Who Said A Necromancer Can't Be A Priest?-Chapter 53: Murder Mystery (1)

A lot changed after that night. Both Aaran's personal and student life were impacted. He wasn't challenged to sporadic duels by the seniors anymore.

No one wanted to fight with someone who survived a night in the Dead Forest. But Aaran knew the real reason. He was the Emperor's and the Hero's future son-in-law. With such individuals behind him, no one dared to offend him.

As for Seraphina, she openly acknowledged their relationship the day after the award ceremony.

There wasn't a moment when she left his side. During classes, she sat by him, and afterward, she changed her dorm to live next door. Amara was amused by her reaction, but Aaran wasn't.

It felt more like she was staking a claim on him than expressing love. It was one reason Aaran did not want to get involved with women so early in his life.

Thankfully, his days in the academy were numbered.

True to his words, the Emperor called to teach him more about necromancy and dark magic.

His classes in the academy were to be substituted by classes with the Emperor, and so was his residence. He had moved into the imperial palace alone.

No one objected, but Amara wasn't pleased with the decision. But she wasn't the only one unimpressed by the Emperor.

The Head Preist thought the Emperor was intentionally keeping Aaran away from him. It was true, but not for the reasons, he thought.

The Emperor didn't want Aaran's darkness to leak in front of the priests. He kept the boy safe within the palace walls. However, the high priest assumed the Emperor's actions resulted from the assassination attempt on Aaran's life.

Aside from that, everything was smooth sailing. Until it wasn't.

There was a slight issue.

The Emperor wanted Aaran to prove himself before teaching him more.

"I do not accept unsubstantiated claims," he stated. "Before I teach you, you must prove your strength to me."

Just like that, three trials were presented to Aaran. Well, Emperor Trantua said there would be three trials but didn't reveal what they would be.

He'd be given one trial at a time. The Emperor would tell him about the next trial if he completed the previous one with satisfactory results. As for the first trial, it was easy.

Tame a spirit.

Perhaps the Emperor wasn't informed of his abilities, as Aaran thought. If he were, he'd be aware of Darius.

Aaran summoned the begrudging Darius, and the trial was complete. It happened so quickly; the Emperor had to excuse himself to prepare for the second trial.

It was good because Aaran had to deal with someone himself.

***

Sometime later, in Aaran's room.

"This is your great plan?"

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Darius was furious at Aaran. Usually, Aaran would have retorted with a smart-ass comeback, but he didn't. Darius's anger was justified. After all, Aaran was acting all chummy with the person Darius hated the most.

It was even worse that he was paraded before the Emperor like a toy. Although Darius enjoyed being goofy, he still had the ego of a king. And no king would enjoy being shown off as an accessory before his enemy.

"You promised me the destruction of this empire! And here you are, busy playing house with them!"

Once again, Aaran had nothing to say.

Eventually, Darius ran out of things to say, calmed down, and stared out the window like Aaran.

"Those trials… are you planning on clearing them?"

Aaran nodded.

"You're unbelievable—!"

"Do you not trust me?"

Aaran spoke eventually.

It was Darius's turn to be silent, and then he flew out the window.

[He's angry, boy.]

Let him be.

Darius could blame the Empire all he wanted, but in truth, his short-sightedness caused his downfall, not the Empire. He was strong, but his ego was his kryptonite.

If Aaran followed Darius's words, he would end up just like him. But with time, Aaran would deal with the Empire, like he promised Darius.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and the Emperor's arrival was announced.

"I hope I didn't disturb you?" Emperor Trantua asked.

"Not at all, Your Majesty," Aaran replied, bowing before the man.

The Emperor sighed at Aaran's words.

"Have you decided not to call me father?"

Aaran didn't answer, still bowing. It was after the ceremony that the Emperor asked Aaran to refer to him as father. But Aaran had no plans to follow every foolish order the Emperor gave.

As annoyed as the Emperor was, he ignored Aaran's silent rebellion.

"Your next trial will consist of solving a murder mystery," he said. "The details are enclosed in this file. Five knights will be at your disposal. As for the time… the sooner you solve it, the better."

After saying so, he left along with his entourage. Only the knights were left behind. It seemed they were leaving immediately.

"The carriage is waiting outside, Your Highness," a knight said.

***

A few hours later in the carriage.

Sending a nine-year-old to solve a murder mystery—only the Emperor could have come up with something as ridiculous as this.

I have a feeling this wasn't the original trial.

The Emperor definitely changed the trial when Aaran refused to address him as father. Aaran didn't bother with him. The Emperor might want an heir, but Aaran would never give the Emperor that pleasure.

With a sigh, Aaran opened the file. Since he had accepted the trial, he might as well commit to it. But a moment later, he regretted his decision.

The file was full of grotesque photographs of a dismembered corpse. The headless corpse belonged to King Nessid, one of the few nobles who openly disliked the Emperor.

When he died, naturally, people thought it was the Emperor's doing, although none voiced their opinion. Aaran, on the other hand, disagreed. If the Emperor wanted someone gone, that person would disappear without a trace. The cleaners wouldn't leave the corpse behind.

Sure enough, as Aaran read the report, he realized it wasn't the work of the Emperor or a serial killer. Something or someone worse was behind it.

Meanwhile, a knight, Valgo of the Long Nose, sat across from Aaran, watching him intently. The five knights had been working day and night to catch the culprit before they reached out to the castle for help.

But instead of sending a squad of capable people, the Emperor returned them to Nessid with a child. It deepened the doubt within Valgo's heart that the Emperor was indeed behind the assassination.

Still, he was surprised to see the kid so engrossed in the folder.

Those images were enough to make an adult puke their guts out. Yet the child remained unaffected? No scream, no nothing.

"We've arrived, Your Highness," Valgo announced. "We'll travel through magic circles from now on."