Chapter 24 Necromancer
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Are you the top runner of this group? Sorry, but you’re going to suffer and die.”
This group here? Could it be students from another school? Showing this much confidence to someone I think is the top opponent means there’s a significant difference.
I’ve been thinking about the existence of other schools since I saw the zombies. If there’s a school that was summoned a year before us, there’s no way I can match their level now.
I don’t know the reason, but it seems like they intend to kill me. I can’t think of a reason why I wouldn’t want to die now anyway. If I can’t match him even when I give it my all, then there’s no other choice.
”Fine. If you can kill me.”
”What? Who do you think you are? Do you really think you can beat me? Even at Level 20, I think it’s impossible. What level are you? …Oh, Level 4. Well, if you reached Level 4 in about ten days or so, you’ve been working pretty hard.”
It seems like he can see right through my status.
”You’re not scared at all, huh? Do you think you’re the strongest or something? Well, I guess beginners like you tend to have misunderstandings, huh?”
The guy who talks a lot is really annoying. He must feel the need to show off his superiority. Maybe he doesn’t have much status in their group.
The male student with a black cloak put his hand in his pocket and proudly showed me an orange player card.
”I’m a level 18 Necromancer. Are you scared? This is a pretty rare class, you know. You don’t have a good personality, but you’re quite beautiful. If you die, I’ll add you to my collection and take good care of you.”
He said that with a disgusting smile on his face, looking at me from head to toe.
Suddenly, anger and a strong desire to kill welled up from the bottom of my stomach.
Only Tsuchimiya-senpai is allowed to touch me!
I started walking to close the distance, and the figure in the black cloak also moved back. It seemed like he was in the rear guard position. Despite the level difference, it seemed uncomfortable to be approached. However, he did not lose his composure. Perhaps there was confidence in being able to handle anything at this distance.
”Well, don’t panic. Let’s have a little chat. If I turn into a phantom, we won’t be able to have a conversation. I thought you were coming to the party, so why are you alone? You didn’t just pass through the room after the others defeated the floor boss, did you?”
”…”
It doesn’t seem like he’s trying to buy time… He seems confident that he can defeat the strongest party by himself. When I stopped, Black Cloak also stopped.
”Say something. As long as you’re talking, you won’t die.”
”Have you been waiting for someone to come here all this time? Do you know anyone else who has come to this floor?”
”Oh, you’re quite cute when you speak after all. Why would I do something so leisurely? I set up the sensor yesterday. I never thought someone would come to the 3rd floor so early. And to think they woke up so early.”
Since yesterday, huh? Even if Tsuchimiya-senpai were here, this guy wouldn’t know.
”I’m getting hungry, so maybe it’s time for you to die. Once you become a corpse, I’ll have plenty of fun with you. Well then, let’s have you face my level 12 party. If you want to become my sl*ve, you can beg for your life.”
As he said that, a black vortex appeared on the floor between the black cloak and me, and 2 men and 2 women emerged from the vortex as if they were standing up smoothly.
The moment their heads became visible, I closed the distance with a Straight Thrust charge, spearing the throats of the two male students in the front row who had only come up to their waists.
Then, I quickly moved laterally to the back row and pierced the back of one of the female students. The remaining person started to move and tried to distance themselves from me in a panic. It took about 2 to 3 seconds from when the vortex became visible until they started moving.
After piercing the throat of the female student who seemed to be a rear guard, I closed the distance with the black cloak guy while pulling out the tip of the spear.
”Huh? Huh? What, what is this?”
With a bewildered look, I thrust the tip into the throat of the person in the black cloak, feeling a hard and heavy impact, “Thunk!”
It didn’t pierce!?
”Gah!? You, you damn bastard!”
Blood flowed from under the hand pressing against the throat. It only pierced about one or two centimeters.
”Do you understand the concept of a defense barrier? As a weak level Thief like you, you can’t deal me a fatal blow!”
Confirming that my attack wasn’t effective, the person in the black cloak seemed to regain his composure.
”Come on, Fuyuki! This guy is just a level 4 loser! Don’t kill her easily! First, crush her limbs and then take your time to finish her off!”
I spat and thrust my spear into the left eye of the person in the black cloak as he shouted. As soon as I pulled it out, he covered his eye with his hand, revealing a torn grape-like eyeball with a hole in the eyelid.
