Ti To Say Goodbye
Late at night.
Without securing separate accommodations in Fernan, I sat and waited by the bonfire I lit near the beach and stared blankly into the flas.
Following my orders, the Mage Tribunal Judges, Thema and Doven, had vacated the area.
The Dark Spiritualist sitting beside stretched her hand toward the fire as if trying to feel so warmth.
Then, almost as if she were suggesting tossing sweet potatoes into the fire for baking, she casually said,
[I didnt expect you to know about Dante.]
.
[Its not a good idea to get involved with them.]
There is no other way. They called .
Dante was a secret organization that was revealed only in the later stages of the ga.
[Actually, they approached once. They asked if I wanted to dream of saving the continent together.]
.
[Of course, I declined. I have no interest in saving the continent. I just wanted to see the end of necromancy personally.]
The Dark Spiritualist had an obsessive thirst for knowledge to the point of being extre. Even now, she was only cooperating with because she believed I could show her the end of necromancy, sothing she hadnt reached.
And the reason she erged from her residence, where she was hiding, was just to retrieve the book Aria had stolen, which contained her knowledge.
I know.
However, I had no intention of labeling her as selfish.
[Deus, you know as well that Dark Mages are the type of people who will do anything to satisfy their own desires and greed.]
But suddenly
As I t her eyes, I could feel a faint yet affectionate emotion from her. Was all this really just to satisfy her frustration with a desire for knowledge?
[But what if theyre given a cause, a reason that everyone could understand?]
The Dark Spiritualists body slowly ca closer to make contact with mine. Although I felt nothing physically, her worried expression was extrely pitiful.
[They will beco more aggressive than simply moving to fulfill their desires. Thats how Dante is.]
Our lips were close enough to make contact if either of us moved slightly. They probably would have touched if not for the black veil covering the lower half of the Dark Spiritualists face.
I watched her stiffly before slowly speaking.
Soone has co.
Keooooohhh!
A shriek echoed.
Startled, the Dark Spiritualist imdiately backed away to her original position, and as she did so, the foul stench of rotting flesh hit our noses with such intensity, that I felt like my sense of sll was overwheld.
The footsteps and screams coming from far gradually drew closer to the bonfire, and soon, it entered the warm radius of the fire, breaking through the darkness.
It was a man of average build, not too big or too small, covered in a robe and hood. He had a subtle smile on his lips.
Geeeaaaaaa!!!
In his hand was the severed head of a person who was still alive and screaming.
It was Voltas head.
Is he still alive?
In response to my question, the Cadavermancer shrugged.
Probably half-alive? Hell die as soon as I release the magic.
His first impression already made dislike him. His voice was unpleasant. It was gruff, as if bugs were crawling in his throat, preventing him from making a proper sound.
Soul Whisperer Deus Verdi. I didnt expect you to co so soon. It seems Ive prepared quite an interesting case.
The man slightly extended Voltas head forward, and the corner of his mouth ford a big smile resembling a hook.
I thought it was an evil spirit capable of turning the entire Kingdom upside down. But it seems that I was wrong.
The man nodded at my words and sat down directly across from .
The Dark Spiritualist swallowed her saliva, carefully positioning herself behind .
It was a position to show that she was ready to protect at any ti, in any situation.
I wondered if this Cadavermancer could see the Dark Spiritualist. But seeing him simply stroke Voltas head while locking eyes with , it seed the Dark Spiritualist was invisible to him.
So why did Dante call ?
Oh?
When I brought up Dante, the man let out an exclamation. However, he responded slyly without showing any signs of bewildernt.
Youre more capable than I thought. It seems that you didnt just annihilate the Evil Ghost lurking in the Royal Palace by luck.
He knew about the Evil Ghost Griffin.
However, I wasnt particularly surprised when he responded in that manner.
Let be frank. Weve had a really tough ti because of you. Since the people of this Kingdom were completely ignorant about black magic, skilled dark mages hit the jackpot to be able to live here in hiding, you know?
If I were to explain, the land of Griffin would be like a high-level hunting ground for the Dark Mages.
