What is a Holy Necromancer?
I did not know.
It was a concept absent from my limited knowledge of Necromancy.
But if I were to define it, a Necromancer capable of wielding Divine Power would be correct.
Then let us consider this.
‘Has there ever been a Necromancer who wielded Divine Power?’
The answer was no.
Why?
It was simple.
Regardless of whether one possessed faith, Divine Power itself was like a bloodline talent… In other words, one needed a divine blessing to wield it.
But at that moment, a spark burst in my mind.
Inspiration, so to speak.
“Um, Young Master Ktun? What is wrong?”
[What is wrong?]
Leaving Brother James and Ancestor, who were asking after me, behind, I headed straight for the training grounds.
I wanted to answer, but I had no choice but to remain silent. I felt as though uttering even a single word would make me lose the source of inspiration floating through my mind.
Once I reached the training grounds, I summoned Golgol.
Golgol—!
Perhaps pleased by my call, Golgol let out a resounding roar. I did not react and instead held out the Demon Core.
“Golgol, take this first.”
Golgol?
Leaving the confused Golgol behind, I entrusted myself to the inspiration drifting through my mind.
First—
‘Mana. Move the mana.’
My mana as a Necromancer was special.
It could contain the Blessing of Death by itself.
For those who entered Necromancy without a bloodline talent, it took long research and logical procedures every time they practiced Necromancy. For me, that entire process happened as naturally as breathing.
As I moved my mana, I felt an unknown power intervening in my mind.
Before, I had not known what that intervention was—or even whether there was one.
But now I knew.
‘This is the Blessing of Death.’
One of this world’s blessings, which loved my bloodline and willingly lent me its strength.
From here, it was not a matter of reason, but instinct.
Like a newborn fish immediately breathing underwater, or a reptile instinctively drawn toward warmth.
I poured mana containing the Blessing of Death into the Demon Core.
Then I added more power so the mana enveloping the Demon Core could envelop Golgol as well.
At that moment—
Fizzle, fizzle—
Golgol?!
Amid an unknown ripple, Golgol cried out, and a brilliant light burst from the training grounds.
Purple light symbolizing the Blessing of Death… but somehow more sacred than that.
How much time passed?
Golgol?
When the light disappeared, Golgol stood there.
But it was not merely Golgol.
“Goddess, have mercy—!”
[What in the world is this? Am I truly seeing this correctly?]
Between Golgol’s ribs, where there had once been nothing—
A pure-white gem had been embedded.
Like a heart.
The first Holy Necromancer’s undead.
Holy Golgol had been born.
***
The birth of Holy Golgol was enough to shock both James, a priest and demon hunter who had seen it all, and even my Dragon Slayer Ancestor.
Brother James was especially stunned.
“What in the world?! Is what I’m seeing correct? I can feel Divine Power from Young Master Ktun’s undead…”
“What you are seeing is correct.”
“How can this be…?”
“I do not know.”
It was difficult for even me to put this into words.
As always, this was a result created not through logic or understanding, but through instinct and intuition.
Still, it was not as though I had no idea at all.
‘I hear there is such a thing, right?’
Attribute undead.
They were primarily observed among naturally occurring undead in the natural world. The most common were Frost Skeletons from polar regions.
Their characteristics were exactly as their name suggested.
‘They are skeletons, but freezing cold flows through their bodies, and wounds inflicted by them freeze terribly.’
Next were Flame Skeletons, which were rarely found in volcanic regions.
Of course, Divine Power was not the same as ice and fire attributes.
After all, ice and fire magic could be learned and used, whereas Divine Power could not be used even if someone beat you to death unless you received a divine blessing.
Anyway.
‘I should test this…’
As I considered how to conduct the experiment, kind Brother James stepped forward first.
“Young Master Ktun, may I conduct a few tests?”
“What kind of tests do you mean?”
“It is nothing significant. Just a moment…”
Brother James approached Golgol and examined it from every angle.
He tapped its skull, and even injected Divine Power into it.
Then he turned to me.
“Could you order the undead to use Divine Power?”
“Ah, yes. Golgol.”
Golgol.
Understanding my meaning, Golgol focused on its Greatsword.
Then something unbelievable happened.
Fizzle, fizzle—!
A milky white Aura gathered around Golgol’s Greatsword.
Of course, it was not Aura.
‘Aura is blue.’
Then what was that?
“It is not quite Holy Aura… It is Divine Power.”
“Are they different?”
“Yes. Holy Aura looks like this.”
Brother James took a dagger from his robes and showed it to me.
Soon, a milky white radiance gathered over its surface.
“What do you think? Can you feel the difference?”
“Yes. Yours is more… viscous. If Golgol’s is fog, Brother James’s is liquid.”
“That is right. There is a difference in density. Of course, merely increasing the density of Divine Power does not turn it into Aura, but phenomenally speaking, that is the distinction. And… yes, there is a much greater difference in power.”
According to James, Holy Aura was naturally superior in terms of destructive power.
Then what was the point of coating a weapon in Divine Power?
“Physically, the increase in destructive power may be slight. But since it is wrapped in Divine Power, it can now cut magical beings. For example, it can cut through magic itself… And since you are a Necromancer, to put it in terms relevant to you, it can cut soul-type undead as well.”
“Oh.”
“But that is not its true strength.”
“Pardon?”
