I Became The Academy Necromancer

“Haha.”

The Graypond Underground Prison.

In the same prison where Deus was once held, two Dark Mages were conversing, oblivious to the mood around them.

“If I’d known I’d end up getting caught like this, I would’ve spent all my savings. Damn it.”

Leaning against the prison wall, Blood Mage Pelestan laughed heartily, prompting Luaneth, who was sitting against the opposite wall, to sigh in response.

“Pelestan, you know you can just escape, right?”

“Hmm?”

“You’re a Blood Mage. You can escape by using blood to teleport. Just leave me behind and flee.”

“Ha, you’re saying some real funny things you know?”

Pelestan licked his lips, craving a cigarette. That was his only real discomfort in this prison, not being able to smoke.

“With Dante’s leader stuck in here, where would I even go?”

“You shouldn’t have betrayed me in the first place if you were that loyal.”

Luaneth smiled bitterly.

Even though he said that, Luaneth was inwardly grateful that Pelestan had prevented him from going berserk.

He was relieved that he had not reverted to his identity as the manslayer of the continent, Heralhazard.

Luaneth Ludden Griffin was truly grateful that he could die as himself.

“That’s what loyalty and friendship are.”

Although he had various memories with Pelestan, having been together since his youth, at the end of the day, they were Dark Mages.

Luaneth never thought that there would be any room for tender emotions like friendship between them.

Like cleaning a dusty room after a long time, the two acknowledged their friendship with a casual laugh.

“Do you really believe that man can bring salvation to the continent?”

Pelestan’s question weighed heavily on Luaneth’s heart.

Was it really possible?

Honestly, some part of Luaneth still believed it was impossible.

As if it were an immutable truth, Luaneth was utterly convinced that there was no other way to save the continent than his own.

And when he reflected on it, he wondered why he felt that certain.

Luaneth believed, with an unreasonably natural conviction, that only the annihilation of souls could save the continent.

However…

“I hope he succeeds.”

With surprising sincerity, Luaneth earnestly wished for Deus’ success.

Not out of logic or reason, but from a pure emotional desire. He genuinely wanted Deus to succeed.

He wanted the massacres to end with Heralhazard. He had only killed because it was necessary; he too had no desire to slaughter the dead.

“If he succeeds, then perhaps I too can enter the eternal rest he will bring.”

The man who had lived for 200 years for the sole purpose of saving the continent felt a slight thrill at the thought that his long, arduous journey might finally be coming to an end.

As he listened, Pelestan felt a bittersweet taste on his tongue.

“I truly hope you are able to do so.”

However, he could only cheer on the death of his long-time friend.

“Do you have any words you’d like to be engraved on your tombstone?”

Pelestan shrugged his shoulders, while Luaneth began to ponder over those words for a moment.

He was clearly amused by the idea of deciding what should be inscribed on his tombstone. However…

“Here you are.”

A huge man suddenly appeared before them.

Nevertheless, whether he had struck them down or not, the sight of the fallen Mage Tribunal Judges keeping guard over the two Dark Mages indicated that he was no ordinary powerful being.

“…!”

Even Luaneth and Pelestan had failed to notice him approaching them.

His long golden hair reached down to his heels, and it seemed like his massive frame could touch the ceiling, with thick hands that spoke of immense strength.

Crackle! Crackle!

The lightning coursing through his body roared like a beast protecting its master.

“Luaneth Luden Griffin.”

Before the two could react, the seemingly divine presence, the master of lightning, corrected himself.

“No, Heralhazard.”

“…!”

“Luaneth!”

Pelestan shouted urgently, but the electric force emanating from the man struck him and was flung against the wall.

In agony so intense that he couldn’t even scream, all he could do was bite his lips hard enough to draw blood to keep himself from losing consciousness.

“Follow your fate.”

“Kuh, Aaaaah!”

The moment those words reached him, Luaneth knelt on the prison floor and began to writhe in pain.

Yet for some reason, the man standing before him made him feel as if he were being reminded of the reason for his existence once again.

“For the salvation of the continent. For the flow of fate that has been laid out for us.”

The raven mask in Luaneth’s hands now covered his face.

A dark staff, pulsating with ominous energy, subtly rose from the ground beneath him.

“Kill that outsider.”

The distorted fate (main story) began to stir in order to return to its original course.

* * *

Everything was progressing smoothly.

We had succeeded in moving the mana from Luaneth’s Mana Stone to the middle stone, and now, we only needed to move it to the final foundation stone.

For me, this was a whole new world for souls.

If I were to name it, all preparations were made for the creation of the Land of Eternal Rest.

The magic Lehric used to create Lemegeton, as well as the magic Evil Ghost Griffin used to contain souls, had been quite helpful.

The end stone, which will serve as a giant source of energy to contain the souls, has already been completed a while back.

The mana from Luaneth’s Mana Stone had been divided into three portions: the foundation stone, middle stone, and end stone.

Among them, the most critical and largest amount of mana was contained in the end stone.

I intended to make it into something similar to Lemegeton.

However, it would be far larger and more benevolent to souls than Lemegeton created by Lehric.

The moment the souls within it reached a certain threshold, instead of utilizing energy from the Mana Stone, every soul would be able to draw a tiny amount of mana, creating a perpetually sustainable place.

Given the large number of souls, even a small percentage could become a massive lump.

In that manner, it would be complete after placing it in the general store, which was not on the continent but in an entirely different dimension.

“Well, it sounds easy in theory.”

I sighed and massaged my throbbing forehead. Indeed, it was easy to say, but there was a significantly intricate and complex process that lay ahead.

“Huh he, hehe, hehehe.”

