The Necromancer's Church Management Manual

The vault was eerily quiet, save for the faint sobs of Edmund.

He is a spirit of the dead, yet he still has emotions, and he still harbors resentment.

Nidhogg retracted its tail, no longer bothered by Edmund's attack.

It just stared at Edmund quietly, as if seeing that familiar, crybaby boy.

Yes, he was just a child who stepped in temporarily; he was only fifteen when he ascended the throne...

After a long while, Nidhogg began to struggle violently. This was the first time it had struggled so desperately since it was sealed. That hateful face seemed to be right in the distance. As long as it broke free from the magic circle that imprisoned it, it could bite it to death!

"I know none of this is your fault! Release the seal! I will make amends for your regrets!"

The next second, a complex and profound magic array pattern appeared among the nine pillars. It emitted a dazzling light, and Nidhogg was pulled to the ground by the contracting chains, making a dull thud. A cloud of dust fell from the dome.

Edmund's necromancer blade slowly dissipated, and watching Nidhogg struggle, he became the calmer one:

"Calm down, Nidhogg. I will release the seal, but I hope you won't kill Ciel outright."

Why?

Edmund did not answer, but looked at Gar, who was cowering behind a pillar.

Nidhogg followed his gaze to Gar: "Him? You think?"

Garl was also somewhat confused: "Me...me?"

Edmund did not speak, but went into the treasury and searched for a long time before finally reaching Gar.

"Andrew, your mission is complete. Now, I will fulfill my promise."

As he spoke, he placed several items in Gal's hands: a bag full of dragon-patterned gold coins, an ancient compass, and a... mask?

"This is your payment, along with the original plan. I will use this will to help you."

With that, Edmund picked up the scroll tied to Garl's waist and, under Garl's watchful gaze, turned the pointer on the compass.

Goodbye, Andrew. No, I should call you Gar Hawke now.

Instantly, a surge of immense magical power erupted from the narrow space of the compass, forming a crack.

Unable to resist the pull of the rift, Gar fell into it, carrying with him the reward he had just received.

The crack disappeared, and Edmund looked at Nidhogg again:

"Your father has drawn you into this century-long kingdom conflict, and you are bound by the dragon pact, from which there is no escape."

"Bourbon, you know I don't dislike him."

"Nidhogg, you are free."

Nidhogg wanted to get something more, but Edmund suddenly knelt down, crossed his arms, and bent over.

Behind him, a person dressed in a long black robe appeared out of nowhere.

He has a pair of black, sharp wings and holds an ordinary long-handled scythe.

Edmund spoke slowly: "God of Death, remember your promise."

"Hey! I know, I know! Let's destroy the kingdom of the god of war! I guarantee it will happen!"

The voice of the god of death was ethereal yet sharp. The scythe swung lightly, slicing across Edmund's body and leaving a trace of blue.

"Then! I'll accept the soul of the legendary servant of the God of War!"

Edmund's soul flame was extinguished completely.

"God of Death, why are you here?" Nidhogg's body stiffened, and he could only watch as Edmund's soul shattered and he died completely.

"It's just a deal between this person and me. Everything is going according to plan!"

The god of death swung his scythe once more, but this time, he struck the nine pillars.

Instantly, cracks appeared in the magic circle on the ground that had bound Nidhogg for ten years, and the nine chains snapped.

-

A few miles away from Nidhoggburg, Garr appeared, then fell face-first into the mud, looking somewhat dazed at the empty plain and the distant, hazy Nidhoggburg.

Recalling the conversation between Nidhogg and Edmund, he sighed slightly.

Edmund was truly pathetic that even his own child betrayed him.

Feeling the biting cold wind, he finally came to his senses and it took him a while to pick up the roulette wheel that had fallen to the ground, looking somewhat helpless.

It seems that a teleportation array was embedded in this compass, which teleported him outside.

Unfortunately, the compass was badly damaged, so it seems to be a disposable item.

So what exactly is this mask?

He took out the church's management manual, flipped through a couple of pages, and stuck the mask onto it. Sure enough, the manual provided information about the mask.

