"Alright, newbies gather into groups of five. You'll be heading into the dungeon in those groups, so pick people you think you can get along with. And you're not to go past the third floor until one of us says you're ready." I said as the rest of the new members assembled. Most of them were eager to jump into the fight, and I couldn't blame them. "Will you be heading into the dungeon with us today vice-captain?" Daphne asked, walking to my side. I wasn't opposed to the idea, but I wanted to gain the ability to cast the next tier of magic. That said, I seemed to 'level up' my magic at random, so maybe a quick dungeon dive wouldn't hurt.
"I might later, but for now, I'm going to be practicing my magic at home." I told her.
"You also have four clients to see today." Medior called from behind me. I had clients today? Oh yeah, I did. Phooey.
"I also have undead to make, I suppose." I said with a sigh, causing Daphne to chuckle. "You have fun with that, I'll make sure the newbies don't die." She said before walking off. With Bell and Lili out gathering supplies for our new members and the rest out testing the waters of the dungeon that left just Hestia, Medior, and me. Welf was also here, I supposed, but he was out back in the smithy.
"First order of business is a meeting with a representative from the Ganesha familia." Medior said.
"Ganesha?" I repeated. Ganesha's familia was huge. I wouldn't think he'd need any supporters. There was also his whole 'God of the people' thing he had going. So it felt weird that he would want undead from me.
"After that would be the Demeter familia, then Saturn, and finally Ishtar." Demeter probably wouldn't be a problem. Maybe they want a few more or extend their contract. Saturn, that would be awkward given what happened to Tenji, but if Saturn is coming here on business, then I'd just have to deal with it. Ishtar...
"Wait, Ishtar? I thought she knew I wasn't going to be loaning undead out to her. She's not trying again, is she?" I asked rather annoyed.
"That's what I told the girl, but she insisted on meeting you anyways. Apparently, she doesn't want to contract any undead but has some other business with you." Medior explained. That's way too suspicious. I'm going to have to use False Life a bunch before her meeting so I don't get my next snapped or something.
"Do you know when they're arriving?" I asked right as a loud banging knock could be heard from the front door. Well, that answers my question.
"I'll prepare some tea." Medior said, making her retreat as I went for the door. Opening the front door, I was greeted by a giant muscular man wearing an elephant mask.
"I AM GANESHA!" The god shouted loudly. For several seconds, I simply stood there stunned. I was under the assumption that one of his children would be arriving, not the god himself.
"Welcome Ganesha, please come in." I said, trying to hide my surprise. One thing I had noticed as I welcomed him in, was that he held a giant smile the entire time. After Medior had poured a cup of tea for the both of us the smile morphed into a more neutral expression.
"How can I help you Lord Ganesha." I said with a smile.
"Please, just Ganesha is fine. I wanted to talk to you about Fels." He started to my surprise. Ganesha knew about the intelligent undead? "He told you about the Xenos right?"
"He alluded to the existence of intelligent monsters if that's what you're talking about." I responded, causing him to flinch. Ah, was I not supposed to know what they were called yet?
"That's correct. My familia and I will 'contract them' as undead and all we need you to do is act like they're the same as the rest of your undead." He explained, making air quotes.
I couldn't help but sigh. "I'm not opposed to helping these Xenos, but that plan isn't really the best Lor- ehm Ganesha. Firstly I would either need to 'turn them into undead' in the dungeon or you would need an excuse to first bring the Xenos out of the dungeon alive and then 'kill them' on the surface so I can 'make them undead'."
"You can just join my familia in the dungeon!" He exclaimed happily, not understanding my point.
"Wouldn't it seem strange? At the very least, Loki would question it. She knows that spell takes time to cast and that I would have no reason to cast it in the dungeon. Especially not with a familia I've never interacted with before"
"Well... we could explain to Loki." He started before stopping himself. It was apparent he didn't like that idea. I didn't think it was a bad Idea myself. I trust Loki after all, but even if she was complicit with the scheme there was still one more problem.
