The Betrayed Necromancer - Chapter 3

 The Hero City "Isa Ferdina"

"Swear loyalty to me... Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration? I'm glad you're grateful, though."

"There is no such thing. Crow-sama, you are the savior who rescued me from deep despair. I could not possibly repay this kindness even if I spent my whole life doing so. Please command me to do anything, come."

"W-Well, I understand, so please step back for a moment!"

I pushed back Alicia, whose pressure was strangely intense.

She looked cool on the outside, but it seemed she was the type to be surprisingly assertive.

"More than that, can you tell me what happened here?"

"——Yes, understood. I will tell Crow-sama everything."

Although she still seemed a little hesitant to speak, Alicia began to recount what had happened in this place.

"This is the city-state 'Isa Ferdina,' where heroes dwell. It is a city founded by heroes who gathered from all over, and many people once lived here happily."

Alicia spoke as if reminiscing about the past.

I had never heard the name of the city she mentioned. It was unnatural for the name of such a large city to be completely lost to history. It made more sense to think it had been deliberately erased from the records.

"Blessed with many heroes, we faced no invasions from other countries and lived in peace. However, we... obtained too much power."

"What do you mean?"

When I asked, Alicia’s eyes filled with a trace of anger.

"We grew too powerful... and because of that, we incurred the displeasure of the gods. Fearing our strength, the gods suddenly caused a light of destruction to fall from the heavens, destroying this city in a single night."

"Wh—What!?"

Hearing the truth spoken by Alicia's lips, I was astonished.

In the scriptures of the Divine Order Church of Orden Seraphia, gods are described as merciful beings. Since I had been told that since childhood, I had believed it, but it seemed the gods were actually worthless entities.

"By the way, Crow-sama. Why are you here? I would like to hear about your past as well."

"Well, it might be better for us to align our information. It’s not a very pleasant story, but I'll tell you."

I told her that I was a Necromancer, that I had fought alongside the hero to defeat the Demon King, that I had been betrayed and executed, and that I had somehow managed to revive using my necromancer powers.

Alicia listened in silence, but when I finished telling her everything, tears welled up in her eyes.

"Ugh... You went through such painful hardships... Yet, despite being in such a painful situation, you extended mercy to me. As expected of Crow-sama, my master, most noble person...! Indeed, there is no one else I could possibly serve."

"I-Is that so?"

"Even so, those former companions of yours are unforgivable. To betray Crow-sama... They deserve to die ten thousand times over. We must make them regret ever being born."

Alicia spoke with intense anger in her eyes.

I completely agreed with her. I had to get revenge on those bastards. I would inflict the maximum amount of suffering and give them the most agonizing death possible.

"And... I cannot forgive the god who gave the divine revelation to execute Crow-sama, either. Not content with just destroying us, to bare their poisonous fangs at Crow-sama as well... It seems that god's malice hasn't changed even with the passage of time."

That's right. To begin with, my execution started because of a divine oracle.

I had thought the gods were distant entities residing somewhere other than this world, but if they could launch a direct attack like the one that destroyed this city, perhaps we could strike back at them.

In that case...

"That adds one more target for revenge. I'll make them suffer, and suffer, and then kill them...!"

"To hear the name of a god and not be afraid, but instead make them your target for revenge—what extraordinary boldness... Truly, you are the only one worthy of being our new king."

Alicia gazed at me with eyes full of admiration.

Her evaluation of me was unusually high. But if she was willing to lend me her strength, I was grateful; I just had to make sure I didn't disappoint her.

"Alicia, I am going to take revenge on the god and the companions who betrayed me. Will you help me?"

"Yes, of course. This Alicia will accompany you to the ends of the earth."

With those words, Alicia knelt before me.

We had only been talking for a few minutes, but Alicia seemed to possess exceptionally high capabilities. Having her help would be a tremendous reassurance.

As I thought this, the surrounding undead began to approach my side... and, just like Alicia, they knelt before me.

"This is..."

"It seems the others feel the same way I do. They recognize you as their king and wish to lend you their strength."

The kneeling undead looked up at me with determined eyes.

Deep within those gazes, I could feel a powerful "anger."

They had been locked away in a place like this, forced to spend an eternity suffering from miasma without even being allowed to die. That anger must be immeasurably vast.

"I understand. I will clear away your grudges. So lend me your strength."

Hearing my words, the undead bowed their heads while still kneeling. It seemed they had agreed to my request.

Just the heroes present here—nearly twenty of them—had offered me their power. If I could bring all the heroes in this place to my side, getting revenge on those traitors wouldn't be impossible.

Seeing a glimmer of hope, I asked Alicia:

"Alicia, can you gather everyone who has become undead?"

"Yes. It would be my pleasure."

"And also..."

"A place large enough to gather everyone, and where Crow-sama's figure can be clearly seen, correct? If so, the castle in the center would be most appropriate. The main hall there will allow voices to carry well."

"I-I see. Thank you. That helps."

How on earth could she read my thoughts so well after knowing me for only a few tens of minutes? Honestly, it's a bit terrifying.

Are all top-tier maids like this?

"I will also prepare proper attire for you. Shall we go then? Let us quickly inform everyone of the new king's triumphant return."

"Yeah."

I answered briefly and started walking.

Things had taken an unexpected turn... but for the sake of getting revenge on them, I would do anything.

Let's become it, then—the king of this Abyss.

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