I Became The Academy Necromancer
Chapter 333: Congratulation

Heat and frenzy filled the battlefield.

And as the morning dew rose, only the quiet sound of footsteps echoed.

The wolf in the form of a raging tiger had already left for elsewhere.

The great path of light she had risked her life to protect was now left open and empty.

Cradling her fiancé in her arms, the hero of today returned to the world once again.

The tears she shed sorrowfully had already stopped. Though her eyes were red, she pretended not to care as she embraced Deus’ lifeless body.

Everyone present knew what they were witnessing was the end of the incident.

Normally, cheers should have erupted from all around. The great evil had been defeated, the world was saved, and the necromancer who possessed enough power to destroy the continent had been dealt with.

All the nations should have come together, applauding the beautiful achievement, and thanking the gods.

However, no one could rejoice while watching the woman who killed the man she loved for the sake of the continent.

As the forces parted the way for Erica Bright, she headed outside the academy while still holding Deus.

The scene appeared to serve as a memorial for the death of Deus Verdi.

***

The funeral was simple.

In fact, it could barely even be called a funeral.

He was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Graypond quietly, done so discreetly that no one would know who it belonged to.

But despite its simplicity, numerous people came to pay their respects, including the battlefield commander, Tyren, and Gloria.

Saintess Lucia and Princess Eleanor.

Everyone stood in front of his grave for a long time, and most of them with similar expressions.

And the last to visit was the master of the Griffin Kingdom, Orpheus Luden Griffin.

Late at night.

With his face hidden by a robe, he stood at the grave, accompanied only by Gloria as his escort.

An unmarked grave.

There were no flowers placed on the modest grave, but it was spotless without a speck of dust.

Orpheus knelt before the grave and bowed his head.

“It took a bit of time to wrap up everything. And I couldn’t leave hastily because of the foreign dignitaries.”

He said in a soft whisper.

Apologizing for being the last one to arrive, the king swallowed a bitter breath.

“Thanks to Erica Bright, who eliminated you, we were able to maintain our standing. And she’s now a strong candidate for the next Archmage.”

He tried to speak calmly, but…

“In fact, they were probably forced to reassess the level of magic in our kingdom. Thanks to that, even the Jerman, who were preparing to go to war with us, have shifted their stance.”

However, unable to hide the heavy emotions, his voice grew softer.

“I assumed that after you disappeared… the oppression towards dark mages would intensify. I also believed that the position of the Soul Whisperer would no longer be feasible.”

In fact, the opinions on dark mages weren’t very favorable, and skepticism about the role of the Soul Whisperer had been widespread.

“But thanks to Plaguebringer Becklin and Blood Mage Pelestan, our medical field has grown explosively. You could call it progress.”

Thanks to the two of them, the negative image surrounding dark mages gradually disappeared.

It was because they presented groundbreaking paradigms in fields like treating incurable diseases and blood transfusions.

“Both informed me… that you told them to get ready to become a hero.”

Deus had personally informed Becklin while he was confined in the Magic Tower, and had also asked the Blood Mage Pelestan when he first captured him.

Becklin had no choice, and Pelestan agreed to serve the Griffin Kingdom, influenced by Luaneth’s will.

“The position of Soul Whisperer will be filled by Owen Valtany. The boy is neither a dark mage nor anything special… he simply comforts souls through his music.”

If another dark mage had taken up the position of Soul Whisperer, there would surely have been some backlash.

However, Owen didn’t possess such abilities.

He could only play music and make the souls happy, nothing more.

Thanks to that, he was able to establish himself as the second Soul Whisperer.

“So, this was what had been keeping you busy?”

Everything had been prepared.

That was…

“Did you really do all of this to take responsibility even after your death? To restore the tarnished image of dark mages through yourself? And you even refrained from teaching him Black Magic at all place Owen as the second Soul Whisperer?”

King Orpheus truly despised it.

“Why…?”

Finally, he placed his hand on the gravestone and began shedding tears.

Pretending not to notice, Gloria, the Royal Knight Commander, subtly turned her body.

The king’s tears were something no one should witness.

“Why did you burn your life for the sake of what comes after death?”

Had that person heard these words now he would have certainly answered in a calm manner, as always.

- I am a necromancer.

The man was the closest to the boundary between life and death.

Thus, while he was still alive, he worried about what would come after death, and after his passing, took care of those left behind.

“My dear friend.”

Orpheus knew this as well.

He was still alive somewhere, not as Deus Verdi, but as someone else, continuing to fulfil his responsibility to the continent.

Though Deus had passed away, the souls inside his body remained asleep, allowing his body to be buried without a mark or blemish.

And that was the final mission of his dear friend, who was still alive somewhere on this land.

“O great hero who continues to uphold this land, even though no one may ever learn of your deeds.”

Orpheus slowly bent his body forward, his forehead touching the ground.

“More than even the title of the King of Griffin,”

The tears that fell soaked the ground.

And for the first time, the king knelt towards someone and lowered his head.

“Being your friend was the greatest honor to me.”

***

It was a rather busy time in the Loberne Academy due to the delayed start of the semester.

“Ugh!”

This was also true for Professor Fel Petra.

She had recently submitted a thesis on artificial bodies, causing a massive ripple in the academic world, making her one of the busiest professors at the academy.

The rumors circulating suggested that her groundbreaking research might lead to the establishment of a new academic discipline: Biomagical Studies.

However, in reality, she wasn’t really interested in such matters.

“Hoo.”

Having wrapped up her tasks, Fel quickly glanced around the lab, now exclusively used by her.

Quietly and slowly, the traces of Deus in the lab were fading with time.

“For now, it’s mostly done.”

