The Genius Necromancer of the Barbarian Race-Chapter 46 : I Was Wondering Why, and Now I Know

I Was Wondering Why, and Now I Know
After deactivating the dungeon that had appeared in Lormond's tomb, we headed to Edmund's mansion for settlement.
More than ten barbarians. When they came charging in again, the knights and servants of the Steldian mansion frowned, but what could they do about it?
Their own master had permitted it.
"Gold coins!"
"We're rich!"
"Wait! That's the Respect Association's funds!"
The Respect Association safely received their payment from Edmund. Watching them divvy up the coins, Barkal said to me,
"Brother, I heard money is important."
No need to say it—of course it's important.
"I'll take my share!"
With those words, Barkal joined the Respect Association.
"I'm a barbarian too! I'll take my share!"
"You are not part of the Respect Association!"
"Then I'll join!"
"You still don't get any gold!"
Barkal squabbled with Grunt. Serena gave an awkward smile as she watched them, and I heaved a sigh.
"Dmihtan."
While those two were making a ruckus, Edmund called out to me. He gestured that he wanted to speak privately, and I nodded, entering the mansion with him.
Why call only me out here? What is he plotting?
Is he trying to cut the commission? I'll never let that happen.
"I'd like to entrust this to you, sir Dmihtan. Would that be alright?"
With those words, Edmund rummaged in his clothing and took out a small box.
Thankfully, it seemed he wasn't planning to cut my commission after all.
"This is..."
I immediately opened the box that Edmund gave me. Inside was a crimson ruby that had come from Lormond's coffin.
"It came from my father's coffin. I'm certain it must be related to Mortis..."
That's for sure. The ritual array carved around the coffin—once outside of it, I saw a ton of 'necromantic traces'.
Huh.
Now that I think about it, why were there no traces inside the ritual array?
Could it be that this ritual array is different from all the necromancers' arrays I've seen so far?
Anyway.
"It's a memento. Are you sure this is alright?"
"It's fine. Besides, if you think it's related to a necromancer..."
Meaning he doesn't want it near him, not even for a second.
But if he tried to throw it away, he'd be questioned about where he got an item related to a 'necromancer'.
Feels kind of like I'm being given someone else's leftovers, but whatever.
"Alright."
If it's related to Mortis, then it should be imbued with the 'necromancer's' power.
* 〈Thrag demands an offering.〉
Even if not, I can just present this gemstone as an offering to Thrag.
The gods of 〈Dungeon God〉 are petty like that—they love it when you offer something connected to gods they dislike.
"Thank you for accepting."
No need for thanks. It's a deal where I come out ahead.
Now I have some food for Thrag. If I feed him just this, maybe he'll leave me alone about heading into dungeons for a while.
I took a closer look at the gem I'd gotten from Edmund.
Right Eye of the Ascendant Maiden
Grade: Divine
* Cannot be broken.
* ???
Hmm.
Did I see that right?
There's no way a gemstone like this would be of divine grade.
Yet, even after rubbing my eyes and checking again, the word 'Divine' was stamped right there.
This is a 'Divine' grade item? That fact alone was enough to throw me, but there was another thing that confused me.
Edmund's father, Lormond, who was in possession of this.
That man, he was greatly trusted by Mortis. Wasn't he actually a necromancer?
* * *
Leaving the Steldian mansion, we returned to the Bearded Cat Inn.
Five gold coins.
A bit disappointing, but still a decent income. Besides, it wasn't even a dangerous job.
Even so, fatigue caught up to me. That's just my fate as a 'necromancer'.
Collapsing onto the bed, I pulled out the gemstone I received from Edmund.
A ruby with a dusky shine. No matter how you look at it, it's just a gemstone, and yet for it to be the same divine grade as the 'Blood-Colored Awl' is astounding.
The fact that it has no abilities... that can't be helped. 'Divine' equipment's abilities unlock according to your 'faith' with the granting god.
Though I hadn't checked, there was no doubt it was a gift from 'Mortis'. I didn't even have a shred of faith in Mortis, let alone being a believer.
* 〈Thrag demands an offering.〉
Come on, how am I supposed to offer this up? You know, don't you, things of this level can't be broken.
Or, is offering different? Even with my experience, I've never heard of anyone giving a 'Divine' grade as an offering.
Besides, getting another god's 'Divine' item is almost impossible, and even if it were, no one would be crazy enough to try it.
"Brother, isn't that the gemstone we saw in the tomb?"
While I was fiddling with the gem, Barkal strode up, recognizing it.
"Don't tell me you stole it, brother!?"
"I was given it. I do not steal, Barkal."
He really seemed relieved at my words, letting out a breath.
"H-how did you get it? Wasn't that Lord Lormond's memento?"
Serena asked, and I looked at her.
Why are you here? This isn't your room.
"He thought it might be connected to Mortis and was too afraid to keep it, so he gave it to me."
"Edmund! How could you give away a family keepsake like that!"
Barkal started berating Edmund for being a weakling.
"I must agree it does... feel a bit ominous. Just looking at that gem makes my nerves tingle."
