Chapter 149

Chapter 149

TL/Editor: raei

Schedule: 5/week

Illustrations: None

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Forming connections with the Pope's knight would undoubtedly be beneficial.

Especially in the Holy Empire, where the power of Heaven's Faith priests was so strong. A friendship with the Pope's knight could prove invaluable.

Through Sir Leshach, Ian could potentially launch or deflect excommunication beams.

Since Sir Leshach trusted Ian enough to reach out first, there was no reason to reject his offer.

Besides, Ian needed Sir Leshach as a shield against any potential black wizards for the time being.

"It's a serious matter, Sir."

Ian had planned to investigate the village with Sir Leshach, but a soldier who went scouting discovered undead outside the village.

"It's a flesh giant."

"Damn it."

A flesh giant.

Made by combining the bodies of the dead, it was an undead so powerful it could rightly be called a biological weapon.

Sir Leshach quietly pulled Ian aside and said:

"To be honest, I don't think Maria created the undead in this area."

"Why not?"

"Just a hunch."

He'd simply guessed.

But Ian found himself oddly persuaded by Sir Leshach's words.

You know how when a popular person says something it sounds plausible, but when a loser says the same thing it sounds like bullsh*t?

All you'd hear is "Hey guys~ the loser has something to say~"

The words of a handsome knight like Sir Leshach carried a surprising amount of weight.

...In truth, it wasn't his looks that persuaded Ian, but rather his experience.

Sir Leshach was both a knight and a cleric.

That meant he was a medieval super-elite, well-rounded in both physical and intellectual capabilities.

With extensive experience facing black wizards, his instincts weren't to be ignored.

"But we can't be certain. We need to thoroughly examine even the slightest possibility."

As expected of an elite, Sir Leshach was still insisting they "find evidence first!"

"Sir Leshach, did you happen to attend university?"

"Hm? I did study at Bautriche University."

Impressive. No wonder his speech exuded such intellect.

Sir Leshach had apparently consumed university-level education in the medieval era.

A knight with a university degree in medieval times!

"I was taught by a monk at the university. He said all thoughts must have a basis, and be supported by clear evidence that anyone can accept."

"Was the monk's name perhaps William?"

"...William? No, I've never heard that name."

Ian shrugged.

He'd wondered if Sir Leshach might know the monk who investigated the abbey murders[1].

"Anyway, I think I should investigate the surrounding area further."

"I see."

In short, he wanted to give Ian an easier task.

The village surroundings with a 'real' necromancer lurking vs. the village with a frail girl locked up.

Typical manly man behavior: fearlessly tackling the tougher job.

Sir Leshach wanted to investigate the area around the village for his main duty.

But they couldn't just leave Maria unattended either.

"I heard the village chief already requested a trial from the lord."

"A trial?"

Write 'trial', read 'execution'.

Ian found it a bit absurd.

These people who'd already labeled Maria a criminal were now talking about a trial?

The chances they pawned it off to the lord because they were squeamish about executing a necromancer themselves?

Over 10000%.

"We can... continue the investigation until the lord arrives."

Sir Leshach said lightly.

In reality, it wasn't an issue that required much consideration.

Whether Maria was a necromancer or not, she was already a murderer.

If she was a necromancer, she'd be executed as one. If not, she'd be executed as a murderer.

"I'm counting on you."

"Leave it to me."

Ian even exchanged a relaxed hand gesture with Sir Leshach.

The lord would likely arrive within a few days.

And Maria? She'd be hanged, of course.

But Ian remained nonchalant.

It's not my neck on the line, is it? I'll just do the bare minimum while earning points with Sir Leshach.

After Sir Leshach and the soldiers left to search the village surroundings,

Ian began his full-fledged investigation.

---

---

"First, I'll distribute the personnel."

He had a few days' leeway, and it wasn't a task that required particular enthusiasm.

But since he'd started, Ian decided to do it properly.

To gather information as quickly as possible, Ian mobilized the employees of Ian-Company.

First up, Belenka.

"You'll come with me to investigate the house where Maria worked."

"Understood."

