BURP.
“Thank you for the meal.”
I was genuinely curious about the landlord’s secret for cooking corn.
Even when I boiled the same corn, it never tasted like this.
“Minho will learn it quickly. You are good with your hands.”
“Mooom. What about me?”
“My daughter should work hard at it.”
“Why? Why will you not say that I can do it too?”
The tyranny of Kim Yeondu, the undisputed highest-ranking resident of this boarding house, made me quietly rise from my seat.
“You have not forgotten about the meat this weekend, have you?”
“I was already planning to tighten my belt.”
“Mister, what meat?”
“I said I would treat everyone to celebrate my advancement. Beef, no less.”
“Big brother! No, dearest brother! Thank you!”
My goodness.
Was this the power of capitalism?
It had made that unruly girl wag her tail.
Money truly was great!
After filling my stomach with corn, I went back upstairs to my room.
【You are not going to the workshop?】
“I will work tomorrow.”
The sky had grown dark.
And I had spent plenty of energy struggling through the swamp.
Minho Workshop was closed for business today.
“I have other things to do as well.”
I had gained quite a few levels after passing my advancement examination.
I had deliberately left my bonus stats unassigned.
I wanted to assess how I should distribute my attributes after checking my new abilities and clearing some Gates.
【It seems you have found a direction now.】
“More or less.”
Necrosmith was a class not even registered with the World Hunter Union (WHU).
That meant I needed to determine the best stat distribution myself.
After several days of experience, I had reached a conclusion.
“Status window.”
[Hunter — Park Minho]
*Race: Human
*Class: Necrosmith
*Rank: D
*Level: 57
Strength: 56.4 / Agility: 48.2 / Vitality: 54.5 / Toughness: 11.6 / Mana: 140 / Craftsmanship: 199
Bonus Stats: 70
*Skills
—Heavenly Martial Physique [SSS]
—Spirit Sight [S]
—Imperial Swordsmanship [A]
—Corpse Crafting [D]
—Spiritual Energy Circuit Engraving [D]
—Bone Metallurgy [D]
—Death Domain [D]
“Ahhhh.”
This felt good.
How long had it been since I advanced?
Yet I had already gained seven levels.
I had consecutively cleared Challenge Zone and Deep Swamp.
Since I had cleared D-rank Gates on my own, it was only natural that Experience Points had surged.
【Did you not have teammates in Challenge Zone?】
“Still, I did everything myself.”
Those were the people who had struggled over a single Living Armor.
【By that logic, I was the one who defeated the Living Armors.】
Ah.
That was how it was going to be?
“It cannot be helped. Next time, I will need to swing a sword as well.”
【I am your sword, my lord! In other words, you are considered to have defeated the Living Armors!】
Hehehe.
This was the difference in perspective between you and me.
I had enjoyed my level-up enough.
Now I should spend the stats I had saved.
[Mana has increased by 70.]
Every time I leveled up, my combat-related attributes increased by the same amount.
Which meant I could invest all my stats into Mana!
“I will not need to hold a sword and fight myself anyway.”
【Hm. Are you still holding that against me?】
“What am I holding against you? I can simply stand in the back and activate skills while my subordinates fight.”
How convenient was that?
My servants did all the hunting.
【Your words seem rather full of resentment.】
“You are imagining things.”
I had invested in Strength and Vitality because of Bone Metallurgy.
【You will need Agility as well to control your strength precisely.】
“My Craftsmanship stat covers that.”
I could swing a hammer harder.
And for longer.
My combat power was the same as my subordinates’ abilities.
The Armed Zombie Warrior proved that.
If my Bone Metallurgy skill improved.
My overall combat power would improve as well.
My physical attributes would rise automatically whenever I leveled up.
Hehehehe! All hail Heavenly Martial Physique.
“Still, is it really fine to keep increasing only Mana?”
【It is fine.】
Objectively speaking, humans were not a powerful species.