Stretching, Fel slowly rose from her seat and gazed out the window. She realized the need to hire a teaching assistant had arisen.

Until now, there hadn’t been space for anyone else as she had shared the laboratory with Deus.

“It’s a shame.”

In fact, Deus had been away from the academy more often than not.

It was natural as he had been far more dedicated as a Soul Whisperer than as a professor.

Could that be why?

It felt like if she just waited here, Deus would walk in, wearing his usual stoic expression.

“I know that in the end, everything has its conclusion.”

However, who could have predicted that their connection would end like this?

Professor Fel felt both regret and concern.

The regret was for the deceased Deus, and the concern was for her friend, Erica Bright, who would rise to the position of Archmage after killing her fiancé.

“This type of ending is really cruel.”

Though she could barely speak properly in front of others, one of her peculiar traits was that she had the tendency to talk to herself a lot when she was all by herself.

“The heavens are truly heartless.”

Fel pouted as she continued to gaze out the window. However, her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock from outside.

“Fel, are you done?”

“P-Professor Erica?!”

As the saying went, speak of the devil and he will appear.

Just as Fel was thinking about her, Erica arrived at the perfect moment.

Startled as if caught in the middle of something, Professor Fel instinctively dusted off her lab coat before heading outside.

Erica, waiting outside, had a calm expression.

Some would say she looked the same as usual, but Fel could tell there was something different about her.

“Yes, yes! Everything is finally done!”

“Good, then let’s go.”

Today was the day of the ceremony where both Professor Fel and Erica Bright would be presented with commemorative plaques.

For Professor Fel, it was because she was on the verge of founding a new academic discipline thanks to the creation of human-like artificial bodies, while Erica had been designated as the next Archmage, succeeding Ropelican.

Thanks to that, the auditorium was packed with Ropelican and his apprentices.

The professors in charge of the event inside the closed auditorium signaled, and the doors slowly opened.

The two entered the auditorium amidst the grand reception from students and professors.

Uwaaah, my stomach hurts.

Trapped in such a situation, Professor Fel was far from pleased. Her expression was pale and her hand trembled as she complained of stomachache.

Erica, on the other hand, walked down the path they had opened for her calmly.

The professors and the Archmage’s apprentices whispered among themselves as they watched her walk by.

Lately, people often remarked that Erica seemed to have inherited Deus Verdi’s coldness while observing Erica.

In fact, Professor Fel had similar thoughts, but she also knew that Erica wouldn’t have been able to endure it any other way if she hadn’t done that.

The ceremony proceeded with applause and cheering from the audience.

After Professor Fel received her commemorative plaque from the headmaster, it was Erica’s turn.

Archmage Ropelican specifically took the stage and grabbed the microphone.

He offered a few kind words to the students of the academy, then asked them to give Erica Bright, his successor, a big round of applause.

“…”

Slowly.

And calmly.

Erica, who was called up to the stage, glanced at the people clapping for her.

Congratulations.

The students were congratulating her.

Her colleagues clapped loudly.

Her assistants were even shedding tears.

The Archmage’s apprentices either acknowledged her contributions or envied her.

There were varying emotions, but in the end, the fact that she was being congratulated remained.

She had become the youngest Archmage in the Griffin Kingdom’s history.

For now, she would still work as a professor, but once the semester ended, she would be summoned to the royal palace to work there.

She was being congratulated.

By everyone.

They were congratulating her for killing her fiancé.

For piercing the heart of her beloved.

“Congratulations.”

And before she knew it, she found herself standing before Ropelican. He patted her on the shoulder, trying to offer some encouragement.

However, she looked down at the heavy commemorative plaque in her hand with hollow eyes.

-Thank you for killing your beloved.

That was what the entire world, the kingdom, was telling her.

“Ah…”

She had tried so hard to hold it in.

She had worked tirelessly to hold herself back.

She had given her best.

Erica lowered her head, pressing her face against the plaque. Her body trembled, and she found it difficult to take another step.

“Don’t cry! Don’t cry!”

“Congratulations, professor!”

“You’re amazing!”

Did they mistake her tears for being moved? The overwhelming cheers from behind made her feel nauseous, as if she were about to vomit.

She hated herself for receiving such felicitations.

Deus.

What’s the point of…

Deus.

Receiving all these things…

Deus.

When you’re not here.

The burdens you left me with are not heavy at all.

For you, I can carry this silly title with a smile.

However, the fact that you’re not here.

That’s the one thing that’s too hard to bear.

Unable to hold back the tears welling up, Erica forced herself to cover her face.

She had to descend first.

With that thought in mind, Erica took a deep breath and…

[Oh.]

If only it weren’t for the woman standing right next to her.

Black robe, a voluptuous figure, and a childlike gasp—the semi-transparent black veil covering her face under her eyes.

[You’re amazing.]

Erica’s eyes trembled as she stared at the Dark Spiritualist giving her a thumbs up.

She couldn’t quite comprehend who she was looking at right now.

Did the people around her not see her?

Everyone else seemed to be unaware of the situation.

“Y-You… How…”

Her lips were dry.

Her face was full of confusion, unable to grasp what was happening.

Then, another woman, wearing the opposite color palette, appeared next to the Dark Spiritualist.

[I heard that today is an important day for you…]

Stella spoke softly with a smile.

[That person said we should attend this.]

As she said that, Stella’s gaze naturally guided Erica toward the entrance.

There…

“Ah.”

Stood a man, clapping slowly.

Strangely, no one else seemed to recognize him. He was mysterious and majestic, as though invisible to everyone.

He was congratulating her.

Throwing away the commemorative plaque she had been holding to the ground, the woman who had descended from the podium was no longer paying attention to her surroundings. She was running.

Running towards him.

***

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