Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Spendthrift Necromancer (64)

Trial Grounds (1)

“I can't simply keep something like this quiet. Someone else might feel as offended as I did.”―N-No! I won't look down on people so carelessly ever again! I swear!

Popo answered urgently.

“So you want me not to report you?”―Please…….

“Popo. You definitely wronged me. Correct?”―Th-That's correct.

“If you spit on someone and say sorry, is that the end of it? An apology means nothing if it's only words.”―Then what should I…….

Directly demanding something here was what amateurs did.

A true expert.

“Think carefully. What can you do?”

Made the other side arrive at the answer themselves.

The trembling teddy bear's ears perked up.

Then.―I-I'm only a lowly bottom-rank evaluator. Um…… your name was……?

“Kim Minwoo.”―……

Yes. I don't possess anything worthy of someone as extraordinary as Lord Minwoo, who could sponsor a Class Change Ticket…….

“You don't. Then perhaps someone else does. Why not ask them?”

“W-Well…….”

“Ah, forget it. What am I even doing? Hey! Is anyone there?”―W-Wait!

Popo's eyes filled with tears as it grabbed both of Minwoo's hands.―I-I'll ask my senior! We're close, so I'm sure they'll listen to me!

“Fine. It's not like I covet some petty reward. You understand that, right?”―O-Of course! I understand perfectly even without you saying so! You're simply using this chance to teach me a stern lesson!

Exactly.

The teddy bear could keep believing that.―U-Um, Ms. Seo Yerim?

“Yes?”―C-Could you wait here for a moment? I think I need to visit my senior…….

“……

Go ahead.”

Popo's figure blurred away.

Seo Yerim glanced toward Minwoo.

“You're ruthless. Seriously.”

“Why? I just saved a poor teddy bear from forced retirement.”

“That's why you're ruthless.”

“How unfair. Everything I'm doing is for Earth.”

“……?”

“I need to become stronger so I can clear Gates and protect Earth properly.”

“Oh, is that so.”

“Yes. Exactly.”

Since he'd been dragged in anyway, shouldn't he squeeze at least one thing out of this place before leaving?

Popo avoided retirement.

Minwoo got an unexpected bonus.

Win-win.

There was absolutely nothing ruthless about it.* * *Standing before a door, Popo swallowed hard.

Inside was someone Popo barely dared to look up at.

Angel Ziphael.

Angels were higher beings everyone dreamed of becoming.

A noble rank one could reach only after countless ages of accumulating achievements and recognition.

And Ziphael wasn't even a Low Angel.

She was a Middle Angel.

Meaning someone like Popo, who had only just become a full evaluator, barely possessed the standing even to speak to her.

The only reason Popo could summon the courage was because Ziphael had once worked alongside him as an evaluator.

Around a thousand years ago.

Popo had been a trainee evaluator, while Ziphael had already been a seasoned top-rank evaluator.

By sheer luck, they'd been assigned to the same team, allowing Popo to learn directly from her.

Back then, Ziphael had adored Popo because of his appearance.

That hadn't changed even now.

Ziphael sometimes called him over and squeezed him like a treasured doll.‘I-I'm not actually a doll…….’He belonged to the great self-aware Teddy Bear race, not some ordinary doll.

Anyway.

Thanks to that connection, Popo had a way out of his current crisis.‘I-I absolutely have to persuade Senior.’Only then could he fully escape this horrifying danger.

Popo carefully knocked.

“Who is it?”―I-It's Popo. May I come in?

Bang!

The door flew open.

Ziphael immediately rushed out with a bright smile and hugged Popo.

“Popo! Isn't this the first time you've come to visit me on your own?”―Ghk! C-Can't breathe!

“Oh, I'm sorry. I was just so happy.”

Ziphael smiled sheepishly without loosening her embrace whatsoever.

Then she tilted her head.

“Popo. Is something wrong? Why do you look so miserable? Is one of the evaluators bullying you? Want your big sister to punish them?”―N-No. Nothing like that.

“Then what's wrong? Tell me. Quickly.”―W-Well…….

Popo stammered through the circumstances.

