I Became The Academy Necromancer
Chapter 357: Side Story - Preparation Phase

“Wow, this is really good.”

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you say you didn’t really like something like this? You even said you didn’t want it the last time I bought it for you.”

Aria grumbled as Eleanor happily ate the cake I had bought.

I thought it would be challenging to satisfy the taste buds of a princess, but it seemed I had somehow managed to pick the worst option.

“No, I liked it the last time too. It’s just that I didn’t want to eat it because you were the one who bought it.”

However, Eleanor casually revealed the truth.

“It was so good that I later went and bought it myself. See? Big Brother Shinwoo just knows my taste perfectly.”

She turned to me with a bright smile on her face.

Aria glared at Eleanor in disbelief, but despite her sharp stare, Eleanor ignored her shamelessly.

As she asked with a beaming smile, I carefully brushed off a breadcrumb from her cheek and nodded.

“Yeah, I’ll cook dinner for you once I get the ingredients. You should come over and eat then.”

“Ah.”

The gesture came to me so naturally that I didn’t even think about it, but Eleanor suddenly turned red, looking embarrassed.

“Ah, you don’t have to do that.”

She touched her cheek with one hand and murmured in a soft voice, a reaction that felt innocent and refreshing for her age.

“Wow! She’s such a fox! Do they also teach you how to flirt in your early royal education or something?”

Aria grumbled beside us.

These two had an ill-fated relationship in the first cycle and yet somehow, they had ended up as friends now. It was all so coincidental.

Not that I minded.

The idea of being special was always relative. Just like a person with two eyes would be seen as abnormal in a one-eyed village.

Because they were both extraordinary, they were able to be ordinary to each other. Somehow, they had a good influence on each other.

Eleanor Luden Griffin, who killed herself to live as a princess and save her kingdom.

Aria Rias, who was forced to bear an unwanted fate and overwhelming talent to save the continent.

Both possessed strong convictions, but if asked whether they truly chose them, their answer would be unclear.

They had matured through burdens too heavy for their age, through hardship and trials.

While they might act like children in front of me, I had already heard from Erica.

They were far more mature compared to their peers.

And the fact that they change like this around me… it must mean they feel comfortable with me.

If they were showing me a side of themselves that no one else saw, then maybe I was also someone special to these extraordinary girls.

After all, both of them had confessed to me at some point.

“Hey, hey, you two better be careful.”

For some reason wearing her old maid uniform, Findenai was sweeping the floor with a broom as she warned them.

“He’s full of desire right now. If you mess with him, you’re in trouble.”

“What are you even saying to the kids?”

“That’s why I’m warning you, you know—to not mess with them because they’re still kids.”

We had known each other for so long that I could tell just from her tone that she wasn’t being serious right now.

She was just sulking at the moment because she didn’t like the fact that I was spending time with the girls.

She didn’t actually believe that I’d lay a hand on them.

“Huft! If Big Brother Shinwoo looks at me like that, I’d totally welcome it!”

“We’re old enough to get married now, you know! What are you even talking about?!”

Eleanor and Aria immediately pounced on Findenai, clinging to her with accusations. At this point, it truly seemed like they had no shame left.

Well, ever since they were caught enjoying themselves while drawing pictures of me, they had become rather bold.

“Look at her, acting like the official wife just because she’s living with him! Wearing that maid outfit every day, twirling her skirt to seduce Big Brother Shinwoo?!”

“And seriously, sweeping the floor while wearing a maid outfit? It doesn’t suit you at all! You’re not even wearing it to be efficient—you’re just wearing it for some pervy reason!”

“Apologize to all the maids on the continent! You’re ruining their reputation!”

“Apologize! Apologize! You’re nothing but a lustful menace trying to seduce your master!”

It was rare to see Eleanor and Aria work together, though I never thought I’d witness it like this.

As the two girls shouted at their common enemy, Findenai, waving their hands wildly, Findenai simply smirked in response.

“Satisfying their master’s desires is also part of a maid’s job, you know.”

“Don’t say things that’ll make them misunderstand.”

I stepped in to try and stop her, but Findenai had no intention of backing down.

“Wearing clothes like this and fulfilling my master’s fantasies is part of my job, you little brats. Huh? Are you jealous of me? Are you jealous?”

“Sigh.”

However, no matter how hard I tried, it was impossible to stop her.

