I Became The Academy Necromancer-Chapter 294: Sitting Togeter

“Ahem.”

Erica cleared her throat awkwardly.

Judging from her reaction earlier, it was clear she had been waiting for me.

After all, there was even a life-sized doll of me standing right there.

Of course, I was a bit taken aback when I first saw it. After all, even if it was just on paper, she was still my fiancée in name, and she had a doll in my likeness at her workplace.

However, upon further reflection, I concluded that it probably wasn’t Erica’s at request but rather a clueless gift from Professor Fel Petra, who didn’t really understand social norms.

Still, Erica’s actions from earlier had been somewhat… shocking.

“Hmm.”

Sitting on a chair with her hands neatly placed on her thighs, Erica kept her flushed face lowered as if she were some kind of criminal.

I wondered if I should say something to her.

[It’s similar, but it feels a bit dated. It’s different from how he is now after he came back.]

[It doesn’t have his unique aura. It really just feels like a doll.]

Hearing the Dark Spiritualist and Stella critique the doll as they examined it closely, I was left speechless.

I couldn’t help but wonder if it was even legal to create something like that without my consent in the first place.

“Have you been well?”

In the end, not wanting to embarrass her further, I chose to pretend I hadn’t noticed anything.

Seeing her face red and her body trembling, saying anything more might push her over the edge.

“I’m sorry for making you feel that you need to be considerate.”

Erica whispered softly, her eyes glistening with tears. I already knew she would react like this no matter what I said.

Pretending to wipe her eyes while pressing at the corners, she then straightened her shoulders and looked at me.

“Yes, I’ve been well.”

Though a tinge of redness still lingered on her face, she made an attempt to appear poised and confident.

That was the sort of attitude I liked.

“And you?”

Erica asked cautiously.

Her question felt a bit light for a reunion, but I also gave a similar answer.

“Yes, I have been well.”

“I see.”

Maybe because the flush on her face had finally subsided, Erica smiled softly as she stood up, moving to sit beside me.

“That’s all that matters.”

She said as she placed her hand on the back of mine. Warm, soft, yet with a sense of determination.

It was her small way of confirming that I had truly returned.

“Although there’s a lot I’m curious about…”

Squeeze.

Erica tightened her grip slightly as if to say she wouldn’t let go. From the weight of her touch, I could tell she had a lot she wanted to ask.

“But you’re back now.”

Leaning gently against my shoulder, Erica decided none of that mattered.

“And that’s enough for me.”

A faint lemon scent tickled my nose—whether it was her perfume or her natural scent, I couldn’t tell.

It was just a fleeting moment, but for some reason, sitting with her in the lab early this morning stirred my heart deeply.

[She’s a pretty sly fox, isn’t she?]

[…Geez.]

Yes, like being under a spell, I was lost in her warmth, her scent, and the weight of her presence.

However, the moment the Dark Spiritualist and Stella spoke up, the feeling of being part of a poetic verse seemed to shatter.

Erica was now clinging to my arm as if bound to me, her fingers interlocked with mine, her breath brushing against the nape of my neck.

“Erica, I need your help.”

And in an instant, my business-like tone shattered the cozy atmosphere.

Annoyed by the sudden change, Erica pressed her chin against my shoulder and asked.

“What is it?”

Feeling her breath tickled my ear, I carefully untangled myself from her before continuing.

“Do you have any connections with the Wellington Trading Company?”

“…?”

Clearly displeased by the sudden distance between us, Erica gave a brief glare but soon replied.

“I do. After all, Wellington’s a big player with a wide network. It’s not that I’m special or anything; they have ties with the most notable nobles.”

“They have not approached me directly, though.”

Considering I was the second son of the Verdi Household and the Soul Whisperer, I wondered why the Wellington Trading Company hadn’t made overtures toward me.

“Of course not.”

Erica shrugged as if the basis for the question itself was nonsense.

“The difference is obvious. You’re the Emperor’s direct agent, operating independently without any subordinates. They know better than to meddle with someone untouchable.”

“…”

“And from their perspective, you’re like a predator they need to avoid, not someone to negotiate or trade with.”

I wasn’t particularly pleased by the realization that I’d inadvertently become a threatening presence to them.

It also meant they’d probably been watching my every move since I returned.

It would be much harder to investigate them secretly now.

No, perhaps this is better.

In that case, I just had to face them head-on, ensuring they would have no opportunity to sever ties with their tail, Goben.

For reference, Goben was currently imprisoned in Norseweden because sending him directly to Graypond could lead to a sloppy resolution for the case.

Actually, it was safe to assume Darius was providing him some protection.

“But why?”

Erica asked, puzzled by my sudden interest in the Wellington Trading Company.

I briefed her about the drug trafficking case without much hesitation.

It was a smuggling case involving a coachman affiliated with Wellington, likely part of a much larger scale than I initially assumed.

Erica nodded, seemingly understanding the situation.