"Secondly, It's widely known by now that my undead are completely emotionless. Even if no one questioned the method making these 'undead', could you ensure they don't ever act out against orders? That they wouldn't show emotions?" I asked. After all if things went south, and they probably would, Ganesha would be fine. He could just claim he didn't know the monsters were sapient and blame me. I would be implicitly guilty as I would have to lie that I turned those Xenos into undead. If the lie was ever discovered, I would be directly to blame.
"Well what should we do then?" Ganesha asked nervously. That was the question wasn't it?
"Hey Ganesha, can gods tell when other gods are lying like they can with mortals?" I asked. It would be a lot easier if Ganesha could lie to other gods.
"We can't tell when another God is lying using our divinity, but I'm still not a good liar if that's what you're asking. I am Ganesha." He said. Well, that could be worked on I suppose.
"I would wait." I said simply.
"Wait?"
"The opinions of the average citizen aren't important as far as the Xenos are concerned. It's how the adventurers react that will matter right?" I asked. After all, there's nothing the average person could do to fight an empowered monsters, but if the adventurers wanted to, they could kill the Xenos. If not individually, then by groups.
"I suppose."
"Adventurers are already starting to get comfortable with the physical presence monsters in the city, even if they logically know I'm controlling them. Bring a single volunteer from the Xenos above ground and take them into your familia. I doubt other familias will call for it's death so long as it's under surveillance." I explained.
"What if they do?" He asked. I really didn't think they would, especially now that a good chunk of familias used undead supporters. That said I couldn't rule out hypocrites or more radical elements.
"That's why you get a volunteer." I shrugged. It may have been cold, I'll happily acknowledge that, but there was only so much you could do to stop an adventurer who could destroy a city if they wanted.
"I don't like that idea very much, I am Ganesha."
"Well that's just one idea. No matter what we end up deciding, there's only so much we could do to stop some lone level three or higher adventurer from charging down the warpath. I just threw that idea out because, at worst, one Xeno dies. Even if we spent years cultivating human-monster relations, one person could just decide to ruin it regardless." I explained to a sorrowful god.
"You've given me much to think about. I will speak to Fels about what we have discussed, I am Ganesha."
As I watched the elephant masked god leave the only thing I could think was just how much he must love the sound of his own name. A lot. After he left I had about twenty minutes to myself before Demeter showed up. And yes, the goddess Demeter showed up rather than someone from her familia for some reason. Luckily she didn't have some scheme or plot to involve me in. All she wanted was to contract out another five undead and to personally thank me for my service with some fresh herbs.
"Matthew have I ever told you how great you are?" Hestia said greedily after Demeter left. Yes yes Hestia. I make bank, I know. I still have Saturn and that Ishtar representative to deal with. Saturn will probably either be here for undead, or he wanted to talk about Tenji, and the Ishtar representative? Well here's hoping it just doesn't turn into a fight.
"Thanks Hestia. Now if you would grant me energy for the rest of my meetings." I sighed dramatically.
"Good luck!" She said happily with a hug. Energy restored.
"Thanks Hestia. Oh and we need to talk to Hephaestus together sometime about your debt."
"No sir! I promised I would handle that debt all on my own." Hestia denied immediately. I understood. It was a matter of pride, being able to handle your debts on your own with out assistance, but from what I saw, it would take her another hundred or so years of working before it would be payed off.
"I really do admire your dedication, but the debt is far too high for you to handle on your own. It would take you over a hundred years. I may not be immortal yet, but I do understand just how much time that is." I said with a smile.
"Yet!?" Medior cried, "What do you mean you're not immortal yet?"
It was then we heard another knock at the door. I shooed Medior off promising to explain it to her later and answered the door to yet another god. Fifteen minutes later he had left after contracting twenty undead. Saturn was aware of Tenji's passing and that I was at least tangentially connected to him. The god wasn't aware my family was likely the cause of his death and I didn't tell him either, so he was sent off with little protest after our buisness was done.
