The Regressed Necromancer Prepares for the Apocalypse - Chapter 7

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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 Returning Necromancer Prepares for the Apocalypse — Episode 7

La Hui was a promising talent even within the Hangang Group. Now that she had awakened as a Player, she was being discussed as a potential heir to the Hangang Group in this era of great upheaval.
But La Hui understood that the situation was not entirely favorable.

‘I can’t support every Player with my skill alone. If I recklessly expand the organization, internal conflict is inevitable.’

Her Blessing of Prosperity skill, newly awakened, was still only Level 1.
As a result, she could currently apply it to only a single Player.

‘Grandfather and Father want me to cultivate a Ranker who is favorable to the Hangang Group. I need a Player with as much potential as possible.’

La Hui’s grandfather, chairman of the now-global Hangang Group, had been contemplating a grim future.

— Before long, the entire world will revolve around Players.
— We must acquire high-tier Players we can trust.
— Ideally, we should support them from the ground up, so they become Players who cooperate with us mutually.

Players like, for example, the world’s unique class — one who achieves an Overflow in their debut match.
So as a spectator, she had scoured streaming broadcasts of various Arenas, searching for the talent she sought.
In that sense, having that very person sitting before her now was an extraordinarily favorable situation for La Hui.

‘I will make this person the Test Guild’s first Player, without fail.’

That person was none other than Do Jin.

* * *

When she reached out using the contact information on the business card, Do Jin was able to meet La Hui right away.

‘Thank goodness I remembered the Nickname.’

Unlike the Nickname “Bright Mask” — which carried an almost comedic air — La Hui was blunt to a fault, and the contract proceeded with clean efficiency.

[Contract Duration — 3 years from the date of contract]
[Scope of Work — Party A shall clear the Arenas requested by Party B and remit Mana Stones and Gold to Party B.
/ Party B shall provide Party A with Arena login rights requested by Party A and the skill effects of the Guild Master to Party A.]
[Confidentiality Clause — Party A and Party B shall maintain confidentiality regarding information about each other’s skills and status windows learned during the contract process. The duration and penalties for violation are……]
[Distribution Ratio — 7(Party A) : 3(Party B) / However, adjustable to 9(Party A) : 1(Party B) according to Mana Stone and Gold remittance amounts (……)]
[The Player (Party A) and Guild (Party B) hereby enter into this contract, and to certify this agreement……]
[Party A — Do Jin / Party B — Test Guild, Representative La Hui]

After signing and dividing the contract papers, La Hui opened her mouth slowly.

“From now on, the Test Guild will support Player Do Jin with full commitment. We’ll apply buff skills exactly as you request, and if there’s an Arena you want to enter, we’ll secure admission for you.”

In a colorless tone, La Hui concluded her statement.

“That is, provided you log in to an Arena tomorrow and clear a quest to prove yourself, Do Jin.”

With a single table between them, Do Jin lifted the corners of his mouth.

“You could add Overflow as a condition.”
“I don’t trust contracts that are excessively unrealistic.”

La Hui’s tone was resolute, her gaze sharp.
In truth, what La Hui said was sensible.
A Player who had only recently awakened logging in to multiple Arenas in succession without rest and clearing them was, honestly, an impossible contract.
And yet.
That was the level of performance needed to achieve the goals each of them harbored.
It was a conviction shared by the young Player and the young Guild Master, neither of whom had revealed their true intentions entirely.
And so the contract between Do Jin and Test Guild came into being.

– Since Test Guild is a newly established guild, I as Guild Master have the discretion to set whatever terms I wish.
– How would you feel about a support skill granted directly by the Guild Master?

The contract process between Do Jin and La Hui unfolded with both care and naturalness. It was all the more so, given that this was the meeting of a Player of the world’s sole Class—who had made a most unusual debut—and a successor candidate of the Hangang Group, bringing a newly formed guild into existence.

