Ch. 30 - The Necromancer’s Attack (2)

Chapter 30: The Necromancer’s Attack (2)

It took about three hours to get to Marthevis Cemetery. The airship and warp hole were systematized in Arcanium, so it wasn't a mess, but it was still quite far.

After boarding the warp hole and moving to the transfer station, Baek Yu-Seol took the train for an hour, followed by a thirty-minute wait at a warp hole due to the crowd, before finally reaching there after an hour on the bus.

“You’re lucky, student. There were originally only a few buses to this place. You almost had to ride a horse.”

Baek Yu-Seol chuckled in agreement. If the timing had been wrong, he would have to ride a horse.

Like Earth, not all lands were safe, so roads were not everywhere. Horses were still one of the main sources of transportation in the Aether World.

Upon arriving at the Marthevis Cemetery, he found it was crowded with far more people than expected.

Half were mercenaries, and the other half were rookie mages of level 2-3. The rest were merchants who had come to trade combat supplies and monster corpses with the mercenaries.

‘Why are there so many people?’

It was strange that there were so many people in the cemetery. In the game, there was no one except for NPCs.

In the beginning, during the Third Great War against the dark mages, most cemeteries were legally required to go through a purification after the recurring appearance of necromancers.

“Oh, that? This place hasn’t been purified.”

"Why?"

Baek Yu-Seol had no choice but to ask an adventurer on the road, and the answer was finally revealed.

“If we purify it, there won’t be any ghouls, right? Then there won’t be any vampbats, which eat ghouls, and then there won’t be any predator fish that eat vampbats, right?”

"Uh... I see?"

“Our main prey as mercenaries is predator fish. But if the ghouls disappear due to purification, the vampbats disappear, and the predator fish disappear. What happens then? The factory sites in the neighboring village and those merchant brothers over there who feed off our prey, what happens to them?”

To sum it up:

Purification of the area → Ghoul extinction → Vampbat extinction → Predator fish extinction → Mercenary job loss → Trader job loss → Small businessmen starve to death → End of the world

It would be like this.

“Do you understand now?”

“Ah, yes…”

In the end, the story revolved around the locals in this area causing a ruckus, shouting, “Oh, we're all starving to death!'”

This prevented the Holy Empire’s officials from approaching.

‘Come to think of it, despite the legal restrictions, there were many cemetery fields in the Aether World.’

Baek Yu-Seol didn't notice it because he didn't care about it in the game, but he now realized how realistic it was.

He didn't know there was a reason behind it and how ridiculously logical it was.

'Even so, aren’t necromancers supposed to be scary…?'

‘Anyway, with so many people, it’s quite hard to find anyone.’

'Maybe it’s for the better?'

With so many people, it would be easy to stop the attack.

He stopped another passer-by and asked, “Hey, have you seen any mages wearing coats just like mine?”

“Stella Cadets, right? There have been a lot of them these days, and of course, I saw them today too. A bunch of them are going into the cemetery.”

It seemed that Hong Bi-Yeon, Eisel, and Flame's group members had already gone hunting.

Perhaps they too had gone deep into the northern forest to hunt for the predator fish. Baek Yu-Seol decided to look for them himself.

[Marthevis Cemetery]

[※Caution※ Do not enter alone]

'Creepy...'

Ignoring the screeching and swaying old signs, he passed through the rusty iron gate and entered the interior, where the damp mountain air filled his lungs.

As soon as he moved a little further from the base camp, the number of people rapidly decreased, and all he could hear were the cries of all sorts of animals and birds.

The sound of the wind hitting the tree branches might sound like a weeping ghost, but in the Aether World, it could be a real weeping ghost, so one needed to be careful.

Screech! 

There was the sound of something wriggling in the forest. Baek Yu-Seol hardened his expression and quickly ran toward the sea of trees.

'It's a predator fish.'

It was a unique monster that flew in the air and looked like a fish, thanks to its floating-type characteristics.

Without a long-range attack technique, he was vulnerable in air combat. However, if the terrain was full of tall trees, he had a chance.

Crisp!

Kiaag!

The two-meter-long fish with dark scales rushed at Baek Yu-Seol, exposing its sharp teeth. The predator fish had an unusually sharp and long tongue.

Slash! 

Its tongue shot toward his neck, but he had already used Flash to ascend upwards.

Maintaining that position, he aimed the Teripon Sword down and used Flash once more, thrusting the blade into the creature's neck.

Fu-wook!

Kyaaaaaa!!

It screamed and struggled. Unfortunately, it wasn’t an instant kill. Not wanting to risk twisting the sword too much, he stabbed it repeatedly, but it managed to kick him away.

"Ahh?!"

Thud! 

A tremendous jolt came from his back and instantly made him nauseous, but he quickly rolled to the side.

