Chapter 2
Eurasian Continent.
I had never heard of it before.
That alone gave me certainty.
This was the soul from another world I had searched for over the past five years.
[You have encountered a soul from another world.]
[You may settle this soul into an undead created by the user.]
The system message confirmed it.
“Sir Isra.”
【It is Sir Isra.】
“Pardon?”
【Sir Isra】
Ah. I see.
He must have a very strong sense of pride.
He had called himself the strongest knight on the continent earlier, but I did not take it at face value.
The tomb was small.
Not just because kobolds had dug it up.
Even imagining its original state from the remaining traces, it did not look impressive.
【You do not seem new to speaking with souls.】
“Well, I have a bit of talent in that area.”
There are souls on Earth too.
Humans.
Animals as well.
Only humans possess enough spiritual power to be called “souls” in the proper sense.
Since we had exchanged names, I got straight to the point.
“Sir Isra. Become my companion.”
【Companion?】
“For the record, you do not have the right to refuse.”
The first otherworldly soul I have seen in five years.
Rejection is rejected.
If granting a soul improves my undead control.
I could finally achieve my long-dreamed D-rank promotion.
【Is it truly companionship if refusal is not allowed?】
“Companion sounds better than subordinate.”
A blue sphere flickered above the coffin.
A will-o’-the-wisp-like soul.
I grabbed it.
【Mm! Mmmph!】
There’s no point arguing.
I was not asking for consent.
I shoved the captured soul into the orc zombie.
[You have infused the soul from another world into the created undead (Orc Zombie ‘Mk. 42’).]
[72% synchronization with the soul’s original form.]
[Orc Zombie ‘Mk. 42’ → renamed to ‘Isra’.]
[Skill: Imperial Swordsmanship (Revised)_Isra Form added.]
A flood of messages.
Things I had never seen in five years.
My heart pounded as I checked the zombie’s status.
****
[Sir Isra]
*Race: Undead
*Type: Revived One
*Rank: D
Strength: 172
Agility: 35
Stamina: 124
Endurance: 203
Mana: 35
*Skills
— Imperial Swordsmanship (Revised)_Isra Form [SSS]
— Undying [D]
— Corpse Poison [E]
***
“I am not dreaming, right?”
It slipped out loud.
An SSS-rank skill?
There were fewer than ten hunters worldwide with a skill of that rank.
And now a zombie had one.
“This is too—”
【This body is utter trash. 】
“Yeah, it is tra— Wait! What did you just say?”
The thought cut in abruptly.
The culprit was obvious.
Sir Isra.
【Look at these muscles. They are stiff. I cannot exert proper strength. 】
“What do you expect from a corpse with rigor mortis?”
【And the balance between muscle groups? The body is misaligned. 】
Center of gravity.
Twisted bones.
The criticism poured out rapidly.
I had poured everything into crafting this body.
Was he resentful because I forced him into a zombie?
【You are not thinking I am nitpicking, are you?】
“What?”
He did not have mind-reading.
【A true knight speaks only truth. 】
“The system acknowledged the zombie as perfect.”
There is a reason it was called Mk. 42.
I combined countless D-rank and lower materials from salvage shops.
This was the strongest build I could make.
Now called Sir Isra.
【Hmm. I see.】
“You do not sound convinced.”
【If the standard is a zombie, I understand. Lower undead charge and bite. That is their limit.】
He slowly shook his head.
【But it lacks dignity.】
You are saying that with half your face rotted.
I was not sure whether I was speaking to my creation or serving a superior.
【A sword. I require a sword.】
“I did not prepare one.”
Zombies do not usually use swords.
I said I would get one after leaving the gate.
His expression twisted.
【That is troublesome. With bare hands, protecting you may be difficult.】
Protect me?
“Help! Save us!”
“Kobolds are swarming!”
The academy students threw down their gear and ran.
Over thirty kobolds chased them.
The students, mostly warrior types, ran past me quickly.
Impressive.
