A New Beginning as the Revered One

Having become the object of worship, it was time for a fresh start. This was a romance fantasy world. No matter how dire the crises that came, the heroine—the protagonist of this world—always overcame every adversity. The male lead and sub-male leads who aided her. And countless extras. So why did they all help the heroine? It could just be because she was the heroine. But ultimately, that wasn't the reason.

She did the right things, and everything she touched turned to success. She consistently produced the best outcomes even in crises? Any man would listen to what she had to say. Anyway.

I'd come down from the Northern Frontline and relocated to the northeast. The Empire was vast, and there were even more untamed lands. I was a necromancer, a dark mage who wielded corpses. Warm southern lands were out of the question. And the water quality was better in the east than the west. The terrain was mountainous, which made it even more advantageous for defense. This was where I'd plant my roots from now on. And remarkably, it was the very area where the heroine would eventually settle. The countless advantages here... the world and the heroine had no idea yet.

"Master. Where is this place?"

She'd been rebellious at first. But after seeing me help and save people, Shumi accepted me as her master. Originally haughty and strict with herself and others, she'd started out kind-hearted but hardened through harsh trials. In the original story, she became the Saintess and formed an alliance with the heroine... but in this worldline, she became my slave. Of course, I didn't treat her like one—I cherished her like family. Even with my dark powers, I showed her what justice truly meant. Thanks to that, despite me being a necromancer who wielded dark magic, she actively joined in everything I set out to do.

"I'm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thinking of starting fresh here."

A vast plain nestled beneath towering mountains. A landscape cradled in Mother Nature's embrace. After enduring the brutal cold and blizzards of the north day in and day out, this stunning vista eased my mind. Shumi seemed taken with it too, her eyes wide as she scanned the surroundings.

"So you'll build a village here and become the noble who governs it, right Master?"

"I'd love that, but you need an elite family background or some monumental feats for that. Right now, I'm just saving people."

I'd initially considered making a name as a necromancer mercenary across the Empire. But the world was full of powerhouses, and their envy and jealousy could bring worse results than any monster. So I decided to build my foundation first before announcing myself to the world. This place would be my settlement—my new home.

I raised my right hand. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠special power of a seasoned mage. A strange darkness rippled across the broad, flat expanse. Tearing through subspace, skeletons erupted in droves. With a sweep of my hand, they used materials to erect simple tents nearby for people to stay in. Thousands of skeletons moved like machines, beginning to develop the untouched wilderness: felling trees, leveling the ground, erecting temporary walls from wood and stone. Tasks that would take humans immense effort and time were underway in an instant.

"The advantage of a necromancer. With a gesture from me, rebuilding a whole village is a snap!"

"As expected of Master. Using the power of darkness for everyone's sake—this is true light, isn't it?"

Shumi clasped her hands and looked up at me, her blue eyes sparkling.

"Ooooh...! Maker... is that our new home? The place where we'll live anew?"

"We were right to follow you, Maker. Thank you so much!"

"We believe in you now, Maker!"

I turned to the cheering crowds who'd followed me here, gazing at the masses behind me. In a world like this, where did true power come from? People. Followers who chose you were the real treasure. It was something the heroine said while purging corrupt nobles on her way to a happy ending. I'd follow her approach too—not out of pure goodness, but something closer to hypocrisy. But if it benefited me and the people alike? Then it wasn't hypocrisy anymore.

"Maker. We praise you again today."

"Oh! Maker, my rest. My peace. My one true savior!"

"If anyone in the world follows Maker, it's us!"

Even if you're doing good deeds, it starts with thanks and fear. But before long, they began worshipping me. Wasn't it a bit over the top? Anyone seeing this might think I was the head of a cult. But honestly? Being worshipped didn't feel half bad. My shoulders squared up, and I felt like some incredibly important figure. Of course, it was because I'd demonstrated my necromancer abilities so effectively, showing overwhelming power.

"What are you all?"

A bard who'd somehow joined us climbed onto a rock and shouted.

"A sturdy pillar of support, no matter when we hear it. That's right—it's you, Maker! Everyooone~!"

"Woooaaah!"