Well, although all incompetent dark mages who stepped in carelessly were quickly discovered and executed by the Mage Tribunal Judges.
However, for skilled individuals, there was no easier or more ignorant prey than this.
But now, with King Orpheus and I attempting reforms related to black magic, the people of Griffin would gradually be able to start identifying them.
So, I wondered if these dark mages would beco hostile towards , but that wasnt the case.
Surprisingly, there was a gentleness in the Cadavermancers voice.
But looking at how youve handled this case and from your actions so far, I thought you were an interesting, skilled individual.
.
Deus Verdi, how about joining us? You may already know about Dante, but were not just acting based on our personal desires. We are working towards a greater cause saving the continent.
That was right. There was only one reason why Dante was moving.
It was because they knew that this continent was experiencing saturation.
With no place to rest, the souls of the dead would begin to wander around the continent.
If this continued, the boundary between life and death would disappear, and people would live ambiguously between the border of the realms.
Dante was a group of people who aid to prevent that.
As a necromancer, you should know this best. The entire continent will be in danger if this situation persists.
Is that why you killed Volta?
When I bluntly asked while pointing my chin toward Voltas head, the Cadavermancer glanced down at him and then shook his head.
He deserved to die. And Ive also paid a fair price for his life.
You paid a fair price?
Although his choice of words really got on my nerves, he continued speaking as if he hadnt noticed my irritation.
Were different from those barbarians who simply take. Were not like that. We pay a fair price for everything.
So, did you pay that price to Hernu, his mother?
The Cadavermancer montarily shut his lips in response to my words. Though he seed reluctant to speak, he sighed and answered.
We gave her what she wanted in return. We granted her freedom from her shackles. That was the reward she wanted.
Voltas life belonged to Volta.
Hernu is the one who gave birth to Volta.
This kind of discussion always went hand in hand, like parallel lines.
Just as Necromancers treated souls like so kind of mana mass or consumable ammunition.
Cadavermancers assessed the value of a persons body as if one was cutting and selling at in a butcher shop.
It was very annoying.
No way. You dont think the price of a life is imasurable, do you? Youre not the Saintess, Necromancer.
The Cadavermancer, sneering and mocking, brought the conversation back to the starting point.
Dante needs you. You are the only Necromancer allowed to openly engage in activities. If you join us, we will help you solidify your position in Griffin for the future.
.
We can help make your status similar to that of the Saintess. Together with us, you can achieve much greater success.
If I negotiated and collaborated with them, I would undoubtedly achieve trendous results in no ti. The Church would have to shut their mouths, and I would gradually gain approval from the people.
However,
Y-yooouuuuu!
A womans scream resonated from a distance.
Perhaps noticing the foul stench of rotten flesh, Hernu, with teary eyes, rushed hurriedly towards us.
You just said you would resolve it! You only promised to give freedom! I never thought you would actually kill him!
She ran towards the Cadavermancer while cursing vehently and halted upon seeing her sons screaming face.
Despair and agony were evident on her face.
Vo-Volta?
Did her legs give out, or was it guilt on her face after selling out her son?
Hernu knelt and bowed her head repeatedly. As if she had just succumbed to the devils temptation, she apologized with tears streaming down her face.
So-sorry. I am sorry, Son. I didnt expect it to turn out like this. I was just so exhausted because of you Thats why it happened! I didnt expect that they would kill you!
As I subtly glanced at the Cadavermancer, he shrugged in response.
He was a son who struck his mother. So, I only offered to free the mother who had suffered due to such a son, and she accepted. The value was not determined by . She was the one who decided it herself.
After weighing the sons life against her own freedom, she accepted the deal.
Despite deeply regretting how things had turned out, the milk had already spilled.
The deal has already been finalized.
The Cadavermancer smiled and lifted Voltas head. Hernu fell into despair, repeatedly hitting the ground and apologizing to her son.
Keooooohhh!
Voltas head continued to scream as if reliving his endless and brutal mont of death.
Perhaps his soul was trapped inside.
The choice is yours. Dont let this bother you too much; Id like to hear your answer now.
The Cadavermancer rose from his seat and slowly approached .
