Chapter 221

Song of the Death Knight

Sponsored by Ser4, TLC by Enlightened End

Marey was a cheerful, incessant prattler. “Having to mingle with the Undead and hunt… ah, it reeks! But if I tell this experience in a bar later I could become really popular. Have you ever been to Vannosa castle?”

Though Weed didn’t reply back, he chattered on well by himself.

“In Vannosa castle, there are many restaurants with delicious foods. If Weed-nim check it out you will be enamored by it. Anyway, it was not an important point, but I met a lady named Cedrian there and we became close… She told me many useful information. Unfortunately my bar tab increased so I can’t go back there now.”

Marey did not stop telling stories about the places he wandered to on the continent. Weed thinking it was important information tried to remember them but it was impossible when his words came out of his mouth like a flood. “Because of the war right now the Central Continent is chaotic. Even among bards the competition is fierce, they spectate these wars and try to make songs out of it. But I am different, rather than these tiresome wars it’s a necessary adventure for me. To be part of this passionate adventure in the North, how joyous is that?” Seeing he couldn’t can’t just let Marey keep talking on his own, he replied out of politeness. “Yes.” “I am sure that there will be many jealous people if I tell stories later on of how I went on an adventure with Weed-nim. Also the ongoing quest related to the Undead Legion is already very famous.” “Yes.” Necromancer players reported to broadcasting networks and uploaded videos on internet so it was becoming a big topic. In fact, if the news that Marey and Weed was hunting in a party together was revealed it would become another big situation. Not everyone playing Royal Road knew Marey, but he was one of the names that appeared often. The songs composed by Marey, the collection of his performance and the adventures he went through were put together into a video that was extremely popular. Freely wandering bard Marey already had the qualification to upload his videos to the Royal Road’s Hall of Fame and was a figure that had news broadcaster hired often.

“Oh, what kind of woman do you like?” “Yes.” “What’s the specialty of a Death knight?” “Yes.” “The Embinyu Church are making frequent appearance on the continent and is causing havoc. Did you know that?” “Yes.” “The joy of hunting a King Hydra must be extreme, right?” “Yes.” Retorting back was getting tiresome after ten times. Even if Weed did not pay attention when he replied, Marey just laughed as if it was funny and kept talking.

The naïve, enthusiastic and positive person Marey Standbard. Listening to Marey talk, Weed led his Undead unit toward the monsters. They did hunt in the canyons but it was the first time coordinating the battle together with Marey. Weed reluctantly watched the videos of players with combat related classes but he never saw any scenes of Marey fighting.Weed asked first. “How are you going to fight?” “It feels like you have much more experience in leading Undeads than me. Also as Death Knight have outstanding leadership abilities so I will hand over my right of command of the Undead to you.” “Then what about Marey-nim?” “I will play a recital like a bard.” \n A quest requiring a cooperation between Necromancers players. It was the final request that need to be done before entering Undead Legion. “Let’s head there right away.” Weed and Marey led their Undeads and head straight toward the canyon. The connection rate of Necromancers players were very high side. “Hegigigig” “My, my head, I don’t know if I was holding it with my left or right arm.” “Undeads, line up, for the great Balkan-nim!” As they were getting close to the canyon, they were able to see unbelievable amount of Undeads.Among Necromancers, some preferred summoning small number of high rank Undeads to fight but the opposite was true most of the time. It was safer to fight by throwing out curses and summoning Skeletons and Ghouls generously. Each Necromancers players could lead from the smallest amount of hundreds, up to 2,000 of Undeads. They summoned them directly or gathered roaming Undeads split from the Undead Legion. To Marey it was a really hard scene to experience as there were every kind of Undead around them.

“At the least it must be about hundred thousand in number.” Weed spotted skeletons laid down neatly like piled up bricks. As the space was few they were using this method to save space like that. “It looks like it’s more than that.” Necromancers did not leave their summoned Undeads far from them so around the canyon was a world of Undeads. But as Weed’s units came closer these Undeads, as one, step back far away from them. The Death Knight, who surpassed life or death situations more than ten times, flared their miasma and the Skeletons, as if instilled by fear, were busy trying to hide. Kyayaaaa! Some portion of Death Knight that were part of Weed’s unit followed riding on their gargoyles as they flew in circles. The sight of all Necromancer in the canyon was toward Weed as he made a majestic entrance as a Death Knight.

