Free Web NovelChapter 387: Chapter 387 Seeing Through_1
"The warden arranged for me to manage this library during my sentence, and I quite like it. Overall, it’s a leisurely job, except when there is a large update of books. I do things for the warden, and in return, he allows me to continue my study of necromancy. But, well... there are quite a lot of limitations, you see. I can’t just dissect a corpse here like I used to, can I?" Asenna said as she arranged the books on the shelf, "So I’m quite idle here in prison. Occasionally, I read different kinds of books, covering a wide range of topics." freёwebnovel.com
"So, you’re just trying out these books?" Sera asked tentatively.
"I’ve read some similar stories. Although they mostly follow similar patterns, they are still quite interesting overall. At least I haven’t grown tired of them yet," Asenna said, pausing before adding, "By the way, these books have a high borrowing rate in the core area."
"Is that... a joke?" Sera asked skeptically.
She recalled the prisoners she had seen in the core area over the past few days—on the whole, there were hardly any normal people. They were either fierce and malevolent, or mysterious and babbling, none looking like they’d be interested in what the populace imagines love to be.
"It’s true," Asenna replied, "After all, they are fictional stories that don’t exist in reality. Who cares who reads what?"
"I just thought that you all might be interested in this kind of... romantic stuff, it’s a bit surprising, that’s all," Sera explained.
"Everyone may not be normal people, but they are still human," Asenna replied indifferently, "They all eat, drink, defecate, and sleep. How much difference can there be in needs? Oh, but some who deviate significantly from the norm must be excluded, like those two liches in the side ward, the madman in cell three... oh, and the succubus in cell thirteen—that one’s a pure embodiment of desire. The rest, some have experienced love, some haven’t, some don’t want to. But overall, the majority are still interested in such matters."
"So, so... Miss Asenna, you are interested too?" Sera asked carefully.
Even though it was only temporary, she felt it necessary to build a closer relationship with this roommate. Staying in a cell every day with a necromancer as silent as the dead was too uncomfortable; basic communication was essential at least.
"I have fancied someone before," Asenna said nonchalantly.
"I see..." Sera responded reflexively, then her eyes widened as she looked over, "Eh?"
"Do you have an objection?" Asenna glanced back at her.
"No, no!" Sera was startled again and quickly denied it. That lifeless, cold gaze was more chilling than one filled with anger.
Finally, Asenna turned her gaze away, casually pulling a new book from the shelf to read: "Studying necromancy weakens the interference between one’s spirit and body, but that doesn’t mean we cut off emotions completely. Please don’t be too prejudiced."
"Then... who was it?" Sera tried to continue the topic.
"My teacher, the one who taught me necromancy," Asenna answered frankly without avoidance.
"I see, he was lucky," Sera shivered inside at the answer—she herself was no different, but she still tried to keep a calm demeanor, attempting to lighten the mood.
"Yes, very lucky," Asenna calmly concurred, "And then that foolish man died by my hand."
"Huh?" Sera was at a loss for words, the atmosphere freezing in an instant.
What was this situation? Could it be one of those plots where one kills the person they like, then uses necromancy to preserve the corpse so that they’re forever ’mine’? Sera speculated with trepidation.
Luckily, the other party soon provided an explanation. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
"Who asked him to try and kill me?" Asenna shrugged, "Even by the world’s standard, that should count as self-defense, right? Fortunately, that guy was a notorious criminal, so when I was caught, nobody pursued the crime of killing him."
"He tried to kill you? You also—" Sera blurted out, then stopped mid-sentence.
"Also?" Asenna didn’t miss the information conveyed in those few words.
She looked at Sera, staring intently—it was probably the first time she seriously scrutinized her new roommate.
"Heh, looks like you’ve had quite an interesting love life too," she nodded in the end, continuing her explanation, "Don’t be surprised, master-disciple slaughters are common in the world of necromancers. The evil spirits separated from a necromancer’s ’Spirit’ are prime material for necromancy; most necromancers take on apprentices with the goal of harvesting their souls later. Of course, if the apprentice becomes a skilled necromancer, they’ll likely harbor the same ideas. In the end, I did turn out to be a rather decent necromancer."
For the first time, Sera felt some kind of "empathy" from her roommate, who seemed as cold as an iceberg. They were both targeted by the very person they were infatuated with—what must she have felt at the time?
Judging from Asenna’s current demeanor, she clearly didn’t care about the past anymore, and Sera was curious about what kind of emotional transformation she had gone through.
Could it be that the warden, knowing they had similar experiences, arranged for Asenna to be her bodyguard?
"When you found out he wanted to kill you, what did you think?" Sera tried to "interview" her.
"Thoughts? What else could I think? Disappointment, then fear. I hesitated for a moment whether to run or fight back, but in the end, I decided it was better to kill him. It would eliminate future troubles, and I could take his research and soul," Asenna replied as lightly as before.
"You really are calm," Sera suddenly envied the other’s "coolness," a state of mind she couldn’t learn at all.
Indeed, as an ordinary person, she was still very different from these people.
"What else could I do if not stay calm? Confess to him in hopes that he would spare my life?" Asenna’s tone carried a rare hint of sarcasm, "Most men’s love for women is based on physical pursuit—I don’t say this with contempt, just stating a fact, that’s normal. And him? A man who wanted to turn himself into a lich, cutting off all physical desires, not interested in women, how could he give up his lifelong commitment for a woman’s confession? He didn’t love me, so why should I love him?"
Sera was silent for a long time after hearing this, and finally laughed self-deprecatingly: "That’s very perceptive."
"Isn’t that just the way things are?" Asenna said.
"Sadly, many people can’t convince themselves immediately even if they understand," Sera shook her head.
