Chapter 157

Chapter 157

Spendthrift Necromancer (157)

Ananke looked at Merhen.

The emotionless undead of the past was gone. Seeing her snarl at Ananke like a hedgehog with every quill standing on end.

Honestly, it was rather amusing.

Either way.

Persuading the Banshee wasn't particularly important.

“What, did you think I'd give them to you for free? We're not a charity.”

“Fine. Let's hear it, then. What kind of magic is it?”

“We'll be connected.”

“Connected?”

“Yes. We'll be able to see through each other.”

“Didn't you just say you're not a charity?”

“Does that seem strange?”

It was indeed a strange condition.

Seeing through each other.

Did Ananke really need to make the spell work both ways?

She could probably cast one that only allowed her to observe him.

That was when.

Merhen spoke with a sneer.―Don't talk like you're doing him a favor. It's annoying. Minwoo. That's only natural.

“Natural?”―You're that bastard's Successor. With that raven's ability, of course she needs to impose conditions. Otherwise, the connection wouldn't even work.

“Yes. The Banshee is correct.”

Ananke nodded coolly. Kim Minwoo tilted his head.

“You can't cast the spell otherwise?”

“A simple attack would be another matter, but observation across dimensions is different.”

“Fine. Then how exactly does it work?”

“I'll demonstrate. Think it now. Think that you want to see through me, Ananke.”

That was when.

His point of view changed completely.

To Ananke's.

When Ananke turned her head.

Kim Minwoo's vision spun along with it.

He could also feel the tremendous power contained within Ananke's body.

Mana of almost painfully vivid purity.

Her Mana was so vast it seemed to stretch endlessly like an ocean. Only then did he understand why she'd called it a ‘connection.’

It went far beyond simply sharing vision.

The magic allowed him to inspect every detail inside the target's body as well.

That was when a voice echoed inside his mind.―It works like this. Once you become proficient, you'll be able to transmit thoughts as I am now.

Then Ananke snapped her fingers.

His vision returned.

“Understand?”

“More or less. Can this stay active twenty-four hours a day?”

“If we're nearby, yes. But that situation will rarely occur. If I return to the City, we'll be fortunate to connect for even one hour each month.”

“That applies to you too, not just me?”

“Distance makes the connection difficult to invoke. And I am busy as well.”

Kim Minwoo thought briefly.

The conclusion was simple.

She wanted them to share their sight and the condition inside each other's bodies.

And on top of that, once he became as familiar with it as Ananke, apparently he could transmit thoughts in the same way.

If they truly intended to cooperate, it wasn't an unacceptable spell.

There were few better ways to communicate closely and understand the other party's situation.‘Not bad.’A chance to see the Witch Society through a Great Witch's eyes.

That was quite appealing.

And accepting it would also earn him materials for Divine Dragon Gleipnir.

Of course, he didn't believe everything Ananke said.―I, Ananke Roazrow Avelonde, swear that from this moment onward, I will speak the truth.

She'd said she'd speak the truth.

She'd never said she'd speak ‘only’ the truth. Assuming a being of her caliber wouldn't play any tricks at all would be far too naive.‘At least I have some insurance.’He looked at Merhen.

“What do you think?”―I don't like it. It's fundamentally unfair.

“Unfair?”―Minwoo, there'll inevitably be a difference starting from what each of you can see. Even the ways you can make use of the connection will be different. Raven, am I wrong?

“Banshee. Have you forgotten? I am paying compensation.”―Hmph! Even that will be far too cheap. You really are a shameless idiot.

Merhen folded her arms.

“So Minwoo should receive more compensation. Something much bigger and heavier.”

Oh, my baby.

That's it. Keep going.

Kim Minwoo applauded inwardly.

How much could he possibly know about Great Witch-level magic?

Merhen's advice was literally worth its weight in gold.

“She says so. What do you think?”

“Is there something else you want?”

“There is. Seeing this place really broke my heart. Everyone comes here to exploit it whenever they feel like it.”

“You want me to stop the Dragon Legion?”

“That would be nice.”

If he could block intervention by both the Witch Society and Dragon Legion, he could fulfill the true clear conditions. Negotiating with the Dragon Legion himself was already out of the question.

It would be stranger if conversation worked when they were desperate to devour their natural enemy.

But the Witch Society was different.