Belenka's greatest asset was, of course, her monstrous longsword.

Commoners would find it difficult to lie in front of a knight who could cleave their heads off with a shing-shing.

"Kira, meet with the village chief. Find out when and how Maria used necromancy."

"Leave it to me."

Meaning it was a DIY product.

"Woman! We have a guest! Hurry up and make something!"

An alpha male... perhaps?

Even in the ignorant medieval era, it was unpleasant to see someone barking orders at his wife.

But soon, Ian noticed the woman's grave condition.

"Sob... hic..."

Her whole face was stained with tear tracks.

She'd apparently been crying for quite some time.

"It's fine, Mom. I'll do it."

The woman's daughter went to the kitchen instead.

Moments later, honey cakes were placed before Ian.

Only the father and daughter sat in chairs.

"You said you had questions about Maria?"

"Yes. I'd like you to tell me everything you know."

Though he knew it was unlikely, in the worst case, Maria could have been an infiltrating wizard.

Didn't the space-time wizard Larabel nearly destroy an entire domain single-handedly?

As Sir Leshach said, the more thorough the investigation, the better.

"Haah... Alright. Just thinking about that b*tch still turns my stomach. But I should tell you what I know."

"...I heard about it. I'm sorry about your son."

The man nodded glumly.

"Yes... Maria. That witch b*tch killed my son..."

Earlier, Maria had confessed clearly.

That she had murdered the son of the house where she worked.

"What exactly happened?"

To Ian's question, the man slowly replied.

"I took that b*tch into our home a year ago. I really didn't want to, but the village chief threatened me to take her in..."

The man explained.

He was a carpenter named Robert who had taken in Maria as a housemaid about a year ago.

He said he disliked Maria from the moment he first saw her.

"Wasn't there something off about her eyes, even though she was young? They seemed kind of lewd. And that pitch-black hair was so ominous!"

Ian blankly pointed at his own hair.

Are you perhaps talking about me?

Belenka sighed and said:

"Think before you speak."

"No, that's...!"

"Forget it, just continue your story."

Gulp. Robert swallowed dryly and spoke.

"That b*tch was strange."

"Strange?"

"Yes! Sometimes she'd visit the graveyard alone! And she'd talk to herself! And... occasionally, she'd eat an insane amount of food!"

The first two were understandable.

That's the behavior of a genuine outcast...

Unlike Easterners, Westerners are less afraid of graveyards. They even build memorial parks, which are basically graveyards, right in the middle of cities.

Just because she visited the graveyard alone doesn't mean she's definitely a necromancer.

Talking to herself goes without saying.

The problem was the last point.

"She ate a lot?"

"Yes! I don't know why. She'd just pig out on food like some possessed person... No matter how much we beat her, she wouldn't stop."

"..."

Just how much food did she eat for them to beat her?

"So... you knew Maria was a strange kid."

"Yes. So when that b*tch killed my son with necromancy, I thought, 'It's finally happened.'"

"Tell me in detail. How did she kill him?"

Robert paused for a moment.

As if it was too horrifying to even speak of.

"That b*tch Maria called my son to the forest... and possessed a ghoul to slash him with its claws."

"...Possession?"

Bang!

Unable to contain his agitation, Robert slammed his hand on the table.

"If, if it wasn't necromancy! How else could that tiny girl have torn my son to shreds?!"

Certainly.

Possessing an undead monster to fight is a combat method used by necromancers.

To summarize the story:

Maria lured Robert's son out, then killed him using a pre-prepared ghoul.

'But...'

Ian sensed something odd.

'Maria said she blacked out. That when she came to, someone was dead...'

Perhaps Maria wasn't a skilled necromancer, but...

Someone who accidentally experienced possession due to a brush with the mysteries - a 'necromancy accident' victim?

'Then it's not Maria's fault.'

Ian shook his head.

It was still too early to draw conclusions. There was far too little information.

---

[1. raei: the main character of "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco. It's a novel.]

[2. reference to Drake Longtail's 'Hannam The Hill' which is a reference to South Korea's very rich neighborhood home to many celebrities and business execs]

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