Damn Necromancer - Chapter 87

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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 (87)
The manor’s training hall was spacious and solidly built.
With security equally thorough, it was the perfect place to test Merhen. I made my way there with Na-ye nestled in my arms.
Along the way, I asked her a question.
“Merhen.”
―Yes?
“About magic—how many types can you actually use?”
―Death magic, mostly anything within that domain.
“What about other attributes?”
―I’m not sure, honestly.
“You’re not sure?”
―Right. I’ve never dealt with this before. Even after becoming a Banshee, no other kinds of magic manifested—just death magic. Nothing else.
This Death Lord character.
He’d told Merhen that her body was a prison, that she needed to die for the magic to awaken, all that nonsense.
‘So that was a complete bluff?’
It seemed likely.
Because if that weren’t the case, there’d be no reason for Merhen—who had aptitude for all four elemental attributes—to manifest only one type of magic.
“Even after training?”
―……Yes. And to be honest, I didn’t put much effort into it either. There would’ve been no point—it would’ve only benefited the Death Lord.
“You could’ve gotten stronger and tried to break the subordination bond, couldn’t you?”
At that, Merhen fixed her gaze on me.
―……Min-woo, you really are enterprising, aren’t you? You were like that at the academy too.
She spoke with a faint smile.
―……If I’d actually met you in the past, maybe I would’ve tried something like that.
I nodded.
I was beginning to understand her past circumstances. It seemed Merhen wasn’t the kind of subordinate who actively moved on the Death Lord’s behalf.
Perhaps she’d merely followed whatever orders were given, like a machine.
“What are you two talking about?”
“Nothing much. We’re here now. You sit over there.”
I settled Na-ye in a corner and summoned Cedric. Na-ye’s eyes lit up the moment she saw him.
“Oh! It’s the talking skeleton mister! I’ve seen you! On NewTube!”
―……It’s nice to meet you.
Cedric waved awkwardly. Na-ye bounded over with excited sounds and clung to Cedric’s legs.
“Hehe. You’re cold.”
Cedric stood there helplessly and looked directly at me.
―……Is this the younger sibling you mentioned, Master?
“Yeah. Na-ye. The youngest in our family.”
―Quite an energetic child.
Cedric’s gaze then turned toward Merhen.
―……It’s been a while.
―Yes.
The two legion commanders exchanged greetings. Sensing the awkwardness hanging in the air, I tilted my head and asked.
“You two weren’t particularly close?”
―We didn’t have much reason to meet in the first place. The three of us legion commanders each managed our respective territories. Merhen oversaw the Spirit Realm.
―Right. Capturing souls and turning them into Undead. That was my job.
―And if I may add one more thing…….
Cedric stared at Merhen as he spoke, shaking his head.
―She was hostile to everyone. To be honest, I didn’t particularly want to get close to her either.
―That’s true. I was like that back then. I’m sorry. I apologize.
―……There’s no need. I understood to some degree. You got the worse end of the stick from the Lord.
―……Yes.
Listening to their exchange, I turned to Cedric.
“What about you? Did that happen to you too?”
―When I became the Lord’s subordinate, there were already three legion commanders by his side. In other words, the world had already half-collapsed into chaos.
“So?”
―I suspect that back then, the Lord may have had somewhat more patience than before. At least he didn’t coerce me as aggressively as he did with Merhen. And besides……I already had something I needed to do, even if it meant becoming Undead.
I didn’t press further about what that task had been.
It was Cedric’s personal matter. Since he was an Undead with a sense of self, it was better to respect his privacy.
‘I’ve gotten what I needed.’
From my earlier question, I’d picked up on several pieces of information.
‘The Death Lord in the early game and the Death Lord in the late game seemed quite different.’
When he’d obtained Balrog and made Merhen his minion. Back then, his name hadn’t yet spread across the continent.
In other words, you could say the continent was in a very peaceful state at that time.
He recalled what the Death Lord had said during their first meeting.
[I came running for revenge. I dyed the continent in death. I thought I had achieved my goal.]
Revenge.
He didn’t know what it was about, but in any case, it seemed he’d moved quite violently in the early stages to pursue it.
You could tell from what happened with Merhen. When she refused to become his minion, he’d disposed of the surrounding students without hesitation.
She was like a textbook example of a malevolent lich. But as they moved into the later stages, with his revenge nearly complete, he seemed to have developed a bit more leisure—or so Min-woo suspected.
Kim Min-woo looked at Merhen.
“Want to try using a different elemental attribute? Just once?”
―Which attribute?
“Oh, just any…”
Just then, Na-ye suddenly interjected into the conversation.
“Me! I want to see water magic! Water!”
―……Water?
“Yeah! Look, look!”
Before long, a video had appeared on the child’s smartphone screen.
[Overseas S-rank Mage Angela’s Magic Demonstration]
[120 Million Views]
A blonde mage named Angela chanted an incantation.
And then a massive dragon made of water flew across the screen.
The crowds cheering as they watched it.
Merhen wasn’t familiar with the video platform yet, but she could grasp the essence of what was being shown. Some mage was performing magic.
“See how the water changes like this! Don’t you think it’s cool? Even you have to admit it’s awesome, right?”
“It’s impressive.”
“Right! Angela’s super famous back in the United States! I’ve even hugged her. Hehe.”
“Really? Our Na-ye’s doing great. You’re on friendly terms with such an accomplished Awakener.”