“What is that? Are that many Undead units led by those two men?” Including Weed’s and Marey’s Undead there were about 9,600 Undeads. Weed was able to have more than the quantity allowed by his rank because of his high leadership and charisma but for efficient control, he limited his capacity strictly. But in the sight of the Necromancers that number felt extremely large to them. “It’s really a lot.” “There are plenty of Death Knights… and all variety of Dullahans and Skeletons prepared. It would not be wrong to call it a real Undead army.” “If only we could command such an army… Should we have tried to promoted to a warrior-type class?” Looking at Weed, many players regretted their past decisions. They, not able to take their eyes off in jealousy, approached Weed and Marey. “Hello.” Harien noticed them first and greeted lightly. Weed looked around and noticed that Harien, Jeanne, Otem, Gruzed equipment was largely changed and some held crystal orbs in their hand. He couldn’t identify many of the variety of equipment. ‘They must have tried hard as well.’The current quest from the Undead Legion wasn’t given to Weed only. Each and everyone did their best on the quest and grew. There were 58 Necromancers gathered in the canyon.“7 more are coming. It’s getting late… Once they arrive we will be heading to Natalia plain.” Harien explained the situation to them briefly. The number of players that came here from Kapua village was 65 people. ‘A co-operative quest with 65 Necromancers…’ Those participating in the quest were high in levels. Taking the Undeads each Necromancers possess into account, it could be seen as a relatively large armies.

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Zabrin made it to the canyon few days before and started hunting there. While wearing better equipment and levelling up, he gave small gifts to fellow Necromancers he was hunting with. “This is some items that was left over. Please have it.” “But still it’s too much….” In this world there were other people than Weed. No matter how useful the item, Necromancer players found it difficult to receive something for free from someone they were not close with so they refused it. “It’s ok. The guild I am part of hands out items like this often. They give special preference to Necromancers… I have plenty of other to use here already.” Winning other players over with items was easy work. Unlike other classes, there are many occasions of Necromancers not joining any guilds. Zabrin didn’t hurry and sorted them one by one while making them his allies. ‘This person identify is clear.’Releasing their name while hunting in a party or adding them to their friend list, completely proved their identity. Decent Necromancers were well known in Versailles Continent as well. Average players were shocked when they encountered Necromancers by chance who were hunting in a mountain or in a forest with Undeads. Finding the Necromancer a novelty, they recorded these kind of scene often and uploaded to forum boards. By comparing with it, he cleared out anyone with solid identifications. But it was hard to recognize people hunting by themselves who did not reveal their identities.

‘I only have to look for 7 more as they come.’ He investigated Jeanne, Otem, Boghram, Harien, Gruzed, Varenna and Goshu to recruit them into Hermes Guild and found that they all exceed at least level 380. He judged that Jeanne, Harien and Otem to be over level 400. These were figures that were excellent magicians even before they became Necromancers.When class was changed, the original magic abilities weakened drastically. It was not learning similar magic once more but learning conflicting dark magic and Undead summon magic so existing magic abilities retrograded. It was not an easy decision for the Necromancers to start over, but they were steadily increasing their proficiency in curses and Undead summon. ‘If I can bring them to Hermes guild, it will be acknowledged as a great achievements.’ Zabrin was spying patiently for a solid opportunity. If they became members of Hermes guild, they will recognize Zabrin’s meritorious deed. By becoming part of the same guild, he could receive variety of help and follow them around in this canyon.By joining in the Undead Legion’s quest and working together it was a chance for him to gain level, fame and Undead summon spells together.

After winning over those around him, he gathered information while hunting and at that moment co-operative quest to eliminate the monsters in Natalia plain occurred. And then a bit later, Weed together with Marey arrived with their Undead army. Other players had Undeads as well but the Undeads Weed and Marey’s brought were conspicuous. With the flushing of miasma from the Death Knights, even decent Undeads tried to get as far away as they can. The Death Knights riding on their gargoyles, standing guard while flying around them looked strong beyond ordinary. ‘Maybe Weed is among them.’ Weed and Marey were unidentified players! There are other five that were suspicious but their Undeads were lacking and few in numbers. ‘Anyway I should report it.’

Zabrin reported to Hermes Guild Polon and the Mage troops about heading out to Natalia plains, about a suspicious person who could be Weed, about how Jeanne and Otem did not belonging to any guild.