Doubt
A dark, unknown space.
Numerous people gathered there.
Clad in dark black robes, they clutched rosaries shaped like crosses, adorned with red gems.
There were at least several dozen of them.
Before them stood a man.
He wore a garment resembling the vestments of the Cult's priests, dyed black.
His eyes, with sclera blackened like those of the Demon Tribe, emitted an ominous violet light.
"Behold! The unbelievers denounce the teachings of the great God as evil, but in the end, they are merely pawns of the great death!"
Behind the shouting man stood a bizarre machine, difficult to describe.
An unidentified device connected to pipes and cables descending from the ceiling.
Resembling a giant heart, it emitted a strange sound.
It sounds like a scream, yet also like a sob.
A gruesome sight, but the kneeling followers gazed upon it with awe.
"Their spilled blood and flesh, their very souls, all hasten our plan! There are none more foolish than those who think themselves clever!"
"Oooooh-!!"
A cry erupted from the followers at the man's proclamation.
Looking upon them, the man raised both hands and shouted,
"All for the great death!!"
"Martyrdom!"
"Martyrdom!!"
"Martyrdom!!"
"For the great death!!"
"Oooooh-!!!"
The ecstatic followers began to rampage, and the man watched with a satisfied expression.
"Go! Go and enact the will of the great death! Death to all! Death until the final moment!!"
With the man's cry, the entranced followers exited…
"You guys are weirder every time I see you. What good is faith when you're dead?"
The space was empty.
The man turned at the voice behind him.
There stood Kendrick, thin, with round glasses, and eyes filled with madness as he stared at the machine.
"Something an unbeliever like you could never understand."
"I don't want to understand you in the first place. We're polar opposites in many ways."
"State your business and leave."
Glaring at Kendrick’s mocking tone, the man spoke.
Kendrick nodded and walked past him toward the machine.
"I was about to. I just came for one last check."
Kendrick replied indifferently and began examining the device.
"Annoying bastard."
The man muttered, watching him.
* * *
Thanks to Elleoreu's blessing, Rudell and Leje enjoyed increased agility as they leaped through the forest's giant trees.
"It's quiet so far."
"Yeah, see anything?"
"No, nothing unusual."
Rudell shook his head at Leje's question.
His faintly glowing eyes saw only other students, their supervising professors, and Monsters wandering through the forest.
There was no sign of the Cult.
"Do you think they'll really show up?"
"They definitely will."
Even disregarding the original story, they were audacious enough to attempt assassinating a Princess.
They wouldn’t miss a chance to eliminate troublesome obstacles.
Far from the Royal Capital, with few people around, and filled with Monsters…
A place where no one would question a disappearance.
It was the perfect location for a discreet disposal.
"Hm?"
Then, Rudell noticed something strange.
"What is it?"
"Looks like a fight broke out over there…"
Silhouettes that appeared to be students and Monsters were engaged in a chase…
With a hunch, Rudell leaped between the trees.
Leje followed…
Not far away, Rudell stopped.
He saw students fleeing in tattered clothing, and…
"Kuwaaaa-!!"
"Human! Kill human!!"
…a horde of Monsters chasing them.
"Those are…"
"Orcs, aren't they?"
Monsters shaped like a cross between a pig and a human, clad in crude clothing.
Orcs, alongside goblins, were representative of the common mobs in this fantasy world.
"By the way, those guys… don't seem like combatants."
"I think you're right."
The students looked more suited to a desk and quill than exploring a forest.
There was one apparent mage among them, but they were busy helping the others escape.
"What do we do?"
"I don't think we need to help…"
Rudell responded to Leje's question.
After all, other teams were essentially competitors…
Besides, if their lives were truly threatened, the supervising instructors would intervene.
However…
"Let's help. Can't hurt to gain some favor."
"Alright. Then…!!"
As if waiting for those words, Leje drew her sword.
With a ‘shling’, Leje's sword gleamed coldly…
"I'll take the lead!"
"Got it."
Rudell nodded, and Leje dashed towards the Orcs, leaving a trail of mana.
Rudell exhaled briefly and prepared his magic.
"Ice Spear."
* * *
The Orcs were swiftly dealt with before Rudell even needed to intervene.
A whirlwind of steel and blood erupted, and by the time the crimson mist settled, nothing remained.
"You finished them off in a flash."
"The priestess' blessings seem to be quite effective."
Leje commented as Rudell approached.
"Th-thank you… You saved us…"
"We thought we were goners…"
"The supervisors would have stepped in even if we hadn't."
Leje shrugged in response to the students' gratitude.
"By the way, what happened? Why were you being chased by Monsters?"
"Well, that's…"
The students exchanged uneasy glances and turned their heads.
Rudell and Leje followed their gaze and saw a boy in a black robe.
Pale skin, red eyes.
Dark circles underlined his eyes, and his thin lips constantly mumbled something.
But the most striking feature was the pendant around his neck.
A silver skull pendant, its meaning easily understood.
"Is… Is that person…"
Rudell cautiously asked a nearby student.
"Yes, he's a Necromancer."
"Huh…"
Now that he thought about it, there was a student from a Necromancer family in the original story…
Rudell let out a low groan, recalling the original plot.
Unlike most novels where Necromancers were villains, they were highly regarded in this world.
Despite numerous restrictions, their ability to communicate with souls held immense potential.
They could provide closure for those grieving unexpected losses, guide suffering souls to the afterlife, and prevent vengeful spirits from becoming Monsters.
Though shunned due to the nature of their profession, their social standing remained high.
"Is his name… Capelles?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Why can't I see any souls… What is this… What's going on…"
Another student nodded as Capelles rambled incoherently, seemingly half-mad.
"What happened to make him like this?"
Rudell remembered him as gloomy, but not insane. However, he now appeared undeniably deranged.
"We're not sure. He keeps saying he can't see any souls…"
"He can't see souls…?"
"Ah… You're Rudellheit Weinstein… It's a pleasure to meet you…"
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Capelles."
Though from different schools, they both walked the path of magic.
Rudell bowed his head to the bowing Capelles.
"By the way, could you elaborate on what you mean by not being able to see souls?"
"Oh, that…? It's nothing…"
Capelles chuckled nervously and continued,
"I can't see the Monsters' souls… as if they've been sucked away somewhere…"
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