NOVPUB
Chapter 295: Cat
Their reactions upon reuniting were as impressive as those of Erica.
The scents of the two girls embracing me from front and back simultaneously enveloped me almost violently, and their youthful, not-yet-fully-matured bodies radiated a vibrant sense of life.
Aria, in particular, held me with such a strong grip that it was almost painful. However, I simply took it as her way of welcoming me warmly. So, I wasn’t really bothered.
The problem came afterwards.
As I watched the two, who had been burying their faces and rubbing them against me, finally separate and start eating...
It seemed they were more focused on reflecting on the discussion they were having before I arrived than actually eating.
In the end, I was the one to break the silence.
“Do you always...”
“It’s Eleanor who started it first!”
“It’s because of her that I got dragged into it too!”
Seeing the two immediately point fingers at each other felt like watching gunslingers in a Western standoff.
“Do you eat here often?”
“...”
“...”
Upon realizing that I wasn’t asking about their squabble, they both clammed up again and lowered their heads.
“Uh, yes. We usually eat here.”
“People tend to stare at us if we eat in the cafeteria.”
They hesitated before replying.
I took a sip of my coffee before asking another question.
“Are you doing well at the academy?”
It felt like the awkward small talk an adult might make with kids they don’t know well.
I took time off from my trip to Graypond to meet them briefly, but now I was starting to wonder if it was even worth making this detour.
“Yes! Absolutely! We’re having such a great time thanks to you, Professor!”
“Deus! When’s your next lecture? Are you returning next semester?”
Delighted to see me show interest in their lives, they immediately wagged their metaphorical tails in response.
And what followed was casual small talk.
Despite having their lunch boxes in front of them, Eleanor and Aria didn’t seem interested in eating and kept asking me various questions.
Where have you been, what have you been doing, did you miss us, and so on.
Seeing the two now chattering like girls their age, I went along with the flow and answered each question calmly.
“You visited the Han Empire? Wow, you’ve been to a really far place. I’ve never been there myself.”
“I want to visit it someday too!”
If not for the bell signaling the end of lunch break, the conversation might have gone on.
“Ah...”
“Oh no.”
Aria and Eleanor both looked at me with regretful eyes. Since we were too focused on chatting, their lunch boxes were nearly untouched.
“Students should act like students.”
However, I remained firm.
Whether they were a princess or a hero, at the academy, they were just students. Without a hint of hesitation, I took the last sip of my coffee.
Rather than feeling chastised, the two seemed to find my reaction reassuring. Smiling brightly, they packed up their lunches and returned to their classroom.
“Professor! You’re not leaving again, are you? I’ll stop by your laboratory after class!”
“Deus... I mean, Professor! Let’s head back to Graypond together once exam season is over!”
Watching the two girls dash off noisily, I simply waved at them, telling them to study hard.
***“Whew.”
Sitting down in my usual spot in the laboratory, a peculiar sense of calm washed over me.
Seemingly pleased with my appearance, Professor Fel, who had just finished greeting me, added a comment with a bright smile.
“Indeed, that seat suits you best.”
I didn’t bother responding, but I agreed. Feeling a familiar sense of satisfaction, I asked her.
“The item you gave Erica, did you make it yourself, Professor Fel?”
“Uh... yes. At the time, Professor Erica seemed so lonely, and I thought it might be of some help to her.”
A genius without a shred of common sense.
Having spent more time locked away in her lab expanding her knowledge than engaging with people, she was somewhat out of touch.
Still, knowing she meant well, I saw no need to chastise her.
After all, I wouldn’t even be here without her help in the first place.
[She is just like Senior.]
Stella, standing by my side, murmured. She had a point.
Both individuals were so absorbed in their research that they avoided interacting with others and achieved significant breakthroughs in their respective fields.
[...Physically, too.] 𝓃ℴ𝓋𝓹𝓊𝓫.𝒸𝓸𝓂
Stella added an unnecessary remark at the end, pointing out the intimidatingly well-developed physiques of both the Dark Spiritualist and Fel Petra.
[Should I have secluded myself somewhere to focus on prayer or study, too?]
Stella’s half-joking comment was a reflection of her more relaxed demeanor lately. It wasn’t unpleasant.
As Professor Fel returned to her seat, I lowered my voice so she wouldn’t be able to hear me and whispered to Stella.
“Where’s the Dark Spiritualist?”
Ever since we returned to the academy, she was nowhere to be found. It felt like waiting anxiously for a child left near the waterside.
Her emotions had been pretty volatile as of late, especially after seeing Xiao Hu off.
She’s like a kid crying over a lost pet.
While I mentioned that she acted similarly to Professor Fel earlier, if I had to choose, I’d pick Fel.
At least she made an effort to show responsibility and maintain the demeanor of an adult toward her students in her role as a professor.
[Who knows? She said something about heading to the hill behind.]
“The hill behind?”
[Yes, she said she’d make a quick trip there and left.]
“...”
The Loberne Academy did have a hill behind it. Though it was a bit far, it was there, so we just called it the hill behind.
