I Became The Academy Necromancer

Hearing that even the second subjugation had failed, I could no longer wait around.

I didn’t know what kind of powerful demonic monster appeared in the desert, but I couldn’t leave Eleanor in the Jerman Kingdom any longer, and the time we spent was precious.

After all, it was a vast desert.

As long as we avoided the great demonic monster, it wouldn’t be too difficult if we were careful, and I also had a competent scout.

[Why me?! You can send Stella instead!]

The Dark Spiritualist kept refusing, saying she didn’t want to go.

Stella also smiled awkwardly and said she would go, but I shook my head.

“Go.”

[Hey, junior! What are you doing?! Hurry up!]

[Arrrghhh! I don’t want toooo! Why me?! Are you really going to destroy the hierarchy among us ghosts like this? Is it all because I’m a Necromancer?!]

“Sigh.”

[We have our own hierarchy, you know? The tough, menial, and annoying tasks are for the juniors to suffer from!]

[I will go instead of Senior.]

Stella stepped forward with a smile, repeating that she would do it, but I frowned and glared at the Dark Spiritualist.

“Hurry up and go.”

[Wow…]

The Dark Spiritualist sighed resentfully and turned around in a huff.

[You’ve become all so high and mighty now, huh?! Have you already forgotten who taught you Necromancy?! FINE! I’ll go!]

The Dark Spiritualist left for the desert to find out where the great demonic monster was.

As I was preparing to depart after sending her off, Stella approached me with a bitter smile.

[You know, I could have gone, too.]

“Since ancient times, many people have died in the Sahar Desert.”

[…]

Because Stella also knew this, she remained silent.

“Close your eyes and block your ears. You need not expose yourself to this kind of experience.”

[Deus.]

“It is not that I doubt your mental strength.”

After all, who could even match Stella’s level of mental strength on this continent?

Even after being severely tortured by demons, she managed to stay alive solely with her willpower and love.

However, my concern was precisely because of that very affection.

“I do not want you to go through unnecessary suffering and pain.”

Simply by crossing the desert, Stella would suffer several times overseeing the dead. And, of course, I knew she would be able to overcome it.

But this was a hardship that didn’t need to be endured.

[…]

“Let Velica take control.”

At my words, Stella closed her eyes slowly, and soon, horns sprouted from her forehead.

[Well done.]

Just one comment.

Velica thanked me and immediately entered my prosthetic right hand.

There was a slight clunking feeling, but this was better.

“Master Bastard, are we leaving now?”

“Yes.”

In order to cross the desert, we had replaced the carriage wheels with thick, magic-reinforced ones, and we had enchanted the horseshoes to prevent them from sinking into the sand.

Hence, even in the desert, the horses could now run as if they were galloping on flat ground.

Originally, heat was the biggest issue when traversing the desert. However, once the sun went down, the cold became a problem.

Thankfully, Findenai had placed separate covers over the horses to help them withstand the chilly air.

“Hurry, get on.”

Findenai held the reins in one hand and lightly tapped the seat next to her.

I would have ridden inside the carriage, but we needed immediate communication for when the Dark Spiritualist returned with the news of the location of the great demonic monster, so we decided to sit together in the coachman’s seat.

The seat was spacious enough for both of us to sit comfortably.

Although there were other carriages that were carrying gifts to be handed over to the Jerman Kingdom, I decided to let them wait here.

Since the Jerman’s subjugation had failed, they did not need to deliberately put themselves at risk.

Neeeeighhh!

Hence, only our carriage was departing.

“Sigh, this is getting tiresome.”

“We’re finally going!”

Deia and Aria, who were inside the carriage, were excited that we were finally setting off.

It was a starry night as we began crossing the desert.

[Keeeeeuuuuaaah!]

[Please! Please! Please!]

[Waaattteeerrr! Waaaattterrrr!]

“Huft.”

I had already expected this because even before we reached the desert, I could already incessantly hear unsettling voices.

However, the weight brought by the Sahar Desert, which was known for sucking the blood of humans, was heavier than I had thought.

“…Have that many people really died here?”

