I Became The Academy Necromancer-Chapter 299: The Perfect Happy Ending

“Exams are oooover!”

Holding test papers in both hands, Eleanor Luden Griffin danced around the lab gleefully.

She was bouncing as if performing a traditional mask dance, her test papers proudly marked with an ‘A+.’

I had heard that she had been studying diligently, but seeing her prove it with results like these, it was clear that even if she hadn’t been a princess, she would have managed to live a good life without any problems.

“Deus! See? Praise me! Praise me!”

Eleanor bounded over to me like an excited child. With the exams behind her and the break about to begin, she was no longer Student Eleanor but Princess Eleanor.

Therefore, it was only right that I showed her respect befitting her status.

“Impressive.”

“Hehehe! Now, pat my head, too! Pat it!”

Though I knew how irreverent it was to touch a royal’s head, Eleanor wouldn’t back down even if I tried to reason with her.

Rustle, rustle.

Thus, without much thought, I patted her head, and she naturally leaned her head against my chest.

“Hey!”

Holding her test paper in a similar manner, Aria, who had been circling with Eleanor, suddenly snapped and interjected angrily.

She rushed to my side, pushing her way in and presented her head for a pat.

“I am sorry, but I would rather not.”

I only obeyed the princess’ command out of obligation; I had no particular interest in patting the head of a female student.

And it wasn’t as though professors should be engaging in such behavior with students anyway.

“You’re so mean! That’s unfair!”

Aria pouted, grumbling with a teary face, while Eleanor smirked smugly, her chin raised in triumph.

“This is the power of a hierarchical society. A system where a person’s worth is determined by some absurd, stinking lineage—and once you’re branded as lowly, you can never climb to the top, not even if you struggle until the day you die!”

Now Eleanor outright wrapped an arm around my waist and rubbed her cheek against me with a silly grin.

“You... you wretch...!”

Trembling with envy, Aria could only watch as Eleanor even draped her legs over my thigh.

“Ah, authority is truly the best! It’s thrilling! It always feels so fresh! I’m glad I was born a princess! No wonder people work so hard to climb to the top!”

“Eek! Eek!”

“It’s a relief that I was born well! Sure, being royalty meant enduring hell growing up, always having to be watchful of others’ reactions, but I think this reward makes up for all of that. Ah, even if I were offered a palace made of pure gold, I wouldn’t trade it for this moment. I’m truly glad I was born this way! To be hailed as noble just because of a drop of blood—how lucky am I!”

Watching her, I couldn’t help but wonder how long this would go on for. And I looked down at her, she cautiously lifted her head to meet my gaze and asked.

“U-uh how far can I go?”

Her expression was reminiscent of a sleazy man leering at a hostess; a slight dribble of drool and it would be perfect.

“I cannot offer anything beyond this.”

“Tch.”

Though disappointed, Eleanor said she would be satisfied with this for now, before proceeding to rub her cheek against me even more.

I was starting to worry if this would continue all the way back to Graypond in the carriage.

“...”

Standing beside us, Aria clutched her crumpled test papers, her gaze alternating between me and Eleanor with teary eyes.

Seeing her looking genuinely upset, I finally sighed and reached out to pat her head, but—

Thwack.

Eleanor’s hand intercepted my wrist and pulled it back toward her.

“No.”

“...”

“While I regret not being able to do more, I will not permit you to treat another woman the same way you treated me.”

Eleanor stuck out her tongue playfully, exuding her unique charisma.

Honestly, I was a bit surprised.

“You wretched bitch!”

Was she really just acting this entire time?

In the end, Aria exploded and lunged at Eleanor.

“You! You’ve crossed the line! Didn’t we agree to cooperate?”

“I found it annoying to watch you act pitifully like tha— Hey! Don’t pull me! Stop pulling me!”

Eventually, Aria succeeded in pulling Eleanor away from me. As I took a step back to assist Aria, Eleanor’s expression turned pale.

“Deus?”

“Ahem.”

I averted my gaze and walked back to the people who had been waiting for me.

Naturally, since this was the laboratory, Professor Fel Petra was present, and Erica was there waiting as well.

