...
At Lynch's command, the silent Skeleton Legion instantly came to life.
Under Lynch's direction,
Bone Jade and the other leaders led the Skeleton Legion into formation. They marched with what could hardly be called uniform steps, heading straight for their predetermined destination: the Dark Forest.
The Dark Forest was located east of Saint Roland City, bordering the northern edge of the vast and dangerous Blackwater Swamp.
The forest was filled with towering ancient trees and dense foliage. Even during the day, the light within was dim, giving it a gloomy, eerie atmosphere.
A dirt road, packed down by years of caravan traffic, wound its way through the middle of the forest.
Following this trade route for over two hundred li would lead to the port city of Moon Sail Port on the east coast. Saint Roland City relied on Moon Sail Port for many of its supplies.
But Moon Sail Port was not Lynch's destination.
Instead, he needed to travel more than twenty li deep into the forest to reach a remote town called Stone Crow Town.
The town's main industries were mining the Low Tier Magic ore, Obsidian, and primary lumber processing. Several small villages that survived on hunting and gathering were scattered nearby.
Recently, a few bands of goblins had appeared out of nowhere.
These greedy, filthy little creatures constantly harassed the town and villages, stealing food and livestock, attacking miners, and even abducting women, causing considerable losses and panic in the area.
Stone Crow Town couldn't fend them off and requested aid from the Saint Roland City garrison.
But those pampered soldiers were used to a life of comfort and were clearly unwilling to venture into the dark, damp forest to exterminate the disgusting and troublesome goblins, which were like cockroaches.
Thus, the quest ended up in the mission hall of Hurst Royal Extraordinary Academy, where it was eventually accepted by Lynch, who was in desperate need of academic credits.
Of course, completing an academy quest wasn't Lynch's only goal for this trip.
During his recent seclusion, he had also taken the time to study the treasure map of Lester the "Ashbringer." Although the map was fragmented and blurry, its original owner, the bone mage, had marked several locations on it before his death.
One of those locations happened to be near the mining area around Stone Crow Town.
Lynch naturally wouldn't pass up such a perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.
When Lynch led his army to the edge of the Dark Forest, he didn't take the relatively safe trade route. Instead, he directed his Undead Army to cut silently into the Dark Forest.
The Skeletons trod on thick layers of fallen leaves and humus, their steps far quieter than living soldiers. Their tolerance for harsh environments was also well beyond what human soldiers could match.
However, to ensure a safe march, Lynch casually converted a few squirrels into Squirrel Skeletons to act as scouts.
These little critters scurried nimbly through the treetops and across the forest floor like the most loyal sentinels, feeding back any disturbance within a hundred-meter radius to Lynch through their mental link.
Along the way, they unexpectedly startled a small deer that was foraging in the woods.
With a single thought from Lynch, the Skeleton army surrounded the deer. Bone Jade stepped forward, and with a swift slash of its Bone Knife, slit the deer's throat.
Watching Bone Jade's fluid movements and the wild yet precise swing of its knife, Lynch couldn't help but praise it silently. 'What a fine Skeleton. It's growing so fast. It really does have the potential to become a Skeleton King.'
He then glanced at the Black Robe Bone Skill, which stood amidst ten Skeleton Guards. He saw the Soul Fire in its eye sockets flicker a few times in response to the deer's final struggles, a clear sign that it had become much more intelligent and aware. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
Unfortunately, the Bone Skill wasn't a true Netherworld Undead, and Lynch was reluctant to use a precious contract slot on it. For now, it could only be like a mistress without official status, just getting by. He would figure something out once he grew stronger.
A moment later, the deer had been bled dry.
Lynch casually assigned a Skeleton Guard to carry the fresh kill. Dinner for the night was taken care of.
The path deep in the forest was extremely difficult, wet and muddy, and swarming with insects. Even with Lynch's strong physique, he felt exhausted after the long trek.
