Chapter 143
Lang Strauss, Professor of Toxicology, passed away at the age of 87 due to a long-standing illness.
The shocking news sent all of Keyzen into a frenzy.
It was already widely known that his illness had been worsening over time.
He would cough up blood during lectures, and his chief assistant, Francesca, increasingly stepped in to teach in his place. Eventually, his condition deteriorated to the point where he no longer showed up to class at all.
—Lang, isn't it time to stop? Let go of the fieldwork now.
—Someone of your stature could join the Council of Elders. Why push yourself so hard?
Not only professors from Keyzen, but even his close friends urged Lang to retire. But he couldn’t forsake what he saw as his calling, and he dragged himself to the lectern each day. Overwork only worsened his illness.
In the end, this may have been inevitable.
Lang himself seemed to be aware of his end. A handwritten will in his script was discovered.
[It is inappropriate for a dead old man to burden students with a promising future. If I die and 'Night of Erebos' is held, I hope classes will continue for the sake of the students.]
[I wish for my chief assistant, Francesca, to succeed me. I know it’s an unreasonable request, but she is a talent destined to become a far greater necromancer than this old man. Her passion and ability are too precious to waste.]
[Hold a modest funeral even if it’s in the Necropolis. I wish to skip all the cumbersome customs.]
[To Neftis, my great comrade, my mentor, and dearest friend, please forgive me for leaving you behind once again. The Curse of Time is regrettable, but don’t grieve too deeply.]
“.......”
Following Lang’s death, Keyzen held the 'Night of Erebos'.
The Night of Erebos was an old tradition observed whenever a renowned necromancer from Keyzen passed away, meant to mourn the deceased.
Necromancers, who constantly pursued change, advancement, and pragmatism, made one solemn exception for matters of ‘death’.
During this period, professors and assistants dressed in black. Students wore their regular uniforms, but with all buttons fastened and black ties. Male students wore black socks, and female students wore black stockings.
And for the three days of the 'Night of Erebos', no lights or flames were permitted, this symbolized letting the deceased close their eyes peacefully within a comforting darkness.
Still, in respect of Lang’s will, regular classes were held on the first and second days. Professors avoided using mana projectors and instead used chalkboards or photographic material, and refrained from using black magic that emitted fire or bright light.
After classes, students returned to their dormitories and were expected to go straight to bed once night fell.
In the dorms, the generators were completely shut off, and all lighting disabled, plunging Keyzen into darkness at night.
Even lighting a candle was prohibited unless absolutely necessary. In this period, light was considered an insult to the deceased.
Thus, day by day passed, and morning arrived on the third day of the Night of Erebos.
A funeral was scheduled for the final day.
Renowned necromancers from Keyzen were laid to rest in a sacred site known as the 'Necropolis'. After performing the rites and sending Lang off here, the Night of Erebos would officially come to an end.
Every professor in Keyzen attended Lang’s funeral.
Among the students, a few who had personal ties with Lang were selected to accompany them to the Necropolis.
Of those Simon knew, Lorraine—Neftis’s daughter—and Claudia Menzies, a Toxicology aspirant from Class A, went to the Necropolis.
The third years, in particular, were in uproar. Most Toxicology majors halted their missions and returned to Roke Mountain, a testament to Lang’s renown.
But since Lang's will requested classes to continue, the third day of the Night of Erebos was run without professors, with teaching assistants leading self-study sessions.
"Of all times, why does it have to be Toxicology first period?"
Dick, wearing his black tie, muttered as he sat down and unpacked.
"...Ugh, I slept too much and now I’m even more tired. Did I sleep since 8?"
Simon, pulling out his chair next to him, smiled gently.
"Think of it positively. It’s a good time to catch up on lost sleep, right?"
Even the Toxicology class wasn’t held in the usual lab with cauldrons, but in a regular classroom with only desks and chairs. Fires for boiling cauldrons were also prohibited during the Night of Erebos.
"Hello, everyone~"
"What’s up with you lazybones? You’re early for once."
Kamibarez and Maelyn arrived at the classroom.
They, too, wore black ties. Kamibarez, usually bare-legged, wore black stockings, and Maelyn tied her long hair with a black pin in a neat style.
"Hey, did you hear?"
As always, Dick was the first to speak.
"This Toxicology class won’t be a self-study session. It’s going to be conducted like a normal class."
"What are you talking about? There are no professors. How can it be a regular class?"
To Maelyn’s question, Dick whispered secretively.
"Here’s the thing. Assistant Professor Francesca, who just got promoted, didn’t go to the Necropolis."
All three of their eyes widened at once.
"Seriously? Why not?"
Francesca Belmond, the chief assistant who had served Lang more loyally than anyone.
A new story had emerged about her.
Technically, Lang’s team of assistants was to be dissolved, and a new group of Toxicology professors and assistants brought in from outside. However, Neftis couldn’t turn down the final request of her old comrade.
Though rare, Francesca was directly promoted from assistant to full professor.
The procedure might’ve been irregular, but no one questioned her capabilities. On the field, everyone was satisfied with her skill.
"And also."
Dick lowered his voice further.
"Neftis planned to have Francesca—Lang’s most cherished pupil—lead the final funeral rite."
"Professor Francesca."
Maelyn corrected him curtly.
"Ah, yes. Anyway, Professor Francesca rejected Neftis’ offer."
The three exchanged surprised glances. Simon asked,
"Why did she refuse?"
"Y-Yeah, I don’t get it either! I heard spreading the ashes at the end is an honorable ritual!"
"From what I heard, it was to keep the classes going…"
Clack, clack.
All four of them immediately shut their mouths.
No sooner had the words left their lips than Francesca, now a full professor, entered the classroom, her red hair fluttering behind her.