Tired of listening, I decided to get more tea and stood up.

“Like hell I’d be jealous—damn it, Yes! I am fucking jealous!”

“Big sister! Do you have a spare outfit?!”

Seeing the two of them switch gears instantly, I couldn’t help but sigh.

And by the time I returned with the tea, their temporary alliance had already crumbled, and Eleanor and Aria were locked in a cold war with Findenai once again.

“Tch, she’s only wearing that outfit because she has no real charm!”

“Exactly! She can’t even act like a proper maid while wearing it!”

It seemed like Findenai had mocked them the moment they got too close.

Either way, time passed quickly.

Eventually, Erica, followed by Deia, joined us and the atmosphere became livelier.

But as I watched Erica and Deia subtly checking the time, an odd sense of unease crept over me.

Why am I getting nervous over this?

If Deia and the Dark Spiritualist truly intended to go through with what they had mentioned earlier, I had no intention of sitting idly.

There might be a discovery in the research of mental bodies, but personally, I wasn’t prepared for it yet.

It was ironic. But it was simply my nature.

My instinct was to maintain rationality.

The words may seem contradictory, but there was no better way to describe it.

No matter the situation, I wanted to remain calm and keep my reason intact.

It was a survival strategy I had developed while dealing with spirits since I was young.

An acquired tendency.

To survive, I had to remain cool-headed. That was the instinct ingrained in me.

“It’s about time you head back.”

At Findenai’s words, everyone except Eleanor and Aria flinched.

“Can’t we stay the night?”

“Yeah, Big Brother Shinwoo! We want to sleep over!”

The two of them immediately clung to me, pleading with me to permit them to stay over. Honestly, there wasn’t much difference between sleeping in the dormitory and staying here.

I was about to say I had no problem with it, but—

“Ahem.”

Erica cleared her throat and shot me a look. It felt a bit strange, almost like she was warning me not to struggle pointlessly.

“Kiddos, time to go.”

When Findenai waved her hand dismissively, the two students immediately glared at her.

Even these small actions felt unsettling.

A creeping sense of suspicion began to rise within me.

“You’re not old enough yet. You can come back when you are.”

In the end, when Deia stepped in, the students immediately protested, yelling.

“Actually, I’m a regressor, so I’m technically an adult!”

“Bullshit! If I can’t, then neither can she!”

“Wow, you really have no filter when talking to your older sister, huh?!”

“Since when are you my older sister?! You hated it when I used that word the last time because it made you look too old and insisted we were the same age!”

No matter the conversation, it always ended with the two of them insulting each other. But from what they just said—

It seems they both knew exactly what would happen once they left.

I felt like I was about to break out in a cold sweat.

Thankfully, I was in an artificial body—if I weren’t, my bangs would probably be damp by now.

The students knew something they shouldn’t, and the fact that everyone other than me was aware of it made my heart pound with unease.

“Aria Rias. Mental age: 20. I’ll be taking my leave now.”

“I’ll return after I change the law.”

Eventually, Aria and Eleanor left, leaving only Findenai, Erica, and Deia behind.

Even the ghost Stella and the Dark Spiritualist had been absent for some time now, making me all the more more nervous.

“Wait.”

However, even in a tiger’s den, one could survive if they stayed calm. And no matter what, I needed to make things clear.

“Deia, you should head back as well.”

I spoke as if they were my final last words. Both Erica and Findenai turned their gazes toward her.

Deia frowned deeply, clearly wanting to protest, but I wasn’t ready to accept her yet.

Even now, I still saw her more as a younger sister.

“Ah, why?!”

Deia shouted in frustration, grumbling, but no meant no.

“He’s right. It’s too soon.”

Erica smiled gently as she tried to coax Deia, but for some reason, it felt like the smile of a victor.

“It’s in the blood.”

Findenai, who had jumped into the conversation, shrugged as if it were obvious.

“Deus was a lunatic who tried to get it with his own sister, and now she’s trying to do the same with her brother.”

“You crazy bitch!”

Deia immediately clenched her fist and lunged at her.

“Why the hell is he my brother?! Are you out of your mind?! He’s not Deus—he’s Kim Shinwoo!”

Deia and Findenai continued their scuffle for a while, but in the end, Deia also left through the door.

Seeing her on the verge of tears until the very end, all while flipping me off, made it clear just how angry she was.

***

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