The Legendary Necromancer Takes on the Towers - Episode 2

Using his earlier aggression as an excuse, I beat that traitor, who deserved to die a hundred times, to my heart’s content.

I wanted to kill and bury him for real, but I held back since I’d get banned for murder.

Still, it feels good.

Even got a thank you from the guard he’d hit.

“Um, hello there.”

I turned my head at someone’s call from behind.

A man with an easy smile.

That face… isn’t unfamiliar.

Hmm. I seem to be running into a lot of unexpected familiar faces today.

“I’m Yang Gyu-hyeok. Thanks to you, I saw something interesting. Is this your first time at this hunting ground?”

Yang Gyu-hyeok, a top-class hunter with a pretty face and several female fans.

When we say top-class here, we mean at least B-class or above. He was someone who would soon record high rankings in the international class rankings and later rise to A-class.

He’d also leave Korea soon to join the world’s largest guild.

Interesting.

Since this is my first time heading to the southeastern hunting ground right after regressing, I’ve met two people I never would have met in Korea otherwise.

I wonder how much these encounters will influence things going forward.

It’s somewhat intriguing.

“Is something wrong? Um. We haven’t met before, have we… I haven’t made a mistake?”

Yang Gyu-hyeok’s expression turns strange.

Seeing how oddly specific he is, I must have been making some kind of face.

“No. Nothing like that.”

“Ah. That’s a relief.”

Since we’ve met like this, it might be good to build a connection with this guy early on.

[ ( ･ὢ･ ) ] [I think so too. If you miss this chance, the next time you’ll meet him will be years later in Europe.]

[ ∑( ◦д⊙) ] [Get his number even if you have to beg.]

I was already planning to get his number.

…But what? Beg?

What does this bastard take me for?

“I’m Song Gi-hyeon.”

I kept the conversation going for a bit before trying to exchange numbers. Yang Gyu-hyeok actually accepted my request quite willingly.

Maybe from the start, he was thinking the same as me about ‘potential connections.’

After all, he’s someone who’s more calculating than anyone despite looking like he’d be kind to everyone.

Though I’m just an E-class who just completed awakened registration and Yang Gyu-hyeok is one of the few top-class hunters.

You know how they say the stronger someone is, the better they can gauge others’ true worth?

[ (　˙-˙　) ] [What are you trying to say?]

Yeah. I’m saying I’m strong.

[ ( ･ὢ･ ) ] […Maybe say that after you reach A-class.]

That’s really a stupid thing to say.

Current class is determined by visible points, meaning ‘public activity records.’

In other words, stats that humans—except me—can’t see, status window contents only known to the individual, and achievements aren’t reflected in class determination.

‘Cannot’ would be more accurate.

So if you hide your strength, you could remain E-class forever.

Obviously, there can be big differences in ability even within the same class.

Even after nearly 30, 40 years and several revisions, the ‘class’ system still has many problems.

A-class?

Even if you brought all the S-class hunters, the highest class, not one of them could hold a candle to me.

[ ( ･ิω･ิ ) ] [You really never back down from anything.]

I’m just stating facts without any exaggeration, kid.

“Well, I’ll be going.”

“Yes. Take care.”

After exchanging numbers, I turned away first, and Yang Gyu-hyeok headed in the opposite direction without hesitation.

It was an unspoken courtesy among hunters to keep their distance so they wouldn’t interfere with each other’s hunting.

Especially in this place, since it’s fairly large and good items tend to drop, people are more careful.

Come to think of it… it’s strange, isn’t it?

[ (　˙ㅁ˙　) ] [What is?]

Originally, this place would get completely cleared not long after my regression.

Always. Without fail.

But in the previous regression, for some reason, it wasn’t cleared and was left alone. ‘That person’ didn’t touch this place until the end.

That’s why after it grew too large to handle, I received the clearing offer.

Coincidentally, that’s also how I was able to obtain 「Necromancer」 for the first time.

[ ( ˘ω˘ ) ] [I can’t know everything, but there might have been some intervention you don’t know about.]

Hmm…

Well. Since even Giraffer says so, this seems like a question I can’t figure out no matter how much I think about it now.

“Fortunately, no one’s here.”

I glanced around.

This place used to be a cemetery, but after becoming a hunting ground, it was heavily damaged and became unusable.

This is exactly where I obtained the 「Necromancer」 ability card in my previous regression.

Of course, variables can occur at any time.

It might not appear in the same place, or if someone else has already obtained 「Necromancer」 nearby recently, it might not appear for a while.

But… that’s fine.

I can just keep sweeping until it appears, and if that doesn’t work, I can actively search other places.

