My Skeleton Soldier Is Strange - Chapter 8

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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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Chapter 8
[Title: Arhenna’s Revenge]
[Content: A giant rat from the sewers stole materials that were supposed to arrive at Arhenna’s Blacksmith. Arhenna wants to kill the giant rat and recover the materials.]
[Objective: Venture into the sewers outside Osirius Castle, slay the giant rat, and retrieve the stolen materials.]
[Reward: Arhenna’s affection will increase significantly.]
[Warning! If you refuse or fail this quest, her affection will decrease significantly.]
‘Straightforward enough.’
Fortunately, the unique quest itself was nothing complicated.
Since I had no option to refuse this quest, the simpler it was, the better I welcomed it.
Of course, there’s that saying—the simpler something appears, the more treacherous it becomes—but…
‘Either way, it’s not beyond my capabilities.’
“I’d be delighted to help you with this.”
[You have accepted Arhenna’s unique quest.]
“I knew you’d say that!”
Arhenna’s face lit up with a radiant smile.
She released her right hand, which had been gripping my shoulder.
“Now you can examine the goods. I guarantee you’ll be pleased!”
I nodded at her words.
Of course I had to be pleased.
I’d invested most of my fortune into this place.
‘Please don’t let the options be terrible…’
Gulp.
I swallowed hard.
Anxiety gnawed at me—what if the crafting had failed?
‘If I get garbage options, this quest never happened.’
The reward was affection, and if Arhenna’s craftsmanship fell short of expectations? That would be a catastrophic loss.
But I chose to trust that Evern Online wasn’t such a sloppy game.
Whoosh.
I grasped the steel staff with my right hand.
Ding!
In that instant, a cheerful notification chimed in my ears.
[Arhenna’s Steel Staff]
[Grade: Heroic]
[Equip Requirement: Strength stat 10 or higher]
[Attack Power: 120]
[Current Durability: 100%]
[Details: A staff specially crafted by Arhenna for mages who prioritize strength. It boasts exceptional durability and attack power, and magic can be channeled through it.]
[Special Options: 【Hardens with Each Strike】, 【Magic Channeling】]
[【Hardens with Each Strike】 Effect: Attack power increases as proficiency with the staff grows.]
[【Magic Channeling】 Effect: Allows the use of magic skills.]
“Wow!”
I couldn’t help but let out an exclamation of admiration.
‘I knew Arhenna’s coins were worth trusting!’
As expected, my choice hadn’t been wrong.
‘An attack power of 120 is on par with a level 10 warrior’s equipment?’
In truth, I had never doubted Arhenna’s craftsmanship itself.
I was only concerned that perhaps Arhenna might have created a steel “staff” rather than a “steel” staff—if that distinction made sense.
Steel merely added durability, and if a staff focused on magical functions emerged, it would be useless to me.
‘I even considered spelling out the conditions in meticulous detail…’
But given that Arhenna was eccentric, she would likely take offense if I demanded she understand unspoken expectations, so I held my tongue.
And the result was a level 10 heroic-grade warrior’s club—or rather, staff.
Item grades were divided into Common, Rare, Heroic, Epic, and Legendary, with Heroic-grade items typically requiring level 30 to even glimpse.
Of course, Arhenna’s staff wasn’t quite at that caliber, but since it had no level restriction, it had earned the Heroic grade.
Moreover.
‘Magic, too.’
It wasn’t as though Arhenna had crafted a true club devoid of magical function.
Currently, I could only use Skeletal Soldier Summoning (already summoned), but it was nonetheless a necessary feature for someone of my mage classification.
“From the look on your face, you seem quite pleased!”
“The staff itself is wonderful, but the additional options Arhenna added fit me perfectly.”
I smiled in response to Arhenna’s words.
At this very moment, even if Arhenna slapped my cheek, I felt I could forgive her.
“Hmph! I craft weapons to suit the wielder. Every detail of the additional options, too.”
“I’m grateful for your meticulous care.”
“But… the options are rather unique, making it difficult to sell for profit. I’ve never heard of a mage attacking with a steel staff.”
I nodded at Arhenna’s words.
This steel staff was truly a weapon forged for none but myself.
“With that staff, you’ll be able to catch those rats.”
A grin spread across my face.
I smiled at her request.
And.
“I’ll return before the forge’s heat fades.”