Schick! 

Its tongue, which was like a sharp needle, pierced the spot where he stood a split second before.

Baek Yu-Seol quickly swung his sword and cut off its tongue.

Piaaaagh!

It let out a more grotesque scream. It was hard to kill, but it wasn't a threat anymore since its means of attack had been completely lost.

Flashing between the trees, he moved above the creature and thrust his sword in its eye with all my might.

Thud!

[Skill EXP increased.]

[Stat EXP increased.]

He was breathing heavily with the corpse of the Predator fish on the ground.

“Ah, this was fucking difficult…”

The predator fish was a level 2 monster. It was the same grade as the fire-attribute lizard, but it was harder to deal with.

It had tough scales, could do long-range attacks, and could even fly through the air.

'Air control is still a bit tough.'

The forest terrain itself was actually not very advantageous to him. 

If he had failed to control the Flash even a little, he would have been fatally injured, so his mental power was raised to the max.

After shaking his butt and getting up, he dismantled the body of the predator fish and took out the mana core. Normally, the expensive parts of the corpse should have been stored in a frozen wooden box, but there was no time.

As he continued forward, a few half-dug tombstones came into view. In the meantime, he found what he was looking for from the beginning.

One tombstone of considerable size, unlike other tombstones. According to the setting, it was said that it was a tombstone where a general was buried. All the letters on it had been erased.

It didn't matter too much since he could see the information with his Sentient Specs.

'I don't have the power to wipe out the skeleton army overwhelmingly like Ma Yu-Seong.'

If he tried to fight like Ma Yu-Seong, it would be equal to desiring his own tombstone in that cemetery.

However, it was not as if there was no way.

Eisel was absentmindedly listening to Kashif Derek, the club's leader.

"Did you notice the region shown on the map? We got this knowledge in advance from a mercenary who’s been stationed in the graveyard for seven years. We plan to get at least three predator fish apiece by moving along the northern hillcrest. You guys..."

He continued droning on.

The club leader was especially vocal. However, Eisel did not disregard the conversation.

It wasn't simply nice to listen. At Stella, the post of special club leader held the authority to lead students on actual monster hunts.

After thoroughly outlining the plan, Kashif Derek looked at Eisel.

"Eisel? Just trust us. We’ll take care of everything."

She was currently not a member of any clubs. This hunting trip was a temporary follow-up to a vacancy in a club made by a second-year senior. 

She was required to engage in club activities following this hunt as a requirement.

Even without her, many freshmen joined this club. Special expeditions were incredibly unusual, making them quite popular.

Joining a club and hunting with senior members was a fortunate opportunity.

"Do you understand? Trust us. There’s nothing to be afraid of."

"Alright."

This club's leader was rather obnoxious.

Kashif Derek.

He was the eldest son of the Dereks, a viscount family. 

She heard they became well-known after a successful business venture.

Derek was also attempting to seduce Eisel by drawing on his family background. 

She was notoriously poor.

Eisel was tormented at school, yet her appearance was so dazzling and radiant that she couldn't ignore the boys' attention. They had developed a habit of overtly hitting on her.

His attitude always seemed to say “I’m better than you,” and although it was quite irritating, she never showed it.

Hunting was necessary to accumulate accomplishments for scholarships, and there were very few clubs ready to take her.

First-year students could not form clubs on their own. 

Clubs that permit special expeditions for activities such as hunting outside were considerably more difficult.

If she was kicked out of here, there may be no next time.

'Just endure for three years.'

Eisel forced a smile while thinking about this.

"Yawn~ When are we leaving?"  

"Shut up, fool. Haven't you realized how crucial each of these briefings is?"

"I know, but how many times are we going to repeat the same thing? It's not like I'm pretending to know."

There was some idle talk nearby. Eisel felt a little reassured inside.

'Seniors Dok Cheol-Gwang and Ban Di-Yeon...’

They were the only members of the group who saw her as just a first-year junior and not ‘the child of a traitor.’ Eisel felt at ease around them.

"What? Dok Cheol-Gwang! Do you think you'll be able to last long in real combat with that attitude?" 

Club leader Kashif roared in fury at Dok Cheol-Gwang's sarcasm, but he disregarded it and flexed his enormous muscles instead.  

"Enough, let's skip the rest and get going already."

Standing up abruptly, he began going in the opposite direction of Kashif's precisely planned route.

“You… you! Hey! Wait! That’s an order from your leader!"  

"Sigh. That fool. Let’s just follow him. We're all priests, so losing our only knight will be difficult."  

"Ugh…"

The knight role was uncommon, accounting for only around one in every ten magical fighters. Few mages hoped to battle in the front.

Currently, the club had four members, including Eisel. It was fortunate to have at least one knight among them.

