I Became The Academy Necromancer-Chapter 291: The Last Supper

“Well, what do you think, Chef? I believe the Balance wine is a better choice.”

Before the meal, I headed to the dining hall and happened to see Deia there.

Despite her busy schedule, she insisted on joining the dinner preparations, ordering the chefs and staff around.

“My Lady! An herbalist brought some wild greens! And the hunter who accompanied him caught a few rabbits—are these ingredients good to use?”

She even summoned the herbalists and hunters from the Norseweden region?

Then, the staff entered with both hands full of ingredients.

“Chef! Here’s some fresh ingredients we just got—what do you think? Can you use them?”

“Hmmm... The greens look usable, but the rabbits would be perfect as a substitute for the meat in the appetizers since they’re so fresh!”

“Great. Start prepping the rabbits first, and I’ll take a quick look at the greens.”

She moved around busily, working seamlessly with the chef.

Would she even put this much effort when entertaining VIPs?

As Deia sorted through the usable greens and took them to the kitchen, her gaze met mine.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to speak with the chef, but it seems like you got here before me.”

“Hmm, I’m helping out. I have a bit of a knack for gourmet cuisine, you know.”

“Do you?”

“Bleh.”

Deia stuck her tongue out proudly.

I assumed she would retract it soon after, but she kept it out for what felt like a whole minute.

“Okay, that is enough.”

“That was for you—sticking my tongue out.”

“...”

“Ask Sevia to do it. She does that, too.”

I received some completely random information. How can a baby who could barely babble stick out her tongue?

“Since she couldn’t curse at the baby, Findenai would stick out her tongue every time Sevia peed. It was the least she could do to hold back.”

“What an excellent example to set.”

After the brief chat concluded, Deia asked cautiously.

“So, what did you want to talk about? Something you need to tell the chef?”

“Yes, there is a dish I would like to add to the menu.”

“Hmm? Then tell me. I’m the one in charge right now anyway.”

Seeing her declare this confidently, something about her words struck me as odd.

“Why are you even working here? Do you not have other important things that need your attention?”

“Uh, uh...?”

Looking flustered, Deia acted as though her secret had been uncovered, fidgeting with her hands before eventually confessing.

“Sigh... I did something bad.”

“Something bad?”

“It’s regarding Goben. I got suspicious and did some digging into him. But it turned out he was clean. Sure, he was a petty criminal when he lived with the gang, but after becoming a coachman, he hasn’t done anything shady.”

“...”

I already knew that.

He was a meek man.

When Stella and I observed him, there was nothing particularly off-putting, and even Findenai’s intuition failed to catch anything.

However, things were different now.

“I felt a bit bad, so I decided to get involved in planning the menu. That man, Goben, said our food was so delicious that he couldn’t stop eating it.”

Perhaps worried I might scold her, Deia gave me a thumbs-up and winked.

“So, as an apology, I’m preparing him a delicious meal...!”

“I was already aware.”

Deia probably intended to hide it, but I had anticipated it well in advance. It was obvious she wouldn’t skip running a background check on him.

“I assumed you would do at least some digging.”

“You know that’s kind of insulting, right? You make me sound like a shady woman. I was doing it for Illuania and Sevia...!”

As Deia leaned in to defend herself passionately, I grabbed her by her shoulders and pushed her back to create some distance.

It was not my intention to criticize her for what she had done.

On the contrary.

“You did well.”

“Huh?”

Deia looked up at me, mouth agape, unsure of what I was saying, as I continued.

“Dig deeper. Not just Goben—trace it back to whoever assigned him to the Clark Republic request. Follow the trail all the way to the client and uncover its roots.”

“...Why?”

Deia looked baffled, as though she couldn’t comprehend what I was saying. Trusting the information she had uncovered was fine, but right now, that same trust was becoming a hindrance.

Information was being updated constantly and evolving in real-time. While Goben may have been clean when Deia and Findenai first investigated him, but...

