Chapter 224
Chapter 224
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: Return to the Star Heaven (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Demir's splendid gift.
In other words, on the way to the training grounds.
"You little punk."
The old man opened his mouth.
"Seeing that training ground makes me think it's about time you buckled down and trained properly, don't you?"
The training grounds were quite a distance away.
This was because the city Demir was building was so massive.
Even though they'd built it right behind, it still took a good walk to get there.
Of course, for me now, who could step on shadows at an advanced level, it wasn't a burdensome distance at all.
"Getting stronger is great, but you've been relying too much on real combat experience lately."
"Yes, you're right."
I nodded.
The old man wasn't wrong.
I had trained steadily even inside dungeons.
But I hadn't had the setup for focused training like back at the old clearing.
"Demir even built you a training ground. For the time being, don't go anywhere and just focus on training. Growing through adventures is good, but taking time to reflect on yourself is important too. You don't even know how skeletons train properly yet, do you?"
"Skeletons..."
He was right.
Compared to how much attention I'd given the others in the past.
I'd basically left the skeletons to their own devices.
From the Russia expedition to the magic tower.
"Whew."
I'd been way too busy.
"But now I can pay attention to them."
"Exactly. The awakened ones have gotten smarter and train themselves anyway. Heh heh, brings back memories. Seems like just yesterday they were creaking and groaning while following your training."
The old man chuckled.
"Well, it's easier for me. I only have to worry about you."
"Hmm, so what should I learn now?"
"What do you mean learn? Keep practicing the shaman arts you've been doing."
"Shaman arts?"
Well, I did need to practice them.
But couldn't I learn shaman arts from Arin?
"Elder. I'll handle the shaman arts myself, so teach me some other techniques too. Think about it—I'm supposed to be the Master of Ten Thousand Arts, but I barely know anything. Swinging spears and swords, shooting bows, shield bashing. Then shaman arts? Oh, poison arts too..."
"Hey, you punk!"
The old man bellowed right then at my words.
"Even I can't claim to have mastered the Ten Thousand Arts! The genius the world acknowledged took 300 years of training just to reach the entry level."
"..."
300 years.
That's pretty intense.
"Don't get greedy. If there's an art that catches your interest, stick with it relentlessly. Besides, you're still a total beginner at shaman arts!"
* * *
Just as the elder said, before practicing shaman arts.
"Kids, come out."
I arrived at the clearing reserved for the Bone Crew.
Bone 9.
Since it was still sealed, I didn't know its abilities or class.
So there wasn't even a proper training ground built here.
Just an empty plot of land.
"Training really needs a clearing."
Whether training or whatever.
Just throwing punches around haphazardly wouldn't yield good results.
Some say infinite effort is all it takes.
'No, that's not nearly enough.'
It's not just about effort—you have to effort 'properly.'
Plus, as the leader of ten bones.
I had a duty to balance their growth.
Cutting to the chase.
"Caden, Dana—one team."
I paired the two who originally came from the same world.
"From now on, you two endure no matter the means or methods."
"Yes, Master."
"Got it, Master."
Thud!
Caden slammed his shield down as usual.
Dana stood behind him and placed her hand on his back.
Whooo!
Pure white light flowed from her hand.
"Next, Sun."
"Yes, my lord."
Snap!
Sun bowed his head, raising his free hand—the one not holding his spear.
Where'd he pick up that etiquette?
Did Demir teach him?
"You command Bone 1 and Bone 8 to break through Caden and Dana's defense. No holding back on means or methods. Okay?"
"No problem."
As Sun answered briskly.
Creak! Grind!
Bone 1 and Bone 8 moved behind him and raised their weapons.
[Caden, Dana vs. Sun Spear, Bone 1, Bone 8]
A pretty interesting matchup.
"You're all absolutes from different worlds. Regardless of skill level, respect each other, learn from weaknesses, and grow."
Even a blank sheet is better when folded together.
How efficient would training methods become if absolutes pooled their heads?
Rather than each training in their own way, I demanded fusion.
'Besides.'
They had infinite lives.
With my 100,000 energy, they could revive endlessly even if they died.
Meaning they could train as if every moment was real combat.
'Demir and Eldrin will handle themselves.'
Those two were still busy building the city, so I'd put them on hold for now.
"My lord."
That was when Sun spoke up.
"Yeah?"
"Bone 5, no... Eloise Arin isn't joining?"
"Oh."
I grinned.
"She's doing shaman arts with me separately."
"Ah."
Sun nodded as if understanding.
What was funny.
Was Caden's reaction to it.
"What, Sun Spear? Don't think you can handle us alone?"
Thud!
Caden exuded confident aura.
"What'd you say?"
Sun stared at Caden in disbelief.
Whoosh!
He shook his spear once.
"Looks like you've lost your fear. Guess this senior needs to show you why he's senior."
Rumble...
The ground trembled from the auras they emitted.
Ah.
Demir, you punk.
That's why you built the training grounds far from the city?
