The Second Arrangement (1)

Shadow was one of the harder organizations to hunt down. They certainly committed heinous crimes, including human sacrifice, but people of their caliber would never leave evidence lying around.

Simply attacking them wasn't the answer. Do that, and they would turn things around and paint him as the criminal.

'They're also pretty strong.'

Their key members were all A-rank awakeners or higher. If they ganged up on him, he couldn't guarantee he would win.

For that matter, Shadow might be much stronger now than before.

'If that EXP-doubling event is real...'

If it was, their average level would naturally be far higher than during his previous playthroughs, backed up by equipment, skill books, and stats. They would be difficult to hunt alone.

Of course, it wasn't as though he had no cheat codes at his disposal.

'The Sword Immortal.'

And the Fist King, Divine Spear, and Poison Demon, too. His last encounter with them had earned him the friendship of Korea's greatest masters. With their help, crushing all of Shadow wouldn't be difficult. No matter how capable Shadow was, they would be helpless against that kind of skill.

The problem was this:

'Would I still get the full Achievement Points?'

He still didn't know whether he had to earn one hundred percent of the credit to receive the full points, or whether contributing only part of the effort would suffice. What if getting help from those masters drastically reduced his reward?

'That would be really depressing.'

Especially now, when the Achievement Vending Machine doubled his points.

Of course, in a true emergency, he would use their help without hesitation. But for now, he still had time.

'If those bastards come after me, they'll attack inside a gate anyway.'

Target him in the real world? The eldest son of Ilseong Group, practically a prince of Korea?

Whatever else Korea might be, it was famous for public safety. Seoul especially so.

He might not be able to win, but he was already more than capable of holding out and buying time. Last just five minutes, and awakeners would come swarming in.

Even Shadow, strengthened by its EXP event, would have no answer to those numbers. So if they targeted him, they would try to intrude into his gate.

'At least one thing's fortunate...'

Han Baekgil hadn't recognized him for what he was.

There were three possibilities. The being Han served wasn't the Outer God and had nothing to do with Kim Minwoo in the first place. Or he did serve the Outer God, but hadn't been given a clearly identified target.

'And if it's neither of those...'

He could simply be the Outer God's lackey with an entirely different objective.

'Either way, it doesn't matter.'

Hadn't killing Lee Seoyun already taught him? Those bastards were Achievement Point duplicators. Shadow was prey he needed to hunt.

'And there might even be a bonus.'

He recalled the baptism Han Baekgil had mentioned. The EXP-doubling event. If he obtained that orb, perhaps he could find a way to use it himself.

'One month.'

The best way to grow stronger would be to acquire another legion commander. Even one more being like Cedric would be immensely reassuring.

It seemed it was time to answer the call.

* * *

[You have learned Summon Specter (C) +9!]

[Summon Specter (C) +9]

[This skill has been enhanced to its limit.]

[Consumes 100 Mana to summon 2 (1+1) LV1 specters.]

Since the investment was taking some time to come through, he simply sold equipment, collected advance payments, and bought up skill books.

Crafted arms and armor were profitable. In particular, when a Magic Plus-grade item came out instead of a Normal-grade one, it wasn't unusual to make back more than ten times the cost.

'Though they're that much rarer.'

Maybe one in ten crafting attempts?

Still, it didn't matter. The sheer number of skeletons crafting had increased dramatically. Over three thousand skeletons churned out Magic-grade items nonstop.

A few days of crafting had practically conjured up a C-rank +9 skill book, thanks in part to every enhancement succeeding straight through without a single failure.

'Finally learned it.'

Specters were mid-tier undead with quite respectable performance. Their greatest advantage was that, as ghosts, physical damage wasn't very effective against them.

'A permanent thirty percent reduction to physical damage.'

That wasn't their only advantage.

'They're good at squeezing in damage.'

Even with large numbers, skeletons had trouble attacking efficiently. The reason was simple: they got in one another's way. Once they had fully surrounded a target, only a limited number could swing their weapons.

Specters, on the other hand, were flying undead that floated through the air. Even when skeletons crowded all the surrounding space, they could still squeeze in damage. They just had to swoop down from above and hammer the target's head.

Of course, specters had weaknesses, too. Where ordinary undead took double damage from attributes they were weak against, specters could take up to triple damage. Their undead and ghost vulnerabilities stacked.

Getting sliced apart by silver or mithril weapons was an added drawback. They couldn't equip gear, either.

Well, strictly speaking...

'They can wear it, but...'

They needed special equipment, treated with a special finish so ghost-type creatures could wear it. Naturally, both demand and supply were almost nonexistent. At most, spirit practitioners sought such gear, and theirs was such an obscure niche of a class that they were practically nonexistent themselves.

'But I can just make it myself.'

He had a crafting skill. All he needed was to make the finish a little more specialized. That effectively eliminated their inability to wear equipment.

'And light doesn't work on them, either.'

Thanks to Death Lord, light attacks wouldn't affect them unless they were EX-rank.

Specters immune to the light attribute. The very thought stirred his heart. Besides, creatures carrying plated weapons were exceedingly rare inside gates.

'I'll mix up my summons.'

Summoning three thousand skeletons and nothing else? Unless it was a genuine battle of numbers, combat would become terribly inefficient. That was why ordinary necromancers usually traveled with a mix of summons.

Kim Minwoo intended to do the same, now that he had a new summoning skill.

'About a hundred should do for now.'

Thanks to Death Lord's effect, he could summon two for 50 Mana.

