ALL NOVEL Chapter 21
Kyunghan didn’t need much pressure to feel overwhelmed.
With just having his weapons taken away and two skeletons standing beside him, one wielding an axe and the other a hammer, he seemed completely incapable of any thought.
He merely lay there, perfectly still with all his arms and legs pinned down in a rather compromised position.
“「Sacrificial Appraisal」.”
『Name – Kyunghan』
『Occupation and Rank – Official Tracker』
『Attributes – Health 12, Agility 16, Endurance 8, Mana 14, Resistance 13』
The fact that the target had already completely surrendered was evidenced by the “Sacrificial Information” flashing before my eyes.
When a being is fully subdued in my presence, either mentally or physically losing the functions of life, the Dungeon Core treats it as a “sacrifice.”
The figure before me fell into the first category.
『Traits – Track Trace, Specialization: Projection』
『Specialization: Projection – Receives boosts for throwing and shooting.』
And… how unfortunate.
If it weren’t for this, I wouldn’t have needed to kill him at all.
“It’s almost like dealing with a noble.”
“Uh, she is an aristocrat of the darkness! Lady!”
“Hmm.”
That voice made me shudder with a kind of cringe. Of course, I could feel this sentiment only because I was in an advantageous position.
If it were other Dungeon Lords, they might have enjoyed it endlessly.
“You speak as if you have experience dealing with us.”
“Th-there’s no way! This lowly being has merely listened and absorbed too much!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes! Indeed! So, if I’ve committed any offenses, please forgive me…!”
I wondered if this was a concern for him, fearing I might lash out at Sonia.
In truth, I had no particular qualms about that.
Whether it was Sonia, Remia, or Maria, did we really have time for affection or becoming close? If a single journey could cultivate such bonds, the saying that ‘the sea and land are close’ might not be too far from the truth.
After all, they were enemies to begin with.
“Uh, if you have any tasks for me, please let me know!”
“Do you think I have anything to ask of someone like you?”
“If I didn’t, you wouldn’t have called me here separately!”
“You’re quite perceptive.”
As I watched him for a moment, the man began to take the reins of the conversation himself.
Just as I had thought before, he was quick-witted and cunning.
As I anticipated.
“I-I sincerely apologize for any offense I might have caused!”
“It’s good to know you don’t find it rude.”
“Eek! I’m so sorry!!”
His voice was overly constrained as he lay face down, yet his pronunciation was surprisingly clear.
I found myself imagining his life for a moment.
Humans often mistake ‘difference’ for ‘wrongness.’ In a world where information can instantly travel from one side of the planet to the other, it would probably be even worse here.
Thus, this man, who had somehow crossed from the Western Continent to the Eastern Continent, likely faced a lot of disregard and scorn from people.
Consequently, it would only make sense for him to develop a heightened sense of awareness, accumulating hidden malice as well.
And so, he had acquired a skill.
“I wish to use you through my eyes.”
This was one of the two things I wanted from him.
A spy.
Simply killing him would also grant me the ‘traits’ I desired the most.
However, what mattered to me right now was the efficient use of resources. I thought long and hard about what more I could extract from him and finally settled on his ‘keen perception.’
His awareness, especially heightened when facing adversaries.
“D-do we just need to make a contract?”
Yet despite his sharp perception, this man was wholly incapable of hiding himself.
As he thought I would propose a contract, he seemed thrilled by the thought of not only surviving but gaining power as well.
From what I witnessed in that city, among those I’d known, there were certainly some good people. Yet, he showed no consideration for the harm he could bring to them.
“Do you think I would take you under my wing?”
Seeing his expression brighten instantly, I, too, felt a sudden whim and malice arise.
But he wasn’t exactly my type.
“Then…! Hiiik…! P-please spare me!”
“Why would I want to remove you?”
“Please… I-I beg you…!”
“The effort it would take to erase your existence would be quite a waste.”
“Thank you! Thank you!”
Kyunghan bowed his head repeatedly in gratitude. Seeing the blood pool beneath him, I began to understand this man a bit better.
So this should work.
“I shall take your body from you.”
“Y-yes?”
“I did not ask you to lift your head.”
“S-sorry!”
Thump!
Startled, he raised his head. But being more shocked by my words, he quickly slammed his head back down, and I thought I heard something break.
At this rate, he’d be dead before he could prove useful. I needed to tone it down.
“If you perform well and finally earn my favor, I will grant you a more powerful ‘humanoid’ body instead of that pitiful one. So strive for it. For now, you will use the body I give you.”
Of course, unless Kyunghan miraculously underwent an awakening overnight, that wouldn’t happen anytime soon.
