Awesome Shut-In Necromancer

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No matter how easy the C5 Rank Dungeon might seem as the least challenging within C Rank dungeons, the truth is, C Rank dungeons are not that easy at all.

Song Ha Yeon briefly reminisced and spoke up.

“I remember when I first tackled a dungeon after ranking up. I was completely clueless back then.”

Just as Song Ha Yeon mentioned, the monsters in C Rank dungeons were indeed quite strong.

Comparing them to D Rank monsters would be an insult.

But.

“…Is this all they’re offering?”

Ka-chak!

Despite it being her first battle, Baek Eun Ha effortlessly slaughtered the monsters.

She looked as though the increase in her specs posed no challenge whatsoever.

“…Isn’t this just too easy?”

“It’s genuinely simple.”

Indeed, Baek Eun Ha’s combat style distinctly differed from that of other necromancers.

The undead moved with seamless fluidity, and their coordination during battle was even quicker than that of actual hunters.

To put it simply, it was like the difference between regular soldiers and thoroughly trained special forces.

Such qualities were present in Baek Eun Ha’s undead.

‘Usually, they seem unreliable and insignificant…’

However, as a necromancer, Baek Eun Ha’s skills were genuine.

She was the unrivaled number one. At least among those Song Ha Yeon had seen until now.

“Add some seasoning as you go. Don’t worry about the critique.”

After finishing her first battle, Baek Eun Ha left that remark and sat down on a mat she had prepared.

“…The finishing blow is mine.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not trying to steal it.”

Recent dungeon raids had all followed this pattern.

Whenever Song Ha Yeon engaged the monsters, Baek Eun Ha would come in to finish them off, providing feedback and new challenges afterward.

And then they would repeat from the start.

After doing this dozens of times, Song Ha Yeon had become capable of a much wider array of actions than before.

“Undead Call.”

Fwooosh!

As usual, she summoned the elite skeleton unit, including Skeleton Mashers, and among them, two warriors as she infused them with new orders.

“Bone Armor. Bone Crusher.”

Crack!

Crack-crack!

The two skeletons made raucous bone sounds as they equipped themselves with armor and weaponry and rushed to attach themselves to the Skeleton Masher.

Manifesting the undead and combining them with weapons.

This was one of the special enhancement techniques learned from Baek Eun Ha.

‘I was told that eventually, I’d be able to mix and use them naturally without specifying forms, right?’

That kind of mastery was unimaginable at this point.

However, even this was sufficiently helpful.

Boom!

Crunch!

With an intimidating strength beyond the usual, the now-empowered Skeleton Masher smashed through the bodies of the C5 Rank monsters, the Moder Trees.

Thud!

Gah!

As the battle drew to a close, the Skeleton Warriors summoned by Baek Eun Ha wrapped things up with simple attacks.

“Did you level up?”

“…I went up one level.”

The experience distribution formula in dungeons was simple.

The total was divided by the number of participants in the battle, with those who contributed the most and dealt the final blow receiving more.

In this case, Song Ha Yeon fit the former, while Baek Eun Ha fit the latter, which meant they’d likely split it about evenly.

“I haven’t had any news.”

In the past month, aside from leveling up once, Song Ha Yeon didn’t gain anything notable.

However, she felt no regret.

Being able to observe and learn directly, her skills were improving daily, and in the end, she would be the one receiving help.

In other words, it was an investment for the future.

“Don’t forget my contributions, okay?”

“……”

Thus, the two continued to tackle the dungeon using the same process.

However, just as they progressed about a third of the way, an anomaly occurred.

“…Uh, why are they dead?”

The remnants of the Moder Trees lay scattered on the floor.

It was uncertain, but the number seemed to be around five.

“Something feels off…”

Caught in contemplation, Song Ha Yeon and Baek Eun Ha pondered, but no matter how they thought about it, they had never heard of intra-monster conflict within dungeons.

This meant that an extraordinary incident had taken place.

And at that moment, they began to sense someone approaching from the opposite end of the corridor.

“…We’ve crossed paths.”

Soon revealed was a blond man with a somehow unpleasant smile.

#

‘My experience…’

I licked my lips in disappointment as I surveyed the lifeless Moder Trees.

It seemed I had gained a fair amount of experience. I thought I might just scrape through and reach level 20.

