Chapter 114 - The Money-Blowing Necromancer

Necromancer (2)

The candidates for the Super Rookie Selection Tournament had been chosen, and the finals were approaching. Even so, Korea’s attention was focused on China’s world-record attempt rather than its own national qualifiers.

It was hardly surprising. The candidates were only A-rank awakeners, after all. They were going up against the Money-Blowing Guild, whose three members had demolished Ilseong’s first team all by themselves. The outcome was obvious.

China’s record attempt, on the other hand, was different. It was a direct challenge to Korea’s rising star, Kim Minwoo. With the two countries already at each other’s throats, it was understandable that such provocative content had drawn everyone’s attention.

As expected, the finals ended with an overwhelming display of the gap in their abilities.

“Wow. We really weren’t even in your league.”

The awakeners shook their heads, smiling sheepishly as they held out their belongings.

“Um, could we get all three of your autographs?”

“Of course.”

They were A-rank awakeners on the very cusp of level 499. After signing everything from their clothes to the backs of their phones, the Money-Blowing Guild stepped up for a press conference.

“As the public expected, you’ve been chosen as the final representatives for the Super Rookie Selection Tournament! Could you tell us how you feel?”

“I’ll answer that after we win the tournament.”

The reporters nodded. The same words could sound very different depending on who said them. Those three had earned the right to be arrogant. Besides, this wasn’t the Gate Contest, where the very best veteran awakeners competed. It was merely a rookie tournament. Of course they were aiming to win.

‘Well, that takes care of their impressions.’

The reporters’ eyes gleamed. The real highlight was only beginning.

“Guild Master Kim Minwoo! Han Chaerin from SKS! An SS-grade achievement has appeared in China. Did you also earn an SS-grade achievement?”

Even when S was believed to be the highest grade, his performance had raised suspicions that he might have something higher. Now that a new grade, SS, had appeared, it was hardly strange that Kim Minwoo was being bombarded with such questions.

“Yes.”

“...!”

The reporters’ eyes widened. They had privately suspected as much, but speculation and an outright confirmation were entirely different things.

[(Breaking) Kim Minwoo Officially Confirms SS-Grade Achievement!]

[(Breaking) Korea Was the World’s First Nation to Achieve SS Grade!]

[(Breaking) There Was a Reason Behind His Extraordinary Performance!]

—Knew it lol. Didn’t think that was S-grade lol.

—I could grit my teeth and buy Cedric, lol, but adding our girl Merhen was pushing it lmao.

—For real lol. What S-grade skill summons all that? lol.

—Still, he admitted it more readily than I expected lol.

—Yeah. Now there’s a precedent, revealing his real grade must be less of a burden.

—Exactly. Plus, if he’d done that at a low level, every assassin out there would’ve come running. Especially the North Korean ones lol.

—But isn’t he still low-level? He only bought that dullahan skill book recently.

—By normal awakener standards. Someone like Kim Minwoo’s passed level 251? He’d kill the assassins instead lol.

—Then why did China reveal theirs? Isn’t that Liang Xiaojun guy in danger too, being a newbie?

—Guess the Nine Dragons Guild will protect him with everything they’ve got?

—:o Nine Dragons is in the world’s top tier. Sure, they’re only middling within that tier, but they’re still several times stronger than Korean guilds. Yeah.

—So you’re saying his backing is fucking insane?

—Pretty much. Meanwhile, it was hard to find anyone who could protect Kim Minwoo at a low level. At best, he had the Ilseong Guild or bodyguards... Hmm...

—Would’ve been rough if assassins had seriously come to take him out lol.

—Sorry again for being Korea, sob sob. Sorry again for being Korea, sob sob. Sorry again for being Korea, sob sob.

Articles poured out, and the reporters grew even more excited. SS-grade awakeners had appeared in both China and Korea. They even shared the same class, and both were attempting similarly difficult gates at level one. With the Chinese government’s generous support, Liang Xiaojun was surely fully stocked with everything from +9 skill books to elixirs and equipment.

