Summoning Genius of Necromancer School Chapter 176Four days into the train journey.Only one day remained until their destination.Many things had happened in the meantime.Simon had taken a full day's nap in the middle of the day, and the three of them, including Ellen, had played card games. Then, it seemed the game looked fun to passengers in other cabins, as seven people eventually joined in.When the train stopped at a station, they would get out and stretch vigorously, buying various foods. The food served on the Divine Train was decent, but they were getting tired of it. At the stations, they could buy much tastier and more generous lunchboxes.It was quite enjoyable to try the unique local specialties at each station. It was a taste of travel that could only be experienced in the Divine Federation.Simon, wanting to enjoy the train culture a bit more, even went to the third-class cabin and mingled with the travelers there. Though their cultures might differ, they were all good people, the kind you could find anywhere.Simon, with his characteristic friendly demeanor, quickly became close with everyone. Now, whenever Simon passed by, the older men would offer him rum, saying, “Hey, kid, have a drink!” After one too many, he returned to his cabin in a daze and slumped onto his desk, only for Lete to pat his back with a look of pity.And then there was Inquisitor Metin.Even after being dragged away and beaten by Lete, he didn't give up, persistently interrogating Simon. Each time, Lete would glare at him as if to kill him, but he paid no mind. It was only the senior inquisitors caught in the middle who found themselves in an awkward position.Ultimately, the seniors frequently had to intervene, cutting off Metin's interrogation and pulling him away.While Lete's anger was frightening, Simon's reputation among the inquisitors had actually improved significantly due to his devout and polite demeanor. Now, no one was on Metin's side.“Hey, hey! Lighten up, rookie.”When Metin was dragged away by his seniors after only asking two questions, a senior inquisitor, Odel, put his arm around Metin’s neck and said cheerfully,“Even if that guy really is a Necromancer, don’t you have to give him credit? It’s hard to find someone as devout as him even in the Federation.”“………”Metin stared blankly at the senior inquisitor.This senior’s name was Odel. A four-year veteran inquisitor, he was the team’s mood maker.“Senior.”“Hmm?”“You seem to know a lot about Necromancers.”It was a sarcastic remark, but Odel burst into hearty laughter.“Ah, of course! My job is to hunt those guys down!”“Necromancers desecrate the deceased, feel sexual urges towards corpses, and commit acts of terror for fun. They are a terrible race.”Odel lightly grabbed Metin’s crown and vigorously ruffled his hair from side to side.“Ugh, that hurts!”“Well~ I can’t understand those bastards’ tastes either. But the ones who commit terror in cities and do bad things are just extreme cases. To put it more simply? It’s just ‘those who would, do’! Do you really think this diligent and kind guy would commit terror and do bad things? Is the only reason you think that because he’s a ‘Necromancer’?”“………”At those words, Metin felt his resolve waver for a fleeting moment and bit his lip.“Whether they do bad things or not, Necromancers cannot be forgiven for their very existence.”Odel chuckled.“Right, right. What am I trying to convince a devout young man like you for? The conclusion is to be flexible.”They had arrived at the Inquisitor’s lounge at the front of the train. Standing at the door, Odel patted Metin’s shoulder and continued,“Many ordinary people dislike the Goddess. Their lives are so miserable, and no matter how much they pray to the Goddess, not a single crumb of bread falls from the sky, right? Yet, the monasteries constantly collect taxes, church tithes, and twelve articles. If we throw everyone who harbors dissatisfaction with the Goddess into heresy, there won’t be anyone left to farm, and the entire Federation will wither and die.”“………”“Alright, alright, I’ve lectured enough. Let’s go in!”The two opened the door and entered the Inquisitor’s lounge. Five men, including the captain, Baccara, were laughing boisterously.“Oh, rookie! Did you get thrashed by that guy again today?”“Judging by your grim face, definitely!”“Hahahaha!”Metin ignored their remarks and slumped into a seat at the end. Baccara said, “That’s enough, that’s enough,” and restrained the seniors.“Good work, Odel, Metin.”“Yes, Captain!”Odel replied with a grin.“………”Metin only nodded, his fingers interlocked. Several senior inquisitors pointed out his attitude, but Baccara restrained them again.‘What do these guys, who are just slacking off on the Divine Train, know?’Metin was displeased with the seniors here.Metin and his original colleagues were responsible for the front-line conflict zones. Those places were tainted by the Dark Alliance’s propaganda, teeming with Necromancer followers and heretics.If someone was suspected, they had to be interrogated immediately to set an example and establish order. Otherwise, they would be the ones caught and killed.But the inquisitors in charge of the train, perhaps because they were in a peaceful rear jurisdiction, were all indecisive.From Captain Baccara, who was only good-natured, to Odel, who defended Necromancers. Metin found them all pathetic.“Alright, alright.”Odel stood up and clapped his hands, livening the mood.“Today’s schedule is over, and we just skipped yesterday’s holy day! We should at least have a light drink today!”It was a custom on the holy day of the Dave religion to drink red wine made by the monastery and pray to the Goddess. Odel said so and took out a top-quality wine from his bag.“This one’s from Banyard Monastery! It’s 17 years old.”“Wow! Isn’t that an expensive brand?”“Nice, nice! We’re priests too, we should celebrate the holy day.”The atmosphere became boisterous. Odel poured a glass of the finest wine for everyone. Metin refused, but under the gaze and coercion of his seniors, he reluctantly accepted it.“What about Sara?”Baccara asked. She was the only female inquisitor on this train’s inquisitor team.“She’s probably sleeping in the women’s cabin as usual, right after work. Sara can’t even touch alcohol.”“Let’s just have a quick one among ourselves.”They agreed. Odel, the owner of the wine, raised his glass and offered a prayer. Everyone closed their eyes and listened to Odel’s prayer.