A Body for the Phantom Thief

"Haah."

I was speechless.

Recalling Zaug's living appearance from the dream only made me sigh.

"Did you not sleep well, my Lord?"

"Yeah. I wouldn't call it good."

I should tell them ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I saw Zaug's past life. Yet the strange feelings kept the words from coming out.

"Did you have a nightmare?"

"Something like that."

【No way, no way! No waaaaay!!!!】

No. I didn't even say anything special. Seeing Zaug react so violently made me sigh again. Ingrid looked surprised at my reaction.

"Is that true?"

【If Great Lord saw my life, of course he'd feel bad, that is so!】

Damn it. Is that something to be proud of.

The biggest discrepancy from the dream was his appearance.

"And why the hell were you so handsome?"

【Heheheh. The host who ruled the night streets was none other than this Zaug, that is so.】

Yeah. I saw it in the dream. I didn't want to know either.

【When will you make my body, Great Lord?】

"Hold on. Let me think a bit."

"You thief! How dare you trouble our Lord's precious hands!"

【Hiiiek!】

"You should be grateful if Master decides to make one for you."

【I was wrong, that is so!】

"In my day, when serving His Majesty, we kept our mouths shut and waited forever until spoken to."

Pretending not to see the two subordinates disciplining Zaug, I replayed the scenes from the dream over and over. Fortunately, just like with the other two subordinates, the vision from the dream didn't fade easily from my mind.

A body that suits Zaug, huh.

"I think I can manage it."

【Ooooh!!!】

"But first, I need to go shopping."

The other parts were fine, but there was nothing to serve as Zaug's 'head'.

"Is hair that important?"

Sir Isra shook her head left and right.

"It only gets in the way during battle. Hair is useless."

Her golden hair swaying left and right looked dazzling today. Sir. Are you doing that on purpose?

"Oh my. You should have said so earlier. I'll cut it for you."

"Begone! How dare you try to lay hands on the precious body our Lord crafted!"

"And when was it you said it was useless?"

"Do you not know the saying that body, hair, and skin are received from one's parents? Our Lord is as my parents, so I cannot damage even a single strand of hair."

I've never had a daughter like you. Where does she pick up these difficult sayings.

"I'm going to wash up, so everyone wait."

While I was at it, to get byproducts usable for Zaug's hair, it had been a while since I went shopping.

The hunter market was bustling today as usual. I passed through the automatic doors and went inside.

"Hunter Park Minho?"

"Who's the person next to him. A model?"

"Do you even live without looking at the internet. That's Park Minho's summon."

"Waaah. I thought it was a celebrity."

Hmph. My shoulders unconsciously puffed up a bit. All of these are bodies I made, you know. Of course, before the Resurrected privilege applied, they were lifeless bodies without any vitality. Anyway, I made them, right?

"You've got good eyes."

"Appearance is but an illusion. To a knight, it is an insult."

"Then wear a helmet and cover it up."

"To escort my Lord, it is better to dress in attire suited to this era."

Sir Isra in a white shirt and jeans. On the other hand, Ingrid wore a frilly dress. Either way, they both drew eyes just the same.

"Let's go look at byproducts."

"Yes, my Lord."

"Let's go together, Master!"

As soon as I entered the byproduct corner, I activated Spirit Eye. The details of byproducts that item descriptions alone can't reveal. Things like the 'Dragon Essence' that was key when crafting Draco could only be confirmed with Spirit Eye. Would I be able to find useful byproducts on this shopping trip too.

【Great Lord! My head comes first, that is so!】

I know, so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be quiet. I already have something in mind for the byproduct to substitute for Zaug's hair.

"One bundle of Abyss Seaweed, please."

If I had to translate it, it'd be deep-sea seaweed, I guess. It's a weed that often comes out of ocean-type gates. Since it's not a byproduct, it shows as an item, and even looking with Spirit Eye nothing special came up.

"Pfft. Seaweed. How fitting."

"Hohoho. It'll suit the thief well, won't it?"

【Seaweed, you say! What kind of talk is this!】

Just wait. I'll make you some killer hair. Having achieved the main purpose, I leisurely walked around the byproduct corner observing each one. Then.

Primitive species? Wait. When you say primitive, aren't those things like raptors, dinosaurs.

"Shopkeeper. About that heart."

"The Primitive Man's Heart? That one's hard to get."

B-rank monster, Primitive Man. Whether it's the same species as historical primitive humans is unknown, but they say it looks similar to the image from comics. Similar build to a High Orc with enormous magic resistance. And like raptors, they receive the Primitive Species buff, so actual combat power is B+ rank monsters.

"They say that guy's heart is used as a mana enhancement catalyst."

"Do you have any extra?"

"It's not easy to obtain. If you don't kill them in one blow, you can't get it, they say."

The curse engraved on the heart runs wild and it explodes with a bang. It has many uses so it trades at high prices. In the end, he was explaining at length to sell it expensively? Reading the meaning in my eyes, the shop owner quickly turned his head.

