I Became The Academy Necromancer-Chapter 277: The Test And Trust

BOOM!

“Tch!”

A punch with enough power in its swing to create a small tornado, yet its owner, Lanhardt, clicked his tongue and ground his sharp teeth in frustration.

The fist aimed at Findenai was blocked by my Protective magic once again, leaving only a faint resonance behind.

“Frustrated, aren’t you?”

Findenai struck down Snow White at Lanhardt, who had leaned forward. Unable to withstand the blow unarmed, he had no choice but to raise his arms hastily.

The furious exchange of attacks between the two continued for a while.

Their dynamic and heavy exchanges created a rhythm of speed and tension, elevating the atmosphere in Norseweden.

And whenever Findenai seemed like she might falter, or when a counterattack seemed too difficult to block, I unhesitatingly used my Protective spell to support her.

“You…!”

Eventually, Lanhardt began to lose ground against the synergy between Findenai and me.

He looked like he wanted to voice his dissatisfaction, but he also knew how challenging it was to coordinate like that.

Acknowledging our superiority, he could only let out a faint sigh.

I could predict every move Findenai would make. And in turn, she trusted me enough to not defend herself at times.

“Kuaaahhh!”

And despite the life-threatening intensity of the skirmish, where even a momentary lapse could prove fatal, a smile graced Findenai’s lips.

“Well, aren’t we a match made in heaven?!”

I also appreciated how seamlessly we worked together. It was like flowing water. However…

This is getting dangerous.

Regardless, I couldn’t keep casting this level of Protective magic for long.

And we still hadn’t managed to push Lanhardt far enough out of Norseweden.

Moreover, Lanhardt had now realized that targeting me was the quickest way to end this fight and kept glancing my way more often.

“Uwaaah!”

Darius yelled as he charged between the two, which slightly reduced the need for Protective magic, but it still wasn’t enough to overpower Lanhardt decisively.

With my mana running low, it was time to make a bold move.

“Deia, come here.”

“…Are you really planning to fire another shot?”

“I don’t have much mana left. We need to finish this here.”

At my words, Deia hesitated, glancing nervously, but stepped forward cautiously.

“P-Please go easy on me.”

“…”

“Hoo.”

Deia let out a strangely alluring sigh. Standing behind, I placed a hand on her shoulder and spoke.

“Didn’t I tell you not to say weird things like that?”

“Y-You’re making me feel strange. It’s like you’re rummaging inside me all of a sudden… Hnng!”

I couldn’t tell whether she was joking or serious, but it was too much to listen to, so I simply transferred my mana without a word.

Deia flinched, her shoulders trembling.

Though startled at first, she pulled the trigger immediately.

Bang!

With a loud BANG!, a magic bullet flew forward. While a shotgun blast would usually spread out wide, as it was a bullet formed from mana, it flew neatly and accurately, focused at a single point.

Skimming past Findenai’s side, it struck Lanhardt directly.

“Keugh!”

Having poured nearly all of my mana into that single shot, Lanhardt was lifted off the ground completely, spinning through the air as he flew toward the outskirts of the city.

Without the need for any further instructions, Findenai and Darius immediately dashed forward.

Determined not to miss this opportunity, the two chased after the still flying Lanhardt.

“Phew…”

Exhaling deeply, Deia realized her role in this battle was over.

“Now, head back and help organize the people. Things must be pretty chaotic without you and Darius.”

“Then, what about you? You’re almost out of mana, so you can’t even provide support anymore.”

“There’s still something I can do.”

Looking confused, Deia demanded an explanation, asking what it was.

I gazed at her for a moment and gave her a bitter smile.

“Thanks for recognizing me in my original appearance.”

“…Huh?”

Deia’s eyes wavered slightly, likely thinking that my words were out of nowhere. Still, I continued speaking.

“After living on this continent as Kim Shinwoo, I’ve realized it’s not as terrifying as I thought it would be, and that’s thanks to you.”

“W-Wait, what are you talking about?”

“What I mean is…”

I slowly reached out and embraced Deia carefully. She trembled faintly in my arms.

“It’s time for me to return to being your brother.”

“…!”

As I let go of Deia, she opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, her lips quivering slightly.

In the end, she didn’t say anything and simply watched me leave.

Leaving Deia behind, I headed toward the city’s entrance—a wide, straight path leading directly to the mountain range.

“They’re struggling, as expected.”

A violent roar echoed from within the city. Since I was no longer blocking the attacks, Findenai and Darius needed to evade while simultaneously luring Lanhardt the best they could.

BOOM!

I caught sight of Findenai leaping between the buildings. Landing on a rooftop, she quickly twisted her body and sprinted toward another building.

Lanhardt chased after her, flashing a bloodthirsty grin.

“Now that the Mage is gone, you’re just running away with your tail between your legs! Fight me, Wolf!”

