Chapter 38: Necromancer Kim Tae-min (2)

Han-seong’s expression hardened as he identified the mastermind behind this incident. A moment later, he closed his eyes to organize what he had heard from Ji-hye.

“A contract…”

Tae-min and the Vampiric Tree were bound by a contract.

At first glance, it seemed similar to Han-seong. After all, he too was in a subordinate contract with Ji-hye.

This also explained why Tae-min had led the survivors to where the Vampiric Tree was. He must have done it to help the Vampiric Tree grow.

‘I definitely subjugated that thing.’

The subjugation completion message had appeared, so there was no chance of the Vampiric Tree reviving. Then shouldn’t the contract be broken? Why was it still maintained?

Such doubts suddenly arose, but they were soon resolved. As soon as he recalled Tae-min’s job, the questions were answered.

“…Necromancer.”

A being that revives and controls corpses.

And that pillar in Ttukseom Park is the remains, or corpse, left by the Vampiric Tree. If not, the contract wouldn’t have been established in the first place.

Then is Tae-min’s goal to revive and control that pillar? This speculation seemed most plausible. But if so, a new question arose.

‘Why doesn’t he revive it right away?’

The Vampiric Tree has disappeared, and only the corpse remains.

Then couldn’t he just approach the pillar and revive it? Instead, Tae-min chose to hide himself.

‘There are two possible reasons I can think of.’

The first is Han-seong’s existence.

Two days ago, when the base was attacked.

The Cannibal Flowers had pinpointed his location accurately, built an encirclement, and launched their attack.

As if someone had told them.

So at the time, he even had the far-fetched idea that someone who knew his location had deliberately done this.

‘But…’

Thinking about it now, it wasn’t far-fetched.

Rather, it was correct.

If Tae-min had judged that Han-seong was a hindrance or threat to the Vampiric Tree’s growth and tried to eliminate him in advance, everything would make sense.

‘But I survived.’

Perhaps that’s why he ran away?

Fearing retaliation. This was the first speculation about why Tae-min had disappeared.

‘Next, the second speculation is…’

The possibility that the contract might be incomplete.

Ji-hye had said this earlier:

That the Vampiric Tree’s pillar cannot be destroyed until the contract is broken or completed. This could also be interpreted to mean that the contract has not been completed.

‘Contracts require conditions and compensation.’

Han-seong also had conditions that he could only make vassals of vampire races, and the cost of having to periodically supply blood to his vassals.

Surely he must have similar conditions.

However, Tae-min had not achieved this, and thus the speculation was that the contract was incomplete.

‘If that’s the case, then his goal is…’

To fulfill the contract conditions.

And what the contract conditions with the Vampiric Tree were could be inferred from Tae-min’s actions.

‘…Offering survivors as sacrifices.’

After finishing his speculation, Han-seong opened the map.

To pinpoint Tae-min’s location more precisely based on the hypothesis he had just come up with. As a result of examining Guri City, which he had considered as a candidate earlier.

He learned that there were quite a few survivors.

Although there were no groups as large as Kangil Girls’ High School with hundreds of people, there were dozens of groups ranging from as many as ten to as few as three or four people gathered.

‘Did he move knowing this fact?’

No, this seems like an excessive speculation.

If he had known in advance about areas with many survivors, he would have gone to Gangnam or Apgujeong, not Guri, which is far away.

It’s much closer than Guri, and there are far more survivors. As he continued his speculation.

A whisper broke his train of thought.

-…Mage.

Ji-hye’s voice, lowered.

She approached in front of the Collector.

-Please look at this.

What she brought was the diary found earlier. Soon, as she turned the pages, the written conversation between Ji-hye and Da-yeon unfolded.

Turning a few more pages from here revealed a section with scrawled handwriting.

Month ○○, Day ○○

I met Ji-hye unni again yesterday.

I’m glad unni is safe. But today I tried to go see unni and couldn’t.

Oppa says she has things to do so it will be hard to meet for a while.

I hope unni’s work finishes soon.

“This is…”

It was Da-yeon’s diary.

The content just seen likely recorded the situation after joining Tae-min following the Collector’s subjugation.

I heard Ji-hye unni disappeared.

Oppa said a person called the Mage took unni away. He’s really a bad person.

I told oppa to scold him.

He said he would.

Oppa seems like a kind person like unni.

I want to meet unni again soon.

‘By oppa, does she mean…’

The Necromancer?