The Witch Society and Dragon Legion had previously split the Caesar Continent between them. Even if the Dragons had joined hands with the Outer God, that didn't mean the two organizations were already absolute enemies.

For now, they were probably closer to rivals. If the Witch Society acted as an intermediary, he might fulfill the true clear conditions more easily than expected.

“Fine. I'll stop them. In exchange, you must leave this place. Otherwise, negotiating with the Ancient Dragons will become difficult.”

“By when?”

“Within five days at the latest.”

“Fine.”

Kim Minwoo nodded.

That was more than enough time to begin the mixed-race city project in the center of the continent.‘I've already squeezed out everything worth taking.’Levels, hunting the Witch and Dragons.

He'd even passed the production techniques on to the Skeletons. He'd done everything he needed to do.

If he could leave after fulfilling the true clear conditions as a final touch, he would have no regrets about clearing the Gate.

“Then let us establish the connection. Do you agree?”

Kim Minwoo nodded.

Before long, he and Ananke were connected.

“The duration is three years in total.”

“Okay. But if I'm going to leave this place, I need to figure out what to do with her.”

He looked at Iris, standing there like an unwanted sack of barley.

Originally, he'd planned to kill her.

But now a Great Witch was watching with her eyes wide open.

Killing Iris openly would be a little awkward.

It might be better to hand her over and have Ananke remove her from the planet instead.

Having her existence disappear from this place should count toward the clear condition too.

Ananke stared at Iris. Then she spoke without emotion.

“Unnecessary.”

“L-Lady Ananke?”

Iris's eyes trembled wildly.

She might only be an Apprentice Witch.

But she'd still devoted centuries of loyalty to the Witch Society.

And now she was being abandoned like this?

Normally, she never would've dared say anything. But now was different. If Ananke abandoned her, she was dead anyway.

“H-How can you……! We're both Witches! Just take me with you…….”

“Why should I?”

“Wh-What do you mean, why? I'm an Eastern Witch too. I'm a Witch!”

“If you were a Witch, you should've died beside Lruye. Not surrendered like a dog.”

Iris's mouth clamped shut.

She wanted to say something.

But the words wouldn't come out.

Barely.

She managed to force out a single sentence.

“I didn't want this either…….”

“Your surrender was fate. Your survival until now was fate as well.”―Caw.

Ananke stroked the raven that had appeared on her shoulder.

“And my refusal to accept you is also fate. Banshee. Let's make a trade.”―A trade?

“Yes. From this moment onward, that child is no Witch. In exchange, I want Lruye's traces.”―You want them back? Fine.

Merhen extended her hand.

Something like white smoke drifted toward Ananke. Kim Minwoo saw it and asked.

“What's that?”―A fragment of my memory from when I saw Lruye. I analyzed her then.

“Is it okay to give away memories?”―It's only a tiny fragment. It makes no difference to me whether I have it or not.

Merhen answered indifferently.

Her memory of encountering Lruye meant little to her. The same was true of the memory of analyzing the inside of Lruye's body.

Ananke then took several materials from inside her robes.

“Necromancer. These are what you requested. Take them.”[You acquire Balrog Blood…….][You acquire Mimir's Sigh…….]

Two materials entered his possession.

“I'll send another Witch later to connect you to the Abyss Lord's dwelling. That place is currently sealed.”

Kim Minwoo nodded.

He didn't care how it was done as long as she connected him.

“Then I'll be going.”

Her body scattered into thousands of ravens.

The ravens flew into the sky.

What remained was…….

“Hic!”

Only one Apprentice Witch, abandoned by the Great Witch and left utterly alone. Iris's eyes darted around.‘Five days…….’He'd agreed to leave within five days. In other words, Iris would be dead within five days.

The shock of being abandoned lasted only briefly.

She looked at Kim Minwoo with trembling eyes.

“C-Could you spare me……?”

“What are you good at?”

“I-I can do all kinds of things besides magic. I've learned a lot. Manufacturing and things like that…….”

“Then can you do Alchemy too?”

“Yes!”

Iris hurriedly nodded. Alchemy was a basic skill for any Witch.

Kim Minwoo thought briefly.

The only guaranteed reward from killing her was experience.

Even the Ice Dragon he'd killed before had been mostly useless aside from putting its blood to good use. A humanoid Witch would be even worse.