“…Is she on something?”

Strange sounds could be heard from the corner of the laboratory as Professor Fel calculated formulas. She kept leaking out bizarre giggles while verifying the magic formulas I had calculated.

Since there were quite a lot of them, it was bound to take time, and it was only natural that her head would hurt.

I, too, felt my brain twist every time I went back to verify them.

Even Archmage Ropelican and Erica would have dark circles under their eyes after a few days of work.

“Do not interrupt her.”

“I think she needs to be taken to a hospital.”

Findenai crossed her arms while observing Professor Fel. She couldn’t help but feel concerned as the pink-haired woman continuously emitted grim groans, which were quite different from her usual self.

“I told her it is fine even if she does not help out.”

Of course, while I did appreciate her help, I knew from experience how arduous that task was and advised her against it.

However, Professor Fel insisted on stepping in, wishing to help me no matter what.

“Ugh, I don’t want to become a Mage even if I were reborn.”

[You probably wouldn’t be able to do it either.]

Fed up and irritated, Findenai stepped outside to light a cigarette.

Taking a quick look at the time, it was just 4 PM. It was still a bit early for dinner, but seeing Professor Fel’s state, it seemed she would skip dinner, so I would probably need to get something from the kitchen.

As I was about to follow Findenai out of the laboratory…

“Master Bastard!”

I quickly raised my head and rushed up the stairs on hearing Findenai call out to me urgently from the top of the stairs.

“What the hell is that?”

“…”

Findenai and I looked up at the sky simultaneously.

Although it should have still been bright with sunlight illuminating Graypond, a massive white cloud had wedged itself between the earth and the sun.

However, instead of casting its giant shadow over Graypond, the cloud emitted a brilliant light, as if proclaiming itself to be a special existence.

[Holy Power.]

Stella shared the same thought as me.

Those clouds were completely made from massive, dense concentration of Holy Power, formed by a god’s authority.

Like a fortress preparing for an invasion, the massive clouds began to gradually take control of the airspace over Graypond.

“You were right, Master Bastard. You did say that there would probably be a big fight soon.”

Findenai spoke calmly with an unlit cigarette in her mouth.

As she stated, I had already informed the Royal Family and Graypond about the impending attack.

In fact, it would have been even stranger if I did not anticipate this.

From what Aria told me, Romuleus and the other gods were ultimately beings that led the game to its ending.

They were individuals who would do their best to steer the story toward a programmed outcome.

However, I had managed to twist Luaneth’s soul annihilation event, one of the most critical turning points in the story.

Hence, the fate they spoke of had completely changed.

Seeing that, there was no way the gods would simply remain still.

“Findenai, get ready.”

“I’ll go grab my axe.”

While Findenai returned to the laboratory to grab Snow White, I turned to the other two accompanying me.

The Dark Spiritualist and Stella.

“I think you already know without needing me to say it.”

Both of them smiled wryly at my words but did not retreat. In fact, they seemed to be waiting for me to speak clearly and distinctly.

They were strong women.

I found it more difficult to voice out the fact that the time we had left was less than I expected.

My throat tightened, and I felt even less inclined to speak than when I had to part with Jenny and Han So back at the Dream Demon Manor.

“The time to part is just around the corner.”

I cast away all lingering feelings and bid farewell.

“I did not intend to say goodbye at first because the time we spent together was inevitably heading toward parting.”

It was a slanted path and the rolling stone would inevitably fall in the end.

Our meeting and time were inevitably rolling toward separation.

Ultimately, all the time we spent together was an indication of that farewell.

“However, it seems like we will not get another chance if we do not act now.”

However, now that it was finally time to do so, it was hard to say it would end easily.

“Stella, thank you for waking up to help me even after you entered rest. If not for you, I would have died long ago.”

[You saved me from the demons aiming for my soul. It was the least I could do.]

Though there were demons lurking, waiting for a chance to snatch her soul, they no longer dared to approach her after I executed half of the Demon Lords and began protecting Stella.

“I learned a lot from you. Especially as someone with faint emotions, your teachings were really valuable.”

[…]

“You need not worry about the demons any longer. Just rest peacefully and enjoy the remainder of your rest.”

[Thank you.]

With a gentle smile, Stella closed her eyes slowly, trying hard to hold back the tears pooling in her eyes.

“Dark Spiritualist, I learned a lot from you as well.”

[But that isn’t the end, right?]

She asked with a playful shrug, and I nodded with a weary smile.

“There is too little time to list out everything I have received from you.”

[That’s enough for me.]

Was my answer satisfactory?

The Dark Spiritualist, with her arms behind her back, looked a bit awkward.

[I learned a lot from you too.]

The emotions welling up within my chest were screaming at me, asking me to hold onto them.

Now, I clearly understood how painful it was to part with someone.

My mana flowed out cautiously. Both of their bodies became more vivid in color, leaving a clear mark on this continent for the last time.

I gently caressed their hands with my outstretched hands.

“It is warm.”

Of course, there was no sensation. Therefore, I didn’t actually feel the warmth.

But it was warm.

Indeed, they were women with warm hands.

“I have learned so much and received so much from you. Your teachings have truly awakened the foolish me.”

Before I knew it, tears were flowing from both of their eyes.

Nevertheless, they still met my gaze, unwilling to let go even a little.

“Thank you.”

My vision turned blurry.

“For being endlessly beautiful.”

Before I knew it,

“And for teaching me, even in our moment of farewell.”

A thick droplet rolled down my cheek.

“To my dedicated teachers.”

A single tear, filled with unspoken wishes, representing my emotions.

“I can only say thank you.”

***

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