Necromancer Survival

Chapter 131

As expected, Choi Lee-kyung was embarrassed with even this much teasing and endeavored to not look at me afterwards. Even so, he could not resist leaving his hand in my hold.

I had not let go of his wriggling hand on purpose; I was gradually getting to know Choi Lee-kyung’s personality while looking down at his hesitating self.

‘On the sensitive and timid side… And he seems to have low self-esteem.’

Seeing his passive and naive attitude–hesitating to ask questions and closing his mouth before letting his opinions be known–it was obvious that Choi Lee-kyung had not interacted with others much. He had no idea what to do with this small amount of teasing. He obviously had much curiosity with the person he signed a contract with, but he did not take the initiative to ask about me.

So, I asked Choi Lee-kyung about his relations to confirm my assumption: things like, whether he’s a member of a guild or information on his close friends. As I had thought, Choi Lee-kyung did not belong to a group, and he had no friends with whom he interacted intimately.

Furthermore, he was clean, but wore inexpensive clothes and equipment that didn’t look particularly well-kitted–his financial situation must not be very self-sufficient. Normally when one enters a dungeon far beyond your ability, the User would wear expensive equipment that would match the level of the dungeon.

However, Choi Lee-kyung did not own a single piece of equipment that seemed decent at a single glance. Even taking into account his Necromancer class, he wasn’t even wearing rings that most caster-types wore…Obviously, it meant he had no money.

An impoverished loner who had no friends nor anyone to contact regularly…

‘There wouldn’t be a problem if I were to confine him?’

At that moment, that thought briefly crossed my mind. But, I didn’t think any deeper since I assumed that would only happen in the worst case scenario. Of course, it was better for me that Choi Lee-kyung was a loner–his situation was easier to handle.

I had the desire to curtail Choi Lee-kyung’s testy attitude, looking at his situation. Now that all’s said and done, perhaps I would be able to comfortably buy his favor in the future. While we chatted, Choi Lee-kyung’s stiff expression slowly relaxed; before we reached the last [Vengeful Ghost Essence], he had smiled slightly at my jokes.

‘The issue is, Choi Lee-kyung has to slice his palms yet again…’

After confirming the location where the [Vengeful Ghost Essence] was located, I tried to preemptively use all sorts of skills to block odors. And when I felt that Choi Lee-kyung was putting too much force in his grip, I took the dagger from him. If he were to poke too deeply and blood were to well out, my rationality may become paralyzed.

So, I split his palm on his behalf. The smell of his blood rising above that small cut grabbed all my attention and made me feel momentarily drowsy–it was as if an overripe fruit was bursting from its own ripeness. Sadly, I could not escape the influence of this unusual scent even if I tried to block the smell or cut shallowly.

Of course Choi Lee-kyung, still ignorant of my condition, placed his cut palms on the ground and leaned over in front of me. His posture left his pale, white neck unprotected. I reached out my hands, as if I were possessed, but I managed to return to my senses; however, my hand was already placed on top of Choi Lee-kyung’s head.

“Why my hair…!”

Choi Lee-kyung was predictably offended, asking why I suddenly felt fit to touch his head.

“I said, don’t move.” I pretended to be playful, for I had nothing else to say. Even as I stroked his hair, I was aware that I wanted to bite the head of a living person and was simply suppressing that urge.

Fortunately, after obtaining the last [Vengeful Ghost Essence], the blood’s influence disappeared as if the scent had been washed away. But, in the back of my brain, I still remembered the moment when I had cut Choi Lee-kyung’s palm–the scene repeated again and again, like when I had first watched porn.

The fact that I was excited by such a scene was revolting and strange. However, it did not seem like something that could be stopped by mere reason and was, instead, an essential change brought about by the contract. I didn’t want to admit that I wasn’t human anymore in this matter, but…

‘No matter what happens in the future…Choi Lee-kyung shouldn’t be injured.’

Eventually, I resolved to prevent any future harm… But, it was impossible for Users who fought monsters to avoid bloodshed. Even now, it was concerning to try and safely bring Choi Lee-kyung out of the [Tower of Command] without a scratch. I involuntarily sighed deeply.

