I Became The Academy Necromancer

A gentle setting sun.

The scenery of a city in the Han Empire as it faded into evening held a peculiar charm, one that couldn’t be found in Griffin.

This was just my personal impression, but I felt that the sunset paired better with these Eastern-style buildings than Western ones.

Watching people heading home after a busy day, be it a bar or their houses, I found myself lost in thought.

I wondered if this place would be called an inn, but surprisingly, they just used the word ‘bar,’ which caught me off guard.

The clothes people were wearing all looked like something straight out of a historical drama.

Suddenly, I was reminded of Claren, the city of artists.

The yokai were born from the creations and struggles of those artists.

Having been given form and allowed to show themselves off, they disappear with a smile.

Meeting Owen, who would succeed me in the near future, had been my greatest accomplishment in Claren.

Back then, to allow the yokai blend in, I had people wear costumes and roam the streets.

The costume I wore back then was from the Han Empire.

Although the Han Empire was now a shell of its former glory and was said to be on the decline, the things they had built were yet to lose their shine.

“What are you doing?”

Xiao Hu crept up quietly and asked cautiously. She was definitely as young as Owen, but for some reason, she now had the appearance of an adult woman.

With a voluptuous figure and an alluring appearance, she had an enchanting charm that could rightly be called yokai-like, in a good way.

Barely reacting, I turned my gaze back out the window.

“Watching the people.”

Even in the midst of returning home, every moment of my journey felt like a part of a larger ongoing adventure.

This scenery wouldn’t have meant much if I were in Deus’ body. However, experiencing it as Kim Shinwoo made it feel different.

If you were to ask why…

It was probably because I was no longer seeing it while using a borrowed body like an outsider.

But rather, because I felt like I, too, was a part of this land now.

It felt truly refreshing.

“Aren’t you bored?”

She placed a white bottle on the table and gently slid a cup forward.

I thought it was tea at first, but judging by the bitter smell it gave off it seemed like it was quite a strong drink.

“There’s still some time until nightfall. How about this?”

Despite Xiao Hu’s offer, I asked her calmly, still gazing out the window.

“How old are you?”

“…”

“Don’t try anything foolish. You’ll only end up regretting it.”

“I heard men like this sort of thing.”

“There’s no place for you here.”

Even though Xiao Hu was a yokai, I could tell from her actions and tone that she was still young.

While I did find it surprising that she could change her appearance, that didn’t erase her childishness.

“Did the Goblin put you up to this?”

“N-no! It’s not like that!”

She hurriedly reverted to her original form, trying to make some sort of excuse, but quickly realized it wouldn’t work and shut her mouth tight.

“Well…”

After a brief silence, she asked cautiously while fidgeting with her hands on the table.

“What do you plan to do with us?”

Like a child awaiting punishment, she hung her head low, and I gave her an honest answer.

“I’ll exterminate all of you.”

“…!”

Her eyes shot open wide as she jerked her head up and glared at me. A low growl escaped her lips, and her snarl carried a murderous intent as she bared her sharp canines, as if she were ready to sink her teeth into my throat at any moment.

“I told you, we simply did it to survive! That’s the only reason!”

“…”

“Uncle Chang Hao helps us because he has so many hands! Granny He Zhi taught me transformation magic!”

Her frustration spilled out with her words.

Her eyes were damp, but she wasn’t crying. She was clearly doing her best to hold back her emotions.

“Dong Po and Dong Hao help me when I struggle with my deliveries! We all have fun together! Everyone! They’re all kind yokai! Why do you keep saying that you’ll annihilate them without even seeing that yourself?”

Bang!

Crash!

As she slammed the table with force, the impact caused the bottle to roll off and smash against the floor.

However, our gazes remained locked on each other.

“We eat at the diner! We all join the festivals! We drink and laugh! Even the Ancient Dragon has permitted us to live like this!”

“…”

“Who do you think you are? They’re already dead! And it’s not like we killed them! Why are you so adamant on destroying our peace?”

Suddenly, I wondered.

Had I wronged this young girl in some way?

Should I let her remain ignorant regarding the true nature behind the little village she believed in?

It was clear that the Goblin had left to gather the yokai to kill me.

Or perhaps she had gone to seek assistance from the Ancient Dragon, their guardian deity.

Either way, I let the Goblin go knowingly. Stopping her and forcing her into submission when she would resist desperately would’ve just been a waste of my energy.

All I could do was wait for her to tire herself out.

“If you truly believe that you know them well,”

With a hint of pity, I threw her a lifeline.

“Like I said, meet me at midnight and follow me. If you are right, I’ll go on my way quietly.”

How long had it been?

The lifeline was rotten to the core.

“…It’s a promise!”

It was damp, reeking of a musty stench, as if it would rot away at any moment.

***

Late at night on the palace rooftop, the boy’s piano performance finally came to an end.

Thanks to Archmage Ropelican casting a soundproofing spell on the rooftop, the boy could practice whenever he wished to, even late into the night or early morning.

Clap, clap, clap.

[Well played.]

The Dark Spiritualist welcomed the boy at the end of his day.

Since Saintess Lucia had made a request for help, Stella had stepped away for a while.

After all, Lucia was both Stella’s successor and student.

“Thank you.”

