Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 38 - 37 Cursed Spirit Wood and Holy Spirit Wood
He looked at the main door, the pink wineglass symbol remained unchanged.
There was no issue with the location.
Blinking his eyes, the glittering dark-gold Raymond in front of him also remained unchanged.
There was no problem with his eyes either.
Mister Giant Dragon was definitely not as thick-skinned as Lyle.
"Raymond, you’ve invaded our clubroom!"
"No, I’m a guest," the man in dark golden armor spread out his hands, "As I’ve said, everyone has the right to come and go freely, the Holy Light Church as well as the Cup of Luxury. Am I right, Mister Gentleman?" Raymond raised his arm high and patted it on the gentleman’s shoulder.
Lyle saw Mister Gentleman shudder and reach out to steady his nearly fallen hat.
"Indeed, the Cup of Luxury welcomes every member of Andrey."
He glanced at Alianna, who was pestering Eliane with questions about her arm armor, completely oblivious to the conversation here, that enthusiasm made Lyle, a fellow newcomer, feel a tinge of jealousy.
Mister Gentleman, while calming Mister Giant Dragon down, invited the two individuals standing outside to come in. He fetched some rarely used extra chairs from his room and everyone settled around a large round table.
Mister Gentleman naturally took charge, "Over here is Alianna of the Cup of Luxury, Mister Giant Dragon, our new Plague Doctor, and myself as a gentleman."
"And our guests are Mister Raymond from the Holy Light Church and their newcomer, Miss Eliane."
"A fine introduction, Gentleman. Of course, you could add a prefix before Plague Doctor, that would be..." Mister Raymond hinted.
"That would be the rising star of Spirit Summoning Studies, a Plague Doctor who will surely not be swayed by the Holy Light," Mister Giant Dragon interjected.
"The Plague Doctor has studied Spirit Summoning Studies?"
"Do you have an issue with that? Haven’t you attended the first class of Spirit Summoning Studies?"
"Mister Raymond also studied Spirit Summoning Studies?"
"Yes, it’s a fundamental course. Although someone, when practicing, burnt the materials with Holy Light until nothing but ashes were left. In contrast, Mister Plague Doctor is an absolute genius; he revived a complete undead on his first try, and Mister Alfonso also has a legendary past."
Mister Giant Dragon vividly painted the scene at the time.
Alianna nodded along with the story, Mister Gentleman began to clap, and his applause encouraged the rest to do the same.
"Amazing, Mister Plague Doctor, you’ve met my highest expectations, I have a feeling this is the start of a legend," said Mister Gentleman cheerfully and playfully. He seemed even more exhilarated than himself. Although it was clear this was just encouragement, as everyone present could likely perform this beginner spell with ease, the praise was indeed intoxicating.
Lyle fully embraced an Eastern trait, that of modesty, "I just tried once following Mister Giant Dragon’s instructions, it’s purely a testament to Mister Giant Dragon’s high level of teaching."
Before Mister Giant Dragon had a chance to speak.
"Good! Worthy of being a member of our Holy Light Church, the humility of Holy Light is perfectly exhibited by the Plague Doctor, although it’s a bit self-deprecating. You should know that the students Mister Giant Dragon taught at Andrey number not less than ten thousand, if not eight. Nevertheless, you are also one of the outstanding ones, it’s definitely your own excellence," Mister Raymond’s armored arms clapped resoundingly.
Mister Giant Dragon felt somewhat bitter inside. Wasn’t this implying that his teaching was mediocre? Yet, the undeniable fact was that Mister Raymond’s existence was a testament to his own educational failure.
Eliane also felt a bit uncomfortable inside. Did His Excellency Raymond lose his mind? As a part of Holy Light, praising someone else’s gift for Necromancy—didn’t he remember the enmity between Holy Light and the undead? And the object of his praise was his intended newcomer; did he actually want to push the Plague Doctor in a different direction?
"Isn’t today’s focus supposed to be the gathering of materials for the Plague Doctor’s awakening ceremony?" As Mister Gentleman steered the conversation back on course, the attention shifted back to Lyle.
"Plague Doctor, how is Chaichai doing? Has he lost weight? What has he eaten?"
"Chaichai is doing very well. He’s grown as big as a house. Just the other day, he chewed off a Lavren Farmer’s arm, which made Cassandra send a sheriff over there," Lyle placed the plants and phantom moss on the table.
