At the moment when the sacred radiance filled the chamber and seemed to pierce the heavens, the professor hastily withdrew his hand from the demon's heart, startled.
[item: Light of Nelpia / Amplifies holy power / Indestructible until all residual holy power is consumed (374/4500) / Gradually recovers holy power in a place with light / Locked / Locked / Locked]
"Damn it! I almost got killed!"
- Ganjanggeiba: What a waste! If the demon had been a bit tougher!
- takealook: It would have been fun if that thing had shattered with a *crack* here.
- Gongsuraemanseoger: Why do people here get so upset when the professor does well? He seems to be good at the game and not a bad person.
- Jokass: Yeah, maybe because there are more newbies now, it's surprising to see someone like this.
- Haeweinachoman: Mr. Gongsu, that's because you didn't see him from the beginning. This level of play isn't even considered a crisis in the professor's gameplay.
- Ganjanggeiba: *Grumbling* He's a hero among heroes, with a 90-durability body that chased away Edeorna. No matter how much we curse and throw him into the depths of despair, he'll come out wagging his tongue.
- Gongsuraemanseoger: 90? But a rusted and broken longsword has 115 durability. How is that possible?
- Ganjanggeiba: How do you think? He's famous in the community now. The man of miracles, the unconfirmed hero collector, the tongue of Sector 47, `professor`. Wow, it's a new feeling. Just a few days ago, he was complaining about wanting to commit suicide in the Sector 47 chat, and now he's leading a caravan, a top-tier streamer, and even called the hope of World 3.
- Mukaba: Look at him now. He casually entered a domain prepared by a 5th-tier necromancer, who even knew how to summon demons, and killed him with a holy artifact. The professor we knew, who worried about dying from excessive bleeding just by walking, is no more. He's a top-tier player now.
- NoruDrughaeyo: All that is irrelevant. If the artifact had shattered, it would have been a sure continent-wide achievement! Then he could have quickly fled to the Great Desert and lived a sweet life with Anaya! What a stupid bastard, kicking away the opportunity given by heaven!
- Speed Wagon: We have to admit he's smart. How did he think of using the artifact like that?
"Actually, I just thought it was a sturdy weapon infused with holy power..."
- Jokass: It's not a weapon, it's an artifact! The Light of Nelpia is supposed to be worn around the neck, and you use the hole in the middle to cast Holy Ray and stuff.
"What does it matter? If it's sturdy and deals good damage, it's a weapon. Did I know it would suddenly surge like that?"
Thanks to the nearly 90% holy power consumed in one shot, the demon's corpse was not just shattered but turned to powder and disappeared. However, the fact that he almost destroyed the artifact shattered his mental state as well.
"Man, I just wanted to warm up a bit on the way, but why did a 5th-tier necromancer pop out?"
Muttering to himself, the professor pulled the Light of Nelpia from his hand and quickly put it in his inventory, the part for hanging it around the neck having disappeared. Although it was said to recover holy power in a place with light, this was a domain corrupted by a necromancer. If he carried it around, pretending to photosynthesize, and it emitted light again in a place still tainted by necromancy, what if his holy power dropped to zero?
The 'indestructible' option meant that the artifact was not made according to physical laws but by holy power. If the holy power reached zero, it wouldn't just become 'destructible'; it would shatter immediately.
"Ugh... If I had destroyed the artifact given by the church just a few days into my hero journey..."
‘How could we let such a villain escape! The artifact! Ro Haram’s artifact!!!’
‘This is a grievous oversight, one that will never be repeated in this world!’
‘We must kill him!’
‘Flay his skin!!!’
‘Tear his flesh to shreds!’
‘Ratara!’
‘Rataraaaaaa!!!’
=====
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"Even imagining it is terrifying."
Looking at the artifact with its barely remaining holy power, images of holy knights swinging maces and weeping blood tears came to mind. Ugh, scary. I'll just keep this in my inventory and return it properly.
"Hey—Chief! Are you okay—!"
As the professor was calming his racing heart, Borka's voice echoed from above. Aldrich and Othman's faces were visible beside him, indicating that there were no more threats in the vicinity.
‘Of course. With a holy power explosion that could disintegrate a demon's body, there's no way ordinary undead could have survived.’
The professor waved his hand to signal that the situation was over and then lay down in the pit covered with white powder. Othman leaned over the edge and shouted.
"—Hey! Professor! Are you okay—!"
Are you okay— Are you okay— Are you okay—
"Yes! I'm just a bit weak, so—please pull me up—!"
Please— Please— Please—
The voice echoed in the empty chamber. A moment later, water began seeping from the nearby ground and slowly flowed toward the professor. It seemed he would use this to pull himself up.
"Hmm?"
As he watched the water rise, he noticed something shiny where the demon's bone powder had been washed away.
No need to think about it. Even though it's quite realistic, this is still a game. I just killed a huge demon, and something came out of its body—
"An item!"
Just before the water lifted him up, the professor quickly pocketed the shiny object and rode the rising water like a small pillar to the surface.
***
Thud!
"Ouch, put me down gently, sir!"
"S-Sorry! I'm still shaken up..."
"Huh? Ah, you're another mage."
As he emerged from the water, the professor was joined by the mage and Norum, whom he had left behind.
"Norum, everything okay on your side?"
"Grumble. I saw decayed kin. Quite a few. It was tough."
Indeed. It seems the undead were also sent to the side where Norum and the mages were. Many undead trolls, a significant force. They probably intended to capture the seemingly weak Norum and use him as a weakness against us.
"Those weak, damp bones, they were good. Thanks to them, it was easier."
"No, no! If it weren't for Norum, we would all have died! With over ten large undead charging at us, Norum desperately protected us, giving us time to complete our spells."
"Grumble. Damp human. Kind."
Norum, pleased, patted the mage's head. They had become much closer since entering the village.
‘When you fight side by side, risking each other's lives, you quickly become friends. I feel much closer to Othman, Borka, and Aldrich too.’
Oh, by the way, I almost forgot. Speaking of Aldrich, it reminds me.
Exhausted from the effects of the berserk state, the professor, still lying on the ground, rolled over to Aldrich.
"Aldrich."
"What, what is it?"
Aldrich, who had been glancing at the professor since they emerged, was startled by his sudden approach.
"Do you have any energy left?"
"Energy? You mean dark magic?"
"Yes. Could you do me a favor with something simple?"
"Well, it depends on the spell. I don't have much mana left, but what exactly do you need?"
"Resurrection magic. I want to call a dead necromancer and ask him a few questions."
We ended up catching a 'necromancer who failed to become a lich, went mad, and possessed a demon's body,' a difficult creature to describe, but our initial goal when entering this village was a light prelude and information gathering. We wanted to know why a necromancer, who should have been creating undead with high-quality corpses from the western front, was living in this eastern backwater, indulging in hobbies.
"I know everyone is tired, but I've heard that such spells are easiest when the target has just died and not much time has passed."
"Of course. Resurrection... Yes, that should be possible."
"Then, could you do it for me?"
"In return, can I examine you after it's done?"
"....What?"
Aldrich's eyes burned with a strange passion, like a water mage who had wandered through a long desert and finally found water.
"While it was hanging around your neck, Nell clearly saw two souls living cooperatively in one body, quite intimately."
"Nell? Who's that?"
"I'll explain everything later! So, what's your answer?"
"Um... Sure, I guess."
His eyes are a bit creepy, but... considering he's a necromancer, it's a