Chapter 3

I guess there’s no rule saying I have to die.

“Ugh…”

All the strength drained from my body.

It felt like I’d had a deep sweat in a sauna, leaving my whole body languid.

[Hunter: Ju Dong-hoon]

[Stamina: 0/100]

This is what happens when Stamina reaches 0.

But unlike my body, my head was boiling like a kettle.

“No way…”

The desire to live, the instinct for survival, was wriggling within me.

I had a slight feeling that I’d done enough, but my heart ached for some reason.

I didn’t suffer for three years just to die such a meaningless death.

I didn’t want to live such a failed life.

But the reality was a gutter.

Now, all that remained were three skeletons flickering like embers in the wind.

‘A Ranker, my ass. Was I just destined to be Orc fodder?’

My strength was gone.

I felt wronged and resentful.

Was I just a crow-tit with a torn crotch?

Even so.

Is it such a big mistake for a crow-tit to want to follow a stork?

“Screech!”

As if sensing my psychological resignation.

It was when the Orc let out a victorious roar with a sinister smile.

[Check the condition achievement message!]

“Huh?”

I frowned.

Actually, it seemed to have been there for a while.

I was angry, so furious.

I didn’t have the leisure to examine the message vaguely etched before my eyes.

“…?”

But, soon I snapped to my senses.

Because it was a completely golden message, unlike the usual ones.

I quickly clicked on it.

[Achieve a hidden condition!]

[This is a hidden condition exclusive to ‘Unique Ability: Cursed Necromancer’!]

[Condition: The Law of 10,000 Uses!]

Enormous effort is required to increase the grade of a Unique Ability!

Use the skill, ‘Ordinary Skeleton Summon’ (Grade E) 10,000 times!

“Huh?”

My eyes widened.

A dumb sound escaped my lips.

Golden dust was scattering splendidly near the message.

Squeak, creak?

The skeletons confronting the Orc in front of me also stood blankly, wondering what was going on.

‘The Law of 10,000 Uses?’

It was a condition I’d never heard of before.

Well, if I knew it, the ‘hidden’ label would be meaningless.

‘So that means.’

Is the number of times I’ve used the skill so far ten thousand?

Well, it’s been about three years now, so even if I repeated it only 10 times a day, it would be around that much…

That’s when it happened.

[Congratulations!]

[Your grade grows to Grade D!]

Ahhhhh.

Heavens. God.

Grade D…?

You didn’t answer for three years, and now you do?

Well, thanks anyway.

[Rewards arrive according to grade change!]

Yes, quickly! Quickly!

Throw me something!

I urged the unknown god in my mind.

The Orc started moving again, so I had to hurry.

[Stamina is filling up!]

[Stamina: 100/100]

“Nice!”

I shouted without realizing it.

Stamina to me.

It was like an extra life.

Clang! Chaang!

The Orc’s axe collided with Bone One’s greatsword a couple of times.

But a completely different sound rang out than before.

Not a sound of crumbling powerlessly, but a sound of bouncing back with force!

“Oh.”

The power of the Skeleton had changed from before!

[The grade of the skill, ‘Ordinary Skeleton Summon’ (Grade E) is upgraded!]

[The skill changes to ‘Awakened Skeleton Summon’ (Grade D)!]

A message popped up to match it.

[Skill: Awakened Skeleton Summon]

[Grade: D]

[Effect 1: Summons a mid-grade Skeleton by consuming 10 Stamina. Up to 10 are possible.]

[Effect 2: You can name each Skeleton.]

The only thing that changed was that what was originally a ‘low-grade’ Skeleton changed to ‘mid-grade.’

And one more thing.

[A new main weapon is set for the new Skeletons!]

[Applicable Skeletons: ‘Bone Four’, ‘Bone Five’]

[From now on, the Skeletons will respond to your command!]

“Huh?”

I made a dumb expression.

I looked at the message again and again.