But losing these five trees was a massive hit. Comparable to missing out on three cannon fodder soldiers in a game.

“An all-necromancer duo, just as the info stated.”

I glanced at the man, who began speaking an unknown language from the opposite end of the hallway.

Whatever the case, it was apparent he approached with ulterior motives.

“Who are you? Trespassing is totally illegal.”

Did Song Ha Yeon sense this too? She asked with a rather sharp tone. The man responded.

“I’m Johan from Styx.”

And who the hell is that?

I tilted my head in confusion, looking at Song Ha Yeon.

Song Ha Yeon seemed slightly startled by his answer and spoke again.

“Styx, are you referring to one of the three major guilds in the United Kingdom? What do you want?”

“Purpose, huh… If I had to say, it’s recruitment. It seems the higher-ups are quite keen on scouting talent.”

Despite saying that, the man showed no particular interest in that area.

With a frown, Song Ha Yeon shot back at him.

“Is that really a thing to say? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

However, from that, some of the situation’s context became clear.

‘I figured it was only a matter of time before news spread…’

It had already been one year and six months since I returned to Earth. I was now familiar with most of the world’s geopolitical landscape.

A new hunter with astonishing talents holding the title of Returner. In other words, I was akin to a top-level talent anyone in the world would covet.

‘It’s only natural, I guess.’

Honestly, if I were in their shoes, I would do anything to snag someone like me.

However, I didn’t expect them to reach out so quickly from overseas. Considering the lack of any special contact, it seemed the higher-ups in Korea were just keeping their eyes open.

It was undoubtedly troubling, but oddly enough, it didn’t bother me that much.

Johan spoke to me, diffusing a tinge of amusement from across.

“The lesser one… not interested. You’re Song Ha Yeon, right?”

“That’s me.”

“The upper echelon of Styx wants you.”

At his words, I felt embarrassed and bent my head down.

Wait, is he talking about me?

“I’m not interested at all, so you can leave.”

Disregarding my stammering decline, the atmosphere was heading towards catastrophe.

Given Song Ha Yeon’s clear refusal, Johan chuckled as if finding something amusing and continued speaking.

“Right. I think the same.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“Forming an alliance to take on Helena? Now that’s laughable.”

“Excuse me? Who is that?”

“If you turn them into undead and make them your subordinates, wouldn’t that be a far more efficient way to utilize your talents?”

Though he spoke in an incomprehensible tone, it was clear what Johan intended.

The ominous vibe of death energy was already filling the corridor.

“Fake Resurrection.”

While the approach was different, it was undoubtedly a spell that called upon the Necromancer’s emblem, the Lord of Death.

Clop.

Clop.

Following this, the corpses of the Moder Trees strewn across the floor began to gather and merge together.

Eventually, a giant, rotting tree emitting a putrid stench took form. The death energy radiating from it was quite formidable.

“Are you mad? This is a national issue!”

“That’s a rash statement. An aberration of this magnitude won’t pose any problems.”

“What kind of nonsense is that? Whatever you did at the entrance, it’s bound to be detected somewhere. If you touch us, you’ll be captured too!”

In response to Song Ha Yeon’s statement, Johan answered with a grin.

“Do you know how many S Rank hunters belong to Styx?”

“Excuse me?”

“Three, to be exact. Three.”

That single sentence conveyed an unmistakable message Johan aimed to deliver.

“Do you seriously think a pitiful country with just three S Ranks can act as a shield against the top-level guild in the UK?”

He wasn’t wrong.

Considering the low population, Korea could be deemed a hunter powerhouse, but it was nothing compared to the great powers of the world.

The very reason Helena could act so freely during national events stemmed from the same reasoning.

Currently, the disparity was tragically vast.

“You’re completely insane…”

Song Ha Yeon seemed utterly defeated against Johan’s reckless incursion.

However, she soon straightened her furrowed brows and spoke again.

“I get what you’re saying, but are you sure that’s wise?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“If you continue like this, it means we will also respond sternly.”

Song Ha Yeon turned to me with a confident expression. But that plan went awry.

In truth, I was already long gone, hiding behind the dungeon’s terrain.

“…What are you doing over there instead of helping us?”

“Ah, no, well, now that there are two of you, I was just feeling a bit…”

“……”

The feel of betrayal filled Song Ha Yeon’s gaze as she looked at me with disbelief, stabbing my conscience sharply.