Min-jun didn't sleep much that night.
Every time he closed his eyes, the same thoughts came back again and again.
Common class.
Useless necromancer.
Dumped like trash.
He sat on the edge of his bed as the early morning light slipped through the window. The city outside was already noisy. Sirens. Cars. Life moving on, as if nothing had happened to him yesterday.
A soft chime echoed in his head.
[Daily Login Reward Received]
[Beginner Mana Potion x3]
Min-jun blinked.
"…So this thing really isn't going away."
He rubbed his face and stood up.
Today was the day he had to register as a hunter. Whether he liked it or not, this was his reality now.
After a quick breakfast, he stepped outside. His mother had already left for work. Ji-ho was still asleep, hugging his pillow like a child who didn't know how cruel the world could be.
I'll make sure he never has to worry, Min-jun thought.
The Hunter Association building loomed tall and gray. Lines of awakened people stood outside, some excited, some nervous.
Min-jun joined the queue.
"Name?" the receptionist asked without looking up.
"Kang Min-jun."
She typed quickly. "Class?"
"…Necromancer."
Her fingers paused for just a moment.
Then continued typing.
"Common tier," she said flatly. "Dungeon assignment will be F-rank only. Sign here."
Min-jun nodded and signed.
As he turned away, he heard whispers behind him.
"Necromancer? Why even bother registering?"
"Probably desperate."
"Won't last a week."
He pretended not to hear.
An hour later, he stood in front of a small dungeon gate on the outskirts of the city. The air around it felt heavy, cold, wrong.
A temporary team had been assigned.
"Alright," a woman's voice said. "Listen up."
Min-jun looked up.
She was tall, wearing light armor, a spear resting on her shoulder. Her expression was sharp, but not unkind.
"I'm Lee Hae-in. Level 12. I'll lead."
Others introduced themselves quickly. A shield warrior. A rogue. A fire mage.
When it was Min-jun's turn, he hesitated.
"…Kang Min-jun. Level 1. Necromancer."
Silence.
The rogue clicked his tongue. "Great. Dead weight."
Hae-in raised a hand. "Enough. Everyone starts somewhere."
She glanced at Min-jun. "Can you fight?"
Min-jun swallowed. "…I have one skeleton."
One eyebrow of hers twitched.
"…One?"
He nodded, embarrassed.
Hae-in sighed. "Fine. Stay behind me. Don't do anything reckless."
They entered the dungeon.
The inside was dark, damp, and smelled of rot. The walls were covered in moss. Somewhere deep inside, something growled.
Min-jun's heart pounded.
This is it.
A goblin rushed out of the shadows.
"Contact!" Hae-in shouted.
The warrior blocked. The mage cast fire. The goblin fell.
Min-jun stood frozen.
Do something, he told himself. If I don't move now, I'll always be like this.
He focused.
[Basic Skeleton Summon Activated]
Black mist gathered beside him.
Clack.
The skeleton appeared, sword shaking slightly in its hand.
The rogue stared. "That's it?"
Min-jun ignored him.
"Go," he whispered.
The skeleton ran forward, awkward but determined, slashing at a goblin's legs.
It wasn't strong.
But it was real.
The goblin screamed and fell.
The skeleton struck again.
The system chimed.
[Goblin Defeated]
[EXP Gained: 15]
[Level Up!]
[Level 2 Reached]
Min-jun's eyes widened.
"…I leveled."
Warmth spread through his body. His mana increased. His mind felt clearer.
Hae-in glanced back. "You okay?"
"…Yeah," Min-jun said quietly. "I think so."
For the first time since awakening, something stirred in his chest.
Not despair.
Hope.
Deep inside the system, unseen text flickered briefly.
[Hidden Evolution Path Observed]
[Condition: Accumulate Undead Experience]
Min-jun didn't see it.
But the skeleton did.
And somewhere in the darkness of the dungeon, bones began to tremble.