Chapter 166
The next morning.
Huff! Huff!
Simon was climbing a steep mountain ridge, wearing cursed bracelets and anklets on both arms and legs.
He could barely take a single step without pushing his internal Darkness operation to the extreme, but Simon kept moving his legs with determination.
'No time to rest until I reach the Holy Federation!'
While running using Internal Darkness Operation, he was practicing turning Holiness on and off with one hand, and reading a book about the culture of the Holy Federation—borrowed from Anna's room—with the other.
It was a spectacle that looked almost like a stunt. Even with his vision blocked by the book, he skillfully avoided dense trees and crossed the mountain safely.
"But hey,"
Simon turned his head.
"Why are you following me?"
Running beside Simon, also channeling Holiness through her legs, was Lete. She wore a sulky expression.
"I was bored, so I tagged along for a walk. Got a problem with that?"
"I don't mind. It's just, this is work, so it won't be fun."
"That's fine. Don't mind me, just do your thing."
Simon nodded and resumed running while looking at the book. Lete watched his training methods with a face that said she just couldn't understand it.
'Let's start with the village of Butant.'
Butant Village, located halfway up the mountain range, was situated in a mountainous area cleared for large-scale slash-and-burn farming. The sight of homes lined up in the highlands looked precarious yet beautiful.
"Young master!"
"It's Simon oppa!"
The villagers, who hadn't seen the lord's heir in a while, flocked to him like clouds.
Cough cough!
"Oh my, young master."
An elderly man approached, grasping Simon's hand tightly with his wrinkled hands.
"I've been watchin' ye since ye were just a wee lad. To hear you've already become a Keyzen student, it's truly moving."
"Thank you, Neltin."
"As expected of the two of them's son! You're the pride of Leshill, young master!"
"Oh, not at all, ma'am. I'll work harder to meet your expectations."
"Hey, Simon! Bet it's nice entering school alone, huh? Huh? Are there a lot of pretty girls in Keyzen?"
"Uh, yeah. I guess. But Tom,"
Simon answered, then pointed behind him.
"Katherine's coming over there."
"Ah, crap!"
Wahahahaha!
It was a small mountain village, but the atmosphere was cheerful. Simon warmly called out to each villager by name, engaging with them sincerely.
"Uncle Peter. Any trouble lately?"
"Must be mating season or something, goblins have been all over the mountain. They keep wrecking our fields."
"I'll cull the population on my way back."
Listening to villagers' requests was also part of Simon's duties. He reported what needed to be relayed to his father Richard, and resolved what he could by himself.
'Hmm.'
Watching from a short distance, Lete found herself slightly surprised.
Even though this terrifying necromancer had shown up, the villagers were treating Simon with genuine warmth.
Aren't they afraid of becoming skeletons? These kinds of people might smile to your face, but behind your back they secretly kidnap innocent folks and turn them into undead.
'Guess I'll have to keep watching to find out.'
Whether they were deceived or not, at least the people of this village sincerely trusted and followed Simon.
"Kya-ha, Simon!"
Just then, Tom—who had been hiding from Katherine—threw an arm around Simon's neck. Four years older than Simon, Tom had been like a sworn brother to him.
"...Neck hurts, Tom."
"Don't be a baby! Nah, more importantly,"
Tom lowered his posture while still clinging to Simon, and whispered with a sly grin.
"Who's that girl?"
A beautiful girl with snow-white hair like winter wind was walking through the village. Her skin was as pale as white jade, her large eyes had a faint golden hue, and her brown robe fluttered as she strode confidently.
"Did you already bring your girlfriend from Keyzen home to meet the parents? You sly dog."
"...It's not like that."
"Then who is she?"
Simon thought for a moment, then replied concisely.
"My mom's friend's daughter."
"Oh, I see. Well then, just tell me straight."
Tom poked Simon's chest with a smirk.
"She your girl or not? Even if I'm trash, I wouldn't go after my brother's girl."
"I said it's not like that."
"Okay, okay."
Only then did Tom let go of Simon's neck and clear his throat. Then, he slowly walked over to Lete.
"Hello, miss."
"...?"
