Novel Updates
Chapter 70: A New Stage
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 70: A New Stage
The bones that were gradually rising with a rattling sound poured back down to the floor with a thud.
The skill activation was successful, but this phenomenon occurred due to a lack of understanding.
【Great Master. Please teach me once again!】
Jo Seungchul rattled his jawbone noisily.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
“No. Not now.”
【Master!!!】
“Next time. I don't have time now.”
He had taught Jo Seungchul [Raise Undead] since he had already taught Fafnir, but well... Fafnir seems better.
He was also a Hunter with the talent to reach 7 stars in his previous life.
His understanding of mana and sense of operation were decent, but when he was next to Fafnir, he seemed to pale in comparison.
【Look. You foolish skeleton.】
【This body was made by the great Master! Do not insult it.】
While Jo Seungchul struggled with Raise Undead, Raise Undead was officially added to Fafnir's [Skills].
The mana operation mechanism.
And he understood all the key points in raising a corpse.
‘To think his comprehension would be better than a born mage.’
Even before his return, Yoojin had taught necromancy to several necromancers and undead mages.
5 years from now.
After the [Wailing of the Dead] Gate in Colorado, USA, was conquered, necromancers were also able to change their profession.
And after building the Necropolis in his individuality, several necromancers sought his teachings.
‘Even Jo Seungchul is in the top 1%, but this guy is just...’
Right.
It's not that Jo Seungchul is lacking, but that Fafnir is too outstanding.
“Practice more while I'm gone.”
【I will try to raise my proficiency to 30.】
“I like your enthusiasm.”
Necromancy talent comparable to Yoojin's.
If you add the Draconian body and dark magic, how strong will he become?
His lips twitched as he tried to imagine the synergy.
＊ ＊ ＊
Leaving Fafnir on Yeonpyeong Island, Yoojin returned to Ground Zero.
"Good work."
"The captain who sailed the ship worked harder. It was nothing much."
"When do you think we'll start the main attack on Yeonpyeong Island?"
Yoojin's eyes widened at Mr. Black's question.
"Attack?"
"Didn't you go this time as an advance party? Tell us what you need, and we at the Black Market will actively support you."
If the Manhunters occupy Yeonpyeong Island first, the smuggling trade in the waters near Paju will also suffer greatly.
Those guys who think of people as livestock.
To enter Ground Zero by ship, you have to pass through the waters near Yeonpyeong Island, making clashes with the Manhunters inevitable.
'If I had left it alone, the Black Market would have suffered some damage.'
In the illusion that Memento showed him, the Manhunters had occupied the island.
A change from the history of his previous life.
In this case, it seems he has turned things in a direction that benefits him.
The Black Market of Ground Zero is quite a useful custo— no, business partner.
"Prepare 50 C-grade mana stones."
"I'll prepare them."
Each one costs about 100 million won, so he asked for a total of 5 billion won, and they readily agreed.
This shows how much importance the organization, Mr. Black, or rather the Black Market, places on capturing Yeonpyeong Island.
"When can you give them to me?"
"It will take you three days to reorganize for the island attack, right? I'll have them ready within that time."
"You can take your time."
"Shouldn't we move before the Manhunters do?"
"The attack is already over."
For a moment, Mr. Black gaped at him with a blank expression.
"Excuse me?"
"I cleaned up all the Reriks and took measures to prevent the Manhunters from coming."
"Ah. So, how did you...?"
"Trade secret."
Yoojin put his index finger to his lips and shushed.
"You can use the waters near Yeonpyeong Island as you please. I can't stop the pirates roaming around there, though."
Mr. Black chuckled at Yoojin's nonchalant demeanor.
"Hahaha. You're a hard man to read."
"C-grade mana stones. Don't forget."
"Of course we'll give them to you, since we promised to support you. But can we use the port of Yeonpyeong Island?"
"Not right now. I'll lend it to you later."
The Necropolis he had built on the island didn't have any proper functions as a territory.
It wasn't ready to receive guests at all.
