[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-damn-necromancer":3,"chapter-damn-necromancer-damn-necromancer-chapter-32":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Damn Necromancer",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1212664,1580,"Chapter 32","damn-necromancer-chapter-32",32,"\u003Cp>[Translator – Prøks]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader – Prøks]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 32: Apprentice (2)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the midst of the chaos, a phantom knight blocked their path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—…Human?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight looked puzzled, glancing between himself and Cedric standing beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Graaagh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two orc chieftains, Urkan the Second and Decum the Third, charged in like wild animals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were the finest warriors among the orcs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their axes clashed with the knight’s sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the overwhelming level difference, the chieftains didn’t easily give ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This must be the equipment advantage.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight’s movements became sluggish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were openings everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Cedric and Kim Minwoo, piercing those openings was as easy as yawning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a swift thrust, a silver-plated sword pierced the knight’s armor near the heart, delivering a fatal blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric’s spear also deftly punctured the knight’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to withstand the combined assault, the knight’s body melted within seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ellum’s eyes glowed blue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he extended his staff forward…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of undead rose from the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over two hundred ghouls, and nearly a dozen dullahan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kukuk, clear a path!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ellum, whose face had turned pale as he had exhausted his mana with this one spell, shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horde of ghouls and Dullahan plowed through the incoming arrows, oblivious to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chimeras and phantom knights also lent their hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their strong determination to break through in only one direction could be felt, regardless of the attacks coming from all sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, I expected that.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without the elves, they would have had the upper hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With nearly two thousand orcs, and nearly half of them armed, the situation would have been difficult for Ellum’s side even in a fair fight, let alone with the added ambush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In such a situation, how many options could they really have when surrounded and facing demise? At most, they could aim for a breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The more I do this, the more my soldiers will melt away.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the case now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he just charge forward in one direction?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant they were incredibly vulnerable to attacks from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time the orcs struck with their axes, Ellum’s lackeys were dying without putting up a fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Should I wrap it up soon?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Ellum, his mana pool was full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, he had canceled the summoning of the skeletons in the smithy upon receiving the message that they had set off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Summoning was possible at any time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now was the time to utilize the skeletons he had saved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they pushed with all their might to clear the path, pale hands grabbed their ankles from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ellum’s shaky troops staggered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, in the front, a horde of skeletons was summoned and charging towards them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, necromancer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ellum’s eyes trembled in astonishment at the unexpected sight of his skeleton army rushing towards his own forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though their armaments and levels were weak, the problem lay in the fact that time was being wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it! Why are you coming back to life!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemies they thought they had killed were moving again, clinging to them like ticks every time they tried to ignore them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was impossible to disregard them. Each time they tried to push forward, the orcs stuck to the slowed-down minions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ellum’s forces were quickly dwindling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clear the way! I said, clear the way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finally managing to clear away the skeleton horde, a despairing sight met their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, over a thousand skeletons blocked their path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, no…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despair filled Ellum’s eyes as he looked around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another thousand skeletons were blocking their path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dullahan, ghouls, corpse collectors, phantom knights, they had all been wiped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even twenty remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had died while breaking through, while being hit by arrows, while being delayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orcs were now approaching from behind, drooling with anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m a bit sorry.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effects of the top-rank mana potion needed to kick in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single bottle could replenish his mana fully in the lower-level range. Unfortunately for Ellum, Kim Minwoo was a potion mogul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Graaagh! Kill them all except that human!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orcs faithfully carried out his orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, only Ellum and the staggering orcs remained on the snow-covered ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orcs approached him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heuk, heuk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ellum, gasping for breath, his chest pierced by arrows, looked at Kim Minwoo with bloodshot eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was you… who gathered the orcs…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clear… please… spare me. If you kill me… it’ll truly be irreversible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And if I don’t kill you, it’s reversible?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes! The Apostle still doesn’t know about this. If I explain it well, he’ll surely forgive you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He still doesn’t know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nodding vigorously, Ellum spoke with determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Your undead are quite special. To be resurrected! You can definitely make a big contribution even at the fortress. Then, you’ll receive all kinds of rewards…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slit the guy’s throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You have defeated the Necromancer ‘Ellum’!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Your level has increased by 2!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Oh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with just the finishing blow, the experience gained was tremendous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He truly was a high-level named monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition to the rewards, there was something else shining next to his corpse—a book. Kim Minwoo’s eyes immediately became serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s a Soulboundskillbook!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When defeating monsters, they often dropped skill books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These dropped skill books were random in terms of profession and their effects weren’t particularly outstanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They usually just drop basic skills.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For necromancers, it might be skeleton summoning or mage summoning. For warriors or mages, it could be elemental mastery or swordsmanship mastery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were commonly referred to as ‘basic skills.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, they were skills that only covered the basics. To achieve more than one person’s worth of power, you needed to learn special skills as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most representative method was the awakening achievement. As long as you achieved high achievements, you would be given a lot of skills that you couldn’t even get at level 1, even the highest level Awakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So people go crazy for achievements.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kim Minwoo was no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s how he learnt the Ex-rank Skill ‘Death Lord’ at level 1\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another method was to obtain soulbound skill books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soulbound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, it is an item that cannot be traded from the moment it is acquired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As such, it had a powerful effect. Once acquired, the job group and usable level are matched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This means that there is no such thing as an accident where you get a Soulbound Skillbook but you can’t learn the skill because your job is different or your level is too low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And there’s more…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of basic skills, much better skills appeared in the Soulbound Skillbooks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The ranking is determined by how many of these skills there are.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drop rate was very low as the effect was good. It was almost safe to say that it hardly ever came out of ordinary monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘As expected of a named monster.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was worth the finishing blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kim Minwoo glanced at the soulbound skill book and his eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You have acquired the Necromancer Skillbook, Bone Exchange (B)!