《The Skeleton Soldier Failed to Defend the Dungeon》 Chapter 1. Awakening from Life (1) Chapter 1. Awakening from Life (1) I was dying. Someone might say it was a paradox. Clatter. A skeleton represented death itself. It was the remnant of a life that had been terminated. The person''s life didn''t exist anymore, so it was meaningless. And I was a skeleton. It was empty where my eyes should have been. I was weathered white and completely devoid of flesh. Click. Clack. Yet, my life was far from over, and my memory was still sharp. Twenty years ago, an amateur necromancer awakened me during a thunderstorm. Since then, I''d meticulously recorded everything. Despite being a Skeleton Soldier, I possessed willpower and emotions. My bones clattered, but I was very much alive. Clatter. I shook my left arm, which I could move without a problem. I could see and hear, too. I had to admit that my senses were... a little dull. However, I was certainly in pain right now as I watched the succubus, my master and the owner of this dungeon, get killed. I was confident that what seemed paradoxical to me earlier wasn''t so contradictory now. I am dying. An assailant stabbed a holy sword deep into my master''s belly. Then he twisted it out of her, probably targeting her heart next. Maybe because she wanted to spare me from anguish, my master was dying quietly without letting out a single scream. She''s only twenty years old. I felt terrible that I might be dying, but I should at least protect her since I was a Skeleton Soldier guarding this small dungeon. Yet, I couldn''t protect the dungeon at all. Heroes with special engravings had come out of nowhere and raided the dungeon, attacking me and the other creatures. I didn''t know if those heroes had emerged from the long-running wars among humans or the demon king''s advent. Nevertheless, those things didn''t matter. Clatter. I must protect. I was the protector of this dungeon and my master, so I should fulfill my duties. Many parts of me had already fallen off or shattered, but I still moved forward. Both of my legs were broken, and I only had one arm left. But I couldn''t just stand by and watch. When I saw my fractured shinbone on the ground, I forced myself to grab it with my left arm, then I threw the bone with all my might. Whoosh! The bone flew with great force. Thud. It hit a hero''s arm. As expected, my final attempt at fighting back didn''t cause the hero any damage. With the corners of his mouth twisted upward, the muscular hero glanced at me. "You piece of trash!" someone said. That person, who was not even a hero but a servant, walked slowly toward me. Despite being a servant, he wore a set of full plate armor made of mithril and was two meters tall, looking like a walking battering ram. Flash! The servant lifted the tower shield, layered with all sorts of magic. Crash! He smashed the bottom of his thick, huge shield onto me. Snap! Crackle! The sound of my bones breaking was deafening. In fact, even without the shield, I would''ve broken apart if he had just stepped on me forcefully. Thud. I met the eyes of my master, who was bleeding out on the floor. I was in great despair for being unable to protect her. Crash! Crunch! Crack! Even at that moment, my body was shattering into pieces. I couldn''t move any part of my body because everything was broken. I was about to be annihilated. My body was completely broken, with only my head remaining, rolling across the dungeon floor. I was a mere Skeleton Soldier who could do nothing. I dreamt of peacefully hiding in a small dungeon, and even that dream had been shattered by a mere servant. My master succubus''s eyes were slowly turning white, with life draining away along with her blood. I experienced mixed emotions, angry that I could not protect her. With my remaining strength as a mere skull, I rolled across the floor. "Oh, oh no!" the servant shouted. He realized I wasn''t just rolling away in pieces and that my skull was rolling with intention. Slam! The servant smashed his shield toward me, but he narrowly missed, striking the dungeon floor instead. Success. I succeeded in approaching the feet of the hero who was killing my master. There was no chance I could cause him any damage, but I was resentful. This life of mine had been disregarded so much. I wasn''t even allowed to hide. My last treasure was taken away right in front of me. Even if no one would find my life as a Skeleton Soldier meaningful, I had my master, who used to kindle warmth in my empty chest. Every day of my life was filled with small, simple joys. "Huh?" The hero looked back, but I was already at his foot. Chomp! I bit the hero''s heel with all my might as my final struggle. Crunch! As the chosen one, this shining hero would have everything, so to him, I was probably just an insignificant ornament that would break and turn into experience points with one slash. However, even for a skeleton like me, I had a right to struggle until the end. Bite! Crunch! It felt like I lost a few of my teeth in the process. "Aaaaargh!" the hero screamed. Splash! Drip. Blood from his heel splattered on my skull. Something''s wrong, I realized. I felt a strange sense of incongruity. Something absurd was happening. After all, this hero had laughed off all the traps and bladed monsters, including my master''s final spell. He had even sneered and taunted us. "Try harder. Don''t you have more?" So, it seemed impossible that he could be bleeding just because a skeleton like me had bitten him. "You¡ª!" Crunch! Crunch! The upset hero stomped on me repeatedly. Nothing was left but my skull, and that broke apart too. My consciousness slowly faded away. Crunch! This time, my life came to a complete end. Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! I was a nameless Skeleton Soldier from a cozy dungeon managed by an introverted succubus. Today, I was shattered to pieces on the floor of that very dungeon before I could really do anything meaningful. [All conditions have been met.] [Changing the player.] [The compatibility has decreased.] [97.3% ¡ª> 94.8%] *** Master! I had met my end. When my skull was crushed, a dark veil descended on my consciousness. Everything went black. I imagined it would be quiet now. I thought I wouldn''t feel or think anymore. Boom! Crash! Crackle! Unexpectedly, I ended up in a really noisy place. My head was ringing from all the noise. There was a vibration from the sky. It hit me like a headache I never had before, I raised both hands and rubbed my head. I felt a smooth skull bumping into hard finger bones. Tap! Tap! I heard a sound. I tapped them again. Tap! Tap! Then I tapped them once more. Tap! Tap! "..." Something was strange. I raised my skeletal hand and looked up at it. It had five fingers. I bent them and then straightened them again. Everything moved without issue. I could even make a fist. Tap. Tap. I tapped my fingers together. The bones made a sound when they touched. Clatter! I placed my hand on my shoulder and moved my left arm. My arms¡ªmy right, which had been blown off, and my left, which had been dislocated¡ªwere back in place. I lifted my legs. There were no signs that they had been broken, and all ten toes were moving. I moved my whole body with force. Clatter! Clatter! I began to feel my body. It was a shabby and crude body but definitely familiar. These were the same clattering bones I had been with for twenty years. My body definitely shattered. My whole skeleton had been crushed to powder after I failed to protect my master. Yet, I could feel my body again. It wasn''t impressive or particularly strong and large, but it was mine. That alone was clear. I looked up at the sky. I had been too focused on myself, but it turned out that my surroundings were also unusual. Constant flashes of lightning illuminated the black sky. A blue bolt of lightning split a tree with a loud crack. Crackle! Crash! Crunch! There was thunder as well, followed by sounds that were so loud they caused me to shake. Tudududu! It was also heavily raining. Swish! Swoosh! The wind was heavy, digging into the ground and ripping off branches. The uprooted and torn debris flew through the dark void. I was slowly figuring out my situation. I had already confirmed that I returned to my original body. Clatter. I felt around me. Tap. Tap. I could see the sky, but my sides were walled up to form a narrow space. Tap. I was lying down. I tried to sit up, but I hit my skull against something. Thud! It was a hard piece of wood. Then when I stretched out my legs and hands, I touched wood again. It appeared there was barely any horizontal space for me either. I was lying in a narrow box. It was a coffin with a cracked lid that exposed the sky. I realized that I was a skeleton lying in a coffin from an uncovered grave. Crackle! Crash! Swoosh... The mound that should have covered the coffin seemed to have been roughly dug up, but it felt more like the work of nature rather than a person. In this kind of heavy rain, it makes sense. At that moment... Ding! A frivolous sound, completely out of place with the surroundings, suddenly rang in my head. It echoed as if a giant bell had struck inside my skull. It was a very annoying sound. Then, something translucent appeared in front of my eyes. Even in the pitch-black night, I could see it clearly. [Succession Complete!] [Name: None Skeleton Soldier Lv. 1 (36) Health: 29 Strength: 23 Agility: 18 Wisdom: 9] What is this? As I came back to life, an incomprehensible situation unfolded before me. I was looking at a status window displaying my stats¡ªHealth, Strength, Agility, and Wisdom¡ªthat had accumulated over twenty years. However, the levels were strange. Previously, I was a Lv. 36 Skeleton Soldier with unimpressive stats barely above the twenties. Now, I was a Lv. 1 Skeleton Soldier. In that case, my stats should have been in single digits, which would make me weaker than a baby goblin. However, my current stats remained the same as before I died. Clatter! I was confused. What''s going on? Ding! That annoying sound rang again. When that sound rang, it automatically grabbed my attention, and another message appeared. [Would you like to check your skills?] [Yes/Yes] I should. I moved my hand towards the air. I tapped the word "Yes" on the right. Ding! Then, letters appeared in the air. Letters that were clear even in the pitch-black sky. [Swinging Randomly Lv. 8 Blocking Poorly Lv. 6 Stabbing Clumsily Lv. 4 Digging Appropriately Lv. 5 Rushing Recklessly Lv. 4 Throwing Anything Handy Lv. 6 Rolling Skull Lv. 1 (new!)] It was a list of skills. Skills were the things I could do, but there were many things I could do that weren''t listed as a skill. Chapter 2. Awakening from Life (2) Chapter 2. Awakening from Life (2) The skill list was mostly familiar. It''s pathetic every time I look at it. Rolling Skull was added as a new skill because I had never rolled my skull independently from the rest of my skeleton in the past twenty years. However, I had accomplished it at the last moment out of guilt and anger. Recalling Lady Succubus'' final moments made me wonder if everything wasn''t simply a dream. Boom! Crash! Thunder rumbled once more. Then I heard an unexpected sound amid the thunder. "Dead one!" It was a woman''s voice. At first, I thought it was a stranger''s voice. "Dead one! I''m the one who awakened you! Can you hear me?" From inside the coffin, I looked up and saw a woman in a robe. She was standing near my grave. She wore a dark gray robe often worn by necromancers, which I recognized from my past run-ins with them. However, the robe looked rather awkward on her and didn''t fit properly. If she had to wear a robe, a red robe made from high-quality silk, the kind that slid between one''s fingers, would fit her better. She was the type of woman who reminded people of such an image, even on a night like this. "Dead one! Cough, cough." The rain had soaked the ill-fitting dark gray robe, revealing the woman''s curvy figure. Clatter. I quietly observed the woman. Her voice and face felt strangely familiar. No, it''s not just a feeling. I remember this moment. My head started to ache. I retraced my memories, remembering the day an amateur necromancer had awakened me through a ritual twenty years ago. My grave was the same, and it also rained heavily that day. That means this woman is... The situation became clearer. Gulp. When the woman saw me move, she swallowed her saliva... Then she struggled to bring something out from behind her. "Dead one! Climb up on this!" It was a ladder. Even this ladder was the same as the one from my memory. Climbing out of the shallow grave would be easy even without a ladder, but it didn''t hurt to have one. Am I dreaming? If this was a dream, then the last twenty years I had spent living as a Skeleton Soldier were also a dream since a nightmare was a type of dream. It had been a long, tedious, and tenacious nightmare, except for the last three years. Clatter. I grabbed the ladder and climbed out of the grave. Then I stood before the woman in the robe. In the dark cemetery, there was just the rain, her, and me. Whoosh... I could feel the rain pelting me more strongly now than when I had been in the grave. Flash! I looked at the woman who was a head shorter than me. She took a step closer. Her hood fluttered, revealing a peek of her delicate features. However, there was also a sharpness to them, which matched her cynical expression. She still seemed somewhat clumsy and awkward, though. The rain blurred my vision again. It was hard to see even an inch ahead. As an insanely intense storm raged, rain poured down like arrows. Whoosh! The rain beat down on my bones with loud echoing thuds, threatening to break them. The rainwater that hit my skull dripped down my jawbones. The wind-driven drops of rain soon dug into my neck and back cervical joints. It felt like a river was pouring over me. Squelch. Each time I stepped forward in the rain, my foot sank deep into the muddy ground. Boom! Crash! Occasionally, flashes of lightning split the sky. Without them, it was challenging to see even an inch ahead. "D-dead one!" she shouted at me. The woman clenched her fist as if making a decision, but I momentarily ignored her. I was still processing the situation and needed more time to adjust. The image of Lady Succubus dying in front of me was still vivid, including the sensation of my body breaking. I slowly looked around. Creak. It became clear as I felt my neck turn. This is not a dream. Skeleton Soldiers did not dream. If I am not dead either... This was the day I had risen from the grave twenty years ago. Heavy rain was damaging the cemetery. Tombstones fell down, and graves were being revealed. Some were exposed so much that their coffins were floating across a newly created river of rain. My grave narrowly avoided meeting the same fate. The tombstone had fallen forward, so I couldn''t read it. However, I wasn''t curious about my name or life. My grave was a humble one, located in a secluded hillside cemetery¡ªmost likely reflecting my unremarkable life. As a Skeleton Soldier, I had learned many things. One of them was that even skeletons had ranks, and despite being as nonsensical as it seemed, the rank of Skeleton Priest was among them. In addition, people who were exceptional before death continued to stand out even after their deaths. I had never leveled up to become a Skeleton Warrior or a Skeleton Knight. For twenty years, I remained as a low-stat Skeleton Soldier, making me believe that I had been just as unremarkable even before my death. As I observed my shabby grave in the ordinary cemetery, I concluded that I hadn''t died far from my home. "Uh... dead one! Umm... would you look at this?" While I was lost in other thoughts, the woman in the ill-fitting robe called out to me again. It felt awkward. A distant memory from when I couldn''t even speak came to life. I recognized the woman. That person from back then. It was her, the woman who had pulled me from my grave twenty years ago¡ªor now. I accepted it because the only conclusion I could come up with was that I had gone back to the past. I had lived as a Skeleton Soldier for twenty years after all; anything was possible. I set aside questioning how I had returned to the past for now and accepted the facts without understanding how I could hear, see, or even think. As a mere Skeleton Soldier, the world was full of magic beyond my understanding. It would be easier for me to just assume this situation was due to one of those magics. It felt convenient and comfortable to give up on learning the truth, choosing to be ignorant instead. However, one thought came into my mind. Master¡ªif I''ve returned to the past, does that mean I can meet her again? I needed to find her, but I stopped my train of thought there. Even if I found her again, would I be able to protect her? Clatter. I observed my shabby white arm as I tried to move it in the pouring rain. Any ordinary human could easily break my arm. I doubted I could change anything even if I were to meet my master again. I shook my head and focused on the woman standing before me. "Um... dead one...?" At a glance, she looked very nervous. I stared at her and thought, What does she want? She shouted enthusiastically, "Ahem... My name is Rubia! Nice to meet you, dead one! I will use you as the cornerstone of my revenge!" It seemed like she had prepared what to say, but I had no idea what she was talking about, nor was I interested in her revenge. I couldn''t even avenge myself. I wished she wouldn''t use me as she pleased. Rumble! The sound of thunder followed her shout. Ding! That annoying sound rang in my head again. [S-rank Scenario, Rubia Ray, has opened.] What? I had no idea what it meant by "Scenario." I waved my hand in the air, wanting to get rid of the unfamiliar words. However, they did not disappear. Instead, the words "Rubia Ray" shone brightly. What is this? A bell rang in my head as I touched the shining words with my hand. Ding! [Name: Rubia Ray Necromancer Lv. 1 Health: 6 Strength: 5 Agility: 6 Wisdom: 12] [Affection: 3 ¡ª Rubia has a slight attachment to the skeleton she awakened.] [Basic Skills: ¡ª Unlock by increasing Affection.] [Perks: ¡ª Unlock by increasing Affection.] [Titles: ¡ª Unlock by increasing Affection.] Huh? Rubia? The messages persisted, as if demanding my confirmation. The woman continued staring at me blankly. Whoosh... I stared at the woman in the rain. Clatter. I shrugged. Looking at her stats, she seemed very unimpressive. Granted, I was no different when I first came into this world. Back then, compared to the average human male with level ten stats, I was not much better as a Lv. 1 Skeleton Soldier with single-digit stats. The only high stat she has is Wisdom. Wisdom, though associated with magic, offered low utility since she was probably not a mage. She lacked skills in many areas. Only one question came to my mind. How come I can see someone else''s status window? Even though I spent three years with the master, I never saw her status window. It was the same for other humans and monsters. Without special magic, I could only see my own level and stats. The woman''s wet lips quivered as she said, "U-uhm... I guess you can''t understand words. But at least it worked. I have one ally now..." Rubia was shedding tears, feeling proud of herself. Is something wrong with her head? I preferred not to bother women lost in their own thoughts, but it was even more uncomfortable to let unnecessary misunderstandings persist. I hesitated momentarily before asking, "What do you mean by ally?" I wasn''t arguing. There was no reason to oppose her strongly, but it should be fine for me to ask about it. Skeletons could speak, but learning how to vocalize usually took a while. I used the clicking sounds of my teeth to speak, which I didn''t find difficult to do. My voice didn''t differ much from before. "Eeek!" Rubia shrieked, jumping in surprise. Why is she so startled? "Ah. Ah," I uttered as I took a step closer toward her. "Eee, eek!" I was confused. Every move I made seemed to shock her. I took another step closer. "A-aah!" Rubia screamed softly. Thud. She clutched her chest and fell backward, staining her robe with mud. Not wanting to scare her any further, I stopped my advance. I assured the woman, "Don''t be so surprised." "A-a talking... skeleton...?" Is it that surprising I''m speaking? Twenty years ago, this necromancer''s ritual awakened me from this grave, transforming me into a Skeleton Soldier. At that time, I lacked the ability to manipulate my jaw to produce sound, rendering me speechless, though my mind remained fully active. My memories of the past slowly flooded into my mind It was thanks to her back then. Come to think of it, we shouldn''t be here. Rubia, the novice necromancer, would soon face a tragic end, and I was about to die too. My bones were about to be broken and thrown down a cliff to the frigid ice valley below, where I would remain for a year in the ice, slowly regenerating my bones. There was nothing to gain down there. We needed to prepare ourselves. The enemy will appear soon. In retrospect, it wasn''t just my master I had failed to protect. I hadn''t protected anything. Chapter 3. Awakening from Life (3) Chapter 3. Awakening from Life (3) Rubia Ray was the necromancer who had awakened me, but it took me a while to remember her. There was a reason for that. "Follow me," I said to Rubia. "F-follow you?" I vaguely remembered what had happened twenty years ago. Soon, two bandits would appear. I was helpless. Back then, Rubia Ray had been a novice necromancer who had just raised a Skeleton Soldier for the first time ever. Unfortunately, that Skeleton Soldier had been unprepared for anything. This sorry duo that couldn''t even handle an annoyed goblin had no chance against human bandits. Both the necromancer and Skeleton Soldier suffered miserably and were destroyed because of the human bandits'' violence. It might turn out differently this time. After that incident, I lived for twenty years. Now, I had come back through time and had the strength of an Lv. 36 Skeleton Soldier. I couldn''t call myself strong, but against untrained bandits, I stood a decent chance. However, I preferred not to take any risks. Since bandits weren''t regular soldiers, their combat power was inconsistent. However, I couldn¡¯t think lightly of them because there were definitely strong bandits out there. Besides, twenty years ago... I couldn''t remember exactly what happened during that incident. Therefore, I had no idea how strong the enemy was. Due to the lack of information, it''d be best to hide for now. Clatter. I raised my hand, gesturing to Rubia. "Woman." She was still speechless and visibly flustered. I decided to call her by her name, hoping it''d help her focus a bit. "Rubia." Only then did she flinch. "I said, come here." Click. I clattered my teeth together. There was no time to waste because the bandits would be here soon. I couldn''t remember how quickly they arrived after I rose the first time, but it would not hurt to hurry. "F-follow... you?" Rubia asked with a frightened tone. The woman wasn''t scared of the bandits. She was afraid of me. "Bandits will come here. Quickly." I gestured to Rubia again. "You can... talk?" Rubia muttered blankly. She continued to stand still, fixated on trivial matters. I asked her with a bit of an attitude, "And you''re not surprised I can move?" I was moving, gesturing, and climbing up the ladder. It was ridiculous to only be surprised that I could talk, but I soon realized my mistake. She had been in shock from the moment I rose from the grave. Nevertheless, I decided to ignore my slip-up and changed the topic. "Hide over there. There isn''t much time." I pointed to the overgrown side of the path opposite us, leading up to the cemetery. I planned to hide there with Rubia. If the bandits showed up, they''d have no choice but to come up from the path, because they wouldn''t emerge from the graves or hide in the bushes in this weather. However, something was puzzling and odd about this situation. Whoosh... The rain was pouring down heavily. No matter how desperate the bandits were, who would attack in such weather? Something was fishy. There was something I didn''t know. "Ah... ah..." Rubia was still flustered. She didn''t heed my advice to hide in the bushes. I couldn''t blame her for being dumb or slow because the skeleton she had just raised from the grave gave her odd instructions. But we really do need to hide. Staying still would only bring trouble. I glanced at the distant cliff where I had been kicked off twenty years ago, trapping me in the frigid ice below for over a year. This time might be different. I might just shatter and die for good. Clatter. I shook my head. I didn''t want that because I needed to survive for now. It wasn''t a dramatic resolution. I was not greatly attached to my second life as a Skeleton Soldier, but I wasn''t completely indifferent to just throwing it away. I might be able to meet my master again. I had returned to the beginning. That meant I could bring about a different result. The world belonged to humans, but if I hid well enough, I might succeed in living in peace with my master for a long time. "Why would bandits come for me? There''s nothing to take." Rubia''s words snapped me out of my thoughts. She still had a blank look on her face. It was a foolish question with a simple answer. Nothing to take? I thought. Clatter. I raised my finger and pointed to Rubia''s clothes. "Robe." I pointed to the weapon in her hand. "Dagger." Then I pointed to her body. "Pleasure." "Wh-what!" Rubia was flustered. Her reaction to such an obvious statement was surprising. I remembered her pathetic stats and her naivety. To add to the burden, she also seemed to have a desire to seek some kind of revenge, which appeared to be the reason she summoned me from the grave in the first place. How troublesome. I thought about just leaving her. Two bandits were about to appear, but I could hide alone. I could ignore her and go my own way. What was about to happen to her wouldn''t matter to me, no matter how much she cried or screamed or if she was about to be cut up... Crackle. My bones cracked as I clenched my fist. I shook my head. I don''t like that. The painful memories of the incident with the bandits washed over me, overlapping with my memory of my master''s final moments. Besides, this woman was the one who had brought me back to life. Swoosh! I grabbed Rubia and pulled her. "Hup!" She opened her eyes wide in surprise. Whoosh. She was flustered by how easily I lifted her. "How are you this strong?!" I was a Lv. 1 Skeleton Soldier, but I had accumulated considerable strength over the last twenty years. It was easy for me to lift a frail human woman. She was quite shocked. "I-I''ve never heard of a Skeleton Soldier being this strong!" "Get used to it." "Huff!" I scolded her, but it was harsh to criticize her for being slow to adapt. Few people wouldn''t be flustered by a talking skeleton, even if they were the necromancer who raised it from the grave. "Neeeigh!" At that moment, I heard the neighing of a horse. It came from the direction of the path where I had expected the bandits to come from. My prediction was correct. Damn. Are we too late? We had wasted too much time. "Shh!" I put my finger on Rubia''s pale, wet lips. Then I quickly carried her into the thick bushes, and we lay down to hide. Can we hide from them? "Huff... Puff..." "Be quiet," I whispered to Rubia. Boom! Crash! A storm was raging. Thunder rumbled over us. The area was dark, and the ground was muddy. It was good for hiding. We could only rely on the weather to keep us concealed, as it was too late for us to run. The bandits were probably too close already. Whatever reason those men had for chasing her, it was an environment conducive to them giving up the search. Clatter. I slowly raised my head and looked ahead as quietly as possible. Splish! Splash! A blue horse appeared, walking through the muddy path. I could hear the fatigue in its neigh. "Neigh!" Squelch! Squelch! Soon after, a second horse appeared, followed by a flash of lightning. Boom! Crash! I focused on the bandits whenever lightning struck, observing their weapons and appearances. The first one to appear held a loaded crossbow. It was a modified crossbow that had the form of two crossbows stacked together. I had seen that crossbow before. The bolts of that modified crossbow could penetrate stone walls and shields. The second man who appeared had a huge hammer on his back. Perhaps because of the hammer''s weight, his blue horse looked especially tired. Splish! The man with the hammer jumped off his horse first. Despite holding the heavy hammer, he was light on his feet. Splash! The man with the crossbow also jumped off. The two men wore similar outfits, consisting of leather clothes with leather and metal studs. They don''t seem to be bandits... Twenty years ago, I thought bandits had attacked me. That was how I remembered it. But there were many odd details. These men had well-forged weapons and wore functional armor. It was rare that bandits would be this well-equipped. They rode horses too, which indicated it was unlikely they were bandits. Most importantly... They give off an unusual air. They smelled like human hunters. Human hunters were people who professionally hurt others. In my past life, I was caught by them without knowing anything. Now, with twenty years of experience as a Skeleton Soldier, I sensed something different. I watched them quietly while lying face down. Rustle, Rustle. I guessed their location from the sound of them pushing through the bushes. However, the sound wasn''t enough. I waited for the next flashes of lightning, observing the men whenever I could. It was fortunate that Rubia stayed quiet in the meantime. Whoosh! The rain poured harder. Rustle! Rustle! The men pushed through the bushes for a few more minutes. They looked around the cemetery. Then, one of them frowned and said, "The weather is really bad. Let''s go back for now." There was another flash of lightning. After exchanging glances, the men mounted on their horses again. "Let''s go!" When they descended the path, it became clearer that they weren''t bandits. Boom! Rumble! As the thunder continued to roar, Rubia, who was lying face down on the ground, trembled slightly. She lifted her head and asked, "Do you think it is over?" Whack! I grabbed Rubia''s head and pushed her back down. "Shh." "Ah, ah!" The men''s departure was a ruse. I figured out the meaning behind the looks they exchanged just before they left. They were continuing their pursuit. They knew there was prey around here. By now... They were likely targeting us with crossbows from afar. It was a waiting game. If Rubia held out longer, she could survive. If she could not hold out... Well, the hunters would gain a lot. I had observed humans for a long time. A young, pretty woman fetched a high price in many ways. Rubia''s skin was especially fair and soft. Even from an objective standpoint, humans would unanimously call her beautiful. Rumble! A long time passed. We continued to lie down through several more thunderclaps. The mud got in between my ribs, making me feel slightly uncomfortable. It must be hard for her. The human body struggled with waiting. It couldn''t endure itchiness, stiffness, or coldness well. "Ugh..." Sure enough, she seemed to be suffering. Rumble! "Stop whining," I said harshly, deliberately speaking when the thunder rumbled. I vaguely recalled what had happened twenty years ago. I hadn''t understood then, but I did now. Those two hunters would kidnap this woman and viciously rape