173. Grim Reaper
173. Grim Reaper
- 1 -
"The wicked... filthy... demon tribes... despise... humans... the continent..."
Jason's body, freed from Talhan's control, muttered words that sounded like a curse. The voice, full of pain because the bones that had formed his central nervous system were missing, was thick with the grudge from the time he'd been controlled.
I had bound his body and soul to this world with soul magic. He, who had been the head of Copherin's Information Guild, was still useful.
"Come here."
- Yes, Master.
I handed Jason's body to the most senior of Talhan's summoned creatures. The Corpus Skull, having evolved from 'Bone Centipede' to 'Bone Lizard', replaced every bone remaining in Jason's body and took control of its form.
Kagak... Gagagak...!
- Let... me go...! Me!
"Unfortunate. That's not possible."
The Corpus Skull that had finished its work bowed its head to me.
The light of grudge that had filled Jason's eyes had already vanished.
"It is done, Master."
"Despite Talhan's control, this entity still had a soul remaining. I must seal that soul separately, so wait a moment."
"Yes."
Leaving Jason's body aside, I looked at Talhan. The sight of a human-scorpion made of pale grey bones came into view.
While all his juniors had taken the path of evolving into a Corpus Skull or other monsters, he had stuck to the form of the Cerebrum Skull. He was my subordinate who, being the most capable among mimic-type monsters, had been able to defend his position in his own way.
"It has been a long time since I've seen you in that form."
- Since you appear so grand, Master, it seems I am only now paying respects with a form befitting your dignity.
"Your flattery has also grown in the meantime."
- ... I am ashamed.
As sacrifices for Talhan, I had prepared the corpses of elite monsters secured when we had defeated three dungeon lords. Although they were insufficient to be used as sacrifices for a dungeon lord, for the promotion of a summoned creature, I could compensate for the deficiency with other monsters. Centered around the corpse of the elite monster Troll Shaman and the mermaid-type monster Merrow, numerous monster corpses were to be offered as sacrifices.
"I shall begin."
- Yes...!
As Talhan's voice trembled with tension, the evolution ritual began.
Ppaddeudeuk! Kwajik!
Talhan, standing atop the magic circle, greedily absorbed the sacrifices' bodies and mana. First, the flesh of the Troll Shaman crumbled like sand and melted; the powder became a dark green mist and enveloped Talhan's bones.
- Keuheuu...
Unlike the others who had completed their evolution earlier, Talhan's transformation was dramatic. Because his current body was too small and weak to contain his own desires.
Udeudeuk!
Mana completely broke down his body and began reconstructing it from scratch. His white bones melted like candle wax, then soon resolidified into a harder, tougher form.
- Keu... Aaaack!!
With a groan full of agony, his head tilted toward the sky.
Ppudeuk! Kwajik!
On his body that resembled a centipede, countless bones repeatedly grew and broke. The countless possibilities created by desire and greed passed by, and the possibilities that were not chosen became residual mana and drifted through the air. The more the sacrifices' mana permeated deeply, the more violent the transformation became, while simultaneously converging into a single form.
Udeudeuk!
The sound of joints being reconstructed echoed out. From the spots where only traces remained, bones of slender, long limbs sprouted, and a purple crack streaked across the pale bones.
Seureureuk...!
Over them, the mana created from the melted body of the Merrow covered them, and flesh began to grow one by one. Pale skin, like that of a mermaid-type monster, covered him up to his black claws.
"Haaa..."
Thus, finally, a groan like a sigh escaped his lips. While his growing hair turned white, black mana coiled around him once before dissipating. When the remaining sacrifices had all sublimated into mana and seeped into his body, he finally opened his eyes.
Beonjjeok
A purple magical light flashed and vanished. A glow of that same color settled in his pupils.
Hoo.
"This is... me, is it."
Sararak.
His short white hair, with little luster but a clear hue, flowed down. It was a color where vitality was hard to find, like the hair of a dead person.
Beontteuk.
In the center of his face, the magical glow characteristic of the undead flickered. The color of his pupils was a deep, sunken purple that felt unfocused, and the glow flowing out from the surface was black. It was what was commonly called dead eyes, with not a single hint of emotion felt.
Kkwak.
Even so, as he looked at his own body, he seemed moved by the human-like appearance he sensed. If you compared him to a real human, you would feel a difference, but that was a factor only felt when deeply examining his appearance.
The body gave an overall impression of frailty, and at the same time had a pale white skin.
"It's a form... that resembles a human."
Looking at Talhan, who had completed the 「Spirit Ascension」, I gave a satisfied smile. "That's quite a splendid form, Talhan. Though it's much different from your appearance in life."
"The me from when I was called Gyeonghan was just garbage, full of greed yet not knowing how to use that greed. He is different from the me now."
Talhan bowed deeply to express his gratitude, then put on a black robe handed to him by a Skeleton next to him. When he tightened the waist cord, his slender physique became even more pronounced. It was a silhouette so slender that it was hard to distinguish male or female, but I already knew his gender, having seen his naked body.
