Awesome Shut-In Necromancer

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“How unexpectedly surprising, I never imagined a necromancer of such caliber existed here.”

Before me stood Gideon, still unscathed, while Helena struggled to block his path.

Observing the two, Song Ha Yeon froze in place, her thoughts halted.

Everyone else had already reached their limits.

Astrid and Henesia, who had confronted Gideon first, were now unconscious, and Xavier and Yesiel found themselves surrounded by Gideon’s undead, in a state where their death was imminent.

Beatrice had long since collapsed from excessive exertion, and Lee Ji Cheol was gravely injured while trying to protect Helena.

Thus, only Helena and Song Ha Yeon remained.

“…Phew, wow. This is just plain unfair. Your undead have completely transcended common sense.”

“From my perspective, you are the impressive one. Had we met in Thebes, I might have taken you as my disciple.”

Before me stood Gideon, a being with a stature capable of filling a massive dungeon, radiating an intense presence surpassing even that of a giant.

Faced with such figures, Song Ha Yeon felt utterly diminished, unable to lift her head.

‘…And to think that’s more than ten times smaller than his original form?’

It was clear he possessed an astonishing size in truth.

The myth of Gideon spoken of before by Astrid and Henesia, claiming he was an undead greater than any imperial castle.

It existed, right before Song Ha Yeon’s eyes.

‘Does this mean the contents of other myths are all…’

Having a high probability of being true or not differing much. Realizing this, Song Ha Yeon let out a barren laugh as she lowered her head even further.

From the outset, he was a being that could not be rivaled by human strength.

‘This is just too much.’

Even Helena, exerting herself beyond her limits, ultimately knelt, her energy sapped.

And as she sank to the ground, Gideon began to leisurely approach her.

“I shall create for you an undead of particularly formidable strength. Surely, you will attain a level higher than in life.”

“…….”

Gideon ignited death energy in his palm while Helena silently gazed at him.

Song Ha Yeon intervened between them, acting purely on instinct.

“…Ah, now that I think of it, one is still remaining.”

With an expression as if she were utterly unconcerned, but that judgment was valid.

Song Ha Yeon was truly insignificant—in the presence of a necromancer like Gideon.

Feeling that fact acutely, she steadied her trembling body and lifted her head. Then she spoke.

“I-I can’t let you pass.”

“…….”

“Please, let us go.”

It was indeed a pitiful plea, the only thing Song Ha Yeon could do.

However, as expected, that hope shattered without a trace.

“Does it count if we are blood relatives? If so, fear not. You can join me as my eternal minion.”

“D-Don’t be ridiculous. Despite how it looks, we’re from the same school. I absolutely won’t let you take my sister.”

Upon hearing those words, Gideon appeared slightly puzzled as he continued.

“From the same school, yet I feel no sense of accomplishment from you.”

“…….”

A painfully direct statement poking at Song Ha Yeon’s weaknesses.

However, she had known that all too well for a long time. Compared to Baek Eun Ha and Helena, she was but a worthless husk.

Yet even with such meager talent, she still cherished the necromancy that Baek Eun Ha taught her.

Her knowledge was always refreshing, and the process of absorbing it brought her joy.

Had there ever been something she’d dedicated herself to so fervently in her life until now?

For Song Ha Yeon, necromancy was everything.

And her master, Baek Eun Ha, had believed in her and brought her to this place.

Despite this, if she were to surrender her comrades’ lives without putting up any resistance, she’d have no face to show Baek Eun Ha again.

“I am indeed an insignificant necromancer.”

“…….”

“But my master is not.”

Thus, while she could tolerate insults against herself, she couldn’t accept dismissive words regarding the foundation of her necromancy.

Before the necromancer, labeled as a mythic being, Song Ha Yeon unhesitatingly drew a small bone fragment from her robe.

The very first bone she had buried in the ground daily, staining it with her blood and infusing it with death energy since Baek Eun Ha first taught her.