her. Time passed by, enveloped in a damp chill. Rustle. The hunters reappeared from the bushes beside the path. I knew it. Soaked in the rain, they looked cold. The man with the crossbow was frowning, and the man with the hammer was shivering. They had been hiding and watching for a long time. They''re used to this. Where did they come from? What is their goal? How did they know to come here? I had many fleeting questions. The hunters had caught me straightaway in my past life, so I had no time to think about these questions. Back then, there was no chance of winning even if I fought. But now, I cautiously considered the possibility. Swoosh... Squelch. They approached slowly and started searching in the pouring rain more carefully than before. Splish, splash. They were getting closer to us. Rubia clenched her teeth as she trembled. Chapter 4. Awakening from Life (4) Chapter 4. Awakening from Life (4) Should we run? I continued to ponder. I wasn''t sure if I could run fast enough. Rubia was frozen stiff, so she was out of the question as well. Those guys wanted the woman. If they came for us, they''d just crush a skeleton like me. Fighting them seemed impossible. The hunter held a crossbow loaded with bolts sharp enough to pierce Rubia''s heart instantly. I also wasn''t confident I could handle the taller hunter''s huge hammer. Besides, I had nothing but my bare bones¡ªI had no shield or sword. I can''t believe I''m in danger right after my return. It might all be over soon, but disappearing into the darkness wouldn''t be too upsetting. I had been reborn, but it might have been someone''s big mistake. It''d make more sense for knights, demon kings, or at least promising wizards or alchemists to be reborn. What could a Skeleton Soldier like myself even do? I had lived for twenty years, but I lacked insight and experience. If someone had to go back in time, it should be a more capable person who would bring about greater change than I ever could. There was an addictiveness to defeatism and self-denial, which was why they were often ruminated upon. I swallowed my thoughts into the empty darkness inside my rib cage and stayed still. While I was lost in absurd thoughts, the hunters were getting closer and closer. I could feel Rubia trembling. Rustle. They were ten meters away. Rustle. That reduced to seven meters and then five. They reached the rock right before us, but the hunters'' horses suddenly cried out. "Neeeigh!" The unnatural neigh made it seem like they were in pain. The hunters turned around and exchanged hand signals. They then turned toward the tied-up horses with a frown. Are they worried about the horses? I stared at the backs of the blue horses as they cried sorrowfully. The horses'' breed was Blue Milo. I was familiar with them. These horses climbed mountains well, but they were very sensitive to temperature changes. They could die of a cold if left in the rain for too long. Think about the price of the horses. I prayed for them to leave, hoping they''d consider the price of those expensive horses. Swoosh! Thud! I saw a flying bolt. I knew what was happening, but blocking it was impossible. Everything happened too fast. The bolt whooshed by and pierced Rubia. "Ugh!" Rubia groaned. I quickly glanced at her. The bolt was embedded more than halfway in her shoulder through her robe. It appeared that the steel-reinforced bolt had broken her bone. "Ah, AAAAAHHH!!!" The broken bone damaged her nerves, shooting waves of sharp pain through her body. Rubia screamed as blood flowed profusely from her shoulder, and she rolled around on the muddy ground. Her dark gray robe was now completely ruined. "Oh? So you were hiding here? Hmm?" a man said, his voice slick with desire. "N-no! No! Who are you?" Rubia shouted. Rubia shouted "no," even though she didn''t know what she was refusing exactly. However, she could sense the menace in the man''s voice. "Who am I? We''re the grim reapers here to devour you, sweetie. The lord is waiting for you, but there''s no need to bring you nicely. We only need your head," the ominously low voice sneered from the darkness. They were referring to a lord, a ruler of humans. Why was a lord chasing a girl like this? Rubia said something I did not understand. "That man is not a lord. I-I am the rightful Ja-Iza-Varisa, the successor!" Then she stood up. She gripped the dagger in her hand and let out a spirited shout. "Haah!" The hunter who had shot the crossbow watched her. "Hahaha!" His sneer echoed in the air. "Really? Then let''s see what the rightful successor tastes like. I''m excited to see what a good time you can show us." The man took a step forward without even paying attention to me. Does he not see me? There was a monster, a Skeleton Soldier, right next to him, yet he didn''t attack. I recalled the current year. The 16 Demon Kings had yet to all descend. This was before tens of thousands of demons poured out, starting the age of demons. However, even if we were hiding in the most remote corners due to human dominance, it wasn''t difficult to find walking skeletons like me. There were many dungeons in mountains, deserts, and underground. Will he really not notice me until the end? I was just a white skeleton lying in the bushes next to the prey. Did the hunter think I was just a pile of bones? The possibility of such complacency was unlikely. He could attack me at any moment. I had to stand up and fight now. Nevertheless, it was too late. Rubia moved quicker. Whoosh! Rubia stepped onto the muddy ground and recklessly charged at the guy with the crossbow. "Ahhhh!" Her shout sounded like a war cry. I thought she was crazy, but since the opponent had a crossbow, closing the distance against him made some sense. Thud! "Ugh, ugh!" Thud! Thud! Thud! Her strategy was shattered by overwhelming violence. The hunter simply dodged Rubia''s dagger, grabbed her by the hair, and started punching her face. Thud! "You dared to charge at me with a toy like this? Hah!" "Ugh!" Thud! He extended his leg and kicked Rubia hard in the lower abdomen. Thud! "Ugh!" "You charged at me so boldly before, but now you''re collapsing because your guts are twisted? Is this how you plan to become a successor?" The beating continued. Clatter. I rose from the bushes. Maybe it was a sense of affection for the necromancer who had raised me from the dead, but I didn''t plan on fleeing alone. Clatter. I picked up a small stone. There are two targets. There was the hunter beating Rubia up, and the hunter with the hammer, approaching slowly from behind. Neither seemed like an easy target, but I targeted the one I had the most potential to defeat. Thud! I pushed off the guy punching Rubia and struck his head with the stone. I couldn''t see very well in the dark environment though. Thud! "Argh!" I heard his low-pitched scream, but I wasn''t sure if I hit him. In any case, one hit wasn''t enough. His scream was weak, so I struck him again. Clang! Damn it. This time, the hit didn''t feel good. I must''ve struck a studded part of his leather armor. I grabbed his hand. In the dark, my white, bony hand intertwined with his bloody, fleshy hand. I twisted my fingers around his and squeezed tightly. Crack! I had a slight upper hand in strength. I forcibly bent his hand, aimed my attack, and struck down with the stone. Thud! "Argh! Damn it!" There was a flash of lightning, and I saw him reaching for the club at his waist. Before he grabs it, I need to strike first. I gripped the stone firmly and aimed for his head. I swung the stone with all my might to crush his skull. Crack! I could hear the satisfying sound of a skull being crushed as my consciousness started to fade. It was my skull. "A necromancer spell out of nowhere?" Crack! Smash! Crash! I felt the massive hammer crushing my bones. It shattered my skull, arms, legs, and spine. My consciousness started fading away. Is it... over? I lost. I was being crushed and dying. I had failed to protect anything again. "Damn. This one doesn''t break easily either." That wasn''t the voice of the crossbowman. The voice sounded much lower and gruff, carrying an unmistakable edge of violence. The one with the hammer... Boom! Crash! I realized what had happened. Right when I was focused on attacking the hunter with the crossbow earlier, the hunter with the hammer had struck my skull from behind. Crack! Various questions passed through my mind. Should I have spoken to startle them? How did I survive twenty years ago? In my memory, I just moved around, got hit a few times, and fell off the cliff. Crack! My skull shattered. It was a worse ending than before. "You got ambushed by a skeleton while beating down a whore like an idiot. How pathetic." "Damn it... Why is this skeleton so strong? I almost died!! I thought a lich had summoned this skeleton. Even if she can use necromancy, isn''t this supposed to be a flimsy skeleton?" "Hmm, the impact I felt when I hit it was rather strange. Based on this woman''s level, it doesn''t seem like she summoned it. Is it a monster of this mountain? We need to beat up the innkeeper who didn''t inform us. We almost fell into danger." "Damn... Because of you, my shoulder is dislocated!" Thud! Thud! Thud! "Ugh, ugh! Ugh, aaahhh!" The taller hunter with the hammer interjected firmly, "Hey, stop hitting her. Don''t lower her value." "Even if we take her dead body, she''s worth one seiron," the other hunter responded while continuing to hit her. "Really? Well, let me have a go at her first." My vision turned dark as my consciousness completely faded. The woman''s groans mixed with her screams, and the hunters'' murmurs became distant. I couldn''t hear anything anymore. [Do you want to add a death record? Yes/No] *** Streaks of lightning continued to flash in the sky. Crackle! Crash! Bang! Thunder roared, befitting of the massive lightning. It was a stormy night. Whirr! Whirr! The wind was so loud it seemed like it would tear the ground. Branches were torn off and sent flying through the air. I tried moving my body again. Clatter! Am I not dead? After all, the hunter had definitely smashed my skull several times with the hammer. Without arms and hands, I wouldn''t be able to touch anything, but I was able to raise my hand to touch my skull. My shattered skeleton was intact again. An absurd reality was forced upon me¡ªI had returned to life yet again! I turned around and looked, but I couldn''t see anything. I was lying inside a tight coffin and could only see the sky beyond the cracked lid. It looked like the coffin had been dug up from a grave, and I was the skeleton lying inside it. Ding! [Succession Complete!] [Name: None Skeleton Soldier Lv. 1 (36) Health: 29 Strength: 23 Agility: 18 Wisdom: 9] [You have achieved your first death since succession.] [The Death Memorial has opened!] [Death Memorial] [1. For the Necromancer In your final moments, you sacrificed your life for a necromancer. You start with a base Affection of 20 in relationships with necromancers. 2. Blunt Weapons Are Dangerous A blunt weapon smashed your head, leading to your death. You start with 40 additional Physical Resistance to all blunt weapons.] [Please select the perk to apply for this cycle.] [1. Affection +20 with all necromancers 2. Physical Resistance +40 to blunt weapons] Once again, strange messages appeared, seemingly mocking me. However, my posture and the storm were familiar to me¡ªI had been in this situation recently. I was in the same position, facing the same weather from an hour ago. Boom! Crash! Thunder continued to roar. A woman in a dark gray robe stood near the dug-up grave and shouted, "D-dead one! I have awakened you! Can you hear me?" The voice was no longer unfamiliar. My eyes met the woman looking down at me. Clatter. I flinched, not because of the thunder, but because of the woman''s presence. It''s Rubia. That was her name. For twenty years, I had lived as a Skeleton Soldier, a third-rate side character in this world. I wasn''t the type who surprised others. Rather, I often found myself taken by surprise and swept away. Yet, I had never encountered a situation as unbelievable as this. I forgot to stand up and just stared blankly at the woman. Chapter 5. Awakening from Life (5) Chapter 5. Awakening from Life (5) There stood a young woman with soft brown eyes who would look more fitting in a red dress. Her abundant hair was tucked beneath her hood. "Dead one! Cough, cough." It was the same cough I had heard an hour ago. Her gray robe was soaked by the rain, revealing her curvy figure. Have I been revived again? I questioned if I was trapped in time. Maybe I was dreaming. I probably slipped on some muddy hill and was stuck somewhere deep. Am I not even permitted to have a peaceful rest? Rather than feeling anxious, I felt a sense of relief. Clatter. I got up and quietly looked at the woman standing there nervously. She seemed even more amicable than she had an hour ago. I said, "There is no need to bring the ladder." "Ah!" Thump! The woman fell back in shock. I didn''t want to scare her, but I didn''t want to deceive her either. It was inevitable that she would be shocked. I pressed my palms on the ground to push myself up. Squelch. The bottom of the coffin was slushy because of the mud that had seeped in from the ground. Climbing out of the shallow grave was a simple task. Pitter-patter! Heavy rain continued to pour from the dark sky. Once again, the raindrops fell in between my ribs. They tapped my bones like the keys of an instrument, producing different sounds that echoed through the night. Squelch. I stared at Rubia, the necromancer, who had fallen backward. "M-my name is Rubia!" I looked down at her. "Hmph! Nice to meet you, dead one!" I continued to stare at her. She started mentioning something about an act of revenge. "I will use you as the cornerstone of my revenge!" It''s the same. The situation was just like an hour ago. It was another repetition. Crackle. [The S-class scenario, Rubia Ray, is in progress.] I didn''t know what S-class or what a scenario meant. Even the words "Rubia Ray" were shining, and I reached out to the shining words. I needed to check everything. Ding! The sound effect rang, as expected. New messages started to appear. [Name: Rubia Ray Necromancer Lv. 1 Health: 6 Strength: 5 Agility: 6 Wisdom: 12] [Affection: 3 ¡ª Rubia has a slight attachment to the skeleton she awakened.] [Basic Skills: ¡ª Unlock by increasing Affection.] [Perks: ¡ª Unlock by increasing Affection.] [Titles: ¡ª Unlock by increasing Affection.] Once I finished checking the status window, the messages disappeared. I slowly accepted the situation. I didn''t even survive an hour. *** I suddenly fell into deep thought. I couldn''t protect my master, the hero shattered my bones and killed me, and then I went back twenty years. Then I met a human named Rubia, the woman who brought me back from the dead, but I couldn''t protect her either. As a Lv. 36 Skeleton Soldier, the strength I had built up for twenty years had all been for nothing. I recalled the scene I had witnessed earlier when I failed to protect Rubia. I felt so helpless that I wanted to call it a lie. The clumsy way we hid in the bushes and the moment the hammer smashed my bones were all so vivid I could see the scene play out even with my eyes closed. That was the reality. I am weak. Skeleton Soldiers were one of the weakest monsters. They ranked at the bottom even among creatures. Their only strength was their ability to stubbornly stay alive. However, they miserably lacked in everything else. Rubia stuttered, "A-a talking... skeleton...?" She looked even more shocked than before. Her reaction was so extreme that it was almost embarrassing to watch. However, I wasn''t worthy enough to receive such a reaction. I wanted to tell her that I was just a Skeleton Soldier who could do nothing but helplessly watch her die¡ªa reality I still couldn''t fully accept. As I stared at her shocked expression, I pondered, If my Affection stat increases, maybe I won''t see such a reaction. If she feels more comfortable with me, maybe she''ll be willing to listen to my story. [Please select the perk to apply for this cycle.] 1. Affection +20 with all necromancers 2. Physical resistance +40 to blunt weapons It seemed possible with the help of this system window floating before me. However, even if she listened to me, the chances of our survival here were slim. An hour ago, her death wasn''t because she didn''t listen to me. She had obediently hid in the bushes as I had instructed. The problem was me. I checked the floating words again. [Please select the perk to apply for this cycle.] 1. Affection +20 with all necromancers 2. Physical Resistance +40 to blunt weapons The message window was still a mystery, but there was no time to hesitate because the threat was imminent. I should probably choose the blunt weapon resistance. Increasing resistance to blunt weapons by forty would be quite the upgrade. Skeleton Soldiers were weak against blunt weapons. Clatter. I looked down at my bones. Arrows weren''t very threatening to a skeleton because they would just pass through the gaps between the bones. Swords weren''t a threat either because Skeleton Soldiers did not have any organs or blood. However, blunt weapons were perfect for defeating skeletons. Smashing bones with a blunt hammer and, shattering skulls was a highly effective method. Of course, I had no intention of letting that happen again. Number two. I chose number two. [Death Memorial Perk 2: Physical Resistance +40 has been applied to blunt weapons!] The message turned into smoke before my eyes. Impressive. I''d never experienced this before. Swoosh! The smoke seeped into every corner of me. Instead of feeling unpleasant, it felt oddly safe. [Physical Resistance to blunt weapons has increased by 40!] I knew this was the right choice. Gaining the favor of a woman I couldn''t protect held no meaning, so I discarded the other option of Affection +20 without hesitation. Clatter. I stared at Rubia as she sat in the mud, startled by my appearance. She couldn''t get up. I saw the small blade at her waist glint under the moonlight. I extended my bony hand and ordered, "Give me the dagger." "Ah..." Rubia continued to stare at me blankly and then nodded. She quietly handed me the dagger at her waist. It seemed quite thoughtless of her to give up her only weapon, leaving her defenseless. Perhaps I had her trust because I was the skeleton she had awakened. "Thank you." I accepted her trust and grabbed the dagger. The dagger was light, but the trust she handed over felt heavy. I had to focus and use this dagger to defeat those hunters. The dagger was sharp, a much better weapon than the stones rolling around the grave. My teeth clicked as I said to Rubia, "Hide over there." She still looked at me with a puzzled expression. Her wet lips trembled. "W-why?" she asked back. "Human hunters are coming. Trust me and hide." "How... d-do you know that?" Rubia stammered but finished her question. "I just do," I answered roughly. I glanced at her soaked figure. The woman had awakened me from the grave, but my will hadn''t really been taken into consideration. My twenty years as a Skeleton Soldier had been bitter and dry, except for the last three years. Still, I wanted to save her. I could have left her and run away, but she was the starting point of my life as a Skeleton Soldier. I wanted to make it right. Furthermore, I was dealing with just two hunters. If I couldn''t protect one woman from them, there was no way I could protect my master from the knights. My conclusion lacked logic, but that was simply how I felt. The woman belatedly responded, "Y-you just do?!" At that moment, we heard a horse cry. "Neigh!" Once again, it was the cry of the Blue Milos, the blue horses. The hunters were here. "Quickly!" I shouted at Rubia, pointing to the bushes opposite us. I gripped the dagger tightly and looked around. There was a coffin that the rain had washed out. I''m sorry for disturbing your rest. Swish! I threw the bones inside far away. I lay down near the empty coffin, hiding the dagger in my hand under the coffin''s lid. I disguised myself as a skeleton that had slipped out of the coffin. "Neigh!" As the lightning struck, I saw a blue horse emerge from the mountain path. It was dark, and the ground was muddy. Boom! It was the hunter with the modified crossbow. I waited for him to pass over me. Splash! The hunter with the crossbow jumped off from his horse. Splish, splash. He walked across the slushy ground. Since it was the second time in a row, I was familiar with it and had more time to observe him. He took nimble steps with a confident posture. His soaked leather armor didn''t hinder him. I hadn''t been able to kill just this one guy before the other hunter smashed me to bits. He carefully aimed the crossbow forward and started searching. Rustle. He walked slowly, pushing through the bushes. His search was deliberately sloppy¡ªa performance to show that he was searching. He was setting up a trap, but ironically, that was when he needed to be most cautious. Yet, he was too focused on putting on the act of searching to notice the danger. He was here to hunt one frail woman, so he did not even consider that she or her companions might be lying in ambush in the dark bushes. When hunting the weak, people became lazy, and they naturally didn''t bother to look behind them. Well, I was waiting behind the hunter. Rustle, rustle. The dense bushes around the grave swayed. The slushy mud dug into my spine as he passed by me. Now! I had to move before there was a flash of lightning. Clatter! I immediately bounced up. "Huh?"! The guy glanced back as I stabbed the dagger into his neck. "Ah, ugh, k-kill¡ª!" The scream was quite sweet to hear. Crack! The dagger Rubia gave me was deeply embedded in his neck. I twisted the dagger further, and I could feel his pulse. "Kuh, kuh..." he gurgled, swinging his arms forward. I pulled out the dagger to avoid being grabbed. Then I took half a step back. Swoosh! Blood gushed out from the hunter. My skull and jawbone were drenched in his blood. I took a half step forward as I stabbed the dagger deep into his mouth. The hunter with the crossbow collapsed, with blood dripping from his mouth. "Guh, guh, guh!" Wham! I paid a heavy price for attacking the hunter with the crossbow. His partner, the hunter with the huge war hammer, struck me from behind. Thud! [You have been struck by a blunt weapon. The perk has been activated! Blunt weapon resistance: 40!] I felt an intense shock in my skull as it tilted to the side. I was thrown to the ground and started rolling across the mud. Clatter! But I had to get up. I endured the pain and stood up again. I held my skull and re-aligned my bones. Crackle! There was a flash of lightning, and I saw the face of the guy wielding the hammer. His face was full of disbelief as he saw me standing up again. Crackle! Crack! After the flash of lightning came a roar of thunder. "It''s... not broken?" the guy with the hammer muttered to himself as if he was possessed. My head was throbbing from the hit. The pain didn''t subside, and I got dizzy. I shut my eyes tightly and opened them again, which slightly subdued the dizziness. There was another flash of lightning."Guh, ugh, ah, ugh!" The hunter with the crossbow was gurgling blood. I had stabbed the dagger into his mouth and twisted it, so the pain was likely quite bad. I detested the sound of his laughter, but this time, he didn''t laugh. Instead, he groaned painfully and rolled on the ground. It felt satisfying to watch. Crackle! The other hunter stood before me, cursing to himself. "Oh, fuck." The hunter with the hammer glanced at his fallen partner and licked his lips. He firmly grasped his huge weapon. Chapter 6. Awakening from Life (6) Chapter 6. Awakening from Life (6) Now, I couldn''t rely on the element of surprise. The hunter with the hammer wasn''t just tall¡ªhe was also broad and sturdy. Bang! I was uncertain whether I could win because he looked much stronger than the hunter with the crossbow. At least the blunt weapon resistance worked. It''d be dangerous if I kept getting hit. But could I avoid the hammer? Could I deliver a proper strike with Rubia''s dagger? I had lived as a Skeleton Soldier for twenty years, but it wasn''t packed with experience. I had wasted many years doing nothing. I shouldn''t have wasted all that time. I struggled to process these thoughts. As a skeleton, I felt a barrier blocking such emotions and senses from fully arising. Those years had felt unbearably long, and I had just lived as a pile of bones. Splash! The hunter with the hammer began moving toward me while gritting his teeth. His whole body tensed up as he twisted with the hammer, shifting his weight forward and taking a step. Squelch! Muddy water splashed into the darkness. The hunter narrowed his grip on the hammer as he slid his top hand down the handle. Then, he started spinning the hammer. Whoosh! He pulled the hammer back and quickly swung it forward. Whirl! He rotated, putting his full body weight behind the strike. Even though it was a blunt weapon, the hammer''s impact produced a sharp, tearing sound that echoed. Splash! I dodged to the right, narrowly avoiding a strike that could''ve crushed a full plate armor in one blow. Did I just survive that? I recognized the effectiveness of the blunt weapon resistance. No matter how I looked at it, there was no outcome other than instant death if I were hit without the skill. However, I had no time to marvel at it. Wham! The hunter adjusted his grip and swung the hammer horizontally again. No matter how much resistance I had, I''d be crushed if I got caught. Squelch! I stepped away, barely dodging the hammer. "Huh?" The hunter had a puzzled expression at first, but then the corners of his mouth twisted up in a smile. "Your movements are slow, hm? I thought you were something special because you could take a hit." He gripped the hammer once more. Suddenly, the air turned cold. Whoosh! A large war hammer had a long reach and immense destructive power. Its weight could crush anything. Thus, its attack speed was slow, creating a significant gap between attacks. Whoosh! But suddenly, he continuously swung the hammer. It felt like too short a time to close the gaps. He compensated for the war hammer''s weakness with sheer strength, wielding such a weapon where raw power was the best technique. "Can you dodge this one too?" The hunter regained his composure and reversed his grip on the hammer so that the hook part behind the head was now in front. Whirl! The hammer sliced through the air, unleashing a sharp, tearing sound. It''s long. The reach was even longer than before. The hunter stepped forward with both feet, and his hands were now at the end of the hammer handle. He swung the hammer and pulled it in. Retreating or advancing was difficult as the hammer swung too quickly. The attack range had suddenly increased. I quickly ducked, but he pulled me toward him. Clunk, clatter! I got caught on the long spike at the back of the hammer. The spike was slightly curved like a hook. Damn. Since my skeleton had plenty of openings, the hook caught onto one of my bones. The spike hooked onto my shoulder blade like a fishhook through a gill. Crunch! The hunter stepped on my wrist with his foot. He crushed and pressed with his weight and stepped on it again. He was incredibly fast for his size and heavy for his build. My wrist felt like it was about to shatter. Clatter. Fortunately, it still held up. It didn''t physically hurt, but the feeling of being crushed was unpleasant. I gripped the dagger tightly, but I couldn''t escape. He looked down at me and smiled. "Let''s see how long you can hold out." He reversed his grip on the hammer and started battering me like a pest. Thud! Thud! Thud! Multiple messages started appearing continuously. Ding! Ding! Ding! [You have been struck by a blunt weapon. The perk is activated! Blunt weapon resistance: 40!] [You have been struck by a blunt weapon. The perk is activated...] [You have been struck by a blunt weapon...] [You have been struck by...] The hunter calmly crushed me. The hammer pounding from a consistent height even gave me an idyllic feeling. Thud! Thud! "Man, you''re holding up strangely well." Now, almost all of my bones were crushed as the hunter ground me up with the hammer. I was in a state of limbo, buried deeper and deeper in the mud. Thud! Thud! Thud! The hunter continued to pound me while holding the hammer backward. I started losing track of time. He lifted the hammer over his shoulder and dropped it like a guillotine. Crunch! But my skull didn''t break easily. There was no satisfying cracking sound either. My solid skull was driven deeper and deeper into the mud, which began to seep inside. The hunter heavily swung the hammer at my shin and shoulder blades. Maybe the hunter was angry that he had to use so much strength against a skeleton that should''ve easily shattered with a kick. There wasn''t anything wrong with the hammer, nor were there any issues with his strength. It just took time because the ground was muddy. It would''ve been better if I had been on a solid anvil. He then shouted, "If it doesn''t break¡ª!" Crunch! "I''ll keep swinging until it does!" Crunch! My skull separated from the cervical vertebrae, while the rest of my bones were already buried in the mud. I was now a Skeleton Soldier faced with few choices. I had to either get buried or get shattered. Neither was pretty. As the lightning flashed, I saw another guy. "Guh, guh, guh!" I watched the crossbowman die. I had stabbed a dagger into his mouth, and blood dripped from his torn lips. "Guh, guh, guh!" He wriggled like a worm. The other hunter simply ignored him as life faded from his eyes. Without looking back at his dying partner, the hunter said, "Sorry buddy, the situation couldn''t be helped." "Guh, guh..." The crossbowman''s trembling hand finally fell to the ground. At that moment, several messages popped up. Ding! [Experience increased by 225.] [Level up!] [Level up!] [Allocate your points: 2] Level... up? It seemed like killing one person raised my level by two. Of course, I couldn''t allocate the points I had earned because all my limbs were crushed. The whole situation was absurd. Crunch! I stared blankly at the floating status window as the spike of the hammer punctured a hole in my skull. Crack! My skull split. "Huh? It breaks easily when I hit it like this?" The hunter stroked the spiked part of his hammer as if it were praiseworthy. He didn''t seem to care at all about his dead comrade. My consciousness faded to black once again. *** Lightning flashed continuously. Boom! Crush! Bang! The thunder roared, matching the intensity of the lightning. It was a stormy night. No way. I was certain. I died. But here I was, back again. The same thing happened three times in a short period of time. I started pondering deeply. Although I didn''t know why, the situation was undoubtedly repeating itself. What am I supposed to do? I had already died three times in this stormy graveyard. To escape this place easily, the answer was simple. I had to leave the woman and run. Their goal was the woman. They had no interest in a skeleton. But what would I do after running away? Would happiness await me if I left this place? I doubted it, because I knew it all too well. I had experienced it painfully in my twenty years as a Skeleton Soldier. My existence was a miserable experience. Clatter. A Skeleton Soldier''s growth had clear limits. Humans possessed various talents, allowing them to diversify their abilities and develop their skills. Their potential was boundless, with numerous paths before them. However, a Skeleton Soldier like myself was around the same level as a weak human¡ªthe darkest and most miserable human with no talent. I was like a human with no abilities and no will. In fact, I might even be lower than that. Skeleton Soldiers just wandered around, making clattering sounds. We did not possess venom, strength like orcs, or sharp teeth like goblins. Even goblins possessed a certain liveliness, complete with desires and wills of their own. However, Skeleton Soldiers like myself didn''t even possess such desires. Our purpose of existence was to be exterminated. We existed to give a bit of experience points. We had no gods to serve and no kings to swallow our tears. We were raised from graves and moved around aimlessly according to orders. If a war broke out between monsters and humans, we''d be at the forefront to absorb the enemy''s firepower. For our minimal utility, we were sacrificed endlessly, repeatedly facing complete death. I remember when the Demon King descended. They seemed to think Skeleton Soldiers were free to use as they wished. We were always shattered on the front lines. Considering that the sight of skeletons collapsing weakly boosted human morale, our utility might even been negative. My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the status window. Ding! [Succession Complete!] [Name: None Skeleton Soldier Lv. 1 (38) Health: 29 Strength: 23 Agility: 18 Wisdom: 9 Remaining Points: 2] [You have achieved your second death since succession.] [Death Memorial] 1. For the Necromancer In your final moments, you sacrificed your life for a necromancer. You start with a base Affection of 20 in relationships with necromancers. 