Necromancer Survival

companions who still searched my complexion for signs of ill health.
I took the lead and approached the entrance to the Dungeon.

     As we approached, however, I felt other Users pointing and looking towards us.
I warily observed them through the corner of my eyes, wondering if they were staring at me or Lackey…

     “Huh?”

     “Kim Sangyoon?”

     “It’s Kim Sangyoon!”

     The red-haired Warrior’s name frequently appeared amongst the whispered chatter.

     Ah, that’s right…Kim Sangyoon’s a famous person…

     I had briefly forgotten about Kim Sangyoon’s original identity and internet career because of his pathetic impression yesterday and today.
He was a highly influential streamer; over 10,000 people would regularly watch his live streams…

     “It seems Kim Sangyoon is popular?” Seo Dawon asked as he looked at the crowding Users in fascination.
“Seriously?” He said in disbelief, pointing at some of the Users that were now happily filming Kim Sangyoon with their camera.

     Seo Dawon simply couldn’t adapt to the changing times: Kim Sangyoon must have been a User during Dawon’s tenure–but nothing too special compared to the other rankers.

     Just then…

     “I-I’m sorry….”

     An ant-sized voice trembled out from behind.
Kim Sangyoon, bent at the waist like a folder, bowed and apologized to me.

     I stepped towards him in surprise.
Kim Sangyoon also began to step forward as well, speaking in a bizarrely sincere tone, “I-I didn’t tell anyone about it, I swear.
They just all showed up…I’m sorry for how loud it is here.
Y-you looked as if you were in a bad mood… Is it my fault? T-that’s not it, right? I-If I…by any chance, did anything to displease you….”

     Is this guy a fool? How could you so suddenly apologize to me, with a deep bow, when we’re in the public eye?

     I squinted at Kim Sangyoon, wondering if he was purposefully acting this way to thwart my plans, but the man suddenly avoided my gaze and looked at the ground.
He genuinely seemed frightened.

     Well, considering the chain of events both yesterday and today, I could understand his paranoia…I was left with no choice but to pull at his arm roughly and whisper, “It’s all right, so stop apologizing.”

     I had hoped my words would bring him some comfort….but, Kim Sangyoon rigidly shut his mouth, still anxious but eager to follow my orders.

     The audience’s wandering stares began to calm down as well; luckily, most of them were situated farther away and did not grasp the suspicious nature of our interaction.

     They must have thought Kim Sangyoon and I were simply messing around.
Though people periodically glanced at us curiously, no one reacted strangely.
Only then did I sigh in relief and take my arms off Kim Sangyoon’s.

     “It seems Sangyoon is already floating on cloud nine.” Seo Dawon clicked his tongue.
1

     I was a bit frustrated at his aloof tone, as if this matter didn’t affect him.
Honestly, this is all because of you! However, when I followed Seo Dawon’s gaze to the Warrior, I was a little flustered.

     ‘The look on his face…That’s like when he received his ‘reward’.”

     He looked a bit creepy….but at least his previous nervous behavior was hidden away.

     Ignoring my discomfort, we were finally ready to enter [Owl’s Ghost Ship.]

     “It’s time.” Seo Dawon murmured.

     “….Lee-kyung-nim.
It seems we’re going in soon….”

     [Clack Clack!]

     The cracks in the Dungeon in front of us began to glow yellow.

     For the first time in my career as a User, I was the party leader.
Thankfully, nothing happened to trigger my nerves.
I sent Kim Sangyoon a party invitation, and the Warrior appeared on my party members list.
10 seconds later, a system message informed me that [Party member ‘Kim Sangyoon’ has confirmed ready status].
It seems the difference between being a member and a leader were these small logistical details…

          »»————-　　————-««

Would you like to challenge [Owl’s Ghost Ship] Normal Mode?

[Yes] [No]

          »»————-　　————-««

     Just before the yellow light from the Dungeon filled the clearing, a window popped up, confirming our entry.
I pressed [Yes].

TL: The eagerness to betray was real in Kim Sangyoon, lmao.

Footnotes

The original used a phrase that’s literally translated as “he’s far gone” or “he’s already mentally checked out.” There could be a lot of contextual uses for it, so I chose what I felt to be the closest English equivalent–far gone with pleasure.