"It was an asexual body. Is that your wish?"
"I hadn't particularly cared either way... but it seems the sacrifices' influence wasn't absent."
There was no falsehood or exaggeration in his pale expression, still containing only composed and sincere feelings.
"That might be the case."
Since the Troll Shaman used as sacrifice had been male, and the Merrow female, it was entirely possible. To the present Talhan, sexual distinction was extremely faint. For half a year, Talhan had taken over countless male and female bodies and absorbed their memories. Even if the dense experiences accumulated in that process had blurred his sexual identity, it was nothing to be surprised about.
'Since it's still an undead body, it's meaningless anyway.'
Unless one had talent on the level of Evangeline, it was difficult to fully obtain the traits of Life.
『Grade/Class - Elite Wizard』
I examined Talhan's status window. He had worked as an archer when using the name 'Gyeonghan' as a Western Continent person, but in reality, he had the talent of a wizard. If that weren't the case, he wouldn't have been able to over-adapt so excellently as a Cerebrum Skull. After all, that entity depended primarily on magical talent.
Thus, the completed version of him followed that talent.
『Title/Entity Name - Cunning Grim Necromancer』
What Talhan became was a necromancer of the 'Grim Reaper' kind. The entities called Death Gods, Grim Reapers for short, were high-tier undead and close to demonkind. They were a higher species than Skeletons and Zombies, possessing human-like bodies, but they were so alien that if you observed their entire appearance, you could quickly tell they were not human. And unlike other high-tier magical creatures like the 'Luminous Bone', they specialized in demon-friendly magic like curses and necromancy. Not that they couldn't use elemental magic at all, but generally that was the case.
『Trait - Shadow Wanderer, Advanced Specialization: Necromancy, Ambush, Mana Drain, Sacrifice Devour, Member of Necropolis』
Lowering my eyes, I examined his traits. Although he hadn't obtained a legendary-grade trait, his current combination was still excellent. 'I think he could get it by cultivating a few more traits. And ambush and indirect attack magic, huh...' His ability couldn't completely hide the presence of magic, but after casting, with time, he could erase his traces from the enemy's sight. Moreover, necromancy included curse-like 'indirect attack' series magic, and undead summoning and creation went without saying. It was a decent combination as a wizard specialized in tormenting enemies, as well as a necromancer. If I taught him a few more special know-how here, it would become a trait combination powerful enough to stand on the front lines.
"Come here."
"Yes, Master."
In his gait, yet-unrefined mana rose like a shadow. I handed the staff I had prepared to him as he approached and bowed.
"This is..."
The dark gray staff looked as if made by twisting the branches of a dead tree. On its surface, concentric circle patterns reminiscent of tree rings were carved, and it emitted a faint black light. The silver-white skull adorning the top was crafted with the grudge of a living being, and the grudge that would become a necromancer's power flickered within it.
"I wasn't certain what kind of form you would take, but at least I knew you would be a wizard. It's a crafted piece for you."
"Aah..."
When Talhan touched the staff, an immediate reaction occurred. The staff, receiving his mana, emitted a black light, and that light coiled up his arm like a centipede, connecting the two into one. The typical color of mana possessed by demons and necromancers. It was practically proof that he had innate talent in that field.
"I expect continued achievements."
"I shall offer... eternal loyalty."
"Alright."
Whether upright or flexible, as long as his loyalty was only toward me, it was enough. I would grant Talhan a befitting reward, and he would continue to offer flexible loyalty. After nodding lightly to him, I turned my gaze toward Maria and Artemis, who were waiting.
"Artemis and Talhan. The two of you, prepare. We'll need to go to the south together."
Ran and Eve were carrying out their respective missions, and Shue, regrettably, still had to guard the center of the dungeon. Moreover, since Artemis and Talhan had just become elite entities, I needed to adjust them somewhat, and I could personally observe their traits. Normally it's something they'd have to do themselves, but from the standpoint of raising them, wouldn't it be natural to choose a growth method with higher efficiency and peak potential?
"Maria may rest, or follow along if you wish."
"I will follow."
"Very well."
These words were consideration for her, as she had just returned from a business trip, but as expected, she immediately nodded.
"Wouldn't it be better for you to rest, sister?"
"Forget it. I prefer to move."
"Pretending to be aloof."
Listening to the sisters' whispers, I turned and headed into the dungeon. There were still things left to prepare. First of all, I planned to pull Sonia outside—left to herself, she'd never think of moving until my instructions were finished, unless I told her otherwise.
- 2 -
Around the time the territorial war in the southwest, where Elena and Yuran were still active, was about to begin, I had ordered one of the queens loyal to me to contact the lords in the southeast. It was to pick out the greedier ones and create an opening to infiltrate this region.
"You have come, Master."
"You worked hard. Echidna."
"It is all thanks to your faith, Master."
That queen, Echidna, who led lamia and aquatic monsters, had shown results surpassing my expectations,
"Welcome to Ranhan, Master."
Finally, today, I was entering the city of Ranhan in Aririt.