As I quietly watched Yeon-hee, my unnecessary worries quickly scattered away.
“Wait! I, I just want to eat!”
When I stared at her intently, she seemed to think I was waiting for her to summon something, so she hurriedly prepared breakfast. Occasionally, seeing her like that made me feel good, sensing her care for me, but I often swallowed the thought that she really didn’t need to go through all that trouble.
Breakfast was just bread with strawberry jam along with milk. It wasn’t anything substantial, so she could have relaxed a bit more.
‘It’s too light… Eating breakfast like that is why she’s not gaining any weight.’
I thought it might be good if she gained a little bit more, but not for her appearance, rather for her health.
Nom—
With a mouth full of bread, Yeon-hee casually tossed six brown summoning papers on the table and began unfolding them one by one.
I heard her current level was 43. There’s a slight gap between us now, but since my growth has slowed down, that gap would shrink soon.
The six summoning papers included four received from leveling up, one obtained from the [Orc Competitor] achievement, and one given for the 40-level special ability. So, there were a total of six.
Yum—
While munching on her bread, Yeon-hee read a message she received from the management office. It wasn’t easy to convey the content with something in her mouth. Of course, I had to focus even more than during training to understand it.
The content went like this.
The orc warrior caught in the Lizard Swamp was ultimately not distributed to us. They offered to investigate with us, but we declined.
We could provide so much evidence that we caught it, but it probably seemed pointless to waste time on complicated procedures.
In terms of income received from the orc warrior’s remains, it was said that a portion would be returned to the victims, which made Yeon-hee smile brighter, feeling that it was a good thing.
– Wang-wang!!
“Wang-wang, I’m sorry, but can you eat this for now?”
Wang-wang…
All the bones I had in my inventory for armor crafting just vanished completely.
So, I had no bones to give to Wang-wang.
Grr—
‘No, I said there aren’t any. How many times do I have to tell you, you pig?’
Crack—
Wang-wang grumbled at me, then eventually started chewing on the scrap bones Yeon-hee handed him.
Wang-wang didn’t grow in size, but the mana stone was getting bigger. Just sitting around and eating all day; if I were to be reborn, I’d want to come back like that.
Huff-huff-huff—
Beside me, Lizardman 1 and Dotti were doing push-ups with faces full of glee.
Ran was lying on Wang-wang’s back trying to take a nap.
‘So peaceful.’
The fierce battle from yesterday felt like a lie. Wouldn’t it be great if I could just live like this forever?
‘Curse those pesky intruders…’
I resumed training to conjure a fireball in my hand. A little while later.
“I’m done eating! Guys! We’re about to summon a new friend, but when they come out, don’t make a fuss, okay? Especially you, Dotti!”
“Chunk?!”
After firmly warning the summoned creatures, she finally began to chant the spell from the upgraded brown summoning paper she obtained from reaching level 40.
The texture of the scroll was more luxurious than the gray summoning paper, and given its larger size, the incantation was probably longer.
‘I hope it’s not zombie-related…’
I had encountered zombies in the Ent Forest dungeon, but they were really just pathetic trash. The zombies that might appear now would be the real deal.
They had much higher health and could even jump around annoyingly if surrounded; it definitely wouldn’t be fun.
Despite that, I didn’t want to summon zombies because of one simple, instinctive dislike. As a former weakest soldier skeleton, I shouldn’t really say this, but zombies… just weren’t appealing.
Fighting alongside those with dangling eyeballs or ones oozing pus just couldn’t paint a good picture.
Nevertheless, they were somewhat useful. In some aspects, they could be better used as meat shields than orc warriors.
It was just uncertain whether they would follow commands properly.
‘Orc warrior, come forth!’
As Yeon-hee hoped, it would be nice if a flying monster showed up, like Neos Harpy.
Neos Harpies were the smaller, baby versions of harpies. They couldn’t do much besides scratching with their claws while flying or dropping stones from the air, but just the fact that they could fly already gave them value.
‘Best case would be summoning a high-ranking spirit like Ran from another realm…’
While I ran these hopeful thoughts through my mind, Yeon-hee spent a few minutes diligently reciting the summoning spell, and finally, something started to shimmer in the air.
“Hmph— huff— I wonder what will come out?”
Yeon-hee seemed nervous using a summoning paper for the first time. And little by little, what was shimmering in the air began to take shape…
“Huh?”
‘Aha…! So this is what it is…’
[Hwaaa-]
Thick black smoke blooming like a mirage began to swirl around, taking on a vaguely human shape.
It outlined what I assumed to be a face, though there were no identifiable features like eyes, nose, or mouth.
However, the swirling smoke had a distinctly clear form for its arms; when Lizardman 1 took a step closer, it waved its blade-like arms, refusing him entrance.
‘Specter…’
The first summoned creature from the brown summoning paper was an undead-type monster, the Specter.
“Uh… So that means… a ghost?”
‘It could be easily confused with a ghost.’
But the ghost specializes more in mental attacks, whereas the Specter engages in physical attacks with the passive ability of [Energy Drain]. They were bothersome in a different way than ghosts.
‘Just brushing against its arm means losing health.’
The absorbed life force is reclaimed by itself, so although it’s not very strong, it’s highly sustainable.
