Necromancer Survival

Chapter 416

Jo Chan-young looked different from how I imagined. His full sleeve of irezumi tattoos 1, large build, and prominent features that made him look mixed-race were the same as I remembered from the previous [Vengeful Ghost Memory], but now he was bound by heavy chains.

"I'll F-Free you…" I could see, just by looking, that releasing Jo Chan-young from those chains was the key to completing the [Vengeful Ghost Memory]. Therefore, though I faltered, I approached and reached out to him.

However, with a sour look on his face, Jo Chan-young replied–

[It'll probably be hard to do that with your current ability.]

Clink–!

As he stated, I could touch the chain but, even if I shook the metal, I could tell I wouldn't be able to break them on my own.

"I.. can see that." I awkwardly stood around, unsure of what I should do.

"……"

[The key is inside one of the Shikigami wandering around this mansion. You’ll probably find the key if you cut one open.]

"Huh?"

[You must have learned what Shikigamis are on your way here.]

Jo Chan-young seemed like the type of person who dislikes repeating himself. I fumbled, intimidated by his expression and face. Then, I opened my mouth to speak, "That's… well. I can sorta understand, but… Actually, no, I think I'm still confused. I can't quite grasp what these Shikigami are."

[To put it simply, they're dolls that move through magic power.]

As he spoke, Jo Chan-young glanced behind me. I hesitated, then picked up the [Introduction to Crafting Shikigami] book from the desk and stood before him. Jo Chan-young closed his eyes as if he were asking me to read for him. I opened the book to the first page.

"To my beloved… Hm? I can't read what's after this…"

However, the first section of the book was marred deliberately, and certain words were damaged. It was impossible to read.

[……]

Seeing Jo Chan-young remain silent, I skipped that part and continued to read.

"…On behalf of ____, I'll give you eternal joy…. Even time won't be able to separate us…?"

The introduction seemed to outline a theory created for this ‘xx' person, whose identity remained unknown. It described how the author, driven by their deep love for ‘××’, made dolls resembling everything they loved.

Jo Chan-young patiently waited for me to stutter through the introduction before adding further explanation.

[In other words, most of these ‘moving things' inside this mansion are dolls. They won't bleed or become gruesomely gross. At most, they'll lose a bit of their stuffing.]

"……"

In short, I would have to capture and cut open all the shikigami in this mansion. Hearing this, I couldn't help but think of the young Dawon, who had called me ‘big brother' and followed me around.

"I have a question… By any chance… Is Dawon really a Shikigami as well?"

[Seo Dawon?]

"…Yeah."

Jo Chan-young's tone made me flinch, but he responded despite my reaction.

[Who knows. I'm not the one who made these Shikigamis.]

"You didn't make them?" My eyes opened wide at the unexpected words.

Jo Chan-young responded quite nonchalantly–

[Before being dragged into this contract-making space, all I wished for was a place filled with animals and devoid of humans…]

"……"

[Nothing was fulfilled except for the absence of other people.]

During our conversation, he didn't glance at the monkey doll–not even once. I realized anew how he was solely interested in living animals.

‘But wasn’t this ‘Vengeful Ghost Memory' a phenomenon driven by the contracted spirits' will?’

I was a bit bothered by how he implied that his request only half-succeeded. "Then, this Shikigami-filled mansion… If not you, then who made this place?"

Even though I was the one to ask the question, I wasn't really expecting an answer. At least, not right away. But, unexpectedly, Jo Chan-young looked directly at me as he said–

[I think you made half of this setting.]

"What? Me?" I frowned at that ridiculous claim. However, Jo Chan-young was serious–

[Since you'd have to pay almost the rest of your life span to sign a contract with me…]

"W-What did you say?"

[…So, it's understandable that you unconsciously twisted the contract process to be more difficult.]

None of his subsequent words registered in my ears. Caught in a moment of brief panic, I grabbed his arms despite his frown of displeasure.

"W-Wait a minute. My life span…?"

Jo Chan-young grimaced, but looked at me with sympathy at the edges of his cold expression. The honesty in his face struck me.

[You don't have enough mana as a Necromancer, and your level isn’t high enough to properly dominate me…You'll have to pay something else. Something you can pay.]

At those words, I couldn't help but recall Dawon-ie.

Would Dawon's resurrection end in my eventual death? If I ran with that assumption, Dawon's vicious behavior and my imprisonment–which made little sense to me before–was somewhat understandable now.

And, the conversation I had with the [System] bubbled up from the depths of my memories.

‘If these tragedy collectors are really interfering with us… In the end, whether Da-won is resurrected or not, tragedy will ensue.'

This all felt like a trap. I probably should have realized this fact long ago, but I couldn't give up on my contract with Jo Chan-young now that I've come so far.

I turned back to the last guild member. "After signing a contract with you, how long do you think I'll live?"

Jo Chan-young frowned–it seems he found this topic uncomfortable. However, he answered calmly.

[It won't be long.]

"Less than 10 years?"

[Even a year will be difficult.]

My throat squeezed shut at those words. "Is there… no other price I can pay?"

[I'm not the one who decides the price–you'll need to pay an equivalent value to what you'd need… My estimate still stands.]

Then, has Dawon been supplying his own mana in order to prevent this situation from occurring?

‘What should I do?'

[If you don't want to make this contract, you can break it off here.]

However, when I heard Jo Chan-young's voice, my fear abated a little. I overcame my panic and asked for his opinion. "Jo Chan-young-ssi, do you… not want to sign a contract with me?"

[That's not it. I'll sign a contract if possible, but the terms should be made transparent. I know you won't say no to this as well.]

It's like Jo Chan-young read my mind. Even if I were to die next month, I couldn't refuse this contract. I now realized why someone who only cares about animals was bothering to patiently explain and talk to me.

‘He must be feeling sympathetic.'

Jo Chan-young was a much more honest man than I had expected.

He shook his head as he said–

[Don't think this contract's terms are unfair.]

"……"

[I'm the one who will disappear if you were to refuse. So, in a way, you and I are holding hands as we try to walk this tightrope.]

He was right. We had to rely on each other–for we only had each other–to clamber out of this pit.

I nodded, convinced. "Maybe when all the Red Lotus members are revived, a new… scenario will open up."

[It's likely. And as for your life span… There's likely a way to increase it. It'd be best to think about that more after signing the contract.]

I didn't nod at that part, but I resolved to find the key to free Jo Chan-young.

I pulled my hands away from the chains binding him and rose to my feet. "…The key is most probably with kid Dawon."

[If there's a Shikigami that's bothering you, it's better to check it first to save time.]

The main key wouldn't be swallowed by just any Shikigami. Though Dawon was merely a doll, I still felt a strong aversion to harming it. But, I had no choice. What was truly important to me… Even if it meant sacrificing my entire lifespan… There was only one person I wanted to save.

As soon as I made up my mind, I opened the map that helped me arrive at this room. However, there were more points marked as [monster] than before.

[It won't be easy, but I wish you luck.]

Jo Chan-young said. I frowned at that cheeky yet slightly annoying tone.

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TL: I love me a tattoo'd animal lover tbh.

1. Traditional Japanese Tattoos