Necromancer 8

Test

8. You Proved Your Inner Strength

The Rockface no longer moved an inch.

It looked dead. Confirming this, I walked over to Mirage.

"Mirage, are you okay... Whoa, you're in bad shape."

Both arms were blown off, and most of the armor melted.

Beneath it—there was nothing. It seemed like Mirage’s body was hollow inside the armor.

"Y-Your body—"

"I told you from the start, I’m a kind of undead called Living Mail. My insides have always been like this."

Mirage explained to me, seeing my surprise.

"So it’s not because of the damage..."

I sighed in relief.

"Come to think of it, wasn’t this the armor worn by a knight who fought the Demon King?"

"Yes. I believe the original owner was one of the heroes."

Mirage continued.

"I want to know about the true owner of this armor... the original."

"What?"

"Living Mail is born from the lingering thoughts of the armor's owner. That will must have formed my sense of self too. I want to know my roots."

Mirage said.

"That’s why I can’t allow myself to perish. So... I need to grow stronger. I’ve been training for that reason."

That’s why this undead, normally of the lowest class, was abnormally strong—thanks to that training.

"I’ve been waiting, believing that someone would free me from this place, for hundreds of years."

"To hold on to that hope, for hundreds of years—"

I gasped.

That’s true strength, I thought.

An unbelievable resolve... and incredible inner strength.

If I were in its position, I could never do it—

My eyes met Mirage’s.

The red glow in its eyes behind the mask. It didn’t feel eerie or intimidating.

Instead, I sensed a deep, sincere desire to find its origins.

"Alright. Then, come with me."

I nodded to Mirage.

We weren’t just master and servant anymore. I really wanted to fight alongside it, and that feeling grew even stronger.

"Our meeting must have been fate."

"Fate?"

Mirage nodded as well.

"Yes, or perhaps... destiny."

"Oh, right. I should make this Rockface my servant."

It was such a strong monster. If I could make it obey, it’d surely be a powerful ally.

"Undead Subjugation."

I activated my [Necromancer] skill.

[Subjugation Check: Failed. Unable to make it a servant.]

"Huh?"

I couldn’t believe it.

Oh, right. There was a rank limit to what undead I could make my servant.

Even though I had unlocked some new abilities and could now control higher-ranking undead, that only applied up to mid-tier undead.

The Rockface—it must exceed the rank I can control.

[Skill proficiency insufficient. Unable to subjugate high-level undead.]

Just as I suspected, the explanation appeared.

"Man... The Rockface could have been a strong ally, too. What a shame."

Well, if I can’t make it my servant, there’s nothing I can do.

"By the way... Mirage, can your armor be repaired?"

"It can slowly repair itself over time. But it won’t fully recover all at once."

Mirage said.

"Does your physical or combat ability decrease when your armor is damaged?"

"Yes."

Mirage nodded in response to my question. So Mirage would be weakened until the armor healed.

"During that time, I’ll have to step up." 

"It’s alright. You’re strong, Master."

Mirage said.

"Well, my stats have increased a lot, but still, compared to you..."

"It’s not about ability."

Mirage continued.

"You have a strong heart. You proved that strength when you fought the Rockface."

I—

"Yeah, back then, I faced the fear head-on without flinching."

"That’s your strength."

Mirage's voice held a warm conviction.

"Thanks, Mirage—"

Up until now, I hated my small, cowardly self.

But today, just a little—

I might start liking myself.

Afterward, I found another Dungeon Worm, defeated it, and made it my servant.

It guided me as I headed upward, occasionally battling monsters along the way, but without much difficulty, we kept ascending.

It’s probably because I’ve gotten stronger and because Mirage is with me.

Plus, I kept turning the monsters I defeated along the way into servants, growing my army.

After about two hours of travel, I finally returned to the surface.