It's supposed to be a Necromancer's territory, so he couldn't just reveal its bare face.
"Then I'll ask you later."
"I'll let you know when the time comes."
When the Necropolis officially opens, I'll give you a spot.
Yoojin added.
It would be good to prepare a hefty rental fee.
After informing Mr. Black of the results and receiving(?) the mana stones as a gift, he went over to the Milky Way Pub.
"Where did the newbies go?"
"They left for the border region not long after you went to take care of your business."
"I told them to get some rest."
Last time, he gave them a two-week vacation, and they went on a Gate raid.
These guys.
Should he confiscate their vacation next time?
"Hohoho. It seems you don't know those friends well yet."
"What do you mean?"
"Anyone would tremble with fear when they see someone die for the first time. I did too."
"That's why I gave them time to calm their minds."
"The way people do that is different. If they keep it in their hearts while resting, it could fester."
Yoojin immediately agreed with Madam's point.
"If you sit still, things you want to forget come to mind."
"The Little Runts will be the same. I think they were rather stimulated by seeing the fight at the pub."
"Stimulated?"
"They must have thought they shouldn't be a burden to you. You know, that kind of determination."
Hmm.
He needed to hear directly from the Little Runts what they were thinking.
Since he had business in the border region anyway, he might as well go over there.
"Is there anything special going on between the three major guilds?"
"I see you're interested in that too."
"A little."
"There's been a report of a double Gate being generated in Daegu recently."
"A phenomenon where two Gates overlap?"
"You know about it. Hunters with 2-3 stars can enter, but the actual difficulty will be much higher."
Hmm.
A double Gate?
He pondered while stroking his chin, but he couldn't immediately recall it since it was something from decades ago.
'It won't help to use Memento on the clock.'
The divine spell itself has no cooldown, but the problem was that it could only be used once a month on one object.
He had already used [Kronos' Broken Pocket Watch] to look into the hidden opportunity on Yeonpyeong Island.
He had to see for himself what was happening in the double Gate, or what rewards were hidden within.
'So even Memento has this kind of blind spot.'
He wasn't too disappointed.
Thanks to that, he had acquired a fragment of the Void.
No ordinary reward could compare to the catalyst he found on Yeonpyeong Island.
"Did the Arhan Guild decide to take on the double Gate?"
"That's only half correct."
"Since it's a double structure, I guess they're entering jointly with either Dawn or Phoenix."
"No fun. How did you deduce that with just those few words?"
"You gave me all the information."
"Even though I gave you hints, I didn't think you'd get it right away."
A double Gate, and a joint raid by two guilds.
The top of his head tingled.
It was definitely a story he had heard before.
"Ah!"
"What's wrong?"
"Just thinking about something else for a moment."
Ignoring Madam's suspicious gaze, Yoojin recalled the thought that had just come to mind.
'The place where Jang Miseon died.'
A promising member of the Phoenix Guild who was called the next Sword Saint and famous for being an impregnable fortress, she had raided the [Forgotten Temple].
Arhan, wary of the Phoenix Guild rising to the top spot in Korea, set a trap and eventually killed Jang Miseon.
'I felt a sense of deja vu as soon as I heard about the double Gate.'
Huh.
A wry smile spread across his lips.
He knew that she had died after being caught in a conspiracy, but...
He couldn't specifically recall what kind of 'trap' Arhan had set.
If he knew even roughly, he would at least warn them.
〔Contractor, what will you do?〕
'It's a chance to deal a blow to the Arhan Guild and gain favor with Phoenix.'
〔Intervening in this situation will further distort causality.〕
'That's true.'
〔Can you bear the weight?〕
'Whether it's the butterfly effect or distorted causality, if I was worried about those things, I wouldn't have even tried to return.'
The future will change in any direction.
No.
He would make it that way with his own power.
Did he not know how the distorted causality could cause repercussions?
'That's what I want.'
The more the future changes, the more useless the information and opportunities Yoojin knows will become.