Summoning a hundred specters would leave an ordinary necromancer gasping at the mana cost, but Kim Minwoo was different. He could easily afford it. In fact, he would still have plenty of mana left afterward.

'Preparations are finished, too.'

He had prepared the specters' specialized gear ahead of time while crafting and equipped them with it. He had also stocked up generously on consumables.

'Let's go.'

Time to tackle the arrangement.

[Would you like to undertake the Death Lord's second trial?]

"Let's do it."

[The Death Lord begins calling you.]

With the familiar message, the scenery around him began to change.

* * *

A familiar space appeared before his eyes. Pitch-black, just like the place he had entered when he first received the call.

"Coo."

Snowy looked around at the sudden change in surroundings. Kim Minwoo did the same.

'This is a little different from last time.'

Before, he had only heard a recorded voice. Now, some black shape was rippling before him.

"... It's you."

"... Mr. Death Lord?"

"Correct. This is the first time the mental projection I prepared has awakened. Have you obtained Cedric?"

"Yes."

"Good. Well done. I hope you pass the second arrangement as well."

"May I ask you a few questions?"

"You may, but our time will be short."

Damn. It seemed the projection couldn't last long. Then again, this wasn't the real being, only a mental projection.

'His true self must already be gone.'

He didn't know the details, but hadn't the Death Lord supposedly met his end after being attacked by some strange beings?

If time was limited, he needed to skip the miscellaneous questions and get straight to the heart of the matter.

"Someone is deliberately gathering the hero's party's weapons around me. Why do you think that is?"

"... Gathering the hero's party's weapons?"

"Yes. They seem intent on gathering all four. Will something happen if they do?"

"You are my successor. That does not mean you will inherit my power in full. I have already ceased to exist, so I can only pass on incomplete powers."

Incomplete? When even Summon Cedric was SSS-rank?

He couldn't begin to fathom just how exalted this man's stature had been.

"... And?"

"Does it seem they are gathering them to help you?"

"That's what I think for now..."

"Then perhaps they are supplying fodder to raise your stature."

He narrowed his eyes. Supplying fodder?

"I heard the hero's party's weapons were indestructible."

"They were then."

But not now?

The shape he presumed to be the Death Lord stared directly at him and spoke.

"The second arrangement has begun..."

"No, wait..."

The scenery changed once more. Everything blurred.

[You are entering the Prail Imperial Academy!]

[You have entered an ancient place of learning!]

[You have acquired the title, 'Fossil Class Year'!]

* * *

When he opened his eyes again, a curious sight greeted him in a space where time stood still.

He was inside a training hall. Numerous students sat on the floor, while at the front, a knight appeared to have frozen midway through a sword swing. It looked like a swordsmanship class.

[This is a fragment of the past created from Banshee Queen Merhen's regrets from her time as a human!]

[The player is joining.]

"Snowy. Stay hidden for now."

"Coo."

Snowy nodded. The little bird was smart enough to find a good hiding place without help.

Time resumed.

"The most important part of the first form of Imperial Swordsmanship is twisting your wrist when thrusting at the body from a high guard, like so..."

Had it said Imperial Academy? True to the name, the students' clothing looked straight out of a fantasy.

'From her time as a human, huh.'

That was different from Cedric, whom he had met as an undead.

'And this isn't a virtual body, either.'

His body felt a little lighter when a virtual body removed his lack of talent, so that was a shame. On the other hand, he could gain EXP, so it wasn't all bad.

'Who's Merhen?'

Judging by the name, she seemed to be a woman.

As he looked around, a shout rang out.

"Kern!"

The middle-aged knight was glaring at him fiercely.

"You placed dead last on the previous exam, and now you aren't even paying attention? Do you think the Swordsmanship Department is a joke?"

... The Swordsmanship Department?

Why was a necromancer enrolled in the Swordsmanship Department? At least the Magic Department would have made sense.

While he was thinking that, the knight began raging.

"You insolent brat! Ignoring your professor? Get up here!"

A murmur rippled through the nearby students. Their whispers all amounted to much the same thing.

Kern was in real trouble now that he'd gotten on the bad side of Professor Charles, or whatever his name was. He was already dead last, and now his attitude in class was shit, too. He was going to get beaten to a pulp.

'What a pain.'

He needed to find Merhen first.

He stepped forward.

"Kern! Draw your sword!"

"Professor. If I win, can I skip class?"

"...?"

What the hell was wrong with this lunatic?

Looks conveying that sentiment converged on him, but Kim Minwoo couldn't care less. Who had time to waste on useless swordsmanship lessons? Learning them would do him no good anyway. Spending that time finding Merhen and discovering her regret would be a hundred times better.

After a brief silence, Professor Charles flew into a rage, his eyes bloodshot.

"You insolent brat! You always come last, and you dare provoke your professor? Fine! Beat me, and you needn't attend class! I'll give you full marks!"

Sweet deal.

A moment later, Charles charged.

CLANG!

Their swords collided. Judging by his speed, he was around level 400.

'About the level of a seasoned royal guard knight.'

In other words, he was pretty good.

Still, that didn't matter. Minwoo's stats had risen considerably. He could toy with a knight of this caliber using his sword alone.

After ten exchanges, Charles went deathly pale and began being driven backward.

By the twentieth exchange, wounds covered Charles's body. He even stooped to using skills against a student.

It made no difference.

Thirty exchanges.

Minwoo's sword touched Charles's throat.