The Necromancer Who Was Despised

‘She has a competitive spirit.’

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Master.”

“No, you don’t have to say that.”

Since this had happened several times, I had warned them to focus more on their training than on me during practice.

“What? Since when?”

Kayla had noticed me watching them a while ago, and Athena, who had been too focused on her sparring to pay attention to anything else, discovered me belatedly.

“You left early today?”

“I crossed the hump.”

I said it flatly, but Athena was perceptive.

“…Didn’t something like this happen before…?”

She looked at me with expectant eyes, and I nodded differently.

“It seems like it’s about time to start Tia’s treatment.”

I had also acquired information about the curse when I delayed it, and since I had become a 2nd class and Tia had steadily increased her stamina through continuous exercise, it was time to start.

“As I said, the treatment period will be long.”

“It doesn’t matter. A complete recovery is important.”

Athena’s face brightened at my assurance.

She seemed to have completely forgotten about what had just happened during her practice with Kayla.

She immediately went to find Tia and disappeared, and even Kayla, who would normally have said that the training was not over yet, did not stop Athena this time.

I could guess what Kayla wanted even without hearing it from her strange gaze.

“Your legs are not yet ready.”

“…Is that so?”

“The difficulty is different. Besides, even if my abilities improve your legs, the preparation itself will take a long time.”

“It’s okay.”

Kayla said it was okay, but she couldn’t hide her regret.

‘She understands.’

She’s somehow improving her skills with her broken body… but conversely, it means she’s adapting to that body.

‘Even if her legs are fixed, her abilities will decline in the short term.’

It will take a while for her to adapt to her body.

The more she adapts to her current state, the longer the rehabilitation period will be in the future.

Tia, who had heard the news from Athena, ran out, and I received words of gratitude even before the treatment began.

“I haven’t even started yet. It will take a long time, and the process will not be easy.”

“That’s okay.”

‘It might not take that long…’

If I follow the treatment method I have in mind, it will take a long time.

But if there’s another way….

‘There’s Athena and Kayla. It’s worth a try.’

The cave where Tia was first cursed.

If I can get my hands on the artifact inside and succeed in controlling it, there’s a chance that I can cure her all at once without having to treat her for a long time.

However, getting my hands on it is one thing, but controlling it is another, so I didn’t say anything about this possibility.

“Don’t expect too much… Kayla.”

“Yes. Master.”

“Let’s end today’s training early and start the treatment.”

“Understood.”

Athena wouldn’t be able to focus on her training in her current state anyway.

That’s why Kyla didn’t object either.

“Thank you, Inha. Thank you, Master!”

Just as they were about to enter the house to begin the first treatment.

“Is anyone home!?”

“…Damn it. Why now of all times.”

Athena cursed.

“Should I go and check?”

“Nah, I’ll go. Athena, you know what to do?”

“Got it. I’ll hide as quietly as I can.”

Tia and Athena were sent to their room, and then I went to greet the visitor.

‘Is it from Kuman?’

Since no one had ever visited this house before, I was a bit surprised.

The only person who would ever have business with me would be Kuman, and since I periodically visited the Frontier, there was no reason to send someone here.

‘Did an urgent request come in?’

“Who is it?”

“I come bearing a message from His Lordship.”

“Elite Warrior Jimnis. His Lordship has invited you to the manor.”

A sudden invitation from the Lord.

Now that I had even received citizenship, I couldn’t ignore the Lord’s summons, so I had no choice but to postpone the treatment for a while.

‘She’ll be disappointed.’

Postponing the treatment for a day or two wouldn’t cause any real problems, but since she had been looking forward to it, she couldn’t help but be momentarily disappointed.

I ordered Kyla to guard the house, changed my clothes, and followed the Lord’s messenger to the Frontier.

“I wonder what business he has with me.”

“Well, I’m just a messenger, so…”

This is my second time visiting, but each time I don’t really understand what’s going on.

‘I don’t like it.’

I passed by the guards who recognized me and greeted me, and headed straight for the Lord’s manor.

“Long time no see, Summer.”

“Indeed. Has it been about a month?”

I was greeted by the butler, Summer.

“His Lordship is waiting, so please go right in.”

The place that Summer led me to was the office where I had first met the Lord.

As soon as the Lord saw me, he put on a welcoming expression.

“Elite Warrior Jimnis. It’s been a while.”

“I am in your presence, Lord.”

“Have a seat here. Summer, could you bring us some tea?”

Unlike last time, the successor was not present.

While Summer was serving tea, the Lord made some small talk, and I gave brief answers about how I had been training.

Even after Summer brought the tea, the Lord didn’t get to the main point.

I wondered what he was trying to say by calling me here.

I couldn’t ask first, so I had no choice but to follow Young-ju and drink the tea quietly.

“Isn’t it good? It’s tea that was sent as a gift from the Count of Siglen.”

“…It smells good.”

Young-ju introduced the tea with a smile and talked about how precious it was and how much the Count of Siglen, who sent this tea, thought of his family.