Given the circumstances, that seems correct.

Han-seong nodded as if he had read everything, and Ji-hye turned the page. At that moment, an ominous content caught his eye.

Today Uncle Chang-seok was badly hurt.

They say he was crushed by a collapsed wall.

I was worried because he wasn’t moving, but when oppa shook uncle, he soon got better.

It’s really amazing. Oppa is like a Mage.

But other people say oppa is scary.

If someone is crushed by a collapsed wall and not moving, there’s a high chance they died at that point. Moreover, if it’s said that he got better after Tae-min’s actions…

‘It seems he turned him into a zombie.’

The record of other people being afraid of Tae-min likely stems from witnessing that scene and feeling fear.

The diary continued after that.

It said that when someone was badly injured or even had their head cut off, they came back to life when Tae-min touched them. As similar content repeated.

-This is the last one.

With Ji-hye’s whisper.

The final recorded diary entry unfolded.

Tomorrow is the day I meet mom.

Oppa promised to let me see her.

But I’m a little scared too. Maybe it’s because I remember mom turning into a monster.

But it’s okay. Because oppa is here.

Oppa will be able to make mom normal again. I hope tomorrow comes quickly.

Han-seong kept his mouth shut.

A whirlwind of complex emotions – sympathy and sadness – swirled together. And what remained at the end was anger and realization.

‘If the diary’s contents are true…’

It’s highly likely that all the people in the underground mall have either already turned into zombies or been offered as sacrifices to the Vampiric Tree like Da-yeon.

Then it means Tae-min is moving alone.

Han-seong opened the map. To gauge where the survivor presumed to be Tae-min might be, referencing the newly obtained information.

But at that moment.

-Let me catch that man.

Ji-hye’s whisper was heard.

Her two eyes visible beyond the Collector’s field of vision were burning with intense anger. Her emotions must have intensified after confirming the diary.

To this, Han-seong shook his head.

“I’m sorry, but that’s not possible.”

-What? Why…

“Because of the level gap.”

Ji-hye is currently level 12.

Meanwhile, Tae-min is at least level 20 or higher.

Based on observations so far, he has hunted far more zombies than Ha-eun, so.

‘If he’s level 22 or higher…’

Then there would be a 10-level gap, and in this case, the probability of skill activation failing would increase dramatically.

So for Ji-hye’s safety, she cannot be sent after Tae-min. Han-seong explained these reasons to Ji-hye in detail.

“And don’t worry about the Necromancer’s tracking. I’ve put surveillance on him.”

-…I see. Yes, I understand.

Ha-eun’s group is following Tae-min.

Han-seong is monitoring them.

Perhaps thanks to revealing this fact?

Ji-hye’s expression softened as if somewhat relieved. A moment later, she spoke to him again.

-Um, Mage.

“Yes?”

-Before we go back, would it be okay if I collect Da-yeon’s remains? I’d like to bury her somewhere else, not here.

“Of course. Go ahead.”

-Thank you.

The conversation with Ji-hye ended like that.

In the quiet room. Han-seong leaned back in his wheelchair and looked out the window. He saw the sky where the sunset was already fading.

After organizing his thoughts for a moment.

Han-seong opened the map once again.

‘Currently, Seo Ha-eun is…’

Staying at Guri Hangang Park.

It was the moment when it became certain that Tae-min had headed to Guri City, as initially expected.

Han-seong once again investigated Tae-min’s expected route and counted the number of blue dots presumed to be him. And as a result.

He narrowed down the candidates to two.

‘The hospital and the gas station.’

The common point is that both have only one blue dot. And there are at least a dozen or more red dots around the blue dot.

Since the zombies controlled by Tae-min had always appeared as red dots before, it was easy to identify.

‘Which one should I look at first.’

The cooldown time for Precise Observation is 30 minutes.

Han-seong chose the hospital. Because there were overwhelmingly more red dots than at the gas station. It’s a suitable place to increase the number of zombie troops.

[Activating Precise Observation.]

[Vision is shared.]

The first thing visible was the clothing.

It’s the uniform of Jingwang High School.

However, not long after, Han-seong couldn’t help but wear a disappointed expression.

“It’s a bust.”

The survivor wasn’t a man, but a girl.

A young girl estimated to be about the same age as Ha-eun.

However, there was one peculiar point – the number of accessories she was wearing was enormous.

“Why so many rings…”

Rings on every finger.

