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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 19
0.
Seonghyun was the type to save the best for last.
The same went for rewards.
'Let's check out the titles first.'
He had acquired two new titles this time: the evolved title, Master of Combat, and Righteous Adventurer.
『Master of Combat』
→《Epic》
→A title granted to users who possess the title Fighter and have triumphed over a user with a significantly higher level.
→Increases attack power by 5% when facing humanoid monsters, users, or NPCs as enemies.
『Righteous Adventurer』
→《Rare》
→A title granted to users who defeat a user or NPC with notoriety.
→Increases rewards by 10% when defeating an opponent with notoriety.
'Oh.'
While Righteous Adventurer wouldn't be immediately useful, Master of Combat seemed quite handy.
A title effective against any humanoid opponent.
Not only did it have good versatility, but its effect was also significant.
Even skeletons were classified as humanoid.
The scope was broader than he initially thought.
Even Righteous Adventurer, which wasn't immediately applicable, seemed pretty good.
'Next up...'
The leveled-up Death Aura.
『Death Aura』
→《Legendary》
→[Lv 5][Growth Type]
[Passive Effect][Active]
[Cooldown 25 minutes]↓
[Duration 4 minutes]↑
All the dead shall offer their flesh and blood to the Monarch.
The Monarch achieves immortality by feeding on the dead.
→Overlord exclusive skill.
→Devours the souls and bodies of the dead within a 50m radius.
→Consumes them as nourishment.
→The living touched by the aura are wracked with pain.
→Allows the user to bring the devoured dead under the command of the Death Legion. (NEW!)
'Wow.'
He already knew about the new effect.
He had read Helena's memories, after all.
But the cooldown had decreased, and the duration and range had increased.
He had sensed the changes somewhat, but seeing the numbers laid out like this surprised him.
'Definitely.'
It was far more effective than simply inflicting continuous damage.
With this, he could utilize the Death Legion without having to kill the undead himself.
It was an indispensable skill.
Based on his experience with Bejiron, it also had a significant psychological impact.
Losing control of his undead had flustered him and created an opening.
'This skill is a natural enemy to Black Mages.'
Seonghyun felt satisfied with the steady progress he was making as a Black Mage.
If Bejiron had heard that, he would have cried foul.
'Next is the item, right?'
The item Bejiron had gifted him.
『Sturdy Beginner Black Mage Robe』
→《Rare》
→A sturdy robe crafted for beginner Black Mages.
→Despite being a robe, its exceptional durability offers considerable defense.
→Increases defense by +2%.
→Slightly increases the power of Black Magic skills.
'As expected, robes are essential for Black Mages, huh?'
The effects were decent, and it seemed quite useful.
Bejiron had left behind quite a lot.
At this point, he was almost on par with the village head of Hindel!
The slight increase in skill power was a nice bonus, but...
His eyes were drawn to the defense boost.
'The added defense makes it quite remarkable.'
Even Seonghyun, as a beginner, knew that robes rarely provided defensive benefits.
'Now, it's time for the main course.'
[Retrieving Unique Skill Book for Black Mages, 『Skill Book - Proliferating Dead』.]
[The skill book meets the requirements.]
[Would you like to use it?]
[Yes / No]
Why even ask?
The answer was obvious.
[Using Unique-grade Skill Book, 『Skill Book - Proliferating Dead』!]
[You have acquired the Unique Skill, 『Proliferating Dead』!]
『Proliferating Dead』
→《Unique》
→[Lv 1][Growth Type]
[Passive Effect][Passive]
→Skill exclusive to the Black Mage class.
→Reduces mana consumption by 10% for undead summoning or creation skills.
→The amount of mana reduction increases as the level rises.
"Wow."
Seonghyun, who had remained calm while examining the other rewards, couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
A passive skill!
A skill that reduced mana consumption for undead summoning and creation skills by 10%?
And the reduction increased as the level rose?
'This essentially increases the number of undead I can summon or create.'
Now, he could somewhat understand why Bejiron had attacked him first.
Of course, that didn't excuse Bejiron's actions.
This was undoubtedly a skill that any Black Mage, especially a Necromancer, would covet.
He didn't know how high the reduction could go, but if it reached 50%...
That would effectively double the number of undead he could control.
Just imagining its power sent shivers down his spine.
And that wasn't even all.
『Recommendation Letter for the Special Black Mage Academy』
→《Unique》
→Restriction: Black Mage class, Level 10 or above.
→A recommendation letter that grants admission to the Special Black Mage Academy.
→Perhaps something special will happen if you present this letter?
'Even the dessert is perfect.'
Another Unique Hidden Piece.
A recommendation letter for the Special Black Mage Academy.