2. Blunt Weapons are Dangerous A blunt weapon smashed your head, leading to your death. You start with 40 additional Physical Resistance to all blunt weapons. 3. Skull Protection Law (New!) You have died twice in a row due to skull destruction. Your skull needs more durability. Physical Resistance of your skull has increased by 10. 4. The Unused Dagger (New!) Against the enemy who killed you, you couldn''t even properly swing your dagger. You can now use Dagger Technique Lv. 10. [Please choose a perk for this round.] [¡ù Perks do not accumulate.] Another Death Memorial appeared before me. The more I experienced death, the more someone seemed to find delight in it. What am I supposed to choose now? I calmly looked at the four options. The first perk was to increase Affection with necromancers by twenty. I had already concluded that gaining the favor of a woman I couldn''t protect was meaningless. This was not an option. The second perk was blunt weapon resistance. I had chosen this before, and it was fine. The third perk was to protect the skull. When my skull shattered, it was over, but it seemed less efficient than blunt weapon resistance. Blunt weapons were the most threatening to me. I wondered if I should use blunt weapon resistance again, but I decided to go with something else. Option four. I didn''t hesitate much and decided to choose the fourth option. Rubia would soon reappear, and the hunters with the hammer and crossbow would attack me. This time, I wanted to counterattack. Dagger Technique. Moreover, acquiring a proper level ten skill was particularly appealing, as I had never possessed any real skills in my twenty years as a Skeleton Soldier. I looked at my current list of skills. [Swinging Randomly Lv. 8 Poorly Blocking Lv. 6 Awkwardly Stabbing Lv. 4 Adequately Digging Holes Lv. 5 Recklessly Charging Forward Lv. 4 Throwing Whatever Is at Hand Lv. 6 Rolling Skull Lv. 1] I sighed, seeing the names of my pathetic skills. Chapter 7. Awakening from Life (7) Chapter 7. Awakening from Life (7) The Swinging Randomly skill was at Lv. 8. At first glance, it seemed decent, but it wasn''t labeled as swordsmanship because it wasn''t a proper skill. Rather, it was just wild, inefficient swinging. The other skills were similarly lacking: Poorly Blocking, Adequately Digging Holes, and Throwing Whatever Is at Hand¡ªall of them lacked power and effectiveness. To transform these into proper skills, I needed to combine and level them up, but even that wasn''t easy. Gaining skill experience was difficult because it only increased by attacking and killing someone with those actions. However, there were hardly any beings weaker than a Skeleton Soldier. So, if a skeleton soldier were to attempt anything, it often resulted in leveling up the opponent instead. The opportunity to acquire proper skills was incredibly appealing. Although blunt weapon resistance might have been more practical than dagger skills, my desire to acquire a real attack skill was stronger. After failing to land a proper hit on the man with the hammer, the urge for an attack skill became all the more compelling. "Option four." [Death Memorial Option 4: You have acquired Dagger Technique Lv. 10!] As soon as I chose the option, the message turned into smoke, just like last time. The smoke then seeped into every corner of my skeleton. So this is how it feels. I felt like I knew how to handle any type of dagger. Suddenly, my hand felt empty, as if I should''ve been holding one. The next thing to do was to allocate both remaining points to Agility. [Agility: 18 ¡ª> 20] I checked the status window. [Name: None Skeleton Soldier Lv. 1 (38) Health: 29 Strength: 23 Agility: 20 Wisdom: 9] [Combat Skills: Dagger Technique Lv. 10 (New!) Swinging Randomly Lv. 8] The skills had changed. A new Dagger Technique at Lv. 10 had appeared. It might not seem like a big deal, but I felt a sense of pride, as if my path was beginning to brighten. Boom! Crash! Just as I finished checking the status window, thunder roared, and the woman approached me. "Dead one! I have awakened you! Can you hear me?" Lightning flashed in the sky. I locked eyes with the woman again. She had soft, glossy brown eyes, reminiscent of a dog''s, and I had failed to protect her each time. Although I had no obligation to protect her, I had already failed twice in a short time span. The woman had been ravaged by dangerous men, while I had been trampled and broken multiple times. It was an environment that could make even the nonchalant feel determined. The thought of my master being assaulted by the knight made it difficult for me to abandon this human woman. Clatter. I rose from the grave before the woman could even bring the ladder. "Undead! Use this to climb¡ªhuh?" "Dagger," I said bluntly to the woman. "Ah!" Thud. Rubia fell backward, clearly surprised by my response, but I had to hurry. There was no time to be considerate. I was too weak to afford that luxury. "Give it to me quickly. I need it," I demanded bluntly. Perhaps overwhelmed by my sternness, Rubia handed over the dagger almost immediately. I took the dagger, turned around, and looked at the road. There was not much time left. "Hide." "Wh-what? I am Rubia... I summoned you," she gasped in surprise. I didn''t need an introduction because she was useless right now. I walked forward without looking back. Whoosh! The storm had scattered the tree branches. I picked up a long, sturdy-looking one. I had no intention of tidying up the graveyard. Swoosh! The storm unleashed dug-up graves and coffins, sending skeletons floating away. Two new corpses need to be buried to make up for this. This was a preliminary step for that task. Clatter! I quickly ran to the bushes and spotted a tree with a thick trunk just the right size to hide behind. The horses would come this way, and I planned to strike their knees with a branch. The mountain path was steep and slippery, with barely any visibility ahead. The humans and horses would manage to climb up the mountain, adapting to the darkness, but they wouldn''t be prepared for an ambush. I planned to surprise them, knock them off their horses, and ideally send them rolling down the slope. Even a broken bone would make the fight much easier. Shaa! Perhaps because I got into position early, it just continued to rain. I did not hear any horses. Fortunately, Rubia didn''t come this way. Did she listen to me? I waited quietly. It was about time for lightning to strike. Boom! Then, they arrived. "Neigh!" A blue horse ran up the muddy mountain path. The hunter with the crossbow was at the front, but the target wasn''t him. I had to take down the tougher guy first. I am strong against arrows. Arrows were deadly for humans, but I wasn''t afraid of crossbows. Arrows were most effective when deeply embedded in flesh and muscles because the flesh would rot if the arrowhead was not removed. Moving with it would be cumbersome. To remove the arrowhead, the person would need to cut the flesh, which would only enlarge the wound, increasing the pain and causing more blood to flow. However, I had no flesh or muscles. There were many empty spaces, making it hard to hit me. I can deal with the crossbowman later. Besides, he was the weaker one. Thud! Thud! Another horse approached, carrying the tougher hunter wielding the hammer. He was the one who had smashed me, and he was my target. I sprang out and hit the tougher hunter''s horse with all my might. Clatter!Whack! "Neigh!" the horse cried, raising its front legs. "What?" The horse staggered back in surprise at the pain because it had been hit out of nowhere. The hunter with the hammer also staggered. As I watched the hunter closely, the horse kept crying and bucking wildly. I wondered, Won''t he fall? Then, the guy with the hammer jumped off the horse. Damn. The hunter was more skilled than I had expected. The horse had bucked quite violently, enough to make any decent rider fall. He couldn''t have been mentally prepared for that, and it required exceptional riding skills to jump off easily. I had failed. The crossbowman in front also glanced back at me. There was no other option now, but I couldn''t just stand still. I held the dagger in a reverse grip. Can I really win? Without armor, even a scratch would be advantageous. However, they were wearing leather armor. To end their lives, I had to pierce their vital spots. Clatter! I rushed at the guy with the hammer before he could properly steady himself. [Perk: Dagger Technique Lv. 10 has been activated! The high-level dagger technique will aid your movements.] Swish! I stepped forward, closing the gap instantly. It wasn''t that fast because of my low agility, but the movement was flawless. Even I was surprised. Is this really me? My skeleton moved on its own, and I naturally found my balance. My stance was as sharp as a blade, and I did not make any unnecessary movements. I delivered a precisely honed thrust. Slash! The dagger was already embedded in his neck. This was the effect of Dagger Technique Lv. 10, a skill I had never possessed before. Amazing. "Guh, guh?" The hammer-wielding man wore a look of disbelief, and his eyelids twitched. I had severed a carotid artery in one strike. Even I was surprised by the result, but it would take three seconds for him to die. In those three seconds, he did not give up. I was foolish, momentarily intoxicated by the skill''s effect and the small victory. Whoosh! Even as blood spurted from his neck, he brought his hammer down on my shoulder. Boom! It was a desperate act of revenge. Crack! My right shoulder instantly dislocated, and my arm flew off. The dagger in my right hand clattered down the mountain path. The hunter followed up with another desperate strike, his blood spraying through the air. I had neither the defense to block nor the agility to dodge the incoming hammer. Thud. The man collapsed, blood gushing from his neck. Thump. I staggered and fell, unable to withstand the hammer''s crushing blow. [Level up!] [Level up!] [Level up!] [Level up!] I leveled up four times. Thud! Suddenly, a blunt weapon struck the back of my skull. It''s the crossbowman. The hunter with the crossbow had circled around in the meantime. *** We struggled for a while. Thud. In the end, I fell. It was hard to win with one arm gone. The hunter struck me relentlessly with the club he had seized at his waist, leaving my bones cracked all over. The crossbowman had a filthy mouth. As he stomped on me, he cursed, "Damn! It''s good that the damn creature is dead... but damn... a skeleton? Really?" Crack. He wasn''t in good shape either. His face was swollen with bruises, and his body was covered in mud. I grabbed him with my only remaining arm and rolled down the slope. Despite our tumble, his limbs were still intact. Did I lose again? I felt somewhat stunned by the situation. Were my twenty years really worth so little? I struggled so desperately against just two human hunters. Even in this third encounter, I still couldn''t achieve mutual defeat. Grrrrk. I ground my teeth in frustration. At that moment, something rustled. "Mr. Skeleton!" It was an all-too-familiar voice. It came from the woman who had summoned me from the grave. No. She shouldn''t come here. Clatter. I tried to push myself up, but I couldn''t move. "Oh? The prey has come to us?" Clatter. My skeleton wouldn''t move. "Hehe... I was so worried you might slip away. If you jumped off the cliff, finding your body would be a real pain." The crossbowman grinned. Not long after, I heard terrible screams and unpleasant sounds. I died again, unable to protect anything. My consciousness faded to black. *** [Would you like to record your death?] [You feel B-level misery.] [Assimilation rate has decreased. 94.8% ¡ª> 94.25%] *** Ding! [Inheritance complete!] [Name: None Skeleton Soldier Lv. 1(42) Health: 29 Strength: 23 Agility: 20 Wisdom: 9 Unallocated points: 4] I stared blankly into the void as rain poured into my empty eye sockets. I felt pathetic for losing consciousness amid the woman''s desperate screams and the unpleasant sounds of her being violated. I trembled with helplessness. Clack. I gritted my teeth. Raging would change nothing, so I looked forward again. In the pitch-black night, a translucent message floated before me in my status window, reflecting the points I had earned from killing the hammer-wielding hunter. I invested one point in Strength and three in Agility. [Health: 29 Strength: 24 Agility: 23 Wisdom: 9] A thought crossed my mind. If I kept dying and my stats kept accumulating like this, I might end up with absurdly high stats. Suddenly, another notification popped up. Ding! [System: Perk Conflict!] ¡ª The Death Memorial slots are full. ¡ª The latest acquired perk and a new perk conflict. ¡ª Both conflicting perks will be removed. [Unused Dagger slot has been deleted.] How unfriendly. I hadn''t anticipated the complete lack of guidance. Am I supposed to learn one step at a time? I realized once more that there was no time for leisure, so I quickly got up, knowing that what would happen next was already set. Chapter 8. Awakening in Life (8) Chapter 8. Awakening in Life (8) I needed to hurry. I planned to select the second slot from the Death Memorial. [System: Blunt Weapon Physical Resistance +40 applied!] With Dagger Technique gone, the blunt weapon resistance perk seemed like a good choice. Clatter! I practically leaped out of the grave. Rubia hadn''t spoken to me yet, but I rushed toward her. "Ah, eek!" She was about to call me dead one, but she fell over instead. I felt sorry, but there was no other way. "Robe, dagger. Now." "Eek!" Rubia''s body was frozen. It was understandable. Anyone would freeze in such a situation. Rip! I snatched the dagger and forcibly stripped the wet robe off of her. Her long, brown hair tumbled down to her waist. "Ah..." Her wet lips trembled. Fear and cold were mixed into her trembling. I took a good look at Rubia. Beneath her robe, she wore a silly semi-formal dress. I questioned her dignity as a woman. It was hard to believe she came here wearing something like that, especially a dress that was already soaked. Her identity was suspicious. She even claimed to be some sort of successor, but there would be plenty of time to ask questions once the crisis was over. I checked her status window again. Ding! [Name: Rubia Ray Necromancer Lv. 1 Health: 6 Strength: 5 Agility: 6 Wisdom: 12] Her strength was only a quarter of mine. It was no mystery why she couldn''t resist when I snatched the dagger and robe. I closed the status window. I wasn''t sure if I could see the stats for other people or if specific conditions had to be met. I ordered to Rubia, "Stay in the bushes. Don''t follow me. Your life is at risk." Whether she believed me or not, there was no time to explain. After quickly instructing her, I picked up the longest and sturdiest branch I could find. It was solid and usable. The graveyard was shrouded in darkness, but I already knew where all the branches were. Finding one was easy. Shiik, shiik. This time, I had a new plan. I trimmed the end of the branch with the dagger to make it sharp enough to call it a stake. Then, I ran down the mountain path holding it. They''ll come up here. I went further down the path. I buried my body covered by the robe among the leaves and mud. I got into a position where I could raise the stake at any time. Clop, clop! I heard the two hunters riding up the path in the darkness. Why are they chasing that woman? Who hired them? So far, it seems like they intended to rape her. Would they kill her afterward or sell her off? If they sold her, to whom and by what route? I set my curiosity aside for now. The priority was dealing with them. "Neigh!" The horses drew closer. I''ll let the crossbowman pass. I could deal with him later. I targeted the stronger one first. Clop, clop! The crossbowman passed by. The horse carrying the man with the hammer approached. I swiftly raised the sharpened stake and pierced the horse''s belly. Thud! "Neigh!" The horse convulsed violently, making its pain palpable. Thud! The horse shuddered and collapsed sideways. The hunter on the horse had no time to jump off. Unsurprisingly, the deep stab made the horse fall down the slope. Good. "Gahh!" Thud! The hammer-wielding hunter tumbled down too. The crashing sound was satisfying. Something must have broken solidly. Thud! The man continued rolling down the slope. At a glance, I could see that the slope was very steep. I heard his body crashing as he rolled down. "Wh-what''s going on?" Thud. The crossbowman ahead jumped off his horse immediately. In my previous life, this was the guy who had killed me. After a hard fight, I managed to take down the hammerman, but the crossbowman''s club shattered me afterward. I had died and fought again. A more fitting word than struggle would be hard to find. This was already my fourth encounter with them. Flash! Lightning flashed. I looked at the crossbowman. I remembered the creepy smile he had when Rubia approached. I gripped Rubia''s dagger tightly, step by step. The man with the loaded crossbow approached cautiously. Whoosh! An arrow instantly flew toward me. He wasn''t blind. He could see me during the lightning flash and aimed the crossbow at me. If something seemed suspicious, shooting first was not a bad strategy. Thud! The arrow struck the robe I was wearing. However, it passed between my bones. I was unaffected. Flap! I threw off the robe and sprang up from his spot. I shouted to the crossbowman, "I am Prechter!" It was a seemingly absurd act. I thought yelling would surprise him. Prechter was the name of the hammer wielder. Earlier, when the crossbowman was shattering my bones, he mentioned the name. I thought it might surprise him. "H-hey! What?" Fortunately, I guessed correctly. The crossbowman recoiled in fright. He looked scared. For a moment, his mind was overloaded. A skeleton was charging at him while shouting that it was his comrade. Clatter. It was a simple and childish trick, but such methods were often effective. It didn''t need to last long. Just a brief moment of distraction would suffice. The guy''s body froze for a moment. I didn''t miss the opportunity. I thrust the dagger straight at his neck. Swish! Damn. I missed. I was not as agile as before. "Damn! Shit!" It seemed cursing was second nature for the crossbowman. He reached for his waist. I took a step forward and swung the dagger again. Swish! However, my lack of dagger skills was evident. I thought about my previous life. I had smoothly stabbed the hammer wielder, killing him in one strike. But now, I couldn''t even graze this lowly guy with the dagger. Is it really the difference in skill? Yet, I definitely felt faster. Increasing my agility had an effect, as the change in speed was noticeable. I was slightly faster than the human before me. The crossbowman, barely dodging, shouted in shock, "W-why are you so fast!" The crossbowman swung the club violently. Whoosh! Was it just a moment ago? In my previous life, the crossbowman shattered my bones with his club. But this time, I took the club head-on instead of avoiding it. I jumped straight into his arms. Thud! The club swung violently. It was certainly reinforced with metal, as it made a dull sound as it struck my bones. However, the impact wasn''t significant. [Blunt Resistance +40 has been applied!] Since I chose this perk, I took the hit and leaped up. Squish! I stabbed the dagger into his neck. The sound of Rubia''s dagger sinking into his neck was refreshing. This was the second time I had plunged a dagger into a crossbowman''s neck. "Gah, gah, gah!" Splurt! Blood spewed out from the crossbowman''s neck. I had charged in without considering my defenses, so I took a hit from the club with my arm. Perhaps he didn''t expect this. Well, my current appearance did not represent the typical, mindless Skeleton Soldier. I should''ve been rattling and clattering, making bone sounds, moving powerlessly as commanded. I should''ve been in a group, ready to act as fodder for adventurers. The crossbowman didn''t expect a skeleton to hunt humans so aggressively. "Ugh... What is this... gah!" He clutched his bleeding neck with his hand. He had a tenacious life force, or maybe the dagger had barely missed the artery. I grabbed the club and swung it fiercely toward his head. Crack! With a satisfying crack, his body went limp. The blood loss and the impact killed him. First, the weapon. I picked up the crossbow. I secured the crossbow and grabbed the quiver at his waist. Creak. Creak. I loaded a bolt into the crossbow as I aimed forward. "Gah, gah!" Hmm? Still alive. Impressive. Even if I left him, he would die. However, there was no need to leave any possibility. Thud. I placed the crossbow on his chest. I recalled the image of him laughing while violating Rubia. I wanted to cause him pain, but there was no time to waste. I released the drawn string. Thunk! The bolt pierced through the leather armor and embedded in his chest. But it wasn''t an instant kill. How stubborn. He wheezed in the rain. It wasn''t the heart. It must have been the lung. In any case, he would die. I left him and stood up. Creak. Creak. I reloaded the crossbow. Shaaaaa... I walked slowly toward the slope where the hammer-wielder had fallen. Lightning flashed, and I spotted his figure. Rumble! Boom! He was clutching his hand, his face contorted in pain. Maybe he broke a finger. He had fallen from the stabbed horse and tumbled down the slope. It would be strange if nothing were strained or broken. It would have been better if he had died from the fall, but that seemed like too much to hope for. Nevertheless, I had found him, and luckily, he hadn''t noticed me yet. I aimed the crossbow and fired. Thwack!Thud! "Agh!" I heard a groan. I hit him. I didn''t need to see it. It wasn''t a graze. I had hit him properly. Clatter. The perfectly timed lightning struck in the pitch-black darkness where nothing was visible. I could see him, but he couldn''t see me. The crossbow I had preloaded with a bolt. All these factors combined to create that perfect shot. Creak, creak. I reloaded another bolt. Thanks to the quiver I took from the corpse, I had plenty of bolts. How many more shots can I land? The distance was closing. Splish, splash. I could hear the sound of the enemy moving. He was walking towards me with the hammer. To some, it might''ve been nothing. Powerful people like the sword masters of the Empire or the Wizards of Azure might''ve been able to kill him with just a finger flick. However, I was just a skeleton soldier. If the distance closed, I was likely to be crushed and killed. The rain continued to pour. The hammer-wielder seemed to be walking based on the direction from which the bolts were fired. In this situation, hiding or running away would be the norm, but he was quite the hunter. It seems like he''s coming after me properly. Rumble! Boom! Mixed with the sound of thunder, his footsteps suddenly quickened. He seemed to be running. I raised the preloaded crossbow. "Uaaaah!" he shouted. Splish! Splash! Splash! Right after the shout, the sound of his footsteps became more intense. He''s trying to mislead me. The hammer-wielder shouted and then quickly moved in another direction. If I fired, it would likely go into empty air. I held the loaded crossbow. I focused my attention. Where is he? I searched for the guy running toward me with the giant hammer. There was a flash of lightning! He¡¯s moving to the left. I fired immediately. Thwack! Thud! He raised his hand, and the bolt pierced through his palm. I noticed fingers were bent in an odd direction. A broken hand? The hammer-wielder used the hand he already couldn''t use for combat to block the crossbow bolt. His whole body was covered in mud, probably from rolling down the slope. Rumble! Boom! "Khak!" He matched his shout with the thunder. He swung the hammer with one hand at the optimal distance for swinging a hammer. Whoosh! The hammer flew toward my skull. If I dodged, he would close in. If I moved forward, he would back off. He knew how to control the distance expertly. I leaped toward the swinging hammer, trying to headbutt it. Thud! My skull collided with the hammer. It must have looked like a mad act. For a moment, I felt dizzy, and it felt like my skull was splitting open. Chapter 9. Awakening in Life (9) Chapter 9. Awakening in Life (9) The hunter''s swing radius was reduced. He was also wielding the hammer with only one hand. Meanwhile, my skull was the hardest part of my skeleton, and now I had high blunt resistance. Nevertheless, headbutting the hammer was a crazy move. Even I couldn''t quite understand my actions. However, after fighting him three times in such a short period, my instincts told me this was the way to avoid dying. "Ugh!" Instead of falling, I leaped into his arms. Normally, he should''ve stepped back to maintain distance, but he was so startled by my headbutt that he stumbled. Thud! The hammer-wielder fell. I jumped toward him and plunged my dagger toward his neck. Squish! The hammer-wielder raised his arm to block the dagger. He merely intended to use his already broken arm as a shield, but the sharp dagger dug deep into his arm, causing him more pain. "Argh!" he screamed. He tensed his muscles, and the dagger got stuck in his muscles. He swung his arm backward. Whoosh! I lost my grip on the dagger. Lightning continued to strike. I was shocked by my ridiculous mistake. My neck bones rattled. Pathetic. I needed to make up for my mistake. I raised my finger and poked his eyes, making it impossible for him to keep them open. "Arghhh!" the hunter screamed in pain and threw me aside. Rumble! The thunder continued to roar as I fell to the ground. For the hunter named Pretcher, this was his first encounter with me, but that wasn''t the case for me. In just a short period, I had already encountered him three times. I had grown accustomed to him, but I still couldn''t manage to kill him. Normally, he could easily crush an opponent like me with a few swings of his hammer. In our first encounter, I wasn''t even worth the trouble. He simply kicked me off the cliff. However, I was trapped in a time loop. I would die and come back again. I knew when he would arrive, where he would come from, and how he would move. If I fell here, I knew what he would do to Rubia. Though I was thrown aside, I wasn''t injured. I quietly grabbed the crossbow that had fallen to the ground. I had one bolt left. Creak, creak. I slowly loaded it. Pretcher had been blinded by my eye attack, so couldn''t open his eyes fully and see me well. But could he hear? Could he hear the sound of me loading the crossbow that would end his life? Rumble! Boom! No, the thunder was deafening. Shaaaa... I stood still and aimed the crossbow at his neck. "Ugh, ugh, ugh!" I took three steps back and fired. Thunk! The bolt pierced his neck. "Ugh!" His neck was completely punctured. He clutched his throat with his broken arm, gasping. I sat quietly in front of him. Splat! With his bones broken, he couldn''t exert any strength. Even with his good arm, he couldn''t stop the gushing blood. The blood spurting from the hole was like a newly burst spring, painting my skull bright red as it splattered in front of him. Shaaaa... Rumble... The rain continued to pour, washing away the blood that had painted my skill. Both the sensation of blood being painted on and then washed away felt refreshing. Shaaa... I turned my head. A woman in a completely drenched semi-formal dress was staring at me. "Oh..." She let out a small sigh, still standing there. Should I tell her to search the corpses? I decided not to. It was already commendable that Rubia had not fainted from seeing all this. [Level Up!] [Level Up!] I should deal with this first. I opened my status window. [Name: None Skeleton Soldier Lv. 6 (47) Health: 29 Strength: 24 Agility: 23 Wisdom: 9 Remaining Points: 5] I had gained five levels for killing two men. Each time I killed one, my level increased by two, then four. But killing both had increased it by five in total. It seemed like an excessive reward, but it wasn''t difficult to accept. The higher the level, the more experience I needed to level up. The same enemy gave different rewards depending on my level. Defeating higher-level enemies gave more rewards. No matter how many lower-level enemies I defeated, I wouldn''t gain significant experience. The enemies I defeated weren''t ordinary, even with the stats of a Lv. 36 Skeleton Soldier and the unknown perks I had repeatedly lost to them. Thinking back, when I was truly a Lv. 1 Skeleton Soldier twenty years ago, defeating humans like those hunters would''ve been unthinkable. It would''ve been impossible unless they were tied up and stabbed with a knife. Even twenty Lv. 1 Skeleton Soldiers attacking together would struggle to defeat them. Hmm. In the end, I had accomplished an impossible task. Considering it a reward for that, it wasn''t so unreasonable. Maybe it''s even less than what I deserve. Regardless, I had to allocate the points I gained. The basic stats were Health, Strength, Agility, and Wisdom. I didn''t know the detailed correlations between the stats as I just had a rough sense of them. I hardly ever increased Wisdom. Initially, it was around three or four points. I increased it a few times, but I stopped doing so when I saw no noticeable effect. Health determined how much I could withstand attacks. Strength was related to direct attack power, and Agility was movement speed. Increasing Strength made the world feel lighter, and increasing Agility made the world feel slower. In fact, before meeting my master, I didn''t know how to increase stats. I just wandered around with unallocated points. If I stayed idle, the points automatically invested somewhere. I learned about the stats after meeting my master. She used her authority to force me to increase my Health stats as much as possible to avoid being killed by humans. Yet, she didn''t send me to the battlefield. She was a terrible dungeon master¡ªa failure. If she increased the