Chapter 5

005

There was plenty of food.

More than ten people were in the carriage, and among the loot taken from the dead deserters, there was also dried food.

Todd scraped the moss off the end of his spoon with his fingernail. It smelled too musty to be considered a substitute for parsley topping. It reminded him of the smell of old dog food.

The main dish for the evening was a stew that Piet had made by throwing in all kinds of ingredients.

As a peddler, he seemed familiar with such camping, and even considering the urine smell, it wasn't too bad.

Soren was already eating greedily, but Karina still held her bowl with a wary look in her eyes.

She looked like a spiky hedgehog.

"Don't worry, I didn't put any poison in it. Miss Mage."

Piet gave a bitter smile, but she ignored him.

Only after seeing Todd eat did she start to move her spoon slowly.

Indeed, people soften up once their stomachs are full. After the group had hastily filled their bellies, the conversation began to flow.

"I've heard that necromancers eat live infants and that flies are their snacks. But looking at you, you don't seem much different from us."

Soren's prejudiced words made Todd scrape the last bits from the bottom of his bowl.

"I've rummaged through garbage cans because I had no money, but I've never eaten a child."

"Ha! You're surprisingly human."

No matter where you go, those who are not well understood or are different are often rejected.

In this world, those who walk the path of evil have committed so many atrocities that the perception of necromancers and other non-mainstream classes is mostly buried deep in the core.

"Didn't I hear that mages don't lack for money? Is it different for necromancers?"

Piet asked curiously, and Todd nodded.

"Raising the dead doesn't exactly earn a good reputation. So, I usually perform funerals for a fee and barely make ends meet."

"Tsk. A poor necromancer. That's the funniest joke I've heard this year."

I wish it was a joke.

Todd chuckled.

No wonder it's legendary.

For the first year after falling into this game world, Todd struggled just to survive.

If it were revealed that he was a necromancer, he wouldn't just be hanged; the sweaty interrogators in the church's basement would torture him on the wheel.

"Todd, if you've been pretending to be a funeral director all this time... does that mean you can't let it be known that you're a necromancer?"

"That's right."

Piet, frowning, asked cautiously.

"Then, what we saw in front of us..."

"Now there's no need to hide it anymore."

Karina, putting down her bowl, was staring at Todd.

"Do you really think a person full of schemes would let us go out of kindness? Absolutely not. First, he must have some ulterior motive..."

The mage swallowed, trailing off.

"If things go wrong, he'll just kill us and bury us here. He must be confident enough to keep us alive, right?"

"You're a sharp student."

The praise, delivered with a thin smile, sounded sarcastic. The smooth smile was a cunning mask disguised as kindness.

The Red Tower where Karina had lived was full of eccentric mages, but at least they didn't hold grudges. Someone as duplicitous and venomous as a snake was rare.

A difficult type of person to deal with.

Her instincts screamed danger, but in the current situation, there was no real choice.

This man had killed all the deserters alone.

Karina, sighing, crossed her arms.

"Tell me your purpose. Then I'll tell you mine."

"Alright. I plan to join the retinue of either the Margrave or the Duke of Iri."

Karina immediately laughed coldly.

"The Empire must be in its twilight if scum like you are openly getting involved in the disputes of nobles for money."

"The more chaotic the times, the more opportunities there are for people like us. A battlefield where countless lives are lost is perfect for us."

Karina, frowning, muttered.

"You're a scoundrel."

A hint of blue light flashed in Karina's eyes as she looked at Todd.

Was she calculating something? After a moment of silence, the mage began to recite Todd's abilities.

"The undead you can control are low-level. The limit for simultaneous control is about 30. The maintenance time is 5 minutes per unit? You have a few cheap tricks, but they're unconventional and not particularly impressive."

The corners of Todd's mouth twitched.

"Your analysis is quite sharp."

It's true that Todd's achievements are still shallow. She's done a good job of assessing him.

However, half is right, and half is wrong.

The first thing necromancers and other unclean necromancers learn in this world is how to hide their aura.

Unlike elemental mages who can freely display their magic power and walk proudly from the moment they open their eyes.

"The battlefield is a stage where hundreds clash. It's not just a matter of overwhelming numbers; it's a complex game of strategy involving various factors."

It seems she didn't waste her time in the tower, her nose held high.

"Do you think that a dozen mindless corpses will influence the battle? It doesn't seem likely that the nobles would risk the stigma of employing a necromancer just to hire you."

"You make a valid point. As expected of someone sent from the Red Tower, your insight is deep."

Karina, tilting her head, growled.

"Whatever you say sounds sarcastic, so just stick to the main topic."