“Things might be different now. It needs to be thoroughly investigated. And please, do it quickly if possible.”

“...”

Perceiving the seriousness of the matter, Deia nodded quietly but then hesitated and asked, just in case.

“We can still trust Goben with Illuania and Sevia, right?”

I felt like I could hear Deia’s pounding heart echoing all the way here. She must have been desperately hoping that the answer she wished to hear would slip out of my mouth.

“Yes, before he headed to the Republic.”

However,

“Not anymore.”

***“T-this is... so! So delicious!”

Having devoured even the main course, Goben exclaimed in awe, overwhelmed by the flavor.

While Illuania would have normally signaled him to be more mindful, even she was staring at his empty plate in amazement.

“Hehe.”

Deia puffed up with pride.

Perhaps because of her meddling, today’s meal didn’t pale in comparison to dishes served by the royal kitchens.

A unique atmosphere that could only be found in a place up north like Norseweden filled the table.

“It was truly delicious! I never knew a meal could bring so much happiness!”

At Goben’s over-the-top reaction, Darius simply smiled and nodded.

“Well, as long as it was delicious, that’s enough. This is our way of repaying Illuania for her dedication to us.”

“Y-you didn’t have to go...”

Illuania didn’t know how to respond. After all, she was the servant with the shortest tenure.

It was only because she was someone special to me that she was receiving such special treatment.

Kyah!

Perhaps because the mood was so good, Sevia also cried out happily, further uplifting the already lively atmosphere.

“I-I will take great care of Illuania and Sevia! Because of this deal, I’ll also gain recognition at the company! My position will stabilize! And I might even be able to renegotiate a new contract entirely!”

Darius responded to Goben’s detailed pleas for trust with nothing more than a gentle smile.

Then, placing his hand on his thigh, Goben turned to me and declared.

“Lord Soul Whisperer, with your blessing, I swear to make these two happy and love them for the rest of my life!”

“...The final dessert remains.”

Instead of replying, I changed the subject.

Right on cue, the chef brought out a dessert plate.

A small dish, light enough to be carried in one hand.

Sitting on it was a single slice of cake.

The dessert, covered with a translucent lid, was placed at the center of the table.

“Huh? Is that all?”

Unsure about the situation, Darius asked, to which the chef bowed his head and answered.

“Yes, this is the dessert specifically requested by the second young master.”

“Deus?”

Darius glanced at me.

However, my gaze remained fixed on Goben. frёewebηovel.cѳm

And Goben...

“Huh?”

Was flustered.

His eyes trembled violently as he stared at the golden-hued flower used as a garnish on the cake.

“Goben.”

My cold voice reverberated, and the previously lively atmosphere turned somber instantly.

“You know what that flower is, do you not?”

“N-no, Lord Soul Whisperer, I... that’s not—”

“It is something my maid obtained from your carriage. Do not even think about feigning ignorance.”

Findenai quietly stepped forward from behind.

Crossing her arms, she snorted, openly mocking Goben.

“A few sample flowers and plenty of seeds, huh? You raising hamsters or something?”

“T-that’s not it! Please, hear me out! I have a reason for this!”

Goben sprang to his feet in a panic, sweat pouring down his face as he yelled.

“It was for my family! And ... it was also an opportunity for someone like me, a mere underling, to rise to the top in one go!”

“Goben.”

I exhaled and issued a warning in a low tone.

“Do not even think about using the excuse of doing it for them in front of me.”

“Ah...”

Unable to fully grasp the situation, Darius and Deia gave me a look, asking for an explanation.

Pointing at the flower, I said.

“This is the main ingredient for the most insidious drug produced by the Flowergarden, a place specializing in manufacturing narcotics in Clark Republic.”

“Drugs?”

“...”

Darius frowned as he stared at the flower while Deia crossed her arms, signaling for me to continue.

The pleasant dining atmosphere from moments ago had already evaporated. This was now an interrogation.