health of a dungeon servant, then she should''ve sent them to the front lines. That was only natural. Clatter. I shook my head. This wasn''t the time to reminisce. To meet and protect her when I see her again, I must fight alone for countless years, however long it may be. I invested three points in Strength and two in Agility. [Strength 24 ¡ª> 27] [Agility 23 ¡ª> 25] It was time to search the hunters'' corpses. I started with the hammer wielder''s body, which was the closest. I intended to gather anything useful. First, I found a wallet. It was quite full. Where was he headed with such a loaded pocket? Having it wouldn''t be useful for me. I looked at the trembling woman. I opened the status window to check her again. It seemed to have become a habit. [Name: Rubia Ray Necromancer Lv.1 Health: 6 Strength: 5 Agility: 6 Wisdom: 12] [Affection: 3 ¡ª Rubia has a slight attachment to the skeleton she awakened.] [Basic Skills ¡ª Unlock by increasing Affection.] [Perks ¡ª Unlock by increasing Affection.] [Titles ¡ª Unlock by increasing Affection.] I couldn''t see her basic skills, perks, or titles. They all had conditions: increasing affection. How could I increase the affection of a human woman? It was hard to imagine. I had no experience dealing with human women. Would giving her money work? Thud! I threw the leather pouch in front of Rubia. She flinched in surprise. "Pick it up. You might need it," I said and then checked the status window again. [Affection: 3 ¡ª Rubia has a slight attachment to the skeleton she awakened.] "What... what is happening?" Rubia asked, trembling. She looked extremely frightened. She didn''t seem interested in the money I threw. Hmm. This isn''t working. The leather pouch I threw to her was quite heavy. She must''ve heard the jingling sound but didn''t pick it up. She just kept trembling. In fact, her reaction was normal. She had come out after hiding for a while only to find out that a skeleton had killed two people. Picking up money joyfully is probably too much to ask. Feeling awkward, I tried to change the subject. "You were the one who raised me, weren''t you?" I asked while searching the corpse. Rubia nodded as if she were in a trance. After a moment of confusion, she asked, "But, um, are you okay?" "Okay?" "You were hit hard on the skull with a hammer." That was correct. Had she been watching from the beginning? I did tell her to hide quietly. I looked at her. She was holding something in her hand. It was a stone. "Why are you holding that?" I asked her. "It might be useful. I should help if you''re in danger," she answered, and then awkwardly smiled. I was a little surprised that Rubia was showing signs of composure. Moreover, she even talked about helping me. It was an absurd idea, but I had already experienced it several times. After I was broken, she was brutally violated. The scene flashed through my mind. I didn''t want to remember it, but I couldn''t forget it either. Clatter. I shook my head. "What''s wrong?" she asked. "I''m shaking off the rainwater." Rubia still hadn''t picked up the pouch. Instead, she was muttering something. I couldn''t hear it clearly. The money I had thrown at her was exactly seventy-two roti. Of course, I couldn''t tell the amount just by touch. I knew because of the message that had appeared in the air. [You have acquired 72 roti!] It was the first time I had experienced such a thing. Getting a message just for picking up money? It was a fascinating experience. The leather pouch was quite thick. I considered a small compensation for the damage from the hammer. I told Rubia, "Count the roti later." "Huh?!" Finally, Rubia''s big brown eyes widened. "Y-you know about roti?" So that was what surprised her. I did know about it, but I never used it. Roti was the currency unit of the human empire. It was torn apart into countless factors, but the currency unit was all the same. "I also know about widgets, seirons, and dukats. I''m even aware of shekels." "Hic!" Rubia hiccuped in surprise. "H-how?" The empire used widgets and roti. A hundred roti was equal to one seiron. The Free Confederation was the Empire''s greatest enemy, the long-standing land to the other side. The currency used by those republicans was different from that of the Empire. They used the free dukat and the shekel. Twenty-five dukats equaled one Shekel. Roti and dukat were made of silver, while seirons and shekels were made of gold. When melted, all were the same metal. On top of that, the Empire stamped the emperor''s face and a laurel wreath on the coins. The Free Confederation stamped the shape of their parliament and a voting person. Both sides assigned value and character to the metal. By stamping something on the melted, fluid metal, they try to prove their society. Rubia asked, "Do you not know about widgets?" I shrugged and replied, "Of course I do." Widgets were a lower currency unit than roti in the Empire. The order was seiron, roti, then widget. "Anyway, you keep the money. Even if I know what it is, it''s useless to me." It wasn''t charity. All that mattered was whoever held the shiny silver coins, which was important. I was a skeleton without any flesh. If I were to hold the silver coins, the money would no longer be a subject of trade. Chapter 10. Awakening in Life (10) Chapter 10. Awakening in Life (10) Humans would happily rush in to break me. If I were alone, I would have simply discarded the wallet. However, the money in Rubia''s wallet could be very useful. I could buy a sword, a spear, a shield, or I could rent a house to hide in. Or maybe I should buy a weapon manual and study from it. Clatter. I laughed. This human woman could do many things for me. I needed her. "Ah... I understand," I said. Rubia picked up the money. "This is... too much money, isn''t it? Was he a merchant?" Seventy-two roti was quite a significant amount. "Who knows? We''ll have to search more to find out." I continued searching the corpse, as it seemed like we needed to investigate further. "That''s very proactive," she commented. "Excuse me?" "A skeleton searching a corpse..." "I''d appreciate it if you called it practical instead," I replied. I found a canteen in the hammer wielder''s belongings. Slosh. I shook the canteen, estimating the amount of water inside. It was half full. Creak. I opened the lid of the canteen, then placed it on the ground to let the rainwater fill it up. As she watched the canteen fill, Rubia asked, "Do skeletons drink water?" "No, but you do." "Even though it''s raining like this... you''re collecting water." "Isn''t it best to collect water when it''s raining? Now, let me ask you something. How did you awaken me?" Rubia told me her story. I didn''t interrupt and listened quietly. Interrupting usually meant missing the best parts when a woman told her story. *** Rubia''s father was the former lord of Erast County. He was called Count Ray. Rubia''s mother had died giving birth to her. While the Count attended to his duties, Rubia spent most of her time immersed in the castle''s library. Finding a book on necromancy, or a manuscript, was purely by chance. The castle''s library contained thousands of books, as was often the case with a lord''s library handed down through generations. Many of the books were so dull that no one would ever read them, even if they were bored. Rubia thought there were at least a hundred such books. Regarding the Hair Color of the Emperors from the First Seiron to the Current Emperor was one of them. However, Rubia had a peculiar obsession. She was determined to read every book in the library. She opened that thick book with her ridiculous obsession. From there, she discovered a hidden manuscript containing records of necromancy inside. The manuscript wasn''t even listed in the library''s catalog of books, which included correspondence collections. Rubia felt a sense of unease. The land she was in was naturally part of the Empire, which strictly prohibited black magic and necromancy. While her father was lenient in private, he was overly moral and honest in public matters. What would happen if she told her father about this? He would report the discovered manuscript to the authorities. He would follow the procedures. Nineteen-year-old Rubia thought, If this document is revealed officially... Father might get into trouble. Setting aside the authenticity of the necromancy manuscript, everything else was just her speculation. She knew that if her father found out she was reading something like this, he wouldn''t allow it. But she desperately wanted to see it. That was how humans were at nineteen years old. I''ll take it as if it never existed. Rubia stealthily hid the manuscript in her bosom. She was so worried that someone might steal it that she even sewed it into her clothing. *** "A few weeks passed like that. Then, one day, a new emperor ascended to the throne." For the first time, I interrupted her story. "That''s the beginning of the tragedy, isn''t it?" Rubia flinched, and the rainwater from her wet hair splattered everywhere. She asked with a surprised expression, "How did you know?" "No matter how content people seem, who the ruler is seems to be very important to them," I said matter-of-factly. It''s a general truth. In fact, I already knew the story. I thought quietly to myself. A year after this current emperor ascended the throne, a war broke out on the continent. He would launch a massive invasion against the Free Confederation. Nine years... A brutal war would ensue for nine years. I asked for confirmation, "Is the current emperor a war hawk?" Rubia''s eyes widened. She seemed genuinely surprised. "Wow... How do you know such things?" Did I act like I knew too much? I wondered inwardly. Rubia was greatly astonished. She answered, "Y-yes. You''re spot on. How do you know such things?" Ding! [Rubia''s Affection increased by 3!] [Rubia thinks you are a special skeleton.] [You have succeeded in making your master think that you are a special being.] [New title acquired: Special Servant] [When fighting for your master, your combat power will increase by 20%.] A servant? Is it also applied in the system? This woman is my master... I felt somewhat guilty toward my other master, the succubus. But Rubia was the one who had awakened me now. I had nothing to say, even if I was perceived that way. A twenty percent increase in combat power. If this was how it would be, her usefulness would be quite significant in the future. She was not someone I could simply abandon. Oblivious to my inner thoughts, Rubia continued her story. "As you said, the emperor is preparing for war. He has been constantly stirring up trouble. Conscription and military training have increased dramatically. He has begun granting titles to belligerent individuals." She explained that in many cases, titles came with corresponding territories, making people that held titles like ticking time bombs. When people only received a title, they desired to have a territory of their own, so they "inherited" the territories of others. Of course, the local lords resisted. Rubia''s father, Count Ray, was no different. Although the imperial territories used the same currency, they were practically autonomous. Even the emperor could not do as he pleased. The emperor acted recklessly, but he had limited control over the military forces. However, something surprising happened. Rubia said, "One day, lords who opposed the emperor''s will began to disappear one by one." They were found as corpses in their own castles. Rubia''s father was no exception; he had been stabbed to death. As Rubia spoke of Count Ray, tears welled up in her eyes. "A lord''s castle shouldn''t be so easily infiltrated." "I don''t know the cause. There were only rumors about the Swordmasters or the Azure Wizards." After several crises, Rubia ended up here. "My uncle took the title. He''s the worst man for the job. He had been imprisoned for ten years on charges of human trafficking." Tap. I found two cards in the hammer wielder''s belongings at that moment. Rubia asked, "What are those?" "They look like mercenary ID cards. They''re quite large." I checked the front side first. [Benson Pretcher Class: Close Combat Fighter Issued: 1143. 7. Rank: D Pylon Mercenary Guild] The ID card was simply written like that. The back was blank. I asked Rubia, "What date is it today?" "It''s January 20, 1147." It was issued four years ago. I checked and kept the ID card issued by the Mercenary Guild. The hammer wielder had another ID card in his possession. That ID card... was different. A detailed portrait. The ID card was red. It had a detailed portrait of the hammer wielder, Benson Pretcher. No name, though. Pretcher''s name wasn''t written on it, but at the bottom of the ID card, it read: Necron Shrine Society. A shrine society? I had never heard the words "shrine society" before. It was hard to guess what it was, but I put both cards in my pocket. At that moment... Ding! A window popped up as soon as I put the hammer wielder''s ID card in my pocket. In the window, there was an unmistakably significant word. [Quest ¡ª Uncover the identity of the Necron Shrine Society.] [Quest ¡ª Visit the Pylon Mercenary Guild.] A quest? It was a familiar word. As familiar as it was, it was a frightening and dreadful word. I often heard heroes saying it. The heroes who defeated a Demon King and raided dungeons often used the word "quest." "Quest success" or "Quest failure" were common phrases. "Defeating five Skeleton Soldiers is such an easy quest, isn''t it?" "I just want to keep doing quests where I get to screw succubi." They would talk like that. "Quest" seemed to be referring to tasks specifically for the heroes. But I''m receiving quests now? I had never been the subject of a quest before. I had always been the target of quests. I¡¯d be the one to be broken, trampled, and disposed of. In many ways, this was an unprecedented situation. Besides the quest, unknown status windows appeared before my eyes. Pondering quietly, I came to one of two conclusions. One is that I''ve gone mad. The other possibility was that something meant for the hero was, absurdly enough, being applied to me, a Skeleton Soldier. I pushed the quest window aside for now. Blink. The window blinked in the lower right corner and then disappeared. Looks like I can ignore it. There was nothing I could do immediately, whether it was uncovering the identity of the Necron Shrine Society or visiting the Pylon Mercenary Guild. Hmm. There didn''t seem to be a need to search the corpse further. With the ID cards, I had probably gathered everything I could from this person named Benson Pretcher. I wrapped up various items in Pretcher''s outer garment. As I tried to move with the bundle, Rubia said, "I''ll carry it!" "It''s fine..." Rubia had a slight smile on her face. "Don''t worry, I won''t run away with it." "Well, then." I handed over the bundle. Next, I went to search the crossbow wielder''s body. He was also a member of the Pylon Mercenary Guild. He was an E-rank mercenary, one rank lower than the hammer wielder. From the crossbow wielder''s body, I found another card issued by the Necron Shrine Society. The card emitted a faint red glow. Magic? Rubia came closer and murmured,"What do you think that card is? It gives off a very ominous feeling." She had noticed the red glow too. "I think so too. We''ll need to find out." "Right..." I continued searching the crossbow wielder''s body. What''s this? I found a thick notebook in his possession. It''s filled. I opened the notebook and found it was densely packed with writing on every page. At the top left of each page was a woman''s name. Next to it were grades like A or B, along with prices. Lena, Grade A, 10 seiron... The details were written in this format: Name, Grade, Price. Below were notes on what had been done, how training was conducted, and so on. I was familiar with human customs. I had visited many human villages ravaged by war, so I knew how human males treated females. I understood the meaning of those words. "This is¡ª!" Rubia''s eyes widened. As she looked at the notebook, she shouted, "A slave ledger!" "It seems like it. If you had been caught, your name would be listed here too." Or perhaps you would have been tortured and killed to eliminate future trouble. I looked up at Rubia, but her expression remained unchanged. She wasn''t trembling any more than she already had been. Her face was pale from the cold, and she shivered in the rain. Damn. I acknowledged I had been too insensitive. I needed to be considerate of how she was a human with flesh and blood. "Anyway, let''s get out of the rain first. I know a cave nearby. Follow me." "Why did the slave traders come after me?" "The why is hard to determine. We need to find out how they tracked you down." Chapter 11. Awakening from Life (11) Chapter 11. Awakening from Life (11) There was a cave in my memory. However, before going there, I needed to do something. I had to deal with the two dead bodies. Swoosh... I threw them into the grave I had just come out of. The two bodies rolled over and ended up piled carelessly inside the coffin. Boom! Bang! I placed another coffin on top of them. Thud! It seemed more convenient than bothering to cover them up with dirt. Someone might find the two bodies and suspiciously wonder why they were unnaturally covered. I hoped they wouldn''t suspect Rubia, though they probably wouldn''t. The two men were too sturdy for her to have killed them alone. "Let''s go now." I headed toward the cave I remembered. Thump, thump. We walked for about twenty minutes. There it is. I spotted a small entrance, hiding in the shade of bushes. I had lived in the cave for three years, so it was clearly visible to me. I turned around and went down the path that led to the cave. "I''ll go in first." "Be careful." The woman¡¯s worried about me.She talks as if I''m a human. I reached the entrance of the cave. It was more like a small gap than an entrance. Its width was less than a meter wide. Clatter! I grabbed the entrance with my fingers, and I squeezed inside with my skeleton body. Easy. "Give me the load." "Yes!" I took the bag from Rubia. It contained the loot I had gathered from the hunters. The collection included supplies, weapons, leather, and other similar items. Thump. I placed the bag on the ground. I untied the outer garment that had wrapped the bag and wrapped it around my hand for Rubia''s sake. She might be startled if my cold finger bones touched her. "Enter with your legs first." Rubia hesitated for a moment. I didn''t rush her, because she was trying to put her legs into an unknown hole. It was natural for her to hesitate. "Ugh!" I reached out and grabbed her pale, outstretched leg, supporting her. "Thank you." "Let''s go." I repacked the items and picked them up. Even bats did not live in this cave. No bugs or spiders either. It was strangely barren. Although I had lived there for three years, no one had ever entered besides me. Animals that played near the entrance never came inside either. It wasn''t because they were conscious of me though. Animals didn''t fear me that much. It is a rather strange place. Clatter. A small pile of bones¡ªthat was all there was to the cave. I didn''t even know whose bones they were. Now, there was another moving set of bones in this cave and one living, breathing woman I led the way. Step, step. I slowly moved deeper inside. The space gradually widened. How long had I walked? Rubia''s lips quivered. "Haa..." Her breaths were sharp. Swoosh. She tilted to one side. I quickly supported her. If she hit a sharp rock, she could get hurt. Is it because she''s not tense anymore? I had walked for a long time without much thought. She was a woman with a frail body. Even though I was helping her, it was still hard for her to adapt. If I was planning to use this woman in any way, I needed to take better care of her. I unpacked the bag and covered her with the hammer wielder''s outer garment. Her neck might hurt if she lay directly on the ground. Tap. I supported the head of the lying woman with my thigh bone. Would it be too hard? However, she looked very comfortable while lying down. Her abundant brown hair curled around the white bones. There was no light shining into the cave. I took a moment to think calmly. For now, we had overcome the crisis. Should I organize my thoughts? These were based on the events that had happened so far. First, if I die, I return to the moment of awakening in the original grave. Second, my level will reset to one, but my stats and skills will accumulate, including any unallocated bonus points. Upon reflection, it was quite advantageous. Leveling up was remarkably easy, and it was much easier to level up from one. Stats could be accumulated more easily than anything else. Suddenly, a ridiculous thought popped up in my mind. Should I commit suicide? If I died, I would return to the grave again. I would climb five levels by killing the crossbow and the hammer hunters. Then, if I died again, I would return to the grave. If I killed myself here... I might be able to repeat that endlessly. I could keep raising my stats indefinitely. Clatter. I shook my head. It was a reckless idea. First, there was no way to know how many times I could return to the grave. This might be the last time. There was no way to confirm how many times I could revive. It was foolish to assume that this bizarre phenomenon would continue forever. I needed to find out what conditions would allow me to return after I died. Is it only when I die near the grave that I return? Clatter. I shook my head again. I thought about where I had died with my master. That place was far from here. For now, let''s keep living. In the distant future, I might meet my master again. The woman who awakened me, now sleeping with her hair wrapped around my thigh bone, seemed to want to do something. I would stay with her for now. Is it warm? Being near this woman, I could feel a little warmth. That warmth was not unwelcome. Perhaps it wouldn''t be bad to spend some time together. I carefully leaned against the wall. I planned to wait until she woke up. I had no eyes to close, but I tried not to see anything. Though not completely cut off, my consciousness began to fade slightly. *** Light beamed into my empty eye sockets. As the concentration of light appeared sharper, the back of my skull tingled, and my thoughts slowly began to coalesce. The light was coming in through the narrow cave entrance. I lowered my head and looked down at Rubia. She was still breathing softly in her sleep with a peaceful expression. It seems she''s not having a nightmare. Rubia had to leave behind the book she liked so much and run all the way here. The only place she could rest comfortably might be in her dreams. I hesitated to wake her up. I decided to wait until she opened her eyes on her own. That was when it happened. Ding! [Tutorial cleared!] [Survive the First Night completed.] [Reward: Additional scenario slot 1] [Current slot: 1/2] [Assimilation rate has decreased.] [94.25% -> 93.71%] Tutorial? Assimilation rate? Those were unfamiliar terms. I had heard the word "quest"yesterday, but I had never heard the words "tutorial"and "scenario"before. Am I truly mad, or¡ª? Some unknown magic was at work. Clatter. I leaned my skull back. If I were mad, where would it have begun? If it were magic, where should I go to ask about it? Tap, tap. I tapped my skull a few times with my fingers. The first night had passed chaotically. It had been so hectic that I had just let it pass. But still, I wanted to solve the mystery. I felt a bit of impatience creeping in. While I was pondering idly, Rubia groaned softly as she woke up. "Uh, ugh..." She sat up and gently massaged her eyes. Then she tidied her disheveled hair and regulated her breathing. "Huff, haaa..." "You could sleep more, you know?" "Hic!" Rubia was startled. After the hiccup, she took a deep breath. Was I too careless? I didn''t mean to scare her. I still wasn''t used to dealing with a human woman. Rubia, frozen for a moment, slowly lowered her hand. "I-It wasn''t it a dream?" I nodded. "Oh... it wasn''t a dream... it wasn''t a dream..." Rubia muttered in a daze and suddenly coughed. "Cough! Ah-choo!" She seemed unwell. I passed her the water canteen. Gulp, gulp. "Ah... thank you. Did I suddenly collapse?" "Yes." Rubia took out some jerky from her bag. She tore it thin and hesitantly offered some to me. I shrugged, pointing to the empty space under my jawbone and my ribs. "Just eat it by yourself." "Oh, I''m sorry." Rubia chewed the jerky cautiously, watching my reaction. She took a sip of water and then chewed the dried meat again. A bit of color returned to her face. "Hmmm..." I gazed at Rubia quietly. Our eyes kept meeting, and I felt rather awkward. I decided to continue with our conversation from yesterday. I abruptly asked a question without any context. "Will you seek revenge?" Rubia''s father had been murdered, and her uncle had taken his place. Rubia put down the canteen and quietly clasped her hands. Unexpectedly, her tone was calm. "Revenge... I don''t know. At first, I was so scared. I couldn''t think about anything. My father passed away, and people at the castle cried, saying I shouldn''t be here." "If you had stayed, you''d have died." "Would I?" "Of course," I replied. If she had stayed, death would have been inevitable. I didn''t know about Rubia now, but when I first failed to protect her, the crossbowman who chased her kept saying, "My lord." The lord in question was likely Rubia''s uncle. He had sent two vile mercenaries to kill his niece to eliminate any potential threats. Rubia sighed and said, "The people in the castle were all so good to me. I wonder if they''re alright." After taking a breath, Rubia continued, "Should I avenge my father? If I go now, many people will die fighting for me again. That scares me too much." Did she run away and then bring me back to life? It was natural that she had not been able to think clearly under such shocking circumstances. I remembered how delighted Rubia had been to have an ally, but she was brutally murdered soon after. Suddenly, I felt sorry for her. If it''s about revenge, maybe I should seek it too for my master. But the idea of getting revenge against a hero seemed like a mere dream. Aside from the absurd difference in power, heroes only appeared after the Demon King''s descent. Wait, ten years? What kind of heroes would appear then? Moreover, in that timeline, I hadn''t even met Lady Succubus yet. It was more important for me to protect her than to seek revenge, but just the thought of trying to find her seemed daunting. I suddenly became despondent. "What''s with the gloominess?" Rubia asked. I had no intention of talking about Lady Succubus and kept that in my heart. I didn''t bring it up, and I decided to change the subject. "I just have a lot of questions." "About what?" "...About myself." Of course, it wasn''t a lie. I was trapped in time. The recurring loop was my greatest mystery. "Oh!" Rubia flinched slightly upon hearing me. I tilted my chin and asked, "What?" "Sorry. It felt a little weird hearing a Skeleton Soldier say ''I'' and ''myself''... Why do I think that way? The first-person singular pronouns aren''t exclusive to humans." "You should answer that yourself." "Maybe it''s because of books. I''ve read too many stories of humans." "What kind of stories?" "I got used to the authors'' using first-person singular pronouns. All the authors are human, after all." I felt like I understood a bit. Rubia continued, "They all narrate in first person. Some books try to mix in satire and objectivity by writing in the third person, but in the end, it''s all first person. The person writing is always in the first person anyway. Actually, I feel awkward saying ''I'' out loud sometimes, too. When I read books, most of the narrators are men. Oh, Mr. Skeleton, are you a man?" Clatter. I flinched. What should I say? An animal''s sex is determined by its reproductive organs. Reproductive organs are made of flesh and blood. All that''s left of me are my clattering bones. Even if someone could determine my sex just from my skeletal structure, I''m nothing more than bare bones. What''s the point of distinguishing my sex? After a moment''s thought, I answered her. Chapter 12. Awakening from Life (12) Chapter 12. Awakening from Life (12) "I don''t recall, but according to your story, wouldn''t I be closer to a man?" "Why do you think so?" "Because using the first-person singular feels natural to me." We laughed softly, with the soft clatter of my bones ringing between us. "What are you curious about yourself?" she asked. Was there a need to lie? This woman had awakened me from the grave. She didn''t seem to harbor any malice toward me, so I decided to be honest. "It feels like time is repeating itself. Where should I even ask about something like that?" "Time... is repeating?" Rubia looked up at me with wide eyes. However, she didn''t seem as surprised as I had expected. "Yes. When I die, I find myself back at the moment I awakened in the grave. I have no idea what''s happening." "Hmm, then..." Rubia pondered quietly. Is she not surprised? I was surprised by her unexpectedly calm reaction. Maybe it was because it was so absurd that she reacted like that. Or perhaps she thought I was crazy. "Do you know the Tower of Azure by any chance?" Rubia asked. "I do." Rubia suggested, "Why don''t you try asking there? Although it''s quite far away." "It is certainly far." "Well, I''ve heard a similar story before!" I perked up. "What?" "There''s a book called The Genius Archmage Trapped in the Crevice of Time. It''s a novel written by an unknown author. It''s about a wizard trapped in a time trap created by a dragon." I sighed in exasperation. "There are definitely no such things as dragons, so that''s just a novel." "Uh, are you sure there are no dragons?" "Absolutely." Zero dragons appeared even after twenty years. Only the Sixteen Demon Lords appeared ten years later, and humans, wizards, and swordmasters would mercilessly crush them, especially the heroes who appeared all over the place. "I see..." Rubia seemed noticeably disappointed. "Still, wouldn''t the Tower of Azure be able to tell you something?" "I''m not sure..." We shared what we knew about the Tower of Azure. The Wizards of Azure were said to be the wisest in the world. They were located in the Tower of Azure, in the snowstorm-battered North. They were called the Wizards of Azure because they lived there. When people thought of magic, there were common things they imagined. Mandalas, reagents, scrolls, and triggers were the four elements of magic. On a meticulously drawn mandala, a wizard who has swallowed a reagent speaks the trigger and tears the scroll. That''s how magic was cast. However, the ones who could use magic without any of those four elements were the Wizards of Azure. They could leisurely walk around and still freeze the ground, ignite flames, and change the wind. They didn''t call themselves the Wizards of Azure though. They just called themselves "wizards." They didn''t use the term "Tower of Azure" either. Instead, they used the term "Tower." The wizards didn''t even know that such naming was arrogant. The Tower was within the Empire''s territory. However, it was a sanctuary where imperial law could not be applied. There were only about two hundred people in their group, and that was including all the names listed at the Tower. "Only about fifty people actually live there, right?" Indeed. Despite having only fifty people, they had managed to claim 35.4 square kilometers of the Empire''s territory as their own. It was obvious how powerful those wizards