How to Raise Your Skeletons

“Oh, is it a variant of the Polymorph skill? In my world, only the dragonborn could use such magic… Even if it’s just an ant, Master, this is quite impressive.”

“Impressive? This is just a stupid, useless gimmick. Who in the world would ever use something like this?”

To be clear, the ten items we had recently acquired were all ridiculous. There was a self-harm staff that fired a Lightning Storm (B-rank) every time you cut off one of your fingers and a belt that increased vitality instead of strength when you did weight training.

“…?”

Vitality? Hm. This might sell for a high price.

I placed my hand on the belt.

[Item: Man’s Belt]

[Rank: C]

[Type: Belt]

[Description: A magical belt that protects the waist during heavy lifting.]

[Effect 1: Increases vitality instead of strength during weight training. Be mindful that this refers to vitality as in concentration, not physical energy.]

Wait… not physical vitality but concentration?

A quick search confirmed that this wasn’t the kind of vitality most people thought of—it was more like the mental focus described in Buddhist teachings.

“Wow, this thing’s garbage.” Just looking at it made me feel like my sanity was slipping away. “You’d craft something out of items like this?”

“Of course, Master.” Demir smirked and gathered all the bizarre items in one place. Then, he began hammering them relentlessly. “Insane items need to be punished. Did you know? It only becomes a proper weapon once it’s been beaten into shape.”

“…”

—Bang! Clang!

Leather was squashed and metal was crushed as Demir hammered them into one combined piece.

“Indeed… to make insane items, you must become a madman yourself, right?”

At that moment, there was an undeniable madness radiating from him.

“Master, join in. Just like before, channel your spirit into the creation.”

“Join in? You mean like last time when we focused our will?

“Yes, but now you must inject even more courage into it.”

“Inject courage?” I tilted my head in confusion.

Demir, still hammering away, continued to speak. “Simply put, I need you to go mad. A master who has courage is a madman who fears nothing.”

“Uh, what?”

Our Demir… what is he talking about now? This bizarre statement had me feeling strangely mixed emotions. Being called a madman by my own summoned creature was, well… a little depressing.

But then Demir grinned and said something else. “Madness varies from person to person and even from species to species. For us of the Rock Tribe, gathering bizarre items like these and melting them into a single piece is the most insane thing one can do.”

It seemed he wasn’t acting crazy for no reason.

“Among humans, a madman is often described as someone like you, Master—one who never gives up, even when they can. One who doesn’t hold back but charges forward to achieve their goal. To us, that’s called courage.”

“…”

“Humans may judge madness by different standards, but if that’s how they define it, why not embrace it? Now, strike with courage! Strike like a madman!”

I looked at Demir with a flustered expression. This guy had a knack for making crazy talk sound oddly convincing.

Well, since it sounded like praise, I decided to let it slide.

Still, I had to ask. “Can you really make an item out of this mess?”

“Why bother asking? Master, I don’t like to brag, but I was a blacksmith who shaped an entire era.”

“…Alright, then.”

I gave up on trying to understand. Why think about it? Just do it.

I had to admit, I was excited to see what kind of item would emerge.

—Bang! Clang!

As I focused, I began channeling courage into each hammer strike using the Great Blue Heart Technique I had learned.

Challenging the old man in that strange dungeon… Facing the trials head-on from Sunny… Standing against the Giant Magic Dragon…

Ah, yes. Now I understood what Demir meant.

I sure am a madman, huh?

I wasn’t even a ranker yet, but every step I’d taken had been perilous. If you were to tell the average hunter what I’d been through, no one would believe it.

“Excellent, Master! We’re creating a magnificent item! Wonderful! Do you have any more intense experiences? Wait, there’s no need! This level of focus is more than enough. All you need now is to concentrate even more.”

[Completion rate: 2%]

Now the real work began. I focused harder, aiming for perfection. I would create the best possible item using every ounce of concentration.

—Bang! Clang!

The second floor of the workshop was filled with two sounds: the rhythmic clanging of Demir’s hammer and the quiet rustling of Kim Jinah as she worked on the inventory. Filled with passion, the combination of both sounds was oddly harmonious.

Footsteps echoed as a man strolled through the streets of Apgujeong, his gaze fixed on a particular building.

It was none other than the Demir’s Workshop, which was currently a hot topic in the area.

He was a man with an aura of darkness that couldn’t be ignored—the hunter ranked 720th, Shadow Walker.

“A workshop, huh?” He smirked. “Spending 30 billion to kill a simple craftsman… Tch, these rich people and their egos.”

Shin Jongoh, the spoiled scion of the Ohsung Group. Shadow Walker had accepted his commission, spending the last couple of days gathering information on the target.

There’s no real danger here.

No ranker-level energies were nearby, and the workshop’s owner didn’t seem particularly impressive either. Though he looked a bit stronger than the average hunter…

The world is vast, and the walls are high.

As a ranker, there was no need to explain the gap between him and regular hunters.

“Well, let’s take care of this.”

As a shadow mage, Shadow Walker preferred environments with a moderate amount of lighting. After all, shadows need light to exist.

—Whoosh!

He kicked off the ground, stealthily slipping into the building.

—Bang! Clang!

The sound of hammering echoed through the air.

He’s distracted. This’ll be easy.

With a reverse grip on his short sword, Shadow Walker quietly made his way to the second floor. He planned to slit the target’s throat and vanish swiftly. Since he was hiding in the shadows, there was no worry of being caught on camera.

—Whoosh!

“What the…?”

Suddenly, he sensed something was off and quickly turned his head.

“A skeleton?”

There stood a skeleton wielding a long spear.

Shadow Walker was momentarily taken aback.

