The Armed Zombie Warrior

The orc grunt’s corpse trembled like an aspen leaf.

……

Huh.

The spiritual energy dwelling in the orc grunt’s corpse surged violently through the circuits, as if it might explode with a bang at any moment. It did not feel good at all.

【It looks dangerous, sir.】

“I think so too.”

【Please tell me the countermeasure at once.】

A countermeasure? Where would I find something like that?

Now it was even kindly throwing up a timer. Fix the condition within one minute? Wow. They sure were generous with the time.

【Worry not. I shall become your shield.】

Sir Isra stepped forward. I raised a hand lightly to stop her.

“It’ll be fine.”

We had skills, after all. If I stuffed it into the Death Space, even if it blew up there wouldn’t be any damage. Hmm. Would it still try to explode even in a place treated as a separate space? Or would time just stay frozen? Either way, there was no need to worry about it going off.

【As expected, you had a plan, sir.】

As if. I never imagined the undead I’d just crafted would suddenly reclass into a bomb.

“If I examine it, the answer should come out.”

There was no real need to fret over the explosion risk. With a lighter heart I approached the orc grunt’s corpse—

Kiiiiing!

The cracked soulstone I’d embedded in its forehead poured out a bright yellow light.

【Sir!】

“No. It’s fine.”

The corpse’s rattling movements cut off abruptly, then it rose to its feet with a heavy step.

“Crazy.”

【Why are you so surprised?】

“It says it’s a feat.”

【Hmm. It does not seem like something to make such a fuss over.】

“You’re treating an achievement recognized by the system like it’s nothing.”

Hunters who had recorded a feat were said to number less than 0.001 percent. That was how difficult it was. And the rewards were certain: permanent stat increases as a baseline, plus things like raising skill coefficients or granting special abilities—the effects were tremendous.

【Hmm. It does not look bad.】

“You’re awfully calm about it.”

There was one more surprising fact.

“I had the wrong idea about corpse crafting.”

I had thought I could only create the undead listed in the skill. But when I modified and raised it, what came out was not a Zombie Warrior but a different undead. Thinking about it, there had been hints. Raise a corpse that was only bones and it became a Skeleton; raise a complete one and it revived as a Zombie. As the skill rank rose I had learned four additional undead crafting methods, but those were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠only crafting methods. It was not as if “Corpse Crafting” let me raise whatever undead I wanted.

【So you can craft a variety of undead, then.】

“Enhanced forms like this guy, too.”

Truly. The specs were enormous. Treating even the bone armor as part of the body had jacked up the spiritual energy values, and the overall stats had risen right along with them.

【Its strength is about four times greater than mine.】

“This guy’s real value is its defense.”

From a distance it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠looked like a heavily armed knight. Armor crafted from the hard bones of an Owlbeast. Ordinary blades would not be able to cut it. The D+ rank made sense with these specs. A combat style of tanking enemy attacks while delivering heavy blows with the axe. Completely different from Sir Isra, who valued speed.

【Combat is not decided by stats alone.】

Ugh. Don’t worry. Once my proficiency rises a bit more I’ll remodel you even stronger, Sir.

【What will you name it?】

“Huh? What name?”

【Hah. Were you not the first to create this undead, sir?】

Ah. Come to think of it, the system had the word “Temporary” attached as well. I was supposed to decide the undead’s name…?

【It means it will be recorded in the world.】

A new kind of undead that had never existed before. Therefore the name I gave it would become a proper noun, one of the concepts that made up the world.

“Whoa.”

It actually sounded pretty amazing.

【For reference, my sword style was also recorded in the world.】

“The Imperial Sword Style?”

【Hah. My own name is right there in it!】

So the Isra Form was the key point. That was why she had been so nonchalant when we talked about feats. She’d already done it all, huh?

Fine. Grumbling would only hurt me.

Hmm. I pondered for a moment what name would be good. Then, suddenly—

“Armed Zombie Warrior.”

I attached a word that came to mind from some video I’d seen in the past.

There had been parts I’d missed in the crafting process, but thanks to the cracked soulstone the Armed Zombie Warrior was complete. If I researched this guy, I’d get the hang of it soon enough.

“Kehehehehe!”

Feat achievement. I’ll get it done soon!

The cracked soulstone as a new possibility. The hidden options of corpse crafting. And even a feat on top of that. I had thought I’d gained a lot today.

“Aigoo. My eyes had a feast today.”

“It’d be wrong to send you off empty-handed, so take this at least.”

