I Became The Academy Necromancer

Chapter 237: Sloppy-ai

A jarring noise echoed throughout the training hall inside the palace, the wooden floor creaking pleasantly with each movement.

Gloria, the Royal Knight Commander, and Findenai were engrossed in their daily training once again.

Over the course of the month Deus began his stay in the royal palace, the two had been sparring every day without a break, as if they had found their fated rival.

50 spars, 24 wins, 26 losses.

That was Findenai’s record.

The fact that she was trailing behind the kingdom’s strongest knight by a narrow margin showed how great her skill was.

However, there was something peculiar about this record.

In the first ten days of their spars, Gloria had emerged victorious in all the matches.

And from 0 wins and 10 losses, Findenai had managed to reach this point.

Clank!

Findenai’s Snow White, emitting a chill, came down fiercely from above.

In response, Gloria’s greatsword, made from phoenix feathers, blazed fiercely.

The two were excessively aggressive for a simple spar.

It was more like a fight to see who would yield in terms of strength as they faced each other head-on.

Once the fight reached a certain point, Findenai let go of her Snow White.

She chose to abandon her weapon at a critical moment, twisting her body and charging forward.

Thump!

Slamming her left foot into the ground to steady herself, Findenai thrust her fist at Gloria’s abdomen.

“Keugh!”

Although the Commander was doing her best to resist, even she found it difficult to withstand Findenai’s punch with just her bare body.

Thud!

Her body curled up and flew backwards.

It was a clean victory.

“Huff.”

Glancing down at the fallen Gloria, Findenai dusted her hands and picked up Snow White again.

“25 wins.”

A simple remark despite the intense spar.

Gloria tried to compose herself and stood up, letting out a sigh.

“It ended up being a drawn out match again.”

Gloria had noticed that she usually won whenever she took the offensive early on.

Because as the match dragged on, Findenai would turn into a completely different person.

And after losing that way several times, Gloria once tried to prolong the match, hoping to find a means to defeat her. But now, she had given up completely.

After all, how many people on the continent could outlast Findenai in a drawn-out battle?

Gloria had the impression that they could probably be counted on one hand.

“Hmph, only sparring with each other makes our fight patterns too similar.”

Findenai spoke with a cigarette in her mouth, to which Gloria responded awkwardly.

“But there’s no one else who can spar with you.”

“Tsk, that’s kinda true.”

The other Royal Knights tried sparring with Findenai at the start. However, after suffering humiliating defeats, they stopped, and even Findenai lost interest. After all, why bother fighting when victory was guaranteed?

In fact, this was partly because Findenai had grown excessively strong.

Comparing the current Findenai with the one from the original game would only embarrass the latter.

Her core items in the game were the Axe of Pangu, the Landing Machine, and Hand of Hemomancy. However, Findenai now wielded Snow White instead of the Axe of Pangu and wore the War Shoes instead of the Landing Machine.

Of course, while her superior equipment did play a role, it was the experiences she gained while traveling with Deus—and the fact that she was now fighting for the man she desired and not for some grand cause made the real difference.

In many ways, Findenai was fully blossoming into her true potential.

“Has Deus still not come out of his research lab?”

Gloria asked with concern while stretching her muscles.

By the way, the research lab she was speaking of was the secret room in the royal palace. Since Deus never left it, it naturally got called the research lab.

Puffing out her cigarette smoke, Findenai nodded slightly.

“Yes, Master Bastard is taking everything too seriously.”

Although she was grumbling, the corners of her mouth were raised slightly.

It was because that was also a part of him that Findenai.

“Since you mentioned it, shall I go check on him?”

Even though she made it a point to visit the man once a day, he never said anything special to her. At most, he would simply tell her that she was being noisy, unaware of why she was training so hard.

Findenai finished her cigarette and headed outside.

[Waaah!]

[Let’s run!]

The two people who caught Findenai’s eye as she exited the training hall had completely contrasting auras, perfectly fitting the portrayal of black and white.

People she knew existed but couldn’t see.