However, unlike his words, Owen’s expression wasn’t particularly bright. Even as he played the piano, he kept recalling what the Dark Spiritualist and Stella had told him earlier in the day, but he didn’t feel like he reached any realization.

Only thoughts about the path Deus Verdi had walked, his teachings, and the actions he had shown him filled his head. Remembering all these things only left him wondering if he would ever be able to do the same.

His teacher was too great a figure.

The more Owen pondered, the more his heart wavered, and the more he grew to despise his inability to meet those expectations.

“At least now, I can now see you even when I’m not playing the piano, Dark Spiritualist.”

That, at least, was a sign of his growth as a Soul Whisperer, after all, his past self could only see souls and yokai while playing the piano. It was different now.

Though it was different from Deus’ spiritual eyes, Owen had gained the ability to see spirits even when he wasn’t playing.

However, he wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or not.

[Owen, you’re still worried, aren’t you?]

“…Yes.”

[Hmm.]

The Dark Spiritualist glanced around to ensure Stella hadn’t returned yet before nodding.

[Let me help you then. Tell me, what’s bothering you?]

“…”

[You know that I was the one who spent the most time with him, right?]

That was something the Dark Spiritualist took pride in. Even though Findenai met Deus much earlier, it was the Dark Spiritualist who spent most time by his side every single day.

Hence, the Dark Spiritualist was unmatched in terms of time spent accompanying him.

“I’m worried that I won’t be able to accept the Soul Whisperer’s convictions fully… or follow in his footsteps.”

[Mhmmm.]

Once Owen began speaking, he couldn’t stop pouring out the worries he had kept bottled up.

“The reason he didn’t teach me Necromancy… is it because I’m still not qualified?”

[Is that what you think?]

“B-but! Necromancy is an incredibly dangerous magic! There are also people like H-Heralhazard who wield that terrifying power!”

Owen believed Deus hadn’t taught him Necromancy because he wasn’t yet worthy, and that he might be overwhelmed by that power.

To truly learn from him, Owen felt he needed to truly understand the convictions that guided Deus Verdi in his treatment of spirits.

He had to fully comprehend the path shown by his teacher.

“But I… I’m not confident. I can’t dedicate myself entirely for the sake of souls! For the dead! I’m not that selfless!”

The burden was too great to shoulder. That was the only conclusion Owen had arrived at while playing the piano that day.

He wanted to follow Deus’ path.

He truly admired him.

At the same time, he couldn’t understand his teacher’s actions. Owen couldn’t imagine living such a selfless life.

It felt like a shackle.

Or maybe a curse?

Such thoughts began to creep into Owen’s mind.

[Hmm.]

After listening to his story, the Dark Spiritualist crossed her arms. Her soft hum indicated that she was thinking, so Owen waited patiently.

[It’s actually quite fascinating.]

Tilting her head, she offered an unexpectedly clear answer.

[Who in this world can truly understand and follow his convictions? If they could, wouldn’t there be two Deus?]

“…Pardon?”

[Wait, two Deus? Wow, I could love one, but two…hmm, I’m not sure about that. Wait… actually, now that I think about it, maybe it’s okay?]

Her sudden rambling took aback Owen, but the Dark Spiritualist waved it off and brought the conversation back on track.

[Ahem, anyway. Even I, who have been with him the longest, respect and find his convictions noble, but I can’t follow them nor do I plan to.]

“…”

[Because it’s not something you can simply observe and imitate.]

The boy was mistaken in thinking that the fully accomplished Deus Verdi he saw had simply appeared out of nowhere.

[His convictions were built by what he saw, felt, and experienced firsthand. Who can possibly replicate something like that?]

“Then…”

What should he do?

Owen was about to ask that question.

But the Dark Spiritualist smiled gently and offered a simple answer.

[Of course, you have to start building your own.]

“My… own?”

[Just as Deus, or rather Kim Shinwoo, built his conviction through countless experiences, Owen, you too will build yours through what you’ve experienced and what you will continue to experience.]

Build convictions immediately and act accordingly? No one expected or demanded such a thing from Owen.

[Do not misunderstand. Deus didn’t create the Land of Eternal Rest to comfort the souls of the dead because he made a bold choice.]

If they were to put it like that, Deus would probably click his tongue.

[Actions rooted in conviction aren’t about decisions.]

“…”

[It’s just that he has no other choice but to act in that way.]

Owen felt as if the confusion in his mind was slowly being cleared. This kind, gentle teaching was enlightening him.

[Deus wants you to build your own convictions. And to make sure they wouldn’t get twisted, he allowed you to see his actions from behind.]

“Ah…”

Now.

Only now did the boy finally understand.

Why Deus Verdi had always shown him his back, and why he permitted him to witness all those noble deeds.

[Deus…]

A soft smile spread across the Dark Spiritualist’s face. She had conveyed the wish the teacher held for the boy.

[He only wished to guide your experiences in a better direction.]

Just as Deus had grown through countless experiences, he was giving Owen the same opportunities, offering the right experiences and allowing him to grow step by step.

[It was not like he didn’t do anything. He was simply teaching you as he experienced.]

As a result, the boy came to admire Deus Verdi.

In fact, the Dark Spiritualist believed that simply having that thought was enough proof that the teaching was a success.

[Deus will get mad at me if I speak more than this.]

She had already said all that could be said.

However, the Dark Spiritualist wanted to give Owen some time to himself, so she swiftly turned and left.

***

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