Magic Is Learned For Nothing [EN]: Chapter 248

Lucky Day (1)

The Necromancer Shuttle had set up shop deep in the mountains. Like most necromancers, he was short and, let’s just say, aesthetically challenged.

It’s a common perception that:

Most necromancers are small and frail. Many are sociopaths and murderers. They are often reviled for their, shall we say, less-than-appealing appearances.

Is it just a rumor?

No.

Their appearances are indeed… striking.

Why are they so… uniquely featured? Is it from botched experiments? No. The answer is easy to find if you look at their backgrounds.

Most necromancers were bullied from a young age. They are small, frail, and possess gloomy personalities, making them easy targets for abuse.

They were often the errand boys for the neighborhood bullies.

As they grow up, they nurture resentment in their hearts. They constantly fantasize about creatively dispatching those who wronged them.

In other words, they are often victims of circumstance.

The Shuttle was no different.

He was the fifth of nine children, born to tenant farmers who barely scraped by. He was perpetually hungry. He couldn’t fathom why his parents, struggling as they were, had so many children.

They all lived in a single room.

The children all slept together in that one room.

His grandparents were also there. And his mother kept getting pregnant with more siblings.

He was aware of everything.

He was just amazed at how frequently his mother conceived. Was his father part rabbit, perhaps?

Anyway, because his family was so impoverished, the Shuttle had to work from a young age.

But people exploited him. They often didn’t pay him. When he asked for his due, they would claim his work was substandard and even resort to physical violence.

On those days, the Shuttle went hungry.

Because there was no money for food, his siblings also suffered.

His grandfather and father would beat him for not earning enough.

One day-

He was sold into servitude.

Under the pretense of saving his younger siblings.

But the Shuttle knew the truth. He knew he was sold off because he was considered the least valuable, the ugliest.

After that, the Shuttle endured suffering that felt like a living death. Until a necromancer bought him for a mere 1 gold coin, he could hardly claim to be alive.

That’s why a profound bitterness took root in the Shuttle’s heart.

The necromancer who became his master recognized that darkness.

And now-

The Shuttle had become a 6th Circle necromancer [a powerful rank]. He sat on his throne, gazing with satisfaction at the undead army he had raised.

100 skeleton soldiers.

50 skeleton archers.

25 skeleton mages.

3 ghost steeds.

Three Dullahan [headless horsemen from Irish folklore] riding the ghost steeds, the Shuttle’s most formidable force.

Two ghost birds, serving as scouts.

With this much power, he could obliterate those sons of bitches in the territory who had oppressed him.

At least-

He could turn everyone in the village where he was born and raised into zombies, leaving no one alive.

His parents and siblings? His grandparents?

To hell with them. What had they ever done for him?

He’d survived this far through his own efforts.

Now it was time to show them the extent of his suffering.

“Heh heh heh.”

The Shuttle straightened his back and stood up from the throne.

Even standing, he was only about 160 centimeters tall [approximately 5’3″]. He had endured so much hardship that his back was already hunched over, despite not even being forty. Leaning on a staff, he resembled an old man from a distance.

His eyes, deeply shadowed by the black hood, were filled with resentment.

Now he would demonstrate his power!

He would make everyone kneel before him!

He would turn them all into zombies and make them do his bidding like dogs!

“All troops!”

The Shuttle raised his staff. The jewel on the staff emitted an ominous light.

-Krrr.

-Clatter, clatter.

It was a pity. The skeleton soldiers were too unintelligent to articulate anything meaningful.

It would be beneficial if they could provide a morale boost like humans at times like this. But all they could utter was ‘Krrr’ and ‘Clatter, clatter.’

“Slaughter all the humans! Advance!”

-Clatter!

The skeleton soldiers were slowly turning to leave the dungeon when-

Kukukukung!

With a flash of light, dozens of skeletons that he had painstakingly raised evaporated.

It was an immense heat.

The Shuttle involuntarily raised his hand to shield his face. Even with a barrier, he couldn’t withstand the intense heat.

“W-what is it?”

The Shuttle stared at the dungeon entrance with a shocked expression.

Kukukukung!

The dungeon entrance was completely collapsing. He saw two men and one woman entering through the collapsing entrance, unharmed.

What tremendous power.

The rocks that crushed the skeleton soldiers in one blow were bouncing off their barriers and scattering in all directions.

Especially those two guys.

He sensed a very dangerous aura from the fierce-looking guy with the pigtails.

His master, the necromancer, had once summoned the Hell Queen Monsenger to burn the dying world. It was the first time he had ever felt such a vicious aura of evil. She had swallowed his master’s soul in one gulp and returned to hell.

Her reason was, ‘Your magic isn’t strong enough to keep me in the middle realm.’

Now, the Shuttle felt the same emotion he had felt when he saw the Hell Queen Monsenger.

It was fear, dread, and despair.

He immediately recognized that they were beings he couldn’t handle.

Most necromancers are quick to assess threats.

Having been on the receiving end since childhood, they instinctively recognize the difference between the strong and the weak.

