Chapter 6
Cheonho Rodeo Street.
It used to be filled with clothing shops and food stalls.
But ever since the gate called [Cave of Darkness] appeared, hunter-related facilities had moved in as well.
“Jack-o’-lanterns that last one hour inside the gate! Only 100,000 won!”
“You know you need night vision for Cave of Darkness, right?”
“Warrior gear rentals available!”
“Cheap! Cheap!”
The area near the gate felt like a marketplace.
Street vendors shouting for customers.
Hunters forming parties on the spot.
“Any mages for a last run?”
“Healer on standby!”
Still, this was considered quiet.
The fixed gate on Rodeo Street wasn’t very popular.
In front of profitable, easy gates, crowds easily reached over a hundred people.
Some even had waiting lines.
Creak, creak.
I dragged my old carrier toward the entrance—
“Hey. You.”
A giant, about 190 cm tall, blocked my way.
Broad shoulders.
A badge on his chest.
That’s the Hwarang emblem.
One of the top five guilds in Korea.
Why would someone from such a guild be here at an unpopular gate?
“What is it?”
“You look like a mage. Join our party.”
He leaned closer and whispered.
“The boss is about to respawn. We’re going to hunt it.”
So that’s what this is.
Fixed gate boss respawn times are easy to calculate.
Hunting records are public.
“I prefer going solo.”
“Why are you speaking casually, old man?”
“You started it.”
“Ha.”
When he frowned, a girl next to him snorted.
“Forget it. He doesn’t want a free bus ride.”
“If it weren’t for the guild mission, we wouldn’t even ask. Tsk.”
The Hwarang guild members finished their little performance.
Probably dragging rookies along for experience.
Not my problem.
Sir Isra’s combat power is beyond E-rank.
I have nothing to worry about.
After watching the ridiculous scene, I entered the gate.
***
[You have entered the Cave of Darkness.]
Entry Requirement: E-rank (100)
Type: Fixed
The inside was swallowed in darkness.
Except for the faint blue light from the rift, there was no illumination.
Near the entrance, I unzipped the carrier and quickly assembled the contents.
【Haaaaah!】
“That drained scream again?”
【You say that because you have never experienced it.】
“Yes, yes.”
Ignoring Sir Isra’s complaints, I pulled out a short bone.
【That is a rather blunt weapon.】
“Your weapon is over there.”
I pointed to the bone sword I carved earlier.
【Then what is that for?】
“Light.”
I crushed glowgrass and sprinkled it over the bone.
[Corpse Processing]
The bone absorbed the glowgrass and began emitting light.
【What magic is this?】
“Channeling glowgrass energy through mana.”
Simply sprinkling powder wouldn’t shine like this.
I used the death mana embedded in the bone to amplify it.
“Much cheaper this way.”
A one-hour magic lantern costs 80,000 won.
Gate vendor markup adds another 20,000.
Glowgrass and a bone? About 5,000.
And longer lasting.
【You are skilled at mana manipulation. 】
“If I weren’t, I’d be broke.”
Proper undead cost hundreds of thousands to make.
If damaged mid-hunt, more costs.
So I researched cost-saving techniques obsessively.
【Even mid-level necromancers struggle to apply spiritual energy like that.】
Getting praised by someone who exterminated necromancers feels strange.
【It is an objective evaluation. Accept it.】
“Yes, thank you.”
The Cave of Darkness is a tunnel-type structure.
Ceiling and walls enclosing a long corridor.
【More spacious than your workshop. 】
“You’re shorter now.”
Mk. 42 was around 190 cm.
Remodeled Sir Isra was just over 160 cm.
No ceiling bumps here.
“Krrrk. Krrrk.”
A rough breathing sound echoed ahead.
A four-legged humanoid shape approached the light.
A troglodyte.
“Sir Isra.”
【I have been waiting.】
He stepped forward with his bone sword.
“Troglodytes are stronger than kobolds.”
Sticky hands and feet.
They crawl on walls and ceilings.
They leap like frogs and strike lethally.