Anyway, even if no ability card appears today, I plan to completely clear this hunting ground.

It’s annoying, but it’s a necessary process to refill my achievements back to a decent level after losing everything through regression.

[⌒（⌒_⌒）⌒] [As a Korean, you should endure with that grinding spirit, slave.]

Sheesh. Just cast your buff when you have the energy to talk, buff slave.

[You have received the ‘Card Collector’ buff.]

[Drop rate for ability cards will increase for a certain time.]

Messages appear before my eyes.

I wonder how many cards will appear.

And will 「Necromancer」 be among them?

Even with the buff, ability cards are quite rare.

For now, I’m just hoping that if two cards drop, one of them will be 「Necromancer」.

[Squeak?]

Just then, the first special appeared.

[Orc]

– Has solid skeletal structure and destructive power. Characterized by red body.

– Appears at average ±30 level

– Inhabits areas of rank 8 or higher

After my third regression, when I could bring one ‘C-rank or lower ability’ through the regressor’s privilege, I chose 「Monster Appraiser」.

Thanks to that, I can see monster characteristics.

[Squeak, Squeaaak!]

The orc, excited at seeing me invade its territory, charges fiercely.

I dodge its swinging hand and strike its exposed neck with a water pipe as it stumbles.

THWACK!

The orc’s neck is severed clean through, bones and all, like pudding. With its head gone, the body’s core stops functioning.

The collapsing flesh. That’s the end of it.

No items dropped as expected, but that’s fine.

Sssssss…

I can feel the orc’s mana flowing into me. In game terms, you could call it experience points, maybe?

I absorbed it all without letting a single bit escape, storing it in my mana heart.

Whoosh.

A feeling of fullness near my heart.

If I keep accumulating mana like this, my achievements will steadily rise.

Hmm hmm.

Not a bad start. Now, where can I find more tasty, nutritious energy sources?

* * *

Around dusk when the surroundings were growing dark.

[You have achieved a new accomplishment.]

After completely clearing the southeastern hunting ground, my achievement immediately rose to 3 stars.

This is normally impossible.

That’s because you can usually obtain less than 50 percent of a monster’s mana when killing it, with the rest dispersing into the air.

That’s why most people struggle to even raise one star.

There’s a limit to how strong humans can become through physical training and effort, so they need high achievements to do anything, but even that isn’t easy.

But I’ve mastered the technique to absorb almost 100 percent, thanks to going through my prime six times through regression.

Plus, I can absorb the mana in the atmosphere—though it’s a tiny amount.

Since no one could do it even when taught, it’s currently a peculiar skill only I can do.

At this rate… I should be able to reach 5 stars quickly.

Of course, it’s also true that I’m still far from enough, since at least 6 stars is recommended for climbing towers…

[ ( ´･ω･` ) ] [Don’t be hasty.]

Yeah. I know.

After looking around the notably empty surroundings, I strapped the twin daggers I got from killing a cyclops to both thighs.

There are no more monsters to hunt because I completely annihilated the southeastern hunting ground.

This isn’t a metaphor, but literally true.

The guard hunter who’s watching the entrance without knowing anything has long since been alone, and everyone else has gone home.

I, who stayed until late night, have eliminated every last monster.

Objectively speaking, this must be an impressive and surprising feat.

But it doesn’t really hit me that way.

Because this isn’t the first or second hunting ground I’ve completely cleared in my previous lives.

And anyway, if I fail to clear all the towers again this time, these achievements will be garbage that no one remembers.

[ Σ(O_O) ] [Think, think positive thoughts.]

[ ( ´ ･ω･`) ] [Seems you’re tired. Better check things quickly and head home.]

I sat roughly on a pile of monster corpses and opened my status window.

Seeing my ability slots have increased makes me feel a bit less tired.

[Song Gi-hyeon]

Current Achievement

– 3 stars

Current Accumulated Mana

– 89,198,704,106

Possessed Abilities (Level Display)

– Monster Appraiser (Lv. max)

– Breath of Life (Lv. max)

– Leader (Lv. 1)

– Shadow Vision (Lv. max)

– Necromancer (Lv. 2)

「Shadow Vision」, which improves vision in darkness, is at max level with just one card because it’s a non-uprankable ability.

So you could say I got four cards from hunting all day.

Even these four cards were obtainable thanks to the buff.

Of course, I should consider myself lucky to have gotten two 「Necromancer」 cards which I was originally after, and 「Leader」 which will be helpful in various ways early on.

Though because of the large gap between the monsters’ and my stats, only my achievement increased while accumulated mana barely changed.

Hmm. These results are satisfactory.

