Project Necro is an official initiative by Re:Library.

The strength of a Specter is not constant. Each Specter has its own individual characteristics—though perhaps “individual” isn’t quite the right term, since they lack a physical form—and their power is further influenced by the intensity of the desires of the creature they possess.

Normally, Calcedonia’s Exorcism would reliably banish and destroy a Specter. Yet even that Exorcism failed to banish the Specter possessing Baldio. This was a first even for Calcedonia, who is hailed as the Holy Maiden and has banished countless Specters in the past.

Was the power of the Specter itself exceptionally strong, or were the desires within Baldio that immense? Perhaps it was both.

The reason was unclear, but the Specter still lurked within Baldio’s body.

It seemed Calcedonia’s solitary struggle would continue.

.

At the sound of Baldio’s voice, Calcedonia instinctively spun around.

But it was just a split second too late. Before she could twist her body away, Baldio’s hand reached for her chest, grabbing the collar of her priestess’s robe with a sharp tug.

What would happen if she twisted her body while her collar was being held?

With a jarring rip, the front of her priestess’s robe tore open, exposing the upper halves of her ample breasts and the deep cleavage between them.

Perhaps driven by her feminine instincts, Calcedonia reflexively tried to cover her exposed chest with both hands.

However, in the current situation, with a hostile presence right before her, that was nothing but an opening.

Baldio’s hand reached out from the opposite side, and his unnaturally gnarled fingers dug into Calcedonia’s slender wrist.

The searing pain that shot through her wrist caused Calcedonia’s body to freeze for just an instant. And in that split second, Baldio pulled Calcedonia toward him and held her tightly in his arms.

Red eyes—the mark of one possessed by a Specter. Seeing those eyes glow red once more up close, Calcedonia’s face clouded with sadness.

Baldio, who had always smiled so gently. When she was young, she looked up to him like an older brother, and he, in turn, looked after her like a little sister.

Of course, even now, she still thinks of him as someone like family—though different from Tatsumi or Giuseppe.

Yet the expression on Baldio’s face was a lewd grin unimaginable from his usual self. The man who was normally quiet and gentle now wore a lascivious look, as if he were a different person, peering into the deep cleavage of Calcedonia’s exposed chest.

Even though he was practically family, the fact that a man was peering at her cleavage filled her with revulsion—though it would be a different story if it were Tatsumi doing the peering—and Calcedonia desperately tensed her arms, trying to break free from his grip.

But, after all, they were just a woman’s slender arms. She was no match for the arms of a grown man whose strength had increased due to being possessed by a Specter.

Realizing this, Calcedonia quickly chanted a spell while silently apologizing to Baldio in her heart.

The spell she chose was Thunder Palm of the Thunder branch. It was a basic offensive spell that delivers a weak electric shock to the target upon contact.

As befits a beginner-level spell, it lacked the power to knock the opponent unconscious with a single strike. Still, being struck by the electric shock would be enough to startle him and cause him to relax his grip. If she could escape his grasp during that opening, she wouldn’t have to inflict unnecessary injury on Baldio’s body.

Caledonia’s palm gently touched Baldio’s abdomen, which was pressed tightly against hers.

At that point of contact, a vivid, pale-purple flash flickered for an instant. Baldio let out a groan, released Calcedonia, and stumbled back a few steps.

Taking advantage of that opening, Calcedonia stepped back, shielding her chest with her right hand as she began chanting a new spell.

The spell she was chanting was the same as before: Bush Restraints. Her intention was to immobilize Baldio once more and attempt Exorcism again.

However, it seemed that Baldio—or rather, the Specter possessing him—had anticipated this strategy.

With a speed she had never seen before, Baldio closed the distance to the exposed Calcedonia in a single burst, then stretched out both hands toward her, his fingers writhing eerily.

.

The incantation wouldn’t be finished in time.

Realizing this immediately, Calcedonia chose to interrupt the incantation and focus solely on evasion.

Certainly, a skilled mage like her could have performed evasive maneuvers while continuing her incantation. However, naturally, her evasion rate would be higher if she focused solely on evasion.

Having witnessed Baldio’s unexpected speed firsthand, Calcedonia decided to focus solely on evasion to increase her chances of success.

But Bardio’s speed increased even further, overwhelming Calcedonia..

Closing in at a speed that surpassed Calcedonia’s combat-honed physical skills, Bardio’s hands slid smoothly toward her chest.

Was he intending to tear her priestess’s robe even further, exposing her ample breasts completely to the sunlight?

With bloodshot eyes and drool dripping from the corner of his mouth, the current Baldio was driven solely by his animalistic instincts.

It was too late to evade. Yet, with an unyielding fighting spirit burning in her eyes, Calcedonia stared intently at the approaching hands.

Right where Calcedonia’s gaze was fixed.

A silver streak, like a shooting star, streaked across the path of Baldio’s advancing hands, blocking their advance.

.

The silver streak turned out to be the blade of a sword.

