Detestable

Mognog looked between Ritzy and the Man-Eating Flesh Slime with a dubious expression. Not that he could show any expressions, of course. But he quickly stopped doubting.

"So you got a Flesh Slime anyway. That's almost a shame, isn't it? You could have tried to make a Flesh Slime and used the bones to make Bone Chalk. Instead, you wasted all the materials to get a single, fruit-sized Flesh Slime."

Mognog didn't mean to criticize Ritzy's decision, but the results pointed to it not being a good one.

"Huh?"

Ritzy looked at Mognog in confusion.

"What are you talking about? This is a Man-Eating Flesh Slime. It's made from human flesh and only eats humans. It grows according to how much and how powerful what it eats is. It's completely different from that lowly Flesh Slime of before. That one would, at most, be a poor imitation with lackluster consumption efficiency and no requirements on its food. It should also have extremely limited potential. Of course, most Flesh Slimes, regardless of nature, are created not by trying to reanimate a corpse but by taking mounds of flesh, internal organs, and tissue and piecing it together, then casting the right spell. The results depend on the quality of the creation process."

Mognog looked at Ritzy in surprise. He hadn't expected Ritzy to be so knowledgeable about such an obscure thing as Flesh Slimes, which Mognog had never heard of. He also hadn't expected to be given a lecture on the subject.

Ritzy also looked stunned.

"How do you know all that, kiddo?"

Mognog couldn't help but ask, even if he had probably just read about it before things happened and Ritzy's necromancer journey began.

"I…"

However, it seemed that wasn't the case.

"I don't know."

Ritzy almost looked a little scared as he met Mognog's eyes. That was an expression Mognog hadn't seen on Ritzy even when they were running for their lives through a rain-cursed forest. The only thing that came close was when Talia had passed. But even then, Ritzy had refused to accept reality, and he was more frustrated and confused than scared or hurt.

"What do you mean? Haven't you just read it in a book or something? Like you did with your various summoning methods, the taboos, and whatever else you know about necromancy?"

Ritzy shook his head.

"No. I remember everything I've ever read, heard, seen, or felt about necromancy, including how I learned what I've learned. But I have no memories of learning what the fuck a Flesh Slime is."

"That is…"

"It's tragic! How could I ever forget anything about necromancy!? I don't deserve to be a necromancer!"

"Let's not be hasty, kiddo!"

Mognog hurried to calm Ritzy down before he spiraled and decided that since he wasn't worthy of necromancy, he should just try again in his next life.

"You are the best necromancer I've ever seen. If anyone deserves to be one, it's you, kiddo. Believe in yourself!"

"R-really?"

Ritzy had a gentle smile as he looked up at Mognog despite his face facing the ground. But then he righted himself and looked at Mognog with seriousness.

"But aren't I the only necromancer you've met?"

He stared at Mognog with suspicion in his eyes.

Mognog ignored the truth.

"That doesn't matter, kiddo! Besides, I met plenty of deathmages back in my days serving the Mognog Empire. Even if their magic were different, they still wouldn't be able to hold a candle to you!"

Mognog continued almost shouting positive affirmations at Ritzy, drowning out any complaints he might have made.

"Weren't you going to be the greatest necromancer ever, kiddo?! Is your resolve so weak you'll start doubting your fate just because you know something you don't remember how you learned it? Isn't it a good thing that you're such an expert in necromancy that knowledge naturally comes to you?"

Ritzy looked down at the ground, a tinge of red playing on his cheeks.

"When you put it like that…"

"Even if I don't put it like that, you still have me, kiddo. And I'm sure you will take over the world one day if you so wish!"

"That does sound pretty nice."

Ritzy looked up from the ground and at Mognog with an embarrassed smile.

"Thank you, Moggy."

"Hmph. You can thank me by fulfilling your dreams, kiddo."

"Yeah. Will do."

"Good."

Mognog was satisfied, and Ritzy was looking forward to his future as the greatest necromancer again.

"But we still should figure out why you know something you don't know how you know, especially if it's necromancy related. It could be of help to your growth, kiddo."

Ritzy nodded with a serious expression.

