How to Raise Your Skeletons

[Remaining trial points: 1,106,500.]

I purchased every item in the Theme 2 shop at once. The process felt similar to last time. Like swiping a debit card, my accumulated points disappeared, and the items floated before my eyes.

Scrolls with distance-shortening and distance-lengthening features. Elixirs, random boxes, and the Root of the World Tree, just like the ones I had consumed before. And lastly, the Wish-Granting Scroll.

Hehe.

It was almost too easy. Was this what it felt like for billionaires to shop at department stores? The items, which were supposedly difficult to acquire during past trials, were all effortlessly within my grasp. Of course, that didn’t mean earning the points was easy.

[Hidden condition achieved!]

[You purchased all items in the Theme 2 Shop.]

[The ‘Theme 2 Exclusive VIP Shop’ has been unlocked.]

As expected…!

My heart raced. I had anticipated this, but that didn’t make it any less exhilarating. Because who wouldn’t feel this way? This was the same shop that got me a godslayer-rank item. I couldn’t help but wonder what it would offer this time. The excitement was overwhelming.

“You really are something else.” Floa glared at me, clearly envious. “Hoarder. Greedy pig. Did you really need to buy everything to feel satisfied?”

“Quit whining and open it up. I’ve got plenty of points.”

“Haah. As expected… You’re insufferable every time I look at you.” Shaking her head in exasperation, Floa waved her hand.

[The currency for this shop is trial points.]

[Each item is limited to one per person.]

[List – 1/1]

[1. Reward Probability Amplification Scroll – 1,000,000 Points]

“Wow.”

As expected, it was the same this time.

It’s another absurdly overpowered scroll.

This scroll guaranteed rewards two tiers higher than what I would normally receive. So if I managed to get an S-rank item as expected…

I could end up with an SSS-rank item.

With a 100% guarantee, at that. There was no room for hesitation.

“I’ll use up the remaining points. I’m buying it right now. Not buying this would be a crime.”

“So you did have enough points?”

“Of course. Didn’t I say I had plenty?”

“Ugh, you’re so annoying.”

—Snap!

Floa snapped her fingers with a look of irritation.

[Spending 1,000,000 points.]

[Remaining trial points: 106,500.]

Done!

With this purchase, I instinctively felt it…

This theme is practically a freebie now.

From the moment I captured the poison mist creature, everything had been tilted in my favor. If points were a measure of privilege, I was holding an unprecedented diamond spoon. And barring some extraordinary incident, no amount of dirt spoons could break this diamond one.

When people gather, conflict is inevitable. Even among those who considered themselves close, disagreements would occur. Now imagine hunters from different countries and cultures coming together—friction was bound to happen.

“Ah, for fuck’s sake. Your stare is suffocating.”

And there was always one person who fueled the fire, the one who couldn’t hold back and voiced what others only thought—Olivia Rodrigo was one such person.

“Mister, why do you keep looking at me like that? Aren’t we supposed to be a team now?”

The middle-aged man, who had been sitting quietly, stiffened. Her sudden provocation was likely because Team Leader Joo Donghoon wasn’t present to keep her in check.

Honestly…

The man shook his head. He figured avoiding crazy people was always the best policy. She had been grumbling throughout the march and even took jabs at the team leader last time.

“It’s starting again.”

“Doesn’t she ever get tired?”

“Vice leader, are you going to let this slide?”

Even the other members, who had been holding back, began voicing their frustrations.

When I returned from my meeting with Floa, I sensed the tense atmosphere and stopped. I wondered if something had happened while I was away. Crouching, I observed the situation.

“Olivia, your task was to set up a shelter with Olena. Are you finished with that?” asked the vice-leader, Zhang Wei, the Spear of Judgment.

“Screw that.”

Olivia’s response was unexpected. Though she lacked some tact, she hadn’t been this rude in my presence before.

“Honestly, everyone here is pretty much the same except for the team leader. Do you really think having a title makes you special?”

—Step, step.

Olivia walked nonchalantly toward the center, followed by a lackey whose name I didn’t know.

Hm.

Using the Great Blue Heart Technique, I assessed her strength.

She’s unexpectedly decent.

For someone with such a sharp tongue, she wasn’t weak. Her power was on par with the Spear of Judgment.

Zhang Wei the Spear of Judgment, Olivia Rodrigo, and Vladimir Rodigin the Spatial Mage. These three had comparable power levels, while the rest of the team members were either slightly or significantly weaker.

Not that it matters.

Even their combined strength couldn’t even fill Floa’s toe.

“Don’t you think that’s a bit much?”

“Right, the vice leader is doing his best.”

“Besides, he was chosen by the team leader. It’s natural to follow his orders.”

Looking visibly uncomfortable, the team members began speaking up.

“Heh,” Olivia snorted. “Everyone here is so damn naive. Tsk, tsk. You all don’t know how to raise your worth.”