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly looked through the contents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Bone Exchange (B)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Level Restriction: Level 75 or higher]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Allows you to exchange a summon’s bones by body part. However, exceeding the capacity is not possible. The capacity is proportional to the average level of the summon.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Applicable Summon]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Skeleton (Capacity 0\u002F25)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Skeleton Mage (Capacity 0\u002F17)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Cedric (Capacity 0\u002F75)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Oh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a vague idea of what it did. It probably allowed you to gain some effect by exchanging the bones for something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This seems like it would suit me perfectly.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bones—couldn’t you just buy those with money?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Would you like to learn this skill book?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear that the skill was overflowing with effectiveness. There was no reason not to learn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You have acquired Bone Exchange (B)!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Urkan approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—BIg Brother! Over there, those pointy-eared fellows said they want to see you! So, I didn’t kill them yet!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said, far away, a group of figures dressed in robes had gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well done. You shouldn’t swing your axe recklessly. Except for witches or the Ice Dragon faction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Urkan is smart! I remember everything you say!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll go and come back. Wait here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Understood!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He approached the elves, and one of them stepped forward as a representative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Greetings. My name is Elise, the guardian of the Mother Tree’s forest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m Kim Minwoo. Thank you for your help. Thanks to you, the fight ended easily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he had received assistance, he politely nodded first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elise nodded and said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have heard rumors about you. That you are organizing a resistance against the witch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can we elves join the resistance too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elves were known to be noble and secluded. But they not only came to help but also asked to join the party?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no reason for them to act like this unless they were backed into a corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elise, before we proceed, may I ask you something? Are the elves also under attack by witches?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems like the situation is not good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……That is true as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry. While it’s true that we’ve received help, it seems difficult to decide on joining just based on that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Is it a refusal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s not a refusal. It’s just that we need to discuss it further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please, go on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dwarves supply weapons to orcs in exchange for safety. I assume elves want something similar?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, what can the elves offer in return for safety in our resistance force?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can provide troops and maps of the surrounding terrain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is the size of the troops?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We have about this much…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not enough. Not even close.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the elves had helped, they had only sent about thirty warriors, which was hardly enough. On the other hand, if they were to help the elves?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As tough as the situation looked, hundreds of orcs would die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exchanging that for thirty elf troops on a single map?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both were useful, but…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It still doesn’t make sense financially.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s the worst possible deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The best he could do with the help he had received was to give them some dwarf equipment and send them off on a good note. He couldn’t just throw his life away for nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Then we can also supply fruits, herbs, and so on…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady Elise. Do you think the lives of our resistance fighters are so cheap? Enough to ask us to die to hundreds of orcs for this amount of help?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since we’ve received help, we will also repay. We will provide dwarven equipment. You may leave now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where do you think you’re going to get that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, he turned around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that’s when it happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Wait a minute!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elise hurried over and grabbed his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please tell me what you want.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Divine Fruit of the Mother Tree and a large supply of potions. We must at least receive this much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Fruit was an exceptionally rare fruit that occasionally formed on the Mother Tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On top of that, elves were a race renowned for their alchemy. They were said to be skilled at making potions and other such things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were both representative items that could be obtained from the elves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s not a bad deal, after all.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, he had been thinking that this much was the least they could do for him to risk his life to protect them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, the dwarves would feel unfairly treated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her ears trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elves behind her seemed equally shaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Divine Fruit! No, Lady Elise!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And we don’t even have enough potions for ourselves! Let alone in large supply!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elves protested in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Elise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can refuse if you don’t like it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The Divine Fruit is a precious treasure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our lives are just as precious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Aren’t you fighting the witch?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This elf seemed to be misunderstanding something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what? Yes, we are a group that fights the witch. But we are not the elves’ babysitters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if we fall, the resistance will too……!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[TL\u002FN: I don’t know what the elise meant when she said that. Cause i last i checked she wasn’t in the resistance army yet]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fail?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by the way she was blurting out such things, it seemed like the elves’ situation was very urgent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, she was making such a suggestion?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They say that racial traits never change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were indeed a proud race.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so? I’ll buy you time until you’re on the brink of destruction. We’ll make good use of that time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elves murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that they were really not going to help?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere seemed to suggest that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what were they going to do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their intentions seemed quite clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt like he could see right through their thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They seemed like they were trying to cling on to him like a toothless gum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This isn’t some kind of hostage negotiation.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elves?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it would be nice to have them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they wouldn’t die without them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was especially true now that the orcs had gathered and their ransom had skyrocketed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing the gravity of the situation, Elise spoke with a firm expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Please give us a moment to think. We need time to make a decision as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll give you five minutes. After that, I’ll reject any offer. Just take the equipment and leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elise and the elves nodded and stepped aside to discuss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded like a heated debate was ensuing, with voices echoing around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely 4 minutes and 55 seconds later, Elise approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…We’ll accept. However… a large supply of potions is realistically difficult. We lack alchemists who can produce them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, make them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……What are you talking about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alchemists. We have plenty of dreamers on our side.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the number exceeded a thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator – Prøks]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader – Prøks]\u003C\u002Fp>",2329,"2026-06-03T14:21:21.107Z","2026-06-03T14:21:26.970Z",1,"novelbin.me","d551fdf8509fc979a92df085a93db38db4267ba47024b6716fe274b95c45cf12","damn-necromancer-chapter-33","damn-necromancer-chapter-31",362,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdamn-necromancer-cover.jpg"]