Confessions and Death's New Legion

In the heavy atmosphere, Mu-hyuk's voice cut through.

"Ji-yeon... you like her, right?"

Sung Min-woo's pupils dilated massively, shaking wildly for a moment.

"J-Ji-yeon...? Your sister? Are you crazy? Why would I like your sister?"

"No, you idiot. Not my sister. Kim Ji-yeon!"

"Wh-what are you talking about?"

"It's obvious. Why hide it now? You dumbass?"

"It's... obvious?"

"Yeah."

"That obvious...?"

Sung Min-woo buried his face in his hands.

"What, no way. You've been trying to hide it all this time or something?"

"Of course I have."

"Sigh, Ji-yeon seems to like you too."

"What? For real?"

"You didn't know that either?"

"N-nope."

"Just confess already. She'll say yes."

"Nah, no way..."

"Ha, you used to hit on girls all the time. What's with you now?"

"Th-that's different! Ji-yeon's not like those girls!"

"Oho..."

Sung Min-woo chugged his beer.

"Anyway, confess. No doubt about it."

"Confess what."

"100 percent, man. 100 percent."

"..."

Sung Min-woo started wavering.

"I'm telling you, guaranteed."

"Fuck, really?"

"Yeah!"

"Okay, got it. I'll do it!"

"When?"

"Th-this weekend!"

"I'll be waiting."

Mu-hyuk chuckled and twisted his body slightly, tilting his head up.

"Oh, it's starting."

He watched Illusion's World with keen interest.

*

The moment Mu-hyuk found the hidden spot, Illusion's World ended.

"Cuts off right there?"

"Yeah."

"Ugh, I wanna know what happens next week! Total cliffhanger bullshit."

"Cliffhanger?"

"You don't know it?"

"Nope."

"It's when they hook you at the end so you have to watch next time. Kid, you don't read novels or webtoons?"

"Busy."

"Tch, anyway, catch the next episode live!"

"To see if I came off like trash?"

"Of course!"

"You maniac. Anyway, chicken and beer's done. Let's head out. And you better confess."

"I said I got it."

The two parted ways.

Mu-hyuk headed straight home and logged into Illusion.

"Oppa, you're here?"

"Yeah. Where's Ji-yeon?"

"Cooking inside."

"Got it?"

Mu-hyuk grinned slyly.

"More importantly, how'd it go?"

"Heh. Talked to her—100 percent."

"Right?"

"Yeah. What about Min-woo oppa?"

"He's gonna confess."

"Whoa, finally...!"

Mu-hyuk and Ye-rin both sparkled with anticipation.

"By the way, oppa. How'd Illusion's World turn out?"

"Pretty good."

"That part?"

"Ended right before finding the zombie sorcerer."

"Ah, gotcha."

Just then, Sung Min-woo logged in.

"Ahem..."

Acting awkward, he cleared his throat alone and approached Mu-hyuk.

"Where's Ji-yeon?"

"Cooking inside."

"Uh-huh."

Sung Min-woo shuffled into the building.

"100 percent. Guaranteed. Got it?"

Mu-hyuk's voice from behind made him nod.

"I got it..."

Still, the tension was unavoidable.

Thump, thump.

His heart felt like it might explode.

I'm gonna lose it.

He barely took a deep breath and opened the door.

Creeeak.

There, in the distance, Kim Ji-yeon cooked, entering his view.

She's so pretty, fuck.

With that thought, he stepped forward.

Yeah, let's do this!

He clenched his fist tight, steeling himself over and over.

"Uh, hey...!"

"Hm?"

"G-go out with me!"

Kim Ji-yeon startled at the sudden confession.

But even one rejection was fine.

Recalling Ye-rin's advice, he bowed his head.

"I-I'll think about it..."

That was her maximum pushback.

"Ugh..."

Even that crushed Sung Min-woo into despair.

*

In the end, Sung Min-woo and Kim Ji-yeon became a couple on day one.

