War

This guy was so scared he couldn't even move.

The thought of whether I should kill him or not crossed my mind. If my temporary buff wore off, he would become a threat again and try to kill me and Elina.

I couldn't afford to waste time.

After a few seconds of staring at him, I finally decided what to do.

“I'll ask you a few questions. Answer them honestly.”

“Y-Yes…”

“How did you come to this world?”

“I-I was summoned out of nowhere… It was five months ago…”

“How much do you know about the system?”

“T-The system…? Oh, y-you mean the r-ruler of wo—”

Thwash!

“Shit—!”

Blood splattered all over my clothes as his head burst open from the inside.

I immediately started searching the surrounding area but couldn't see anyone.

Who could do this?

— + —

[You Have Successfully Defeated The First Otherworlder]

— + —

Defeated? He was literally killed right in front of me.

— + —

[Temporary Buff Has Worn Off]

[Strength: lvl ??? → lvl 15]

[Agility: lvl ??? → lvl 1]

[Stamina: lvl ??? → lvl 1]

[Endurance: lvl ??? → lvl 1]

— + —

[LEVEL UP +112]

[Strength: lvl 15 → lvl 40]

[Agility: lvl 1 → lvl 30]

[Stamina: lvl 1 → lvl 30]

[Endurance: lvl 1 → lvl 30]

— + —

Level up? Does this mean I level up by killing people?

Absurd. It was totally absurd.

And yet, I thought I knew who was behind this.

It was most likely the girl who kept talking in my head.

Elina told me she had seen her. I needed to explain all of this to her in case she saw her again.

— + —

[Congratulations! You Have Unlocked The Skill: Rise of the Dead]

— + —

“...”

Was this delayed information?

In any case, this was my chance to test out the skill.

I approached the lifeless body. I hesitated at first but finally decided to try it out.

“Get up.”

…

“Dude, get up.”

…

“Sigh… Fine, I'll say it.”

“Arise.”

Hhsshhh… wrnnn…

The headless body slowly sank into the ground, and a new, complete version of him emerged.

He knelt before me.

Everything about him was the same, from his head to his toes. The only difference was his pitch-black eyes.

— + —

[Successfully Harvested the Soul of the First Otherworlder]

[Congratulations! You Have Unlocked the Role: Necromancer]

[Give a Name: _________ ]

— + —

I get to give him a name?

I guess I'll call him…

“Shadow.”

— ✦ —

By the time I returned to Elina, she was already awake, sitting on the bed.

“…You're here!”

She jumped up the moment she saw me.

“I was so worried!”

She hugged me desperately, as if I had returned from the dead.

Well… technically, I had.

Her face looked like she was about to cry.

“I thought I lost you too…”

“When did I become that important?”

“Shut up.”

Obviously, she pouted at my words.

“Well, I’ve got a long, weird-ass story to dump on you. Got a minute?”

“Does it look like I’m busy?”

So, I explained everything—the system, how my quantum manipulation skill had been sealed, and everything else that had happened in a single day.

She was shocked.

I also asked her how she managed to hold her ground against Shadow for so long.

Her response was… unexpected.

“I don't know… I don't remember anything…”

I smiled softly at her.

“It’s okay. Thank you.”

She nodded and went back to bed.

— ✦ —

The next day, we prepared to set off for the Demon Kingdom.

But before we started our journey, I wanted to test something.

“Come forth, Shadow.”

Wrnn…

I wanted to test my strength against him.

Even now, he might still be stronger than me.

“Don’t hesitate—counter me.”

I lunged forward and aimed a punch at his jaw.

Vwump!

Shadow blocked it effortlessly with one hand.

Then, he pulled me in and landed a swift kick on my arm.

“It’s enough.”

Shadow nodded and disappeared into the ground.

I had undoubtedly grown stronger… but still not enough to dodge his attacks.

“Kazuki! We’re leaving!”

“Coming!”

The entire village came to see us off—especially Elina.

She hadn’t returned in a decade.

“Come again, okay?”

“I will.”

Of course, I was ignored like I didn’t even exist.

“Shall we get going?”

— ✦ —

“The wait is finally over… he’s back.”

All the demons bowed in respect—including the Demon King.

Thump… Thump…

Footsteps echoed through the hallway as a figure clad in black knight armor approached the throne.

His suffocating black aura was proof of his tremendous strength.

The Demon King stepped forward.

“My lord, I’ve prepared the soldiers as you requested.”

“...”

“My lord?”

“Have they left the Elven Kingdom?”

“Yes, my lord. They have already departed.”

The figure clenched his fists.

“Be extremely cautious.”

He sat on the throne, narrowing his eyes.

“That man… is not ordinary.”

The Demon King bowed once more and left the throne room.

“Sigh… You heard the lord. Go and relay the message to the soldiers.”

“Yes, sir!”

The demon general saluted and left.

The Demon King gritted his teeth.

“This brat…! I had to revive the first Demon King because of him…!”