Chapter 160

<<-- Necromancer -- >>

160 – Necromancer #3

“Y-you zombie b*stard! Come here and stand straight, you little b*stard! Or else…!”

Or else what?

While pondering what to say next, I glanced at Luna for advice, and she shouted.

“Threaten to hit him on the head! Twice! No, three times!”

Indeed, Luna always seems to know exactly what I’m thinking just by looking at my expression. Sometimes, she really seems quite brilliant.

“Alright! I’ll hit you on the head three times!”

?Groooaaarrr, aaahh..

Upon receiving my threat bolstered by Luna’s suggestion, the undead Ismail stood still inside the confined magic circle.

I wonder what I would have done if the intimidation hadn’t worked. It’s a thought I’d rather not entertain.

Wooouuuung..

Soon, the rune at the bottom of the zombie began to emit an eerie, bluish light. Ismail, realizing the danger approaching, started shaking violently.

– Grroooaaah, aaaahh!!

It’s horrifying. How do those wild animal tamers who train lions and tigers feel when they perform their acts? I have newfound respect for them.

“Stay still! Stay still, I said, you piece of—! This is an order! d*mn it!”

While they must have had some practiced techniques for handling such ferocious creatures, I, having no experience whatsoever, could only let out shrill cries of fear.

– Muu, order…

At least it’s somewhat fortunate that even this clumsy threat has managed to halt his actions.

I’m thoroughly confused by this strange hierarchical relationship. This can’t be a coincidence; it’s happened twice now.

“H-hold on a second. Is this little thing listening to me right now? Did I just inadvertently seize control of this thing?”

Just in case, I asked her, and upon hearing my words, Luna stopped the dark incantation she was muttering, stood up from her seat, and showed me her open palm.

“Hassan! Hassan can control zombies now? Only the top shamans of the Tatari tribe can do that! How in the world did you do it?”

“I don’t know! But anyway, it’s solved!”

Snap.

Luna and I struck our palms together in a spirit of good teamwork, eliciting a clap. At this, Paranoi let out a large gasp of confusion.

“Ah, the ritual isn’t finished yet…! We haven’t even started the transfer of control yet…”

“What? d*mn it! Does that mean it’s still dangerous? You, sit down! If you don’t, I’ll beat you senseless!”

I raised a club, ready to strike if necessary.

However, fortunately, my threats proved effective, and the undead Ismail bent his knees and sat cross-legged inside the magic circle.

-Grooooaaahh…

Ah.

Now I understand.

Certainly, the fear of violence still affects the undead. This creature must be afraid of this mighty and special club in my possession.

After all, this club isn’t just any club. It’s blessed, crafted from olive wood, and bears the terrifying name “Crusher of Fears.”

Perhaps wielding this club in violence may indeed be the correct means of resolving most problems. I am, after all, quite intelligent.

“The necromancer summons the dead—indeed, the heretic’s dark magic is as frightening as ever. Proselyte Paranoi, it seems you do have some talent.”

Hippolyte, who had quietly approached me from the side, watched the scene with narrow eyes. She soon sheathed her sword.

Even though the situation wasn’t completely resolved yet, isn’t it better to keep the sword drawn? As I was about to gently request this, Hippolyte spoke up first.

“Can you make him extend his hand?”

“His hand?”

“I want to confirm his compliance.”

“Right. Hey, your hand. Extend your right hand.”

In response, the seated Ismail stretched out his right hand. d*mn, this is terrifyingly interesting.

“Oh, he actually follows orders. There are occasionally adventurers among us who show some talent in taming monsters, but none of us here have ever seen someone control undead outside of the devotees of Pluto.”

“Hey, extend your left hand as well.”

Seizing the opportunity, I made him stretch out his left hand in addition to his right.

Swoosh.

And there it was—the left hand extended at my command.

-Grrraooaaahh..

Even as he obediently followed my orders, his face remained grotesque and cruel, sending shivers down my spine.