The students of Class A, gathered for the morning lecture, froze in place.
'W-Wait, she really didn’t go to the funeral?'
Was it because she now carried the aura of Keyzen’s Toxicology professor? She seemed like a completely different person compared to her days assisting Lang.
Dressed entirely in black from head to toe, she wore a black suit and shoes, with a black scarf around her neck. Each step she took sent her red hair and scarf billowing in the air in an almost iconic manner.
For the first time, she stood before Class A as their professor. As always, she tied her long, swaying hair back in a firm knot, steeling her resolve.
"Class rep."
Her first words.
As the others sat in stunned silence, Jaime Victoria stood up abruptly. She moved quickly and perceptively.
"Attention! Salute the professor!"
"Good morning, professor!"
As all the students bowed in unison, she responded with a soft smile.
"Welcome, everyone."
Jamie and the others felt their hearts swell.
Lang, though a bit old-fashioned, was the only professor at Keyzen who had students salute him. And now, that very routine had been inherited by his young disciple.
She took a deep breath.
"Professor Lang."
The students’ mouths parted slightly.
"Valued everyday life more than anything."
She brought up Lang, though no one had mentioned him, which made it feel all the more heartbreaking, as if she were deliberately reopening her own wounds.
"He forced his sick body to stand at the lectern every day for that very reason. Professor Lang would always say: don’t look back on the past, don’t obsess over the future, live only in the present."
Her voice gently spread through the room.
"He said the past shackles the present, and the future exhausts it. But if we build a sincere present, it will become a rich past, and a radiant future. Professor Lang remained faithful to the present until his final breath."
Her words had more resonance than any of her previous lectures.
"Though the professor has passed away, I will live in the present. I promise to dedicate all my strength and passion to every day I teach you. And I believe that will make Professor Lang smile down on me."
It was a short speech, but Francesca deeply moved the students.
Maelyn, who had always respected her, had tears welling in her eyes, and Kamibarez covered her mouth to hold back emotion. Sniffling could be heard from all over the classroom.
"Then, let us begin class."
Francesca’s lessons had always been dynamic, but today, they felt even more elevated.
She walked around the classroom, dripping with sweat, and drew detailed diagrams with chalk to help the students understand the components of toxins.
No student or assistant underestimated her just because she had once been a teaching assistant.
Perhaps it was the powerful impact of her opening speech, everyone sincerely accepted her as a full professor at Keyzen.
Three hours passed in a flash.
"Attention, salute the professor!"
"Thank you for the lesson!"
"Well done, see you again next week."
Perhaps still caught in the emotional afterglow, the students left the classroom slowly. A few of the Toxicology aspirants who were close to Francesca came to her personally to offer words of comfort. Francesca greeted them with a gentle smile.
Shff.
Just then, Simon quietly took out Kazan’s glasses from inside his coat.
Ever since receiving them, he’d been using them to check whether professors or assistants were wearing biometric face disguises, or if there were scars on their cheeks.
Simon put on the glasses and looked at Francesca.
"……"
Once again, there was no change. No scars on her cheek either. As Simon reached to remove the glasses—
"……Kami?"
Kamibarez, who had been staring at Simon with a dazed expression, suddenly flinched and blushed. Then she waved her arms frantically.
"Ah, aah! It’s nothing, really!"
"Huh?"
Maelyn, who had just stowed her bag into subspace, approached.
"Hey, what’s with those out-of-style glasses? You look like an old-fashioned nerd."
"They're outdated, but not a bad look, actually."
Just then, Dick slid over and, with a swift motion, snatched the glasses from Simon and put them on himself. He struck a smug pose as he looked at the three.
"Well? How do I look?"
"Disgusting."
Maelyn pretended to gag, and Kamibarez gave a slow clap with an expressionless face.
"Uh."
Then Dick froze. He began to scan Maelyn’s body up and down.
Standing still, Maelyn suddenly blushed furiously.
"Hey, what the hell is that gaze?"
"Hmm? What gaze?"
"Give me those glasses!"
Maelyn lunged at him. Dodging quickly, Dick handed the glasses back to Simon while patting his shoulder.
"Kehh, Simon, you really are a guy after all!"
"......?"
"Agh, I said, what are those glasses?!"
Simon put the glasses back on.
Since they allowed him to see past biometric disguises, there was a subtle x-ray-like effect. Of course, it wasn’t anything dramatic like Dick imagined, at most, a faint blur visible beneath the uniform.
"Hey!!"
Maelyn charged like a bolt and snatched the glasses.
She put them on with the fury of someone ready to bite anything that moved—
but… they were underwhelming.
Clicking her tongue in disappointment, she handed them back to Simon.
"Where’d you get these, anyway?"
To Dick’s question, Simon shrugged.
"Kazan gave them to me."
"Ugh! So unfair! Is it just you two who are close now? I feel like I’m being left out at the dorm these days. Help me get close too!"
Simon smiled warmly.
"Start by being quiet when you sleep."
"Ugh."
"Hmph, whoever he is, it’s definitely Dick’s fault."
"D-Don’t worry, Dick! I’m sure you’ll get close soon!"
The four of them chatted happily as they left the classroom. Class A had about two hours until the next Haematology class.
Dick headed to the dormitory storage. A large shipment related to his business had arrived, and it seemed they were short on hands.
Maelyn said she was going to stop by the Magical Engineering Hall with some club friends. It was located right next to the Toxicology Hall where they had their class.
And then—
"It’s been a while since it’s just the two of us~"
With both cheeks flushed, Kamibarez smiled brightly. Simon smiled too and gave a nod.
"Let’s grab lunch, Kami."
"Yes!"
Superb.