The Third Return of the Necrotic Magic Swordsman

A few minutes ago...

Inside the CGA Branch Manager’s office, Lilia and Darian sat at a large desk, going over reports detailing the flow of incoming and outgoing funds.

Though a sizable amount of money had been generated from selling beast corpses to other cities, the profits were still underwhelming. The Leader-class corpse had been reduced to ash, one Lord-tier beast had fled the battlefield, and another had been claimed by the Ashen nest’s Guild. On top of that, the guild had taken 50% of the Tier-1 beast corpses, justifying it with their ”significant contribution” to the raid.

Lilia flipped through itemized lists and bill summaries when suddenly the office door burst open. An out-of-breath official rushed inside, face pale and eyes wide with urgency.

”What are you doing? I told you not to let anyone disturb us!” Lilia snapped, pausing mid-page.

”I’m sorry, ma’am! But this is something none of the other officials could handle.”

”What now? Is there another raid coming? Or maybe that so-called Prodigy Hunter is outside, asking to meet us?” she joked.

But the answer she received wiped the smile off her face.

”Yes, ma’am. That’s exactly it. A Necromancer named Raven just arrived... claiming to be the Necromancer Prodigy.”

”...What? Another self-proclaimed prodigy? Ugh, not again. Tell him to leave. I don’t have time to deal with fakes.”

”I tried, ma’am. But his presence… his expression… he’s different. He’s wearing armor almost identical to what the Prodigy wore that day.”

Lilia’s expression shifted. If there was even a chance that this visitor was real...

”Sir Darian, could you bring him in? I’d like to see for myself. And if he turns out to be another fraud, I’ll make sure he regrets ever stepping in here.”

Darian sighed, stood, and followed the official out.

Present time…

Darian led a calm and composed Evan—now appearing as ’Raven’—into the office. Lilia sat upright, eyes sharp, ready to evaluate him.

The moment her gaze met his, she activated a verification skill. A translucent interface blinked before her eyes, revealing his status:

[Name: Raven]

[Class: Necromancer (SS)]

[Tier: 0]

[Level: 61]

[Talent: None]

[Skills: N/A]

’It’s really him...’ she thought in disbelief, heart skipping a beat. The very individual the CGA had spent days trying to track down was standing right in front of her.

”Welcome, Mr. Raven—or should I say, the Prodigy Necromancer?” Lilia said with a faint smile.

Evan showed no reaction. Of course he didn’t. He already knew she’d check his status. What she didn’t know… was that the status she saw had been altered by him.

”Hello, Miss Lilia. Just ’Raven’ is fine. I’m not someone who cares much about titles.” he replied humbly, voice subtly different than usual.

”Hmm… have we met before? Your voice sounds oddly familiar.”

”Ah, no. This is our first meeting. I have a rather common voice, perhaps that’s why.”

”I see… So, what brings you here today?”

Evan’s tone shifted slightly, more serious.

”After the last battle, I realized something. No matter how strong I am, being solo forever is… dangerous. I nearly lost my life out there.”

Both Lilia and Darian nodded. They had already heard that the Necromancer had been present on the battlefield, had achieved incredible feats, and had sustained grave injuries—healed by a girl now dubbed the Little Saintess.

”So what can we do for you? Are you planning to join our Association?”

”No, not the CGA.” Evan paused. ”I came to find a team. One that helped me back then.”

”A team? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Many hunters are still in the lobby receiving rewards. I’ll have them brought here.”

Though slightly disappointed that he wasn’t joining the Association itself, Lilia’s interest was piqued. She gestured for Darian to bring the team in.

With an annoyed grunt, Darian left.

Evan sat on the couch, quiet and observant.

”If you don’t mind,” Lilia continued, ”Would you be open to working with another Necromancer? There’s someone else I’d like you to meet.”

”A Necromancer duo?” he raised a brow. ”Interesting… maybe. What’s their name?”

Lilia chuckled. ”Coincidentally, his name is Evan Ravencall. Same as your surname—funny, isn’t it?”

’Oh crap.’ Evan internally panicked.

”Ah, I know him! We actually met recently during that strange incident. Turns out, we’re both Necromancers, so we even raided a dungeon together. Sadly, our skills don’t synergize—his abilities hurt allies, while I specialize in commanding undead.”

”I see... what a shame. Still, it’s good that you’ve made connections.”

Their casual conversation was interrupted as the office door flew open with a loud bang. Darian entered—scowling—and behind him were several familiar hunters.

