The honor of serving an ancestor as a Confucian citizen… My heart swelled with the thought of practicing filial piety purely based on the Three Bonds and Five Relationships, absolutely without any thoughts of a free undead or an unpaid slave, but that was brief.
I hit a snag.
How do I make a contract?
[You rascal, why is there no answer? Huh? I said let's make a contract!]
It was around that time that Vilheim came to find me.
"Are you awake?"
"…Yes."
Something felt awkward.
How should I put it?
It felt like facing someone sober after dancing the blues wildly while drunk, shouting, "We are brothers, aren't we!"
However, Vilheim looked calm as if nothing had happened.
"But what brings you here…."
"I have to go on a trip urgently for a few days."
"A trip?"
"Yes, it is related to the intruder from yesterday. It won't take that long. Maybe about a month at most. Before that, I have something to give you."
It seemed he had found out who was behind the intruder.
I was curious about that part, but Vilheim didn't seem to want to talk about it.
But a gift?
While I was wondering, Vilheim took something out of his bosom and held it out.
"This is…."
"A necromancy book. I originally intended to give it to you yesterday, but the situation was urgent, so I couldn't."
"Then the reason you went out was…."
"It's nothing special."
At the time he encountered the intruder.
Vilheim was on his way back to the territory.
I wondered where he had been at that night; it seemed he went to get this book.
I accepted the book with a grateful heart.
Then I flinched.
"Um, Brother."
"Speak."
"By any chance, what happened to the owner of the book?"
"He died."
"…."
There is a reason I asked this.
Because there was blood on the books.
'Did he die naturally, or was he killed?'
I'll bet on the latter.
Vilheim at dawn that day came to mind again.
The image of him returning soaked in blood.
"Anyway… I will use it gratefully."
"Right, and I have spoken to Sir Balt, so do not neglect your physical training. With your bloodline talent, if you train properly, you will be able to compete with non-bloodline knights."
"Yes, thank you for the advice."
"Then, take care of Palaon while I am away."
Vilheim said that and strode away.
I watched his retreating figure for a moment.
'I shouldn't mess around.'
Judging by his behavior yesterday and today, I know he is sincere in how he treats me, but you never know.
Aside from that.
'A necromancy book…?'
[You rascal, when are you going to make the contract?]
'Just a moment. I'll look for a way now.'
[What?]
***
I immediately locked myself in my room and examined the books.
There were three books in total.
The title was <About Death>, divided into three volumes: High, Middle, and Low.
Among them, I opened the <High> volume.
『This book is for beginners entering the path of death. If you are one who has not reached the Void Step, you will surely gain something.
Please appreciate this knowledge and use it as a stepping stone to the Void Step.
—□□□, a follower of ■■■ ■■, in memory of the Great One.』
The prologue was nothing special.
If anything stood out, it was that the parts presumed to be 'names' were painted over.
[Hurry up and look for the contract part.]
'Yes.'
I quickly turned the pages at the Ancestor's urging.
Let's see, the beginning is about what necromancy is.
'Contract, contract… is there nothing about contracts?'
I scanned the text looking only for the necessary words.
How long did I search like that?
Not long after, I found the section on contracts.
[Oh, here it is.]
"Just a moment, let me read it."
I read that part thoroughly.
Honestly, it wasn't that I wasn't worried.
No matter how outstanding my talent was, I wondered if I could use magic just by reading a book once.
But perhaps it was fortunate.
"Hmm, the method isn't that special."
[Is that so?]
"Yes."
It felt more like sorcery than magic.
Perhaps it was because it was a 'primitive' contract method as the book described.
Anyway, according to the book, what was needed was as follows:
First, food that the spirit enjoyed in life.
"By any chance, what kind of food do you like?"
[If it's food… alcohol, I want to drink alcohol. I enjoyed drinking fruit wine made from wild grapes.]
Okay, so fruit wine it is.
