Necromancer Survival

in large quantities to provide guild members with potions that are much cheaper and of higher quality than the products on the market…

     Furthermore, when inter-User disputes arose, it was advantageous to belong to a large guild.
The power of ‘named’ guilds couldn’t be ignored, and large guilds usually had dedicated law firms.
The members received support from competent and talented lawyers to mediate cases of injury, distribution of rewards, or property disputes.

      So, if a lone User had a dispute with a User affiliated with a large guild… Of course, the guild member would find himself in a privileged position.

     I already knew what Han Kiseok was trying to imply–I too had seen and heard many things during the past year.
In fact, after I became a User, I wanted to join a guild as well and went to many interviews.
However, 80% of the time, I had been immediately turned away after my class was revealed; the rest of the time I had been rejected because my level and potential was far too low.

      I tasted bitterness in my mouth as those memories welled up from within the depths of my consciousness.
Still, Han Kiseok didn’t seem to be mocking me with his question; I answered him with a bitter smile, “I have been looking around…”

     “Are you preparing for a guild interview?”

     “Not particularly, but…”

     “Then, what about my guild?” Words I could never expect tumbled out of Han Kiseok’s mouth.

     I looked at him, surprised.
“What? A-Are you serious?”

     “Yeah.
[Trap] accepts applicants without interviews if recommended by an executive.”

     I was speechless for a while, too startled by what had just happened.
Han Kiseok had said he’d grant me entry into a guild within the top 10 rankings–[Trap].
I couldn’t even believe that he was an executive in that guild as well.
“…You’re kidding, right?”

     “I mean it.”

     “But… No… You’re serious? You want me in your guild? And you’re a guild exec?”

     “Yeah.”

     I looked blankly at him; Han Kiseok smiled and placed the Americano to his lips.
A question tumbled out of my mouth, almost against my will, “You… What’s your class? How are you already an executive?”

      Is Han Kiseok also a Priest…?

      Han Kiseok seemed to chuckle a little when he heard my question; soon afterwards, he rubbed his eyebrows with his right hand.
Then, suddenly, his right pupil turned from its original black to dozens of colors–like a sparkling prism.
I flinched back, surprised.

     Han Kiseok looked at me as he gave his response.
“I’m a Mage.”

     “I-I see.”

     “Have you ever seen a Mage before? When Mages use their skills, their eyes change color according to the spells’ properties.”

     “Ah… Really?”

     “Well…not everyone can do that, though.”

     I was acutely aware of Seo Dawon’s presence while listening to Han Kiseok’s words.
I’d never seen the Mage’s eye color change whenever he used his skills, but that may be a side-effect of his undead servant status.

     ‘Then, back when he was alive, what color did Seo Dawon’s eyes change into?’

     Naturally, futile but insidiously curious thoughts wormed its way into my mind.
Then, as if Seo Dawon had read my thoughts, the Mage responded quite smoothly to my unasked question.
“The color effect changes depending on what skill tree the User chooses for their second class evolution.”

     “……”

     “I think Han Kiseok chose the ‘Rationality’ tree… Since I chose the ‘Retrogade’ tree, my eyes don’t change color.
Instead, I can make my magic circles visible.”

     I almost nodded, to show I understood, but I barely managed to rein in that desire and keep my head rigid.
However, Seo Dawon placed his lips to my ears and whispered in a low tone, “Did you imagine it?”

     “……”

     “You personally wanted to see the change in my iris color?”

     I clenched my fist; Han Kiseok stared at me curiously.
I wanted to rub at my ticklish ears, but I endured.

     Before the Mage could further interfere, I quickly asked Han Kiseok something I should have voiced earlier.
“But… Why do you want me in your guild?”

     “What do you mean, ‘Why’?”

     “So… You must know my level… Also, I’m a Necromancer… I don’t think I’d be of much use to the guild.”

     Han Kiseok stared at me, as if I said something unexpected.
To be exact…his expression betrayed his inner thoughts… Something like…

‘You unexpectedly have a firm grasp on your situation?’

     Perhaps, that was what he was thinking.

     I felt resentful at Han Kiseok’s expression.
It felt like, inwardly, he was fishing for my rejection even though his words stated otherwise.