Awesome Shut-In Necromancer

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“Ugh.”

It’s been several months since I first met my Master. Because of that, I can understand. With things having come to this, I could no longer expect any help for a while.

In the end, I had no choice but to resolve the situation on my own.

“Right. Are you finally feeling like fighting a bit?”

“…Say whatever you want.”

Swish.

In preparation for Johan entering battle mode, Song Ha Yeon raised her spirits with all her might.

No matter what, she was also a B Rank Hunter. She wouldn’t be an easily underestimated opponent. Song Ha Yeon immediately commanded the skeletons without giving them any gaps.

“Attack with Group 2!”

The enemy was a conglomerate of giant Moder Trees, so she used the same tactics as when facing large monsters.

[Huhuhuh.]

Whoosh!

Boom!

The Skeleton Mage, which was naturally well-suited against Moder Trees, sent fiery projectiles flying, preventing the trees from advancing properly.

Seizing that opportunity, the Warrior and Masher began targeting the lower section of the Moder Trees.

Whooom!

Crash!

Crackle!

The prowess of the Skeleton Masher was particularly impressive. Enhanced by necromancy, each attack sent a deafening roar echoing through the area.

“Indeed, you have skills. You’re much better than the idiots from your homeland who couldn’t even create undead properly.”

“They’re not as impressive as I expected.”

Having gained a fair bit of confidence from the recent battle, Song Ha Yeon felt her attacks were landing well enough. In that case, she could give it a try.

However, Johan smirked and clicked his tongue.

“You’re out too.”

“…What do you mean?”

“You don’t understand the essence of a Necromancer at all. You don’t have the right to wield death.”

At those words, Song Ha Yeon’s body trembled slightly. And then, Johan finally started to move.

“Cut off your arms.”

[Growl.]

At the sudden command, the Moder Trees cut off several branches growing from their bodies.

Thud!

Boom!

Then, Johan fired a fierce surge of energy and began chanting a spell.

“Corpse Explosion.”

Whoosh─!

Crack!

Crackle!

With a self-destructive attack, not caring that his undead were being damaged, the result was devastating.

Chonk.

Creak.

With just that one explosion, several Warriors engaged in close combat were out, and the Skeleton Masher also took damage, with its body riddled with wounds.

“W-what a horrible thing…”

Caught off guard by that unexpected tactic, Song Ha Yeon couldn’t hide her shock. But Johan didn’t stop there; he pulled something out from his robe.

“I hear you mainly use Han Skeletons. So I brought this.”

It was some kind of medium. As soon as Song Ha Yeon noticed and tried to summon a Skeleton Archer to disrupt him, sadly, the distance was just too far.

“Fake Resurrection.”

Crack.

Boom!

What appeared at last was a massive knight, looking as if it was clad in bone armor.

“Bone Breaker.”

In its enormous hand was a huge hammer adorned with sharp spikes.

Just from one glance, Song Ha Yeon could tell that this thing did not match well with her undead.

“…Ugh.”

The ensuing battle ended in disaster.

Crash!

Crackle!

Boom─!

With the attacks of the giant Moder Tree and Bone Breaker, Song Ha Yeon’s undead began to be shattered spectacularly.

“Return Undead! Undead Call!”

Seeing the situation worsen, Song Ha Yeon regrouped and summoned a number of Warriors and Mashers skilled in close combat, but the tide of battle did not change.

Simply put, Johan’s undead were stronger than Song Ha Yeon’s.

That was all there was to it.

“What, what rank could he possibly be…?”

“Same as you. However, I hear he’s about to rank up soon.”

“Ah…”

Then it meant that he was practically on the brink of becoming an A Rank Hunter.

In her dazed state, Song Ha Yeon couldn’t help but feel crushed as Johan chuckled.

“What do you think necromancy is?”

“……”

“We are the rulers. We completely have the bodies and souls of the dead under our feet and can treat them as tools.”

“What, what do you mean?”

“Life is trivial. Under death, all are worthless inferior goods, existing only to be used by us. Yet I see no trace of that ruler’s quality in you.”

Stopping his laughter, Johan continued as if passing judgment.

