-Clack.
"What am I going to do, you ask? I've already decided."
-Clatter!
According to the knowledge embedded in my mind, there are four ways a necromancer can utilize the corpses of enemies obtained in battle.
First, completely dissolving the entire dead human and refining it into magic power, then feeding it to the dungeon core to increase the magic power that will constitute the dungeon.
The second method is to sacrifice equipment and souls to convert everything into 'Coins' that can be used to buy various necessary items.
Third, using the necromancer's inherent technique to subjugate the corpse itself or the soul to use as a soldier.
Lastly, the fourth is using parts of the corpse as enhancement materials for existing soldiers.
Among these, the second method can be used by Dungeon Lords of other lineages as well, but the rest are methods that only Dungeon Lords of the undead lineage can use.
Among these, what I want to use first is the last method, which didn't exist in MilDun 1.
It seems that necromancy within the MilDun world has evolved over time.
"Let's see… 「Sacrifice Appraisal」."
Following the knowledge that comes to mind, I manipulate the magic power of the dungeon core that has been overflowing with nothing to do inside my body until now.
A small sphere floats above my palm, composed of billowing black magic power with purple lightning jumping on top of it.
I squeeze and burst that sphere, then spread it wide to wet my eyes.
『Name – Jack Miller』
『Occupation and Rank – Apprentice Warrior』
『Attributes – Health 12 Technique 6 Durability 8 Magic Power 4 Resistance 5』
『Characteristic – Explosive Power』
『Traces of an adventurer warrior with good abilities compared to their rank. The physical body is of high quality.』
『The head is severely damaged, so if used as a sacrifice for the undead, its grade will be lowered, or it won't be able to fully demonstrate its abilities.』
As I look at Jack's corpse with my eyes, information about the corpse's past life is remembered in my mind, and at the same time, a message window appears before my eyes.
It might look shabby compared to the stats of the skeleton, but this warrior's stats were certainly high by the standards of novice adventurers I know.
Even just looking at Health 12, it's an ability score that can easily cover two to three basic dungeon units.
It's even more so because it's not unusual for novice adventurers to have one or two characteristics from the start, unlike basic dungeon entities.
If Remia hadn't been distracted by the goblin zombie, they probably could have bought enough time against my soldier.
Of course, if they had ignored the goblin zombie, I would have controlled it to put a knife to Sonia's throat.
『Name – Remia Olas』
『Occupation and Rank – Apprentice Archer』
『Attributes – Health 8 Technique 10 Durability 6 Magic Power 12 Resistance 6』
『Characteristic – Moonlight Capture』
『Traces of an adventurer archer with good abilities compared to their rank. Both the physical body and soul are of high quality.』
『Almost no damage.』
'So she was an archer, not a thief or hunter.'
I had thought she was one of those because she used a crossbow and daggers, but it seems it was equipment chosen for convenience.
In Remia's case, her ability scores were even better than Jack's.
『Moonlight Capture – Increases both the critical hit chance and critical hit damage of thrown or projectile weapons that hit the target.』
The one characteristic she has is purple, hero-grade.
With this level, you could say her ability scores are reaching that of a somewhat clumsy full-fledged adventurer beyond the apprentice level.
If you exclude the magic power ability score that can't be used immediately, Jack's is superior. Still, if she grows a bit more over time or finds a master to handle magic power, she could hold her own anywhere.
'If the enemy hadn't been my skeleton, she would have returned alive normally.'
The fact that such an excellent person perished in vain is like losing a promising talent for humanity.
If this is the spec of today's novice adventurers, the battles to come might be a bit more challenging.
Of course, the quality of the 'spoils' obtained after the battle will also increase accordingly.
Even in MilDun 1, corpses of people with 'good abilities compared to their rank' like this had a higher chance of receiving titles when made into undead, so how outstanding their abilities were compared to the average was more important than how strong they were when alive.
Of course, usually they had both at the same time, so there wasn't much need to worry about it.
Lucky cases like these are quite rare.
"Come here."
-Clack.
I decided to use one of these high-quality first spoils for my first soldier.
As if knowing what was about to happen, the skeleton naturally kneels on one knee and prostrates before me. It still had a knight-like attitude, and it was satisfying.
Being served by someone with such an admirable attitude, I should say it makes me feel like I've really become someone important.
I proceeded to enhance it using Jack's corpse.
"「Sacrifice Enhancement」."
『Using the corpse of 'Jack Miller' to enhance the individual – Nameless Perfect Skeleton Swordsman.』
Whoosh!
Along with the initiation of necromancy, the familiar black magic power covered the corpse, and the corpse melted into what looked like a state between liquid and gas. Some of it moved towards the ground and some towards my soldier, seeping in.
Using the corpse of an excellent person as material to further enhance my already excellent soldier.
What kind of result would that yield?
『The Health and Durability of the Nameless Perfect Skeleton Swordsman have increased by 1.』
『'Explosive Power' of Jack Miller has been inherited by the Nameless…』
There was no need to wait long to know that.
