Chapter 57
Siriel said she wanted to forget everything.
Kang Ha-min couldn't even begin to imagine how difficult her life had been.
The loneliness she had endured for a thousand years.
That loneliness had relentlessly tormented her.
Even now, after she had crossed into another world.
"Still, after the True Ancestors awakened, things became quite enjoyable."
Noticing Kang Ha-min's gloomy expression, Siriel smiled.
"I even conquered the world with those children."
Was that really something she should say with a smile?
"Of course, since everyone eventually became a vampire, it quickly became boring."
After she had conquered everything, everyone must have shown Siriel their loyalty.
Having lived a boring life for a thousand years, Siriel couldn't stand boredom.
"But every day I spend with you is enjoyable, Lord! It's so much fun!"
"Uh, have I done anything particularly entertaining?"
"If it were me, I would have conquered everyone long ago and placed them beneath my feet. But you deliberately leave them alone. That's especially entertaining!"
Perhaps it was time to end this conversation with Siriel.
She had a beautiful face, but the things she said were often frightening.
"It's important to know that there are other paths besides the one I walked."
Perhaps her conquest hadn't gone particularly smoothly either.
Kang Ha-min could sense a little of the darkness in her eyes.
"Ms. Siriel."
"Yes?"
"We're walking that path together now, aren't we?"
Kang Ha-min didn't know what kind of path he was following either.
He simply wanted to live safely in a safe world.
For that to happen, many people had to work hard.
Kang Ha-min was one of them, and so was Siriel, the corpse he had summoned.
"There's no need to exclude yourself, Ms. Siriel."
He didn't know whether the path he was walking would be meaningful to Siriel.
But if it could at least offer her a new possibility,
he believed that alone made it worthwhile.
"..."
After hearing Kang Ha-min's words, Siriel remained silent for a while.
Am I being too nosy?
Just as he began feeling awkward, she gave a gentle smile.
"You're right. Lord and I are one in body and mind!"
Perhaps his words had comforted her a little.
A short conversation like this probably couldn't ease a thousand years of loneliness.
Still, Siriel was even more beautiful when she smiled.
Kang Ha-min hoped she would have more reasons to smile from now on.
[Congratulations!]
[A new Floor Lord has ascended to the Twenty-Second Floor.]
[Floor Lord of the Twenty-Second Floor]
[Baek Cheon-myeong]
Just then, Baek Cheon-myeong defeated the Floor Lord of the Twenty-Second Floor.
In that case, he would probably be back soon...
"Master."
"Aagh!"
At that moment, Baek Cheon-myeong suddenly appeared from below the terrace.
Why did he have to appear so suddenly?
Kang Ha-min barely managed to endure the pounding of his heart.
"So this is where you were hiding."
"What do you mean, hiding? I just came to talk with Ms. Siriel for a little while!"
"Isn't that the same thing?"
Baek Cheon-myeong easily jumped over the terrace railing.
"I told you time is precious. Let's get going."
Was he not even going to give him time to protest?
However, Baek Cheon-myeong did have a point.
Kang Ha-min's body was currently growing.
There was no time more valuable than this.
That was why Baek Cheon-myeong forcibly grabbed him this time.
Since Kang Ha-min was still in the body of a child, he didn't even have time to resist.
"I'll walk! I'll walk by myself!"
"Your legs are short right now. Don't worry, we'll get there quickly."
"Aaaaaah!"
While Kang Ha-min screamed,
Baek Cheon-myeong shifted his gaze and glanced at Siriel.
Siriel merely shrugged at his look.
She didn't say anything in particular.
Still, judging by her faint smile, she didn't seem to be in a bad mood.
Kang Ha-min possessed a strange kind of power.
He treated others with genuine sincerity.
That gave them trust and a sense of security.
Although he thought of himself as timid,
when he actually took action, he was more decisive than anyone.
And this time had probably been no different.
"Bat."
"What?"
"You also need to help make Master stronger. Follow us."
Siriel's eyes widened.
She clearly hadn't expected Baek Cheon-myeong to invite her first.
"I didn't know the Heavenly Slaughter Star would be considerate toward me."
"It is nothing of the sort."
"A man who acts so cold isn't very charming, you know."
Baek Cheon-myeong snorted and continued walking.
Siriel followed beside him, giggling.
Meanwhile, Kang Ha-min was being carried by Baek Cheon-myeong.
Watching the two of them, he felt a little relieved.
At the very least,
Siriel didn't look quite so lonely right now.