Lanhardt now seemed to be able to wield his tail with considerable dexterity. When he leaped, he wasn’t solely relying on the strength of his legs but coiled his tail like a spring, moving with even greater agility.

“Findenai!”

Hearing my shout, she snapped her head around.

“What the hell are you doing here?!”

She cried out in alarm.

The residual traces of mana gathered at my fingertips—far too little to cast a protective spell, but enough to create a bluff.

Catching sight of me as well, Lanhardt immediately changed targets, abandoning his chase of Findenai.

“Damn it…!”

Misinterpreting my intent, Findenai hastily hurled Snow White at Lanhardt. He deflected it with his tail and charged straight toward me.

“How dare a mage expose himself like this? What a reckless move!”

His fist came flying at me.

Crunch!

My body bent sharply and as something within me shattered, a grotesque sound echoed.

Mana clung to my hands, creating a link between me and him.

“…!”

As his punch sent me flying backwards, the connection pulled Lanhardt along with me, throwing him off his balance and dragging him forward.

Crash!

We rolled across the ground entangled together, and before we knew it, we had reached outside the city.

“Grr…”

Brushing off the dust that had settled on him, Lanhardt looked down at me.

“A doll…”

Though he had long known that I wasn’t human, he seemed taken aback by the intricacy of the body I was using.

Lying on the ground, split in half with only my upper body intact, I gazed up at him.

“If you’re a guardian deity, then I’ll just have to call upon another guardian deity.”

Thud.

A heavy front paw landed on the ground, causing it to as the echo resounded. We had been flung far outside the city and were now at the mountain’s base.

This, too, was unmistakably the Mountain Lord’s territory.

[Deus Verdi, you always find a way to get me involved.]

The Mountain Lord clicked his tongue in annoyance, but he did not refuse.

His blue eyes glowed as he prepared for a showdown with Lanhardt.

However, Lanhardt only stared at me in shock, his eyes wide open.

“Deus… Verdi?”

He was clearly confused, still uncertain of my true identity.

But he had no time to collect his thoughts.

“YOUU BASTARDDD!”

Findenai rushed in from behind like a flash, swinging Snow White heavily.

Distracted, Lanhardt took the hit directly and was sent flying deeper into the mountain.

“Are you okay?!”

Findenai ran toward me with haste, but I simply chuckled and shook my head.

“It looks like this is the end for Kim Shinwoo.”

Thanks to Lanhardt’s predator-like instincts, he couldn’t resist the tempting bait of a vulnerable mage, which allowed us to trap him.

Now, I could only rely on the Mountain Lord, Findenai, and Darius to finish the job.

“I’ve done all I can. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“Y-You’re really okay, right? If you disappear again, I swear I’ll kill you and keep your soul forever!”

She spoke as if she could use magic.

I raised my hand, which could hardly move, and caressed Findenai’s cheek gently.

“Being able to touch you like this as Kim Shinwoo… is enough for me.”

“…”

“See you soon.”

At my words, Findenai nodded and quickly stood up. Lanhardt, who was knocked back, had already regained his footing and was preparing to charge again.

[Child, I’ll lend you my back.]

With the Mountain Lord’s mercy, Findenai climbed onto his back. That was the last sight my artificial body witnessed before it completed its role.

The souls that had been observing me from the skies descended cautiously.

Emily and the woman with burns supported my soul from both sides as they guided me to Deus Verdi’s body.

No words were exchanged.

I felt like a student about to face their final evaluation.

I finally arrived before Deus Verdi’s physical form, and the souls hovering above him descended one by one.

These weary ones yearned for a proper place to rest.

So, had I managed to gain their approval?

The time for judgment had arrived.

“Deus Verdi.”

A heavy, lifeless voice echoed. Facing me in my soul form, he solemnly declared:

“Your sacrifice was truly admirable. Even without power, you still risked your life to fight for our sake, and some of us are deeply moved by it.”

A strange sensation washed over me.

Despite the gratitude in the collective voice of the souls, there was still a tinge of doubt.

“However, we still cannot trust you.”

I shut my mouth tightly.

The grim reality.

“Well, thinking about it, is there anyone who can reassure us? Great power is a fruit that incites human greed…”

Their concern was that the immense power within them could be misused due to its sheer strength.

“I heard that you, too, were once intoxicated by power and used it for your own selfish desires.”

I immediately understood what he was referring to.

He was talking about the incident in the Marias Great Forest, when I had forcibly manipulated the souls there to kill those involved in the kidnapping of Illuania.

After the incident, I had taken the time to apologize to the souls and atoned for my actions.

But just like Lanhardt and various others, I too had once used souls for personal gain.

It was an undeniable truth.

I might have felt like protesting, but would I have earned their trust if I hadn’t acted the way I did?

In the end…

“We wanted to trust you, but we couldn’t.”

I got the vague feeling that they were sincerely apologizing to me.

But even so…

Could I really just leave it at that?

Regardless, they still needed to be contained somewhere, and no one should be able to touch them.