“It will be more powerful against evil things than ordinary Aura.”
Evil things…
“Demons!”
“Yes. Divine Power is practically poison to those commonly called demons… demonkind. Do you understand? The true nature of the power Young Master Ktun has gained?”
“Yes, I understand. Very, very well.”
What did that mean?
It meant I had become a thug who could beat up most demons from now on.
‘Though I do not know about something like a member of the Shadow Clan…’
At least, I could easily beat down the doppelganger we had fought before.
What? Was it not a liquid-like being?
‘Before it is liquid, it is a demon.’
A being in which evil power flowed could no longer evade Golgol’s blade.
“Then there is one last thing I wish to test…”
“Yes, please tell me.”
“I would like to determine how long that Divine Power lasts. And whether it can recover after it is completely exhausted.”
“Ah, yes. Understood. Golgol?”
Golgol!
Golgol answered loudly and increased its output.
It only grew a little brighter than before, but it expended all its Divine Power with all its strength.
How much time passed?
Brother James spoke.
“Hm, its duration is slightly over ten minutes.”
“Is that short?”
“No. There is no preparation time required to manifest it, so if used at the right time, it will be sufficient to cut down one or two demons.”
“I see!”
I felt a little disappointed at hearing it was only ten minutes, but I was happy that it was enough to cut down evil demons.
Then the issue was the Divine Power that had been used up…
“Hm, just a moment. Hmmm, it appears that Divine Power does not naturally recover.”
“Ah… Is that so?”
“Well, that is only natural. Divine Power is strength bestowed by the gods through faith. It would be stranger if merely combining a Demon Core made it refill automatically.”
“Ah.”
Then what should I do?
Did Holy Golgol only get ten minutes?
Golgol…
As both Golgol and I became dejected, Brother James spoke.
“Would you perhaps try this?”
“How?”
“From what I can see, Brother Golgol appears to be an elite undead with self-awareness. Is that correct?”
Perhaps because Golgol had wielded Divine Power, he had begun referring to it as “Brother Golgol.”
“Yes.”
“Then how about having it recite our Order’s prayers? Though it is undead, it now has a sacred body. It may regain Divine Power by reciting the prayers.”
“…Would that work?”
“Why would it not? The Goddess does not judge the flaws of her believers. If one possesses reason, faith, and a kind heart capable of drawing forth that faith, she will surely extend her hand. I will give you the prayer first, and then we can have Brother Golgol recite it.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you, but…”
I agreed for now, but I could not help wondering whether it would actually work.
It was difficult to imagine undead believing in a god.
“You do not need to decide in haste. Have it recite the prayer for now, and while I remain here, I will teach Brother Golgol the doctrines and faith of our Order. It may not happen immediately, but I believe it is certainly possible.”
“As expected… Brother James.”
“By the way, Young Master Ktun, what do you think about believing in our Society of the Twelve Zodiac Hours?”
“Ah, I…”
[I see no harm in it.]
Ancestor said the same, but I was not particularly inclined to do so.
It was not that I disliked the Society of the Twelve Zodiac Hours.
‘This is a world where gods truly exist.’
More than anything, one could know ten things by seeing one. Just looking at Brother James showed how wonderful the Society of the Twelve Zodiac Hours was.
But—
“I do not think now is the right time. If I were to embrace faith now, it would seem as though… yes, as though I wanted something from it. It would not be pure faith.”
“Huh.”
Brother James let out a hollow laugh.
At that reaction, my shoulders shrank a little.
“Was that too arrogant of me to say…?”
“No, Young Master Ktun… No, Brother! Your words are right. What a wonderful mindset! Yes, that is right. Just as the Goddess gives everything to us while asking nothing in return, we should offer Her such faith in return. Yet I… This is truly a moment that makes me ashamed of myself.”
Somehow, he had begun calling me Brother instead of Young Master.
I did not dislike it.
It meant my sincerity had reached him.
“Yes, this withdrawal is likely the Goddess’s arrangement for you to gain true faith in the future. Then for the time being, I will teach Brother Golgol about faith.”
“If you do that, I would be more than grateful.”
“Haha, I hope the day comes when we can smash the heads of demons together, Brother.”
“I feel the same.”
“Brother!”
“Yes, Brother!”
We shook hands warmly.
But this man’s grip was no joke.
I wondered if my hand would be crushed whole, when a voice came to save me.
My personal attendant, John.
John stood on the far side of the training grounds, pointing toward Sir Balt, who was looking this way.
“Young Master, um… Sir Balt has come to see you.”
“Ah, really? Brother James, I suppose our meeting ends here for today.”
“I see. Then Brother Golgol…”
“I will leave it here. Please teach it well.”
Leaving Golgol behind, I walked toward Sir Balt.
Sir Balt looked around, trying to understand the situation, then bowed his head to me.
“I came after hearing you had awakened. I am greatly curious about what happened, but… for now, the Lord of the House is calling for you.”
“My father?”
“Yes, regarding House Merlin.”
Hm, now that I thought about it, there was that.
My seniors used to say this—
‘Marriage is… like entering a grave.’
Well, they all looked happy even when they said that, but it was obvious their happiness was not the kind I knew.
I had postponed it onto Vilheim because I feared that unknown future. But the proper conclusion would become clear when my father, Vilheim, and I gathered together.
“Let us go.”
I walked out with dignified steps.