Undead With Life

Today is the day I die. Pathetically. I was unable to defeat a mere opponent. I couldn’t even muster the strength to use my cursed necromancy. Not that it matters—who cares about the life of a wretched soul like me? Everyone has hated me for as long as I can remember, all because of this damned curse. My whole life, I’ve just tried to survive. If it weren’t for my master, who helped me control this power while I rotted away in prison, I would have gone mad long ago. I thought I’d find some semblance of peace here, at this academy, rather than festering in that hellish cell, that's what my master wanted and I just couldn't live up to her expectations.

Master… she’s watching me die, isn’t she? That’s a pathetic way to go.

I guess Imeki won too. Kerfern, Tsuki, Principal—all the people I’ve met until now…

...I’m sorry.

"Arnes! ARNES!"

Huh? Is that Master’s voice? What’s happening…

I feel like I’m sinking into a bottomless void, yet I can still hear her voice ringing in my ears. I’m dead—of that I’m sure—but why is my consciousness still clinging to this broken body? Slowly, I force my eyes open. I’m on my knees, the floor beneath me slick with blood. I look down to see a gaping hole in my chest. Of course, after taking the hero's attack, there’s no way I could still be alive. My heart, that vital organ, is nothing but shattered pulp from a mere flick of his eyeball. I raise my eyes, seeing the hero standing far away, cautious, with Imeki beside him. Her face is twisted in terror as she holds the severed head of her opponent. Imeki was holding back her power but seeing my condition she just finished her opponent in one blow.

And then I feel it—a warm, trembling hand in mine. It’s my master’s.

"Arnes, it was my fault for sending you to this academy… Please, forgive me. Mffgh—sniff-sniff."

She’s crying. Her cheeks flushed, her tears hot against her skin.

"Arnes… why didn’t you die?"

Those are the words that spill from her lips, and I can’t comprehend them.

"Huh?"

I don’t know what just happened. I remember the impact, the sudden void swallowing my existence.

"Master, you have no life energy left in your body… but you’re still alive." Imeki’s voice trembles with despair. Her eyes, wide and haunted, are fixed on me.

Questions flood my mind. Is the only reason I’m still here because of that? Because I did that?

Yes, that must be it. In the instant I was struck, I must have cast my necromancy on myself. My master saw it. But I need to confirm…

"Master, could it be… I am the reason?"

She’s an SS-tier Knight, with full authority to intervene in the matches. She’s standing right in the ring. The coliseum erupts into chaos.

"W-what just happened? Arnes Hyouki is still alive? And what was that magic circle just now? Why is an SS-Tier mage knight here? And why is the hero backing off? Also, Imeki the maid finished her opponent in a single blow! Looks like she was holding back this whole time!" The referee’s voice echoes, struggling to make sense of the situation.

"The principal ordered me to handle this mess myself, so no other SS-tier mages would interfere. Arnes, I think there are SS-tier mages watching who understand what you did..."

"So you’re saying I really did end up… like this."

"Kuh—KUHAHAHAHAHA! I don’t know why you’re still alive, or maybe this match is rigged because they sent an SS-tier mage to interfere. You were one of the cursed users I was sent to hunt down. This is interesting. Who the hell knew you were cursed this whole time, you bastard?"

"..." I stay silent. The referee hasn’t declared the match invalid because technically, no one broke the rules. But the hero knows now. He’s realized I’m a cursed user, piecing it together from my conversation with my master.

"Arnes, you’re alive but dead at the same time. Are you prepared for what comes next?" My master speaks up.

"..." I can’t answer. Imeki is staring at me with wide, confused eyes.

"Imeki, I’ll explain everything later..." She nods, trusting me.

"Arnes, you are like a son to me. I’m sorry, but I will be intervening in this battle."

BOOM!

It’s the hero, Itsuka. He lunges at her without warning, but she’s ready. He aims a punch straight at her face, but she blocks it effortlessly with her elbow. She doesn’t even bother drawing her holy sword, an ancient artifact she’s privileged to carry as a knight. With a swift motion, she grabs the hero’s face and throws him backward.

