The smell hit first.
Iron. Rot. Old water that had never seen sunlight.
Min-jun stood at the edge of the restricted alley, hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets. A temporary warning barrier flickered faintly in front of him—yellow tape, Association mark, and the words:
[UNDER CLEANUP – LOW PRIORITY]
Low priority.
Which meant bodies had been found, but not enough to alarm the city.
Min-jun swallowed.
*So this is where it starts…*
Behind him, someone cleared their throat.
"You sure about this?"
Seo-ah stood a few steps back, arms crossed. Her face was calm, but her eyes were sharp—always watching exits, corners, shadows.
"I won't cross the barrier," Min-jun said quickly. "I just need to… confirm something."
She studied him for a long moment. "You're looking for corpses."
He didn't deny it.
"…Yes."
Seo-ah sighed, rubbing her temple. "You necromancers really don't waste time."
That word again.
Necromancer.
It still felt strange hearing it spoken out loud.
Min-jun stepped closer to the barrier. The air beyond it felt colder, heavier—like the alley itself was holding its breath.
A translucent blue window appeared.
[Skill Activated: Death Sense (Passive)]
[Undead-viable remains detected]
[Quality: Low → Moderate]
[Condition: Partial]
His heart thudded.
*It's real.*
He clenched his jaw. "There are at least two."
Seo-ah stiffened. "Two what?"
"Usable corpses."
Silence fell between them.
Somewhere deeper in the alley, water dripped slowly. Plink. Plink.
Seo-ah finally spoke. "…You're shaking."
Min-jun glanced down. His hands were trembling.
"I know," he admitted. "I thought it wouldn't matter. They're already dead, right?"
"But now?" she asked softly.
He exhaled. "Now it feels like I'm crossing a line."
She didn't mock him. Didn't scold him either.
"That line was crossed the moment the world gave you power," she said. "The question is whether you look away… or look straight at it."
Min-jun stared at the flickering barrier.
His phone buzzed again.
Unknown Number.
He ignored it.
*Strong corpses,* the system had said.
Not clean ones.
Not willing ones.
Just strong.
"…I won't do it today," he said suddenly.
Seo-ah blinked. "Hm?"
"I need time," he continued, voice low. "If I rush this, I'll break something inside me that won't come back."
A faint smile tugged at her lips. "Good choice."
He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
That night, Min-jun dreamed.
He stood in a vast black field.
Skeletons rose one by one from the ground—basic, warriors, archers, elites. They didn't move. They only stared at him.
Then one stepped forward.
Taller. Broader.
Its bones were dark, etched with faint crimson lines. Its eye sockets burned with pale blue fire.
[Commander Skeleton]
It knelt.
Not in submission.
In acknowledgment.
Min-jun woke up drenched in sweat.
The system window hovered calmly above him.
[Player Profile]
Name: Kang Min-jun
Level: 11
Class: Necromancer (Common)
HP: 260 / 260
Mana: 580 / 580
Strength: 13
Agility: 14
Vitality: 18
Intelligence: 31
Luck: 9
Passive Skills:
– Death Sense
– Mana Affinity (Undead)
Active Skills:
– Raise Skeleton (Lv. 2)
– Skeleton Storage (Expanded)
Skeleton Hierarchy:
Basic Skeleton x1
Warrior Skeleton x1
Elite Skeleton (Unstable) x1
New Notification blinked softly.
[Hidden Condition Progress Updated]
[Path Toward Commander Skeleton: 12%]
Min-jun stared at it, chest tight.
"…So it's not about rushing," he murmured. "It's about understanding."
From the storage space, he felt it—the elite skeleton, restless, incomplete.
"You're waiting too," he whispered.
In the living room, his mother coughed lightly in her sleep.
In the next room, Ji-ho mumbled something incoherent, turning over.
Min-jun clenched his fist.
"I won't lose myself," he said quietly. "No matter how strong I become."
Outside, somewhere far away, another dungeon gate began to form.
And this time—
Min-jun knew he would step through it by choice.