And that wasn’t all. Word of Liang Xiaojun’s skill with a sword had long since spread. He was currently being mocked as a mere Kim Minwoo copycat, but what if he broke the record? The mood could sour in an instant. This was nothing short of a clash of national pride. The question had to be asked.

“Awakener Liang Xiaojun will be entering the gate shortly! Guild Master, do you think he’ll succeed in setting a new record?”

“You’re joking, right?”

“Are you saying he doesn’t stand a chance?”

“Why do you think Super Rookies form parties at level one?”

“Well... because they lack practical experience?”

“Exactly. China should be grateful if he even beats Isabella. Honestly, I’m not sure he can manage that either.”

“... But you cleared a gate solo at level one yourself, Mr. Kim.”

“Do you think that guy and I are the same?”

—Damn, lol.

—Now that’s Korean swagger lmao.

—He says what needs saying! Kim Cola, so refreshing!

—Honestly, not all Super Rookies are created equal lol.

—True. Not everyone with an S-grade achievement becomes a world ranker lmao.

—Yep. Never forget. Kim Minwoo brought the Sword Immortal to his knees at level one. Damn.

—Don’t exaggerate. He put up a good fight at best lol.

—Do you have any idea how impressive it is to put up a good fight against the Sword Immortal with just your bare body? lmao.

—Nationalist hype aside, I admit it’s impressive lol.

—I do think Kim Minwoo’s probably right. Not wishful thinking. Objectively.

—Why?

—He’s China’s first SS-grade awakener. They must’ve analyzed everything. If he were that amazing with a sword, would they have made him a necro? They’d have made him a swordsman lol.

—Wasn’t that just to rip off Kim Minwoo?

—Nah, even that has limits. I think his swordsmanship was just okay, so they made him do something else.

—Fair. If he could put up a fight against the Sword Immortal with an ordinary civilian’s body, they would’ve made him a swordsman lol.

—Then why the hell did Kim Minwoo...?

—(Terrifying) The eighth great mystery of the world. shudder

—(Bizarre) No one knows the answer.

—He must have some grand plan lol.

—Just accept it lol.

—He got our girl Merhen in the end, didn’t he? Drink to that~

* * *

Korea wasn’t the only country fired up by Kim Minwoo’s bold declaration. China was blazing too. Public interest had reached a fever pitch, as was obvious from the press gathered in front of the F-rank gate, Ratman’s Sewers. Questions rained down.

“Mr. Liang Xiaojun! We’ve just received Kim Minwoo’s comments live...”

Liang Xiaojun’s face reddened as he listened to the reporter. At the words “Do you think that guy and I are the same?” it went beyond red to positively scarlet.

“Hah. What arrogance from an awakener of such a small country. Trapped in his little well, he must be unable to see how vast the world truly is.”

“Are you confident you can break the record?”

“Of course!”

Liang Xiaojun nodded.

An SS-grade awakening. This completely unexpected turn of events was nothing short of a heaven-sent opportunity. Not only had he joined the famous Nine Dragons Guild in one fell swoop, but he had also received tremendous support. And it didn’t stop there. His family was being showered with special privileges as well.

‘I have to pull this off. No matter what.’

And if he didn’t? As China’s first SS-grade awakener, he obviously wouldn’t be disposed of or anything. But... his future would become rather bleak. Perhaps he would spend his entire life compared to Kim Minwoo, branded an eternal runner-up. Even the enormous investment plan worth trillions might be scrapped outright.

The mere thought sent chills down his spine. Necromancer was one of those classes doomed to fail without money. No investment? Why pick necromancer at all? He might as well have taken the safe option and become a swordsman. Just thinking about it was enough to make cold sweat bead on his face.

‘It’s fine. That Kim Minwoo bastard is only the same grade as me, after all.’

Liang Xiaojun steadied himself. He’d had no choice but to become a necromancer anyway. How could he refuse an order issued directly by the President? Now that he had chosen the class, he needed to focus on making it work.

‘He might be a little better at making use of his swordsmanship.’

But Liang Xiaojun had an SS-grade skill. And one that looked incredibly good, at that! Naturally, he had already disclosed it to the Nine Dragons Guild. The President, China’s most powerful man, and countless other high-ranking officials had all wanted to know about it.

