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~Chapter 8~
Hot steam curled into the air.
Green blood gushed from the severed neck of the masterless mutant Lurker, and its bright red hair rolled across the ground.
Kang Muho, a rookie from the Hwarang Guild, locked eyes with the mutant Lurker, its tongue hanging loose.
“Ghk.”
He sucked in a sharp breath and staggered back a step.
Up until the moment he discovered the mutant Lurker chieftain, he’d been full of confidence.
Lurkers were among the stronger E-rank monsters, sure—but he’d gone through brutal training at the Hwarang Guild and was equipped with rare-grade items provided by the guild.
Not once had it crossed his mind that he might lose.
Not until the bastard bounced around the cave like a rubber ball and—slash—raked its claws across the back of his neck.
“Muho, are you okay?”
“…No.”
He instinctively touched the wounded spot.
If he hadn’t used a potion immediately, he would’ve bled to death. Thanks to the potion and a healing spell, not even a scar remained—but the pain of that moment was carved deep into his mind.
With just one unexpected strike, Kang Muho completely lost his will to fight.
Despite being the tank, he was the first to turn his back—and while fleeing, he even abandoned a hunter he didn’t know.
And yet—
【A truly pathetic enemy.】
“That’s not something you should say after losing your left arm.”
【That happened because the body you gave me is weak, is it not?】
“So now it’s my fault?”
That monster had been dealt with so easily.
And they were even joking about it.
What the hell is this hunter?
He remembered the argument at the gate entrance.
Come to think of it, hadn’t this guy said he didn’t want to clean up corpses?
What if he decided to kill them here for picking a fight?
Fear crept in. Muho took a step back—
Kiiik. His back hit the wall, metal scraping loudly.
“Oh. Rookie from Hwarang.”
“Y-Yes!!”
“If forcing polite speech is that hard, I told you to just stop.”
“N-No, sir!!”
“You said there was another member recruited as a last-minute filler.”
“Y-Yes, but we got separated while running—”
“Not separated. You ditched them.”
Sigh.
Minho let out a short breath.
“How far from here did that happen?”
“If that monster chased us, he’s probably already dead.”
“If he were dead, it wouldn’t have been able to chase you immediately.”
Judging by its speed, it probably tore off one leg and came after them—just to hunt one more person.
Minho looked behind him.
“Sir Isra.”
【Saving the weak is a knight’s duty.】
“I’ll catch up soon.”
【Will you be all right?】
“Aren’t two zombies enough?”
【Understood.】
Isra moved ahead.
Minho turned his gaze back to Kang Muho.
“Rookie from Hwarang.”
“Y-Yes.”
“You lived thanks to me, right?”
“Yes!”
“You got dragged into this unexpectedly. Going empty-handed wouldn’t feel right.”
What was he getting at?
Was he planning to kill them all and loot their items?
That man clearly had the strength to do it.
That zombie earlier was insane. And the others too…
Two zombies stood upright on their own feet.
The way they’d butchered the mutant Lurker so effortlessly was burned into his mind.
Can we even win?
His hands trembled.
He was scared.
Those zombies shattered the common belief that undead were weaker than monsters of the same rank.
They even used sword techniques—slaughtering the mutant Lurker with ease.
The companion beside him seemed to think the same; the tip of his staff shook visibly.
“So,” Minho said.
“Eek! P-Please spare our lives!”
“…Huh?”
Minho blinked, then burst into laughter.
“I’m asking for your life fee.”
“…What?”
“You survived because of me, didn’t you?”
“Yes!”
“You’re not planning to just wipe your mouth and walk away, are you?”
“N-No!!”
“So how much are you thinking, as payment for saving you?”
It sounded like he’d kill them if he didn’t like the answer.
Were they really negotiating the price of their lives?
“Oh, and didn’t you mention something about a mission?”
Minho nudged the mutant Lurker’s head with his toe.
“I figure you’ll need this.”
Kang Muho blinked.
“I’ll sell it to you at a fair price.”
“….”
“Two hundred million won each. That includes the rescue fee and the head.”
“I… don’t have that kind of money.”
“You’re from the Hwarang Guild. Even a credit loan gets you three hundred million.”
Muho clenched his face, barely holding it together.
How did he even know his credit limit?
“I—I’ll pay.”
The words slipped out.
His companion whispered urgently, “If it gets out that we abandoned a party member, we’re finished.”
Two hundred million won.
An amount most people wouldn’t touch even after ten years of steady work.
But if it was the price to avoid getting expelled from the Hwarang Guild—
It wasn’t expensive at all.
If needed, he’d mortgage his house, not just take a loan.
“I—I’ll pay.”
Muho bowed his head deeply, realization finally setting in.
They reunited with Sir Isra about five minutes later.
Beside him, an injured hunter looked up with a pale, ashen face.
One leg had been severed.
Seeing a long bone nearby, Minho’s guess seemed correct.
【The bleeding has been treated.】
How, exactly?
If he asked, he’d probably get another lecture about knightly virtues.
Minho shot a glare at the Hwarang rookies.
“This happened because of you. Make sure you take care of him.”
“Y-Yes!”
