Rayan had been experiencing a strange feeling ever since he began his journey toward the port city.
It was difficult to explain.
Sometimes, he felt as though something far away was calling to him. At other times, he felt as if a pair of invisible eyes were watching him from somewhere he couldn't see.
However, he didn't show anything on his face.
After all, he had a goal to accomplish.
Become a top necromancer, build an army of powerful undead, and live a happy life.
Preferably, a life surrounded by beautiful women.
And, if possible, without dying a second time.
I've already experienced one life full of suffering. This time, I'll enjoy myself properly!
With that noble ambition firmly established in his heart, Rayan continued his journey with Ran and Grandpa.
After several days of traveling, they finally reached the port city.
The city was far livelier than the places Rayan had visited before. Merchants shouted from their stalls, sailors carried crates across the docks, and ships of various sizes crowded the harbor. The salty smell of the sea mixed with the aroma of freshly cooked food.
Rayan immediately liked the place.
There were interesting shops, unfamiliar magical devices, and enough food stalls to make him consider abandoning necromancy and becoming a professional food taster.
Unfortunately, Grandpa had other plans.
"There it is," Grandpa said, pointing toward a massive ship docked near the harbor.
Rayan followed his gaze.
The vessel was enormous. Its dark hull was decorated with complicated magical symbols, and eerie green lights glowed along its sides. Strange formations had been carved into the wood and metal, making the ship look more like a moving fortress than an ordinary means of transportation.
A banner bearing the emblem of the Royal Necromancer Academy fluttered above it.
Ran stared at the ship with shining eyes.
"That's the ship we'll travel on?"
"Unless another academy has stolen their name and built a ship to confuse people," Rayan replied.
Ran turned toward him.
"Why would anyone do that?"
"To confuse people like you."
She stepped on his foot.
"Ouch! Violence! We're not even students yet!"
"Then consider it your first lesson."
Grandpa laughed.
"All right, you two. Go show your admission invitations to the person in charge. And remember, don't cause trouble."
Rayan placed a hand over his chest.
"Grandpa, when have I ever caused trouble?"
Grandpa stared at him.
Rayan stared back.
A few seconds passed.
"...Fine. Don't answer that."
Grandpa chuckled and placed a hand on each child's head.
"Take care of each other. Study hard, and remember what I taught you. If you encounter something you don't understand, observe it before acting. And if either of you gets into trouble, don't hide it from the other."
"We will!" Ran answered cheerfully.
Rayan nodded.
"Don't worry, Grandpa. I'll take care of her."
"And I'll take care of him!" Ran added.
Grandpa smiled.
"Good. Then I can finally enjoy some peace and quiet."
Rayan looked offended.
"Grandpa, you're sending away two geniuses. Shouldn't you be crying?"
"I'm trying very hard not to."
"That's because you're strong!"
"No. It's because I don't want to encourage your nonsense."
Ran giggled.
Grandpa gave them one final hug before stepping back.
"Go on. Don't make the academy staff wait."
Rayan and Ran presented their admission invitations to the person guarding the boarding entrance. After checking their documents, the man stepped aside.
"Welcome aboard the Royal Necromancer Academy's transport vessel. Proceed inside and take any available seats."
Rayan and Ran turned around one last time.
"Grandpa! We'll see you again!"
They waved enthusiastically.
Grandpa raised his hand in return.
"Eat properly!"
"Yes!"
"Don't spend all your money on snacks!"
Ran froze.
Rayan froze.
They exchanged glances.
Then both turned away as though they hadn't heard him.
"I SAW THAT!" Grandpa shouted.
Their laughter drifted across the harbor as they boarded the ship.
Neither of them noticed that Grandpa continued watching until they disappeared inside.
Only after the boarding entrance closed did he finally turn around.
"Those little troublemakers..."
His voice carried a smile, but his eyes held a trace of loneliness.
"Grow strong. Both of you."
Then he walked away.
Inside the ship, Rayan discovered that its interior was considerably more spacious than he had expected.
Rows of comfortable seats filled the main cabin. Magical lamps floated near the ceiling, and glowing circles engraved into the floor emitted a faint green light.
Several students had already arrived.
Some wore expensive clothes and carried elaborate luggage. Others sat nervously, clutching their admission invitations as though someone might suddenly confiscate them.
Rayan and Ran found two empty seats beside a large window.
Rayan settled down and looked outside.
Grandpa was still visible on the harbor, his figure gradually becoming smaller among the crowds.
For a brief moment, Rayan's smile faded.
He had once lived a life in which happiness seemed like something meant for other people. Now he had a family, a home, and a future he could actually look forward to.
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Leaving them was difficult.
I'll become strong enough to protect this happiness.
He silently made that promise.
Then Ran nudged his arm.
"Rayan."
"Hm?"
"Do you think they have food on this ship?"
His emotional moment shattered.
He turned toward her.
"Ran, we just said goodbye to Grandpa. Is that really what you're thinking about?"
She nodded seriously.
"Grandpa told us to eat properly."
Rayan stared at her.
"...You're using his words against me."
"Of course. They're wise words."
He leaned back in his seat.