– I’ll prove it. Starting with the next Arena quest, I’ll become the world’s number-one Ranker within the next two years.
– For now, why don’t you aim to at least break into the top ten Players in Korea?

“If you adjust the terms regarding my skill right now, I could strike that condition from the agreement.”

La Hui spoke as though conferring a favor. For her part, she was still in the observation phase regarding Do Jin’s potential.
A businesswoman, after all, must be prudent above all else.

“No, there’s no need for such consideration, La Hui.”

But to Do Jin, that was nonsense. The whole reason he had decided to contract with Test Guild in the first place was for the Blessing of Prosperity.
With Do Jin’s knowledge and La Hui’s skill, and if he made full use of ‘that Arena’, Do Jin was confident he could become invincible.
After all, Do Jin had no intention of clearing only ordinary Arenas!

‘I’ve already decided which Arena to enter next.’

The Arena Do Jin would log into from now on would be a place that surpassed even La Hui’s and the viewers’ imagination.

“……What did you just say?”

The Arena Do Jin had named proved to be quite unexpected for La Hui.
Not without reason.
Most Players wouldn’t have recovered their Mana sufficiently by now, and yet the next Arena he spoke of entering in such a state was…….

“You’re saying you want to go to Wolf’s Hunting Ground? Seriously?”

* * *

“So this is all our new recruits number, then?”
“Yes, Guild Master.”

Shin, who oversaw new recruit hiring, stood before Kim Su Ho with his usual courtesy, though his bearing betrayed a hint of contrition.
He had no choice. He’d missed out on the super rookie who had just emerged.
It would have been less embarrassing if the new Player had at least signed with a major guild comparable to Cosmos Guild.

‘A guild I didn’t even know existed, and he joined them instead!’

Laws regarding Players varied somewhat from nation to nation. In South Korea, the process by which a Player established a guild was remarkably simple.
As long as there was at least one Player, the Guild Master would report to the relevant government office and that was all there was to it.
It was as easy as a streamer creating a channel on the internet.
As a result, Korea was flooded with innumerable guilds.
For example, Test Guild, with only one Player within it including the Guild Master himself.

‘Now there are two Players in the guild.’

Yet the Guild Master’s response to this misstep regarding new recruits was generous. It was perhaps the composure and equanimity befitting Korea’s largest guild’s Guild Master—already evident despite his youth.

“Very well. Since we’ve missed out on the rookie, we’ll have to make up for it elsewhere.”
“Do you have an Arena in mind, sir?”
“I do.”

The young man seated at the grand desk before Shin looked up with a faint smile.
His features were sharp and handsome enough to serve as the male lead in any romance drama women adored—as polished and expensive as his tailored suit, carrying with him the unmistakable bearing of the upper classes.
A creature that seemed born to rule over ordinary people.
Moreover, every accessory adorning his body—from cufflinks to watch, rings, and earrings—was grade A or higher.
At a glance, one could gauge how many arenas he’d conquered for rewards, and how much Mana Stone and Gold he’d accumulated to sweep up items at auction.

‘Working for Cosmos Guild is the pinnacle. Following this man, I cannot fail.’

Everyone hired by Cosmos Guild likely harbored the same thought.
Shin, contemplating this, turned his gaze to the system window Kim Su Ho had displayed.
For just a moment, his face—known for impeccable composure—visibly stiffened.

“You truly intend to send the Trainees to that Arena, Guild Master?”
“Yes. It was only a matter of time before they went anyway.”
…….

Shin had opened his mouth to protest but swallowed the words. Wasn’t this Arena deployment ahead of schedule?
Yet the Guild Master’s logic was flawless. Unlike the newly recruited staff, the Trainees Kim Su Ho referred to were Players who’d already cleared most F-grade Arenas.
But E-grade Arenas were an exception.
Of course they were. A Player who cleared an E-grade Arena ceased being a Trainee and earned recognition as a full Guild member.
Not just at Cosmos Guild, but at any guild or the government’s Awakening Bureau, you had to clear an E-grade Arena to be called a true Player.