No, I was genuinely impressed.

"Of course, the side that's losing won't accept me. But what about the other side?"

Karina's eyes narrowed, understanding Todd's intention.

"There's a saying, 'A cornered rat will even seek the devil's hand...'"

The higher the odds, the greater the return.

Soren, with a short temper, looked confused, while Piet watched Todd and Karina with a puzzled expression.

"Even if Margrave Stepan is a bit foolish, he doesn't ignore his public reputation. What about the scrutiny from his vassals and the church?"

"Isn't the position of Margrave enough to serve as a shield?"

"You're overestimating your abilities."

The faint smile on her lips vanished.

"You're underestimating the power of necromancy, Miss Esteritz."

Todd's emerald-green eyes glinted ominously.

"There are things in this world beyond what can be seen with the eyes or written in books. Wasn't that what your teacher assigned you to learn?"

The subtle aura of the necromancer almost made Karina release her magic power.

Barely suppressing the impulse, the mage bit her lip.

Pointing out her lack of experience, Karina had little to say. Necromancy was as unknown to her as the outside world.

"...Fine. We'll see if your boasts are true or not."

"Of course."

A smile returned to Todd's lips.

"By the way, Miss Esteritz. You said you're a Master, right? But you seem to have had some trouble. Can you really perform well on the battlefield?"

"That was just a moment of carelessness! I specialize in high-level area spells, not one-on-one combat."

Karina, irritated, retorted.

Ah, it seems she prioritized "Elemental Damage" over "Casting Reduction."

It's a common mistake made by beginners who are too focused on dealing damage.

This game is full of elements that can lead to a sudden and violent death.

Therefore, it's essential to prioritize casting speed to adapt to situations.

Once a spell is cast without delay, you can survive with a "Shield," create distance with a "Blink," and counter with a "Flame Wedge"!

That's not how you build a mage, skills!

Todd, who always optimized builds, wanted to give advice but held back.

For the next ten minutes, Karina continued to vent about her skills.

The rain made fire magic unsuitable, she was a bit tired and couldn't concentrate, etc.

Soren was sleeping, and Piet was throwing branches into the fire.

What triggered Karina's outburst was Todd's one comment.

"In the end, you're not a formal Master yet, are you?"

"Ugh, t-that's..."

Karina, desperately rolling her eyes, had dry lips. After a cough, she gathered her strength.

"Almost. Almost! Once this is over, I'll be promoted to a senior position in the tower."

A 5th Circle Mage who has just become a Master would still be at the bottom of the senior ranks.

In practice, the line between school members and seniors is blurry.

Still, considering Karina's youthful appearance, it was clear she was a talented young mage.

"...I have to join the Margrave's side somehow. I will ensure his complete victory in this conflict. That's the task my teacher gave me."

Now, this is getting interesting.

"Surprising. Isn't the principle of the tower to remain neutral in worldly affairs?"

"Times are changing. How long can we just observe? Even if we claim political neutrality, the tower is on Imperial soil."

No matter how wise the sages in the tower, they can't escape the complex web of interests.

Sending advisors, clerks, and mercenaries to secure funding, the tower's claim of complete neutrality in politics is an illusion.

Piet, who had been listening, cautiously interjected.

"Wouldn't it be better to support the winning side, the Duke of Iri? The conflict seems to be nearing its end..."

"I don't want to go into details. I will ensure the Margrave's victory. That's all."

Piet, scratching his head, looked at Karina's firm stance.

Just then, Soren, who had woken up, yawned and joked.

"Then, are we enemies? Damn. This side has a fat old man and a washed-up swordsman, while the other has a necromancer and a fire mage. That's not fair."

Piet, breaking out in a cold sweat, quickly protested.

"H-hey, I haven't decided whose side I'm on yet!"

You must be quite attached to your life.

Todd, chuckling, intervened.

"Who knows what will happen on the way to Kehling. Let's travel together until then, and then decide which side to join."

He clapped his hands, and the campfire flickered.

A chilly wind swept through the forest not long after the rain stopped.

"Of course, let's part ways amicably. How about it?"

Karina, with a sullen expression, muttered.

"Well, did we ever have a choice? You weren't just talking to pass the time, were you?"

Todd shrugged.

Deep down, he was lonely and missed conversation.

He couldn't keep talking to skeletons or only reciting eulogies in front of grieving families forever.

"Alright."

"Ah, I'm wide awake now. I'll take the first watch, so you guys figure out the order."

Piet nodded readily, and Soren volunteered for the first shift.

Thus, the self-proclaimed undertaker, peddler, fence, and mage.

A strange group of four heading to Kehling was formed.

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