I Became the Weakest Summon of the Genius Summoner

Chapter 18. Predator and Prey

The torso, completely severed from the lower half, slowly moved in the direction Lee Yeon-hee had fled.

The faintly glowing small core in my head seemed like it was desperately calling out for its owner.

Krrhhrk! Gugh!

Coincidentally, in that direction, the short man who had first attacked appeared as if he were about to breathe his last, gasping for air.

'Just a little further...'

As I slowly approached, the dying man's pupils dilated as if he recognized me. Shortly thereafter, the skull's figure reflected in his eyes became clear to my own vision as well.

【Acid Spray】

Puhwaak-!

"Ahhhh...!"

The guy's face was rendered unrecognizable by the acid spray, his body having convulsed wildly for a moment before finally ceasing all movement.

- A powerful enemy has been slain!
- Experience points have greatly increased!
- Obtained the Rune of Vigor (Common).
- You have leveled up! Choose three abilities to enhance.
- You have leveled up! Choose three abilities to enhance.

Swish-!

As soon as I leveled up, the shards of my previously shattered bones rapidly began to gather toward my upper body.

Normally, a single level up wouldn't result in such a swift recovery, but having leveled up twice in quick succession, the speed was exceptional.

The new rune's effect had also increased my Stamina by 4.

【Skeleton Soldier Ilwol - Lv.8】

Strength: 29(+6)
Agility: 28(+6)
Stamina: 30(+10)
Intelligence: 24
Magic Power: 20
Resistance: 1
Sense: 16
Recovery: 2

I quickly distributed the increased stats into Strength, Agility, and Stamina. As soon as my legs reattached to my upper body, I dashed in the direction my body was drawn toward.

'Where are you! Where!'

After running frantically for about five minutes, I finally saw Lee Yeon-hee and the man. The two were still engaged in a chase, but noticeably slowed down, appearing quite fatigued.

- Damn it... I'm... definitely going to kill you... Rip you to shreds...

- Huff... Huff...

The man, persistently chasing Lee Yeon-hee despite having a dagger lodged in his thigh, was breathing heavily, spewing curses.

He probably tracked her scent accurately to pursue her. Seeing him made a furnace of anger rise within me.

"Clack-clack-clack-!"

- Huh? Damn, what's that sound?

- Ah!...

I swung the club with all my might, striking the man's jaw as he turned to look back.

【Heavy Strike】

Thwack-!

Ugh-!

I clearly felt the impact. Even with my dulled senses, the hit reverberated through me.

Splatter-!

Aaargh! It burns! Ahhh!

Without a second thought, I unleashed acid onto his face and mercilessly beat him down with the club.

- Ughhh... Sp-spare...

'Ridiculous.'

Thud-!

Grrk...

If I could spit, I would have spat a thick wad of mucus right onto his face.

- 【Acid Spray】 level has increased.

"Huff... Huff... Ilwol!"

Lee Yeon-hee called out to me, collapsing on the spot, too exhausted to lift her head.

'Is the guy she stabbed in the neck still alive?'

Had she killed him, she would have leveled up, and her Stamina would have recovered, but seeing her now, she seemed both physically and mentally depleted.

While she steadied her breath for a moment, she silently stared at the scattered gear of the fallen man, her eyes widening suddenly.

- A powerful enemy has been slain!
- Experience points have greatly increased!
- Obtained the Rune of Vigor (Common).
- Obtained the Rune of Vigor (Low-rank).
- You have leveled up! Choose three abilities to enhance.

"Rune..."

Miraculously, two runes were dropped, one of which was low-rank. Remarkably, it was a Rune of Vigor typically obtained from a Goblin Centurion.

I could give it to the Shield Guild, as its performance paled in comparison to the low-rank rune I possessed.

Lee Yeon-hee swiftly collected the rune and looked at me, saying, "Ilwol, let's head back to where we were. I think he's still alive."

Nod-

She was as professional as ever in this line of work. To prevent any loose ends, it was best to ensure the last one was dealt with.

We retraced our steps and soon arrived at the spot where the man with the neck wound had been left.

Ssshhh ssshhh-

Inhale- Exhale-

He was breathing very shallowly, barely audible even up close, yet undoubtedly alive.

His life force was so faint that it seemed he'd soon die if left unattended.

Thunk-!

However, Lee Yeon-hee swiftly killed him without hesitation, collected yet another fallen rune, and quickly departed the area.

'How did all the gear get obliterated...'

It's common for the equipment of dead people to vanish, but usually at least one item is left behind. Today seemed to be an unusually unlucky day.

