Cheonho-dong Rodeo Street.
It had originally been a place filled with clothing stores and food vendors.
However, after a Gate called the [Cave of Darkness] appeared, Hunter facilities had opened there as well.
“Jack-o’-lanterns that last for one hour inside a Gate! Only 100,000 won!”
“Do you not know that night vision is essential in the Cave of Darkness?”
“Warrior equipment rentals available!”
“Cheap! Cheap!”
The area around the Gate had the atmosphere of a marketplace.
Street vendors and shop owners called out to passing people.
“Any Mages looking for a last-minute raid party?”
“A Healer is standing by!”
Hunters were also forming parties on the spot or checking their equipment.
Even so, this was relatively quiet.
The fixed Gate on Rodeo Street was not very popular.
At the entrances to profitable Gates that were easy to clear, crowds in the hundreds were standard.
There were even waiting lines to enter.
CREEEAK— CREEEAK—
Just as I was about to enter the Gate with my old carrier.
“Hey, buddy.”
A huge man, nearly 190 centimeters tall, blocked my path.
His broad shoulders were squared.
The badge pinned to his chest was openly displayed.
That was the mark of Hwarang Guild.
Why would someone from one of Korea’s five major guilds come to an unpopular Gate?
“What is it?”
“You look like a Mage. Join our party.”
The huge man leaned down slightly and whispered as though he were sharing a secret.
“The boss is about to respawn. We are going in to hunt it.”
I wondered what he was talking about.
You only had to search online to find the respawn time for a fixed-Gate boss.
Hunting records were kept, so you could make a rough estimate by calculating the intervals.
“I am more comfortable alone.”
“Why are you speaking casually to me?”
“You were the first one to do so.”
“Ha.”
When the huge man became angry, the girl standing beside him snorted.
“Forget it. He is refusing an offer to carry him through the Gate.”
“If it were not for the guild mission, I would have no reason to speak to him. Tsk.”
The Hwarang Guild members were making a scene all by themselves.
Perhaps their guild mission was to send their newcomers on a last-minute raid.
It was none of my business.
Sir Isra’s combat ability was far beyond E-rank.
I had nothing to worry about even if I went alone.
After watching their ridiculous little performance, I entered the Gate.
***
[You have entered the Cave of Darkness.]
Entry Requirement: E-rank (100)
Type: Fixed-Type
The inside of the Gate was submerged in darkness.
Other than the blue light emanating from the Rift, there was not a single speck of light to be found.
Near the entrance, I opened the carrier and quickly assembled its contents.
【Hwaaaaaah!】
“Could you not stop that dispirited scream already?”
【You can say that because you have never experienced it yourself.】
“Yes, yes.”
Ignoring Sir Isra’s complaints, I took out a bone the length of my wrist.
【It is rather blunt for a weapon.】
“Your weapon is beside you.”
I pointed to the bone sword I had carved when it taught me swordsmanship.
【Does the one you are holding have another purpose?】
“Yes. It is a substitute for a lantern.”
I finely ground the Luminous Grass I had brought in advance and sprinkled it over the bone.
[Corpse Processing]
It was a bone that absorbed the Luminous Grass and emitted light.
【What magic did you use?】
“It absorbs the essence of Luminous Grass and manifests it through Mana.”
Simply sprinkling the powder would not produce such a bright light.
The death mana dwelling within the bone—in other words, Spiritual Energy—acted as a medium to drive away the darkness.
“It is much cheaper this way.”
A one-hour magic lamp had a regular price of 80,000 won.
The Gate Vendor: Sucker Edition added another 20,000 won.
Meanwhile, a piece of Luminous Grass and a bone cost around 5,000 won.
The duration was much longer as well.
【You are skilled in using Mana.】
“If I did not do things like this, my wallet would have a hole in it.”
Creating a proper Undead cost at least several hundred thousand won.
If damage occurred during a hunt, additional costs followed.
That was why I had researched all kinds of methods to reduce costs through Corpse Processing.
