Chapter 177
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Translator: Prime Works
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: Skeletons Repaying a Favor (1)
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[Mana Heart skill option, ‘④ Undead Domination,’ has been promoted from a sub-option to an independent skill.]
‘What?’
Lloyd’s eyes widened round.
It was right after he’d used Rapid Charge.
To completely finish off the Hell Knight that wielded the infinite resurrection authority, to eliminate the risk of a counterattack—he’d gone all-in with Rapid Charge.
All or nothing.
And at the end of that gamble, as he opened his eyes for the first time, Lloyd thought:
‘I survived.’
A message floated before his eyes.
He was glad just to see the message itself.
It meant he hadn’t died, at the very least.
‘The Hell Knight?’
His eyeballs quickly darted around.
Like when sneaking meat out of the seaweed soup pot on the gas stove without Mom knowing, he scanned his surroundings.
‘Gone.’
He couldn’t sense the Hell Knight’s mana anymore.
That violent, sinister energy had vanished completely.
The meaning was clear.
The Hell Knight had been annihilated.
His gamble had paid off successfully.
Only then did Lloyd’s eyes turn to the message in front of him with relief.
He’d overcome the crisis.
Now it was time for a bountiful harvest(?).
Like a fisherman gazing contentedly at his bulging net, Lloyd’s gaze read the message.
[Undead Domination skill has awakened.]
[Undead Domination skill has been strengthened.]
[Various restrictions and conditions for using Undead Domination skill have been greatly relaxed or removed.]
‘Oh.’
A good start.
Promising signs.
Anticipation thumping away.
His eyeballs rolling even faster.
[Your Mana Heart absorbed and processed the Hell Knight’s mana. However, as you are a living human, you could not convert all of it into your own. Instead, part of your Mana Heart has become able to resonate with undead mana.]
[This trait has promoted your Mana Heart skill option, Undead Domination, to an independent skill.]
[Skill Name: Undead Domination]
[Level: Beginner Lv. 1]
[You can dominate a certain number of low-grade undead soldiers. The undead soldiers who accept your domination will provide loyalty that transcends death and selfless diligence without compensation.]
[Dominateable Undead Soldier Types: Zombie, Skeleton]
[Dominateable Undead Soldier Count: 200]
[Currently Dominated Undead Soldier Count: 0]
‘Wow.’
After reading the skill description, Lloyd unwittingly gaped.
This was no joke.
Not just because he could dominate undead soldiers?
‘No, because I can command free laborers!’
His eyes sparkled.
He’d secured 200 high-efficiency workers.
No wages.
Infinite labor.
No mercy for labor welfare.
Skeletons would silently keep digging in such a no-frills environment.
And they didn’t even eat.
No need for snacks.
Housing?
Just provide 200 coffins sized to fit.
Do that, and they’d(? ) close the lids on their own and rest quietly.
It was the equivalent of gaining 200 work robots that cost nothing in food or daily pay.
‘Perfect. Labor costs have been piling up nonstop, and it was no joke handling them.’
The thought alone lifted the corners of his mouth to his ears.
Lloyd had carried out countless construction projects so far.
At the same time, he’d never once stiffed anyone on labor costs.
No matter how small the job.
Or how massive the undertaking.
Even if it left his own wallet empty.
He always, without fail, diligently paid the workers.
Having endured so many hardships back in Korea, he couldn’t do otherwise.
‘I didn’t want to become the same trash.’
Wage nonpayment.
Just thinking about it stung.
Working hard but not getting paid.
Then the sneers and disdain when you complained.
“Why are you making a fuss?”
“You think this is your first day on the job?”
“Everyone’s got their own circumstances, so let’s be nice about it.”
He loathed those shameless employers who claimed their own hardships.
That was why.
Carrying those memories like daggers in his heart, Lloyd didn’t want to do the same things or become like them.
So he always paid the workers as generously as he could, diligently. No, sometimes he overextended himself to make sure they got paid.
This time was no different.
He’d come to Namaran in the first place to settle the bonus payments for the workers.
‘Of course, there was also the goal of preventing the Namaran barrier crisis.’
The apartment complex construction he’d undertaken.
The grand sewer project.
Major works encompassing the entire territory had led to massive year-end wages due.
He needed a big sum of money.
So he’d come to Namaran and secured the four-walls fortification contract.
But if he could just handle this wage payout properly?
He wouldn’t have to worry like before anymore.
‘Most construction can be handled by undead soldiers. Throw in the existing Engineering Corps with them. That’ll save a ton on labor costs.’
The Engineering Corps would lead and hold the center on-site.
The undead soldiers would handle all the grunt work.
Such a blueprint unrolled smoothly in Lloyd’s mind.
But the rewards for defeating the Hell Knight didn’t end there.
Another message popped up.
Ding dong.
[You participated in the heroic battle that eliminated the Hell Knight, commander of the hellish legion descended upon the earth.]
[In this process, you inflicted severe damage to the Hell Knight’s hearing, turning a hopeless battle in your favor and earning great merit.]
