Necromancer Survival

Chapter 417

[Ah, one more thing. The knife to slash the Shikigami is in the drawer.]

Jo Chan-young stopped me just as I was about to leave and pointed out where the weapon was. Following his gaze, I opened the drawer and found a peculiar dagger and its sheath inside.

‘The blade is transparent…'

To be frank, it didn't look like the dagger could cut something. The blade was too blunt.

[Ookeekeekee!]

However, as soon as I picked up the dagger, the monkey made a fuss and I saw it retreat far away. Its reaction confirmed that this blade was meant to cut through Shikigami.

Holding the handle somehow sent goosebumps down my spine, so I quickly inserted the dagger into its sheath. When the blade disappeared, the strange goosebumps subsided.

"…I'll be back."

Jo Chan-young spoke bluntly, without any harsh intent behind his words.

I knew very well that time was not on my side. More and more [monsters] were appearing on the map in my hand. If this continued, the corridors would be filled with [monsters], and I would be surrounded by them before I could even find Dawon.

‘I need to find Dawon as soon as possible.'

Filled with determination, I stopped just before I walked out the door. Turning around, I asked one more question, "Does this dagger work on Shikigami that have turned into monsters by any chance?"

Jo Chan-young answered immediately–

[I don't recommend experimenting around with it.]

In other words, he couldn't guarantee my survival…

"Understood…" I closed the door and exited while thinking to myself, ‘I should avoid these [monsters] as much as possible.'

Tap–!

Then, my foot touched a small hamster doll that had rolled to the front of the door. The dolls outside the door were still lying where the monkey had knocked them over earlier.

And, the monkey doll was now…

[Ookeekee?]

…was perched on my back, curiously tilting its head.

I was originally going to ignore these dolls and pass by, but a sudden idea struck me. Why not pick up some Shikigami and utilize them?

"But… Why are these dolls all so cute?"

None of them looked big or strong enough to protect me. Most were small enough to fit in my hand, and the monkey doll on my back was already one of the larger ones.

I felt a little depressed as I recalled my adorable, prize-combatant Lackey.

"Hooo… Yeah, let's just go."

[Ookkeekee!]

The monkey doll seemed determined to come along with me. Knowing that I’d eventually run into [monsters] no matter how much I tried to avoid them, I figured having at least one doll with me would be better than nothing. So, with only the monkey doll by my side, I stepped out the door.

As soon as I left the room, I unfolded the red map and decided to head to the dining room where Dawon had been waiting for me earlier. Although a couple of [monsters] were lurking en route, there were several branching paths that would allow me to avoid them if I was careful.

‘By the way… Dawon didn't become a strange [monster] too, right…?'

Since Dawon was also a fellow Shikigami, he probably wouldn't be targeted by [monsters], right?

How ridiculous–though I would need to slice open Dawon's belly when I met him, I still didn't want him to fall prey to a [monster].

‘Ugh, as expected, that appearance is just too strong…'

I sighed while thinking of Dawon's lovely little face. "Haah…"

Would I be able to take a knife to him if I succeeded in meeting him? I was determined, but I didn't know if I could stab him with eyes wide open. Well, I had no choice but to find him first.

"Let's go."

[Ookkeekee!]

The monkey climbed onto my head and responded enthusiastically; I sped down the empty hallway.

* * *

[Wheet! Ooheeheek…]

‘What the… What on earth is that?'

But, after meeting the first monster, I had to revise my plans.

First, I realized how incredibly lucky I had been earlier to have run into a monster during its initial mutation phase. I had thought that what I had seen was the monster's ‘final' form, but the real monster in front of me was on a completely different level compared to the bug-like creature that had chased me earlier.

[Ohheeheeheek…Oohoohoot!]

‘Its tail is so long…'

The monster looked like a lizard-like reptile rather than a camel cricket. Its back legs had split apart, and the split ends swept here and there, lazily, like a tail.

The problem, though, was that this tail had some destructive power.

Crush–!

The tail had brushed past various ornaments and decorative furniture in the hallway, but nothing remained afterwards. Further, the smell that emanated from its tail? It was so strange and nauseating.

[Heeheeheek!]

In addition, the creature's reaction speed was astonishingly fast; any movement it detected immediately made its tail stand erect before it even turned its head.

I witnessed the tail react immediately the moment a ceramic urn rattle unsteadily before falling behind the monster; the tail immediately smashed it into pieces. After the attack, the monster's head looked back before advancing ahead again without any hesitation.

I felt threatened by that scene.

‘It seems like I can't sneak up on it and attack it from behind.'

The only way I could avoid detection was to maintain distance while following the monster. Fortunately, the monkey remained quiet, not making any noise that would draw the creature's attention…

‘Where should I run to if another monster appears…'

I looked down at the map with an impatient, anxious heart. Regardless of my nerves, though, the mutated, gigantic monsters kept closing in.

[Kyaak! Screeech!]

The second monster's appearance was even more bizarre. It was a large bird that flapped its flightless, membranous wings. It waddled awkwardly along, occasionally releasing what sounded like a crow's screech.

But, I couldn't laugh–even though the monster just looked ridiculous; every time it turned its head around, chills ran down my spine.

‘I don't have a good feeling about this…'

It felt as if I had encountered a high-level monster head-on. I had no idea how to survive this situation.

‘There's no way–no opportunity–for me to attack…'

My cumbersome, thin nightwear added to my challenge.

For now, pincered between two monsters, I hid in a nearby room until one of them passed by. However, if the same situation repeated and a monster spontaneously entered the room I was hiding in, I would be completely trapped.

‘I need something…'

I looked around the bare room that only contained a bed and found a long, skewer-like pole next to the curtains. Perhaps the pole was a device used to draw and open the curtains. But, when I held it in my hands, I found that it was as heavy as a club. This could be used as a sturdy, makeshift weapon.

Ring–!

At that moment, I heard a heavy bell sound ring from somewhere. The sound was a deep vibrato, like a large clock was signaling the hour.

"…Huh?"

As soon as they heard the sound, the monsters immediately reacted and began to gather in one place. Whereas before they had been scattered, now they all began converging at a single point.

Even worse, they headed for the dining room–my destination. It seemed as if someone had gathered the monsters together. My heart started pounding in disbelief.

"No way… Is it… Perhaps Dawon-ie…?"

[OoKeeKee?]

Feeling uneasy, I grabbed the rod and opened the door.

"…!"

I couldn't even scream. A big, bug-shaped monster was writhing on the floor right in front of the door.

I retreated belatedly, but it was too late; I had already locked eyes with the face attached to the creature's body. I had made a mistake and moved hastily without checking the map properly.

[……]

However, unlike before, the monster did not chase after me. It merely glanced at my face before quickly moving past. Even after it was gone, I stood frozen for a while before finally stepping out of the room.

‘….Why didn't it kill me?'

It had definitely glanced at me–it didn't miss my presence.

‘Then… Is that strange bell sound to blame?'

I frowned as I looked down at the map, but I no longer had any choice. I ran toward the room marked as the dining hall.

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TL: A day late >.< Sorry. Been getting ready for the new semester.