The Genius Necromancer of the Barbarian Race

As Something Leaves, Something Else Comes.

The sight of the crimson rain pouring down was truly a spectacle. To be precise, it could be described as grotesque.

Honestly, I'm worried about the aftermath. If all this is really blood, there will be tons of stains left everywhere.

"Hear me, tribe of the Red Wolf!"

Anyway, I decided to actively make use of the guarantee that Thrag had already established.

"This is no foul magic of the dead, but the grace of Thrag!"

Then, I struck the 'skeleton exoskeleton' loudly twice.

"I, Dmihtan, who have received the grace, am a warrior of Thrag! This phenomenon proves it!"

The torrential blood rain gradually began to subside, but it seemed to have left a powerful impression on everyone.

The barbarians who were approaching to seize me all stopped in their tracks.

"Even so, do you still doubt me, brothers?!"

Of course they can't. In their eyes, I must now appear to be the very embodiment of a 'warrior of Thrag'.

Deny it? Then you'd really be a heretic.

"Yes! Dmihtan did not use the vile magic!"

"That's right! He's a warrior who fought alongside us!"

Barkal and Geodude supported my claim.

Sorry, geodude. I did fool you with magic when I brought you here, but I'll apologize later.

Eventually, the blood rain stopped completely. All that was left were the murmuring voices of the tribespeople and the awkward face of the priest.

"Priest, is there anything else I need to prove?"

"... No."

With sharp eyes, the priest glared at me.

"You are indeed a warrior of Thrag."

He seemed to still harbor some doubts deep inside, but what could he do? The "You're a heretic" tactic had already failed.

If he pressed the issue further, he'd only risk his own position. The priest wasn't stupid enough to get more aggressive.

* 〈You have passed the Barbarian Coming-of-Age Ceremony.〉
* 〈You have passed the First Proof.〉

* 〈Faith level has increased.〉
* 〈Faith Level: 2 [Warrior of Thrag]〉

So I only passed just now, huh? I read the messages with a rather indifferent expression.

Now that I've passed the 'coming-of-age ceremony', I probably won't have to worry about my life being in danger anymore.

And, since necromancers must be killed, Thrag probably won't be sending an 'apostle' after me now, either.

* 〈Thrag commends you for your efforts.〉

Instead of commending me, is it not possible for me to betray (apostacize) and believe in another god? Now that I think about it, I don't really get along with you, big brother Thrag.

Just as I was contemplating abandoning 'Thrag', a faint light began to emanate from the dagger.

Blood-Colored Awl
Grade: Divine Rank

* Cannot be broken.
* Can store blood.
* Attack power increases according to faith level.

Wait, Divine Rank? I was so dumbfounded I clicked my tongue.

This is the highest grade item you can get in 〈Dungeon God〉. According to the lore, there are extremely few items that can receive this 'Divine Rank'.

They are either bestowed directly by a god, or relics left behind before becoming a 'god'. Those are the ones that receive the 'Divine Rank'.

Because of that, 'Divine Rank' items are closely tied to gods. Right now, this dagger doesn't look like anything special.

"As faith level rises, the true value is revealed."

In other words, the more devoted I am to Thrag, the stronger the item gets.

"But why give this to me?"

The problem is, why give this to me?

If Thrag really is a god, he should know quite well that my faith isn't very deep.

The fact that he made the rain fall just now to save my life was probably nothing more than acting on a whim, fitting of his alias, the 'God of Blood and Revelry.'

And yet, he's giving me a 'Divine Rank' item?

"Could this bastard really..."

Is he a complete pushover?

"Aaaaargh!"

"Th-Thrag is angry!"

As soon as I thought that, the red rain, just beginning to subside, started pouring down even harder.

Okay, I take back what I said about him being a pushover.

* * *

The process of completing the 'coming-of-age ceremony' was honestly dull.

I expected the chieftain to appear, but it all ended at the priest's level, and with his blessing, I was recognized as a 'warrior of Thrag'.

"Whew."

The place I headed to afterward was the house of 'Dmihtan Elvar'. Of course, I didn't actually know where it was. I found out by asking Barkal for directions.

I can't explain how awkward that was. I never thought it would be so embarrassing to ask another person where my own house was.

Anyway, I entered the house. Dmihtan's home was utterly desolate.

It was devoid of any warmth, and didn't seem like he had family members like the others did.

"An orphan?"

Saying it like this feels like I'm roasting myself.

But since I have no previous memories, maybe not having a family is better. Thinking that, I placed the 'Blood-Colored Awl' on the table.

Thanks to the curse being lifted, I could finally toss it aside like this. It actually felt like I could breathe again.

"But what's with Thrag's reaction?"

As for making the blood rain fall, well, maybe he just wanted to keep watching me struggle.

"But why give a Divine Rank item to someone whose faith is only level one?"

It makes no sense. In normal 〈Dungeon God〉, this would be enough to report as a bug.

'Divine Rank' items can only be obtained when your faith level is maxed out, and even then only if you're extremely lucky.

"Is it because he likes me?"

Hmm, I doubt that. The gods in this world are opportunists. If something isn't useful to them, they don't care in the slightest—they're selfish bastards.

That means Thrag has found something useful in me.

"Ah."

There is one thing I can think of. The fact that I can engrave the 'Rune of the Abyss'.

Thrag must have witnessed me killing the dungeon master. He would have seen me absorb the rune too.

