Necromancer Of The Black Bible (59)

The Kallios Theocracy was founded upon Mount Gazpol, a gently rising mountain.

It was said that the god Kallios first descended to this land and established his domain upon Mount Gazpol.

Near its highest peak stood the Grand Temple.

And at the very top of the Grand Temple, which soared skyward, lay the Pope’s office.

Pope Lactea leaned against a wall, gazing down at the First Monastery through the window as she listened to Cardinal Angelo’s report.

“High Priest Mikel von Raiernov’s healing activities are gaining speed. The number of patients waiting in line is decreasing, and the black market for queue tickets has nearly vanished.”

“Hm. Is that so?”

The Pope scrutinized the area near the First Monastery with her glimmering golden eyes.

Indeed, the lines had shortened greatly compared to yesterday.

Just yesterday, the line stretching from Raiernov’s residence had reached all the way to the gates of Zone 2—or even Zone 3.

But now, the line extended only to the gate of Zone 1.

“The number of people in line has certainly decreased. But are they actually being treated properly?”

The Pope’s question was sharp.

If the lines diminished this quickly, there was the possibility they were simply being turned away without treatment.

“They say nearly all have been completely cured. Many even donated hundreds of gold to the Theocracy in gratitude before leaving.”

“Is that so?”

A faint wrinkle appeared on Lactea’s brow.

She brushed her pink lips with her finger and murmured.

“Most of the patients who had been waiting for Raiernov until now must have been suffering from severe illnesses…”

Her words were true.

Many of them suffered from serious diseases—cancer, stroke, leprosy, or gangrene—that ordinary healers could not even touch.

The claim that nearly all such patients had been healed was, frankly, hard to believe.

‘Did we ever possess such power?’

Lactea turned her head to look at the Cardinal.

Meeting her golden gaze, the Cardinal instinctively lowered his head, and she continued.

“Is it true that Raiernov healed all of them himself?”

“Not all of them.”

“Then?”

The Cardinal bowed his head further and replied.

“Before beginning his healing, Raiernov personally selected which patients he would see. Those not chosen were sent to ordinary healers.”

“And yet, nearly all were healed?”

“So it is said. Both those taken by High Priest Raiernov and most of those sent to ordinary healers were cured.”

The more she pressed the Cardinal, the deeper her sense of confusion grew.

‘How could such a thing be possible?’

Pope Lactea moved toward her golden throne.

Swish.

Her papal robes, white silk embroidered with golden thread, brushed the floor with a soft sound.

The Pope sat upon the throne.

She wore a golden crown set with a large crimson jewel at its center.

Her figure was like that of a painting.

Though she had reigned for over eighty years, her face bore not a single wrinkle, instead glowing radiantly.

Mystical golden eyes, snow-white skin.

Curves that could not be hidden even beneath her ceremonial robes.

Whenever people beheld the Pope, still carrying the beauty of her thirties, they believed it a miracle of the God Kallios.

Even Cardinal Angelo, who served closely at her side, believed so.

For he had seen her with his own eyes at the Great Cathedral front when she first ascended the throne.

Then merely an apprentice priest, Angelo had been captivated by her beauty and, through relentless effort, had risen to become a Cardinal.

Her beauty up close was more wondrous and breathtaking than ever.

The most astonishing aspect was her appearance.

On the day of Pope Lactea’s enthronement, she was sixteen years old—the same age as Angelo.

And now, more than eighty years later, Angelo was a ninety-six-year-old man.

His face was covered with spots and wrinkles, while the Pope’s visage remained exactly as it had been.

At first sight, his heart had been filled with longing, but now it was not so.

The Pope was Kallios’s representative and sovereign ruler of the Theocracy.

An absolute being far beyond his reach.

Now, only reverence remained in his heart for her.

Cardinal Angelo knelt before her and spoke.

“It seems the Lord has granted His grace to High Priest Raiernov. All this is due to Your Holiness’s divine fortune.”

“Divine fortune, is it…”

The Pope did not seem pleased.

Rather, a shadow of concern appeared on her fair brow.

Angelo, uneasy, lifted his head slightly—and in that moment, saw something on her face.

Fine cracks.

As if upon shattered glass, thin fractures ran across her face.

‘What… is this?’

Stunned, Angelo blinked, and when he looked again, the Pope’s face was as it always had been.

‘Did I imagine it?’

As he tried to convince himself, the Pope spoke.

“Raiernov’s audience must be moved up. Arrange for tomorrow at noon.”

“I will notify via the Archpriest.”

The Pope nodded and spoke again.

“Now go.”

Cardinal Angelo bowed once more, rose carefully, and departed.

Once he was gone, Pope Lactea’s expression grew more distorted.

She stepped again to the window and looked down at the First Monastery.

Then once more, the strange phenomenon occurred.

This time, fine cracks spread not only across her face but over her entire skin.

Seeing this, the Pope muttered softly.

“The limit… I can delay no longer. I must meet him today.”

She looked down once more at the monastery, then entered her private chamber.

When she emerged again in plain clothes, the sun was already setting.

The necromancy performed on Natasha was a success.

For once the body dies, its illness also ceases to progress.

Of course, decomposition begins, but my core mana, which anchors the soul, preserves the corpse without issue.

The problem was her appearance.