It’s like becoming a Taoist from old Hong Kong movies who controls the Jiangshi zombies. That’s exactly the feeling.

And if one person follows my commands—this is what being an overlord is like, right? Finally, I’m reaching the level where I can be a tyrant. Though, d*mn, my victim is only a heartless zombie.

But this isn’t just some zombie. This is more like a super zombie, so surely, I can boast about this somewhere, right?

However, Hippolyte had a slightly different opinion.

“Hassan, this matter is better left as a secret. If it’s known that we used necromancy, we won’t end up well.”

“… Is that so?”

“Perhaps the Shrine Knights might come for us. Honestly, I would prefer not tangling with those guys.”

The Shrine Knights play a role akin to the prosecutor agency on Earth. Anyway, it’s a powerful organization, and each individual is quite skillful.

“This thing must be terminated here. Proselyte Paranoi, can you perform some kind of necromancy on him?”

Termination.

Upon hearing this, I felt a mix of relief and regret. This undead obediently following my commands—how rare could such an impeccable labor force be?

A necromancer’s undead doesn’t eat, doesn’t tire, and tirelessly follows commands without complaints.

A perfect part-timer.

A perfect slave.

I had even envisioned myself using this undead companion while adventuring.

Tasks like disarming traps or carrying luggage—all the tedious and dangerous work I could delegate entirely to him. Setting up a tent or any other unpleasant task could easily be assigned too.

d*mn, but this is an undead created by forbidden dark arts.

It shouldn’t be used for such mundane matters.

“Silent Voodoo – !”

-Grrraaaaahh!!

And so, in the end, the beast was destroyed when Luna’s Silent Totem crushed its head.

A Royal Guard-level undead, or something similar, but still powerless against Luna’s silent Totem, intricately decorated with onyx.

Come to think of it, the undead raised by Zomia, the cultist and voodoo priestess, were easily felled by Luna’s Silent Totem.

If this undead could be felled by this Totem, d*mn, why didn’t we use it sooner?

*

“The nine-headed monster, the nightmare from the underground, Hydra… Twisted heads…”

“The six-foot-tall, dark-haired Samaritan… Wields a thick club -.”

The streets are bustling with the loud songs of troubadours. The lyrics and tunes vary greatly, but most of the stories they tell are similar.

The nine-headed Hydra fought by the dark-haired Samaritan.

It’s been two days since I left the Underground, and the news that the Thief Guild Hydra, which ruled the underground market, had been destroyed has spread rapidly among bards, con men, and other rumor-loving flatterers.

And the problem was solved not by the veteran team of Rose from the guild in Kalcutta nor by the Gold Tier adventurer Hippolyte, but by none other than…

“That guy over there, see him? Dark hair, with a club. That’s Hassan of Samaria!”

“That person defeated the Thief Guild Hydra, they say!”

It’s me—Hassan of Samaria.

This is probably a result of the disbanded thief guild following my orders faithfully, spreading rumors that they “fell to Hassan of Samaria.”

People muttering as I walk through the poorer parts of the neighborhood makes my neck tingle, but it’s not entirely unpleasant.

Moreover, this isn’t an exaggerated or absurd rumor since it’s the truth that I did dissolve the thief guild, so I feel justified.

“Was the leader of the thief guild really a monstrous beast with nine heads?”

“It had terrifying fangs so poisonous a single drop could k*ll a bull!”

“To think he took it down bare-handed! Truly, Samaritans are formidable warriors!”

As is expected, exaggerated rumors have also spread amidst all these.

Without official announcements, stories tend to evolve with each retelling, mixed with the storyteller’s embellishments and exaggerations.

“Samaritan, you’re really becoming a hero.”

Walking the streets with Hippolyte to apprehend the remaining remnants of the Thief Guild, she heard the people’s murmurs and grumbled.

“But at least the stories aren’t terrible. If Mars Guild adventurers gain fame, the share price of our Mars Guild will certainly rise.”

Soon, she chuckled.

