I Became The Academy Necromancer
Chapter 335: Side Story - The Next Day

The dawn of a new day.

It was somewhat surprising that just waking up in bed could feel this refreshing.

While I didn’t really need to sleep since I was in an artificial body, that didn’t mean I couldn’t.

However, unlike when I had a real body, sleep crust didn’t form in my eyes, nor did I feel any relief from fatigue.

My state was exactly the same as before I had fallen asleep.

Still reeling from an unexpected sense of alienation, I tried to get up, but something was lightly pressing against my right shoulder.

“Ah.”

Findenai was sleeping soundly in my arms, her breathing soft and steady.

She was wearing the pajamas she had personally bought, her hand resting on my chest as she slept.

I couldn’t have a physical relationship as I was in an artificial body, but that didn’t mean we had to sleep separately.

After all… we were lovers.

This feels awkward.

Even as I tried to get up, Findenai remained fast asleep. Her peaceful expression and the soft rhythm of her breathing were oddly refreshing.

“Mmm…”

Slowly, she reached out and hugged me, as if determined not to let go. However…

“You’re not very good at pretending.”

At my remark, Findenai’s eyes snapped open, her blood-red eyes glinting with mischief as she gazed up at me.

“You’re truly a ghost.”

“That’s not really the best thing to say around the Dark Spiritualist and Stella.”

“…You’re spouting nonsense.”

Findenai responded with a look of exasperation. Honestly, I just said that to break the awkward atmosphere.

“Ah.”

And despite her words, she showed no intention of getting out of bed.

Instead, she remained under the blanket, staring at me blankly before snuggling closer.

“Should we just stay like this today?”

“…”

“It’s not like we have anything to do anyway. Let’s just embrace each other and remain in bed.”

“I didn’t expect you would say something like that.”

Findenai smirked at my words.

“Yeah, I never thought I’d say it either. Honestly, Master Bastard has changed me a lot.”

Master Bastard, huh?

It seemed it wasn’t easy for her to change how she addressed me.

In that case, I should at least respond in my own way.

“If that is what you desire, then I shall comply.”

I deliberately used my old manner of speaking from back when I was Deus, causing Findenai to stare at me blankly before suddenly bursting into laughter.

A small smile crept on my lips as well, and I tightened my grip on her shoulder with the arm she was resting on.

This was all I could offer.

However, it seemed that alone was enough for Findenai, as she leaned in closer contentedly. It felt better than I had expected.

It really seemed like we could just stay like this—Embracing each other in bed, without moving an inch.

[It’s time to eat.]

Stella entered the room, phasing right through the door.

While she would have normally just opened it, the fact that she phased through meant she wasn’t in a very good mood.

“…”

“Ah, way to kill the mood.”

Findenai got out of bed first, running her hand roughly through her tousled hair before stepping out of the room.

Following her to the living room, I saw a modest meal set on the table.

Toasted bread, fried eggs, and a variety of colorful jams.

To put it nicely, it looked like an elegant and quaint meal, but to put it bluntly, it was simple and modest.

It was the kind of meal you’d expect at a convent.

And the moment she saw it, Findenai’s expression twisted in disappointment.

“Is the table not fully set yet? Or did you mistake a snack for a meal?”

Since Findenai exercised a lot, she naturally had a big appetite.

That amount on the table would normally be sufficient for two people, but for the current Findenai, it was no different from tossing her a mere piece of bread.

However, Stella remained firm.

[You’re the only one eating, anyway.]

“Ah…”

Findenai shot a glance in my direction.

I didn’t bother responding and just shrugged. After all, I didn’t need to intake food with this artificial body.

“This is gonna be a lonely meal.”

Her cheerful mood from just moments ago, deflated a little as she sat down.

It seemed she had just noticed that there was only one chair at the table.

Trying to shorten her meal time, she quickly began devouring the food quickly. And seeing her act like that, Stella, being a former Saintess, still poured her a glass of milk out of concern.

Leaving the two of them behind, I stepped outside, where Fluffy IV, the wolf pup, greeted me with a yawn.

It was still a baby and needed milk.

At that moment, the memory of Findenai teasing the Dark Spiritualist yesterday—asking if she could produce milk—flashed through my mind, making me momentarily dizzy.

But where is the Dark Spiritualist, anyway?

I was never this type of person, but as of lately, I found myself worrying whenever I didn’t see her around.

I assumed she’d be in the yard with Fluffy IV, but since she wasn’t, then maybe she was in the backyard.

Since we decided to plant fruits and vegetables in the backyard, it was twice as large as the front yard.

Going around the house to reach the backyard, I was greeted by weeds and scattered stones.

At least the soil was already tilled to some extent as the drug dealers who used to occupy this place cultivated some plants here.

