I Became The Academy Necromancer

Chapter 29: Finden Ai, the maid

 

One week had passed since the entrance ceremony.

 

Despite the short period of one week, numerous rumors were circulating within the academy, and most of them were not favorable.

 

Especially the recent hottest issue was the bizarre man with a twisted body appearing on the right staircase of the third floor.

 

Although the professors explicitly mentioned and blocked access to it, curious students went there and ended up getting hurt.

 

Furthermore, there were stories about various spirits such as a woman walking around with a wet body, a grandmother who gives out candies, a monstrous being with its skin torn off, a man crawling with only his arms since he had no legs, and so on.

 

There were plenty of accounts about these countless spirits, and there were also many who claimed to have actually seen them.

 

For instance, the second floor of the women's dormitory’s access was completely restricted, and the rumor going around was that it was because some students fell into a coma due to encountering evil spirits during the vacation.

 

As the trust in Robern Academy plummeted, students who were already considering quitting or requesting a leave of absence were increasing day by day.

 

Amidst this, another unfavorable rumor broke out within the academy.

 

“No way, really?”

 

“Yeah.
I saw it.
There was a maid.”

 

That's right, it was about a maid who wore revealing attire.

 

“Hmm?”

 

Erica Bright, who was already feeling frustrated and unwell, wondered what nonsense she was hearing this time.

 

She disregarded it as mere baseless rumors, or perhaps another strange spirit had appeared…?

 

“Kyaa, you work in a nice place.”

 

Rudely, the door to Erica's research lab swung open, and the moment she saw the maid with white hair, she couldn't help but open her mouth in astonishment.

 

The short skirt seemed like it would reveal underwear even with a slight lift, and it was definitely not appropriate attire for work, as her cleavage was clearly visible.

 

The students who had followed behind Finden Ai were peeking their heads out of the lab door, observing and gossiping.
But as Erica waved her hand, the door slammed shut with a bang!

 

“Who are you?”

 

Erica didn't hide her displeasure at the sudden intruder, and the assistant professors who were with her also stood up in disbelief.

 

“Deus, my master, sent me.”

 

At the mention of that name, the entire research lab froze as if paralyzed.

 

The name Deus was nothing short of taboo in front of Erica.

 

Erasing her previous discomfort, Erica glanced at the assistant professors with confusion and spoke.

 

“Tell the students outside to disperse.”

 

“Understood!”

 

“I will leave immediately!”

 

The assistant professors, realizing that they shouldn't be present in this situation, quickly opened the door and went outside.
The students, who were still gathered to see Finden Ai, naturally started dispersing.

 

Bang.

 

The door closed.

 

Finden Ai, seemingly unfazed, continued speaking.

 

“Well, he didn't tell me to go and find you.
He just said to seek help from any professor.”

 

“Help? Did…
did he accept reinstatement as a professor?”

 

“I heard he did.
He told me to come and prepare things in advance.”

 

“….”

 

Erica felt a sense of helplessness.
In the end, she had let the opportunity to find clues about the spirit attempting to kill Deus slip away without even grasping a single lead.

 

Taking a deep breath calmly, Erica asked Finden Ai.

 

“So, what should I do and how should I help?”

 

“Well, first of all, where is the place where the most troublesome spirit appears?”

 

“Spirit?”

 

“Yes, I want to go and check it out.”

 

Erica hesitated for a moment but then proceeded to explain about the right corridor on the third floor.

 

“There is a place where a man with a twisted body can be found.
Many students gather there, and they often end up getting hurt.”

 

“A twisted man? Perfect! Let's go there right away.”

 

Finden Ai turned around, forcefully opened the door, and squeezed through.
Thanks to the efforts of the assistant professors, all the students had already retreated.

 

Erica followed behind, putting on her coat hanging on the hanger.

 

“I'll be back soon.
Please finish what you were doing.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Even at this moment, Erica's head was already hurting, imagining how the assistant professors would be panicking in her absence.
After all, her fiancé's maid had arrived in such grand attire.

 

She was also a little annoyed.

 

“Um, why are you dressed like that?”

 

As Erica asked discreetly, Finden Ai casually replied.

 

“Isn’t it the master’s preference?”

 

“…yes?”

 

In the whole year, no, perhaps in her entire life, Erica felt that the times when her head froze due to shocking information could be counted on one hand.
But this seemingly normal sentence was enough to do so.

 

“That, that, he prefers that? No, it’s the same Deus I know, right?”

 

“Yeah, North Whedon’s Viscount's younger brother, second son of the Verdi family, Deus Verdi.
He was quite infamous as a troublemaker in North Whedon.
He even sexually harassed his younger sister.”

 

“Ah, ah, ah! That's nonsense! How can you say such ridiculous things? Do you know how noble and cool he is?! Are you really his maid? Isn't it just a lie?”

 

“You'll find out later.
I'm just delivering the facts.
Although, I can't say the master looks like he would be like that.
But I heard he was like that just six months ago.”

 

“No, no, that can't be…”

 

Erica suffered from a headache and dizziness.
Finden Ai playfully smiled as she glanced at her.