"Don't worry, Eisel. Whatever that idiot does, your seniors will handle it."  

"Yes, I understand."

Regardless of what the senior did, she simply wanted to hunt quickly. She took her staff and pursued Dok Cheol-Gwang, who was already making loud noises and fiercely striking things.

Dok Cheol-Gwang had an uncommon preference for the ‘magic fistfight’ approach, an ancient technique. Although he did not pursue chivalry like Baek Yu-Seol, he was a distinct individual with strong ideas.

Even though fighting with a magic circle around one's fists was less effective than other magic, his grades in practical training were consistently high among second-year students due to his exceptional reflexes and physical ability.

"Hello, you brute! What are you doing? Breaking everything?" 

"Uh? Oh? Sorry! Haha!"

Dok Cheol-Gwang's fists were rough and destructive, and his attempts to intercept flying predator fish with power jumps caused harm to the surrounding environment.

Although Eisel was frustrated by the continually changing terrain and hindered views, the difference in a priest's effectiveness with and without a knight was obvious.

A priest may utilize extremely powerful magic if given adequate casting time.

Boom!

Six lightning streaks fell from the sky, striking six predator fish. All six were slain instantly.

Sizzle...

"Oh, oh...?"  

"Hey, the freshman is pretty good?"  

Kashif, who had been throwing spells quickly, was taken aback, and Dok Cheol-Gwang smiled cheerfully.

It was not the kind of magic that a first-year could ordinarily conjure. The casting speed, destructive power, and precision were flawless.

"Wow, have we got a really good freshman? This ought to be easy!"  

Ban Di-Yeon joked and patted Eisel on the back, and Eisel smiled faintly.

'Hunting at this level is easy.'

She was a third-class magician. Given enough time, she could easily accomplish success in this level 2 hunting zone. They continued to search leisurely, with Dok Cheol-Gwang's physical determination leading the way.

Boom! Rumble!!!

A tremendous noise occurred nearby. It was obviously not the work of mercenaries. Eisel could detect based on mana waves and noise that they were mages of the same caliber as her.

"It sounds like a battle filled with intense passion."  

"It looks like someone is nearby. Let’s expose our faces and leave. It would be unpleasant if our hunting grounds coincided. Do you agree, leader?"  

"Oh, yes. Let’s do that."

In actuality, Dok Cheol-Gwang led the party in fighting, while Ban Di-Yeon made the decisions. Kashif was only the face of the group.

As they walked towards the source of the fighting along a trail between the trees, they came across a group of eight people gathered in one spot.  

Five mages faced off against three others.

Some of the faces were familiar.  

'Hong Bi-yeon and Flame...?'

On one side were Flame, Hae Won-Ryang, and an unknown girl, and on the other were Hong Bi-Yeon and her group members.

"What nonsense! I shot the magic first, and it came down!"  

"Nonsense. It was in our hunting territory. It’s ours."

A quick look at the cause of the quarrel revealed the carcass of a big predator fish, an exceptionally rare risk 3 creature. It was evident that neither side wanted to abandon such a prized kill.

'Hong Bi-Yeon...'

Eisel bit her lip lightly.  

Hong Bi-Yeon's sister led the magical knights that killed her father.

She did not, however, do something foolish, such as express her emotions. Now was the time to hide her fangs and remain silent.

'I hope we can pass by easily.'

Flame and Hong Bi-Yeon were in the same class S, yet they felt awkward with each other.  

However, someone was unable to leave the situation alone.

"Hold on, juniors! Let's calm down and talk about this. Haha." 

It was Kashif, the club's head.

"Ah, that guy is seriously…"  

"Hmm? What’s wrong with him now?"

Ban Di-Yeon looked irritated, and Dok Cheol-Gwang looked perplexed, but Kashif couldn't read the mood.  

He wanted to intervene since the juniors, who were extremely pretty, were arguing.

"Is there a problem? If you have any concerns, let me know—"  

"Senior? Just shut up and keep walking."

"What…?"

There were exceptions to the Stella hierarchy, which must be preserved even if the sky falls.

Princess Hong Bi-Yeon of Adolevit was not in the mood to tolerate unpleasant words from her seniors. Flame did not express her feelings, although she did not appear happy.

"You guys, how can you speak to a senior like—"

Something happened just as Eisel was about to let out a loud sigh, fearing Kashif would begin to flaunt his seniority.

A strange, spooky sensation overtook her body.  

She noticed a difference while attempting to warn the fairly trustworthy Ban Di-Yeon of the weird feeling.

Creak! Crack! 

Dozens of skeletal hands emerged from the ground, reaching out!  

Everyone present soon grasped the issue.

"S-Skeletons…"

Necromancy, the most potent and terrifying magic, had brought the remains of the dead back to life.

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