I wrote down the necessary items on a paper and called my dedicated servant, John.
"Yes, Young Master. Did you call?"
"Can you get me what's written here?"
"May I check it for a moment?"
"Yeah."
John calmly read down the items on the note.
After a moment, he opened his mouth.
"They are all things that can be easily obtained. By when should I get them for you?"
"The sooner the better."
"Yes, then I will return shortly."
John answered reliably and ran out.
Trustworthy John returned about an hour later.
"Huff, huff, Young Master, here it is."
"Thanks."
"Yes, is there anything else you need me to do?"
"No, it's fine. Go back early today and rest."
"Is that alright?"
"Yeah, you've been busy with this and that because of the Blood Awakening Ceremony lately. Oh, go to the kitchen, say I ordered it, and take some snacks."
"Yes, Young Master. Thank you. My younger sibling will like it."
I say this now, but John was the only friend-like existence in this territory.
Of course, I couldn't open up completely to him, but at least I thought so.
Anyway, now that all the ingredients are gathered, it's time to proceed with the contract.
[It will be close.]
'I'll do it quickly.'
I opened <About Death> again.
***
Inside a dark room with the light blocked.
A round circle was drawn in the center of the room.
It was drawn with ink made by mixing sulfur, dye, and salt.
And inside that circle.
Ktun sat in a proper posture and closed his eyes.
The start of the contract was simple.
"I, Ktun, who inherited the blood of Palaon, the second son of Sahad and the first son of Viola, am here. You who are there, answer my call."
Defining oneself by family and parents and calling the spirit.
This is to make the existence of the 'caster' more clearly recognized.
Now, next was the spirit's turn.
[Is it like this… Alright, I will answer.]
"Who are you?"
[One who stood at the beginning of Palaon, though I do not know my parents' names, I am the Sword of the Kingdom of Heorn and the Dragon Slayer who killed the Mad Dragon Sirunus; my name is Ark.]
"The beginning of Palaon, the Hero of Heorn, the Dragon Slaying Knight Ark Palaon. Is there not an inch of falsehood in this description?"
[There is none.]
"Swear upon your true soul that ascended to the sky."
Here, 'true soul' meant the 'original soul.'
According to necromancy and theology, when a person dies, the true soul ascends to the sky, and their remnant soul remains in the world.
In other words, Ark, who is here right now, is in a way not the 'true Ark.'
And the remnant soul, which is merely a trace, cannot deny the true soul.
So if he lied, he would not be able to answer at this point.
However, Ark answered without difficulty.
[I swear, there is no falsehood.]
"Good. Your truth has been confirmed."
It was then that a change occurred in the primitive magic circle.
Sizzle, zzz—
The circle drawn with a mixture of sulfur, dye, and salt burned with a faint light.
Sensing that change, Ktun proceeded with the final procedure.
"Hero, I ask you, become my spirit and serve me. If you agree, state what you desire."
[For my power to be used for Palaon.]
"I accept."
The light emanating from the magic circle became more intense.
Now, the remaining final procedure.
"Receive my sincerity as a token of the contract."
Sincerity meant food.
What was prepared now was the wild grape wine Ark enjoyed drinking in life.
Ark wondered how he should eat food in his spiritual state.
It was then.
Sizzle, zzz—
The wild grape wine was dyed with bright light.
Ark approached as if possessed and reached out to the wine.
[Ha, this is strange.]
He was feeling sensations he shouldn't be able to feel.
The sweet and sour scent of wild grapes spreading in his mouth, the smell of alcohol hitting the back of his nose.
Ark, who savored the sensation for a moment, opened his eyes.
[Now it is done… Hmm.]
When Ark opened his eyes, Ktun was asleep.
[Did he pass out?]
Well, it was understandable.
In fact, he hadn't told Ktun, but making a contract with a spirit like himself was not an easy task.
Most necromancers wouldn't even be able to attempt it.