I hadn’t lied, though.
“Well… then what happens to me?”
“You will become a slave using the body I provide.”
“P-please… is there no other way?”
His voice trembled, with tears swelling in his eyes. Yet I had no intention of compromising in this area. After all, I intended to use his current body as a ‘sacrifice.’
Though I didn’t want to reveal that outright.
“Your appearance is far too recognizable. There’s hardly anyone in this city who wouldn’t know you. Many hold grudges.”
“That’s true…”
“And so, you cannot properly function as my eyes in the shadows. Thus, I intend to give you another body you can use instead.”
“Another… body?”
“You’re becoming a nuisance.”
I cut off his question there, and Kyunghan knelt there for a moment, lost in thought.
In that brief silence, I could almost hear the gears turning in his mind, like the sound of his eyes and brain rolling around.
“Ha… I will do it.”
“Good. Then bear with a moment of pain.”
“W-wait?”
Crack!
“Cough…! S-save me…!”
As I flicked my hand, one of the skeletons standing beside me stabbed the bone dagger into his heart.
The man, who had been dumbfounded and out of sorts, was gripped by the skeleton as he staggered, blood spewing from his mouth.
To make sure I’d see him clearly.
“I said I wouldn’t erase you. I won’t erase you. Now, be reborn. ‘Summon: Cerebrum Skull.’”
Approaching him, I tapped his forehead with my staff.
He met his death.
Crack! Crunch!
“Ugh… Aghh…!! Ahhh -!!! S-save me -!!!”
The mana I had summoned seeped into him, and what unfolded before my eyes was truly grotesque. Though I had already understood the concept with my head and braced my heart, it was enough to make me frown, even without any ‘nobility.’
So, rather than providing a detailed description, let me just state the outcome.
『Name – [ ]』
『Title/Entity Name – ‘Cunning’ Cerebrum Skull』
『Attributes – Health 1, Agility 13, Endurance 4, Mana 12, Resistance 9』
『Traits – Central Nervous System Theft, Member of the Necropolis』
『Title – Cunning: A title given to an entity with superior agility and mana compared to similar entities.』
『Central Nervous System Theft – Replaces the target’s spine and skull, dominating and controlling the body. Can switch bodies if desired, but the original body dies.』
A serpent-like summon made of skull and vertebrae shed its original form like a husk, entwining itself around one of the skeleton’s arms, waiting for my command.
Upon inspecting it, it seemed its stamina and endurance had significantly dropped compared to its past life, while its requisite abilities remained intact.
The blue gleam in its eyes was dimmed by the pains of its prior existence, yet a certain level of clarity remained.
“Bring Susan from the remaining ones. She will be the most suitable.”
A warrior of the lower tier, who had little to no gain being a sacrifice. She had never particularly stood out and reportedly had no family.
Kyunghan, now part of my forces, would easily meld back into the city in this form.
“Your name shall henceforth be ‘Talhan.’”
“I will obey your commands…”
『Name – Talhan』
Moments later, the ‘Cerebrum Skull’ that had seized the central nervous system of the woman brought before me now stood, awaiting my commands.
Tears lingering in her eyes left an impression.
Though she was initially clumsy with her words, she would adapt soon.
More importantly, it was the instructions I was about to give that mattered.
“The first command is to seek out your former companions who know the tales of Remia and Maria. The trio, including Velvet, as you are aware?”
“Yes… I understand…”
“You should change your tone. Your current one is far too frivolous.”
“I will… change…”
There were still people outside who knew of me. Those familiar with my dungeon or those about to discover that Maria and Daniel had vanished.
I needed to seize as much information scattered throughout the streets as possible.
Before their guild, ‘Shadow Blade,’ got hold of any accurate information.
“If you find them… what should I do…?”
“Bring them here. If you find it inconvenient, look for a way to kill them right there. Of course, you know which option I favor more.”
“I understand… the method…”
“Good. I’m glad your clever head has a purpose.”
If this guy pulled through and actually brought me useful intel, my currently unshaken heart might very well shift.
Rewards await diligent servants.
That’s only natural.
“I shall… return…”
“I shall look forward to your usefulness.”
Apart from her, I had also decided how I’d treat the other two remaining.
The trap specialist Jacob would take some more time for me to ‘tweak’ his knowledge so I could acquire it, while Robin, if proven useless, would simply become one of my skeletons.
Thus, I concluded my strategy concerning the four.
“Bring Leonis to me.”
A few days later, I summoned the sorcerer who possessed yet another knowledge I needed and who was in love with Sonia.