Caledonia and Bardio both turned toward the direction from which the silver streak had come. There, just as Caledonia had anticipated, stood the Free Knight, poised to strike with his drawn sword.

“Morgan!”

Caledonia’s face lit up. Morganaik smiled gently at her, but immediately his expression hardened as he fixed his gaze on Baldio, who had been transformed into a monster.

“Lord Baldio… Even a devout believer in God like you could not resist the whispers of a Specter…”

Morganaik’s face was etched with sorrow. He, too, knew Bardio well, and had been helped by him on many occasions.

Morganaik readied his drawn sword once more and, without taking his eyes off Bardio, addressed Calcedonia.

“Get away, Calcie. I’ll draw Lord Baldio’s attention. Use your Exorcism’ spell while I do.”

Calcedonia nodded silently at Morganaik’s words, quickly putting distance between herself and Baldio and moving behind Morganaik.

Just then, Tatsumi finally arrived, out of breath.

“Ch-Chii… ko… Are… you… a-al… right…?”

It wasn’t that far from where Tatsumi and Morganaik had been talking. However, since losing his family, Tatsumi had tended to shut himself away in his apartment, and his physical strength had declined significantly due to lack of exercise.

“M-Master!? W-Why are you here!?”

Caledonia was astonished to see Tatsumi appear there. Moreover, seeing him holding an incongruous short spear only doubled her surprise.

“It’s dangerous here!! Please get away from here immediately!!”
“B-b-b-but…!! Chiiko… I can’t… leave you behind… I can’t just… run and…!!”

Calcedonia spoke firmly and decisively to Tatsumi, who was still gasping for breath and speaking in broken sentences.

“I’ll be honest, Master, but your presence here is nothing but a hindrance! Please leave immediately!”
“Ch-Chiiko…”

Tatsumi was left speechless by Calcedonia’s harsh words. Just then, Morganaik spoke up.

“Calcie is right, Lord Tatsumi. There’s nothing you can do here. At the very least, get out of our way and stay out of our hair.”

At least Morganaik was better than Calcedonia—he didn’t outright tell him to leave. But that wasn’t out of kindness; it was probably because he knew Tatsumi wouldn’t just obediently leave even if he was told to.

“Calcie! Leave Lord Tatsumi alone for now and prioritize saving Lord Baldio!”

While giving orders to Calcedonia, Morganaik unleashed a series of swift sword strikes.

He was currently wielding his sword with the blade inverted. The swords commonly used in this country, the Kingdom of Largovere, are single-edged, broad straight swords.

However, in reality, not many people in this country choose the sword as their primary weapon. The weapons most favored in the Kingdom of Largovere are spears or polearms.

This was due to the harsh climate of the region.

The winter season in this country—known as the Season of Evening Moon—is extremely harsh. If one uses a metal weapon outdoors for an extended period during winter, the metal parts become extremely cold, and if handled carelessly, one’s skin could freeze to them.

For this reason, spears and polearms—which have more wooden parts and fewer metal parts—tend to be used more frequently.

For the same reason, leather armor is preferred over metal armor. Some even favor armor crafted from materials such as the fur and fangs of mabeasts.

The plate armor Morganaik is currently wearing is, so to speak, the “uniform” of a soldier priest; soldier priests are required to wear metal armor engraved with the sacred seal while inside the temple.

When Morganaik is active outside the temple as an exorcist, he favors armor made of mabeast hide reinforced with metal at key points, and he switches between a sword and a spear depending on the situation.

The reason Morganaik is currently using a sword is partly because he didn’t have his favorite spear with him, but more importantly, it’s a precaution to avoid injuring Baldio more than necessary by striking with the back of the blade—the so-called “blunt edge.”

His sharp sword strikes are impossible for anyone without combat experience to dodge. However, Baldio, possessed by a Specter, displays an unbelievable level of reflexes to evade them.

Of course, Morganaik is holding back somewhat. Even when striking with the flat of the blade, it is still a metal bludgeon. If he were to strike a body with full force using such a weapon, a bone or two would break easily.

However, it doesn’t really matter if he is evaded.

Morganaik’s goal isn’t to defeat Baldio. It is to restrict his movements, buy time for Calcedonia to cast her spell, and trap Baldio within the spell’s effects.

Morganaik swung his sword with a speed that matched—no, clearly surpassed—that of the Specter-possessed Baldio.

He gradually filled the space with sword strikes, cutting off Baldio’s escape routes.

Tatsumi stared in awe at those powerful, yet almost beautiful, sword strokes.

Is this the true strength of the man known as the Free Knight?

Even Tatsumi, a complete novice when it came to combat, could clearly see that Morganaik’s skill was far from ordinary.

And positioned behind that Free Knight, carefully assessing the course of the battle while chanting spells as if singing, was the Holy Maiden.

The Holy Maiden never took her eyes off the two, maintaining the most advantageous position according to the situation as she chanted her spells.

The Free Knight, too, positioned his body between the Holy Maiden and Baldio at all times, as if he had eyes in the back of his head. In this way, while protecting the Holy Maiden behind him, he served as her sword and shield, continuing to keep Baldio at bay.

