The Necromancer Who Was Despised

‘It’s not that strange.’

The people he brought had a hard time even pulling out the stake, so Kayla helped and solved the problem.

Ottrioca, who had been condescending to me, couldn’t do that to Kayla, so he thanked her politely, and Kayla also seemed to be thinking of me, so she accepted moderately.

In fact, Kayla frowned slightly when she saw how Ottrioca treated me, but I secretly stopped her because it could be annoying if she interfered with the work between the magicians.

‘It’s only a year or two at most.’

Until now, Kayla and Athena’s growth has been remarkable, but now it was my turn.

I can’t help it for the time being, but the story will be different from now on.

It was decided that I would return with them.

In fact, I was supposed to leave today, so I was able to leave quickly.

I left the village with the farewells of the village chief and the villagers and returned to the castle comfortably, and in the meantime, I had to share a short story with Ottrioca.

He kept talking about the reason why his research had failed, and thanks to that, I could indirectly know how grateful he was to me.

Of course, there was no talk about the core of the research. He was like that, but he wasn’t stupid.

‘Magicians with childish personalities like this are good.’

It’s hard to get a good impression at first, but once you get it, they tend to look at you favorably.

Of course, he hates it terribly when it comes to his own disadvantage…

‘I don’t really want anything.’

All I have to do is get a good image. At least if I don’t get hostility, that’s enough.

‘The influence of the Magic Tower is bound to be great in any territory.’

The Magic Tower is something that can directly and indirectly influence merchants, lords, and mercenary guilds.

The only thing that looks bad even if you just stay still is the black magician, but just by not opposing the Magic Tower, the result of this work was great.

“If someone tries to harm you, come find me. I’ll help you anytime!”

“Thank you for your words.”

I answered him with the kindest smile I could.

Of course, I had no intention of asking for help directly. Just hearing those words would spread the news indirectly, and that was enough.

After arriving at the castle, we parted with a laugh, and when we returned to the mercenary guild, Serviso immediately paid us the commission.

“The branch manager of the Magic Tower seemed very pleased.”

“You were just lucky, but you treated me well.”

“Currently, our branch manager is away, but I think he’ll invite you soon.”

“I see.”

I thought I’d just wait and see, but it seemed like the conversation changed when Autrioca stepped in.

He seemed to have been quite excited even before meeting me….

‘He’s known for that personality, I guess.’

And then I looked humble and exactly to his taste…

‘He’ll come looking for me.’

I smiled and asked about the next request, and Serviso was a little surprised when I said I would do another one without resting.

Usually, mercenaries take a break after finishing a request.

Mercenaries tend to take on requests that match their level, and they can’t help but get tired after finishing one.

Even low-ranking mercenaries who are short on money tend to take a break that day after finishing a request, so it must have been surprising when I asked right away.

It wasn’t an ordinary request, either. I had even captured a troll.

“Oh, I’m not planning to do it right away. I’m just looking to see if there are any good requests.”

There weren’t any good requests like the previous troll subjugation.

Originally, I had planned to take on as many requests as possible to achieve my goal quickly, but now there was no need for that.

The situation had changed. I had managed to build a good relationship with Autrioca, who could be considered a powerful figure in the territory, and thanks to that, good rumors were about to spread.

If I took a break for a day or two and let the rumors spread, I could focus on monster subjugation and improve my image more effectively while taking on fewer requests.

So we got a separate inn and rested for a couple of days.

There were still some guys who were annoyingly persistent, but they didn’t stick around when we ignored them.

Thanks to the rumors that we had caught a troll and had built a good relationship with the branch manager of the Matop branch as soon as we got here, the guys who had openly insulted us before disappeared all at once.

The inn we chose was the one with the sleeping bear sign where we had stayed on our first day. It was quite expensive, but now that we had some money, staying there wasn’t much of a problem.

‘I have money, but nowhere to spend it.’

Our equipment was made by dwarves, so there was no need to replace it, and we weren’t the type to party all the time.

And since it was impossible to become friendly by offering food and drinks like I used to when I was known as a black magician, there was nothing I could do for now.

‘Time will solve everything.’

After the interview with the branch manager, I’m sure many mercenaries will come looking for me even if I don’t seek them out.

So, I’m taking a break during the free time that has suddenly appeared.

“Huh?”

I went to the mercenary guild to see if there were any good requests, but I was about to go back because there weren’t any, when I ran into a woman.

She stared at my face for a while, then approached me and spoke.

“Are you a new mercenary?”

“Oh, I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Nice to meet you. I’m Anelis. I don’t belong to a mercenary group, and I’m still working with a party.”

From her appearance, it seemed like she had just finished a request.

She didn’t seem to know that I was the black magician who had recently registered as a mercenary.

I was wearing a robe, but I also had my face uncovered, and my staff was wrapped in leather because it was off-putting, so at first glance, it just looked like a self-defense stick.

So, I could have looked like an ordinary mercenary.

She held out her hand as if to shake mine, and I stared at it for a moment before reaching out and shaking it.

“I’m Inha. I’m a black magician.”

“A b-black magician? Wait. Then are you the one who came in recently…?”

It seemed that she had heard the news as soon as I arrived.

“I heard that unlike other Black Wizards, you have a good personality… . It seems that it’s not a lie. You even shake hands with people.”

She said, slightly licking her lips.

“I also heard that you have a connection with Lady Otrioca… .”

“I was lucky.”

“If you happen to have the time, would you like to have dinner with me? There are many things I’m curious about, so it’s a bit difficult to do a background check. Oh, of course, I’ll pay for it. “I just finished a request, so I have some money.”