‘Main weapon is set? So that means…’

The hard work of the past flashed through my mind like a panorama.

Until now.

Was I trying to train guys who weren’t even Awakened?

Was the ability just sealed?

These damn guys.

You should have told me sooner!

I turned my gaze forward again.

“Screech! Screech!”

The Orc was making a fuss as if it was angry.

It seemed quite angry because of the suddenly strengthened Skeletons.

Clang! Taang!

The Orc was busy blocking the greatsword wielded by Bone One, the spear thrust by Bone Two, and the arrows shot by Bone Three.

‘Yeah, what kind of guys are these.’

They were weak when they were Grade E.

But now that they’ve grown to Grade D, they’re not guys who will be pushed back by the same Grade D.

I put in that much enthusiasm and sincerity into the training.

If the Orc wasn’t a higher species, it would have already been cut in half by Bone One’s greatsword.

Nodding, I immediately used Stamina.

‘If you get a new ability, isn’t it the duty of a Hunter to use it right away?’

[Use the skill, ‘Awakened Skeleton Summon’ (Grade D).]

[Use 10 Stamina.]

[‘Bone Four’ appears.]

[Use the skill, ‘Awakened Skeleton Summon’ (Grade D).]

[Use 10 Stamina.]

[‘Bone Five’ appears.]

Along with the black energy that surged up from the floor.

Toorururu…

Two Skeletons were formed.

It was Bone Four and Bone Five.

“Kya.”

I examined them with a blissful expression.

The Skeletons who used to be blankly without any weapons were nowhere to be found.

Bone Four was holding a large shield as big as his body.

Bone Five was holding a staff, as if he was a mage.

A Tanker and a Mage?

Wow, with this, you can even form a plausible party with Skeletons?

Squeak!

First, Bone Four, who put forward the shield, slightly lowered his lower body.

Then he ran towards the Orc.

“Screech?”

The Orc, who had been fighting for a while, stepped back as if embarrassed.

Then, as if to say, ‘How dare you block me with that shield,’ he swung his axe strongly.

Ttaang!

But the guy’s axe was easily bounced off.

Behind that guy.

[‘Bone Five’ uses the skill, ‘Fireball’ (Lv.1).]

Whirr!

The fireball created by Bone Five fell on top of him.

“Screech! Screech!”

The Orc screamed as if the burnt skin was painful.

Poosuk! Pook!

Bone Two’s spear pierced the defenseless guy’s Adam’s apple.

It was a surprisingly scary combination and speed.

“Wow.”

I didn’t do anything.

I was just watching quietly.

[Process the ‘Tough Orc’.]

“…”

My heart was pounding.

I felt two emotions.

A sense of relief that I survived a near-death situation.

And excitement about the new ability.

‘I guess.’

I thought this life was ruined.

I guess there’s no rule in the world that says you have to die.

‘I can’t believe it.’

I tried to calm down by taking deep breaths dozens of times, but I couldn’t help it.

I couldn’t help it if I was human.

Until just a few minutes ago, I really thought I was going to heaven.

I couldn’t believe that I was still breathing.

‘Besides.’

The fruits of three years of effort were just realized, so how could I calm down?

I stopped training and returned to my underground studio apartment, and I was looking at the status window all day long.

“Hehehe.”

With a smile on my face.

[Hunter: Ju Dong-hoon]

[Alias: X]

[Stamina: 100/100]

[Unique Ability: Cursed Necromancer]

[Grade: D]

[Effect]

-You are a Necromancer, a profession that deals with dead souls. You can subdue your opponents by utilizing terrifying evil spirits and poisons. However, you are cursed.

-You can only summon Skeletons.

[Skills Possessed]

-‘Awakened Skeleton Summon’ (Grade D)

‘Nice.’

I clenched my fist tightly.

I thought my life was being left behind.

But I had hope again.

I had been misunderstanding all along.

It was such a beautiful world, but I was cursing at that world, saying it was ruined.

