Chapter 52

The vast fields carved with countless graves were damp yet magnificent.

The unreadable characters inscribed on the gravestones were the same.

For a moment, I twisted my hair. Is it because of the different builds? Over there is a necromancy build, and I’m mixing a wide area build with blood magic.

It’s comparable to the fact that I can read the ancient characters inscribed when entering spells into a blood-red magic circle.

I could see the skeleton legion digging into the ground.

“Isn’t it taking too long? That seems tiring.”

“Labor is like that. It’s an intersection of thick droplets of sweat and exhaled breaths.”

The Reaver said this as he began to gradually excavate the enormous tomb.

“Bringing life to the dying is the same. Even if my fingers break, I’ll be satisfied with the results produced.”

It’s pitiful that despite saying such words, he cannot hide his signs of exhaustion.

Given the atmosphere, it seems better to go along with him. I nodded along and looked around.

The skeleton legions were all huffing as they dug into the ground from their respective positions. The souls escaping writhed and screamed.

One skeleton fell over while trying to catch one of them.

“That one’s a defective product.”

With a single gesture from the Reaver, the skeleton let out a howl and shattered. Bones scattered.

“That’s cruel.”

“The world of survival is harsh. There are plenty of substitutes.”

The Reaver glanced at me as if he hadn’t expected me to say that and lifted his shovel again.

I hesitated for a moment. But still, that’s sad.

“I’ll help you.”

“You?”

“It’s better to work efficiently, right?”

I can’t construct a specialization build for necromancy. For instance, like those skeletons over there and the reapers wandering around the graves.

It’s not a combat-type build. They are merely weak entities for harvesting.

“When a skeleton pulls out a soul, we just need to harvest them all at once, right?”

“It’s not that simple. You need to accurately understand the structure of the soul and the position of the chains.”

“I know that much.”

What they have to be concerned about is the quantity of the harvest. Skeletons and reaper-type builds for soul harvesting have no self-awareness, so even a slight twist in the structure of the soul can cause issues in harvesting.

To begin with, souls have no standard structure, so such occurrences happen even more frequently. Just like that skeleton that passed away earlier.

I raised my knife and sliced through the air. Blood traces flickered from the ripped crack. Nitrogen and oxygen mixed with magic power and outlined a demon.

I drew the blade across my arm. Blood spurted out, and red droplets combined to form a demon.

Wings stirred in the air. A scythe was raised. Wails filled the air.

“Tada!”

“It’s a combat-type build, huh?”

“That doesn’t matter.”

The important point is that it has self-awareness.

“It’s different from a necromancer specialization build that requires constant commands. A combat-type build acts based on what I think.”

In a way, that’s obvious. It’s a demon specialized for battle.

The skeletons dug into the ground in unison. Souls were drawn out, and the demon swung its scythe. The sweeping arc beheaded dozens of souls in one go.

“……What.”

It was the most emotional voice I had heard in a while.

“Watch closely.”

The oval souls that had been fragmented began to recombine. Chains bound the soul diagonally, compressing it into small cubes. Black cubes filled the air and lined up in a row.

Air currents were drawn in, and the sky rippled. A long beam of light led along the line of cubes, shining brightly. The array solidified into a ring shape.

“Isn’t it cool?”

The Reaver was silent for a moment. Is he surprised? Or is it disappointment?

“This is annoying. What have I been doing all this time? If I had known it would turn out like this, I would’ve switched to another character.”

“You’re foolish!”

He pinched his face with one hand and swept it away.

“Stupid necromancer level.”

“Hey! Stop insulting yourself!”

Nothing hurts as much as self-loathing. Really.

“I think it might take just one more time.”

In any case, labor is repetitive. Although I emphasized efficiency, a minimum action must be taken.

The cubes began to stack inside the glass bottles. The Reaver blinked at the ten glass bottles floating in the air.

“Good work?”

“I haven’t done anything.”

“I did everything!”

“Thanks.”

A brief silence fell. I twisted my hair.

“You must want something, right?”

“You’re quite perceptive!”

I began to write spells in the air. Blue letters were inscribed and sparkled.

“A necro legion configured with agility 50, magic 20, and joy 30.”

“There are a lot of spells.”

“It’s not that hard, right?”

The actual modification and control will be handled by me, so it doesn’t matter. After all, I’m also a member of the necromancer race, so for the legion, this rehearsal couldn’t be better.

I smiled subtly.

I shook the bloodied hand and opened the door to the association office.

“You’re here.”

I blinked.

“Now you’re greeting me?”

“There’s no one here, so wouldn’t it be fine?”

The director placed a report down. When I turned my gaze, I saw an employee sitting at the far end of the office.

Is that not even treated as a person?

“Erica seems to be in a good mood lately.”

“Erica?”

“She used to be unable to hide her exhausted expressions.”

“……Is that so?”

I twisted my hair again for a moment.

“What on earth did she do? Did she seduce someone?”

There were many thoughts that came to mind. However, I didn’t feel too much anxiety. After all, this relationship would be redefined today.

“I’m not sure?”

I mumbled and took out my knife.

“Oh, it seems you’ll need to work today after a long time.”

“If you say it like that, it sounds like I’ve been slacking off.”

Isn’t that the truth?

“In the afternoon, please send reinforcements to the legion building. It shouldn’t be that much needed… a few medical staff and reinforcements?”