"Not bad. This is the first time I’ve faced a worthy opponent, which makes sense since you’re SS-tier... but too bad, I’m probably SSS-tier. I just made that rank myself, hahaha!"

"Quite arrogant you are hero, even though you are an alien you got foul mouth, you were completely my type only if you weren't this shitbag."

"Oh my, is this what you call a pedophile? This world doesn’t even have laws. I’m so creeped out."

Heh, so my master likes them young… I see. I don’t even know what’s happening, but it feels like they’re enjoying themselves.

Imeki comes closer, pointing at my chest.

"It’s not healing…" She speaks in a monotonous tone.

"..." Sweat drips down my face or what it should have been, but a dead wouldn't sweat.

"Necromancy magic… I used it on myself." I mumbled.

"I know, master."

That’s right. The reason I’m still here is that I used necromancy on myself at the moment of impact. My magic kept my consciousness tethered to this body. But it’s all thanks to my familiar. If a lich like her wasn’t my familiar, I would be nothing more than a mindless zombie. Her life force and mana flow through me, connecting us through the master and familiar pact. Her life energy resonates within my body, making me kind of like a lich, so that's why I have a human brain, or rather human heart without heart in this dead body.

I’m alive by sheer luck. But that means I’m just a zombie with a mind. My body won’t heal anymore, it will only continue to decay. Am I even human now?

Dark thoughts start to creep in.

"What is this unexpected battle? We never anticipated such a fascinating fight between a knight and an otherworldly hero!" The referee continued his job. 

Imeki killed her opponent, and the crowd was in a frenzy, enjoying the spectacle despite the bloodshed. Even the referee is caught up in the excitement, ignoring our inturrupted match.

I look toward my master, the woman who raised me. I couldn’t live up to her expectations. When she sent me here to lead a normal life, I failed miserably… and now, a few people might realize I’m a cursed user. Once again, she’s standing up for me, fighting the hero to draw attention away from me. She wants everyone to focus on her instead.

I place a hand over my chest, feeling the cold emptiness of the gaping hole. My cells and tissues have stopped functioning. My skin is pale, lifeless. I try to pinch myself, but I feel no pain. I’m half-dead.

"This isn’t right… I’m a necromancer, hiding from society because I’m considered a threat. But I’m not a criminal. I haven’t done anything wrong..."

"Master, what are you talking about…" Imeki’s concern is evident as I start rambling.

"Even in prison, they treated me like a monster. I’m sick of it."

I lower my hands to the ground, ready to unleash my full power. I’ve been holding back for so long, but now I don’t care. I’m not even human anymore. There’s no point in proving I’m not a threat.

"Ah, I just want to end this quickly…"

"Who said you’d be ending this quickly?"

*CRASH!*

"MASTER!!!" Imeki screams.

A sudden impact slams into me, a human figure crashing down at high speed, interrupting my magic.

Imeki instantly dashes towards me, her eyes wide with panic, but the figure on top of me swings a punch at her, sending her flying and crashing through the coliseum wall.

W-what the hell… who is this…

"Master, please take care of that hero. I’ll handle this." The figure shows no interest in me, waving at the knight who is still battling the hero.

"Hey, who the hell are you to call my master… a master?"

"Shut up. You messed up badly, but hey, at least you’re not dead. Kuhkuhkuhkuh, saves us some time."

This guy is calling her master too? Who the hell is he? What’s going on here…

"I don’t have time for this… Only SS-rankers are allowed in the ring. You know that, right, Arnes Hyouki? If someone below SS-rank tries to enter, the ring’s barrier will reject them. But for SS-rankers, it’s different… and I’m different too..."

That means Kerfern, Tsuki and other can't enter the ring from outside.

"..." Why is this guy explaining this to me? And is Imeki safe…

"...I’m a cursed user, so I can easily enter the ring despite the barrier." He continues.

"I’m sorry, what?" I think I must have misheard him.

"Like I said, I’m cursed, just like you."

To Be Continued...