We decided to take a break in the Arachne village with Philiana, who had injured her leg in battle.
We managed to catch our breath. Philiana’s injury looked like it would heal with a day’s rest. During this time, we decided to resupply food and provisions.
“Speaking of which, I haven’t asked for everyone’s names yet. I’m Arisugawa Hiroaki. This is Sharin and Pillon, Nina and Pauline, and Philiana.”
“I’m Lauren.”
After the introductions were complete, I asked about something I had noticed since entering this hut.
“Hey, this hut smells a bit… strange, doesn’t it?”
It was a question that’s hard to ask a girl, but everyone else also frowned in agreement.
“Ah, ah, this smell, heh heh, h-I told you I’m aiming to be a Necromancer, so, naturally, there are corpses, you see.”
At Lauren’s words, everyone shivered and hunched their shoulders as if a chill ran down their spines.
“What is a Necromancer?”
Lauren happily answered my question.
“Heh heh heh, it means a spirit medium. Black Magic that controls corpses. I, I wind thread around my finger and send Magic Power to the corpses. And I control the corpses, j-just like puppets.”
As she said that, she showed us the glove with iron claws on her hand.
“B-by the way, what kind of group are you?”
We explained our individual purposes.
“Well, I don’t think you’ll believe my story.”
“N-no, I believe you! How wonderful! To think such a story exists! I-I want to go on that journey too, is that okay?”
Lauren excitedly pressed closer and closer to me.
“But won’t your parents say no?”
At those words, she seemed to ponder for a moment, and then left, saying she would go consult them.
“She’s quite an intense girl, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, she’s certainly… unique.”
Philiana and Sharin seemed a little overwhelmed. Pauline was scared by the word “corpse.”
“Let’s go outside for the time being. We’ll go resupply. Philiana, I’m sorry, but please wait here for a little while.”
“Piyo will go pick some nice-smelling flowers for you.”
Leaving Philiana behind, we headed out to the Arachne village.
