Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Finally Achieved Seventh Ascension
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Thanks to this, all of Leyzon's stats had reached 70.
It was the natural outcome since his ascension EXP had already hit the max.
Magic power was now far greater than before.
But that wasn't the only boon.
'One more skill slot opened up.'
Leyzon picked up a piece of meat from the plate in front of him and chewed slowly.
This was Geda Village's famed restaurant, perfect for celebrating his ascension.
'The problem is, I'm a necromancer.'
Necromancers were currently being hunted by the Empire.
Any necromancer tomes sold openly were practically traps set by the Empire.
Blindly buying one would likely get him dragged off in chains.
'What to do.'
There were ways to acquire skills directly, but...
The phantasmal beasts around Ged Mountains mostly had wood and ice affinities.
Reality was, there weren't many skills suited for a Poison Necromancer.
'Filling it with a general job skill isn't bad, but...'
Still, it felt like a letdown.
'Ascended, but not much to show for it.'
A sigh slipped from his lips.
In the old days, he'd have headed straight to the black market for a necromancer skill.
Wonder if there's a seller around here...
"Ooooh!"
Just then, an exclamation burst from in front of Leyzon.
There sat Hanok, mouth stuffed full of meat.
A short tail none of them had noticed before swished behind his back.
Hanok was of the Sword-Tooth Clan.
They required more ascension EXP than normal races.
But in exchange, they ascended twice per breakthrough.
Thus, Hanok was currently at 8th Ascension.
He had surpassed Leyzon.
'Hanok got two new skill slots too.'
Naturally, there was no reason to leave them empty.
'Might as well.'
Leyzon planned to clear every dungeon in Ged Mountains while he was here anyway.
Procuring useful skills for Hanok there seemed like a fine idea.
'Plus, there's one more thing I need to prepare.'
Leyzon recalled the idea he'd had recently and let out a sly chuckle.
"How is it? Tasty?"
"Yes! This place is amazing!"
Hanok swallowed his mouthful and beamed.
This shop dated back to Hanok's active days in Geda Village.
He'd passed by once, drawn by the aroma, but could only peek.
Prices were steep on average, and he'd had nothing to his name back then.
Now indulging freely, he looked utterly blissful.
Leyzon gazed warmly at Hanok and asked,
"Hanok, know anyone in Geda Village who deals in info?"
Leyzon's main reason for coming here was to find his undead.
Ged Mountains were vast.
Blind searching wouldn't yield results.
"Gulp. Yeah, there's someone who might know."
Hanok swallowed another piece, eyes lighting up—he clearly had a lead.
Good.
Start there.
'Come to think of it.'
Leyzon suddenly realized he'd overlooked one crucial detail.
"Syria."
At his call, a bat fluttered up from the shadows.
The pure white bat landed neatly before Leyzon.
"Yes, did Leyzon-nim call for me~?"
Syria flapped her wings, radiating joy.
She was thrilled just to be summoned.
"Who's the undead we're going after?"
Was it all the planning, magic practice...?
Leyzon belatedly realized he hadn't asked the obvious.
"Huh? Didn't I mention last time?"
Leyzon shook his head.
No.
Syria pondered, then went, "Ah!"
"Come to think, I only said it was an undead that killed a lord."
What?
Leyzon's eyes flickered.
He hadn't imagined it was that.
"Estelle."
And out came the name from Syria's mouth.
"...Estelle?"
An undead that killed a lord.
Hearing the name, Leyzon blinked.
The one he'd set aside as an exception popped up.
"Yes, Estelle. The Death Dragon, Estelle."
"Death Dragon?"
First the Vampire Queen, now a Death Dragon appeared.
Leyzon clutched his forehead, a headache blooming.
Why had his undead grown so enormously?
'Estelle Aragon.'
In Leyzon's memory, Estelle was a tiny undead serpent.
A thoughtful, delicate little thing.
Hard to believe such a child had slain a lord.
Undead each had inherent traits.
Estelle's was frailty.
He'd felt guilty for not making her stronger.
So he'd fed her every reinforcement material he had.
'Even some pretty good ones along the way.'
Maybe that had helped.
Estelle had grown into a lord-slaying undead.
'Fine. Good is good.'
Leyzon shook off the negativity.
Instead, he filled his mind with positivity, washing it down like a hearty meal.
Not many undead could boast lord-killing feats.
None more reliable.
'Setting aside the fallout from killing a lord.'
The merits were ironclad.
"Yeah, we'll see when we meet her."
In the end, facing her would sort it out.
Leyzon pumped himself up.
After the meal, Leyzon set off with Hanok to find the info broker.
Clang, clang!
Geda Village, teeming with diverse subraces, was renowned for crafting and selling all manner of gear.
The mountains themselves brimmed with natural resources.
Thus, smithies dotted the path everywhere.
And beside them, equipment shops galore.
"Hanok, let's stop there."
"Y-Yes? Leyzon-nim, that's the tenth already."
Hanok looked a bit drained at Leyzon's words.