Evan’s eyes flicked to the group. ’They’re here.’

”What’s going on, Mr. Darian? What’s with that face?” Lilia asked.

”This guy! He’s full of himself! No respect for his seniors!” Darian barked.

”Oh? Are you sure it’s not you who’s full of ego, old man?” Lucas replied coolly, making Ilya stifle a laugh.

”You little punk, I’ll—!”

”Darian, enough!” Lilia’s mana flared, silencing the room. ”You’re a senior. CGA forbids Tiered Hunters from harming lower-ranked ones. You’re dismissed.”

Fuming, Darian stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Lucas shook his head and looked toward the couch. Then, his eyes widened.

”Wait a minute... Raven? Is that you?”

”It is,” Lilia confirmed. ”The very same person who helped turn the tide in the last battle.”

”Hey! Glad to see you, man!” Lucas beamed. ”Why’d you vanish after waking up? Mr. Caius said you disappeared the moment you regained consciousness.”

”That’s why I’m here,” Evan said calmly. ”To apologize—and to repay your team for saving my life.”

”No need for all that. We just did what anyone would’ve done.”

”No, I insist. If you won’t take my apology, or even let me repay you... at least hear out my request.”

Lucas blinked. ”What is it?”

”Let me join your team.”

The room fell into stunned silence.

Lucas was speechless. Everyone else stared at Evan like he’d just dropped a bomb.

”...C-come again?” Lucas finally managed.

”I’d like to join your team,” Evan repeated with a soft smile.

”Oh—yes! Yes, of course! We’d love to have someone like you with us!” Lucas stammered, glancing back at his teammates.

Most nodded eagerly. But not everyone was pleased.

Ilya frowned, clearly unsettled by Evan’s presence. And another member—whose motives were far more secretive—remained stone-faced.

Whether this person becomes friend or foe… only time will tell.

”Great!” Lilia clapped her hands. ”Looks like that’s settled. I suppose my work here is done. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a pile of paperwork waiting.”

Everyone took the hint and exited, excited to celebrate their victory with a party.

Everyone except Evan.

”I’ll pass on the party,” he said. ”I still need to collect my reward.”

Lucas tried to insist, but Ilya subtly pulled him away—wanting some alone time with him anyway.

Evan made his way to the rewards section, waiting patiently in line. Darian was there too, overseeing the process. The older man spotted Evan almost immediately.

”You? Why aren’t you with Lucas’s team?”

”They went ahead. I came to collect my reward.”

”Hmph. Someone like you shouldn’t be queuing like this,” Darian grunted. ”The CGA has decided to compensate you differently. You’re entitled to one free Erith-rank item of your choice from the market. The Association will cover the cost.”

Evan blinked. ’Huh. That’s… unexpectedly generous.’

”Oh, that’s so generous of you, sir, and… ah, yes,” Raven responded with a polite smile, checking his inventory after hearing about the gift.

”Actually, sir, do you remember that guy, Evan? He told me to give you this.”

With a swift motion, Raven pulled out an item from his storage and handed it over.

Darian raised an eyebrow, his tone mixed with curiosity and suspicion. ”This… isn’t this the weapon Evan said he was still working on? Why is it in your hands, and what do you mean by ’hand it over’?”

”Yes, sir,” Raven nodded. ”He asked me to give this to you as a token of gratitude. He said it was something he owed you from before, and that you’re a great man who’s helped him in more ways than one.”

Darian’s stern face softened, a hint of fondness flickering in his eyes. ”He’s a good lad—unlike that brat Lucas. But he should’ve come himself. I was even planning to exchange this with an item of equal rank for him, but he refused. And now he sends it through you? How do you two know each other?”

”Oh, we just met a few days ago. Became friends since we share the same class,” Raven explained casually. ”But, unfortunately, we couldn’t team up—his class has some restrictions that make him go solo. Before he left, he ran into me and asked me to pass this along.”

Darian sighed, disappointment flashing across his face. ”Tch. He should’ve at least stopped by. That kid really thinks I’d let him go without a proper gift?”

He stood up suddenly. ”Wait here—I’ll find him.”

”Sir, wait,” Raven interrupted quickly. ”He’s already gone home after collecting his reward. He told me not to bother you with more gifts, saying he already received plenty from you before.”

Darian looked conflicted. ”Still… I can’t just take this sword and not return the gesture. Tell you what, can you deliver something from me to him if you meet again?”

”Of course, sir,” Raven replied promptly.