[ (ㆆ_ㆆ) ] [The last bus is coming in a few minutes. Run before you miss it.]

What? Already?

…Can’t be helped.

Let’s try using 「Necromancer」 tomorrow. I’d rather not walk all the way home with this tired body.

* * *

Thump, thump thump.

Somehow it’s noisy in the living room since morning. No, not morning. It’s past 1 PM.

While I was roughly fixing my hair and washing my face dry.

BAM!

Suddenly the door flew open.

No doubt the culprit is my brother. Didn’t I clearly tell him to knock before coming in?

“Song Gi-hyeon! What exactly did you do yesterday?!”

“What. And knock.”

…Knock knock.

My brother rolled his eyes and belatedly made a knocking gesture.

I let out a dry laugh at the absurdity, and maybe fearing more nagging, he hurriedly changed the subject.

“Ah, more importantly, the news! You’re on the news right now!”

“What news.”

“They’re making a huge deal about an E-class hunter who just awakened turning a rank 6 hunting ground into a wasteland overnight, and you were caught on the bus CCTV.”

“Ah.”

No wonder… I was wondering why there were so many missed calls piling up since daytime.

Security is terrible.

My personal information is practically public property now.

Scanning through the list, there was also a missed call from Yang Gyu-hyeok. Well. If it’s urgent, he’ll call again.

“Song Gi-hyeon.”

“Yeah?”

“…Are you really Song Gi-hyeon?”

My brother looked at me with eyes tinged with disbelief and anxiety.

Seems his suspicion disease is acting up again.

I’m not unsympathetic to his anxiety… wondering if a monster has flipped my face skin and appeared in my place.

There actually exists a monster called human-faced demon (人面鬼) that imitates humans.

That’s what killed our parents.

Usually monsters don’t leave their hunting grounds, but there were occasionally such unusual specimens.

Honestly… I was too young then.

Due to the prolonged regressions, my memories from ‘before age seventeen’ have worn away, so I don’t remember that day well.

But for my brother, it’s practically trauma.

The solution at times like this is simple.

“What is it?”

“If you’re suspicious, check my pulse. Because I am Song Gi-hyeon.”

Human-faced demons can wear human skin, but blood doesn’t flow inside them.

Obviously, they don’t have a pulse either.

So if I were really a human-faced demon, I wouldn’t have so docilely offered my wrist for checking.

My brother hesitated while watching my reaction.

Unlike earlier when he was looking at me with suspicious eyes, now he seemed to feel guilty about doubting his own brother.

What a troublesome brother.

“…Sorry, Gi-hyeon. For doubting you.”

“No need to be sorry.”

[（ ¯へ¯ ）] [You could have smoothed things over a bit more gently.]

Well.

I just don’t want to waste effort on unnecessary things.

It was also an efficient choice to prevent repeating this every time something similar happens in the future.

…Hmm. But maybe I was too harsh.

Damn.

Made him feel unnecessarily sorry.

[ ∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿ ] [Don’t blame this one. You’re just not very honest yourself.]

Ring ring-

Just then, I got a phone call.

My brother, who had been standing there awkwardly, didn’t miss this good excuse to leave.

Though it was an unknown number, I answered the phone to help my escaping brother.

It was about wanting to interview me regarding the southeastern hunting ground clearing, asking if I could make time.

These kinds of achievements help with class assessment the more they’re publicized.

Since I needed a higher class for smooth tower climbing, I naturally had no reason to refuse and immediately set up a meeting place.

That day, my interview spread like wildfire, becoming the talk of the town.

* * *

[A Rising Star in Korea? All Eyes on New Hunter]

E-class hunter Song Gi-hyeon, who had just completed his awakened registration, succeeded in solo clearing a rank 6 hunting ground in southeastern Seoul that same day…

Considering average data, hunter Song Gi-hyeon is currently at a level equivalent to B-class or higher… It’s projected that he will easily advance to A-class within 5 years.

Meanwhile, in an interview, hunter Song Gi-hyeon showed confidence saying, “My ultimate goal is to clear all towers.”

┗A kid who’s not even an adult clearing a rank 6 hunting ground right after awakening? Feels like he just lied about his awakening date

┗Did this guy bribe the media? The evaluation is way too generous ㅋ Even Yang Gyu-hyeok isn’t A-class yet

┗Clear all towers ㅎㅎ Maybe because he’s still young, so innocent

┗A rank 6 area is absolutely impossible to clear alone even for most B-class hunters. If this isn’t fabricated, one thing is certain though we can’t guarantee the future.

That hunter Song Gi-hyeon’s potential hasn’t been fully revealed yet, considering he cleared a rank 6 hunting ground alone overnight without a single scratch.