They taught retreat well.
If I stayed still, I would be torn apart in seconds.
【I shall protect you.】
“There are thirty of them.”
【Trust me.】
That one heavy sentence calmed me.
“Sir. You said even a stick would do.”
【Correct.】
“Take this.”
A thigh bone I had brought for repairs.
Whoosh!
He swung it twice.
【This will suffice.】
“Keeng! Screech!”
A kobold’s skull shattered in one blow.
***
A kobold rushed in with a rusty blade.
The bone slammed into its side.
Crunch.
The sound alone confirmed broken bones.
“I… what am I seeing?”
Mk. 42 could handle five kobolds at most.
That was the limit.
But—
Stab! Stab!
Spears and blades pierced Sir Isra’s body.
【This part is convenient.】
Smash!
One per strike.
The kobolds were small.
They had closed in for effective hits.
They could not dodge the dancing bone.
【This body allows me to ignore injuries.】
Ten kobolds were down in moments.
Arrows flew from dozens of meters away.
Most aimed at him.
Some came toward me.
My cursed coordination froze me.
Death flashed in my mind.
Clang!
He deflected the arrows aimed at me.
Ignoring those piercing his own body.
【Protecting an incompetent lord is troublesome.】
Step. Step.
He advanced slowly.
The kobolds spread out.
Dangerous.
If surrounded, it would be over.
“Sir Isra!”
【Do not mistake my eyes for knots in wood.】
Boom!
He kicked off the ground and leapt.
Like a frog.
Awkward but effective.
He landed among the spreading kobolds.
Crack!
Another skull crushed midair.
【Come at me. I am the greatest swordsman on the continent!】
His majestic thought pierced minds.
“How can one zombie—”
“Is this a necromancer?”
“Why is someone like that doing part-time work?”
The fleeing students turned back.
“You just going to watch?”
“Huh?”
“Is the academy teaching you to show your backs to monsters?”
“Ah!”
“My zombie is drawing attention. Now is your chance.”
They charged back.
With the kobolds distracted.
Sir Isra struck down two more.
Even while being mobbed.
He avoided critical joints.
Fighting could look this cool?
Crunch.
A leg broke.
An arm fell off.
But he kept swinging.
With identical stats.
He minimized damage and slaughtered efficiently.
“Incredible.”
Then the instructor arrived.
“Students were ambushed!”
“As you can see.”
“…A zombie?”
He stared.
“Mr. Park… are you really E-rank?”
“Yes.”
“Why does your zombie fight like that?”
“It is custom-made.”
Technically a Revived One.
By the time he arrived, most were down.
Sir Isra killed twenty-three.
The students finished at seven.
[You have successfully cleared the gate.]
[Rank—E]
[Reward: 1 E-rank Mana Stone.]
A small mana stone dropped.
Clear time was long.
Low reward.
I was hired labor anyway.
【I have no face to show.】
“What are you talking about?”
【I damaged the body you granted me.】
Left arm bent backward.
Right leg broken.
Skin torn.
Forty-four exposed bone areas.
Decorated with kobold weapons.
“It’s fine.”
As long as it is not completely destroyed.
Repairing the undead is my specialty.
Five years of crafting and fixing.
If destroyed mid-battle.
The soul would have vanished.
I knew that instinctively.
Before that.
One thing.
“Excuse me, Instructor.”
“Yes?”
“That was dangerous earlier.”
“Hazard pay will be provided.”
He suddenly became polite.
Probably mistook me for a high-rank necromancer.
Does not matter.
“Corpse looting rights.”
“Of course, Hunter Park.”
“I will take two kobolds.”
I took out my scalpel and hammer.
Separated bones and muscles quickly.
Attached them to Sir Isra’s body.
[Corpse Creation]
Mana flowed.
The damaged parts were restored.
【Oh? Ohhh!】
“Better?”
【Impeccable. I cannot believe this is the work of a low-level necromancer like you.】
Yes. Yes.
Sorry for being low-level.