Darian tugged him toward the CGA shopping floor and approached the service desk.

”Hey, listen up. This guy here is named Raven. Prepare an Erith-rank item of his choice,” Darian ordered. Then he glanced back. ”Raven, do you know what kind of weapon Evan prefers?”

Raven blinked. ”Well, I always saw him using that same sword I just gave you. He said it was his main defense tool, so I assume he’s mostly used swords.”

Evan had, in truth, already been planning to replace the Stormrend. It hadn’t been all that useful in the long run. But now that Darian was offering another weapon for free, this was a perfect opportunity.

”Alright, so a sword it is,” Darian nodded. ”We have plenty of quality options. You can also withdraw a weapon for yourself. Go on, kid—pick your choice.”

”Sir, I don’t really need armor or weapons... but if you insist, I’ll take a twin pair of daggers—one long and one short. Something light, just for defense.”

”Great choice!” Darian grinned. ”You heard him—bring out an Erith-rank twin blade set, and also bring the sword selection menu for Evan.”

As the attendant left to fetch the items, Raven turned to Darian.

”Sir, if you don’t mind me asking... why were you so angry with Lucas earlier? Did something happen?”

Darian scoffed. ”That kid? Don’t even get me started. After awakening his E-rank class, I thought I’d help him grow by bringing him into the Association. Maybe save him from dying early. And what do I get? Sarcasm and mockery—every single time we meet. Like I did something to him.”

”Maybe... it was a misunderstanding?” Raven offered carefully. ”Maybe you accidentally did something that he took the wrong way?”

”I don’t think so. I transferred here just a year ago after some issues. I barely even knew the kid when I first saw him.”

Raven nodded, a thought flickering in his mind.

’So this is the story behind the ’villains’ the protagonist defeats. I used to read novels and never cared about their perspective… now here I am, watching it unfold firsthand.’

”And what will you do about him, then?” Raven asked after a moment.

”Nothing. Not yet,” Darian said grimly. ”But when he reaches my level, I’ll crush him. That brat beat up my nephew—left him half-dead in the hospital. Burned half his body, broke his arm, and smashed his face until it was unrecognizable.”

”Damn… I hope your nephew’s okay.”

”Physically? He’ll recover. But the trauma…” Darian’s voice trembled with restrained rage. ”That fight cost him years. My brother almost went after Lucas himself, but I stopped him.”

’Hmm, so that event did happen… maybe while I wasn’t active back then,’ Raven thought silently.

”Don’t worry, sir. Maybe it was just a fight that got out of hand—”

”A little fight? Would you call all that a little fight?” Darian snapped. ”No… I swear, once Lucas reaches Tier 2, I’ll finish him for good.”

”And what if he’s not here anymore by then? Or worse—what if he’s stronger than you by then?”

Darian stared at him. ”That can’t possibly—”

”But what if it does happen?”

”...Then—?”

Raven leaned in. ”Then maybe I can help, sir. In dealing with him.”

Darian narrowed his eyes. ”You? But you’re on his team. And with that special skill of his, you wouldn’t stand a chance in a fair fight. And even if you cornered him, CGA would definitely get involved.”

”That’s why I’m asking if you want my help or not.”

Darian paused. ”...I’m not following, kid. Say it clearly or drop it.”

Raven let out a soft sigh. ”Alright, I’ll make it clear. I’ll take care of Lucas—in a dungeon. Make it look like an accident. But I need two things in return. First, you clean up the aftermath and make sure no suspicion falls on me. Second…”

He leaned closer and whispered the full extent of his plan, revealing both of his demands.

Darian rubbed his chin, grim-faced. ”...The first part’s easy. But kid, that second thing… it’s hard. If you fail and get caught, I’m done for too—especially if Lilia finds out.”

”Come on, sir. Risks are part of progress,” Evan smirked.

Darian sighed. ”Fine. But remember—this has to look flawless. If I need to cover for you, it better not look like murder.”

”Don’t worry, sir. I’m proficient in accidents.”

Just then, the attendant returned with two sets of items.

Darian handed them over. Raven inspected the details, nodding with satisfaction before slotting them into his inventory. With over 11,000 Evochant Points left, he quickly used his talent to enhance the weapons to their maximum potential.

And with that, he left to regroup with his team, who had just finished their lunch at a nearby restaurant.

Now, all that was left was to wait.

Wait until everything was in place.

Wait until Lucas was vulnerable.

—To be continued.