21st Century Necromancer

"Even if it is like you say, and I can communicate with the dead, so what? Dr. Misumi, what do you intend to do?" Hearing Misumi Mikoto's well-reasoned analysis, Chen Yu didn't hurry to leave. He looked at her composedly and asked earnestly, "Make it public?

Tell me, who in the world would believe a University of Tokyo graduate and a University Hospital professor could talk to the soul of the dead, even perform Soul Summoning? Such matters would only be dismissed as absurd."

"No, no, no, what I mean is… Dr. Chen, could you teach me?" Misumi Mikoto hastily denied, then looked at Chen Yu sheepishly, expressing her desire to learn.

"You want to learn? For what reason… oh, you're a forensic pathologist, it's normal for you to want to learn. But give me a reason to teach you." Hearing Misumi Mikoto say this, Chen Yu gained an understanding of her intentions. Stroking his chin with a playful look in his eye, he said, "Don't tell me something like giving justice to the deceased and other noble reasons—they hold no meaning for me.

If you truly want to learn, give me a real reason that can convince me. Why do you want to learn?"

Chen Yu knew that Misumi Mikoto's desire to learn how to communicate with the dead must certainly include reasons such as bringing justice to the deceased, a duty of her profession as a forensic pathologist, but that alone was not a reason for Chen Yu to agree to teach her.

Because that is what she should do, and to achieve that aim she should be doing her job well, not trying to take shortcuts by learning necromancy from him.

He needed a reason more direct, one that followed her innermost desires. Necromancers are not philanthropists or saints on moral high ground; they do not bind themselves with societal morals but follow their own inner desires.

If even the reason to learn necromancy is cloaked in noble societal responsibility, then there's no need to learn necromancy at all.

Backed into a corner by Chen Yu's remarks, Misumi Mikoto was momentarily stunned but didn't have the luxury to overthink. She had plans on how to ask Chen Yu to teach her, but plans cannot keep up with changes. Now that Chen Yu showed a willingness to teach her, she had to seize the opportunity!

Racking her brain frantically, Misumi Mikoto desperately searched for a reason to learn how to converse with the dead.
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Why did she want to learn this skill? Was it because she was moved by seeing Chen Yu speak to the deceased Yokoyama, and she wanted to have that ability too?

Why did she want to have this ability? Was it because with this ability she could solve cases that were once beyond her control?

Why did she want to solve these cases? Was it to give the dead justice? No, giving the dead justice was the police's job. As a forensic pathologist, her duty was only to find the true cause of death.

Was it to better fulfill her job? No, if she wanted to perform better at her job, she should study her profession more diligently, improve her capabilities, rather than learning what's considered "unorthodox methods."

So what was the real reason she wanted to learn the skill to converse with the dead? And why was she so curious about all of this?

It was the thirst for knowledge, the delight at encountering the unknown, the desire to uncover Chen Yu's secrets, to understand the truth of this world.

Indeed, hadn't it all started with just wanting to know how Chen Yu did it? Thinking that learning the skill to speak with the dead could bring justice to them, could probe into the truths of cases that couldn't be solved was actually her fantasy of what she could do after mastering the skill. The real reason she wanted to learn was simply her desire to know.

"My purpose in learning from you, Dr. Chen, is to better understand this world, to grasp the truth of this world. I want to know the reality of this world," Misumi Mikoto realized her true intent and earnestly explained her reason for wanting to learn how to converse with the deceased, "I want to learn the skill to talk to the dead because of my thirst for knowledge."

"Good, following your own desires instead of being shackled by so-called morals and societal views is one of the primary conditions to learn this ability," Chen Yu nodded approvingly. To Necromancers, any moral or societal restraints are irrelevant; following their own desires is the source of a Necromancer's power because only extreme emotions can bring forth extreme power.

Hearing this, Misumi Mikoto felt immensely relieved and joy bubbled up inside her. Chen Yu's attitude was undoubtedly an indication that he was willing to teach her, which was excellent news for Misumi Mikoto.

However, she also noted that Chen Yu mentioned it was only one of the conditions. Clearly, learning to communicate with the deceased from Chen Yu was not as simple as she imagined. Luckily, Misumi Mikoto was prepared from the start and would not give up just because it was difficult.

"Then, Dr. Chen, may I start learning from you now?" Misumi Mikoto asked somewhat anxiously, still worried that Chen Yu might not be willing to teach her.

Chen Yu nodded and then raised his hands, saying to Misumi Mikoto, "Watch my hands."

After confirming that Misumi Mikoto was focusing on his hands, Chen Yu swiftly formed a series of extremely complex hand gestures. These gestures were intricate, with each of the ten fingers adopting a different position, enough to make one's head spin.

However, after Chen Yu had completed the sequence of gestures, he looked up at Misumi Mikoto and asked, "How many gestures did I make?"

Realizing this was a test from Chen Yu, Misumi Mikoto had paid full attention from the moment he started the gestures. Despite his rapid movements that bordered on overwhelming, she had seen each one clearly. After carefully recalling, Misumi Mikoto confidently said, "A total of forty-eight gestures."

Chen Yu nodded but did not offer any evaluation. Instead, he instructed her, "Repeat them in the order I just did."

Hearing this, Misumi Mikoto took a deep breath, aware that this was the test. Though she didn't understand its significance, she raised her hands and started to mimic Chen Yu's gestures.