Skeleton Soldier.
It was a 2nd-tier skeleton.
At least, it was a skeleton that could only appear if it reached the next stage after the basic stage, the intermediate necromancy.
"Indeed, I was not wrong. The Easter egg was true."
The skeleton soldier, who stood up from its place, examined its own body as if it were human. It carefully inspected its arms and legs, moving around as if checking its physical abilities.
In the meantime, I checked its information.
[Skeleton Soldier (Legendary)]
Nickel Lifehill
Undead
2nd Tier
Trait: Self/Sword of Extremity
Sword of Extremity.
I never imagined that a skeleton like this would have such a phrase. It was a trait I had seen only in mid-to-late game playable characters.
The only trait that could be obtained through growth.
It was a trait that granted various bonuses related to extremity and received all sorts of adjustments.
"It's just a 2nd-tier skeleton soldier, but with the Sword of Extremity. I wonder how strong it can be."
I wasn't sure since I had never raised a necromancer before. I had encountered them as enemies in the game, of course. But even among dark mages, necromancers were few, and I hadn't encountered them that often.
"Necromancers are taboo even among dark mages. They are looked down upon."
I couldn't understand why Adrias had embarked on such a thorny path. Thinking back, it was right after the death of the previous Count Cromwell.
"Perhaps he wanted to escape from reality."
Karon's persuasive skills played a part as well. He was excellent at coaxing Adrias gently when his father passed away and his spirit weakened. That quiet and cold-hearted guy could talk endlessly when it came to coaxing Adrias.
"Well, in the end, I became like his servant."
The reasons why Adrias died were mostly because of Karon's orders to hinder players. Either he died while obstructing players who were trying to hinder Karon, or he died while obstructing Karon himself.
"Whatever the case, the conclusion is the same."
To survive, I had to get away from Karon. There may be various methods, but the top priority was to become stronger.
At that moment, the skeleton soldier finished checking its body and approached me.
"Alright. I am your master."
Calling it a skeleton soldier felt a bit off. Moreover, it wasn't an ordinary skeleton but an Over Master.
Since it had come to this, let's call it Nickel.
"I'm counting on you, Nickel."
Click! Click!
I didn't know what it was saying, but it felt positive. Nickel, who had been moving its jaw and making clicking sounds, suddenly began drawing something in the air.
Was it writing?
"Well then, I entrust you with this task."
Click, click, click, click!
As I looked at the skull-faced skeleton soldier nodding in a solemn manner, I couldn't help but chuckle.
The fact that a skeleton could express itself was amusing. Even Morne, the current strongest necromancer, wouldn't believe it.
"Alright. As the greatest Over Master in the world, you should do that much. You might feel unjustified dying right after becoming an Over Master, but at least become famous under my command."
Of course, even if he becomes famous under my command, it will only increase his notoriety.
Nickel nodded in response to my words, pressing its index and thumb together to form a circle.
Even that solemn gesture seemed comical, like a scene from a comedy.
While I didn't know what it was thinking, it was clear that it showed favor to me, the summoner.
Now that Nickel has been summoned successfully, it's time to organize and go out.
[There are currently 0/5 slots available in the summoning space.]
[Do you want to dismiss one Skeleton Soldier?]
As soon as I had the thought of putting Nickel back into the carrier, a familiar message appeared.
"What? Necromancers are classified as summoners too?"
It was a phrase I was familiar with since I had played as a summoner before.
There's no need to bother hiding if it's like this.
I immediately dismissed Nickel.
Then, a black void appeared in the air, swallowing Nickel and making him disappear.
Summoning is possible, right?
[There are currently 1/5 slots available in the summoning space.]
[Do you want to summon one Skeleton Soldier?]
When I tried summoning again, Nickel reappeared as if nothing had happened.
"But my mana is draining."
While dismissing a summon didn't cost any mana, summoning one did.
After this summoning, my mana was completely depleted.
