The Second Life of a Legendary Necromancer

Chapter 37: Evolution of the Spectral (1)

Whether he was aware of the people in the city urgently searching for him or not, Yeonwol was focused on his work at the Duke mansion.

He headed to Lady Charanelle’s room.

Although treating decay with holy power was an option, Yeonwol deliberately used alchemy to care for her.

The reason? His skill proficiency had skyrocketed!

Also, Duke Dilen strongly recommended alchemy as it was more effective than holy power.

‘For now, priests have never purified zombification before, so alchemy is more effective.’

However, in the future, when the “Lord of Decay” becomes more active, prayer spells and skills for countering him would be developed, surpassing Yeonwol’s alchemical abilities.

“Ah, you’ve arrived.”

Lady Charanelle, whose facial features were now entirely clean, greeted Yeonwol with a radiant smile.

When half her face was decayed, it wasn’t noticeable, but Lady Charanelle possessed stunning beauty that was dazzling to behold.

“Are the others… alright? I heard they were infected because of me.”

Despite not yet being able to heal her own decay, she first expressed concern for the people of her domain.

“Everyone else has fully recovered. Their decay levels were minor, so a simple purification sufficed to restore their flesh.”

“Oh, thank goodness.”

Lady Charanelle smiled brightly.

Duke Dilen had told her that it was his fault everyone suffered, but she didn’t believe it. She thought he was just trying to comfort her.

As someone who blamed herself entirely for the incident, she constantly felt guilty about those around her being infected.

“Let’s start the treatment. Please uncover your shoulder.”

“…Alright.”

She hesitated briefly, seemingly embarrassed to reveal her decayed flesh, but quickly realized the importance of treatment and began removing her top.

‘Hmm. At that age, huh.’

Lady Charanelle was in her late teens, an age that Yeonwol, with a mental age exceeding 35, did not even perceive as womanly.

Regardless of his perspective, it was natural for a teenage girl to feel shy during puberty.

‘I’ll treat only her shoulder area today and leave the rest to the priestess. I’ve been inconsiderate.’

With that thought, Yeonwol meticulously transmuted and removed the decayed flesh on her shoulder and scapula.

“Haa… It’s a bit easier to breathe now.”

“Once the decay in your chest is treated, you’ll be able to breathe as easily as before.”

“T-that area…”

“The priestess will handle it. The urgent issue has been addressed, so it seems my assistance is no longer needed.”

“Oh…”

Lady Charanelle’s expression shifted subtly, a mix of relief that she didn’t need to expose herself further and slight disappointment.

“This is where my role ends. You’ve endured a lot, my lady.”

“…Yes, I’m always grateful to you. Truly.”

Yeonwol smiled faintly and left her room, checking his DMs as he exited.

[Rapion: Yeonwol-nim. The deal with Duke Dilen has been successfully concluded. They will actively trade potions and relief supplies with the Sellatan Guild from now on!]

It was a deal that couldn’t fail, given how much Yeonwol had pushed for it.

[Yeonwol: Consider it my investment.]

[Rapion: Yes, this is truly a significant investment for the growth of our guild. We’ll share the guild’s stake with you.]

[Yeonwol: What?]

This man was more generous than expected.

He’d assumed he’d just be handed some money, but a share in the guild?

‘Looks like he wants a long-term partnership with me. Works for me. There’s no better businessman with influence than Rapion.’

After catching up on the Sellatan Guild’s status, Yeonwol moved toward his next destination.

The objective was Duke Dilen’s office. Due to the inability to govern the domain or subjugate monsters for a long time, a considerable backlog of work had piled up.

Nevertheless, the Duke made time for Yeonwol daily.

“Duke, I’m here.”

“Oh, you’re here! Come in!”

He didn’t seem to value his time, welcoming Yeonwol as if those moments were the most precious.

“You’ve come for swordsmanship training again, haven’t you? With your merits, you could’ve gone for better equipment, but you chose guidance instead. Admirable!”

[Dilen Duke Residence Merit Points: 10,000]

Duke Dilen trusts you deeply! Speak your wishes, and he’ll grant them!

Merit points were incredibly valuable, exchangeable for skills or expensive equipment.