"I agree. But first, let's deal with this mosquito."

Mognog raised an eyebrow. Not really.

"What mosquito?"

Ritzy pointed at an empty spot in the middle of the air before seemingly following something around.

"This one. It's gosh darn annoying."

Mognog furrowed his brow in concern. He didn't have a brow, at least not a furrowable one, so he didn't do that.

"Uh, kiddo…? I don't see anything?"

"Huh."

Ritzy looked between Mognog and the invisible mosquito.

"Do you hear it, at least?"

Mognog hesitated and tried to listen for a buzz or any sound a mosquito could make. But he didn't hear anything, even after straining his ears, which he didn't have. So, he shook his head. Well, he couldn't move his head on his own, so he didn't shake it.

"No. I don't hear a thing."

"That's strange. I hear it clear as day saying stuff like, 'Hey, can you really see me?!' and 'You can even hear me?!' But it's damn annoying, and it won't even let me kill it."

Ritzy reached out and tried to clap the mosquito to its death.

A memory of Ritzy talking about that time he had seen a supposed orc flashed through Mognog's mind.

'Ah…'

"Uh, kiddo, I don't think you're seeing a mosquito."

Mognog couldn't be sure what it was or why Ritzy was the only one who could see it, but he had an idea.

"It's buzzing, it has wings, it's annoying, and it makes me want to kill it. Is that not a mosquito?"

"The mosquitos I know can't talk, kiddo."

"So? It's a mosquito with vocal cords or something."

"That…Or it's a spirit or fairy. You said it had wings, right? Then it's probably a fairy. Mystical beings. It's considered lucky to have seen one."

Ritzy scrunched his nose.

"That's good and all. But can you, like, get it away from me?"

"That's the strange part. Fairies usually avoid humans. Can you ask it what it wants, maybe?"

Ritzy turned to the mosquito.

"You heard him, mosquito. State your business and get outta here!"

Ritzy crossed his arms and gave the mosquito a stern and irritated look.

*You don't have to be so rude! I wouldn't bother you unless absolutely necessary!*

The semi-translucent girl, who was almost as tall as the upper joint on Ritzy's thumb, also crossed her arms and pouted. Her blue wings matched the short-skirted one-piece dress. They fluttered as she flew in front of Ritzy's face.

It was this human's honor to lay eyes on her. It was just like the creepy skull had said. Yet he wanted to kill her. Outrageous!

"Okay. Get outta here!"

Ritzy shooed away the bratty mosquito. He tried to, at least, but she nimbly avoided his hand and flew back to right in front of his face.

*Hey!*

"What? Get outta here!"

Ritzy tried again. But the results were the same.

*Stop that!*

"No. Get outta here!"

*Urgh! If only I didn't need your help!*

The mosquito stamped her foot against the air below her in frustration.

Ritzy raised an eyebrow.

"What do you need help with? Get outta here!"

*Can you stop trying to chase me away!? You even offered to help me just now!*

"I did not. Get outta here!"

*Seriously! Why do you keep doing that when it doesn't work?! Are you daft?*

"If I do it enough, you'll get outta here sooner or later. Get outta here!"

*No, I won't! Stop for a second and hear me out!*

"Get outta here!"

*...P-please?*

The mosquito whispered so quietly that not Ritzy barely heard her.

Ritzy stopped trying to shoo her away. It wasn't out of pity. He just couldn't get her to leave. But hearing her out might convince her to give up.

"Will you leave afterward?"

*A-after you help me?*

"You don't sound so sure."

Ritzy narrowed his eyes as he looked at the mosquito with

*I'll leave! I'll leave!*

The mosquito hurried to correct herself. It sucked, but she had to get help. And so far, Ritzy had been the only one capable of seeing her. He was the only one capable of helping her.

"Good."

Ritzy was satisfied with that. Getting her to skedaddle of her own volition would be easier than trying to force her departure. But it was still a shame he had to help a mosquito to get it to leave. Detestable!

"So, what do you need help with?"

The mosquito nervously fiddled with her fingers and avoided Ritzy's eyes for a couple of moments before looking at him and answering.

*I think I might be dead?*