"Can you use divinity?"
"…!!"
Hearing Farahann's question, Simon felt all the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
How could he know that?
Simon tried desperately to keep his smile, but the corners were starting to twitch.
His mouth felt dry and a heavy weight filled his throat, but he managed to get out one sentence.
"I'm not really sure what you're talking about, Professor."
"Ha ha!"
The old man, who had suddenly become the target of Simon's fear, smiled kindly as he stroked his beard.
"I have lived with divinity my entire life. I can feel a bit of divinity energy from you. And most importantly, when I touched your body in class earlier…"
Farahann opened her palms.
"The extreme rejection that a necromancer should experience did not occur. Aside from your pain reaction, your body accepted my divinity without resistance."
Simon's face turned pale. So it was some kind of training to know that.
"I understand what you are worried about."
Farahann said in a soft voice.
"You may cancel everything and leave this place. This old man has no intention of harming the young man who still has a long road ahead of him."
"…"
Simon still didn't let his guard down. He couldn't be sure of anything easily.
He didn't know whether Professor Farahann was trustworthy or not, and he didn't know what the man might do to him.
But he thought that pretending not to be able to use divinity would not work in front of this person. He was a divinity expert, and he must have arranged this kind of meeting for sure.
'Actually, after the Defense Against the Sacred Arts Professor informed Kizen Headquarters, that was the end of it.'
Kizen had become extremely sensitive to spies with the recent incident with the Saints. If he was interrogated as a god user, even the truth about Richard and Anna might be revealed.
Reading Simon's hesitation, Farahann stood up.
"Perhaps this old man is too impatient. You may leave today."
"…"
Should I go now and prepare for next time?
NO.
Since he knew the secret, there was no point in delaying it.
"I like to…"
Simon did not leave his seat.
"…listen to what you have to say, professor."
Farahann's eyes lit up at that. It wasn't an answer, but it was a very positive start.
"You guys are not like the young people of today. Not many of you have the patience to talk to an old man like me."
He began to take off the neat robe he was wearing.
"It seems I have to tell you first about my current condition to gain your trust."
Thumping!
When Farahann took off her robe, revealing her body, Simon had to hold back his shock.
His chest, abdomen, and every inch of his skin was covered with countless 'Soul Bind' magic circles, each swirling with a strong jet black color.
"As you can see, my life is in the hands of Kizen Headquarters."
Farahann said.
"Just one move and this old man will immediately return to the ground."
"A-Didn't they go too far? Even though—"
"I am grateful for that."
Farahann stroked his beard.
"After betraying the Federation, we had nowhere to go. The necromancers also had no need to spare us. But Nefthis herself showed us mercy."
He burst out laughing.
"Here I am with my life intact, on the other side of the world with a decent job, and I'm using my knowledge for the youth, don't you think? My last days are happier than my last years."
"…"
"The same spell has been cast on my assistant teacher, of course. Soul Bind is a method of control from Kizen Headquarters that is attached to us in exchange for allowing us to work at the school. The parents will not just sit idly by if the priest is to release Kizen without any restraints."
His gaze turned to Simon.
"As divine users among necromancers, you and I are in the same situation. I believe this old man can sympathize and understand your plight more than anyone else."
He wore a calm smile and a simple expression.
Seeing someone so perfectly able to convey his true feelings to others made Simon realize that age does indeed bring wisdom that cannot be ignored.
Simon sighed softly and answered,
"…What do you want from me?"
"You answered the question wrong."
Farahann smiled.
"What do you want from me?"
"!"
"You are a student and I am a professor. You are the learner and I am the teacher. Yes, for example…"
Farahann, despite the sound barrier, approached and whispered,
"I can teach you light magic formally, if you want."
Light magic…
Simon's heart started to beat faster.
"I do not deny your existence as someone who can use jet black and divinity. Do you believe in fate?"
Simon shook his head.
"N-No."
"I'm sure the Goddess must have given you, a necromancer, divinity for a very good reason. Frankly speaking…"
Farahann furrowed her brows.
"I can't help but think that the reason this old man was brought to Kizen before I breathed my last breath was to meet you."
So much was happening that Simon's mind had trouble keeping up.
An offer for lessons in the secrets of light magic…
(Kuhahahahahahaha!)
Suddenly, he heard Pier's boisterous laughter in his head. Simon gasped in surprise.
'Y-You startled me, Pier! How long have you been listening to it?'
(That old man is completely crazy! Teaching light magic in Kizen, the sanctuary of necromancers? Kuhehehehe!)
Simon thought for a moment, then asked,
'Are you against it, Pier?'
(I have no reason to! I have felt the strange power of the 'Divine Undead'. Plus, you have also used the skill you called 'Celestial Explosion'. You are already too involved in divinity to back down.)
Above all, Simon remembered Anna's words.
"Half of you is me, my child. So I hope you are interested in the place where I was born and raised."
Even though he denied it, half of him was already a priest.