If they continued spending time together like this, perhaps her loneliness would gradually ease.
And when that day comes...
He hoped she would no longer say she wanted to erase her memories.
That was all Kang Ha-min quietly wished for.
[Congratulations on clearing the Twenty-Third Floor!]
[You have cleared the Twenty-Third Floor in the fastest time in the world.]
[Clear Time: 5 Minutes 10 Seconds]
[Achievement registered: Fastest Twenty-Third Floor Clear Record Holder.]
[Twenty-Third Floor clear rewards will now be distributed.]
Baek Cheon-myeong had cleared the Twenty-Third Floor.
[Your Level has been updated.]
[Would you like to check your current Level?]
And once again, Kang Ha-min's Level had increased.
Looking at the familiar window, he raised his head.
His face was reflected in the mirror.
He had originally looked like a child, but after three days, he had finally returned to adulthood.
However, his appearance was very different from what he had expected.
Between the soft strands of black hair falling over his forehead,
his slightly drooping eyes gave him a gentle and harmless appearance.
Perhaps because there was a strangely relaxed look around his eyes,
anyone who looked at him would get the impression that he was gentle and somehow pitiful.
Although he was handsome, he didn't look intimidating at all.
Rather, he seemed so delicate that he might become frightened if someone approached him.
"...I've changed quite a lot."
His face might change depending on how his body developed,
but wasn't this transformation a little too extreme?
Is it because I became a True Ancestor?
Siriel's face was beautiful enough to look like a sculpture.
Perhaps becoming a True Ancestor like Siriel had caused this change.
My body has gotten bigger too.
His overall build was still slender, but his shoulders and height had grown.
He could feel that his body had developed in many ways.
And because of that, a problem had appeared.
My clothes don't fit!
Not a single piece of clothing he had bought before fit him anymore.
He had never paid much attention to what he wore,
but clothes not fitting was a serious problem.
He needed to buy some new ones immediately.
I should go shopping for clothes as soon as Mr. Baek Cheon-myeong gets back.
Baek Cheon-myeong would return after defeating the Floor Lord.
For now, Kang Ha-min decided to check his Status Window.
Since he had leveled up, he wanted to see whether he had obtained another skill.
[Kang Ha-min]
● Level: 56
● Class: Gravekeeper of a Ruined World
● Subclasses: Heaven-Destroying Swordsman / True Ancestor
● Rank: Mythic (神話)
■ Unique Skills: Enter Grave Mountain / Rise of the Dead (亡者起立) / Army of the Dead / Grave King's Aura (墓王氣勢) / Summon Black Coffin / Records of the Dead / NEW! Eternal Tombstone
■ Paths: Corpse Reconstruction / Soul Binding
Level 56.
And another new skill had appeared.
Eternal Tombstone.
Kang Ha-min immediately opened the skill description.
[Eternal Tombstone]
Hmm?
It increased the abilities of corpses according to the user's capabilities?
Kang Ha-min tilted his head.
The explanation was a little vague.
Does that mean Mr. Baek Cheon-myeong and Ms. Siriel can become stronger?
But the two of them were already far stronger than Kang Ha-min.
Wouldn't it actually be a disadvantage if their strength depended on mine?
Perhaps he would understand after using it.
"Lord!"
At that moment, a woman suddenly appeared beside Kang Ha-min.
"Ah, Ms. Siriel."
For some reason, Siriel was wearing an apron.
"I prepared breakfast and came to call Lord, but you seemed to be doing something, so I waited until you were finished!"
At that moment, a delicious smell drifted in from outside.
It was the familiar smell of home-cooked food that he had often enjoyed while living with his parents.
Freshly cooked rice, side dishes, and soup.
When Kang Ha-min lived with Baek Cheon-myeong, they had always ordered food.
Kang Ha-min knew how to cook because he had lived alone for a long time.
Still, he didn't cook meals as elaborate as the ones he had eaten at his parents' house.
He had also been so busy lately that he hadn't bothered cooking.
He never imagined Siriel would prepare breakfast for him.
Perhaps that was why the smell immediately made his empty stomach growl.
"Thank you. I really didn't expect this."
"Meals are important. Doing this much for Lord is only natural!"
Siriel proudly raised her head, as though she had worked very hard on it.
"Did you get a new skill?"
She was quick to notice things.
"Ah, yes. I think it's a skill that strengthens the two of you, but I won't know exactly how it works until I try it."
"Then all you have to do is try it! I'm right here!"
Would Baek Cheon-myeong be disappointed if Kang Ha-min used it without him?
