Chapter 5: Entrance Ceremony (3)
A grand party was held. Everyone was enjoying themselves, except Sion.
“…”
Sion’s expression was halfway between lost and soulless.
“As rumored indeed. How can he be so villainous?”
“He used despicable tricks.”
“Such a kid being called an expert? It’s a disgrace to experts.”
“Surely, that Dark Knight is also a trick. Must be using artifacts or something.”
“Shh. Lower your voice. You might get killed.”
I didn’t expect much.
Just thought I could spend an ordinary academy life, chatting with other friends, and having a decent time.
But instead of friends, there was no one around. Everyone would step back if I moved an inch.
“This isn’t where I belong.”
Everyone stood in their own place.
The leads were surrounded by many people.
But around the supporting character like myself, there was no one.
“Let’s go back.”
Home is indeed the best.
Sion stood up from his seat and moved.
“Wait. You there.”
Prince Ludric put his hand on Sion’s shoulder as he was about to leave the banquet hall.
On his sides were Clement and Dorothy.
“The trio of leads.”
Yes, I don’t need the attention of other kids.
What Sion needs are those who will join him in the future hero parties.
“Let’s gain some favorability.”
The dying flame within Sion flickered slightly.
“To use artifacts to intimidate people and deceive even the levels, what’s your scheme?”
“There’s no magician stronger than Sir Clement.”
“Right, right!”
Excluding Dorothy, who seemed to consider it a fun game, the faces of the two were serious.
“I, it’s a misunderstanding.”
Sion said timidly.
“He’s nervous.”
Due to the long absence of conversation with people, there was a tremendous burden. He would rather fight demons and monsters. That would be easier.
“Misunderstanding? So, are you level 99?”
Sion nodded.
“I knew Rockfellas were like pests of the empire, but I never expected this.”
Ludric looked incredulous.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“There’s no human with stronger magical power than I!”
‘Huh? Isn’t Dorothy stronger than Clement?’
Sion blinked.
It wasn’t because he was angry. It was because he had never conversed with people before and didn’t know how to react.
Moreover, this conversation was difficult. Three people were talking about different things.
“Fine. Normally, there’s no need to listen to the arguments of trash like you, but I’ll give you a chance. Prove it if it’s true.”
Ludric looked smug. The idea of Sion being level 99 was beyond belief.
“Why? Can’t do it? Well, of course not. Because you’re not level 99. Bow your head and apologize now. Then I might forgive you.”
“Proving it isn’t difficult.”
As a necromancer, he isn’t limited to awakening corpses; he also possesses proficiency in basic magic.
But he didn’t want to. Well, the magic skill a level 99 necromancer uses is ‘massacre.’
If he uses that, the party will turn into a slaughterhouse. No, he didn’t even know that half of the world might disappear.
“I’m sorry. I can’t do it right now. I’ll show you later.”
Sion politely declined.
Ludric glared at Sion as if disgusted.
“You don’t even have the slightest pride as a noble.”
His likability plummeted.
“This won’t do.”
Sion felt a sense of crisis and was filled with the thought that he had to do something.
“Just a moment.”
Just as he was about to grab the prince’s shoulder.
“!”
Sion’s body staggered as he missed his step.
Trying to regain balance with flailing arms, his arm coincidentally brushed against the crown prince’s chin as he turned his head.”
Bang!
Sion blinked and looked up.
The prince was stuck to the ceiling.
“Hua, I never thought you’d land an uppercut on the crown prince.”
“D-Dorothy, surprised!”
Sion was also surprised.
…The hall fell silent. The noise that had been deafening just a moment ago miraculously quieted down.
Expressionless, Sion reached out to the ceiling. His black hand extended towards Ludric.
“Aaah!”
“I-Is he still not over it after doing something like that?”
“He’s a demon… He’s really a demon…”
There was no intention of causing more harm, of course. No, this was a mistake from the start.
Sion simply safely lowered the prince to the ground with his black arm.
“What if he had died? Then I’d just resurrect him as undead.”
Fortunately, the prince didn’t die.
Sion felt relieved.