Did I just get detected by a skeleton while in stealth?

That wasn’t all. The skeleton spoke, its voice unsettling.

“How did you enter this place bearing such hidden killing intent?”

“A talking skeleton…? I heard rumors, but seeing it in person is fascinating.”

Shadow Walker eyed the spear-wielding skeleton with curiosity. However, he showed no sign of fear or tension. After all, these skeletons weren’t strong enough to challenge him.

—Whoosh!

Emerging fully from the shadows, he pointed his blade at the skeleton.

“Are you one of the undead summoned by the owner of Demir’s Workshop?”

“Are you referring to my lord? And how bold of you to intrude like this, given how quickly you’d fall if I were at full strength.”

“Hehe, a skeleton with a sense of humor. Amusing,” Shadow Walker snickered.

How ridiculous. A mere undead, talking and acting as if it had a mind of its own.

“Just die.”

—Slash!

With a swift motion, Shadow Walker’s shadow-imbued sword split into two streaks aimed at the skeleton.

“An intruder, I see. I came after hearing the alarm, Sun Spear.”

A woman’s voice echoed through the space, and a barrage of arrows followed her words, speeding toward Shadow Walker.

“Hm?”

For the first time, Shadow Walker hesitated, deflecting all the arrows with precision. Though he could have ignored them, the force behind each shot was significant. It felt like a serious threat.

“I enchanted the arrows with a special spell. The surrounding area will be flooded with light once the arrows hit you.”

“…”

What kind of spell was that? As a shadow mage, Shadow Walker’s greatest weakness was the bright light that covered the entire area.

…Something’s not right.

He began to feel uneasy. These were just skeletons summoned by a mere B-rank hunter. So why did it feel like a ferocious beast was lurking within each skeleton?

I’d better finish this quickly.

Despite the odd feeling, Shadow Walker knew these skeletons were no match for him.

[Using skill ‘Clone’ (S-rank).]

—Whoosh!

His figure split into two after he leaped into the shadow, creating a perfect shadow clone. But this wasn’t just a decoy—it was a powerful clone that could just as effectively attack.

[Using skill ‘Shadow Strike’ (A-rank) activated.]

—Slash!

Just as Shadow Walker appeared behind Sunny and Eldrin and was about to strike their necks…

Hm?

They both narrowly dodged the attack.

Though their power was weak, their technique was impeccable. They used minimal strength to deflect greater forces.

Interesting.

These skeletons were adept at controlling their strength.

“Hmm, I suppose it is still difficult to fend against him. It’s frustrating that I have to avoid this amateur’s attacks.”

“I agree. I’ve been training hard, but I’m still far from my former strength.”

Despite their words, the calmness in the skeletons’ voices was unsettling. Why did it feel like their words weren’t boastful, and they were genuinely composed?

No matter. Whatever tricks they had up their sleeves, they were no match for him.

Let me wrap this up quickly and get out of here.

Shadow Walker charged once more.

* * *

“Hm.”

I deactivated my Great Blue Heart Technique and stood up.

[‘Sun Spear’ has been unsummoned.]

[‘Eldrin’ has been unsummoned.]

They had been unsummoned, meaning someone had taken them down.

Moreover…

[Warning! Warning! Warning!]

[‘Security System’ (A-rank) activated!]

[An intruder is inside!]

I knew something was wrong from the security alert Eldrin had set up.

“Master, the alarm is going off.”

“Yeah, Demir. It seems this isn’t just any intruder.”

Sunny and Eldrin had been defeated in such a short amount of time. Whoever this intruder was, they were at least S-rank—possibly even a ranker.

Rankers. They were my goal and the pinnacle of hunters, beings far beyond the norm.

—Gulp.

Tension gripped my body. This wasn’t like facing a dungeon monster. The name “ranker” carried a terrifying weight.

“Jinah, go hide on the third floor.”

“O-Okay.” Kim Jinah, eyes nervously darting around, quickly dashed upstairs.

A shiver ran down my spine. I could sense the energy flow around me with the Great Blue Heart Technique. I knew someone was watching me.

I turned toward a dark corner of the room and said, “What’s your business here?”

“Well, well. You knew I was here? As expected, considering you’re the master of those strange skeletons.”

—Whoosh!

A figure emerged from the shadows, holding a black dagger.

“But it’s too bad. I’ve already torn apart your two summons. Why did you have to go and mess with rich people like that?”

“…”

Just from those few words, I understood the situation. Shin Jongoh had crossed a line that shouldn’t have been crossed.

Judging from how he emerged from the shadows, I figured the man in front of me had to be Shadow Walker, a ranker who worked as a mercenary for the Ohsung Group. For me, who was very interested in rankers, there was no way I wouldn’t know.

The moment I realized it, a deadly aura surged toward me.

“Hmph!”

—Clang!

I instinctively drew my sword and parried the blow.

“Oh?” The man’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.

I couldn’t believe it either. Even though it was a hasty strike, I had just deflected a ranker’s attack.

I used the skill ‘Rend’ (B-rank). It was the technique I had developed through grueling training.

It surprised me that I could manage this much, even with a B-rank skill. This must be the greatness of All Techniques.

But…

That was it. To truly face a ranker, I had to stay completely focused.

I immediately resummoned Sunny, Eldrin, Boney 1, Boney 4, and Boney 5.

“My lord.”

“I’m sorry. We should have bought you more time.”

Sunny and Eldrin reappeared beside me.

“…”

With that, I emptied my mind of all distractions. In front of me was a ranker. I had to concentrate. I had to fully immerse myself because the enemy before me was one I had less than a 1% chance of surviving against, even if I gave everything I had.