Perhaps I should ask the academy to teach a special course on shamelessness. She would graduate with the highest honors.
Before he could say anything else, a clear voice rang through the cabin.
"Attention, everyone!"
A woman stood near the front of the ship. She wore a dark uniform decorated with the insignia of the Royal Necromancer Academy. Her posture was relaxed, but her sharp eyes immediately silenced several students who had been chatting.
She was the assistant instructor in command of the transport vessel.
"Normally, this journey takes approximately twenty-four hours. However, today we're using a special transportation method. We'll arrive in roughly ten hours."
A murmur spread through the cabin.
Ten hours?
That was less than half the usual time.
The instructor smiled.
"Before we begin, everyone must fasten their seat belts."
Several students exchanged confused glances.
Seat belts?
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The instructor continued in a perfectly calm voice.
"Failure to do so is entirely your responsibility. Once we begin moving, I won't accept complaints, excuses, or requests to stop."
She paused.
"And please don't say I failed to warn you when you're rolling around the cabin like loose luggage."
Rayan immediately fastened his seat belt.
Ran followed his example.
"Why are you so quick?" she whispered.
"Because I enjoy keeping my bones inside my body."
The instructor checked the cabin one final time.
"Everyone ready?"
No one answered.
"Wonderful. Let's depart."
She placed one hand on a glowing magical formation near the front of the ship.
The formation activated.
The ship rose smoothly from the harbor.
Several students gasped as the vessel began floating above the water.
The city slowly receded behind them. Buildings became smaller, ships turned into tiny shapes, and the harbor gradually disappeared into the distance.
Ran pressed her face against the window.
"Look! The city is getting smaller!"
"That's what happens when you move away from something," Rayan explained.
Ran turned toward him.
"I know that!"
"Then why did you announce it?"
"Because I wanted to!"
"An undeniable argument."
For a while, everything proceeded peacefully.
Some students chatted excitedly. Others admired the sea through the windows. A few had already fallen asleep.
Rayan was beginning to wonder whether the journey might actually be comfortable.
Then the sea exploded.
A gigantic shape erupted from beneath the water.
Before anyone could properly understand what was happening, a colossal mouth opened beneath the ship.
The world went dark.
GULP!
The entire vessel disappeared into the creature's mouth.
For one terrifying moment, every student aboard experienced the same thought.
We're going to die!
Someone screamed.
Another student grabbed the seat in front of him.
A third began reciting a prayer so quickly that the words blended into an incomprehensible noise.
Ran's eyes widened.
"RAYAN!"
"I SEE IT!"
"WE'RE INSIDE A FISH!"
"I ALSO NOTICED THAT!"
The ship lurched violently.
Every student who hadn't fastened their seat belt would have been thrown across the cabin. Fortunately, the belts held everyone firmly in place.
Rayan gripped the armrests.
His heart was racing.
Yet beneath the fear, another emotion was rapidly emerging.
Excitement.
A creature capable of swallowing an entire magical ship?
A creature large enough to carry dozens of future necromancers inside its body?
And the academy used it as transportation?
I want one.
The thought appeared in his mind with such intensity that even he was surprised.
I REALLY want one!
The ship shook again.
Ran clutched his arm.
"Rayan, don't tell me you're smiling!"
"I'm not!"
"You absolutely are!"
"I'm smiling because I'm trying not to cry!"
"Then why do you look happy?"
"MY FACE IS COMPLICATED!"
After what felt like an eternity, the shaking gradually stopped.
The lights inside the cabin brightened.
A few seconds later, the instructor appeared again, looking as calm as if nothing unusual had happened.
"All right, everyone. You may relax."
Silence greeted her.
She cleared her throat.
"The creature that swallowed our vessel is an undead marine whale. It is not an ordinary undead. In fact, it is unique, and according to the academy's records, there is only one of its kind in the world."
The students stared at her.
She continued.
"It was personally defeated and converted into an undead by our principal, the Witch of Death herself."
A stunned silence followed.
The Witch of Death.
The most powerful necromancer in the world, according to everything Rayan had read.
She had personally killed a creature of this size and turned it into her undead servant?
Rayan's admiration for her increased considerably.
Principal, please accept me as your disciple. I promise to be obedient.
He paused.
Mostly.
"The undead whale will carry us to Gazan Island at high speed," the instructor continued. "Its interior is protected by special necromantic formations. The vessel will remain stable throughout the journey."
She glanced at the rows of students.
"You may now remove your seat belts."
For several seconds, no one moved.
The instructor raised an eyebrow.
"Did I say something unclear?"
A student slowly unfastened his belt.
Then another.
Soon, the entire cabin began moving again.
Except one person.
A young man dressed in expensive clothes stood abruptly from his seat.
He had a handsome face, carefully styled hair, and a silver badge on his chest indicating that he came from a noble family.
His face was pale with anger.
He marched toward the instructor.
"Master! Why didn't you explain this beforehand? We could have died! You owe everyone an apology!"
The instructor looked at him.
Then she slapped him.
PAK!
The sound echoed throughout the cabin.
The young noble stumbled sideways, clutching his cheek.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"You—!"
The instructor punched him in the stomach.
