Necromancer Survival
chapter-423

“Hyung-nim.”

“……”

I opened my eyes with great difficulty. Dawon placed his hand over my forehead, which was damp with beads of sweat.

His small but cool hand felt soothing as it brushed against my forehead. Embarrassed, I kept my eyes closed and stayed still. Dawon didn’t move his hand and let me be for a moment.

“You have a bad fever,” he said.

“…I guess so.”

“Shall I bring you some water?”

“…No.”

I shook my head, rejecting a situation where I would have to rise from my position. I didn’t want to show him the scar on my back.

Despite my refusal, Dawon placed a soft cloth soaked in water and gently placed it against my lips so I could drink. The relief from the thirst was welcome, but, when I opened my bleary eyes, I met Dawon’s gaze, staring down at me with an unreadable expression.

“Did you hide it in the doll?”

Soon after, Dawon asked me many questions. Very straightforward questions.

‘As expected–he resembles the real Dawon when he acts like that.’

However, I remained still without saying anything. After waiting for my answer for a few minutes, Dawon asked coldly, as if this was the last chance he’d give me, “How long do you think it’ll take me to retrieve it.”

“……”

“If I retrieve it this time, you may not be able to walk on your own feet for the rest of your life.”

He was clearly urging me to reveal where the stone was hidden. But once again, I remained silent and simply looked at Dawon.

Soon, Dawon began to shed silent tears. Watching the small droplets fall onto the silk blanket and form tiny stains made my heart ache. Even if everything was a fake within the [Vengeful Ghost Memory], he was still a fake that resembled the person I loved.

Dawon-ie looked at my expression of pity and raised his face, wet with tears. Anger permeated through his dark eyes. “Why do you keep trying to leave me?”

“……”

“Do you hate me that much? You swore to be with me in the first place, Hyung-nim.”

These words weren’t the whining of a child–not like earlier. I looked at ‘Fake Dawon’s’ face…properly.

[You promised to be my bride.]

At that moment, Dawon’s appearance gradually darkened, turning into a shadow-like figure. Even the silk blanket he had been holding onto with his small hands turned pitch black, as if ink had seeped into it.

“…You idiot. We…can’t become husband and wife.” I smirked and chuckled. But, before my brief laughter faded, I coughed up blood.

More coughs burst from my mouth, and my body collapsed quickly. Dawon’s black hands grabbed me by the shoulders, but he couldn’t stop me from wobbling over and toppling on top of the blanket.

Flump–!

After all, ‘I’ had already left that ‘body.’

Later, ‘I’ regained consciousness in a new body. The stiffness gradually faded, and my previously dark vision began to clear.

I looked around and released a short sigh. “Haah…”

I regained my senses in the room that displayed countless crude versions of ‘me.’ Right on the second floor.

[Ookkeekee!]

The monkey, which I had revived by carving out a fragment from the stone that had come from my body, was also there. I experimented by connecting the fragment and the monkey’s original stone, and the monkey started to move again.

Of course, I couldn’t be sure if this was really a good method. After carving off a fragment, my condition deteriorated. But, thanks to that, I was able to give Dawon the run around, and the monkey, who arrived here first to find me a suitable body, had done well.

“Good job,” I said.

The monkey shook its head, as if it was pleased with my praise, before responding cheerfully–

[OoKkee!]

However, not everything went so smoothly. As I was about to leave the second floor, I sensed something odd and looked down at my body.

“Argh…! I’m naked!” After realizing I wasn’t wearing anything, I looked around in a hurry because I was embarrassed. However, there were no dolls around wearing clothes.

[OokKeeKee?]

And the monkey, which was originally a doll, tilted its head; it couldn’t understand my fuss and embarrassment.

“W-Wait a minute… Is there no clothes around?”

Of course, I knew that the body I had taken over was originally just a block of wood. I had seen it with my own eyes.

‘I’m’ some kind of a wooden doll, and I had no idea what this gem-like stone was used for. But, when the stone entered the doll, it somehow gained a convincing human appearance.

‘I must have originally been a doll like this when I first opened my eyes…’

However, back then, Dawon had dressed me, possibly because he was the one to transform and wake me. Now, no matter how much I looked around, I couldn’t find anything to wear. All the other dolls that wore my face were also completely naked.

‘Tsk…’

Upon closer inspection, while the other dolls clearly looked like dolls, my current body didn’t resemble a doll at all.

‘This must be because of the stone right?’

Or, maybe my perception was distorted. After agonizing for the moment, I heard footsteps running up to me from downstairs.

Jingle–! Jingle–!

–accompanied by the sound of a servant’s bell.

[Find him. As fast as you can.]

[If you see an empty doll, call me right away.]

Their voices sounded much clearer than before.

‘Nngh! I have to run away, and I don’t even have any clothes…’

However, I couldn’t linger any longer, so I hurriedly fled to another room on the second floor. Fortunately, I didn’t hear any footsteps chasing after me for the moment. Though, it was likely only a matter of time until they caught up.

‘Is there no map?’

While it was good that I had escaped from Dawon, there were many things I missed after transferring into this new body. Not only did I have no map, but I also didn’t have my blunt dagger. Having those things would make my mission much easier.

‘Anyway… I was prepared for that.’

I steeled my resolve and ran diligently down the corridor. I knew I had to descend from the second floor, but I needed to find a deserted path–the entrance may have been blocked.

Jingle–! Jingle–!

[Find him.]

[The traces…]

[He should be over here.]

However, as I turned the corner, I heard the increasing rings of bells; my sense of direction became distorted. The monkey doll also seemed disoriented; it would turn a corner, only to rush back out in surprise when it saw I was standing there.

‘Are we in a maze?’

So, I boldly ran across this long hallway; I felt that playing hide-and-seek here would be meaningless. Besides, there had been a strange smell, like steam wafting through the air, so I thought it would be better to find a completely different area.

But, when I finally reached the end of the hallway, there was a beautifully decorated, red wedding gown hanging from a long pole steaming in the vapors rising from a hot tub. Though there was no one around, the fact that I had wandered around only to end up here struck me as strange.

Swish–!

I pulled the wedding gown down because I couldn’t bear to continue to run around bare naked. The skirt was too cumbersome, so I didn’t wear it. But, once I draped the overcoat and tied the belt, I was at least able to avoid total humiliation.

“This color is too noticeable, though…”

[Eek-eek-eek!]

At that moment, the monkey, sensing something ominous, tugged at the hem of the wedding robe, but it soon stopped moving. I couldn’t understand why the monkey suddenly became quiet until I turned my head around.

There Dawon stood at the entrance watching us; his face had turned black. His mouth had opened slightly, and I saw something swirling within the crack. I clenched my teeth and ran towards another exit.

“Stop.”

Clap–!

As soon as I heard the applause, my legs became weak; my body faltered.

However, I didn’t completely lose consciousness as I had done before. I was now certain that the stone that controlled the monkey and the one implanted in me were different. As I bolted away, I glanced back at Dawon.

‘…Why…’

For some reason, Dawon didn’t look embarrassed at all. Rather, I thought his smile looked a bit mocking.Though I felt anxious, I couldn’t stop and dashed towards the door.

TL: Sorry I’m so late you guys T_T

I’m just so swamped.