After puking so much blood, Rino was amazed that the old magician still had some blood left in him to form that blood magic contract with him.

As daybreak was approaching, they had to finish the contract quickly. Rino helped with drafting the contract and the swamp magician marvelled at the weird contract circle scratched onto a mossy rock using water pressure.

This young lich had a very interesting way of using magic that even the old necromancer did not know about. It was creative yet highly efficient. Teaching such a promising magician was no loss at all. He might not be able to rule the world, but there was no doubt that this lich could.

The title of the monarch's tutor could not be worse than the title of the ruler himself. In fact, it was a great honour to become a royal tutor.

"What language is that?" the necromancer asked and squinted at the completed magic circle.

"It's Deutsche, the common language of magic from where I came from."

Although the necromancer could not read what it said, he understood some of the symbols used. It might look slightly different from the signs he used, but he recognised the format.

"I understand," he told Rino. "I will swear upon my blood and true name."

Expecting nothing less, Rino nodded and took a few steps back so that the necromancer could complete the ritual. He might not make the swamp master an immortal, but Rino wanted this magician to live for a very long time, so he added a little something in the blood contract circle to ensure that the man would live for long enough to see his empire built.

"I swear upon my blood and true name, Kragami the Decayer, to serve the Monarch of Solitude and never betray him."

Clenching his fist and piercing his palm with his jagged nails, Kragami let the blood flow and drip onto the moss-covered rock.

The magic circle activated with an ominous red glow, demanding more blood as rune patterns flew into the air and wrapped around Kragami like a chain before disappearing into his body and coiling around his heart.

With that, the mossy rock disintegrated, and Kragami felt his powers increasing tremendously, surpassing what he knew previously. It went past his previous limits even when his soul was bound to the magic tree, and the old necromancer gasped.

His skin tightened, and the wrinkles smoothened. The hunch in his back and stiff joints straightened with ease, making him feel ten times lighter as his injuries healed. The overflowing mana in his veins gave him strength and vigour he never experienced even in his youth.

With surprised eyes, Kragami turned to look at the lich. Who exactly was this magician? How could any individual possess such overwhelming power? Whatever Kragami felt, he knew this was just a fraction of what Rino felt. How could a magician like him become the future king's teacher?

Rino wasn't interested in what Kragami thought. Now that he knew his true name, the contract was like a ticking time bomb. If Kragami betrayed him, it would place a horrible curse on the necromancer and erase his existence completely. He did not have to hesitate to lend some of his powers to the old man now that he was a pawn in his palm.

"Come," he held the old magician by his shoulder and pulled them both into the sky back to the portal.

The sun was already starting to rise, and Rino shielded his teacher with his mantle. The temporary portal was still where it was, and Rino made a quick dive.

Kragami was not prepared to be teleported. His swamp hut was still a mess, and he wanted to fix it, but Rino already grabbed them both.

When they reappeared at the other teleportation pad, Kragami's jaw fell.

Was this a farm managed by an army of undead? He saw a human skeleton farm manager and many undead goblins working in the fields wearing clothing that looked like they protected them from the sun. How did this lich manage to find so many legendary artefacts for his shadow army?

Even with those tools, the necromancer had never seen such neat craftsmanship for farmers. They might be made from basic materials like stone and wood, but the layers of enchantments on them were extraordinary. It was obvious who enchanted them, but this only puzzled the forcefully recruited magic teacher.

Not to mention, there were hundreds of fairies and various magical creatures bumbling about in the field. From what it appeared, they were changing shifts. Kragami had so many questions to ask, but Rino dragged him away quickly while returning greetings with a lazy wave to the undead and faes who could only be described as fanatics of their summoner.

Who and what exactly was this lich doing out here cultivating potatoes using a complex irrigation system with hundreds of undeads and faes? With this power, Kragami didn't think he stood a chance to defend his swamp. His zombie army might be able to take down villages, but Rino's army should be able to take over the world with how well equipped they were.

Before the old magician could ask questions, Rino blasted opened the door to his farmhouse and threw the necromancer inside before shutting the door and giving orders to some sylphs that he should not be disturbed.

Kragmi noticed how well furnished the interior of this well-built farmhouse was. He never knew that a peasant's hut could look and feel so luxurious but more curiously, it was full of more cat furniture than actual furniture for humans.

The farmhouse was not too warm on the inside nor too cold. There was an unlit fireplace and a small kitchen area with fire and water rune symbols. Rino must have too much magic to waste on menial tasks like chopping firewood and carrying water. What a waste of mana!

Then again, this level of flex only meant that Rino thought nothing about using mana for chores like this. Kragami was starting to understand his student's character a little more.

He wasn't just a talented lich. He was also a bag of lazy bones.