Damn Necromancer - Chapter 125

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Spendthrift Necromancer (125)
Preparations
Fifty people total.
Accounting for the five already sacrificed and three Chinese Awakeners, the proper count should have been forty-two.
But the Awakeners gathered so far numbered only twenty-seven.
Likely the remaining fifteen were scattered about in various places.
Finding them was the immediate priority.
The Awakeners split into two teams and swept the surrounding area.
It was Ha-yang-i who proved most helpful in the process.
Following invisibly alongside them, the other Awakeners remained unaware of her presence—but Park Si-woo and Seo Ye-rim knew better.
Tap. Tap.
Tap.
The sensation of a beak against her shoulder—not content to merely point the direction, it traced patterns with its bill and even helpfully indicated numbers.
‘Truly intelligent.’
Seo Ye-rim murmured her admiration softly.
The bird possessed an intelligence high enough to put most Summons to shame.
Exceptional scouting ability.
And as if that weren’t enough, she could even share attributes with it.
Most decisive of all…….
‘It’s adorable.’
Still in its youth, the creature’s very appearance was endearing.
Its affectionate nature was simply a bonus.
Every time Kim Min-woo called himself Ha-yang-i’s father and doted on the bird, she felt a deep pang of envy.
‘I wish I had a pet like this.’
The desire burned fiercely within her.
The problem was that it wasn’t easy to obtain one.
Ordinary pets could be adopted without issue, but capable ones were an entirely different matter.
You had to find them inside Gates.
Mysterious ability. Exceptionally high intelligence. Cute appearance.
If such creatures simply appeared when sought, everyone would be walking around with their own remarkable pets.
Only a tiny handful of Awakeners possessed both the skill and the fortune to own such a pet.
Stroke. Stroke.
Her hand secretly reached out to caress Ha-yang-i’s head.
―Koo.
The voice reached her ear as if in gratitude.
‘Mmm…….’
Her body trembled slightly at that adorable sound, and she extended a finger.
“……Yes! Let’s check over there.”
“Right away!”
The Awakeners nodded without hesitation. Not only did she have a broad field of vision as an archer, but wherever she pointed, Awakeners were discovered almost miraculously.
It happened again and again, so there could be no objection. In just a single day, all fifteen were found.
A total of forty-two people.
Their Classes and races varied greatly as well.
Synchronizing them would be essential.
“We’ll be taking over your training as instructors. First, we’ll conduct individual lessons.”
Seo Ye-rim.
Park Si-woo.
Cedric.
And Merchen as well.
Two humans and two Undead serving as instructors.
To be honest, the Awakeners remained skeptical at that point.
They understood these people were skilled enough.
But teaching was something else entirely, wasn’t it?
We’re seasoned veterans ourselves.
And one of the instructors is a Summon?
Hmm…….
That was roughly the sentiment.
Yet no objections were raised—mostly because they wanted to see how it would unfold.
First, Park Si-woo.
He took charge of one squad among the close-combat Classes, split into groups of ten.
Commonly called Team 1.
The most striking figure in Team 1 was Thompson from the United States.
A bald Black Paladin.
The muscles of his forearms, gripping the Mace, seemed ready to burst through his skin.
By appearance and reputation alike, he was the Awakener who commanded the most attention in Team 1.
“Will Thompson lead the team?”
“I will.”
Thompson shrugged as he spoke.
“So what’s the training? If it’s just the lot of us coordinating together, there’s not much point keeping us separate…….”
“First I’ll assess your fundamentals. We’ll work on coordination after. For now…… you just need to hold out against me.”
“Okay.”
With that, Thompson stepped forward first.
Raising a gleaming white Tower Shield, he spoke with serious eyes.
“I won’t go down easy.”
Thompson spoke while taking a solid defensive stance. Park Si-woo tilted his head at the sight of him.
“What are you doing?”
“……?”
“Why is Thompson the only one coming out?”
“……Look, Park. Just to make sure—you meant all ten of you coming at once, right?”
“Yes.”
“……Okay. So why isn’t everyone coming?”
At his words, all the Awakeners reluctantly stepped forward.
‘……Well, I suppose experience doesn’t fill anyone’s belly.’
No matter how young Park Si-woo was or how recently he’d become an Awakener, skill was what governed this arena.
An S-rank Awakener defeated in ten exchanges. Plus he’d placed third in this very tournament. There was no denying it, though it stung a bit privately.
“……Stay sharp. We’re not that easy to—”
That was when it happened.
Boom!
Along with a tremendous noise.
Screams erupted!
Awakeners flew through the air in every direction.