Lete tilted her head, her white hair swaying. That simple gesture made Tom, the countryside bumpkin, blush furiously.
'Holy crap, she's gorgeous. Never seen beauty like this except for Simon's mom!'
Feeling his heart pound uncontrollably, Tom spoke.
"Do you believe in God?"
"...!!"
Lete's expression turned pale.
Was this it? Was this guy suspecting her?
She turned her head and shot Simon a sharp glare. Simon, looking genuinely clueless, shook his head with an innocent expression.
Tom strode closer to Lete. Startled, she instinctively backed away, only to find a stone wall behind her.
"I believe in God."
Tom lowered himself seriously. Lete, preparing for the worst, gathered her Holiness.
But Tom held out a freshly picked wildflower between his fingers.
"Because that 'god' is you."
"...."
Whoosh, a cold wind blew between them.
'Ah, I'm going insane.'
Simon turned away, his face red with secondhand embarrassment. Lete, equally flustered, looked back and forth between the flower and Tom's face.
"...Are you trying to flirt with me?"
"Hahaha! Not necessarily, but if that's how you see it, then I won't deny it! Haha!"
Lete let out a sigh of relief and extended two slender fingers.
'?'
What kind of answer was that? Tom wondered as Lete waved her fingers.
"Can you see this? How many fingers?"
"T-Two."
"And this?"
"Three."
"And now?"
"None held up."
"Hmm, seems like your vision's fine. That's strange."
Lete walked closer with the grace of a noblewoman. As she neared, a gentle fragrance wafted over, making Tom feel dizzy.
With a serious face, Lete reached out and opened Tom's right eyelid.
"Doesn't look like your eye's injured."
"...Wh-what?"
She pulled back and clasped her hands behind her back, smiling.
"Someone as dashing and cool as you doesn't suit me."
"Wh-what...!"
"Why not focus on that Katherine lady from before? She's far more beautiful than I am~ Well then, bye!"
Lete cheerfully dumped Tom and walked over to Simon. As Simon stared at her, her expression immediately hardened.
"What are you gawking at? Wanna die? Get back to work."
The soft, sweet voice from before had completely vanished. Her usual icy tone returned. Simon chuckled.
"You really have a unique personality."
"Takes one to know one. Get back to work. I don't know the roads, so I have to tag along."
"Got it."
Simon made one last stop at the village chief's house. He listened to concerns, checked the ledgers, and collected taxes before bowing politely and stepping outside.
"I'm gonna run again, okay?"
"Don't worry about me. Just run."
Simon headed for the next village.
Then the next, and the next again.
He never rested. Even with four cursed bracelets and anklets, he showed no sign of exhaustion, greeting people with a smile.
After visiting all seven villages Richard had assigned, Simon and Lete finally returned to the annex where Richard was waiting.
"Welcome back, Simon."
Richard spoke. Lete, with her arm supporting the back of her head, strode off ahead.
"You did well too, Lete."
"...I didn't really do anything."
Lete replied curtly and, as always, entered the master bedroom where Anna was resting. Simon, panting, walked up to Richard.
"I've gone through all the villages you mentioned."
Simon reported all the issues and suggestions he'd heard directly from the fiefdom's people. Richard nodded.
"I've also located the goblin settlements. I'll wipe them out before the day's over, so don't worry."
Richard summoned a Darkness magic circle in midair. Simon didn't notice, but outside, a large skeleton army was rising from the yard floor and marching into the mountains.
"Father, then..."
"Yes, a promise is a promise."
Richard grinned, showing his teeth.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you Corpse Explosion, two hours a day."
"Ah! Thank you!"
Simon bowed his head deeply. Just then, Lete stuck her head out from the master bedroom.
"That's enough, you do remember we have a White Magic class later, right? I don't care if you're tired from some mission, if you whine during my class, I'll stomp your head in."
"No way. I'll make sure I'm ready for your class too."
Simon smiled brightly as he gathered his White Magic books and went off to shower. Richard watched him, filled with pride.
'Is there any other child who finds this much joy in learning something new?'
It might be too early to say, but he couldn't help but imagine what Simon would be like as an adult.