“Ha, haha.”

Professor Fel scratched her cheek awkwardly.

“...”

Meanwhile, Erica stood there with arms crossed, glaring sharply at me.

“It was just a childish prank.”

When I directed that comment at Erica, she snorted and responded.

“Do you really think so?”

“...”

“Are you honestly giving me that excuse even though you don’t believe it yourself?”

Erica moved closer and leaned against my chest as if she were about to collapse.

“Oh my!”

Professor Fel gasped in surprise as she watched us from behind. I, too, froze for a moment, stunned by Erica’s bold move.

“You smell like Eleanor.”

“Step back.”

“Me too.”

Erica tilted her head up and locked her eyes with mine. Her breath tickled my throat, and our chests felt unnaturally warm as they touched.

“Treat my actions as a joke, too.” freewebnσvel.cøm

“No respectable adult plays around like this.”

“You’re so annoying.”

Burying her face back into my chest, Erica whispered softly.

“Then this is not a joke.”

“Oh my.”

Professor Fel continued to chime in with well-timed remarks, almost like an audience member. I grabbed Erica’s arms with care and tried to push her away, but she was surprisingly strong.

Sigh, this is getting tricky.

If I didn’t use mana to enhance my physical strength, my body would have reached a point where I would have found it hard to even push away an adult woman.

While I knew my body had been deteriorating, it seemed that it had become worse following the numerous incidents I had been involved in.

“Deus?”

Having noticed something as well, Erica looked up at me with wide, startled eyes, her expression filled with fear.

However...

“Ah! Professor Erica, what are you doing!”

“Seriously! This is totally unfair! When will your engagement be called off?!”

Eleanor and Aria immediately cut in, allowing the situation to be defused naturally.

The two kids dashed to my side and began complaining.

“Seriously, why are you still bringing up that old engagement at times like this? Just give her the annulment letter and be done with it already. In fact, I’ll even officiate your breakup ceremony!”

“Then I’ll be on the groom’s side cheering and clapping!”

When Eleanor and Aria started acting up again, Erica finally pulled away from me and began scolding the two of them.

Though it seemed like they were bickering, it was clear that the three of them had grown close during my absence.

[Are you some kind of pillow? You’ve been getting hugged left and right today.]

The Dark Spiritualist, who had been observing the entire scene with her arms crossed, grumbled in annoyance.

Despite the string of blows she’d suffered from losing Fluffy and Fluffy II, she still seemed like her usual self.

[This is why being a ghost is nice.]

With a wide grin on her face, Stella suddenly clung to my back. Having just received hugs from Eleanor and Erica, the Demi God’s embrace felt notably lighter in comparison.

[Even if I do something like this, no one can see me.]

Stella held me tightly from behind.

[Don’t you think you have been getting a little too cocky as of lately, junior?]

While the Dark Spiritualist would’ve normally yelled and charged in a fit of jealousy, today was different.

While she was still irritated, her gaze directed Stella was colder than usual.

“I would not say she is getting cocky, but I can agree she has changed.”

[Do you know why this is happening? She used to behave like a saintess who cared about appearances, but now that no one but you and I can see her, she’s let go of all restraint.]

[I whont dhiney that.]

(I won’t deny that.)

The former Saintess, who was now burying her face in my back, replied with a voice so muffled that her words were barely intelligible.

Having shed her ascetic lifestyle, she was now gradually adapting to a more worldly way of living.

[This calls for some discipline.]

Snap!

With that, the Dark Spiritualist snapped her fingers.

Stella’s form began to take on color and became more distinct, unlike her previously ghostly appearance.

“Huh?”

“What’s going on?”

“...”

“Oh my!”

All four people in the lab turned their attention to Stella.

[...Huh?]

Stella, who had been happily enjoying her perch on my back, now looked at me in panic, confused by the sudden stares directed at her.

Her wide-eyed gaze seemed to be asking if I was responsible, but I shook my head and pointed to the Dark Spiritualist.

[Does it make sense if a teacher can’t do something her student can?]

