Awesome Shut-In Necromancer

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It was a giant of a man.

Rather than being enormous, he had a well-proportioned, solid physique, which, considering my height, made him appear quite large.

“Uh…”

The man looked just as flustered as I was.

He was staring at me with an expression that seemed to ask what I was, but it didn’t seem like he had business with me.

“Who are you?”

I was surprised at my own words.

Maybe it was a side effect, but aside from Seo Ha, I couldn’t speak informally to others; yet now, the words flowed out effortlessly.

Thinking about it, that peculiar phobia didn’t seem to be manifesting at all.

There had only been two instances of this until now.

The first was Seo Ha.

The second was when I encountered monsters in the dungeon.

Flap!

“Ugh?”

I quickly threw a blanket at the man and backed away. Then, in a cold voice, I asked, “What are you?”

“What do you mean ‘what’? I’m just…”

“A monster wearing human skin?”

Upon hearing that, the man made a meaningful face and soon began to chuckle quietly.

“You’ve got quite the instinct, huh?”

Just as I was preparing to look for an escape route, the man scratched his head sheepishly and said, “Really, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“……”

“Yeah. If you felt my monstrous strength, it’s no surprise you’d react that way. But being too strong is a problem too.”

The man seemed oddly proud, puffing out his chest.

Seeing him like that, I thought, What on earth is this idiot?

“Anyway, where’s Seo Ha? I heard she was definitely here.”

“Uh…”

Now it was my turn to be flustered. Was he really not a monster?

“Seo Ha went out for an event.”

“What? There are still two hours left!”

It seemed like talking was the priority right now.

#

Known as ‘Golden River’ in the world, the S Rank Hunter and Korea’s first Returner, Choi Ha Min, opened the door to Baek Seo Ha’s lodging and found a pure white girl.

With shimmering silver hair reflecting the light and gem-like red eyes.

The girl, draped in a blanket over her head, looked like a fairy from a storybook.

Abruptly, she threw off the blanket and began to be wary like a stray cat, indicating she was likely a Hunter of a sensitive type.

A monster, huh.

Clearly, considering her current form, she might actually be closer to being human than that. Choi Ha Min smiled bitterly in his heart and started a conversation with the girl.

And they were able to figure out each other’s identities.

“Yeah, I’ve definitely heard of you. You’re the Returner who is Seo Ha’s family.”

“……”

Since both of them had undergone similar experiences, Choi Ha Min and Baek Eun Ha became friends quickly.

As their conversation wrapped up, Baek Eun Ha asked with eagerness, “How did you awaken after returning to Earth?”

Choi Ha Min was categorized as a Returner, but he was also clearly classified as an Awakened One.

However, since he couldn’t understand the question at all, he just stared at Baek Eun Ha with a strange look.

Feeling his gaze, she muttered with a dissatisfied expression, “…Why?”

“No, I was just wondering what that meant. A Returner with power automatically becomes an Awakened One upon returning to Earth, right?”

At least, that’s what Choi Ha Min thought.

“Huh?”

Baek Eun Ha tilted her head in surprise, eyes wide as if hearing it for the first time.

Although it didn’t match Choi Ha Min’s preference, it was frankly quite cute.

After providing more detailed explanations, Baek Eun Ha began to vent her frustrations.

“Then why not me!”

“Well, I guess I don’t know. I haven’t heard of anyone who randomly lost their powers while moving, except maybe someone who didn’t build up power over there.”

In fact, he already knew the real reason from the previous Baek Seo Ha.

Baek Eun Ha had manipulated all her memories, so it was natural that the powers corresponding to those memories did not exist.

But since he couldn’t tell her that, Choi Ha Min hid his pity and nodded along to what she said.

After soothing the whiny Baek Eun Ha for a while, she finally calmed down and collected herself.

Watching her like this reminded him of his younger sister when they were kids. A smile crept onto Choi Ha Min’s face as he recalled the day of their reunion.

“But you came back safe, right? Seo Ha should think that’s enough.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

For now, they had said everything they wanted to say to each other. It was time to talk about something else.

“So, Seo Ha went to Building C?”

“Yep.”

“…The event’s being held at the auditorium in Building A?”

“Uh?”

It was odd that she left two hours early, making him feel something was off.

Choi Ha Min asked the confused Baek Eun Ha, “Do you want to go pick her up together?”

#

Two days before the event.

Helena, the S Rank Hunter making a name for herself across Europe, examined the information delivered to her with a puzzled expression.

“This is strange.”

While she had considered mobilizing her status and power if a simple investigation was impossible, unexpectedly, Song Ha Yeon’s background check ended inconclusively.

She had pinpointed the whereabouts of the Master who taught her Necromancy.

“No way, she only had contact through an online broadcast…?”

It seemed mid-way that a different means of communication had been used, but since there was an initial record, it made things easier from there.

The owner of the account she discovered lived in a high-end apartment complex in Seoul.

And that’s where the problem arose.

‘Baek Seo Ha.’

Helena was also aware of her name.

A Hunter famous not only in Korea but worldwide, and she had personal interest in her separate from this case.

But that was strange.