Yeah, the results have to follow as much as you work hard, of course.

“…”

Of course, it’s still a long way to go to climb to the ‘Ranker’ level, where Grade A and Grade S are rampant.

I could clearly see the thorny path ahead.

What kind of bizarre things will I have to do to get to the next Grade C?

But I was happy.

I thought it was an impossible dream until now.

‘I’m going back to the basics.’

Anyway.

The path I designed was not wrong.

Only endless effort and training make you strong.

That’s all that matters.

‘Besides, the Skeletons.’

Honestly, I was surprised.

The power of the mid-grade Skeleton that changed to Grade D was beyond imagination.

It was different from the Undead I had been listening to, studying, and organizing.

Originally, a Skeleton is just a Skeleton.

I had never even heard of a strong Skeleton.

The concept of a ‘mid-grade’ Skeleton itself didn’t exist.

Besides, they even grow.

Not only that?

There’s even a guy who uses magic.

‘That’s ridiculous.’

As far as I know, the only Undead that uses magic is the ‘Lich,’ which is the highest-ranking species even among Grade A.

“…”

I fantasized for a moment.

The image of ‘Bone Five’ spamming high-end skills like Blink, Hellfire, and Blizzard Storm.

And the image of ‘Bone One’ and ‘Bone Two’ growing into Sword Masters and Spear Masters.

Then are ‘Bone Three’ and ‘Bone Four’ Bow Master and Defense Master, respectively?

I smiled and heated up a cup ramen.

Slurp!

I slurped the noodles coolly.

Is it because it’s ramen that I eat after surviving?

Even though I’ve eaten it so much that I’m sick of it, it was the most delicious thing in the world.

‘Anyway.’

There’s still no significant change in life.

Even tomorrow.

I have to go to the mercenary guild to earn money.

I have to make a living.

I have to repeat the training.

‘I hope the other five Skeletons Awaken quickly too.’

It’s probably too early.

If I train only five hard for now, won’t they gradually open up?

Thud!

After finishing the meal, I lay down on the bed.

I think I’m going to stay up all night looking at the status window.

But I have to sleep.

Anyway, it was a good night.

The next day.

The atmosphere of the mercenary guild ‘Resolver’ that I belonged to was somehow bustling.

It was originally a branch where only Grade E and Grade D mercenaries were occasionally seen, a place where flies were buzzing.

But I could see the faces of relatively high-ranking mercenaries that I had only heard about.

‘What’s going on?’

As I put my bag on the table and tilted my head, Kim Jun-seo, the request team leader, approached me.

For reference, we’ve been friends for a long time, so we treat each other like brothers.

“Hey, Dong-hoon! You’re here? Come here! It’s a jackpot, a jackpot!”

“A jackpot?”

“Yeah, you know the Parang Guild, right? The guild that Gi Parang founded.”

“I know.”

How could I not know?

‘Archery Master’ Gi Parang.

He is one of the 37 domestic Rankers due to the recent domestic joining of the Dark Load.

He is so strong that the top of a mountain was blown away by an arrow he accidentally shot.

‘Parang’ is a prestigious family founded by such a person.

“The Parang Guild has requested our mercenary group. It seems they’re going to a newly opened Dungeon, but they need porters? The reward is high too. About 10 times the posted amount?”

“…10 times?”

Is it really a large guild?

They’re so generous.

Ah, so that’s why high-ranking mercenaries gathered at this branch too?

Anyway, I was curious.

As a low-grade Hunter, I don’t often get the chance to participate in high-grade Dungeons.

“Yeah, they even accept Grade E, so what do you want to do, are you going? Actually, today is a complete bust except for this.”

The word ‘bust’ means.

There are no other requests besides that.

I smacked my lips.

Maybe it’s because of what happened yesterday.

I couldn’t just blindly accept it.

I learned properly yesterday how precious life is.

After thinking for a while, I nodded.

“Let’s take a look at what kind of Dungeon it is first?”