The Skeleton Warhorse

Level 80.

It was a level where he could obtain an important skill.

"You heading out now?"

"Yeah, gotta go."

"Hmm, won't that leave us short on time to clear the mercenary quests?"

"Nah, it'll actually be faster."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I'm picking up a really good skill."

"How good is it?"

"Curious?"

"Obviously."

"You'll see."

Mu-hyuk teased, and Sung Min-woo immediately put him in a headlock.

"You little punk."

"Ugh, anyway, I'm off. Be back soon."

"Okay, got it. I'll check out some quest scrolls at the mercenary guild in the meantime."

Mu-hyuk headed straight for Valsian's residence in the Hemil Empire.

Knock knock.

"Master."

He called out while knocking.

The door flew open.

"What!"

"I'm here."

"What do you want!"

Valsian was the same as ever—fit, grumpy.

"You said it before, didn't you?"

"Said what?"

"That I'd see it again when the time came."

Valsian's brow furrowed.

This soon?

It was far quicker than he'd anticipated. Too quick, in fact—he figured his disciple must be mistaken.

Still, he couldn't just turn away a disciple who'd come after so long.

He softened his expression and nodded.

"Quit yapping and come in."

"Yes!"

Mu-hyuk entered, but Valsian still eyed him with clear displeasure.

"Hmph, so you think the time has come?"

"Yes."

"You punk!"

He whacked Mu-hyuk on the head with his nearby staff.

"Wh-what was that for?"

"The time has come, my ass! You think being a necromancer is that easy?!"

"......"

"You punk! No answer, huh? When did I teach you that advanced basic technique? And now you say the time's already come? Arrogance leads to failure, you hear me?!"

What should he say?

He'd really hit level 80...

And the message had popped up too.

A new skill to learn.

It was the downside of his overly rapid growth.

"Haa."

"You sighing now?!"

"M-Master."

"What, finally reflecting?"

"Well, you see..."

"Everyone makes mistakes. Since you're reflecting, I'll forgive you this once. Never forget this lesson. Anyway, since you're here, have some water before you go."

Valsian poured him a cup.

What to do with this?

Mu-hyuk closed his eyes and shouted.

"Master!"

"Wh-what?"

Now that he was startled—that was his chance.

"Just check it for me."

He stared firmly.

"Ch-check what?"

"See if the time really has come for me."

Valsian flared up again.

"You punk! Still not getting it?!"

"Just check, please."

"You—!"

Mu-hyuk persisted.

"Just check, Master."

"......"

"Just che—"

"Fine, you punk! Why are you so damn chatty?!"

"Thank you."

"Ugh, headache. Sit here."

"Yes."

Mu-hyuk stood and moved in front of Valsian.

As he sat, Valsian raised his hand with obvious annoyance.

Even so, the iridescent light from his hand captivated Mu-hyuk.

Whoosh.

It soon enveloped his entire body.

"......!"

Moments later, Valsian opened his eyes, his expression now grave.

His pupils shook wildly, unable to hide his shock.

"You, you punk...!"

"You checked, right?"

"A-hem."

Valsian averted his gaze.

Oh, we're screwed.

That was exactly his face.

Mu-hyuk couldn't help chuckling, and Valsian whipped his head away.

"Funny, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠huh?!"

"N-no."

"A-hem. As I said, everyone makes mistakes."

"Of course."

"So forget it."

"Got it, Master."

"A-hem, good. Anyway, it really is time."

"Yes."

"No test this time."

Mu-hyuk already knew, but feigned surprise.

"Really?"

"Think I'd lie to you?"

"No."

"Trust your master."

Valsian pulled out a book.

"Here, take it."

"This is...?"

"Read that book, and you'll gain new power."

"Ah, thank you."

It was a skill book.

"A-hem. Anyway, since you grew faster than I expected, I'll give you a special gift."

"A gift?"

"Yeah, got a problem?"

"N-no."

He'd never heard of getting a gift from Valsian at level 80 skill acquisition.

Because of the title?

Gangster Necromancer's Direct Disciple.

Anyway, no reason to refuse.

"Come here."

"Ah, yes."

He moved in front of Valsian.

"This is a special tattoo."

He drew a rune on Mu-hyuk's cheek with his finger.

"Summon skills' MP cost halved."

"Pardon...?"

Mu-hyuk thought he'd misheard.

"You're my direct disciple, and you grew faster than expected, so be grateful for life. Got it?"

"Ah, that..."

"Don't want it?"

"N-no. Sounds good."

"A-hem. Done."