[“Hoho, we’re counting on you.”]

The skill was so impressive that the Nine Dragons Guild Master had patted his shoulder with a satisfied smile the moment he saw it.

[Follower of the Death Lord]

[Grade: SS]

[Type: Passive]

[Effect 1. All stats of summoned undead increase by 20%.]

[Effect 2. Mana cost for summoning undead decreases by 20%.]

[Effect 3. Powerful commanders can be summoned at certain level intervals.]

‘Heh heh. Just looking at it fills me up.’

It was a precious passive skill, no less. Better still, it was a large-scale skill that could affect an entire army. He didn’t know exactly what the Death Lord was, but it seemed to be an incredible being. That had to be why it granted such amazing effects despite the “Follower” label.

‘Kim Minwoo must have something similar.’

Even accounting for his +9 skill book, elixirs, and equipment, the number of skeletons he had summoned was enormous. He must have had a mana-cost reduction effect. And since he had summoned that Bone Knight or whatever it was called, he must have had something like the commander-summoning effect too. On top of that, an increase to every stat!

‘Our foundations are similar anyway.’

That made this a contest of pure skill.

‘But... I have an overwhelming advantage when it comes to summoning commanders.’

Summoning a powerful commander. He had already tested that long ago. The one he could summon at level one was none other than...

‘Varian, the Dragon Knight’s Minion.’

He didn’t know what a Dragon Knight was, but the name sounded tremendously impressive. And this was the minion of such a being. The summon itself had been very satisfying too: a skeletal summon of tremendous size and strength. He imagined this was what a barbarian from a novel would look like turned into a skeleton.

‘His speech is pretty clumsy, but...’

That didn’t really matter. In exchange for his poor speech, all of Varian’s stats were concentrated on combat.

‘This is more than satisfactory.’

What use was conversation in a fight? Better to put those bones to work and split a monster’s skull.

“Today, I’ll show you the true spirit of our great continent!”

Liang Xiaojun raised a clenched fist and shouted confidently.

“Woooo!”

“Liang Xiaojun!”

“God of Death!”

“Put that little country in its place once and for all!”

Everyone from reporters to spectators burst into cheers.

With his shoulders proudly squared, Liang Xiaojun entered the gate.

[You have entered the F-rank gate, Ratman’s Sewers!]

“Come forth, Varian!”

The massive skeletal commander appeared, followed by an army of nearly two hundred skeletons. Liang Xiaojun carefully fitted them with equipment.

“Let’s go! The world record belongs to our great China!”

The undead began their proud advance...

* * *

[(Breaking) China Fails to Set New World Record!]

[(Breaking) A Final Shred of Pride Preserved? Clear Time of 47 Hours, 59 Minutes, 30 Seconds Beats Isabella’s Record...]

[(Breaking) Liang Xiaojun Blames Spoiled Food Eaten the Previous Day? Reports Spending a Full Half-Day Inside the Gate Suffering from an Upset Stomach...]

[(Breaking) President Li Commends Liang Xiaojun! Offers Warm Encouragement, Saying This Explains His Heavy Cold Sweat Before Entry...]

[(Breaking) Official Chinese Government Announcement! Even Under the Worst Conditions, We Still Beat France! Declares the Spirit of China Is Not Dead Yet...]

—Fuck lmao. An upset stomach? That’s a new one lol.

—For real lol. For all the pathetic excuses, the record isn’t actually bad lol.

—Yeah. A level-one clear in 47 hours would normally turn the whole world upside down, but unfortunately... lmao.

—(Photo of Kim Minwoo after clearing his gate / Photo of Liang Xiaojun after clearing his gate)

One looks like he went for a stroll around the neighborhood, the other looks like he came back from a war lmao.

—A certain Mr. Liang’s two-day crash diet. Damn.

—Ratmen really are bastard monsters, though lol.

—Anyway, did the baguette martial artist seriously get knocked down again? lmao.

—By thirty seconds lmao.

—Look at those Chinese bastards immediately grabbing France by the hair and dragging it down with them lmao.

—At least they’ve got someone to grab lol.

—For real lol.