The Genius Necromancer of the Barbarian Race-Chapter 52 : I Can See Everything Clearly.

I Can See Everything Clearly.
The attention-seeking Mortis necromancer who's trying to chase us. For him, I decided to leave a message on the forum.
But since the forum guarantees anonymity, he probably won't realize it's us.
That's why I crafted the post in a way he could recognize instantly.
[Hey hey, Mortis cultist. Are you watching?]
[From now on, our god will consume the gift offered by your god.]
This should be obvious enough for him to notice at a glance.
Something feels weird, though. I knew I wasn't good at writing, but it just seems especially clumsy this time.
In the end, after organizing my thoughts, I included phrases only the "Mortis Necromancer" from the banquet might recognize.
Next is to find the "Pantheon" so we can offer the "sacrifice".
"Thank you for accepting the commission!"
I chose a random "bronze-tier" request from the commission board.
"Is there a Pantheon of the god Thrag here?"
As if it was obvious, Serena asked after I accepted the request.
Since I had already said we'd look for a "Pantheon" to offer the "right eye" as a sacrifice, it was the logical question.
"I don't know."
"What!?"
But my answer wasn't logical. Serena looked at me, startled.
"Weren't you taking the commission to offer the jewel that the Mortis cultists are seeking as a sacrifice?"
That's correct.
However, there's one thing Serena doesn't know.
Normally, the "Pantheon" cannot be specifically located. Since dungeons are spawned randomly, so are Pantheons.
So why did I accept this commission?
The answer: It's just nearby.
"If we leave Iushil anyway, the Mortis cultist chasing us will misunderstand."
"Misunderstand?"
"Yes."
He'll read the forum post, right? Just leaving Iushil will make it seem like we're off to offer the "right eye" as a sacrifice.
"Ahh......"
Serena nodded, seeming to understand.
"If we leave Iushil, they'll track us down sooner or later, right?"
"Kuhaha! I don't know the details, but it sounds like we get to kill the necromancer!"
Who knows. But Barkal seems to have calmed down.
That's a relief. His eyes had been looking dangerous, but after explaining the plan, he mellowed a bit.
* * *
Since we'd accepted a commission, leaving Iushil and heading to our destination was only natural.
Receiving a "mana stone compass" from the adventurers' guild, we prepared to leave Iushil by wagon.
Even though it had been a while since we last saw it, the horse noticed us and nuzzled up affectionately.
"Thank goodness it remembers us!"
"Mm!"
At Serena's remark, Barkal nodded vigorously.
Before we left the inn, Barkal had said something.
If the horse didn't recognize us, we'd just kill it and get a better one.
Is he crazy or what.
A horse costs money, too.
Besides, this horse survived in the Lerudan Forest and even waited for us.
A real prodigy, this horse.
"This time, let me drive the wagon!"
Just as I was about to take the reins, Serena stepped forward.
Can she handle it? I felt a bit worried, but as a noble, she should at least know how to control a horse.
And if anything happens, I can just take over.
Although the wagon wobbled at first, Serena seemed to adjust quickly and soon drove much more smoothly.
"By the way, if we succeed on this commission, that'll make it four bronze-tier or above commissions..."
"We'll become a silver-tier adventurer party."
"Waaah!"
Serena cheered from the front of the wagon. Barkal seemed indifferent, running his fingers along his axe as if the "Dungeon God" party's rank didn't matter to him.
"We're only out here to draw out the necromancer!"
Yeah, yeah.
Calming down Barkal's fuss, I noticed up ahead the road split into two.
After checking the "mana stone compass" from the guild, I told Serena to head left.
"By the way, what does a Pantheon look like?"
Changing the wagon's direction, Serena asked.
Most adventurers should have at least come across a "Pantheon" once.
Exploring dungeons is dangerous, and the gods' powers help lower that danger even a little. So if you follow a god, seeking out a Pantheon is fundamental.
But in some cases, like Serena or certain barbarian tribes with "innate faith," they might not have seen a Pantheon before.
"I don't know either!"
"Brother Dmihtan, do you know?"
Of course I know.
Not just from playing 《Dungeon God》, but I've actually seen one with my own eyes.
I once saw the symbols of Thrag and Mortis in the "mental realm."
That was a Pantheon.
"If it's the god you serve, you'll recognize it immediately."
Just as the word "symbol" suggests, each is marked with a unique symbol of the god it represents. As apostles, even if it's their first time, they should recognize the Pantheon of their own god.
"If I don't recognize it, won't Liberas be angry at me?"
"There's no need to worry about that."
Even if she's an apostle, her god only provides basic amenities to a single devotee. I doubt she'd really get that angry.
"Oh? Brother Dmihtan?"