Most importantly, divinity was also his asset. Even if he became a necromancer, he thought he didn't need to ignore this power.
He wanted to learn everything he could.
"…Professor, I."
With a trembling voice but a determined gaze, Simon faced Farahann.
"I want to learn light magic."
As if waiting for that answer, Farahann smiled pleasantly and nodded.
* * *
* * *
Farahann did some simple tests with Simon.
He needed to know Simon's level of light magic so he could direct the lessons to target the relevant strengths and weaknesses in Simon's technique.
"Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"
Farahann couldn't contain her surprise.
Although Simon did not specialize in any one subject, he had a wide range of skills. Starting from the most basic skills, he could form a perfect standard divine arrow.
He also has the basics of healing, knows the blessings of Strength, Haste, and Endurance, and he can also use defensive skills to guard.
He has such a wide range of skills because he was not taught to be a priest but instead acted like one in the Holy Federation.
Your basics are good. I would believe you if you said you were a first year pastor at Efnel!
It was true, Simon had deceived many inquisitors in the Federation before.
"I don't know who taught you this, but you learned it very well.
Simon smiled secretly. At the same time, he thanked Farahann for not asking who he learned from.
Farahann moved his quill frantically.
"I'm getting excited just thinking about taking a light magic lecture after so long. By the way, do you have a particular light magic discipline you want to master? Although it would also be good to raise your overall level. Light magic is what it is."
"Hmmm, I wonder…"
Simon thought for a moment, then decided,
"Is there… a way for me to learn how to use divine beasts?"
"That might be possible, but we need a sacred beast to start the class. Finding a sacred beast in the Dark Lands is nearly impossible."
"I think."
Simon decided to study all the subjects evenly and see if he had a talent for any of the seven Efnel subjects.
'I didn't think I would be talking about light magic in Kizen.'
Simon lifted his head and looked out the window.
'I wonder how Rete is doing?'
* * *
Sky Island.
Efnel Headquarters.
Great.How.great.
Rahell, an archbishop of the Holy Federation and a professor of Divine Mechanics, had a frown on his face. A neatly dressed female student in a white Efnel uniform was sitting in the chair in front of him.
"Look at all the trouble you caused this week."
Shift.
Rachel said as she placed a series of reports on her desk. The female student glanced sideways and gave her a rebellious look.
"Attacking a classmate, attacking one of your seniors, attacking, attacking."
Rahell placed her hand on her forehead and sighed.
"Why do you keep fighting people like this, Rete?"
The girl with snow-white hair and golden eyes snorted.
"This one, they fought with me first. And this one? He kept bothering me, saying he was going to confess to me, so I just beat him up. You know, dating at Efnel is against school rules even you don't like it, Professor."
"Violence is a bigger violation of school rules!"
Rachel screamed before holding her throbbing head.
"By the Goddess, you are the First Chosen student at Efnel and a great woman! Please act like it!! What are you, a 6 year old boy who keeps getting into fights? Why do you keep hitting people?" up?! Have some self-respect. Dignity!"
"Aren't you allowed to beat people if you're a woman?"
Hearing Rete's sarcastic grumble, sparks appeared in Rahell's eyes.
"Rete!"
"To be honest, I think Efnel is too rigid and inflexible. There are certain rules for dressing according to your position, status, and gender, and if you can't follow them, there will be a scolding."
"You know it well, Rete! A respectful mind comes from a respectful body! That is the essence of being a priest!"
"It didn't increase my divinity even though I acted that seriously, and my divinity didn't change even after I started beating people up."
Rahel took a deep breath. She wondered what happened to Rete.
Although temperamental and violent, Rete was always devout as a priest. However, that changed at one point.
Yes, maybe it started during the holidays… After the holidays, in the second semester, Rete seemed to question everything Efnel and the Holy Federation had enforced.
Who did he meet, and what influenced him?
"It seems like you haven't reflected on your actions in the slightest."
Rachel coldly stared at him.
Rete is a key talent at Efnel, a great figure who will lead the Federation in the future.
Although the next 'Saintess of Purification' has yet to appear, she is definitely an outstanding candidate to take over the role.
Rahell was getting restless as the higher-ups pestered her, asking if she was taking good care of Rete. She thought it best to fix her habits before she became a Saint: a demigod.
"Kneel, Rete."
"Okay…"
Replying in a monotone voice, Rete got off the chair and knelt on the floor with a blank expression.
"I will order you to fast and pray for 12 hours. While you pray to the Goddess, be sure to reflect on what you have done—"
"Professor Rachel!"
The door opened, and a monk rushed in and whispered something in Rachel's ear. Immediately, her frown deepened.
"I'll be there soon."
Rahell stood up and looked at Rete, who was still kneeling.
"Remember, it's 12 hours."
"Okay. Have a safe trip~"
Rete said as he clasped his hands together and prepared to pray.
Rachel immediately went out with the monk.
"Huzzah."
He stood up and walked to the door at the side without looking back.
"You think I'm crazy enough to do something stupid like that?"