"Indeed, it’s been too long since I’ve seen Chaichai. I suppose he’s feeling lonely. If we draw the Church’s attention, it could be troublesome. Let’s hope it gets discovered later rather than sooner."
"No, the Church should already be aware." Ralph must have already informed them.
"Hmm? Shouldn’t the death of a sheriff result in sending more people to investigate? Has the government’s operational procedure changed again?"
It seems Mister Giant Dragon assumed Chaichai had disposed of the sheriff. Indeed, lacking evidence, the investigation would continue, and given the strength comparison, the complete wipeout by the sheriff as Mister Giant Dragon imagined was indeed very likely. But he surely didn’t expect that Lyle had tamed Chaichai using the method he taught.
"This is troublesome. It looks like we’ll need to prepare to move Chaichai."
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"Is there still time?" The church team may have already set out, if the church is responsive enough to the calls for help from its future followers.
"It’s all right. Not to mention whether they can find it or not, whether they can defeat it is another matter. That is my creation. When it was designed, I had already enhanced its survival ability."
Physically nearly immune, phasing stealthily into the terrain.
"Eliane, do you have a way to contact the church? Share the intelligence with them. If it comes to it, don’t let them go to their deaths."
"Your Excellency Raymond, given our current situation, we are essentially apostates. Communicating with the church is out of the question. If we were to appear rashly, it is almost certain that they would immediately turn against us and judge us."
"Hmm... this is difficult."
Is it really a good idea for you all to conspire so openly? Lyle expressed his doubts.
The others seemed accustomed to this, as if there was no such thing as a traitor among them, probably because they were themselves beyond redemption.
"The ritual materials are ready. I will contact friends from the Magic Research sector, and the Plague Doctor can agree on a time. Because the ritual will take quite some time, and there will likely be a need for rest afterward due to the aftereffects of the spell."
Take a break while you’re injured; if Ralph seriously uses that poor excuse for a vacation, no, given that man’s nature, it’s almost certain he will. Only by doing so can he stop himself from continuing to engage in dangerous work. There’s likely even a punitive aspect of being grounded to it. As for the possibility of his nephew becoming a laughing stock, what does that matter when one’s own life is at stake?
Lyle nodded to the gentleman, indicating that he would arrange some time soon. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
"Plague Doctor, I’ve looked over these plants you’ve collected. Some of them can serve as your casting materials. I will replace the rest with something of equivalent value. You will need the other materials for what is to come. However, your gathering skills are somewhat rough. In the future, you need to improve them, or perhaps you should visit the Friends of Nature. They would not refuse to teach you when you have the time." The Giant Dragon seemed to have the intention of making Lyle his disciple.
"Yes, sir. And this, is this the Strange Wood you mentioned?" Lyle pulled out the howling piece of wood from his pouch. The wood obliged by starting its howling then and there.
The nebulous humanoid smoke drifted out, meandering among those present.
It wasn’t as terrifying as Lyle initially experienced.
Silence.
The gentleman remained calm.
The Giant Dragon looked slightly pleased.
Alianna glanced over disinterestedly.
Eliane seemed to be disgusted.
Lyle, being prepared, showed no reaction.
Raymond was engulfed in a great wave of light.
The wood stopped its howling, and the mist settled upon it, facing in Lyle’s direction—as if remembering him.
What’s this, does it pick on the weak and fear the strong?
"This is Cursed Spirit Wood, Plague Doctor. You are quite fortunate; it is a piece of Strange Wood, and it is a material that matches up well with Spirit Summoning Studies. It has a significant aura of death in it. It will make a fine wand."
"Moreover, it is very helpful to us as well."
"Oh? Like how?"
"If you make a coffin out of Cursed Spirit Wood, within less than three days, the person inside will sit up and greet you."
Genuine necromancy material.
"As expected, Plague Doctor, you are the perfect fit, and so is this piece of wood. It’s fate."
Purify!
Mr. Raymond’s hand slammed down on the table, and Lyle’s eyes were blinded by the flash of light. In the dimness, he heard a truly soul-wrenching wail.
Once his vision returned.
Before him lay a piece of wood resembling a birch branch, with vein-like golden patterns flowing across its cross-section. The original Cursed Spirit Wood was nowhere to be seen.
"See that abundant Holy Energy? Plague Doctor, you are a man of the Holy Light!"
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