*Bang*
"IMEKI!!!!!!!" I cried out as the sound of terror echoed through the academy. I couldn't bear the thought of losing Imeki. With that noise, we already knew who the attack was aimed at—Imeki would suffer critical damage.
We had made Imeki a decoy to lure the attacker toward the building, but it wasn't like we had any other options. If I tried summoning an undead, it might be a bird corpse, totally useless against our enemy. My necromancy works by using a magic circle to summon a nearby corpse as an undead puppet. More like I'm a corpse parasite but I never expected Tsuki Ernie to make her move so quickly.
*Kaboom*
As soon as Imeki pointed toward the enemy, the attacker launched a ranged attack. We were running toward the building, but Tsuki turned around, looked at where Imeki pointed, and used explosion magic on her feet. The blast made a huge hole in the ground, propelling her into the air. In mid-air, she used her magic again, another explosion, and she landed straight on top of the building.
"..."
Arnes didn't know how to react to Tsuki's quick thinking. He looked at Imeki, who had been shot in the shoulder, the wound gaping so wide he could see through it. Imeki staggered but showed no sign of pain, though she couldn't move.
"Imeki, are you alright?"
"Don't worry, I'm a lich. I'll just use your mana to heal myself... don't worry about me."
I nodded and ran toward the building where Tsuki had flown to confront the attacker.
"Please, please, please, please, I hope Tsuki is safe." I chant like sutra while running towards the building roof.
As I ran alone, leaving Imeki in the garden, I opened the rooftop door and saw a different side of Tsuki. She wasn't her usual self—no weird behavior like during battles or when she talked to me in class.
*Craaaaank* The roof door made a huge metallic screech noise as I pushed it.
**Boom**
"ARREGHHHHHH!" The attacker screams in pain.
Tsuki used explosion magic on the enemy's right hand, crushing the bones and twisting the arm.
*Boom*
"AAAAHHHHHHH!"
Another explosion on the enemy's right leg twisted it upwards. Tsuki Ernie's legs were unharmed while she used on her own feet by her magic because of the custom-made boots by the academy she was wearing, designed with high-grade defensive materials, protected her.
"Hah, Tsuki, you aren't holding back, right?"
She didn't answer as she moved her hand toward the attacker's face, ready to use explosion magic again. I hesitated as I didn't want her to kill somebody
."Oi, stop it! Don't do it, Tsuki!" As she paid no attention towards me, I called her again.
She looked at me, tears glittering in her eyes, her cheeks flushed.
"Arnes, is Imeki alright?" Tsuki asked, her hands still on the attacker's face intending to blow her head off.
"She's p-perfectly fine. By the way, can you move your hands off her face? I have something to ask her."
"Alright, she's all yours since you were the one targeted by her... by the way, where is Imeki?"
I told her that she was safe and was waiting for us in garden.Tsuki's voice trembled as she cried but was serious about everything. She headed down to where Imeki was not even asking why I was being targeted by assassin.
***
"Now then, Miss, may I have your name?"
The woman's legs were crushed, her right hand damaged by Tsuki's explosion magic. She had black hair, gray eyes, and wore a battle mage outfit of our academy, indicating she was a student here too. Her weapon, a modern gun, lay far from her immobile body, embedded with magic diffusion to use as bullets, she was using the long-ranged attacks using the modern weapon.
Ah, that's how she was attacking us. She's probably rich to have such a costly weapon.
"...Reiveil Haniel," she coughed as she reveals her name, the target standing near her.
"Do you know anything about curses?" I smirked towards her, hoping for a clue about the cult.
"Curse... what are you talking about?"
Hmm, looks like she really doesn't know about my curse. She wouldn't lie purposely, not in front of her target, lowering her guard.
"Well, I think I'll have to dispose of you since I don't want more targets."
I pulled out the hidden dagger from my sleeve to kill the assassin targeting me. Killing wasn't considered a crime in this academy; it was training for life-and-death situations, though strictly prohibited for teachers.
"...P-please, anything but death... I beg you... I never wanted to kill you... I was threatened..."
I stopped my hand, inches from her throat.
"So, who threatened you?" I asked mincingly, looking directly into her eyes.
"I-it's the city knights, y-yes, they told me you were a criminal."
"City knights? If you were with them, I would know you. I was confined by them, and they wouldn't want me dead. They'd keep me safe and confined."
"Huh? W-why would city knights keep a criminal like you safe?"
Because my master, a city knight didn't let me die, and she won't let me die. So, I live because of her.
"I've had enough of your lies."
*Slash*
"Khaa... khaa.. aack."
"You won't be able to lie for the rest of your life. I cut your laryngeal nerve; now you can't make a sound. Thank me for sparing your life and wasting my time."
I picked up the assassin's weapon, leaving her immobile and alone on the rooftop knowing the principal will clear the mess.
***
"Damn, this gun looks expensive. Nice loot, Arnes," Tsuki said, back to her usual self.