“Not only does a single inhalation result in extreme addiction, but it also causes hallucinations and auditory delusions at the very least. At most, it can even destroy a person’s entire personality, leaving them in a vegetative state.”

“W-wait! I didn’t know all that! I just thought it was a regular medicine distributed on the market!”

On hearing his words, Illuania’s expression darkened dramatically.

“S-so is that why... you sought out the Colton gang?”

“Illuania! It was for you! All for you and Sevia to have a better life! To live happily like I promised Lord Soul whisperer!”

Goben cried desperately.

But Illuania was already on the verge of tears.

She understood.

The life she had envisioned was collapsing.

The happy days she thought would continue were crumbling away.

“If those seeds were to spread across the kingdom, it would not just become a crisis. The very foundation of the nation could be shaken.”

That was why even in the Clark Republic, where narcotics could be easily obtained from pharmacies, the golden flower was never distributed carelessly.

“I trusted you, Goben.”

The heavy statement dropped like an anchor.

Goben turned pale. He immediately rushed forward, kneeling before me and bowing his head low.

“Lord Soul Whisperer! I-I’ve committed an unforgivable sin! But! But please believe in my sincerity! I did this for my family! It was from a place of love!”

I clenched my fists tightly as they trembled with rage.

I clenched my teeth so hard that my jaw ached.

I was even angrier now.

Because what he just exclaimed...

His declaration of love for Illuania...

Was completely genuine.

“It would have been better.”

It would have truly been better.

“If you had not loved her.”

He should never have given her such false hope.

“And judging by the amount you brought back, it seems there are separate dealers operating in Griffin.”

“T-that’s...”

It had been a long time since I’d felt such boiling rage, a sensation akin to when I stood before the great warrior of the Marias Great Forest after he had kidnapped Illuania.

“Do not take what I am about to say lightly.”

My head burned with fury, and my vision wavered as if spinning, but—

“Those who created those seeds and grew the flowers.”

My legs stood firm, and my lips carried words of deathly forecast.

“Those who sold that to you. Those who helped load them onto your carriage, those who tempted you with their treacherous tongues.”

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on me.

Good.

“The distributors who received the seeds, the brokers who secretly made contact, the buyers who purchased them, those who cultivated them, and the lands they occupy.”

The more witnesses to my declaration, the heavier it would weigh upon this land.

“Whoever painted this contemptible picture.”

The amount was not ordinary. While it could be said that it was just one carriage, the critical factor was that they were seeds.

Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of seeds, could have spread throughout Griffin.

I was not sure about Goben, but there must have been a reason why the carriage heading to the Clark Republic was driven by a former member of a gang that dealt with drugs.

“As the great cemetery bearing the souls of the continent.”

I swear,

“As the Soul Whisperer comforting the dead of this kingdom.”

with everything I have,

“And also as Deus Verdi.”

and staked my sincerity.

“They shall all answer for today’s actions. Even death will not be a refuge for them.”

“L-Lord Soul Whisperer! Please! Pleaaaase!”

Goben grabbed at my pants leg, tears streaming down his as he pleaded. Findenai tried to pry him off, but I gestured for her to stop.

“As the head of my family! I only wanted to make them happy! Honestly! I only wanted to become a husband and father they could be proud of! But I’m a pathetic man and knew no other way! Please! Please!”

Goben’s sobbing cries pierced my chest like daggers, each word cutting deeper.

Because he was sincere,

Because of that sincerity of his,

It made his pleas unbearable to hear.

The image of his carefree smile before departing for the Clark Republic flashed before my eyes.

In just one week.

That one week changed the future for everyone.

“Did you enjoy your last supper?”

Apologies, but...

“Everything you ate was Illuania’s, Sevia’s, and my...”

Blood and flesh.

I bit my lips tightly, turning my body. Goben’s trembling hands let go of my pants due to the sudden movement.

Without even sparing him, who was lying flat on the ground, a glance.

“Arrest him.”

I declared while swallowing the bitterness.

“He is a smuggler.”