I Became the Weakest Summon of the Genius Summoner

Chapter 15. Skeleton x Skeleton

"If it keeps at it, its proficiency will increase, and it'll level up... It's worth a try."

Nod-nod-

I nodded vigorously in agreement. Eventually, the quality of the produced mana stones would surely improve.

After the meal, she took out the gray parchment scroll again.

'As expected, her level has increased. Achieving feats must have brought in a lot of experience points.'

"Oh, it's already the third time. Ever since I summoned Ilwol, it feels like I'm gaining experience faster and encountering more events! Haang-"

'If only there were more enjoyable events instead of just dangerous ones.'

I wished for a decent companion who could lighten her load.

Previously, I hadn't even considered having an ally, so I was somewhat impatient at the thought.

But upon reflection, a stronger summoned being appearing than myself would be beneficial.

Whoosh-

She took a deep breath and began reciting the summoning spell. Again, no door appeared, and a small portal shimmered, just like when Woof-woof emerged.

And what stepped out of it was.

"Oh! It's Ilwol!"

A skeleton soldier.

'This feels... strange.'

Seeing myself being born was an inexplicable feeling. I wondered how she felt, having seen both me and the new skeleton soldier.

Lee Yeon-hee looked puzzled as she observed the skeleton soldier standing still after stepping out of the portal, then turned to glance at me.

It seemed she felt both intrigued and confused. Moving her arms up and down, she spoke.

"Something feels... off! It's the same summoning scroll, so why is there such a difference? Could the first summoned special perks affect appearance too?"

'I wish she'd let me know what those first summoned special perks are.'

Though I figured maintaining it cost less in terms of magic power, I was curious if there was something else.

"Hmm—this is a dilemma."

She began making the new skeleton soldier do the various things she had tried on me the first day, studying it closely.

Creak—Clunk—

'Haha... how pathetic... Are my movements at that level too?'

Of course, I wasn't quite like that, but knowing there wasn't much difference, I swallowed hard.

After testing the newly summoned skeleton soldier for about 20 minutes, she spoke with a serious expression.

"There's no soul!"

...?

Did I hear that wrong?

Complaining about a soul in a summoned being?

"There's something soft and cottony about Ilwol, but this one feels just like this wall!"

Tap-tap-

She tapped on the wall, as if asking if I understood what she meant.

'I roughly get the intuitive feeling, but isn't it too much to expect more than a summoned being simply obeying commands?'

I didn't want my influence to change her approach to handling summoned beings, but hum...

"Wait? Huh? Enhancement..."

... Enhancement?

As I tried to piece it together, she brought the new skeleton soldier in front of me.

'He is small, indeed. Not much bigger than a goblin captain, I would think.'

The skeleton before me stood about 160 cm tall, with a very petite frame.

'I see why Cho Giman was surprised.'

I also began to understand her comment about the lack of soul, as the skeleton really seemed like death itself—a weak, dark aura nothing could lower further.

'If this charged at someone, it'd surely be terrifying.'

Thinking that made me want to observe him closely and gather inputs. While lost in such musings, Lee Yeon-hee removed the finger she had pressed against her forehead and spoke.

"I've decided! I'll enhance it!"

"Clack-clack-clack!"

Sure, go ahead and do as you wish. Since she had thought it over and made a decision, I would just watch over it.

And whatever form it took, I trusted her choice would be the best one. Her skills shown against the Orc horde in her past life were genuine.

Lee Yeon-hee placed a hand on both me and the new skeleton soldier, beginning to chant.

'Hmm...? Am I involved too?'

Could enhancement actually be...

Even with this world's changes, I doubted that was possible.

Ding-!

- 【Skeleton Soldier Lv.1】 was sacrificed for enhancement!

'What...?'

As the enhancement notification popped up, I, in my drained state, wobbled and the newly summoned skeleton soldier approached, mumbling something.

- ......

'Ah.......'

Then the world plunged into pitch-black darkness.

.

.

.

- ... Ilwol, Ilwol?

Startled-!

'What, what is it?'

Quickly raising my upper body from lying down, I exhaled a sigh of relief after seeing Lee Yeon-hee intently watching my face with the round-faced Woof-woof beside her.