[Huff, huff…]

I spotted the Dark Spiritualist crouching in a corner of the backyard, diligently working on something. Silently, I approached her, keeping my footsteps quiet as possible.

A sign?

She was writing something on a roughly made wooden sign.

“The Best Dark Mage’s Field… Any thieves will have their souls obliterated.”

[Waaah!?]

Startled, she tumbled forward. Since she was a spirit, no dirt stuck to her, but the sight was still rather pitiful.

“What are you doing?”

Bewildered, I asked as she got back up and fidgeted awkwardly.

[We’re going to make a garden, aren’t we? I heard Stella plans to plant some flowers in the corner, so I thought I should try planting something as well.]

“So you made a sign?”

[It’s mine.]

“…”

[I’m your teacher, aren’t I?]

Well, do whatever you want.

“And what are you going to plant?”

I asked, curious to see if she had anything in mind, and she tilted her head as she thought.

[I haven’t really decided yet. I want to plant something pretty, but flowers might be a bit too difficult.]

“Then?”

[Well, Findenai told me that cherry tomatoes are easy to grow. What do you think about that?]

It didn’t sound like something the best Dark Mage would grow, but it wasn’t bad.

Though having your soul obliterated for stealing cherry tomatoes sounded a bit extreme.

But…

“Yeah, sounds good.”

[Right?]

When I agreed, the Dark Spiritualist smiled happily.

“When we go to the nearby village today, I’ll check to see if they have any cherry tomato seeds.”

[We need a lot of things! A shovel, a pickaxe, a watering can, and so on! I’ll come with you!]

“Alright, then let’s do that.”

Though I said “a nearby village,” it was still a six-hour round trip.

While I planned to use magic to get there this time, I still needed to figure out the transportation.

Seeing that this place was essentially a hideout for drug dealers, it made sense that it was in a secluded area.

And that was something we needed too.

I was already considered dead, but Findenai was still a wanted criminal.

“I’m surprisingly full.”

Having finished the meal, Findenai approached with a cigarette in her mouth, looking satisfied.

She knew we had to clean up the backyard, so she was sighing already.

“Ugh, cutting people’s throats is way easier. Will we ever finish?”

Even though she said that, Findenai already started getting ready to move. Watching her, I began to make a mental list of the things we’d need to buy today.

***

As if the school was being rewarded for all the past incidents, good things kept happening at the Loberne Academy as of lately.

It all started with Professor Fel Petra, the founder and authority on Biomagical Studies, choosing to remain at the academy.

Then, Erica Bright became a strong candidate for Archmage.

And it wasn’t just the professors; there was good news from among the students too.

One of the biggest pieces of news was that Aria Rias had emerged victorious in the youth swordsmanship tournament held in the kingdom.

The academy, which had been on a roll recently, was in such a good mood that even the chubby dean felt full, even if he hadn’t eaten.

“Hello, Professor!”

“I respect you, Professor!”

Students showered Erica with greetings as she walked down the hallway towards her laboratory.

Smiling gently, Erica waved her hand.

“Oh, hi.”

Her calm smile, tinged with ease, was a sign that Erica—once cold to students—had softened a bit recently.

She also seemed more relaxed than usual as she headed straight to her lab.

When she saw her assistants worrying about lunch, she quickly dropped off her things and headed out.

“Professor! Where are you going?”

“Do you have a lunch appointment?”

At the assistants’ questions, Erica smiled awkwardly while holding the door handle.

“Yes, I have an appointment and I’ll probably be there for a while. So don’t worry about me, just take care of your meal.”

With that, Erica left the laboratory, her steps quickening.

After lunchtime, she had about 2 hours before her next lecture, leaving her with roughly 3 hours.

Erica headed straight to her room located in the staff dormitory within the academy.

It was a neat, simple room she had been using for quite some time. And on one of the corners in the room, was a door that seemed out of place.

The door looked like it would lead to the outside. However, when Erica hurriedly opened it and stepped over the threshold, the scent of the forest enveloped her.

A wooden house with the smell of new wood, and a lingering scent of freshly baked bread hovered in the air.

With the aid of Clair’s General Store, Erica could come here whenever she wanted.

However, what made her the happiest was the fact that this secret passage had been created by Deus—no, Kim Shinwoo himself.

“No one’s home.”

She heard that they were planning to work on the vegetable garden in the backyard, so thinking they might be doing that,

Erica made her way to the backyard.

“Ugh, damn. That fucking Mountain Lord is only good for fighting.”

There, she saw Findenai, wearing a shabby outfit and a straw hat, cleaning the rocks and weeds from the garden.

[As if you are.]

And then, there was the Dark Spiritualist.

***

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