The Nursery Rhyme

She was very familiar with that orphanage.

When she had free time, she would often go there to volunteer and teach the children.

She knew every child there.

Leon, at the side, stroked his chin and said, puzzled.

“Out of nowhere, why would an evil spirit suddenly appear?”

“This kind of thing is rare in itself. It was my first time seeing one in person just now.”

Jianye analyzed.

“The natural conditions for the formation of evil spirits are very harsh. They only appear in places where a large number of bodies have been buried, such as large cemeteries, battlefields, or mass graves.”

“At least a hundred or more corpses are needed as a foundation.”

“In addition, most of these dead died tragically, accumulating extremely heavy resentment. Only after a long period of nourishment is it possible for their souls to transform into aggressive evil spirits.”

At this point, Black suddenly added something, his voice very calm.

“You’ve overlooked one point, Jianye.”

“And that is, evil spirits can be created artificially.”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked at him in shock.

A bold guess rose in everyone’s hearts.

Irena’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Black, are you saying… a necromancer?”

“That’s right.”

Black nodded, confirming her guess.

“In this world, after a person dies, a soul is born from the body if there is a strong obsession.”

“These souls with strong obsessions have no intelligence and only wander near the corpse, lingering for a long time.”

“There is an extremely low probability that these souls will naturally transform into evil spirits, but the number is very small and they pose no threat.”

He looked around at everyone and continued.

“But, as the student just described, a large number of evil spirits of that scale, appearing and actively attacking the living at the same time,”

“The possibility of them forming naturally is minuscule. There is only one possibility: they were created artificially!”

Everyone fell silent for a moment, their faces grave.

They had all more or less heard of the forbidden existence of necromancers.

The so-called necromancers, through the practice of a forbidden art called “necromancy.”

Forcibly transformed ordinary, not-yet-dissipated souls into more lethal evil spirits.

And then enslaved and commanded them.

The power of this art was astonishingly great.

A necromancer, by controlling a large number of evil spirits, could easily defeat an opponent 10 levels or even more above themselves.

However.

Because this art was too vicious, desecrated the dead, and disrupted the order of life and death.

It had been listed as an absolutely forbidden evil art by the Dragonheart Empire from the very beginning.

Anyone who attempted to practice or use necromancy, once discovered, would be sentenced to death.

Therefore, this necromantic art had been passed down for a long time, and the number of existing necromancers was extremely small.

Most of them had only heard this name from their teachers or in ancient texts.

After hearing this, Land raised a key question.

“It’s a bit strange. Even if a necromancer really exists.”

“If he wants to cast necromancy and transform ordinary souls into evil spirits, the premise is that there must be a large number of souls for him to transform.”

“Near the orphanage… as far as I know, there are no cemeteries, nor have I heard of many people dying there. Why would these evil spirits gather in that place?”

This was also something the others couldn’t understand.

Faced with these many questions.

Everyone except Black was at a complete loss.

A perfectly fine orphanage, where did the souls come from?

Black remained silent.

He just sighed to himself.

‘There are indeed many bodies buried there, and they are all the bodies of children.’

But, this cruel truth, he could never say it out loud.

Kristine pursed her red lips, tightened her grip on her staff, and spoke.

“Whatever the reason, I have to go to the orphanage.”

“Since it’s unclear, then I’ll go and investigate the situation of the evil spirits.”

She couldn’t just stand by while the children of the orphanage were in danger.

Seeing the senior say this, Irena also nodded and said.

“And that student named Mills is still there. Our mission isn’t over yet.”

“Since Senior Kristine is going, then I’m going too!”

Then she looked at Jianye with an expectant gaze.

“Jianye, you’ll go too, right!”

Jianye sighed, assessed the situation, and said.

“From the fight just now, the strength of these evil spirits is not that strong.”

“As long as we are careful, it’s fine to go and check the situation.”

Since the opponents were not too difficult, it was fine to agree with Irena.

Since the three student volunteers had all decided, there was no need to even mention the Dragon-Slaying Guard’s side.

Leon patted the sword at his waist, eager to try.

“This is our duty as Dragon-Slaying Guards, after all. Whether it’s the Blood Rose users or the necromancer, we have to investigate thoroughly.”

“If there really is such a thing as a necromancer, I’d like to meet him!”

Everyone’s gaze fell on Black, waiting for him to make the final decision.

Black hesitated a little.

He didn’t really want Irena to get involved in this side quest, “The Necromancer Hidden in the Orphanage.”

Especially Kristine.

After all, it was better to have one less thing to worry about. However, if she really wanted to go, it was fine.

This side quest would last for two days, and the real main event would be on the second night.

And at that time, Kristine should already be at home preparing, or at the church preparing to preside over the Sacred Rite.

She wouldn’t encounter the most dangerous part.

As for Jianye and Irena, their combat power was very strong, so they could be of help.

After weighing the pros and cons, he nodded and said in a deep voice.

“Alright, then let’s go and investigate together.”

“But all actions must follow orders, and ensuring your own safety is the top priority.”

The fierce battle and commotion on the eighth floor of the Alchemic Rose had naturally attracted the attention of the tavern’s management.

After Black and Kristine briefly explained the situation to the manager who had rushed over.

Although the other party was troubled by the damages, in the face of the Dragon-Slaying Guard and the Saintess, he could only express his understanding.

He even thanked them for their timely intervention in dealing with the student possessed by an evil spirit.

And preventing greater harm to other guests.

Afterward.

The group confirmed their next course of action and left the Alchemic Rose.

They headed towards the orphanage in the west of the city.

As they approached the orphanage.

A childish singing voice drifted over with the wind and reached everyone’s ears.

“We are the names forgotten by the moonlight,”

“The surnames unwritten on the altar,”

“But your heartbeat,”

“Is the sound of a newborn lamb’s hooves.”

“Do not count the crown of thorns,”

“We have long taken root in the darkness,”

“And your hands, holding the medicinal herbs,”

“Make every drop of blood bloom into a dandelion…”

Irena listened with her ear cocked and blinked.

“Isn’t that the very famous nursery rhyme, ‘The Lamb’s Lament’? I haven’t heard anyone sing it in a long time.”

Kristine nodded, a gentle smile on her face.

“Yes, that’s the song. It’s the children singing.”