What a wonderful morning!
I began the day feeling unusually refreshed.
What was the reason for this refreshing mood?
Simple.
“Soon, I will have a teacher of my own.”
[Yes, congratulations. Well…… if that thing can be called a teacher.]
“I have faith. Right now, he can do nothing but scream, but if he regains his reason through the contract, I am sure he will become an excellent teacher.”
[I sincerely hope so.]
“He will.”
Of course, a procedure was necessary before my master could truly become my master.
What was it?
A contract.
[You said you need a stronger contract with a more complicated procedure?]
“Yes. This situation is rather different from yours, after all.”
My ancestor had been a friendly and gentlemanly soul.
He even knew that I was his descendant, so we had been able to establish our relationship through a simple contract.
But this Necromancer was different.
‘I heard he was the scum of humanity.’
The worst of the wicked.
For some reason, he could do nothing but scream right now, but that three-inch tongue of his would be as deadly as a demon's, and his nature would be exceedingly vicious.
For someone as frail and delicate as me, it was an utterly terrifying situation.
But it was all right.
After all, <About Death> described a contract for situations like this.
What kind of contract?
‘The so-called Very Strong Slave Contract.’
It had a separate official name, but I had divided the contracts in <About Death> into a total of five tiers.
Very Weak, Weak, Normal, Slightly Strong, and Very Strong.
For reference, the contract I had formed with my ancestor belonged to the ‘Very Weak’ tier.
In any case.
‘They said these were basic contracts, but that the five-tier basic contract system alone was enough to control most dead spirits.’
Of course, whether that bastard of a teacher, the worst of the wicked, would submit to a basic contract was another matter.
‘I'll find out once I try.’
The immediate problem was the materials.
“Let's see…… Setting the herbs aside, what is this?”
[What are you talking about? Hmm, a Goblin's Death Cry? A Wail of the Grave? Are these not ordinary necromancy materials?]
“These are ordinary?”
Was my common sense wrong?
A Goblin's Death Cry and a Wail of the Grave were ordinary?
Even the quantities were measured in units of liquid volume.
Did this primitive world treat sounds like physical matter and measure them using the same units as liquids?
But that was not it.
[Well, as far as I know, there are reagents for that sort of thing. Reagents that can hold sound.]
“They…… hold sound?”
[Yes. If you truly do not understand, why not visit that mage? He is a mage, so he will probably know about such matters.]
Just as my ancestor had suggested, our audacious mage Ren immediately resolved my question.
“There are special reagents for that. What materials do you need?”
“A Goblin's Death Cry, a Wail of the Grave, and…….”
After I explained the various ingredients, Ren kindly made an offer without hesitation.
“I've got a few of those myself. Want them? I can give you the reagents too, if you like.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I'll be working in Palaon from now on, so consider it…… a courtesy for my employer's son.”
[Oh my, what a truly upstanding young man.]
I agree completely.
“Ah, this isn't quite something I would call payment in return, but…….”
[As expected of a mage. He had an ulterior motive after all.]
Indeed.
In any event, Ren, who had become our territory's exclusive mage, made the following request.
“When you collect the things written there, just fill one extra vial of each for me. They'll come in handy someday.”
“Yes, that much is fine.”
***
After that day, I traveled throughout the territory with the reagent vials Ren had given me and gathered the materials.
First.
“A Wail of the Grave.”
[That does not sound difficult. You will hear a spectral wail around midnight?]
“Yes. Apparently, there is a high chance of that happening when a Necromancer is present.”
Fortunately, obtaining the spectral wail was not particularly difficult.
On the very first day, on my very first attempt, I managed to fill two whole vials.
‘One vial for me, and one for Ren.’
Then came the second ingredient.
“As for a Goblin's Death Cry…….”
[Have the soldiers collect it. Do not trouble yourself by going in person.]
“Hmm, should I? But even I find those gentlemen a little difficult to deal with.”
[You have the new recruits.]
Ah, that was right. I had them.
The new recruits in question were Zeke and Milo, and fortunately, they readily agreed to my request.
“Leave it to us!”
“We will sweep away even a hundred measly goblins!”
Even though I was Father's son, authority over the private soldiers belonged to him. I had worried that they might take offense, but what a wonderfully kind response!
“When you kill a goblin, open that vial and then…….”
“We have experience with this, so there is no need to worry.”
“Yes, indeed.”
The two of them proved remarkably dependable, procuring the material less than a day after setting out on the hunt.
‘Good. That takes care of the Goblin's Death Cry.’
The remaining materials were rather difficult. Representative examples included the ‘Roar of an Enraged Troll’ and the ‘Sleep-Talk of an Owl at Dawn.’
But I had no need to worry.
“Excuse me, you two…… May I ask you for a few more things?”
“You need only give the order.”
“The materials I need are…….”
I carefully told them about the ingredients.
If they said it would be too difficult, I was prepared to buy the ingredients from a magic shop in the city or hire some mercenaries.
But Zeke and Milo readily accepted once again.
“A magic shop? Those thieving bastards buy everything from mercenaries and adventurers like us for next to nothing, then resell it.”
“We can handle it. However, the Sleep-Talk of an Owl at Dawn may be a little…….”
“I see. Then I will purchase the owl's sleep-talk and leave the remaining materials to you. Would that be all right?”
“Yes! You can rely on us!”
The two of them went straight to Sir Balt and reported the matter. Then they packed their belongings and left the territory.
I did worry that they might use the opportunity to run away, but I trusted in the power of the candy I had given them from time to time.
‘When they return, I should ask the other soldiers to treat them a little better.’
Or perhaps not.