Imeki, who was hit earlier, had completely healed after holding my hands, feeding on my mana. We lied to Tsuki, saying the healing team from infirmary took care of her. A lich is made of mana, part of a spirit, so she could use her master's mana to heal herself. She was different from any undead I had used necromancy on before.
"I'm just happy Imeki is alright, and we got this gun too, ha-ha." I laughed, feeling a twinge of guilt for the assassin, who lost her voice and her costly weapon.
"Even with all the shooting and explosions, no one came to stop us, not even a student," Tsuki said, annoyed.
"Yeah, they probably thought the seniors were practicing magic." I made my assumption.
The principal will likely handle the assassin, given her awareness. I'm more curious about the girl who manipulated Tsuki or used her body? Thats the women I met before during entrance ceremony.
"Anyway, I'm heading to the female dorm... why are you tagging along with me?"
"H-haah!!! My bad... Let's go, Imeki!" I blushed, embarrassed.
Classes were over, and after healing Imeki myself, lying to Tsuki that I took her to the infirmary but actually when she just touched me she healed herself with sucking my mana, we managed to attend two classes. I didn't get to talk to the blue-haired guy, Kerf, much. After classes, I tagged along with Imeki, heading toward the dorms. Mistakenly, I followed Tsuki to the female dorms instead of the male dorms. I was worried about Tsuki, who had been crying earlier but didn't bring it up, fearing she'd feel bad again. turning to different direction and waving at Tsuki in embarrassment, I walked toward the male dormitory, with Imeki following me.
***
"Arnes, we were neighbors all along."
"Kerf, why are you stalking me you gay?"
"I'm not a stalker, and I'm not gay! Also, Imeki is just my type, you know I am a straight man."
"Ugh... so you're into little girls? I'm disappointed in you, Kerf."
"I-I'm joking, you dumbass."
Kerfern Karshatsuha, the guy I befriended during rank-measurement, turned out to be my room neighbor. We had a friendly chat in the hallway before entering our rooms.
"Also, I wish I had a maid like you. Regardless of gender, they have no restrictions and can't leave their master's side." Kerf made a dreamy expression, pointing at Imeki.
"You're a noble, you know... I thought you had at least three or four." I am surprised Kerf didn't had any maid to tag along with him like other nobles. Only 20% of nobles in this academy walked along with maids but I was the only commoner with one, because I can't tell anyone that she is a lich summoned though my necromancy.
"My parents don't trust me with maids..." His expression turned gloomy.
"Even they know their son is a pervert."
"Hey, I don't want to hear that from a pervert who lives with a maid."
"Anyway, Kerf, I'll talk to you later. I need to freshen up."
"Oi, are you running away? This isn't fair!"
*Slump*
I closed the door as we got inside, Kerf's ranting still audible from outside.
"Now then, Imeki, let's get ready for tonight."
"Yes, Master. I'm sure it will be a great night."
***
"Imeki, right there, that's the spot. I like it."
"Yes, Master. Should I move a little back?"
"Yes, that's the view."
We silently made our way through the garden toward the forest. The academy is silent at night, and we reached a place filled with pine trees, a little forest untouched by the academy. I needed a corpse for my necromancy, as I had no puppet aside from Imeki, who plays the role of a maid. I needed a suitable corpse to fake my magic as a beast tamer.
"Master, there's a cemetery around the corner of the forest. I saw it on the academy's map," Imeki suggested.
"Nah, I can't use human corpses as a tamer. They'd find out I'm a necromancer."
If they find out, everyone will turn on me. Even the new friends I've made will betray and kill me.
I put my right hand on the ground, creating a yellow glowing magic circle. Slowly, a bird-like head emerged.
"Uwah, a bird again this time. My luck is always terrible," I muttered, thinking I had failed again.
But it looked like I was wrong this time.
"Master, isn't that a griffin?" Imeki asked, wide-eyed.
"Ah, yes, a griffin is indeed a common creature used by mercenaries during battles. This corpse will be useful for at least three months," I noted.
Corpses are cold, but I'll figure out some ways to make it work. It's not like my opponents or anyone else will touch a tamer's monster anyway.
I tried moving the griffin, controlling it from left to right, and it was a success. The corpse was usable after all. The griffin had a normal death, which meant the corpse hadn't sustained any damage and had died probably two or three weeks ago.
I put the corpse back inside the magic circle, and it closed automatically.
"Now then, the principal told me to meet her tonight. I wonder what business she has with me. I'm quite excited," I said, smiling.
"Master, you look happy when you talk about the principal," Imeki pointed out.
"..."
I didn't respond. The principal was one of the few people who treated me like a normal person despite knowing about my curse and magic.
"Anyway, Imeki, let's go... wait, let's use the griffin puppet. It will be a test drive, and we'll reach the office faster."
"Sure, Master," Imeki agreed, stepping back a little for me to summon the griffin again.
We both climbed onto the griffin and sat on the monster's corpse.
"Hold on tight, Imeki, don't fall...we gonna take this ride."
I controlled the griffin's wings, and it successfully took flight. The wings flapped, filling with air, and we started flying, heading toward the office.
To Be Continued...