She seemed ecstatic thinking about her stocks rising, and she didn’t seem to care or plan to refute or clarify the exaggerated rumors.

Anyway, thanks to chatterboxes like Malco, the news of the dissolved Thief Guild spread like wildfire across Sodomora in less than a day.

“Extra, Extra! It’s been discovered that the Thief Guild was tied to the administrative vice-officer outside the West Gate!”

“The sculpture that disappeared from Baron Fleur’s estate, the Tears of the Goddess, has returned!”

Boys and girls, delighted by this rare scoop, are running around selling newspapers with crude handwriting all over town.

“Ah, no longer will the untaxed underground market exist. d*mn, the thieves selling stolen goods at lower prices than the real deal—it’s fitting.”

“Yeah, those who collected protection money through threats are also gone. I wonder if business will improve from now on.”

“Goodness, it’s surprising that even something like this day can come. Hmm, maybe work will be more enjoyable from now on.”

There’s a faint smile on the faces of the merchants from the West Gate and the South Market, and I feel gratified.

“Look over there! Black hair, it’s a Samaritan! That’s Hassan of Samaria! And there’s Lady Hippolyte beside him!”

The squealing of young women sounds sweet to my ears, having been accustomed to curses and fearful screams.

“Good show, adventurer. You’ve become quite well-known, Hassan of Samaria.”

When my attention was distracted by the giggling, Hippolyte nudged my side sharply. By “nudged,” I mean it hurt because of the considerable strength behind her jab.

“Uh, well, yes. Heh.”

“Because of your recent actions, many people in the city have regained smiles. But, it isn’t all good; some have also lost their jobs and status.”

At Hippolyte’s words, I recalled the civil officials involved with the Thief Guild, and the merchants of the underground market who were now facing large-scale crackdowns.

Rising to higher positions means creating many enemies.

Just imagining someone sharpening knives and fangs against me dampens my joy somewhat and fills me with worry.

Most importantly, the Thief Guild hasn’t disappeared completely.

It’s merely going through a period of rebirth under a new name.

And Hippolyte doesn’t even know that I am something akin to the new boss. It’s a delicate matter, and I fear being treated as a criminal.

For the sake of the hero “Hassan of Samaria,” perhaps it’s best to quickly sever ties with those criminals.

I don’t know where the thugs have fled to or where they’re lying in wait.

Dorgo’s illegal underground tavern, where I sneaked in to meet Dorthea, has apparently closed. Being an underground operation, it could’ve fled at any time without seeming unusual.

Ultimately, all that ties this group to me are the yellowed camel-leather papers hidden in my pocket.

At least during this sweeping investigation throughout the city, those guys will remain silent like corpses.

For now, I think it’s better for me to continue pretending as if I know nothing about them.

Anyway, Hippolyte and I eventually entered the inn “Nymph’s Wings.” The place was bustling with people, leaving hardly any standing room.

“What’s with all these customers?”

“Rumors must have spread that a famous adventurer frequents this place. All sorts of opportunists must be trying to build connections.”

Hippolyte’s words made me nod in agreement. It was then that the innkeeper noticed me and approached with a broad smile.

“Ladies and gentlemen, look here! Look here! Hassan of Samaria has arrived! Didn’t I tell you he was one of our regular patrons? And the lady next to him…”

Glancing at the gold emblem hanging from Hippolyte’s neck, the innkeeper’s eyes widened significantly.

“Here, this lady is a Gold Tier adventurer! My goodness, such fortune for our inn!”

The commotion in the tavern increased significantly with Hippolyte and I’s arrival.

The attention, compliments, and admiration directed towards me were both embarrassing and pleasant, yet at the same time, they made me want to run away to an empty, desolate place.

“Over here, please. This corner is your permanent seat from now on. You prefer quiet, don’t you?”

As if he read my mind, the innkeeper guided me to a secluded table. Having visited every day for a month or two now, he’s already begun to memorize my preferences.