Our innate strength was inferior to an Orc’s.
Our regeneration was pitiful compared to a Troll’s.
And if one looked a little higher—
We were nothing more than a bite-sized snack to A-rank monsters like Ogres.
【To fight and defeat powerful enemies, one must learn to wield power beyond one’s innate abilities.】
One needed to reinforce the body with Mana.
And then go one step further.
One needed to learn how to use Aura, power given form through Mana, to fight monsters like Ogres.
Hm.
“I see.”
I understood that it was impressive.
But Heavenly Martial Physique.
The phrase “the heavens” made it sound so grand that it did not quite feel real.
I would simply understand it as a skill that copied its benefits onto my undead.
【You are not listening closely.】
Was it that obvious?
【It is fine. You will not be swinging a sword on the front lines anyway.】
After going in circles, it had returned to telling me to stand back and watch.
I lightly clenched my hand.
CRACK.
Since advancing to D-rank, I had become a little stronger…… right?
My blood felt as though it was boiling.
I could feel, instinctively, that I had grown stronger.
But I could not immediately tell by how much.
“I feel restless.”
【Would you like to loosen up a little?】
“No. You saw how dark it is outside.”
There would be other days.
I had struggled enough in the swamp.
I would look through the items listed on Hunter Auction and go to sleep.
***
The next day.
I climbed the nearby mountain behind my home in light clothes.
Perhaps because I had invested in Strength and Vitality.
The feeling of boiling blood would not settle down at all.
【When that happens, the best remedy is to swing a sword.】
“I will not be using it in real combat anyway.”
【Fool! Do not forget that your subordinates are affected by it as well.】
Yes, yes.
I understand.
I arrived in one burst at the mountainside where I had practiced swinging a sword before.
I was certainly benefiting from my improved Strength.
【Then summon us.】
[Death Space]
[3/10 → 1/10]
“Grrrugh.”
【Why did you summon this subordinate as well?】
Sir Isra voiced its confusion.
“I am going to have the Armed Zombie Warrior practice swordsmanship too.”
My undead shared my physical coordination.
If we trained together, perhaps it could learn Imperial Swordsmanship as well.
【Hm. The possibility does not seem high.】
“There is no harm in trying.”
【Training an undead. Chivalry itself would weep.】
Chivalry was not a person.
It would not cry because I taught an undead.
After calming the grumbling Sir Isra, I gripped the hilt of my sword.
SHING—
Though it was a sword made from ground bone, it made a convincing sound.
Its tone was a little lighter than that of a metal blade.
Even so.
It retained a sharpness that sent a chill through my heart.
I had made it, but it was quite useful.
After swinging it a few times, I felt my entire body tense.
“It is time for the second form, correct?”
【Begin with review.】
The first form.
A simple vertical downward slash.
Sir Isra said there were subtle differences within swings that looked similar at a glance.
【Never forget that.】
“Yes, yes.”
I gave a half-hearted reply, then concentrated on the sword.
FWOOSH!
My senses had sharpened under the influence of Heavenly Martial Physique.
I perfectly recreated the moment I had performed the first form.
【Hm.】
“How was that?”
【You have met the passing standard.】
“Nice.”
Receiving recognition from the greatest swordsman on the continent felt good.
【Do not become arrogant. I fear you may charge directly at an enemy.】
This brat.
I told it I would not charge to the front.
Even after learning the sword, I intended to watch from the safety of the rear and draw it only when there was no other choice.
But it kept saying things like that, making me want to rebel.
Should I pretend to go mad and charge forward?
【Do not entertain reckless thoughts.】
“What thoughts?”
【Fantasies such as, “I should charge forward bravely.”】
Excuse me.
Please remove the word “bravely.”
【Subordinate, you try it as well.】
The Armed Zombie Warrior swung a makeshift practice sword.
FWOOSH—
“It looks awkward.”
【It does look awkward.】
We had reached the same conclusion.