And even among the souls at the academy, there were often those who had crossed over from there.
Speak of the devil.
The Dark Spiritualist phased through the wall, a bright smile visible beneath her veil.
[Deus!]
“Ugh, My head hurts already.”
Whenever she approached me with a cheerful look on her face, it usually meant trouble or a bothersome task.
She seemed utterly uninterested in acting her age.
[Should I give you a massage?]
Without waiting for an answer, Stella seized the opportunity and began pressing down on my shoulders. Finding it unexpectedly relaxing, I let her continue.
[Now that I can touch things, I can even do things like this! I’ll give you a proper one in bed tonight.]
“I do not wish for you to go that far.”
[I’m really good at it. Nuns learn these things, you know.]
“Why would nuns need to learn massage techniques?”
[It’s not just about counseling; sometimes, we help relieve stress with massages. They’re surprisingly popular.]
Stella leaned closer, her lips brushing past my ear, and whispered softly.
[A Saintess’ massage—it’s pure bliss, you know?]
“Do not let Velica corrupt you.”
Stella has been behaving in a way that could only be described as seductive recently, leaving me somewhat flustered and, frankly, a bit overwhelmed.
[Fufu, I’ll give you one today.]
Having made up her mind, Stella resumed her massage, kneading my shoulders. And as our conversation lapsed into silence, my eyes naturally fell on the Dark Spiritualist standing in front of me.
[Why are you ignoring me?]
“Do not sulk at your age. It is unseemly.”
[I really hate you.]
She grumbled and complained, but that was as far as her protests went.
“P-Professor Deus! A staff suddenly flew into the lab and started floating around!”
Perhaps because the Dark Spiritualist had entered the laboratory through the wall that Heralhazard’s staff, bound to her, was flying inside as well?
“It is nothing. Just ignore it.”
After calming Professor Fel, who was in a panic, I turned my attention back to the Dark Spiritualist.
“So, what were you doing at the hill behind?”
[...Hmph! Now I don’t feel like showing you.]
Still sulking, the Dark Spiritualist glared at me with narrowed eyes before silently extending her arms forward.
Then, a black cat emerged from the ground, slipping effortlessly into her embrace.
[Meow!]
“...!”
[Oh my!]
Yes, it was a cat—a dead cat, to be precise.
Black cats and dead cats had long been considered omens of misfortune, and this one happened to embody both.
As I mentioned before, it was very rare to come across animal souls. With their low cognitive abilities, they were unlikely to harbor strong resentment or any lingering thoughts that would cause them to awaken after death.
[Meow!]
And yet, this one was awake.
Its eyes gleamed like full moons, and its sleek black fur shone as if it had just been groomed.
I frowned and studied the creature, but the Dark Spiritualist presented it to me cheerfully.
[Isn’t it cute? I picked it up and even gave it a name!]
“I see that naming things has become a hobby of yours.”
Ignoring my comment, she beamed and announced.
[Since it came after Fluffy, its name is... Fluffy II!]
“...”
[Fluffy II. It’s a cute name, isn’t it?]
I could already feel a headache coming. The proud necromancer who taught me Black Magic and fought Heralhazard until the end—where had she gone?
Was it really the same fool in front of Fluffy II?
“You do realize that could be dangerous, right?”
Pressing my fingers against my temples to ward off the growing fatigue, I asked, and she puffed out her chest with confidence.
[Don’t you know who I am? I’m the Dark Spiritualist, the greatest necromancer on the continent. I won’t be harmed by a mere spirit like this.]
“I am saying this because you do not know any better.”
Indeed, she had no idea.
The souls of humans and animals followed entirely different principles.
Human souls that lingered usually did so because of unresolved attachments, but they rarely became evil spirits.
An evil spirit was born from an obsession that prevented one from closing their eyes, combined with a type of madness.
“The same applies to animal spirits.”
Animal spirits could awaken under a similar mechanism, but the key difference lay in probability.
“Usually, nine times out of ten...”
[...]
“An awakened animal spirit is malevolent.”
Such spirits were deeply rooted in grudges, far beyond the natural order.
“And most of them harbor hostility toward humans.”
[B-but...]
Despite having seemingly grasped my explanation, the Dark Spiritualist still held the cat in her embrace.
Perhaps aware that it was the subject of our conversation, the cat yawned lazily and rubbed its face with its front paw.
[Fluffy II is docile, though.]
“...”
[The animal spirits you’re describing wouldn’t even allow humans to approach them. But look at this.]
When the Dark Spiritualist hugged her tightly, the cat meowed in delight as if enjoying it.
[It loves people!]
Seemingly thrilled, the Dark Spiritualist tightened her embrace and as a result, the cat buried in her voluptuous chest struggled in distress before it eventually managed to escape.
[Fluffy II!]
Then the cat...
[Meow!]
Hopped onto my desk and promptly settled down for a nap.
[Oh my, how adorable.]
Covering her mouth with a hand, Stella admired the cat’s cuteness while the Dark Spiritualist fussed over it excitedly.
“...”
Yet, I still didn’t lower their guard toward the cat.
