Awesome Shut-In Necromancer

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The strategy team’s hunters, filled with tension, arrived in front of the boss room, guided by the flying undead.

Hee hee hee-ha!

Kiyaaack!

Guwooo.

During the journey, they encountered the dungeon’s monsters, but it felt as if someone had commanded them to let the hunters pass without attacking.

‘Damn it, this is insane.’
‘What on earth is going on?’

A dungeon boss inviting hunters to where he is? Not a single one in the strategy team had ever experienced something like this.

In such an absurd situation, all the hunters could do was maintain their alertness and heighten their physical tension.

Kikigik.
Kugung.

When they arrived at the boss room, the door opened automatically without anyone touching it. The sight instilled an unknown fear in the hunters.

“Welcome to my lair.”

Through the chilly air, a husky voice sounded.

Hee hee hee-ha!
Krreeeek.

Arranged in neat rows, the undead stood, and in the center, a massive figure sat as if he were a king on an extravagant throne.

He held a staff that emanated an unusual power and wore a uniquely designed robe.

The boss of the double dungeon was, quite simply, a lich.

‘L-Lich, you say?’
‘That’s a high-rank monster I only heard about!’
‘…Such overwhelming dark energy.’

Before him, the hunters literally froze.

What is a lich? The only monster confirmed to have been seen once, and according to the information available, it was at least at the pinnacle level of A rank.

In other words, for the hunters present, no matter how much they tried, they could not defeat such a foe.

“A-Are you the one who called us here?”

Amidst the hunters consumed by fear, a man stepped forward.

To that, the lich replied.

“Yes, it was I who summoned you.”

Then there must surely be a reason behind it. Observing the tense, silent hunters, the lich revealed a bony face and grinned.

“I wish to make a contract.”

“…A contract, you say?”

“Yes. If you fulfill it, I promise not to harm you.”

That statement was completely unexpected for the hunters. They felt a flicker of hope swell within their chests and asked about its content.

“What kind of contract?”

“It’s simple. Become my subordinate.”

“Y-You mean you want to turn us into undead?”

The hunters tensed and raised their weapons.

However, the lich chuckled warmly and said, “No. If I intended that, I would have killed you immediately. I mean to make you my subordinates in your current form. Naturally, your consciousness will remain intact.”

The situation became even more perplexing. The forward hunter shifted his gaze to the strategy team, seeking opinions.

“What… what do we do now?”
“What can we possibly gain by being his minions?”
“This is too suspicious. But against a lich, what can we do…?”

In the midst of all this, a man stepped forward and shouted at the lich.

“…Are you really not going to harm us?”

“Hey!”

The surrounding hunters tried to dissuade him, but the man continued walking up to the lich and said once more.

“I will comply with your words. I don’t want to die yet.”

“Good. A wise choice.”

With a fearful expression, he turned back to the strategy team’s hunters and spoke.

“…You all felt it the moment we arrived, right? If we fight, we stand no chance against him.”

That statement was indeed true. Everyone knew it.

Facing the bewildered strategy team, the lich once again tempted them with sweet words.

“If you wish to be my subordinates, I will ensure your safe passage out of the dungeon.”

Logically, it made no sense, but the lich truly seemed to have no intention of harming the hunters.

While everyone was at a loss for what to do, the leader, Yoon Byung-ho, bit his lip and stepped forward.

“Then, after you take us as your subordinates, what do you plan to do next?”

“I have no intention of quarrelling with you. I just wish to live quietly…”

“Bullshit.”

Yoon Byung-ho cut off the lich’s seemingly gentle words.

“After the break, you plan to use our lives as shields, don’t you? Did you think we wouldn’t notice your filthy intentions?”

Then he began to shout at the strategy team’s hunters.

“Everyone, pay attention! He plans to keep us alive as hostages. If we let him go, our families and citizens outside will be in danger!”

Upon those words, the lich tilted his head.

“I don’t understand.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you go against me, you will all die anyway. And no matter what, I will exit the dungeon. Nothing will change, right?”

“We will die, but you too will be killed by the hunters outside.”

“Ke ke ke. Humans truly are a foolish species.”

