Necromancer Survival

      “……What do you mean?”

     “Why else do you think we’ll kill you, hurt you, or betray you? Do you view me as a demon–so afraid of us even as we’re enjoying our time together?”

     “What are you saying!” That was the most absurd thing I’d ever heard.
However Kim Olim and Jung Garam, who were also listening to our conversation, also looked the other way and did not refute the Mage’s words.
They seemed to implicitly agree.

     Feeling falsely accused, I hurried to deny the other’s words, “I’ve never once thought that before…”

     “Really? Then why do you continue to be afraid of me despite how nice I’ve been to you?”

     “No… It’s because it feels like you guys are always hiding things from me!”

      “I guess you hold no secrets between friends then, huh? You leave everything open and leave nothing.” 1

      Of course, there was nothing I could say in response.
Of course I didn’t know every detail about my friends’ personal histories.
That wasn’t what I meant…

      However, weren’t matters between common friends incomparable to that of the servants’ ambiguous attitudes? Frustratingly, though, my mind felt disorganized and I couldn’t formulate my arguments.

     Meanwhile, Seo Dawon continued, “It’s my first time signing with a Necromancer, so I decided I shouldn’t tell you everything before I know anything for sure.
For example, why do we need your blood to sign a contract? Things like that…”

     “…..”

      “Furthermore, when I see you sometimes, I feel strangely hungry.
That doesn’t mean you’re appetizing to me, but, if you knew I felt this urge–these impulses–you’d be wary of me.”

      “What……? What’s that?”

     “I also have no idea.
But, it’s been a while since I’ve felt this urge.
The higher you levelled, the worse it became.”

     I was flustered by the new information and looked at Seo Dawon and the other servants alternatingly.
What do you mean impulses of ‘hunger?’ So then, were those impulses the culprits behind those occasional strange behaviors? For example, their desire to sleep with me…

      Then, I suddenly thought of Lackey, my first servant.
Lackey always wished to be around me, and it was a rather jealous being.

     However, I had never thought that such an attachment was strange because it resembled my previous pet, one that I had raised for quite some while.
It was my first summon after becoming a User, so I had continued with a light heart.
Lackey was ‘definitely’ like a small dog…

” ”

     Don’t tell me, will all the servants I sign eventually become obsessed with me like Lackey?

     I was devastated after my mind dredged up that idea–enough that I looked at Seo Dawon reflexively.
He seemed to have noticed the moment I realized this possibility.
He nodded, without smiling.

     For them to follow Lackey’s example… For Seo Dawon to blindly love me, for Jung Garam to loyally follow my orders without questioning me, For Kim Olim to not refer to me bluntly as ‘Necromancer’ and instead openly praise me…

     That would be such a bizarre sight.
I didn’t want that.
Sorrow at not knowing their inner feelings or hurt at feeling ostracized were emotions born of my affections for the servants.

     Of course, Lackey was my precious and lovely Servant, but it would be terrible that all those that could possibly be called my ‘friend’ were turning into something like Lackey.

     Seo Dawon, with a somewhat relaxed face, saw my crumpled expression and said, “My ultimate goal is not revenge.
After revenge, I want to return to my previous, intact self.”

       “……”

       “So, I’m collecting resurrection methods.
Not only for me, but for all my friends who died at the Tower of Command.”

      “Well, uh, how should we do that…”

      “First of all, we’ll have to achieve our revenge.
And we’ll need to find a way to protect our increasingly fragile selves.”

      “……”

      “I’m glad.
You have an appalled look on your face.” Seo Dawon smiled.

      That smile was different from all others he’d made before.
Was that why Seo Dawon, perceiving my thoughts, kept his distance?

      Suddenly, I was conscious of a question bubbling from deep within the depths of my heart, ‘Then, after Seo Dawon returns to life, what…will happen to me?’

TL: Words have been said, feelings have been hurt.
I know that we’ve been mostly following from Lee-kyung’s perspective, but Lee-kyung’s inherent reluctance to become intimate with others (and his justifiable fear of the servants) have been hurting Dawon, Garam, and Olim as well.  Both groups are misunderstanding each other’s intentions.

But we also have Seo Dawon’s goal of coming back to life

Next time– less stressful things.
maybe.

Footnotes

This was said sarcastically, I hope it does come off that way.