Damn Necromancer - Chapter 49

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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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Spendthrift Necromancer (49)
Where Sadoryeonju was.
He moved toward that magnificent hall.
“Lord Sadoryeonju. The Young Master has arrived.”
At the Second Elder’s words, Sadoryeonju lifted his head. Kim Minwoo recalled what Jang Sam had told him.
―The Young Master feared you greatly. There was no paternal affection from the Lord Sadoryeonju. If you look at how the other young masters are locked in endless competition even now, you can guess how much.
―There are no forces following the Young Master. If anything, there’s only Jang Sam here…?
The conclusion.
Sadoryeonju held no great blood kinship with him. Being a bastard brought no real benefit.
It was more like he’d simply tracked down a blood relative and left it at that.
He’d heard the Young Master came here a year ago, and judging by the fact that only Jang Sam was assigned to him, the measure was clear.
This Baek Socheon was simply a son half-abandoned.
So then, what courtesy was there to show?
‘None.’
The moment he saw those serpent eyes, he knew by instinct.
Sadoryeonju was clearly not the type to dole out scraps just because someone wagged their tail.
‘Show usefulness, and that’s all that matters.’
Then he’d rush to use him without hesitation. This one would simply exploit that.
Sadoryeoju, who’d been staring at him fixedly, spoke.
“I heard Suheon wiped that bastard out.”
“You mean the Third Young Master?”
“Yes.”
“Well, as long as he didn’t die. I’d say that still preserved your face well enough.”
“Your pride’s grown quite high for someone I’d never seen before.”
“The Ascension Clue? I hear that’s quite valuable. Even you here covet it, they say?”
Sadoryeonju’s face stiffened slightly.
“With some cripple like Suheon or whoever taking up a slot, we won’t get the Clue—we’d be lucky to scrape together third-rate materials.”
“So you’re saying you’ll participate in the Dragon Phoenix Tournament in his place?”
“That’s my thought. It wouldn’t be a bad proposal for you either, would it?”
“…There’s only a little over two weeks until the score tally.”
“All we need is one explosive move in that time.”
“…There’s no mission that awards 3,800 points all at once.”
“Then we create one.”
This was part of why he’d demolished the Third Young Master so thoroughly. He’d sent a tenth-ranker straight to the grave in one blow.
Proof of competence was all but demonstrated.
If he couldn’t participate in the Dragon Phoenix Tournament?
Then it was Sadoryeonju who’d be left wanting.
Wouldn’t his odds of obtaining the Ascension Clue rise if he sent even one stronger talent?
“…You want me to fabricate a mission?”
“Or else you’ll have to send someone slightly worse than that cripple.”
“There are many watchful eyes here. If I suddenly hand you a custom mission out of the blue, dissent will pour from within.”
“I’m confident you’ll handle it well with your leadership.”
“Huh.”
For a moment he simply looked on, incredulous.
Then Sadoryeonju drew his blade and swept it through the air.
[Sadoryeonju uses Sword Spirit Technique (S)!]
Tremendous mana split into seven paths and began pouring toward him.
‘I’ll need to give up an arm.’
The calculation was instant.
Cedric and the skeletons summoned in a rush, their bodies intercepting some of the sword energy.
Three paths blocked that way.
One of the remaining four he evaded by twisting his body.
Of the last three, he took two with his body.
Blood fountained, but it was manageable.
They’d only grazed him—no fatal wounds.
The final path.
A sword strike aimed directly at his heart.
There was no angle to dodge this one.
He drew his blade.
The moment he deflected it.
[You have suffered massive damage!]
[The Judgment Sword is destroyed!]
As the sword spirit shattered, the deflected blade energy cleaved clean through one arm. Blood erupted in a fountain around the neatly severed limb.
‘Cheaper than I expected.’
Perhaps that’s what came of being one of the finest swordsmen in wuxia legend.
The attack had been vicious.
Trading an arm to block it was more than a fair exchange. I gripped the severed forearm and turned to face Sadoryeonju.
“Is the test over?”
“……”
Sadoryeonju’s face had gone rigid. He stood silent for a moment, then fished something from his robe and tossed it to me—a pill.
“Reattach your arm and take it.”
“Of course.”
I pressed the severed arm back into place, then popped the pill into my mouth and chewed.