As I was about to say more, Serena, holding the reins, called out to me.
Looking through the front, I saw her pointing ahead. Another wagon was approaching from the opposite direction.
Normally, we'd just pass by. But given our situation, Serena must've felt the need to double-check with me.
No way...
Would they really attack so openly to get the "right eye"?
While I was thinking, the other wagon halted on the road, as if waiting for us.
"It's a necromancer,"
Barkal said. He drew "Erindal," leaped from the back of our wagon, and climbed onto the roof.
Hey, wait.
"It can only be a necromancer!"
Before I could stop him, there was a loud crash and our wagon shook.
At the same time, I saw Barkal soaring in an arc towards the other wagon's roof.
"What's better than an ambush? Ambushing the ambusher!"
Barkal's gruff voice echoed absurdly, and I saw him land atop the other wagon's roof.
"Uahahaha! Mighty Thrag! Behold your warrior!"
Barkal slashed at the wagon mercilessly with his axe. Up until then, I was prepared to respond if the enemy really was a necromancer.
"A barbarian fell from the sky!"
"A crazy barbarian!"
Judging by their reactions, we're screwed.
"Uh, I don't think they're necromancers!?"
Serena exclaimed in confusion. I thought the same. Now that I looked, they'd stopped because the roadside was a mess and they'd been waiting for us to pass.
This is bad.
I have a feeling we'll have to pay for wagon repairs.
Should we just move on?
Fine, let's do that. They don't know what we look like, so if we just pass by, it should be fine.
Sorry in advance.
"A-aren't you the barbarian from the 'Dungeon God' party!?"
Ugh.
I sighed inwardly.
Why do they always recognize us at times like this? No doubt it's because Barkal always wears that "skull helmet" or whatever.
"So you recognize us! You must be necromancers after all!"
"Big Bro, just get down here."
I signaled Barkal to calm down. He tilted his head at first, but eventually came down from the roof and joined us.
"I overreacted due to circumstances. I hope you'll forgive my rudeness."
"Kekeke!"
A hearty laugh sounded from within the other wagon in response to my sincere apology.
"Lively barbarians indeed! Running into strangers on a secluded forest road, it's only natural to be cautious!"
The man who appeared was entering old age. On his chest was the symbol of "Hyrat," which we had seen before, and the aura about him strongly resembled a cleric.
"So you're a follower of Hyrat."
Serena noticed too.
At least, unlike when we ran into the 'Judge of Light' Rowen in the depths beneath Iushil, this was much less unpleasant.
"Girinil! This isn't just something we can overlook with an apology! That barbarian is a felon who targeted the carriage of the Hyrat church's cardinal!"
Wait.
Cardinal?
So he's of a fairly high rank.
Checking where Barkal landed, girinil scratched his head and said,
"Could be. Actually, I've been wanting to switch wagons, so if I this, they'll probably let me."
"What!?"
What the heck.
Does that mean we don't have to pay for the repairs?
Relieved at the thought of saving money, I quickly thanked Girinil.
"May Hyrat and you bestow their blessing."
At that, both the coachman and the apparent guards rushed to Girinil and started objecting.
"Gi-Girinil!"
"This concerns the reputation of the Hyrat church!"
Hearing their objections, girinil frowned and rebuked them loudly.
"You fools! If our reputation is broken by something like this, what's the point of our religion or our church!"
Well said, old man.
"Adventurers who close dungeons with their own feet do more for the world than we ever will kneeling a hundred days in prayer."
"W-what...?"
"I'm sure Hyrat himself wouldn't mind. If demanding compensation from such adventurers is what justice means, then I never achieved enlightenment!"
Laughing loudly, girinil approached us.
"Are you on your way to a dungeon commission?"
"That's right."
"Then you must be heading to the dungeon up there!"
He pointed to the mountain peak—the direction our "mana stone compass" indicated.
"You'd better be careful. There's a Pantheon in that dungeon."
"How do you know?"
"Cleansing the Pantheon of an evil god—that's our Hyrat church's duty!"
Was "cleansing evil god Pantheons" really a Hyrat church duty?
I thought the Hyrat church was all about stringing up innocents and witch hunts.
Anyway, based on everything Girinil has said...
"So you're also heading to that dungeon?"
"Exactly. For a barbarian, you catch on quick!"
With an affable smile, girinil looked over at his followers.
"Are you ready to move?"
"Yes, thankfully the carriage columns aren't warped."
"That's good to hear."
Nodding, girinil turned to us.
"Since our objectives are the same, how about we travel together?"
Together, huh. I decided to accept Girinil's offer.
Keep your enemies close.
The more experience, the better.
Someone volunteering to join us in this situation...
"Very well."
Yeah, you're totally a necromancer.