I Became The Academy Necromancer
Chapter 388: Side Story - Owen's Trial

“…I’m not sure if this is really the right thing to do.”

In front of the carriage, preparing for departure.

Deia was glaring at me with her arms crossed.

She would occasionally get irritated, but this was on a completely different level.

The way she tapped the ground with the sole of her foot emphasized just how annoyed she was.

“Huh? I’m asking if it’s the right thing to do.”

“Sigh, I told you I’m heading to Graypond soon.”

As I answered Deia’s questioning tone, her expression twisted in frustration.

“This soon? You could stay a little longer. It’s not too late—even just a week more.”

“We’ve only been dating for a few days, and you’re already leaving! Don’t you even miss me? Just thinking about you leaving makes me feel lonely already!”

“…”

The way she said it so openly made me feel a sudden urge to stay. Noticing this, Deia approached me and whispered in a coquettish voice.

“Hmm? Just one more week. There’s no rush anyway.”

“…”

“Come to my bed tonight. Let’s sleep together, okay?”

Yeah, I had to admit Deia’s temptation was effective. The way she, who usually liked to grumble or tease, let down her guard and clung to me was both personally satisfying and thrilling, but—

“Bullshit.”

A chillingly cold voice pierced through like a blade.

Findenai, who was loading the luggage onto the carriage, openly glared at Deia.

“Follow the order, will you? You’re not my sister-in-law anymore. You’re just one of his many damn wives.”

Crunch.

As if disgusted by her own words, Findenai immediately stomped on my foot.

Thanks to that, I felt like I snapped back to my senses a little.

“Stop stepping on me.”

“Sorry, I just got pissed all of a sudden. Seriously, having so many wives is just weird.”

“You guys are the ones who made it this way.”

I’d like them to remember that I originally intended to choose just one person.

“Yeah, and you also told us we could be as jealous as we wanted.”

That was when I finally understood the real meaning behind Findenai’s words. She wasn’t mad about me having many wives.

She was angry that I hadn’t spent time with her while we were in Norseweden.

“You spent all day biting and nibbling with your little sister in Norseweden. Isn’t it about time you stopped, you bastard?”

“…”

“It’s time to take care of your legal wife first.”

[Wait a minute! Who said you’re the legal wife?!]

At Findenai’s words, the Dark Spiritualist, who was already inside the carriage, immediately stuck her head out the window and shouted.

[We agreed not to put labels on this! And if we did, technically, as his teacher, I should be—!]

[Senior, calm down.]

Stella, who had been inside, pulled the Dark Spiritualist back into the carriage. The subtle ease in her demeanor could probably be interpreted as confidence.

“Ah, anyway. We have given Deia plenty of time to be with Shinwoo. As a latecomer, she also already gave it her all, but this is where it ends.”

Deia glared at Findenai, who shrugged and teased her as if provoking her.

“Can you not talk like we’re parting forever? I’ll come to where you guys are after you return from Graypond anyway.”

“That’s for later.”

“Besides, Findenai can’t go to Graypond either, right?”

Deia questioned Findenai, who kept speaking slyly, as if something was off.

In truth, Findenai wasn’t just unwelcome in Graypond—she couldn’t show her face anywhere on the continent.

Even now, there were probably people searching for her, determined to track down the fugitive.

“Ha, I…!”

“She’s got a point.”

As I agreed with Deia, Findenai widened her eyes and turned to look at me as if demanding I repeat myself.

Her gaze screamed, What the hell did you just say? But it wasn’t wrong, was it?

“Even if Findenai goes a few years later, there’s no guarantee it’ll be safe. Honestly, taking her to Graypond worries me.”

Even when we went to Clarkwork, the capital of the Clark Republic, last time, Findenai had almost been seen.

No, someone definitely had seen her.

“Wait… Are you seriously planning to leave me behind, Master Bastard?”

The way Findenai looked at me with an unfair expression was honestly a little amusing.

“If I knew this would happen, I should’ve just crawled into bed with you too! I held back out of consideration for nothing!”

What was that supposed to mean now?

“Spending time together doesn’t just mean having sex.”

Even though I slept with Deia, I still spent time with the other women in my own way.

In fact, the Dark Spiritualist and Stella had both subtly seduced me, and we had ended up doing it once or twice.

But for her case, Findenai had always avoided it herself, saying it was too exhausting.

“Ugh, whatever. This is unfair, so I’m coming with you. If you try to leave me behind, I’ll climb on top of the carriage and ride there anyway.”

Watching Findenai shout screw it like that, I shook my head.

“Just get in. I was never planning to leave you behind anyway.”

After all, if things got dangerous, Findenai had the strength to escape on her own, so I had no intention of abandoning her.

Besides, she no longer had any obligations tying her down.