Also, it was fundamentally incorporeal, so simple physical attacks wouldn’t affect it.
Stealing energy to recover while being immune to basic physical attacks made it a monster that caused the most hunters to fall behind in the Nargul Dungeon.
‘But it’s on our side now. Hah!’
“Alright, wait a minute, so this means… it’s the Specter! A more definite human shape and transparent is the ghost!”
Yeon-hee quickly recalled the theory she had forgotten and distinguished the differences.
“Wow— I’ve never seen this kind before. Hey, come over here!”
As Yeon-hee called to it, the ominously dark smoke glided toward us, sliding across the floor.
[Hwaaa—]
‘What’s it trying to say…’
It still wasn’t clear what it wanted to convey.
Approaching Yeon-hee, the creature shrunk down, curling its previously expansive form into a much smaller child-like shape. Though it still lacked facial and lower body features, it appeared much friendlier.
“Wang-wang! So cute! Can I touch it?”
Swoosh—
As Yeon-hee reached out to touch it, her hand passed right through the Specter’s body.
“Oh, I guess not…”
-!!
Seeing Yeon-hee momentarily disappointed, the Specter extended its arm toward her.
“Huh?”
Yeon-hee looked at the Specter’s arm for a moment and poked it with her finger.
Poke—
“Oh! I can touch it!”
Though its form quickly faded, it had briefly solidified.
‘Specters can solidify while using a skill. But since it’s just for a moment, timing it right is the issue.’
After touching it a few times, the creature’s form rapidly became indistinct again, indicating that it had exerted itself.
“Wow— Did you exhaust all your magic just for me? So pretty…”
[Hwaaa!]
Seeing the Specter twist like a pretzel, it seemed very happy to be complimented by Yeon-hee.
‘Huh… The Specter is really nice, but it might be poison in the magical realm…’
Because of its distinct compatibility, it seemed a bit uncertain for putting it to good use. Still, that was a decision for Yeon-hee to make.
“Hmm… What to do.”
Returning to the present time, Yeon-hee propped her chin on her hand, lost in thought as if she bore a heavy dilemma.
‘Naming… Starts again.’
Reflecting on our history from the moment she suggested Ddak-ddak-i to now, I attempted to predict her choice.
‘Simplifying the name to “Chehwa”? Looking at the color, maybe “Blacky”? Or since it swirls like a cloud, “Cotton Candy”?’
“That was so moving, using all your strength just to solidify! So, let’s name you “Chehwa.””
[Hwaaa—!!]
The Specter seemed pleased with the name Yeon-hee gave it, twisting its body like a towel being wrung out.
‘Huh… Not a bad name, right?’
As she asked me for my opinion, I nodded with certainty.
‘They say kids grow fast; looks like her naming skills are improving just as quickly.’
“Chehwa’s currently number one. But who will end up being the main focus is still a mystery, hehe.”
She didn’t seem to immediately intend to make “Chehwa” her main, looking back at the next summoning paper, she began to chant again.
‘Honestly, training and all aside, this seems like the most fun.’
I had never understood why people enjoyed watching Internet broadcasts, but now I wondered if this was the kind of fun they meant.
Whoooo—
This time, a regular gray portal opened, and something staggeringly walked out.
‘What will it be this time!’
“Bweeeek—!”
‘Aah… shit.’
The second summoned creature was a zombie.
“………..”
Even Yeon-hee, who always gazed lovingly at her summoned creatures, looked somewhat burdened by the sight of the zombie dragging its decayed body toward her.
“Uh… um, let’s just…”
‘Guess I should start cleaning from the floor. How disgusting.’
The zombie was dripping with a mix of blood and fluid, marking the path it left behind.
I quickly wiped the mess with a wrung-out cloth and spoke to Ddung-i, who was picking his nose while watching the summon.
Ddung—
(Don’t play dumb, go wash this up.)
Ddung-i grinned and took the cloth to the living room, pretending to moisten it with water.
‘Urgh, that idiot. It drives me crazy.’
“Kweeck— Uuuggh—”
“Uh… ah, hello?”
“Bweeek!”
“Ugh, the smell.”
In the end, even Yeon-hee stepped back, retreating from the zombie.
The zombie stood there, wobbling on thin legs, staring blankly at Yeon-hee. From the way its exposed muscles twitched, it seemed very happy about being summoned.
“I-I’ll give it another go at summoning!!”
Seeing her shake her head vigorously as she prepared to summon once more, I realized once again how little control we had over reality.
Surprisingly, as three consecutive zombies were summoned, Yeon-hee clearly became agitated.
“This can’t be…”
“Bweeek!”
“Wa-weeek!”
‘If only they would keep their mouths shut, it would be a little easier.’
Had they perhaps damaged their jaw joints? They just wouldn’t stop chattering.
Her eyes showed signs of tremor, and she chewed on her lips.
“Hiiing— Next!”
Thankfully, in the fourth summon, at last, the one we had wanted appeared.
“Wooah!!”
“An Orc Warrior!! It, it’s alive. Hehe—”
‘Phew…’
At least today we managed to summon that guy, meaning we could either lock in the probability for the next summoning or aim for two more jackpots; in any case, it was a success.
“What should I do… Should I fix it to the Orc Warrior, or take a look at the two remaining ones?”
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
