Chapter 2: CH Chapter130

Chapter 130
 
     The second quest of the new scenario [A Summons After Death], which arrived like a salvation after the [Demon King of Revenge] scenario was suspended, had appeared.
     Believing in the scenario and its reward of ‘complete resurrection,’ I signed a [vengeful ghost contract] with this Necromancer ‘Choi Lee-kyung’ who suddenly appeared before me. I thought I had finally escaped the circumstances by which I became a monster–a mere puppet–but the situation, after seeing the second quest, was not so simple.
     Dwelling, I couldn’t help but think that the second quest framed me as not someone who retains their human ego as ‘Seo Dawon,’ but rather an item that serves a purpose in a game, like the Herb.
     ‘…Is it asking me to persuade my dead companions to become servants like me?’
     Furthermore, I couldn’t shake the idea that this quest was more for Choi Lee-kyung’s sake than for mine.
     I’ve signed the contract in my favor for now, but as time goes by, Choi Lee-kyung will surely slowly realize…exactly whose leash he has absolute control over.
     ‘What kind of attitude will Choi Lee-kyung take then?’
     My mind could only conjure pessimistic imaginations. After all, I knew how violent people turned to those who had no recourse against them.
     However, if I ignored this quest, I would fail to revive and eventually fall into becoming a mere monster. Perhaps one day, Bae Jaemin would visit my dungeon, break my neck, and receive my dropped item–something like the [Demon King Set].
That’s why I couldn’t easily move forth once again and looked around the empty, sandy dungeon with complicated feelings. Whether it’s to sink into ruin now or make my friends suffer in vain later…there were only two choices fit for stray dogs… 1
     “……There’s something I need to find here.”
     However, right now I had too little information or power to counter the [A Summons After Death] scenario.
     And, seeing how Bae Jaemin and Lim Jisoo seemed perfectly fine and alive, they would have progressed to greater heights of power while I stagnated here. The overwhelming difference between our abilities in the past was likely to have been made smaller, or perhaps I was already lagging behind.
     Eventually, I had no choice but to make a decision. Staring at Choi Lee-kyung–who stared back, eyes wide open–I quietly pressed at the updated system message.
 
[There are a total of 6 ‘Vengeful Ghost Essences’ you have yet to find. Current status: 0/6]
[Necromancer blood is a necessary ingredient for the ‘Vengeful Ghost Essence’]
[The spell for ‘Blood Hunting’ using the Necromancer’s blood has been added below.]
[Skill, ‘Blood Hunting,’ can be learned.]
 
     However, the notification informed that Choi Lee-kyung’s blood was needed to call forth the [Vengeful Ghost Essence].
     It wasn’t so surprising to hear that the contractor’s blood was needed; Dark and Evil attribute skills typically had those tendencies. But, I had concerns about whether or not Choi Lee-kyung would cooperate.
     ‘How should I coax you?’ Several possible statements floated in my head, but I decided to speak straightforwardly for now.
     “You know that my guild members died with me, right?”
     Choi Lee-kyung opened his eyes round like a rabbit and soon nodded.
     “I believe they’re also sealed in this ‘Vengeful Ghost’ state.”
     Choi Lee-kyung listened to my following story quite seriously, but he stared at me, bewildered, when he heard that his blood was needed. I felt a bit of pity for him–he looked so scared, like someone who had accidentally fallen into this dungeon.
     “I don’t have a potion right now; I’ll die if I get hurt as badly as before…”
     “You don’t need to bleed until you’re half-dead, like before.” So, before I realized it, I said something quite cheesy, as if I were trying to comfort him. “…After all, you have me now.”
     Of course, I realized how uncharacteristic I sounded after I said it…Choi Lee-kyung’s relieved expression pierced at my conscience.
     “Haah……”
     In any case, he believed me and stood at the place where the [Vengeful Ghost Essence] was likely to be, gripping a dagger over his hand and trembling.
     I would have been annoyed at any other guy who made such a fuss about something that amounts to nothing more than a slap on the wrist, but…strangely, Choi Lee-kyung’s frightened face elicited feelings of sympathy more than annoyance. Thoughts like ‘Would it be better for me to slice a line for him instead if he’s that afraid?’ raced through my brain.

