, barely suppressed.
After giving her a moment, she regained her composure and, seeming in a better mood, asked.
[Did you apologize properly in the Great Forest?]
“I did my best. Not everyone accepted it, but I paid the appropriate price.”
Thanks to Saintess Lucia’s healing, I was fine now, but when I’d left the Marias Great Forest, I’d been covered in blood and passed out again.
No soul would let forced use slide easily.
“And I brought something back.”
[Something?]
As the Black Necromancer tilted her head curiously, I slowly extended my hand.
A burning red orb.
Some might see it as a small fireball, but not her.
[Horua?!]
I nodded slightly to her as her eyes widened in shock.
“It’s weakened a lot, but a guardian deity is still a spiritual being, so I could collect it.”
She looked incredulous at my casual reply, then let out a hollow laugh.
“Former Saintess, Archdemon, now even a landless guardian deity. You’re really something.”
“You missed one.”
“Huh?”
“Isn’t the continent’s greatest necromancer with me too?”
I gave her a faint smile, and after gaping for a moment, her shoulders shook as she puffed up proudly and shouted.
“Of course! Naturally! I’m not stepping off the top spot yet! Keep striving!”
“Yeah, keep at it. Let’s go.”
As I turned, she happily followed.
“Hmm~ Coming to find me—you’re extra nice today. Guess I should sulk more often.”
Her humming made me feel pretty good too.
I hadn’t teased her, but in this state, asking her for a favor wouldn’t be hard.
Back at the lab.
I pointed to the lone prosthetic arm sitting there.
“Get in.”
[…….]
“Professor Per needs a real user. Since you have no body, I thought it’d be similar.”
The Black Necromancer stared blankly at me, then slowly clenched her fist.
And as expected, she exploded.
“Y-You! You! You idiot! You tricked me! Sweet-talked me into using me! Jerk! Trash! Necromancer!”
“……You’re a necromancer too.”
[Shut it!]