The bard strummed his lyre-like string instrument, and the crowd went wild. Whatever. I clenched my fist, raised my right arm toward the people—and they went even crazier. Shumi clapping like a hummingbird's wings up front was just icing on the cake.

* * *

Necromancy. A magic shunned as dark power, notoriously difficult to learn—only the talented could truly master it. Why had I stubbornly pursued it? For the overwhelming manpower at near-zero cost. When my mana depleted, I recovered it with food and rest. That was it. But the skeleton forces I raised worked tirelessly to build the village. In mere days, raw wilderness transformed into a walled settlement.

There was no lord here, but Empire law demanded taxes on any place with walls. Just like at the Northern Frontline, I got to work developing and advancing this land. The Empire's mountains teemed with precious gems and ores. Why hadn't they been developed? Monsters and beasts, naturally.

About 1,500 people now worshipped and followed me. Walls or not, it was still just a small village. I sorted the people, selecting those specialized in certain tasks and appointing representatives, granting them authority and rights. Of course...

"If you abuse your position, grow slothful, or commit crimes, you'll be executed on the spot. You'll live eternally as an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠undead, never allowed to die."

I issued a stern warning. I'd risked my life and powers to save them—betray that with evil? Chaos would erupt in a heartbeat. In these turbulent times, you had to keep people in line with ironclad laws. Thankfully, contrary to my worries, no such incidents occurred. And as I'd hoped, people moved efficiently, and village progress steamed ahead.

But the world's logic wasn't so forgiving. Even in this romance fantasy world I knew, events outside the heroine's view ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were mine to handle.

"Master! Urgent dispatch!"

I was drafting documents for the Imperial Palace in my makeshift office when Shumi rushed in, breathlessly offering a tightly rolled missive with both hands.

"What's this?"

"The nearest territory is on the brink of falling to monsters! They sent riders everywhere begging for aid, and this one reached you first."

To wield her light powers, she wore a thin robe. Drenched in sweat from exertion, she panted as she spoke.

"Mm. I get it's urgent, but this is embarrassing?"

"Huh? What do you... Ah! Eek!"

Genuinely devoted to saving lives, as befitted a future Saintess with light powers. Regardless, her current outfit was quite revealing—I averted my eyes. Realizing it at last, Shumi wrapped her arms around her chest and spun away in a fluster.

"I'm sorry. To show myself like this before you, Master..."

"No, it's fine. It means it's that urgent... um..."

Setting aside her embarrassment, I sank into thought. This village's safety rested entirely on me. Without my necromancer abilities, it would've fallen long ago. If I stepped out and something happened here? The world was in unprecedented chaos from monster outbreaks. Caught between a rock and a hard place.

I unrolled the messenger's document. It detailed the current crisis, pleaded for help, and vowed repayment of the favor. The sender: Yuris.

Yuris? I examined the seal: a berserk wolf. The emblem of House Garding, famed for berserkers who never retreated in battle. And their youngest daughter, Yuris, who now held a minor territory—but later shone as the family's fiercest berserker heir. Of all people, this Yuris was another who aided the heroine in the story. First the Saintess Shumi, now the berserker Yuris?

Yes! If Yuris sides with me, she'll be a huge help in defending this territory.

My current dilemma: turn these fanatic worshippers into self-reliant defenders even in my absence. Ally with Yuris, train troops together, or borrow some forces? No, this situation sounded dire... maybe even...

I reread the dire crisis described in the letter. Then glanced at Shumi, still flustered and unsure.

"Shumi. Looks like I need to go save them myself."

She looked up at me, her face pitiful like a puppy anxious at my impending absence.

"I'll help as fast as I can and be back. Four days tops?"

"What if something happens while you're gone?"

To be safe, I'd leave half the skeletons behind. Distribute my mana, and they'd serve as shield and sword until my return. I reassured her like that, adding one more thing.

A way to groom Shumi into the Saintess who'd aid me anytime...? "Believe in your light powers. Guard this place well till I return, and I'll grant one wish of yours."

Nothing motivated like a reward. At "wish," Shumi jolted in surprise. Whatever she was imagining, her face flushed crimson and her breathing quickened. Then she nodded with newfound confidence.