Chapter 17: Spendthrift Necromancer
By morning, the hype had grown even hotter than at dawn.
It was only natural.
Even the people who had slept through the night were now in the know.
While dawn had been all about the new world record, things were different now.
―Whoa lol isn't that the Black Heart Set? The gear on that skeleton is better than my full setup, damn lol
―How much does that cost then?
―At least 3k per piece. Full set would run 200 mil lol and that's without the weapon lmao
―Insane;; So 300 of them is at least 60 bil?
―Yeah; I thought it was a joke but he's actually equipping skeletons with that stuff lol
―(Info) Kim Minwoo has spent over 300 bil at the auction house so far.
―… Not 30 bil, 300 bil?
―Yup. 30 bil was just fees lol Factor in the gear, consumables, elixirs, and skillbooks sold in one go and it's at least that much lol
―Is that what it takes to go Super Rookie? Lmao
―Even a country wouldn't back you like that. Fucking hell, lol.
Now, the hot topic had shifted to just how much he had spent.
People often thought of Awakeners as loaded, but reality was different.
They spent as much as they earned.
More precisely, they spent more than they earned.
Skillbooks, gear, elixirs, potions, etc.
Money sinks everywhere.
That was why even famous Awakeners were often broke once you looked closer. The system demanded constant spending to get stronger.
A suffocating consumption cycle.
Even so, no one had ever dropped 300 billion on a level 1 character.
No one except Kim Minwoo, who had burst onto the scene like a comet today.
[(Breaking News!) Overseas Top Scouts Rush into Korea! Bidding War Brewing? Kim Minwoo's Price Tag Estimated at Over 1 Trillion Won!]
―Holy shit lol, reporter, isn't 1 tril a bit much?
―Didn't you see those skeleton soldiers he summoned? 300 of them lol Potential is insane lol 1 tril is worth it lol
―For real. He took down Isabella at lvl 1, so yeah it better be that much lol 300 bil in investments already lol
―Yeah, even if they offer 1 tril he ain't going lol
―For real lol Ditch Ilsung in Korea to become a Sword Head Outsider? Gotta be 10 tril to even consider lol
―10 tril is overkill lol But even if I were him, I wouldn't go for 1 tril lol Dad's the chairman lol
Unlike usual recruitment articles that made him anxious, this time he could leisurely smile and scroll through them.
They joked about 10 trillion, but you probably needed that much just to get a real offer.
And his status made it all the more plausible.
―(Breaking News) Kim Minwoo Starts NewTube Channel lol
―For real?
―Yup. Channel name Mangnani lol
―Whoa insane. 400k subs in 20 min;;
―Oh? Live stream notice up. Starts at 2 mil subs?
―Look at him striking while the iron's hot lol
―Subbing too lol
500k, 600k, 700k…
Subscriber count skyrocketed.
* * *
Strike while the iron is hot.
Perfect timing.
Interest was at an all-time high.
The ideal moment to launch a NewTube channel.
He hit 2 million subscribers in just two hours.
He fired up a broadcast using his smartphone.
[Live Viewers: 512,321]
“Nice to meet you. Kim Minwoo here.”
―Whoa lol his house? But why so huge lol
―Bigger than a chaebol house in dramas lol First time seeing the inside?
―Ilsung really is Ilsung…
―So what's the broadcast about today?
700k.
900k.
Viewers surged in the blink of an eye.
Then the camera panned.
A kitchen packed with fancy furniture.
“Cool, right? All from Ilsung. Runs on mana stones, super efficient.”
Cedric, standing by the open fridge, threw up a thumbs-up.
―?
―??
―???
―????
―What? An ad?
―This guy's insane lol
―Why is that skeleton giving a thumbs-up? Fucking hell, lol.
“I've got some homework to knock out too. Bear with me.”
―Ah lol Now I get the channel name lol
―Ads right out the gate? Insane, just kidding?
―Yeah, if you hate it, leave. Plenty of others to watch lol
―Chat was lagging anyway, nice job shaking off the plebs lol
―Pest control from the start lol
“The house is huge, so plenty to show. Shall we go on a tour?”
―(Translation) Gonna shill every piece of furniture in the house today.
―This is chaotic lol
―Yeah, not falling for the pleb filter lol Watching to the end
―Minwoo you're so handsome~ Became a fan after the news yesterday! Love your voice~
“Hey, Cedric. Sit on that one over there.”
―Got it, Master.
―?
―??
―???
―????
―Did the skeleton just talk?
―What? Ventriloquism skeleton?
“Comfy?”
―Seems so.
“Seems so? Say it is.”
―Master, knights do not lie.
“Tsk, backtalk again?”
―… Ilsung is the best. Love it.
―What am I even watching? Lol
―So what the hell is that skeleton? Asking for the 50th time.