[Some citizens of Namaran City witnessed your ingenuity, courage, and transcendent pitch deviation firsthand and etched it into their ears.]
[As a result, a unique praise for you will spread widely among Namaran City’s citizens.]
[A new praise has been generated for you.]
[New praise, [Otherworldly Off-Key High Notes], has been created.]
[[Otherworldly Off-Key High Notes]]
[Praise Grade: Regional Hero Tale, Hellish Horror Story]
The towering walls of Namaran.
People cried out and collapsed.
In that moment when all prayed for salvation.
The silver-haired knight rose unyielding.
He fought against the knight of hell.
But it was overwhelming odds.
The hellish power rose again even when struck down.
Before that unknown force, the silver-haired knight wished.
For someone to stand shoulder-to-shoulder and fight.
Someone to step forward selflessly for all.
If only there were even one.
Then someone answered.
“Grant me the peace of flowing rivers.
Mahabanya suri suri sabaha.”
Clinging like leeches to the hell knight’s legs.
He sang with all his might, and the hell knight shook.
“Please stop.
Don’t sing, please.
Restrain the off-key wailing.”
Those were the only words that became the hell knight’s last.
[Praise Effect: You have become a celebrity among all beings, including the undead. On earth and in hell, you will gain widespread infamy as the ‘Owner of Demonic Pitch.’ Consequently, all beings on earth and in hell will fear your singing, or sometimes revere it.]
[Praise Region: Namaran County, Hell]
[Praise Duration: 80 years (Namaran County) / 30,000 years (Hell)]
[The praise effect applies 24 hours a day within the region and duration it is received. Additionally, the region and duration may expand, extend, shrink, or shorten based on your future deeds.]
[CP provided monthly by praise: 4]
[Current CP held: 254]
“…….”
Had he become a nationwide tone-deaf celebrity outright?
No, including hell made it global—dimensional-level fame as a tone-deaf screamer.
‘Getting dumped by that summer fling at karaoke over my singing was bad enough. Right, Eun-hyang?’
He wistfully murmured the name of his long-lost crush.
Of course, no reply came.
Instead, only Haviel’s hand waving in front of his face, oblivious to his inner thoughts.
“……are you?”
“Huh?”
A hand waving between his eyes and the message window.
That gesture snapped Lloyd out of his reverie.
Haviel was waving his hand in front of Lloyd’s face.
“Are you alright?”
His gaze scrutinized Lloyd intently.
That look seemed more cautious than usual.
By about half a step.
“You worrying about me or something?”
Lloyd couldn’t help but chuckle.
But for some reason, the guy nodded readily.
“Yes. I am worried.”
“Whoa. You nuts?”
Admitting it straight up.
Lloyd asked in shock.
“Who are you?”
“…….”
“No way you’re Haviel. Be honest. Where’d you hide the real Haviel? Kidnapped him? Locked him up? Tied him? Is he alive?”
“……I haven’t been kidnapped or imprisoned.”
“Then? What wind blew in to make you say you’re worried about me? You owe me money or something?”
“Of course not. However—”
Haviel said with a serious gaze.
“After hearing Lord Lloyd’s song just now, I started worrying even though I hadn’t before.”
“From my song?”
“Yes.”
“How bad was it?”
“It was a timbre and pitch that couldn’t exist on earth. It was agonizing just to hear. I nearly unleashed Blasting on you instead of that skeleton knight earlier. I got so agitated without realizing.”
“……Hey.”
“That’s why I’m asking out of concern. Are you sure nothing’s wrong with your mind? You haven’t been subtly brainwashed by that black mage without knowing?”
“Look, I’m…….”
“Are you really okay?”
“…….”
The guy’s gaze was so earnest.
Looking at it filled Lloyd with a surging sense of pathos.
Lloyd bit his lower lip hard and retorted.
“I’m totally fine.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Then that bizarre song earlier was…….”
“I sang it with my best effort.”
“Then, Lord Lloyd, don’t tell me…….”
“Don’t say it.”
“You’re tone-deaf…….”
“I said don’t say it.”
“…….”
The worry in Haviel’s eyes vanished completely.
Instead, his gaze loaded up with pity.
Haa.
He wondered why the guy was suddenly so concerned.
Lloyd shoved his cooling aside in one corner of his heart and replied.
“Tch. This isn’t the time. Let’s move. We need to help people too. By the way, you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
“Then let’s go.”
“Yes.”
The joy of victory was brief.
Sounds from outside the wrecked assembly hall pulled the two back to reality.
Groans from those who had collapsed after losing massive amounts of mana.
Realizing what they were, the pair caught their breath.
They slowly activated the Asrahan Heart Method.
Without a word, they turned toward the exit of the assembly hall.
The crisis wasn’t over yet.
Countless citizens suffering sudden mana depletion.
They needed emergency aid.
“The Asrahan Heart Method will be useful for this, right?”
“Yeah. Absorb mana from the air and transfer it, yeah?”