At that moment, Yoon Byung-ho, who had been secretly gathering his mana, swiftly drew his sword and charged forward.

Whoooooosh!
“Dussom!”

Swoosh!
Crashhh─!

It was a strike that was indeed fast and powerful. The lich seemed unable to react and had his head sliced off, crashing onto the ground.

Kuhung!
Clatter.

However, leaving the head behind, the lich slowly stood up from the throne.

Krug.
Kikigik.

“If I kill half of you, the rest will listen.”

Turup.

“Rise.”

Whoooooosh.
Swish.

“Death Knight, Caliburn.”

Fwahak!

The thick death energy filled the air, along with the overwhelming magic pressing down on them.

The lich, Gordon, who had lived for over five thousand years, finally began to move.

#

The battle that followed was, quite simply, one-sided.

To be honest, it wasn’t even a proper fight. It was just a massacre.

Swoosh!
Clank─!

The first to charge into battle, leader Yoon Byung-ho’s head flew into the air.

Around him, the corpses of the Hanul Guild members who had followed him lay scattered.

“Damn, this is crazy…”
“This… this doesn’t make sense…”

The enemy was strong. Very strong. To hunters struggling against just one dullahan, the death knight blocking their way felt like an insurmountable wall.

“Rise.”

Whoooooosh.
Swish.

The bodies of Yoon Byung-ho and the guild members were resurrected as undead under the lich’s command.

Seeing this, the strategy team completely lost their fighting spirit.

Thud.
“Ugh.”
“It’s over. We’re all going to die now.”

And I, from behind, was desperately trying to think.

‘…You arrogant lich who thinks too highly of yourself, being only half a lich.’

The truth was, the opponent’s level wasn’t that high. In my former self, I would have simply laughed and crushed them.

But compared to the current me, they were indeed superior.

The death knight already possessed a semi-high-ranking undead status, commanding a considerable force without showing any signs of exhaustion.

Honestly, they were much stronger than I had anticipated.

“S-Master, what do we do now?”

Song Ha Yeon asked, trembling in fear.
Yet, no clear method came to mind despite considering countless possibilities.

In the chaos, suddenly the lich turned to us and spoke, intrigued.

“By the way, a good necromancer was among you.”
The lich was pointing at Song Ha Yeon, who just took command from the dullahan earlier.

“Me?”

“Yes. I don’t know where you learned your craft, but you possess decent skills. If you become my subordinate, I will give you special treatment.”

“Uh, well…”

“Your technique is passable, but there is much lacking. Following me will bring you closer to the true essence of necromancy.”

That statement fueled my irritation. What the hell is this lousy jerk saying right now?

“The knowledge of humans is barely at that level. However, I hold the quintessence of knowledge accumulated over thousands of years.”

It was ridiculous for him to flaunt such a low level of skill, but I couldn’t act recklessly. He still didn’t know my true identity. I had to make the most of that gap.

I slyly handed Song Ha Yeon the medium of Jackson, who had become a Doom Warrior. Then I whispered to her.

“Y-You summon it.”

“…What am I supposed to do after summoning?”

“Shh. Aim for the death knight. If you can subdue it, there’s a way ahead.”

In the meantime, the lich threw the same temptations again at the disheartened hunters.

“Become my subordinates through a contract. If you do, I shall spare you.”

This time, the reactions were quite distinct. Some of the hesitant hunters ran forward and bowed their heads before the lich.

“I-I will be your subordinate.”
“…I still don’t want to die.”

“What the hell are you doing! Have you forgotten what the captain said?”
“What should we do then? Just sitting tight will only lead to death!”

As a leading faction emerged, the remaining majority of them chose to stand on the lich’s side, unable to overcome the fear of death.

Only eleven remained, including our party.

“Ugh, this sucks. What the hell! Aren’t you guys ashamed?”

Gwak Min-ji, who had already formed a contract with my soul, shouted full of grievance.
But nothing changed. In the face of an absolute numerical disadvantage among the hunters, I had no choice but to steel my resolve.

‘…This is the only way.’

My gaze subtly shifted to the Mental Stabilization Ring on my finger, the soul contained within that jewel.