#50: Necromancer Of The Black Bible (50) — Necromancer of the Black Bible

The desperate measure of cutting off my left arm worked. Just as you said, Master.

[Is that so?]

I even had the chance to subdue the demon who intruded the palace. Thanks to that, Illinas has eased his guard toward me. Instead, he assigned me an aide and ordered me to continue pursuing you.

[Then where are you now?]

In a village near the First Monastery.

[I see. Report again if there’s any new development.]

As you command.

After finishing communication with Shador, I sat cross-legged again and focused on the Mana Ring of my heart.

It had already been three days since I returned from my journey to the past.

But I hadn’t gone outside.

Because my body was still not fully recovered.

The third Mana Ring had formed, but its purity was too low.

It wouldn’t be wise to leave before purifying it.

This was the Kallios Theocracy.

If a mana fluctuation exposed that I was only disguised as Raiernov, I’d be seized and executed on the spot.

Even though I was stronger than before, my current strength was not enough to defeat all the Inquisitors here.

‘I must grow stronger, faster.’

When I focused on my heart, the rotation of the Mana Ring quickened.

At the same time, I sank into a trance.

Scenes of all I had experienced, and fragments I couldn’t comprehend, flashed before my eyes.

Then I recalled the words Equinox had told me three days ago, after I returned from the past.

[Sanchez of the Inquisition. He is Balthazar.]

‘So Sanchez was my master…’

Perhaps because of his younger face and gentle smile.

I hadn’t recognized him.

But when I mentally overlaid my master’s features on Sanchez’s face, it became clear.

The deep wrinkles on his forehead, the gently bent hooked nose, the sharp scar running across his left cheek.

With those added, Sanchez’s face and my master’s matched almost perfectly.

And his character aligned too.

Though notorious as a dark mage, my master killed only when there was cause.

And he was endlessly compassionate toward children and the weak.

What he did for me was what a father would do for a son—and I wasn’t the only one he helped.

I could still vividly recall the faces of the many people we had met on our harsh journey.

The mother and daughter we met during the war.

The boy who lost a leg.

The girl who lost her eyes.

The young man abandoned with one arm severed.

And so on.

When we first met them, they wore expressions of misery and grief—but when we parted, they were always smiling.

That was the sort of man my master was.

And remembering Sanchez’s compassion once again, I truly felt he was my master.

‘The man who first rushed here out of concern for his teacher. Who risked his life to help those with no relation to him.’

At the time I thought him pathetic, but realizing he was my master in youth, it made sense.

At the same time, facing him again would not be easy.

That was one reason I had stayed inside.

Growl-

Perhaps from concentrating on purification, or from dwelling too deeply on my master, I grew hungry.

The third Mana Ring was about one-third purified.

‘This should be stable enough to use magic safely.’

Sensing the mana flowing around me, I rose.

Sticky sweat was running down my body.

I soaked myself in a prepared tub of water to wash it off.

Then I donned Raiernov’s new robe and stood before the fireplace.

The fire had long gone out.

But I wanted to cook here.

I lit a flame with lesser magic.

Then I examined the ingredients I had ordered the priests to bring earlier.

They had brought dried foods as well as herbs, and one in particular caught my eye.

‘Dried fish.’

A fairly large-headed sea fish.

Since the Theocracy was far from the sea, such fish counted as high-class ingredients.

Which meant Raiernov’s status was high.

‘Cod, perhaps?’

In my past life, I had once eaten cod.

It was while traveling the eastern lands with my master; we helped a fisherman, and in return he served us cod.

The memory of that dish made my mouth water.

‘I want to make that.’

I used lesser magic to light the fire.

Then I carefully examined the ingredients I had previously ordered the priests to bring.

They had brought not only medicinal herbs but also dried foods, and one of them caught my eye.

‘Dried fish, huh.’

A fairly large-headed sea fish.

Since the sea was quite far from the Papal State, such fish was considered a luxury ingredient.

That alone showed how high Raiernov’s status was.

‘Cod, perhaps?’

I had once eaten cod in my previous life.

It was when I was traveling with my master in the eastern lands—we had helped a fisherman, and he served us cod in return.

Remembering that dish made my mouth water.

‘I’d like to make that.’

At the time, I had carefully watched in the fisherman’s kitchen how it was prepared.

Recalling that scene, I sorted through the ingredients.