Only the player can engrave the 'Rune of the Abyss', which is closely related to the ending of 〈Dungeon God〉.

"Is that what sparked his curiosity?"

That's probably the most plausible reason.

"Dmihtan!!!!"

Bang——!
Ugh, what a shock.

Lost in thought and trying to organize my reasoning, the door burst open and Barkal came in.

"Did you find your house!?"

Would I be here if I hadn't, you bastard?

"I found it."

"You're wise, but like me, you have an absent-minded side—asking where your own house is, haha!"

"Barkal, when entering another person's home, you should knock first."

"Knock?"

Could it be that barbarians have no concept of 'knocking'? Or is it just this guy who's special?

I explained the concept of 'knock.' And added that it's considered polite.

"I see!"

Barkal accepted this, then went outside. After that—

Knock, knock.
He tapped on the door.

"Dmihtan!!!!"

And then barged in again. Good grief, what a headache.

"What is it, Barkal?"

"The chieftain wishes to meet with you."

The chieftain? I cocked my head but understood soon after.

I'm the only one who passed the coming-of-age ceremony, so it stands to reason the chieftain would want to meet me in person.

"When is the meeting?"

"Right now."

"Dmihtan!!!"

Bang——!

This time, an even larger man barged in.

What looked like the chieftain was wearing a bone helmet, just like Barkal.

However, his stout body and the eyes visible beneath the helmet made Barkal look tiny by comparison.

Sharper, more menacing.

"Are they father and son?"

Looking closely, it was certain. The chieftain was Barkal's father.

That explains why the others expected Barkal to pass the coming-of-age ceremony.

"I heard you passed the coming-of-age ceremony!"

The chieftain barged in, exuding a murderous aura. Maybe he was angry that his son failed and a runt like me passed instead.

"That's right."

"Splendid! I knew you'd make it!"

But contrary to my expectations, the chieftain gave my back a huge pat with his massive hand.

Damn, that really hurt.

But is that really all the chieftain came here to say?

"Are you aware, Dmihtan!"

The chieftain brought his face very close to mine. Given his bone helmet and fearsome features, his nearness made my knees buckle.

"Barbarians who pass the coming-of-age leave the tribe to go out into the world! It is the law of the 'Red Wolf Tribe'!"

I know.

A barbarian, upon passing the 'coming-of-age' and becoming a warrior of Thrag, leaves the tribe and throws himself into the secular world.

This is called the 'Journey of Proof'.

It's not exile. The purpose is to raise the tribe's reputation.

Afterward, barbarians accumulate honor and return to the tribe. The barbarians currently in the tribe are all those who made a name for themselves in the outside world.

"I know."

"Excellent! In that case, allow me to ask one favor!"

What is it?

"I'd like you to take my son with you!"

What?

I turned to Barkal with an incredulous expression. But Barkal's face was serious.

Through the bone helmet, I could see his steadfastness. The chieftain was the same.

"O warrior chosen by Thrag, you will explore dungeons for the sake of honor."

That's probably how it will be. The 'ending' I can reach by collecting runes. I'm curious about that.

An ending to 〈Dungeon God〉 I'd never seen in life. Don't I have to see it, even if it's after death?

"In doing so, you will certainly face necromancers."

When the word 'necromancer' came out of the chieftain's mouth, I flinched. Thankfully, he wasn't referring to me.

'Necromancers of the Dungeon.'

Just as 'barbarians' have gods they believe in, this world also holds gods worshipped by necromancers.

And those gods are evil gods, shunned by the world.

Because of this, necromancers—other than the player—cannot set foot in the world and instead hide in dungeons.

"They killed my firstborn son and desecrated him with vile magic. Even now, he likely wanders somewhere in the dungeon as a spirit."

Grit.

I could hear his teeth grinding from here. If I were to reveal I'm a 'necromancer', I'd be torn limb from limb in an instant.

"Are you asking me to cooperate with a barbarian funeral?"

The chieftain shook his head.

"Barkal will carry out the funeral. Besides, Barkal is strong, even among barbarians."

I looked at Barkal. He was certainly powerful, even among 'barbarians.'

The way he beat the 'dungeon master' was far above an ordinary barbarian. So much so that Thrag had personally chosen him as an 'apostle.'

"If you take him with you, he will be a great help."

Of course he'll help. Having a divine apostle as a free servant is nothing to sneeze at.

Even so...

"As a necromancer myself, I don't want to keep a barbarian by my side."

I brushed it off as the 'grace of Thrag,' but the truth is, it could be discovered as a bluff at any time. And if I'm caught, the resulting damage will be enormous.

"Hm?"

* 〈Thrag wishes for the apostle to accompany you.〉

A message popped up: Thrag wants his apostle to accompany me?

"So if I start thinking about anything unsavory, he means to keep me in line with Barkal, huh."

Will I accept?

* 〈Thrag promises you new power.〉

Another message appeared.

New power.

Basically, gods are stingy. Even to their own believers, they almost never hand out 'authority'.

Which makes sense. 'Authorities' can be so powerful that they're game-changers.

"If it's new power, then it's worth considering."

Okay, I'm in.

"I am not doing this for my own honor. If there is no reward at all, I cannot travel with him."

Of course, I'd only accept if I can get a reward from both sides.

* 〈Thrag finds you revolting.〉

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Damn, mc's greed will catch up with Lloyd's in no time.
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】