Well, he would be back soon anyway.
"All right. Let's try it."
Kang Ha-min lightly stretched out his hand.
He concentrated his mana and activated the skill.
The instant he heightened his senses,
the area above his head suddenly began turning dark.
"W, wait!"
He hurriedly pulled his body backward.
BOOOOOOM!
A tombstone suddenly fell through the ceiling.
Smoke rose into the air.
The tombstone had smashed through the floor and become firmly embedded in it.
"Aaaaaah!"
The moment Kang Ha-min saw it, he screamed in horror.
His house!
His precious house that he had only recently bought!
He had swept and cleaned the floor every single day.
Looking at the horribly damaged floor, he cried out in despair.
Tap.
Just then, Baek Cheon-myeong returned after finishing the Floor Lord battle.
"...This is..."
As soon as he returned, Baek Cheon-myeong approached the tombstone.
He repeatedly clenched and opened his hand, as though checking something.
Just as he seemed to realize what it was,
"I'll pull it out!"
Siriel used her shadow to create a gigantic hand.
"Bat, stop..."
Baek Cheon-myeong tried to stop her, but it was already too late.
CRACK!
Siriel's shadow arm formed enormous muscles and pulled the Eternal Tombstone out.
BOOOOOOM!
The top of the tombstone was driven straight into the ceiling.
"AAAAAAAAAH!"
Kang Ha-min's miserable scream echoed throughout the entire apartment building.
"...Huh?"
Siriel tilted her head, as though she had only just realized what she had done.
"...Heavenly Slaughter Star, could this be..."
While Kang Ha-min cried out in despair,
the two corpses could only look at each other.
Chapter 58
Siriel's shadows were almighty and practically divine.
When she covered the broken ceiling with shadows, the house was restored as if nothing had happened.
Only after seeing that could Kang Ha-min finally relax.
He had absolutely no intention of moving again because his house had been destroyed.
The room had somehow been repaired.
While Kang Ha-min looked around the room and ate the meal Siriel had prepared,
the two of them sat down beside each other.
Normally, they didn't even like being near one another.
Yet for some reason, they were sitting side by side.
"Master."
The atmosphere felt strangely tense.
When Baek Cheon-myeong spoke, Kang Ha-min put down his spoon.
"Is there something unusual about the Eternal Tombstone?"
The two had started acting this way after he received the Eternal Tombstone.
Even Siriel, who was normally so cheerful, was sitting quietly.
Kang Ha-min grew nervous, and his expression stiffened.
Was there something dangerous about it?
"Yes. It concerns the Eternal Tombstone. As Master read in the description, we are affected by your abilities."
"Uh, is that all right?"
For Kang Ha-min, who was infinitely weaker than the two of them, it was a worrying thought.
"No, that is not what I mean. On the contrary, we grow stronger."
"Really?"
Wasn't that great news?
But Baek Cheon-myeong and Siriel didn't seem to share his excitement.
"Yes. Actually, I hadn't intended to use my shadows with that much power earlier."
Hearing that, Kang Ha-min remembered Siriel's reaction.
She had looked surprised after using her own power.
I see.
She had been surprised because her abilities had improved without her realizing it.
A skill that strengthened summoned creatures.
For a summoner-type Class like the Gravekeeper, it was an incredibly useful skill.
"What? If that's the case, it's a good thing. Why are you both acting like this?"
"I won't deny that it's good. It is certainly a good thing. I never thought this body would be able to reach a higher realm."
Hmm?
A higher realm?
Kang Ha-min tilted his head.
There was clearly more to this story.
Baek Cheon-myeong sighed with a complicated expression, then slowly continued.
"Master, we are corpses. You know that better than anyone."
Of course he knew.
Both of them had risen from graves on Grave Mountain.
There was no way he could forget that they were corpses.
"And that was also our only weakness."
"Being corpses is a weakness?"
"We cannot grow stronger."
Ah.
So that was it.
Although they looked alive, they were actually corpses.
No matter how hard they worked, their bodies and mana could not improve.
They could only remain at the same level while helping their master.
To Kang Ha-min, they already possessed complete and overwhelming strength.
But even Baek Cheon-myeong and Siriel, with all their power, had ultimately failed to conquer the Tower.
That meant their inability to grow would eventually become an obstacle.
Baek Cheon-myeong understood that very well.
That was why he called it a weakness.
"But just now, the Eternal Tombstone allowed our abilities, which had stopped growing, to improve again."
"...Isn't that a good thing?"