 

“But I heard you broke off the engagement.
I also heard that you personally kicked him out.
Is it okay to say he's cool?”

 

“…Please keep it a secret.”

 

To him, she was nothing but a traitor – a person who had grown tired of her fiancé, who treated his own life so lightly and had betrayed him to attach herself to another man, like trash.

 

She didn't want to say things like how she, too, was a victim to Deus.

 

It wouldn't change the fact that she had caused him pain anyway.

 

“Fine, then should I tell you a secret too?”

 

“…What?”

 

Erica wondered if there could be anything more surprising than what she had just heard.

 

But the words that Finden Ai next uttered were truly shocking.

 

“There is someone among the maids who went as far as licking master's as*hole.
Of course, master also reciprocated her efforts.
Haha, isn't it amazing?”

 

“This! This! This! This! Stop lying! You're just a liar, aren't you? I absolutely don't believe it!”

 

The Deus she knew was always noble, composed, and rational.
Could such a man engage in such acts?

 

Erica's face turned crimson, and she wished she could wash her head with cold water.

 

She, too, had a reputation within the academy as a composed and precise woman, but the amount of information she was receiving now was overwhelming, leaving her speechless.

 

“Well, if you don't want to believe it, then don't.”

 

Finden Ai enjoyed Erica's reaction while chuckling.

 

They soon arrived on the third-floor corridor and removed the barricade set up by the academy, entering inside.

 

“Oh.”

 

At that moment, the very air seemed to change.
It became sticky, oppressive, and ominous.

 

[Squeak, squeak! Squeak, squeak!]

 

And a distorted figure, making strange footsteps like something broken, started walking towards them.

 

“What do you plan to do?”

 

As Erica regained her composure through tension and asked, Finden Ai pulled out a rod about a hand's length from her maid uniform pocket.

 

Clack!

 

Soon, it unfolded into the shape of an ax, and Finden Ai answered, placing it on her shoulder.

 

“Exorcism.
Hehe, in my own way.”

 

“Ex…
orcism?”

 

Finden Ai smirked and opened her mouth.

 

“Well, the master said that all spirits hide their grudges and resentment.”

 

[Squeak, squeak! Squeak, squeak!]

 

“But some of them hope that someone will recognize their pain.
Especially those whose bodies are twisted or broken, they tend to seek attention.”

 

Since Finden Ai had witnessed Deus’ actions towards Emily from behind, she thought she could do it too.

 

[Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak!]

 

“Yes, I see.”

 

[Squeak, squeak, squeak!]

 

-Nod Nod

 

[Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak!]

 

“Well.”

 

[Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak!]

 

“You son of a bitch! Say something clearly!”

 

Bang!

 

The twisted spirit was struck by the ax and flew, crashing into the wall.
The creature writhed on the ground like a bug, in agony.

 

“Tsk.
Tsk.
Even when someone politely asks it to speak.”

 

With the ax on her shoulder, Finden Ai exhaled a gust of air.

 

Observing it from behind, Erica asked in bewilderment, her mouth agape.

 

“Ah, no.
Wasn't it about understanding?”

 

“Ah? Do you understand that? What kind of conversation can I have with someone who makes only squeaking noises? Those kinds of guys need to be taught a lesson.”

 

No, more importantly…

 

“How did you strike it? No matter how hard we try, our attacks don't work.”

 

In response to that, Finden AI confidently pointed to her own ax and replied.

 

“Master did something to this ax.
I don't know the details either.
He told me not to tell anyone else.”

 

A faint purple aura was embedded in the ax.

 

As a mage, Erica recognized it as a type of black magic, but she tightly sealed her lips.

 

‘That guy…’

 

Erica’s hopes that Deus may not be a necromancer were bursting like bubbles.

 

However, whether she knew Erica's thoughts or not, Finden Ai loosened her body and shifted her gaze to the spirit.

 

Thud!

 

“And while doing this, the master said: Use it only in the direst situation.
Don't casually provoke the spirits.”

 

“…Wait.
Didn’t you come directly to me?”

 

Thud!

 

Thud!

 

“Well, I'm a cute maid who doesn't listen to the master.”

 

Thud!

 

Thud!

 

Erica already knew these thudding sounds from her previous encounter.

 

It was the sound of footsteps.

 

The sound of footsteps from the lower floor merged with the screams of students and reached the third floor.

 

“Why did he say not to provoke them? Tell me the reason.”

 

Although Erica seemed to guess the reason, she asked just to make sure. 

 

Finden AI shrugged her shoulders and assumed a combat stance.

 

“A fearsome swordsman who protects the spirits will come looking for me if I provoke them, that's what he said.”

 

Thud!!!

 

A one-armed swordsman finally appeared in the corridor, emerging abruptly from the central staircase on the third floor.

 

[Quarrrrghhhh!]

 

He let out a sinister scream and rushed towards Finden Ai.

 

“Oh.”

 

Finden Ai raised the ax, wearing a cool smile as she assumed a fighting stance.

 

“It's you?”