'I inwardly thought the contract might fail.'
It was truly amazing talent.
As far as necromancy was concerned, he was superior to Inoxia, who was called the best mage of the time among his old comrades.
It was when he was admiring Ktun's talent.
Sizzle, zzz….
[This is?]
A purple aura rising and wrapping around Ktun.
It was clear.
The Blessing of Death, that light.
But for the light of blessing to manifest like this?
I have never heard of such a case.
No, I have heard of it.
[The Necro King….]
The beginning of necromancy, the first one to awaken the Blessing of Death.
He cast off death himself and became Undying and Immortal.
According to historical records, that monster grew while being surrounded by the light of blessing from time to time.
Then does that mean this child has talent comparable to the Necro King?
'…No, that can't be.'
Ark shook his head.
As someone who had seen the Necro King in person, it was a story difficult for Ark to accept easily.
Because that existence was literally outside the norm.
But one thing was certain.
[If it is this child, perhaps….]
Couldn't he bring a second glory to Palaon, and to himself?
***
It wasn't long before Ktun woke up.
[Are you up?]
"Did the contract end well?"
[Yes, it ended well.]
"Phew."
Ktun swept his startled chest.
He proceeded according to the procedure, and the primitive magic circle operated normally, but he was still worried just in case.
[Is your body alright?]
"My body? Uh… yes, I feel light?"
[That is a relief. Still, be careful from next time. With contracts like this, you never know what might happen if something goes wrong. It was fortunate that the target was me this time; if it were another spirit, you never know what they might have done.]
"Yes, I will keep that in mind."
This part was also written in <About Death>.
Anyway, the first contract was successfully concluded.
Ktun calmly observed his changes.
'According to what was written in the book, I should feel something.'
Indeed, it was as said.
How should I put it?
Even when staying still, I could feel a connection with my ancestor, Ark.
That wasn't the only change.
"I feel like rooms have been created inside me."
[Rooms?]
"Yes."
To express this visually, it was like this:
■□□□□
Five rooms, and one of them is full.
'What does this mean? Does it mean I can only handle up to five spirits? or is it the total number of undead I can command?'
[It probably isn't the number of undead. It makes no sense for a necromancer who awakened the Blessing of Death to only be able to control five undead.]
Then it might be correct to see it as the number of spirits.
There were still many things I didn't know about necromancy, so I couldn't be sure.
Anyway, having grasped the changes up to this point.
There was still something left to do.
"Now it is time to make a body."
[A body?]
"Yes, you can't do anything in a spirit state."
[Will you be alright? You collapsed and just woke up a moment ago. It is better not to overdo it. And how are you going to make a body when you didn't even know how to make a contract?]
Ark was worried, but Ktun shook his head.
"For some reason, I feel like it has to be now."
[It has to be now?]
"Hmm."
How should I explain this?
Since waking up, the inside of my head felt ticklish.
Like something was on the tip of my tongue.
Yes, it would be correct to say that some kind of inspiration was welling up.
"Just a moment."
Ktun closed his eyes and focused his mind on the internal sensation.
To accept the abstract image as it is and pull it out into reality.
How much time passed like that?
"…."
Ktun reached out with his eyes half-open.
The mana that settled in his heart while awakening the bloodline accepted that will.
And immediately after.
Sizzle, zzz—!
Particles of a pure white skeleton rising into the air.
This was to revive Ark the Dragon Slayer in the present world, and in another sense, an act of recreating a legend.
Thus, the form was completed.
[Ha, to create a non-medium undead already. What amazing talent. Then does that mean that is my body?]
Ark admired as he looked into the skeleton that would become his body.
It was then.
Clack clack?
The skeleton tilted its head.
"…?"
[Hmm?]
Ktun's head tilted to the side.
Ark's head also tilted to the side.
Then the skeleton looking at the two also tilted its head to the side.
And the sound was heard again.
Clack clack?
…The skeleton had an ego.