By the time Lynch finally led his Skeleton Legion to the outskirts of Stone Crow Town, the sky had already grown dark.
Just as he had expected, the appearance of the Undead Army caused a huge commotion on the edge of town.
The moment Lynch and his army approached, a frantic whistle blew from the watchtower.
Two guards in simple leather armor, holding spears, rushed out, trembling. They blocked the entrance to Stone Crow Town and asked Lynch his purpose, their voices shaking.
When they learned that Lynch was a student from Hurst Academy, a Necromancer sent to deal with the goblin problem, they visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
But the fear in their eyes had not completely faded.
They didn't let Lynch in immediately. Instead, one of them sprinted back to inform the town mayor.
Fortunately, the mayor of Stone Crow Town was a man of some experience.
He knew that Hurst Academy did indeed have an Undead System, which was one of the official Extraordinary Professions recognized by the Empire—not the wild, evil Necromancers of legend who desecrated corpses and committed all manner of atrocities.
As soon as he received the news, the mayor immediately rushed over with several of the town's leading figures.
He put on an at-least-outwardly-enthusiastic smile and respectfully received Lynch, this "honorable" Mage.
After a brief conversation, and perhaps due to a natural fear and taboo surrounding Undead Creatures, the mayor arranged for Lynch to stay in an abandoned lumberyard outside of town, which had been left idle because of the goblin disaster.
There were a few small wooden cabins there, used for storing tools and as temporary rest areas for workers. Though simple, they were enough to provide shelter from the elements and were a perfect place for Lynch's Skeleton Corps to be stationed.
Next, the mayor gave Lynch a general overview of the goblin harassment, including the areas they frequented, and said he would send a guide familiar with the terrain over tomorrow.
Afterwards, he had someone deliver clean bedding, some food, and fresh water, then made the excuse of being busy with town affairs and hastily departed with his men.
The mayor and his group's steps were clearly unsteady as they left; they obviously hadn't yet recovered from the psychological shock of facing dozens of Skeletons up close.
"Heh." Watching the mayor and his men practically flee, Lynch couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.
He grumbled to himself, 'If an apprentice from the Elemental System or the Holy Light System had come this time, the mayor would have probably invited them into his home long ago, serving them fine wine and good food, right?'
'He might have even had his pretty daughter make an appearance to see if they could forge a connection...'
As for how Lynch knew the mayor had a daughter?
Weren't all the popular adventure novels written that way? Any mayor, Lord, or even a king who didn't have a beautiful, unmarried daughter at home wasn't even worthy of appearing in a story.
After grumbling a bit more, Lynch settled down in the lumberyard.
He directed the Skeletons to do a simple cleaning of the sturdiest cabin, then set up a perimeter guard and prepared to spend the night.
As night fell, he started a bonfire in the center of the cabin. He butchered the deer he had hunted on the way, cut off a plump hind leg, and propped it over the fire to roast. Before long, it was sizzling and dripping with fat.
He also used a small pot he'd brought to cook a fragrant ham and mushroom soup, which he enjoyed with the black bread the mayor had sent over, making for a delicious dinner.
Sitting by the bonfire, eating roasted meat and drinking hot soup, surrounded by his absolutely loyal Skeleton Guards, and listening to the cries of night owls from the forest beyond the lumberyard, Lynch felt that this life in the wild as a Necromancer had its own kind of carefree charm.
After eating and drinking his fill, Lynch quickly washed up with some fresh water, wrapped himself in the reasonably clean and warm bedding, and fell into a deep sleep beside the dying embers of the bonfire.
The Skeleton Guards stood watch over him, as motionless as statues.
He didn't know how long he'd been asleep when a sudden, strange noise startled him awake.
From outside came a chorus of sharp, bizarre shrieks—"WOO WOO WAA WAA"—mixed with the clatter of various objects being knocked over and smashed. The sounds were especially piercing in the quiet of the night.
'An attack!?'
...