Serena shivered as she looked at the gemstone. Barkal didn't seem to like it either.
As expected, people on the level of 'Apostles' can sense the grade of an item even without checking.
"Brother, that is a cursed item. You should get rid of it immediately."
Barkal snorted, pointing at the 'Right Eye'. Throwing away a divine-grade item just feels like such a waste.
Besides.
"There's something I want to check."
"You want to check something?"
Serena tilted her head. She seemed to want to ask what there could possibly be to check with a marble.
"No need to check! Just get rid of it right now!"
In contrast, Barkal insisted I get rid of it immediately. Normally, he's not the type to whine in such a way, even if he's angry.
What's the problem with you?
"In the end, our glory is gone!"
Ah.
Now I get it.
What Barkal really wanted by helping Edmund and beating him up was the fame that comes with conquering the dungeon beneath Iushil.
This time, we did get compensation for helping Edmund, but didn't receive that glory.
"Time will solve it."
I kept comforting Barkal with the same refrain, but he didn't seem satisfied.
Well, what can you do.
Time will solve it.
* * *
The next day.
When we arrived at the Adventurers' Guild, the atmosphere was off.
The building seemed unusually bustling. It was clear that the source of the ruckus was the guild's bulletin board.
"What's going on!"
It was Barkal who grew curious. Pushing through the crowd to the bulletin board, he began to read the prominently posted notice.
"Uh, huh!?"
Barkal seemed briefly flustered. Before long, a smile crept onto his face.
"It's true, brother! Just as you said, time has solved it!"
What on earth is that about?
Curious, I read the notice that Barkal was pointing at.
The content was simple. A dungeon had appeared in the sewers, and a hastily assembled party had shut it down.
However, it didn't specify which party had participated.
"Kuhahaha! Do you see my greatness? I was the one who saved all of you!"
Even though the notice didn't specify the participating party, Barkal began bragging about his exploits to a passing adventurer just as before.
Not that anyone acknowledged him.
Anyway, this Edmund guy—
Announcing publicly the incident in the sewers right now, he picked his timing well.
Maybe, since there could have been rumors about exhuming his father's tomb, he wanted to divert attention to something else.
I'd only ever seen him being intimidated by Barkal, so I thought he was pretty ordinary, but he's actually quite shrewd.
The reason for coming to the Adventurers' Guild was to see if there were any commissions worth taking.
After checking the board, there didn't seem to be any, so I decided to satisfy my curiosity instead.
"Barkal."
"I hear you, brother!"
I called out to Barkal. But he was too caught up in his 'glory lecture' to pay attention.
"Let's take personal time today. See you at the inn later."
"Understood!"
I told Serena the same, and she followed behind me.
"B-brother? I'll come with you!"
"There's no need, Serena. It's personal time, so do whatever you wish."
"I don't really have anything else to do... hehe."
She smiled bashfully. Not that anything will come of following me.
Still, I didn't stop her from tagging along.
"Truthfully, I'm curious. That orb you mentioned yesterday. You said you wanted to check something with it."
Ah, I get what she's on about.
As she said, I wanted to check something with that chance-acquired divine-grade item, 'Right Eye of the Ascendant Maiden'.
For that, I was heading to the sewers.
"Ugh..."
Entering the sewers, Serena made a face.
Hey, thanks to Liberas you don't even get hit by the smell or the filthy environment that much.
Thinking that, I looked at her, and she seemed to realize it.
"Wouldn't it be harder to find someone who actually likes places like this?"
That's true.
After a brief bit of small talk, we headed deeper into the sewers.
Just like last time, there was no sign of any 'ratmen'. Looks like the previous incident led to a thorough purge.
Now that the 'dungeon' is gone, there's no reason for ratmen to come up this far, either.
Before long, we reached the place where I had encountered the necromancer.
"This is..."
It seemed Serena recognized the place as well. I walked a bit further and arrived where the necromancer had conducted his ritual.
Damn it.
The ritual array's been partially erased. I wanted to check something—who wiped this clean?
"Didn't you partially erase it yourself, brother Dmihtan?"
Oh.
It was me?
Thinking back for a moment, I definitely remember putting my foot on it.
I recall Mortis began pestering me around then.
"But it seems there's still a bit of power left."
Following Serena's suggestion, I took another look at the array, and it did seem there was some residual power. Will this much be enough?
Thinking so, I took the 'gemstone' Edmund had given me from my chest.
Ziiiing──!
Light began to pour from the array. That light seemed to be searching for the 'gemstone' I held in my hand.
"As I thought."
With definite evidence before my eyes, I nodded.
The ritual array matches in appearance with the one the necromancer drew in Rrurudan Forest, as far as I can recall.
Meaning, they share the same purpose.
The mystery's solved—now I know why Mortis's necromancers were wandering around, performing those stupid rituals.
They were searching for this divine-grade item, the 'Right Eye of the Ascendant Maiden'.
What do I do? Am I even supposed to have this item?
* 〈Thrag insists it's his turn.〉
Oh, right—big bro Thrag.
You were here, weren't you? Then I'll just give it to you.