I Became the Weakest Summon of the Genius Summoner

Chapter 6. First Death

"As my level went up, it all seemed to heal, but it's not a cure-all. Hmm..."

Given her solemn face, I just let myself be carried along while focusing my attention on the web of senses.

"Okay, clear."

At least within a 10-meter radius, there were no enemies.

Only then did I check the status window again, thinking about the level-up rewards.

-----

【Skeleton Soldier Ilwol - Lv.2】

Strength: 3
Agility: 2 Stamina: 6/7
Intelligence: 24
Magic Power: 6
Resistance: 0
Sense: 15
Recovery: 1

Traits: Calm, Protector, Kleptomancy, 99 Lives

Skills: Heavy Strike, Stealth, Dagger Throw, Acid Spray

Equipment: Roughly Carved Wooden Club

Stats: 3

-----

Each stat gained from leveling up increases by 3 points.

One cannot invest all points into the same attribute at once; you must choose three different ones.

'Hmm... I can raise Resistance later. Magic recovery is too slow, should I increase Recovery? No... I will level up fast enough for now.'

In the end, I safely chose Strength, Agility, and Magic Power.

Strength: 6(+3)

Agility: 5(+3)

Magic Power: 9(+3)

Brrrr-

As the attributes increased, I felt a thrilling sensation like lightning coursing through my veins.

'Ah- I feel alive again.'

That instant leap in quality was electrifying no matter how many times I felt it.

'This really is like a drug.'

"Aha, I thought I was the one upgrading the summoned creature's stats, but it seems to be automatic? Anyway, that's a relief. I'm indecisive, so this takes me a while. Hehe."

She laughed cheerfully, looking so cute like a mole cricket that I wanted to pat her head.

But as a monster, I didn't do such things.

"Phew... I need to stay sharp. Ilwol must have sensed it through the sensory attribute, right? That slime earlier."

"Clack-clack-clack!"

"Alright, from now on, if something similar happens, hold my hand tightly. I'll move us immediately."

Nod-

"Oh, you're so smart, my Ilwol. You're irresistibly adorable."

Lee Yeon-hee scratched my jawbone affectionately and said "Shall we go?" before heading down the path again.

Fortunately, it wasn't long before we arrived at the lakeside.

We settled in a spot where we could conceal ourselves and observed our surroundings.

"How about it, Ilwol? Do we need to be cautious of anything?"

It seemed like the issue with the slime had increased her trust in my sensory ability.

I imagined closing my eyes and concentrated on the sensory waves.

Finding nothing special, I shook my head slightly.

"Hmm... touching that would be troublesome, wouldn't it?"

Through the bushes, goblin hordes around the lakeside could be seen about 50 meters away, squabbling amongst themselves.

They had built something like small shacks, and though the fire was out, there were traces of one.

There were around twenty of them.

Just as the first three goblins we encountered, they had crude equipment and similar stature.

But.

'We should never engage them directly.'

All goblins are born with a trait where their stats increase the more they gather.

Of course, there's a limit within a certain radius, but with twenty goblins, their stats would increase by at least 10%.

'There's no need to jump into the fire.'

Of course, Lee Yeon-hee wouldn't have asked with the intention of facing them head-on.

She was likely gauging if it was enough for hit-and-run tactics.

Soon, she motioned for me to move, and we cautiously circled the outskirts in search of other prey. We maintained a similar distance around the lakeside.

And it wasn't long before we encountered another goblin group.

This time, five goblins were on the move, walking confidently despite the open area, a testament to their status as the dungeon's dominant species.

Lee Yeon-hee tapped her chin briefly, lost in thought.

"How we initiate an attack is crucial."

The best strategy was to strike simultaneously as we did last time, but I'd have to risk being surrounded by a few goblins right after the strike.

...

"What am I worried about? Surely it's not concern over a summoned creature breaking, right?"

After a moment of contemplation, she nodded and whispered to me.

(Let's try again like last time. Use the skill we got from the slime this time.)

Nod-

"Right—one shouldn't get unnecessarily attached to a summoned creature."

As a summoned creature myself, her words were chilling, even though I no longer had a beating heart.

But that was her usual battle style.

Her summoned creatures' fearless and persistent assaults, coupled with her high-level mental acuity and inexhaustible magic power for re-summoning, were the reasons she was hailed as a genius—benefits to her team beyond words.

"Let's do this..."

Sss—

Magic Power: 7/9 (-2)

The operation began.

The sequence was similar to last time, except this time they were on the move.

"If I take out the one in the back first, they'll be even more confused."

I gripped the lone club that was cloaked with me, absorbed into my Stealth.

My mouth was already bubbling furiously like molten lava with acid.

How a skeleton could hold acid in its mouth, I didn't know, but in a world so twisted, it wasn't like anything made sense anymore.

Koolung-koolong—

The acid in my mouth splashed onto the face of the goblin in the back.

Ssssshh—

- Screeek!

Leaving the goblin who staggered with acid sizzling on its face, I immediately swung at the fourth one's head.

Smack—!
- Gruk?!

