Skeleton Master Chapter 016
The place I arrived at through the warp was the Vebra Empire, the largest empire on the Forma Continent.
This place was wider and more massive than three kingdoms combined.
But even that vast space was crowded with users.
There are so many.
It's not just South Korea.
Those living in Japan, China, and other parts of Asia start on the Forma Continent.
That's why there are so many.
However, the fact that it could accommodate this many people seemed even more impressive.
Moreover, there are far more unexplored areas than discovered ones. This was a fact only Moo-hyeok knew, unless you were a developer.
Moo-hyeok, who had been looking around slowly, stopped in his tracks.
Already here.
It was the library of the Vebra Empire, his destination.
The massive library with its classic atmosphere was no less impressive than modern buildings.
No, its unique beauty was even better than modern architecture.
Plus, it was wide and tall.
It's incredibly big.
Entering inside, a corridor appeared.
A huge door at the end of the corridor.
And two guards standing in front can be seen.
Even as the distance grew closer, they didn't block the way, suggesting their purpose wasn't to check identities.
It must be some sort of security role.
Anyway, I passed by them and opened the door.
Creaaak.
The interior was revealed.
An incredibly spacious hall.
And bookshelves filling the entire space.
Even more amazing were the books densely packed on those shelves.
"Wow..."
An exclamation of admiration escaped involuntarily.
A middle-aged man standing at the entrance was smiling as he watched Moo-hyeok's reaction.
"Did you come to read books?"
Moo-hyeok, coming to his senses, looked at him.
"Huh? Oh, yes."
"Take your time looking around. It's fine if you read all the books here, but if you want to borrow them, you'll need to make a special contract, just so you know."
"Ah, thank you."
He didn't intend to borrow anyway.
"Well then."
After briefly greeting the librarian, he slowly began to look around.
There were signs in front of the bookshelves indicating what kind of books were there, so he could easily pass by sections that didn't interest him.
He moved on to the next bookshelf.
[History of the Forma Continent]
It seemed history books were located here.
Not this one.
After passing several bookshelves.
Finally, he found what he wanted.
[Occupations]
He stood in front of an enormous bookshelf.
All the books here are related to occupations...
Among all these, he needed to find something about necromancers.
Fortunately, occupations were categorized in detail in the center of the bookshelf.
He reached out and pulled out a random book related to necromancers.
Opening the first page, he forced himself to absorb the words that barely registered in his mind.
[Few know the origins of necromancers. Some say it's a branch of black magic, but I can assure you it's different. Black magic borrows power from demon-kind and requires life as payment, but the power of necromancers...]
Just then, he sensed the presence he had been waiting for.
It was the middle-aged man who had greeted Jung-woo at the entrance.
He managed the internal affairs of the library, going around every 30 minutes to tidy up while also checking what books the people inside were reading.
Then he would return to his seat with a curious expression, repeating this behavior.
Although Moo-hyeok felt his gaze, he continued to read books steadily.
Only one type - those related to necromancers.
After 6 hours had passed like this.
"Phew..."
Moo-hyeok exhaled deeply as he put the book away.
Finally, the tedious time of endurance was over.
He hurriedly headed towards the librarian.
"Excuse me."
"What can I help you with?"
"I've been looking at books related to necromancers, but there are so many and the content seems repetitive. I was wondering if you could recommend something."
"Oh, have you been reading only necromancer books until now?"
"Yes."
"For 6 hours?"
"Ah, I didn't realize that much time had passed."
The librarian's expression changed slightly.
Intriguing, one might say.
"May I ask what your occupation is?"
"I'm a necromancer, but..."
At that moment, the librarian closed his eyes briefly. After staying like that for a while, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at Moo-hyeok.
"Alright, I'll recommend a book for you. Follow me."
Moo-hyeok felt relieved as he followed the librarian.
This is trickier than I thought.
The process to obtain the Gangster Necromancer is as follows.
First, acquire the necromancer job.
Second, reach level 20 and head to the library of the Vebra Empire.
Then, spend 6 hours there reading necromancer books and ask the librarian for a book recommendation.
Finally, find a document within that book.
This will trigger a linked quest, and completing it will allow you to change class to Gangster Necromancer.
Now I just need to find the document and clear the linked quest.
The two of them had arrived in front of the necromancer books.
The librarian picked up a long stick placed in the corner and pulled out a book located on the top side.
The librarian caught the falling book and handed it to Moo-hyeok.
"Please read it."
"Ah, thank you."
After the librarian left, Moo-hyeok, now alone, opened the book.
After scanning the surroundings to confirm no one was around, he quickly flipped through the book.
But no document appeared.
He even tried shaking the book upside down, but still nothing fell out.
His brow furrowed.
Why is there nothing?
Could something have gone wrong?
No, that's impossible.
Because people had successfully changed to Gangster Necromancer using the same method afterward.
So he had judged that information to be certain.
Then the problem must be me.
At least I succeeded in getting the recommendation.
I just need to find the document.
There was no choice but to skim through the book again.
Rustle.
Despite repeating several times, the document did not appear.
Deciding this wouldn't do, Moo-hyeok sat down and started turning the pages one by one from the first page.
Page 1.
Page 2.
And page 3.
He continued checking each page like this.
It was around the time he had checked about half of the considerably thick book.
Moo-hyeok's hand, which had been absently turning pages, suddenly stopped.
