I Became The Academy Necromancer-Chapter 302: "Former" Saintess Stella

It might sound ridiculous, but we decided to stay in Forsville for the night.

The souls ravaged by drugs weren’t granted rest or annihilated.

Their spirits were still wandering around this town. All I did was dispel the magic that made them visible to the villagers.

“Is it really okay for us to sleep here tonight? It seems dangerous.”

“Yeah, who knows what the villagers might try to do? Wouldn’t it be better if we revealed who we really are?”

Aria and Eleanor, sharing the room with me, asked anxiously, but I shook my head.

“There is no need to worry.”

The two looked at each other, confused by my cryptic answer, but I did not provide further explanation.

The village chief had given us only one room.

And when I proposed that we stay together in a single space on purpose, Aria and Eleanor agreed quite enthusiastically.

“You two take the bed. I will sleep on the chair.”

“What? Professor, you should sleep here too!”

“Yeah! Deus, come over and sleep next to us!”

There was only one small bed, just enough for the two girls to fit snugly. Naturally, I refused.

“Even so, that is not acceptable. And it is not a line the two of you should cross either.”

“Hey, Deus. It’s an order from the princess.”

Eleanor, already lying in bed, patted the blanket with her hand. While we had agreed to speak casually to hide her identity, this felt different.

“Princess, I apologize, but I cannot obey that order.”

“Y-you disobeyed me?!”

“It is for your own sake, Princess.”

“If it’s for my sake, then you should...!”

Eleanor trailed off, her face flushing red before she shut her mouth in embarrassment.

Watching her, Aria smirked and added sarcastically.

“Should what? Should Professor strip naked and pose here like a nude model?”

“You—you crazy bitch!”

“Why? I’m just saying what you couldn’t! Am I wrong? Tell me honestly! Am I even wrong?!”

As Aria pushed harder, Eleanor’s face became an even brighter shade of red. And unable to contain herself any longer, she finally buried her face in a pillow and shouted.

“Whatever! I’m going to sleep!”

Since she had already washed up and changed into her pajamas, it didn’t really matter if she slept like that.

I gestured toward the bed with my chin and said to Aria.

“You should lie down and sleep as well.”

“Are you really going to sleep in the chair, Professor? If it’s too much, I can sleep on the floor instead...”

“No, just sleep.”

“...Okay.”

Aria lay down right next to Eleanor. The two bickered silently, hitting each other without making a sound, only to quiet down after I turned off the lights.

I crossed my arms and lowered my head as I sat in the chair, ready to wake up at a moment’s notice if something transpired.

Slowly, I closed my eyes.

“...!”

But then, I immediately reopened them because I felt a presence.

Considering the chaos I had caused in this village today, it was only natural to expect an unwelcome visitor or two.

If it were Bishop Harace and Bishop Uliana, they would have known that this was the perfect time for an ambush.

My return was yet to be reported to the kingdom, and officially, I was still considered missing.

In other words, taking care of me here would erase any discussions about drugs or future punishments.

It was an opportunity they couldn’t pass.

And to give them that opportunity, I deliberately chose to stay in the village head’s house, the person with whom my relations were at their worst.

Furthermore, to eliminate any unforeseen variables, I ensured the two girls were sleeping in front of me.

Anyway, as I slowly opened my eyes to greet the uninvited guest ...

[You were awake?]

Standing there was Stella—or rather, Velica, who was nowhere to be seen earlier.

“What is the matter?”

Protruding horns and vertical pupils in her eyes, characteristics unique to Velica.

Curious about her sudden appearance, I asked, and Velica casually sat on my lap.

[Stella is worried. She thinks you’re hiding something.]

“...”

[I also feel the same. Those brats probably think so, too. You’ve been pushing ahead recklessly as of late.]

“Because it is necessary.”

I was well aware that this was very different from how I usually handled things.

However, it needed to be this way.

It was like laying the groundwork to neatly resolve the numerous incidents to come.

[Care to share your intentions?]

Predicting her question, I exhaled softly and shook my head.

“Sorry, but there is no need for you to know.”

[You always clam up when you’re doing something shady, as if you have some reasonable excuse for it.]

“...”

[Honestly, it’s just because you don’t want to burden anyone else. Everyone knows that by now.]

“I am sorry, Velica.”

Even though it was Stella’s body, I quietly channeled mana into my hand as a warning.

“Do not touch me recklessly.”

It felt uncomfortable to have Velica, not Stella, touch my body, so I pushed her off my lap.

[Huh? So picky. Isn’t this your chance to try things while I’m in control of the body?]

“As long as you are the one in control of that body...”

I needed to draw a clear boundary.

“Such thoughts will never cross my mind.”

Though they shared the same body, Stella and Velica were completely different entities.

And the one I was attracted to as a woman was Stella, not Velica.

[Wow, hearing that, I don’t like you either. But you like Stella, don’t you?]

Velica, who I pushed away, casually removed the nun habit Stella had been wearing.

This was the first time I had seen something like this happen.

The very idea that a soul could remove their clothing was surprising in itself.

