Necromancer Feels Down

White sparks of light fell from the sky, but they weren't snow, more like ash from something that had burned out.

On the ground, scattered pedestrians reached out to catch the intangible sparks and then looked up at the northern sky.

The sky in their eyes was broken, with countless black voids dividing the vast curtain into modules, distorting reality. If a mage could see black flames burning fiercely, constantly eroding a sea of seven colors, with countless waves turning into starlight and falling into it to be devoured.

A moment later, the Sea of Light was completely assimilated by the Black Abyss, and at the same time, the world no longer had the clear distinction between light and darkness.

"Hey."

Linton opened his eyes, meeting the girl's gaze, which was hidden with concern.

"Did you see something in your dream? You look terrible."

"It's nothing, just that even a Necromancer needs to rest this late."

He looked up at the sky. The starry sky over the Calvi Continent was still beautiful, dreamlike and ethereal.

As if realizing the girl wanted to ask more, he preemptively asked, "What about you? Who is this Vera? Did you see me and her in your dream?"

"No! We didn't do anything!"

Linton said with a half-smile, "Really?"

"No!" Iris glared, "I don't remember anything! Stop asking me!"

"Alright, alright." The Necromancer waved his hands in surrender, "Then can you tell me who this Miss Vera is?"

Iris hesitated for a moment, then grudgingly mumbled.

"Vera is my friend."

"A mage? A Knight? Or something else?"

"She's probably a mage?" Iris was a bit uncertain. "Since I met Vera, the place she's appeared most often is the reading room of the Blossom Academy of Magic library. If she were a Flower Knight or a warrior who uses swords, she wouldn't touch any books unless absolutely necessary. Only mages who need a large amount of knowledge would spend all their time in the library."

"Moreover, in my opinion, Vera's knowledge surpasses even the enshriners in the court. Back then, no matter what problem I had, as long as I went to her, I could always get a perfect solution, so she must be a mage."

"She's beautiful, knowledgeable, and has a gentle personality. Good heavens, why would the Lord of Blossoms grant someone both doors and windows!"

"It seems she's a very outstanding talent." Linton rubbed his fingertips together and said casually, "When we go to Falasong, perhaps we can pay this lady a visit."

"Like hell! You can't!"

Iris was about to agree, but the scene from her dream reappeared before her eyes, and she immediately bristled.

But when she saw Linton's slightly teasing, hidden smile, she instantly understood that her thoughts were being toyed with by him.

Why hasn't this evil sorcerer died yet! All those who play with people's hearts should die ten thousand times over!

At this moment, Iris didn't even want to say a word to him, let alone remember that she had initially spoken to uncover Linton's dream.

When she came to her senses, she had to sigh that it was the Truth Society's blindness that this guy hadn't become a cult leader.

"Little Black, don't go, Little Black, how can I live without you!"

"...I don't think it's me who's leaving?"

"Little Black, why are my eyes always filled with tears? Is it because I love you so deeply?"

Generally speaking, persistent tears might be due to prolonged staying up late causing dry eyes, triggering the body's self-protection mechanism.

"Little Black, I killed river crabs in the canyon for ten years. I thought my heart had become as cold as my CPU, until I met you."

"...Yeah, right, right, right."

Linton looked at these "enthusiastic" players with a headache, never imagining that they would still put on a show for him even as they were leaving.

He turned to look at Iris, who was humming a song and watching the show as if nothing had happened.

No players approached the doll girl, which was a stark contrast to his experience... if not for a Knight's sword blocking the way.

Normally, Linton might have just sent them away with a quest, but the beta test was almost over. Who cared about a little experience anymore...

"Little Black, Little Black, I'm here to turn in the quest!"

The paying player Greninja emerged from the crowd and proudly shouted, "I delivered the message you wanted to that blacksmith. So, what's my reward?"

"Deliver a message? What message?" Linton was completely baffled.

"Didn't you ask me to find the blacksmith to pass on some unsavory information?" Greninja winked at him and whispered, "Don't worry, that blacksmith left after we talked, and no information was leaked. Even I, the person involved, don't know anything."

"So... it was you?" Linton chuckled, suddenly understanding why the blacksmith had inexplicably come to cause trouble for him.

—Most likely, the series of stories concocted by these talkative players were taken seriously by the other party.

"You forgot me so soon?" Greninja clutched his chest, speaking with sorrow. "Even if we are tools, we are still emotional beings. I am very hurt..."

"May I ask how much reward it will take to repair your damaged soul?" Linton gritted out the words.

At this moment, Greninja sighed softly, "It's a pity that the game is about to be wiped and shut down. No matter how good the reward, it can't be kept. If only you could remember me, then in the next public beta, I would be a big step ahead of everyone from the starting line."

"How could I forget you?" Linton's eyes were kind. "Your appearance is fixed and won't change again, and your features are so distinct. I definitely won't forget you."

"Really?!" Greninja's face was unable to hide his joy, and he muttered to himself, "Is this the benefit of a beta tester?"

"Since that's the case, I won't change my ID or re-customize my character next time."

With not much time left on the server shutdown countdown, Linton watched as other players logged off one by one. Greninja waved its hand and said, "Little Black, you have to remember me! Next time we meet, I'll still have this ID, still be Greninja!!"

Before the words even finished, its form vanished.

Linton quietly watched the players log off one after another, his eyes cast down, silent.

At the same time, Iris, who had been hiding and watching the show, suddenly felt a flicker in her eyes. She then looked at Linton blankly and asked, "Who were you just talking to?"

Linton was taken aback.

After confirming that his memories of players had not disappeared, he slowly replied, "I'm settling a score."

"Is it about the cooperation with Mr. Frel?"

"Something like that."

"I'm wondering how much it would be appropriate to raise his price then."

Iris watched him suddenly look up at the starry sky and inexplicably felt that, in an instant she couldn't perceive, Linton seemed detached from the world.

However, this feeling was very fleeting, and she couldn't grasp it to describe it specifically.

The doll lady could now only be sure of two things: the "he" in Linton's words did not refer to Blacksmith Frel, and...

—the Necromancer was feeling down.