Alright, it’s working.
Without hesitation, I thrust the spear forcefully into his right eye as well.
”Aarggghhhh!!”
The pain must so intense that he couldn’t use his skills or magic easily. Now, it should render him powerless for a while.
When I turned around in response to the strong sense of intimidation, there was a girl wearing a winter sailor uniform slowly turning around too.
She had a slender tall figure with long brown hair. Her pale face had no expression, and her sharp, lifeless eyes seemed to have lost their sparkle.
The moment I saw her, I couldn’t help but think, “She’s just like me.”
The spear she held had a double-edged blade at the tip, and two long, black, thin decorative cloths swayed.
Just by her stance alone, I could sense that she was on a different level.
The woman in the black cloak, whom he called “Fuyuki,” turned to face me and surprisingly raised the corners of her mouth, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
”Oh, even though you’re low level, you’re doing something amazing for my master.”
I looked at the black-cloaked figure crouching and crying behind me, and her eyes still had that gleeful look.
”Give me a little time and I’ll make that pathetic XXX full of holes.”
”Ahaha, that’s fine! But I’ve been told to kill you!”
As soon as Fuyuki’s figure blurred, I jumped diagonally backwards.
Fuyuki, who closed the distance in an instant, pierced the spot where I was standing, and by the time I realized it, the follow-up attack was coming towards me.
Thanks to the small steps I took, the trajectory was zigzagging, and the tip of the spear grazed my cheek without a direct hit.
I can barely see it, but it’s faster than my ability to react properly. And this shouldn’t even be her full strength.
”Oh, I’ve never seen moves like that before. I was planning to finish this easily, but it looks like it’s going to be fun.”
Fuyuki said that and then unleashed a seemingly ordinary thrust. It was terrifyingly fast and sharp.
I tried to deflect it and counterattack, but Fuyuki swiftly spun the spear, easily flicking the tip with the butt end.
Yuck! Before exposing my vulnerable body, I jump sideways with all my might. I kicked the wall and the ceiling with a continuous Straight Thrust, and landed while swinging my spear down to the spot where I was standing just now.
Just as I thought I could counter Fuyuki, she swiftly jumped back at an unbelievable speed.
”Aerial Path?! Are you really just a single-digit level?!”
”Grrr…”
Fuyuki seems surprised, but it’s going to be really tough to avoid that last move. Since I can’t find any elements to win a fair fight, I have no choice but to catch her off guard. I have about one or two cards left to play.
”You’re interesting. Alright, I’ll show you what I can really do.”
Fuyuki smirked.
I braced myself and felt the pressure, slowly backing away.
”Here I go! Crazy Comet!!”
Fuyuki bounced between the ceiling and the floor at an incredible speed. The intense up-and-down motion increased in speed, making a destructive sound as she charged straight at me.
It felt like witnessing the wrath of a natural disaster, and my legs froze in place.
From above, a spear was about to strike down, and just as I raised my hands, I felt a prick in my chest.
Looking down, I saw Fuyuki crouched, pointing the tip of the spear at me.
”Did you know that your eyes can’t keep up with simple up and down movements?”
As I thrust the spear down, Fuyuki swiftly dodged and created some distance.
I was completely defenseless. Why didn’t she do anything?
”I was told to crush your hands and feet first, but I forgot. That was close, that was close. Well then, I’ll start with your left arm.”
Fuyuki declared in a playful tone. I couldn’t believe it, this person…
Fuyuki’s attack began. I could somewhat defend against her precise aim, but I was still getting more cuts. It’s only a matter of time at this rate.
”I’ll tell you this, at your level, a normal poke won’t even scratch me!”
So, I can intentionally take a hit and counterattack. But she went out of her way to tell me that.
”Fuyuki! Fuyuki! W-which one is the healing potion!? Hurry up and tell me!”
The man in the black cloak scattered potion bottles on the floor and shouted.
”Huh!? Don’t you know I’m in the middle of a battle? You even mixed in poison, and yet you don’t remember where you put them? How stupid!”
That’s definitely true. I only have two potions, one for healing and one for curing status ailments, but I remember their locations so I won’t make a mistake even in the dark.
”Just hurry up! Damn it! It hurts! It hurts!”
”I got it! It’s an order, right? I don’t care what happens!”
Fuyuki turned her defenseless back to me and walked towards the person in the black cloak.
