I Became the Older Brother of a Villainess - Chapter 11.2
“Visiting the mercenary corps is the next step. Since the area we’re going to is far from the capital, not much is known about how it operates. No matter how insignificant the village, it’s my responsibility as a duke.”
“Wow, you truly are a duke. Even caring about people living in the outskirts of the dukedom.”
[♥♥♥]
Dandel’s innocent affection seemed to slightly increase. Seeing one more heart blink, I pretended not to notice. Good things are good… Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
The carriage traveled for half a day. It wasn’t easy to enter the village tucked away in a corner. Camping for the night was inevitable.
Fortunately, the carriage was spacious enough, so there was no shortage of sleep. As a duke, I luxuriously dined inside the carriage, while the coachman and Dandel planned to keep watch over the carriage, tending to a small campfire.
“Your Grace, please rest inside the carriage. We’ll finish setting up camp shortly.”
“Oh, then I’ll take a short walk. I’ll be nearby, so there’s no need to bother looking for me. It’s a bit of a hassle.”
“Yes! Please return before sunset!”
While Dandel and the coachman set up the camp, I quickly moved my steps. Nearby, there was a lake surrounded by dense thickets, providing the perfect hiding spot.
It was an opportunity to practice magic as a sorcerer.
Soon, I could slip away from the group’s sight. The lakeside, untouched by human hands, had trees and grass growing freely. Unfamiliar creatures rustled around me, curiously exploring before swiftly retreating. The timing was a bit awkward with the sun setting slowly.
Nevertheless, with the secluded surroundings, whatever magic I experimented with wouldn’t draw much attention.
Shall I practice the spell I tried once before?
“Fireworks!”
Casting magic by manipulating the status window and memories, I conjured a spell. In response, what appeared before my eyes was a faint mist. Within the smoke darker than storm clouds, pale currents flickered, burning briefly before vanishing.
“Huh? This is so different from the magic I remember. Back then, it was a bit more…”
Something seemed off. I had used the fireworks spell multiple times before, but the outcome was always the same.
The elaborate and beautiful effects I witnessed at the funeral home did not appear. Instead, there was an eerie smoke resembling the trim of the grim reaper, as if it had come to ruin a birthday party.
It was undoubtedly the skill of a necromancer. For a necromancer, this kind of faint skill would be dark enough to give chills, especially in such a gloomy setting.
“If they had used this directly at the funeral…”
A shiver ran down my spine. I rubbed my arms as if trying to dispel the cold sensation. Using such a grim reaper trim at a funeral might have led to accusations of devilry, or it could have immediately narrowed their standing. They might have had to bribe even the bishop and grovel to avoid being seen as hostile.
It was an arrogant judgment. I don’t know why, but fortunately, nothing dangerous happened…
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Personality: Arrogant – Permanently reduced defense, but can quickly raise likability.
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Today, the description of my personality in the status window bothers me.
“It was just a mistake. It doesn’t make sense to have an arrogant personality. There won’t be any more mistakes from now on.”
If I seek a magic mentor, I might be able to use ordinary techniques with more precision.
It seemed like I now understood why Cierra learned mediocre magic in the game. No wonder she roamed around questionable magic schools and back alleys, looking for a mentor who didn’t fit her class. It was because she felt awkward using sorcerer magic.
When will I find a magic mentor? It’s bothersome. But this, too, is an effort to live well and eat well.
“This time, I plan to live properly! Putting effort into it is also a talent! I am a talented person!”
I decided to indulge myself and opened the most important skills.
Namely, [Death’s Door] and [Summon Spirit].
Dark magic, perfect for when others aren’t watching.
“I’ve had dozens of different professions so far, adding one more as a necromancer is not a problem.”
I adjusted my posture and slowly used the command.
“Death’s Door!”
An indescribable sensation gathered in my arms. Immediately, the surroundings seemed to darken a bit, and a path appeared before my eyes. Instinctively, I knew. How to move to open Death’s Door, in which direction to channel the power to bewitch spirits.
Drawing a semicircle as if tearing through the air, black-burning traces appeared in the empty space in response to my actions. The aura was more somber and chilling than when using fireworks, enveloping my entire body.
Soon, along the traces, a door of steel, as if rusted black, appeared. A faint light flickered in a bluish hue, creating a path according to the patterns carved on the door.
“This is Death’s Door…”
It’s more like a manhole…
From the pale manhole, an eerie aura emanated. It certainly had the grandeur befitting the name Death’s Door.
Considering its size and appearance, it indeed resembled a manhole. However, with a name like Death’s Door, there must be something remarkable hidden within. It’s Death’s Door, after all. It’s not just a door; it has ‘Death’ prefixed to it.
Since the necromancer deals with souls, they might have a way to pass through or compress themselves, then expand afterward. In the world I originally lived in, even ghosts from horror movies managed to squeeze through outdated televisions. The ghosts in this world should be no different.
Please, Cierra. Even if I were a pathetic scarecrow of a duke, at least acknowledge that my necromancy skills were decent!
“Summon Undead.”
I reached out towards Death’s manhole. A peculiar sensation, as if my vitality were being drawn into the door, washed over me. In response, a black aura emerged through the gaps in the door, making an eerie, creaking sound.
However, the manhole, or rather, Death’s Door, showed no intention of opening. Instead, a cheesy ‘bling’ sound caught my attention. It was the status window.
[No undead available for summoning.]
In an instant, a ping and dizziness overwhelmed me.
The statement that I couldn’t summon undead was absurd, but it was mainly due to the significant mana consumption. As the tension eased, Death’s Door shattered and disappeared.
Summoning a mere manhole cover proved to be more taxing than expected.
I sank onto the grass, my legs trembling. Clutching my dizzy head, I checked the status window. The problem was immediately apparent:
Black Eyes: Can see wandering undead.
Death’s Door: Summons the Death’s Door.
Capture: Captures wandering undead and turns them into servant spirits.
Summon Undead: Summons Death’s Door to call forth undead.
“Capture.” That single word gripped me with determination.
