Necromancer Of The Black Bible (34)

Asking to be killed?

At the unexpected request, I stared at Verdin for a moment.

He was drenched in blood.

But he bore no wounds.

All the blood on him belonged to those he had cut down.

Despite his grief-stricken expression, his eyes shone clear.

As though he had realized something.

With the mana still lingering in his heart, I probed his thoughts.

After a moment.

I understood his innermost feelings.

‘Guilt, huh….’

He carried guilt for the princess he had failed to protect.

And he could not bear that he had broken his knightly oath.

<Never shall I yield to fear. With my life, I will uphold the royal command.>

To keep that single vow he had spoken, Verdin now sought to forfeit his life.

‘At this point, it’s madness.’

I was exasperated.

That someone who could shake off my brainwashing was shackled by a kingdom’s oath.

As if agreeing with me, Equinox added a word.

[Honor is precisely that—keeping promises without substance.]

[And what meaning is there in keeping such promises…]

[It is for self-satisfaction. In a finite human life, that is a vital part.]

Satisfaction.

Perhaps I too had gone back in time to seek that satisfaction.

Thinking that way, I could understand Verdin.

He wanted to die, for in keeping the words he had spoken lay his satisfaction.

I had returned to the past to learn necromancy in order to fulfill my promise to my master.

[To brainwash someone with conviction this strong is extremely difficult. Yet you managed well.]

[Because I learned how to exploit desire.]

But that trick goes no further.

With his desire laid bare like this, it would be impossible to twist it further.

As I thought that, Verdin spoke again.

“I am prepared. Please, end my life.”

He walked steadily to me and knelt on one knee.

Then he offered his sword with both hands.

‘What do I do?’

For now, I took the sword he presented.

It was in pristine condition—hard to believe it had just slaughtered the entire bandit gang.

Its edge gleamed in the moonlight. One swing could easily sever Verdin’s neck.

[Master. Grant me the chance.]

It was William.

He looked at me and spoke again.

[I will grant him the death befitting him.]

‘A befitting death, huh.’

For a knight, a fitting death is to fall in battle.

And if it’s to a stronger foe, there would be no resentment.

‘Alright. Let’s do that.’

Having decided, I asked Verdin:

“You seem to be a knight.”

“I am.”

“Then a knight must die as a knight.”

Verdin lifted his head for a moment.

A strange light shone in his eyes, but he didn’t yet understand my meaning.

I met his gaze and spoke again.

“If you must die, then die honorably.”

“Honorably….”

“If you fall to one strong enough to grant you death, I will remember that death.”

Verdin’s eyes wavered.

I sensed one thought rise clearly in his heart.

Someone strong enough to grant me death?

He had never faced such an opponent.

Unless a knight of Altera itself stood here.

Don’t tell me…

Sensing something ominous, Verdin turned his head.

His gaze locked onto the one he was to face.

William.

Picking up an iron sword casually propped near the camp, William swung it a few times and gestured to Verdin.

For just a moment, Verdin could feel it.

That blade, though swung carelessly, was no ordinary weapon.

It was the feeling he’d only ever known from his first master of swordsmanship.

Verdin rose to his feet.

I handed him his sword, and he received it respectfully with both hands.

“Fight with all your strength. Then you won’t have regrets.”

“I will.”

Verdin adjusted his grip on the sword, stepped toward William—then glanced back at me.

“May I know your name? I wish to remember it even in the afterlife.”

An amusing fellow.

He seemed to believe in an afterlife. Instead of disputing it, I simply told him.

My real name.

“I am Damian.”

“Father Damian of the Kallios Theocracy, thank you for granting me this chance.”

Verdin bowed deeply, then looked back to William.

William held his sword in one hand, facing Verdin.

The tension between them began. I sat on a log by the fire and watched.

‘Who will win, I wonder?’

William once had the record of slaying a Sand Dragon.

But back then he had the aid of a demon sword, so it was unclear how much power he could exert in the current situation.

By contrast, Verdin had just slain over a hundred bandits alone.

The blade he wielded was sharp, but not as potent as a demon sword.

That meant he had killed them purely with skill in swordsmanship, making it difficult for me to judge who was truly stronger.

At that moment, Nocturne spoke up.

My vote is for William.

Right after, Equinox joined in.

[William will win. He won’t even need to use his immunity to death.]

I didn’t voice any opinion.

It wasn’t as if we had placed bets.

I simply watched their duel with ease.

But even after a long while, they did not move.

