Chapter 9
As expected, I was right.
The old man had a “regret”—a lingering wish to teach someone. A deep-seated desire.
‘Honestly, it wasn’t that there were no worthy students.’
According to his memories.
There were plenty of average people in that unknown world.
If he’d just divided his knowledge and passed it down to groups, he could have easily shared it with future generations.
But.
The old man was greedy.
A single successor.
He wanted his vast abilities and knowledge to be inherited by just one person.
[Skill ‘Memory Reenactment’ (S-rank) has ended.]
Flash!
That strange sense of déjà vu disappeared.
The scenery changed once more.
[The Master of Ten Thousand Arts is looking at you.]
“Ugh!”
His gaze was suffocating.
It wasn’t just a figure of speech.
The pressure was so strong, I couldn’t breathe a single bit of air.
‘But.’
I smiled.
It felt twisted and psychotic to smile in a situation like this.
But I couldn’t help it.
‘Because I saw hope.’
The old man’s first words to me had been dismissive.
He said I was even worse than Ki Soyul, not worth a second glance.
He was about to throw me out immediately.
‘But.’
That old man’s soul was definitely “watching” me now.
He hadn’t just overwhelmed me with pain and tossed me out like the others or Ki Soyul.
That alone gave me hope.
Finally, the white-haired old man spoke.
“You.”
His presence was overwhelming.
Was this the true might of someone who once stood at the pinnacle of a world?
“You saw inside me? How interesting.”
[The Master of Ten Thousand Arts is intrigued by you.]
“That’s… right…! Hngh!”
I answered immediately.
It was hard to even open my mouth, but I forced my voice out.
The chance Ki Soyul gave me—only once.
Just one shot.
‘If this old man really is looking for a disciple…! If I could inherit that immense power and knowledge…!’
It had to be me.
I couldn’t let anyone else have it.
If I missed this chance, I knew I’d regret it forever.
I instinctively understood.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
If I could have the old man who treated Rankers like toys as my master, that would be the greatest stroke of luck imaginable!
“However.”
The old man, dressed in white, sounded chilly.
He looked into my eyes for a moment, then shook his head.
“Other than being a bit interesting, there’s nothing to you. Pathetic. You’re not a vessel fit to contain me. Lacking in every way.”
“Urgh!”
His aura grew even more intense.
It felt like my whole body was being electrocuted.
No.
I couldn’t let it end like this.
I had to convince him—no matter what, even if my body melted away from the effort.
“No, sir!”
I glared at him fiercely.
And looked him straight in the eyes.
“If you keep this up, you’ll never get a disciple! You’ll never break free from your ‘regret’ and will wander as a ghost forever! People will just remember you as a stubborn, obsessed specter!”
“What?”
At my provocation, the old man’s aura turned vicious.
“How impudent. With my boundless generosity, I spared countless beings more insignificant than ants. Maybe you need a broken leg to wake up?”
“Wait! Please listen! You’re a master of all arts! People I know would have to give up their whole lives to master even one thing!”
“Hmph, impossible. The world is vast, and time is long. Surely there’s another genius like me out there.”
I was briefly stunned by his arrogance.
But I’d bought some time.
He was actually “talking” to me.
That alone was huge.
“Look! The woman who came in just before me—isn’t she one of the strongest in this world?”
“What?!”
For the first time, the old man’s face twisted.
He seemed genuinely shocked by the idea that Ki Soyul was a top-tier fighter.
‘This kind of stings…’
As someone whose ultimate goal is to be a Ranker, seeing his reaction hit hard.
‘Still.’
Looks like he’s taken the bait, so let’s see where this goes.
From the old man’s perspective, searching for someone worthy, it was hard to accept that someone he’d rejected like Ki Soyul was one of this world’s best.
In his world, there were plenty stronger than her.
“No way! She’s the strongest in the world with that level of skill? What’s wrong with this world?!”
Mouth agape in shock, the old man soon burst out angrily.
“You! Are you making a fool of me?”
“Look me in the eyes! Am I lying? Weren’t you called a sage for centuries? You can tell if I’m lying, can’t you?”
Drawing on the knowledge I’d gained from “Memory Reenactment,” I kept talking.
To me, a Ranker is as good as the world’s strongest, so I was confident I wasn’t lying.
“Hmmm.”
A frown creased the old man’s brow.
He must have sensed I was telling the truth.
Even as a ghost, his insight was sharp.
“You… it’s true. Maybe not the absolute best, but recognized as a strong one. How could someone with just that level of skill… Ah, the heavens are heartless. After all I wished for… Tsk.”
He clicked his tongue.
The fire in his eyes faded, replaced by emptiness and disappointment.
The pressure eased a little too.
“Gasp… Huff, huff!”
I managed to breathe, just barely.