Findenai glanced at me subtly beside her, confirmed my expression, and pushed the horses to speed up.

Especially in places like the desert, it was quite dangerous to recklessly pretend to know about them, as there were many ghost stories.

In fact, just the delay alone could provide an excuse for the great demonic monster to pursue us.

“…”

Mirage-like bodies of dried-up emaciated ghosts who had died continued to emerge endlessly.

It felt like witnessing an apocalypse-level zombie outbreak.

Even after the carriage continued to travel for a while, I still couldn’t get used to the screams. Eventually, I closed my eyes and quietly waited for time to pass, but…

[Oh! It’s coming here!]

Among the screaming ghosts, I could hear a distinct loud, clamorous voice.

When I opened my eyes, the Dark Spiritualist was pointing urgently beyond the sand dunes.

[The… the great demonic monster! It has the body of a lion but the face of a human, such a grotesque creature!]

Sphinx?

That name came to mind as soon as I heard its description. But if it was called a Sphinx…

Then it is a demonic monster controlled by demons.

A strange sensation hit me unexpectedly. At first, I thought it was just a naturally occurring demonic monster. However…

If it had such a deformed appearance, it was hard to think of it as an ordinary great demonic monster.

“Findenai, command the horses to go faster.”

“Can you see it coming?”

On hearing my words, Findenai urged the horses again. They were already running quite fast, but that alone was not enough.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

A heavy and rhythmic stride echoed from beyond the dunes that the Dark Spiritualist had pointed out.

Deia and Aria, feeling the ground tremble, leaned their heads out of the window to check.

“This sound doesn’t seem ordinary, right?”

“C-can we escape from this?”

“…”

In a situation where a single wrong move could lead to combat, the monster continued to smash through the dunes, scattering sand.

Kiyaaaaah!

With an eerie scream, the figure appeared, showing a human face but the smooth body of a lion.

“Holy sh—! What the hell is that?! It’s fucking ugly!”

Findenai cursed, saying she had never seen anything like it.

Even though it was a demonic monster, it was an extraordinary one.

It looked too disgustingly formidable.

“I think I now know why the Jerman Kingdom failed to subdue it twice.”

“…It’s really disgustingly filthy.”

Deia and Aria also muttered a comment or two. Perhaps it heard them, since the Sphinx roared grotesquely and grew even angrier.

“Did it hear us…?!”

Deia climbed out the window with a shotgun on her back. She struggled to climb to the top of the carriage and straightened her hair.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“Since it’s going to charge at us anyway, it’s okay to obstruct it a bit, right?”

Click.

I nodded in response to Deia’s question. After all, it wasn’t moving instinctively; it was approaching us under a command.

A demon.

And if they could handle such a demonic monster, they must be at the level of a Demon Lord.

I suddenly felt exhausted at the thought of having to fight such monsters again.

I wondered who it could be this time, but unexpectedly, the answer popped out of my right prosthetic hand.

[It’s Lehric.]

“…The Demon Lord of Deception.”

Velica asserted solemnly.

[Among the Demon Lords, there’s only me and that bastard who makes things like that.]

“…”

[The rest of the lot are all mediocre, but that guy’s sense of aesthetics is quite decent.]

Well, she would certainly like grotesque things since she was the Demon Lord of Deformity.

“Finally, we meet again.”

The fact that the great demonic monster created by him was now rampant in the Sahar Desert meant that Lehric was also interfering with the affairs of the Jerman Kingdom.

Although I managed to win when I was in the Demon Dream Manor, I still couldn’t save the souls captured by him.

“This time.”

I was determined to make the countless souls detained by him rest in peace.

“Master Bastard, will that thing catch up to us?”

At that moment, Findenai clicked her tongue as she stared at the incoming Sphinx. There was still quite a bit of distance, but it was gradually narrowing down.

Bang! Bang!

Deia’s shotgun spewed fire, but the monster only shook its head and did not suffer any significant damage.

“It looks like we will have to fight.”

“That would be a rash decision.”

It was not like we had or were gathering soldiers to subdue the great demonic monster.