After Saturn was sent off I could sit back and relax for a few hours. By sit back and relax I really mean study my spellbook, but what's the difference? Ishtar's familia members, being ladies of the night, probably wouldn't arrive until later in the evening, so I was able to decipher the Dream spell. Not really useful unless I wanted to give someone nightmares, but it was something. The real key here would be accessing the sixth tier. After that I could study until I learned arguably one of the most powerful spells there is. Very arguably. Probably top ten.
"So. Immortality, you're not just going to brush that off are you?" Medior asked, clutching a cup of tea in her hands.
"Well I could still die, so it's not true immortality. That said, there are three ways to obtain pseudo-immortality from necromancy. The first and most stable method would be through cloning. The height of necromancy that only the most skilled casters can use. After a certain period of time a clone of yourself will grow and in the event that you die, your soul will make it's way to your clone rather than the heavens." I explained a bit proud of myself. Necromancy was the coolest school of magic after all and I, one of it's practitioners.
"Y-you, you can manipulate souls like that?" Hestia said pointing a shaky finger towards me and a look of absolute dread on her face.
"Well not yet. Like I said, you have to be really skilled with necrotic magic before you're able to mess with souls." I responded.
"No no no! Only gods are suppose to be able to handle souls." She cried.
"Uh huh. Well anyways, the next method of pseudo-immortality is actually the next spell I'm trying to learn. Soul Jar allows you to dissociate your soul from your own body and possess others. So long as the jar isn't destroyed you could possess different people until the end of time, making you technically immortal."
"Matthew please tell me that's not what you're doing. I'm not going to have to associate you with a new face every few decades will I?" Hestia choked out.
"No, I'd rather not abandon my body." I dismissed. Soul Jar would only be something I would use to 'borrow' the status of stronger adventurers than me. After all, if I had the physical strength of Aiz and could still cast all my spells, I would be an unstoppable titan. That's probably my best shot at beating dear old dad anyways.
"And the final method?" Medior asked completely absorbed by my explanations.
"Litchdom, by far the worst method. First you would need to craft a phylactery. An arcane device meant to withhold the soul of a powerful wizard similar to Soul Jar. Then you would need to foster an act of great death to begin the ritual. Mass sacrifice typically. And all of that is just to become an undead, a monster."
"Mass death?" Hestia whispered face as white as a ghost, "You mean like what happened in Rivira?"
Rivira? No. He wouldn't... Would he? Becoming a litch does make you more powerful, but would he? No Necromancers can control undead, he wouldn't want to become a monster so easily controlled. But then again the only necromancers in this world are part of the Mathers family. What if he tries to turn me into a litch so he could control me!?
"Hey Medior when was that Ishtar girl supposed to get here?" I asked, completely avoiding the question.
"It's past noon, so she'll probably be here soon." Medior said, looking almost as pale as Hestia.
"Well, all that stuff isn't important now. I'm not a skilled enough wizard to do it, and I doubt the only other wizard skilled enough, would choose to do it." I dismissed. Worse case scenario, and my dad is a litch. We just need to find his phylactery. Easier said than done, but still doable.
It wasn't long until the fourth and final knock on the door came, and I was greeted by an amazoness with long black hair wearing what looked like a purple belly dancer's outfit. "You're Matthew Mathers, correct?"
"That's right. How can I help you miss?" I asked politely.
"Aisha. Do you mind if we speak in private?" She asked. The request was sudden and strange, but I didn't mind obliging. With a quick nod Hestia and Medior made their way off into different parts of the manner before Aisha continued, "I wanted to seek your consultation about a magical matter."
"Magic? What do you need?"
"There is an item from the far east, known as the killing stone. Have you heard of them?" She asked seriously. Okay, at first I wasn't sure of this Ishtar girl, but whatever this killing stone is, it sounded like no good.