They just held their stances, watching each other.

They’re looking for an opening. But it’ll be hard to find. Both of them have surpassed that stage.

[What stage?]

A stage where no gaps can be found by sight.

Nocturne’s words held weight.

They circled slowly, making no rash moves.

Then William closed his eyes, and Verdin closed his as well.

Equinox let out an admiring murmur at the sight.

[What a fascinating duel. You rarely get to see swordsmen of this caliber fight to the death.]

[And you still think William will win?]

[My opinion hasn’t changed. In my view, there is an unbreachable wall between William and Verdin.]

Is that truly so?

Absentmindedly, I reached into the pouch beside me. Inside was well-dried jerky.

Pulling it out, I found it in perfect condition to eat.

Chewing it steadily, I watched their duel.

William and Verdin circled with eyes shut.

When a crackle sounded in the fire, Verdin moved first.

He swept in like the wind and struck, but William retreated a step and evaded.

The exchange didn’t end there.

Spotting an opening, Verdin swung again, but William nearly dropped to the ground to dodge, slipped inside Verdin’s guard, and shoved him back with a hand.

That strike was decisive.

It revealed in an instant the difference in their skills.

‘Well now.’

Nocturne and Equinox’s predictions had been correct.

Verdin’s skill was outstanding, but it fell short of William’s.

And the gap was considerable.

Verdin seemed to sense it too, his expression changing.

Until now it felt like he was testing his foe—but now, he looked ready for a true challenge.

From his heart came a surge of fierce resolve.

He’s an opponent I want to defeat. I must win.

Verdin’s stance shifted.

He held his blade back and stepped forward.

William remained loose, his stance relaxed.

Seeing this, Verdin spoke.

“At such a young age, you’ve reached an incredible state.”

“What you see is not all there is.”

As soon as he finished, William darted out like lightning and swung his sword.

He was so fast that Verdin couldn’t dodge.

Chaaeng—

The sharp ring of steel echoed through the mountain.

William did not stop.

He pressed Verdin relentlessly with his iron sword.

Verdin searched for an opening, but it wasn’t easy. Every step to the side, William closed in instantly; even when he blocked a few strikes, it taxed him greatly.

At last, William’s powerful blow forced Verdin to drop his sword.

Chaaeng—

The sword clattered far away.

Verdin clutched his wrist and waited for death.

William spoke to him.

“Have you thought of learning from me?”

It was unexpected, but Verdin answered with a bitter smile.

“My oath is too heavy for that.”

William glanced at me.

Then he turned back to Verdin and spoke.

“If you fulfill your oath, would you then think of learning from me?”

Though William’s face was young, his voice was stern.

It was impossible to think of him as a mere teenager.

Verdin too sensed this incongruity, and answered obediently.

“My oaths are two. To complete my mission. And if I cannot, to take responsibility with my death. Even if I take that responsibility, my mission remains undone. So I doubt I’ll have the chance to accept your offer.”

William gave a faint smile.

Then he spoke again.

“If such a chance ever comes, would you wish to learn from me?”

It was a question hard for Verdin to understand.

But he accepted it.

He must have thought it the proper courtesy.

He replied to William respectfully.

“If such a chance truly arises, I would gladly receive your teachings.”

“Can you swear it?”

“I… swear it.”

At those words, William moved like the wind.

It looked like a single step, but he was suddenly before Verdin.

Then the tip of his iron sword pierced Verdin’s heart.

Puuuk—

Verdin closed his eyes and endured the pain.

At the same time, the core mana I had implanted in his heart was withdrawn.

William spoke softly to Verdin, who awaited death.

“You must keep the oath you just swore.”

With that, William withdrew his blade, and Verdin collapsed.

And so Verdin died.

I rose from my seat and walked over.

William bowed his head to me, and I looked down at Verdin.

After a moment, Verdin’s spirit flickered into view. Awakened in the world of death, he glanced about.

Then Nocturne’s voice was heard.

What about reviving this one through necromancy?

I’d considered it, but not now.

[Later. This one needs time.]

From hearing his exchange with William, I understood.

Verdin needed time to settle the matters of his past life.

At present, his soul was far too unstable and chaotic.

If resurrected now, his mind would not remain intact.

I gently lifted Verdin’s corpse and laid it on the bed in his tent.

Just then, something rose up from the ground.

Pii—

A small Sand Dragon, its eye the size of a fist, darting about curiously.

It was Geo, the baby Sand Dragon that had been following me by tunneling underground.