“Looks like Noxdotty hasn’t arrived yet.”

Hippolyte, sitting at the corner, glanced around the tavern briefly and commented.

We were supposed to meet Luna to talk about potion promotions and for her to repay her 3 Silver owed. But she hasn’t arrived yet, and Hippolyte seemed curious about it.

Yesterday and today,

Luna was tirelessly preparing potions for her shop opening. She’s probably still pestering Paranoi to grind up strange herbs and vegetables.

“She’ll come along soon.”

“Ahem, how about we just share a drink? Just the two of us?”

“It’s the middle of the day, though, right?”

“Hmm, yeah, that might be inappropriate. Still, this is our first meal together, isn’t it?”

“Guess so.”

Having a private meal with a Gold Tier adventurer, Hassan—does this make me someone to look up to?

Anyway, since Luna didn’t arrive even after waiting, Hippolyte and I had half of a roasted chicken together.

As we finished the meal, Hippolyte finally broached the topic.

“I’ll be busy this afternoon. There are rumors within the guild about considering your promotion to Silver Tier because of your recent accomplishments, so I was thinking of updating your Karma points.”

“Updating? Did you say I am being considered for Silver Tier?”

I’m still not at that level, right? Even so, being promoted—it means that reaching the point where I wear a gold necklace isn’t a far-fetched dream.

At this, Hippolyte chuckled.

“Even if you did, your Karma likely doesn’t exceed 20. To become a Silver Tier you need at least 30 points. The old men are just inflating their expectations because of the arrival of a promising rookie. They’re all obsessed with shares like me.”

“… I see.”

“Still, it’s not entirely hopeless. If you learn how to use Aura, you could possibly be specially promoted to Silver Tier.”

“Aura?”

“Users of Aura and offensive magic are often given an additional 10 points in their Karma rating.”

The mention of Aura brought up an image in my mind of the golden aura shining around Hippolyte’s sword. If I could master Aura, that would raise my current 23 points to something like 33, right?

“Of course, Aura isn’t something you can casually learn in backstreet dojos. But if you’re determined, I don’t see why you can’t.”

“What place teaches such things?”

“Ordinarily, one should apprentice under a remarkable mentor like Kairos, serving them for a long time, or learn it independently.”

It’s impossible for me to learn it by myself while unable to feel Mana, Aura, or Karma. The only option left is finding an excellent tutor.

In cities like Sodomora, where there’s a fair number of people, various schools teaching sword techniques, martial arts, and fighting styles exist. Although the tuition fees are quite expensive, it seemed worthwhile to visit one now.

Where should I start? While contemplating this, Hippolyte, who had been tapping the table with her gauntlet, gently suggested a few words.

“Speaking of which, how about you receive training from me once a week? Just… the two of us. After all, secret techniques require confidentiality.”

“Are you saying you’ll teach me Aura?”

I wanted to shout in excitement over this amazing news.

A blade technique wrapped around a sword, or a thrust emitted like a fatal strike—these are all considered ultimate techniques that people keep hush-hush about as forbidden skills. They are usually impossible to learn unless you’re very lucky.

And I, someone who’s just started, could be learning it from a Gold Tier adventurer of this caliber? There couldn’t be a better teacher than Hippolyte.

“Hmm-.”

At that moment, Hippolyte pulled out a small hand mirror from her sleeve and began to dab at the corners of her eyes before clearing her throat.

“I’ll leave for a moment. Take some time to think about it.”

Swoosh.

She left the table, saying she’d be back shortly. Considering the offer to learn Aura and ascend to Silver Tier, it was one I couldn’t decline.

While eagerly awaiting Hippolyte’s return,

The leftovers from the roasted chicken started grating on my nerves.

Swish, Swish.

Looking around, I realized that the crowd had lost interest in my corner. Confirming that no one was paying attention to me, I quietly addressed the bones with a voice so low, even I could barely hear it.

“… Rise …”

Crunch, Crunch.

“…Gruugh…”