With healing spells and potions, losing an arm or leg could be regenerated in a few days—faster if you spent more money.
After collecting two hundred million, Minho wasn’t about to insist on rapid healing.
Sir Isra pointed at the zombies.
【Why did you bring that abomination along?】
The two zombies were carrying the mutant Lurker’s corpse.
Green blood soaked into their bodies.
“To a necromancer, corpses are the most valuable resource.”
【True. Without corpses, you lot are just corpses yourselves.】
Was that supposed to be a joke?
【Are you planning to make a Dullahan?】
“I already promised the head to them.”
The mutant corpse had plenty of uses.
[Hungry Lurker Chieftain’s Tongue]
Rank: D
Category: Miscellaneous
[Hungry Lurker Chieftain’s Heart]
Rank: D
Category: Miscellaneous
[Hungry Lurker Chieftain’s Arm Muscles]
Rank: D
Category: Miscellaneous
These were parts infused with mana.
Thanks to Cheonmu Form, Minho could identify useful parts without experimentation.
The only useless part was the head.
They needed proof of killing the boss. He wanted the body.
A win-win deal.
And some extra profit on top.
[Blood Frenzy]
Rank: D
Category: Skill Book
Durability: 1/1
Consumes blood to enhance physical abilities and grant elasticity to the body.
While active, stamina consumption increases by 100%.
The secret behind the Hungry Lurker Chieftain’s rubber-ball movements.
The penalty was steep, but the effect was solid.
He could probably sell it for at least ten million won.
After checking his loot in good spirits, Minho turned around.
On the way back to the exit, Sir Isra took the lead.
With an injured person, faster travel was better.
【You killed the boss. Doesn’t that clear the gate?】
“Fixed-type gates don’t give clear rewards.”
Think of them as mana stone supply points.
Though the drop rate was slightly higher than normal gates.
“Leave the return route to you.”
【Understood.】
Sir Isra effortlessly butchered the remaining Lurkers with his honed bone blade.
The way back was longer than expected.
Scattered battles broke out, and with more people, Isra alone couldn’t cover every front.
“Wake up.”
Minho created additional zombies to guard both the front and rear.
It took time, but it paid off.
Even with an injured member, they reached the exit without casualties.
“Thank you for saving us.”
“We trusted the Hwarang Guild and almost died.”
Once outside the gate, the hunters bowed deeply.
Receiving their thanks made something spark in his chest.
Five years since awakening—
This was the first time he’d felt gratitude like this.
“Then we’ll be going—”
“You can go, but we still need to settle accounts.”
Without being told, Sir Isra grabbed the rookie’s shoulder.
Where were they going without taking the mutant Lurker’s head?
“H-Haha… I really had to use the bathroom.”
“I get that. My stomach hurts whenever I’m nervous too.”
Apparently, it was called irritable bowel syndrome.
“Still, you should take what you’re owed.”
Minho shook the cloth-wrapped head.
The rookie accepted it reluctantly.
“Thank you.”
“Just so you know, there’s a body cam. Don’t even think about pocketing everything.”
He tapped his chest.
Inside gates—lawless zones with no surveillance—body cams were essential.
In the early days after the Cataclysm, gate crimes were rampant.
That’s why mana-powered body cams became mandatory.
“Y-Yes, understood.”
“I won’t bother with a contract. Send the money by tomorrow. Both of you.”
If they didn’t, something interesting would happen.
Minho chuckled. The two rookies turned pale.
“And make sure you properly treat the injured guy.”
As the rookies supported the hunter who’d lost his leg, Sir Isra sent a thought.
【How was your first real battle?】
“Satisfying.”
No need to explain.
It felt like the zombies were extensions of his own body.
Like standing up and running after five years of crawling.
Until now, he’d relied on overpowered zombies made from higher-grade corpses, crushing monsters through brute force.
A temporary solution for his lack of control.
“Don’t need to do that anymore.”
A freshly made zombie—with no extra materials—overpowered the original Lurker.
That defied the rules of necromancy.
Preparation was troublesome, sure—but once created, there was no extra mana cost to maintain them.
The moment the mutant Lurker fell in the Dark Cave, he knew.
“I can become strong.”
【You still lack much, but with me, you can rise higher.】
“Isn’t that usually said the other way around?”
【A knight cannot lie.】
…Right.
He had nothing to say to that.
【What will you do with the monster corpses?】
“Take them.”
【That will be difficult to carry.】
“I’ll hire someone.”
Plenty of disposal companies operated near fixed gates.
Before, he would’ve stuffed everything into bags and suitcases.
Today, he splurged.
“Let’s see—120 kilograms to Amsa-dong. Two hundred twenty thousand won.”
“Boss, I know the standard rate. Isn’t that too much?”
“Too much? Go check next door. Same price.”
“Ten.”
“You drive a hard bargain for a young guy.”
“Then I’ll go next door.”
“Fifteen.”
“Including packing?”
“Then we earn nothing.”
“Forget it. I’ll rent a truck.”
“Hey—tch. Packing included. Fifteen.”
“Deal.”
They settled on a fair price.
The mutant Lurker’s corpse was loaded onto the truck.