But that too was easily resolved.

Inspired by William, who is currently posing as André, I used the core mana enveloping Natasha to alter her form.

Ordinary mana disperses soon after a spell is cast, but my necromantic core mana remains continuously.

By using it, altering the appearance of a necromantically raised being was simple.

Moreover, since obtaining my third Mana Ring, the strength of the core mana seemed to have increased.

Previously, the magic required my direct influence to persist, but now it does not.

William, using the core mana I gave him, could now employ magic independently, and thus continued his masquerade as André at the Academy without issue.

The same would be true for Natasha.

Even if she had never studied magic, I could simply teach her the method.

‘At any rate, I should stop here for today.’

Today alone I saw nearly a thousand patients.

Thanks to Ceres’s assistance.

After I resurrected Natasha with necromancy, Ceres began actively helping with my healing work.

Able to see evil spirits, she checked patients from the doorway, dividing those who required my aid from those who did not.

Thanks to this, I was able to heal at a much faster rate than before, and I collected many orbs as well.

Before long, the number of orbs exceeded twenty, and I was able to complete even those whose nature had been unknown.

‘I’ll end today’s healing here, and examine this orb.’

One orb had just been completed.

It was a deep crimson orb.

Even Equinox did not seem to know what it was.

[The method is simple. Place this orb in an enclosed space with a living being, and you will immediately sense its nature.]

An enclosed space…

No particular place came to mind.

Then Natasha returned from the kitchen carrying something.

It was a mouse, struggling with its tail gripped.

Natasha held it out and spoke.

“Wouldn’t this do for the living being?”

She smiled innocently, but I sensed something strange.

This girl…

How can she hear Equinox’s voice?

“I’m not hearing him—I’m hearing yours, Master.”

“My voice?”

“Yes.”

Natasha nodded and continued.

“I’ve been focusing on my senses, just like you told me. So my five senses have sharpened—and now I naturally hear your inner voice too.”

Ah.

That’s… less than ideal.

It was good that Natasha was regaining her living senses, but…

I wasn’t fond of having my thoughts completely exposed.

“Really? But I’m your creation anyway—does it matter?”

Natasha asked with innocent eyes, but it wasn’t so simple.

This was a matter of pride.

Everyone has thoughts they’d rather keep hidden.

Then Equinox’s voice echoed.

[Natasha is a mature soul. That is why she can sense the deep thoughts within you. This can be remedied. Place a ‘barrier’ around your mind.]

I understood.

The barrier around the mind referred to a “mental defense shield.”

It wasn’t a particularly difficult spell, but required at least a 3rd-circle mage to cast.

In my past life, I had no one trying to read my mind, so I rarely used it.

‘If I use this, perhaps even my conversations with Equinox will normalize.’

Though I had grown used to it, I still disliked Equinox constantly adding his thoughts directly into mine.

I immediately cast the mental defense shield.

And with that, Natasha’s expression changed.

“Huh? What happened? I can’t hear it anymore.”

“Good. That’s better.”

Now things are as they should be.

The relationship between me and my creations must be one-way.

I had no desire for my thoughts and calculations to be read, even if I could read theirs.

‘Now even Equinox shouldn’t be able to read my thoughts directly.’

The moment I thought so, Equinox answered.

[I am your guardian spirit, which means I have become a part of you. Such magic cannot separate me from you.]

Well, true.

If it had been so easy to separate him, I would have done it long ago.

‘There’s no helping it. Let’s focus on the task at hand.’

I cast aside my thoughts and approached Natasha.

I took an empty glass jar from the table, handed it to her, and she placed the mouse inside.

As I sealed the lid, Equinox’s conditions came to mind.

‘An enclosed space with a living creature. If I place the orb here, I’ll learn its true nature?’

But first, I needed to pierce the lid; the mouse was squirming from lack of air.

I poked a small hole into the cork with my finger, then instructed Natasha.

“Go outside and bring Sanchez here.”

“Yes!”

Natasha skipped lightly outside and soon returned with Sanchez.

Seeing him rushing toward me, I was reminded of myself in my past life.

How I used to dash forward whenever my master called.

Now the roles were reversed, but one thing hadn’t changed.

I was still receiving much help from him.

‘If not for Sanchez, I wouldn’t have grown so quickly.’

If he hadn’t urged me to seize the Blackleaf caravan, or suggested saving the branch chief’s daughter, or proposed large-scale healing…

I would never have come this far.

Sanchez.

In other words, I was again receiving great help from my master of my previous life.

I watched Sanchez approach and made a vow.

‘I will repay this debt, Master.’

“You called, Father?”

I spoke to Sanchez, who looked at me with a bright face.

“Today’s healing ends here. Send everyone home, and you may leave as well.”

“Already? It’s still rather early.”

“The waiting list has shortened, hasn’t it? You should all rest now. You’ve been leaving past midnight for days.”

“Ah…”

I patted Sanchez’s shoulder and added.

“You need time after work as well—time for courting, perhaps.”

“H-how did you know…?”

The fact that Sanchez was seeing the elf from the library was an open secret.

Something anyone could easily know without trying.

I grinned at him and ordered.

“Go on.”

Sanchez bowed and went out.

Once the door closed…

There was some commotion outside, then the sound of people dispersing.

Once everyone had left, I began my real work.