Angela had probably become close with her because of the Ilseong Group’s youngest daughter’s status, he suspected.
But that wasn’t what mattered.
What mattered was that gesture of empathy. If he said here that Angela was just a mediocre mage or whatever, he’d be nothing short of a heartless bastard.
“Hey, if you ever go to the States, tell me! I have Angela’s number! I’ll introduce you.”
“Really? If I end up going, I’ll definitely say something. I’m already looking forward to it.”
What a cute kid.
Min-woo nodded with a smile.
It was a casual affirmation, nothing more.
Then.
―……That’s not how you use water magic.
A very sullen voice came from somewhere. Merhen, who had drawn close without notice, was staring hard at Kim Min-woo.
“Huh? What do you mean? Angela’s a great mage! They said she’s in the top ten even in the United States!”
―……This?
“Yeah!”
―She’s actually terrible.
Merhen answered flatly.
Although she’d never used water attribute magic herself, the memories from her past battles with the Death Lord told her the truth.
Water shouldn’t be used that way.
Water attribute magic must be cohesive.
The mage in the video was merely imitating the appearance—a rank amateur.
But why.
Was her master’s face really breaking into that foolish grin watching a mage of merely that caliber?
Seeing that, her mood somehow sank.
‘An idiot.’
He was really an idiot.
So she had to prove it.
That this level was truly nothing.
“Then let me show you some magic!”
―……Fine. Let me try.
Merhen closed her eyes, concentrating. Mana spiraled within her body.
The bonds of water had to be thicker. And yet flow smoothly. She envisioned the dragon from the video. But refined.
A blue dragon, laden with water, soaring through the air.
[Merhen conjures the image of ‘water’!]
[Synthesizing water-attribute magic!]
[Grand Mage activates!]
[Understanding the source of water!]
[Replicating magic witnessed by sight!]
[S-rank magic, ‘Water Dragon Strike,’ is created…….]
[The caster’s power overwhelmingly surpasses the replica!]
[New magic is created!]
[Merhen uses Water Dragon Storm!]
The water pooled in her palm transformed into a colossal dragon.
Vastly larger and grander than anything she’d seen in NewTube videos.
“W-wow……!”
Na-ye gasped in admiration.
Every whisker on the creature’s face was carved with meticulous detail.
More than that—within the dragon Merhen had conjured, countless water droplets churned in violent spirals.
As if a tempest raged inside its body. A dragon with an azure exterior but a white, storm-ravaged interior.
She’d always thought of magic as simply impressive, but this transcended that realm entirely.
“That’s… incredibly amazing…….”
Na-ye’s eyes gleamed brilliantly.
She’d thought Angela was lying when she said she couldn’t use magic.
It made sense, really—Angela was truly a remarkable mage.
But it was actually true.
―……What about Min-woo?
Merhen spoke while glancing sidelong.
It was written all over her face.
P.r.a.i.s.e. m.e.
That was the message.
Of course, Kim Min-woo’s response was:
“Wow. You’re way better than Angela.”
―R-really?
“There’s no comparison. Actually, now that you mention it, I remember there were more videos like this.”
He opened NewTube and played footage of mages wielding the four elemental attributes. He’d grasped the general method for activating magic.
Wind, earth, fire.
As he showed her three kinds of magic while effusing about how impressive they were, predictably enough:
―……I do it better?
She unleashed the feat of creating SS-rank magic in one breath.
‘Perfect.’
This was it.
Other mages would cough blood if they saw this spectacle.
And no wonder—while they ground and toiled just to obtain Bound Skill Books and learn magic, Merhen simply copied spells at will just by watching them.
And elevated their grade by one rank on top of it. As a result, her magic roster kept expanding.
Na-ye was clapping enthusiastically as well.
It had to be this spectacular.
So both child and adult had a thoroughly enjoyable time.
By the time he’d entertained her for several hours and put Na-ye to sleep:
A call came through on his smartphone.
It was from the chief of security.
“What is it?”
―Young master. Could you possibly come out for a moment? Someone from the government has arrived.
“……The government?”
―Yes. They say the matter should be discussed after meeting you in person…….
The government was looking for him.
He figured he should at least meet with them once.
After dismissing Merhen, he left the training ground. One of the guards approached and whispered.
“Young master. People from the government are waiting.”
He nodded.
Before long, he was face to face with the government representatives.
“Good to meet you. I’m Han Young-gil, team captain of Korea’s Gate Management Department.”
The Gate Management Department.
A department that barely did anything worth a damn.
Even there, if he held a team leader position, he’d be among the elite of the elite—Rank 3.
Of course, that didn’t make him higher-ranking than the eldest son of Ilseong Group.
“It’s good to meet you. I’m Kim Min-woo. But what brings you here?”
“The matter is this—would you be able to come with us to Cheongwadae?”
“Cheongwadae?”
“Yes. The President himself wishes to see you.”
“Is there something specific you need to discuss? Or is this just a courtesy visit? If it’s the latter, I’m afraid I can’t leave right now.”
If they’d summoned him just for pleasantries, he’d planned to decline.
He had mountains of work waiting. He wasn’t some small fry who could be called away on a whim—normally, you’d schedule an appointment in advance for something like this.
Then.
Han Young-gil shook his head and glanced around before speaking quietly.
“……It’s not simply a matter of courtesy. The ‘System’ has issued a directive. We’re telling you because Kim Min-woo may well fall within its scope.”
The System?
At those words, Kim Min-woo’s expression grew serious.

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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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