Drawing ragged breaths through a tiny gap.
And then.
I instinctively sensed my chance.
“Haa…! Sir!”
I shouted at the top of my lungs.
“If you don’t like anyone here, then use me!”
“Use you?”
“Yes! Pass your skills down to me!”
“Heh, you?”
He snorted.
“You want me to take you as my disciple? Not only are you shameless, you’ve got no sense of propriety. I’d rather teach trash than you.”
His bluntness stabbed me in the chest.
But I didn’t give up.
“Please, just listen! I’m not saying you have to teach me directly!”
“Then what?”
“I have a special ability.”
I glanced at my status window.
[Hunter: Joo Donghoon]
[Energy: 100/100]
Okay.
No issues.
I clenched my fist.
[Skill ‘Summon Ordinary Skeleton’ (D-rank) is activated.]
That’s right.
My proposal to the old man—
Was not about me, but about my “kids.”
My skeletons.
[You use 10 energy.]
[‘Bones1’ appears.]
[You use 10 energy.]
[‘Bones2’ appears.]
Bones1 and Bones2 in the lead.
[You use 10 energy.]
[‘Bones3’ appears.]
……
[You use 10 energy.]
[‘Bones10’ appears.]
Bones3 through Bones10.
This time, I used all my energy to summon every skeleton I could—ten in total.
It was a gamble.
“Surely, you can see these kids’ potential at a glance, right?”
“……”
I was betting on the idea that my growing skeletons had limitless potential.
They had already gone from E-rank to D-rank.
Which meant.
There had to be a way to reach C-rank, then B-rank too.
Someday even S-rank.
Maybe higher.
I just didn’t know how yet.
But for “potential” alone, they qualified.
“There are ten in total, from Bones1 to Bones10. Each has a unique ability. It should be easy for you to teach them separately. You want a single successor? Don’t worry—even if they all grow, I’m still the only one who can inherit everything!”
It might sound like nonsense.
But this was all I had.
They were everything to me—my “unique ability.”
They were, in a sense, me.
‘Nothing to lose.’
The old man had a choice to make.
Either regret it for eternity,
Or take the next best option.
“What do you think? These are growing undead. They won’t feel pain, so they’ll be more persistent than anyone. They have no fear, so they’ll be bold. They’ll follow your teachings to the letter, without complaint.”
“……”
The old man was silent.
With an unreadable expression, he simply watched the skeletons.
“……”
So I fell silent too.
Instinctively, I knew.
Saying more would do nothing.
The old man only moved when he decided to.
I waited quietly.
For his decision.
“Oh.”
And then, at last.
The old man’s lips twitched.
“How funny. After all this searching, it turns out the one I was looking for wasn’t a living person, but the dead.”
“……!”
Step.
The old man walked forward.
And gently gazed at the skeletons.
“Their potential is truly tremendous. They must have been incredible warriors in life. I’ve always wanted to find someone like this—why only now, I wonder. Tsk.”
His reaction was shocking.
Is this what it feels like to win the lottery with a random set of numbers?
Did my skeletons really have that much potential, worthy of the old man’s praise?
“It’s a little awkward not teaching just one, but… fine, I can compromise a bit.”
Before I knew it, the oppressive aura was gone.
Now, I could finally see my surroundings.
That’s right.
This was the snowy mountain where the old man’s life ended.
[Hidden condition fulfilled.]
This was the place where the old man’s Han had been forged.
And where it would be laid to rest.
[Exclusive hidden condition for ‘Stage: White-Haired Old Man with Deep Regret’]
His gaze turned to me again.
His expression looked truly satisfied.
Gulp.
As I swallowed, he spoke.
“I’ll believe you. I’ll trust the ferocity I see in your eyes. So promise me—no matter what trials come, you’ll inherit everything I have. That you’ll carve my existence into the world, somewhere, somehow.”
[Condition: Be Recognized]
— To be recognized by the transcendent who ruled another world, the Master of Ten Thousand Arts, you must reach a certain level.
— Convince him.
I could sense the old man’s desperation.
After all, how badly must he have wanted this, to be stuck here even after death?
I answered sincerely.
“I’d never let a miracle like this slip by. No matter what, I’ll inherit everything.”
“Good.”
The old man’s answer was cheerful.
[Congratulations!]
[You have cleared ‘Stage: White-Haired Old Man with Deep Regret’!]
Ah…
I was overwhelmed.
Really?
I cleared a dungeon that even Rankers couldn’t.
Did I really clear it, by myself, on my very first try?
Seriously?
Thunk!
All the tension drained from my body.
My legs gave out.
[Your clear reward is arriving!]
Honestly.
This day—
I can say for certain it was the greatest stroke of luck in my entire life.
[All energy is depleted!]
[Your body has reached its limit!]
“……”
And then.
I lost consciousness.