Chapter 2: Spendthrift Necromancer (2)
‘How the hell did this happen?’
Woojin—no, now Kim Minwoo—let out a sigh.
〈(Tip) Phase 6 is ‘Reality.’ Remember, you only have one life.〉
The opening message had given him chills for some reason.
[Your mind is beginning to inhabit Kim Minwoo’s body!]
[Mental traits are undergoing major changes!]
Messages had popped up.
And just like that, it had been three days since he’d been dropped into this godforsaken world.
He spotted notes in his phone’s memo app.
[Day 1]
—All 23 years of Kim Minwoo’s memories have been injected. This tech is insane! Is it true the game devs tortured aliens for it?
—Sensations feel completely real. Boosting sensory realism over 50% has to be illegal, right?
—Something’s off. Can’t log out. Stream’s been dead for ages.
—Starting to wonder if this is even a game or reality.
—What, did they kidnap me into the game or something?
—Last stream had 300,000 viewers! And they kidnapped me? Have the devs lost their minds?
—Can’t leave the room. Bodyguards are blocking the way.
—Chairman gave me two days of house arrest. At least they bring food…
[Day 2]
—No hydration or nutrition warnings. No waste expulsion alerts. No forced logout after extended play.
—It’s like… my body isn’t even in the capsule. It’s eerie.
—One day left until Kim Minwoo’s house arrest ends.
[Day 3]
—If my body’s in the capsule, rescue teams should’ve come by now. 72 hours straight in-game!
—Looks like it’s heading toward the worst-case scenario I imagined.
—Hunt outer gods within 7 years. If I fail, I might be stuck here forever…
‘No rescue team.’
He’d waited long enough.
And his house arrest had just ended.
Time to move.
Not Phase 5, but Phase 6 difficulty.
One wrong step, and it’d mean death.
“… At least it’s not the absolute worst.”
He’d devoted half his life to being a Gate Hunter.
No one knew this world better than he did.
Overwhelming informational advantage.
‘And my mind’s undergone major changes, too.’
He recalled the past three days.
No laziness, no whining, no arrogance, no backing down easily.
Sure, he dreamed of some easy wins, but that was par for the course as a gamer.
His mind definitely felt sharper.
‘Talentless. This nightmare of a physical talent seems to be intact…’
But hey, an improved mind was something.
And that wasn’t his only edge.
‘Status window.’
[Name: Kim Minwoo (23)]
[Class: Unawakened.]
This Kim Minwoo was still unawakened!
‘Not having cancer like that swordsman is a win already.’
Kim Minwoo’s physical abilities were abysmal.
Even setting aside the lack of training.
‘He’s just got zero talent.’
Terrifyingly talentless.
He’d consumed countless elixirs and undergone intense training.
Yet his growth stalled at mid-tier Awakener level.
He’d turned to artifacts, but limits were clear.
Even in the duel with the Dragon Lord, with the world’s top VR player as pilot.
‘He barely scratched half the health.’
And now the goal was outer gods. Way stronger than the Dragon Lord, at least.
Conclusion.
Melee classes were a no-go.
Ranged?
‘Not really.’
Distance wouldn’t matter with his talent.
But he did have one advantage.
‘Titanium spoon.’
Ilsung Group.
Korea’s number one conglomerate.
It ranked twentieth in the world.
No chaebol could match Ilsung among Korean Gate Hunters.
If he could claw his way back from rock bottom—even pierce the inner circle…
Show me the money.
He could spend like it was a cheat code.
Meaning, acquire endless gear.
What class exploited that best?
‘One that uses summons.’
Tamer, Soulmancer, Summoner, Spiritist, etc.
Summoner classes were perfect for Kim Minwoo. Summons could use gear too.
“And among them, Necromancer’s the best.”
Skeletons, Dullahan, Lich, Death Knight—most undead summons were humanoid.
With nearly a billion Awakeners worldwide, humanoid summons were the easiest to equip.
‘Perfect for splashing cash.’
Not the only perk.
Undead are immune to fear.
Meaning, equip them with even more aggressive gear.
“No backstabs either.”
Necromancers had easy summon management.
No feeding, no fights among them, no praise needed.
Blind loyalty—they’d charge into flames without hesitation!
Plus horde tactics.
Necromancer strengths.
“Let’s try some easy mode myself.”
1,832 days.
Nearly six years of blood, sweat, and sword swings.
This reward was fair, right?
He opened the door.
Bodyguards with stern faces stood there.
“Heading out. That cool?”
“Yes, Young Master. We’ll accompany you, so just tell us where…”
“Sword Sea Pavilion. Give them a heads-up.”
“… Sword Sea Pavilion?”
The bodyguards tilted their heads.
Fair reaction.
Sword Sea Pavilion.
Home to the S-rank Awakener, Korea’s top-ranked Sword Sage.
No clue why Kim Minwoo would go there.
He grinned.
“Yeah, got some business there.”
First step: Awakening.
* * *
Five vehicles carrying bodyguards glided smoothly down the road. Minwoo, in the back seat, thought.
‘In Gate Hunter, anyone can awaken.’
Provided they find their awakening condition.
Conditions varied per person.
Drinking water, eating, breathing.
Some awakened from simple actions.
Others: Swing a sword 10,000 times a year.
Imagine casting magic 10,000 times a year—endless repetition.
Or meditate 30 hours in the rain, survive a lightning strike—tough ones.
Awakening chances were equal for all.
Chaebol or homeless—if you find your condition, you awaken.
But results weren’t equal.
‘Here’s where it diverges.’