She spoke to me with a very confident attitude, and I nodded as if it was nothing.

“I didn’t know you’d be the first to invite me…” I welcome it. Everyone’s busy avoiding me.”

“Hehehe. Connections are important to mercenaries. Okay. Let’s meet at the Elf’s Tavern in an hour. “I’m not that pretty.”

“Then, see you later.”

She waved her hand and left her seat, and when she disappeared, I erased my smile and looked at the spot where she had disappeared with emotionless eyes.

‘It’s been a long time.’

The method hadn’t changed at all.

Anelise.

In the past, she was one of the main culprits who had caused me to fall into the abyss.

Bait

Of course, I haven’t lost my memory.

I thought I would see her.

I just didn’t think it would be now.

‘Since she said it was a party, Kereo must be acting together. Well, it’s not like there’s a huge difference in timing… .’

Anelise. Honestly, she’s my enemy. But the person I resent more is Kereo.

‘Still, it’s strange. We’re meeting in the same order as last time.’

Last time, it was similar to this time.

At that time, I wasn’t a Black Wizard, but a mercenary, and it was a time when I was building up my skills and experience, so I moved to the Doriem Territory in search of more work.

And I met Anelise here and spent the night with her.

It was the same as this time. She approached me first and seduced me first.

‘Did she say she liked my appearance?’

My appearance isn’t bad. No, objectively speaking, it’s decent. In addition, considering the harsh environment of this world, I have clean skin that I haven’t suffered for, so even if my race is a little different, I have an appearance that’s easy on the eyes.

Rather, it’s to the point where it’s sometimes an advantage because it’s exotic.

The same goes for my body. On Earth, I was average height, but in this world, I’m on the tall side, so I can’t help but have a masculine charm.

‘It’s not for nothing that Kuman tried to sell me as a sex slave.’

But for this one thing, that appearance became poison.

‘Kereo… .’

That guy… had a deep relationship with Anelise.

No, it might have been a one-sided love. I honestly don’t know how Anelise felt about Kereo.

But Kereo really liked Anelise, and he didn’t forgive me for fooling around with her.

Of course, I couldn’t help but feel wronged from my perspective.

She seduced me first, and I just didn’t refuse.

We’re both adults, so what’s the sin in spending a day together when our hearts matched?

But this damn world was all about strength, and he was stronger than me.

At that time, I was able to handle mana, but the amount I had was very small, and the breathing technique I had was for beauty purposes, so it wasn’t much help.

I couldn’t resist the bastard’s violence.

-I’ll make sure you can’t use that pretty face of yours.

That’s what he said.

I lost half of my face that way, and at the same time, I suffered major injuries to my arms and legs.

Fortunately, I didn’t become disabled, but there were aftereffects.

My physical strength has definitely decreased compared to the past, so my competitiveness had no choice but to fall.

Perhaps the reason he did that was because he thought I might become a problem for him in the future.

After all, even as a rookie, I was growing rapidly at that time.

But after being targeted by him, I ended up wandering around the bottom.

Still, I somehow struggled.

I increased my mana to cover my lack of physical strength, and despite the contemptuous looks, I desperately equipped myself.

But despite those efforts, their growth rate was faster.

They were the ones who were ahead of me even before my downfall. In the end, I couldn’t become a high-ranking mercenary despite handling mana, and I had no choice but to escape from the Doriem estate.

‘Even after that, I couldn’t become a high-ranking mercenary.’

The mana I had barely managed to gather was only enough to make up for my lack of physical strength, and I couldn’t even dream of hunting monsters.

I somehow acquired the practice method, but… That was it.

My appearance, too, couldn’t be restored.

I wandered around several estates like that.

As I thought about the past, the first day of my regression suddenly came to mind.

‘Revenge…’

It’s already in the past. At the same time, it has become something that never happened.

But that doesn’t mean my feelings have disappeared.

I was resentful, bitter, and indignant.

It’s scary to recall the past now. The emotions from that time come to mind as if they happened just now…

‘But survival and growth come first.’

This is also something I thought about at first.

I can get revenge. But my survival and freedom are the top priorities.

There was no need to rush things now.

‘I died once already. I can wait a few more years.’

The bastards are growing gradually, but I’m growing rapidly.

In the future, I’ll be able to overpower them with violence alone, just like they did to me in the past.

The reason I think this way is simple.

If I get revenge now… I’ll end up suffering negative consequences.

I’ve finally managed to get off to a good start.

But I can’t screw things up again because of the grudge from the previous round, especially from the bastards who sent me to hell.

‘…There might be a way…’

Of course, it won’t be easy. It’s not something I can do on my own, and I need a bit of luck.

If there wasn’t even this much possibility, I would never have accepted the invitation.

‘If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll just distance myself.’

There was no need to let her know that I was an enemy.

It was enough to appear as if I was trying to build connections.

Suppressing my complex emotions, I returned to the inn, dressed as normally as possible, and headed to the promised location.

“You’re early. Wow, you even dressed up properly. Just because we’re dark mages don’t mean we all wear drab clothes.”

“Even dark mages need a change of pace sometimes.”

“Heh heh. Well, I’ve never seen a dark mage who changes pace like this.”

She was right. There was no way a dark mage knew for being a degenerate would change pace in a normal way.

“Hard to deny.”

As I shrugged, Anellis burst out laughing again.

It was a sign of goodwill.

As we entered the tavern, we could see that it was quite popular, bustling with mercenaries.

Some of them seemed to recognize me, but they quickly looked away when they saw Anellis next to me.

‘She’s quite famous, huh?’