were. When it came to mysteries and miracles, nothing could be discussed without including them. However, there was a reason why I couldn''t go there. Rubia asked, "Is it because it''s far? Well, I guess you''d be going from one end of the Empire to the other." "Not just that. Even if I could walk all the way there without any incidents, it would still be a problem." "Perhaps..." "Yes. The Tower of Azure rejects necromancy and black magic. If they see me, they might destroy me immediately." "But aren''t they known to be curious people? Would they really do that?" "People like that might be even more dangerous." The people Rubia mentioned who might intentionally choose to accept my consultation were the most dogmatic and insane people. To them, solving their curiosity was more important than the end of the world. If I were to go there for a consultation... their eyes would probably light up in excitement as they imprisoned me in a magical prison. I could be trapped in a spellhold created by the Wizards of Azure. It was a place even high-ranking demons found difficult to escape from. Needless to say, a Skeleton Soldier like me wouldn''t stand a chance. I shook my head, and Rubia suggested, "Then... how about we buy some clothes first?" "Clothes?" "Armor. I don''t think we can enter the city like this, and it might be difficult to even travel the road..." At Rubia''s words, my neck rattled. She was right. I needed armor. I had to wear a full plate, complete with gloves and a helmet. Not for defense, for concealment. Even if I hid only in the mountains, I could encounter humans anytime. I was a skeleton soldier. If I wandered around like this, I would definitely be attacked. I couldn''t even walk freely unless I planned to crawl between the bushes. The world belonged to humans. It might not be that bad in the Eastern Mountains or the Western Desert, but here, in the Southern Empire, places free from humans were especially rare. Dungeons were constantly raided, just the same. The few monsters were holed up in dungeons, waiting in fear for humans to come. I suggested to the woman, "Then let''s go to Grassmere." "Grassmere? Oh..." Rubia nodded. "But how do you know about Grassmere?" "Well... I''ve heard about it here and there." It wasn''t really from here and there. I had heard everything from my master. "Here and there?" "If someone teaches a Skeleton Soldier to speak and read, he can acquire knowledge too." "...What?" I was a skeleton that had just risen from the grave to her. She looked perplexed. But I didn''t want to talk about it. I didn''t want to share. It was a memory I wanted to keep to myself. While there was much to gain by sharing and communicating with others, the memories with Lady Succubus were not of that kind. I changed the subject to the city of blacksmiths. "Grassmere is the hottest city in the South. Not for geopolitical reasons." "Because of the blacksmiths, right?" It was said that if one passed through the city gate and entered, the heat from the densely packed blacksmith shops would overwhelm them. "That''s right." "I always wanted to visit. When you open the gate, will there really be blacksmith shops lined up so densely? It''s in an inconvenient location, but they say the quality is so good that merchants always stop by at least once." "The burly blacksmiths set up shops in every alley, so there''s no need to maintain a separate security force." "If we''re going to buy armor, it''s best to buy it in such a place!" "That would be appreciated. Anyway, let''s head to Grassmere." I walked through the cave. Rubia silently followed and asked, "After getting the armor, where do you plan to go?" "Well... there is someone I have to meet." Not exactly a person, but it would be easier for her to understand it that way. "Someone you have to meet?" "But it''ll be a while before I meet them. There''s nowhere specific I have to go." "Nowhere to go... That sounds like me..." Rubia murmured. I hesitated, wondering if I should agree with her. Ultimately, I just walked through the cave, keeping pace with her. Drip. Drip. The sound of water dripping from the tip of a stalactite and our footsteps quietly echoed through the cave. If I could meet my master again, there might be choices I never had in the past. But such choices were never given for free. Before meeting her, I had to fight and establish my own domain, free from human interference. How strong must I become to be free from the encroachment of others? Just how much... Rubia asked, "How do you know your way so well? This place looks like there, and that place looks like here..." Her words pulled me out of my thoughts. She was looking at me with her mouth agape in awe. How should I explain? "Well, I just do..." The cave was shaped over an incomprehensible span of time beyond the perception and time of small beings. "It''s like a maze... No, I don''t think anyone could create such a maze..." "Is that so?" I continued walking without giving much of a response. Rubia kept chattering beside me. "It''s wide and dense. I''ve read quite a few books about caves, but how do you even find your way through something like this? The branching paths are endless. "Really... It all looks the same... It''s hard to see, so how do you know where you''re going? Wow... It''s amazing." Ding! [Rubia''s Affection has increased by 3!] [Rubia thinks you are an extraordinary skeleton who is remarkably good at finding your way.] [Servant System: Succeeded in making the master think, ''He''s incredibly good at finding his way.''] [Title: Pathfinder acquired.] [While moving with the master, vision increases by 10%.] So this thing is popping up again. At the same time, I felt like I could see a little further. This thing called the Servant System, it was the second time it had appeared. I wish this had been available when I was with my master. Perhaps I could have protected her a little better. Anyway, I needed to take care of this woman named Rubia now. I checked her status screen. [Name: Rubia Ray Necromancer Lv. 1 Health: 6 Strength: 5 Agility: 6 Wisdom: 12] [Affection: 9 ¡ª Rubia has a slight attachment to the skeleton she awakened. Watching your achievements, trust is beginning to sprout.] [Basic Skills: ¡ª Unlock by increasing Affection.] [Perks: ¡ª Unlock by increasing Affection.] [Titles: ¡ª Unlock by increasing Affection.] Her Affection has increased by 6. I hadn''t paid much attention, but her Affection for me was rising quite well on its own. I had no complaints about that, of course. However, the basic skills, perks, and titles were still locked. *** Rubia kept exclaiming at every step. "Seriously! It all looks the same... It''s hard to see, so how do you know where you''re going? Wow..." I kept my mouth shut. She seemed impressed every time I chose a path, which was almost every time the path branched. "Is it really that amazing?" "I''m terrible at finding my way." I kept a close distance to help her follow along. Rubia asked, "How long does it take to form a cave like this? It''s hard to believe there''s such a complex and long cave inside a mountain." "Is that so?" I kept walking without much response to her occasional chatter. After about two hours of walking, we came out of the opposite side of the cave. The entrance on the other side was also hidden by bushes. This was a completely different location. The mountain birds chirped loudly when we exited the cave. Coo-coo-coo-coo-coo! Kyoo-kyoo-kyoo-kyoo! Peep! Peep! Pyu... Pyu-pyu! Pyu... Pyu-pyu! They sing regardless of the weather. Amidst their cries, I heard a familiar sound effect. Ding! However, these were messages I had never seen before. [C++ level maze cleared!] [You gained 15,000 experience points] [Cleared the maze without using any skills.] [Additional 100% experience granted.] [You gained 15,000 experience points] [Level Up!] [Level Up!] [Level Up...] ... [...Up!] [Level Up!] "Huh?" It''s a maze? I didn''t even think much about it. How hard could it be to pass through a cave once? I just walked down a familiar path. And I got experience points for walking? One, two, three... nine, ten. My level went up by ten instantly. I stood still, lost in thought for a moment. Does this even make sense? I thought back to when I first entered the cave. One couldn''t tell day from night inside the cave. But for some reason, I felt the passage of time. It felt like I had spent about three years inside the cave. Chapter 13. Awakening from Life (13) Chapter 13. Awakening from Life (13) With nowhere else to go, I spent three years clattering around inside the cave, wandering here and there. Did that help? Actually, it took me over a year to find the exit after I first entered. I wasn''t even paying much attention. There was nowhere else to go anyway. I didn''t need to eat or get sunlight. So, I wandered inside the cave, not feeling lost at all. I naturally became familiar with the subtle tilt of the ceiling, the shapes of the stalactites, and the patterns on the walls. Indeed. I probably would have died in the cave if I hadn''t known all that. No animals would enter it, not even bats. They must have known that entering this cave meant death. Hmm... I checked my status window. [Name: None Skeleton Soldier Lv. 16 (57) Health: 29 Strength: 27 Agility: 25 Wisdom: 9 Remaining Points: 10] Well, this is something. I stared at the final message for a moment. "Are you okay?" Rubia asked. "Ah, yes, I''m fine." I was more than fine. In fact, I felt like I could fly. Leveling up always brought a significant sense of pleasure. It was like soaking in a hot spring and then dipping into a cold bath. A tingling, refreshing sensation enveloped me, and I gained ten levels at once. Pleasure flowed through every one of my bones, and I took a moment to savor the feeling. I stood still, aware of Rubia''s gaze. "Just wait a moment," I told her. "Ah, okay!" Rubia stopped speaking to me. I pondered on where to allocate the ten new points. Should I focus them all in one area? Should I invest everything in Strength? Or Agility? Definitely not Health or Wisdom. My Health was already quite high, and investing in Wisdom didn''t seem practical. I wasn''t going to become a wizard anyway. After a brief consideration, I finally allocated seven points to Agility and three to Strength. [Strength increased.] [Strength...] [Agility increased.] [Agility increased.] [Agility...] It felt as if the world was slowing down and becoming clearer. The effect of seven points in Agility was impressive. I suddenly wanted to swing a dagger, but with a human next to me, swinging a weapon in the air would look rather ridiculous. I checked my status window again. [Name: None Skeleton Soldier Lv. 16 (57) Health: 29 Strength: 30 Agility: 32 Wisdom: 9] Now, my Health, Strength, and Agility were all above twenty-nine. I feel much more comfortable now. I had struggled a lot when dealing with the hammer-wielding and crossbow-wielding hunters. Now, I felt that things would be much easier if I faced them again. Increasing Agility would make it easier to dodge enemy attacks and land my strikes. Strength would mean that my hits would land harder. Of course, that was just in theory. If things always went as planned, there would be no challenges in life. In reality, skills were the issue. Although the hunters demonstrated greater strength and agility, their skills further widened the gap in our combat power. I need to learn some skills too. I dismissed the status window with a wave of my hand. Suddenly, I noticed Rubia staring at me with wide eyes. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I said, "Shall we go?" She nodded. "Shall we?" *** "Ugh... ugh..." "First, we need to buy a pack animal," I muttered to myself. Rubia was exhausted, her head drooping as she barely managed to take each step. Even so, she would occasionally lift her head to look at me and smile. She was trying to act as if she still had energy, which was a pitiful sight. She had gone through quite an ordeal last night. Moreover, we walked for two hours inside the cave. It was only natural that she was tired. Rubia was a human woman, and she was only at Lv. 1. There was no point in expecting her to have much stamina. Judging by her stats, she was at least four times weaker than me. She panted heavily while walking. "Huff... huff..." Should I carry her? I was already carrying all the baggage, so she was a bit of a burden. Should I just leave her behind now? Whether she became food for wolves or was torn apart by a snow troll, I could simply continue on my way. After all, I wouldn''t be able to protect her if a troll showed up. Regardless, I didn''t have a specific destination either, which meant that I wasn''t much different from this woman. I didn''t want to abandon Rubia, but it wasn''t out of any moral obligation. This woman had plenty of value to offer. For example, I needed her to buy me armor. If she managed to get money from humans, I would need someone to purchase things for me. A Skeleton Soldier couldn''t conduct transactions. This world belonged to humans, and I needed a connection with them. If that were the only reason, it wouldn''t necessarily have to be this woman. But... I opened my status screen. Below the stats and skills was a new category called Servant System. [Servant System] [Title: Pathfinder] [When moving with the master, vision increases by 10%.] [Description: A special servant.] [Combat power increases by 20% when fighting for the master.] These things had not appeared when I had been with Lady Succubus. They were completely new, and the granted effects were astonishing. I needed to learn more about this servant system. For that reason alone, I needed to stay with this woman named Rubia. Does it only apply to the one who awakened me from the grave? I looked ahead. A 10% increase in vision was significant. Not only could I see farther, but my field of vision itself seemed to have widened. I took a step forward. Crunch. The rain poured down as if to wash away the world, but it completely stopped when we left the cave. Now, snowflakes were falling, covering the dry winter branches in white. The snowflakes were fine and sparse, but after the rain had stopped, it felt as though it had snowed all night, enough to make the ground crunch underfoot. I didn''t dislike the snow. It was light and soft. I walked quietly, watching the falling snow. The wind carried a floral scent. Where is that coming from? I looked around, then suddenly turned back. I saw the footprints we left behind. The snow didn''t feel entirely welcome. Hmm. Tweet, tweet! Caw, caw! "Even in winter... the mountain birds are singing... It''s nice to hear," Rubia commented beside me. Do mountain birds sing in winter? I couldn''t remember well, so I replied nonchalantly, "Not much of an outdoor person, are you?" "Reading books is the most fun¡ªugh!" Rubia nodded, but then she suddenly started vomiting. Nothing came out, but she was clearly in distress, supporting herself on the ground. It seemed the journey was too much for her. "Let''s take a break." "Huff... huff..." Thud. Rubia collapsed under a tree. I sat down nearby, staring blankly at the sky. "January 20th is truly a mysterious day." Rubia said something out of the blue. January 20th was yesterday. She had mentioned it to me yesterday. "Why do you say that?" "They say that Sardias picked between 1 and 6 PM on that day have special properties. Accidental properties, that is." I knew Sardias was a flower. The one that blooms red alone, piercing through the snow in winter. Rubia continued, "If used as a reagent, you never know what effect it will have until you try it. Sometimes, you won''t even notice the effect until later. And that night, you might realize the effect in your bedroom..." Tap, tap. I lightly tapped my teeth together. It was a gesture similar to a human clearing their throat. "You''re awfully comfortable talking about such suggestive things." "What? What are you imagining? I was talking about having a good dream." Tap. Speechless, I closed my mouth. She was a woman who knew how to tease a skeleton. "Besides, the weather is always different on January 20th compared to the day before. And it''s different compared to the next day too. It stands out on its own." "The weather changes?" "It''s sunny, then it snows, or it''s snowing, and then it clears up, or it''s raining, and then it snows." "It rained this year, so... it must have snowed the day before?" "That''s right. It snowed, and then it poured rain. And after January 20th passed, it snowed again overnight." That sounds plausible. Was January 20th really such a day? I couldn''t quite remember. It didn''t seem like I had heard about it from the master or any other humans. "How long have you been observing this?" "For fifteen years! Isn''t that enough time? And... more importantly, today is the day a talking skeleton rose from the grave!" Rubia grabbed my armbone tightly, transmitting her warmth through her hand. Although I could feel her touch, it would feel cold for her. Those with warm blood instinctively drew closer to one another when they were cold, holding hands and embracing to stay warm. However, I had no blood or warmth. I was just a skeleton that stole the warmth of others. I grabbed her hand and removed it from my arm, not wanting to steal her warmth. "Hmm... that''s cold of you." Rubia stood and walked a little to the side, burying her face in the snow. "Oh." I turned my head at the small exclamation. There was a red flower. It was the January Sardia she had just been talking about. She slowly moved her hand toward it. Is she going to pluck it? According to her, today was January 21st. The 20th had already passed. If she was picking it to use as a reagent, she had missed the right day. Clatter. However, that was none of my concern. I left Rubia alone and leaned against a tree branch. As I sat there idly, Rubia snuck over and... "Hup!" She tossed a snowball into my empty eye socket. Thud! The loosely packed snowball hit the back of my skull. White snow spread between the vertebrae of my neck like powder, but a sizable lump of snow was still left inside my skull. "..." "Hehe. Cold, isn''t it? I win, right?" "..." I turned my head away and ignored Rubia. She looked embarrassed. "If you''re rested enough, let''s move on." "Ugh..." I didn''t mean to be harsh. I was just worried. We were walking on a mountain path, and footprints were clearly visible on the untouched snow. There were two entrances to the cave. The place we entered and the place we exited were completely different from each other. But our tracks were blatantly obvious. The crossbowman and the hammer-wielder were dead. I had thrown them into the grave and covered them with a coffin, but assuming the pursuit was over would be too optimistic. There could be more of them. I considered the situation from the perspective of the new lord, Rubia''s uncle. The first two men that he sent out hadn''t returned with Rubia''s body. Instead, they became corpses themselves. When the lord learned of this, he would send more or even more dangerous people. If necessary, he will. To be honest, it was hard to understand the specific value of this woman, who was just the daughter of the former lord. Human power struggles often involved various circumstances unknown to outsiders. Rubia could be hiding something from me, but I had no intention of prying into things because I wasn''t interested. Anyway, we need to hurry. Rubia apologized. "Uh... if I upset you, I''m sorry." "Hmm?" "Uh..." "What?" "About... throwing the snowball." I had already forgotten about that while thinking about the footprints. There was no need for an apology. "That''s not it. If you''re still tired, feel free to rest longer." I looked at her and saw the hand that had thrown the snowball still holding the flower. "Is the flower useless now?" I asked. "No! No flower is useless. I thought it would match well like this..." She approached me and placed her hand on my head. I thought she might attack me, but she inserted the red flower into a small gap in my skull. Pat, pat. Then, she covered it with snow to secure it tightly. "It looks nice, doesn''t it? I''m glad I tried it." I asked, "Is this some sort of mark or branding?" "Huh?" She laughed out loud. I didn''t understand why she was laughing, so I just laughed too. Trying to imitate something might help me find the meaning when I didn''t understand something. Clatter. The experiment was successful. I felt like I understood her laughter a little. Chapter 14. Who to Blame (1) Chapter 14. Who to Blame (1) The snow was cold, and the path was rough and narrow, with many sharp rocks jutting out here and there. Noticing a few rocks that we might trip over, I said, "Watch your step." Thud! No sooner than I had spoken, Rubia suddenly tripped over a rock. Clatter! I moved quickly to catch her. Her sudden fall caught me a bit off guard. Should I have warned her sooner? "Are you alright?" "Ah..." she sighed. Then she complained with a flustered expression, "What am I even doing? I wasn''t trying to be funny. I really don''t like things like that. If someone deliberately tries to be funny, I''m always the last one to laugh..." "I know. Just walk slowly and drink some water." I handed her the canteen. She took a deep breath and sipped the water with her small mouth. I quietly watched her lips part as she gulped down the water. Then I looked up at the sky. It was still daytime, but soon, the mountain would gradually darken, and the temperature would drop. We needed to walk a bit further and find a place to rest. I told Rubia, "As I said, it''ll be rough. We''re taking this route to avoid people." "It''s fine. You''re always listening and supporting me. It''s bearable." We were heading toward Grassmere via a high route to avoid encountering humans. It was my suggestion, as I was concerned about possible pursuers, and Rubia agreed. The altitude was high, and the path was rough, but it wasn''t a detour. In fact, we might reach our destination faster. "Shall we go?" Rubia asked. "Let''s rest a bit more before we move on." Grrrr... Suddenly, a faint growl came from ahead. I tensed up immediately at the wolf''s growl. I looked straight and saw a small wolf cub crouching low. It''s pure white. The wolf cub''s fur was as white as snow. It blended in so well with the snow that anyone could have missed it without paying close attention. The wolf cub lay flat on the snow with one front paw stretched out, with a black trap clamped shut around it. The wolf cub was breathing heavily, its chest was rising and falling rapidly. It bared its not-yet fully-grown teeth toward its paw. Is it trying to bite off its paw? Clatter. I moved a little closer, and the wolf cub looked at me with its piercing blue eyes. It was incredibly beautiful. Will that wolf eventually bite off its own paw? Can it do it? Rubia noticed the wolf cub belatedly and shouted, "Oh, it''s a wolf cub!" "Does it bother you?" "Yes, it does." "Shall we help it?" Rubia nodded and then said with concern, "It might be dangerous. I''ll find something like a wooden plank." I shook my head. "No need." There was no need for that. Such a small wolf posed no threat to me. After telling the anxious Rubia to stay put, I carefully approached the wolf. "Grrr!" Does it think I''m going to harm it? The wolf cub jumped up, but it couldn''t move properly with one of its paws caught in the D-shaped trap. The trap was firmly anchored to the ground with an iron stake. The wolf cub tried to brace its hind legs and push with its other front paw, but it only flailed around, unable to escape. "Yip! Yip!" It planted its three paws on the ground and pulled its body backward, straining to free the front paw caught in the trap. However, it was to no avail. It''s struggling hard. The wolf cub twisted around and thrashed its tail with all its might. The trap rattled, but the iron stake firmly anchored to the ground did not budge. Swish! I threw a piece of jerky toward the wolf cub, but it didn''t take it. Pride, perhaps? I wanted it to relax, but that wasn''t going to be easy. As I approached to dismantle the trap, the wolf cub bared its teeth and lunged at me. "Grrr! Grrr!" It leaped at me, trying to bite fiercely. But the wolf cub was small, so its mouth was even smaller, and its teeth were not fully sharpened yet. It nipped at my bones, but even if it were to succeed with its bite, I would feel no pain since I didn''t have any flesh. It would be much more painful for the wolf cub to move with the trap. "Grr..." After a while, the wolf cub tired itself out from trying to bite me all over. It finally lay down, exhausted. I sat down and grabbed the trap with my hand. Then, I pulled the firmly clenched trap upward. Snap! The trap sprang open, releasing the wolf cub''s paw. The cub suddenly recoiled, twisting about as if it were experiencing a muscle spasm. Then it got up, turned around, and darted in the opposite direction, disappearing into the snowy mountains. "It didn''t take this." I shook the jerky and threw it toward the forest where the cub had vanished. I heard the soft thud of the jerky hitting the ground, but it remained there. "That''s a Barapha Wolf. With such white fur and blue eyes like that, it won''t eat thrown food. They''re too proud." "Did you read about that in a book, too?" Rubia blushed slightly at my words. "Y-Yes! But it really isn''t eating, is it?" Suddenly, I heard a sound. Ding! [The young wolf''s Affection has increased by 7.] I looked back toward the forest. The jerky I had thrown was gone. "It seems it ate it?" "Oh, it did? Good!" I almost teased her about her quick change in attitude, but I stopped. A ding echoed in my head again. [Rubia''s Affection toward you has exceeded 20. You can now read the subject''s basic psychological state.] [Would you like to read Rubia''s current state of mind? Yes/No] When did it exceed twenty? Last time I checked, it was at nine, but it steadily increased as we walked together. Judging by the notification, an Affection of twenty seemed quite high. However, I chose "No." I had no desire to pry into my companion''s mind without permission. We walked for a while in awkward silence, and I wondered how long we had walked. "Grrr! Grrr!" Suddenly, the wolf cub we had rescued earlier jumped out. With gleaming blue eyes gleamed, the wolf cub bared its teeth and barked, blocking our path. "Huh? Why is this little one doing this?" Rubia asked. "Who knows? Maybe it wants more jerky." Thunk! I took out another piece of jerky and threw it in front of the cub. It didn''t even glance at the jerky. Instead, it blocked the path and continued growling. "Why is it acting like this? Is it hurt somewhere?" Rubia cautiously approached and gently stroked the wolf cub. It seemed startled but didn''t bite her. It just blocked the path. "I don''t think that''s the case. We need to find a place to rest soon. Let''s go." I forcibly pushed the still-growling wolf cub aside and continued on the path. After walking a bit, I glanced back. The jerky remained in the same place. Hmm. Is something ahead? The wolf cub might have been warning us about something. "Stay back a bit and follow me." I carefully observed ahead as I walked cautiously, scanning the area broadly. I picked up a long branch and slowly prodded the snow. "Why was it growling like that?" "Let''s be careful until we find out." It wasn''t long before I discovered a trap connected to several trees. The trap was quite large and not designed for small animals like wolf cubs or foxes. It seemed to be built to ignore such weights. Instead, it was powerful enough to catch a human or a large bear in a single go, ensuring that either would certainly get caught if they passed through this path. "Stop." I raised my hand. I made Rubia stop and then I cautiously moved around the trees. I severed and loosened all the wires hidden from sight. With a snap and crack, the large trap was disabled. If we had been caught, there''d have been no escape. Without the wolf cub''s warning, the trap would have been hard to spot. It was anchored to several large trees, designed to catapult the trapped prey up and ensnare it in a net. Even if I had been stronger several times than I am now, escaping would have been a challenge. I realized that the wolf had repaid me for rescuing it. Just as I was about to tell Rubia we were clear, I sensed several human presences from the path we hadn''t taken yet. I could hear murmuring and the sound of footsteps in the snow. "Let''s hide to the side." Rubia nodded. We hid in the bushes and waited for the humans to pass. There was no benefit in meeting them. Six men were approaching our location, and the murmurs quickly grew louder. Six of them. Good thing we hid. Two wore studded leather armor, while the others wore fur clothing that didn''t seem particularly protective. Three of them carried shields and one-handed weapons, while the other three had bows. But there was something unique about them. All six of them carried spears as secondary weapons on their backs. They weren''t long spears, but javelins. A tricky group. Even if I fought, it would be hard to protect Rubia. The bows were one thing, but if they threw their javelins, there was no way I could avoid being hit and killed. What kind of bandits carry so many javelins? I carefully aimed my loaded crossbow at them. Although I had scattered our footprints before hiding, it wouldn''t be too difficult for them to find us. Even if I managed to take out three of them with a surprise attack, stopping them from harming Rubia would be challenging. Maybe I had chosen the wrong path, but I deliberately chose this route to avoid humans, even if it was a bit rough. Humans really are everywhere. Crunch. Crunch. The men approached with nimble steps. They seemed like men who often climbed mountains. Should I fight? They would soon notice the scattered footprints. I anxiously gripped my dagger tightly, wondering if our pursuers had already caught up. At that moment, a voice filled with astonishment rang out. "Oh, the trap... the trap is broken!" "What the hell? Why is the trap like this? Who did this?" The voices were thick with anger. If they found out who had broken the trap, it sounded like they would kill them on the spot. That would be me. There was a strange emotion mixed in with their anger. It was fear. They were clearly afraid of something. "Damn it!" "Who the hell came all the way here and broke our trap?" "There are footprints here." A man who had been silently staring at the broken trap pointed out the footprints. They began skillfully tracking the footprints. "One set looks a bit odd." "They walked straight this way. It looks like they tried to scatter the trail around here..." they mumbled while looking at the ground. One man, holding a mace in his left hand and a wooden shield in his right, bent toward the bushes. He was only a few steps away. Should I attack now? It was risky. We were about to be discovered. If I killed this one man and grabbed a javelin to throw... It seems impossible. I quickly visualized how it would play out in my mind, but no matter how I thought about it, there was no clear answer. The man with the mace gestured to his comrades. "Everyone, come here." "Huh?" All his comrades turned to look our way. This is it. Then it happened. "Groooooar!" A massive roar erupted from afar. "Groooar!" Whatever was roaring rapidly approached. Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Something heavy pounded the ground as it ran. It was a heavy yet quick and nimble thudding. Thud! Thud! Thud! "Get ready!" The men immediately grabbed the javelins with sharp spear tips slung across their backs, demonstrating their skill. What on earth is it? Chapter 15. Who to Blame (2) Chapter 15. Who to Blame (2) I lifted my head slightly to check the situation. None of the men were looking in our direction. The trap''s damage was no longer their concern. Something that was "supposed to be caught" in that trap was approaching. All the men were now focused on the massive figure running down the snowy slope toward them. It was over two meters tall. Its broad shoulders were crudely bound with muscle and tendons, and its arms were as thick as a human''s torso. A snow troll, capable of ripping a human apart with ease, was charging toward us. Thud! Thud! Thud! That thing was no joke. The troll charged toward us like artillery fire. She was incredibly angry. If anyone had incurred her wrath, they had definitely made the wrong choice. The problem was that Rubia and I were getting caught up in it. I grasped Rubia''s trembling hand tightly. "Kuwooooor!" The troll ran down the snowy slope, roared, and leaped into the air. Boom! The snow where the troll landed exploded outward like fireworks. With a single leap, she covered over ten meters. Before the men could even throw their javelins, she grabbed the nearest man''s neck and bit into it. Crunch! The bitten man''s neck tore like paper, left hanging in shreds. We need to run. There was no other answer. We had to get out of here quickly. "Kwooooo!" the troll roared. The blood spurting from the torn neck created a vivid contrast against the pure white of the snow and the troll''s fur. I looked around. This is bad. There was nowhere to run. To get down the mountain path, we had to go through the place where they were fighting. "Throw the javelins!" the humans screamed frantically. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Five spears simultaneously sliced through the air toward the troll. Thud! But the troll had already moved out of the way. She swung the corpse with the tattered neck like a club to block the incoming javelins. Only one javelin grazed her thigh, but it wasn''t deep enough to sever a tendon. Trolls were formidable masses of high-density muscle, and female trolls were even more powerful than the males. They''re doomed. The humans would all die here. The troll kicked the human man with a bow on his back. Crunch! A bone-cracking sound echoed. The man hit in the chest by the troll''s massive foot flew through the air, spitting blood. "Hiyah!" At that moment, another man in leather armor threw a javelin with his hand. But the troll dodged the javelin with a swift movement. I need to find the right time to run... If I made a mistake, we might become targets for both sides. I kept watching the outside. "Krooo!" The troll charged at the man who had thrown the javelin. With burning eyes, she grabbed his shoulder. "Kuwaaack! " With a grip strong enough to bend iron, the man''s shoulder was crushed like tofu. Flesh was mashed, and white bones shattered and protruded out. The troll grabbed the man''s face with her other hand. She crushed his head with a forceful grip. The man died instantly, splattering yellow fluids on the ground. Whoosh! Whoosh! Three more javelins flew from different angles. They''re putting up a decent fight. The hunters threw their javelins despite their trembling legs. "Kwoooo!" The troll got hit by one of the javelins. It was a foolish move to try and pull the javelin out. The javelins were hook-shaped. As the troll pulled it out, blue blood gushed out along with a chunk of flesh. Spurt! The troll threw the javelin it had pulled from its thigh back at the man. Whizz! Thud! The javelin flew like a flash of light, shattering the man''s skull and planting his body into the snow. Were trolls always this strong? I had seen trolls before, but this one seemed special. Now, only two humans remained. There was no time to delay. The troll had an extraordinary sense of smell. Even if it didn''t detect me, it would certainly know Rubia was hiding. I grabbed Rubia''s hand and shouted, "Let''s run!" We had to escape while the two remaining humans could still serve as bait, even for a moment. It was a dire situation. I grabbed Rubia and bolted. One of the men saw me and shrieked, "Eek, eek!" He fell backward in shock. Of course, that was unsurprising, as even a prepared hunter would be startled if a skeleton suddenly ran out. The troll leaped toward that man. Thud! I only stayed long enough to see the man raising his shield. Then I ran down the mountain path with Rubia. Crunch! Crunch! We were running so frantically that the sound of the snow crunching beneath our feet seemed very loud. Nevertheless, there was no time to worry about such things. I prayed that the remaining human would hold out for as long as possible. "Aaaaaargh!" However, we had yet to go far when the dying scream of the last human rang out from behind. How could they call themselves troll hunters with skills like that? Were they really relying on just one trap? They were ludicrously reckless. Thud! Thud! Thud! Footsteps thudded from behind. "Kruoooo!" The troll seemed to be hostile toward anything that was still alive. Thud! The snow troll leaped over me as if it were a joke and landed in front of me. "Run," I said to Rubia. Honestly, I didn''t know if she could escape. Even with my speed, I had been quickly overtaken. I stood before the troll. All I held in my hand was a single dagger. "No, don''t..." I forcefully pushed Rubia away. But she didn''t run. She stood near the cliff, watching me. What is she thinking? I turned my head and gripped the dagger, facing the troll. There were two javelins stuck in the troll. Since it was wounded, I might have a chance of winning. It did look somewhat fatigued. That turned out to be a mistake, as the troll swung her arm and grabbed mine. Thud! The troll had overwhelming strength, and her arm was two meters long, giving her a very long reach. I tried to hold my ground, but the troll snapped my arm off. I could see the troll''s eyes, red with rage and madness. She grabbed my skull and split it in half. My consciousness rapidly went dark. Thud! Somewhere, something fell and hit with a distant echo. [Would you like to save the death record? Yes/No] [Assimilation rate has decreased.] [93.71% -> 93.54%] *** Lightning flashed in the sky as if it were taking a bite out of it, and thunder roared. Rumble! Crash! Boom! I wasn''t surprised anymore. This was nothing to be startled by. I could see the afterimage of the lightning. Tap. Tap. I knocked on both sides, confirming I was indeed in a solid coffin. Ssshhhh! A torrential downpour raged madly. I stared at the pitch-black night sky. Rubia would appear soon. I had died again, and I had returned again. I thought I had escaped, but I died after living just one more night. I died quickly, over and over again... How did I manage to survive for twenty years the first time? I started to wonder if maybe all this dying had something to do with the woman named Rubia. Should I get rid of her? Clatter. I shook my head, because getting rid of her wouldn''t solve anything. If fate naturally led us to part ways, that would be one thing, but I didn''t want to harshly abandon the necromancer who had raised me. I raised my hand and felt my skull to make sure it was still there. It had been split in half, but now it was perfectly intact. I''ve revived four times now. This time, I foolishly died to the troll. I had gone up the rough mountain path deliberately to avoid humans, but then I encountered a snow troll. The wolf cub... it was warning us about the troll, not the trap. I had felt relieved after finding the trap. I had thought once I disarmed it, there would be no more threats. It wasn''t entirely unexpected, though. In hindsight, it was a place where a snow troll might show up. However, that troll was unusual. Even among trolls, it was particularly strong. I couldn''t tell how strong I needed to be to defeat it. I would feel uneasy if I were to leave the trap intact, and there was no guarantee I could defeat the six hunters either. If I have to choose... Leaving the trap as it was would be better. If I didn''t care about Rubia, I might have a slight chance against six humans, but I could never win against a troll as fearsome as that. Hmm... Would I even be able to meet my master with a path so treacherous as this one? Clatter. I sighed in my own way, moving my spine to lift my rib cage and then letting it drop back down. Ding! [Succession Complete!] [Name: None Skeleton Soldier Lv.1 (57) Health: 29 Strength: 30 Agility: 32 Wisdom: 9] The status window appeared, as if on cue. I looked at it slowly like I was seeing it for the first time. No matter how many times I saw it, I couldn''t help but find it fascinating. Level 1 again, huh? The level, which had risen to sixteen, had reset back to one. Nevertheless, my stats were retained as expected, and so were my skills. I confirmed that I had returned with all my stats and skills retained. Hmm... Another window appeared. [Death Memorial] [You have achieved your fourth death since succession.] 1. For the Necromancer+ (New!) In your final moments, you sacrificed your life twice consecutively for a necromancer. You start with a base Affection of 20 in relationships with necromancers. You can increase the chosen necromancer''s stat points by 10. [Remaining points: 10] That''s different. The description of For the Necromancer had changed. It only had the base Affection of twenty before. Something new had been added. The explanation now included that I could increase the necromancer''s stats by ten points. Hmm, willthat really work? Still thinking fuzzily, I looked further down at the list of perks in the Death Memorial. Numbers two and three were the same. Blunt Resistance and Skull Resistance. I''d verified their usefulness through experience. Blunt Resistance was indeed handy, but after choosing them twice in a row, I felt the urge to try something different this time. [Please select a perk to apply for this round.] In the darkness, the semi-transparent letters glimmered faintly. There was no need to decide right now. They wouldn''t disappear if I took my time. I could think it over and choose later. Lightning flashed. Rumble! Crash! I could now perfectly time when Rubia would speak. It was right after the second rumble of thunder. Standing by the grave, I called out to her first. "I can hear you!" "Dead¡ªo-oh, hoo-whaaaaa!" Rubia trailed off. Squelch! I heard the sound of her collapsing to her knees. I climbed out of the grave, and I felt much lighter than I did after the first return. My bones brimmed with strength, even though I was still vulnerable to the troll''s grasp, which could easily split my skull in half. The world was filled with danger, and despite this newfound strength, it still felt inadequate. "Hic!" Rubia looked at me and hiccupped. Startled again, huh? She was seeing me for the first time, but for me, this was our fifth meeting. Yet, she still reacted like that. I impulsively decided to choose the perk I had been hesitant about. I''ll choose option one. [Perk: For the Necromancer+ has been applied. All Affection with necromancers increases by 20.] [You can increase the chosen necromancer''s stat points by 10.] Well, I wasn''t sure about the stat points yet. Will she be less surprised now? I quickly decided to summarize things for her. "I am a skeleton who understands, speaks, and possesses reasonable knowledge. You might be scared, but I think it''s better to tell you upfront." Chapter 16. Who to Blame (3) Chapter 16. Who to Blame (3) It wasn''t out of consideration for her but more for me. It was tedious to keep repeating the same words over and over again. Now, those guys will show up again. After blurting out my words, I was lost in thought. The two pursuers would appear soon. I could face them in a fight, but if I moved quickly now, I might be able to reach the cave first. Hmm. What should I do? I pondered for a moment. However, there was no need to avoid a fight. These were opponents I had already defeated once. Moreover, I have grown stronger since then. If we clashed again, I could overpower them with ease. To be safe, I decided to use the same method that had worked before: ambush them on the road. I looked at Rubia, who was sitting and catching her breath. There was something slightly different about her demeanor compared to before. I decided to talk to her. "Give me your dagger." "Oh, yes, here it is!" Rubia handed me the dagger without hesitation. Well, more than without hesitation... She was quite proactive. She grabbed the blade herself and offered the handle to me. She then asked, "So, um... what else can I help you with?" "Hmm?" I was caught off guard. Is this the effect of Affection? Rubia volunteering to help was something I hadn''t experienced before. I looked at her, and a status window appeared. Ding! [Name: Rubia Ray Necromancer Lv. 1 Health: 6 Strength: 5 Agility: 6 Wisdom: 12] [Affection: 20 ¡ª For some reason, Rubia feels a sense of closeness and stability around you.] Her Affection had increased, but that wasn''t all. [Basic Skills: ¡ª Book Finding Lv. 10 ¡ª Book Reading Lv. 10 ¡ª Baking Lv .4 ¡ª Ancient Language Lv. 3 ¡ª Rune Language Lv. 3 ¡ª Navigation Lv. 3 ¡ª Etiquette Lv. 2 ¡ª ??? (Affection too low.) ¡ª ??? (Affection too low.)] [Perks: ¡ª Increase Affection to unlock.] [Titles: ¡ª Increase Affection to unlock.] [Remaining Points: 10 ¡ª Please allocate!] She can read ancient and rune languages, too? Seeing the various skills, a few questions naturally arose in my mind. But why is she only at... Lv. 1? I could only see her Necromancer level. It was possible that other job levels were hidden. Seeing someone else''s status window was an unfamiliar experience, so I couldn''t be sure if anything was out of the ordinary. I quietly observed her status window and noticed there was something else. Remaining points? Did it mean I could allocate her points? I pressed the Remaining Points option in the air, and then Rubia''s stats appeared with a plus sign next to each one. [Health: 6 + Strength: 5 + Agility: 6 + Wisdom: 12 +] Am I supposed to select that? This strange experience was hard to understand, but if I did, leaving the points unallocated wouldn''t make sense. What am I supposed to prioritize? First of all... Her Health was too low. I remembered how hard it was for her to keep up. Strength and Agility were good too, but I didn''t plan on having her fight. I would handle that. I decided to increase her Health by one. Ding! [Health 6 -> 7] Along with the sound effects, Rubia''s Health increased by one. I looked at Rubia. She seemed to have a bit more color in her cheeks. I asked her, "How do you feel?" "Oh, ever since I saw you, I suddenly feel energized. Strange, isn''t it?" Clatter. I shrugged because I needed to think a bit more about where to invest the other points. "For now, stay under the tree." "Oh, okay!" Rubia went under a tree. "Not that tree!" I shouted urgently and grabbed her. That was the tallest tree closest to us, but it was also the one that would soon be struck by lightning. Whiiiiing! The wind was fierce. I seated Rubia under a safer tree. Then, I picked up a long stick and sharpened it. I walked leisurely and hid on the mountain path, burying myself in the mud and waiting. The two men would soon come this way, so I waited patiently for them. Did I come too early? I relaxed and waited. "Neeeeeeigh!" The sound of a horse approached. Squish, squish! The man with the crossbow passed by while the man carrying the hammer came closer. I raised the stick. The man with the hammer rolled down the slope. I enjoyed the sound of him tumbling and hitting the ground. I could vividly imagine where he had fallen and how he was reacting. The crossbowman shouted, and I jumped down. It was all the same. I had already positioned myself. It felt like I could do it with my eyes closed. Swish! Before his feet touched the ground properly, I stabbed the man in the throat. The man with the crossbow clutched his throat, gagged, and buried his head in the mud, suffering before he died. I took the crossbow from the corpse. I walked down the slope. The man with the hammer who had fallen down the hill had one arm broken again. I fired the crossbow, hitting both shots. It was easy to solve a problem I already knew the answer to. If I had captured them alive and interrogated them slowly, that might have been more helpful. After easily ending their lives, I had a thought. I had become more relaxed. But it was still too much to completely overpower them. To subdue them while they were still alive required more strength. I left the bodies bleeding in the rain and took only what I needed from the corpses: wallets, ledgers, ID cards, and weapons. Once again, my level went up by five. Up to this point, everything played out in the same way as before. Where should I use these points? I thought for a moment and decided to increase Health by one and Strength and Agility by two each. [Skeleton Soldier Lv. 6 (62) Health: 30 Strength: 32 Agility: 34 Wisdom: 9] I confirmed the display window. The rain was heavy. It seemed better to head inside the cave for now, as lightning continued to strike. When I turned to look, Rubia was already by my side. "Are you alright?" I asked. She was soaked all over, just like before. The difference this time was just one thing¡ªAffection. "I''m fine." This time, I didn''t throw her the leather pouch. I already knew how to increase her Affection. She wasn''t the kind of woman who would be pleased by a few silver coins. I looked at Rubia. Like before, she held a small stone in her hand. Clatter. I shook my skull to shake off the rainwater. "Let''s head to the cave. I know a place." Rubia followed me obediently. Her adaptation was certainly faster this time than before. I was getting some idea of how convenient Affection could be. I handed her the half-full water pouch. There was no need to make her get drenched to collect more water. I didn''t need water anyway. There was enough water in the pouch since it was just for her. We walked for about ten minutes. She still looked tired, so I just carried her up. "Oh!" Surprisingly, she clung to me without much resistance. I could hear Rubia''s heart pounding. I checked the status window, but her Affection did not increase. That didn''t work? Carrying her didn''t raise the Affection level. I decided to forget about it. The quickened heartbeat seemed to be just from surprise. We entered the small opening of the cave. Once inside, we talked about money, the lord, and her circumstances. I repeated the conversations that had previously led her Affection to increase by three points. This time, she was surprised, and her eyes widened. However, her Affection did not increase. This is strange. I checked her status window again. [Name: Rubia Ray Necromancer Lv. 1 Health: 7 Strength: 5 Agility: 6 Wisdom: 12] [Affection: 20 ¡ª For some reason, Rubia feels a sense of closeness and stability around you.] Her Affection remained fixed at twenty. It hadn''t increased since earlier. "Are you worried about something?" Rubia asked me, her attitude free of any suspicion. I couldn''t say that it was because her Affection was not rising, so I just shook my head. Hmm... For now, I decided to leave the Affection alone. My current concern was where to move next. Last time, I chose a rough, rugged path. To avoid humans, I had chosen a high and steep mountain path. But there was a troll on that path. In the end, I couldn''t even avoid the humans. Six men with javelins had been roaming around. There could have been others. Instead of trying to avoid humans by taking a high mountain path, it might be better to just stay in another city. We could find a pack mule, and it would be better for Rubia to sleep in a city inn. That would certainly be more comfortable for her. Rubia said, "You seem to be in a serious mood..." I casually asked, "Do you know anything about trolls?" "Yes! Was that what you were worried about?" "Tell me what you know." I had asked the question wondering if she knew any special way to deal with trolls that I didn''t, but she said something entirely different. "Trolls... once they find a mate, they stay together for life." So what? I responded indifferently. "Is that so?" Oblivious to my disinterest, Rubia continued, "They usually live together in caves, but... if one of them is killed, the other goes mad. They attack everything in sight." Hmm. So it was a troll that had lost its mate. I recalled dismantling the trap that had been set on the mountain path. Had I left the trap as it was, would the troll have been caught in it? It was a trap designed to catch a creature with wires and nets, suspending it in the air. If I had just left it alone, the troll problem might have been resolved. But strangely, I wasn''t inclined to do that. Even if the trap worked, the hunters would still be a problem. Though the troll had easily torn apart the six hunters, they weren''t opponents I could handle easily. I walked through the cave, lost in thought. This time, Rubia spoke to me first. "You know about the new emperor, don''t you?" Is this the effect of increasing affection? It was a bit bothersome, but there was no reason to stop her from talking. We didn''t need to hurry along the path, anyway. After all, I was the one who had raised the affection. I had a responsibility to listen. "Go ahead and talk." I knew who she was talking about. He was the only human emperor I knew of. I spent most of my twenty years as a skeleton with him. Of course, by "with him" I mean we existed at the same time. There was no way the human emperor even knew of me. After all, I wasn''t his soldier. Since his name came to mind, I added, "Do you mean Clemens II?" "Yes, that''s right. Elton Clemens. Do you know what his first decree was?" "I don''t." I didn''t know what his first decree was. Attack all those foolish Republicans! Slaughter the arrogant Wizards of Azure! Well, it wouldn''t have been something like that. It probably wasn''t anything significant. I couldn''t remember, after all. "Oh, you don''t know!" Rubia exclaimed. She smiled and seemed genuinely pleased. Seeing that made me realize I had acted like I knew everything about the humans¡ªthe currency they used, their power struggles, and various other things. It looked like she was happy to finally tell me something I didn''t know. With a broad smile, she said, "The decree was, ''To improve administrative efficiency, the names of months will not be used in official documents. The months will be referred to by number only.''" Clemens II increased efficiency in conscripting troops and gathering war supplies. Then he waged a nine-year war. His idea of "efficiency" was amusing. "Hmm. Does that include the Month of Seiron and the Month of Ascension?" October was the birth month of Seiron, the founder of the nation. He died in the month of November. Thus, the humans called October the Month of Seiron and November the Month of Ascension. "I think so." The emperor who dared to challenge Seiron seemed to be a bold man. "Isn''t Seiron revered as a god in the empire?" People kneeled and prayed in front of statues of Seiron I. "Yes, he is. What''s interesting is that the first emperor was pretty much an anti-theist. He despised all forms of worship." Chapter 17. Who to Blame (4) Chapter 17. Who to Blame (4) "The first emperor might have liked that measure." "Maybe. Well, at least the statues remain, right?" Statues of Seiron could easily be found throughout the empire. Heroes often ended up in such tragedies. I commented, "But wouldn''t he be pleased if one of those months was named after Clemens? Maybe it would be more peaceful to remove a month and dedicate one to the current emperor. This time, it''s Clemens. Next time, Ashton?" Rubia giggled at my words. I didn''t think that was particularly funny. Thud! She tripped over a stone while laughing. Her sudden fall caught me by surprise, but I quickly moved to catch her. That''s different. Before, she hadn''t tripped at this point. The first time she stumbled was after we left the cave. She also didn''t initiate conversations like this about the decree and Seiron. Her body and mind were much more relaxed now. Before she could speak, I interjected, "I know you didn''t fall on purpose." I probably said something like that the first time she tripped outside. Rubia''s face turned bright red. Embarrassed, she averted her eyes and changed the subject. "I actually wanted to visit Ember. After we buy the armor, wouldn''t you like to go there with me?" Clatter. Rubia''s question about a new topic made me feel unsettled. My neck vertebrae rattled. Embermere.[1] Why did I forget about that place? "Why are you so surprised? You seem to know everything, so I figured you''d know that city too," Rubia asked lightly. "Oh!" I marveled in thought for a moment. A legendary necromancer resided in Embermere, the neutral city. Did she die this year? Of course, it was a story I''d heard secondhand, so I didn''t know the exact details. However, the legendary necromancer named Gith-Za-Rai might be able to help me with the phenomenon of my repeated regression. My master had told me many things. There were stories she had told me while stroking my skull. Ember, a place where those who could not fit into the framework and order gathered, was full of all sorts of beings. Unsurprisingly, Gith-Za-Rai, an especially brilliant necromancer, resided there. She had come from an unknown world. Gith-Za-Rai had traveled across the sea with her skeletons to study the corpses of a new species on this continent. "If you had met her... you might have had a chance to become much stronger," my master had said with a hint of regret. Necromancer Gith-Za-Rai had developed a unique bone grafting technique due to her incredible obsession with the skeletons she commanded. If she grafted a horse''s bone onto a skeleton''s leg, then the skeleton would gain speed. If she inserted a split ogre bone into an arm, it would gain strength. She could even transfer some skills in the process. I don''t know exactly how it worked. It''s not verified. They say she died soon after... The wizards from the Azure Tower were the ones that killed her. Why did they do that? They probably thought she was too dangerous. Even if she had lived, would she have joined our side? Maybe not. Afterward, many necromancers tried to replicate her bone grafting technique, but none succeeded. They only managed to create grotesque and unbalanced monsters through crude physical splicing. The core was a technique that extracted some essence from the bones, and that technique died with Gith-Za-Rai. The method was assumed to have originated from the unknown world she hailed from. She died in the solar year 1148, or so I heard. There isn''t much time left if I want to try the bone grafting technique to make new possibilities for myself... It''s not confirmed, but... I had probably been wearing a stern expression because Rubia asked in a cheerful tone, "You look so serious... Are you an anarchist? It might suit a skeleton without a nation to go to Ember." She was right. Embermere was the city of anarchists. A Thousand Fiefs was its nickname, representing Embermere well. The humans of Embermere rejected any form of coercion, and they governed themselves. Each human there was a walking fiefdom. I had been to Embermere before, but I hadn''t entered through normal procedures. I had been conscripted as a legionnaire of a high-ranking demon to invade that place. However, Embermere had already been dead by then; all that remained had been a city of ashes and corpses. Each fiefdom had been snuffed out. I remembered the sight and was filled with melancholy. Rubia added, "They recognize neither the emperor nor the council as an authority, nor do they acknowledge any deity. I''ve always wanted to visit Embermere at least once to see how they''ve managed to survive between two great powers." The long, narrow Cabrolta Isthmus connected the Empire and the Free Confederation. If one sailed up from the midpoint, they reached a small island. That island was the city of the anarchists. Politically and geographically, Embermere was just a small island. I remarked, "I''ve heard that the Republicans secretly support Ember." "You know everything! Even though I thought I''d gotten used to it, I''m still surprised now and then. How do you know such things?" I was merely a Skeleton Soldier. No matter how long I lived, knowing such things was hard. But I had always been one to listen carefully to human stories. I had consciousness, after all. I had even picked up half-burnt books to read. I recalled scenes of humans fleeing in terror... I had been aware of which flag they carried. Amidst the countless screams and shouts on the battlefield, there were occasionally things that could be called knowledge. "I just know." "Just like that? You''re not some relic of Seiron I, are you?" I chuckled slightly at her words and replied with a clatter. "Is that so? That cemetery back there seemed poorly maintained for being the Empire''s Cemetery Zero." "What? That''s a weird joke!" "You started the joke first. Is it true that you want to go to Ember?" "Yes." "Have you done your research?" "Well, they say there''s only one rule there: do not infringe." "That''s right." Rubia went on to criticize that rule. "But do you think that''s enough? If you just deny human nature, won''t the streets, alleys, wells, and walls be littered with corpses?" That wasn''t a new opinion. Many people agreed with that perspective and criticized Ember. I hesitated for a moment, thinking that viewpoint might be the safer one. However, what I had seen of Embermere was only the ashes after its downfall. Maybe that was why I somehow felt the urge to defend it. "Will it, though? It might turn out to be a surprisingly peaceful city." All I had seen were ashes, but that meant I could freely imagine what Embermere might have been like before its collapse. That was the beauty of ashes. "You''re an idealist. Should we make a bet before going?" "I''m not confident enough to bet. But if there''s something you want from me, just say it. A rib?" Rubia laughed cheerfully for a moment. "Hahaha..." Her long brown hair fluttered. "Ember is quite far, though." "It''s far... that''s why I want to go." If I wanted to argue, I could say it was dangerous, or I could say that going to a place without laws could lead to anything happening. But I didn''t feel the need to say that. Someone she called her uncle was pursuing her. I thought of my past lives. I remembered the times when I hadn''t been able to protect Rubia, even on the first day. She had no idea, but the pursuers would have tortured her. Then they would have either killed her or sold her off to somewhere she could never escape from. It was meaningless to tell her Embermere was dangerous; staying here was the most dangerous thing for her. Instead, I just said, "It''ll take about a month." I walked through the cave and quietly recalled the stories Rubia had told me about Clemens II and Embermere. Before her Affection increased, Rubia hadn''t talked about these things. She had only acted cautiously in front of me. Once her Affection reached 20, she began to discuss the emperor''s decrees. She expressed a desire to visit the city of Ember. She was selectively hiding certain things based on her Affection level. I felt like I had gotten much closer to her. She was still amazed to see me navigating through the cave. That remained unchanged. But this time, she expressed her amazement more freely. "It feels like you''ve been here before!" "I have. In fact, I used to live on the other side of this cave. I walked through the cave to be buried." Rubia giggled as if she wasn''t