He needed to reach level 10 first, but his next destination was set.
As Seonghyun's destination became clear, Garrick seemed to sense it and said with a grin,
-Oh my! That's wonderful news. I'll be on my way then! I wish you the best of luck!
"Thank you very much."
-Oh no, no need for thanks! I was just keeping it safe for Pam. Don't wander too far now!
Seonghyun smiled and sent Garrick on his way, amused by his easygoing nature.
No one was as pure as the ghosts who always supported him.
Seonghyun wanted to help them in return, but they steadfastly refused.
It was a shame.
They said they desired nothing more than for him to make good use of the help they offered.
Well, he had to honor their wishes, didn't he?
'Let's go hunting.'
He was only two steps away from level 10.
With the increased experience gain...
It might take a while, but...
'I have Death Aura and the Death Legion.'
If he hunted in groups before his mana ran out, things might be different.
First, where should he hunt while waiting for the cooldown to end?
Leaving the hut, he soon arrived at the cemetery.
Still teeming with skeletons.
'Alright, let's test the effects of the title.'
He had leveled up, but hadn't allocated any additional stat points.
His attack power and damage should remain the same.
It would be a simple comparison.
"Clack, clack."
There was no need to look far; a skeleton was nearby.
Seonghyun charged forward and swung the shovel he had picked up earlier at the skeleton's head.
Crack!
A heavy, chilling sensation in his hand!
[Critical Hit!]
[The effect of 『One Strike!』 is activated!]
[You have gained experience points.]
With a single blow, the skeleton's skull shattered.
Its body crumbled into dust.
His attack power had definitely increased.
Previously, it would have taken him three or four hits.
But now, with the title's effect, he could defeat it in a single strike.
'Oh.'
Even Seonghyun couldn't help but be surprised.
He had thought it would still take at least two hits, even with the increased attack power.
But to defeat it in a single blow...
This changed everything.
'Should I try this until Death Aura's cooldown ends?'
Seonghyun lightly stretched, loosening his muscles.
Simultaneously, he called upon the memories of the gravedigger Garrick and the previous instructor.
He focused on the memories themselves, just as he had when receiving Helena's help.
"Hoooo..."
He exhaled a long, slow breath, his eyes sinking deep in concentration.
Two sets of memories flowed through him like a panorama.
No, perhaps "histories" was a more fitting word.
The lives of Garrick and the previous instructor flowed into him, unfiltered.
Within that flow, Seonghyun maintained a clear sense of self.
No, he didn't even have to try; it happened naturally.
Just as one doesn't mistake oneself for the protagonist while watching a movie.
Seonghyun observed their histories as if watching two films.
He learned that the former instructor, whose name he hadn't known, was called Eddie, and that Garrick had a wife who had passed away.
Deep in concentration, Seonghyun's eyes took on a teal hue.
A faint teal light emanated from him, gently illuminating his surroundings.
The sight of him enveloped in this aura was both mystical and captivating.
"Huh?! It's that user from before!"
"Let's go make him an offer now!"
"Get out of the way! I saw him first!"
The scouts, who had been bickering amongst themselves as they approached Seonghyun, stopped in their tracks, halted by his aura.
'Wh-what's with this atmosphere?!'
'It's, it's hard to approach him!'
'Such intense concentration.'
Just as a hush falls over a noisy room when someone is deeply focused, the same happened with the scouts.
They couldn't see the mystical teal aura surrounding Seonghyun, but they could sense the atmosphere.
Especially as guild scouts who dealt with people, they all instinctively stopped.
Gulp!
The surroundings fell silent so quickly that someone's gulp was clearly audible.
In this state, Seonghyun began to move.
Tatatatatatata!
He dashed across the ground, his feet barely touching the earth as he swung his shovel in a scooping motion.
Sparks flew as the shovel scraped the ground with a scraping sound.
The sparks lingered in the air, tracing the shovel's trajectory in red.
And at the end of that trajectory was a skeleton's head.
Crack!
[Critical Hit!]
[The effect of 『One Strike!』 is activated!]
[You have gained experience points.]
Without even looking at the messages, Seonghyun adjusted his stance and targeted the next skeleton.
He shifted his weight to the opposite leg, as if taking a step forward, adjusted his stance, and swung the shovel in the opposite direction with a twist of his waist.
Crack!
[Critical Hit!]
[The effect of 『One Strike!』 is activated!]
[You have gained experience points.]
The message appeared once again.
Ignoring it, he swung the shovel at another skeleton.
Cracking and crunching sounds intermingled as the skeletal remains scattered like dust.
"What... is that...?!"
"A sh-shovel?!"
