Chapter 9 Part4 (1/2)

<chapter 9.=”” anti-skull=”” -=”” 4=””>

[You have hunted the Lv4 King Slime. You have acquired the t.i.tle 'Slime Hunter'! All of your abilities increase by 20% against slime related monsters, and you have a higher chance of acquiring better loot from them.]

[You have perfectly cleared the mutated dungeon, the Lv2 'Secret Sewer'. You have found all the secrets that lay in the dungeon, as well as slaying an elite monster that ate the boss and became stronger. You have acquired the dungeon clear reward. Health and magic has increased by 2.]

[You have led several subordinates into battle and defeated an enemy a higher level than you. All stats have increased by 1. The Beginner Command skill has evolved into the Low Rank level. When you make a command that fits the situation, the morale of your men increases.]

[You have succeeded in your revenge. The Beginner Avenger skill has become Lv7. When you meet the target of your revenge again, all abilities increase by 34%.]

They were all messages that appeared from him killing the King Slime. However, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo felt slightly disappointed that he hadn't received another karma token, but right then, a message appeared that went beyond his expectations.

[You have achieved the karma of giving the undead who had lost everything a name, and awakening their rebirth. This is a karma that has long since been forgotten, and is a karma that no one can remember. You, who endowed these cursed and rotten individuals with unknown potential, will be called this by the world. The 'Joker'.]

[The Trickster karma has been absorbed by the Joker karma and has been strengthened. Your future is unknown, such that no one can predict it, and is filled with countless changes. No one can tell you what to do, and no one can dare block your path. Through a dramatic event, your karma has strengthened.]

[All stats have increased by 10. The Acting skill has become Lv6. The Low Rank Mana Bone skill has become Lv6.]

”This is...”

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo felt a strength that was greater than any other before permeate his body. Although it might be similar to the Trickster karma, the  'Joker ' karma was a more powerful karma, so perhaps that was why.

As proof, all of his stats increased by 10. Aside from when he leveled up, he had never experienced such a shocking stat increase. Moreover, his skills had grown as well!

[I feel like Captain's become even stronger.]

[He's someone who could give us names. That's natural.]

[Those were truly powerful flames.]

The seven surviving Pauls, who had been reborn into elite Acid Skeletons towards the end of the intense battle, saw Lee s.h.i.+n Woo becoming even stronger following the battle, and said 'as expected' while nodding their heads.

”Ah, you guys...”

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo suddenly realized they were there and turned around. When he thought about how they had essentially given him the Joker karma, he had no choice but to change his att.i.tude towards them.

”Have you recovered all of your memories?”

[Not all of them. However, I realized who I am and what I have to do.]

[This is all because of you, Captain.]

All of them, without exception, were dyed in a deep green, but the fact the weapons they possessed also changed color was truly peculiar. Though their levels didn't change, their bones were tougher and thicker, and their spirit was no joke.

[We have to find General Seagald. He definitely hasn't given up yet. He must be struggling to save this curse ridden Empire.]

[Like you, Captain. The General will welcome you with open arms.]

[Let's go together, Captain.]

It was a development that he had roughly expected. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo picked up the dropped items and acted as if he thought deeply about their request, but truthfully, he already had his answer.

”I can't right now.”

[How can that be...]

”Since I have something I need to do, too. I'll go find General Seagald later. It'd be great if I could see you guys then.”

General Seagald was someone that was really on his mind too. However, even so, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was much too weak to go and find him immediately. His abilities were far too lacking to respond to this situation right now.

Above all, he didn't think that there was any reason to limit his movements this early. Not only did it not fit with his Joker karma, there were plenty of other things on his mind regarding the Empire. Like General Leofield.

[Is that so... Well, you have your own calling, Captain. We can't get in the way of that.]

[We trust that no matter where you are, whatever you're doing is for the Empire.]

All the Pauls agreed and nodded their heads. Seeing that, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo smiled bitterly.

'These guys have already recovered their reason and their memories. It'd be great if I could continue to bring them with me as my subordinates, but there's a high chance that they'd catch onto the lie in no time.'

In the end, his Acting skill was impromptu. At least, for now that is. He would need to hide his human nature and the truth of his ident.i.ty from them; even then, taking this many of them with him was definitely impossible.

If that's the case, then he could also cleanly take care of them here and take their bones, but...

'Shall I give it a rest?'

It wasn't a matter of them forming comrades.h.i.+p from fighting together or something like that. He was just purely curious how they, who were created by the 'Joker' karma, would turn out from now on.

He couldn't relax at all when he thought about how these skeletons, who were endowed with a different destiny because of him, would survive from now on in this Empire.

And honestly speaking... even if it were a sandcastle built on the beach, it would be too much for him to break down himself.

”...Wherever you go, don't go dying quickly. After all, it'll feel like what I did was meaningless then.”

[Of course. We won't let the names you gave us be in vain.]

[Paul Zero... I'll never forget your name.]

[Let's meet again for sure.]

The skeletons, who realized that they couldn't convince Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, each said some parting words to him and turned around.

The sewers were already a mess and collapsing, and the s.p.a.ce they were currently in wasn't wide enough to even stretch their legs, but they grouped together and spread their Acid Poison everywhere, allowing them to easily make a path. It was as if they used an eraser to erase the dirt.

'Now, let's see.'

He drove away the restlessness he felt after the Acid Skeletons—the Pauls, left, and completely raked in the loot buried in dirt and poison. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo concentrated on that task, and was able to soon forget about those that had left.

[You have acquired 53,080 Perium.]

[You have acquired a Lv4 King Slime Bone Core.]

[You have acquired a Lv3 Poison Skeleton's rib bone.]

[Would you like to... with the Lv3 Poison Skeleton's rib bone...]

There was an inherent mana within, so he was able to find them quickly. He naturally received the loot from the King Slime, but he also received the bone from one of the Poison Skeletons that had fought before him!

He was naturally pleased when he found a safely remaining bone from their depressing solo act. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo shoved the acquired Perium into his inventory, then activated Bone Reinforcement, cleanly using up both the bone and the core all at once.

[Through Bone Reinforcement, Strength has increased by 1, Agility by 1, Health by 6, and Magic by 9. Absorbing a portion of the target's memories and experiences.]

[The Low Rank Bursting Thunder skill has become Lv6.]

[The Low Rank Harden skill has become Lv2.]

[The Intermediate Acid Poison Spray has become Lv2.]

”Mmm...”