Conquering the Basics of Necromancy 1
Waiting for Nael, River and Leverat were left standing alone. As the sun began to lose its light, their shadows stretched long.
"Ugh. This feels gross."
Leverat wrinkled her nose. The blue mist gently carpeting the ground had turned orange, stickily wrapping around her ankles.
"Huff, huff..."
But the mist couldn't reach River's ankles. Instead, it clung to her wrists. Whoosh—River planted one hand on the ground and stood on her head. Not satisfied with that, she periodically switched arms, striking all sorts of poses.
"River. People are staring."
"Nael said... huff... never skip workouts..."
The beastkin girl stuck out her tongue, panting heavily. Her top had flopped down from handstanding, and beads of sweat dotted her brown hair. It was an almost circus-like act that made onlookers want to toss her a coin. In fact, it drew quite a few glances from passing necromancers, but...
"Phew..."
To Leverat, who'd seen this every day at the orphanage, it wasn't much of a spectacle.
Leverat squeezed her eyes shut.
Did something happen to Nael?
Back at the lonely orphanage, Nael had been the first to befriend her. At the graduation ceremony, Nael had saved her from plummeting into the dungeon alone. So even here in Gamigin, Nael wouldn't abandon her. She had to believe that.
If something did happen...
Tremble, tremble—Leverat's legs shook without her realizing. She twisted her red hair around her finger. By the time her hand reached her ear from her shoulder...
"Nael's scent!"
"Where?"
In the direction River pointed with her outstretched hand. Far off, a boy was running toward them. He stopped midway, clutching his knees and gasping—definitely Nael.
Leverat hurriedly stood.
"Nael!"
But River was faster. She shot off like a bullet and collided with Nael in seconds.
Thud!
"Nael! I didn't skip my workout. Good job, right?"
"Yeah, good job. But... it hurts..."
I ruffled River's hair as she crushed my waist in a hug. Then came Leverat, ears flapping as she panted up to us. Felt like a dad coming home late at night.
"Nael. What happened?"
"I'm going to receive personal lessons from the family head."
River planted her hands on her hips triumphantly.
"See? All the grown-ups love Nael!"
"No way... it's not that easy..."
Even as she said it, Leverat's expression brightened. She smoothed her messy hair and asked me,
"So. Where do we go now?"
"Now?"
I looked up. The sun was dipping low—it was time to find a place to crash.
"He said you talked well with the family head. Didn't he say anything about where to stay normally?"
Come to think of it, no. Gamigin was famous for giving its members free rein, but...
Isn't this just neglect?
Indifference was good for sneaking dungeon secrets, though. I rummaged through my pockets just in case, but only found a few grains of sand.
"Got any coins?"
Leverat shook her head.
"Well, River's got a high body temp, so if we all huddle around her, we won't freeze."
"I have money!"
Then River spread her hand wide. Ping—a silver coin bounced on her soft palm.
"Pretty big sis threw it during my workout earlier!"
"Oh..."
Recalling the routine I'd made River do, I could picture it. Street-performing daughter earning cash. What a good girl!
"One silver won't even get us one bed."
Leverat groaned. I grabbed her hand and pulled.
"It's enough. Let's go."
After quite a walk and some asking around, we found a tourist inn tucked in an alley corner. Through the small window, a bearded old man eyed the counter.
"Room with three beds: 3 silver."
"Sure."
Of course, I wasn't paying full price. [Haggling] was a basic skill every character had. No reason I couldn't use it. So... how to go about it?
Maybe like with the Taming skill.
With the mask on, I'd get Charisma Correction V effects... Should be plenty for a regular guy. Recalling the crow, I imagined a chat window and sent intent to the old man.
Haggle. Make it cheap!
His expression changed in an instant. His eyes, suddenly serious, scanned my body.
Eh?
"Whoa, hold on—don't tell me—"
"No."
"Huh?"
"No way. I can tell you're up to some trick, but I'll let it slide 'cause you're young. Next time, no mercy."
His thick finger tapped the lantern at the entrance.
"Think running a place like this is easy?"
I let out a quiet sigh of relief inwardly.
[Blue Lantern], right?
Remembered it as a pricey mental resistance artifact. Who'd have thought it'd be in a dump like this. But I still had Plan B. Unlike [Haggling], [Charm] had massive extra effects on the opposite sex.
"You got a daughter, mister?"
"What?"
"Nothing."
His face hardened menacingly, so I backpedaled fast. Dads are scary...
"Just give us a single bed room."
I handed over the silver coin meekly, and he snatched it quick. Satisfied with the [Negotiation] XP gain. In Dungeon & Fantasy, the only way to level skills was spamming them, success or fail.
Clunk—The inn's front door opened. Clutching the key, I climbed the creaky wooden stairs step by step.
"We three... in one bed?"
"You got more money?"
"I like sharing!"
Leverat panicked, River just happy. Chuckling, I turned the old doorknob.
Creeak—The door opened, revealing tonight's digs.
"Whoa! Whoa..."
"Tiny."
One window. One table. One bed. Minimalism at its peak. Not even a bathroom in the cramped space. We wordlessly flopped onto the bed.
Snooore, snooore—Leverat, exhausted, passed out fast.
"Nael. I'm sleeping too. Night..."
"Yeah."