To Song Ha Yeon, it had become her most precious possession.

‘I can do it.’

Baek Eun Ha had said. Song Ha Yeon’s skill in creating skeletons had already reached a high level.

It was the purest compliment she had first received from Baek Eun Ha.

‘I must succeed.’

The methods for creating a high-ranking undead had already been learned from Baek Eun Ha, and she had finished all the necessary preparations on this bone.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Song Ha Yeon fell into extreme concentration, and as she dropped the bone on the floor, she softly recited an incantation.

“Undead Call.”

Whoosh.

Bam!

The process itself bore little difference from the necromancy she had conducted thus far, but the result was strikingly different.

The piece of bone, turning so black it became unrecognizable, emitted a chilling energy and began to form a body as if it were growing. Soon, it became a skeleton clad in simple armor.

The skeleton, with glowing blue eyes, opened its gaze and, still undergoing the growing pains of its unrefined death energy, looked at Song Ha Yeon and spoke.

“Knight, I greet you.”

“…Please protect us.”

It was a difficult request.

In fact, it was practically impossible.

No matter how recently born a high-ranking undead it was, it would surely recognize that fact.

Yet still, the skeleton moved forward, positioning itself before Song Ha Yeon and blocking Gideon.

“…I will do that.”

And a moment later.

Before she could even react, Gideon approached at a speed too fast to comprehend, extending his finger, and the skeleton was reduced to a handful of bone dust scattered on the ground.

“Your necromancy is indeed intriguing, but rather crude.”

In truth, Song Ha Yeon had anticipated that this would happen, even as she stepped forward to summon the skeleton.

And as expected, she silently shed tears.

The high-ranking skeleton that met an eternal death without ever being named, for having picked the wrong master. She silently apologized to it in her heart.

And then she closed her eyes in resignation.

It was clear her turn was next, not the skeleton’s.

Yet strangely, Gideon was no longer looking at Song Ha Yeon.

His gaze had shifted beyond her to someone new who had just appeared.

“…Master.”

Thud.

Thud.

Approaching Song Ha Yeon, whose face was a mess from crying, Baek Eun Ha immediately bent down, picked up a handful of the skeleton’s dust, and casually spoke.

“Well, that was indeed as crude as he said.”

“…….”

“But when someone other than me says it, it tends to make me feel worse.”

Baek Eun Ha chuckled and glanced at Gideon.

And Gideon, meeting Baek Eun Ha’s gaze, exhibited a serious demeanor.

They both sensed that neither was an ordinary individual.

Whoosh—

A soft but palpable death energy emitted from both Baek Eun Ha and Gideon.

A moment of silence lingered, and unable to contain himself, Gideon was the first to speak.

“Are you… Baek Eun Ha?”

“Yes. It seems you can speak well; did you read that bug’s memory?”

“Not entirely. I must show respect to the one who summoned me to this land.”

Exhibiting an attitude that seemed to regard him as royalty, emphasizing dignity and qualifications.

With that demeanor, Baek Eun Ha threw another smirk in amusement before speaking to Song Ha Yeon.

“Stop crying and look after the kids. Step back.”

“Ugh. I-I’m not crying…”

As Song Ha Yeon gathered her remaining skeletons to return her group while retreating, Baek Eun Ha added softly.

“For a first attempt, you did well. Don’t mind it too much. When we go back, I’ll stick by your side and teach you properly.”

It was an utterly ordinary remark, but more reassuring than anything else.

Song Ha Yeon slowly nodded, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

Praying desperately for her master to triumph over that monster.

And Baek Eun Ha, without an ounce of tension, whispered with confidence.

“I think I’ve managed about a third of the way there.”

“…A third? What does that mean?”

“Ah, don’t worry about it.”

After finishing his words, Baek Eun Ha snapped his fingers, summoning a book filled with death energy out of thin air.

Boom!

Shhrrrrr!

“You’ll figure it out naturally once you get beaten up a bit.”