Would saying something only make matters worse?
I did not know.
Once I had entrusted the difficult ingredients to Zeke and Milo, there was not much left for me to do.
“As for the herbs…… hmm, I have instructed the territory's herbalist. And the things I cannot obtain…….”
[Tell your father. It is fine to accept this much help.]
“I suppose so.”
Just as my ancestor had said, Father was only too delighted by my request.
“You should have told me sooner! Just leave it to this father of yours!”
“Yes, thank you.”
How should I put it?
The entire process felt remarkably hollow.
It was not that I had wanted to suffer through hell, but I had expected some sort of fantastical adventure to unfold.
‘Aside from the Wail of the Grave, did anything happen?’
Well, it was not bad.
Better to leave well enough alone.
In any case, how many days passed like that?
I spent my time as usual, memorizing <About Death>, practicing Bone Armor, and training my body.
“Son, I found them.”
“Oh! Thank you, Father.”
“Ho ho, this was nothing.”
“You are the best, Father.”
“Ha ha ha.”
Father procured several of the materials, and the territory's herbalist brought back the herbs.
We also safely obtained the Sleep-Talk of an Owl at Dawn through Father's efforts.
Only the materials entrusted to Zeke and Milo remained, and it did not take long for the two of them to return.
“Young Master, we have returned!”
“Oh.”
Zeke and Milo had returned from gathering the materials.
But was it only my imagination?
These two had put on considerably more weight since they left.
They looked as though they had eaten and slept better than they did while staying in the territory.
[Let it pass. Imagine how difficult things must have been for them to end up like that.]
Hmm, yes.
Well, let us be understanding.
Everyone needed a breathing hole.
In any case.
[Do you have everything now?]
“Yes, it seems so.”
All that remained was to conduct the contract ritual.
[When do you intend to begin?]
“There is no reason to delay.”
I immediately returned to my room and laid out the materials.
I arranged them according to the instructions in <About Death> and inscribed incomprehensible characters on the floor.
A few minutes later.
‘Hmm, excellent.’
I had made it myself, but it looked quite convincing.
It resembled the sort of thing one often saw devil worshipers create in Western occult films.
And now, for the final step…….
THUNK.
I placed my master in the center and opened the box.
“Then I will begin. Just in case…….”
[Yes, I will wait outside.]
Before beginning the contract, I sent my ancestor out of the room.
According to <About Death>, it was best for no other entity besides the caster and the targeted dead person to be present during a contract.
Once every preparation was complete, I opened the box.
[SKRIEEEEEEEEK—!]
The spectral wail was as thunderous as ever.
I recited the incantation according to the contract's procedure.
“O dead one, here I stand. Ktun Palaon, he who shall become your master, stands before you. Cease your ghostly cries and open your eyes, veiled by delusion, so that you may see clearly…….”
Unlike the contract with my ancestor, this was a one-sided declaration rather than an exchange of questions and answers.
Most of its contents were so obscure that I could barely understand their meaning, but I faithfully recited the contract incantation exactly as it appeared in <About Death>.
Before long, the incantation came to an end.
H-HUMMM—!
The materials arranged according to the prescribed laws began to shine, and the symbols and characters inscribed on the floor started to vibrate.
And at that moment.
[Wh-Who are y-you?]
“Oh, have you opened your eyes?”
[A Ne-Necromancer?]
“Yes, that is correct.”
[Wh-What happened to the m-mad mage and the gr-Greatsword-wielding knight? Did you, by any chance, s-save me from them?]
“No. You are dead.”
[Ah……?]
The skull, which had yet to become my teacher, fell silent for a moment.
Then, apparently grasping the situation, he began to sob.
[Yes, I see. So that was it. I died after all. I died in the end. My grand plan was so close…… and yet I ended up like this…….]
Then, suddenly.
[You must have had a purpose for awakening me. What do you want?]
“Yes, I would like to learn some necromancy.”
[Necromancy?]
“Yes.”
[……Are you mocking me? A Necromancer capable of conducting a contract of this caliber seeks instruction? Ah, I see. You covet my research…… Very well. Handing over my research would not be difficult. However, I have a condition.]
“A condition?”
[Yes. Will you fulfill it?]
“I will hear it first.”
The contract was currently in progress.
Therefore, I needed to exercise caution with every word spoken during it.
That was why I had truthfully told the bastard my objective rather than lying, and why I had not given him a firm answer.
But what would his condition be?
‘Perhaps he wants me to deliver his last words to his acquaintances?’
……That was not it.
[Kill the mad mage and the Greatsword-wielding knight who murdered me. Their deaths alone will not satisfy me. Every last blood relative of those accursed bastards must also…….]
“Oh.”
What followed was a stream of curses I did not even want to hear.
But did this bastard realize?
The Greatsword knight he was talking about was officially my elder brother.
And I was one of those ‘blood relatives.’
……Very well, I had decided.
“You are sentenced to death.”
[……What?]
I activated ‘Immediate Annihilation,’ one of the safeguards for the caster built into the ‘Very Strong Slave Contract.’
As expected, its effect was powerful.
fXcking Master, forgive this disciple's disloyalty, or do not.
HACK, SPIT.
……But then.
“What is this?”
The skull had been annihilated, leaving it an empty tin can before crumbling into powder and scattering through the air.
A gem had fallen where it once lay.
A lustrous purple gem.
“What is it?”
[Is it over? Hmm? What is that?]
“I do not know either. But this…….”
[Do you feel something from it?]
“Yes.”
As I held the gem still, I began to feel something.
Yes, it felt just like the first time I had summoned Golgol.
‘……Could I summon Golgol 2 now?’