As far as Helena knew, Baek Seo Ha was a highly skilled spear user.

‘Is the spear technique just a cover?’

No matter how she looked at it, that interpretation seemed implausible, but there was the possibility, albeit slim.

As she was mulling over this, new information arrived from the informant she commissioned.

About another person living in that house.

“…Interesting.”

She wasn’t sure if it was male or female. However, it seemed certain that they were related to Baek Seo Ha.

‘In that case, let’s start with the closer one.’

Having made her decision, she contacted Baek Seo Ha with an enchanting smile, saying she wanted to discuss her secrets.

Thus, today’s gathering was arranged.

“What was the reason you called me?”

In the special training hall located in Building C.

Originally designed for a different purpose, it was specially remodeled for training and interactions among high-rank Hunters.

“Well, what could my reason be?”

“Sorry, but I didn’t come here for small talk.”

Baek Seo Ha’s demeanor was icy.

It was only natural for her to notice that Helena had done her background check.

“Please don’t get too anxious. I simply have some questions, that’s all.”

Helena smiled gently while observing Baek Seo Ha’s reaction.

And she thought, ‘Surely this is not right.’

If Baek Seo Ha truly possessed deep knowledge of Necromancy, she wouldn’t be calmly facing her like this.

[Huhhh.]
[Keaaah….]
[Groooo.]

At least if she could feel the presence of the dead filling the training hall.

“A bit disappointing.”

In the previous situation, Helena had over ten opportunities to kill Baek Seo Ha.

So, the rumor about her being close to S Rank seemed like mere gossip among the impatient.

As she was about to lose interest and get up from her seat, Baek Seo Ha responded with a smirk.

Hehe.

“If you want to test me, I don’t mind at all.”

And with a glance, she indicated one of the restless dead desperate to claim a human soul.

From the very beginning, they all had noticed that fact.

“Aha…”

Realizing this, Helena’s expression changed. The beautiful gem-like green eyes began to swirl with a sinister red hue.

And she finally couldn’t hold back, opening her mouth.

“By chance, we happened to meet before the event and had a light workout together…”

It was truly a dizzying sight of Death Energy.

“Let’s say that’s the case.”

#

“Ugh! Wait! Take it slow! Ugh.”

Thump.
Thump.
Boom.

What on earth was happening, I thought, as Choi Ha Min’s expression stiffened and he started running while carrying me.

In what people would commonly call a princess carry.

“Why not, I don’t know… just carry me!”

“No time! Seo Ha is in danger.”

“What?”

That seemed like a rather nonsensical statement, but Choi Ha Min’s face was serious. I had no choice but to hold on tight and entrust my body to him.

Bang!
Boom!

Once we arrived inside the training hall of Building C, it sounded like explosion noises from a war movie were echoing throughout.

“Tsk.”

Choi Ha Min clicked his tongue and quickly unlocked the entrance, allowing us to enter the building through a long corridor.

Whoosh.
Swish.

The sight inside was devastating.

The building, made of seemingly sturdy materials, was in complete disarray.

“Did they really do this with just two people…?”

Choi Ha Min, with a look of shock, waved his arms forcefully.

Whoosh!

As the dust clouds settled, two figures began to become visible.

One was naturally Seo Ha, and the other was a strangely familiar face.

It was definitely the woman he had encountered in the bustling district.

“Huh, oppa? How did you get here…?”

Seo Ha asked, surprised, but with my insides still churning from the train ride, I was in no state to respond.

“…Impressive.”

A moment of silence passed, and the woman, who was holding onto a window while taking a breath, addressed Seo Ha.

“I’ve definitely heard you’re close to S Rank.”

“……”

“From my perspective, it doesn’t seem so close, though?”

The woman, who had been smiling enchantingly, soon chuckled quietly before continuing, “But in the end, this side was wrong.”

Then, she turned her gaze toward me intensely.

Feeling that, Choi Ha Min’s face trembled as he responded, “Helena, what’s going on here?”

“Going on? I simply spent some time together for a little while.”

“Do you really think that’s going to work?”

Choi Ha Min seemed genuinely angry. He felt completely different from the person who had just exchanged idle chatter with me a moment earlier.

Seeing this, Helena waved her hand as if to soothe him.

“Don’t be so worked up. I was simply curious. After all, neither of you appear to have noticeable injuries, right?”

That was indeed true.

Compared to the apparent ferocity of the battle, their physical injuries were minimal.

Both sides must have fought while mutually holding back.

“Come on, causing issues before the event has even started is problematic.”

“I’ll be careful.”

Leaving only those words, Helena departed.

In that final moment, she sent me a gaze full of desire once more.

A brief silence fell, and Seo Ha, who had walked briskly toward us, suddenly pointed her finger at Choi Ha Min and scolded, “What are you doing bringing him here?”

“Uh? No, I…”

“Have you forgotten what I said? We must manage him at the same level as a newborn who needs an incubator.”

“Hey, even so, I can handle that much…”

“Oppa is a problem too. Didn’t I say not to follow just anyone? Why did you follow such a suspicious person?”

“W-well.”

In the end, I ended up getting scolded by Seo Ha yet again.