Even After Reincarnation, I'm Going to the Academy

Chapter 9

『 Translator – Divinity 』

"Ugh..."

The dark mage, who hadn't betrayed his companion until the end, struggled while tied to a chair.

I looked at him with a disgusted expression.

"Doesn't it hurt?"

"It fucking... hurts...!"

"Then why don't you talk? Why are you bastards, who annihilated an entire village, so needlessly loyal?"

There was a similar case in Korea, I think.

Was it loyalty among gangsters? Something about Busan men...

'These kinds of guys have such strong, pointless loyalty.'

And this guy was serious.

It disgusted me. The bullies who tormented me also admired gangsters and thugs, calling them "hyungnim" and whatnot...

I hated this kind of loyalty, I couldn't stand the sight of it.

"That guy's going to die anyway. So shouldn't you at least live?"

The dark mage glared at me with bloodshot eyes.

"I can't... betray the Young Master."

"Young Master? Was he a noble?"

"......"

As if he had accidentally let it slip, he shut his mouth with a surprised expression.

Dumbfounded, I slapped him on the back of the head.

Whack!

"Ugh!"

He vomited blood and collapsed along with the chair.

"So, don't you have anything else to say?"

"...The Young Master... will definitely kill you all...! And that Karma brat will be...!"

"It seems like you have quite the grudge. Did something happen with the Karma family?"

The dark mage's body trembled slightly.

Stroking my chin, I fell into thought for a moment.

'It's not strange, is it?'

Just by looking at Reinhardt and the other nobles who came as reinforcements, I could tell.

That the Karma family held considerable power.

'It's plausible that there was a conflict with another family... and what if there was a fallen family among them?'

It was certainly a possibility.

I looked down at the shadow, who had assumed a respectful posture.

"Are you going to talk?"

«Of course.»

"Why has your attitude become so polite?"

«Not at all. I've always been this polite.»

"You're a smooth talker."

The shadow had become polite. It knew.

That I was its only way to survive here.

Squish

"So, where is that dark mage bastard?"

«He's in the center of this forest.»

"Where is that?"

«I-It's the place you reach if you go through the cave that Priest-nim destroyed...»

"......"

I was the one who destroyed the entrance?

'I'll have to open it again.'

But it wasn't bad.

It wasn't like I was the one who had to do it!

"By the way, you really resemble a slime."

«A slime, you say...! To be compared to such a lowly monster...»

"A monster what?"

«...I guess I do resemble one a little. Hehe.»

Carrying the slime shadow, I exited the tent, and those waiting outside swarmed towards me.

"What happened?!"

"Did you find out where the dark mage is?!"

"Everyone, quiet."

When I spoke with a bit of force, those who were clamoring noisily shut their mouths.

Once it was quiet, I finally spoke.

"First of all, the interrogation is over, and now we're going to find out where the dark mage is and catch him."

"Oh, we'll come too...!"

"No, only a few will go. It's dangerous."

"But this is a matter of a noble's pride!"

"It's easier to go alone..."

Wait a minute.

I was about to say I would go alone, but I hesitated.

'Thinking about it, there's no need for me to go alone, is there?'

If they came with me, it would be a hindrance, but since they would be exposed to magical power, they would need to be examined.

In other words, I could get paid.

'Not bad.'

It wasn't like they were going to die, and I was only going to see them for today anyway.

I already told them it was dangerous, but they were the ones who insisted on coming, weren't they?

"...Alright! Let's go together!"

"As expected of someone who understands honor! You there! Prepare for departure!"

"Yes!"

"Ah, leave the soldiers behind, and only the knights will go. It's not good to bring too many people."

"But..."

"Do you want to fight undead created from soldiers? Then by all means..."

"Now that I think about it, it wouldn't be bad to bring only the knights."

"As expected of a wise noble."

After praising him, Reinhardt, revealing his pearly white teeth, started shouting at the top of his lungs to prepare for departure.

"Um, Priest."

"?"

Niphella cautiously approached me and asked discreetly,

"Did you perhaps use some kind of divine magic?"

"...No. For now, I'll go see Moshick Karma."

"Let's go together."

Leaving Reinhardt behind, Niphella and I headed towards the tent where Moshick was.

Flap!

"!"

Inside the tent, Moshick was tightly hugging a bottle of alcohol as if it were a precious treasure.

"...What are you doing? Isn't alcohol prohibited?"

"Th-This is... well... I'm not going to drink it. I'm just hugging it..."

"Hand it over."

Niphella immediately confiscated the alcohol.

How did he even hide it?

I glanced around and saw traces of the ground being dug up.

'He buried it in the ground?'

Was he really a minor?

'At what age are you considered an adult in this world?'

"Young Master."

"......"

While I was lost in thought, Niphella, acting as his teacher before his professor, soothed his anxiety.

"You seem anxious."

"...Yes. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I overheard it. That you're going to catch the dark mage who cursed me..."

"Yes. He's a criminal, not just an enemy. I have a duty to catch him as a noble and as a mage."