I swung the knife.

“I’d prefer if you could be a bit restrained.”

“I’ll try my best. After all, it benefits the association, right? Just let it slide.”

The swift response from the association will help build their image as well. Hunters who rush to the scene right after a terrorist attack. That would make for quite a spectacle.

The conference room door opened. I hurriedly put away my knife.

“Erica!”

“……You came quickly?”

“Yeah.”

I hesitated for a moment. Why am I like this?

Suddenly, anxiety arose. I fiddled with the black cube pieces in my pocket.

Outside, it was cool. The breeze tickled my hair, and the sunlight was warmly inviting. Was the walking path always like this?

“The weather is nice.”

“My situation of having to work on a day like this is miserable.”

“I’m going too.”

That’s true.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“What of?”

“Working.”

The answer was short. Erica’s reaction was the same.

“I’m okay.”

“That’s a lie. It must be hard.”

Erica blinked her eyes. Then she turned her head away.

“……I’m fine.”

“How about we have a drink next time?”

“Drink?”

“Yeah.”

Suddenly, I thought about my tolerance for alcohol. I could down dozens of bottles with no issues.

“Do you get drunk easily?”

“……A little?”

“To what extent?”

“After one bottle, I can almost stop.”

“Is that weak?”

For an average person… is that okay?

“Um, um… I’m not sure.”

“I’d like to see drunk Erica.”

“……Don’t say strange things.”

“If I ask for something cute, will you oblige?”

“I would never drink with you.”

That would be cute. She’s cute now, but…

To put it simply, it’s dangerous. Erica has to realize our relationship. Given her behavior lately, it feels like she’ll just obey whatever I suggest, acting all tsundere.

Who would easily agree to drinking together? What if I tried to do something?

I twisted my hair. It was difficult to untangle because it was knotted.

As we entered the legion building, Erica pointed to the conference room. Upon entering, I saw a small chandelier and a round table surrounded by large chairs.

“The second meeting is long.”

“That’s nice.”

I took a seat beside the perplexed-looking Erica. I heard that not only hunters from the legion but also high-ranking officials from various significant facilities would be attending.

It’s a pity to be involved, but there’s nothing I can do.

As people gathered, filling the seats, the lights began to dim one by one. A huge screen started to glow.

“Welcome to the legion assembly. I am Resker, the representative of the sub-conference.”

The surroundings were quiet. The jingle of the cube pieces in my pocket was enough to prick my ears.

My heart began to beat a little faster.

“As you saw in the official document received during the first meeting, this conference will be lengthy. It’s also the stage for finalizing the plan.”

I leaned against Erica’s shoulder in an awkward posture. Familiar hands approached and brushed through my hair.

It was peaceful.

“This time, officials from different departments have also joined us. I believe everyone is curious about one thing.”

What if this daily life continues? If I hadn’t spent nights spitting blood, if there hadn’t been any thrill in killing someone and feeling joy.

If I were a little more ordinary, if I could have a warm and cozy life.

But that can’t be. It doesn’t suit the me who has fallen into self-hatred countless times. I had long been detached from the sprouting pathways.

I wandered without even knowing my identity. I dreamed innumerable dreams, but I also discarded and gave up as much.

My heart began to race a little faster. With the realization of my inherent duty, my hands trembled. The jingling grew louder. Noise and sounds mixed.

“The one thing you have been looking at all this time──”

I clutched the cubes tightly. The black solids began to writhe, gaining a semblance of life. The ground darkened and rippled.

Suddenly, everything became loud. People staggered, and only faint cries of despair could be heard. The air currents exploded.

“What is this…?”

“Kiieeeek!”

A cacophony erupted as countless gravestones emerged from the ground. Bony arms pressed against the earth. Numerous swords and shields came into view, with helmets popping out.

“Erica.”

In the frantic situation, Erica stood up and looked at me urgently.

I smiled subtly.

“Let’s do well this time too.”

The skeleton legion pressed against the ground and leaped toward the hunters. The air currents shook and thrashed. The wind blew, and the metallic sounds echoed.

“It’s an attack! Everyone, stay alert!”

“Aaaah!”

Wings fluttered, soaring into the air. I rose up to the towering ceiling and scattered the cubes. I swung my knife. The black cubes split and shattered, spilling liquid.

The black streams mixed with magic power and solidified. A giant golem emerged, roaring. Its fist crashed down toward the hunters. The ground quaked, and an explosion echoed.

I cut my arm with the knife. Blood surged and filled the air red. Sharp spikes sprouted all over the ground, piercing the battling hunters one by one.

“They won’t fall! Even in pain, they won’t sit down!”

When I spread the red blade once more, another round of screams erupted. Blood excited my nose and echoed in my brain.

In the symphony of screams, I saw Erica. Her pure white pupils shook as they met my gaze.

Anger and confusion intertwined countless times.

It was natural.

It is a natural outcome.

I had awaited this.

Now, she just has to open her mouth and start hurling insults at me.

“Oh, Orly.”

The air currents suddenly calmed down. Everything became quiet, and Erica gripped her sword.

Now say it to me.

Just say it.

Call me a bad woman, garbage.

Did you deceive me all along?

That I was a fool for believing.

After all, you are irredeemable –

Her lips quivered. The sword fell to the ground.

“Does it not hurt…?”

The knife dropped from my hand.