『Title/Individual Name – Perfect Skeleton Swordsman』
『Attributes – Health 13 Technique 15 Durability 11 Magic Power 12 Resistance 13』
『Characteristics – Specialization: Swordsmanship, Explosive Power』
『Explosive Power – During battle, can exert attack power of +100% Health for one necessary single-hit attack.』
"Excellent… truly."
My soldier, who originally had specs that were hard to believe for a skeleton that had never been promoted even once.
Although it's just one 'black' characteristic, it would be right to say that it has become more than one level stronger than before now that another characteristic has been added.
By MilDun 1 standards, it would take at least twenty ordinary skeletons to take down my current soldier.
And that's assuming they sacrifice less than five under excellent direction.
"Want to try it out?"
There was a good target to test the characteristic.
It was the small iron shield that Jack had been carrying, which had various marks and patterns stuck all over it. This was probably Jack's hobby, making it impossible to sell in its current state.
It didn't matter whether it was intact or broken for converting into coins.
-Clack!
Swish-!!
The soldier, after strongly clicking its jaw bones once, approached the shield and, gripping the bastard sword handle with both hands, strongly thrust it towards the center of the shield's face.
A red light that had settled on the bastard sword created a straight trajectory that appeared and disappeared.
Crash-!!
An attack made without hesitation as it approached, in a posture not good for concentrating power, and without taking much time.
Nevertheless, the iron shield that became the target of the attack was split very easily.
Clap clap clap.
"I'm satisfied. Congratulations. It's a good ability."
It was tremendous power.
If such an attack were possible at any time, shields below a certain level would truly be meaningless.
Although shields usually focus more on deflecting than clashing, it was still impressive considering that.
If a shield partially reinforced with iron splits this easily, wooden shields would be hard to withstand.
This could act as an advantage against adventurers who form formations to pressure strong opponents while using ordinary shields.
Jack probably kept this attack as a trump card due to his low magic power. Then, he lost his life without even having a chance to demonstrate his ability due to a moment's mistake.
In the case of my soldier, because it possesses far more overwhelming abilities, it can make the same attack several times within the same time frame, so there's no need to be too sparing with it.
-Clack!
A feeling of satisfaction was also transmitted from it after seeing what it had accomplished.
"Well then…"
After sharing the joy like that for a while, patting its arm, I turned my attention to the second harvest.
Remia's corpse still had the dagger stuck in her heart.
The dagger handle protruded below her left breast and the blood that had flowed down and coagulated beneath it. Her face had turned pale blue, and her eyelids and lips, which had been deliberately closed, were already dry and cracked.
The feeling of looking at the corpse was still not good, but perhaps I had already adapted, as it wasn't so horrible that I couldn't look at it, and it just felt grotesque, like a dead body.
That rather made me feel uncomfortable as if I had taken one more step towards becoming a monster, but it would be better to get more used to these emotions.
"「Summon: Skeleton」."
Tsu tsu tsu…!
Without waiting any longer, I drew up power and chanted the predetermined incantation, and an unpleasant sound like a snake crawling spread out.
The magic power covering Remia's corpse was seen 'peeling off' her body in an instant, leaving only bones in its place.
The flesh and internal organs all melted into black and disappeared through the ground of the dungeon.
It wasn't that the excess vanished, but rather it changed into magic power and was automatically absorbed by the dungeon. The same effect occurred earlier when part of Jack seeped into the ground.
-Clack.
A moment later, what remained in that place was the being that was Remia, now standing as a skeleton.
Soldier No. 2, with a body less clean than my original soldier, with blood stains not fading and pieces of flesh still attached, and a less intimidating presence.
As I looked at the new skeleton, there was one fact that caught my curiosity before its strength.
My first soldier, whom I had been referring to inwardly as just 'he' until now. His, no, her skeletal structure looked very similar to that of the new skeleton.
"You… were a woman?"
It was the moment I properly realized the fact I had only been guessing at until now, looking at the slender skeleton.
-Clatter.
It just calmly showed no emotion or reaction. After looking at its face for a moment, I then checked Remia's information.
I was very curious that the one I had been unconsciously relying on because it was so trustworthy had been a woman in life, but this is more important right now.
『Title/Individual Name – 'Delicate' Skeleton』
『Attributes – Health 6 Technique 11 Durability 3 Magic Power 8 Resistance 5』
『Characteristic – Member of Necropolis』
"Hmm."
The first thing that stands out is the attributes that have lost at least 1 to at most half of their original values, and the characteristic column that is empty except for what it received from me.
There was no need to be disappointed.
In fact, I didn't expect a title, and it was already a great achievement that it retained its technique along with the title.
Moreover, the lost characteristic will probably remain as potential. It's likely to return if raised as an archer or tracker.
The magic power attribute is still high, so even if it gains power from other species later, it might be able to learn one or two more support spells, or even promote as a magician, so there's no need to be disappointed further.
'This is an ordinary… no, a slightly good skeleton.'
No, actually, I almost was a bit disappointed.
It seems my standards had risen a bit in between because my original soldier was too strong.
"Here, your weapon."
-Clack.
After entrusting the crossbow and two daggers she used in life to the skeleton that was Remia.
I looked at my first skeleton again.
To discuss one undecided matter I had suddenly realized.
"Come to think of it, I haven't even decided on your name."
It was about her name.