Mu-hyuk touched his cheek.

What, here?

Halving summon MP cost wasn't just tattoos.

Warrior and mage guild leaders in each empire had similar marks, granted only under strict conditions.

Mu-hyuk had researched this tattoo for Gangster Necromancers but found nothing.

And now he had it.

He swallowed and checked.

He couldn't help cheering.

"Th-thank you!"

"That good?"

"Hell yeah!"

"A-hem, of course. Now you're truly on the path of a Gangster Necromancer. You'll lead even more skeletons from here. Spread the word—show the world we exist. Effort!"

"Yes, Master!"

"Heh, good. Business done? Go."

"Already?"

"I'm busy!"

"Got it. See you."

He bowed sincerely.

Bow.

Valsian pretended not to notice, but a smile tugged at his lips.

"I'll visit again."

"Do what you want."

Leaving the house, Mu-hyuk clenched his fist.

Grip.

The MP drain that had plagued him was solved.

Originally 3 per unit per 10 seconds—now 1.5.

16 warriors, 8 archers, 5 mages.

Total 29 summons cost just 43.5 MP per 10 seconds. 261 per minute.

His MP recovery ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠over 400, factoring growth—he could handle 60+ simultaneously worry-free.

Smooth.

And now a new skill.

Opening the book triggered a message.

Mu-hyuk grinned and summoned.

"Skeleton Warhorse, summon."

Two bone horses appeared.

Too uncomfortable to ride bare, he unsummoned them, bought saddles and reins from the stable—two each.

Resummoned, saddled and bridled them.

"Perfect."

Skeleton Warhorses never tired.

Nor were they slow compared to normal horses.

One-hour walks now took 10 minutes.

Plus, they were powerful summons—horn charges and kicks nothing to scoff at.

Combined with future skills, they'd form elite mobile forces.

Time to go.

One unsummoned.

"Up."

He mounted the remaining one.

"Whoa, is that a horse?"

"Skeleton horse?"

"Never seen one."

"Who’s that player?"

Helmet on, but stares were burdensome.

Tsk...

Mu-hyuk dismounted reluctantly.

"Unsummon."

Walked to the mercenary guild where Sung Min-woo waited.

"Back already?"

"Yeah, just needed the level."

"Ah, what'd you learn?"

"Quests first."

"I found some."

"Nice?"

Mu-hyuk nodded at Sung Min-woo's picks.

Good distance and difficulty.

"This one."

Queued, took three quests.

All monster subjugations in the Yabbe Mountains. Warped to nearest village, but Sung Min-woo grimaced openly.

"Hour walk?"

"Yeah."

"Hunt another caravan?"

Mu-hyuk shook his head with a smile.

"No need."

"Hm? Walk?"

"Nope."

"Then?"

"Told you, new skill. Skeleton Warhorse, summon."

Two appeared.

"Gah! What the—?!"

"Warhorses."

"Holy shit, insane!"

This was revolutionary.

In Illusion, the worst hassle was trekking to hunting grounds from warp-less villages.

30 minutes minimum, up to 2 hours—wasted time.

Seeing these, that nightmare might vanish—goosebumps.

"F-fast?"

"Better than regular horses. Infinite stamina."

"Uwaaaah! Jackpot!"

Sung Min-woo pointed at one.

"Me, ride?"

"Yeah."

Using stirrups, he mounted smoothly and whooped.

"Whoa! Ride's killer!"

Mu-hyuk mounted too.

"Let's roll."

"Hell yeah!"

Sung Min-woo tugged reins—no movement.

"Huh? Why?"

"Idiot, my summons."

"Ah!"

Mu-hyuk commanded.

Warhorses, forward.

They bolted across the plains.

*

~10 minutes to Yabbe Mountains' entrance.

"Damn, killer. Hour trip in 10."

"Good, right?"

"Yeah, could clear 50 quests easy."

"40 first."

"Roger!"

Stopped before Katar on rhinos.

Unsummoned warhorses, summoned skeletons, took them down.

Mu-hyuk shone.

"Skeleton Warrior Summon."

"Skeleton Mage Summon."

"Skeleton Archer Summon."

Halved MP let him spam Wind Step and Storm too.

Skeletons handled two-three Katar each; Mu-hyuk soloed one.

Like a fish in water.

"Haaap!"

Sung Min-woo shone too.

"Fire, Earth!"

Handled two Katar without faltering.

Thus.

Numbers skyrocketed.

Kieeeek!

Pity for dying Katar.

20 down in a flash.

"Whew, short break."

"Okay."

Finally, a brief rest.