Chapter 7
My zombies had increased to six.
“Krrrek!”
The troglodytes gave the undead a very enthusiastic welcome.
The result was overwhelming.
“Uuuugh.”
Thanks to my adjustments, each zombie’s individual ability was now similar to a troglodyte’s.
Their stiff, corpse-like movements were normally a disadvantage.
But with the Heavenly Martial Body correction applied, it wasn’t a problem.
In fact, since they didn’t flinch from damage,
They didn’t lose in pure strength contests.
【They can use weapons and even perform sword techniques. Of course they will dominate.】
There were times when more than ten troglodytes rushed at once.
They clung to walls and ceilings, attacking from all angles.
Sometimes they even leapt over the zombies.
【Fools, placing their own heads into a tiger’s jaws.】
Though smaller than the original orc body, Sir Isra had a 50% stat bonus.
More agile than the zombies, he sliced straight through a troglodyte’s torso.
【Careful. I’ll stain my clothes.】
“You have time to worry about clothes while fighting?”
【A knight must maintain dignity. The flower of the battlefield must remain unstained. 】
I was starting to get used to his knightly speeches.
Were all knights on the Enras Continent like this?
Well, whether it was a personal quirk or not didn’t matter.
Sir Isra’s strength was undeniable.
Strong enough that I could overlook his obsession with cleanliness in the middle of battle.
[Accumulated experience has increased.]
[Level up.]
[Level cap reached. 1 bonus stat granted.]
Tch.
What a waste.
Once you reach the rank cap at level 50, growth slows.
Experience requirements remain fixed.
But stat gains drop drastically.
The reason my growth stagnated for years was because I kept failing the promotion test.
Just wait two more days.
I’ll promote soon and recover the lost stat efficiency.
【How long will you keep hunting? 】
“Until my bag is full.”
【You are pushing yourself.】
Even though the zombies led the charge, I wasn’t idle.
After every fight, I repaired damaged parts.
Collected mana stones embedded in troglodyte corpses.
My bag grew heavier.
After killing over a hundred troglodytes, my shoulders began to ache.
“But it’s fun.”
Since switching to the Necrosmith subclass,
I had never fought like a true necromancer.
I had to learn undead crafting alone.
Every fight meant calculating repair costs just to break even.
Now it was different.
Zombies made without additional catalysts were overwhelming troglodytes one-on-one.
That was the power of improved coordination and Imperial Swordsmanship.
“Ugh.”
My shoulder felt like it would fall off.
Time to head back.
The glow from the bone light was fading.
It lasted about six hours.
I’d been inside for five.
“It would be bad to lose visibility.”
【It does not matter to me.】
“Knightly virtue?”
【This body does not see through darkness.】
“What?”
【It is an undead racial trait. You truly did not know? 】
“…Seriously?”
Getting looked down on by your own subordinate.
Is this one of those master-servant reversal stories?
Anyway, the bigger problem was the way back.
I hadn’t marked the route.
【Do not worry. I remember the entire path.】
“Oh? Smart.”
【Memorizing marching routes is a knight’s virtue.】
Knights in his world must have been incredibly capable.
As he guided me back—
Clang!
From the opposite corridor came the clear sound of metal clashing.
【Someone is being chased.】
“You can tell just from that?”
【A knight’s virtue.】
I was getting curious about what exactly knights were in his world.
Hurried footsteps grew louder.
I stopped at a corner.
Zombies positioned in front.
“Haah— haah— run— Undead?!”
“What is this?!”
Of all people—
The hunters rounding the corner were familiar.
The Hwarang guild pair from earlier.
Why are you here?
***
The mage-looking guild member was gasping for air.
I asked the bulky one.
“Being chased by the boss?”
“Y-You—no, sir—are you a necromancer?”
“Don’t answer a question with a question.”
“It’s a mutant. The boss.”
“Drop the awkward politeness.”
Every word was irritating.
I understood the situation.
Two Hwarang rookies and three pickup members tried to take the boss.
It went badly.
Normally, boss monsters don’t stray far.
If it followed them here, they pulled aggro hard.
“Try not to be a nuisance.”
A boss monster is stronger than something one rank above.
So an E-rank gate boss would be roughly D+ level.
If mutated, even stronger.
They dragged an uncontrollable monster toward others.