“Who are you?”

It was the Dark Spiritualist and Stella.

Seeing the two running frantically, even though they could fly, Findenai wondered what they were up to.

[Huh? Findenai?]

[You can see us?]

“I can see you two very well. Master Bastard must have cast a spell.”

Swish.

She tried to reach for the Dark Spiritualist’s chest, but, unfortunately, her hand just passed through.

[Hey! Where do you think you’re touching?!]

Covering her chest with both hands, the Dark Spiritualist stepped back in haste.

Findenai muttered in frustration as she fiddled with her hand in the air.

“It’s not like I can touch it anyway.”

[Why would Deus cast a spell to make us visible?]

Stella, who was beside her, tilted her head in confusion, making the other two ponder as well.

Well, it didn’t matter if the Dark Spiritualist could be seen; after all, no one really knew her anyway. However, it would be a problem for Stella since almost everyone knew her.

They felt it would cause quite a commotion if she, who was already dead, were to be seen walking around so openly.

“Well, I can’t tell what Master Bastard’s intention is.”

Scratching her head, Findenai tapped the end of her cigarette and placed the butt in her cigarette case. Since Deus had warned her not to dirty the royal palace, it had now become a habit.

“But I think it’s probably for your sake. Cause that’s how he usually does things.”

Saying that, Findenai turned around.

“I’m off to see Master Bastard.”

The two ghosts, who watched her leave, naturally turned to each other.

[For our sake? But we’re just evil spirits now.]

[…]

While the Dark Spiritualist looked completely clueless, Stella pondered for a moment before a gentle smile formed on her lips.

[He’s truly a wonderful person.]

She thought he wouldn’t get it, but when she realized that the reason he had cast this spell was tied to her own lingering feelings, a strange smile crept on her lips.

[What is it? Do you understand that, junior?]

The Dark Spiritualist, feeling a bit left out, asked insistently, but not wanting to share the secret known only to her and Deus, Stella responded,

[I don’t know.]

With a sly smile, she moved forward.

[Let’s go. Didn’t you say you’d tell me what we needed to do after we became evil spirits?]

[Stella.]

The Dark Spiritualist crossed her arms and warned Stella.

[Don’t act all smug in front of your senior.]

[…]

***“Master Bastard, what are you up to?”

As I was infusing mana into an orb that could contain souls and inspecting its interior, a noisy voice interrupted me.

Although she spoke indifferently, the atmosphere was loud.

That was the kind of woman Findenai was.

As I continued to focus without saying much, she got closer and popped a snack left by Deia into her mouth.

“I’m bored. I don’t like being neglected.”

I found it amusing that she, who reminded me of a wolf, could say something resembling a puppy. No, perhaps they were the same.

Probably because I was mentally tired, after using my brain without rest, my thoughts began to wander.

“…I said, I’m bored.”

“Go play with someone else.”

“Who else can I play with but you, Master Bastard?”

Sigh.

An involuntary sigh escaped my lips.

But even then, I still didn’t let go of the orb in my hand.

Not happy with this, Findenai frowned deeply and crossed her arms.

“Is it normal to neglect a fish you’ve caught by not feeding it? If I had known that things would turn out this way, I would have waited a bit longer to say anything.”

“…”

“Ha, damn. You cast spells on the ghosts so they can wander around happily, but you leave me alone like this?”

“…”

“Tell me honestly. You won’t get excited unless it’s with a ghost, right?”

“Findenai.”

I put down the orb gently and turned to stare at Findenai, who finally raised the corner of her lips.

“Yes, so tell me. What do you want me to do? Shall we go for a walk? Or grab a bite? If not, do you want me to suck you off from under the desk?”

“Did you see the Dark Spiritualist and Stella?”

“Oh, goddammit.”

Findenai, who was pulling at her cheeks to display her sharp teeth, immediately became annoyed and looked deflated.

“Seriously, are you only interested in ghosts?”

“Sigh, even my patience has its limits.”

When I urged her to stop saying unnecessary things and just answer my question, she pouted and grumbled.

