Chapter 12
“Ahaha! Necromancer, how have you been?”
“Huh, what’s this? It hasn’t even been that long, but you look a bit different, don’t you?”
“Seriously, you look like you’ve gained some muscle, and your face looks better, too. You look sharp.”
A group of five survivors, made up of D- or C-rankers.
They greeted me like we were old friends.
Even though I didn’t know their names and we weren’t close.
Sometimes, hunters show this kind of sudden friendliness.
I guess that’s what happens when you’ve faced life and death together.
But still.
‘Did they say I look better?’
I shrugged and glanced at my body.
I definitely got bigger.
Gained muscle, lost fat.
My shoulders even looked broader, like my whole frame had changed.
This had to be the result of the grand technique the old man used yesterday.
‘All this from just thirty minutes of massage?’
I was quietly impressed.
But honestly, it made sense.
He literally ground down my bones and built up my muscles with his fists.
It was like getting major surgery without anesthesia.
The thought of having to do it again later was already giving me chills.
‘Anyway.’
Why were they here?
They must’ve seen me go into the boss room alone back then.
They’d know I was the record clearer.
Ki Soyul had told me that everyone involved with this dungeon agreed to keep things a secret.
‘It’s not good for word to get out.’
Just like I said before.
Until I’m truly strong, I have no desire for rumors to spread about me.
Like an imoogi right before ascending, I wanted to quietly train.
I don’t need to let the world know about me until I can protect myself.
That’s why I wasn’t getting my rank re-evaluated either.
So I asked,
“What brings you here?”
“Ahem, maybe we should’ve greeted you first?”
One of them stepped forward.
A man with a green C-rank badge and a sharp look.
“Nice to meet you, let me introduce myself properly. I’m Kang Jaeho, a C-rank hunter. I was impressed by how you acted back then. I made up my mind that if I got out alive, I’d definitely party up with you next time.”
“…Yes, hello.”
I shook his outstretched hand.
No reason to turn down a friendly greeting.
“I’m just an E-rank necromancer mercenary, as you know. Name’s Joo Donghoon.”
“Come on, you’re not just any regular mercenary.”
Kang Jaeho gave a crooked smile.
“What you did back there took real courage. Well, can’t talk about the details here.”
He glanced at Kim Junsu, the assignment team leader.
Probably because of the non-disclosure contract.
“To get to the point, a new dungeon just appeared.”
“A dungeon?”
“Yeah, it’s a known type—C-rank. We want to hire you. I heard you’re… not picky about jobs because you’re strapped for cash. Is that true?”
“…”
Zap.
I shot a glare at Kim Junsu.
Looked like he’d pitched me to them to snag the assignment.
Even though I glared at him, he just grinned and stepped back.
‘Whew, that guy…’
He’s my bro, but sometimes I really want to clock him.
“Well, I do need money.”
No use denying it.
Even though I got paid last time,
Between hospital bills, living expenses, rent, insurance—
Money disappears in a flash.
“Knew it.”
Kang Jaeho smiled, satisfied.
“This dungeon. It’s pretty tough for a C-rank.”
Most dungeons with a set rank have a typical pattern.
If you look at the environment and mobs, you can usually guess the difficulty and mission, so it’s easy for later teams.
“But it’s worth a shot. If you get lucky, the rewards are really good. I think the last party even got an elixir?”
“Elixir?”
My eyes widened.
What’s an elixir?
No matter your rank, it’s a rare reward only found in dungeons.
A top-Rank potion that cures any curse or disease!
“Yeah, the elixir. High-rankers and rich people are always after it, so you can make a killing if you find one.”
“Hm.”
As I rubbed my chin, Kang Jaeho continued.
“So, what do you think? Not a bad offer, right? This time, you’d be a member, not a porter.”
“What’s the pay?”
“Haha, what do you mean pay? You’re not a porter, so it’s a fair split, obviously.”
“Really?”
I did the math.
If there really was an elixir,
Average price is about fifty million won.
Split six ways, that’s about 8.33 million each?
Not a bad deal.
Because—
I’m an E-rank hunter.
One who wants to keep my identity under wraps.
And E-rank hunter pay is fixed by the system.
So, it’s tough to make big money while staying hidden.
“It is tempting…”
Honestly, I could see why they wanted me.
To clear a C-rank dungeon with a 99% safety rate, you need at least five C-rankers.
But their group had D-rankers mixed in.
Two C-rankers and three D-rankers, to be exact.
No wonder they were nervous.
If they wanted to play it safe, they’d need three more C-rankers or a B-rank.
But that would mean splitting the reward more.
So, it’s cheaper to bring in someone who just cleared a tough dungeon like a ranker.
Especially someone who’s still pretty naive.
‘But.’
It could be risky.
I was sure they knew that, too.
But they were the type to jump into unknown-rank dungeons without hesitation.
They had their own reasons for taking risks.
‘And if it’s about adventure… that’s my thing.’
Becoming a ranker means enduring countless trials.
I never had any intention of growing up sheltered like a greenhouse flower.
