Chapter 29

Dark Shadow Unit (1)

Skeleton.

The so-called skull.

More precisely, it refers to an undead being with nothing but bones left on its entire body.

Therefore, it has no eyeballs to handle sight, nor a cochlea to handle hearing.

And that’s not all.

It also lacks a larynx to produce sound.

“My lord…”

But, bones.

No, Tae Yangi was definitely making a voice.

“M-My lord…!”

Tae Yangi wore an expression of deep emotion.

‘No way.’

A Skeleton can make expressions.

“I can really… I can really see!”

And on top of that, he can see.

‘Come to think of it.’

If you think about it that way.

How can a skeleton with no nerves or muscles walk around and fight?

In fact, this damn job of ‘Hunter’ is a complete fantasy in itself.

“Hmm.”

I looked around at Tae Yangi, who was marveling at his surroundings, with a proud expression.

A child who lost his sight as soon as he was born.

A child who was abandoned by humanity and wiped out the humanity of one world.

“Do you like it?”

I asked.

“Yes… I like it. It’s wonderful. Ah, so this is what dirt looks like. So this is what weeds growing between stones look like…”

Tae Yangi swept the floor with trembling hands.

He slowly caressed the dirt, enjoying the sensation.

In a way, it was a noble scene.

‘What must that feel like?’

What’s certain is.

It must be an emotion I can’t even imagine.

‘Anyway.’

The fact that my summon can speak is great news.

It means I can have more precise communication in future battles.

“It’s really amazing.”

Gi So-yul was also watching the scene from the side.

“For a Skeleton to speak… It’s such a rare sight that other Necromancers would be amazed.”

“Skeleton, you say.”

I glared at her.

“Yes?”

Gi So-yul tilted her head.

“Please call him Tae Yangi. He’s my baby.”

“I, I see.”

She seemed to be looking at me with a [What the hell is wrong with this guy?] expression.

But still, she seemed to be respecting me in her own way.

She nodded without saying anything.

But my heart was sincere.

I don’t see them as mere consumables, but as family.

I’ve grown attached to them over the past three years.

“By the way, Dark Emperor.”

“Yes?”

“Are you sure it’s okay for you to keep staying here?”

Honestly, I was surprised.

She really came back in just six hours.

And is back to performing her escort duties.

I asked her to, but it would be a lie to say I wasn’t feeling the pressure.

I thought the Dark Shadow Unit would come at me right away.

Are they still scared of Gi So-yul?

Not a single Shadow can be seen, like rats.

‘She says it’s okay because she’s watching my training process.’

But it didn’t seem very meaningful.

They say that when any skill reaches its peak, it all becomes one?

Gi So-yul closely watched the movements of the bones in every training session.

It seemed like she was trying to feel the Old Man’s scent within them.

“Don’t worry.”

Gi So-yul shrugged and replied.

“I’ll leave when the time comes.”

“Wow, I’d be a little sad, though?”

I guess I’ve gotten comfortable with her in my own way.

I’m talking like this to a Ranker.

“Hmm, wasn’t the condition Ju Dong-hoon set that you’d only protect me until I grow?”

“That’s true.”

Come to think of it.

I didn’t specify a concrete grade for growth.

“To add one more thing, it’s only up to grade A.”

“Yes?”

“If you’re around grade A, you should be able to protect yourself. It’ll also be easy to join various large guilds. Well, at the current rate of growth, it’ll be soon.”

“Huh?”

No way.

[Hunter: Ju Dong-hoon]

[Title: X]

[Unique Ability: Cursed Necromancer]

[Grade: D]

I’m still grade D.

Moreover, I don’t even have a title.

Grade A soon?

“Honestly, I still can’t believe it. When I first met you as a porter, you were around D grade five… Already, that Skele…”

Gi So-yul quickly corrected herself when she was about to say ‘Skeleton’.

“No, just looking at Tae Yangi, he’s almost B grade. And Dong-hoon seems to be improving day by day.”

“I see.”

I admit it.

Honestly, even I thought it was a fraudulent speed.

But.

There’s something she doesn’t know.

“Tae Yangi.”

Tae Yang-chang.

The fact that this guy was actually an absolute ruler who reigned over a world.

The top predator who had no rivals in the Ancient Desert Empire.

The moment he regains his original power.

She’ll be shocked.

“Tae Yangi?”

“Yes, my lord. Did you call?”

Tae Yangi, who had been lost in thought, touching the dirt, jumped up at my call.

Then, he knelt down with a reliable expression.

“My lord is the one who gave me a new life. I will repay you with loyalty.”

“Yeah, yeah. More than that.”

The corners of my mouth went up at his pure cry.

“I guess I don’t need to give you separate training instructions?”

[Name: Tae Yang-chang]

[Stamina: 100/100]

[Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton]

[Class: Spearman]

[Grade: D]

[Strength: 35] [Agility: 35] [Stamina: 32] [Magical power: 26] [Technique: 33]

[Skills]

-‘Low-grade Thrust’ (Lv.9)

-‘Sun Chain Strike’ (Lv.1)

-‘Raging Desert’ (Lv.1)

-‘Soulflare’ (Lv.1)

His grade is still D as well.

True awakening is just the Soul of Tae Yang-chang being added to the Skeleton’s body.

It didn’t seem to mean an increase in grade.

In other words, to upgrade the grade, I need to train more.

“My lord, that is correct. I can hone my Spear Art on my own.”

That’s right.

It’s a Spear Art that even the Old Man acknowledged.

“Although it is still a weak body that I am not used to, I will work hard to quickly find my original power and help my lord.”

“Okay, then you train on your own.”

“I will obey.”

He went to the corner and swung his bone spear.