We quickly made our way toward the exit. We ignored a group of goblins that passed by at close range.

'It's best to retreat quickly on days like this.'

We'd acquired as many as four runes. Any more greed, and it'd surely backfire.

"Ilwol, you did well. I'll summon you again shortly."

Nod-

Soon, my body folded and was pulled back into a space consumed by darkness.

'Haa—things got a bit messy at the end.'

Arriving in front of the massive door, I allowed myself to collapse on the ground.

'I suppose she'll be questioned...'

After entering the dungeon, hunters are given a magic mark by staff at the entry office.

This small stamp on the wrist has a very simple structure, but each one is connected to its issuer, allowing them to be notified immediately if the connection with the recipient is severed.

Of course, it only indicates life or death, but it's a useful tool for immediately interrogating departing hunters.

Though dungeon deaths are no longer even mentioned in local papers, it makes sense that the Hunter Management Bureau would investigate, considering Lee Yeon-hee might be questioned, meaning it could take a while before I'm re-summoned back to the one-room apartment.

Rune of Vigor (Common)

- Stamina +4

The common Rune of Vigor acquired from the short man I had killed.

'It seems I'm growing faster than I did when I was human... What a ridiculous notion.'

Being only five days old as a skeleton soldier and having reached level 8 already was laughably absurd. What made it possible was undoubtedly the existence of those attack skills.

【Heavy Strike】 and 【Acid Spray】

Especially, the acid had proven to be very useful once again.

Acid Spray Lv.2

- Sprays a deadly acid forward.
- Spray amount +1
- Spray range +1

Skill levels are notoriously hard to raise, so the fact that it increased already showed how frequently I'd been relying on it.

With its level increasing, both the spray amount and range had slightly improved, making it even more useful.

'I wish the quality of the acid itself would improve... but maybe that's too much to ask.'

Given that it's merely a slime's skill, perhaps expecting more would be overreaching. I was content with its role in catching opponents off guard and restricting their movement.

【Skeleton Soldier Ilwol - Lv.9】

Strength: 32(+3)
Agility: 34(+3)
Stamina: 30
Intelligence: 24
Magic Power: 26(+3) Resistance: 1

Sense: 16 Recovery: 2

I invested the acquired stats from downing the bulk into Strength, Agility, and Magic Power.

Now, what should I do?

...

It's dark, silent, and desolate.

Anyone capable of human emotions should be able to hear their breaths and heartbeat, but as a skeleton, I had none of those echoes.

Yet, I no longer trembled in this space. I no longer gritted my teeth. I no longer wept.

'I miss Lee Yeon-hee...'

Just looking at her illuminated my spirit, making me feel alive. She made me believe my heart could beat.

'I want to keep making her smile.'

How do I accomplish that?

Even now, her growth pace was fast. No, considering that I contributed to her growth metrics, it was exceptionally rapid.

Even without me, she had reached A-rank in just two years.

While her path was slightly altered, among the numerous branches leading her forward, her potential continued to flourish.

Nonetheless, doubts lingered. At this pace, could Lee Yeon-hee escape Cho Giman's cunning?

'She can't.'

Cho Giman was an extraordinary being (異跡) living his seventh life.

I didn't know the circumstances of his six previous lives, but assuming he lived only five years per life, he'd already be an old gorgon having transcended age.

The fact that he retreated without a hitch after discovering a distinct aspect in us a few days prior implies we were just elements within his field of view.

'Along with enhancing our strength, we need to debilitate him.'

By acquiring artifacts and achievements from the endlessly spawning and vanishing dungeons first, it might just hinder his growth slightly.

What's fortunate is that I never disclosed the hidden locations I discovered in my previous life to him.

'Why would I ever share that with him?'

Possessing a foresight as sharp as my sense stats, I'd never viewed Cho Giman favorably, foresight I trusted from the start.

Despite feeling nauseous merely sharing the space with him and even entertaining serious thoughts of leaving, the reason I'd stuck with the guild was because they compensated far better than any other. Much, much more.

'Money's always the issue, damn it.'

In hindsight, I should have heeded my instincts, but regrets were pointless as always. Perhaps harboring discomfort led me to be reckless and suffer at his hands till the end, which made me unsmart as well.

Thanks to that, the memories of a misery unable to die peacefully intruded frequently, creating what felt like a mental sickness dragging me into ceaseless darkness, yet the modest skeleton soldier's great trait 【Calm】 protected my mental fortitude from being eroded.

Regardless.

'I need to quickly elevate my rank to access Nargul's dungeon.'

A specific monster skill available only there is critical to my plans.