【Even intermediate Necromancers find it difficult to apply the Spiritual Energy dwelling within corpses.】
It felt very strange when it praised me.
It had said it exterminated Necromancers.
【This is an objective measure, so accept it happily.】
“Yes, yes. Thank you.”
The [Cave of Darkness] had a corridor-like structure with a ceiling and walls on both sides.
【It is higher than the workshop, so it is livable.】
“You are shorter now, too.”
Orc Zombie Mk. 42 had been around 190 centimeters tall.
After the modification, Sir Isra was a little over 160 centimeters tall.
Even when it stood upright, its head would not reach the ceiling of the workshop.
“Krek. Krek.”
Rough breathing came from the other end of the corridor.
A strange existence entered the circle of light.
It was a Subterranean, a humanoid monster that moved on all fours.
“Sir Isra.”
【I have been waiting.】
Isra stepped forward, holding its bone sword.
“Subterraneans are stronger than Kobolds.”
Their hands and feet were sticky, allowing them to climb walls and ceilings.
They used three-dimensional movement to draw out a Hunter’s openings.
Then they leaped like frogs and inflicted fatal injuries.
They did not use tools.
However, their physical abilities were far superior to those of Kobolds.
That was why the [Cave of Darkness] was unpopular.
【Do not worry. The body you modified for me is more than sufficient.】
For an instant, Sir Isra’s body seemed to stretch.
Its speed was incredible.
With a single leap, it reached the group of Subterraneans.
SHUNK—
It cut off a Subterranean’s head with the bone sword.
“This is absurd.”
How could a zombie move that fast?
That was a movement impossible with Sir Isra’s attributes.
Even if it received the additional 50% attribute bonus.
It could not possibly run fast enough to leave an afterimage for an instant.
【I applied the method of using Mana.】
“A zombie can use Mana?”
【It is a realm forbidden to this body, but if I use it cleverly, it can be done.】
My mind reeled.
A Hunter had to be at least B-rank to reinforce their body with Mana or release it externally.
It had called itself the strongest knight on the continent.
But I had never imagined it could apply even the tiny amount of Spiritual Energy that formed the foundation of a zombie in such a way.
【Since it is an unconventional method, I cannot bring out its full power.】
Was that not amazing enough by itself?
“Did you do that when fighting the Kobolds as well?”
【Oh. I am pleased that you understand quickly.】
No.
I did not understand at all.
“Krelek!”
The Subterranean pulled its legs inward, then forcefully pushed against the ground.
It leaped as swiftly as a frog.
Throwing its entire body forward, it lunged at Sir Isra.
【I detest inelegant fighting.】
SLASH!
The Subterranean’s body was cut in half.
Green blood splattered everywhere, but barely any of it touched Sir Isra’s body.
“Sir!”
【Heh heh. This is my skill.】
“You were made to be an Undead. How can you cut them in half like that?”
Good grief.
What was my fate?
[Corpse Crafting] was not an ability like a Necromancer’s spell, which could instantly create an Undead.
To revive a Subterranean cut in half, I had to sew it together first!
【Ah. I see.】
“Please keep that in mind from now on.”
After briefly grumbling, I approached the Subterranean corpses.
Out of the four, one corpse had to be discarded.
I would turn the remaining three into zombies.
The first step was to embed E-rank Magic Stones into their chests.
【Is that meaningful?】
“They need to be cured before I can turn them into Undead.”
They had to absorb enough Spiritual Energy to become valid targets for [Corpse Crafting].
For natural curing, I would need to leave them in the shade for several days.
I would also need to salt them to keep them from rotting.
How could I do that inside a Gate?
I converted the power contained in the Magic Stones into Spiritual Energy.
Then, through [Corpse Processing], I dramatically accelerated the curing process.
That was not all I had to do.
I sewed the cleanly severed heads and necks together with thread.
After cutting into the flesh with a scalpel, I adjusted the bones with a hammer and chisel.
To change a quadrupedal Subterranean into a bipedal one, I also had to alter its skeleton.
It took around twenty minutes per individual.
