Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Necromancer of the Sword Clan
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"You're late."
As he arrived in front of the dormitory, four people were already gathered there.
"Sorry for being late."
Shin Yu-hyun first bowed his head in apology.
Then he lifted his gaze and looked at the man who had spoken to him.
'Once again, the lead instructor is Choi Hyun-seong.'
In his previous life, Choi Hyun-seong had been assigned as the instructor too.
Choi Hyun-seong was in his mid-twenties, a 4-star swordsman recently scouted by the clan.
He would later become a 6-star peak swordsman, making a name for himself in the world.
But right now, having just joined the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan, he was temporarily overseeing the disciples.
That was why he wore a white coat—his division hadn't been assigned yet.
'What a catch.'
Shin Yu-hyun eyed Choi Hyun-seong with burning intensity.
Not only was his skill exceptional, but he was renowned for valuing honor, loyalty, and his outstanding character.
How great would it be to have a talent like that by his side?
"Forget it. Shin Cheol-ho hasn't shown up yet either, so don't be late next time."
Even as direct descendants of the clan, trainees weren't treated as official swordsmen until they reached 3-star rank. That was the rule of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan.
So Choi Hyun-seong addressed Shin Yu-hyun informally.
"Yes, sir."
Shin Yu-hyun nodded in response.
Fortunately, it didn't seem like he'd get chewed out just for being late.
'I really should bring him over to my side.'
Shin Yu-hyun stole a sidelong glance at Choi Hyun-seong.
He'd liked him since his previous life. He was one of the few in the clan who treated Shin Yu-hyun without prejudice.
He wanted to recruit Choi Hyun-seong if possible.
But...
'My brothers and sisters are the problem.'
His brothers had already set their sights on Choi Hyun-seong too.
'First, let's complete this designated request.'
If he took down a 2-star boss solo on this mission, his standing in the clan would change.
And naturally, he'd catch Choi Hyun-seong's eye.
"Instructor, do we really have to raid the dungeon with that guy?"
At that moment, a young man scowled at Shin Yu-hyun and spoke up.
Shin Yu-hyun turned to look at him.
'One of Lee Jung-hoon's crew.'
Disciples who had cleared 2-star dungeons in his previous life.
They were also wearing white coats and were the same age as Shin Yu-hyun.
Lee Jung-hoon was the strongest among his 2-star peers, a talent on the cusp of 3-star.
Completing this request would earn them official recognition as clan swordsmen and assignment to one of the Guardian Sword Divisions.
But having to raid a 2-star dungeon with a 1-star like Shin Yu-hyun!
"Got a problem with that?"
"Yes! What if something goes wrong because of him?"
Lee Jung-hoon glared at Shin Yu-hyun, his face full of dissatisfaction. Any mishap could derail their promotion.
Shin Yu-hyun tossed a casual retort at him.
"Then go complain to the Clan Leader yourself."
"What? Why bring up the Clan Leader all of a sudden...?"
"Don't you know designated requests come straight from the Clan Leader? I'm here on his direct orders. And you're complaining?"
"Ah, no, wait! That's not what I—"
Lee Jung-hoon flinched in surprise at Shin Yu-hyun's words, flustered.
The Iron-Blooded Sword King, Clan Leader Shin Sung-il, was the absolute authority in the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan.
No one could defy a direct order from him.
"You can badmouth me all you want. But if you're insulting the Clan Leader, you'd better be prepared."
Lee Jung-hoon was speechless at Shin Yu-hyun's icy words.
He wanted to argue back, but Shin Yu-hyun had invoked the Clan Leader first, leaving him no room to retort.
Challenging Shin Yu-hyun here would be tantamount to defying Clan Leader Shin Sung-il.
That was exactly what Shin Yu-hyun was aiming for—he'd name-dropped his father.
Even if they ignored or insulted him, pulling rank as the Clan Leader's son shut them down cold.
"F-Fine, I get it."
In the end, Lee Jung-hoon backed down.
His face screamed that this wasn't how it was supposed to go.
But what could he do? He'd already fallen into Shin Yu-hyun's trap.
Now, Lee Jung-hoon couldn't voice any more complaints against him.
'Rumors really can't be trusted.'
Choi Hyun-seong, watching the exchange, looked intrigued.
He'd only heard rumors about Shin Yu-hyun until now—this was his first time meeting him.
The third son, said to lack mana-handling talent, be incompetent and weak.
But in person, he was nothing like the rumors.
'Like father, like son.'
The aura Shin Yu-hyun gave off was undeniably 1-star level.
Yet far from feeble, he carried himself with confidence.
Choi Hyun-seong didn't mind it at all.
Especially how he'd shut down Lee Jung-hoon not by flaunting his father's authority, but by leveraging a well-known fact legitimately.
'Interesting.'
That was probably why.
Choi Hyun-seong started feeling a spark of interest in Shin Yu-hyun.
"By the way, Instructor, when do we head out?"
Shin Yu-hyun looked at Choi Hyun-seong and asked.
