Awesome Shut-In Necromancer

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“…Huh, I see. You’ve lost your power and ended up like this.”

After managing to calm Helena down, I recounted the entire situation to her, and then shared my own story.

Though a bit frustrating, it seemed she had no intention to harm me, and given her current fragile state, I felt no hostility.

No matter how much of an S Rank Hunter she was, it was absurd to be on the verge of fighting someone who was only twenty-two, just a year older than I.

‘She’s not a child, but she should demonstrate the virtues of a grown-up.’

I nodded in satisfaction.

In reality, it was a mental victory.

Even if I chose not to forgive her, there was nothing I could do.

As I’ve said more than once, I was like a leaf on the roadside now.

I could easily crumble if I acted foolishly.

“That’s amazing….”

At this moment, we had exchanged information in our own ways. Helena, after hearing my story, glanced at me, subtly gauging my reaction.

It seemed the shock from earlier hadn’t completely worn off.

“Regaining your power through awakening… it seems that might be possible,” she said.

She was right.

Considering what I had heard from her, it was clear that my power hadn’t vanished but was merely dormant.

I was now certain.

Becoming an Awakened One was indeed the key to regaining my strength.

Moreover, following the earlier incident, something had already changed within me.

【Baek Eun Ha】

▶ Title

▶ Level

The status window, symbolizing my awakening, remained before my eyes, grounding me in reality.

However, it appeared incomplete—like something that was halfway done.

‘…At least there’s definitely a change.’

I could tell just by watching Helena right before me.

Swoosh.

I could distinctly sense the death energy that had previously gone unnoticed.

But that was as far as it went.

I still couldn’t feel or control the power that lay dormant within me.

‘Am I even an Awakened One…?’

There was no title indicating the direction of my power, nor a level showing my growth.

Also, for reasons unknown, there was no capability section—a metric of objective power—available to me.

However, I didn’t need to worry about such things right now. The important part was that a chance had finally opened.

At this moment, I felt my heart racing as I returned to this world.

“Hey.”

As I was lost in euphoria, Helena, who had been hesitating, finally spoke up.

“Suddenly, but… could I ask a favor?”

“….”

Just moments ago, she had been in a panic, and now she was asking for a favor as if she’d relaxed a bit.

Trying to shoot her a suspicious glance, I became aware of my own circumstances and steadied my mind.

‘…The virtues of a grown-up. The virtues of a member of society.’

Setting aside my desperate self-control, Helena timidly began expressing her wishes.

“Could I… become your disciple?”

As I fell silent at her sudden proposal, she quickly added more.

“If you’re hoping to regain your strength, it would definitely be helpful. I’ll also grant you anything else you wish for…”

I could easily tell why Helena was making such a request; I had walked that path myself.

It was clear she was stuck at a wall, unable to progress to a higher level.

‘A disciple, huh…’

There were hardly any necromancers of her level around. If I could get her cooperation, it would be a great assistance.

In truth, having already accepted Song Ha Yeon, there wasn’t much reason to refuse Helena now.

With my resolve firm, I felt the limits of my spirit closing in and leaned towards Helena, urgently requesting, “Okay, sure. Just… let’s step outside for a moment.”

Talking right in front of each other like this since earlier had me on the verge of actually throwing up.

#

After that, unremarkable yet peaceful moments passed.

I indulged in every luxury in my hotel room, and eventually the event came to a close.

“Hey, didn’t you gain a bit of weight from just staying in the hotel?”

“…….”

During that time, I had another not-quite-secret meeting with Helena.

Having been anxious for days, I had requested her to stimulate my soul once more, but she refused, her beautiful face turning ashen.

She claimed she had already pushed it to the limits last time, but I couldn’t be sure of that.

‘Blocked again…’

Right now, I knew it.

Life isn’t much different from a battlefield in a game.

So, when the flow starts like this, I must maintain the upward momentum as much as possible.

‘What should I do?’

Well, I had at least something resembling a status window now. It appeared whenever I called for it, so it certainly was a status window.

However, it was defective. If only I could add something more, I would surely be able to awaken, but it didn’t seem easy to figure out what that was.

Should I try hunting monsters?

Thinking mindlessly like that didn’t sound too bad. As dungeons were closely tied to the Awakened Ones, it could potentially provide a clue.

‘But…’

I had no way to enter a dungeon. What happened last time was more of an extraordinary case, almost like a natural disaster.

“Ugh.”

Thump thump thump!

Two days after returning home, I was pounding on the bed in frustration.