【Faceless One (Normal)】

[Description: Grants the wearer the ability to alter their appearance]

This is great!

Garr decisively put the mask on his face.

Based on his memories of his past life, the Faceless One transformed and attached himself tightly to his face.

Although the mask is only of ordinary quality, its practicality is exactly what Gar needs right now.

The equipment crafted by blacksmiths is mainly divided into seven levels: inferior, common, fine, excellent, epic, legendary, and divine.

The staff obtained from Nidhogg is an epic weapon. Weapons of this level are the pinnacle of craftsmanship that only a very few powerful blacksmiths can create, and even master-level familiars may not be able to possess them.

Legendary weapons are so rare that even a single country might struggle to possess just one.

Looking at the staff, mask, and heavy bag of dragon-patterned gold coins in his hands, Garr instantly felt that this adventure was worthwhile.

Oh, right, count the gold coins.

He couldn't wait to pour the gold coins onto his lap and count them two by two.

Just then, he felt his contract with Edmund completely broken.

This made him look into the distance again, but Nidhoggburg was still very calm at the moment.

"It seems Edmund has dissolved the contract. I wonder if he can keep his promise to me."

He turned the booklet back to the title page, looking at the believers' requests (0/1000) and the 89-day countdown, and felt somewhat worried.

Hopefully Edmund will keep his promise and make the will public, otherwise his missionary work will be in trouble.

Realizing that there was no time to lose, Gar put away the gold coins, grabbed his staff, and headed toward Gusenburg.

-

"Yes, the one who attacked me was a necromancer."

"Alright, Mr. Brand, you can rest and recuperate now."

In the ward, after being healed by the priest, Brand had basically recovered and was recounting the events to several investigators.

"Duke Roderick!"

Suddenly, a commotion arose outside, and Brand and several investigators looked toward the open door.

A middle-aged man dressed in an indigo suit with a mink coat draped over his shoulders was standing there.

"Duke Roderick!" Everyone bowed their heads respectfully.

The Duke nodded almost imperceptibly and walked slowly into the ward, his gaze passing over everyone and landing on Brand on the hospital bed.

"Excuse me so late at night. I heard that a loyal knight was unfortunately attacked by a necromancer while protecting our city. Are you the knight Brand?"

"Yes, yes, Your Grace!" Brand tried to sit up straight.

"No need for formalities, Sir Brand," Duke Roderick greeted him warmly as he approached the bedside.

"Please allow me to confirm, are you absolutely certain that the attacker was a necromancer?"

"I swear by the honor of a dragon knight, Your Grace." Brand raised his arm above his head:

"What's binding me is a skeleton. It's incredibly strong, and its hands have no flesh or blood. It's definitely an undead!"

"I trust your judgment, Knight Brand."

I am very sorry that we have not yet captured that evil necromancer, but I will send more knights to search for him.

So please put aside your burdens for the next few days and rest well here.

"Thank you, Your Grace!"

Duke Roderick patted Brand on the shoulder and calmly turned to leave.

After the Duke left completely, the room became lively.

"I never expected His Excellency the Duke to personally visit the injured knight so late at night. He is truly admirable."

"Brand gets to play a few more days, I'm so envious."

"..."

The Duke left the hospital, boarded the carriage returning to the duchy, and, gazing at the scenery outside the window, spoke softly:

"Tonight, let Sir Brand rest in peace. You know how to arrange things."

Suddenly, a figure appeared in the seat opposite him.

"As you wish, Your Grace."

The figure vanished in the next instant, while Duke Roderick continued to watch the receding shadows of the trees, only he kept twisting the ring on his finger.

"What's next...? Can the kingdom withstand this storm?"

Just as he was about to reach the duchy, a loud noise came from behind him, and a powerful hurricane struck.

Duke Roderick jumped off the carriage, which was instantly knocked over by the hurricane, and one of the wheels broke into several pieces.

Looking further into the distance, the Flying Dragon Fortress was rapidly collapsing, and from the smoke and dust, a huge black figure rose into the air.

"Nidhogg is alive!"

Duke Roderick's pupils contracted, but a slight smile suddenly appeared at the corner of his mouth.