THUD!
He doubled over.
A second punch sent him stumbling backward.
Then came a third.
And a fourth.
The nobleman's expensive clothes became disheveled, his nose began bleeding, and his carefully maintained dignity vanished faster than his courage.
By the time the instructor stopped, he was sitting on the floor, trembling.
The entire cabin became silent.
The instructor adjusted her sleeves.
"Now, let me explain something to you."
She crouched slightly so that he could hear her clearly.
"I am an assistant instructor of the Royal Necromancer Academy. You are a newly admitted student."
Her voice was calm.
"That means that, regardless of your family name, your wealth, or how important you believe yourself to be, you are still a student here."
She stood.
"If you want your academy life to be pleasant, learn to follow instructions. Learn to respect your teachers. And, most importantly, learn to think before opening your mouth."
The nobleman lowered his head.
His face burned with humiliation.
The instructor glanced at several crew members standing nearby.
"Take him away. Have someone clean up the mess."
"Yes, Instructor!"
Two crew members helped the nobleman to his feet and escorted him out.
The instructor watched them leave.
Then she turned toward the remaining students and smiled.
"For the next nine and a half hours, you're free to move around the vessel. Don't interfere with the crew, don't damage the equipment, and don't attempt to enter restricted areas."
Her smile widened.
"Enjoy your journey."
She left with several crew members.
For three seconds, the cabin remained perfectly silent.
Then whispers erupted everywhere.
It sounded as if an entire beehive had suddenly awakened.
"Did you see that?"
"She hit him without hesitation!"
"Who was that noble?"
"Does it matter? Did you see his face?"
"His nose was bleeding!"
"Forget his nose! Did you see what happened to his trousers?"
Rayan leaned toward Ran.
"Well, that was educational."
Ran stared at him.
"Educational?"
"Yes. I learned that academy teachers have excellent reflexes."
"Rayan!"
"What? I was paying attention."
Ran covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
Then Rayan's eyes drifted toward the glowing walls of the vessel.
His expression became thoughtful.
The undead marine whale.
He wanted one.
Not necessarily one as enormous as this. A smaller version would be perfectly acceptable.
A whale that could carry him across the sea, protect him from enemies, and perhaps provide convenient transportation whenever he wanted to travel?
Magnificent.
Imagine arriving at a city on the back of an undead whale. Everyone would look at me with admiration.
He paused.
And if someone tried to charge me an unreasonable transportation fee, I'd simply bring my whale next time.
Ran waved a hand in front of his face.
"Rayan? Are you listening?"
"Of course."
"What did I say?"
"You said something extremely intelligent."
"I asked whether you were planning to become an undead whale collector!"
Rayan blinked.
Then he slowly smiled.
"That's a surprisingly good idea."
Ran groaned.
"I was joking!"
"Great ideas often begin as jokes."
She stared at him.
Then she sighed.
The academy will be in trouble.
After exploring the main cabin, the two of them decided to walk around.
The vessel's interior was unlike anything Rayan had imagined. Green and dark-green magical lamps floated along the corridors, while pale green lights illuminated the ceiling. In some places, white-green lights drifted through the air like tiny fireflies.
Circular magical formations had been arranged at regular intervals along the walls. Their symbols pulsed gently, supplying power to the lights and stabilizing the structure.
The entire place looked mysterious.
And slightly creepy.
Rayan loved it.
Ran, however, walked close beside him.
"Why does everything have to be green?"
"Because red would make it look like we're traveling inside a giant stomach."
Ran stopped walking.
She slowly looked at the walls.
Then at the floor.
Then at the ceiling.
"...Rayan, are we traveling inside a giant stomach?"
He considered the question.
"Technically, yes."
Ran grabbed his sleeve.
"Don't say things like that!"
Rayan laughed.
"Relax. The instructor said the formations keep everything stable."
"Then stop reminding me that we're inside a whale!"
"All right."
They continued walking.
After a few moments, Ran spoke again.
"Do you think the whale can hear us?"
Rayan looked at the wall.
Then he leaned toward it.
"Hey, big fellow. If you can hear me, please take good care of us. Once I become a great necromancer, I'll make sure you get a promotion."
Ran smacked his arm.
"Stop talking to the whale!"
"What? Networking is important."
They eventually reached a spacious observation chamber where several other students had gathered.
Through the windows, they could see the strange inner world surrounding their vessel. Magical formations glowed in the distance, and enormous shadows moved beyond the protective barriers.
Rayan stared at the lights.
For a moment, he forgot about the strange feeling that had been following him.
He was entering a world that had once existed only in books and imagination.
A world filled with powerful necromancers, ancient secrets, mysterious creatures, and opportunities to grow stronger.
He would learn.
He would train.
And one day, he would command undead creatures powerful enough to make even nobles think twice before offending him.
But first, he needed to survive academy life.
Considering what had happened to the nobleman, that might be harder than expected.
Ran tugged his sleeve.
"Come on. Let's see the other rooms."
Rayan nodded.
"Lead the way."
The two continued exploring with the other students.
And so, their journey toward the Royal Necromancer Academy continued inside the belly of the only undead marine whale in the world.