Isn’t a wild weed that flourishes through adversity way cooler?
“So?”
Kang Jaeho checked my expression.
“Are you in? The choice is yours.”
Hmm.
With an offer like that, why hesitate?
“Sure. I was getting sick of being a porter, anyway.”
I accepted without fuss.
Besides, I wanted to see just how strong my skeletons had gotten.
—
Dungeon exploration was tomorrow afternoon.
After getting that promised meal from Kim Junsu, I headed back to the training grounds.
[Skill ‘Legacy of the Ten Thousand Arts’ (S-rank) activated.]
[Consumes 20 energy.]
[‘Master of Ten Thousand Arts’ appears.]
“It’s already been a day?”
The old man appeared like a ghost.
“Yes, sir. I finished the homework you gave me. But…”
“But?”
I told him what happened today.
That I’d probably be joining a new dungeon soon.
And that, if the expedition lasted a few days, I might have to skip training.
Definitely not because I was scared of more “massages.”
“A dungeon? Sounds like the kind of place I used to know.”
“That’s right. No idea why, but hunters here get stronger by conquering dungeons.”
“Hmph.”
The old man snorted at my reply.
“Ridiculous. A kid who hasn’t even mastered the basics wants to run around already? Trying to race before you can walk?”
“Please understand, sir. I have to make a living too.”
“Well, that’s not bad.”
He scratched his cheek with a dry finger.
“I actually prefer real-life experience over theory at a desk.”
“Really?”
“But.”
His expression turned stern.
“Skipping training is out of the question.”
“Uh.”
“Trying to slack off? You can summon me in the dungeon, can’t you!”
“Well, technically, yes.”
It’s a skill, after all.
“And it’s only an hour. No matter how busy you are, you can’t spare that? No excuses—summon me every day. If you skip, I’ll make last time look like a gentle pat compared to what’s coming. Understood?”
“Yikes?”
Hiccup.
His shout made me hiccup without thinking.
If it hurts ten times more than before, I can’t even imagine what kind of pain that’ll be.
But I can’t not summon him.
I can’t give up this opportunity just because it hurts.
“All right, then. No time to waste, let’s start the massage.”
“Huh? Already?”
“What do you mean already! Don’t forget you only have sixty minutes!”
Thwack!
With no prep time, the old man’s beating started.
Bang bang bang!
It felt like a bomb was going off inside me as the world started to shake.
“Aaaaagh!”
It hurt, as expected.
Is this what it’d feel like to throw yourself in front of a speeding train?
Or like getting pummeled by Tyson in iron gauntlets?
‘Huh?’
Still—
If there was one comforting thing,
It was that I could handle it better than last time.
‘Ah!’
That reminded me of a skill.
[Skill: Pain Resistance]
[Rank: C]
[Effect 1: Reduces pain.]
[Effect 2: The more pain you take, the duller your senses become.]
A new skill I got for free last time.
‘Honestly, that’s pretty amazing.’
One skill—Legacy of the Ten Thousand Arts—had given birth to another.
Like a goose that lays golden eggs.
Most people need crazy luck to get even one skill.
But I just copy them.
And not just any skill.
[This skill can still grow further.]
There was still plenty of room for growth.
“Huh, you’re holding out better now.”
After a while, as the “massage” disguised as a beating ended, the old man brushed off his hands in satisfaction.
The moment hell ended, I truly felt relieved.
“Heh, it’s all thanks to you, sir. Huff, huff.”
Even as I caught my breath, I kept talking.
“Impressive. From tomorrow, I’ll have to turn up the intensity.”
“Sorry, what was that?”
Sweat trickled down at his next words…
Anyway.
Next was fitness training.
At the old man’s signal, I summoned my trusty skeletons.
Creak!
They started warming up like they knew it was time.
Come to think of it, why do they bother stretching when they don’t even have muscles?
Do they remember it from when they were alive?
“All right, everyone, horseback stance like last time!”
The old man barked.
“But from now on, I’ll teach one technique a day to one of you during training. Who goes first?”
“A technique?”
Ah, so the real lessons start now?
Makes sense—even if he’s a transcendent, he’s still just one person. He can’t teach every role at once.
Of course, he’d go one at a time.
That works for me.
“Who’ll it be? That one with the sword?”
He pointed at Skeleton One.
The rest were getting into the stance he taught.
“Yes.”
I nodded right away.
Of course, it should start with Bone1, my first summon.
“He’s a Swordsman. All he knows how to do is slash.”
“That’s fine. We’ll build him up from here. Let’s see him swing.”
Creak?
I smiled as I watched my slightly wary skeleton.
[Name: Bone1]
[Energy: 100/100]
[Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton]
[Class: Swordsman]
[Rank: D]
[Strength: 23] [Agility: 19] [Endurance: 20] [Magic: 10] [Skill: 21]
[Skills Owned]
-‘Low Slash’ (Lv.2)
“It’s fine, Bone1. He’s going to make you into a great skeleton warrior.”
And so, Bone1’s real training began.