Witch Hunter Rhapsody

Time is tight and tasks are heavy.

Vitas hurried to the next location.

The wizards in Ortham City live in relatively close proximity. Starting from the residence of the doctor wizard we just met, go around an alley and walk for a while to reach the alley where Viya lives.

Vitas arrived at noon.

This time, the wizard didn't use such an elaborate knocking signal. When the door opened, it was a woman with dark red hair who opened it.

For some reason, the proportion of women among wizards is unusually high, almost reaching a one-to-one ratio.

Vitas glanced around the room. It was quite similar to the previous guy's room. There were no special decorations, no windows, and no other people.

In that case, Vitas will have to rely on just one trick to succeed.

He acted suddenly, grabbing her by the neck and lifting her up before she could react.

Wizards are physically quite weak; it's almost impossible to find one who can run ten miles in one go. At such close range, a sudden attack by a warrior like Vitas would be completely undefendable for a wizard.

Just like last time, the woman had no time to react. She was dragged into the room, pinned against the wall, and then Vitas repeated what he had said before.

The woman looked just as bewildered as the man.

"What are you talking about?"

"Stop playing dumb. I know you're selling materials you shouldn't be selling. There's an unidentified necromancer wandering the city right now. Could he be the material he brought with him?"

The woman continued to resist, but as Vitas gradually increased the pressure on her hands, she chose to give up.

"Alright, alright, damn it, you freak! I admit I'm selling some things I shouldn't be selling, but we've never even seen that new necromancer you're talking about! Who knows if he brought the materials himself? Any wizard with a bit of power will build their own warehouse, and some can even use space to create their own private space. How can you be sure that guy didn't bring them himself?!"

"Shut up, did I ask you?"

Vitas was very annoyed. At this moment, he envied Raymond, whom he had killed. Raymond could use mind reading, which would be very convenient in this situation.

"You're probably sent by the lord, that damned viscount. It's bad enough that he collects so much tax every day, but now there's so much trouble on his hands."

"I need you to prove you weren't involved."

"Damn it, how am I supposed to prove this? These things aren't supposed to be recorded anyway, what am I supposed to do?"

Vitas's grip tightened. The last doctor-wielder was at least willing to show him the cabinet, demonstrating some cooperation. This person...

"Enough, enough! I know! I have a clue. What else could the wizards who've been coming to the city lately be after? They're definitely after Viya's academic achievements. Damn it, I got a copy of her notebook; you can take a look!"

Vitas hadn't expected such a result. He released the woman, but remained within half a meter of her, ready to snap her neck should she make any strange move.

The woman took a notebook from a hidden compartment in her wall and handed it to Vitas.

Vitas took it, and the woman sat down beside him and lit a cigarette.

"Alright, see for yourself. At this distance, you'll detect and attack me the moment I try to cast a spell."

"I can't understand wizarding things."

"That's the problem. I got this notebook for me when Viya was first found dead. Later, I couldn't find a way to get it anymore. I also wanted to improve my studies. After all, everyone knows that Viya was Draco's student."

She sighed, and then said.

"Unfortunately, I can't understand it; it seems she's speaking another language."

Other languages?

Vitas opened the book, and as long as it wasn't the language of the countries like Mogulsaraca, the languages ​​of the other predominantly human countries were barely recognizable.

This appears to be Viya's research notes, a dialect from another region of the Duchy of Vilan. Vitas happened to have learned this language when he led the Knights to this country to make a name for himself.

"Regarding the creation of artificial life, countless predecessors from both the Necromancer and Summoning schools have conducted research and experimentation."

It is certain that at some point in the past, wizards seized this authority, which was considered to be possessed only by the gods…

Vitas continued reading.

"With our current technological accumulation, it is almost impossible to achieve the legendary result of creating life from soil and water. Research on organic matter and inorganic matter are completely different in difficulty. I have a feeling that even if we finally completely master the mysteries of time and space, we will not be able to completely master life."

Viya's handwriting is quite clear.

"There are some problems right now. I can create bodies that look similar to real people by stitching them together, but what I want to create is not a puppet, but a child, a child who can grow. Perhaps I should use better experimental materials. My father should have a way."

Father? Vitas had never heard of Via's father. What exactly was this "better experimental subject" she spoke of...?

He continued watching.

"Perhaps I've made some mistakes in my approach. Creating a new child requires more than just physical adjustments; it also requires a soul. What exactly is the connection between the soul and the body? Maybe we can use soul-related magic to reduce some of the necessary steps."

Viya's handwriting began to become messy.

"Damn it, my connection with Nectus has been discovered. Even my father can't help me. I have no choice but to be exiled. But how am I supposed to complete my research without my spire?"

It turns out that Viya was expelled because she had an academic exchange with Nectus.

Thinking about it this way, it's understandable.

"We were researching in the wrong direction before. Simply stitching things up on a physical level isn't enough. The soul, the soul is the most crucial thing. I've made a breakthrough, it's ridiculous, especially in a place like this. Those prostitutes were unexpectedly useful. Without those children, I would never have been able to make such great progress."

"Have you seen enough?"

When the woman spoke, Vitas looked somewhat annoyed.

"Not yet, may I take this book?"

"I'd be happy if you stopped choking me and gave me money."

Vitas closed his notebook; that might be important, but it's not the point today.

"So, give me some ideas on how to find that strange necromancer?"

"Hmm, what did he do?"

"He summoned hundreds of undead and attacked me and my companions."

The woman then realized the seriousness of the problem.

"I see. I think you should ask the cemetery. I don't know much about necromancy, but the resurrection of such a large number of undead requires a lot of materials. Moreover, you should be more concerned about how he sent these undead to your side. If such a number of undead suddenly appeared, the teleportation array required would be of an unusually large size."

"I am not a wizard, and for me, both directions are quite challenging."

The woman said again.

"Furthermore, I think that if they are here for Viya's results, they are unlikely to cooperate with us local wizards."

Vitas nodded.

"Indeed."

"However, it's also possible that we are not strong enough. I know a wizard with some status, at least among us."

Where is he?

The woman smiled slightly; the marks on her neck from being choked hadn't completely faded, yet she already dared to ask Vitas for a price.

"Give me the money, sir. I'm a wizard, and wizards are always short of money."

"Aren't you afraid of dying?"

"In my opinion, you need information more."

Vitas could only curse the damned wizard.