Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: There Must Be No Law Saying I Have to Die
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“I Raise Skeletons” Chapter 3
There Must Be No Law Saying I Have to Die
“……Ugh.”
My strength drained from my entire body.
It felt languid all over, like I'd sweated buckets in a sauna.
[Hunter: Joo Dong-hoon]
[Energy: 0/100]
The phenomenon that occurred when energy hit zero.
But while my body felt that way, my mind was boiling like a kettle.
“No…….”
The desire to live, the instinct for survival, writhed within me.
I did feel like I'd done enough, but for some reason, my heart ached.
I hadn't suffered for three years just to meet such a dog's death.
I hadn't aimed for such a ruined life.
But reality was a cesspool.
All that remained now were three flickering skeletons, like embers in the wind.
‘Ranker my ass. So I was fated to be orc chow?’
My strength ebbed away.
I felt wronged and furious.
Was I just some fledgling with torn leggings?
Even so.
Is it such a huge sin for a sparrow to follow a stork?
“Chwiik!”
As if sensing my mental surrender, the orc let out a fishy laugh and victory roar.
[Check your achievement message!]
“Hm?”
I furrowed my brow.
It felt like it had been floating there for a while.
But I was so angry, so pissed off.
I hadn't had the chance to look at the faint message in front of me.
“……?”
But I snapped to attention soon enough.
It was a complete golden message, unlike the usual ones.
I quickly clicked it.
[You've achieved a hidden condition!]
[Hidden condition exclusive to Unique Ability: Cursed Necromancer!]
[Condition: The Law of 10,000 Uses!]
- Raising the grade of your unique ability requires tremendous effort!
- Use the skill ‘Ordinary Skeleton Summon’ (E-Grade) 10,000 times!
“Wha?”
My eyes went wide.
A dumb sound escaped my lips.
Golden dust sparkled magnificently near the message.
Clack, clatter?
The skeletons facing off against the orc up front stood there blankly, as if wondering what was happening.
‘The Law of 10,000 Uses?’
I'd never heard of such a condition.
Well, if I knew about it, it wouldn't be hidden.
‘That means…….’
The number of times I'd used my skill so far was 10,000?
Well, it's been about three years now, so even if I only did it ten times a day, it'd add up.
That was when it happened.
[Congratulations!]
[Your grade has grown to D!]
Aaaah.
Heavens. Gods.
D-Grade……?
No response for three years, and now this?
Well, thanks anyway.
[Rewards for grade change incoming!]
Yes, hurry! Hurry!
Throw me something!
I urged some unknown god in my mind.
“Chwiiik!”
The orc started moving again, so I had no choice but to rush.
[Energy is filling up!]
[Energy: 100/100]
“Nice!”
I shouted without thinking.
To me, energy was like extra lives.
Clang! Chaaang!
The orc's axe clashed with Bone-1's greatsword a couple times.
But the sound was completely different from before.
Not the sound of crumbling weakly, but of being repelled by force!
“Ooh.”
The skeletons' strength had changed!
[The skill ‘Ordinary Skeleton Summon’ (E-Grade) grade has been upgraded!]
[The skill has changed to ‘Awakened Skeleton Summon’ (D-Grade)!]
A message appeared accordingly.
[Skill: Awakened Skeleton Summon]
[Grade: D]
[Effect 1: Consume 10 energy to summon an intermediate skeleton. Up to 10 possible.]
[Effect 2: You can name each skeleton.]
The only changes were from ‘low-grade’ skeletons to ‘intermediate’.
And one more.
[Main weapon for new skeletons has been set!]
[Target Skeletons: ‘Bone-4’, ‘Bone-5’]
[These skeletons will respond to your commands from now on!]
“Huh?”
I made a dumb face.
I stared at the message over and over.
‘Main weapon set? That means…….’
The hardships of the past flashed before my eyes like a panorama.
Until now.
Had I been training unawakened guys like a fool?
Their abilities were just sealed?
Damn it.
You should have told me sooner!
I turned my gaze forward again.
“Chwik! Chwiik!”
The orc snorted angrily.
It seemed pretty pissed at the suddenly strengthened skeletons.
Clang! Taang!
The orc was busy blocking Bone-1's swinging greatsword, Bone-2's thrusting spear, and Bone-3's arrows.
‘Yeah, that's what these guys are like.’
They were scrawny at E-Grade.
But now at D-Grade, they wouldn't lose to the same grade.
I'd poured my passion and sincerity into their training.
If it weren't an upper-species orc, Bone-1's greatsword would have already cleaved it in half.
Nodding, I immediately used my energy.
‘If you've gained a new ability, you should test it right away, right? That's a hunter's duty.’
[Using skill ‘Awakened Skeleton Summon’ (D-Grade).]
[Using 10 energy.]
[‘Bone-4’ appears.]
>
[Using skill ‘Awakened Skeleton Summon’ (D-Grade).]
[Using 10 energy.]
[‘Bone-5’ appears.]
Along with black energy surging from the ground.
Turu-ru-ru……
Two skeletons formed.
Bone-4 and Bone-5.
“Kee-ya.”
I gazed at them with ecstasy.
The blank skeletons without weapons were nowhere to be seen.
Bone-4 held a large shield as big as itself.
Bone-5 held a staff, like a wizard.
