Necromancer Academy and the Genius Summoner-Chapter 187: Episode

As Saintess Israphel played her flute, the sky began to churn like a vast ocean. Waves rolled across the heavens, and a new scene began to manifest.

"Saintess Israphel is also known as the Mistress of the Divine Sea," Lethe whispered, her hands clasped as she gazed upward in ecstasy.

"Mistress of the Divine Sea?"

"Yes."

The sky rippled and transformed, becoming a boundless ocean hanging impossibly above them. Fish with wings instead of fins, their scales shimmering with colors unseen on the continent, leaped from the surface. Larger creatures, reminiscent of dolphins, breached the celestial waves.

’Splash! Splash!’

’Swoooosh.’

Everyone—cultist and inquisitor alike—stared, mesmerized by the surreal and overwhelming spectacle. Gravity seemed to have been reversed, yet not a single droplet fell from the inverted sea. It was as if two different worlds were gazing upon each other, and for a moment, it was impossible to tell which was the true ground.

’Damn it all!’

Only Rate, who knew what was coming, gritted his teeth in fury.

’Are you planning to destroy all the evidence?!’

Israphel’s melody reached a crescendo. In the center of the divine sea, a colossal black shadow formed. The fish scattered in terror.

Just then.

A white whale of unimaginable size—as large as a city—leaped from the divine sea. Adorned with countless wings and shimmering scales, it breached the water’s surface, crossed the sky, and plunged toward the earth.

"Lethe!" Simon yelled, throwing himself forward to shield her.

The sky whale descended and swallowed the Blood Heaven Cult’s headquarters whole.

Water and mud erupted in all directions. The massive structure vanished into the whale’s gaping maw, and the creature turned, ascending back into the celestial ocean.

"Damn itttttt!" Rate roared, tearing at his hair in frustration.

The whale vanished back into the divine sea. By the time everyone dared to look up, the cult’s headquarters was gone without a trace.

From the surface of the heavenly ocean, shimmering bubbles began to descend. Trapped inside were the cult’s prisoners and suffering test subjects. As Israphel played one final note, the divine sea slowly faded, and the sky returned to normal.

Simon was utterly dumbfounded. He never imagined such incredible power could exist in the world.

"Hey, get off!" Lethe grumbled, pushing Simon’s chest to get out from under him.

Israphel, having dealt with the entire cult in a single, decisive blow, descended to the ground with the rescued prisoners.

"Lethe."

"What is it?"

"You said that Saintess is my mother’s direct junior. In her prime, could my mom use power like that?"

Lethe shook her head, her white hair swaying. "The essence of a Saintess changes depending on the host. It’s true that Ms. Anna’s power was passed to Saintess Israphel, but their abilities are different."

"What was my mom like?"

"I’m not from that generation, so I don’t know for sure. They say she was the strongest Saintess of her time, but according to the rumors..." Her voice dropped to a reverent whisper. "They say she didn’t open a divine sea. She opened Heaven itself."

Israphel landed gracefully, and as the bubbles popped, the prisoners found their wounds completely healed. The Heretic Inquisitors immediately fell to their knees, prostrating themselves.

"We greet the Goddess’s closest daughter!"

Israphel nodded with a serene smile, her eyes closed.

Amidst the kneeling crowd, one man remained standing like a mountain. Rate hurled his cross-shaped sword to the ground with such force that the earth split open and triggered landslides on the nearby hills.

He stomped toward her, his footsteps menacing.

’Ugh, Inquisitor-General!’

’This guy looks like he’s about to cause trouble.’

A few of his aides watched with worried eyes.

Rate reached Israphel and seized her hand before she could offer it. He roughly knelt, kissed the back of it, and stood again. It was a gesture of respect, but performed with such flagrant disrespect that it was an insult.

Yet Israphel’s serene, smiling expression never wavered. "It’s been a while, Inquisitor-General Rate."

"What is the meaning of this?" Rate growled, his voice tight with rage. He looked ready to strike her. "This was a legitimate inquisition, carried out with a legal warrant! It was a golden opportunity to uncover the masterminds behind the Blood Heaven Cult, the very organization shaking our Federation!"

She smiled sweetly. "The Blood Heaven Cult has no other masterminds. The Blood Heaven Cult is just the Blood Heaven Cult."

"No matter!" A vein bulged on Rate’s neck. "Even if you oppose the war, Saintess, this is unacceptable! To annihilate the evidence! To obstruct a legitimate investigation—!"

She cut him off, turning her head. "Come out, Lethe. And you, her companion."

At her call, Simon and Lethe emerged from behind the trees.

