Chapter 58
This “memory playback” seemed to be the process of repeating the last moments of the prospective contracted soul.
Since Necromancers grow stronger as their servants increase in number or are strengthened, they must be granted the ability to dig into their memories to properly identify the source of their deep grudge. I could now intuit some of the ways the system directs and develops Users.
However, there was a huge problem with this method. Because I was dragged into these most terrible final memories, I found that I was unduly swayed by the dead’s pain and emotions.
The indescribable sensation of the spear penetrating my stomach…The anger towards Bae Jaemin which filled my mind…All of that blocked my chest, suffocating me.
Of course, rationally, I knew the facts.
I’m not Jung Garam. These were three-year-old memories. However, no matter how many times I repeated those words, I was still stuck in the grip of those vivid sensations.
–Huh? What’s this?
Fortunately, a feisty voice distracted me and helped me resist the effects of the memory. My eyes snapped open.
A new problem had appeared…Logically, I should be back in my quarters with Lackey and Seo Dawon, but when I opened my eyes, all I could see was a space flooded with dark blue water.
At first, I had thought I fell into the deep sea, and I held my breath automatically. But, soon I realized that my breathing was not affected and calmed down.
Although I was surrounded on all sides by water, my surroundings didn’t behave like liquid. My movements, for example, were not impeded.
I had been to a similarly quiet and bizarre place before. Back when I signed my contract with Seo Dawon, the Mage dragged me into this safe space during my time of crisis…Though the situation was different, the vibe felt similar.
Seo Dawon, at the time, had told me that the starry void he dragged me into was a ‘place governed by his consciousness.’ Then, wouldn’t this be a place governed by Jung Garam’s consciousness–though the midst of a nebula is a far different setting from the sea.
–I know I felt a trace of Dawon hyung’s mana…Why can’t I see him?
Jung Garam’s sonorous voice resonated within that empty space, supporting my guess.
Perhaps after ‘memory playback,’ I’m forcibly moved into the deceased’s consciousness…Jung Garam seemed to be observing me.
“Um…Hello. So, I’m…uh…Choi Lee-kyung…” I hesitantly greeted.
–…..
It felt like 10 minutes have crept by since I first spoke…Oddly, Jung Garam didn’t show any reaction.
I didn’t know if the Treasure Hunter was wary of me or if there were other problems, so I shifted awkwardly from side to side and looked around. Beneath my feet, I found a large star-shaped magic circle filled to the brim with triangles. I paused for a moment, observing this geometric oddity.
What on earth could this be?
–Why’d you stop talking?
“Ack!” I gasped, surprised by the sudden sound of Jung Garam’s voice; as I retreated, the star-shaped magic circle glided with my feet.
Though I was still curious about the mystery of the magic circle, I ignored it in favor of shouting at where I thought the origin of Jung Garam’s voice was. “….Uh, well…I’m a…Necromancer. I’m the one who called back the dead Jung Garam-nim.”
–…….
Once again, Jung Garam remained quiet, as if to urge me to continue.
The problem was, after that introduction, I had no idea what more I should say.
Judging from what I could glean from Jung Garam’s personality during his ‘memory playback,’ he’s likely to be opposed to the contract even if I try to be slick about its benefits. If I were to talk about Seo Dawon, the sequence of events was too long-winding; I wouldn’t know where to begin. With all that in mind, it may be dangerous to talk about Bae Jaemin, his most detested enemy.
“A Necromancer can avenge a spirit’s grudge…it’s a job we’ll work on together. In short…Jung Garam-nim lends me his strength and I’ll settle his vengeance…I called on you because I wanted to sign a ‘vengeful ghost’ contract.”
So, I thought it would be best to start with the basics. Fortunately, Jung Garam continued to listen to my story silently without interruption. “And before Jung Garam-nim…I also signed a contract with Seo Dawon-nim. That familiar mana you felt is probably from that connection.”
–Dawon hyung signed a contract with you?
However, when I mentioned my contract with Seo Dawon, Jung Garam responded in a disbelieving tone.
–So then, you’re saying that Dawon hyung is also dead?
I felt a little uncomfortable at his question–his words revealed his fervent belief, ‘Dawon hyung could never have died.’
Additionally, I was reluctant to break the bad news to him since I knew, from the ‘memory playback,’ that Jung Garam regarded Seo Dawon like family.
My silence seemed to suffice as an answer, as Jung Garam came to the correct conclusion.
–Then, what about the other guild members?
“…They all died.”
The magic circle underneath my feet began to glow blue and heated up simultaneously with my words.
The light was so strong, I could barely tear my eyes away from it. In the end, I ducked my head into my arms to avoid being blinded; I didn’t raise my head until I felt everything blow over.
“Whoa…!”
Surprisingly, right before my eyes, a huge shark stared back at me.
The shark opened its vicious mouth towards me. I almost screamed, but fortunately, the shark did not rush forward. Instead, something that looked like black tentacles wriggled out.
The tentacles that fell from the shark’s mouth became taut, as if someone tugged at each end; soon, they began to tangle amongst each other and formed a shape.
The form they created, intertwining into knots and cords, was a human-shaped skeleton. Last time, Seo Dawon appeared out of the buds of lotus flowers; this time, the soul seemed to crawl out of a shark’s mouth.
Soon afterwards, the skull was completed. The languishing skeleton suddenly raised its head.
The skull was branded with a complex seal upon its forehead, just as with Seo Dawon, but the pattern was so different that even without the other strange manifestations, the seal alone could distinguish it from the Mage’s.
However, the red eyes that seemed to glow from the depths of the skull were quite similar. Jung Garam, in the shape of a skeleton, reached towards me without hesitation…I locked my legs in place in order to stop the instinctual desire to avoid his touch.
A freezing cold hand grabbed my chin.
–I guess I should hear more from you?
So I told him all that had happened.
From the events in the <Tower of Command> to how I signed a contract with his Seo Dawon, etc… He didn’t ask, but I also informed him that Bae Jaemin was currently the guild master of the most popular guild.
As soon as I brought up Bae Jaemin, I realized that the strange coldness I felt was the bloodthirst that Jung Garam emitted. During the news of Bae Jaemin’s current success, the coldness that emanated from his fingers to my jaw was so powerful I could barely stand it.
In the end, I stumbled, unable to stand the force of his anger; Jung Garam paused and restrained his bloodthirst. Bewildered by the shivers that wracked my body, Jung Garam took his hand off my chin and muttered.
–But why did hyung sign with a guy like you? You’re a complete weakling.
“…….”
Of course, I could understand why Jung Garam had his doubts. I realized after I began dungeoneering seriously that it was nonsense for a Mage of Seo Dawon’s caliber to partner with someone like me.
However, I stayed silent, unwilling to tell Jung Garam that Seo Dawon originally had no intention of contracting with me…but changed his mind after watching me whine and beg.
TN: Poor Garam… he couldn’t imagine how his hyung would have lost.
Thanks for reading >.< I’m still catching up on the bonus chap~ I’ll get one out tomorrow I think~
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