‘First, I’ll need parchment paper… ah, here it is. And dried mushrooms and vegetables?’

I quickly found the mushrooms and vegetables.

I chose ones with as much juice as possible, with sweet and sour flavors, and placed them in a basket.

Then I began arranging them on the parchment paper I had first taken out.

‘Slice the dried mushrooms for the base, then place the fish on top….’

I sprinkled dried tomatoes, lemon, and raisins evenly.

Once everything was arranged, it looked very much like the dish I had once seen.

‘Now let’s drizzle oil over it.’

I found some olive oil, poured it generously, then wrapped the fish and vegetables completely in parchment. Then I placed it in a pot and set it over the fire.

This dish was called Papillote.

It’s a dish where various ingredients are steamed inside parchment paper.

Usually, it’s baked in an oven, but steaming it this way removes the unpleasant odors and infuses the fish with the natural aroma of the ingredients.

Cod, in particular, tends to become chewier the longer it’s steamed, so I’d heard it was fine to let it cook until it was almost slightly burnt.

I watched the pot heating and sat down at the table, picking up Nocturne beside me.

Ah, Master. It’s been a while. Nearly a week, hasn’t it?

[Has it already been that long?]

I think so. I heard the rooster crow every morning. And each time, there was a knock at the door.

[A knock?]

I snapped to attention.

[Don’t tell me someone opened the door and came in?]

Of course not. You ordered that no one be allowed in. No one here would dare defy Raiernov’s orders.

Phew. I see.

I calmed my startled heart and asked about recent events.

[Anything else to report?]

Well… only that old man Equinox has been unusually quiet.

Equinox.

Yes.

Since returning from the past, I hadn’t heard his voice.

Even when I checked my heart, I couldn’t feel his presence…

[I am right here.]

Ohoh! Old man, you’re alive after all!

[Fool! Did you think I had died?]

Now, now. Why so angry again? You were too quiet, so I was merely speculating.

[Speculation, nonsense. You’re hoping I’ll disappear. I know it. Do you think I don’t see that dark heart of yours?]

You know me well, and yet you’re still alive and well.

[You rascal!]

[Enough.]

If left unchecked, their bickering would spiral out of control.

So I cautioned Nocturne.

[Don’t provoke Equinox anymore. Thanks to him, you’ll grow even stronger.]

Huh? Me? It’d be great to grow stronger, but can I really do that here?

I hadn’t said it before, but Nocturne seemed to overestimate his own abilities.

If he had ever faced Shador, he’d never think that way.

The serpent staff Shador wielded was so powerful it would be hard to find its equal in this world.

It withstood his mana of the 10th Circle and even amplified it.

If I hadn’t been in spirit form back then, I couldn’t have guaranteed victory against him.

[Nocturne.]

Yes?

[Shut up and take this.]

I focused my mind and drew out the weapon I had stored in a corner of my heart.

The Soul Harvester.

This weapon existed in a spiritual state, capable of cutting or absorbing spirits.

That was why I could keep it inside my heart.

I infused the Soul Harvester into Nocturne.

Sensing an incomprehensible, immense force, Nocturne yelped in shock.

What is this?! I’ve never seen anything like it!

[Hmph. Didn’t the one who made you teach you about such things?]

When Equinox mocked him sarcastically, Nocturne snapped back.

Then he began carefully retracing his memories.

Is this a scythe? There can’t be many scythes that hold such power…

After mumbling to himself for a while, Nocturne reached a conclusion.

Could it be… the ‘Soul Harvester’?

I considered teasing him but decided to confirm it.

It was impressive that he identified it at once.

[Correct. It’s the Soul Harvester. How did you recognize it so quickly?]

There is only one such weapon in the world. It is a legendary artifact, said to have been wielded by the god who created this world, as written in the ancient tome Genesis.

[Oh, I see.]

Feigning surprise, I rose from my seat.

Then I looked at the pot, now thoroughly heated.

Focusing my vision, I could clearly see the fish cooking inside.

The fish sizzling as it cooked in oil.

Concentrating on my sense of smell, the aroma was rather enticing.

‘It’s almost done.’

I lifted the heated pot with both hands.

As expected, it was only mildly warm—I felt no burning heat.

My skin didn’t burn.

I set the sizzling pot on the wooden table, and with a hiss, a faint smell of charred wood rose up.

That smoky scent oddly felt savory.