Simultaneously, an arrow flew and cleanly pierced the temple of the largest one in the lead.

The 5th goblin, writhing on the ground from my acid; the 4th one, its head split by my club; and the 1st one killed instantly by Lee Yeon-hee's arrow.

Now there were two goblins left to contend with, and those two were already charging at me.

I crouched low to the ground and scooped up some sand, flinging it hard towards them. But only minor dust arose, and quickly encircled by the pair.

'Tsk! Being all bones, I couldn't even grip the sand properly!'

Smack—!

"Urgh!"

Their agility was slightly higher than mine, but even with similar stats, merely matching numbers doesn't mean matching movements.

They were living creatures with fully functioning bodies.

With my jerky frame, unable to execute anything but straight-line attacks, there was no chance of properly defending against their strikes.

Stamina: 6/7(-1)

A glancing blow from a club began whittling my stamina down, leading to relentless hammering by the two goblins.

Stamina: 4/7(-3)

Yet even then, I persisted, repeatedly using Heavy Strike to finish off the 4th and 5th goblins.

Thunk-thunk—!

- Krrughk!

Fweeeew-thud!

- Kahhak—!

The two goblins assaulting me were halted when my stamina hit 2, each nailed by another arrow from Lee Yeon-hee.

"The accuracy does drop after the first shot, for sure."

The arrows missed the vital spots, exacerbating the frenzy of the goblins.

Kyaaaaak—!

Fweeeng— whoosh—!

Thunk! Thunk—!

Eventually, with continuous arrow fire, the goblins fell to their knees.

Stamina: 1(-6)

'Ugh, am I going to die from goblins? Damn, if I must die, at least take one more with me!'

Heavy Strike! Heavy Strike! Heavy Strike!

- You have slain a goblin.

- Assistance in slaying a goblin...

- Assistance in slaying a goblin...

- Level up...

With two kills and one assist verified, I gritted my teeth, resisting the encroaching waves of darkness.

Due to the goblins clinging to me with a desperation that matched my own, my stamina finally dropped to zero.

Stamina: 0(-7)

- Skeleton Soldier Ilwol has crumbled.

'Crumbled... It doesn't even call it death...'

For the already dead, death was not permitted.

And then.

- IIlwol...!!

She ran toward me.

Her short hair fluttering splendidly in the light—a beautiful last picture before dying.

'Still, this was much better than last time I died. Heh...'

- Trait "99 Lives" has activated...

* * *

...

"Clack-clack-clack!"

Hmm—

My body moved.

Creak—

"Is this... that cursed place again?"

The place where I crouched for what felt like an eternity.

I couldn't see an inch ahead, yet I instinctively knew.

I quickly stood up from my hunched position and, driven by instinct, pushed myself forward in one direction.

Ting—

-----

【Skeleton Soldier Ilwol - Lv.3】

Strength: 6
Agility: 5
Stamina: 7
Intelligence: 24
Magic Power: 9
Resistance: 0 Sense: 15 Recovery: 1

Traits: Calm, Protector, Kleptomancy, 98 Lives

Skills: Heavy Strike, Stealth, Dagger Throw, Acid Spray

Equipment: Worn-out Wooden Club

Stats: 3

-----

"A life has been deducted."

The only thought that crossed my mind was,

"What a waste..."

An emotion that may be considered greed for one who lived a lifetime with just one life.

'Even with 98 remaining lives, feeling lacking... I shouldn't be like this already.'

There should be no hesitation in protecting her.

Tap- Tat- Tak-

After moving for a long while, a familiar large door greeted me.

"Clack-clack-clack—"

"Another round of waiting..."

It was something I'd have to get used to, so I sat and focused on the status window.

'Strength and Agility are keepers for now. Best to put one into Stamina, too.'

Had my Stamina been 3 points higher, I likely wouldn't have died.

Strength: 9(+3) Agility: 8(+3) Stamina: 10(+3)

"I'm finally approaching F-rank lowest stats."

Of course, if I were human, even with such low stats, my 【Sense】 stat would make me a valuable asset to any guild.

Nodding at the significant increase in numbers, I got up and tested my movements.

A few light jabs...

Creak—

Even a kick.

Crack—

An agile sweep.

Tatatatak—

Still a mess, but,

"My body feels... a bit more flexible?"

A barely perceptible change that could only be recognized with a Sense stat, yet it was enough to motivate me.

"Leveling up improves movement."

Even if it was just placebo, belief and effort were necessary.

While practicing with my barely functional body, the familiar melody of incantation rang, and the door slowly began to open.

Creak—

Then, with a sudden swing, the door flung wide, swallowing me once more.

* * *

"Ilwol—! Sob..."

'It's blinding... Why do I feel that way with no eyes?'

Re-summoned in an old apartment, I held Lee Yeon-hee, who embraced me as she sobbed.

'So she did have feelings for a summoned creature.'

Maybe it was understandable since it was the first.

But as the number of creatures increased and as they broke time and again, would she transform back into her previously cold demeanor?

Only time would tell.