The Saint Who Levels Up Through Necromancy

[Translator - Hestia]

[Proofreader - Kaya]

Chapter 81: Executioner Im Jaebaek (3)

-Kaaaaaw!

-Kaw!

A school of Skalar swam through the ocean.

[Changed Scara → Skalar]

Their numbers, which had numbered only 16 when they destroyed the Seagull Group's ship, had now swelled to a force of 79.

"Excuse me, sir."

"Speak."

"I'm grateful for the rescue, but aren't we staying on this island a bit too long?"

Im Jaebaek, though hesitant, managed to voice his concerns.

When they sank the armed vessel, he thought they would immediately escape this cursed island.

However...

Yoojin was leisurely hunting Bloodfin Salmon.

[Life Drain activated.]

He strengthened his abilities with the stolen life force.

[Dead Rise activated.]

[Flesh Control activated.]

[Bone Armor activated.]

[Dark Blood activated.]

And from the corpses of the Bloodfin Salmon, he crafted Skalar.

Having been stranded on the island for almost half a day, Im Jaebaek and the other debtors were understandably parched.

"Don't worry. They won't be able to come here."

Yoojin said calmly.

The area surrounding the island was entirely an Erosion Zone, in other words, the domain of the Bloodfin Salmon.

Guarding a ship while hunting underwater monsters?

One would need to be at least a high-ranking Awakened to even attempt such a feat, and the Seagull Group didn't have a single hunter who surpassed 5 Stars.

"Even if their boss came personally, it wouldn't be possible."

"They must know that too. If there are onions present, the Bloodfin Salmon—"

"It'd be even better if they came. We have the advantage in a naval battle."

-Kaaaaaw!

One of the Skalar responded to Yoojin's words.

'Speaking of which, this is quite fortunate. To think I'd discover an Erosion Zone teeming with Bloodfin Salmon.'

〔Is there a particular reason?〕

'Revenants or Skalar, such as these undead, require specific conditions for their creation.'

There aren't many undead, like Armored Zombies & Skeletons, that can be strengthened simply with a corpse.

This is because the method to awaken the inherent power differs depending on the rank of the undead and the corpse that serves as its base.

Bloodfin Salmon were, so to speak, cost-effective materials for modification, with undemanding enhancement conditions and outstanding results.

'If I deploy these guys around Yeonpyeong Island, even the human hunters won't be able to approach.'

〔Hmm. So you crafted the maximum number of undead with that in mind.〕

'If I had brought the sacred relic, I could have made more.'

Tsk—

The powerful moss growing around the island.

Although it's not as profitable as bloodstones, it's a by-product with considerable monetary value.

‘Right now, I was able to enter easily by pretending to be a debtor. But it won't be so easy when I come back again. It can't be helped. 79 is more than enough.'

Marine monsters have an extremely low appearance rate.

‘I should consider myself lucky to have encountered monsters like Bloodfin Salmon that don't have demanding modification conditions.’

Satisfied with the unexpected harvest, Yoojin rose from his spot.

"Tell them to get ready to return."

"Okay."

"Oh, by the way, does anyone know how to steer a ship?"

At the casually thrown question, Im Jaebaek's eyes widened in surprise, and he ran towards the debtors.

Hmm.

‘Never mind a ship, I don't even know how to drive a car. They'll figure it out.’

＊ ＊ ＊

Three fishing boats headed west.

The debtors, standing on the decks, looked ahead with uneasy expressions.

-Kaaaaaw!

A Skalar with a rope tied around its neck.

The monstrous creature that had shattered the Seagull Group's ship was now pulling the fishing boats.

"Can we really trust these monsters?"

"What if he decides to toss us overboard as a snack?"

"What else can we do? We have no other choice."

All the crew members who knew how to operate the fishing boats had died in the battle.

No one among those who had been docked at the island could steer the ships.

-May I have a word with you?

Im Jaebaek had requested that the Skalar pull the boats.

Yoojin, who had thought of the same method, smiled faintly and adopted the suggestion.

After harnessing the Skalar, they began their voyage to land.

Im Jaebaek passed by the murmuring debtors.

He approached Yoojin, who was enjoying the sea view from the bow (front) of the small fishing boat.

"I was in a state of panic earlier. I will definitely repay your kindness for saving me."

"Don't forget that feeling."

Yoojin gave a short chuckle at Im Jaebaek's expression of gratitude.