“It’ll be a long, busy day.”
“Agreed.”
With faint wry smiles.
The two stepped out of the assembly hall.
♣
The crisis resolution went smoothly.
Fortunately, no citizens of Namaran had died.
The barrier of Namaran that had voraciously sucked up the citizens’ mana.
It had been neutralized early.
Most hadn’t lost mana to the point of death.
But many were greatly weakened.
Those received emergency treatment from Lloyd and Haviel.
The Asrahan Heart Method, specialized in mana absorption and emission.
Its traits shone fully.
It saved those critically low on mana.
Raised those who had fallen.
Restored vitality to those hanging on.
Additionally, the black mage Kanna Baro was escorted to the capital.
Transported like baggage, fully neutralized.
‘He’ll probably get an intense interrogation in the capital. The kingdom’s top court mages will all be thrown at de-brainwashing and confession extraction. King Alicia doesn’t mess around with that stuff. That sis is straight-up no-nonsense.’
On the evening after two straight days of treating citizens.
Exhausted, Lloyd pushed aside stray thoughts and flopped onto his bed at the lodging.
But something was off.
Was he too tired?
Even after throwing himself on the bed, sleep wouldn’t come.
His body sagged like soaked laundry, but his mind kept churning with random thoughts.
‘Wish I were you right now.’
Lloyd glanced at Haviel, dead asleep on the next bed.
The guy had conked out after one lullaby(?).
Enviable.
He was tired and wanted to sleep.
But for some reason, sleep evaded him.
Instead, all sorts of thoughts and worries kept surfacing.
‘At least we stopped the Namaran crisis. The Namaran Count took a hit bad enough for convalescence, but his life’s not in danger. No more worries? Nah, doesn’t feel like it.’
After an insane ordeal, they’d averted Namaran’s catastrophe.
Yet Lloyd’s furrowed brow wouldn’t smooth.
Simple reason.
‘We stopped the crisis, but construction’s hit a major snag.’
It was true.
All the citizens had lost heaps of mana.
They were vitality-drained as a result.
They could move around somewhat, but heavy labor would take time.
‘Like construction, for example.’
Site work is tough.
Hauling heavy materials.
Digging, pickaxing, hammering all day in heat or cold.
And the laborers were this city’s people.
I.e., they’d been vitality-drained by this incident.
Tough to deploy them on-site for a while.
‘At least two weeks’ rest for everyone to recover. Ugh, hate construction delays.’
The four-walls fortification contract here.
Designs mostly done.
Perfect timing to finalize manpower and start foundations.
But sudden manpower issues pissed him off.
‘Wanna finish construction fast. Collect fat payment and go home. Suck honey in Frontera Territory without money worries.’
If only the undead soldiers popped up right now. He could use the new Undead Domination skill to put them straight to work.
‘But can’t go digging up intact graves.’
No way he could.
So he felt stifled.
Undead Domination skill.
Great otherwise, but sourcing undead soldiers was the issue.
‘Learn black magic? Too annoying, no way. Can’t even imagine. Ah, just sleep.’
Lloyd tossed and turned in bed.
Enough thinking and worrying.
Tired, so sleep.
He resolved and closed his eyes.
A pleasant languor spread through his body.
His mind floated hazily as drowsiness approached.
‘…….’
Perfect.
Just like this.
This way.
Then all go…….
That was when.
Knock knock knock.
Someone knocked on the lodging door.
“…….”
Wrinkles reformed on Lloyd’s brow.
Ah.
Just as sleep was coming.
‘Ignore it.’
He buried his head under the pillow and lay prone.
But the intruder outside showed no sign of leaving quietly.
Knock knock knock knock knock!
No.
Go away.
He wanted to shout.
But Lloyd was already sitting up.
‘Ugh, hurry and send them off.’
Who could it be.
Who’s so persistent.
Someone from the count’s family?
Some new emergency?
Lloyd sighed deeply.
‘Driving me crazy.’
Experience told him handling it quick was better.
That way they’d leave fast, and he could sleep peacefully again.
“Hey, what urgent business at this hour of night, knocking on a guy trying to sleep?”
Grumbling, he finally opened the door.
Then he froze unwittingly.
At the sight of the visitors, he stiffened.
Skeletons.
Headless skeletons stood before the door.
About 200 of them.
“What…….”
Headless skeletons visiting in the dead of night.
But as Lloyd sought an explanation for the absurdity.
The headless skeletons knelt on one knee in unison.
They bowed their upper bodies politely.
Bones creaking.
The frontmost skeleton thrust out a sketchbook-sized paper.
It slowly flipped pages, revealing pre-written messages one by one.
Rustle, each time a phrase appeared.
The content was:
- You didn’t carelessly discard our skulls.
- You are our benefactor.
- We want to repay the favor.
- We’ll do anything.
- Won’t you take in us wanderers?
“…….”
Swallows—no, a skeleton horde come in the night to repay a favor.
Lloyd’s sleepiness fled his eyes at their sudden confession(?).