From the beginning, it could be said that great demonic monsters held an overwhelming advantage over humans in terms of compatibility.

Only those with superior combat power among the Demon Lords would be able to handle them alone.

“Then, should we just run away like this and get stomped on by that bastard?”

“…Huff.”

If I had known that the great demonic beast was intentionally positioned here, I wouldn’t have acted so hastily.

“Professor, can you give me permission for just 10 minutes?!”

Aria, with her head leaned forward, shouted that she would rush in immediately. If she, with her combat power rivaling that of a Demon Lord, along with Findenai and me, joined forces, it wouldn’t be completely impossible to subdue it.

However, it would take too much time.

It also wasn’t a good idea to stay too long in the desert.

Although Aria bravely shouted 10 minutes, it would probably take hours to pierce through that tough body.

“There is nothing we can do.”

In the end, we needed help.

“Hold the reins tight so the horses don’t get confused.”

“As expected of a cunning bag! I really commend you!”

“…Don’t talk like that.”

“You’re fucking arguing with me right now, aren’t you? It’s so charming!”

“Huft.”

“Professor, I *lo-*ve you too!”

Aria quickly chimed in, leaning out the window and looking straight at Findenai.

Deia’s expression, looking at me, contorted grotesquely.

So, this was how it felt like seeing the face of a younger sister witnessing her older brother’s love story.

“Deia, point the muzzle there.”

“To whom? You or Findenai?”

BANG!

Deia continued to grumble irritably as she fired her shotgun towards the Sphinx.

With no time to spare, I gathered my mana and extended both hands forward.

“Clear the way.”

My mana spread towards the desert. The ghosts that would cling to passing people like zombies began to gradually materialize.

[Uwaaaah! Can you see me too?!]

The Dark Spiritualist excitedly spun around in the air. Findenai, who was driving the carriage, opened her mouth wide and muttered.

“Bloody hell.”

[T-that’s so vulgar!]

“The size difference is ridiculous. I can now see why Master Bastard doesn’t get hard when he looks at my chest.”

“P-Professor, will you not get hard if it’s not that much…”

“Insane.”

“Huff…”

My head started throbbing painfully.

I exhaled deeply, focusing on the magic, and warned them.

“If you don’t stop now, you’ll all become food for the great demonic monster.”

Only then did the three of them shut their mouths.

Using my mana, I carefully pushed away the souls that gradually materialized and began to cling to the carriage.

Bang! Bang!

Deia fired her shotgun towards the materialized forms of the souls appearing in front of her.

However, since she couldn’t inflict any real damage, she only slightly distorted their forms, but it was enough for the carriage to pass through.

“Wow.”

A gasp of admiration flowed from Aria’s mouth as she watched the Sphinx.

The materialized souls clung blindly to the great demonic beast.

Many souls were clinging to it due to its huge size, and because of the weight of the mana contained in them, the movement of the Sphinx gradually slowed down.

We couldn’t kill it, but we could delay it.

However, the problem was that there were also souls rushing towards us.

Deia and I tried to get them off the carriage as much as possible while moving forward.

“Am I really allowed to shoot a gun at the head of a dead person like this?”

“The living are always the priority.”

I had always said that we should consider the dead, but the living must, first and foremost, take precedence.

Saying so, I checked the Sphinx, which was gradually becoming invisible due to being buried under a mountain of souls, and relaxed.

[That’s impressive.]

The Dark Spiritualist approached me at that moment.

As she came closer, Findenai opened her mouth wide, but seeing my reaction, she didn’t say anything.

[You’re converting the mana of souls within range into magic, right?]

“Yes.”

[That magic would then give form to souls, allow them to have weight, and even let them speak.]

“That is right.”

It was the magic I used in Graypond on those who unjustly died because of Romuleus.

A magic that allowed a brief meeting between the living and the dead.

[It’s a kind of resurrection, isn’t it?]

“…That’s not exactly the right word.”

Although I showed displeasure, the Dark Spiritualist didn’t yield.

[But it’s accurate, isn’t it? They can speak, and while it’s a way of giving form to the soul, you can still see them.]

