The Cave of Darkness raid had ended successfully.
Thanks to that, I could be certain.
Swordsmanship training had the effect of improving my Undead Control.
“Sir Isra. Training time.”
【Are we not entering any more Gates?】
“For now, I need to improve my Undead Control itself.”
There were two subjects in the Rank Advancement Examination.
[Crafting]
And [Control].
“Training will help more than combat experience.”
I could not even remember how many times I had failed the D-rank advancement examination.
After failing more than ten times, I had given up counting.
Therefore.
Until the day before the examination, I would swing my sword even one more time.
【It is a good idea. When you train, stray thoughts will disappear as well.】
Would it not be more accurate to say that they would disappear after Sir Isra beat me senseless?
For the remaining two days.
I swung my sword like mad at the outdoor fitness area.
“Argh!”
【There is too much tension in your chest.】
[Imperial Swordsmanship proficiency has increased.]
After sweating buckets for two days.
The day of reckoning finally came.
“Urrrgh.”
DING-DONG~♬
I picked up my phone at the sound of the alarm.
It was a message from the bank.
[KM Bank]
[Balance: ₩427,103,200]
It seemed that the Hwarang Guild newcomers had finally sent the money.
“Tch.”
Look at that number.
It was the first time in my life that a sum in the hundreds of millions had appeared in my bank account.
Good heavens.
It was not merely one hundred million won.
It was four hundred million won!
【Honey is practically dripping from your eyes.】
“Would I not become rich quickly at this rate?”
【Greed for wealth only clouds a martial artist’s eyes. Do not waste your heart on worthless matters.】
“I am not a martial artist.”
【If you are my lord, strive to possess dignity worthy of the position.】
“What are you talking about?”
Had it not said that it did not recognize me as its lord, but would serve me anyway because it had no choice?
It truly did whatever it wanted.
Still, I did not criticize Sir Isra any further.
After all, I was able to get my hands on hundreds of millions of won entirely because of Sir Isra.
[Byproduct Processing — ₩26,135,100]
[Hush Money — ₩400,000,000]
The unfortunate part was that the hush money was twenty times larger than what I had earned from Hunter activities.
Even so, the money I made in the Cave of Darkness was considerable.
The Skillbook had sold for twenty million won.
The D-rank Magic Stone dropped by the Variant Subterranean sold for 300,000 won.
After disposing of all the remaining E-rank Magic Stones, I had made a little over four million won.
Even without luck like the Skillbook.
I had earned in one day what would usually take a full month of work.
“It does not feel real.”
【As long as I am with you, you will obtain greater honor and wealth.】
“Who was it that said greed for wealth was bad?”
【I meant the wealth that naturally follows when one pursues honor.】
I did not care about honor.
As long as I earned a great deal of money, I would be satisfied.
A very, very great deal.
【Is money truly that important?】
“Do you think Undead creation is done by digging in the ground?”
The materials alone used to make Sir Isra’s body had cost around one million won.
Monster skin and tendons were quite expensive.
They were the main materials for light armor.
Or used as bowstrings.
Even aside from the special options only I could see.
Obtaining byproducts cost a great deal of money.
“I have to earn as much as I can while I have the chance.”
【Then should you not dispose of the corpse we brought back last time?】
It was referring to the Variant Subterranean boss.
“I am saving it.”
Once I advanced in rank.
[Corpse Crafting], which had remained E-rank, would advance as well.
Then I would be able to create stronger Undead.
It would be wasteful to turn a rare Variant corpse into a mere zombie.
It would be more helpful to wait until I advanced in rank and make it into a higher-level creature.
【I understand.】
“Sir Isra’s body may be upgraded as well.”
【I look forward to it.】
While chatting, I finished preparing to go out.
【May I ask one question?】
“Go ahead.”
【Surely you are not planning to dismantle me again...】
Why would I not?
Instead of answering, I activated [Corpse Crafting] in reverse.
I divided Isra into six pieces.
I thought I heard something like a final scream from somewhere.
It had to be my imagination.
I gripped the doorknob tightly.
Certain that this examination would be different.
Then I opened the door with force.
***
Hunter Rank Advancement Assessments were held in the Tower of Ascension.
A tower several kilometers tall that rose from the site of the former National Assembly Building.
It looked as though countless concrete buildings had been stuck together.
A strange structure that openly defied the laws of reality.
That was why.
The Tower of Ascension was regarded as a symbol of the Age of Hunters.
I felt it every time.
“There are so many people.”
The carrier holding Sir Isra felt cumbersome.
Now that I had earned money from hush money.
I should buy a Spatial Storage Backpack or something.
As I slowly walked toward the Tower of Ascension.
I heard a noisy commotion.
“Mir Guild’s high-profile newcomer is challenging the Tower of Ascension!”
“It is the Rank Advancement Assessment of Korea’s first Creator.”
“This is a scoop!”
Reporters with cameras hanging around their necks ran as though their feet were on fire.
People nearby were gathering one by one as well.
Soon, my surroundings were filled with a crowd.
Tch.
How troublesome.
Rank Advancement Examinations could be taken on the tenth day of every month.
The Tower of Ascension in Yeouido was the only one in Korea.
Whenever a famous person attempted to advance in rank, this kind of commotion was practically an annual event.
“Coming through.”
I moved in the opposite direction from the gathering crowd.
Dragging the carrier with difficulty, I reached the entrance of the Tower of Ascension.
Perhaps because it had a larger footprint than the nearby 63 Building.
There were dozens of entrances leading inside the tower.
I placed my hand on the nearest door.
[Hunter — Park Minho]
[Rank — E]
[You are eligible for a Rank Advancement Assessment.]