"Gratula mi Kivilis. I greet the Goddess’s closest daughter," Lethe said, making the sign of the cross and bowing with uncharacteristic formality.

Simon mimicked her movements, his eyes fixed on Rate. ’Wow, look at that killing intent. He looks like he could tear a person apart limb from limb.’ Israphel’s ability to stand so calmly before such raw fury was more impressive than any magic.

After rising, Lethe took the briefcase from Simon, stepped forward, and knelt again. "These are the documents that belonged to Aloken, the bishop of the Blood Heaven Cult." She offered the case with both hands.

"You’ve done a great job," Israphel said, accepting it with a smile. She had destroyed the headquarters; this was now the only evidence left. "The future of the Holy Federation is indeed bright." She looked pleased, her proud gaze shifting from Lethe to Simon. "These young children have accomplished what we adults could not. I have high hopes for their generation."

"Just open it already," Rate grumbled. He desperately wanted to burn the documents, but he couldn’t do so in front of a Saintess.

Israphel opened the briefcase and scanned the top document. "How interesting." With a voice as gentle as a spring breeze, she read its contents aloud. "Leak information to the Heretic Inquisition, and ensure the war hardliner, Inquisitor-General Rate, is the first to witness the scene. Form strong public opinion against necromancers, and induce a war between the Holy Federation and the Dark Alliance."

As his plan was laid bare, Rate’s fists clenched.

"It’s all quite clear," Israphel said, her tone light. "The Blood Heaven Cult’s goal was to incite a war. It seems the Inquisitor-General was almost used by them. Isn’t that right?"

Rate closed his eyes, forcing his rage down. He couldn’t very well admit, ’Actually, we were using them’. With the Saintess herself having read the document, the war was off the table. As unhinged as he was, Rate was still the head of an organization; he had to accept defeat and minimize the damage.

Israphel knew this. Her tone implied she wouldn’t press the matter further, giving him an out.

Finally, he conceded. "Yes."

Though he was burning with fury, accepting her offer was his only viable move.

"Then you may withdraw, Inquisitor-General." She folded her hands elegantly, tilting her head with a slight, knowing smile. "I will report to His Holiness the Pope myself." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Defeated, Rate led his Inquisitors away. His steps were heavy, but the fire in his eyes promised he was far from finished.

’Somehow, I survived another day,’ Simon thought, letting out a silent sigh of relief as they disappeared.

"Stand up, Lethe," Israphel said.

Lethe, who had remained kneeling, slowly rose. Israphel smiled warmly and opened her arms. Lethe’s eyes lit up.

"Saintess Israphel!" she cried, running and throwing herself into the Saintess’s arms. It was a breach of etiquette, but the two seemed to share a close, personal bond. Israphel patted her on the back.

"I was so worried when I heard you were caught up in a major incident, Lethe."

Lethe, her face buried in Israphel’s embrace, looked up with a pout. "Really?"

"Of course."

"When I told you I was on a train hijacked by the Blood Heaven Cult, you just said, ‘Good luck.’ But when you heard the cult was trying to start a war, you dropped everything and came running."

"That’s because I had faith in your skills, Lethe," Israphel replied, her smile never faltering, her eyes still closed. Simon briefly marveled at how convenient such a consistent expression could be.

For a moment, Lethe whined while Israphel placated her. If she treated Anna like a mother and an absolute idol, she treated Israphel like a close older sister.

"My adorable Lethe... When are you going to become a Saintess and play with me?" Israphel teased, pinching Lethe’s cheek.

Lethe grinned. "When you retire, Saintess Israphel! I want the Miraculous Holy Water!"

"You commit blasphemy as easily as you breathe! I ought to crucify you..."

"I’d just reveal all your dark secrets in court before I die."

Israphel laughed, then her gaze shifted to Simon. "And Lethe’s companion?"

"Ah, yes!" Simon answered, tensing.

"Thank you for looking after and protecting my dear Lethe."

"Hey, what are you talking about! I was the one looking after him!" Lethe protested.

"Lethe, be quiet."

Simon smiled and bowed his head. "I was the one indebted to Lethe. It is a great honor to meet the Goddess’s closest daughter."

"The pleasure is mine. Your name?"

"I am Ska Seraphino."

At that, Israphel gently pushed Lethe away. Without her feet touching the ground, she floated over to stand directly in front of Simon. The sudden proximity to a Saintess sent a jolt of tension through him.

"Priest Ska."

"Yes."

"You..." Her closed eyes slowly opened, revealing pupils as black and deep as the abyss. They fixed on Simon.

"You look a lot like someone I know."