“Thank you for the grace of the great Goddess! Laus!”“Laus!”Everyone vigorously brought their glasses to their lips. Exclamations of admiration erupted from various places.“Ugh! This tastes good!”“It’s good. But it feels a bit like my throat is burning…….”By the time they realized something was wrong, it was already too late.“……Huh?”The inquisitors lowered their heads. Something crimson was protruding from their chests.The train wall had turned red like living flesh, and thorns had sprouted from it. The moment they swallowed the wine, their bodies stiffened, preventing them from dodging or deploying defensive barriers.Clink!Odel, who was standing alone, grinned and dropped the wine glass he was holding onto the floor. The wine stained the floor red like blood.“You……!”Baccara’s pupils trembled.“You weren’t Odel……!”Thud! Thud! Thud!At Odel’s gesture, countless thorns burst from the wall, piercing Baccara’s body.“You’re the most troublesome one here, so I had to make sure you were dead. But.”Odel turned his head.“How did you notice, rookie?”Among the five inquisitors who had all met their demise, there was one who was half-standing, gripping a thorn. It was Metin.“From you, neither divine power nor the smell of Jet Black is clear. Only the smell of blood.”Metin said, flaring his nostrils.“A terrible smell of blood, strong enough to mask all other scents. This kind of smell only comes from notorious murderers, but for someone like that, you acted too normal.”“Hmm, so that smell talk wasn’t nonsense after all?”In fact, Metin had tried to tell his seniors that Odel had a suspicious smell. However, his words, having lost credibility due to the Simon incident, were not taken seriously.“Eastern Frontline Inquisitor Metin.”Whoosh!Metin spread his arms. A subspace opened, and torture tools fell to the floor or attached to his body.Metin took a combat stance.“From now on, I will begin the inquisition. Reveal your true identity obediently.”“That would be a good final gift.”Fwoosh!A terrible aura erupted from his body, tearing his upper garment. On his bare, torn torso, crimson markings were visible painted all over his body.“My name is Aloken.”Odel tore off the biological face attached to his own, revealing the face of a middle-aged man with long, slit eyes.“I am a bishop of the Blood Heaven Cult.”***The fight didn’t last more than two minutes. Metin, covered in blood, collapsed against the wall.“Weak.”He wasn’t even a hindrance. Aloken bared his teeth, smiled, and moved on. Beyond this inquisitor’s lounge were the crew quarters, and then the engine room.Aloken crossed the carriage and opened the door. The crew, who were busy preparing meals, stopped in surprise. Aloken raised his arm.Thud! Thud! Thud!Several crew members fell, covered in blood, from a force whose principle was unknown.“Kyaaaaaaah!”“Shut up.”At Aloken’s chilling words, the surviving crew members covered their mouths, trembling. Aloken waved his hand, and a noose made of blood flew out, coiling around the crew members’ necks.“Ugh!”Aloken, gripping the nooses, headed straight for the engine room. The crew members were dragged along, groaning in pain.The iron door to the engine room was tightly shut, but when Aloken placed his palm on it, fresh blood exploded, shattering the iron door.“Gasp!”The chief engineer gasped in terror and fell from his seat.Aloken looked around. In the center of the engine room was an incredibly complex permanent divine magic circle, with numerous pipes attached to it, supplying divine power to the magic circle.“From now on, this entire train is a sacrifice for the Blood Heaven Cult. All inquisitors are dead, so abandon any resistance.”At his words, the chief engineer’s face turned pale.The Blood Heaven Cult! Weren’t they the crazy heretics who had been committing massacres recently?“Turn the train around, Chief Engineer.”Aloken dropped a map at the trembling chief engineer’s feet.“Reduce speed and head to point C marked on the map.”The chief engineer looked at the map and indeed saw a point marked ‘C’ in red letters.“Th-this track is abandoned and ruined! If we send the train there……!”“We’ve already restored the track.”Aloken continued coldly.“Stop talking and do as you’re told.”The chief engineer swallowed hard and said,“You’re telling me to put the passengers in danger? I absolutely cannot……!”Thud!Before the chief engineer could finish his sentence, Aloken’s hand moved backward. One of the crew members he had dragged along fell, covered in blood, with a thud! sound.“Kyaaaaaaah!”A piercing scream shook the engine room.“I’ll kill one every time you waste time.”Thud!Blood burst from the second crew member’s body, and he went limp.“After these guys, I’ll bring the passengers from the cabins and make them all explode and die in front of you.”Thud!The third crew member’s body burst. The chief engineer’s body trembled uncontrollably. Aloken reached out his arm to the last crew member.“Please! Waaah! Ugh! Chief Engineer! Save me!”The last remaining crew member sobbed and pleaded.The chief engineer also shed tears. This murderer was serious. He truly believed that even if all the crew here were sacrificed, Aloken would really drag in the other passengers. “……Alright.”Finally, the chief engineer sat down and activated the divine magic circle.A moment later, Aloken smiled contentedly as he watched the slowed Divine Train safely transfer to the C-section track.“Excellent.”Thud! Thud!The chief engineer and the remaining crew members also fell, covered in blood.Now, no one could stop him. He laughed loudly and took out a communication crystal ball.“It’s going according to plan. Begin.”***“Everything’s going according to plan~”Lete, in a soft voice, said, her mood brightened by the cream cake served for dessert.“We’re almost at our destination. Get off at the station and go straight up, and you’ll find the Tree of Life. We can finally save Anna-sensei.”“………”Lete stopped talking and looked at Simon.“What’s with that serious expression?”“……Don’t you smell something strange?”Lete shrugged.“Did you get infected by that Metin guy too? What smell?”“The smell of blood.”At those words, Lete’s expression stiffened slightly. Simon stood up.“I smell a pungent smell of blood.”
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