I Pioneered Scientific Magic

In the northern regions of the Empire, within a remote village, the townsfolk mechanically moved about their distorted bodies, beginning their day's work as usual.

Tilling the fields, feeding livestock, hauling goods...

The village bustled with activity, yet everyone's movements seemed somewhat stiff.

A middle-aged man, appearing as a blacksmith, mechanically swung his iron hammer, striking down onto the glowing red sword blade.

His stooped figure suddenly trembled, yet he remained unaware as the round head fell, severed, onto the searing blade. Nonetheless, the blacksmith continued hammering away, pounding flesh and brain matter into the crimson iron sword.

By midday, this tranquil village welcomed an unwelcome group.

Ivina led a squadron of Punishment Knights into the village, but even at the moment of entry, the young girl sensed something amiss.

The village appeared desolate, dilapidated, with many houses collapsed, roads muddy and unkempt. From numerous signs, it was evident that this place had recently undergone the ravages of war.

Yet the villagers had made no effort to repair these dilapidated areas, nor did they avoid the newcomers like common paupers, continuing their work as usual.

A Punishment Knight suddenly grabbed a passing man, and upon seeing the man's blank expression, lifeless eyes, and the evident stab wound on his chest, a chill ran through their hearts.

"They've been dead for at least five days!" a Punishment Knight remarked gravely.

"It's been half a month!" Ivina corrected, judging from the signs of war.

As she spoke, Ivina solemnly produced a magical sensing device, the pointer spinning around before finally pointing towards a residence in the village.

More than twenty knights entering the village drew their blades from their belts.

"More Church lapdogs? They just won't disappear!"

The icy curse quickly emanated from within the mansion, full of disdain.

Then, an elderly and withered face appeared before the crowd, a man cloaked in black robes, his hair white, skin dry like bark, resembling a skeleton.

"The Corpse Thief, Wally!" Ivina's thoughts shifted, recognizing him from the wanted poster in the Sinners' Scriptures!

A reward of fifteen thousand Imperial gold coins!

"I despise being called a corpse thief!" the black-robed wizard wrinkled his brow discontentedly.

These bodies were all products of war. Without him, they would be abandoned in the wilderness, devoured by beasts, their bones lost forever. It would be such a waste! But in his hands, it was different. They could create greater value! With excitement and fervor, Wally, the Corpse Thief, opened his arms wide.

"See how marvelous the new type of revenants I've developed are! In just this half month, they've produced so much food, forged so many tools. They don't need to eat, don't need to rest, only obey commands..."

"Perfect... They're simply the perfect existence!" the Corpse Thief exclaimed triumphantly. "Let the dead work, and the living enjoy. Could there be a better world than this?"

Finding a few listeners eager to hear him out, the Corpse Thief began to expound upon his great research. It took him several years and countless experiments to awaken the memories of these corpses, making them spontaneously till the land and smelt iron...

Next, he would teach these revenants even more, make them do even more work!

Ivina and her comrades looked upon the decaying, rotting, foul-smelling corpses in the village with increasing anger, tightening their grip on their swords, interrupting the Corpse Thief.

"Cease your nonsense and face judgment, sinner!"

Upon hearing the term "sinner," Wally, the Corpse Thief, grew disinterested. "It seems none of you can comprehend the greatness of my research!"

"If that's the case, then stay here and contribute to my new enterprise!" The Corpse Thief sneered, and black mists surged from his body.

"Realm of the Dead!"

The stiff, lifeless corpses, upon contact with the black mist, immediately turned their eyes blood-red, their bodies contorting and swelling into grotesque forms.

"A domain? Is he a Grand Wizard?!" The Punishment Knights present paled, shouting in panic. This was entirely contrary to the information about a mere Third-Ring wizard as per the intelligence report!

Though it seemed only a ring's difference between the Third and Fourth Rings, their combat capabilities were worlds apart!

"Fight!" Ivina's face showed no fear as she took the lead, charging straight ahead, her sword slashing horizontally, instantly cleaving one of the charging revenants in two.

"Corpse Burst!" The black-robed wizard grinned darkly, pointing his finger. The separated corpse immediately exploded, its blood mist carrying toxins and plague. Even the Punishment Knights who had taken the Divine Elixir couldn't withstand it.

However, Ivina had already disappeared into the blood mist with extraordinary speed.

...

After half an hour of fierce battle, more than half of the thirty Punishment Knights had perished, and Ivina had acquired several injuries, oozing black mists.

Meanwhile, the Corpse Thief Wally's head had been impaled on a slender blade.

With the death of the practitioner, all the revenants in the village lost their anchor and collapsed to the ground. Ivina, exhausted, sighed in relief.

"Thanks to you, Ivina," one of the Punishment Knights expressed horror. If not for the reckless tactics of the girl that threw the Corpse Thief off balance, giving them an opportunity for close combat, they would all have died here, becoming mere revenants.

"It's a pity, though..." Ivina glanced at the bodies of her fallen comrades, sighing.

"Dealing with these wizards, casualties are inevitable!" The Punishment Knight spoke with both anger and resignation.

Indeed, sacrificing fewer than twenty Punishment Knights to kill a Grand Wizard was already extremely fortunate.

At least they protected more Imperial subjects from the enemy's harm!

Ivina nodded, mustering her strength alongside the remaining comrades, gathering the bodies and burning them all to prevent the spread of potential plagues.

Soon, the melodious hymns resonated throughout the village.

"May your souls avoid purgatory, may you ascend to the kingdom of heaven and eternal joy..."

Ivina murmured softly in prayer, watching the flames rise, involuntarily reminiscing about the past.

More than two years ago, in the harbor town, it was such flames that awakened her, leading to her estrangement from her family, and to her realization of a broader world.

As someone once said, the world is vast, far beyond imagination. A mere baron's title meant nothing.

That lofty position, like a dome, once obscured her entire vision. But now, with just a word, she could decide the life or death of a baron...

The aspirations, obsessions, and hatred of the past seemed utterly ridiculous now.

But... why did you choose to become a wizard?