“Ahem. How can you give a guest something so shabby? Here, how about this?”

But there was more to take away. The craftsmen, apologizing for the ruckus in the workshop, each brought something from their own forges.

Two rare-grade minerals, plus a consumable that blocked debuff skills? Wow. It wasn’t even my birthday.

Minerals before the refining process had lower price points relative to their grade. Even so, each one would trade in the tens of millions. For things they were handing over just for watching a bit of work, the value was pretty high.

【Haha! These craftsmen recognize your true worth, sir!】

Quiet, you. Sir. Have you never once been told you have zero sense of tact?

“Please accept them without burden.”

“Kid. Don’t talk like you’re the representative.”

“Master. I was the first to host this guest.”

“You’re empty-handed yourself and still putting on airs.”

The chief apprentice of Hanil Blacksmith, or so he’d been called—the one who had first sorted out the traffic—and the blacksmiths were growling at each other.

“Ahem. Next time, I hope you’ll drop by our Jingun Blacksmith as well.”

“You look like you’ll achieve greatness the moment you pick up a hammer.”

“If you come to Yongso Blacksmith, I’ll give you an apprentice seat right away!”

Had I misheard? The top craftsmen of our country were practically begging. Of course, these weren’t the only craftsmen. There were about ten blacksmiths on Blacksmith Street alone. Three of them… Hmm. Yeah. That wasn’t a small number.

I might actually have talent as a blacksmith. Ahem. Let’s not get cocky. The skill with which I hammered bone was partly thanks to the assistance of the Bone Metallurgy skill. There was no guarantee refining metal would go as smoothly. Trying it once would be fine, but I shouldn’t let my guard down just because these high-nosed craftsmen were trying to curry favor.

When an S-rank had come out of Seungcheon Tower, I should remember why I hadn’t revealed it was me. After five years of grinding hardship I had finally managed the promotion. Until I could objectify my own value, I had intended to stay quiet, hadn’t I?

Of course—

“I’ll gratefully make good use of them.”

—I wouldn’t refuse free gifts. When I learned hammering I’d stop by one place or another. Even if I got fleeced then, there was no reason to turn down free stuff.

After Minho left loaded down with gifts, the blacksmiths eyed one another.

“Greed is poison.”

“Heh heh. Is that something Old Man Song should be saying?”

“Mr. Jeong just took on an apprentice recently and he’s already being greedy.”

Minho was clearly a beginner. He had none of the habits that came from long years of holding a hammer. An unpolished raw gem! No—he was shining on his own, so it felt wrong to even call him a raw gem.

If I snag that young man, Jingun Blacksmith becoming the best in the country wouldn’t just be a dream.

I want to teach him. Pass on fifty years of secret techniques and call him my disciple!

He’d be far better learning from me than from these old men.

Objectively speaking, Minho’s skill did not yet reach apprentice level. From controlling fire temperature, to the way he gripped the hammer, to the timing of quenching—compared to a seasoned craftsman, the beginner vibes were strong. But that was only when compared to apprentices who had held ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a hammer for at least five years. The parts mentioned earlier were experience that could be built through repetition. What Minho possessed was a sense that touched the realm of talent rather than experience. His ability to handle the special material of bone also had rarity.

While the three craftsmen each sank into their own thoughts, Nam Jinwoo—who had first discovered Minho—was fretting inwardly, stamping his feet.

Master has shut himself away again. What do I do?

He had made a fuss for nothing and let the other craftsmen notice the talented newcomer as well. He had even pressed them a bit and secured compensation for Minho, hoping the young man would take the consideration kindly.

“Apprentice Nam. Is the Elder well?”

The “Elder” the craftsmen mentioned was, limited to Blacksmith Street, a term for one specific person. Korea’s greatest blacksmith, and the owner of Hanil Blacksmith: Han Yohan.

“I haven’t seen him for several days either.”

“He’s gotten hooked on something again, that Elder.”

“Is the Elder ever any different?”

“What incredible thing is he trying to make this time?”

The craftsmen conversed without a hint of jealousy. It was a glimpse of the standing Han Yohan held on Blacksmith Street.

“Indeed. Haha.”

Nam Jinwoo laughed, but inside he was burning up.

I have to tell Master before the other craftsmen snatch him away.

He hated having his concentration broken more than anything. Once he started work, even if it took several days until it was finished, he never came out of the workshop.

Please. Let the work finish before another blacksmith recruits Minho.

Nam Jinwoo prayed and prayed inwardly.