Simon might just be the key to resolving the longstanding, sluggish problems plaguing this rigid continent.
"Spread it properly!"
As always, Simon and Lete resumed class on the hill. The next subject to study was Defensive Arts.
A discipline using Holiness to form barriers or protective fields. In Efnelle, even defensive-focused subjects like this existed.
Especially during the recent Keyzen terror incident, the defensive barrier cast by Plema was so powerful that even Neftis had to pay a price to break through it.
'Keyzen focuses all seven subjects on offense, but in this aspect, it's lacking.'
Thinking that, Simon extended his arm. From his palm, Holiness spread out, forming a thin barrier. Lete pulled out a Holy Arrow imbued with physical force and fired it.
Boom! Boom!
'Guh!'
The more attacks rained in, the harder it was to maintain focus. Soon, one side of the barrier collapsed, and arrows grazed Simon's body, leaving wounds. But he quickly pulled up Holiness again to restore the broken part of the barrier.
"You're finally getting useful. Let's move on to the next training."
Now that he had injuries, they moved naturally into Healing Studies. Simon placed his hand over a bleeding wound on his skin.
'Heal.'
Woom!
White light radiated from his palm, and the wound began to close. Simon curiously touched the area where the injury had disappeared.
"That's it for today's class."
The start and end of every class always followed the same ritual. Kneeling face to face, they recited a prayer, giving thanks to the Goddess for the day. Then, with hands over their navels, they bowed their heads to each other.
Raising his head, Simon let out a crooked smile.
"Do we really have to keep doing this? I don't even believe in the Goddess."
Immediately, she snapped.
"It's called basic manners, idiot! If you're gonna reject even this, just stop taking my classes!"
"Alright, alright."
He regretted speaking up, it only got him scolded.
As Simon packed up, he glanced over his notebook summarizing White Magic.
Blessing Studies: Buff-type White Magic used to enhance oneself or others.
Holiness Dynamics: The most offensive of the seven subjects. Focused on using Holiness to apply physical force or cause explosions.
Healing Studies: The study of healing wounds, detoxifying poisons, curing diseases, and lifting curses, everything recovery-related.
Spiritual Studies: Efnelle's version of Spiritology. Uses "Radiance" instead of Holiness to deal with beings called divine spirits. Priests not connected to a divine spirit cannot use this.
Defensive Arts: Specialized in defense, forming protective barriers and wards.
Divine Beastology: The study of handling and utilizing special creatures known as divine beasts.
Holy Combat Studies: Martial techniques used by battle-priests known as Monks.
"Setting class aside, can I ask a personal question?"
"...What is it."
"Blessing, Holiness, Healing, Sacred Combat—of the seven Efnelle subjects, what are your intended majors? You have to choose a major later at Efnelle, right?"
"Ah, that's true."
She sat comfortably, placing both hands on the grass and leaning back.
"I've actually known since I enrolled. I'll probably major in Divine Beastology."
"Divine Beastology? Now that you mention it, I haven't learned anything about that."
"You can't, not in your current state."
She smugly waved her index finger.
"First, you need to have a divine beast."
"Divine beast?"
Divine beasts were holy creatures capable of generating Holiness from their own bodies. While undead were widely spread across the continent and their numbers ever-growing, divine beasts were extremely rare.
They were a rare species, said to be born one at a time in pure, unpolluted natural environments.
"...Just hearing about them makes them sound insanely expensive. Divine Beastology isn't exactly popular at Efnelle either, right?"
"Yeah, exactly."
She waved her hand as if to say don't even ask.
"They're hard to acquire, cost a fortune in feed and maintenance, and there's so much to manage. Worst of all, if they die in battle or their lifespan ends, the summoner can't do anything at all."
"Oh, that's kinda..."
It's similar to Summonology.
For a brief moment, Simon felt a sense of kinship with her.
"Ah, wait! That means you have a divine beast, right?"
"Yes."
Simon leaned in, curiosity surging.
"Can you show me right now?"
Lete was none other than the top freshman at Efnelle.
What kind of divine beast must she have, to already have chosen Divine Beastology as her major from the moment she enrolled?