They don’t use tools.
But physically far superior to kobolds.
That’s why this gate isn’t popular.
【Do not worry. This remodeled body is sufficient. 】
Suddenly—
He seemed to stretch.
Blinding speed.
In one leap, he reached the troglodytes.
Slash—
He decapitated one instantly.
“What the—”
How can a zombie move that fast?
Even with a 50% stat bonus, that speed is impossible.
【I applied mana differently.】
“A zombie using mana?”
【This body is not meant for it, but with technique, it works.】
My mind reeled.
Body reinforcement via mana requires at least B-rank hunters.
He truly was the strongest knight.
【It is inefficient. I cannot draw full power.】
Even so, that’s incredible.
“Did you do that against kobolds too?”
【You catch on quickly.】
No, I absolutely did not.
“Krrrek!”
A troglodyte crouched and launched itself like a frog.
【I detest uncivilized combat.】
Slash!
The troglodyte split in half.
Green blood sprayed everywhere.
But barely touched him.
“Sir!”
【This is my skill. 】
“You’re supposed to leave usable corpses!”
If you split them, I have to sew them back together!
【Ah. I see.】
“Be careful next time.”
I moved toward the bodies.
Four corpses.
One discarded.
Three to convert.
First step—
Insert E-rank mana stones into their chests.
【Meaningful?】
“They need to mature.”
They must absorb spiritual energy to qualify for [Corpse Creation].
Naturally takes days in darkness.
Can’t wait inside a gate.
Mana stones substitute that energy.
[Corpse Processing] accelerates the process.
Next—
Sew the neck.
Slice flesh.
Adjust bones.
Convert four-legged stance into bipedal.
About 20 minutes per corpse.
【Other hunters will not enter?】
“There are multiple entry points.”
One external rift.
But internal entry scatters.
That’s why I didn’t see the Hwarang group.
“Awaken.”
[Corpse Creation]
Three troglodytes rose unsteadily.
【Your stage.】
“Let’s see yesterday’s results.”
They shuffled forward.
***
Soon—
“Krrrek!”
Four troglodytes blocked the path.
3 vs 4.
Doable.
Normally undead are weaker than originals.
Mine are customized.
【Still refusing help?】
“Just watch.”
The zombies lined up.
Troglodytes twitched their feelers.
Pre-leap stance.
Strangely—
It felt slow.
I could see their movement clearly.
The moment I recognized the attack—
Commands flowed to my undead.
Boom!
They launched.
Like soccer players kicking with full force.
“Uuuugh.”
One zombie braced and caught a leaping troglodyte.
Claws tore into flesh.
“Uuuugh.”
Pain is irrelevant.
A bone blade was stabbed into its back.
Not fatal?
Stab again.
And again.
The troglodyte collapsed.
Another leaped—
Zombie sidestepped.
A bone blade sliced its throat.
“Krek.”
It rolled, clutching its neck.
Two down instantly.
The remaining two didn’t last long.
“I can’t believe it.”
They moved according to my intent.
Yesterday they could only tackle and bite.
【Truly… this is…】
Sir Isra trailed off.
“I know. I didn’t fully use your forms.”
I only learned vertical and horizontal cuts.
Not reverse-grip stabbing.
Even so—
Three zombies defeated four troglodytes without losses.
That’s huge.
【You misunderstand.】
“What?”
【I was going to say impressive.】
He clapped.
【Overwhelming enemies with such frail zombies. Your control rivals high-level necromancers.】
“R-Really?”
【Certified by Isra, the Necromancer Slayer.】
…Please stop using that title.
Even so—
I couldn’t stop smiling.
【Will you convert all four? 】
“No. Three is enough.”
The space is narrow.
Too many zombies become inefficient.
No valuable drops here anyway.
I converted three.
Used the fourth corpse to reinforce bone blades.
“At this rate, we might clear the boss.”
【Beware arrogance.】
“Yes, yes.”
Am I traveling with a loyal knight?
Or a nagging guardian?
Hard to tell.