"Yes, just as you said, it is a good thing. Once we became corpses, growth was something that should have been absolutely impossible for us."
Ah.
Now Kang Ha-min understood.
Baek Cheon-myeong's strange expression came from the fact that he still couldn't quite believe it.
He had already reached a level of seemingly complete strength.
Yet even with that strength, he had failed to conquer the Tower.
His longing to climb the Tower.
His guilt toward the disciple he had lost inside it.
Those things made up Baek Cheon-myeong's entire existence.
And now, Baek Cheon-myeong had experienced growth once again.
A thrill he had thought he would never experience again in his life swept through him.
For the first time, genuine excitement appeared in Baek Cheon-myeong's eyes.
Kang Ha-min had never seen him show such intense emotion before.
"I feel the same way as the Heavenly Slaughter Star. It has been so long since I experienced growth that I couldn't quite believe it."
Even Siriel was having trouble accepting what had happened.
Kang Ha-min finally understood how extraordinary the Eternal Tombstone was.
"That tombstone has been connected to Master ever since it appeared."
"You can feel that?"
"We are Master's corpses, so we are naturally more sensitive to such things. I believe the stronger Master becomes, the more power we will receive."
In other words,
"If I become stronger, the two of you become stronger too. Is that what you're saying?"
"Correct."
Kang Ha-min couldn't help feeling amazed.
Wasn't that beyond unfair?
S Rank Hunters.
Tower Ascenders.
Returnees.
Baek Cheon-myeong had crushed all kinds of powerful opponents with his own strength.
And if someone like Baek Cheon-myeong could become even stronger,
Just how far...
How far could he go?
Kang Ha-min couldn't even imagine it.
"Therefore, Master, what you must do is clear."
But the moment Kang Ha-min heard those words, he had a bad feeling.
Why had Baek Cheon-myeong brought up this subject in the first place?
Beyond his eyes,
his desire to become stronger was clearly visible.
And that bad feeling...
"...What exactly do I have to do?"
"Training."
...was never wrong.
Kang Ha-min was already sick of it.
But Baek Cheon-myeong had always been obsessed with training.
Now that he had discovered he could become stronger himself,
there was no way he could hold back.
And on top of that,
"I agree! My becoming stronger means Lord will be safer! And Lord becoming stronger also means Lord will be safer! You absolutely must become stronger!"
Unlike usual, even Siriel was actively supporting the idea.
The opportunity to become stronger was a tremendous one for her too.
"...Don't Hunters become stronger by climbing the Tower?"
"Being able to use your power properly is a separate matter. You already know that the quality of mana differs regardless of Level, don't you?"
I know.
Of course I know.
Unable to hide his bitterness, Kang Ha-min obediently stood up.
The endless cycle of training.
He had gained a reason that made it absolutely necessary to keep running on that training wheel.
This was a fate he could not escape.
"...Let's at least rest for thirty minutes after eating."
Exercising immediately after a meal would give him indigestion...
It was his last peaceful moment before training.
Beneath the World Tree that towered over the Heavenly Spirit Medicinal Forest,
Kang Ha-min had collapsed after training until he could no longer move.
Ever since he obtained the Eternal Tombstone,
the stronger Kang Ha-min became, the stronger the other two could become.
Baek Cheon-myeong was climbing the Tower.
Who would have thought that the best way to support him would be through training?
Swordsmanship wasn't even supposed to be part of my life.
He had already intended to learn swordsmanship from Baek Cheon-myeong,
but ever since Baek Cheon-myeong discovered that he could become stronger too, his training had become even harsher.
Thanks to that, Kang Ha-min was quickly improving his swordsmanship fundamentals.
Unfortunately, his stamina was being completely drained in the process.
"I really can't do any more! I mean it! Let's stop here!"
"Hmm."
Baek Cheon-myeong looked disappointed.
But Kang Ha-min raised both hands in surrender.
If he trained any longer, he really would die.
Even Baek Cheon-myeong couldn't ignore such a desperate plea.
"Very well. We shall stop here. I have to enter the Tower anyway."
Did this man never sleep?
Ah, he was a corpse.
He genuinely didn't need to sleep.
"Master, make sure you continue taking the Elixirs I prepared. Even though you've undergone Body Reformation and Rejuvenation, the medicinal herbs from the Heavenly Spirit Medicinal Forest will still help you."
If I don't eat them, he'll probably force-feed them to me.
Kang Ha-min obediently put the Elixirs he had been given into his mouth.
Bitter.
So terribly bitter.