"I only sell at list price. Good grief."

"How much is it?"

"200 million."

"I'll take one."

With all that buildup I thought it'd be a billion. Cheaper than I thought. Wait. When I bought the subspace carrier I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was trembling over 200 million. Ugh. My sense of economy is collapsing!

"Are you really going to buy it?"

"Yes. Please give it to me."

Whew. Whether my economy sense collapses or not. I secured new data with Spirit Eye, so let's just buy it for now. If I research it in the Death Blacksmith, some result should come out. I came to buy materials for Zaug's head and discovered an unexpected byproduct.

After purchasing additional byproducts for Zaug's remodel, I began work in the Death Blacksmith.

"Grit your teeth."

【I'll minimize my senses, that is so!】

"But have you thought about how you'll remodel the thief?"

"The basic frame will be a Death Warrior."

Sir Isra let out a short "Hmm."

"I wish to speak frankly beyond my station, so please forgive me this once."

"Go ahead."

"The thief likely could not use Aura in his previous life."

"It seemed that way."

The Zaug I saw in the dream was not an Aura user. Rather than properly learning the sword, he had honed a deviant art of ending lives with a single strike by himself. A deadly blade where if you fail to kill with one thrust, your own life is in danger. A combat style fitting a thief and assassin.

"A Death Warrior requires a soul well-versed in swordsmanship, will that be alright?"

Sir Isra's point was valid at a glance. It was proof of how high her understanding of my abilities was.

"It was a remark beyond my place. I only hope for my Lord's boundless mercy."

"An excellent observation."

I clapped sincerely.

"From now on, if there's anything that feels off, feel free to remonstrate anytime."

"I interrupted my Lord's work, is that truly alright?"

"You understand my abilities well, so what's the problem."

I had already prepared a countermeasure for the part Sir Isra pointed out. Separately from that, next time I do new work, there might be parts I miss. So rather, I'm in a position to ask for the favor.

"How great would it be if you pointed out the leaks for me, Sir?"

"M-my Lord!!"

Sir Isra knelt on one knee.

"I am truly a blessed person. To serve such an excellent one as my Lord after His Majesty!"

"I agree that our Master is excellent."

"I swear loyalty until this life ends, no. Though it has already been severed, until the moment my soul extinguishes!"

Sir Isra's sudden confession. Under the enormous spirit, I felt the pressure to give some kind of response.

"R-right. Work hard."

"Henceforth, as my Lord's First Sword, I shall devote my full loyalty!"

【U-um, Great Lord. How long should I stay still like this?】

Ah. Right. I went off on a side path for a moment due to Sir Isra's sudden loyalty confession.

"If it hurts during the procedure, raise your right hand."

【Can I raise it now?】

"Do as you like."

【Hand! Raised, that is so!】

"Yeah. I saw."

【But why aren't you taking any measures?】

"I never said I'd do anything."

Our Zaug is in a lot of pain, huh. I told him to raise his hand to empathize. Oh my. Is that so? There there, just bear with it a little, patient.

"I have to replace everything except the head."

The existing body was modeled after a Ghoul. Since Death Warriors have a completely different production method, I have to replace everything except the part where the soul resides.

I had researched countless times and created five successful specimens. Reconstructing the body that would become Zaug's wasn't difficult. After building the skeleton, I fed meat to the Deep Slime's mucus and attached it like human flesh. After fiddling to match the appearance I saw in the dream, I cut the Abyss Seaweed I bought at the hunter market to hair thickness and planted it densely. It was a bit limp, but it suited his greasy living appearance, so it was fine. No. It was the trump card item I chose to get closer to his living appearance.

【It's done now, right, that is so?】

"There's one thing left."

You pointed it out, Sir Isra. If he revives in a Death Warrior-based body without enlightenment, won't something big go wrong. So about that. I prepared specially for you.

"This is a soul stone made by converting the nature of Elder Alphonse's Baek."

【What do you mean by that?】

"As you know, Baek is memories or traces. That's why the Skeleton Wizards under the Witch Coven can use Photon Ray. If I use Director Jeong's Baek, there's a high chance of harm to you."

Using the Cursed Tombstone, I transformed the nature of the soul stone containing Elder Alphonse's Baek into the warrior type. Just like when making the first Death Warrior.

"If it's a soul stone with only pure power remaining, it will lead you to a higher realm without side effects."

【Is that true?】

"It might hurt a little."

A soul stone of one of the 12 Heroes. A powerful catalyst that guarantees an A-rank skill when making a magic-type undead. I felt it was a waste to discard that characteristic, but what can you do. If I succeed in raising Zaug's rank, it's a profitable deal.

【Kyaaaaaah!!!】

When I struck the soul stone against his heart, Zaug let out a bizarre scream. Good. Successful up to here. As long as the soul didn't extinguish, it's fine.

"Open your eyes."

Zaug, transplanted into the Death Warrior body, screamed and then suddenly stood up.