Moreover, she wore two gold bracelets on each wrist, and even three necklaces.

After briefly feeling intrigued by this unusual appearance, Han-seong’s gaze turned back to the map. Because Ha-eun’s group had started moving.

Right towards the gas station.

‘That means…’

Is he there?

It seems almost certain.

Ha-eun’s group was heading straight for the gas station without deviating to other paths.

Convinced that Tae-min was at the gas station, Han-seong immediately surveyed the surrounding terrain. To search for a place suitable as a temporary base.

As evening fell and the sun was setting.

Ha-eun’s group had crossed Seoul and entered Gyeonggi Province. Looking at the sky turning red, Min-cheol muttered while glancing around:

“We should start looking for a place to sleep soon.”

It seems difficult to find one today.

And since moving around at night involves danger, it would be better to stop tracking here.

However, Ha-eun had a different thought.

“Let’s try one more time.”

Because the cooldown time was about to reset.

Ha-eun, having sought the group’s agreement, looked at the remaining cooldown time of about 5 minutes.

Some time later.

A different notification from before appeared.

[Activating skill.]

[Tracking: Shadow Chaser]

[Remaining distance to target: 951m]

“…Huh?”

Ha-eun’s eyes widened.

The remaining distance, which had consistently been 1.2km, had decreased for the first time. This meant they could meet Tae-min if they closed this much distance.

Meanwhile, Min-cheol tilted his head.

“What’s wrong?”

“I think we’re almost there.”

“Really?”

“Yes, the remaining distance to the target is less than 1km, so we should just keep following like this.”

“Alright. Let’s hurry then.”

We might lose him again if we’re not careful.

Ha-eun’s group resumed tracking, following the footprints imprinted on the road.

Fortunately, Tae-min seemed to be staying in one place, not moving. Some time later, when the distance to Tae-min was less than about a hundred meters.

“That place is…”

An unmanned gas station appeared.

Judging by the remaining distance, Tae-min was probably inside the gas station office.

As they approached the gas station like that.

Suddenly, Ha-eun stopped in her tracks.

“What? Why are you suddenly stopping…”

Min-cheol, who had been following, tilted his head.

But only for a moment, he discovered where Ha-eun’s gaze was directed and froze like a statue.

The same was true for Eun-ji.

After a while, Ha-eun’s lips moved.

“…Mister.”

“What?”

“My eyes must be wrong, right? Otherwise, I can’t explain that situation.”

“I’d like to believe that too, but…”

Min-cheol’s eyes wavered.

Eun-ji’s complexion turned pale as she dry heaved, and Ha-eun bit her lip hard as she looked at the zombies in front of the gas station.

About a dozen zombies.

Unlike other zombies, they had unique tattoos engraved on their foreheads. A mark indicating zombies controlled by a Necromancer.

In other words, it means they are zombies controlled by Tae-min.

At that moment.

“What brings you all here?”

A familiar voice struck their ears.

A bespectacled male student walking out from the direction of the office. It was Necromancer Kim Tae-min.

“I’m surprised. I didn’t expect to see you in a place like this.”

“T-Tae-min oppa…”

“You didn’t come all the way here to hunt zombies, did you? Did you perhaps follow me?”

“You…”

Tae-min asked with a smiling face.

On the other hand, the group facing him didn’t smile at all. Instead, they only glared at him with bewilderment, anger, and a hint of wariness.

“…What are you doing?”

“Oh? Didn’t I tell you?”

Tae-min tilted his head.

“I told you I had something to do and would be away, didn’t I? I just couldn’t return because the work wasn’t finished, but there’s no need to make such expressions…”

“That’s not what we’re asking about right now!”

Ha-eun shouted angrily.

Then she pointed the combat knives in both hands at Tae-min. She spoke with trembling lips, raising her guard as much as possible.

“…Explain, senior.”

“Hm? What?”

Is he really asking because he doesn’t know?

Ha-eun’s body shuddered.

Then she looked at the dozen or so zombies with Tae-min. Familiar clothes and familiar faces. Ha-eun bit her lip hard and shouted.

“Explain why you turned the people from the underground mall into zombies!”

The atmosphere had become seriously heavy.

The tension was so palpable that it wouldn’t be strange if a fight broke out at any moment. The group all looked at Tae-min and the zombies with hardened faces.

The only one smiling here was one person.

Necromancer Kim Tae-min alone.