But that doesn't mean he can stop moving forward.
〔Khahahaha! Very good.〕
'What's with the sudden praise?'
〔A heart that advances without a hint of fear into the darkness where not an inch ahead can be seen. Truly the epitome of a hero!〕
‘That darn heroic ballad.’
After a chuckle, he picked up his phone.
He ended up using the contact information he had received like this.
Beep— Beep— Beep—
-Huh? Yoojin-nim!
“Hearing your voice, it seems you're doing well.”
-Doing well? I'm so busy preparing for the raid...
"Double Gate?"
-Hehehe. It's an honor that you know, Yoojin-nim. What I learned from Master helped a lot.
“Master?”
-Master Fafnir.
When did you two even become master and disciple?
“Are there no people in Phoenix?”
-Oh dear. There's no one who pinpoints my shortcomings like Master.
“You're saying things that would upset your Guild Master.”
-It's okay, I got permission from the Guild Master to learn from Master.
Phoenix Guild Master Kim Youngsoo.
He wasn't bad, considering he built one of the three major guilds in Korea.
His personality was decent too.
-Did you call because of the reward?
“Similar. It doesn't have to be monetary.”
-Of course. I'll help you with anything I can.
“This raid. Can you include our team?”
Think carefully, Jang Miseon.
The only way for you to survive is to take the hand I'm offering now.
If there are no variables, you will definitely die in the Gate.
〔Taking a loss? That's not like you.〕
‘If she dies, how can I get the Heartstone or anything?’
〔Revive her with your specialty, necromancy, and make a claim.〕
‘Constellation-nim, your jokes have gotten better.’
Even Yoojin didn't remember in which Gate she died.
If he hadn't heard the words double Gate and Arhan, he wouldn't have even thought about it.
-No problem. Let's do that.
Jang Miseon readily agreed, making his nervousness seem ridiculous.
“Aren't you accepting too easily?”
-The master entrusted me with forming the Gate raid team this time.
“Then tell me the date and place.”
-Oh, tell me about a different reward for the spar. This is too light.
Click—
‘Hey. What's with her?’
It was good that he had a chance to help the Phoenix Guild and deal a blow to Arhan, but why did he feel so perplexed?
＊ ＊ ＊
The double Gate raid was in five days.
He had to meet with the Phoenix Guild briefly, so he needed to join them four days prior.
'No time to rest.'
Yoojin grumbled and headed to the border region.
He moved north along the shortcut that the Red Spider had used.
"Kekekek. Human!"
【You insolent thing. I will educate you on behalf of the great Master.】
Kwaaaang—!
Jo Seungchul burned the monsters to bone fragments with his maximum firepower.
"You idiot. You have to leave some bones so I can make them into undead."
【I apologize. I was so focused on correcting the monster's behavior that I went overboard!】
"Sigh. Let's do it in moderation. Moderation."
【I will keep that in mind, great Master!!】
He's using up mana inefficiently every time he fights.
He'd have to have Jo Seungchul trained by Fafnir when he had time.
It was good that his ego became clearer after becoming a Dark Minion, but for some reason, he seemed to have lost a few screws.
"Answer my call."
[Using Raise Undead.]
[Creating Armored Zombie.]
The monsters around here were at best 1 Star to 2 Star.
Their abilities in life were insufficient to create undead like Liturners or Skeleton Warriors.
'Well, it's fine since Armored Zombies are enough.'
The road to the black herb farm was relatively safe thanks to the Red Spider periodically clearing out the monsters.
Yoojin had also hunted monsters to secure corpses in preparation for the spider hunt.
Thanks to that, no dangerous situations arose.
How long had he been walking?
Swoosh—
Eerie fog.
The smoke produced by the black spire came into view.
"Ah? Brother!! We're here!!"
A clear voice pierced his ears.
Looking towards where the voice emerged from the fog, he saw the three people resting.
"Your complexions are better than I expected?"
With an offer to head to a new stage, not a predetermined future—
Yoojin reunited with the Little Runts.
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]