‘It’s not like he called me here to brag.’

The nobles’ boasting and vanity were passive, so I didn’t feel much emotion.

Only after the tea was finished could I hear the reason I was called.

“Exploration…are you talking about that?”

“Yes. The newly developed village is gradually becoming stable. So I’m trying to find an area that could be a new village.”

Usually, they would send out mercenaries belonging to the mercenary group they hired, but as the number of villages in the territory increased, they were running out of mercenaries.

So they were going to leave it to Kuman, but they were also short-staffed.

I came to mind while they were wondering what to do.

“I have some basic information, but it’s not easy to develop. I need more detailed information.”

Specifically, it was a request close to drafting a map.

However, the range of the exploration was quite wide, and above all, the location was subtle.

‘This…’

Coincidentally or not, the cave where Tia was cursed was included in the exploration range.

“Of course, there is a reward. I’ll make sure you get enough.”

It seemed like he was expressing it as a request, not an order, because it was an honorary position, but in fact, it was no different from an order.

Once you have citizenship, you can’t leave the territory or refuse.

That doesn’t mean the reward offered was small.

‘1 gold.’

Considering that the request is for exploration, it’s a lot.

The period is about a month.

If you look at it as a daily wage, it’s over 3 silver, but since you know that you’re working with Kaila, it’s less than 2 silver per person.

Still, it meant that you were being treated as an intermediate mercenary. Among them, it was considered a top-level treatment.

Intermediate mercenaries usually get paid about 1 silver a day. Of course, it varies depending on the request.

I’ve been making a ridiculous amount of money lately, so this much is above the industry average.

“Okay. Summer will give me the existing map. Mark the information you find out on the map you received, and then organize it and pass it back to Summer.”

Still, as an honorary soldier, you can request the necessary items for the request from Kuman and receive them.

After receiving the map from Summer, I headed straight to Kuman’s mansion.

“Hmm? Isn’t this Jimnis-nim? I heard the lord called you.”

“You’re well-informed.”

“Haha. You’re a famous person, you know.”

The one who greeted me was Disan.

After I became an honorary soldier, the lower-ranking mercenaries all spoke up and acted a little awkward.

However, I treated them comfortably, and starting with Danian, I succeeded in forming a closer relationship with the other lower-ranking mercenaries while drinking with them.

‘I’ve never even talked to the captain, Pipis.’

Since he seemed to be avoiding me, I didn’t approach him too much.

“Why did the Lord summon you?”

“I was given a reconnaissance request. A mid-long term request.”

“Ah. I heard you succeeded in pioneering a village, so I guess you’re going to make a new one.”

It seemed like they already knew about it.

“They must be short on manpower too. They called for Jimnis-nim.”

“Originally, they were going to ask Kuman-nim.”

Disan looked surprised at my words.

It seemed they didn’t know.

“Oh my, that won’t do. We’re also tight on schedule.”

The reason for our lack of manpower was simple. After Kuman made a deal with Matop, he moved so busily that even two bodies wouldn’t be enough.

“That’s why Kuman-nim refused too. That’s why the job came to me.”

“Oh my, thank you for taking it. I almost had a hard time.”

“I’m doing a job I’m getting paid for, so it’s no loss. When I took on this job, I was told to ask Kuman-nim for any necessary items as a so-called honorary soldier.”

“Ah, that’s why… Oh, in that case, I’m holding you up when you’re busy. Please go in.”

“Thank you. Once this request is over, I’ll call you and have another drink.”

“We’d love to. Hehe. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

After chatting with Disan for a while, I headed straight inside the mansion.

Then, Alver, who had spotted me, approached.

“You’re here.”

“I received a reconnaissance request from the Lord. He said I could receive support for items.”

“Ah. So, it went to Jimnis-nim. I’ll report it right away.”

Unlike Disan, Alver seemed to know and answered right away.

Looking at the items Alver brought me, I realized why the Lord had told me to go to Kuman for support.

‘Even if they’re just lending them to me… ‘

Was it because of the deal with Matop? In between, there were artifacts made by Matop.

‘A stone of ignition, a stone of vigilance, a tent enchanted with temperature control magic… ‘

They were artifacts that were almost embarrassing to call artifacts since they were enchanted with living magic, but they were not items that could be made without Matop and were not cheap either.

To be honest, each one had a price that matched the request fee for this job.

“They’re spare items we use. Since we couldn’t accept the Lord’s request, Kuman-nim instructed us to bring them out so that we could support Jimnis-nim as much as possible.”

“… I’ll make sure not to lose them.”

“If it’s an unavoidable situation, we will take the loss, but we trust Jimnis-nim’s skills and credit.”

I didn’t intend to steal something like this.

‘It would be useful if I had them.’

But it’s okay if I don’t. Living artifacts are really convenient if you have them, but they’re things that you can do without if you don’t.

“I’ll use them gratefully.”

After packing the items I received and returning to the house where my party was waiting, the three of them rushed in.