'I remember her starting the chant...'

Trying to recall made my head ache, so I decided to let it go.

'What's changed?'

The answer to my question soon came in the form of a message.

Ding-!

----

【Skeleton Soldier Ilwol - Lv.4】

Strength: 15
Agility: 14
Stamina: 20
Intelligence: 24
Magic Power: 12
Resistance: 1(+1)
Sense: 16(+1)
Recovery: 2(+1)

Traits: Calm, Protector*, Kleptomancy, 98 Lives, Adhesion

Skills: Heavy Strike, Stealth, Dagger Throw, Acid Spray, Basic Conversion

Equipment: Roughly Carved Wooden Club

-----

'My stats have improved a bit. Resistance, perception, and Recovery increased by 1 each. The rest...'

Seeing the asterisk by the trait 【Protector】, I checked it.

----

Protector Lv.2

- Shares 51% of damage received by the summoner.

-----

'Protector's level increased. Sharing 1% more damage... it's not bad.'

Still, I wasn't thrilled. If she had taken the newly summoned and raised it, it'd grow quickly and benefit our forces. It felt wasteful.

'Spending a summoning scroll from level-up rewards like this is a bit...'

Knowing the Lee Yeon-hee I remembered, she would have judged more coolly, and I worried that I might have altered her traits upon appearing.

"Are you sad because your friend's gone? But I'm satisfied with just one skeleton soldier, Ilwol. I've decided so, and there's no changing it, no matter your complaints."

Watching her nod contently, I felt a sense of futility, but what's done is done.

Since she intends this for skeleton soldiers only, it's fine.

'As she levels up, she'll surely receive summoning scrolls for higher-grade beings. No more skeleton soldiers.'

Upon reflection, it wasn't worth worrying over. Even recalling her last battle in our previous life, she wasn't summoning skeleton soldiers.

'Even considering the first summoned special perks, it must have been useless.'

I could sense my perception increased, expanding the scan range by 1-2 meters.

Resistance wasn't presently significant without debuffing monsters around, but having considered enhancing Recovery previously, I was somewhat satisfied.

"Our Ilwol's Protector trait's level has risen, making this nuna very reassured."

"Clack-clack-clack!"

'Well, if she's pleased...'

"Woof!"

"Oh, our Woof-woof are you happy with a full belly?"

"Pant pant-"

Lying belly-up, panting, it completely resembled a dog. As I tutted at his appearance, Lee Yeon-hee's phone buzzed.

Bzzz—

"Oh, yes... Hello... Yes, director..."

Upon hearing the word director from Lee Yeon-hee as she answered the call, I subtly moved closer, eavesdropping on her conversation.

"Yes... I've finished talking to the Shield Guild..."

As tension plummeted swiftly, Woof-woof even gauged the atmosphere.

"No... I plan to go in March. I want to try alone for a while... Yes..."

'Trying to get her into a guild early? Monitoring purposes?'

"Yes, then, goodbye..."

Hanging up, Lee Yeon-hee gasped deeply.

"Whew... I find the director uncomfortable. Isn't it odd? So accommodatingly considerate, yet... I'm just uneasy."

'Oh? Yeon-hee's instincts are sharp! That guy's a total scumbag. Why don't you look for another guild?'

"Well, I owe debts I need to repay..."

'What? Debts to that bastard in the first place?'

Noticing my stare, she momentarily looked into space as if recalling the past, continuing.

"There was a time when I was frantic about my mother's hospital bills. Mana illness isn't covered by insurance, so the hospital costs were astronomical, but the White Knight Guild provided sponsorship and loans, keeping us there barely."

'... I didn't know this. The guild concealed such info well.'

"Well, thanks to that, mom suffered less near the end..."

'But the debt remained, huh? Cho Giman, that punk, tied you down.'

"From now on, I'll work hard to repay the debt! A few years helping the guild, and I can leave with peace of mind. Then with Woof-woof and Ilwol, I'll explore famous dungeons like traveling!"

Her idea of traveling through dungeons left me dizzy, but still...

TL's Corner:
Hmm, was it a honey trap they did to Yeon-hee?