‘Still, the Guild Master’s judgment has never failed me thus far.’

Kim Su Ho’s project: producing the maximum number of official Players in the shortest timeframe.
That would certainly elevate Cosmos Guild’s reputation.
No matter how rare and remarkable a Necromancer rookie might be.

‘One person alone cannot transcend the guild’s foundation.’

He himself was merely ordinary. The man before him, however, was this guild’s master and one of the world’s foremost Players.
Even if the plan seemed reckless, even if doubt lingered about its premature timing.
Surely there lay calculations and intentions beyond his reach as an ordinary man.
Tomorrow, Cosmos Guild’s Trainees would log into one of the most notoriously difficult E-grade Arenas.
And ahead of schedule at that.
Unlike F-grade Arenas, which were no different from sport, E-grade Arenas involved actual combat.
While in F-grade Arenas the targets merely fled, E-grade Arenas had targets that moved and attacked.
Though these enemies weren’t living creatures but Automatons, and Players didn’t truly die or sustain injury facing them.
Yet watching the humanoid and beast-form Automatons of various types move with near-lifelike precision, attacking and defending, one wondered if these things were truly mechanical.

‘That’s why E-grade Arenas separate the true prospects from the chaff.’

Hence, before entering E-grade Arenas, every Player-related institution thoroughly drilled their members—eager to pass even one more candidate.
Yet now Cosmos Guild had decided to send Trainees to E-grade Arenas immediately.
Was that truly wise?

“It’s unavoidable.”

As if reading every thought in Shin’s mind, Kim Su Ho continued speaking, his smile never wavering.
Had an outsider witnessed that smile, they would have felt nothing but dread.

“The Necromancer’s emergence has drawn far too much public attention—enough to overshadow Cosmos Guild entirely. For my next project, this situation is problematic.”
“Ah……!”

Only then did Shin grasp it. He hurriedly bent at the waist.

“My sincerest apologies, Guild Master!”
“Not at all, Shin.”

The Guild Master of Cosmos Guild, his smile a practiced mask, continued unhurriedly.

“That’s why I’d like our Trainees to put in a bit more effort this season… so that the Cosmos Guild can claim the number one spot among guilds producing the most certified Players in a single season.”

The moment Arenas and Players emerged, the entire world established a new competitive hierarchy: which guild could claim the title of the most elite Player organization?
The government had indeed established the Awakening Bureau and placed numerous Players under its umbrella, but in order to maintain neutrality as a governing body, it refrained from openly entering the competition between Players.
Private guilds, however, operated under no such restraint. And so their rivalry transcended not only regional boundaries but national borders as well, unfolding with fierce intensity.
Which guild boasted more high-tier Players? Which guild set new Arena records? Even which guild commanded the largest streaming fanbase?
The fields of competition were virtually endless.
Though the Cosmos Guild occupied a secure position as Korea’s premier guild.
It had no intention of confining itself to domestic competition indefinitely.
And so Kim Su Ho spoke.

“I will issue D-grade Items to all our Trainees participating in the E-grade Arena.”

D-grade Items.
If one wished for Player Trainees who had never tasted real combat to navigate difficult Arenas and clear them smoothly, one might ordinarily distribute items of an even higher grade. But wisdom required a more measured approach.
Kim Su Ho, however, did not follow that path.
To supply items so superior that clearing Arena quests became a foregone conclusion would only invite ridicule from rival guilds.
D-grade Items, then, were the choice.
At this level of support, he could offer maximum assistance without courting public scorn.

“Understood, Guild Master. I’ll also contact the streaming division.”

Shin had absolute faith in the Cosmos Guild’s underlying strength.
The Trainees would deliver outstanding results, just as the Guild Master expected.
Yet even if the plan unfolded without a single hitch.
That offered no guarantee the outcome would match their hopes.

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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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