The Saint Who Levels Up Through Necromancy

Chapter 20: The Path Not Taken (2)

[Translator - Hestia]

[Proofreader - Kaya]

Chapter 20: The Path Not Taken (2)

Many private sparring centers are located near the Hunter Market.

They target Hunters who want to test out their newly purchased weapons or the power of their skills.

Yoojin also stopped by a nearby sparring center for a similar purpose.

“Here.”

He took out Fafnir from the Ring of Darkness and tossed him the [Verdian Basic Spear Technique] manual.

【Aren't you going to learn it, Master?】

“You need to understand the essence of spearmanship to teach me, right?”

【Oh, come on. Analyzing the spear technique on the spot and teaching it to you? You overestimate me.】

Well...

Yoojin knew very well how outstanding Fafnir's intellect was in his past life.

‘Even when he synchronized with the Skeleton Knight and wielded a sword, he achieved mastery.’

The 9 Star, called the realm of transcendence.

Fafnir was a skilled individual who reached the 9th rank despite using a sword he had never wielded in his lifetime.

If he hadn't fallen into the trap of the Arahan Guild and died so pointlessly, a Hunter family would have already emerged from his lineage.

‘I can trust Fafnir's talent.’

At least...

He would be a far better teacher than Yoojin, who had no connection to martial arts whatsoever.

【To think I'd receive such a request in my afterlife.】

“You're already dead.”

【Don't you know any euphemisms?】

Fafnir grumbled as he carefully read the [Verdian Basic Spear Technique].

Since he wasn't a Hunter, just reading the contents wouldn't immediately generate a skill.

Acquiring a skill instantly upon opening a skill book, as long as the conditions were met, was a privilege granted only to Hunters.

Conversely...

If one grasped the essence of a skill book, they could perform the technique without the aid of the Awakening System.

‘That's why large guilds like Arahan are so popular.’

The [Kairan Spear Technique] that Park Seongwook used wasn't acquired from a skill book either; he learned it from a specialized instructor belonging to the Arahan Guild.

This meant that skill books weren't a cure-all.

It was also possible to create skills through enlightenment and repetitive training.

‘Just like how even with low-level alchemy or necromancy skills, if you inscribe the formula, you can still activate it.’

While Fafnir was struggling with the spear technique skill book...

Yoojin wasn't just idling around either.

‘I need to recover from the injuries I sustained in the sparring session.’

[Using Life Drain.]

Yoojin extracted the life force of the orcs he had stored in the border region and infused it into Fafnir.

The deeply gouged muscles and flesh regenerated, and scales sprouted, covering the newly healed skin.

A regenerative ability like that of a troll.

‘A holy spell that heals even the undead.’

Although there was a restriction that the target of the healing had to be in close proximity...

The advantage of being able to restore the undead on the spot during battle was quite significant.

While low-ranking undead like zombies could be used as expendable pawns...

If a carefully crafted undead like Fafnir was damaged in battle, there was no avoiding the immediate loss of combat power.

Repairing them required a lot of resources, catalysts, and concentration...

And it wasn't like the enemy would just sit back and watch while he tried to restore a damaged undead, right?

‘A holy spell useful for necromancers.’

Perhaps it's because they worship the concept of defying death, but holy spells seem to work well with the undead.

Around the time all the scars engraved on Fafnir's body were healed...

【Hmm. I think I understand the gist of it.】

"See? You got it quickly, didn't you?"

【I've only grasped the theory. To become familiar with the spear technique, I have no choice but to learn it through my body.】

Yoojin and Fafnir faced each other, each holding a practice spear.

【Learn the skill first.】

"Sounds good."

[Using the Verdian Basic Spear Technique Skill Book.]

[The essence of the skill is engraved in your mind.]

Fwoosh—

The book turned to dust.

The basic postures of the spear technique recorded in the skill book came to mind one by one.

‘A total of six forms. Just as I heard.’

First Form – Normal Thrust

Second Form – Quick Thrust

Third Form – Rotating Block

Fourth Form – Shaft Strike

Fifth Form – Charge

Sixth Form – Full Power Thrust

Three out of the six were thrusts.

The remaining forms also felt simple in concept.

【You think it's simple?】

"Yeah, that's right. It's good to learn for self-defense."

【If you learn spearmanship superficially, you'll say that.】

"Has our novice already grasped the hidden secrets within the basic spear technique?"

【No way. I don't have that kind of talent.】

Fafnir raised his spear and pointed the tip at Yoojin.