He put an odd pressure on and demanded an answer.
Deus, join Dante. We hope you will join hands with us.
.
He extended his hand which was emitting a foul stench. It couldnt be helped as he was a Cadavermancer. However, it was still extrely repulsive.
I extended my hand and pointed to Voltas head.
Release the magic.
I no longer wanted his mother to hear the screams of her child.
That will be my answer.
I would prove they were wrong about Voltas death and show them the decisive difference between Dante and .
Huh?
The Cadavermancer tilted his head in confusion, but he released the magic since he had no lingering attachnt to Volta.
My mana surged and enveloped Volta.
Strictly speaking, Voltas head was in a recently deceased state.
I only intended to create a brief opportunity to allow him to say his last words, and the Cadavermancer understood my intention.
You want to allow him to say his last word to his mother? Is it to inflict an unforgettable wound on her?
The Cadavermancer chuckled and placed Voltas head in front of Hernu.
Soon after the scream, Voltas soul, borrowing his body for a brief mont, managed to utter a word.
Mo
Vo-Volta! Volta! Im sorry! Because of this wretched mother of yours!
Voltas words did not co out properly, it was as if he had gritty sand stuck in his mouth.
While Hernu continued to slam her head to the ground in apology, Volta managed to force out his last words.
Mom.
Vol-ta?
Im sorry Mom.
That was the end.
Voltas corpse slumped, eyes closed, and his soul seed to rest peacefully without any lingering regrets.
Huh?
The Cadavermancer looked at the mother-son pair with a bewildered expression. He expected Volta to pour out his hatred towards the mother who sold him off and inadvertently caused his death.
But he apologized to Hernu instead. That was sothing the Cadavermancer couldnt understand at all.
When do you think people learn the most?
I spoke calmly as I took on the manner of the professor unraveling the answer to a problem.
When they have the most to regret and have to earn the insight for change.
That mont was when they were about to die.
Volta suffered continuously without being able to die. However, he knew that he would eventually die.
The situation was similar to jumping from a very tall building.
He might not have known when he would hit the ground, but he continued to fall. Even though death was certain, his mind kept racing.
Even if he saw his life flash before his eyes dozens of tis, even if he regretted or resented it, he must have done it intensely.
And as a result, he must have reflected on his own actions, accepting his inevitable fate.
Volta was an extrely despicable man.
He was such a heinous villain, that the villagers hesitated to hold a funeral for him.
His personality was so awful that even his own mother regretted giving birth to him and felt an impulse to sell him to soone else.
Even such a young man would at least change this much in the face of death.
In the end, even he could change. Humans are beings who can change while regretting and repenting.
.
You said that I should not talk about how the value of a life is imasurable, correct?
I sneered.
As soone who had lived a life directly tied to death, thus having seen more human corpses than most, he felt rather foolish.
At least, this foolish young man who could be called a little scoundrel realized his true nature in the face of his own death.
Hernu wailed desperately while clutching Voltas head. I could feel her sorrow, that despite finally being able to take care of each other, she would not be able to be together with her son now.
So, how can you put a price on their lives?
It turns out youre different from us.
The Cadavermancer shook his head. He realized that the negotiations had broken down.
Too bad, Deus Verdi. You have to sacrifice the lesser for the greater good.
As soone who knows nothing about the value of small things, you people should not think about obtaining sothing big.
Along with the sound of the Cadavermancer clicking his tongue, his body collapsed and scattered onto the ground.
That body was just a re corpse.
So, that was the source of the intense foul stench that had been flowing out.
Volta! Voltaaa! Huaaaahhhh! Arghhhhhhhhhhhh!
And just like that, the case reached a conclusion.
The Cadavermancer fled, and Hernu would likely be arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit murder.
Only the screams of a mother, holding her son in her arms while shedding tears, remained.
Perhaps the Mage Tribunal Judges, Thema and Doven, would arrive soon. I told them to wait nearby, but they would likely co after hearing Hernus cries.
To give the mother and son ti for their final farewell, I would pretend to not see anything until they arrived.
And so, I closed my eyes.
/genesisforsaken
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