[Would you like to undergo the assessment?]
Y/N
...A message appeared.
My heart pounded violently.
I placed the calming pill I had prepared for this day into my mouth.
Urgh.
It was bitter. So bitter.
Ten months ago.
I had bought it to take only when I was certain I would pass.
And I was only taking it now.
After performing my own small ritual for success, I pressed the Y button firmly.
CREEEAK.
As I stepped through the opened door, it closed automatically behind me with a THUD.
A space isolated from the outside.
That did not mean it overlapped with the Hunters using the Tower.
Like a Gate, the interior was a separate domain from the outside world.
Depending on their purpose for using the tower.
Whether undergoing a Rank Advancement Assessment or climbing the Tower of Ascension, people were moved to the appropriate floor.
[The Rank Advancement Assessment will now begin.]
[The user’s profession has been confirmed as belonging to the Necromancer line.]
[Accordingly, the assessment contents and evaluation have been determined as a Necromancer examination.]
A Kobold corpse suddenly appeared in the middle of the room.
A corpse created without warning.
It was shattered into pieces, barely recognizable as a Kobold.
I was not particularly surprised.
The type of corpse.
And its condition varied with every assessment.
This one was in worse condition than usual.
But I had seen this scene often enough to grow sick of it, so I felt nothing.
[First Assessment.]
[Create an Undead within the time limit.]
[The evaluation standard is the Undead’s completion.]
[Time Limit — 120:00:00]
A Kobold corpse?
I could make a top-quality zombie in twenty minutes, not two hours.
Before beginning the work.
I took Sir Isra out of the carrier.
【I am not an object!】
“I know that, but there is no other way.”
【You could have told me to guard your home or workshop instead!】
“Would the landlord not be startled if they saw you?”
I used the landlord as an excuse, but there was another reason.
I was worried Sir Isra would wander around, claiming that it wanted to learn about this era’s civilization or making some other excuse.
I could not tell it the truth.
【Then why did you summon me?】
“You might notice something I miss. Watch with me.”
I took out my carving knife, hammer, and chisel.
If the corpse had been in a slightly worse condition, I would have made a Skeleton.
The work would have taken far less time.
【Is what you make not your decision?】
“I have to consider the corpse’s condition.”
What if I made a Skeleton from a corpse that still had a considerable amount of flesh and muscle attached?
I would lose points for missing the examiner’s intent.
This Kobold corpse had been shattered so badly that it was difficult to discern the intended answer.
However, as someone who had handled countless monster corpses, I had a rough idea.
“Shall we begin?”
There were two points to focus on in modifying a zombie.
Sturdiness and Strength.
【Would joining the bones together like that not make it move slowly?】
“Yes. That is the modification point.”
It did not need agile movements like Sir Isra’s body.
The key element of the first assessment was completion itself.
How well could I make use of a zombie’s strengths?
SLASH!
The carving knife cut along the artery.
After quickly draining its blood, I increased the degree of decay with [Corpse Processing].
It was like using a skill to bring forward rigor mortis.
I was trading Agility for sturdiness.
I fused or ground down the broken bones.
Then I reconnected the torn muscles.
The ruined Kobold corpse came together into a plausible form.
“Awaken.”
Some of my Mana drained away.
The patchwork Kobold slowly rose to its feet.
[The created Undead will be assessed.]
A blue radiance swept over the zombie’s entire body.
【You are bold. Even during the assessment, not a single breath of yours has become unsteady.】
“I am used to it.”
Try failing more than ten times.
There comes a point where an assessment no longer makes you feel anything.
[The zombie fulfills all required conditions.]
[Perfect! This level of completion is not something expected of an E-rank Necromancer.]
[Assessment Result — S-rank]
This was as expected.
【How impressive is an S-rank?】
“The highest score.”
【Hahaha! It has recognized your skill.】
“I have received this score before.”
If I failed the next assessment, the highest score would mean nothing.
[Assessment — Stage 2]
[The control ability of the raised Undead will be tested.]
This was where the real challenge began.
【Then how will it judge precision?】
“You will see.”
The opposite side of the dark room brightened.
[Follow the movements of the people shown on the screen.]
The people displayed on the brightened screen were a recently popular idol group.
They were supposedly famous for their sharp, disciplined performance.
The reason I knew that much was because Kim Yeondu, the landlord’s daughter, was obsessed with them.
【Hmph. They seem to lack spirit. A man should...】
“Shh. I need to focus.”
I had to make a zombie that moved like a wooden doll follow a dance routine.
That was why I had always failed the second-stage assessment.
But this time was different.
I would definitely pass.
With fire in my eyes, I commanded the zombie to copy the movements.
SNAP! SNAP!
The Kobold Zombie’s body should have been stiffened by rigor mortis.
But perhaps because the Heavenly Martial Physique’s bonus had transferred over, it moved smoothly and followed the idol group’s dance well.
“This actually works.”
My complicated feelings were clearly contained in my voice.
A dancing zombie.
To other people, it might have looked ridiculous.
But to me, it was an outstanding performance.
Three minutes that felt like thirty passed.
The afterimage of the idol group disappeared.
[The assessment is in progress. Please wait.]
【Remarkable.】
“I think so, too.”
Logically.
Seeing that performance, passing the assessment was guaranteed.
Even so.
Perhaps because of the fear I had learned through past failures, my hands clenched tightly.
Before I could even wipe my damp palms, I waited for the results in tense silence.
[Perfect! You have displayed the finest performance.]
[Stage 1 — S / Stage 2 — S]
[Total: S]
[An advancement reward will be added.]