With such immense merit points, Yeonwol could have asked for anything from Count Dilen.

Instead, he devoted half of his points to swordsmanship training rather than items.

Demos Dilen, Duke of Dilen. He was one of the five most skilled knights in the Kingdom of Watyrion.

A notable feature of this game was that training with or receiving guidance from a master resulted in an extraordinary increase in swordsmanship mastery.

Naturally, Yeonwol’s pure swordsmanship skills would improve significantly as well.

In his previous life, he had received guidance from numerous master swordsmen players.

Even learning from high-ranking players improved proficiency effectively.

The swordsmen who taught him were all high-rankers, with even royal rankers among them.

The most influential was probably Song Yeon-Ju.

‘You fool. Why did you ever choose to be an alchemist? If you had been a swordsman, the world might’ve been different… Well, thanks to you giving up the sword, I became the world’s best swordsman!’

Suddenly, her smiling face came to mind.

In his memory, Song Yeon-Ju was always smiling brightly, like a flower in full bloom.

Even at the moment of her death, soaked in blood.

‘Thank you, Yeon Seo-Jun. For letting me die by your hand…’

The unpleasant memory made him frown slightly.

‘Pointless thoughts.’

He shook off the thoughts and followed Count Dilen to the training grounds.

Duke Dilen wore light attire, holding a longsword in one hand.

“I finished the final treatment for my lady today. Although not fully cured, she seemed embarrassed about it.”

“Hmm, indeed… A noble lady can’t casually reveal herself to an outsider.”

He grinned.

“But if you were to become part of the Dilen household, her betrothed, it wouldn’t matter, would it?”

“…”

Yeonwol broke into a cold sweat.

While nobles typically married early, it was shocking to hear someone so casually suggest sending a teenage daughter off to marry an outsider.

It showed just how highly the Count regarded Yeonwol.

“How about living as a member of the Dilen household? As a knight, an alchemist, or whatever you prefer. I’d like you to spend more time with my daughter…”

[Hidden Class Quest ‘Dilen Household Alchemist’ triggered!]

[Hidden Class Quest ‘Dilen Household Knight’ triggered!]

[It’s possible to eventually inherit the Dilen household and rise to nobility!]

“If you excel under my guidance, you could one day inherit my family as my successor.”

Yeonwol shook his head.

The idea of noble status was tempting, but the great disadvantage was being tied to the estate.

“I’m sorry. As a wandering alchemist, I have truths in alchemy that I must uncover, so I cannot settle down in one place.”

“…I see. That’s unfortunate, but I understand.”

The Duke nodded, his disappointment evident.

He had likely anticipated Yeonwol’s answer, given his nomadic nature.

“If you ever change your mind, let me know at any time. Regardless, you’re always welcome to visit the Dilen household. You’re forever its benefactor and may rest here whenever you wish.”

“Thank you.”

“Now then, since you refused to become part of the family, I’ll prepare another gift for you. This will be separate from your merit points.”

“A gift…?”

“You’ve shown exceptional passion for swordsmanship. Your talent is outstanding, and your effort is commendable. I’ll teach you some fundamentals that match your swift blade style.”

“…”

Yeonwol was surprised.

Over the past days, Duke Dilen had observed Yeonwol’s swordsmanship, noting his style and habits.

Now, he offered to teach Yeonwol techniques perfectly suited to him.

“Your swift blade style is already excellent. However, you lack basic skills, which I’ll now teach, along with the fundamentals of sword aura.”

Yeonwol listened intently.

‘Sword aura. It’s a skill I wouldn’t normally be able to learn.’

Sword aura was a privilege unique to the swordsman class.

No matter how much another class trained in swordsmanship, their limitations were clear.

But now, Yeonwol had the chance to learn fundamental skills akin to those of a swordsman class.

Such opportunities didn’t come easily.

It usually took a top-ten knight in the kingdom to impart basic swordsmanship skills to a non-swordsman.

“Intermediate and higher-level swordsmen can imbue their swords with aura. Do you know this? Not all sword auras are the same. Those who use heavy swords imbue weight into their aura, while swift blade users make theirs sharper and more agile.”