Am I truly unworthy of this?

I had no excuses.

In the end, the one who could contain them had to be unwavering, but I had already shown myself acting like a Necromancer instead of a Soul Whisperer.

How were they supposed to give trust?

Wasn’t the standard too high?

Some might protest.

One could argue that the souls had put forward selfish and unreasonable demands.

However, that was how great of a power it was.

A power so immense, it could destroy the entire continent. Hence, it was bound to give rise to stubbornness.

So, what would they do from here on out?

Just as I was about to inquire…

[Then, how about this?]

A familiar voice rang out—a voice I thought I’d never hear again after our parting.

It was calm, almost serene, and its graceful tone carried a natural trust.

Stella, the former Saintess whom I had believed to have perished in the battle with the gods, suddenly appeared and stood beside me.

[What if someone were to watch over him?]

“Watch over…”

Her words didn’t sit well with me, but Stella continued speaking regardless.

[Yes, watch over him. I know well that he has forcibly manipulated souls for personal reasons in the past.]

“…”

[But he didn’t act selfishly. It was all to save a pregnant woman and her soon-to-be-born child.]

“Even so, it doesn’t change the fact that he once used souls in such a coercive manner.”

[You are not wrong. But then again, is there anyone on this continent who can accept and protect you?]

“…”

[And what if the kingdoms or religions find out? Surely, those who wish to use this power politically will emerge. You are immense but must remain hidden.]

She wasn’t wrong.

As more people would become aware of this power, the more chaos would descend upon the continent.

[Trust him. He came here as an outsider and only took action to save us.]

“…”

[Though I was once a Saintess, I now serve in place of Goddess Hearthia. I will take full responsibility and watch over him for eternity.]

She would stay by my side so that someone like me would remain steadfast and unshaken.

Those words stirred an unexpected, poignant emotion in me.

And right at that moment, another woman appeared next to me, taking her place across from Stella.

[And it’s not that you have any plans for what comes next either, do you?]

A translucent veil covered her face.

Her violet eyes, unlike Stella’s, were coldly berating them.

The black staff in her hand radiated an overwhelming presence.

It was the Dark Spiritualist.

I thought that she too had vanished like Stella after her defeat at the hands of Heralhazard.

But now, she stood beside me, as if this was all a dream.

“You….”

The moment the Dark Spiritualist appeared, the souls reacted negatively. It could be due to her karmic burden, but there was something more that could be felt.

Heralhazard?

I wasn’t exactly sure of the circumstances, but it seemed that the Dark Spiritualist now contained the immense karma he had accumulated.

[In the end, with the continent’s greatest Necromancer like me by his side, I can keep a close watch on him.]

Just like Stella, the Dark Spiritualist also made a declaration.

Deus’ gaze, which had been fixed on me, slowly shifted to the two of them.

[Because I loved all of you more than anyone, I risked my life to save you as a Saintess. And now, as the one who bears the divine position of a goddess, I will vouch for him.]

Stella smiled gently as she looked toward me.

[I’ve always taken life lightly, but I also understand the value of that power better than anyone. I’ll be here to watch over him as well.]

Similarly, the Dark Spiritualist quietly placed her hand on my shoulder and leaned in.

[Please trust him.]

“…”

I pressed my lips together.

The souls continued to ponder as if trying to come up with some sort of consensus. However, even with the two women who trusted me by my side, I could not stand idly by.

I couldn’t just stand still with the two women who believed in me wholeheartedly.

[Just one.]

I spoke honestly.

[Just one opportunity.]

I, who had been closer to the dead than anyone else and cherished them more than anyone.

[So I can protect everything I have experienced while walking, breathing, and living on this land… ]

I…

[I will become your gravestone.]

In that instant, my vision spun wildly.

It felt as though I was being pulled somewhere, and amidst that sensation, the voices of the numerous souls echoed in my ears.

[Thank you.] [I’ll trust you.] [There’s no way.] [Take responsibility.] [Live without wavering for the greater cause.] [I don’t believe you, but there’s no other way than you.] [Fufu, thank you for protecting me.] [I’m sorry.] [Thank you! Thank you!] [Thank you for protecting our tribe.] [Please make sure we will never have to wake up due to worry.] [How old are you?] [What kind of world did you come from?] [Stop with the unnecessary words.] [It will be difficult from now on.] [To carry the heaviest burden on the continent.] [Thank you for always giving me flowers.] [Because of you, I was able to say goodbye to my father, Soul Whisperer.] [How are Sevia and Illuania?]

I couldn’t hear all the voices.

Nor could I answer them all.

But I could clearly feel the souls within me begin to close their eyes one by one.

Soon, only the sound of the wind could be heard.

The world, which had quieted down, welcomed me with an almost serene peace.

As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw the Dark Spiritualist and Stella standing in front of me.

“For your trust.”

Once again…

“For your gratitude.”

I had become Deus Verdi.

***

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