He skillfully comforted Moshick.

"So please don't think that we're sacrificing and suffering for you, Young Master. Someone who will be a lord in the future shouldn't dwell on such trivial matters. The Karma family is a viscount family. You will become a viscount in the future, won't you?"

A viscount?

'It really was quite a powerful family.'

In that case, couldn't they make enemies with other nobles?

"And you'll be entering the academy soon, won't you? You can't show weakness there either. So be strong. You're not that weak, Young Master."

'It seems like he really does have enemies...'

Should I ask?

"Excuse me for interrupting, Moshick."

"...Yes?"

"Have you ever made enemies with other nobles?"

"...I don't really..."

"Are you sure you don't know? You need to tell me for sure. That's the only way to know why the dark mage cursed you and is trying to kill you."

But Moshick had a genuinely clueless expression.

Well, he didn't seem to have a bad personality, and he appeared to be around the same age as me, so what would he know?

'It seems like the curse was cast when he was quite young...'

It would have been easier if I had known beforehand.

But there was no problem. It didn't change the fact that I had to catch him.

"If that's the case, I have an idea."

Niphella spoke up.

"Oh, what is it?"

"There was a family that used to rule the territory near this forest, but they were annihilated for violating imperial law."

"Imperial law?"

"Yes, this forest is owned by the Temple of Light. It doesn't matter for commoners or woodcutters, but... nobles aren't allowed to develop or even enter without the Pope's seal."

'Hmm.'

"And it was the Karma family who exterminated them at the request of the temple."

'Is he from the noble family that ruled that territory?'

Why was this place owned by the temple?

There was no need to doubt this part.

Rather, it solved a question.

'I thought it was sparsely populated... but to think it was to this extent.'

I thought that there were too few people coming here, but I didn't know it was being protected.

"Then, the reason you came here now is also..."

"Yes. The dark mage hid in this forest, so we received permission to capture him. It was our first time here, and we didn't have a guide, so we wandered around, and there were some problems with the chain of command..."

I stroked my chin and nodded.

First of all, I suspected that the dark mage was probably the head of the exterminated family or his successor.

But I didn't understand.

'...Wasn't it self-inflicted?'

They were the ones who insisted on touching what they shouldn't have.

Well, they must have had their reasons.

Even so, I couldn't forgive the fact that he became a dark mage.

'Let's go check it out.'

"By the way, what is that slime?"

Niphella pointed at the shadow in my left hand.

«I, I am...»

"Ah, this is a familiar. It was forcibly enslaved by the dark mage, so I'm going to purify and release it."

"But isn't that quite dangerous?"

"Look, what can a lowly slime like this do?"

I tightened my grip on the slime.

«K-Keeek...»

It writhed in pain and went limp.

Seeing the strange shape of the shadow, like a liquid monster carelessly taken out of its container, Niphella slowly nodded.

"...Well, slimes are used as training monsters even at Sky Academy. I wouldn't have to worry about you since you're a priest, but..."

"Not at all. I'm grateful for your concern."

"Then, I'll go prepare myself as well. I need to be ready this time."

"Yes."

"Then, I'll leave the Young Master in your care for a moment. Perhaps a little divine power..."

I nodded with a benevolent smile, and Professor Niphella, feeling reassured, left.

As soon as the professor left, Moshick started biting his nails anxiously.

"......"

I saw a reflection of my past self in Moshick. The details were different, and he had people he could rely on, but...

Did that make him any less in pain?

It didn't.

'Pain is relative.'

His spirit was being eroded, and his body wasn't growing.

That was also a form of violence.

I looked down at Moshick and spoke.

"You'll have an opportunity now. A chance to change yourself. Because the curse that's been eating away at your body and spirit will be gone."

"......"

"So, whether you seize that opportunity and overcome the aftereffects to change... or not... is up to you."

"I..."

"Don't answer me. Answer yourself. Okay? It's not about others changing you, it's about you changing yourself."

Ugh, that was a bit cheesy.

"Well, I never had a chance to change, but you do, Moshick."

"......"

Moshick didn't answer and just lowered his head.

'He'll figure it out.'

As an outsider who didn't fully understand his situation, I had said all I could.

It would be pointless meddling to interfere in his life any further.

Just then, Niphella, wearing a thicker robe than before, walked over with the other nobles and knights.

"Priest, we're all ready."

"Then let's depart right away. Moshick, please wait here quietly. Of course, you can't go anywhere. Um... that knight over there?"

"Yes?"

I called the knight with learned helplessness and positioned him in front of Moshick's tent.

"Guard him well."

"But I..."

"Don't say those cliché things about being inadequate or anything. Because then, you're saying that I, who chose you, am inadequate."

Perhaps he was about to say that he really was inadequate, but he closed his mouth tightly.

I stood on my tiptoes and patted his shoulder.

"You just have to do what you can. Don't worry about being depressed or inadequate or anything."

"...I understand."

"Now, let's depart."

"Yes!"

The faces of the nobles, knights, and servants were shining.