The Dark Spiritualist puffed her chest out and shrugged her shoulders with pride, as if boasting about stealing the magic I had created.

It seemed that she’d figured out how to use magic to make Stella’s soul visible to others.

“Saintess... Stella?”

“Ah, so that’s the Saintess who preceded Lady Lucia?”

“Wha... what...”

“Oh my!”

[A-ah... no, wait, this isn’t...]

With her face turning bright red as if she were malfunctioning, Stella struggled to come up with a response. I thought she had stopped feeling embarrassed around others as she changed, but it turned out she only behaved like that because no one else could see her.

[I hate you, senior!]

With that, Stella took off, phasing straight through the wall.

[Phew, I’ve defeated the Saintess.]

Puffing up with pride, the Dark Spiritualist seemed rather satisfied with herself.

***The exams were over, and with summer vacation on the horizon, it was time to return to the capital city, Graypond, where the royal family resided.

I planned to travel with Eleanor in the carriage that came to pick her up, but before that, I needed to review the information Erica had provided regarding the Wellington Trading Company.

What surprised me a little was that even without Findenai, my maid, nothing had changed about the way I handled my tasks.

It clearly showed me just how useless she had been as a maid.

As I was sitting alone in the lab to organize my thoughts...

Creak.

Someone opened the door cautiously, and a black-haired girl peeked in.

“Professor, do you have a moment?”

It was Aria Rias, calm and composed, a stark contrast to her demeanor during the earlier tussle with Eleanor.

“What is it?”

I had assumed that all matters had been settled earlier, but I set Erica’s documents on the desk and asked.

Aria wore an expression that was a mix of shyness and seriousness.

“There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“Go ahead.”

At this moment, Aria didn’t seem like a mere student; she was carrying herself with a certain gravitas.

It felt similar to the aura of a battle-worn veteran retreating from the front lines.

There had to be a reason why she approached me now, after the exams and shedding her role as a student.

“About the first cycle.”

The topic started with something heavy.

I listened without any change in expression. In truth, I had anticipated she would bring up this question someday.

“In the first cycle, when I was in my fourth year, the continent was destroyed after I killed Luaneth Luden Griffin, the leader of Dante.”

The boundary between life and death crumbled, and the living were displaced by the dead as spirits roamed freely across the land.

That was how Aria’s first cycle came to a close.

However, that wasn’t the bad ending that led to the second cycle.

It wasn’t even an ending in the first place—it was a game over.

The wrong choices in the middle of the game had brought it to a premature close, not a complete conclusion.

In the game’s original story, Aria remained at the academy until the fifth year.

Aria seemed to have noticed that as well.

“In the first cycle, you never said that Dante and its leader were the final enemies, Professor. I believe there was something more to come afterwards.”

“Correct.”

I didn’t deny that.

While we had successfully thwarted Dante and Luaneth’s plans and saved the continent, the truth was, there was still more to the story.

There was still more yet to be revealed in the game.

“Is there an enemy yet to be defeated?”

“...”

It was understandable that one might misinterpret it.

Whether it was true or not, that was up for debate.

However, if I had to choose the strongest boss in the game, it would be Luaneth.

After that point, there was no story about defeating a boss or taking down the final antagonist.

“...”

In the past, I had used Aria as a tool to see the happy ending and save the continent.

For that, Aria Rias’ mental strength was the most important factor. What she felt during the regression mattered most.

The reason I had made her follow me obsessively in the first cycle, almost brainwashing her to trust and follow me alone, turning her into a tool, had all been for the conclusion that was soon to come.

However, there was no longer a place for Aria Rias in that conclusion.

I slowly stood up and placed my hand gently on Aria’s head.

I couldn’t do this to her earlier, but seeing her now, she truly seemed like a remarkable little girl.

“You have already reached the ending.”

“Professor...”

“So, there’s no need to worry about the future.”

I already knew it was something that had to happen, and I had said this many times before.

But still, I said it again.

“You just need to live happily.”

The first cycle’s ending was when Aria died, and the continent was destroyed.

However, what about the second cycle?

The perfect happy ending in the second cycle would only be completed with this girl’s suicide.