Once again, Tatsumi was captivated by the two’s perfectly synchronized movements.

As he stood there, transfixed, watching the battle the Free Knight and the Holy Maiden carried out, Calcedonia’s Exorcism spell was completed.

The moment the incantation ended, a brilliant light of purification surged once more from the ground beneath Baldio’s feet. Though Tatsumi couldn’t tell, the light was far stronger than the one before.

With the “wall” known as Morganaik now in place, Calcedonia was able to concentrate on her incantation and channel more magical power than before, allowing her to cast a more powerful Exorcism.

As the light burst forth, Morganaik moved away from Baldio and stood beside Calcedonia. Standing with her back to him, she kept the tip of her sword pointed at Baldio, who was still within the light.

And when that light gradually faded and finally vanished, Baldio lay sprawled on the ground.

.

“…Well?”
“It was an Exorcism spell that consumed a great deal of my mana. I don’t think anyone could have resisted it…”

Without taking their eyes off the fallen Baldio, Morganaik and Calcedonia observed him.

Especially Calcedonia, whose magic had been tanked just moments ago, kept a watchful eye on the fallen Bardio, scrutinizing him to ensure there was nothing amiss.

After observing him for a while, the two decided he seemed to be all right and began to approach the fallen Bardio.

Just then, Tatsumi, who had been watching the situation from further behind them, suddenly let out a sharp cry.

“Don’t get any closer yet! There’s something near him!”

Reacting swiftly to the voice, Calcedonia and Morganaik stopped dead in their tracks.

“M-Master!? Can you see something, Master!?”
“No way… Could he be a Perceiver!?”

Since the formless Specter cannot be seen with the naked eye, it sneaks up unnoticed and whispers seductively into the ear of its target to tempt them.

However, there are some who are born with the ability to see these Specters or hear their voices. This ability is not derived from magic or mana; rather, it is an innate ability that could be called a supernatural gift, and the number of people who possess it is even smaller than that of magicians. Yet, those who possess this ability are extremely valuable and crucial when it comes to fighting Specters.

These were the ones known as “Perceivers.”

It was unclear whether Tatsumi was actually a Perceiver, but he would surely not lie in this situation.

Morganaik came to that conclusion and moved away from the fallen Baldio once more. As for Calcedonia, she retreated to the rear even before Morganaik, without a shred of doubt regarding Tatsumi’s words.

While Morganaik and Calcedonia remained on guard, scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger, Tatsumi could see it clearly.

Right above Baldio’s fallen body, something resembling a black mist was drifting.

If he looked closely, he could make out a figure that looked like a living creature within it.

“…a *gaki*…?”

Tatsumi muttered under his breath. Just as he said, to him, it looked exactly like a *Gaki*.

A tiny body, like that of a young elementary school child, with a disproportionately huge head. Its eyes glowed with a sinister, fiery red, and while its limbs were as thin as wire, its abdomen was abnormally swollen.

And from its forehead protruded a single, demon-like horn. It was indeed the spitting image of a *gaki* he’d seen in some illustration.

Whether it was aware that Tatsumi was watching it or not, the gaki—no, the Specter—flashed a leering, repulsive grin and glided smoothly through the air.

*—Kukuku. Looks like there’s another one here harboring great desire.*

A voice that wasn’t a voice. And Tatsumi could hear it clearly.

“Morgan-san!! Run!!”

The Specter, visible only to Tatsumi, moved slowly but steadily toward the Free Knight.

Morganaik also had his sword at the ready and was carefully scanning his surroundings, but since he couldn’t see the Specter, he unwittingly allowed it to draw near.

And then.

Having successfully crept up on the Free Knight with him none the wiser, the Specter—

—with a malicious grin, seeped into his body as if sinking in.

***

Translator’s note:

Gaki 餓鬼 is the Chinese, later adapted into Japanese, translation of Preta, which itself is the Sanskrit name of supernatural beings that resides in the Preta Realm, one of the six domains of rebirth in Buddhism and Hinduism.
The original word प्रेत (Preta) means *“departed, deceased, a dead person”*, from pra-ita, literally “gone forth, departed”. Preta also translates to 鬼 (Oni), and Oni in Chinese literature means the spirit of the dead or a ghost.
Gaki 餓鬼 is often translated into English as “hungry ghost” from the Chinese and East Asian adaptations. They constantly suffer from hunger and thirst. They [Pretas] are believed to have been false, corrupted, compulsive, deceitful, jealous or greedy people in a previous life. As a result of their karma, they are afflicted with an insatiable hunger for a particular substance or object.
With the widespread of Buddhism in Japan, the meaning of Gaki 餓鬼 shifts from “the dead who fell into the Preta Realm” to “vengeful spirits who died from hunger or starvation.” It is believed that if one is possessed by a Gaki 餓鬼, they will experience a sudden outburst of hunger.
Nowadays, though it shares the same etymology, the term Gaki ガキ is more often used to refer to mischievous little children.