Its attributes were higher than mine, so the power of its swing surpassed my own.
Still, its balance seemed off somehow.
“Try this instead.”
I handed it the [Resentful Axe].
FWOOSH!
“This looks better.”
【It is at least worth watching.】
I could guess why.
Ulsidian Axe Technique.
It was not a skill a normal Zombie Warrior possessed.
It was an ability inherited from the Fragmented Soulstone.
Perhaps.
The original owner before the soul was fragmented had primarily used an axe.
“Should we teach it how to wield an axe?”
【There is no Imperial Axe Art.】
“What?”
【The sword is the king of all weapons.】
Sir Isra raised its Bone Sword high.
【Once one reaches the realm of mastery, a sword alone can handle every situation.】
Ah.
Yes.
The greatest swordsman on the continent truly had an enormous attachment to swords.
So that meant it could not teach axe techniques?
【I said it does not exist. I did not say it cannot be done.】
STEP. STEP.
Sir Isra walked before the Armed Zombie Warrior and pointed at the axe.
【We only need to adapt Imperial Swordsmanship to suit an axe.】
“But swords and axes are used differently.”
A sword could both thrust and cut.
An axe was specialized for cutting.
The points where force needed to be applied were different.
And the weapons themselves were fundamentally shaped differently.
【Hahahaha! Who am I?】
“The greatest swordsman on the continent.”
【Correct. With this genius talent, I can adapt it after swinging it a few times.】
Why did it not lie down and receive worship while it was at it?
I grumbled inwardly, but I could not deny that it was an extraordinary feat.
Adapting the A-rank Imperial Swordsmanship for an axe on the spot.
As Sir Isra said, only the greatest swordsman on the continent could do such a thing.
【Excuse me for a moment.】
Sir Isra placed a hand on the axe handle.
As its hand briefly touched the Armed Zombie Warrior’s—
[Revived One — Isra is a knight.]
[You may establish a Knight Order by placing melee-type undead under Isra’s command.]
[The initial maximum number of members is 5.]
[The Knight Order’s size can increase as its members grow stronger.]
What?
What did that mean?
【Huh. A Knight Order.】
“Did you receive a message too?”
【I did.】
Was it a privilege of being a Revived One?
Or was it one of the Necrosmith’s abilities?
Either way, there was no harm in trying.
“If you refuse this while talking about chivalry again, I will be angry.”
【I had no such thought. On the contrary, it would be an honor.】
Whew.
It was fortunate that it was thinking positively.
【However, I hesitate to take your subordinate directly under my command.】
“Just take it.”
I could make more undead.
I wanted to test this new function quickly.
[Revived One — Isra wishes to make your subordinate a Knight Order member.]
[The target is Armed Zombie Warrior.]
[Do you consent?]
Of course.
I answered inwardly.
[Revived One — Isra has established a Knight Order.]
[Knight Order — Lv. 1]
[Knight Commander — Isra]
[Members — 1/5]
[Isra has gained the Knight Commander-exclusive skill, ‘Summon Knight Order Member.’]
[The Knight Commander may pass skills on to members.]
Pass skills on?
Then.
Could it pass down the SSS-rank [Imperial Swordsmanship (Revised)_Isra Form] as well?
【That is impossible.】
It was the culmination of the insight it had gained during life.
To wield it, one first needed to understand the essence of Imperial Swordsmanship.
I remembered hearing something similar when we first practiced swordsmanship.
【I will train it in axe techniques instead.】
It had no relevant skills.
Still, I had to acknowledge that its confidence was on the level of the greatest swordsman on the continent.
FWOOSH!
After swinging the axe a few times, Sir Isra returned it to the Armed Zombie Warrior.
【Try it.】
“Grrrugh.”
FWOOSH!
The axe cut through the air.
[Knight Order Member — Armed Zombie Warrior has learned Imperial Axe Art.]
A System message appeared immediately.
……Was this real?