Ziphael listened with little hums before chuckling and tapping his nose with a finger.

“Our Popo's problem is that you're waaay too innocent.”―Huh?

“Think about it. If that human were really so extraordinary, wouldn't he already have taken at least one ‘Trial’?”―I-I suppose.

“Then our Popo would've recognized him instantly. But what happened?”―Th-There were no signs he'd ever taken a Trial. S-So I thought he wasn't anything special and just…….

“Then isn't that strange?”―I-It is, now that I think about it…….

The great senior was right.

If that human were truly so extraordinary, surely he would've taken a Trial already.

Why hadn't he?

No matter how Popo thought about it, there was no benefit to avoiding the Trial.

Then.

Could it be that he had been unable to take one?‘Then…… maybe he isn't actually that extraordinary?’Popo's eyes widened at his great realization!

“Hmm. It is curious. He hasn't taken a Trial, but he came in with a companion. And he sponsored a Class Change Ticket?”―Yes. She definitely said he sponsored it.

“Let me see the paperwork.”―H-Here.[‘Reassessment’ Subject][Seo Yerim][Race: Human][Observed Dimension: Sector 10/Earth][Level: 411]

“……Sector 10? Isn't that where all the lowest dimensions are gathered?”―Yes, that's right. That's why I thought it was so strange. There shouldn't be many ways to gain Achievement Points there…… so I thought she must be incredibly extraordinary.

Ziphael fell into thought.‘Then is the man beside her a human from a higher dimension?’Humans lived across countless dimensions.

It was far easier to earn Achievement Points in higher dimensions, so it wouldn't be strange if a human there could sponsor a Class Change Ticket.

He could have wandered across dimensional sectors, found someone interesting, and formed a connection.

The strange part.

Was that someone who could freely travel dimensions and casually sponsor a treasure of that caliber had never even taken a Trial.

Surely someone like that should be an exceptionally successful human.‘That makes no sense. Could he be from ‘that side’?’Curiosity bloomed in Ziphael's mind.

“So you want me to help you?”―W-Well, now that I think about it…… he doesn't seem that extraordinary after all, so maybe I don't really need to…….

Ziphael chuckled at Popo fidgeting with his fingers.

“No. If that human starts making trouble, our Popo might still suffer. Big Sis will come with you.”―Y-Yes!

“Hand.”

Popo reflexively held out his hand.

Ziphael took it, and their figures vanished.* * *A female angel suddenly appeared holding the teddy bear's hand.

Literally.

An angel.

One glance made it obvious she was some kind of big shot.

Popo seemed to have brought back a proper senior.

The angel began staring intently at Minwoo.

Then.

Popo waved his free hand furiously.―You! How dare you deceive the Teddy Bear race?! You're not even some extraordinary human!

“What did I deceive you about?”―Huh? I mean, uh…… what did you deceive me about?

Then.

The angel, whose eyes had been narrowing, suddenly smiled brightly.

“Nice to meet you. I'm Ziphael. I'm Popo's senior.”

“Kim Minwoo. Are you really an angel?”

“Yes. Are you perhaps a resident of the same planet as that woman?”

“I am.”

“What level are you?”

“151.”

“Hmm…….”

Then Ziphael smiled.

“I heard my junior was rude to you. As his senior, allow me to apologize in his place.”

“Only with words?”

“It seems you haven't taken a Trial yet. Would you like to?”

A Trial?

“What do I gain from it?”

“For starters, rewards vary according to the difficulty you challenge.”

“Is it the kind that puts my life at risk?”

“You won't die. There are no lasting side effects either. But…… if you fail, you'll no longer be able to attempt it again. Think of it as a one-use ticket.”

“If I succeed, I can keep attempting more?”

“If you want?”

“Let's do it.”

He wouldn't die and there were no aftereffects.

Wouldn't someone have to be an idiot to refuse?

Part of him wanted to raise his level first and challenge when he had an advantage.‘But I might never come here again.’The Class Change Ticket had been discounted, and using it had somehow dragged him in too.

What if he'd tried entering at full price?

That would've required 23,000 Achievement Points.

This might be a stroke of luck that never came again.

