Chapter 27 Part8 (1/2)
<chapter 27.=”” new=”” golem=”” maker=”” -=”” 8=””>
A Necromancer. A magician who raises the dead and controls their bodies. And because the Empire was teeming with the undead, one could say that an individual who could control them was a necromancer as well.
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had his suspicions early on, but it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he himself was also a necromancer. But the way in which he controlled them differed. Rather than using magic, he used a variety of innate skills to control them.
”But it... doesn't feel like he found those undead heroes through luck.”
”...Are you saying that he deliberately killed heroes so that he could make them his subordinates?”
”Maybe.”
If not, then he couldn't explain why Ethan Cruz had directed him to a special area. He wanted to help him level up quickly? Probably. Since he didn't want weak undead.
”Then can you really call him a hero?”
”I wonder. At the very least, G.o.d considers him a hero. For now.”
”...Disgusting. So much so that it makes what you've done thus far look cute.”
”Why are you getting me involved?”
They remained on guard and maintained the barrier until they could hide thoroughly from Ethan Cruz and his group of undead heroes. When they were about an hour away with Jin's running speed, they let go of the barrier.
They had noticed their opponent's advance beforehand, and had completely avoided them, but... even so, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo couldn't hide his bitterness.
'As I thought, I'm still too weak.'
No matter how many skeletons had become his subordinates, or the fact that he could now manufacture golems, he still had to put in this much effort just to avoid one person. Even if he took into account that Ethan Cruz was special, it was still quite frustrating.
'...But this'll be the last time. It won't be long before I come for you.'
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had discovered Ethan, while Ethan still knew nothing about Lee s.h.i.+n Woo. This would become a deciding factor in their fight later. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was sure of it.
In the close future, Ethan Cruz would stand upon his stage. If that happened, he would pay him back for treating him like a chess piece!
”It seems like their goal is... Ah, it's where you died.”
[...Me?]
They had been so busy maintaining the barrier until now, and s.h.i.+no Rendu, who was on standby beside them, replied in a truly bitter voice. Until his death, he had respected and followed Ethan Cruz, so Lee s.h.i.+n Woo could understand how he felt.
”Yeah. It seems like he just figured out where you died and came here. ...Hmm, then that means that there's someone who's following his orders and scouting around for him.”
If he got the chance, he would catch and extract some information from the scout. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo nodded his head and s.h.i.+no Rendu was still unable to accept reality, wrapping his large fists around his head.
[Why would a hero not care about following G.o.d's command...?]
”It must be more entertaining that way for him. He's strange. He looks like he'd be able to easily defeat one or two generals.”
The undead he brought along with him were at least level 6. There were a few level 7s mixed in as well, and Ethan Cruz's own magic was quite extraordinary. If that's the case, then he should be able to defeat generals like Hansen... Then why wasn't he doing that?
”Moreover, why does he only use undead heroes? ...Ah, does his necromancy only work on other heroes?”
”It's likely. Though darkness mana is the power to link the living and the dead together, I've heard that if the previous relation is of enemies, then the link won't work well. However, just by them previously being heroes, their karma is quite similar. It makes sense that the darkness element would work then.”
Kratia, who would talk at length whenever the subject was on magic, explained and Lee s.h.i.+n Woo acknowledged her. If that's the case, then it made sense why Ethan Cruz wasn't actively hunting the 12 generals.
He would continuously wander the Empire, waiting for the heroes to die so that he could make them his subordinates. There was no need for him to hurry and attempt to kill the 12 generals. Rather, they were a precious fighting force that would kill heroes for him.
[...Are you saying that they're the reason that I died and became an undead?]
”Yeah. In any case, he's still a hero, no matter what anyone says, and he's fighting against the Emperor, so when he thinks that his army is ready, he'll fight against the Emperor. If you look at it that way... you could say that he's definitely an outstanding hero.”
[Everything else about him disgusts me, so I can't help but laugh.]
The goblin fire within s.h.i.+no Rendu's eye sockets blazed intensely. He was a special species of undead that fed off feelings of vengeance. With just their conversation about Ethan Cruz, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was sure that the next time they met, s.h.i.+no Rendu would be stronger than before.
However, if Lee s.h.i.+n Woo were in Ethan Cruz' shoes, he might've done the same thing as him, so he couldn't say anything more. If there was a more effective way to get stronger, then it was obvious that one would take that approach. But then, s.h.i.+no Rendu added something surprising.
[It's such a relief that I became your subordinate, rather than his.]
”What?”
[Paul Zero, you accept us as we are. You didn't lead us; you gave us the will to go where we want to go ourselves.]
”...Huh?”
What the h.e.l.l is he talking about? He'd only said that to them so he could better control them... While Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was taken aback, Kratia chipped in from beside him.
”You can tell by just looking at the quality of s.h.i.+n... Paul Zero's mana.”
”Mm?”
She was talking about Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's darkness element. Indeed, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was capable of forming contracts with regular undead, undead heroes, golems... or even humans like Kratia through the darkness element, which was definitely different from Ethan Cruz' application.
Just by looking at another darkness element user like Ethan Cruz, one would be able to tell that that wasn't normal.
”I feel like your karma's affecting it too. Since the way in which magic of a similar element is used depends on the individual.”
”...Yeah, you could be right.”
It seemed like the Joker karma was outside the norm in many ways. But it was ultimately because of his Joker karma, not his consideration for others, that caused people to follow him.
However, it would look bad if he were to correct s.h.i.+no Rendu's misunderstanding by explaining his wickedness, so he just kept his mouth shut. ...This seemed like something he had thought about just a little while ago.
”Then, get back to work. We'll return to our base once we've completely cleared out the mine.”