Thinking about it, since her form was created through the manifestation of will, then perhaps the clothes were also a part of her soul?

It was intriguing.

“Can those clothes also be considered a form of soul?”

[Wow, you’re seriously a crazy bastard. A woman, wearing nothing but her underwear, is standing in front of you and that’s the first thing that comes to mind?]

“Interesting. I assumed some degree of control was possible as a soul, but to this level of detail?”

Seeing my reaction, Velica smacked her forehead and let out a sigh.

[Stella has divine traits now, so she’s no longer just a simple soul. She’s practically half god.]

“And is that something you, a demon lord, should say?”

[You’ve heard stories about fallen angels, right? Perhaps I can be counted as one too? I’m a deformed demon lord, after all.]

It occurred to me that she really knew how to make use of her deformity in all sorts of ways.

[Hey, how come you’re not reacting even after I undressed?]

She was nearly naked, only white underwear covering her pale, bare skin.

It was certainly attractive in appearance. However...

“You are not Stella.”

There was no reason to react.

“Put your clothes back on. Not for you, but for Stella’s sake.”

[Wow, how can you even think exactly like her?]

All of a sudden, Velica moved closer and sat on my lap again. Then she grabbed my mana-filled hand and placed it on her chest.

“What is this...?”

[Hngh?!Damn, Stella’s body is super sensitive.]

“Velica!”

[Quiet. Or you’ll wake the kids.]

Velica whispered a warning.

Reflexively, I turned my head to check on Aria and Eleanor.

The two were sleeping peacefully, hugging each other tightly despite a bit of tossing and turning.

“Get off immediately. This is disgusting.”

The soft sensation in my hand felt disturbingly real, so I pulled my hand away in anger.

I tried to push Velica off me, but instead, she reached out and placed both hands on my shoulders.

[Now I’m sure. You can feel it when you touch me.]

“It is not a pleasant thing to hear.”

[I don’t like it either. Do you really think I enjoy trembling from the touch of a guy I have no feelings for because of Stella? But you’re the only one.]

“What do you mean?”

[Unlike other Necromancers who treat souls as tools, you can actually touch and feel them. You’re the only one in this continent who can connect with Stella.]

“Hah, I really did not want to know that.”

[But now you do. You’re the only one who can give our virgin Stella what she needs.]

“Velica, I am starting to get angry.”

[Ugh, I hate this too.]

Ssshh...

As the horns protruding from Velica’s forehead started to disappear like a mirage and her beast-like vertical pupils gradually returned to their original shape...

[Ah...]

The Saintess, dressed in only underwear, had returned.

[Ve-Velica? Are we really switching now? A-At this timing?!]

Stella was flustered by the sudden switch, her face turning red. And the moment I took in her transformed appearance—

“G-get out of the way.”

I felt my heart sink. Even though their appearances were similar, why did she suddenly look so much more attractive than when it was Velica in control?

[Ah, um...]

Stella, who was trying to cover herself in embarrassment and get up as if she were fleeing, suddenly stopped moving. She stared at me and gave a faint smile.

[Deus.]

“What is it?”

[Do you know that your face is red right now?]

“...”

I instinctively touched my cheek.

My skin, which was usually cold, was burning hot even though it was quite late at night.

[Ah.]

Embarrassed, I averted my gaze, but she quietly sat back down and smiled again.

[You’re cute.]

“Stop joking around.”

[I’m sorry. But... I don’t usually see this side of you.]

“Huff, do not be swayed by Velica. You are a Saintess.”

[Former Saintess. I’m just Stella now.]

I tried to push Stella away, but her hands were already cupping my face.

[Deus, can I... kiss you?]

“Get a hold of your—!”

However, I couldn’t complete my sentence. Apparently, it wasn’t a question but a declaration.

It lasted longer than I expected, making me open my eyes wide. Gently pushing away the now impulsive Stella, I spoke.

“The kids are sleeping right over there. Stella, please don’t get carried away by Velica and do something reckless.”

[But... this is my first time experiencing something like this.]

It was my first time, too.

Deus might have been used to it, but I wasn’t.

“Damn it.”

I wanted to step outside to cool my head, but it would ruin the plan if the villagers saw I was still awake.

So in the end, I had no choice but to remain in the room, even though being in the room was dangerous because of Stella.

[Um, Deus.]

“What is it now?”

[Can I borrow your hand for a moment...?]

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

[They’re coming! They’re coming! The villagers are on their way with torches and sharp farm tools...!]

The Dark Spiritualist burst in while making a huge fuss.

Seeing the torches flickering in the darkness outside the window, I immediately moved Stella aside and stood up.

The timing was perfect.

[What the hell?!]

Had the Dark Spiritualist sensed the awkward atmosphere?

She glanced back and forth between me and Stella and let out a bizarre exclamation.

“I am heading out. Make sure the kids stay asleep and put out any fires that may start.”

The cold wind quickly brought me back to my senses.

[What the hell?!]

And the Dark Spiritualist kept repeating herself.

[Whaaaaat the HELLLL?!]