"Seriously, that Heavenly Slaughter Star is far too rude to Lord!"
Meanwhile, Siriel approached and diligently wiped the sweat from Kang Ha-min's face.
She said that, but she wasn't trying to stop the training either.
After all,
"Now it's my turn!"
She was making him train just as much.
Their own strength was important, but the ultimate duty of the corpses was to protect their master, the Gravekeeper.
Kang Ha-min becoming stronger was necessary for that purpose too.
Even Kang Ha-min couldn't deny it, which said everything.
Fortunately, today was the perfect day to use an excuse.
Now that his Rejuvenation was over and his body had fully grown,
Siriel had said that his growth was complete.
That meant he needed to buy some clothes.
No matter what, he couldn't go around without anything to wear.
"Wait a minute. Let's buy some clothes first!"
He genuinely didn't have any spare clothes left.
He had only managed to get by because he had previously bought some clothes in larger sizes.
But he had finally reached his limit.
"Lord, may I walk around outside your shadow this time?"
Did she want to see the world?
Siriel looked at him with sparkling eyes as she made her request.
He was weak against that kind of expression.
Well, Siriel looked no different from an ordinary person.
Ever since the Great Hunter Era began, there had been plenty of people with unusual hair and eye colors.
People might think she was a foreigner, but they wouldn't find her strange.
"All right. Let's go shopping together, Ms. Siriel."
"Wow! I'd love that!"
It would be nice to have someone else's opinion while buying clothes.
"What about you, Mr. Baek Cheon-myeong?"
"I shall go to the Tower."
As expected.
In the first place, with Siriel by his side, there was no danger to worry about.
That was why Baek Cheon-myeong didn't insist on accompanying him.
Although the two constantly bickered, they acknowledged each other's abilities.
"There is also something I want to check personally."
"Is it related to the Third Floor Realm?"
"Yes. In my experience, this type of realm tends to become troublesome toward the end."
Baek Cheon-myeong had been traveling through the apocalyptic world of the Third Floor Realm.
Since he was speaking from experience, it would be wise to keep his warning in mind.
"Then we'll be heading out."
It had been a while since Kang Ha-min last went shopping.
He put on a long T-shirt and a pair of jeans he had previously bought in the wrong length.
The T-shirt was originally oversized, but because his build had improved, it had become a tight-fitting shirt.
I'm really glad I at least have these.
He needed to buy several sets of properly fitting clothes as soon as possible.
"Wow! Lord, you're so handsome!"
At least he appreciated Siriel's compliments.
Now, where should they go to buy clothes?
The clothing stores inside a large nearby supermarket would probably be the most convenient.
Riiiiing!
Just as he was thinking about it, his phone suddenly began ringing.
The number on the screen was unfamiliar.
Hmm. Is it spam?
He pressed the reject button.
But the phone immediately rang again.
Why is this spam caller so persistent?
Having no other choice, he finally answered.
"Hey, Kang Ha-min!"
An angry voice rang out from the other end of the call.
"Why the hell did you hang up on me? Have you lost your mind?"
Hmm, let's see.
"Do Baek-ho?"
The caller was Do Baek-ho.
He was the same Do Baek-ho who had suffered a terrible humiliation at Kang Ha-min's hands not long ago.
Whenever Kang Ha-min remembered that incident, he couldn't help chuckling, even in his sleep.
"You bastard! You haven't forgotten that you ripped my designer clothes, have you? Do you have any idea how expensive they were?"
Ah, of course I remember.
It was difficult to forget such a ridiculous sight.
More importantly, had he actually asked their old classmates for Kang Ha-min's phone number just to call him about this?
He really was unbelievably persistent.
Still, Kang Ha-min did feel sorry for ripping his clothes.
"Sorry. I'll buy you another one. How much was it?"
"Ha! What kind of money does a pathetic civil servant like you have to act so confident?"
I'm not even a civil servant anymore.
But saying that would only give Do Baek-ho something else to use against him.
"And listen, you idiot! That was a premium item, and there are only a few of them in the entire country! Do you think you can buy everything with money?"
"Then what do you want me to do?"
He had already apologized for ripping the clothes.
He had even offered compensation.
When Kang Ha-min asked what more he wanted, Do Baek-ho ground his teeth.
"Come to Flode Department Store right now. I'll make sure I get everything you owe me there!"
With that, Do Baek-ho hung up.
He really had nothing better to do in the middle of the day.
Hmm. Well...
"Ms. Siriel, let's go to a department store."
"What's a department store, Lord?"
Ah, so we have to start from there.