“Should I help too? Even if Sister-in-law is competent, the information she can gather from Norseweden might be limited.”

“Do you have a way to assist?”

“I can inform my family. And if that’s not enough, I can also request support from the Zeronia Household.”

It seems that having fostered goodwill with both families turned out to be helpful, So I nodded in approval.

“I would appreciate it.”

“Alright, you can leave it to me. But how long will you be staying here? The investigation will take some time.”

“I cannot stay long. First, I need to inform the Palace of my return.”

“I see.”

In truth, this was just a brief stop on my way to Graypond.

Erica, visibly disappointed, wore a pout but refrained from voicing any further objections.

She knew she couldn’t hold me back and was trying hard to restrain herself.

“Uhm, Deus.”

“What is it?”

“You’re not… going to disappear without any warning again, right?”

For the first time since we started our conversation, she expressed her unease. Her faintly trembling voice suggested she was suppressing her feelings.

“No need to worry. I will not do it again.”

At my reassurance, Erica’s face lit up with a radiant smile like a child’s.

Perhaps because I liked the sight of it, I decided to add more.

“Additionally, I will be retiring from the position of Soul Whisperer. There will be some confusion. However, I have already stirred up quite a commotion with recent events.” freewёbnoνel.com

There was no one who didn’t know that I had claimed all the souls across the continent.

Naturally, there were those who sought to either seize or counter that power.

While Lanhardt, the hunter, may have been the first to make his move, it was unlikely that future challengers would also be mere mercenaries.

“However, I will not disappear without a word like before again.”

Hearing me state this firmly, Erica clasped her hands tightly together, almost as if in prayer.

“Thank you for saying that.”

Regaining her composure, Erica took a deep breath and nodded.

And so, we continued to chat for a while, sharing a comforting, peaceful moment together.

***

Outdoor tables made of solid wood were scattered throughout the Loberne Academy.

While students normally ate in the dining hall, these tables were set up for those who preferred to prepare their own meals or buy food from outside.

They were strategically placed in quieter areas for aesthetic reasons, but that also meant they were inclined to stand out.

For example, Aria and Eleanor often had their lunch there, drawing attention because of their presence.

“I’M SO HUNGRY!”

Aria’s shout echoed for a long time. As she slammed the desk and laughed, Eleanor, sitting across from her, responded indifferently while resting her chin on her hand.

“You’re not some caveman. Why are you making such a big fuss about eating?”

“Because I’m in a pretty good mood today! I feel like something good’s going to happen!”

Though not quite at the level of Findenai, being a former hero, Aria’s instincts were pretty sharp.

Of course, there was no way for Eleanor to know about this. Hence, she found her frenemy’s overenthusiasm annoying.

“If you’re that excited, give that to me.”

Eleanor pointed at the fried food in Aria’s lunch, which she had bought from downtown.

And without missing a beat, Eleanor grabbed a piece of the fried food and popped it into her mouth.

“You’re unbelievable.”

Aria’s expression shifted from being cheerful to serious.

“A princess stealing a commoner’s lunch? You must have gone insane!”

“And I just want to let you know,”

After finishing the fried food, Eleanor spoke seriously.

“That I wasn’t really in the mood for the fried food. However, I ate it just because I didn’t want to see you enjoy it.”

“Your personality is truly rotten.”

Despite her irritation, Aria started eating her lunch. Eleanor didn’t deny it either and began to unpack her own meal.

“…What’s this?”

However, inside her lunchbox were only humble dishes—no thick grilled ribs, just remnants of the grilled ribs sauce.

“Ah, I was so hungry, so I ate your lunch already.”

Aria replied casually, and Eleanor stared at her in disbelief.

“You ate my lunch?”

“Yeah, I needed to mine for lunch, you know?”

“So, after doing something like that, you still had the audacity to call me a rotten bitch? You’re the rotten bitch!”

Eleanor yelled out in frustration, and Aria laughed, feeling like she had won.

Eventually, they both ended up eating each other’s lunch, creating a somewhat comical situation. Their conversation gradually became more animated than the meal itself.

“And why are you even eating food? You are just a washboard after all.”

“At least I’m in better condition than you, who has nutrients but can’t seem to get them to reach your brain, right? And for the record, my chest may be small, but it’s not a washboard, okay?”

“You know what? Your friend Leorus asked me for advice on how to get along with you, so I told him to practice licking brick walls or the floor since it’s just like your chest.”

“Wow, thank you so much, you crazy bitch. Oh, and by the way, Leighton asked me how to get along with you, too. So, I told him to join the art club and model for some nude sketches. That’s your type, right?”

Their conversation had now turned into a full-on verbal battle.

“Mind if I join you?”

A deep voice interrupted them. The person asking to join wasn’t carrying lunch, just a cup of coffee in hand.

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

The person who had approached their table was none other than Deus Verdi, the man they had both been waiting for.

***

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