"Shin Cheol-ho is taking his sweet time."
Choi Hyun-seong crossed his arms at the question.
They were already ten minutes past the rendezvous time.
"We'll wait five more minutes. If he doesn't show, we go without him."
"Yes, sir."
Shin Yu-hyun nodded with a hidden smile.
A designated request was a direct order from the Clan Leader.
Once scheduled, it couldn't be changed.
The deadline was today—no matter what, they had to raid the dungeon.
Failing to show would tarnish Clan Leader Shin Sung-il's face.
And anyone skipping out bore full responsibility, no excuses.
A moment later, five minutes up, Choi Hyun-seong marched the group to the 2-star dungeon without hesitation.
In front of the 2-star dungeon on the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan grounds.
The dungeon lay at the foot of a mountain ridge, amid a vast forest.
At the base, clan members had set up a temporary base camp, analyzing and monitoring the dungeon gate.
Shin Yu-hyun gazed at the dungeon gate before him.
Irregular cracks spiderwebbed through the air, like shattered glass.
Crackle! Zap zap!
Yellow sparks danced around the rift—the mark of a 2-star dungeon.
Just looking at the cracks revealed the dungeon's rank, thanks to the distinct colors per level.
But without entering, you couldn't know what magic beasts lurked inside.
That was why even low-rank dungeons required seasoned superhumans from the clan.
But...
'This time, I'll clear it myself.'
Shin Yu-hyun steeled his resolve.
He already knew what magic beasts this gate would spawn.
2-star magic beasts: Fallen Goblins.
Dwarfed at about a meter tall, they were the weakest of 2-star beasts.
Clearing this dungeon wouldn't be hard.
But in his previous life, Shin Yu-hyun, Shin Cheol-ho, and Lee Jung-hoon's crew had failed the designated request.
Because someone caused trouble.
'Shin Cheol-ho... If not for that guy...'
Shin Yu-hyun gritted his teeth slightly.
In his past life, Shin Cheol-ho had recklessly declared he'd take the 2-star boss alone and charged deep into the dungeon.
Then disaster struck.
He came racing back soon after, dragging hordes of Fallen Goblins and the 2-star boss with him.
Lead instructor Choi Hyun-seong had no choice but to intervene, effectively failing the request.
The Clan Leader's order was to clear it without instructor help.
But that wasn't the end.
Even after, Shin Cheol-ho defied Choi Hyun-seong to cover it up, insisting on taking the boss himself.
'One-on-one, maybe he could've handled it with his talent.'
Normally, three 2-star swordsmen were needed for a 2-star boss.
But as a direct descendant with historic talent in the clan, Shin Cheol-ho might've had a shot in a solo duel.
'But...'
The problem was the hundred Fallen Goblins swarming in.
No way one person could handle that.
Yet he insisted on going solo, piling pressure on Choi Hyun-seong.
In the end, Choi Hyun-seong slew all the goblins including the boss, but collapsed from severe wounds.
'The real issue came after.'
They barely escaped the dungeon, and Shin Cheol-ho pinned the blame for Choi Hyun-seong's injuries and the failed request entirely on Shin Yu-hyun.
Lee Jung-hoon's crew sided with him, and the only one who might've defended Shin Yu-hyun—Choi Hyun-seong—lay comatose.
No one stood up for him.
Except Mother.
While Choi Hyun-seong was out, Shin Yu-hyun was exiled from the clan.
He later heard Choi Hyun-seong had woken up, but the clan never called him back.
Even if Choi Hyun-seong said Shin Cheol-ho was the culprit, it'd be ignored or dismissed.
It was a perfect excuse to boot the clan disgrace, Shin Yu-hyun.
'Pisses me off just thinking about it.'
Recalling the past, Shin Yu-hyun furrowed his brow.
If Shin Cheol-ho pulled any stunts next time, better to crush him thoroughly.
"We're entering the dungeon now. Stay sharp."
While Shin Yu-hyun was lost in thought, Choi Hyun-seong finished briefing the base camp leader and lined up the group at the gate.
One by one, starting with Choi Hyun-seong, they were sucked into the gate.
'Ngh.'
A brief sensation of floating, then his feet hit solid ground.
Transfer complete.
System messages appeared before the group's eyes.
The dungeon interior, called a battle field.
It was no different from the real world. Only the base camp researchers around the gate had vanished; the location was identical.
Except the time had shifted from day to night.
Dungeons were usually nighttime, barring special cases.
And...
"Never gets less creepy, no matter how many times I see it."
Lee Jung-hoon, inside the dungeon, looked queasy as he glanced up at the sky.
A blood-red moon hung there.
'The World of the Crimson Moon.'
Shin Yu-hyun glared at the red moon with displeasure.
Every battle field dungeon space had one without fail.
What was the crimson moon?
Why did these battle field dungeons spawn?
Despite years of research since dungeons first appeared, nothing was known.
Even ten years in the future.
Dungeons remained a mystery.
'Just... why do dungeons even appear?'