And now that his Level had risen, he'd be lucky to gain even five Levels from killing her.

Rather than that…….

“Merhen.”―Yeah.

“Can you make her your familiar?”―I can now. My Authority has risen. But you want me to make this Supreme Idiot my familiar?

“She seems like she'd be useful.”

Didn't he already have an Alchemist manufacturing items in the basement at home?

He planned to supply other Recipes too, not just the Highest-Grade Elixir Recipe, once he obtained them. Having an assistant then would be useful.‘It's hard to find other personnel.’The nature of the work demanded extremely strict security. No matter how skilled someone was, he couldn't hire them if there was any possibility of betrayal.

But what if he had a Witch turned into a familiar? If Iris was placed directly beneath Merhen, betraying him wouldn't even be a dream. Merhen was practically her natural predator.

“Is there any limit to how many familiars you can have?”―Not really. If I want, I can increase them without limit. I just never saw the need before. Want me to do it?

“If you can.”

Merhen nodded and stared at Iris.―Do you want to become undead?

“U-Undead?”―You have to if you want to become my familiar. You'll become a Banshee.

Iris squeezed her eyes shut.‘I don't have a choice…….’If she refused, death was guaranteed.

Even surviving wouldn't leave her with any future.

The Great Witch had abandoned her.

The Eastern Witch Society wouldn't judge matters differently. There was no reason to oppose Ananke merely to take back one Apprentice Witch. In other words, Iris had become a cosmic orphan.

“I-I'll do it……. Make me your familiar! I'll be loyal……!”―Good.

Merhen nodded and placed a hand over Iris's heart.―I planted it. The seed.

“A seed?”―You can't become undead right away. It'll sprout in five days.

From that moment onward, Iris's fate was as good as decided.* * *The five-day countdown.

He used it well.

First came the plan to build a mixed-race city at the center of the continent.

Perhaps because every race was already ruined, they all readily agreed when he suggested living together from now on.

Of course, there were benefits too.

Massive food support.

He distributed every bit of food he'd brought in his inventory throughout the central city.

And while continuing their education.[Rune Crafting rises to E-rank…….][Tattooing rises to E-rank…….]

Each production Skill rose to E-rank.

Then the fifth day arrived.

The different races came out to see him off.

The Orcs and Elves reacted especially strongly. Probably because they'd fought alongside him in the North.

“You really are leaving.”

Elise's normally perked ears drooped.

“It's about time. If we want to keep the Dragons from interfering further, I have to.”

“……

May blessings always follow the road ahead of you. This is my gift.”

She handed him a tiny seed.

“Is this a Seed of the Mother Tree?”

“Yes. The Tree gladly agreed as well. Please take it.”

He accepted it and examined the description.[Seed of the Mother Tree][Rank: S][The core seed produced by a Mother Tree destined to grow into a World Tree. Planting it may cause something to grow.]An S-rank item.

Come to think of it, that Mother Tree was the only surviving descendant of the World Tree on this continent. It would probably grow well if he planted it somewhere.

“I'll raise it well.”

“Yes. May blessings follow your future. Forever.”

His conversation with the Elf ended.

Then came the Orcs.

Urkan stepped forward as their representative and asked.―Big Brother! Are you really leaving forever now?

“Probably. Take care from now on.”―……

Understood! We'll build a statue of Big Brother! Big Brother will be revered as the hero of all Orcs!

After saying farewell to the Gnomes and Barbarians as well, he looked at Merhen.

She nodded and extended a hand. Iris's body gradually began turning transparent, as though clear paint were flowing away from her.[Merhen begins Familiarization!]‘She doesn't look grotesque.’Was it because she'd taken after her master?

Unlike an ordinary Banshee, Iris still looked fairly normal. The main difference from Merhen was that her body appeared far more transparent.

Then messages appeared.[You have fulfilled all Gate clear conditions!][Evaluating the ‘True Clear Conditions’…….][Evaluation complete!][1. You laid the first foundation for cooperation among the different races!][2. You successfully negotiated with the Great Witch and achieved the true salvation of the continent!][Three rewards are granted.][1. Title ‘One Who Walks the Hero's Path’ changes to ‘First Step into Myth.’ A special effect linked to the title is added to the necklace you obtained.][2. The Caesar Continent is permanently bound to you.][3. The contents of ‘Seed of the Mother Tree’ change significantly.]