...
In addition, he found several bundles of [Glowing Water Grass].
This aquatic plant grew in the depths of the swamp and would emit a faint glow in dark environments.
It also contained trace amounts of Water Element spirituality, making it one of the supplementary materials for synthesizing [Basic Awakening Potion] in Alchemy.
Lynch roughly estimated that this haul could sell for about twenty to thirty Gold Coins. It wasn't much, but at least he'd made back the fee he paid to acquire the corpses.
"Finally, it's time to check the 'boss rooms.'"
'Naturally, you save the best treasure chest for last.'
He hesitated for a moment between the Fishman leader's and the Fishman Priest's huts before entering the Fishman Priest's hut first.
Compared to the other huts, this one was noticeably "cleaner," or at least, it didn't have as much nauseating filth.
In the center of the hut stood a crude altar built from stones, on which lay several beast skulls and colorful feathers.
After rummaging through everything, besides finding a few more top-quality, even larger Black Pearls, Lynch also felt something hard deep within a pile of water grass. He dug it out and saw that it was an irregularly shaped gold nugget the size of a baby's fist.
"Well now, my luck isn't half bad." Lynch weighed the gold nugget in his hand. It was quite heavy, and its purity seemed high. This nugget alone was probably worth no less than fifty Gold Coins.
Leaving the Fishman Priest's hut, Lynch walked into the Fishman leader's hut in high spirits.
This hut was a size larger than the Fishman Priest's, and its style was much cruder. The floor was covered with various tattered animal hides, and the bones of large aquatic creatures hung on the walls as decorations.
He searched it inside and out but found nothing special aside from a few more Black Pearls.
But how could Lynch give up so easily?
'A boss room with no drops? Unacceptable!'
He simply had Bone Jade help him tear the hut apart and then rummaged through the ruins.
Finally, under a crudely tanned crocodile hide, he found a battered box. He opened it, and inside lay a pendant.
The pendant was teardrop-shaped, about the size of a fingernail. Its material was neither gold nor jade. Its entire body was a deep, pure, ethereal blue, and it emanated a soft glow in the dim light.
'A drop, a real drop!'
Lynch's heart leaped with joy. As he picked up the pendant, an icy coolness touched his hand, spreading up his arm and straight into his mind.
His slightly weary spirit was instantly invigorated. His mind felt as if it had been washed by a clear spring, becoming much sharper.
"This is... Magic Equipment!?"
Lynch examined it closely, pleasantly surprised.
'This ethereal blue color, this soothing, cool sensation... With my limited appraisal knowledge, I can roughly tell that this pendant should have the dual effects of "Weak Flame Resistance" and a "minor Spiritual Power boost."'
Although the boost was small, any piece of Magic Equipment that could enhance attributes was an exceptionally precious treasure.
Especially for a Necromancer who was heavily reliant on Spiritual Power, the value of this pendant far surpassed everything else he had found.
Aside from his Magic Staff, which provided a slight boost to the effects of his Undead Magic, this was the second piece of Magic Equipment he owned.
"A good find, a really good find."
He put the pendant around his neck. A continuous cool sensation spread from his chest, helping his mind stay clear and focused.
This thing would be of great help, whether during his usual Meditation or when maintaining the spiritual link with his summons in battle.
Not wanting to miss anything, he checked the ruins of the two "boss rooms" again. Only after confirming that every corner had been turned upside down did he finally stop.
"Pack it up. Back to the village."
At Lynch's command, the massive Skeleton Army turned and began the journey back to Reed Village.
Just outside the village.
He had Bone Jade take the thirty Fishman Skeleton cannon fodder and split off, lying in wait in the nearby reeds.
As for himself, he leisurely returned to the village with his ten personal Skeleton Guards, which naturally caused another small commotion.
The respected old village chief had no choice but to come out and deal with the Necromancer again.
Lynch couldn't be bothered with pleasantries. He told him directly that the Fishman camp had been wiped out and asked for the proof of quest completion.
How could the old village chief dare to refuse? He hurriedly wrote a receipt, pressed his handprint on it, and respectfully handed it to Lynch.
Lynch took the receipt and glanced over it to confirm it was correct. Then, without another word, he nodded, turned, and left the village with his Skeleton Guards.
After Lynch was a good distance away.
The old village chief finally let out a small sigh of relief. He quickly ordered a sturdy young man beside him, "Tiger, take a few men and go check on the situation at the Fishman camp. Remember, be careful! Just take a look from a distance and come right back. Don't get close!"
The young man named Tiger acknowledged the order. He immediately picked three brave and cautious companions, and together they grabbed their fish harpoons and machetes and hurried off toward the Black Swamp.
The entire village waited in a state of anxiety and apprehension.
About an hour later, Tiger and his men came scrambling back, panting heavily.
Their faces were drained of all color, and their eyes were filled with utter shock and terror.
"Chief! V-Village Chief! They're gone! The Fishmen... they're all gone!" Tiger rushed up to the old village chief, shouting between gasps for air. "The huts were all torn down, and there's blood everywhere! We worked up the courage to get a little closer, and we really didn't see a single living Fishman! They're all... all dead."
Once the news was confirmed, the entire village burst into an uproar.
The Fishman menace that had plagued them for so long had actually been completely resolved by a single Necromancer, all by himself.
The old village chief was also extremely emotional, muttering to himself, "He actually... he actually wiped them all out... How terrifying... How powerful..."
The other villagers were both excited and terrified.
'Is this what a Necromancer is like?'
'So strong!'
'And he didn't harass any of the villagers from beginning to end.'
'How is this so different from what the Holy Light Church preaches?'
***
After leaving Reed Village, Lynch didn't return directly to the academy.
Along the way, he completed the other two small gathering quests he had accepted. One was to collect a type of Fluorescent Bacteria that grew only on a specific swamp moss, and the other was to gather several bundles of the extremely durable [Iron Wire Reed].
These were all materials used in Alchemy.
Throughout this process, he remained highly vigilant.
Under his command, Bone Jade led the main army of thirty Fishman Skeletons, lying in ambush within a patch of reeds on his flank, about half a kilometer away.
Meanwhile, Lynch himself, accompanied only by ten Skeleton Guards, busied himself with gathering materials.
Before he knew it, he had finished gathering the materials for the last quest and stuffed them into a sack he had prepared.
By now, the sky had gradually grown dark. The afterglow of the sunset dyed the edge of the swamp an orange-red.
Lynch ordered a Skeleton Servant to shoulder the harvested materials, but his brow furrowed slightly.
'Strange...'
He was a little surprised.
He had deliberately made himself appear to be "alone" this whole way, which was tantamount to setting out fragrant bait.
On top of that, he had already clearly 'chummed the waters' back at the academy's quest hall.
Given his masterful fishing skills, Barry Aiken and his group should have been unable to resist jumping out by now, like hyenas smelling blood.
How could there be no movement at all?
'This shouldn't be happening...' Lynch couldn't figure it out. 'Where did things go wrong?'
...