“They were running about excitedly, like country girls in a rush, too flustered to even think about flying.”

“…I see.”

After listening to her report, I nodded.

“Why? Did they do something?”

“They swore at me and fled.”

Hearing Stella swear at me, I felt like I got a rough understanding of her lingering feelings, even if she didn’t say it outright.

Hence, I decided to cast a spell to give her a corporeal form, even though it would cause some commotion.

“Swear? What did they say?”

“Fo—”

I almost replied without thinking.

However, I cleared my throat and turned my gaze back to the desk.

“Fo? Fo what? Did she ask for a kiss¹?”

Findenai, tilting her head in confusion, muttered while I pulled out two letters from under the desk.

I had planned to hand them to Findenai when she arrived, but swept up in her pace, I almost forgot it.

“What’s this?”

“I need you to mail this.”

“One is… to Loberne Academy? Is it for your fiancée?”

Seeing the recipient, Findenai made a strange expression.

“Huh, Professor Fel? That’s unexpected.”

“Do not open the letters.”

I stopped Findenai from trying to open them instinctively. She then checked the recipient of the other letter.

“Hmm? Byolren? Where’s that?”

Byolren.

It was the territory of the Bright Household, Erica’s family. Well, she wouldn’t know as she had left for the Clark Republic when I headed for the family meeting.

After a brief explanation, Findenai let out a subtle snort, as if something else was bothering her.

“Hmph. So, you were at a family meeting while I was struggling. Did you enjoy it?

“…Did I not come to find you?”

Of course, that was only possible due to the help of Erica and Deia, who arranged for the warp.

Feeling annoyed, I frowned at her, and Findenai mirrored my expression.

“So everyone gets letters, what about me?”

“Leave now.”

“At least touch me before I go. It’s not like you’ve got premature ejaculation. Do you really think I’d just leave because you said so?”

I stared at her in disbelief while Findenai puffed her chest proudly, her shoulders squared.

It seemed like I couldn’t let this slide any longer.

“Sigh, there is something I have been wanting to say for a while.”

“What is it?”

I knew she enjoyed making lewd comments to see my reactions. However…

“Stop acting tough when you yourself are inexperienced.”

“…”

“You sound like a kid bragging after hearing things at a revolutionary army’s drinking party or from Illuania.”

“Damn it.”

Findenai’s face turned flush immediately. She snatched the letters and turned around to leave.

Findenai stomped out in anger and quickly turned her head to glare at me with her face still blushing.

“Oh, it must be nice to have so much experience! Damn it. Just because you’ve done everything, even had your ass sucked! I bet getting a woman’s tongue to lick you clean is a lifetime achievement for you, huh?!”

“…”

“Wait, wasn’t it the original body that did all that stuff? How great do you think you are?”

As I watched Findenai shout furiously, I slowly stood up from my seat.

Had the stress from the research piled up more than I realized? My rebellious spirit was starting to kick in.

I approached Findenai directly, grabbing her shoulder and hand.

“Huh?”

Flustered, she stumbled back. She soon found herself against the wall with nowhere to run.

Staring down at her flushed face, I whispered.

“Heed this advice.”

An unintentional smirk crept on my lips. For the first time in a while, I had the upper hand in a conversation with Findenai.

Seeing Findenai shrink back in embarrassment was quite a rare sight.

“You should never assume that everything you hear in those dirty jokes is true.”

Most of them were filled with childish bravado and exaggeration.

After giving her this advice, I let go and returned to my seat.

“Y-you…!”

Her face turned even redder than before.

The slight dampness in her eyes suggested that she was feeling quite humiliated.

“Damn it! All you ever learned is how to seduce women!”

Screaming in anger, Findenai stormed out of the laboratory.

The headache due to my research seemed to ease a bit. Thanks to Findenai, I felt like I had a brief break and could now focus on my work.

1. The word Stella used starts with ppo, which it similar to the word ppoppo. It's more like a childish way to say "kiss" or simply a quick kiss.