Cedric, the close-quarters instructor from Team 2.
Each time his Summon swung its spear among the Awakeners, explosions tore through the air.
“They’ve already started. I’m heading in.”
A Holy Sword materialized in his hand, blazing with light.
The distance closed in an instant.
Thompson’s eyes flashed as he raised his shield.
‘Hold the line!’
While a Paladin lacked aggravating skills like a Warrior’s taunt, their vitality and endurance surpassed any Warrior. They could even manage recovery skills nearly on par with Priests.
If he weathered the attacks, the rest of the team would find their opening.
Toward Park Si-woo, who was bringing the sword down with full force, Thompson raised his shield.
Clang!
The impact shuddered across the shield’s face.
In an instant, Awakeners rushed at him from all sides.
Then.
Thompson’s eyes narrowed.
‘……Light?’
For an overhead strike that looked like full force, the blow felt far too weak. Had he somehow drained all his strength in that split second?
Crack!
“Ugh!”
A cry of pain erupted from the side.
Renoa, the French assassin he’d exchanged brief greetings with moments earlier.
The flat of the sword was already swinging through his solar plexus like a bat.
Crack!
Crack!
Awakeners flew outward in all directions.
‘Was it intentional…… a setup?’
That overhead strike definitely looked like all-out force. Power flowing out meant openings would form naturally.
The Awakeners, professionals that they were, had seized on those gaps expertly.
Yet by smoothly sweeping the shield down and deflecting the blade, he’d sent every nearby Awakener flying.
‘What sort of monster is this…….’
In the blink of an eye, all nine of them had been swept away. Now only he remained standing.
When he couldn’t win against ten opponents at once, a one-on-one match was hardly worth mentioning.
“Ack!”
In just two exchanges, a blade was already pressed against his throat.
“That’s enough. Everyone, gather around.”
The members of Team One assembled one by one.
“Renoa, when you attack, you’re tensing your arms too much. That makes it harder to parry fluidly, you understand? And Victor, it seems you have a habit of twisting at the waist when you strike…….”
Park Si-woo pointed out the poor habits of each team member in turn.
The Awakeners, lost in thought, nodded in agreement.
‘……That does seem right.’
Thompson had also been subject to criticism.
“Thompson, your body is far too rigid. You’re bracing yourself too tightly for defense—that’s the issue. Want to try adjusting like this?”
Park Si-woo approached Thompson’s side and corrected his stance.
“How does that feel?”
“Definitely…….”
Thompson nodded.
Even though only a few adjustments had been made, his field of vision felt dramatically wider.
Thompson bowed respectfully as he spoke.
“I apologize. I harbored some disdain for you in my heart. We were in no position to be arrogant…….”
“Not at all. These things happen. Honestly, compared to my brother, I’m nothing at all.”
Park Si-woo waved it off with a sheepish laugh.
The Awakeners exchanged puzzled glances at his response.
“Your brother—you mean Guild Master Kim Min-woo?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Well, that man’s summons are certainly impressive. Still, since you’re working in different fields, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. You shouldn’t be so modest about it.”
Thompson gave his shoulder an encouraging pat.
“……Different fields, perhaps, but my brother wields a sword better than I do.”
“……What?”
The Awakeners blinked.
Based on what they’d just witnessed—enough to immediately understand why he was a student of Geom-seon—his level was positively monstrous…….
“You’re saying he wields a sword better than you?”
“Yes. I’ve never once beaten him in a sparring match. Not even once to this day.”
Park Si-woo’s eyes were far too sincere for this to be a joke. The Awakeners found themselves staring at him with confusion.
“……Really?”
“Yes. Why would I lie about that? All the fundamentals I’m using now, I learned from him anyway.”
“……Not from Geom-seon?”
“Well, I learned from him too, of course.”
“……Hmm.”
They already knew Kim Min-woo wielded a sword. They’d also known his skill was quite formidable.
But for this prodigy swordsman to have never once beaten him with a blade—not even once?
‘He’s really at that level?’
Then just how monstrous was Kim Min-woo anyway?
* * *
The other instructors were equally absorbed in teaching their team members.
And among them, the most bloodthirsty atmosphere belonged to…….
[Takeru uses Flame Wrath!]
[Jackson uses Flame Spear!]
―Are you idiots? Why are you using it like that?
“Uh…….”
“E…….”
―Magic requires thought. You have to think about how you’re casting?
It was Merchen’s section.
Arms crossed, she surveyed the mages with obvious displeasure.
―Fire is hot. It blazes. So why do you just sit there passively when you cast?
“B-but it does activate this way…….”
