I Became The Academy Necromancer

In the dark of dawn in Graypond, where so much had happened during the day, many people were still awake, holding torches.

A long line was extending from the palace, its end unseen, and people, each with their own stories, were shedding tears.

“Excuse me.”

“It’s chilly today. Please use this blanket.”

Deia and Darius could be seen distributing wet wipes, blankets, and hot tea among them.

No one had particularly ordered them to do this, and even the royal servants were busy moving around.

At this moment, social classes like nobles and commoners didn’t matter. Instead, it was about those who hadn’t lost anything themselves thinking and acting on what they could do for those who had lost a lot.

Of course, it wasn’t just Deia and Darius.

“C-can I really meet him?”

“What? If it were impossible, why would all these people be waiting in line right now?”

Findenai responded somewhat roughly as she handed a warm wet towel to the young man, who had asked her a question.

“Don’t worry too much. Even though Master Bastard looks like that, he’s actually secretly very warmhearted.”

After subtly boasting about Deus, Findena moved past him and handed supplies to the next people in line.

This kind of thing is a first for me too.

During her time in the Resistance, there was a period when people were living in very difficult conditions, and she had to provide relief supplies like this so they could survive.

This was a similar yet different feeling from back then.

Back then, everyone ate and endured, even if they had to force themselves, just for the sake of surviving together.

And now, what she felt from cheering on the people standing in this line wasn’t so bad.

At that moment, the sound of a piano performance echoed.

“Ah, it’s starting again.”

“That kiddo sure is working hard.”

The performance had been ongoing since the evening.

Even though it must have been physically challenging for the young boy, after resting for only about 10 minutes, he continued playing without interruption.

Along the line towards the palace, one could meet a woman at its entrance.

Amid the bishops and elders from the religious circles, Saintess Lucia held the hands of each person standing in line and prayed for them.

“S-Saintess!”

The citizens cried and pleaded, wondering why such tragedy had befallen them.

“Is it really true?! I served Goddess Demeter so ardently! The gods are cruel!”

People strongly resented the tragedy that came today.

“…What will change by waiting in this line?”Nôv(el)B\\jnn

There were also those who had resigned themselves and simply went along the flow with the people standing in line.

Lucia cried, praying for each person as she faced them.

“How can I say I understand your pain?”

Despite the fact that a god called Romuleus had created such a catastrophe, she still prayed to the gods.

It wasn’t because she really thought the gods would help them.

But that there was a need to provide these poor people with at least such support.

Religion had always been the greatest barrier protecting people’s hearts.

Therefore, Lucia embraced them with tears and whispered to them.

“May you find the courage to move forward from today’s farewells.”

Saintess Lucia stood here for the living, while Soul Whisperer Deus Verdi was meant to aid the deceased.

She was with them, hoping that they could move forward again instead of losing all hope and getting stuck in this moment.

As they received comfort and encouragement from the Saintess and the religious figures, they entered inside.

There stood a handsome man with black hair—he was patiently waiting for them at the end of the long line.

Amid Owen’s passionate performance, Deus asked those who came to see him.

“Can you tell me their names?”

They had already been informed outside that it wasn’t their own name that they needed to provide.

“Charia Romenos, Cherry Romenos. My… son and daughter.”

The woman tearfully uttered the names as if it were painful just to think of them.

To avoid further distressing her, Deus slowly looked up at the sky.

Although others couldn’t see it, the sky in the Royal Palace was now covered with countless souls.

“Charia Romenos, Cherry Romenos. Are you there?”

Like a strict professor taking attendance, he called out the names; a boy and a girl emerged from among the cloud-like souls and approached Deus.

He used a spell to materialize the souls, one that he had performed several times today.

The mother, who had lost her son and daughter on the same day, saw her children’s appearances for the last time.

“Ah…! Ahhh!”

Just seeing her children already brought tears and grief to her.

When she reached out to touch them, they passed through her hands.

[Mom.]

[Mom, don’t cry.]

“Ah, ah! Aahhh! M-my children! My childreeeeen!”

The children, who left before their mother, felt guilty for their unfilial actions but tried to comfort her.

The mother called out to her children with tears, but she could never meet or touch them again.

“I’m! I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have left you two at home! I’m sorryyyy!”

She could only apologize.

She blamed herself, lamented, and writhed in agony over the past.

It was a scene Deus had seen many times today.

However, every time, it brought the same resonating pain to his heart.

“We do not have much time.”

Deus Verdi coldly interrupted them.

“This is not a time for a reunion. It is merely a chance for farewell.”

They couldn’t reunite.

The dead must remain dead, and eventually find a way to rest in peace.

The living must continue to live like the living; that is the nature of the world.

What Deus was doing now, under the moniker Soul Whisperer, was giving them one last chance for their farewell.

Because today’s goodbyes were so sudden that no one could have predicted it.