River yawned hugely and rolled over. Luckily, we were all small, so we squeezed in somehow, but...
Ah, shouldn't have made her workout today.
Maybe from the recent exercise—River's musky doggy scent filled the room.
2.
"Hey."
"Mmm..."
"Hey. Get up."
A hazy morning. Violet's raspy voice pierced through.
How'd she even know where we were...
I swallowed the complaint. Untangled River's limbs from me, fumbled for the mask, and adjusted the eyeholes.
"You wear that even to sleep?"
"Why? Jealous?"
Like I'd remove my one shield protecting frail me, especially at my most vulnerable? Ridiculous.
"Hah. Just asking 'cause it looks uncomfortable."
I rubbed my bleary eyes to see Violet, arms crossed primly. Black uniform tinged faintly purple like everyone else's. The gaping hole at the chest was still intimidating.
Did that hole get bigger since yesterday...?
Infuriating. Meanwhile, my collar's buttoned to the neck.
"Stop spacing out and hurry up."
Sensing my gaze, she whipped around. Her pointed ear tips flushed slightly.
"Ugh, urgh..."
Groaning, I rolled off the bed. Low health stat's the worst. Slept a full night, but body felt the same as yesterday.
What time is it anyway?
Peering out the window, the fog was so thick it could've been noon. Gamigin territory always had mist, after all.
Or not?
"What time is it?"
"4 a.m."
"Shit."
Gathering my clothes, I followed Violet down the stairs clattering.
Thud—The door swung open, cold dawn air slamming into me. Every breath fogged the mask's inside.
Gotta find a way to ditch this mask first thing.
As I stretched...
Vrrr—A large chair floated through the air from the left. An old man hunched in it. I bowed quickly.
"How's a young whippersnapper's body so frail?"
Notre Dame chuckled.
"Not feeling great, sir."
Thanks to steady workouts, my [Health] was probably around 8. Still way below average.
"What brings the family head out so early?"
"Me? Jogging. Gotta run sometimes for health, y'know."
He waved dismissively. I stared at the frictionless floating chair.
"Ignore it."
I took Violet's advice.
"Nael. You know why I called you?"
"Yes."
Lessons in Necromancy from the family head and his daughter.
Finally time to learn!
Excitement killed any sleepiness. I rubbed my palms, listening intently to Violet.
"Necromancy—that is, necromancing—is no easy magic. Needs both knowledge and talent."
I knew. Casting relied on [Wisdom], but effects scaled with [Charisma]—unique mechanic.
"I'll give you theory books too. Read 'em. For today, I've prepped a lesson. Same method my father used on me..."
Woof!—A tiny puppy burst from Violet's bosom.
"Nael. Heard you're good with animals."
"Spot on."
She set it down with grave eyes. Her slender hands pressed the wriggling pup.
"From now on, this puppy runs toward the family head. Keep repeating till you make it run to you."
"......"
This was straight-up [Taming]. I'd mastered it back at the orphanage.
"Won't click right away, but keep trying. Think of implanting orders in its brain—it helps."
"Mm. Got it."
I couldn't hide my bafflement, but Violet saw it differently.
"Don't tense up. This is the hardest part. That's why Father's here to help."
"No, it's..."
Never mind. Better to show.
"Ready."
Violet took the puppy far off as the family head and I stood side by side.
"Go."
Woof, woof!—She released it. The pup scampered on all fours. Its black eyes held zero intelligence.
And.
Come here.
The moment I projected intent, intelligence flickered in its eyes.
Pop—It veered straight to me.
Pat-pat!—I scooped it up, petting wildly like River.
Notre Dame clapped lightly.
"Not bad!"
"What. You could do this too?"
Violet walked up, hands on hips in disbelief.
"Keh, this mutt pup. Fed it daily and it still knows I'm not its master, the glutton..."
Notre Dame grumbled, kneading the pup.
"Straight to Necromancy then! Dang, cold out here for nothing..."
"Yes. I'll handle the rest."
Violet bowed politely.
Vrrr—Notre Dame's chair approached me.
"Pay mind to both the living and the dead."
Then he whispered,
"Having two cards is good. Always a backup."
I nodded silently. From my Dungeon & Fantasy experience, I mostly agreed. But mine weren't two—they were three.
Self-taught [Taming].
Necromancy I'd now learn.
And innate [Charisma].
"Looks like you'll soar without me. Come find me when you reach a realm."
Notre Dame straddled his chair and waved.
Couldn't let this chance slip.
Do it now.
[Charm]—skill scaling with Charisma stat, basic to all characters. Like others, levels via frequent use.
And with my sky-high [Charisma], times I'd used [Charm]...
Just once.
Orphanage graduation. Only when I met 6th Tier Violet. And not even on purpose—she fell for it herself.
Arguably my best card, rotting at level 1 'cause I barely knew how to use it.
No choice.
Thud!—I knelt on the cold stone floor.
"Family head. Before you go, one earnest request."
"Wha, what's that?"
He peered down puzzled. I confessed with all sincerity.
"Do you like aegyo by any chance?"
"?"
"?"
Notre Dame and Violet. Bewilderment in both pairs of eyes.
Well, yeah.
If the lady's tough, the head'll hold.
Mental resistance tank right in front of me.
"I'll do aegyo! For you, family head!"
No better time to practice this.