Chapter 8
Steam rose from the corpse.
Green blood gushed from the severed neck of the mutant troglodyte.
Its red head rolled across the ground.
Kang Muho, a rookie from the Hwarang Guild, locked eyes with the mutant’s lifeless face.
“Hrk.”
He swallowed hard and took a step back.
When they first discovered the mutant troglodyte chieftain, he had been confident.
Troglodytes were among the stronger E-rank monsters.
But he had undergone harsh training in Hwarang.
He wore rare-grade equipment issued by the guild.
He hadn’t believed, not even for a second, that he could lose.
That confidence lasted—
Until the creature bounced through the cave like a rubber ball
and slashed his neck with its claws.
“Muho, are you okay?”
“…No.”
He instinctively touched the spot where he had been wounded.
If he hadn’t used a potion immediately, he would have bled to death.
Thanks to the potion and healing spell, there was no scar.
But the pain remained etched into his mind.
After that single unexpected attack,
Kang Muho had completely lost his fighting spirit.
Even though he was the tank, he was the first to turn his back.
While fleeing, he even abandoned a hunter he barely knew.
And yet—
【What a dull opponent.】
“You’re not one to talk after losing your left arm.”
【That happened because the body you made was weak.】
“You’re blaming me now?”
They killed that monster so easily.
And they still had the leisure to joke.
What the hell is this hunter?
Muho remembered the argument at the gate entrance.
The man had said he didn’t like cleaning up corpses.
Was he going to kill them here for picking a fight earlier?
Fearfully, Muho stepped backward.
His back scraped against the cave wall with a metallic screech.
“Oh, Hwarang rookie.”
“Y-Yes!!”
“I told you, if you’re going to force honorifics, just stop.”
“N-No, sir!!”
“You said there was one more pickup member.”
“T-That’s correct. We got separated while escaping.”
“You didn’t get separated. You abandoned him.”
Muho lowered his head.
“About how far back?”
“If that monster chased us, he’s probably dead.”
“If he were dead, it wouldn’t have followed immediately.”
Judging by the speed,
It likely tore off one leg and continued chasing.
Muho’s gaze wavered.
“Sir Isra.”
【Saving the weak is a knight’s duty.】
“I’ll follow shortly.”
【Will you be fine? 】
“Two zombies are enough.”
【Understood.】
Sir Isra moved ahead.
Muho looked at Kang Muho again.
“Hwarang rookie.”
“Yes.”
“You’re alive thanks to me.”
“That’s right!”
“You got dragged into this unexpectedly. It wouldn’t feel right to leave empty-handed.”
Muho’s heart pounded.
Was he going to kill them and take their gear?
He had the strength for it.
There were still two standing zombies.
The image of the mutant being slaughtered replayed in his mind.
Could we win?
His hands trembled.
The zombies had shattered common sense.
They were skilled in swordsmanship.
They butchered the mutant effortlessly.
His teammate’s staff shook as well.
“So.”
“Eek! Please spare us!”
“…What?”
The man blinked, then laughed.
“I’m asking for compensation.”
“Excuse me?”
“You lived because of me.”
“That’s correct!”
“You’re not planning to just walk away, right?”
“N-No!”
“How much do you think your lives are worth?”
Muho felt like if the amount wasn’t satisfactory, he’d be killed on the spot.
“And didn’t you mention a guild mission?”
The man nudged the mutant’s head with his foot.
“You probably need this.”
Muho blinked.
“I’ll sell it to you at a fair price.”
“…”
“Two hundred million won each. For saving you—and for the head.”
“I don’t have that kind of money.”
“You’re Hwarang. Your credit loan limit is 300 million.”
Muho forced himself not to grimace.
How did he even know that?
“I-I’ll pay.”
His teammate whispered urgently.
“If it gets out that we abandoned a party member, we’re finished.”
Two hundred million?
For an ordinary person, that was a decade of wages.
But compared to being expelled from Hwarang?
It wasn’t even that much.
“I-I’ll pay.”
Muho bowed deeply.
They reunited with Sir Isra about five minutes later.
Beside him was the injured hunter.
One leg severed.
A long bone lay nearby—just as expected.
【I treated the bleeding.】
How? I didn’t ask.
He’d probably say something about knightly virtues again.
I glared at the rookies.
“This happened because of you. Take responsibility.”
“Yes!”
Lost limbs could regenerate in days with proper potions and healing.
Faster, if you paid more.
Since I’d just made 200 million each,
I didn’t push for immediate advanced treatment.
Sir Isra pointed at the corpse.
【Why bring that grotesque thing?】
The two zombies carried the mutant’s body.
Green blood soaked them.
“A necromancer’s greatest resource is a corpse.”
【Indeed. Without corpses, you are merely corpses.】
Was that supposed to be a joke?
【Planning to make a Dullahan?】
“I promised them the head.”
Mutant bodies had value.
[Hungry Troglodyte Chieftain’s Tongue – D Rank]
[Hungry Troglodyte Chieftain’s Heart – D Rank]
[Hungry Troglodyte Chieftain’s Arm Muscles – D Rank]
Thanks to the Heavenly Martial Body,
I could instinctively tell which parts contained mana.
The only useless part was the head.
They needed proof of the boss kill.
I wanted the body.
Win-win.
There was one more bonus:
[Blood Frenzy—D Rank Skill Book]
Consume blood to boost stats and elasticity.
HP consumption increases by 100% while active.
So that’s how it bounced like a rubber ball.
The penalty was steep.
But the skill itself was valuable.
Probably worth at least 10 million won.
We returned to the entrance.
Sir Isra led the way.
With the injured hunter, speed mattered.
【We killed the boss. Why is the gate not cleared? 】
“Fixed gates don’t give clear rewards.”
They’re mana stone farms.
Higher drop rates, though.
I created additional zombies on the way back to secure the front and rear.
It took time, but it paid off.
No casualties.
Outside, the pickup hunters bowed deeply.
“Thank you for saving us.”
“I trusted Hwarang and nearly died…”
Hearing gratitude like this—
It felt strangely thrilling.
Five years as a hunter.
This was the first time.
“Well then, we’ll be going.”
“You can leave after settling up.”
Sir Isra grabbed the rookie’s shoulder.
The head was still in my hand.
“Haha, I just needed the restroom.”
“I understand. Stress upsets the stomach.”
I tapped my chest.
“Body cam. Don’t get clever.”
Gates were lawless zones.
Body cams ran on mana stones.
Essential gear.
“No contract. Send it by tomorrow.”
They turned pale.
“And cover his medical costs.”
When they left—
【How was your first real battle?】
“More than satisfying.”
The zombies moved like my own limbs.
For five years I crawled.
Now I was running.
Before, I overpowered enemies with over-spec corpses.
A crude workaround.
Now—
“I don’t need that anymore.”
Zombies made on the spot,
without extra materials,
overwhelmed their originals.
That broke necromancy’s common sense.
Yes, preparation was tedious.
But once made, they consumed no additional mana.
The moment the mutant fell,
I was certain.
“I can grow stronger.”
【You lack much, but with me, you will rise further.】
“Shouldn’t that line be reversed?”
【A knight does not lie. 】
Tch.
No rebuttal.
【What about the corpse?】
“I’m taking it.”
【Difficult to carry. 】
“I’ll hire someone.”
Near fixed gates, there were corpse-handling services.
I negotiated.
“120 kilograms to Amsa-dong. 220,000 won.”
“That’s overpriced.”
“Everyone charges this.”
“100.”
“You’re ruthless.”
“Then I’ll go elsewhere.”
“…150, including packaging.”
“Deal.”
We loaded the mutant corpse onto the truck.