Thanks to that, my chances of survival increased. As long as I don't get caught, the risk of dying decreases.
I thought it might be a special perk for players, but now that I think about it, other necromancers could also summon undead from the void.
They summoned much stronger creatures than resurrecting corpses, so it seems that this summoning space is a common ability for all summoners.
Before leaving the laboratory, I checked Angela's condition.
She seemed to be deeply asleep and was struggling to regain consciousness, and there were about 147 hours left.
Even when I returned to the dormitory, I worried about what to do when she woke up, but worrying wouldn't solve anything, so I decided to read a book I brought from the library.
"The Elemental Forces in the Year 284, Revised Edition: Effects and Types of Magical Chemicals and their Combinations."
What a strange name.
It was a book that made me think that living in this world is difficult.
"Just by looking at the thickness, it seems like it has everything..."
I felt a slight unease, but I opened the book.
And I nodded my head.
"There are so many complicated terms. Writing like this makes the book thicker."
But there were also parts that impressed me.
As I skimmed through it, I found that 90% of the combinations were ones I didn't know.
It seems that as a historical figure, there are many combinations that I am unaware of.
"But this is a bit..."
The problem was that more than half of these combinations were practically useless.
"Why would anyone make a potion that makes your eyeballs more visible when you drink it?"
This was basic knowledge.
There were also combinations that had no effect and simply smelled like goblin feces, and potions that, when applied to the skin, gave the feeling of being on fire.
Even if I had discovered them in the game, I wouldn't have bothered to remember them.
Fortunately, there were no effective combinations, such as the doping potions that I often made.
There were likely to be some, but then I realized that in the game, only items that would be helpful to the player were dropped.
In other words, in this world, where there is an abundance of combinations, more bizarre combinations are created.
For example, who would think of using only slime?
From scales to flesh, bones, organs, and even horns, there were so many materials to use.
But in the game, only slime dropped.
"In the end, I can eat almost anything."
Where did the calm and composed Kim Jin-hwan go? My body was trembling with excitement.
Stay calm.
It's not over until it's over.
Of course, it was a combination that only I knew, but I couldn't feel at ease until I patented it.
In the case of Caron alone, if I tried to apply for a patent, he could interfere.
"In the end, it's a world where power is paramount."
In a world where the weak can't even raise their voice, protecting my rights required preparation.
"For now, just one thing. Just try one thing. If I show something too outstanding, it will definitely attract attention. I should keep quiet until I have enough power."
Luckily, the stamina-boosting potion that came up in today's class was perfect.
It was easy to make as a basic doping item and had good cost performance.
And it wasn't too outstanding compared to what I already had.
"But then I need money to buy the ingredients..."
I have no money?
The absurdity of needing money to earn money.
While I was contemplating for a long time, I remembered a place where I could borrow money.
"It's time to use the family chance."
Amy Cromwell.
I had a wonderful younger sister.
The capital city of the Empire, Rodren.
It was a distance that could be reached in about an hour by train from the station near the Academy.
As I got off the train and walked a little, I quickly arrived at the place I was aiming for.
The store where Amy was said to be was grand and elegant.
As I entered, the dazzling chandeliers illuminated the luxurious interior.
"Welcome. How many are in your party?"
I awkwardly smiled as I looked at the woman who greeted me with a bright smile.
"I came to meet someone I know. Is there an employee named Amy here?"
"Amy? May I ask who you are?"
"I'm her older brother."
The woman smiled as if she knew something and briefly glanced at me before disappearing, telling me to wait a moment.
I want to get out of here quickly.
This lavish space didn't suit me at all.
I had only heard stories about where my sister worked, and this was my first time actually coming to see it.
It was within a distance that I could have easily come before, but it was funny that I hadn't come until now.
As I looked around, the place was filled with ladies sipping tea and chatting, as well as young women.
In the midst of them, I stood still like a clean dish covered in mud.
"Oppa?"
Amy, dressed in the store uniform, approached from the other side.