The thought that he shouldn't just skip over this flashed through his mind, and his previously unfocused gaze sharpened.
He checked the previous page again.
After reading the last paragraph, he turned one page.
Ah...!
The content didn't match. Two pages had been stuck together.
When he moistened his finger with saliva and rubbed hard, the stuck pages slightly separated.
So this was it.
The moment he carefully peeled apart the stuck pages.
Plop.
A document finally revealed itself.
*
The single document Moo-hyeok handed over.
The librarian's expression sank heavily as he looked at it.
"Sigh..."
Even an inexplicable sigh.
After pondering for a while, he muttered.
"Is this also fate?"
"Fate...?"
The librarian ignored Moo-hyeok's words.
He just smiled and reconfirmed what Moo-hyeok had initially asked.
"You said you were curious about this content, right?"
"Yes."
"Actually, I can't tell you about this content either."
"Is it because ancient characters are used?"
"I can interpret ancient characters. The reason I can't tell you is because of a promise with a friend. So there's only one thing I can do for you."
Then he took out a piece of paper.
Scribble.
He started writing something on it.
"This is the current location of the friend who could be called the owner of this document. Go there directly and ask for his permission."
At that moment, a quest popped up.
[Unknown Document]
Meet the owner of the document
[If successful: Linked quest]
[Do you want to accept the quest?]
There was no time limit.
And no penalty for failure.
Moreover, he knew the method.
"Yes, I understand."
Of course, he accepted.
*
He teleported to the Hemil Empire.
Among the dilapidated buildings in the north.
Just before leaving the alley, Moo-hyeok quietly stared at the door of a building that looked like it might collapse at any moment.
Is this the place?
He couldn't be certain since he had only read about the information.
But since it was described as a rundown building at the end of an alley, he concluded that if it wasn't here, there was nowhere else.
He knocked on the door with the back of his hand.
Knock knock.
There was no response even after waiting.
He knocked again.
Still no response. Nevertheless, Moo-hyeok never opened the door.
He just waited a moment and knocked again. Only after repeating this three times did he hear a shout.
"Which bastard is making all this noise!"
It was the gruff voice of an old man.
"I found a document written in ancient characters at the Vebra Library, and the librarian there told me to come here."
"The librarian from Vebra Library?"
"Yes."
He answered, but the door didn't open.
Moo-hyeok waited silently.
One minute, then two minutes.
"Ahem."
The sound of the old man clearing his throat was heard.
Creak.
Following that, there was the sound of movement and the distinctive creaking of the door opening, revealing the figure of the old man.
A skinny frame, protruding cheekbones.
In contrast, eyes that shone brightly.
"Come in."
"Thank you."
He followed the old man inside.
In a cramped room.
The old man, seated in front of a structure that was barely worthy of being called a table, nodded his head.
"What are you doing? Sit down."
"Ah, yes."
As he took a seat, the old man extended his hand.
"Let me see it."
He took out a piece of paper from his bag.
The old man snatched it and read through the ancient characters with his eyes.
Then he tossed the paper aside.
"Hmm, what's your profession?"
"I'm a necromancer."
"So that's why he sent you."
Moo-hyeok just listened, pretending not to know.
"Well, alright. If you're a necromancer, you're certainly qualified. Qualified to hear this story."
"What kind of story...?"
"Have you heard of the Gangster Necromancer?"
He knew, but pretended not to.
"No. It's my first time hearing about it."
"Of course. It's a special profession passed down to only a very select few. Although there's a restriction that you can only summon skeletons, if you develop them sufficiently, they can become lovely creatures that won't fall behind even the most powerful monsters. The name might sound strange, but it's given because you lead numerous underlings like a gangster, so don't complain. Well, I can't deny that the naming skills of the first Gangster Necromancer were lacking."
Lovely creatures, he says.
Those bags of bones?
Well, even if we accept that.
Lacking naming skills?
That's not just lacking, it's the worst.
Of course, he couldn't express these thoughts.
He kept them deep in his heart.
"Since you've discovered this document and come to find me, it must be fate. I'll give you a special opportunity to choose."
"A choice?"
"Will you walk the path of the Gangster Necromancer?"
At that moment.
[The quest 'Unknown Document' is being updated.]
[The Path of the Gangster Necromancer]
Gain recognition from 'Balshian', who is living as the hidden profession, 'Gangster Necromancer'
[If successful: Change profession to Gangster Necromancer]
[If failed: No retry possible]
[Do you accept?]
There was no need to hesitate.
This is what he came all this way for.
"Of course."
An alert popped up saying the quest was accepted.
At the same time, Balshian laughed loudly.
"Kekeke, you look scrawny but you've got a fiery spirit. Good, then I'll give you a simple test. Before that, remember this well. There's always a way. If it doesn't work, make it work, and don't be picky about your methods."
The latter part didn't register.
He was too busy making predictions based on past information.
So the quest...
It branches here.
If you're lucky, an easy quest appears, and if you're really unlucky, an absurd quest comes up.
What will it be?
"Just catch one Orc Great Warrior."
His fist clenched involuntarily.
Okay!
It was the moment he thought it was an easier quest than expected.
"But you're not to participate in the battle."
"Pardon?"
"Didn't you understand?"
"That's not it..."
"You're just to command."
"Ah..."
Only one word came to mind.
Screwed.