"Thanks, you bastard!"

"Told ya, 100 percent."

"Man, when she said she'd think about it at first? I nearly shit myself."

"Mercy, you moron."

"Anyway, I'll treat big-time next time!"

"Sure."

"It's almost time, right?"

"Yeah. About to head down."

Today, he'd finally gain the zombie sorcerer's power.

"Illusion TV on?"

"Not yet."

"Gonna turn it on?"

Mu-hyuk pondered briefly and shook his head.

"Nah. Check first. Can always watch later."

"Got it."

"Oh, call Ye-rin and Ji-yeon too."

"Okay!"

Soon, the four gathered. With Mu-hyuk leading, they descended underground.

"How much time left?"

"One sec."

A smile formed naturally.

"14 minutes."

"Whoa, really soon, oppa?"

"Ooh, awesome. Can't wait!"

Just a bit longer. Really just a bit.

Whoa.

Tension built unexpectedly.

"Sit and wait?"

"Good idea."

The four sat and chatted idly.

Time dragged painfully slow.

But it passed without issue.

"Huh? Already over 10 minutes?"

"Yeah?"

Mu-hyuk stood.

Less than a minute left.

30 seconds, 20, 10.

Finally, zero arrived.

Mu-hyuk tilted his head at the sudden messages.

Skill changes?

More surprising was Gangster Necromancer being the superior class.

Both were hidden classes; he'd never compared them.

But if the system ruled it, he accepted.

Pity, Zombie Sorcerer...

It had so many great skills.

Please, make these good.

Then holograms filled his view.

Seven skills total.

He checked them one by one.

"Holy shit..."

Mu-hyuk rarely reacted big to rewards, but not this time. The skills had transformed in an unimaginable way—shocking him.

"What? What's up?"

"Oppa, why?"

"Uh, well... the skills changed."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Huh? Changed?"

"Yeah. Something about Zombie Sorcerer being subordinate to Gangster Necromancer."

"Oof, and?"

"How are the skills?"

His dazed expression gave no clues.

"Did it suck?"

He finally shook his head, denying it.

"No... it's insane!"

Every skill ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was perfect.

Excitement lingered.

"Whew, let's head out first."

"Y-yeah."

Exiting the basement, Mu-hyuk met the knight first. Confirming ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no issues, he summoned his warhorse.

"Gonna hit a hunting ground."

"Oppa, to test the skills?"

"Yeah, gotta check 'em out."

"Can I watch?"

"Of course."

"Me too!"

"Then everyone come."

"Okay!"

They rode to a nearby hunting ground.

"That guy's perfect."

A level 200 King Turtle—high defense, low attack. Ideal for testing.

"Alright, first... Death Skeleton Summon."

No ritual as expected.

Just a hologram.

A green dot appeared in his vision.

Hmm, aim with this?

Staring at a tree briefly.

His brow furrowed.

Sacrifice an item?

He pulled a sword from inventory and focused.

He chose no. Needed to test limits.

Mu-hyuk experimented.

"Hmm."

The green dot could expand. But nothing non-item registered.

Then the turtle approached.

"Hey, whatcha doing?"

"Hm? Just testing skills."

"Want me to take the turtle?"

"Yeah, sure."

Sung Min-woo summoned his spirit.

Mu-hyuk eyed it.

It hit like a hammer.

Right, why didn't I think of that?

He hastily summoned skeletons.

Expanded the green zone and dumped all basic Bone Swords in.

First recognition without items.

Yes! Summons count as tribute!

Mu-hyuk hit yes, burning 5,000 MP for 100 Death Skeletons.

Thud thud.

The awaited ritual began. Ground vibrated faintly as black smoke rose from below.

"Summoned 'em, oppa?"

"Yeah, just 100."

"Whoa..."

The smoke took form.

Death Skeletons.

Their overwhelming menace drew an involuntary chuckle from Mu-hyuk.