I Became The Academy Necromancer
Chapter 375: Side Story - Outing

[Yawn.]

As we could tell during the Findenai incident, we spent somewhat dull days.

Of course, it was quite an exciting day-to-day life when it came to relationships between a man and a woman.

However, other than that, it could honestly be called peaceful. If you ask me if I hated it, of course, I didn’t.

After all, we hadn’t faced many events. Maybe because we had lived through the past two years in a busy and intense way, no one disliked such a time.

[It’s peaceful and nice.]

The Dark Spiritualist lying on my lap stretched, saying she felt good.

[I’ve already taken care of the garden work this morning, and your omelette for lunch was really delicious.]

“I’m glad you liked it.”

[And today, the weather is nice too. It’s cool, and it makes me feel all warm inside.]

“Yeah, it’s getting colder, but today the weather is really nice.”

[Now that I think about it, it’s winter. Is the garden alright?]

“I’ve used magic to keep the temperature stable, so it’s fine.”

[As expected of a mage. The more I think about it, the more magic really helps a lot in life.]

Having this kind of casual conversation wasn’t as bad as I thought. I would’ve dismissed it immediately in the past, saying there was no time for such things.

While the Dark Spiritualist was rubbing against me like a pet while lying on my lap, her real pet, Fluffy IV, snuggled up in her arms.

I had told her not to bring it in because of the fur, but I allowed it since she used magic to clean it up.

Looking at it now, it really felt like magic was almost omnipotent, just as she said.

Well, that was only possible for mages like me and the Dark Spiritualist, though.

[Fluffy IV must be happy, too, right? You like it, don’t you?]

Awo!

Buried in the Dark Spiritualist’s chest, Fluffy IV howled as if it was happy. I was not particularly fond of pets, but if life was like this, having one might not be a bad idea.

And so, we spent our day in leisure and tranquility, like carefree immortals.

“I-is anyone there! Is anyone there!”

A frantic voice came from outside, knocking on the door.

[Wow, a guest!]

The person outside seemed quite urgent, but the Dark Spiritualist instead smiled brightly and stood up, heading quickly to the door.

[Who is it~?]

The person outside seemed a little flustered by the Dark Spiritualist’s sudden appearance and asked in a hesitant voice.

“I-I’ve come to see Sir Kim Shinwoo, the mage.”

“Hmm?”

I recognized the voice.

I stood up and headed to the entrance, where I saw a woman with blue hair, someone I had met before in Iceburn Village.

She was Laila Vesh from the Bureau, which was created by the Clark Republic for the chaotic land.

“What brings you here?”

She had once come with a group from the Bureau, and things had been settled thanks to Eleanor.

At first, I thought it was something like that again, but judging by Laila Vesh’s expression, it didn’t seem to be the case.

“S-Sir Mage!”

Laila Vesh bowed deeply as soon as she saw me. From that position, she cried out with a tearful voice.

“Please! Please help us!”

“…”

[Oh?]

At Laila Vesh’s cry, the Dark Spiritualist and I exchanged glances at the same time. Stella, who was in the middle of doing laundry, also peeked out to check on us.

“Right now! Monstrous figures have appeared in the nearby village! Th-they’re toying with the villagers for their own amusement! If this keeps up, s-someone might end up dead…!”

Monstrous figures? Toying?

It sounded rather absurd. Since she called them monstrous figures instead of demonic monsters, that meant they were human.

The phrase “toying” also sounded a bit odd.

Hmm?

Monstrous figures.

In the end, they were humans, but not quite, which was probably why they were being called that.

And when she mentioned “toying,” a particular group came to mind.

My thoughts were interrupted by Laila Vesh’s desperate wail.

“Please! I know we were rude in the past! But I remembered how you personally dealt with the drug dealers before, so I came here!”

“Well, I understand that much.”

She must have been truly desperate to come to me, someone who was practically a stranger—if not someone she had even been rude to before.

The fact that she came alone, without other members of the Bureau, meant this wasn’t an official request. She had decided to act on her own.

“What exactly is happening?”

A disturbance in a nearby village was a significant problem for us, too. We relied on Iceburn Village and the surrounding villages for various supplies.

“They look human, but they cannot truly be called human… They possess an indescribable power and are forcing the villagers to engage in bizarre activities.”

“…”

“T-they claim to be gods, creating a religion, demanding food, ordering people to dance—things like that.”

[This is…]

“A-at first, the villagers refused. But these people possess a special power—not magic! Some were enthralled by it, while others, out of fear, were forced to follow them.”

“What about the Republic?”

Normally, this would be something for the Clack Republic to handle, not me. Especially since the Bureau was already stationed there, requesting reinforcements shouldn’t have been difficult.

“T-the same situation is unfolding all over the Republic, making it hard to send support all the way to the border. And these people… they are no ordinary individuals…”

Of course. If they were who I thought they were, then no matter what the Clark Republic tried, they wouldn’t be able to drive them out.