However, Deia was different—if she got caught, it would inevitably link back to the Verdi Household.

She knew this well, which was probably why she kept insisting I stay instead of saying she wanted to come along.

“Hell yeah.”

Fearing I might change my mind, Findenai immediately jumped into the carriage. Once I confirmed that everyone was on board, I carefully took Deia’s hand.

“I’ll come back after finishing my business in Graypond. It won’t take too long, so don’t worry.”

“Come back soon. I’m seriously going to be lonely.”

After giving her a soft hug, I turned to say my goodbyes to Darius, Illuania, and Sevia, who had been waiting behind her.

Whew.

Truthfully, I could have used the general store’s door to teleport directly to Graypond, but I chose not to do so this time.

I heard that along the road to Graypond, there were places where Owen had overcome trials to become a Soul Whisperer, so I planned to visit them.

Additionally, I wanted to take in the scenery of the Griffin Kingdom again after so long.

“Let’s go.”

As soon as I climbed into the carriage, it began moving forward.

***

On the way to Graypond, we made several stops, delaying our arrival by a few days.

Owen was undergoing trials to become the second Soul Whisperer, so we decided to visit the places where he had faced those challenges.

As we wandered, something strange caught my attention.

Like right now.

I stood in a forest a short distance from Graypond. Nearby was a communal graveyard shared by the surrounding villages.

[What… happened here?]

Stella, standing beside me, tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

I couldn’t help but react similarly. The spirits I hadn’t seen in a long time looked as if they had been sleeping—only to be forcefully awakened. Their expressions were anything but peaceful.

[Is it alright to just leave them like that?]

Concern laced Stella’s voice as the Dark Spiritualist suddenly popped up from behind and interrupted.

[You’re not Deus or a Soul Whisperer anymore, so why bother? Let’s just see how well Owen handles this!]

“You’re misunderstanding something.”

I sighed as I walked past the Dark Spiritualist. It wasn’t because I was a Soul Whisperer that I granted peace to the dead.

It wasn’t because I listened to their stories or offered them comfort.

People had simply labeled me a Soul Whisperer because of what I had done.

“We’ll stay here for the night. Tell Findenai to stop the carriage and keep as low a profile as possible.”

Even just by Findenai stretching as if waking up and unleashing her presence, the souls here would be startled and tremble in fear.

[Shall I accompany you?]

Stella asked if I needed her help, but I shook my head.

She was no longer a Saintess, but even if she still were, I wouldn’t have asked for her assistance.

“Speaking with the dead has always been my duty.”

[Fufu.]

Whether it was because my answer pleased her or simply because it reminded her of the past, Stella folded her hands gently, whispering a prayer-like encouragement.

[Do your best.]

With Stella’s support behind me, I stepped into the forest. The spirits noticed my arrival but, like everyone else, assumed I couldn’t see them and turned their gazes away.

Hmm.

Perched among the tall branches, they looked like strange fruits hanging in the air.

Or perhaps like bodies left as warnings after a public execution.

Either way, it wasn’t an image befitting humans—nor was it a pleasant sight.

“Why…”

The sky was overcast, blocking out the sunlight. Despite the early hour, the forest was drenched in shades of gray.

Standing at its center, I gazed at the countless spirits before speaking.

“Why do you remain awake?”

Their bodies were weak, like the corpses, but their eyes were open. They slowly turned their hollow gazes toward me, looking as if still uncertain whether I had truly spoken to them. So, I calmly repeated my question.

“There will be enough space to lie down.”

It was different from before.

Unlike the continent that was once oversaturated, it was now empty.

There was no longer any need to worry about the saturation of spirits, which could last for centuries or even a thousand years.

Therefore, there must be a reason why they were awake, and it seemed to be connected to the trials Owen had undergone here.

[Can you see us?]

One of the spirits, a middle-aged man, approached me and nodded, answering.

Then, other spirits gathered around me, and they began pouring out their stories.

[Recently, a plague spread in this area. We caught it and ended up in this state.]

[But the plague was resolved thanks to the Dark Mage from Graypond.]

[We hold no grudge! We were originally just asleep!]

They were asleep?

While they all spoke, I listened carefully to each of their words.

I stayed silent, deep in thought, yet still paying attention.

[But then a boy, who seemed to be a companion of the Dark Mage, came and woke us up.]

[Then he left again! He did nothing, just woke us up and left!]

The boy must be Owen.

However, Owen’s piano playing had the power to comfort souls, so it was odd that he had woken them up.

If there had been time, they could have naturally found rest again.

Regardless, in this situation, there was a risk of them turning into evil spirits.

Whatever the case…

He forced them awake.

This detail was important.

Owen’s music could not wake spirits on its own.

Did he learn necromancy?

I couldn’t help but feel suspicious.

***

https://ko-fi.com/genesisforsaken