Chapter 1: The Necromancer(1)

I had to clean up my father’s corpse.

First, Comet went to the bathroom to drain the blood, then separated the body into appropriate sizes.

After that, she brought garbage bags to pack the remains.

It wasn’t very tidy.

Perhaps due to the weight, the bags tore, so I had to wrap them several times.

When I opened the refrigerator to put the bags inside, there wasn’t much space.

I moved what could be frozen into the freezer.

As I pressed the bags into the newly created empty space, dawn came before I realized it.

My dress got dirty, and I was exhausted, so I took a leisurely shower and had breakfast.

After doing the dishes, I threw the bed sheets into the washing machine and cleaned the house with a mop.

The doorbell rang around the time Comet was finishing up the cleanup and sitting on the sofa with a cup of coffee.

“Who is it?”

On the other side of the door stood a man in a suit holding a magic wand.

“I’m from the Disaster Response Committee.”

“Uh…………. so I should open the door?”

“Yes, that would be nice.”

“Just a moment.”

Comet seemed to be sweating profusely.

After quickly scanning the living room, she opened the front door.

“Please excuse the mess in the house.”

“Not a problem.”

Comet gestured for him to sit on the living room sofa and headed to the kitchen.

“Would you like some coffee? I don’t have any other drinks.”

“No, that’s fine.”

“Oh, I see.”

Comet turned back from the kitchen and returned to the living room.

“So, what brings you here…………..?”

“The committee has agreed to take protective measures for the families of key high-ranking officials.

So, I came to explain this to the family of Ms. Ban Min-hye, the Social Budget Commissioner.”

As the official looked around the house searching for the family members, his gaze brushed over the kitchen, and Comet hurriedly said,

“Then that family would be me.”

The official turned to Comet and, after taking out a notebook, began reading the contents.

He looked at Comet again and carefully asked,

“Your son?”

“Yes. Legally, my son.”

The official examined the area around Comet’s chest and her dress before tapping his notebook, deep in thought.

It was a somewhat awkward gesture.

“What is your occupation?”

“Which side are you asking about?”

“Both.”

“It’s a bit embarrassing to say, but I used to be an accountant going through external audits, but after the change, I quit, so now I’m unemployed. On the other side, I’m a necromancer.”

“That seems to fit.”

“Right?”

“Yes. Is your father not home right now?”

Comet started to sweat again.

“Where could he have gone?”

“Huh?”

“Just kidding. Haha. Actually………….”

Comet twisted her hair nervously.

“A few days ago, he left without reason and hasn’t returned. I’m starting to think he might have encountered a monster.”

“Of…….”

The atmosphere grew heavy, and a moment of silence passed.

Comet finished the coffee she had made before the official arrived.

It was bitter.

The official slightly lowered his head.

“I apologize for asking such a sensitive question hastily.”

“No, it’s understandable. It’s just that, until the end, my father was just being my father.

More importantly, how does the protective measure work?”

The official seemed reluctant to delve into personal matters, quickly moving on to the topic.

For whatever reason, this was a good thing for Comet.

“We have decided to partially open the underground bunker in Yeouido.

If you move your residence there, the government will provide you with food and shelter.”

“So, I’ll be living apart from my mother?”

I believe the Ministry of Economy and Finance is located in Sejong City.

“Major administrative operations have been moved from Sejong City to Seoul, so they are currently in Yeouido.”

“Given that communications are down, it would indeed be difficult to operate from Sejong City.”

If the acting president and members of parliament were to move to Sejong City, it would mean abandoning Seoul, which is likely why the officials have come to Seoul.

“I’ll pack my things now. If I’m going, it’s better to leave quickly.”

Comet stood up from her seat.

“You can take your time moving.”

“No, I don’t want to inconvenience you.”

Comet found a large bag in the master bedroom and took it out.

“There’s no need to stay in an empty house.”

There wasn’t much to take.

She packed a magical knife and a soul orb, and after putting some clothes into the bag, she felt she didn’t need anything else.

There was a lot in the house, but there was little she wanted to bring.

Comet took a moment to look around the house before heading out the front door with the official.

She saw about a dozen soldiers waiting outside.

Comet tilted her head, looking at the soldiers, then turned to the official.

The official seemed unfazed and calmly said,

“I’m not suited for direct combat, so I have additional security personnel.”

Hearing that, Comet examined the official’s magic wand.

Suddenly, she realized something.

“You’re a healer, then. You’re quite a valuable person. I didn’t notice because I was so dazed.”

Comet nervously twisted her hair and then got into the car.

The car headed toward Yeouido.

The security personnel followed closely behind.

Through the car window, shuttered shops and fallen trees passed by.

“If you have any questions about the protective measures, feel free to ask.”

The healer said as he rummaged through papers beside her.

“Questions? Hmm.”

Since it was something she would soon experience, she had no significant curiosity.

“By the way, my father and mother are divorced, so legally, we aren’t family, right?”

The healer paused, his hand that was pulling out documents stopping as he pondered.

“That’s likely due to it being applied broadly. We need to focus on the purpose rather than get caught up in procedures.”

His answer was vague, as if he wasn’t sure.

The healer handed her a few documents that had already been approved.

Some were related to protective measures, while others were not.

“Currently, some areas in Yeouido are restricted, so a few procedures are necessary. Please write down what you see in the status window.”

Comet clicked the pen she received a few times.

