Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Spendthrift Necromancer (63)

Aftermath (2)

While he was holding the sword and testing a few swings.

The hospital-room door opened and a familiar face entered.

Seo Yerim.

“You're awake? Seeing you swing a sword, I guess you're feeling better.”

“Why are you here, Ms. Yerim…….”

“……

You ended up in danger because of me. Why? Am I not allowed to take care of you?”

“Take care of me?”

Nod.‘Did we get closer?’Maybe throwing her into the clear zone while getting ganged up on at the end had earned him some points with her.‘Not bad.’Now she'd probably take his advice about using a bow more positively too.

Time to brainwash her slowly.

“How long was I unconscious?”

“About five hours.”

Then Seo Yerim looked toward him and spoke.

“So, what are you planning to say in the interview? People are definitely going to ask about contribution and things like that.”

“What's public opinion like?”

“The general consensus is that you contributed a decent amount too.”

“Really?”

He tilted his head.

All anyone had seen was him coming out with his body reduced to a wreck.

That might prove he'd suffered, but it wasn't exactly a useful measure of contribution.

Wouldn't it be stranger for a low-rank Awakened to enter a high-rank Gate and come out perfectly fine?‘Ah.’He looked at Seo Yerim.

“I was wondering why you asked. You haven't done an interview yet, have you? You came straight here?”

“……

Yes.”

Maybe people were making that assumption because of Sword Phoenix's behavior.

She'd always had a somewhat aloof image.

She definitely wasn't the type to come out of a Gate and make a huge fuss.‘An interview.’He thought for a moment.

His original plan had been simple.‘I was going to reveal my strength.’Because he wanted the first-clear reward from the Gate.

That structure made hiding impossible.

A solo clear of a B+ Gate.

He'd made that decision because he'd grown enormously compared to when he was Level 1.‘Is anything really different now?’No.

Level 1

5

1.

He'd reached D-rank.

Once titles, elixirs, and stat increases were considered, he was basically a monster.

Assassins?

Let them come.

Now he even had a sword and a sword art.

He could beat the hell out of them instead.‘S-rank might be a little rough…….’Even countries and organizations couldn't casually deploy S-ranks.

Openly assassinating a celebrity wasn't easy.

And even if one really came, it wasn't as though Minwoo had no chance of taking them down.

“Let's say fifty-fifty.”

They had each contributed roughly half.

The same had been true when they killed the Unorthodox Alliance Leader at the end.

Without Precision Snipe?

Minwoo couldn't have killed him.

He would've died under the combined attack instead.

“You're going to reveal it?”

“I need money.”

Reveal his strength.

There were plenty of benefits.

Money naturally flowed toward successful Awakened.

Investment, recruitment offers, all sorts of things.‘Perfect time to take another investment.’He could earn money through crafting too.

But considering how much money he'd need from now on, crafting alone would be difficult.

No, more accurately, it could cover the cost.‘It'd just take fucking forever.’The Skeletons' crafting skill was E-rank.

If he locked himself inside a workshop for months to raise it to a high rank and make money, he'd probably be there for ages.

Investment was different.

One shot.

A huge chunk of money came in at once.

There was no better method for getting strong quickly.

And raising his own name value would make Ilseong relatively more comfortable investing in him.

People couldn't say they were just showering money on him because he was the chairman's son.

“You're going to make a +9 C-rank skill too?”

“I have to. If I can.”

There were still plenty of Awakened in the C-rank range, so C-rank Skill Books shouldn't be catastrophically scarce.

From B-rank onward, he honestly wasn't sure.

Starting there, Awakened were already mid-to-high rank, and the population dropped dramatically.

Then there were Highest-Grade Elixirs too.

B-rank began at Level 2

5

1.

At least the amount he had to level rose sharply from 50 to 100, giving him a little more time.

He'd worry about that headache later.

“What reward did you get, Ms. Yerim?”

“The martial arts manual I got from the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering changed. It went from A-rank to S-rank. But…… at first it was swordsmanship, and then it changed into archery.”

“That's great. The Gate's smart. Even tailored the reward for you.”

She had used only a sword during the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

Once the pursuit began, she'd mainly used a bow.

Because it was useful for shaking off pursuit.

And at the very end, she'd finished the Unorthodox Alliance Leader by firing an arrow.

The reward had probably taken all that into account.‘Fucking sweet.’It wasn't some mediocre martial art either.

It was S-rank.

Now she couldn't abandon it.

Whether reluctantly or not, she'd have to seriously practice archery.

As she did, archery skills would begin appearing, and maybe she'd gradually become serious about the bow.