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     “If you’re afraid, I can do it for you?”
     “…It’s fine.”
     However, when I tried to help, his pride seemed to have been bothered; I didn’t try to interfere any more. Nevertheless, the sight of him struggling to draw a line on his palm without opening his eyes was a bit amusing.
     Another problem appeared though. From the moment Choi Lee-kyung tore his flesh with the dagger,  a unique scent wafted through the air. It smelled quite different from the fishy smell of blood that I’ve come to know and expect; the more I smelled it, the more saliva I produced? It’s been a long time since I’ve lost my body–I thought I’ve transcended from any desires that stem from my appetite.
     I was momentarily flustered, but I tried to use the skill provided by the scenario, ‘Blood Hunting,’ while trying to maintain an indifferent expression.
     As soon as ‘Blood Hunting’ was used, however, the hunger became several times worse. Of course, Choi Lee-kyung, who knew nothing, was calling out to the [Vengeful Ghost Essences] with all his might, dripping blood all over the floor. I had the vague thought, ‘what a waste’ while looking at that blood; soon, though, I returned to my senses and cringed.
     Ah, fuck. Why is a servant drooling over his Necromancer’s blood? Isn’t there something wrong with the desire to eat your owner? Or, was this eventually inevitable for the servants as they are undead without physical forms.
     I remembered from my dungeon-raiding memories where the zombie-like undead approached people while drooling heavily, and my disgust intensified. Isn’t the hunger I’m feeling right now similar to their intensity and situation?
     However, Choi Lee-kyung, knowing nothing of my condition, shed tears persistently from the pain and followed me with a blank face. For some reason, even though I was unbearably tempted to bite into that neck, his clumsy attitude abated those feelings.
    Eventually, I stopped walking in front of him and turned to look back at him. Choi Lee-kyung had been following so closely behind me that my pause almost made him run into me; he jumped and stared back.
    “By the way, how old are you?”
    I asked him a question to change my cognition of the other away from a slab of meat.
    “I’m 24…” Choi Lee-kyung seemed embarrassed by my sudden investigation, but he soon murmured shyly, rubbing his moist eyes with the back of his hand. I was surprised–he was three or four years older than what I expected. After some calculations, I realized he was the same age as me.
    When I remarked on that fact, Choi Lee-kyung immediately asked, “You’re kidding, right?”
    Just as I was surprised that Choi Lee-kyung was older than I had thought, Choi Lee-kyung must have also thought that I was older than my actual age. Despite the fact that we made the same misjudgment, I pretended none of that happened and instead asked in return, “?? Are you telling me that I look old?”
     “Ah–No…It’s not that…! Are you really the same age as me?”
“Yeah. But now that you know my age, you’re speaking informally.”
     “Um, Sir……?”
     How funny. The appetite that had slowly been building up–to the point where my stomach was churning with desire–had gradually subsided; I smiled as I looked down at Choi Lee-kyung. “It’s good to be the same age. Speak comfortably.”
     “Were you really born in the year XX?”
     “Yeah.”
     “Really?”
     “Do I really look old enough for you to be continuously asking this annoying question?”
     Choi Lee-kyung flinched, but it seemed he realized that I was merely joking. He pulled up beside me and started walking along without any indications of feeling bad. His steps were lighter than before; perhaps conversing eased his tension.
     Secretly sighing in relief, I watched as the crown of his head gently rocked with each step. I didn’t want to believe that just a few minutes ago I wanted to eat something like this, and a vain laugh involuntarily tumbled out.
     ‘As soon as we escape from here, I’ll have to investigate the Necromancer first.’
     Apparently, Choi Lee-kyung was ignorant. If he had known, he wouldn’t be playing around so defenselessly… So, rather than confessing to him what I was feeling, I let the hour hand of the clock turn endlessly without conflict.
     However, unlike how I tried so deliberately not to turn my gaze towards him, Choi Lee-kyung kept glancing my way even as he pretended otherwise. Is his interest in me rising because I’ve treated him well? I thought it was because of the charm effect, but I had temporarily unequipped [Thebes’ Coronet]; I had no idea why Choi Lee-kyung was acting this way towards me. While I contemplated, he suddenly stumbled.
     “Mnngh!”
     And made such strange noises.
     I reflexively pulled him towards me; as he came closer, the faint smell of blood made my heart beat rapidly. I was sick and tired, utterly annoyed, at the sensation, so I bluntly rebuked Choi Lee-kyung, “That’s why you should look at where you’re going instead of staring at me.”
 
 
TL: We’ll touch upon the topic of hunger again soon. It’s pretty horrifying.
Footnotes The english equivalent for this idiom may be similar to being “stuck between a rock and a hard place.

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