Post-awakening, you get an ‘Awakening Achievement’ from F to S based on the process.
What’s that for?
Simple.
Crafting your first class skillbook.
Not just F-rank Awakener.
F-rank Swordsman.
F-rank Mage.
F-rank Priest, etc.
The foundational skill for your lifelong class. Easy conditions? Lots of people. Why low-tier Awakeners overflow.
‘Problem starts after.’
Easy conditions yield low achievements.
Resulting skillbooks are trash.
‘Snowball effect.’
Gaps widen over time.
Take sword genius Park Siwoo’s first awakening.
[You’ve conquered extreme difficulty, achieving S-rank Awakening Achievement!]
[Crafting your first Swordsman class skillbook!]
[Sword Enlightener (S)]
[Effect 1. All swordsmanship damage +30%.]
[Effect 2. Stab the same spot three times, it becomes the enemy’s weakness.]
[Effect 3. Every ten sword strikes, one is guaranteed critical.]
S-rank achievement spat out this monster skill.
Meanwhile, over half of F-rank Swordsmen—the world’s doormats?
[Slash (F)]
[Effect 1. +10% damage on Slash.]
[Thrust (F)]
[Effect 1. +10% damage on Thrust.]
Yeah.
Gap’s overwhelming from the start. Near impossible to close.
That’s why awakening mattered.
What’s the condition?
How to turn it into S-rank achievement.
“Kim Minwoo’s awakening condition was… getting beat by an Awakener.”
Ilsung Group’s eldest son.
Beyond diamond, near-titanium spoon Kim Minwoo.
Even S-rank Awakeners hesitated to touch him.
Ilsung’s wrath incoming. Who beat him? His father, Chairman Kim Kangcheol.
—Everything else I can overlook. But drugs? Bring it here, Manager Im!
C-rank Awakener and Chairman Kim Kangcheol’s fury!
Kim Minwoo got beaten half to death with a golf club that day, no real resistance. Result: pathetic.
E-rank achievement.
In other words, hopeless.
He even picked Swordsman because a drama sword guy looked cool, using a job change skillbook…
[Spinning Slash (E)]
[Effect 1. Strike up to two enemies with 120% damage.]
‘… Ugh, pisses me off more thinking about it.’
That’s why the last 1,832 days of spamming Spinning Slash were seared in.
But now was different.
There was one chance to fix everything before Kim Minwoo awakened!
‘Condition’s not bad, luckily.’
Not some unchangeable thing like breathing.
Who, where, how he gets hit changes the achievement.
‘First, strong opponent.’
But not just take it lying down.
Gotta struggle valiantly for higher rank.
Sword Sage was perfect. Korea’s strongest Awakener.
Plus, six years swinging swords like mad.
That feel lingered. Easier matchup than other classes.
‘S-rank, worth shooting for.’
“Young Master. Sword Sea Pavilion.”
Bodyguards scouted, then opened his door.
A grand wooden building, like from a wuxia novel.
A middle-aged man at the gate approached Kim Minwoo.
“… I’m instructor Kim Woon of Sword Sea Pavilion. You wished to tour inside?”
Polite, but cold eyes on Minwoo. Expected.
Chaebol playboy.
Kim Minwoo’s public rep was trash from endless scandals.
They didn’t refuse entry solely due to Ilsung’s halo.
Top donor when building Sword Sea Pavilion.
“Please.”
“… Understood. I’ll guide you. But trainees are training—please be quiet.”
Don’t cause trouble.
“Yes.”
Nodding, he entered with bodyguards.
“This is the training ground for Third-Disciple trainees. Lately, even overseas swordsmen join us.”
Sweaty trainees glanced at the suited entourage.
“That’s… Kim Minwoo?”
“Bodyguards match. Why’s that punk here…”
Murmurs rose. Kim Woon’s brow furrowed.
“Focus on your swords! Where’s your mind wandering?”
Trainees startled, eyes back to training.
Minwoo clapped.
“True Sword Sea Pavilion style. Haha, even Third-Disciple trainees have killer aura!”
“… Ahem, still a long way to go.”
No one hated praise. He sounded gruff, but Kim Woon’s eyes shone with pride.
First-Disciple grounds.
Even rarely shown Outer-Disciple grounds. Lavishing praise, they reached the core.
“Enjoy the tour?”
Kim Woon stopped, signaling end.
“Nothing more?”
“Sorry, no outsiders beyond here.”
“Shame. Wanted to meet the Sword Sage.”
“He’s in closed-door training. Even if not…”
Kim Woon’s cold gaze. Unspoken: You don’t get to summon him.
‘Something like that.’
Minwoo nodded.
Knew Sword Sage was in seclusion.
That’s why he’d pushed as close as possible.
Deep breath.
Time to do it.
“Sword Sage! This is Kim Minwoo. I challenge you to a duel!”
No mana, but adult male’s full shout echoed loud.
Ringing through, Kim Woon’s eyes widened.
“W-what are you doing!”
Ignoring panicked Kim Woon, he continued.
“I’ll bet 100 billion on this duel! Win or lose, it all goes to Sword Sea Pavilion!”
Bodyguards gawked too.
“I wield a decent sword! Promise an entertaining fight! Still no? Scared?”
“S-stop! Have you lost your mind!”
Kim Woon grabbed his shoulder. What madness is this!
Then…
Haha.
Laughter echoed through Sword Sea Pavilion, with crushing pressure. A towering elderly man appeared before Kim Minwoo.
Pitch-black pupils that seemed to swallow everything.
“So, you sought me?”
“Yes. Found you. Let’s spar. Man to man.”