“You should properly learn archery while you're at it. From what I can tell, you're destined to make it big with a bow.”

“Do you read fortunes too?”

“No. Just a feeling.”

“……

I almost thought you actually did. A bow…… Fine. I might as well try learning properly.”

That was when it happened.● The fate of ‘Seo Yerim,’ one of the main characters, begins to twist!● This is unknown territory! Special bonus points are awarded!● The story begins to change!● Achievement Points are awarded!● Your total acquired Achievement Points have exceeded 500!● ‘Silver’-grade products are unlocked.● As a reward for your first grade increase and pioneering unknown territory, a limited-sale product is generated![Opening Achievement Shop!][Grade: Silver(Total Acquired Points: 530)][Current Achievement Points: 230]

Kim Minwoo's eyes widened when he saw his points.

He'd had 30 before.

Simply getting her to decide she'd practice archery had earned him 200.‘Does that make any sense?’Killing supporting character Lee Seoyoon gave 30.

Getting Park Siwoo an SSS-rank Achievement gave 300.‘Unknown territory. Is that why?’Why was it unknown territory?

There was only one thing he could guess.

Thinking about it, Park Siwoo had probably always been destined to keep using a sword.

But Seo Yerim?

A bow hadn't existed anywhere on her path before.

Now one had suddenly appeared.

It felt as though she'd veered into an entirely different trajectory.

Maybe that was why.

Of course, Minwoo wasn't certain.

There might be some deeper secret hidden behind it.

But with the information currently available, there was no way to infer more.

He checked the product list.[Product List][1. Limit-Breaking Elixir][Required Achievement Points: 100][2. Undead Cocktail][Required Achievement Points: 100][3. Necromancer Equipment Random Draw Ticket(Legendary~Ancient)][Required Achievement Points: 300][4. S-rank Bound Skill Book][Required Achievement Points: 500][5. ♚♚Class Change Ticket☆$$SUPER-MEGA-DISCOUNT☜☜99% BARGAIN SALE※♜♜BUY NOW￥§§GUARANTEED VALUE§§LIMITED SALE@$#RIGHT THIS SECOND*&^][Required Achievement Points: 230][6. ???]..……?

Something strange seemed to have snuck into the list.‘Class Change Ticket?’Like Limit-Breaking Elixir, it was an item name he'd never seen before in his life.

Could it really change someone's Class?

He checked the details.[Class Change Ticket][Upon use, changes your Class.][Your ‘First Class Skill Book’ will be reacquired by undergoing a reassessment tailored to your chosen Class.][Existing skills and titles will also be transformed to suit the changed Class.][* Time remaining until sale ends: 10 minutes][* Valid use period after purchase: 1 minute]‘……?’Kim Minwoo blinked.

Change your Class.

That much he could accept.

But it could change the First Class Skill Book too?

And by letting the user take a reassessment suited to their chosen Class?‘That's insane.’In other words, the Awakening condition would effectively be fixed in a direction advantageous to the user.

Naturally, they could aim for a high-rank First Class Skill Book as well.

Like EX-rank Death Lord or the SSS-rank Holy Sword.

And as if that weren't enough, all existing skills and titles would be transformed to fit the new Class too?‘This only costs 230 points?’Now he understood why it claimed to be a 99% bargain sale.

Frankly, even 23,000 Achievement Points wouldn't have been unreasonable for something like this.

There was only one problem.‘This isn't being sold for me to use.’He had already chosen Necromancer and was extremely satisfied with it.

There was absolutely no reason to change Classes.

And the one-minute use limit after purchase meant.

“……

Is there something in front of you? What are you staring at?”

Seo Yerim.

It was painfully obvious the thing had been put on sale for her.

“Ms. Seo Yerim.”

“Yes?”

“I'm going to ask you something seriously, so think carefully before answering. All right?”

“W-What is it?”

“Want to change Classes?”

“……?”

“Want to?”

“H-How am I supposed to change Classes?”

“Want to?”

“No…….”

“Want to?”

“Seriously! Stop putting your face closer every time you ask!”

She shouted with her face turning bright red.

Minwoo backed off slightly.

“I'm not joking. You know by now that you have talent with a bow, right?”

“……

Yes.”

“If your Class changes from Swordsman to Archer, your potential will rise enormously. You'll go from barely mattering domestically to having a shot at becoming a world ranker.”

“…….”

“Don't doubt me. Trust me. There is a way.”

“Really?”

“I don't lie about things like this.”

Seo Yerim nodded.

