Chapter 49

Since I couldn't learn from my father, I can't use it, but it is said that among black magic, there is a type called necromancy, which involves controlling the dead.

The skeletal undead in front of me was probably created by someone at this academy.

"Really, that's terrible... to suddenly cut off a lady's head... Moreover, the speed was unbelievable for a mage..."

As she spoke, the skeleton placed the skull back on its neck. She shook her head from side to side, and a crackling sound was heard. It seemed to have attached properly.

"Is it a lady?"

"From any angle, it's not a lady at all!"

It was just a skeleton, no matter how you looked at it.

"But it's strange. Where is the voice coming from?"

Naturally, there should be no vocal cords. I observed the skeleton closely. Then, the skeleton wiggled its body,

"Ah... No matter how cute I am, it's embarrassing to be stared at like that... Gyah!? This time, both legs... Both legs were cut off!? What are you doing!?"

"Just the movement was creepy, so I couldn't help it."

The skeleton attached its femurs and stood up.

"... You have a pretty face, but you're quite ruthless... Hehe, but I might like that, Gyah!?"

This time, I split the skull vertically in two.

"Hey, why! Do you have a grudge against me!?"

"Hmm. You can still speak in this state. Interesting."

"Please don't experiment on a skeleton you just met!?"

While screaming, the skeleton pressed the split skull from both sides. The cut quickly disappeared.

"Maybe some kind of protection is at work? ... What if I remove a part of the bone?"

"Stop it already!?"

Oops.

I came here for a different reason, not to do this.

"I heard this is the academy's office."

"... Y-Yes, it is. I'm Rataria. As you can see, I'm a beautiful office lady."

I wonder if this skeleton can see a mirror?

"Are there no other office staff?"

"Unfortunately, I'm the only one. This academy has few teachers and students. Besides, I work so fast that I can do everything by myself."

"The building and equipment are in such bad condition, though."

"We don't have the money, so there's nothing we can do."

"You don't even clean, do you?"

"Such heavy labor is beyond a delicate lady."

Whether she's a lady or not, she does look weak. After all, she has no muscles, just bones.

When I asked, she said she is employed by the academy's principal. Probably because they can't afford to hire anyone.

"Really, the worst employer ever! Rough with bones! Low pay! And no chance of a nice encounter!"

I was surprised that she actually gets paid.

"Oh, I wish someone would work here with me... *glance*. ...Someone who might fall in love with me... *glance*... Someone a bit S might be my type... *glance*"

Rataria, while looking at me repeatedly, expressed her desires. But since she's a skeleton, her ideal partner is probably also a skeleton. I wondered what a handsome skeleton would look like, but I wasn't really interested, so I quickly asked about the entrance exam.

"There's no exam?"

"What? So you don't recruit students?"

"Indeed, we don't recruit. But there's no limit to enrollment."

According to the skeleton—Rataria—it seems this academy doesn't hold entrance exams, and anyone who wants to join can.

"Hardly anyone wants to learn black magic, and I'd almost beg them to join."

I had heard this, but it's really unpopular.

"Moreover, when students do come, they run away after seeing me... It's really rude."

"Probably because you appear upside down from the ceiling."

Well, if they run away at that point, they probably wouldn't survive in this academy.

"Anyway, if you want to enroll, you're welcome."

There seems to be no formal procedure. It's quite casual. There are no lectures either.

"But you're free to use the academy's facilities. They're all in bad condition, though. But our library has many valuable texts on black magic. Sometimes dangerous grimoires are hidden, so be careful. You might be cursed or dragged into another world. Of course, everything is at your own risk."

There are also many dangerous spots in the academy. Students' bodies are often found dead.

"By the way, on my way here, I heard a voice from the toilet. What was that?"

I was about to go in but had a bad feeling and didn't.

"It's Merry in the toilet. She's my friend. But don't worry. She's a good ghost. She sometimes plays pranks and pokes your butt."

Hmm.

Once I learn necromancy, I'll purify it first. It's a hassle to use the toilet outside the academy.

"If you need it, there are spare rooms in the dormitory. Feel free to use any you like. See that building over there?"

Looking in the direction Rataria pointed, I saw a building that looked like a particularly old haunted house.

... It might be better to use the dormitory of another academy.