“…”

[Since it’s not magic I taught you. I don’t know if there’s something similar.]

Most of the magic taught by the Dark Spiritualist was offensive magic. In fact, most dark magic was like that, to begin with.

In the end, this was magic I had developed on my own.

[Hey, Deus.]

The Dark Spiritualist’s expression, which had been cheerful like a child until now, changed unexpectedly.

Findenai, who was listening to our conversation from the side, also glanced at us.

It seemed like she had noticed that something was strange.

[What exactly were you thinking when creating something like this?]

It was a sharp, probing question.

For a moment, my mouth shut, unable to give any answer, but the Dark Spiritualist continued her interrogation.

[It’s magic that can awaken souls on a large scale. But that’s still incomplete, right? It feels like a stepping stone for some other magic.]

“You talk too much.”

I unnecessarily responded, and the Dark Spiritualist’s eyes widened momentarily.

It wasn’t just her.

The other three people in the carriage also showed a startled reaction.

[You’re hiding something, aren’t you?]

“…”

[Is it something you can’t tell me either?]

“Huff.”

After exhaling a short sigh at the Dark Spiritualist’s question, I answered calmly while drawing a line.

“Yes, not only to you, but I cannot tell anyone about this.”

I had no intention of giving them a proper answer.

As I added that, the Dark Spiritualist’s expression subtly contorted. The others also tightly shut their mouths again.

Before I knew it, nothing else could be heard aside from the rough breathing of the horses pulling the carriage.

That was how we arrived at the Jerman Kingdom.

Naturally, the gates were closed, but the moment they realized we were the Griffin Kingdom’s envoys, they panicked and opened them for us.

We headed straight to the palace.

Even though it was late, I needed to meet Eleanor first, so I left the carriage outside and headed inside alone.

“The smell of blood?”

However, before we even reached the palace, Findenai sniffed the air and smelled something acrid.

“Is it coming from the palace?”

As we approached our destination, the rough screams and noises became louder.

I could immediately tell it wasn’t a normal situation.

In front of the main gate of the palace, I tried to park the carriage and assess the situation, but…

“Deussssssss!”

I suddenly heard Eleanor call my name from inside. I didn’t know how she knew, but the moment I heard that cry, I was already moving.

Mana coiled around my right arm.

The gate was bent and shattered.

And what unfolded before me was a bloody battle among the princes.

It was clear that a rebellion was taking place, but to me, that wasn’t the important detail.

“Lehric.”

The now familiar aura of the Demon Lord had spread around. Not only did the princes in combat bathe in it, but the soldiers were also affected by the Demon Lord’s magic.

“Madness, isn’t it?”

It wasn’t something that could be considered grand magic.

It was simply a magic used by demons to intensify and deepen emotions when toying with humans.

However, when someone of a Demon Lord’s level used it, these were the results it produced.

They had now forgotten about the greater cause and were swinging their swords in madness.

“Ignore them and keep moving.”

Even if I were to dispel the magic, they wouldn’t stop fighting. The heightened emotions wouldn’t immediately dissipate.

Unable to cut through the midst of battle, I tried to find a way by sidestepping. However…

Eleanor landed on the first floor using a prince-looking man as a cushion, shouting towards me.

“Deussssss!”

Was that sight amusing for him?

The man with white hair standing at the fifth-floor window smiled softly.

It was Demon Lord Lehric.

“Deus! I’m sorry! It seems like I’ve caused something big.”

“…”

“Look at this girl.”

Aria grinned and slyly said she expected it.

“D-do you think you can solve it like Doraemon?!”

Because Eleanor loved comics, she even used metaphors from comic characters.

“You shameless bitch! You’re definitely failing next semester!”

When Aria shouted fiercely, Eleanor recoiled in response.

“Ah! I don’t care! I’m a princess!”

“Has she gone insane? Should we take this opportunity to kill her?”

“You want to kill a princessssssss?!”

“You rebellious bitch! How do you always manage to start trouble wherever you go?! You should’ve been born in the Clark Republic!”

“Deus ex machinaaaaaaa!”

Sigh.

“Shut up, both of you.”