At that moment, I also turned my back and ran in the opposite direction.
”Oh no~, she ran away!”
”I-idiot! Don’t let her escape! I have already been spotted by her! If you let her go, Zeus will kill me!”
”So, Which one your command?”
”Absolutely don’t let her escape!”
”Tch! Got it!”
Fuyuki chased after me with incredible speed, quickly catching up.
”What, you’re still here in this place? Sorry, but there’s no more chance!”
I faced Fuyuki, holding a spear in my left hand, reaching out to the side of her. If she obeys the command, she should aim for me.
After drawing her in enough, I grabbed the doorknob with my right hand.
Fuyuki sensed something was off with sharp intuition, interrupting her attack and leaping back.
”What did you do!?”
I turned my back and this time, I seriously began to escape. I continuously used Straight Thrust, aiming for the back of the passage.
”Wait!”
Just as the presence was closing in behind me, I leaped into the open door. When I looked back, Fuyuki was standing in front of the entrance.
She can’t go to the safe zone after all!
”Could it be a teleportation trap!? You did it, didn’t you!”
As I dashed into the corridor from the opposite exit, the figure in the black cloak stood up and opened a bottle of potion.
I quickly closed the distance, and just as the black cloak guy was about to pour the potion on his face , I swiftly threw a knife hidden in my belt.
Perhaps due to the effect of the Divine Craftman Ring, I never missed with the knife at this range. The knife hit the bottle the figure in the black cloak was holding without missing the target. spilled liquid splashed on his face, and glass shards should have rained down. I don’t know the effect of the potion, but his eyes won’t open for a while.
”Whoa!? Dammit! F, Fuyuki! What are you doing, hurry up and kill that woman!”
How do I defeat this one with a defense barrier?
I erased my presence and aimed the tip at the face of the figure in the black cloak.
”Fuyuki won’t come anymore.”
”What!? Ugh!?”
The moment Black Cloak guy opened his mouth, I thrust the tip into it. It didn’t go all the way through, but he seemed to be struggling in pain.
”Straight Thrust!”
When the skill was activated, I dashed towards the wall. I slammed the tip of the spear, along with his head, into the wall, and there was a snapping sound like breaking a dry branch.
The figure in the black cloak, now pinned to the wall, slumped down. Blood was flowing not just from his eyes, but also from his ears, nose, and mouth. It seemed to have given up on life when suddenly it relaxed.
”Hey! Over here! Hurry up, or I might just disappear!”
Fuyuki was calling from the other end of the passage.
Upon returning to the room, Fuyuki was standing guard at the opposite exit.
”You did it. Thanks to you, I’m free from that one. Thank you.”
”I always hated that guy.”
”Of course you did. That person, as revenge for being rejected by me, sent a phantom to attack from behind and try to kill me. I wanted to kill him myself, but you don’t hold back either. It was quite satisfying.”
So, Fuyuki laughed happily as she said that.
”This is a thank you. Take my partner with you.”
Fuyuki offered the handle of her spear.
”I am Midou Fuyuki. If you see me in the dungeon, make sure to finish me off properly.”
”I am Asagiri Himeno.”
I responded and grabbed the handle of the spear.
”Oh, you have the same name as princess. Well, don’t die like me, Himeno. Today, I laughed for the first time in a long while.”
After saying that, Fuyuki let go of the spear and disappeared as if melting away.
Ironically, it felt like I had talked to someone after a long time. Although she wasn’t a living human, I felt a bit revitalized.
”Don’t die, huh…”
I muttered and let out a small sigh.
* * *
After Fuyuki disappeared, I sat down on the stairs and spaced out for a while.
It felt like my thoughts had become clear after a long time. But even if I looked back at myself now, nothing would change, and I couldn’t find any hope anywhere.
I just kept remembering that vivid day, feeling enveloped in happiness, tormented by regret, and tasting despair.
I shed the tears I had been holding back for so long and realized. I’m just in pain. That’s why I want to freeze my heart, stop thinking, and become free. I know that I can’t move forward like this. But since I can’t see any light even in the tomorrow I should be moving towards, there’s nothing I can do.
I’m not that strong. If time can solve things, then at least until then, I want to curl up and close my eyes. At least until this memory fades away.
That much selfishness is okay, right… Tsuchimiya-senpai.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.