"That was a shovel?! I-I thought it was a sword!!!"
"M-me too!!!"
The scouts were astonished, watching Seonghyun with wide eyes.
No matter how they looked at it, the way he wielded the shovel was like swordsmanship.
No, perhaps "sword technique" was a better term.
His movements were reminiscent of something out of a martial arts novel, the kind they had read as children, and even occasionally now for amusement.
These scouts had seen skilled swordsmen who could fly and pierce through anything.
But had they ever witnessed someone like this?
No one could answer that.
'Even the early videos of the rankers weren't like this...'
'...Would someone like that ever join our guild?'
'...Forget recruitment, that's just freaking awesome.'
Thoughts of recruitment had long since vanished from their minds.
None of them could confidently say that their guild was worthy of someone like him.
They could only watch in awe.
And it wasn't just the scouts who were captivated.
"Holy crap?!"
"Wh-what is that?!"
"He's like a one-man army with a shovel!"
"Is that even possible?!"
"W-well, a shovel is a blunt weapon, right?"
"Whoa, this is insane... like a highlight reel..."
His performance was so impressive that even the users who were hunting were mesmerized.
Not only was he skilled, but his swordsmanship—or perhaps "shovelsmanship"—was so captivating that it was impossible to look away.
It was almost magical.
Oblivious to the attention he was attracting, Seonghyun's eyes flashed as he activated a skill.
A teal heart-shaped object emerged from his back.
And with it, the sound of a heartbeat.
Thump!
As the sound reverberated, a teal mist enveloped a 50-meter radius around him.
The scouts and other users were caught within the range, but it didn't matter.
The skill had no effect on non-hostile targets.
Of course, Seonghyun was unaware of this.
The sudden appearance of the teal mist startled the users.
"Wh-what's this?!"
"Mist...?!!"
"A-a skill?!"
Despite the unusual phenomenon, they quickly realized it was a skill Seonghyun had used.
The mist had emanated from the heart-shaped object on his back.
They couldn't miss it even if they tried.
They were just relieved that it didn't seem to be an attack.
"But do Swordsmen have skills like this?"
"No, usually Warriors or Swordsmen learn area-of-effect skills much later, right?"
"Huh? Then what is this?"
"Yeah, what is it?"
While the users were perplexed, a sudden change occurred.
The skeletons touched by the mist looked up at the sky and opened their mouths as if about to vomit.
"Sahaaaaaaa!"
"Sahaaaak!"
"Saaaaaa!"
They exhaled a teal energy similar to the mist.
Seonghyun's eyes widened as he activated Death Legion.
The pure white bones of all the skeletons within range began to darken as if covered by shadows.
And from those shadows, the same teal energy billowed forth.
Everyone gaped at the sight of these transformed skeletons, unlike any they had seen before.
"He, he wasn't a Warrior?!"
"He, he wasn't a Swordsman?!"
"I-I thought he had some kind of Knight skill!"
"Wh-what?! How can a Black Mage fight like that?!"
"No, wait, he doesn't have a bracelet! He's not even level 10!!"
Seonghyun, whom they had assumed to be a Swordsman, was actually a Black Mage?
And a Necromancer at that?
But that wasn't all.
As Seonghyun issued a command, all the skeletons moved in unison and began to slaughter everything around them.
-Clack! Clack!
-Crack! Crack!
-Click! Clack!
"Cl-clack!?"
"Cl-clack!?"
Although the undead clashed against each other, Seonghyun's Death Legion was in a league of its own.
Overwhelming force!
The black skeletons, emitting teal energy, swept away all the white ones.
It was a massacre.
"Th-this can't be..."
"Wh-what kind of skeletons are those...?!"
"I-I don't think even I could handle those..."
"And a mere beginner can use that skill?"
"Th-this is breaking news!!!"
The scouts and other users were in an uproar.
For Seonghyun, who hadn't even reached level 10, to use such a skill meant only one thing.
He didn't have a Normal-rank class; it was something higher.
To display such power and prowess...
"A-at least Epic?!"
Gulp.
Everyone held their breath, watching Seonghyun's display of power.
Seonghyun, oblivious to their attention, focused on the messages appearing before him.
[You have gained experience points.]
[You have gained experience points.]
[You have gained experience points.]
...
[Level Up!]
[You have reached Level 10.]
'This is some good hunting.'
As expected, Necromancers were the best when it came to hunting.
With a brief moment of admiration, Seonghyun checked the next message.
[You have reached Level 10, unlocking access to the Class Academy.]
[You can now use the 『Recommendation Letter for the Special Black Mage Academy』.]
'Now I can go.'
It was time to use the Hidden Piece and head to the academy.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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