The hope of finally being able to leave.

'Wouldn't they give me some money for this?'

If they didn't, I'd have to find a way to get it out of them. I learned that such things were possible in this world.

"Follow me."

I started running at a moderate pace.

«Turn right. Turn right.»

'Are you a navigation system?'

«A little further straight, then turn right by the large tree.»

The shadow was quite a decent navigator.

The problem was...

"Gasp, gasp...!"

"...Why on earth did those nobles come as reinforcements?"

Reinhardt and another noble whose name I didn't know.

They were already panting after running for just a short while.

Niphella, who was keeping pace beside me, cleared his throat.

"It's a matter of prestige, you see. Dispatching only knights wouldn't be impressive, and the Lord would look favorably on them if they participated personally..."

"I'm happy to earn money, but next time, please tell them to assess the situation and come accordingly."

"Yes, I'll do that... Hmm?"

What? Earn what?

Niphella looked at me questioningly, but I deliberately didn't answer.

"...Did I mishear?"

No, you heard correctly.

"Gasp, pant... pant... S-slow down... a little slower..."

The panting behind me grew rougher.

'I can't really leave them behind...'

The marching speed naturally slowed down.

The servants and knights had to take care of the nobles, and I couldn't abandon them, so this was the inevitable outcome.

'Should I really leave them behind?'

I felt a momentary urge, but...

The clinking sound of coins from the bundle on my back calmed my heart.

'No, I can earn money.'

Just think of them as money sources with a bit of a whining problem.

That calmed my mind.

It wasn't like I was going to see them for long anyway!

"We're almost there. Everyone, be careful."

We were approaching the clearing where I had subdued the shadow.

"Hey, it's gotten a lot darker."

«Th-This is... why is this here...!»

"?"

His reaction was a bit strange.

I twitched my nose slightly, and the stench grew stronger.

It was a foul smell that I couldn't detect before because of the slime, or rather, the shadow.

This is perfect!

I shouted to the knights behind me.

"The dark mage is nearby! Be careful, especially since magical power is concentrated in the ground!"

As soon as I shouted, as if waiting for the cue, the ground erupted.

Crack!

"U-Uwaaa!"

Reinhardt tripped and fell, his ankle caught by something.

White bones.

"Master!"

The servant beside him shouted urgently and sprayed holy water.

Tsss!

As the holy water touched the bones, they burned and melted.

"U-Uwaaa! H-Help me!"

As the white bones melted, Reinhardt's ankle was freed, and he scrambled backward.

He pushed past the servant who was trying to help him and ran towards the forest.

'That idiot...'

Clatter, clatter!

Was it expected?

More white bones shot up from beneath Reinhardt's feet, grabbing him.

One of the knights pushed past the servant, drew his sword, and shouted,

"Get out of the way!"

Shing, shing, shing!

Sword energy extended and shot towards the bones holding Reinhardt.

But the sword energy didn't reach the bones.

Clatter, clatter!

More skeletons, which had sprung up from the ground, blocked the sword energy with their bodies.

Thud!

The ground erupted once more, and something sprang out.

Worn and tattered robes, blue glowing eyes.

"...A lich?"

I answered someone's murmur.

"No, it's not. It's too weak for that. It's more like a fake or a downgraded version. Maybe a Chinese knockoff?"

A lich, which could only be born from the self-corruption of a great mage close to the archmage level, couldn't be this weak.

The downgraded lich reached out and grabbed Reinhardt.

I was about to unleash divine power, but I widened my eyes slightly at the energy I felt from him.

'Wait a minute.'

A thick magical power emanated from the downgraded lich.

It was a much clearer magical power than the one dampening the surroundings!

'This similar energy...'

Just then, a horrifying voice, as if it had crawled up from hell, emerged from the downgraded lich.

«If you want to save this man, offer me that young priest. Then I'll let him go!»

Niphella shouted in anger.

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Meanwhile, I untied the bundle, took out the sword, and grasped it.

«Then I'll give you one hour. If you can't find me within that time, this noble's life is forfeit! Blame your incompetence and ignorance! And while you're at it, blame your god too! Uwaha»

I half ignored the nonsense the downgraded lich was spouting and charged.

Crimson divine power coated the blade. Perhaps intoxicated by his own grand speech, the downgraded lich noticed my presence belatedly.

«W-Wait. How did you get here so fast...?»

A red line was drawn across the downgraded lich's neck.

The divine power mercilessly annihilated the downgraded version.

It vanished, sublimating into a hazy smoke. I looked for Reinhardt, but unfortunately, he was nowhere to be seen.

'Tsk.'

Did he already take him away?

But it didn't matter.

"Everyone! Over there!"

As I said before, I could feel a different magical power from the skeletons, distinct from the one covering the surroundings.

In other words, it was easy to distinguish!

My sense of smell tracked down his magical power, and I unleashed a burst of divine power, coating the sword, and shouted,

"Save Baron Reinhardt!"

"Waaaaaaaah!"

The knights, caught up in the atmosphere, started running in that direction.