"I've never heard of killing stones before. Is it some kind of weapon?" I asked.
"Not quite. Supposedly the stone allows you to capture and store the soul of a Renard you've killed." She explained. Wow, that sounds a lot like a Soul Jar, but with more murder.
"That does sound familiar, but what do you want me for?" I asked. If she wants my help to use or improve the item then I'll need to convince her to leave without beating me up.
"I've been told that if this item was shattered with a soul inside of it, it would be possible to restore the soul should every piece be brought back together. Is that true?" She asked sorrowfully. Okay, from the sounds of it a killing stone has been used on someone she knew. If that stone had been shattered there's nothing I could do for her.
"Souls don't work like that. Once the killing stone captures the soul, their body will be left in a catatonic state. If the stone is destroyed, the soul will then pass to the heavens." I explained.
"Is there really nothing you can do?" She asked sounding slightly distressed. There wasn't really anything I could do, but there was one thing that could be done.
"If the body is close enough to the stone when it's shattered, then there's a chance the soul will return to it's body. But that's only a chance. You'd be better off preventing it's use in the first place." I said.
"I can't." She said softly before standing up. "Thank you for your help."
"Wait." I said as Aisha started walking towards the door, "As a necromancer it's my job to ensure the school of magic is being used responsibly. If you have anymore information on this killing stone I would appreciate it."
It wasn't necessarily true. I had no obligation to stop this killing stone ritual, but it just felt wrong to not do anything about it. Thankfully Aisha stopped before leaving the door and returned. "Are you sure about this? If you're not strong enough, you will die."
"Death is my domain." I responded confidently. Regardless of the confidence I had in my ability, this would be no easy task. I could of course simply destroy the killing stone, but what's to stop it's owner from getting another one? So I had to find a way to somehow get this Renard away from, presumably, the Ishtar familia. "Tell me about this Renard."
"Her name is Haruhime. The reason Ishtar wants to use a killing stone on her is because of her unique magic. It allows her to temporarily level up the person she casts it on. The stone would allow anyone who holds a shard to use that magic." Aisha explained clinching her fists.
Okay so there's no way bargaining would work in this situation. Ishtar wouldn't let go of a golden goose like that. We could more easily smuggle her out of the city, but there were monsters outside of the wall no matter how weak they were. If we smuggled her out, we would also need to find a village or something for her to stay at. We could always try to hide her away, but with an ability that powerful and the irregularity of Renards in Orario, it wouldn't be difficult for Ishtar to pin down her location. Then there was always the option of directly confronting the Ishtar familia. Which, lol... lmao. So really my best bet was to hid her really well, or get her out of Orario.
"Why does Ishtar want to use the killing stone? I understand Haruhime's magic is powerful, but it seems like killing her for it sounds like a waste unless there's some cause for urgency." I asked. This actually something Aisha didn't seem to ready to answer, becoming more reserved no longer looking me in the eyes.
"Freya. She wants to topple the Freya familia." Aisha said reservedly. That was dumb. Even if her captain was level six, they still wouldn't be able to beat Ottar. Dude has been level seven for years, he was probably close to level eight. Well, that would give us a win condition at least. Hide Haruhime away and warn Freya of Ishtar's plans. Yeah that sounds way more feasible than hiding her away forever or trying to take on Ishtar on our own.
"When does Ishtar plan to use the killing stone?" I asked much more confidently now that I saw a win condition.
"Two days from now." She responded. Okay, two days to make a plan. That's not that bad.
74k words, not bad if I do say so myself. Actually novel length now. It only took me like 8 months. If I want to be a real author I'll need to pick up the pace a bit, but that's what this is for. Practice (and fun).
Zabaniya: Fair. To be honest I wasn't sure what to write for a summary so I just threw that together without much thought. Thanks for the review.
Kirisaki Yuu: Thanks for pointing that out. I would have never checked that otherwise. That chapter has been updated and the characters correctly named now, thank you.