Tank and mage?
Man, now I can make a proper skeleton party?
Clatter!
First, Bone-4 lowered its stance slightly, shield forward.
Then it charged at the orc.
“Chwik?”
The orc, mid-fight, retreated in surprise.
Then it swung its axe hard, as if saying a puny shield couldn't stop it.
Dtaaang!
But the axe bounced off easily.
Behind it.
[‘Bone-5’ uses skill ‘Fireball’ (Lv.1).]
Fwoosh!
The fireball created by Bone-5 dropped on it.
“Chwiik! Chwik!”
The orc shrieked in agony as its skin cooked.
Puk! Pook!
Bone-2's spear pierced its defenseless throat.
A terrifyingly swift combo.
“Wow.”
I hadn't done a thing.
I'd just watched.
[Processing ‘Sturdy Orc’.]
“…….”
My heart pounded.
Two emotions hit me.
Relief at surviving a near-death situation.
And excitement for the new power.
‘Looks like…….’
I thought this life was done for.
But there must be no law saying I have to die.
* * *
‘I can’t believe it.’
I tried deep breaths dozens of times to calm down, but it was no use.
No one could stay calm.
Just minutes ago, I really thought I was headed to the afterlife.
The fact that I was still breathing didn’t feel real.
‘And on top of that.’
The fruit of three years' effort had just ripened. How could I stay calm?
Back in my underground studio after ditching training, I stared at my status window all day.
“Heh heh heh.”
A smile tugged at my lips.
[Hunter: Joo Dong-hoon]
[Title: None]
[Energy: 100/100]
[Unique Ability: Cursed Necromancer]
[Grade: D]
[Effects]
-You are a necromancer who handles the dead. Subjugate foes with fearsome evil spirits and deadly poisons. However, you are cursed.
-You can only summon skeletons.
[Possessed Skills]
-‘Awakened Skeleton Summon’ (D-Grade)
‘Good.’
I clenched my fist.
I thought my life was getting weeded out.
But hope was reborn.
I'd misunderstood until now.
This beautiful world, and I'd been cursing it as ruined.
Yes, effort should yield results.
“…….”
Of course, it was still far to reach ‘ranker’ status, where A and S-Grades dominated.
The thorny path ahead was clear.
What crazy feat would it take to reach C-Grade next?
Still, I was happy.
It had been a dream I thought impossible until now.
‘Back to basics.’
Anyway.
The path I'd designed wasn't wrong.
Endless effort and training make you strong.
That's all it takes.
‘And the skeletons.’
Honestly, I was shocked.
The power of intermediate skeletons after reaching D-Grade was beyond imagination.
They were different from the undead I'd studied and compiled info on.
Skeletons are just skeletons.
I'd never heard of strong ones.
The concept of ‘intermediate’ skeletons didn't exist.
Plus, they even grow.
And not just that?
One even uses magic.
‘Ridiculous.’
The only undead mage I knew of was the top A-Grade ‘lich’.
“…….”
I fantasized briefly.
Bone-5 spamming top-tier skills like Blink, Hellfire, Blizzard Storm.
Bone-1 and Bone-2 grown into Sword Master and Spear Master.
Then Bone-3 as Bow Master, Bone-4 as Defense Master?
I grinned and heated some cup ramen.
Slurp!
It went down nice and refreshing.
Maybe because I'd cheated death, but even though I'd eaten tons, it tasted amazing.
‘Anyway.’
No real change in my life yet.
Tomorrow, I still had to go to the mercenary guild and earn money.
Gotta eat to live.
Training too.
‘I hope the other five bones awaken soon.’
Probably too early.
If I train these five hard, the rest might unlock gradually?
Flop!
After eating, I lay on the bed.
I’d probably pull an all-nighter staring at the status window.
But I should sleep.
Anyway, it was a good night.
* * *
The next day.
The atmosphere at my mercenary guild ‘Troubleshooters’ was buzzing.
This branch usually only had sporadic E and D-Grade mercs, flies buzzing around.
But now, even the higher-up mercs I'd only heard of were showing up.
‘Something going on?’
As I set my bag on the table and tilted my head, request team leader Kim Jun-seo approached.
We'd known each other long enough to be bros.
“Hey, Dong-hoon! You’re in? Come here! It’s huge, huge!”
“Huge?”
“Yeah, you know Blue Guild? The one Ki Pa-rang founded.”
“Yeah.”
Who wouldn’t?
‘Divine Archer’ Ki Pa-rang.
One of the 37 domestic rankers after Dark Lord joined.
Once blew off a mountain peak with a stray arrow. That level.
Blue was the prestigious guild he founded.
“Blue Guild put in a request to our merc unit. They’re heading to a new dungeon, need porters? Pay’s huge. Ten times the posted amount?”
“……Ten times?”
As expected of a major guild.
They think big.
Ah, that’s why higher mercs were gathering here too?
Curiosity piqued anyway.
Low-grade hunters like me don’t get chances at high-grade dungeons often.
“Yeah, even taking E-Grades. Whaddya say, wanna go? Honestly, nothing else today. Total bust.”
Bust meant no other requests.
I smacked my lips.
After yesterday, I couldn’t just say yes blindly.
I’d learned how precious life is.
After thinking, I nodded.
“Mind showing me what dungeon first?”