She had such a superior appearance that I wondered if we were really siblings, and she stood before me, tilting her head with a sly smile.
"Let's go to the employee break room for now, Oppa."
"Sure."
I followed Amy into the break room, but I found myself unable to speak the words I wanted to say and hesitated.
Now that I was face to-face with her, I felt embarrassed.
No, think about it.
It's the daughter of a count, struggling to work part-time.
How can the daughter of a noble family work while listening to other people's criticisms?
If she were a maid working in a royal palace, she wouldn't say a word.
This place was a store where even commoners could visit as long as they had money.
But is it easy for someone like me, who suddenly appeared as her older brother, to ask her for money?
Especially when I'm just someone who spends money instead of earning it while attending the Academy.
"But I can't just dismiss the Academy..."
If I wanted to become stronger, studying and training magic at the Academy was the fastest way.
Although I was a third-year student and still had about two more years to prepare for graduation.
"What's wrong? It's been a while since we've seen each other."
Amy looked at me with sparkling eyes, as she always did.
Come on, guilt is going to come out of my mouth.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't come often."
"Huh? Uh, well..."
Amy's response seemed abrupt, and she quickly changed her expression to a suspicious one.
"What do you want to ask for this time?"
"Uh, well. That's the thing. I need some money..."
I couldn't continue speaking any longer.
Feelings of self-loathing and guilt surged up like they were going to pierce the sky.
I can't ask Amy for help in this way, I must find another way.
"Ugh. Forget it. It was just a thought, forget it."
"Why are you acting like that, not like yourself? Just wait for a moment. I'll be back soon."
As she left the break room, I folded my outstretched hand in despair.
No matter what, I must achieve a breakthrough with this potion.
"I can't let a single drop touch my little sister..."
When I thought about it, it was the first time I had a family.
When I was Kim Jin-hwan, I had no family.
I was an orphan and everyone around me was just a competitor.
Then, I enlisted through the government's special forces project conducted in secret, using it as a pretext for conscription.
The comrades I met there, who were the closest thing to family, mostly died during missions.
"In the end, it's not much different here than there."
Life was the same no matter where I was.
Perhaps this place could be better.
At least, unlike before, I had a goal.
"I will survive. And I'll live my life diligently. I must make Amy happy, no matter what."
At that moment, the door to the break room opened again, and Amy returned.
"Here."
Amy handed me an envelope of money, her hand rough.
A powerful surge of emotions welled up inside me when I saw it.
The emotions were a mix of anger towards myself and guilt towards Amy.
"Phew."
I barely suppressed my emotions and accepted the money.
"Thank you. I will definitely repay you."
"It's fine. Just don't starve yourself somewhere."
As she said that, her gaze suddenly fell on my hand.
"Oppa?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"Where is your ring?"
"...."
What should I say in response?
As I hesitated for a moment, Amy's eyes grew wider.
The atmosphere became unsettling.
"I just took it off for a moment and left it in the dormitory. That's it, right?"
"Surely... No, right?"
She grabbed my arm and shook her head.
"No, right? You wouldn't do that, even though you're my brother, you wouldn't lose the ring..."
I tried to pass it off as a lie, but the feeling that I had already committed too many sins prevented me from making excuses.
Reading my expression, Amy's eyes welled up with tears, and she pleaded desperately.
"Please, just tell me clearly that it's not true. Where is the ring now?"
"Amy..."
"Tell me quickly!"
"Well, it's..."
How could I say that I used it to buy a corpse?
I couldn't bring myself to answer.
"...Get out."
"I'm sorry."
"Get out. Leave right now. And never come back. You don't even need to return the money."
"I'll find it again..."
Smack!
Ignoring my attempts at explanation, Amy stormed out of the break room.
The Amy in my memories had never been that angry before.
My chest ached.
Whose emotions were these? Kim Jin-hwan's or Adrian's?
"Sigh."
My chest felt heavy with regret and lament.
Once I made money through potions, I would have to recover the ring first.