* * *

Fortunately, Choi Lee-kyung met with and safely rejoined his original party–they had been wandering around searching for him–overshadowing my current worries.

Choi Lee-kyung had seemed quite shocked that his other party members couldn’t perceive me. For me, it was more advantageous to not be seen, so I stayed calm.

However, I was bothered by Kim Sangyoon, the leader of the party.

“You’re not hurt anywhere?”

“Huh? Yeah……I mean, I was hurt just once…but I healed myself with potions.”

“What happened beneath the lake? Ji-hwan said he lost contact with you, so we spent about an hour searching for you there dude.”

Just what part of those words touched Choi Lee-kyung’s sentimentality? At first, the necromancer responded awkwardly to Kim Sangyoon, but then his cheeks suddenly blushed red at that cursory concern; he began answering whole-heartedly.

Having already checked Choi Lee-kyung’s stat, I knew he wouldn’t be in a favorable hierarchy in this party. At best, he must have joined an acquaintance’s party or he must have paid money to be carried. Kim Sangyoon’s words right now revealed, rather than his anxiety over the Necromancer’s status, his frustration that the Necromancer moved to a different location.

“From now on, stick close to me. Alright?”

“Yes.”

However, Choi Lee-kyung was far from being upset; he nodded tamely and followed Kim sangyoon’s words, taking a few steps closer to him. I had no idea if the Necromancer was a fool or if he truly believed Sangyoon’s words, but this scene was incredibly frustrating.

“What pretense, does he think he’s strong?” I murmured, revealing my distaste for the Warrior with little emotion. Even though the others were not able to hear me, Choi Lee-kyung became restless, wary of my sarcastic remarks.

His rigid, blinking face seemed to be asking for no more trouble, but I ignored him and asked about this and that. Besides, I was incredibly curious. Why on earth would he come to the [Tower of Command]? There must be a dungeon that matches Choi Lee-kyung’s level that would be more fitting…

So, I sent a message to Choi Lee-kyung using the system’s chatting service. He struggled with this simple function, so I teased him a little–how amusing. Perhaps he became frustrated with me, however, he sent a sharp answer as if his temper had finally risen.

[Choi Lee-kyung: Wow~ You’re so smart^6]

[Seo Dawon: kekekekekekekeke]

I quickly adapted, steadily answering my own questions.

[Choi Lee-kyung: I needed to strengthen Lackey T_T]

[Seo Dawon: Lackey? What’s that?]

[Choi Lee-kyung: My first servant]

[Seo Dawon: First?? You have another servant besides me?]

[Choi Lee-kyung: Mhmm, you’re the second.]

Listening further to his story, I learned that Choi Lee-kyung entered the dungeon after paying a large sum–2 million won–to retrieve an evolution material for his servant.

I was nervous for a moment, worried that Choi Lee-kyung had previously signed another servant, but I realized that Lackey must be a low-class summon he received after choosing his class. After all, Lackey wasn’t particularly a human name…I’m sure Choi Lee-kyung was the one to name it.

“What…I wasn’t your first?”

Though I released a somewhat dissatisfied noise, I continued the conversation because there were still many things to find about Choi Lee-kyung. It was a good atmosphere to ask these trivial questions.

Choi Lee-kyung seemed to be flustered by the stream of constant questions, but he answered most of them sincerely without avoiding them.

Rather than being wary of my questions, bombarding him ceaselessly, he seemed to have taken it as a sign of friendship. He, who was embarrassed by the occasional question but still answered with little reminders and pushes, seemed to be someone who must have been lonely for a long time.

[Seo Dawon: What about a girlfriend?]

[Choi Lee-kyung: I had one, but got dumped.]

That was a lie……

Choi Lee-kyung must have no idea what kind of expression he makes when he lies: an anxious gaze and shuddered shoulders, chewed lips as if he had been scolded. He continued to talk about his girlfriend–a story that not even a dog would believe.

TL: Imagine if your master’s blood was ‘pornographic’ to you. Jeez, this system is cruel to both Dawon and MC.