―Now that you mention it, doesn't look like regular skeletons?
―Summoned with S-rank skill? Effects out the ass.
―Probably. 300 summons alone was kinda meh lol
―Ah lol S-rank summons rare skeletons too lol
―But he said knight? Past life a knight?
―Foreigner skeleton lol
Pop!
Minwoo cracked open an Ilsung beverage, took a sip, and glanced at chat.
“His name's Cedric, my loyal knight. Say hi.”
―… Cedric here. Greetings, humans.
From there, viewers exploded.
From 1 mil to 3 mil in seconds.
Real-time news must have dropped.
‘Good for me.’
Time to bundle all the ads. Workout gear, bedroom, bathroom, AC, mana stone car, computer, Ilsung smartphone.
He showcased them all.
So many products, ads took time.
“Whew. Homework's about done.”
―More watchable than I thought? Lol
―Yeah. Banter with the skeleton just flows lol
―Need a new PC soon. Maybe switch to Ilsung.
―Fridge for me. Appliances are Dorim but… Ilsung ain't bad.
Even as ads, reactions were solid.
The lavish house reveal was fresh.
And talking skeleton Cedric hooked them hard.
“Before we end, quick Q&A? Too many questions otherwise…”
[Minimum donation raised to 10 million won!]
―?
―??
―???
―????
―10 mil?
―Ah lol No money? Just lurk lol
―Someone'll do it lol Curiosity's killing them lol
Spot on.
[Han Arin donated 10 million won!]
―Is Cedric one of the S-rank summon skill effects?
“Yes.”
[Ppupu Bbangya donated 20 million won!]
―How strong is he?
“Him? Stronger than a regular skeleton.”
[Shanghai Chicken donated 40 million won!]
―Scouts are here, take a 1 tril offer?
“1 tril? Why bother?”
[Jemonia donated 10 million won!]
―Thinking of joining a guild?
“Dunno. Hate the hassle.”
[Prime Chicken donated 10 million won!]
―Next F-rank gate, anywhere picked?
“Thinking about it.”
[Choi Han donated 20 million won!]
―S-rank usually has 3 effects. Lots of skeletons, talking skeleton—what's the third?
“Not telling.”
[Shanghai Chicken donated 20 million won!]
―What do you think of Necromancer?
“Don't if you can't afford it.”
[Shanghai Chicken donated 30 million won!]
―So it's fine if you can afford it?
“Curious? Try it yourself.”
Minwoo clapped.
“Wrapping up now. Next stream? Sometime. Bye.”
The moment he ended the stream, headlines began appearing.
[(Breaking News) Talking Skeleton Appears! Necromancer's New Potential?]
[(Breaking News) Kim Minwoo's Debut Stream Bombs Ilsung Products!]
[(Breaking News) Kim Minwoo on Recruitment: 1 Trillion? Way Short!]
[(Breaking News) Kim Minwoo's Draw Power Proven! 4 Mil Live Viewers Despite Ads!]
News was already flooding everywhere.
* * *
He'd said “thinking about it” on stream, but the next destination was set.
Hints from smashing Osiris's Tomb everywhere.
‘A mural in a hidden space.’
A ferocious gorilla painting.
Minwoo knew what it meant.
‘Boss mob.’
E-rank Gate, Ulpaululu Forest.
Gorilla was the boss there.
“Feels great.”
Just a necklace gem, but difficulty spiked a notch.
Next?
Chain quest meant difficulty ramping up.
Lucky, might go to S.
‘Ulpaululu Forest? Fake an ID and go.’
No entering as himself.
E-rank monsters level 51~100ish.
Ulpaululu Forest raid difficulty: 90. High diff meant averages near 100.
Clearing was fine.
But level 25 solo sweeping it?
World assassin groups would line up.
That kind of demonic growth.
He had a plan.
King of Korean chaebols, Ilsung.
S or A was tricky, but C or D Awakener ID? Child's play.
Disguise to match, enter gate.
Not fresh Super Rookie Kim Minwoo, but D-rank Park Cheolwoong raiding E-rank.
Soloing one rank below was common, no eyebrows raised.
“Lots to prep.”
Big level gap, so full Forest sweep pushes past 51.
Next elixirs to consume right away.
‘Next skillbook to +9 too.’
Skeleton Mage Summon.
Next summon skill at 51, E-rank Awakener range.
+9 it before entering.
So he could learn it instantly at 51 mid-Forest.
Time to ditch the scrubs.
Plus gear for skeleton mages.
New bracket meant spending spree.
One blessing.
‘Got paid big.’
World record got him full Kim Chairman backing again.
Amount?
‘1 trillion won.’
Trillions.
Why he pushed ads hard, even revealing Cedric.
Gotta earn that cash.