The situation had unfolded too fast for the dead or the living to accept their last partings.

Hence, he was giving them an opportunity.

“Ah…”

Even while shedding tears, the mother listened to Deus’ words.

There was no time for this.

She would soon part with her children.

If so,

“Are you going to send them away like this? While blaming yourself?”

She held back her tears and wiped her eyes with both hands.

Having lost her husband long ago, she had raised her two children diligently as a widow.

Although it was a bit early, she now had to let go of her role as a mother.

She squeezed out all the strength she had as a mother; she smiled and finally said goodbye to her two children.

“I really loved you. You were one of the few blessings in my life.”

[I really, really love you too, Mom!]

[You have to live well even without us! Promise!]

After leaving tears and blessings with their mother for the last time, the two children finally went into eternal rest.

When they disappeared, the mother fell to her knees and cried loudly on the floor.

“Th-thank! Thank you so much!”

She expressed gratitude for giving her the chance to say her farewell that had come earlier than expected, a little longer.

“The ground here is very rough. You might get hurt.”

Erica, who had been waiting nearby, approached the woman, hugged her tightly, and gently led her away.

Then, the next person came in.

“Tom Mentra. He’s my… father.”

A son who lost his father.

Friends who lost their comrades.

People who lost their loved ones.

Many came and went, facing their final farewells. While they showed various reactions, sadness was always the common factor among these responses.

Because that was what farewells were like.

[Take a little break.]

[Yes, you’re pushing yourself too hard!]

While he was waiting for the next person, Stella and the Dark Spiritualist worriedly spoke from either side.

However, Deus, still maintaining his expressionless face, looked at the long line and asked.

“Do you truly think this world was meant for just one girl named Aria Rias?”

[…]

[Pardon?]

It seemed like the Dark Spiritualist had not understood the question, but Stella shut her lips and waited for him to continue.

“Do you truly believe that as long as it was for this one girl, it wouldn’t matter if all these people were sacrificed since they were just supporting characters?”

Aria Rias was now asleep. After using too much power when defeating Romuleus, she fell when his body disintegrated like particles.

Fortunately, Deus and Luaneth managed to catch her in time. However…

“Look at this sight.”

The gods might say they felt unjust.

After all, bearing the name of gods, they could wield more power than others.

However, in the end, one could say that they moved according to their instinct which was made by the programming in the game.

“Look at all these people who are suffering due to being separated from their loved ones.”

Deus remained expressionless.

However, his voice concealed anger.

The two souls beside him noticed this.

“I will not let this sight become a cornerstone for a greater cause.”

After all, this place was no longer a game, but reality.

“These farewells and sorrow belong entirely to them.”

Deus voiced his resolve as he prepared for the next farewell.

***To the east of the Griffin Kingdom, beyond the Marias Great Forest, lay the land of heat—the Sahar Desert.

It was a place known as the cursed land to humans. It was called the land of fear, where it was said to suck up a person’s sweat, blood, and even their life.

Of course, that was a story from several decades ago. Nowadays, the Jerman Kingdom, which was adjacent to the Sahar Desert, had developed their technology to grow crops like potatoes.

However, despite this, the fear of the Sahar Desert had not completely disappeared.

Every year, there are still a number of people who get lost or go missing in the desert, only to die. The desertification was gradually expanding its territory towards the Great Forest and the Jerman Kingdom.

It was an impossible fight to win.

As time passed, they would eventually be swallowed by the desert, but the Jerman Kingdom was fighting at the forefront against the invasion of nature.

“Sigh.”

A blonde girl rested her chin on the round window of the Jerman Kingdom, looking out over the desert—or, to be precise, beyond the desert and forest.

It was Princess Eleanor, who was homesick, longing for her homeland, the Griffin Kingdom.

There were many reasons why she was here.

Her stay in the Jerman Kingdom wasn’t too bad. She had gotten used to the food and the heat could be easily managed with ice magic.

The Jerman Kingdom, knowing how to properly treat dignitaries, truly spared no effort in welcoming the princess.

However, there was one problem.

“Princess!”

BAM!

A boy with copper colored skin suddenly burst through the door.

He seemed to be around Owen’s age.

He entered with a bright smile, followed by five men who crowded in after him.

“Eleanor!”

“Princess!”

“Are you looking out the window again today?”

“If it’s too hard, should I talk to Father about it?”

“It’s lamentable. But you don’t have to worry too much. I’ll be okay.”

“…”

Eleanor already felt a pang in her stomach. These six brothers were the royalty of the Jerman Kingdom.

In other words, they were the princes.

“So, have you decided today?”

“It must be me, right?”

“Stick to the order, you guys!”

“Shouldn’t we leave it to luck?”

“Eleanor, I hope you don’t feel too pressured.”

“Hasn’t it occured to you that you should yield to the eldest, guys?”

All of them…

“Sighhhh.”

Were men proposing to Eleanor.