The training with the Old Man was already finished in the morning.

‘By the way, when will my grade increase?’

Clearly, there is a way to raise it from D grade to C grade.

How am I so sure?

‘Because the Root tells me.’

The medium I obtained, ‘Root of Racial Conflict’, said in ‘Effect 3’.

[Effect 3: This item can be activated from Hunter grade C or higher.]

It’s telling me to achieve C grade first.

The medium is a bound item that allows me to clear even the ‘S grade’ quest.

The fact that there is such a condition on the item ‘bound’ to me.

Proves that the limit does not end at D grade.

‘Okay, my next goal is C grade.’

Enthusiasm burned in my heart.

Creak!

I finished my light training and came home.

The room was relatively clean.

Because.

As of yesterday.

I let Gi So-yul inside.

No matter how shameless I am, I didn’t want to make my bodyguard, who protects me, sleep on the rooftop under the pretext of ‘promise’.

‘Well, there’s such a thing as Korean hospitality.’

Still, I was worried she might misunderstand.

It’s childish, but I even put up a partition.

“You know? I’ll never cross this line, so don’t worry.”

Gi So-yul initially refused, saying there was no need for this.

But when I insisted, she had no choice but to come inside.

“You can spread out your sleeping bag there and sleep, like yesterday.”

I pointed to the narrow space with a desk on the opposite side of the mattress.

It goes without saying, but the only mattress is mine.

I can’t give up a comfortable sleep.

“Why bother with this.”

Gi So-yul let out a faint sigh with a look of looking at a strange person.

“What do you mean, ‘bother’? I have to be sure.”

I’m sorry, but I’m still a weakling in this Hunter society.

What if the fact that I mistreated you by making you sleep outside.

Gets known to your brother, Gi Parang?

I could be buried in this industry before I even become a Ranker.

Not a metaphorical expression, but literally buried alive in the ground.

“No, I mean this partition.”

Gi So-yul pointed to the line set up with Styrofoam boxes.

“Yes?”

“Either way, if I wanted to, your head would be gone in an instant even without this partition. I meant it’s meaningless.”

“……?”

No, this woman.

What’s wrong with her brain?

How does her thinking flow that way?

It was like she was always thinking about how to kill someone.

No, it’s not like it, it’s true.

Because she’s an assassin.

“Here, have some cup noodles. I don’t know if it’ll suit your taste.”

I poured hot water into a cheap cup of noodles and handed it to her.

She accepted it without a word.

About two minutes passed.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

“H-Hello!”

It was then that someone knocked on the door urgently with a clear voice.

It was the voice of a young woman.

What is it?

I don’t have anyone who would come to see me.

Without realizing it, I turned my head and looked at Gi So-yul’s face.

“……”

She shook her head.

Meaning she didn’t know either.

Judging from the fact that there was no particular reaction, it didn’t seem like the Dark Shadow Unit gang either.

If it was a high-grade Hunter, she would have already noticed.

“Hoo.”

The noodles will get soggy.

I sighed and opened the door.

Thump!

“Who are you?”

There was a mysterious woman in front of the door.

A youthful face and a school uniform, as if she were a student.

‘Is she a resident?’

It was someone I’d never seen before.

‘Ah, before that.’

I quickly looked behind me.

Gi So-yul is a Ranker.

Moreover, she’s a ‘celebrity’ who’s receiving explosive attention in the world with her pretty looks, more than that.

‘Damn it, there’s nothing good about being caught with Gi So-yul.’

It would be a big problem if rumors spread.

[Breaking News! Dark Emperor, Gi So-yul. Secret one-room scandal! With a man at night?]

[Gi So-yul’s dating rumors attract worldwide attention! Who’s the partner?]

Imagine if such articles came out.

‘Wow.’

I got goosebumps just imagining it.

Could I die at the hands of Gi So-yul before Gi Parang kills me?

“……”

Fortunately.

Gi So-yul was already gone.

To disappear in an instant from this small one-room.

Truly befitting the king of assassination.

“Excuse me! Are you Ju Dong-hoon oppa, by any chance?”

“Huh? Do you know me?”

I asked in confusion.

How does she know me?

“Ju Dong-hoon oppa! It’s you, right? It’s really you, right? T-This is terrible!”

“Terrible?”

“Please save my oppa. Please. Sob sob.”

The high school girl, who had been constantly urgent, finally shed tears.

As if the tears she had been holding back had exploded.

“……?”

I took a step back for a moment.

From behind, I felt a slight killing intent from Gi So-yul, who was hiding her presence.

It seems like she’s misunderstanding something ridiculous.

What does this woman think I am?

“Save your oppa?”

I first tried to calm the crying high school girl as a matter of urgency.

“Hey. Can you explain the situation so I can understand? I need an explanation to save your oppa, or not.”

“Ah ah.”

Only then.

The high school girl, who had come to her senses, handed over a note.

“Sob, this was left at home.”

“What is this?”

I quickly accepted it.

Then I looked at it in detail.

“This is…?”

My eyes widened.

A familiar face.

It was a picture of Kim Jun-seo, the request team leader of the mercenary guild ‘Resolver’, bleeding with his whole body tied up.

On top of that.

The letters were written crookedly.

[Hi?]

[Do you want to save your oppa, Kim Jun-seo?]

[Then send Ju Dong-hoon to ‘Seonyudo on the Han River’ by eight o’clock tonight.]

[If you report to the association, your oppa will die.]

[Even if a Hunter other than Ju Dong-hoon comes, your oppa will die.]

[Ju Dong-hoon’s address: ■■■Gu ■■■Dong 421.]

“……”

These bastards?

I could instinctively tell.

‘Dark Shadow Unit.’

That they had begun to move in earnest.