Awesome Shut-In Necromancer

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Though it’s awkward to say it myself, my skills have already reached their peak.

Moreover, physical training holds no meaning in this situation.

Therefore, to seek the possibility of growth, I had to explore at least other realms.

“Is there room for development in my necromancy?”

Honestly, I’m not sure. After all, I’ve already ventured onto a path that no one has walked before, and I don’t know what sights lay ahead.

‘…….’

At this moment, I felt I could understand Gideon’s feelings from earlier.

He too had pondered the existence of the next level and devoted his remaining life to confirm it.

“One thing is certain: just pondering won’t solve the issues.”

Additionally, I’m here not for idle speculation but to create some concrete results.

Rather than getting lost in despairing thoughts, it would be better to approach this from a more practical perspective.

“…Create a new undead?”

“Could we make a being even stronger than before?”

“I haven’t tried, so I wouldn’t know.”

However, it doesn’t seem like a highly probable solution. Not only would I need to acquire materials, but fighting myself would be better than direct involvement anyway.

Of course, there is one method worth testing.

That is to use a being that has achieved divinity as a material.

“…Why are you looking at me that way all of a sudden?”

“Definitely not. It might work with Shin Do Yoon, but you alone won’t suffice.”

In the end, that wouldn’t be a fundamental solution.

To achieve satisfactory results, I felt I must attempt an adventure that I had never thought of before.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one reaching such a conclusion, as Serejia began to approach me with a somewhat hesitant attitude.

“…Actually, isn’t there a case to be made?”

“A case?”

“To be honest, it sounds like a far-fetched idea, but we have the simplest precedent right before our eyes.”

Upon hearing that, I could easily comprehend what Serejia was hinting at.

“You mean the conversation we had back then?”

“Yes.”

The discussion about changes in both body and soul, regarding my condition and preparations.

And the meaning behind that was indeed simple.

“If you achieve divinity, something might change.”

At that time, it didn’t resonate much, but now that’s all I have to cling to.

I also somewhat agreed with that viewpoint.

“But how do you do that?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“Geez, I must be foolish for expecting something from you.”

It wasn’t because I didn’t know that I brought it up. Achieving divinity is something too abstract to even define, let alone the method being unclear.

“They say Shin Do Yoon doesn’t have a solid theory either.”

It might seem at first glance that his plan was a case of utilizing divinity in a different manner, but upon directly asking, he said granting power through another’s divinity was entirely different from achieving it oneself.

In the end, it means I presently hold no clear method.

“But you’ve already imposed restrictions. Isn’t it better to try something?”

“…Why are you so fixated on that?”

“Think of the game you’re living in.”

At this sudden comment, I raised an eyebrow, and Serejia continued with confidence.

“When your level rises to a certain point, you evolve, and the moment you reach your limits, you gain liberation or something, right?”

“That’s true.”

“Like that, this step seems like a natural progression to me. In essence, there’s nothing left for you but this.”

Saying that, she had a point. Indeed, if viewed from such a perspective, it perfectly aligns as the most concise method.

Some might scold me for bringing up a game in this situation, but that too originated from human primal desires.

In fact, in some aspects, games and reality aren’t that different.

“Ultimately, the concept of divinity definitely exists. I think it’s more likely to reach out to a certain existence than grasping at possibilities we’ve never seen.”

“…….”

That’s undeniably a valid point.

Then the task ahead will be to seek out that clue.

“If it’s a game, there would be a class change quest…”

Unfortunately, reality isn’t that accommodating. It’s unclear whether there are established conditions for it or if each individual has to try different methods.

‘…Am I supposed to gain enlightenment like in a martial arts novel and ascend to the heavens?’

As I settled in to begin serious contemplation, a strange resonance suddenly emanated from deep within my soul.

The source was, in fact, within the Book of Death.

‘What is this…?’

Upon realizing the cause, I summoned the Book of Death and conjured forth a beautiful girl with her eyes covered by fabric.

She was Gideon’s master and the last undead he had entrusted to me.

‘Technically, she isn’t undead…’

But such details aren’t important right now. It was merely a coincidence that she awakened from her long slumber at this moment.

“Who…?”

The girl, waking from sleep, tilted her head as she examined me and Serejia.

Then she began to look around, as if there was something missing.

“If your disciple was here, he would have left. He’s left you to me.”

“…Is that so? What a rude disciple.”

Seeming to understand the situation with just that one line, the girl greeted me with a slightly bitter smile.

“My name is Rama. I am truly the servant of death who has roamed the world for a long time. Did that child find the answers he sought?”

“…Well, he nodded satisfactorily and left, I suppose.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll also joyfully commemorate his end.”

After briefly offering condolences to Gideon in a unique manner, Rama turned to me and fixed her gaze upon me for quite some time, not even twitching.

That gaze seemed to pierce through to my innermost being, and I waved my hand to break her concentration.

“That kind of gaze on a first meeting is a bit overwhelming.”

“My apologies. I was quite surprised. I can see now why that child entrusted me to you.”

“…….”

Indeed, Gideon had said.

He could not fulfill the pact he made with her, and naturally, he believed I could complete it.

Though it remained an unexplained matter up to this point, seeing Rama’s reaction, it seemed there was some understanding between mentor and disciple.

“I’m curious.”

“What is it?”

“For you, how did that child’s necromancy appear? Was it terribly lacking? Or perhaps it didn’t satisfy you?”

“…No. It was quite decent?”

At that response, Rama trembled as if overwhelmed and broke into a smile.

“I thank you. There is no greater joy for both me and that child.”

“…Well, even if you praise me, nothing will come of it.”

Despite being my first meeting, it felt as though she held me in high regard.

It’s true that I deserved it, but still, her reaction bordered on surprising.

Upon inquiring about the reason, Rama turned her head again to answer me.

“How could I not be delighted? After such a long quest, I can finally achieve my heart’s desire.”

“Heart’s desire? What is that?”

“To find the king.”

Then she began to explain the details to us.

“My clan served as close aides to the king of the Underworld long ago.”

“…….”

“However, now that story is of no value. As the last descendant, I have no recollection of what the king looked like.”

Her tale of her clan was something I had never heard before. In other words, it referred to an extremely distant era.

“It’s said that the king chose death and vacated the throne in ancient times. Since then, we have been wandering the world in search of a new king, passing this mission down to future generations.”

“…I get the gist of it.”

Gideon had said that when he reached the Underworld, the ancient king of the stories did not exist.

That meant the throne still lay vacant.

“Yes. We could not find him. No matter how thoroughly we searched, there was no one like that.”

Even as generations continued to change, the outcome remained unchanged, and eventually, Rama’s clan had completely lost hope and let everything go.

“To think a mere human could sit upon the throne of the Underworld and rule over the afterlife. From the beginning, it was an absurdity, and everyone left. By my generation, I could not even discern what was truth and what was false from the words of my predecessors as time had passed by so much.”

Thus, her clan withered away, and in the end, only Rama remained.

Her eyes, revealing the bitterness concealed amid the outdated fabric, were gazing at me with pristine clarity.