afraid of facing a skeleton. "Oh, that''s a boring joke! "The cave is so complicated... there aren''t even any bats. But it feels like we''re on the right path, which is amazing." Well, we were on the right path. She seemed to have good intuition. I stopped at a suitable clearing. It was a place where all sides were relatively open. I spread out a place to lie down, and without hesitation, she laid her head on my thigh bones and fell asleep. I watched her as she slept peacefully, more at ease than before. I thought it had been a good decision to raise her Affection through the special perks. When we left the cave, it snowed, and the mountain birds sang. I felt a slight sense of discord and then... nothing. Was I expecting something? There was nothing when we left the cave. I didn''t get a maze-clear message. After I cleared the C++-grade maze, flashy notifications appeared, showing that I had leveled up by ten at a time. I had unconsciously been expecting that. It was amusing to feel disappointed in myself. Do you not get rewards for going through it again? Honestly, it was a bit disappointing. There wouldn''t have been many easier ways to level up than that. "Why do you look like that?" "Oh, it''s nothing." "You seem a bit disappointed." It appeared that Rubia was quite the perceptive woman. Increasing Affection wouldn''t allow her to read my mind, right? "No. Let''s go." *** Solar year 1147. Over a thousand years had passed since a man liberated a human who had been kept as a plaything by the ancient apostles, shattered the crystal of space-time, and severed the link between the netherworld and the real world. After the Month of Ascension (November), when Seiron died, and beyond the Month of Freedom (December), when the Anti-Empire Republic was founded, it was the morning of January 21, about a third of the way through the Month of Sardiya. This was when the only flower that bloomed crimson through the snow in the dead of winter appeared. A skeleton and a novice necromancer walked along the mountain path. They were heading toward the neutral city of Embermere. Of course, Embermere was still a long way from here. People couldn''t say they were going straight to Ember, even as a joke. This time, they planned to stop at a city and interact with humans as they traveled. *** "Are we not going to Grassmere?" Rubia asked. "Armor is best bought there. However, you should rest in an inn along the way." Rubia made a vague expression. "Hmm..." We walked through the snow-covered mountains. We found Sardiya, and she threw snowballs at me again, and I dodged them easily. She looked crestfallen, disappointed by how effortlessly I dodged them. As I found her dejected state amusing, a thought suddenly came to mind. Oh no. There were remaining points, weren''t there? I had forgotten to allocate Rubia''s points. I pulled up Rubia''s status window. [Name: Rubia Ray Necromancer Lv. 1 Health: 7 Strength: 5 Agility: 6 Wisdom: 12] [Affection: 20] [Remaining Points: 9 ¡ª Please allocate!] I had raised her health by one, but I hadn''t paid attention since. I was being foolish. I pressed the small + button next to Health. [Rubia''s Health has increased.] [7 -> 8] [Rubia''s Health has increased.] [8 -> 9] [Rubia''s Health has increased.] [9 -> 10] "Ah!" Rubia suddenly lifted her head and looked at me. "I feel strange." "Are you hurt?" I pretended not to know. "No, I feel incredibly healthy... full of energy..." The effect appeared to be positive. It seemed like a good idea to press the button once whenever she felt down or depressed. Rubia asked, "What''s the nearest city?" "Yubram. We''re almost there." "It''s a small city, but there should be a decent inn, right?" "We''ll go to a good place. No need to save money." "I''ll save enough for the armor." "Here, ninety roti." The crossbowman and the hammer-wielder had a total of seventy-two and eighteen roti, respectively. "This is more than enough! We could buy it here." "Really?" "Yes." "Wouldn''t we lose money on the price?" "Going to Grassmere is more about the quality than the price." It sounded as if she knew quite a bit about armor. "Do you know anything about the prices?" "A mass-produced one costs around sixty roti, and you could bargain down to twenty-five roti for a poorly maintained secondhand one. Maybe we could even buy a donkey." Rubia spoke as if she had haggled before in a blacksmith''s shop, but she seemed less confident about the price of a donkey. "Is there really a need to buy armor here when Grassmere is just three days away?" "It''s because I don''t want to be apart from you even for one day!" 1. Full name of the city Ember. ? Chapter 18. Who to Blame (5) Chapter 18. Who to Blame (5) "What do you mean?" I asked. Rubia answered, "The sooner we buy the armor, the safer we can move together. We could enter the city together too." I wanted her to sleep in the city, knowing full well no city would let a skeleton in. "Even if I''m covered in armor, many cities won''t let me in without properly checking my identity." "There are plenty of excuses. You could say you have a severe burn and can''t take off your helmet. Anyway, guards are susceptible to bribes, right? It''s common sense in travel books." I didn''t argue. She would learn the truth when actually confronting the situation. "It could also cause problems inside the city." "Well, if you always wear armor and a helmet, they might think you''re a strange person. But it''s okay. You can just remain a strange person." I wasn¡¯t sure what she meant by "okay," but I didn''t bother to respond. I just quietly walked through the winter mountain. Each step echoed with a crunch. Leading the way, I eventually pointed with my finger bones beyond the bushes, down between the snow-covered winter trees where I saw the gray city walls of an unfamiliar city. "There it is." It was Yublam, the city where Rubia would stay. Sensing that something felt odd, I looked back and noticed Rubia following behind me, stepping into my footprints. Her breath formed visible white puffs in the air. I contemplated the sequence of events that had led to her death. While her death was not enough to make me feel guilty, it did bother me. I silently observed the white vapor escaping her lips. I thought it would be nice if she breathed warm, lively breaths. It was enough that I was clattering coldly. "We''re almost there! I hope we can enter the next city together." I didn''t answer. We walked down the mountain path, and I saw a snow-covered wheat field spread out before the castle. The walls surrounding the city were a gray close to ash. They weren''t very high. Even without blaming the passage of time, the city walls had likely been ashen to begin with. Time might have polished the surface a bit smoother though. Today, the gray castle wore a white cap. Snow had fallen all night and stopped at dawn. The white snow had piled up quite a bit in the hollows of the low-built walls on the ramparts and turrets. "It''s beautiful." "It''s a strange place, so be careful," I warned. I couldn''t say anything other than the obvious. I couldn''t actually help. Visiting a strange city was always dangerous. Danger lurked everywhere, even inside high city walls¡ªespecially for a young and beautiful woman. If she were to flaunt her wealth by spending it here and there, it would be even more dangerous for her. Nevertheless, I decided to send her off into the city alone. A mountain in winter was no less dangerous. There were monsters like trolls and roaming hunters. Even if they were hunters, it wasn''t hard to guess what their true nature might reveal if they saw a woman wandering the mountain alone. Moreover, if it was a woman traveling with a skeleton, it would be even worse. It would give them the perfect pretext to hunt the woman with the claim that she was a witch or a necromancer. I had no confidence I could protect Rubia from them all. There were also swift vipers that could easily slip through the gaps between my finger bones and bite Rubia''s neck. It would be best for her to enter the city. Clatter. I was a skeleton. It didn''t matter if I was buried in the snow all night. But Rubia was different. This woman, who had been horrifically murdered several times before my eyes, needed to spend the night in a clean inn with a warm bath and a soft bed. She deserved to be served a good stew with steam rising from it¡ªa stew filled with high-quality beef and tomatoes, sweet onions and tamon leaves saute?ed in butter. Rubia seemed like she needed to eat something like that. After finishing her meal, it would be nice if she had a cup of tea in a pretty teacup. However, I wasn''t sure if there was such a tea shop in that gray-walled city. We were almost out of the mountain, and the road to the castle stretched ahead. I concealed myself under thick bushes and said, "I''ll be hiding, so go and rest well. I''ll wait here leisurely for two days." Rubia muttered, "Oh, I''ll be back by evening at the latest. A bribe for the guards should be about one roti... hmm..." "I''m serious. If you like the city, stay and rest for a day. You must be really tired." Rubia laughed. "Haha... I''ll be back soon!" Clatter. I nodded slightly and hid in a nearby bush. I could see two guards in the distance, guarding the gate from inside the drawbridge. Creak. Creak. I prepared for any unexpected situation by loading a bolt into my crossbow. This was all I could do to help. Plod. Plod. Rubia stepped out onto the main road. I lay in the bushes, carefully holding the crossbow. I quietly aimed at the guards'' faces. ... I wasn''t confident in my crossbow skills. Everything I had shot so far had been at close range, and there was quite a distance¡ªabout 50 paces¡ªbetween the guards and me. The odds were high that 10 out of 10 bolts would fly off course. If I fired, I might hit Rubia. However, there were times when I had to do something, even if I knew it would be meaningless, and shooting bolts at them was all I could do at that moment. The large gate was across the drawbridge, and I could see the two guards on either side of it. Their spears had been set aside, and their posture was poor. They leaned slightly against the wall, resting on one leg as they yawned. The guards had relaxed expressions of boredom and dullness, as if they wished each day would pass without incident. I couldn''t see any determination to extort money from travelers passing through the gate or to protect the city from dangerous criminals. Their relaxation was contagious. Was I worried for nothing? Rubia kept walking toward the gate and reached the front of the drawbridge. The guards only yawned when they saw her, their eyes reflecting nothing beyond the typical impression of, "Oh, a pretty woman." A brief exchange of words followed, and Rubia presented her identification. To my surprise, the large gate opened easily. Creak... Rubia entered the city without any issues. The guards didn''t even take a bribe. Do they open so easily for fellow humans? Plop. I slowly lowered my hand holding the crossbow. Seeing her enter safely, I felt relieved for a moment. I didn''t know what might happen inside, but there was nothing I could do about it. Chirp, chirp, chirp... Listening to the birds sing, the morning passed like that. I soaked up the winter sunlight between my vertebrae and ribs. A bit of sunshine shone through the bushes, but the winter sun seemed somewhat tired. It wasn''t warm enough. I had felt warmth even in the cave when I was with Rubia. Did I get used to that? Anxiety started to creep in. Clatter. I touched my finger bones together as I thought about the journey ahead, forcing myself to think to forget the anxiety. Ember. It shouldn''t be bad. There were many outstanding scholars there. Even if not scholars, there were surprisingly many exceptional individuals. That made sense, because Embermere was the city of anarchists. Those who could stand on their own, who were confident in themselves, naturally rejected structured authority. There was also a legendary necromancer. Why do I keep returning to the point of awakening in the grave? The necromancer named Gith-Za-Rai might have some clues about the strange phenomenon that was happening to me. Of course, the Tower of Azure seemed the most likely place. Lost in such thoughts, time passed slowly. It was painfully slow, making it hard to bear. It was a long wait. The sun high in the sky began to set slowly. Finally, the sunset fell. Emptiness filled my hollow body. It was strange and unsettling. I shook my head, rejecting my worries. *** Chirp... Chirp... The sound of night insects crawled along my bones. It was a dark, starless night with no snow or rain. The lax guards were replaced by other lax guards. Those new guards set a torch on the rack in front of the drawbridge and nodded off. Plop. I set the crossbow with its loosened string on the ground. For over ten hours, I had hidden in the bushes, repeatedly raising and lowering the crossbow. Spending the night alone felt lonely and absurd. Rubia had likely settled in comfortably. She had probably bathed in warm water, bought new shoes and clothes, and purchased what she needed. Perhaps she had even decided to make that city her home. What use would I be to her? Besides knowing how to talk, I wasn''t a particularly special skeleton. She had no reason to continue traveling with me. Even if it wasn''t in an anarchist city like Embermere, many places in the world would accept her and help her. Rubia was a person who could receive kindness from anyone. Chirp... Chirp... On the other hand, I had only ever received cold hostility and contempt for seventeen years as a Skeleton Soldier. Maybe I didn''t need to judge the world by my own standards. The world would interact with us in completely different ways between me and her. Let''s send her off with a smile. Clatter. I should walk my path alone. *** Two more days passed, and I remained hidden in the bushes. I couldn''t bring myself to leave. On the third night, the sky was clear, free of snow and rain. The night insects chirped steadily. Chirp... Chirp... Have I been discarded like trash? Embracing that thought felt liberating. Maybe it was better that way. In fact, it seemed like the best-case scenario. My mind felt clearer now. We were our own individuals, free to go our own ways. Or maybe it had just slipped her mind. She might return if I waited longer, but the indefinite waiting was unbearable. These nights where I had no choice but to wait alone were akin to nightmares. "She said she would come back." Did she lie to me? A long brown leaf that rested between my ribs swayed in the wind. More long leaves swept through the darkness inside my bones. However, my sense of anxiety remained and didn''t go away. Something must have happened, after all. I had established a high Affection with Rubia, so that was rather troubling. Otherwise, I might have been relieved thinking she had abandoned me. Something inside me was breaking slowly. "Should I go in even now?" I raised the crossbow and aimed it at the guards who had lit the torches. The torches flickered in the wind, casting eerie shadows. Killing the two dozing guards seemed easy, but sneaking in would be suicide. I couldn''t kill all the guards who would come rushing out from the city. Besides, even if I managed to sneak in, a moving skeleton couldn''t hide in the city''s alleyways. At that moment, the closed city gate opened. Creak. Does the gate open in the middle of the night? The unnatural event caught my attention. Plod, plod. Clatter. A man came out from the inside with a very stern expression. With only a few strands of hair clinging to the sides of his head, he stood at average height, his sturdy build emphasized by his iron breastplate draped with a cape. As the bald man walked out, the two lazy guards instantly recognized him and snapped to attention. Rather than reprimanding the two guards, he sent them inside. The guards, who had been standing casually, hesitated before going inside as instructed. A sense of unease washed over me as I quietly watched the bald man. Chapter 19. Who to Blame (6) Chapter 19. Who to Blame (6) Four new men dressed in guard uniforms emerged from the gate where the two guards had entered earlier. The bald man surveyed the four guards following behind him, one of whom pulled a cart. A cart? An odd sense of unease crept over me. I slowly raised the crossbow, aiming at the bald man''s face. The previous guards had worn relaxed expressions, their faces reflecting desire for each day to pass quietly. These new men wore the same uniforms, but their expressions were different. They had eyes like those of hyenas gnawing at a corpse''s flesh. The bald man, who seemed to be their leader, looked even worse. He seemed like the type who would kill an animal just to suck out its marrow. I looked at the cart. The man pulling it had a similar appearance to the others, as he also wore a guard''s uniform. However, his face was bruised all over, and he was limping as well. Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine. A wounded man pulling a cart alone. He couldn''t have gotten those bruises from just falling over. It showed signs of a concentrated beating. The bald man walked ahead with long strides, and the man pulling the cart was right behind him. The other three guards followed closely. They walked quietly along the avenue, carefully looking around. Each of the guards seemed fairly strong. I stealthily followed them at a distance, hiding in the bushes. More than a mace or a crossbow. Guards were not weak because they were supposed to maintain order in the city. However, these men seemed more vicious and stronger than the typical guard. The men turned onto the mountain path, and I cautiously pursued them through the bushes. They carried torches in the dark, making it easy for me to keep a distance. I could see them, but they could not see me. Rustle, rustle. The sound of night insects covered their footsteps. After walking for about ten minutes, the bald man gave an order. The bruised man pulling the cart got out and positioned himself to push it backward. Then, he tilted the cart toward the cliff. What''s going on? Thud! Thud! Thud! Something fell from the cart. It hit the rocks several times and rolled down below. The guards looked around and checked their surroundings, making it look as if they were secretly dumping trash. After confirming no one was around, they walked back down the avenue. They passed by the bushes I was hiding behind. I needed to check what had fallen from the cart. My anxiety reached its peak, and I inadvertently flinched. Clatter. "Huh? Is something nearby?" The bald man suddenly turned around. Did he notice me? If I''m discovered, it''s over. There were five guards, and I was alone. The bald man didn''t look easy to handle either. He had broad shoulders, like those of an orc. Even fighting him alone would be difficult. At that moment, the bruised man pulling the empty cart fell forward. Thud! The bald man''s attention shifted to him. Whack! The bald man beat up the bruised man. The beating occurred so naturally that it seemed like it was merely the continuation of a beating that had started long ago. "Don''t piss me off." Whack! "You bastard, you only fall when I tell you to fall." Thud! "After catching her with great effort, you removed the gag to shove something in her mouth, then she killed herself? The more I think about it, the more ridiculous you are." Crack! "AAAGH!" The bruised man''s scream echoed into the sky. The bald man seemed to calm down a bit and continued walking forward. What are they talking about? My anxiety grew more intense as I listened to their conversation. I hid and watched them enter the gate. It can''t be. It can''t be. Leaving two guards on duty, the bald man closed the gate behind them and went inside. A while later, the two guards glanced at the gate. One of them spat on the ground and cursed. "What a waste. I really wanted to use it before throwing it away..." "Then go ahead, you crazy bastard." "Well, well! I''ll just leave this behind. I''ll take only my sword." The guard put down his shield and spear. The wind blew toward the bush where I was hiding. I could clearly hear the guards'' conversation. "Tsk, you''ll stab with that thing again. Your tastes are disgusting." "Do you want to try?" "No way. I only do it with something alive that squirms. Otherwise, what''s the fun?" *** I tried not to imagine the meaning behind their conversation. I did not want to be certain of anything until I saw it with my own eyes because I knew I would think of something terrible. I had to check. Plod, plod. The tall guard with only a sword at his waist started walking down the avenue with a torch in hand. I could see his face clearly.. He had short, curly black hair and sunken, bloodshot eyes. The guard went back to that mountain from before, making his way to the spot at the bottom where the contents of the cart had been dumped. Ssshh. I quietly followed the guard along the bushes. I felt slightly dizzy. "Hehe..." The man was so engrossed in finding something that he didn''t notice a skeleton quietly following him in the bushes. He was focused on an object, and I was looking at it too. It turned out to be a woman''s corpse. "Will 40 roti be enough? A bribe of 1 roti... hmm." "January 20th is a really special day. If we defeat Sardiya on that day..." It was the woman who had been diligently repeating the prices of armor she had read in a book, thinking about how to negotiate, and worrying about the bribe for the guard. She had talked about the effects of flowers and joked with me about the new emperor''s decree. She was the woman who had pulled me out of the grave and lent me a dagger. Out of worry for the skeleton she had raised, that woman had come running with a stone. That woman had playfully thrown snowballs at me and joked about me being the remains of Seiron I. It was the very same woman. There lay Rubia''s corpse, naked and covered with bruises and stab wounds. Why. Why. Why. Why on earth? Why does this woman have to suffer so much? Is suffering some kind of destiny for her? What choice should I make? Was everything wrong from the start? What am I supposed to do? Skeletons could not shed tears. Only darkness and wind swirled in my empty eye sockets. Clatter. I slowly rose from my crouched position in the bushes. "Hehehe..." The guard laughed while looking at the corpse. Blood dripped from his mouth as he laughed. I looked at her dead body. The corpse was cold and silent, but I could not stay silent seeing it. Rustle. Startled by the sound, the man shouted, "Huh? Who''s there?" Thwip! I fired the preloaded crossbow at his throat. We were more than ten paces apart, but I could smell the foul man''s breath. I wanted to stop that breath. Thud! The crossbow bolt hit the guard''s arm. Is it because I am agitated? My aim was terrible. I missed the man''s throat by a long shot. The guard made a big fuss. "Aagh! Aaaah!" I originally intended to pierce that disgusting throat in one go, but I failed pathetically. Neither anger nor sadness improved my shooting skills, and a splendid strike never materialized. Even if a mere skeleton like me experienced anger or sorrow, nothing would change. It had always been this way. Nevertheless, I grabbed the club and diligently prepared for the next blow. I had to prepare for the next attack until my bones broke again and again. Whoosh! I swung the club. The guard quickly rolled to the ground. Swoosh! I changed direction and struck down at the ground where he was rolling. Thud! "Aaagh!" The man screamed as I hit his left leg with the club. However, my attack lacked power because I changed the direction of the club midway, and he rolled over again. Shing! The guard drew his sword from his waist. Swish! As he stood up, he swung his sword. Clang! I blocked the sword with my club. The club was made of wood, but it was covered in iron and had a thick iron core inside. It did not yield much in weight or strength compared to a sword. Clang! Clang! Clang! The distance was just a step or half a step, close enough to be almost touching. The sword and the club clashed fiercely. The guard''s complexion was not good as he gritted his teeth. The weapon he wielded was a one-handed sword, which was ideal for me in this situation. Skeletons were different from humans. Even if we were stabbed, we would not die. A blunt weapon would be perfect for smashing bones. If the guard had a shield, he could have hurt me much more easily. Crack! Fwoosh! Caught in the collision, the torch the guard had set on the ground fell over. The fire spread to the dry winter leaves. "You... you monster!" the guard shouted. I was not yet a monster. I didn''t know what would happen in the future, but for now, I was just a clattering skeleton. Clang! Clang! Clang! The guard was concentrating on fighting me. For a pervert who liked corpses, he was quite well-trained. He did not panic or freeze with fear even after seeing a skeleton, an undead creature. Just for that, he was impressive. When the distance became almost zero, the guard seized an opening. Thwack! The man grabbed my hand and wedged my club under his armpit. At the same time, he struck my jawbone hard with his fist. Thwack! He tried to push me away and snatch the club. The man knew what kind of weapon he needed. He wanted a blunt weapon to smash a skeleton. I''ll let him have it. I pretended to resist for a moment and then grabbed the hilt of the guard''s sword. Clatter! I exerted force. The man had a crossbow bolt stuck in his arm. If he had been in perfect condition, he might have beaten me. "Ugh!" Now, we were evenly matched. I gave up the club and took the sword. We swapped weapons. Fwoosh! The fire spread around us. The dry winter leaves on the ground began to crackle and burn. The leaves, dry as kindling, flared up brightly. The guard, now holding the club, gritted his teeth. Humans were vulnerable to fire. Whoosh! The man swung the club fiercely from the upper right at a diagonal angle, making the most of his height advantage. Clang! I raised the sword to block the upper right, but another attack came simultaneously. The guard extended his right leg and kicked my side hard, knocking me back a step. Thud! Not bad. It was a fairly strong kick, but I wouldn''t just take it. I swung the sword toward him while still slightly airborne. It was refreshing to hear the sword cutting through his flesh. "Aaagh! Aaaah!" the guard screamed. He was overreacting to his bleeding, but even in a sudden attack, he remained highly adaptable. He must have been an exceptionally strong guard, even among his peers. Or perhaps this just showed how weak I truly was¡ªthat I was crawling at the very bottom, unable to easily handle even a guard from a remote city. Tap! The man took two steps forward. He seemed determined to finish it quickly. Since he was bleeding, that would be wise. Whoosh! He swung the club fiercely. I stepped back and dodged it easily. I could have advanced while taking the hits if I had Blunt Resistance, but I had not chosen it. Instead, I had chosen to increase Rubia''s Affection, but I did not regret that. Whoosh! The club swung again. I slipped aside and stepped forward with a half-step, pushing the sword in my hand forward. I thrust it straight into the man''s chest. Slash! I drove the sword tip straight through for a clean counterattack. The sharp blade of the guard''s own sword tore into his chest. Chapter 20. Who to Blame (7) Chapter 20. Who to Blame (7) The dying man groaned, "Urgh... Ugh... Guhhh!" He had thought he could smash me with the club. On any other day, his judgment would have been correct, but I had dodged this time. He hadn''t known how agile I was. I believed I could stab him to death with the sword, and that attempt had worked. He hadn''t brought his shield because he hadn''t come to fight¡ªhe had come to defile a corpse. No one would bring a shield to do such a thing. Isn''t a shield a guard''s essential gear? If he had brought his shield, this corpse-loving fiend might have successfully blocked my attacks and slowly crushed me. He might have succeeded in breaking me apart. Then, I could have returned to the grave again, but it was impossible to know for certain. Tap. I took one step back and slowly pulled the sword out of the guard''s heart. Squelch! Fresh blood spurted out like a fountain. The guard''s face turned ghostly pale. My white skull was stained red with the blood spurting from him. The blood sprayed my empty eye sockets, painting the inside of my occipital bones bright red. It was the same spot where Rubia had hit me with a snowball in a previous life. Tap. Tap. Tap. The guard staggered back three steps. "Guh... Wh-what... kind of... skeleton is... this?" Swoosh! Blood spurted from the pierced heart like a fountain. Thud. His expression seemed to be filled with unspoken thoughts, yet he never finished his sentence. The guard fell, leaving with questions unanswered. It was a clean death and an unexpectedly peaceful demise. I failed to capture and torture him. I didn''t possess that kind of overwhelming power. Even after ambushing a careless opponent, I barely managed to stab him in the chest. Clatter. I shook my head to fling off the dirty blood. At that moment, a notification appeared, and letters densely filled the air. [Quest Activated] [Sub Quest ¨C Guard Murder Activated.] [You have killed a guard for the first time. Well done. Smash the corrupt authority! Not corrupt? Well, that''s okay, too. Try killing guards in other cities. Kill the guards of twelve cities, and you might receive something. At the very least, you could become a wanted criminal.] [Current Cities Where Guards Have Been Killed: 1/12 (Yublam) Expected Reward: ???] [Enjoy destroying public authority!] A quest... What nonsense. I waved my hand to dismiss the quest without reading it properly. Thud! I kicked the guard''s corpse. The lifeless corpse rolled over into the flames created by the torch. *** I had failed again. I let the woman named Rubia die a terrible death once more. If I had abandoned her from the start, I might not have felt so powerless. But I had taken the lead this time. I had tried to stay with her, yet I couldn''t even protect her for two days. It was pathetic. The image of my master I couldn''t protect seemed to cling to me again, wrapping around me. The guilt was heavy and difficult to escape. Clatter. If I stayed here, Rubia''s body would also burn. The image of my master''s dead body overlapped with her corpse. I picked up her body and moved into the mountains. I aimed at the ground with my sword and swept away the snow. Thud! Thud! Thud! I struck the frozen ground repeatedly. It didn''t budge easily, so I had to keep forcing it. I felt my shortcomings for not even being able to dig into the frozen earth properly. I continued to dig deeper and deeper until it was around two meters deep. Fwoosh! Even though I thought I had walked quite a distance, the fire had spread far, and I could feel the heat. I wrapped Rubia''s body in fur and carefully laid her at the bottom of the pit. I slowly covered the body with the dirt I had dug up. The earth slipped between my fingers. The soil had clumped into hard frozen chunks. I swept the dirt with the back of the sword, gathering it to cover her. The pile of dirt was too humble to be called a grave. I couldn''t even set a small gravestone because the other guard might dig it up. I had to hide it. Whoosh! The wind blew, cold and sharp, between my bones. Clatter. All I could do now was press down on the dirt to pack it tightly. I had to endure. I had to survive. If I die and return now, can I protect Rubia again? I shook