The method might have been bad, but would the misunderstanding be cleared up?
It’s difficult to stick a person to the ceiling.
“Gasp.”
As Sion lifted his head, everyone instinctively backed away.
“…Maybe not.”
It was when Sion was disappointed.
“You definitely did something rude.”
Aria walked out among the people.
“But this is too much. It could have been fatal.”
Aria stood in front of Sion and asked coldly.
“A simple warning would have sufficed. Was it necessary to go this far?”
“I made a mistake.”
“…You could accidentally kill someone.”
Sion didn’t deny anything.
‘Have you ever accidentally killed someone?’
Aria stared through Sion with her unwavering eyes.
There was no emotion in Sion’s eyes.
No satisfaction, no sadness, no embarrassment.
There was a lack of what any human should have even a little of.
“At first, I thought you were hiding your strength for a reason. I’ve had similar thoughts before. So, when I heard what people were saying about you, I thought it was unfair.”
Aria shook her head.
“No. They were right. You are a villain.”
Aria judged Sion as a villain.
With that, Aria didn’t even look at Sion and immediately turned her gaze to the prince.
“Are you okay?”
Aria, carrying the prince and heading to the infirmary.
Seeing that, the corners of Sion’s mouth lifted slightly.
‘This is just like the Aria I imagined.’
A necromancer is a being that turns the dead into undead.
And it’s a being that subjugates those dead.
The more difficult the process, the more interesting Sion finds it.
Given Aria’s personality, bringing her back as undead after she dies won’t be an easy task.
In short, there’s a taste to tame.
‘I’m lucky.’
Sion felt relieved.
And his heart raced.
When he turns Aria into undead in the future—
What expression will she have?
**
There were no classes at the academy today.
After the class allocation, you could go home anytime.
Of course, hardly anyone returns immediately. They’re all too busy enjoying the party.
So, Sion walked with a slightly gloomy heart.
He didn’t feel good. Come to think of it, there’s nothing to feel good about. The affinity with Aria is also the worst—
…I haven’t even made a single friend.
‘It’s probably because I maxed out the dislike when creating the character. It’s not my fault.’
Believing that, Sion headed towards the main gate.
Not far away, there was a training ground where knights gathered.
‘Gawain must be dead tired by now, right? He said in the message there was a fight earlier.’
Seeing a knight in a similar situation might change his mood a bit.
Sion approached the knights with a slightly faster pace.
But something was strange.
“Amazing, isn’t it?”
“Why isn’t a knight like you famous?”
“This is the coolest duel I’ve ever seen!”
At first, I thought they were just gathered because there was nothing to do, but that wasn’t the case.
The knights were gathered in a circle, watching someone’s duel.
The protagonist was—Gawain.
And a female knight I’d never seen before.
Sion scratched his head.
“At first, I apologize for the rude words I said to you. It’s rare to see someone with such a clear and pure swordsmanship like yours. I, Hevnia, the commander of the Knights of Solomon, acknowledge the knight Gawain.”
“It’s too much praise. You, too, were the strongest swordsman I’ve ever seen in this era.”
“If we can clash swords like this again next time, it will be an honor. Knight of the Sun, Gawain.”
“Not at all a leisurely occasion. Feel free to come anytime.”
Sion looked at Gawain with a puzzled look.
Gawain was shaking hands.
With a woman, too.
Sion was jealous. And desperate.
‘…So, am I worse in social skills than the undead?’
It’s because the truth that he has been trying to deny popped up in his head.
“Huh?”
Gawain turned his gaze towards Sion.
“My lord has arrived. I’ll go then. Next time, I’ll introduce you to my lord.”
“Looking forward to that day.”
The two bumped fists and turned their backs at the same time.
Gawain to Sion. Hevnia to the opposite side.
Even Gawain exchanged high fives and brief chats with other knights on his way.
Gawain spoke to Sion who was in front of him.
“Master, I’m sorry for taking so long. Have you achieved what you desired?”
“…Don’t talk to me. Golden Sun.”
“?”
Sion didn’t say a word to Gawain on the way back home.