[You have consumed a Supreme Recovery Pill!]
The severed arm began to reattach, knitting together smoothly.
‘Looking at it now, he seemed to pull back right at the end, as if calculating—’
He probably hadn’t intended to actually kill me.
After all, my death would be his loss.
He was only testing me.
But what could he do about it?
I’d actually stopped that attack and proved myself capable.
There’s no way Sadoryeonju would ever let me go now.
That strike had been the kind that would’ve killed most Late Stage Realm cultivators outright without a second thought.
‘So I might as well get what I want out of this.’
I smiled coldly at Sadoryeonju.
“I’ll be going on the missions with my attendant and that servant. We’ll split the points—half to her.”
“……What?”
“My attendant is quite capable. Adjust the difficulty so we can manage it perfectly between us. Otherwise, I’m out. And since you broke my sword, I’ll need a replacement—and a decent Martial Arts Manual while you’re at it. That’ll do it for now.”
I left Sadoryeonju’s Residence.
A desperate man digs his own well.
So he’d dig well for me.
* * *
Sadoryeonju, Baek Socheon.
His face had hardened into stone.
The Sword Spirit Technique—he hadn’t held back at the end.
Not that he’d thrown his full strength at it either, but there was another reason.
It was something he’d felt instinctively.
This one wouldn’t die so easily.
Cold eyes.
All calculation had already concluded within them.
The result had gone exactly as he’d foreseen.
With terrifying precision, that one had deflected the Sword Spirit Technique.
‘The body is only First-Rate Warrior level, and yet……’
Even possessing such a body himself, could he have blocked that strike while giving up only one arm?
He could not say with certainty.
Terrifying talent.
He had glimpsed its fragment.
‘……This is fortunate.’
How the youngest one had managed to stop the Sword Spirit Technique, whether he’d been hiding his strength all along—such trivial questions hardly mattered.
None of it was important.
What mattered most was this:
He had acquired a powerful card he’d never anticipated.
‘He must be entered at any cost.’
By whatever means necessary, Baek Socheon had to be inserted into the Dragon Phoenix Tournament.
‘The missions……yes, I can use those.’
Baek Socheon’s eyes blazed.
He had already conceived a method—how to elevate the attendant’s and the youngest one’s scores cleanly, without drawing suspicion.
Suddenly, Baek Socheon felt regret.
Until now, he’d believed his eldest possessed the most outstanding Five Talents. He had invested most heavily in him for that reason.
It was too late to reverse that now. Time before the Dragon Phoenix Tournament was running short.
‘If he’d shown talent from the beginning.’
I would’ve poured every resource into him.
Baek Socheon shook his head shortly after.
Regret was regret.
But now was the time to do what needed doing.
“Second Elder, are you there?”
“Yes.”
“Gather the elders. We need to hold a meeting.”
“Understood.”
“Ah, and…….”
* * *
Since I’d memorized the path roughly, finding my way back wasn’t difficult.
I returned to the residence I’d seen earlier.
Jang Sam and Seo Yerim.
The two were waiting inside. Jang Sam, who’d been hunched over with his head down, shot to his feet.
“S-sir! Why did Sadoryeonju call for me? Is it because of what happened to Baek Socheon?”
“Not entirely for that reason. There’s just something we need to talk about.”
I gestured for Jang Sam to leave for a moment.
Apparently misunderstanding something, Jang Sam glanced back and forth between Seo Yerim and me, scratching his head as he spoke.
“Hehe. Then this lowly one shall retire.”
“……It’s not like that.”
“Come now. You’ve even given Seo Yerim a pet name, and this Jang Sam understands perfectly. Both of you are young and hot-blooded, after all…….”
“Damn it! Can you just keep quiet?”
Seo Yerim’s eyes flashed dangerously.
“Y-yes! Just call whenever you need me! I’ll be going now!”
Jang Sam rushed out the door in a panic.
Only then did the surroundings grow quiet.
“So your name is Seo Yerim?”
“……Yes. Just as yours is Baek Socheon.”
I understood why Jang Sam had been carried away. In this martial world, the names we’d been given were Seo Yerim and Baek Socheon.
But when we first met, we’d both used our real-world names.
It seemed that had sounded like a pet name to him.
There was a reason Baek Socheon had gone crazy, then.