Yeonwol didn’t interrupt, even when the Count spoke of facts he already knew.

Every bit of knowledge and expertise from a master who lived in this world was invaluable.

“Today marks the end of my daughter’s treatment, so I will dedicate all my time to you until you master sword energy.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“Consideration? From today, you’ll taste hell. If you run away midway, it might be disappointing.”

After that.

Time passed quickly.

The learning process was not easy.

Duke Dilen, as a warrior defending the border teeming with monsters, imposed an overwhelming amount of training on him.

Almost every waking moment, excluding sleeping hours, was spent on swordsmanship training.

Spitting blood and grinding bones.

Yeonwol realized that the swordsmanship he trained in during his past life was mere child’s play.

‘The way a true swordsman grows stronger.’

The sheer amount of grueling training was unbelievable for something inside a game.

If it were any ordinary gamer, they might have quit or run away by now.

Suffering so much just to learn a single skill in a game?

But Yeonwol was different.

He enjoyed every single day.

He could feel himself growing stronger every day.

The sense of today’s self surpassing yesterday’s self was exhilarating.

‘This is fun.’

The moment he wielded the sword, he felt so ecstatic that he forgot how much time had passed.

Thus, a month went by.

[Skill ‘Basic Swordsmanship Mastery’ has reached 100% proficiency and has been promoted to ‘Intermediate Swordsmanship Mastery.’]

[You have acquired the derived skill ‘Sword Energy: Swift.’]

Whoosh! A blue flame ignited from Yeonwol’s sword.

It was the most fundamental skill exclusive to swordsmen and a hallmark of their identity.

Watching the blue flame, akin to an aurora, scatter, Yeonwol felt an indescribable sense of emotion.

‘I managed to awaken sword energy….’

That wasn’t all.

[By imbuing mana into slashing or thrusting motions, you can activate the skill ‘Power Sword Attack.’]

[You have acquired various active skills from the Basic Swordsmanship of the Central Continent.]

[You have acquired the passive skill ‘Power Slash.’ It activates when you perform precise slashing motions.]

[You have acquired the passive skill ‘Point Stinger.’ It activates when you perform precise thrusting motions.]

He even obtained the ‘precise motion bonus’ unique to swordsmen!

Swordsmen received additional damage if their swordsmanship was executed perfectly.

This passive skill was often triggered by those regarded as swordsmanship masters in the real world.

[Due to the effect of ‘Intermediate Swordsmanship Mastery,’ the proficiency of ‘Blue Wave Ascension Blade’ has greatly increased!]

[The third form of ‘Blue Wave Ascension Blade,’ ‘Storm Barrage,’ has been unlocked.]

Thanks to improving his swordsmanship mastery, the proficiency of Blue Wave Ascension Blade, which he struggled to use due to mana issues, had significantly risen.

But the real highlight was yet to come.

[You have acquired the A-Rank derived footwork ‘Equilibrium Step’ from Blue Wave Ascension Blade.]

[You have acquired the A-Rank derived mind technique ‘Sun-Moon Cycle Art’ from Blue Wave Ascension Blade.]

The unlocking of footwork and mind techniques!

While acquiring general footwork and mind techniques wasn’t particularly difficult, those linked to swordsmanship were exclusive to the swordsman class.

Furthermore, high-tier footwork of C-Rank or above could only be mastered by hidden-class swordsmen.

Yet he had obtained such techniques, making him almost indistinguishable from a full-fledged swordsman.

‘An A-Rank footwork and mind technique… If I were training alone, I would’ve never unlocked these.’

No matter how exceptional a skill was, it often hit a roadblock where the next stage wouldn’t unlock.

Blue Wave Ascension Blade was no exception.

As someone who wasn’t part of the swordsman class, Yeonwol was destined to never fully unlock the potential of Blue Wave Ascension Blade.

But under Count Dilen’s tutelage, he had completely shattered that limit.

“Congratulations. There’s nothing more I can teach you. To awaken sword energy so quickly… incredible. Even calling it incredible doesn’t do it justice.”

“It’s thanks to your excellent guidance.”

Duke Dilen chuckled softly.