So he'd do it now.

Then.―S-Senior! How are you going to assign a Trial to a human without a certificate?!

“It's fine. I have one spare.”―B-But! That's incredibly precious…….

“Shh. Popo, what did Big Sis tell you to do when she's working?”―Keep my mouth shut…… Hup!

Popo held his breath and clamped his mouth shut.

A spinal-reflex response.

Apparently the result of long training.

“Good, good. Our Popo is such a good boy. Then keep working too, okay?”

Nod.

Ziphael approached Minwoo.

“Shall we go? To the Trial Grounds.”

He took the hand she offered with a smile.

Kim Minwoo and Ziphael vanished instantly.―…….

“…….”

The remaining teddy bear and woman stared at one another.

Then.―S-Shall we start your reassessment?

“……

Go ahead.”

In the awkward atmosphere, Popo began moving clumsily.* * *[Entering Trial Grounds.]

Another empty, pure-white space appeared.

“Take this.”

Ziphael handed him a plaque made of diamond.[Diamond Sponsorship Certificate][Rank: Special][A sponsorship certificate that seems to grant special qualifications while carried.][Effect 1. While in possession, you may take Trials within the ‘Trial Grounds.’][Effect 2. The maximum Trial grade is ‘Diamond.’]

Kim Minwoo tilted his head after reading it.

“How are the grades divided?”

“Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze. Those five.”

“Then this is good?”

“It's expensive.”

She was handing over something expensive that casually?

To the guy who had pressured her junior, no less?

At first, Minwoo had wondered whether she was making him take the Trial to punish him for bullying her junior.

But it didn't seem that way at all.

Hadn't Popo also said it was incredibly precious?

“Did you fall for me or something?”

“Excuse me?”

Ziphael tilted her head before her eyes curved into crescents.

“You're amusing. Curious about the reason?”

“Yes.”

“I want to reserve you.”

“Reserve me?”

Ziphael smiled.

“To put it simply, I think highly of your potential.”

“Based on what?”

“Oh, various things? Anyway, Mr. Kim Minwoo, you only need to remember one thing. That I, Ziphael, gave you a major sponsorship.”

“That's really all?”

“Yes. I'm not greedy. Just put in a good word for me later.”

“……

To whom?”

“Oh my, you don't know yet?”

“……?”

“Then perhaps you'll learn when the time comes? They're a little too intimidating for me to mention casually. Good luck with your Trial.”

Ziphael waved and vanished.‘What was that?’Judging by the angel's words, someone seemed to be watching him.

Someone even an angel was hesitant to mention.‘Surely it's not some Outer God.’An Outer God and angels being friendly?

Hard to picture.

Maybe another angel?

Someone ranked above Ziphael.

Then her attitude wouldn't be impossible to understand.‘Either way, she wants to get her foot in the door.’If that was her attitude, it could only benefit him.

Why complain when she was handing out freebies?

The normal response was to grab everything she gave him.

“But how do I activate this?”

That was when it happened.[Checking qualifications…….][You possess a Diamond Sponsorship Certificate.][Current Level: 151.][You are within the Level 100~200 range.][No previous Trial record detected.][Beginning Beginner-stage Trial.][Please select a difficulty.][Stage 1, Bronze][Stage 2, Silver][Stage 3, Gold][Stage 4, Platinum][Stage 5, Diamond]〈Tip 1. The first difficulty you choose will be fixed as your maximum difficulty.〉〈Tip 2. If you select a difficulty and fail, that same difficulty will never activate again.〉〈Tip 3. Once you select a difficulty, Trials will continue at that same difficulty until you fail.〉〈Example. Clear Gold-grade Beginner Trial. -〉 Proceed to Gold-grade Trainee Trial〉He slowly read through it.‘I get the gist.’The first choice permanently set the ceiling.

Once he failed, he'd be forced to take progressively lower-quality Trials.‘So that's why Diamond is valuable.’It was an item that let you walk the royal road from the very beginning.

Of course it was valuable.

Naturally, he selected Diamond.[‘Beginner, Diamond’ difficulty Trial begins!][Good luck!]

The scenery before him began changing.