What could those who left, claiming they wanted to explore the continent, possibly have to do?

In the end, they hadn’t changed at all and were still up to their old tricks. And now that they had fully manifested, they were probably having the time of their lives.

Before I could even respond, the Dark Spiritualist beamed and spoke.

[We’ll help!]

“R-really?!”

A woman who upheld a strong sense of justice was now bowing down and pleading this desperately.

That showed just how much she wanted to get rid of these wicked people who were deceiving and manipulating others.

“Why are you the one who decides that?”

When I shot a comment at the Dark Spiritualist, who had boldly spoken up, she tilted her head and asked in return.

[Then are you not going to help?]

“We are not in a situation to get involved in things like this so easily.”

[Maybe Findenai and I need to be careful, but you don’t, do you?]

Technically, I was already considered dead, and Kim Shinwoo was a completely different person, so it didn’t matter.

However, that wasn’t the reason I questioned the Dark Spiritualist. I could see from her expression and actions that she had other motives.

[Ugh, I’m bored.]

“Sigh… You do realize who we’re about to fight, right?”

They called themselves gods. It was a ridiculous title, but even in myths like Greek and Roman mythology, gods often behaved no differently from humans.

Regardless, in this world, they were beings that were known as gods.

[So what?]

However, the Dark Spiritualist simply shrugged as if wondering what the problem was.

[You’re here, aren’t you?]

“…”

[You, the one who granted them freedom, are here. So what’s the issue? This is practically just a little trip.]

Seeing the Dark Spiritualist speak with a smile, I couldn’t argue and just nodded.

Yeah.

To me now, gods weren’t really much of a challenge.

“Laila Vesh, you should head to Iceburn Village ahead of us. I’ll prepare first and leave immediately.”

“Th-thank you!”

[Yay! An outing!]

The Dark Spiritualist jumped with joy, excited about going out for the first time in a while.

“Stella, do you want to come too?”

Stella, who had listened to the entire conversation, made a subtle expression before shaking her head.

[No, I don’t really want to see the gods I once served get beaten to a pulp by you.]

“…”

[But please make sure they snap out of it.]

“Got it.”

Stella decided to stay home.

And Findenai was someone who shouldn’t show her face in the world, to begin with.

That left Deia as the last one.

Will she come?

I hoped she wouldn’t, since it could be dangerous—but at the same time, I already knew what her answer would be.

***

The gods had scattered across the continent under the guise of sightseeing. But to be honest, “sightseeing” was a bit of a vague term.

After all, they had always been watching over this land.

Of course, there was a difference between observing from afar and seeing things up close. That was why they chose to roam the land.

But just as humans had different tastes and tendencies, so did gods.

Some gods were content simply mingling with humans, quietly observing their lives.

Others, however, wanted to make it known that they were the very deities the people believed in and worshipped.

Especially, the gods who had few followers.

“Kuhaha!”

In that sense, Helton, the god of stone, who had arrived in Iceburn this time, was well known for having few believers despite his reputation.

Not only did his worship seem as simple as revering rocks, but even in divine lore, he was often depicted as straightforward and combative.

That was why, as Helton looked down at the humans kneeling and bowing before him, his pride swelled.

The recent incident had shaken the position of the gods, but they were still gods at the end of the day.

Helton was convinced that they were beings meant to be worshipped by humans, and a few other gods agreed with him. That was why they had simultaneously begun their activities in the most chaotic region of the Clark Republic.

Laughing atop a boulder, Helton was basking in the idea of reviving his dying religion—until…

“…?!”

Suddenly, he felt an intense surge of mana struck his entire body.

Some humans had tried to resist him before, only to be utterly beaten and sent fleeing.

However, this attack was beyond what could be called human.

Just like the other humans who were worshipping him, Helton also felt as if he should bow his head to the being scattering mana before him.

“Ah…”

The moment he actually saw that figure entering the village, Helton immediately lowered his head.

The one who had once been known as Deus Verdi.

His real name was Kim Shinwoo.

A being who had accomplished every great feat and withdrawn from the world to live a quiet life.

The one who had granted freedom to the gods, salvation to the continent, and rest to the dead.

The one who accomplished the greatest feat in the world yet became the continent’s biggest secret—unknown even by name.

“Ah.”

Helton, the god of stone—dull-headed as a rock—finally realized that he was near Kim Shinwoo’s residence.

“Hiiik!”

He immediately shot up and tried to flee.

However, before he could, mana chains had already wrapped around his legs. It was the same magic Kim Shinwoo often used in battle as a necromancer.

[I thought this would be a little more fun.]

The Dark Spiritualist pouted as she approached first.

“What? That’s supposed to be a god? He just looks like a blockhead to me.”

Deia, who had brought a magic gun just in case, now looked disappointed that it wouldn’t be of any use.

“…”

And then there was Kim Shinwoo, staring coldly at Helton.

Bound by chains, Helton unknowingly fell to his knees in front of Kim Shinwoo.

***

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