Playing an affair drama in his head wasn’t entirely baseless after all.
“……We use our real-world names only when we’re alone. It’s annoying to be misunderstood.”
“Then how should I address you?”
“Like this—Seo Yerim. Something along those lines should work.”
“……This is driving me insane.”
“What can I do? I’m a nobleman and you’re a servant girl.”
If you didn’t like it, you should have been born higher.
In this world, a nobleman who consistently uses formal speech to a servant girl would be treated as a lunatic.
“……Doesn’t your father have anything to say? Don’t noble houses usually promote skilled servant girls?”
“He hasn’t said anything particular.”
“……Fine. Do whatever you want.”
She answered with an air of resignation, rubbing her forehead as if it pained her.
“Let’s move on to the main point. Do you know how to clear this?”
“I have a rough idea. The Dragon Phoenix Tournament.”
I nodded.
She certainly had the basic sense of judgment befitting an S-Rank Gate.
“I’m going to participate in it. There’s no option to leave the Middle Territory.”
“……I figured as much. Tell me honestly—did you enter this gate on purpose?”
“Yes.”
There was no need to deny it.
She’d already caught on to my level. She’d think I wasn’t the type to stumble in like some fool. And she’d be right.
Actually, that’s exactly what happened.
“Is there a Necromancer skill like that? Something where you use spectral hands to secretly push someone in, or something like that?”
“Hayang.”
―Chirp.
Hayang, who’d been perched on my shoulder, revealed herself. Seo Yerim—no, Seo Yerim’s eyes went wide.
“What? Since when?”
“This creature’s stealth ability is remarkably potent. Even a Sword Master would fail to detect it.”
“……That small bird did this?”
“Yes. It’s a Divine Beast, so it possesses considerable strength.”
At those words, Seo Yerim let out a soft laugh.
“Jo Piluuk, you must be absolutely furious. You’ve got profanity written all over your face.”
“I’ll be eating plenty more of it going forward, so what’s the difference.”
“……Well, you’re not wrong about that. Sigh. So you’ve decided not to play nice, then?”
“I’m busy collecting my reward. That said, what are your plans, Yerim?”
“Hmm……”
She stood with her arms crossed, lost in thought.
“……The reward does look rather attractive.”
“I’ll be taking first place. If you want to aim for second and below, go ahead.”
“……Ha, that’s rich. Who said you’d get first place?”
“You’ll have to give it to me. Otherwise, you won’t even be able to participate in the Dragon Phoenix Tournament. How else would you earn your Score?”
“……Can’t I just clear missions?”
“You won’t have time. The missions barely hand out any Score at all.”
“……Even if I work hard, it won’t work?”
“It’ll be tough. Accumulation is already difficult, and you’ll face horrifically serious interference. Once you’ve built up a decent amount of Score, every dog and beast will come hunting for your head.”
A handmaiden daring to accumulate Score?
I’d stake my life on it.
Anyone sitting on an unstable rank will come burning with murderous intent.
It’ll be absurdly aggravating.
“Ha, I suppose you’re right.”
Seo Yerim scratched her head vigorously.
“But that applies to you too, doesn’t it?”
“That’s why I crippled the Gongja and went to negotiate.”
“What were the terms?”
“I’ll take on a large mission. Something substantial enough that even if we split the Score between us two, we’d qualify for the Dragon Phoenix Tournament.”
“And in exchange, you’d push me into first place?”
“That’s how the world works.”
“What if I betray you?”
“If you were that kind of person, I wouldn’t have come to rescue you in the first place. I thought you were throwing yourself to your death, for crying out loud.”
“……Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t do it because I liked you.”
“I know. So——are we on?”
There was no possibility of Seo Yerim betraying him.
She’d come here to save him in the first place. Would she then betray him, kill him, stab him in the back?
‘If I was going to die, I wouldn’t have come.’
If she meant to betray him, she’d have no face to show the Sword Master outside.
It wasn’t trust in her.
It was trust in the infinite affection she harbored for the Sword Master.
And that was enough.
“……Alright then. Might as well acquire some decent martial arts while we’re at it.”
“An excellent choice.”
When she agreed, he could grin inwardly with satisfaction.
‘Powerful rival eliminated.’
The odds of taking first place had skyrocketed geometrically.

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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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