“I’m simply saying you lack the qualifications to become a true master of death.”

“Ugh.”

If it were any other time, she might have brushed off such words, but now they pierced her deeply.

Song Ha Yeon inadvertently fell into negative thoughts.

‘Now that I think of it, my Master…’

Had often said there was no foundation to her skills. Those words from the past suddenly blended with Johan’s comments in her mind.

‘Am I lacking in talent?’

Certainly, she didn’t possess the confidence to act according to the thoughts and philosophies of Johan before her.

When asked if she had the optimal talent as a Necromancer, Song Ha Yeon couldn’t provide an answer.

Suddenly, everything about herself began to feel insignificant.

As she hung her head, the sound of small footsteps echoed behind her.

Patter.

Patter.

Slowly turning around, she saw Baek Eun Ha approaching with a bright ring in hand.

Patter.

Patter.

Plop.

Baek Eun Ha stopped just a bit ahead of Song Ha Yeon and turned her gaze, showing a look of disdain.

As Song Ha Yeon was about to let her head droop further, Baek Eun Ha fixed her gaze on the still confident Johan and spoke in her usual monotone.

“…No foundation.”

In that moment, Johan’s previously triumphant expression turned icy.

‘Ah.’

That phrase, which had always bored her, now brought a strange sense of relief.

#

The stabilization period of the ring lasted a total of 10 minutes.

Everything had to be settled within that time.

I shot a glare at Johan, the blonde-haired man, and then turned to Song Ha Yeon.

“For now, you’re banned from using Skeletons from today.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because you keep relying on just that, you got overwhelmed in a match-up. Just look at what an idiot you’re facing.”

At that, Song Ha Yeon fell silent and turned her gaze away, utterly unable to argue. She had truly been thrashed.

“But they’re the cutest ones…”

“……”

Somehow, always using only Skeletons, I turned my gaze with a disgruntled expression at Song Ha Yeon’s unexpected taste.

To me, no part of Johan was more appealing than her. He was a complete example of a clueless Necromancer.

Johan seemed to be trying to suppress his anger as he forced a smile.

“Do you mean no foundation? Are you saying that to me?”

“If we’re being technical, it applies to both of you.”

However, from my perspective, Johan didn’t appeal to me as much as Song Ha Yeon did. He was a total no-foundation Necromancer.

Johan was gritting his teeth, trying to suppress his rage.

“What qualifications do you have to judge me? Turns out, it’s the one that doesn’t know his own place.”

To that, I replied.

“What is necromancy?”

That was the question Johan had just thrown at Song Ha Yeon.

The answer he had provided to his own question was the sort of nonsense that only a third-rate Necromancer would say.

Honestly, I was almost at my wit’s end listening to it, so I got all my words out.

“You don’t know even the tiniest bit about the essence of necromancy.”

In Thebes, Necromancers were often treated as public servants, along with priests.

Why was that?

Because the act of necromancy was fundamentally counter to the will of the gods and the laws of the world.

“Life is sacred.”

That fact is not any different, regardless of the subject. It would be hard to find someone, anywhere in the world, who does not cherish their own life.

Thus, the stain on that sacred light of life carries immense significance.

“You can’t gather spilled water.”

And when life meets death, it is inherently bound to return to nothingness.

To others, the disappearance of one small existence among the vast world might simply be nothing, but for the individual, it signifies the end of their world.

“To turn back that incomprehensible domain by the will of one individual.”

That is the weight of the act of necromancy. A dishonest act that shatters the natural order. A contradiction that should not exist.

Thus, necromancy holds infinite power and potential.

“From the looks of it, it seems you haven’t yet attained the vision to comprehend that.”

With that sort of philosophy, babbling about being a true ruler of death—what a farce that was!

“Book of Death.”

Whoosh!

At my command, a grotesque book filled with ominous energy appeared in the air.

My level was now 18. I had hardly risen by just one since before.

However, I placed my hand on the book without hesitation, filled with determination and conviction.

I am certain that I can unveil this.

And.

Crack.

Swish!

With a rush of energy, a page from the Book of Death finally revealed itself.