When she looked at the healer, he returned a friendly smile.

Comet smiled back.

“Since it’s a restricted area, it must be the National Assembly. Are we going to the underground bunker of the National Assembly?”

“It’s a separate facility, although it’s nearby.”

Comet nodded and started scribbling with the pen.

<Person Information – Assimilation Rate 10%>
Name: Black Comet
Affiliation: East Asia · Korean Peninsula · South Korea
Major: Magic Studies · Spirit Studies · Spirit Magic
[Strength 393] [Stamina 10] [Mana 597]

“Looks like the assimilation rate is at its base level.”

“Due to the nature of spirit magic, it’s hard to increase. Because of that, my stats are at 10%, which is a problem.”

“What about strength…?”

“I’m a PVP user.”

Comet suddenly had a question and looked at the healer.

“But isn’t that quite famous? All the character builds should be publicly available.”

“I’m sorry. I’m a light user, so I’m not well-informed in that area.”

Comet felt troubled, as if she had become a gaming addict.

Unfortunately, it was true.

The healer organized the completed documents.

“Ms. Na Hye-sung, with this, you will be able to enter all areas except for some restricted zones.”

“Oh. You can just call me Comet.”

The healer paused and made eye contact with her.

Comet smiled back.

“Of course, Ms. Comet.”

—

At the main gate of the National Assembly, a protest was in full swing.

Yeouido appeared peaceful, as if the monster extermination had been completed.

“Did you have breakfast?”

“I did eat, but since I had it too early, I’m a bit hungry now.”

“Let’s have a meal first.”

The cafeteria at the National Assembly tasted just like a typical cafeteria.

The only notable difference was that there were many exhausted people looking haggard.

“It’s not as good as I expected.”

“It can be good sometimes.”

After finishing their meal, Comet walked along with the healer’s guidance and spotted a familiar-looking user.

Walking with assistants was a somewhat unfamiliar sight, so Comet hesitated to speak up.

“Chairperson!”

When the healer called out, the woman turned around.

“You’ve arrived. You’ve worked hard, so you can take a break now. Comet, come talk with me for a bit.”

The healer left, and Comet felt somewhat bewildered.

“Comet, it’s been a while, right?”

“Yes, Malang-nim. It has been a while.”

The woman, hearing the response, laughed as if she found something amusing.

The assistants laughed along.

Feeling awkward, Comet scratched her cheek.

Upon closer inspection, it seemed some of the assistants were not genuinely enjoying themselves.

“Do you have any questions?”

“Are you asking on purpose? What do you do for a living?”

“Alchemist.”

Comet stared at her without much reaction.

The woman licked her lips and added a comment.

“An elected official.”

Ah. A member of the National Assembly.

Comet briefly recalled various antics of this National Assembly member from the game.

Thinking back, she seemed to fit the image of a politician well.

“I see. Malang-nim, you have found your calling. But I need to be informed about the protective measures.”

The National Assembly member laughed again.

When Comet looked closely, it seemed that most of the assistants were not genuinely laughing out of joy.

Indeed.

Comet roughly acknowledged the situation.

“Protective measures. Does a Spirit Master, ranked first in profession and thirteenth overall, really need protection?”

“Not really, right?”

At Comet’s answer, the National Assembly member smiled, took out a cigarette, and lit it.

Comet secretly hoped to witness an assistant lighting the cigarette for her, but that didn’t happen.

It was disappointing.

“It’s not that it’s unnecessary. It would just be a waste to treat you on par with civilians.

I’ll let you come and go freely without security personnel, so just make yourself comfortable.

Is that satisfactory?”

“If that’s what you want.”

The National Assembly member shrugged and assigned Comet’s guidance to an assistant.

“Do you have any other questions?”

“I’ve heard there are only about a dozen surviving members of the National Assembly, so I guess Malang-nim must be very busy now?”

“That’s right.”

Comet twirled her hair absentmindedly.

“Is there not enough time for you to chat with me here?”

“Are you teasing me?”

“No, that’s not it. A person needs time to rest to be productive.

I’m just curious about what you want from me.”

The National Assembly member flicked the ash from her cigarette.

“Nothing.”

Comet found it hard to retract her suspicious gaze.

The National Assembly member playfully tapped Comet and smiled.

“I’m glad to see you’re healthy. Now, I must go.”

After the National Assembly member left, Comet was guided by the assistant to her accommodation.

The assigned room was a single with basic amenities, so it seemed she could stay comfortably.

Her mother arrived close to midnight, after they had dinner.

She looked tired, perhaps from being busy.

“Missing, huh? Hah. That guy really is a nuisance to the end.”

“Father is… yes, that’s true. It could have ended on a good note.”

“Don’t go searching for him needlessly. A man his age should at least be able to take care of himself.”

Comet scratched her cheek.

Her mother sighed deeply, fell into thought for a moment, and then crossed her arms, gazing at Comet intently.

“Did you do your appearance yourself?”

“Oh, yes. The customization turned out well, didn’t it?”

Comet spun around lightly, puffing out her dress and giving a casual greeting.

Her mother’s gaze shifted back and forth.

Black bobbed hair.

Red eyes.

Cat-like face.

“Pretty good.”

“Right?”

Her mother nodded and got up from her seat.

“If you need anything, just let me know.”

“Yes.”

After her mother left, Comet fiddled with her knife and put on her coat around midnight when the moon rose.

It was time for nighttime activities.