At the response from Takeru, the Japanese mage, Jackson, the Canadian mage, nodded in agreement.
―God, that’s frustrating. It’s not enough just to make it activate. Try casting it like this?
Merchen stamped her foot in irritation and thrust her hand forward.
[Merchen uses Flame Wrath!]
[Merchen deploys the Flame Spear!]
Both her hands erupted with the same skill she’d cast moments before, yet the difference in power was staggering.
The heat was so intense it melted everything in its path.
Two spears of magic tore through the air, leaving scorched earth in their wake.
―You have to channel your intent into it. Your mana doesn’t just move—it has to roil and surge like flames consuming everything. Why is this so difficult?
“……Y-yes…….”
―Honestly. You two, just stay perfectly still.
Merchen stretched her hand toward the two mages. In an instant, she seized control of the mana flowing through their bodies, manipulating it as though she were puppeteering them from afar.
―Memorize this. Like this. In this direction. Churning and roiling as it rises through your palm…….
Whoosh!
[Takeru deploys Flame Wrath!]
[Jackson deploys the Flame Spear!]
―Cast it like this. Understand?
How utterly talentless could they be? Even with her directly guiding their mana, the output was pathetic.
It was truly appalling.
Yet she couldn’t abandon the teaching either. Kim Min-woo had asked directly.
They were talking to each other, and yet communication seemed utterly impossible.
What could she do about it?
Force them to memorize through sheer repetition.
“Yes, yes!”
The two mages nodded frantically.
A-grade magic they’d spent years perfecting was suddenly transforming into S-rank spells in a single day.
Despite their different nationalities and ages, they shared one identical thought.
‘This is insane…….’
Until now, all their magic had come from Skill Books—cast and move on. Honestly, they still didn’t understand most of it.
Yet they’d grasped that something had to change. Both of them desperately tried to remember the flow of mana she’d just guided them through.
―Now go to the training grounds and practice on your own.
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Understood!”
Where Merchen had pointed, countless mages were already gathered.
Mages drenched in cold sweat, drilling the same spells over and over with grim determination.
Two more joined their ranks.
Watching from the sidelines, Sophia—an American mage—clicked her tongue.
‘I’m rather celebrated talent back in the States too…….’
It was said that once she reached S-rank, she’d crack the top ten among American mages. Her magical prowess was genuinely formidable.
Yet compared to that summon, she was like a firefly before the full moon.
To wield Magic Negation as casually as breathing…….
‘She really is a monster.’
Watching how she learned any spell on sight and immediately cast it made her head throb.
A broken summon.
How on earth had Kim Min-woo obtained something like this?
The fierce curiosity and awe lasted only a moment.
“Instructor! Is it my turn now?”
She asked with bright, eager eyes.
Someone of that caliber surely had something to teach her as well.
―Sure. Show me.
[Sophia deploys Escape Drop!]
Her sole S-rank magic, Escape Drop, activated.
A massive waterfall crashed down upon the blackened earth, carving away at the ground with tremendous force.
“How was that?”
―Utterly hopeless across the board.
“……Really?”
―Yeah. Though at least you’re better than those two from before.
At the very least, you actually think before casting.
“How do I compare to Angela?”
―……Angela?
“Yes. The mage who used Water Dragon Summoning. The one Merchen took the Skill Book from.”
―Hmm…….
Merchen frowned in contemplation. For her, this was genuinely worth thinking about.
After all, she was just a tiny ant.
After all, it came down to comparing which ant was bigger than the other.
―They seem about the same to me……
“Even so. There has to be someone who’s at least a little better, right?”
Sophia pressed the point further.
She harbored a competitive streak against Angela.
Rumors circulated that she’d crack the top ten among American mages.
Which meant, in other words, she’d end up in a fierce competition with Angela, who was already ranked tenth.
So naturally, she wanted to hear something encouraging.
Words like: you have what it takes to win.
And words like that carried more than mere encouragement.
Merchen was already famous for her blunt remarks.
In other words, she’d become controversial for being too honest.
When someone like that told you that you had the power to surpass tenth place, it meant something else entirely.
The weight of it was worlds apart from gossip and hearsay.
It was as good as a guarantee backed by her name.
Her market value would easily double from where it stood.
There was a world of difference between idle rumors swirling around and having it confirmed that she’d break into the top ten.
It was one reason she clung so tenaciously to Merchen.
Merchen narrowed her eyes at the sight of her.
‘What a bother.’
What was the point of deliberating over which ant was better?
She gave a casual answer.
―I don’t know. You seem a little better, maybe.
“Really?!”
―Yeah.
Or maybe not.
It was no concern of hers either way.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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