【So, let's have a conversation with our bodies and find out.】

‘Huh? What?’

His body was reaching its limit from fending off Fafnir's attacks.

〔You look pathetic, Contractor.〕

'Shut up, incompetent constellation.'

It wasn't as if he was just getting hit.

He had seen countless thrusts.

And he had moved his spear in response.

He failed every time and was countered by Fafnir's spear, but still...

【But you're not giving up.】

"Because I'm the one who asked you to teach me."

Yoojin grumbled in a frustrated voice.

Even though Fafnir had adjusted both his speed and strength, Yoojin couldn't even exchange a proper attack and defense. Instead, he was knocked down countless times or poked by the blunt tip.

Yoojin, who had learned the basics of spearmanship using the Hunter's privilege, the skill book...

On the other hand, Fafnir had a much higher understanding of the spear technique despite only reading the contents of the skill book.

'I'm the one who received the skill buff. But I couldn't even land a single attack properly.'

He had been beaten so much by the practice spear.

His whole body ached. If he didn't heal himself, he might not be able to get up tomorrow.

【Have you grasped the essence of spearmanship a little?】

"Essence my foot. All I did was move to avoid getting hit."

【Hehehe. The essence of fighting is to get hit less and strike more.】

Fafnir spun his spear shaft.

【In that sense, this spear technique is not bad.】

"Not bad means?"

【It means that the seemingly simple techniques are all fundamentally sound.】

Thrust faster.

Exploit the opponent's openings. That was Fafnir's way to win a fight.

In Fafnir's view, the Verdian Basic Spear Technique was more faithful to the essence of combat than the techniques of most martial arts Hunters.

'Ah. So that's how it is.'

Yoojin reflected on his struggles over the past hour, one by one.

The nature of the spear as a weapon.

Utilizing the fact that the tip is where the force concentrates, it focuses power on a single point, or...

It also uses the long shaft to attack a wide area.

The [Verdian Basic Spear Technique] has simple movements, but it encompasses all the methods to utilize the advantages of a spear.

'No wonder it was Spear Ghost James' main technique.'

Yoojin's real aim was to learn the spear technique that could only be acquired after mastering the [Verdian Basic Spear Technique].

It was to learn the [Verdian Destruction Spear Technique].

He started learning it as a stepping stone, but after hearing Fafnir's explanation, he realized that even the basic spear technique was decent.

【To think you'd find such a treasure while searching for a common-type skill book. Master, you're lucky.】

"If getting beaten up is also part of that luck..."

【Unfortunately, I'm not good at explaining things with words.】

"That's really unfortunate."

Yoojin muttered with sincerity.

If...

If getting beaten up by Fafnir had no effect, then he wouldn't know, but...

He had struggled to deflect the thrusts.

And thanks to his hours of desperate efforts, he quickly grasped the essence of the spear technique.

Ironically...

Fafnir's teaching method suited Yoojin quite well.

【You're pretty good with your body, aren't you? At this rate, you would have achieved great things even if you had become a martial arts Hunter.】

"I used to fight quite often when I was at the orphanage. This is nothing."

【I'm getting motivated to teach you, Master.】

"It's not because you can legally hit me, is it?"

【I won't deny it.】

‘This damn bastard. If he's a servant, he should act like one and show some respect to his master.’

Yoojin grumbled inwardly as he lay down in the ring.

【Tell me anytime if you want to stop.】

"After all this trouble?"

【You have an excellent servant like me, Master.】

He's really good at praising himself.

Yoojin looked up at the ceiling and replied weakly.

"If I was going to quit so soon, I wouldn't have started in the first place."

The Path Not Taken.

Changing his class to a Priest was a gamble he could take because he trusted the [Ring of Darkness].

Learning martial arts skills was not a plan he had made before his return.

However...

'I've decided to use everything I can.'

Even if it meant using his own body as the tool, Yoojin had no intention of letting any opportunity for improvement slip away.

His abilities as a Priest would naturally improve as he raised his soul rank and accumulated achievements.

And his past life experiences were enough for alchemy and necromancy.

'To properly utilize martial arts abilities, I need more experience.'

His body was becoming stronger due to the effects of Life Drain.

It would be a waste to let it go to waste.

If he could gain another means of becoming stronger by shedding a little sweat...

What could be more beneficial than that?

【So you have no intention of giving up.】

"Were you testing me?"

【It would be troublesome for us too if you, the customer, suddenly changed your mind.】

Looking at Fafnir, Yoojin let out a chuckle.

[Translator - Hestia

[Proofreader - Kaya]