From everything she'd seen, when Kim Minwoo became serious, he was endlessly serious.

“……

There really is something like that?”

“Yes. If you want it, I can give it to you. A Class Change Ticket.”

A Class Change Ticket?

She tilted her head.

She had never once heard of an item like that.

“Did you get it as a reward for clearing this Gate?”

“Does this sound like something you'd get from merely clearing an A+ Gate?”

“……

No. Then where did you get something like that?”

“I have my own purchasing route.”

Every single part of the story.

From her perspective, none of it made sense.

And yet Kim Minwoo's expression was completely serious.

“You'll even be able to retake the assessment for your first Skill Book, and your titles and skills will change to suit the new Class.”

“……

That's impossible.”

Seo Yerim's expression turned grave.

If something like that really existed, it was an item that might not appear even in an S-rank Gate.

How in the world had Kim Minwoo obtained such a thing?

“This chance exists only now. I won't be able to get it later either. We don't have much time.”

“N-No…… If I suddenly change, what am I supposed to tell Grandpa…….”

“Both Sword Immortal and I know you won't reach the top with a sword. Do you think Sword Immortal would hate this? He'd be happier than anyone.”

“…….”

“If you're that worried, I'll come with you and explain it to the grandfather who likes me so much, so just say you'll become an Archer. Quickly!”

It was obviously something she needed time to think about.

Minwoo knew he was rushing her.

But what else was he supposed to do?

Only two minutes remained on the sale.

If he bought it first, it would become worthless after one minute.‘Damn it.’Kim Minwoo was panicking too.

He'd earned 200 points just by getting her to agree to practice archery.

How many points would actually changing her Class be worth?

Even if he had to put a blade to her throat, he needed to make her become an Archer.

Right now.

“Just do it! I'll take responsibility!”

“R-Responsibility?”

“Yes! If it goes wrong, I'll take responsibility for everything! So say you'll become an Archer. You were already thinking about it!”

“……

If I do…… then what am I supposed to give you? If I receive something that valuable, there's no way I can repay you…….”

Who cared about repayment right now?

His Achievement Points were about to reproduce.

Ignoring her, he quickly pressed the purchase button.[Purchasing Class Change Ticket!]

After buying it, he immediately handed the book to Seo Yerim.

“Use it! Right now! Pick Archer!”

Seo Yerim flinched and stared at the book.[You have acquired a Class Change Ticket!][State the name of your desired Class within 1 minute.]

The moment she saw the message, her face went rigid.

“A-Archer!”

She shouted desperately.[Target ‘Seo Yerim's’ Class changes from Swordsman to Archer.][All titles and skills are transformed.][Beginning ‘Reassessment’.][Entering Trial Grounds.]

The scenery changed in an instant.

For Kim Minwoo too.

Everything around them became pure white.

“What the hell? Why am I here?”

He wasn't the one taking the reassessment.

Then.

A teddy bear came walking toward them.

“?”

“?”

The two tilted their heads.

Then the teddy bear spoke proudly.―Ahem! I am Popo, evaluator for the Reassessment! You must be the candidate who used the Class Change Ticket?

Seo Yerim nodded blankly.―To accumulate that many Achievement Points, I can tell just by looking. You must be an extraordinary person indeed.

After addressing Seo Yerim with extreme politeness, the doll named Popo turned and stared at Kim Minwoo.

Then Popo's eyes narrowed.―Uh, and you are…… what? Why is someone who didn't even use a ticket here?

How was Minwoo supposed to know?

More importantly, this guy gave off the classic vibe of a crooked petty official.

He practically bowed and scraped before Seo Yerim, who looked like she'd spent plenty of Achievement Points.

Yet with Minwoo, who apparently hadn't, he immediately switched to casual speech.

There was only one correct attitude toward someone like this.

“I'm her sponsor.”―……

Excuse me?

“I sponsored this woman's ticket. And what's with that attitude? Are all evaluators like this?”―Uh…… well…….

“Tsk, tsk. Kids these days are a complete mess.”―M-Miss. Is what this human says true?

“It is, but…….”―I-I'm sorry! I failed to recognize an honored guest! I-I'm new, and I made a mistake!

“Knew it. You're new?”―……

Yes. I haven't been assigned here very long…… Please, just don't report this to my superiors…….

The teddy bear trembled.

Apparently it was extremely attached to its job.‘Hmm.’Trial Grounds.

An evaluator named Popo.

This was all completely unfamiliar territory.

In other words, there might be something here for Minwoo to aim for too.

He looked at Popo.

This guy seemed exploitable.

Minwoo's interest grew.