I stepped forward, the steel staff firm in my grip.
* * *
“Sir. Team Lead, something terrible has happened!”
At the headquarters managing Evern Online, in the Synapse Realm office.
Employee Kim Hwan-seok rushed toward Team Lead Son Ju-hyun in a flustered panic.
“What is it? Did a bug turn up?”
The team lead, who had been leisurely sipping coffee at the water cooler, furrowed his brow at Hwan-seok’s words.
Hwan-seok’s face was filled with alarm.
“No. That’s not it.”
Kim Hwan-seok shook his head at Ju-hyun’s question.
A bug in Evern Online, managed by a supercomputer, was simply impossible.
“Then what’s got you so worked up?”
Kim Hwan-seok drew a deep breath before speaking.
“Do you remember the Hell Mode tutorial?”
“Hell Mode? Everyone gave up on that because it was ridiculously hard.”
Ju-hyun nodded at Kim Hwan-seok’s words.
Then, with a serious gaze fixed on Ju-hyun, he continued.
“A player has appeared who cleared that Hell Mode.”
“…?”
“Without dying even once!”
The word “hacker” flashed through Ju-hyun’s mind in an instant, but he quickly dismissed the thought.
In Evern Online, a hacker was even rarer than a bug.
“…Well, it was only a matter of time before someone cleared it.”
“And they also defeated Count Heltema!”
“Isn’t that a hacker??”
Ju-hyun’s words made Kim Hwan-seok shake his head, his voice tinged with disbelief.
“There’s no record of that.”
“…Is there footage?”
“We saved it. Would you like to watch it together?”
At Kim Hwan-seok’s question, Ju-hyun moved toward his workstation where the video was queued up.
“I’ll play it.”
Dozens of people had already gathered at that spot.
Kim Hwan-seok pushed through the crowd and pressed play.
―Fake out!
Then Jaebeom, who had been frozen, began moving again.
“This… what is this?”
“Wait, you said this was their first time. Not a ranker restarting from the beginning?”
“Even for a ranker, this seems impossible. Is that even human?”
“The attack speed is insane… is this a top player from another game?”
The employees, who had initially tried to analyze the footage,
“Wow…!”
“Whoa!”
“They cleared it like this?!”
Soon found themselves simply marveling, watching it like a film.
‘…Could it be a newbie ranker from Warlord Online?’
A single nickname suddenly surfaced in Ju-hyun’s mind.
‘But the nickname is different.’
However, the nickname of Jaebeom, who had cleared the tutorial, belonged to a veteran, not a newbie.
Since a newbie from Warlord Online’s face would obviously show signs of being newly created, Jaebeom couldn’t be identified by appearance alone.
However.
Whoever that player was, one thing remained certain.
‘They possess abilities that transcend human limits.’
Physical prowess, combat technique, perception—everything harmonized in perfect unity.
They had captured Count Heltema, whom no one else had ever caught, let alone escaped from.
Having watched the footage to its end, Ju-hyun was certain.
‘The landscape of Evern Online will shift.’
The fierce rankers of Evern Online would soon come to realize it.
‘An apex predator.’
That they should not be fighting amongst themselves.
That a creature capable of preying upon them had emerged.
* * *
After receiving the staff, I left Osirius Castle without purchasing potions or other equipment.
I had neither gold nor materials, but they weren’t things I needed immediately anyway.
‘One steel staff solves everything.’
The reason I didn’t obsess over armor or potions was simple.
If I didn’t get hit, it didn’t matter.
Of course, if others heard such thoughts from me, they’d call me a lunatic.
‘Surely I won’t die in a beginner zone?’
Even before I claimed first place in Warlord Online, there were plenty who thought the same way.
Of course, my ranking in that game proved the results.
[You have arrived at the entrance of the Great Sewer Eberon.]
Tap.
I stopped in my tracks upon seeing the message that appeared.
“Hmm.”
The passage leading into the sewer came into view.
And.
“Looking for a shield warrior to fill the tank role!”
“Last spot open in our extreme damage dealer party!”
“Seeking one precious healer!”
Countless players were recruiting for parties at the sewer entrance. Despite how realistic Evern Online was, they had mercifully spared the beginner zone from implementing actual sewer stench.
I clicked my tongue at the sight of them, reminiscent of a marketplace floor.
‘There are so many people.’
At least three hundred players or more were gathered at the entrance, shouting over one another. My ears were ringing from it.