“Well, even I, under the tutelage of my exceptional father, took half a year to awaken sword energy from basic swordsmanship.”

But the self-proclaimed alchemist before him had done it in just a month.

Why did it take him six months, yet only a month for this alchemist?

A difference in talent for swordsmanship?

He wasn’t sure about that.

Having lived as a prodigy in swordsmanship himself, Count Dilen didn’t think his talent was inferior to the alchemist before him.

Yeonwol didn’t just possess talent for swordsmanship.

‘He has a lofty goal that drives him to wield his sword, even at the cost of spitting blood.’

Duke Dilen, too, had goals when he learned swordsmanship from his father as a child.

One day, he would become a lord, vanquish monsters, and protect this land!

With that determination, he had poured his heart and soul into training daily.

But the man before him had a far loftier and greater mission than his own ‘little resolve.’

What drove that man to push himself so desperately?

As if stopping for even a moment meant certain death, what compelled him to torment himself like this?

Duke Dilen felt embarrassed for having suggested a month ago that Yeonwol become his successor.

This man wasn’t someone who would be content living in such a territory.

He was destined for a broader world.

A higher stage to fulfill his grand ambitions.

“Indeed, you still have half of your merit points unused. Did you want a weapon or a skill?”

Saying so, Count Dilen brought out a prepared chest and opened it.

“By chance, I have a treasure that satisfies both.”

Click!

As the chest opened, its contents were revealed, and Yeonwol’s eyes widened.

“This… This is too much for my merit points.”

“Is 5,000 merit points too little? Since you saved our family, it’s only fitting to bestow a sword of this caliber.”

Inside the chest Count Dilen brought out was an old sword.

But the insignia engraved on that old sword clearly testified to its immense value.

‘Van Ledin.’

A legendary swordmaster who left behind twelve renowned swords, cursed blades, and magic swords before disappearing.

One of the legendary swords he left behind was that old blade.

“It’s sealed now. I couldn’t unleash its true power. But I believe it will be different with you.”

[You have acquired the Legendary Weapon ‘Blessed Saber.’]

“…”

Yeonwol attempted to draw the sword with trembling hands, but a [Level Restriction] warning appeared, preventing him from exerting force.

There were ways to bypass such restrictions, but the fact remained that he couldn’t use it right away.

So, he put the sword down and bowed his head.

“Thank you.”

“I hope you’ll visit mys domain occasionally, even after venturing out into the world. My daughter would be delighted.”

Yeonwol left the Blessed Saber’s territory soon after.

He had come like the wind and left like the wind.

“…Has he departed?”

Watching Yeonwol disappear in the distance from the window, Blessed Saber Dilen nodded at Lady Charanelle’s question from behind.

“Will he ever return?”

“You seem very fond of our benefactor.”

“That’s not… what I meant…”

“Sometimes,” Count Dilen said with a wry smile, “he will return. I’ve made sure to foster deep ties with the ‘Sellatan Guild,’ which sponsors him. That should provide more opportunities to meet him.”

“Oh…!”

Hearing her father’s wise decision, Lady Charanelle beamed with joy.

But she also knew.

As much as she hoped, Yeonwol wouldn’t visit often.

And even if he did, he wouldn’t stay long.

He had a clearer goal than anyone else, and he relentlessly pursued it.

“…I will learn magic.”

“!”

Duke Dilen was taken aback by her words. Magic was not something just anyone could learn.

Starting at her age, achieving great success would be incredibly difficult.

But her reason for learning magic was clear.

She wanted to be of help to Yeonwol, who wandered the world.

To be useful to him.

“Haha, very well. I’m pleased that my daughter has such enthusiasm for learning.”

“I’ll give it my all!”

Seeing Charanelle clench her fists with determination, Duke Dilen simply smiled, looking at his adorable daughter.

What great achievements could she hope to accomplish learning magic now?

But he didn’t know.

In the future that unfolded during the first iteration, when the players failed to prevent the tragedy at Duke Dilen’s domain…

Lady Charanelle had become the infamous ‘Worst Witch,’ spreading death and decay across the entire southern continent.

And now, she was about to bloom brilliantly as a ‘White Magician.’

…Count Dilen was yet unaware of this fact.