And small wonder—Leyzon had ducked into every promising gear shop they passed.
At first, Hanok figured he was shopping for equipment.
But Leyzon bought armors neither he nor Hanok could wear.
The epitome of wasteful spending.
"Hanok, everything I'm buying will pay off down the line."
"Wh-Who do you plan to equip them on?"
"You'll find out later."
Leyzon flashed a shady grin and headed into another shop.
Hanok reluctantly followed.
Leyzon stocked up on yet more armors, filling his bag.
"This should do it now."
"No more buying?"
"Right. Time to find that info broker."
Exhausted from the endless shopping, Hanok brightened.
He quickly led the way.
The spot Hanok guided them to was away from Geda Village's bustling center.
Tucked in back alleys.
Security felt dicey.
Subraces sprawled asleep on the ground here and there.
Some stark naked.
Ged Mountains were highland—bitterly cold.
They'd freeze soon enough like that.
'Scum preying on the homeless.'
Security couldn't always be perfect.
"Hey, you, tough-looking bastard."
Sure enough, some blocked Leyzon's path.
"Oi, cut it out."
But one of their group held them back.
"Sword-Tooth Clan. Four tails, even."
"Shit, almost screwed."
They bolted at the sight of Hanok.
In the capital where subraces were rare, maybe different.
But Geda Village knew Sword-Tooth locals well.
Sight unseen, they fled.
"Heh heh, pretty handy, right!"
Hanok puffed up a bit, and Leyzon chuckled.
"Sure is. Lucky they ran before the shadows devoured them."
Hanok belatedly noticed Syria's shadow rippling.
Any further, and they'd have been done for.
Hanok had saved their hides, really.
"G-Good thing."
Hanok decided to think positive.
He quickened his pace to prevent more casualties.
"Here."
Soon, they stopped before a rundown shop.
Drunken revelry echoed from inside—like a tavern.
Creak—
Leyzon opened the door, and a female subrace staffer glanced over.
Her outfit was anything but modest.
More skin shown than covered.
Leyzon clocked it instantly.
'Ah, this type of place.'
"Customer~?"
She winked provocatively at Leyzon.
Hanok knowing a spot like this threw him for a loop.
"Rani noona!"
Hanok poked his head from behind Leyzon.
The waitress's eyes widened in recognition.
"Oh my, Hanok."
She beamed happily at the sight.
As Hanok rushed in for a hug, she stroked his head familiarly.
"What brings you? Feels like ages since you left Geda."
"Business this time."
Hanok soaked up the affection.
"Rani, who's that? Your son?"
"As if I'd have a grown son like him."
Rani laughed off the patrons' teasing with practiced ease.
Then turned to Leyzon.
"And who's this?"
"One of Hanok's party members."
Leyzon gave a neutral answer.
Owner or slave would just complicate things.
"Party member," Rani smiled warmly.
"Nice to meet you. Hanok was always yapping about wanting his own party. Glad he found one."
"Rani noona, Leyzon-nim's an awesome guy."
"Yeah, I can tell. Eyes like his don't lie."
How so?
"So, came with Hanok to say hi?"
Rani grinned.
Leyzon politely waved it off.
"Here to buy info. Hanok said someone here knows."
"Ah, got it. Madam, customer!"
She called toward the back, nodding understanding.
Thud—
An old woman emerged from inside, leaning on a staff.
Three horns adorned her forehead center and temples—flashy garb despite her age.
She eyed Leyzon and snorted.
"Dealing with a whelp."
Don't say that.
"Nah, here to buy info."
"Hmph. To the bar, then."
The Madam headed there first.
Leyzon told Hanok to chat with Rani and followed.
At the bar table, she poured a drink and slid it over.
"Pay for the drink with the info."
Forced sale, basically.
Leyzon didn't mind.
Easier to probe for info this way.
"Anything you know about the Death Dragon? I'd appreciate details."
"Hah, Death Dragon?"
The Madam's eyes narrowed sharply.
She leaned close over the bar.
"You're a necromancer, aren't you?"
Leyzon blinked.
He touched his chin.
Mask was secure.
So she'd pieced it from their talk.
No need to panic.
Ged Mountains were far from the capital—scarce Empire troops.
With Syria, escape was assured.
Leyzon smiled leisurely.
"How'd you know?"
"Brazen. Not a hint of fear—means you've got plenty hidden."
Running an adult tavern here took sharp instincts.
"Few know of the Death Dragon. Folks asking fall into two camps: necromancers or Empire."
Sword-Tooth Clan crushed by Empire.
No way Hanok's trusted figure was Imperial.
Process of elimination: necromancer.
"Any other necromancers hunting her?"
Leyzon wondered.
"Plenty."
"What's their angle?"
"Hmph, beating around the bush to haggle? Don't worry—no charge for this."
Crafty.
"Wanted to subjugate the Death Dragon."
Leyzon's brow twitched.
Syria was impressed too.
And rightfully so.
The Death Dragon, Estelle Aragon, was Leyzon's undead.
Daring fools had coveted Leyzon's undead.