‘And they all seem to be level 10 or higher.’
The Great Sewer Eberon.
This was originally a hunting ground for players level 10 and above.
By standard progression, I should be hunting in the goblin tribe fields instead of the Great Sewer Eberon.
But.
‘The fact that a quest was given to me is proof enough that I’m allowed to be here.’
If Arhenna had deemed Jaebeom insufficient, she would have offered the Quest and advised him to grow elsewhere first.
In other words, Arhenna had judged that he could hunt adequately in this place.
‘I’ve secured a weapon, and my stats are sufficient.’
My level was 3, but considering Achievements, my total stats actually exceeded those of a level 10 user.
And Arhenna’s staff alone had attack power rivaling a level 10 warrior’s weapon—a staff capable of casting magic as well.
By this calculation, I could clear the Great Sewer Eberon solo.
“Excuse me.”
Having finished my assessment, I headed into the sewer without hesitation.
Just before I pushed through the crowd of players seeking party members and finally entered the sewer.
Thud!
A woman approached me.
At the same time.
“Excuse me. Are you a Necromancer?”
She asked in a clear voice.
Her tone was so peculiar—like some unsolicited proselytizing—that I responded sharply.
“What do you want?”
As I spoke, I examined her outfit from top to bottom.
She wore sturdy-looking armor and carried a bow.
“Why are you so wary… It’s nothing serious. Would you be interested in doing a 2-person party with me?”
The woman showed a slightly flustered expression at my guarded attitude, then carefully opened her mouth.
I realized this woman was an ordinary player and smiled.
“I apologize, but I’m planning to solo.”
I bowed my head slightly and made my refusal clear.
“What?”
The woman couldn’t hide her bewilderment.
To her knowledge, there was no class at this level that could solo this field.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“Wait. Wait a moment! Your equipment doesn’t look good either, so if you’re a beginner, you shouldn’t be here. You should go to the Goblin Chieftain field instead.”
The woman tried to stop me and offer help.
“I’ll pass on the unsolicited advice.”
I ignored her and entered the sewer without hesitation.
―Tap… tap… tap.
Together with Dercan, who kept his mouth firmly shut.
‘A Necromancer doing solo runs?’
The woman watched our retreating figures with confusion, then recalled my final response and made a subtle expression.
‘His tone doesn’t seem like a complete beginner…’
If he were a player new to Evern Online, he would have heeded her advice and headed to the Goblin field.
But Jaebeom moved toward the sewer without hesitation.
‘A returning newbie, then.’
She reached her own conclusion—though it was far from the truth.
“Hmm.”
The woman watched Jaebeom’s retreating figure in silence, then smiled with amusement curling at the corners of her mouth.
Tap!
She turned and walked away.
* * *
Meanwhile, there was another person observing the entire exchange.
“Sigh.”
It was Kang San, a player who had just reached level 4. He had been watching Jaebeom intently from the moment he appeared at the sewer entrance.
And finally, as Jaebeom descended into the sewer, Kang San opened his mouth to speak with his close friend Kim Tae-wan.
“Tae-wan.”
“Hm?”
“That guy who just went into the sewer. I think he’s the one we ignored back in the Green Plains.”
Kang San hadn’t deliberately memorized Jaebeom’s face.
But seeing the pathetic skeletal soldier and his shabby equipment, it came back to him.
That Jaebeom was the one who had disrespected him in the Green Plains.
“Really?”
Kim Tae-wan smiled at Kang San’s words and replied.
Then he continued quietly toward Kang San.
“Well then. Shall we have some fun with him inside the sewer?”
Grin.
Kang San matched Kim Tae-wan’s smile.
This sewer field had a recommended level of 10, which meant player-versus-player combat was freely permitted.
In other words.
“Sounds good.”
It meant Kang San could attack Jaebeom alongside Kim Tae-wan without consequence.
“Good. This time I won’t even charge you a fee.”
Kim Tae-wan spoke with a magnanimous expression in response to Kang San’s answer.
“Thank you, hyung.”
Kang San bowed his head toward Kim Tae-wan, expressing his gratitude.
And.
“Let’s follow him quickly.”
“Perfect!”
Together with Kim Tae-wan, Kang San moved to pursue Jaebeom into the sewer.
Unaware that they were two deer walking willingly into a tiger’s den.

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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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