Sir Isra looked around.
【Are other Hunters not entering?】
“This Gate has multiple entrances.”
There was only one Rift connected to the outside world.
But the moment people entered, they were dispersed to several different locations.
That was also why I had not encountered the irritating people I met before entering.
“Awaken.”
[Corpse Crafting]
Three Subterraneans rose unsteadily.
Sir Isra took one step back.
【Your time has come.】
“I will show you the results of yesterday’s training, when you beat me senseless.”
The three zombies staggered forward.
***
How long had we advanced?
“Krelelek!”
Four Subterraneans blocked our path.
Three against four.
It was manageable.
It was common knowledge that Undead had lower stats than living creatures of the same rank.
But my zombies were custom-made, so they possessed abilities comparable to their original forms.
【Do you truly not need my assistance?】
“Cross your arms and watch.”
The zombies stood in a line, leaving spaces between them.
The Subterraneans wiggled their antennae in place of their degenerated eyes, then pulled their legs inward.
A sign that they were about to charge.
It was fascinating.
Like watching a slow-motion video.
I could see the Subterraneans’ movements clearly.
The instant I recognized their attack, a command was transmitted to the Undead.
BOOM!
Their frog-like leap carried the force of a soccer player kicking a ball with all his strength.
“Uuuurgh.”
Like a dodgeball player catching a ball.
One zombie slightly pulled back its hips, spread both arms wide, and caught the Subterranean.
During the process, its claws tore through the zombie’s skin and dug in.
“Uuuurgh.”
It was fine.
Zombies did not know pain.
An injury would not slow their movements.
A bone sword stabbed into the back of the Subterranean trapped in the zombie’s arms.
“Krelelek!”
It did not stop breathing in one strike.
If one was not enough, then two.
If that was not enough, then three.
“Uuurgh!”
Holding the bone sword in a reverse grip, the zombie stabbed it repeatedly.
The Subterranean’s body trembled before collapsing to the ground.
Another Subterranean was in an even worse situation.
It leaped in the charging posture unique to its species, but the zombie dodged.
Not missing the opening, it swung the bone sword.
The blade refined with a carving knife grazed its Adam’s apple.
“Krek.”
The Subterranean clutched its neck and rolled across the ground.
Two became corpses in an instant.
The remaining two could not last long against the zombies’ coordinated assault.
“This actually works.”
I was dumbfounded.
They had learned my combat ability.
Moreover, they moved smoothly according to my will.
Just yesterday, all they could do against a single Kobold was tackle it and pin it down.
【Truly, this is...】
Sir Isra trailed off.
“I know. They are not making full use of the swordsmanship you taught me.”
What I had learned yesterday were the First and Second Forms.
Vertical and horizontal slashes.
It had not taught me the chaotic fighting style of holding a sword in a reverse grip and striking downward.
Even if it was dissatisfied, there was nothing I could do.
How incredible was it that three zombies had hunted four Subterraneans without a single casualty?
【You misunderstand me.】
“About what?”
【I was going to say that it is remarkable.】
Sir Isra clapped.
【To overwhelm enemies with such weak zombies. In terms of control ability alone, you are no worse than an advanced Necromancer!】
“Ah, yes. Really?”
【This is Isra, the Necromancer Slayer’s guarantee. You may believe it!】
Teacher.
That title made me very uncomfortable.
Even though I felt uneasy.
I could not stop the corners of my lips from twitching.
【Will you turn all four into zombies?】
“No. Three are enough.”
I had no intention of increasing the number of zombies further.
This Gate was not spacious.
Even if I created more zombies, there was a limit to the number I could deploy at once.
Furthermore, there were no Magic Stones or useful byproducts to collect, so it would only waste money and time.
Just as during the first hunt, I created three zombies.
I used the remaining corpse to strengthen the zombies’ stats and make bone swords.
“I wonder whether I will end up clearing the boss as well.”
【Beware of arrogance.】
“Yes, yes.”
I could no longer tell whether I was traveling with a vassal or a nagger.