“Worth?” James, the Martial Artists, stepped in. “Do you think you add value to this team?”

“Oh, are you picking a fight right now?”

“I’m asking seriously. Why are you so twisted and intent on ruining the team’s atmosphere?”

“Oh, being all serious and shit, huh?” Olivia smirked. “Alright, since you’re curious, let me explain. Sure, the team leader chose me, but that’s that. And this trial is all about cooperation, right? That means all ten of us are necessary. So why should I bow down just because the team leader is strong? I’m not some pushover.”

“Cooperation is exactly why—”

“Cooperation, my ass.”

“What?”

“The team leader took nearly 99% of the contributions in Theme 1. You know what that means?” A grin spread across Olivia’s face. “It means he stole our shares, dumbass.” Her venomous words were relentless. “And the vice leader is the same. Delegating tasks, controlling us—it’s all about telling us what to do, right? What else would you expect from a red lackey? In my country, we call that dictatorship.”

“What are you saying—!” Myoi Hana tried to intervene but was cut off by Olivia raising her hand.

“Let me spell it out. I hate this whole situation. Honestly, except for that Chinese guy with the spear and the Russian mage, everyone else here feels like freeloaders who just got lucky joining the team.”

“What?” James furrowed his brows.

Her words treated the other six members as dead weight. Naturally, his pride wouldn’t let him stay silent.

“I’ve had enough of your shit!”

—Whoosh!

His fist, nearly at supersonic speed, shot toward Olivia. However…

“…!”

She was no longer where he aimed.

Wh-What…?

James glanced around, bewildered.

—Ssssh!

Something dark coiled around his calves like a snake.

This is—

James’ eyes widened.

A whip?

Indeed. Olivia’s primary weapon was a whip—two, in fact. As the second whip came swinging at James to strike him hard…

“Stop.”

“Enough.”

The Spear of Judgment and Vladimir blocked its path. Beside them stood a man who appeared to be Olivia’s lover, clearly taking her side.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Wow.

Watching from afar, I let out an internal sigh. Honestly, I thought this might blow over if I kept quiet, but Olivia was the real deal. She was exhausting to even think about.

With that kind of attitude, she probably can’t even maintain friendships, let alone work with a team…

Some might argue that blunt honesty was the trend in foreign cultures, and being direct without unnecessary politeness was more charming.

But no.

She wasn’t being honest. She was narcissistic—a mental state that disregarded the feelings of others for the sake of their narrative.

“…”

What should I do? Normally, I wouldn’t step in. I wasn’t overly kind, but I wasn’t someone who craved attention, either.

But…

I couldn’t let this slide. As the team leader, I needed to steer this trial to victory. Once I realized that, my decision was clear.

It’s time to act.

Festering wounds didn’t heal on their own. You either cut them out or treated them aggressively. This wasn’t about being right or wrong. Maybe my way was wrong and Olivia’s was right, but for the team to move forward, someone had to back down.

And if she won’t, I’ll make her.

—Step, step.

I began walking, heading straight toward the brewing conflict.

“Ah, team leader?”

“Team leader! You’re here? Please, come quickly. Do you know what’s happening? Olivia, she’s—!”

I kept walking. Someone tried to talk to me, but I ignored them. My focus was solely on Olivia.

“…”

I didn’t know how I looked right now, but I probably wasn’t overly joyous, judging from how the gathered members moved to make way for me.

“Ha?” Olivia let out a dry laugh as she noticed me approaching.

Her attitude made my already cold mood drop even lower. If there were a competition for being infuriating, she’d win hands down. Even Floa’s sharp tongue wasn’t this unbearable.

“What? Were you eavesdropping? Damn, a voyeuristic team leader.”

Had she decided to double down? Or was she pretending to be unaffected?

“Yes, well. I happened to hear everything.”

“Really?” Olivia grinned. “Then let’s make this quick. You heard me, right? I hate freeloaders. The world should be fair, and everyone should get what they deserve based on their abilities.”

“…”

“And even now, while everyone was working hard, the team leader was off doing who-knows-what, and no one said anything. But I can tolerate that much. Fine.” She raised her twin whips in both hands. “But why do I have to take weaklings along just because they’re part of the team, while the strong get no recognition?”

She might have had a point. Maybe my decision to prioritize the team’s safety was wrong.

However…

I was the team leader. Regardless of whether she was right or wrong, I had to steer this team of ten toward our goal. And right now, Olivia’s mindset was a major obstacle.

“Am I wrong? I don’t think I’m the kind of talent to be sheltering those weaklings right now. What do you think?”

“Your words hit the nail on the head.” I nodded.

Olivia’s smile widened as if pleased with my response. “See? I knew it. You’re different from that uptight James guy. You get it.”

“Well, not quite.” I drew my staff. “You’re right. Your words really do hit hard. So, allow me.”

I slammed it into the ground.