I was oh-so-close to my goal, yet it felt like an invisible wall was in my way.

While I was deep in thought, a sudden idea flickered through my mind.

‘…’

Thinking back, maybe I could actually enter a dungeon now?

I can’t say I’m an Awakened One yet for sure.

But starting now, I could infuse death energy into the mana stones with my own power!

‘Of course, it would be the worst cost-performance…’

Nonetheless, as it stands, I was in a position where even I could be registered as an Awakened One.

Bam.

This is it!

I jumped out of bed and hurried into the living room.

“Oppa? Why?”

In the living room, Seo Ha was casually watching a drama, enjoying her day off.

I dropped a bombshell on her.

“I’ve awakened.”

Of course, it was a lie. But that was all I needed.

Crash!

The sound of the glass dropped by Seo Ha shattered loudly.

#

Awakening can happen at any time to anyone.

In a world filled with dangers, being an Awakened One is indeed a title of great fortune.

However, Baek Eun Ha desperately hoped her brother wouldn’t be among those privileged.

‘As long as it’s just a simple delusion in his mind…’

If she were to actually awaken, it could spell disaster for her unstable state of mind.

‘It would certainly be dangerous.’

Currently, Baek Eun Ha was under the delusion that she was a powerful summoner in this other world.

It might stem from having met such beings there, or perhaps those memories she wanted to forget were connected to such entities.

The problem arose here.

The doctor who was treating Baek Eun Ha stated her manipulated memories were akin to a glass castle.

Though it appeared stable for now, at the moment a minor crack forms, it would shatter in an instant.

Let’s assume.

If Baek Eun Ha were to awaken and realize her power wasn’t that of a summoner?

Such a discrepancy would surely bring forth the real memories, dormant deep within her.

When that moment comes, whether her brother’s mind would be able to bear it, Baek Seo Ha could only speculate.

So, it must not happen. She thought firmly.

“I’ve awakened.”

Crash!

“Awaken…?”

Baek Seo Ha was flustered.

The very thing she thought could never happen had occurred.

In an instant, various extreme thoughts raced through Baek Seo Ha’s mind.

‘I have to stop it. I’ll call a Hunter who can hypnotize him…’

But at times like this, panicking wouldn’t help. Baek Seo Ha calmed her racing heart and asked to grasp the situation.

“Uh, when?”

“When I came back from the hotel. At that time, I didn’t really know what was happening, so I couldn’t speak up.”

There had been hypotheses regarding it. The more exposure to greater power, the higher the chance of awakening.

While it lacked basis, if it were true, then Baek Eun Ha, following along with the high-ranking Hunters gathered at the dungeon, could potentially be one of those awakened.

Baek Seo Ha scolded herself internally.

‘It shouldn’t have been a matter of taking him with me…’

Yet, listening to him, Baek Eun Ha seemed quite aware and objective about her own condition.

Outwardly, she still didn’t appear dangerous.

“Is it… what type is it?”

“Hmm? Obviously, a summoning type.”

As soon as those words left her mouth, Baek Seo Ha sincerely thanked the heavens. At least she had passed the most dangerous hurdle.

‘But still, don’t let your guard down.’

Unless one is of greater potential to become a high-ranking Hunter, the powers of a recently awakened Hunter are roughly the same.

Naturally, numerous factors could muddle Baek Eun Ha’s memories.

‘No, but…’

Thinking about it, could such a fortunate event really occur?

As Baek Seo Ha’s mind stabilized to some extent, she started to speculate on new possibilities.

What if the awakening itself was just a manipulation of her memories and wasn’t real at all?

Thus, accurate verification was needed.

“Then, what can you do now?”

At those words, Baek Eun Ha wore a confident expression and asked her to wait a moment.

Then, she took her smartphone and unexpectedly ordered chicken.

‘Why chicken…?’

After finishing the sudden dinner, Baek Eun Ha focused her mind and began to perform something.

“Now, watch carefully.”

Whoosh.

Then, a change indeed occurred.

Crack.

Creeeek.

Chicken bones began to stand upright on their own, shaping into something through their joints.

What emerged was a bird structure, with the proportions of a child’s craft.

Silence followed, and Baek Eun Ha, her face flushed, whispered in a small voice.

“T-this is… I ordered half wings and half legs…”

Watching her, Baek Seo Ha felt a mix of amazement and sympathy on her face.

‘…You’re so pathetic.’

Her brother, after all, shouldn’t be exposed to the dangerous outside world.