I'd wondered why the workshop was inside the city but everything else outside...
He had foresight.
"Hmph, you'll break through eventually. It'll be one-sided offense. But I promise—at least 10 minutes of holding."
"10 minutes? Pathetic. One minute's plenty."
"Confidence is your strong suit."
The standoff between Sun and Caden.
Ooh.
What's with these guys?
I liked this subtle rivalry.
Healthy competition drives growth.
"Then play nice."
I turned away as I said it.
"Your will."
"Yes, Master!"
The two sturdy replies echoed as they charged at each other.
* * *
After setting them to train.
I moved again to Arin's training ground.
Where a statue of Arin sat in a chair, devouring a magic tome.
A large clearing paired with a building reminiscent of an indoor gym.
Clunk!
Entering the building revealed an empty space.
Probably empty since proper training hadn't started yet.
Later, Arin would request what she needed at her discretion.
Demir or Kim Jin-ah would surely fill it.
Hm.
This place might end up as a library or lab.
Just as that thought crossed my mind.
['Caden's summon is released.']
['Dana's summon is released.']
Messages appeared.
"Hoh."
I whistled.
'About 6 minutes this time?'
Grinning, I drew up my energy.
[Using skill, 'Skeleton Lord Summon' (S-rank).]
[Using 10 energy.]
['Caden' appears.]
[Using skill, 'Skeleton Lord Summon' (S-rank).]
[Using 10 energy.]
['Dana' appears.]
I resummoned the released ones.
Then.
"Thank you, Master!"
"We'll hold out a bit longer this time...!"
They appeared in midair with determined eyes and charged off again.
Toward the Bone Crew's training ground.
Their average duel time wasn't 1 minute or 10.
Roughly 4 to 6 minutes?
Sun was seriously pride-wounded by that.
Caden and Dana too.
Of course.
Sun wouldn't always break them at the same speed.
He had limits to his energy too.
If I just resummoned them each time?
'Perfect training method.'
Stick them at it for a day, and they'd gain tons of insights.
Then they'd finally find proper direction for individual training.
'Anyway.'
Besides the bones.
Now it was my turn to focus on training.
"Arin, come out."
I drew up energy and summoned Arin.
Crackle!
She appeared in midair inside the building at my command.
"Professor!"
Her voice matched my memory of her as a young girl.
"Uh?"
I couldn't help but widen my eyes.
Mouth agape.
* * *
What?
I'm a necromancer.
A cursed one at that.
I can only summon skeletons.
But.
Even so.
"Hehe, Professor."
Why wasn't the Arin I summoned a skeleton?
Red hair, slender frame.
And snow-white skin.
She was exactly as I remembered her at 15.
"...What? How?"
Arin smiled at my question.
"I didn't want to lose my precious memories... so I tried some magic."
Swirl~
Arin spun once.
"Magic?"
"Yes, Professor. It's called 'Polymorph'—something I read in the library archives before. Not ordinary magic, but a special one only dragonkin can use."
"..."
Dragonkin.
Like Aranbalon or the giant dragon.
'Oh, right.'
The giant dragon had turned into an elf and a dwarf before.
"But how..."
I looked at her, face full of confusion.
"Can you use that kind of magic?"
You're not dragonkin?
"Well..."
Arin scratched her head.
"Normally impossible, but with specific conditions, it's doable. Turns out my bones are dragonkin bones?"
"..."
"Even just bones... but 100% dragonkin body, so I figured why not? And it worked?"
Crazy.
Arin, this girl.
She really was magic tower lord material!
A true master of magic!
"Unfortunately, the forbidden tomes' spells didn't work. They're life-based magic, so maybe someone like me—who's neither dead nor alive—can't use them."
Chatter chatter.
She kept talking, but none of it reached my ears.
Her polymorph was that shocking.
'It was a dream.'
Besides becoming rank 1.
One small wish I held.
My summons regaining their flesh.
Living this life—not filled with 'regret' like the previous—with bodies.
"Arin..."
I called her carefully.
"Yes, Professor."
"Could you... use that on the others too?"
"Hmm."
Arin pondered.
Eyes closed, recalling old books.
After a brief silence.
"It's not impossible. But not all at once. They'd need some mana supplied."
"...Really?"
I clenched my fist tight.
If they could truly gain bodies.
They'd get even stronger.
The original absolutes were more adept with muscle than bone anyway.
"I'm not certain, Professor. Plus, Polymorph without proficiency doesn't last long. Even if possible, maybe just brief holds outside combat. Unless proficiency rises. And..."
Swish.
Arin's pale palm rose.
Whooo!
Mana danced elegantly atop it.
"Magic always involves experimentation. Like I said, nothing's 100% certain."
Even if difficult.
Even if impossible.
Didn't matter.
Anyway.
There was hope, right?
"So that means..."
Arin smiled at my words.
"Yes, Professor. Let's experiment right now. Immediately."
That word—experiment.
Sounded thrilling for the first time.