"But the story you wanted to share with me..."

"You're impatient. Let's talk slowly in a quiet place."

"I'm sorry to say this, but I think I'll have to leave as soon as we reach land."

"Is it because of your brother?"

Suspicion flickered in Im Jaebaek's eyes.

It was the same when they first landed on the island.

He was aware that Yoojin's objective was him.

Nevertheless...

Knowing about his brother's situation tightened the tension that had slightly loosened, making Im Jaebaek wary again.

〔Contractor. Your earlier remark seems careless.〕

'Trying to speak indirectly would be endless.'

Yoojin knew about the executioner who had gained notoriety before his return.

He hadn't seen him directly, but the hunter was so infamous that he had heard about him even though he didn't want to.

Based on that information, he had come to find the Seagull Group's labor camp.

'I can't explain all of this to him.'

〔Even so, how do you intend to recruit someone so wary?〕

'True sincerity always gets through.'

〔Hahaha. That's an uncharacteristic statement from you.〕

Yoojin pushed aside Kronos's thoughts.

"I'm not going to explain how I found out about your problem and your brother's situation."

"...."

"But I can solve it."

No answer came.

Sharp eyes, filled with suspicion, stared directly at Yoojin.

"You'll find out when we return to land."

"...Let's continue this conversation elsewhere."

The Skalar group, instead of heading towards the harbor where they had picked up the debtors, moved a little further north.

"We came from that way. Why are we passing it?"

"If you want to fight the Seagull Group, I'll let you off."

"Ah, uh..."

The debtor, flinching at Yoojin's threat, shut his mouth.

Tsk—

‘No brains at all. It would be one thing if it were just the Seagull Group, but the Nachal Guild is also highly likely to get involved.'

He didn't have the [Oak Staff Imbued with Lightning] or any other sacred relics in this situation.

Excluding Song Myeongseok, all of his undead minions were Skalar, who could only operate underwater.

The number he could command without the aid of the two artifacts was a mere 80.

〔Couldn't you just cancel the summoning when fighting on land?〕

'A corpse that has been turned into an undead cannot be resurrected.'

How hard had it been to obtain these Skalar?

The marine undead would be the core of Yeonpyeong Island's defense.

In the future he had read with [Memento], hadn't the human hunters eventually landed on Yeonpyeong Island and subdued the Relics?

He had left it to Fafnir, so it might be fine for the time being, but...

Additional measures were necessary at this point.

'I must not lose a single one.'

Even if other undead were destroyed, he could just create them again.

However, unless he completely drove out the Seagull Group and the Nachal Guild, obtaining more Bloodfin Salmon corpses would be impossible for the time being.

Hmm.

‘Should I ask the Black Market to find me some marine monster corpses?’

Even before returning, Yoojin often requested the necessary corpses from them.

A clash with the human hunters was inevitable.

It would be good to start preparing now.

While gazing at the sea and organizing his future plans in his head...

"A-A harbor!"

"We're finally saved!!"

"Liberated from those bastards!!!"

The cheers of the debtors, who had spotted the harbor shimmering beyond the horizon, echoed in his ears.

＊ ＊ ＊

Yoojin docked the boat on a shore teeming with tripods.

He couldn't enter the harbor with the Skalar still tethered to the boats.

"Thank you. Thank you very much."

"We won't forget this kindness!"

The debtors scattered.

They had nothing in common other than being captured by the Seagull Group and forced into labor.

It would be better for them to act individually rather than in a group.

"Shall we go then?"

Without waiting for a reply, Yoojin strode forward.

Im Jaebaek followed with a dubious expression.

They borrowed a phone from a village near the coast and immediately contacted Madam.

-Debtor-nim. Was the matter resolved smoothly?

"Don't say that when I reek of the sea."

-Hoho. It was quite an interesting request for me.

"How many people would sell themselves to a debt collector?"

Yoojin gave a self-deprecating laugh and asked her to send the vehicle, clothes, and other items he had prepared in advance.

-It will arrive within an hour.

"I didn't even tell you where I am."

-Hoho. You know location tracking is basic, right?

She had personnel on standby near Busan, waiting for Yoojin's contact.

She was a person with impeccable preparedness.

"What about the separate request?"

-That has been taken care of as well.

"Good."

-When will you be arriving? I'll make preparations.

"I'll head up right away."

Yoojin hung up the phone and glanced back.

"Did you come to the island on purpose?"