That… individual is unimaginably powerful.

Someone he couldn’t dare to approach.

But it wasn’t over yet.

That man in iron armor.

What in the world is he?

If the other one is incredibly strong…

The man in iron armor was someone he couldn’t even meet the gaze of. The Shuttle was on the verge of kneeling without conscious thought.

“No!”

He didn’t know who they were, but he couldn’t collapse so pathetically.

That’s right, he had the Dullahan.

“Go! Go and show those guys what you’re made of!”

The Shuttle gave the order, and the three Dullahan charged at the men with terrifying screams.

Kukukukukung!

“T-this can’t be…”

The Shuttle couldn’t close his gaping mouth.

It only took one strike. The three Dullahan, whom he had dedicated his life to summoning, were shattered in a single blow.

The Dullahan’s stats are quite high among the undead.

Combining the three Dullahan would make them a match for the legendary Dark Knight of the undead world.

Complete immunity to magic below the 4th Circle.

Barely affected by Mana Blades.

Their regeneration is also amazing, so they wouldn’t even flinch if an arm or leg was severed.

And yet, those Dullahan…

Disappeared without a trace in a single blow.

The opponent was so powerful that he couldn’t even begin to comprehend their strength.

The iron-clad man.

Legion approached the Shuttle.

The immense pressure emanating from the massive iron armor, over 2 meters tall [approximately 6’7″], weighed down on the small and frail Shuttle’s shoulders.

He tried to look up, but his instincts screamed, ‘Lower your eyes, you fool.’ The Shuttle had no choice but to obey his instincts.

Legion stared at the Shuttle with an indifferent expression.

‘This guy is actually kind of handsome, isn’t he?’ he thought.

-Ah, is that charm skill affecting even men now?

Mark grumbled.

Regardless, the Shuttle’s heart was about to explode.

He imagined the opponent was contemplating his fate. He might even be obliterated without a trace, like the Dullahan.

‘I was a fool.’

Suddenly realizing the gravity of the situation, the Shuttle knelt on both knees on the floor. He slammed his forehead against the ground and shouted.

“Oh, nameless hero! What brings you to my humble abode?”

The Shuttle believed he had knelt out of fear of the iron-clad man.

But that wasn’t the only reason.

The Dark Lord is the lord of darkness.

His absolute power affects all those who dabble in dark magic. It has the power to compel them to submit without conscious thought. That’s why the Shuttle’s will was broken before he could even mount a proper defense.

“I’ve come to borrow a horse.”

Kim Sang-sa’s voice, returned from the depths, flowed from Legion’s mouth.

Thanks to the Dark Lord’s power, Kim Sang-sa’s voice became even more sinister and bleak.

The Shuttle trembled and prostrated himself on the floor.

‘Who in the world is this guy?’

‘Has a demon lord descended?’

But he didn’t dare to ask Legion his true identity.

“W-what kind of horse are you talking about? As you can see, I am a necromancer. I don’t raise horses.”

“I don’t want a living horse. I want a ghost steed.”

“A ghost steed?”

“Yes, do you have one?”

“Ah, yes. I have three.”

“May I take one? I will… compensate you.”

What kind of compensation was he talking about?

Was the guy who was offering compensation the same one who had demolished his dungeon and slaughtered his skeleton soldiers and Dullahan?

Of course, the Shuttle wasn’t foolish enough to voice such thoughts.

“They are over there. You can take any one you like. No compensation is necessary.”

The Shuttle forced his trembling heart to calm down and pointed towards the ghost steeds.

They were ghost steeds created for the Dullahan to ride.

They were much larger than ordinary warhorses and exuded an overwhelming presence. Perhaps because they were ghost steeds, the eerie aura and blue light they emitted created a dreamlike atmosphere.

Legion approached the ghost steeds.

The three ghost steeds sensed Legion’s immense power and neighed wildly.

Moreover, two of them were terrified and attempted to flee.

But surprisingly, one of them met Legion’s eyes and burned with a fighting spirit.

“Oh, quite impressive.”

Legion smiled.

-Krrr.

Perhaps disliking Legion’s smile, the ghost steed raised its front hooves high and attacked Legion menacingly.

“Impressive, but you seem to have a stubborn streak.”

Legion punched the ghost steed’s face.

The ghost steed’s large body spun around and crashed into the wall. The ghost steed was so surprised that its ferocious demeanor vanished, replaced by fear.

Indeed, whether it’s people or horses, sometimes a firm hand is needed.

Legion, believing he had tamed the ghost steed, approached it.

-Flap, flap.

The ghost steed’s movements became as swift as a new recruit reporting for duty.

The ghost steed quickly moved and stood at attention. It seemed to have instinctively realized that further resistance would be futile.

Legion grabbed the saddle and leaped his massive body up with surprising agility.

-Kueeeek!

The ghost steed’s back nearly folded in half.

Legion fell to the ground.

“Ouch, my back.”

It was an unexpected outcome.

Legion, who had fallen to the ground, had injured his back.