"Yes. To recruit you to our company."

"Company?"

"Black Company. I'm planning a coalition of various businesses."

It was the draft of the business alliance he had discussed with the Little Runts team and Shin Joonseok.

After listening to Yoojin's explanation, Im Jaebaek responded in a dumbfounded, deflated voice.

"You had me in mind as a member of that business?"

"That's right. Thanks to you, I had to go through some trouble."

"I'm not that valuable."

"It's not up to you to judge your value, Im Jaebaek-ssi."

The ominous nickname, "The Executioner."

Having reached the 7 Star level, he possessed useful qualities as a Hunter.

Moreover...

There was one more reason why Yoojin had his eye on Im Jaebaek.

"I know you founded Fruitful Ventures. That takes a sharp mind, wouldn't you say?"

"...Didn't expect you to know about that."

"I have a knack for spotting talent. It's one of my strengths."

"That's all in the past."

The story of a promising young entrepreneur being backstabbed by his co-founder.

Well, it was a common story, if anything.

"I need your skills. We can negotiate the compensation."

"I'm sorry, but I have things to do."

"Are you refusing without even hearing what kind of work it is?"

"I will repay the favor of helping me escape the island. But... not right now."

Im Jaebaek bowed his head and tried to turn away.

"How do you plan to leave this village?"

"I'll carpool or run on foot."

"You don't even know where this village is."

His belongings had been confiscated when he entered the island.

Im Jaebaek didn't even have a cell phone, a necessity for modern people.

"My companions will be here in an hour. I'll drop you off in Busan."

"...I'm indebted to you again."

Unable to find any more excuses to refuse, Im Jaebaek gave in.

Yoojin chuckled and sat down on a nearby rock.

An hour later.

A military Humvee drove into the village along a small road between the rice paddies.

"She provided a sturdy one."

He could sense the mana waves emanating from the Humvee.

The vehicle's durability was already tremendous, but the exterior had been further reinforced with magic.

A simple fireball would barely scratch it.

The mercenary who got out of the car immediately approached Yoojin and bowed his head.

"Yoojin-nim. I've come to pick you up."

"Didn't a guest come with you?"

"Yes."

"Tell him I'd like to see him for a moment. There's someone I want to introduce him to."

Clunk—

The back door opened.

The moment a man who appeared to be in his mid-20s got out of the car...

"Brother?"

"Jae... Jaeyoung?"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Im Jaebaek's hardened face, which had been filled with vigilance, crumbled.

＊ ＊ ＊

After being backstabbed by his supposed friend and co-founder, Im Jaebaek's life spiraled downwards.

He tried to start new businesses, but they all failed.

He was barely scraping by, paying off the interest on his debts when he awakened as a Hunter.

'Now I can finally repay everything.'

However...

-Oh dear, you've spent quite a bit of money on your businesses, haven't you? We'll hold onto your brother for a while, so you'll have to work for us.

The Seagull Group kidnapped his brother, using his debt as leverage.

They threatened to keep his brother unless he agreed to four years of forced labor, a threat he was forced to accept.

Even though he spent half his time collecting potent moss, his spirit remained unbroken.

'I'll survive this, somehow. I'll escape and save my brother.'

He couldn't trust the Seagull Group's words.

To begin with, surviving for four years in that place, constantly threatened by Bloodfin Salmon attacks, seemed impossible.

After long observation, Im Jaebaek figured out why the Seagull Group remained safe from the monsters.

'When they let their guard down, I'll escape.'

But what was this?

-You can call me Cheon Yoojin.

One of the newly arrived debtors summoned a monster, easily defeating a 4 Star Hunter.

He raised the dead and sank the Seagull Group's prized armed vessel.

Even escaping the island, which he had only dreamed of...

'He's done so much for me, but I can't blindly trust him.'

Being betrayed by someone close to him once was enough.

Moreover...

This mysterious man who had saved him knew his name and even his circumstances.

He was grateful, but he couldn't help but be wary.

Once distrust takes root in the heart, it's not easily shaken off.

'For now, I need to focus on saving my brother!'

The Seagull Group must be in disarray now.

This was his best chance to rescue his brother!

He was waiting for the vehicle with that single thought in mind when...

"What are you doing here?"

The moment he saw his only remaining family, Im Jaeyoung, emerge from the Humvee, the wariness in his heart crumbled.

[Translator - Hestia

[Proofreader - Kaya]

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