my head fiercely. I lacked confidence. Right now, I couldn''t protect anything properly, not from nature or humans. I picked up my belongings and moved deeper into the mountains, far enough not to be seen by human eyes. After going deep enough, I opened the guard''s notebook. Rustle! On the first page was a list of people''s names, prices, and descriptions of how they were sexually abused. It seemed the notebook had been used as a ledger for buying and selling people. The last page was blank. I took a pen and started writing names on it, one line at a time. Guard Captain and His Gang (Yublam). Lord (Erast). Hammer and Crossbow (First Grave). I made a small mark next to Hammer and Crossbow. It was a completed task, after all. The lord of Erast was supposedly Rubia''s uncle. There was a high probability that he was involved in all these events somehow. The lord had likely sent the hammer and crossbow hunters after Rubia. There was no need to mention the guard captain and his gang. They had murdered Rubia inside the city and probably tortured her as well before taking her life. I discarded all other supplies like emergency rations, water bottles, and coats. They were all useless now, with no one left to eat the emergency rations, drink the water, and wear the coats. I only took the hammer, sword, and crossbow. All I needed were weapons. I should head to the cave for now. The natural labyrinth guaranteed a bit of safety, at least. It was a familiar and advantageous place. I would stay there for a while. The troll incident and sending her into the human village alone had all happened because I wasn''t strong enough. From the beginning, all this started because I couldn''t protect my master, the Succubus. Right now, I needed more strength, and that was all I thought about. I looked beyond the place I had buried Rubia, gazing at the flames blazing brightly. There was no sign of the fire dying down. Winter was a dry season. Even if I spilled a lot of blood, it would dry up quickly. *** Drip, drip, drip, drip. Water droplets fell from the sharp stalactites. After entering the cave, I had a lot of time. I thought about my next target. What happened after Rubia entered the city? I needed to ask around. Of course, I wanted to immediately interrogate the Grassmere guard captain and his gang because they needed to pay the price. However, having watched the guards for three days after Rubia entered the city, I knew they wouldn''t be easy targets. The guards patrolled in groups of two or more and always carried whistles. Moreover, when the bald guard captain and the guards emerged to dump Rubia¡¯s corpse... that had been the first and last time I saw them. Those who looked like hyenas didn''t work outside. Do they work inside the city? I had no intention of taking a pointless risk. If I died here and my skull was shattered again, I would have to witness Rubia''s death in some form again during the next return. I wanted to be with her, but since I did not have sufficient strength, I would rather be alone. After experiencing this cycle repeatedly in a short time span, I had developed a strange attachment and obsession with Rubia. I didn''t want to see her die again. I looked around the city perimeter, trying to grasp the situation from what I could hear. I didn''t know much about the city Yublam. In fact, I knew almost nothing except for its location. The lord''s castle was small, and many people lived outside the city walls. That was about it. There was a lot to learn. I thought about catching a passing human and politely asking them some questions. However, I had killed a guard, so things would be noisy for a while. Just from a glance, the guards seemed like a suspicious bunch. If one of their own died, they would be eager to find out what had happened. I needed to see how things were going first. Let''s wait for a bit. *** I quietly spent about a month in the cave. Time didn''t mean much to a skeleton. It passed surprisingly quickly while I sat quietly and reflected on my memories. Maybe enough time has passed now. Starting near the entrance of the cave, I carefully surveyed the outside. It was unexpectedly quiet. I wonder if the fire burned the guard''s corpse well. I didn''t see humans specifically searching the mountain for anything. They might think that the guard I killed had just burned to death in the forest fire. It seems like it''s time to go out. I left the cave and went out to the mountain path where people were passing by. I lay down in the bushes by the roadside, waiting for people who might provide information. Fortunately, it wasn''t long before I heard footsteps. There''s quite a few of them.One, two, three... There were six people. They were all young and looked around sixteen years old. They were dragging someone along. What are they doing? Five of them were dragging one boy. I lay in the bushes, quietly observing the young humans. The oldest-looking boy among the five grabbed the collar of the boy being dragged. He handled the younger boy quite roughly. "Shawn, today is really your last day. Stealing liquor again? Making our employer suspect each one of us? Today, it won''t end with just a beating." Shawn, the younger boy, huffed. "No, it wasn''t me!" He protested while hanging from the older boy''s grip on his collar. Nevertheless, the older boy didn''t even pretend to listen. "You bastard, liquor goes missing every time you''re on duty. I saw it clearly. A guy like you should just be buried underground." "I''m sorry, I''m sorry!" "We don''t care. Because of you, the orphans from the orphanage are about to lose their jobs, so today, you''re dead." I looked at the kid hanging in the air. His face was flushed red for some reason. Even his eyes were completely unfocused. Has he been drinking? Humans tended to look like that when they were heavily drunk. Their skin turned red, they couldn''t walk properly, and they couldn''t speak properly. "Let''s dig here!" The kids with shovels started digging a pit on the hillside. Thud! Thud! Thud! As they dug in unison, the pit deepened quickly. Despite the cold winter, the ground was relatively soft, as the dirt being shoveled out looked quite fine. Shawn wailed, "I-it was a mistake! It was a mistake!" Despite his wails, he was so drunk that he did not seem sincere at all. Thud! Thud! "You''re really good at digging!" "How is it? This is where you''re going!" I watched them quietly. Frankly, the pit wasn''t deep enough to kill and bury someone. "I-I''m sorry! I''m sorry! I-I will never drink again!" "You won''t drink again?" The children around him burst out laughing. "You''ve been stealing Mr. Wyne''s wine for a whole year, you bastard. He thought we were sharing it." "Let''s bury him quickly! Let the wild beasts gnaw at his head." "Look, I-I''m¡ª!" Shawn seemed to be no older than thirteen, and he could barely keep himself upright. The human children buried Shawn up to his shoulders. They stomped on the ground to pack the dirt. "Let''s go! We don''t need a guy like this. He''s a disgrace to our orphanage." The five children slung their shovels over their shoulders and left. Shawn wept, buried in the ground with a face red as a beet. The children whispered to each other as they descended the mountain. Chapter 21. Who to Blame (8) Chapter 21. Who to Blame (8) "What if he really dies? Shouldn''t we have just beaten him up?" "We''ve done that every time. That guy needs to be taught a lesson." "But still, isn''t killing him too much?" "Let''s sneak back in an hour and check." "Idiot! An hour is too short! It should be at least two hours." "What if wolves show up? What if they tear his throat out?" "You don''t know? There haven''t been any wild animals around here lately. Even if you try to find one, you can''t. Hunters from other regions have wiped them all out¡ªthat''s what everyone''s saying." I followed the children for a bit to listen to their conversation. I went back to the buried boy. Snore... Incredibly, he had fallen asleep and was snoring. I hid in the bushes and called out to him. "Shawn." "Hiccup!" Shawn hiccuped in surprise. He woke up and shook his head. "Shawn!" "Ugh!" He''ll probably vomit like this. Alcohol addiction at his age... However, there was nothing I could do for this child. Shawn tried to look in my direction, but since he was buried, he couldn''t turn his head. He stuttered, "D-did you come back to get me out?" "Yes." "We''re f-friends, right? Th-thank you!" Shawn was completely drunk. He was so intoxicated he couldn''t even differentiate between the kids who buried him and my voice. I wondered if his young brain had been damaged by alcohol addiction. "Close your eyes." I instructed Shawn to close his eyes. I had no intention of letting him see me. Shawn asked in response, "Cl-close my eyes?" "Yes. Close your eyes. I''m rescuing you secretly from your friends. It''s a secret who I am." Shawn nodded. I emerged from the bushes and pulled him out of the ground. Even though my bony hands grabbed and pulled him out, he didn''t seem to sense anything strange. Shawn thanked me with a slurred voice. I wrapped a cloth around his closed eyes. Then, I asked him about the woman who had entered Yublam a few days ago. Without much effort, Shawn blurted out various things I wanted to know. The drunken kid surprisingly turned out to be helpful, and I managed to learn something crucial. An inn... The child said there was only one inn in Yublam, and it was special. Women traveling alone often disappeared from there. "Traveler ladies go in, but they never come out..." The innkeeper also owned a mill outside the city walls. "The mill is... near the river?" "Yes, we stole from it a lot, hic! Why are you pretending not to know? Hehe..." Fortunately, I could approach that place and just wait near the mill. I asked more directly about the bald guard captain, but Shawn suddenly sobered up. "Hic! T-that''s something you should never talk about! W-why are you asking about that?" ... Is it a sensitive topic even among kids? I sensed he was sobering up, so I decided to leave for now. "Alright. Stay still. Count to a hundred slowly and reflect on your actions. Or else I''ll bury you again. This time, I won''t dig you out." "Y-yes!" Shawn nodded eagerly. "One... two... three..." Rustle. After tricking the drunken kid, I headed straight for the river, following the bushes. The innkeeper... I would start questioning from there. *** The wind slowly blew past the bushes. I thought the ground I was lying on was getting harder. But at 2 PM, the blazing winter sun denied the season for a moment. The ground that had frozen overnight had thawed and softened since morning. The feeling of the ground hardening was likely psychological. Was I in a similar posture before? A month ago, near the city gates, I waited three days and nights for Rubia. But instead, it was guards who came out instead of her, with the rattling cart. Clatter. I shook my skull to clear my thoughts. I looked ahead. The water wheel was turning. The millstone lifted, then dropped again. Thud! It wasn''t the sound of milling grain. The pestle hit the bottom of an empty mortar. It''s empty. The mill is owned by the inn. It wasn''t functioning properly at all. Something was off. Creak. A man came out from the house attached to the mill. He looked to be around forty. Is that him? He must be the innkeeper. He didn''t seem like anyone else. The man sat on a nearby stone wall and lit a pipe. The smoke dispersed into the air. The man''s body was battered. His face was severely bruised, and thick, sticky blood dripped from his ear. Those were signs of torture. But who could have done this? I recalled in a proper city, the guards would investigate him. Since there was an inn where travelers disappeared, he might have been treated like that by guards conducting an excessive investigation. But... The bald guard captain and the four guards following him had come out at night carrying a traveler''s body. They abandoned it in the mountains. One of them had even planned to use it. They were a highly vicious criminal gang disguised as guards. If that was the case, the innkeeper who kidnapped travelers would align well with them, not oppose them. The man stayed outside for a long while before going back in. I waited for two days to see if anyone would show up. It would be a problem if I targeted the wrong person. But no one showed up. Clatter. Is today the third day? Rustle. I quietly moved behind him through the bushes. I aimed the crossbow at the man''s neck and asked, "Are you the innkeeper?" The man flinched. Thud! That reaction was enough. I knocked him out before he could turn around. I grabbed him by the nape and dragged him like luggage to the house beside the mill. Creak. The door was unlocked. Thud! I threw the unconscious man onto the floor and looked around inside. What a mess. It was the man''s house. The furniture was thick with dust. Nothing was in its place. What is this? A set of plate armor was lying on one side. Helmet and gloves included. It looked recently purchased. After glancing around for a moment, I stepped on the unconscious man to wake him up. "Ugh, urgh..." The unconscious man groaned as he woke up. Then, he shrank back, pressing himself against the wall. "Heek!" His fear was understandable. "Y-you look like a skeleton..." But his words were a bit off. He thought he was seeing things. If he misunderstood, I would let him be. I had no intention of introducing myself. "Yeah, what have you been smoking to think you''re seeing skeletons?" I mumbled vaguely. I had no intention of keeping this man alive anyway. The man trembled as he spoke. "W-was it the opium? W-what more do you want from me? I-I really don''t know anything!" He seemed afraid of something. And it didn''t seem to be an unexpected intruder. What was he talking about, claiming he knew nothing? I asked the man, "What don''t you know?" "I don''t know what happened to the two agents from Erast or what happened to the guards! Why would I harm them?" His hands were trembling. Agents from Erast... He must be referring to the men Rubia''s uncle sent. "Are you talking about the two Necron Brotherhood agents?" I said, referencing what was on the identification card. The man nodded. "Are you... from the organization?" I shook my head. The man''s body trembled again. "T-then who are you?" "I''m the one asking questions. Brown hair. Gray-robed woman. Do you remember her?" The man flinched. It was an honest reaction. "Could it be... you''re with that woman?" "Yes." "Damn!" Clatter! The man tried to run. He wasn''t in his right mind. He seemed deeply addicted to some narcotic, probably opium. Even seeing a skeleton, he thought he was hallucinating. In this state, he couldn''t make proper judgments. He tried to run. However, there was no way out because I was blocking the door. I might have complimented his attempt if it wasn''t so futile. Thud! I struck his chest with my knee. The man clutched his chest and collapsed. "Gah!" Thwack! At this range, I couldn''t miss. I fired the crossbow at the man on the floor. The bolt pierced his left hand and lodged in the floor. Rumble! The end of the bolt quivered. "Aaaah!" "Shh." I jammed my bony fingers into his mouth and locked eyes with the man. "Ugh... Hic... Ugh!" He wouldn''t stop sobbing. "Are you calm now?" "Hic... Hic... Ugh..." Apparently not. The man continued to groan in pain. I began my interrogation. "Why did you do it?" I asked. Acting as if I already knew, I pressed on, and this man, addled by drugs, pathetically confessed. "I-I had to cooperate with them, or they would close my inn!" He was likely referring to the Necron Brotherhood. I asked again, pretending I knew more. "They would close your inn just for letting a woman who stayed alone leave? How would they know? Are they some kind of Azura wizards?" I stepped harder on the hand I had pinned to the floor with my foot and tapped the arrow stuck in his hand. "Ugh... hic!" The innkeeper suddenly became emotional. He cried out loud and had a sudden shift in mood. It seemed like a side effect of his drug addiction. "Damn! Just kill me! I-I can''t do it. I can''t do it! I have to imagine what happens to those women to feel any satisfaction, hic!" What is he babbling about? I stepped back. Clatter. I stepped back half a step from his hand. The man kept talking as if he had gone mad, rambling on incoherently as he sobbed. "It''s over now, anyway. They say two members are missing, and they''re putting the blame on me! Maybe it''s just an excuse to take my inn. But... But they didn''t have to torture me! They stuck some monster in my ear, hic, some monster... And soon, they''ll confiscate my mill. It''s over for me. It''s over." Various similar stories were repeated with slight variations. How long had I been listening? Ding! [A quest has been updated!] [Information about the Necron Brotherhood has been added. ¡ª The Necron Brotherhood is a human trafficking organization. ¡ª They tortured the innkeeper of Yublam. ¡ª They use special insects for torture. ¡ª The guard captain of Yublam is associated with the Necron Brotherhood. ¡ª The innkeeper of Yublam knows nothing more.] I stared blankly at the status window. I had almost forgotten that this was still a quest. I had paid it no mind because it had been quietly there on the list, but it was still ongoing. The window that appeared the moment I pocketed the hammer wielder''s ID, instructed me to find out about the Necron Brotherhood, a ridiculous quest. I slowly read through each line of text hovering in the air. The innkeeper knows nothing more?Is the trail cut off here? Frankly, I thought it was laughable. But so far, that translucent blue window had never lied. I picked up the crossbow. I slowly raised it and then put it down again. I wanted to kill the innkeeper, but I didn''t know whether killing him or sparing him and making him suffer would be more painful. Chapter 22. Who to Blame (9) Chapter 22. Who to Blame (9) Creak. Creeeak. I loaded the crossbow with a bolt. ¡°Go ahead, k-kill me!¡± the man shouted, almost convulsing. I stepped on his right wrist again. Thwip! I drove the crossbow bolt into his right palm. Thunk! The modified crossbow had excellent penetration power. The bolt pierced his hand and embedded itself more than halfway through the ground. I released bolts into both of his feet as well, pinning his limbs to the ground. The pain of bolts tearing through flesh and bone was intense. The man foamed at the mouth, which choked him. The innkeeper struggled for a while, gasping. Pain was a simple, monotonous emotion, offering little enjoyment for me as an observer. He tried to lift his head a little, but then it dropped to the floor. Thud. His struggles ceased. The room fell silent. Ding! [Experience increased by 149.] I quietly looked down at the man, now an unsightly corpse. I had killed him, yet I did not feel any satisfaction. To put it plainly, this man wasn¡¯t even in the inner circle of those who had killed Rubia. He was trash, but even among them, he was just a pawn to be used and discarded. How futile. After all my struggles, I only reached this point. Now, I could go no further. Since I lacked strength, I couldn''t storm inside the city walls. I also could not do so for the walls of Erast, where the lord who sent the hammer and crossbow-wielders resided, nor those of Yublam, where the guards who killed Rubia were. I also had no idea where to start looking for information about the Necron Brotherhood, the organization that seemed to connect both cities. I searched the room and gathered what little money I could find. There was nothing else worth taking. Only a full tray of mail lay in a corner. Clank. I put on the armor. Before I killed the innkeeper, I hadn¡¯t asked him where the armor had come from, nor did I want to ask. I already had an idea in my mind. Some things didn¡¯t need to be asked to be known. My bones clattered as I put on the greaves, gauntlets, and helmet. Clatter. The armor covered me completely. From the outside, no one would know I was a skeleton. I looked like a fairly decent knight. I stood still for a moment. It would have been nice to have walked with her while wearing this outfit. *** Coo-coo! Coo-coo-coo! I walked alone on the mountain path. It was February. This was the southern part of the Empire. In the south, the snow melted early. The snowy winter landscape soon vanished into a misty memory, but the memory of winter did not fade. Crunch. I stepped on dirt and stones and walked the snowless mountain path. I thought about what had happened on the snow, which had now melted. I thought about what had happened with the girl who had just become a necromancer. When the snow hit, it felt like the back of my skull was throbbing. Clatter. Just like I had thought many times before, I needed to become stronger. I needed to grow stronger steadily without exposing myself to danger. There was only one way: leveling up. The fastest way to level up was to hunt humans. However, wandering aimlessly was problematic. Attacking anyone on a mountain path was not a good idea because the strength humans possessed didn¡¯t always match their appearance. They were unpredictable beings. With monsters, assessing their strength at a glance was easy. Their appearance generally provided an accurate assessment. If I lined up goblins, trolls, and ogres, their strength would correspond to their appearance. In contrast, there was a huge variation in strength with humans. Many times, it was impossible to gauge just by looking. It was strange and inconsistent. A girl who looked weak could suddenly show tremendous strength. Humans were twisted and distorted somewhere. I didn¡¯t know how to correct it, nor did I feel any need to correct it. I just needed to be cautious. Attacking someone just because they seemed easy could lead to big trouble. I might find myself thrown straight into the valley of death. I would end up back in the grave. I need to go to a dungeon. In the end, I decided to go to a dungeon, which seemed like a strange thing to do. Dungeons were places prepared humans come to. Dungeons were places where belligerent humans intentionally sought out. Going to such a place might seem like a mad act, but it was the right thing to do. Humans who entered dungeons had a measurable level of strength. The strength of an adventurer generally matched the dungeon they entered. For example, a Lion Knight or a member of the Ash Order, clad in anti-magic armor, wouldn¡¯t go to a dungeon filled only with rattling Skeleton Soldiers. Azure¡¯s wizards or swordmasters wouldn¡¯t go to a goblin den for extermination. It wasn¡¯t even an unspoken rule¡ªit was just common sense. Humans didn¡¯t go to places where there was absolutely nothing to gain. Humans entered dungeons that matched their level. For example, level 1 to 15 adventurers might go into an F-rank dungeon. It was for those who had just chosen the path of adventure. If someone above level 15 entered, they wouldn¡¯t gain any meaningful experience. Clatter. I trudged deeper into the mountains. I thought about nearby dungeons and considered where I should go. A dungeon came to mind. The Ossuary of Wraiths. In my first life, I had spent about three years in that dungeon. I lived in the cave maze near Erast for three years. After escaping, I wandered aimlessly. Dodging beasts and people, I eventually arrived there. For some reason, it felt like a place I was drawn to. When I went inside, it was filled with skeletons like me. The Ossuary of Wraiths sounded intimidating, but it was a rather shabby dungeon with no real substance. It was a place where novice adventurers passed through for practice. It could even be called a test of courage because it was a dungeon with very low difficulty. There was nothing much to steal¡ªit was just for practice. It was a place filled with Skeleton Soldiers that could be easily smashed without much excitement, including myself. I¡¯ve been broken countless times there. I was trampled and shattered repeatedly by practicing adventurers. Sometimes it took a few days, sometimes a few weeks, but I would rise again. I remember clattering and wandering around the not-so-wide dungeon. I recalled my memories. The Ossuary of Wraiths had a notable feature. It had an open space inside. There was a special mechanism. If one solved a stone puzzle and pressed the stone wall, a door would slowly open, leading further inside. The dungeon boss was there. Staying there might be okay. The hall where the dungeon boss resided. I planned to hide there, inside the stone wall opened by the mechanism. I intended to hide there and pick off humans who entered the dungeon one by one. Then, I would level up. Once I could no longer level up by killing low-level humans, I would move on to another dungeon. It wasn¡¯t a place to stay for long. The dungeon lay deep within a dark forest. A narrow cave entrance, layered with shadows. Inside, it was gloomy and shabby. There were puddles here and there, and piles of bones scattered throughout. There were several paths at the entrance. However, any path other than the main route quickly got blocked. If I took the wrong path, I would soon realize it. It wasn¡¯t exciting, but easy to clear. There were no elaborate traps or runes protecting the cave. Weak humans often came in. They enjoyed breaking skeletons and indulging in light entertainment. I walked along the mountain path, recalling the interior of the dungeon. Walking while lost in thought made the journey much less tedious. Clank. Clank. I walked for a long time. Maybe it was because I was walking quickly without stopping, the sound of the plate armor clanking was quite loud. When I became aware of it, I realized that I was walking rather fast. I was walking as if I being pursued. I was anxious, driven by my own powerlessness. I¡¯m almost there. I finally arrived at the entrance of the dungeon. Whooo! The area around the entrance was very dark, making it seem as though the thick darkness of the dungeon was seeping out. I chuckled to myself. The main defensive element of this dungeon wasn¡¯t monsters or mazes. It was just the fact that it was a dungeon in a gloomy place like this. It only looked eerie on the outside. That was it. It¡¯s just the atmosphere. The monsters were weak, and the maze was simple. Most humans knew that much. But now I was going in there. If I actively started hunting adventurers, the dungeon¡¯s rank might increase a little. When humans began losing their comrades one by one, and they felt something was off in the dungeon, I would then take leave. As I tried to open the door, a strange message appeared in the air. It felt as if it were talking to me. [Ossuary of Wraiths] [Dungeon rank: F] [Recommended level: 1-15] [This dungeon may be slightly difficult at your current level.] [Recommended clear party size: 3-4] What is this? Are there messages for entering places now? I pushed the door anyway. Rumble! The large dungeon entrance opened. From here on out, I know this place like the back of my hand. I had lived in the cave for three years. Though there weren¡¯t any traps anyway. I slowly walked inside. Tap. Tap. Footsteps echoed in the dungeon. The floor was plain stone, and a few piles of bones and scattered ashes littered the ground. I glanced briefly at the ashes and moved forward. There were three paths ahead. The rightmost one led further inside. There was nothing to see by taking any other route. It would only waste more time. I took the right path. As I ascended the stairs, the surroundings opened up. Ah, I remember this place. A rather large open area awaited. The open area was silent. Crackle. A campfire lit the interior. It seemed like a common resting spot for adventurers. Looking at it now, it¡¯s practically a playground. There was also a camp inside the dungeon, akin to an adventurer''s playground. It was almost embarrassing to call it a dungeon. I passed through the open area and entered further down. I went through a place where dried vines were tangled here and there. I quietly stared at the vines. Among the vines, some occasionally wriggled, alive. They would bind limbs, melt their skin, or tear their limbs apart. Of course, there were no such vines in an F-rank dungeon. The vines here were just dried up, unable to pull or restrain anything. These vines had long been dead. They suited this place filled with the weakest of skeletons clattering around. Adventurers seemed to have trimmed the vines because it was annoying to duck under them. Thanks to that, it was easier for me to enter as well. Clatter. After walking a bit further, I heard some noise. Are those the ones guarding the dungeon? There were no voices. Since I only heard rattling sounds, it was unlikely to be adventurers. I walked slowly to check it out. As expected, it was a skeleton. I intentionally made noise as I walked. Clatter! The skeleton turned around. It was holding a rusty sword in one hand, reaching out with the other, without even a shield, as it staggered toward me. Is it the gatekeeper? Skeleton Soldiers did not have names. I only remembered that a gatekeeper was there. The one who broke first and was reassembled first. It was fleeting and pitiful. The skeleton seriously blocked the entrance, but there was no real meaning in it. Humans only enjoyed it. They delighted in defeating it, again and again. I had been in the same position as that skeleton, unable to speak or think properly. I just aimlessly wandered around this cave, with no purpose, direction, or desire. I just wandered aimlessly like something merely moving around. Chapter 23. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (1) Chapter 23. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (1) Skeletons were always hunted and trampled, counted one by one as mere fragments of experience points. I was always just a skeleton, occupying the role of another. No one cared about the skeletons¡¯ hearts or circumstances. Clatter. I shook my head, breaking free from my bitter reflections. I found large letters written like an announcement on one side of the cave wall. It would be difficult not to notice these words if someone had reached this point. They were written by a human. [Beginner¡¯s Playground] [Do Not Break the Skull] I suddenly felt frustrated at the intention behind the humans who wrote those sentences. If a skeleton''s skull was broken, it could no longer rise. The phrase ¡°Do Not Break the Skull¡± was a request to refrain from playing alone and to continue recycling so the next person could use it. The skeletons in this dungeon were used as public property for human amusement. I turned my gaze away from the words. Still far from reaching me, I watched the gatekeeper skeleton slowly clattering toward me. His pace was slow, and he was quite short. I didn¡¯t know how long he had been here. Anyway, he had been here since the first time I came. At the very least, he was older than me. The gatekeeper skeleton held a rusty sword in one hand. It was a piece of metal with cracks all over it and crumbling edges. If I listened to it, the blade could probably tell a long tale of many years. But that was all. There was no use for such a rusted sword as a blade. I thought it was pitiable. But pity and sympathy felt arrogant. I should not feel such things. Clatter! The gatekeeper skeleton didn¡¯t crouch. It continued walking toward the intruder. Even when knocked down, it got up and charged again. It faithfully performed its role as the first plaything for humans. Clatter! It was now within five steps of me. ¡°Ugh... ughhh...¡± It let out a strange sound. It raised its sword and charged at me. I took off my helmet, revealing my white skull. I showed my identity. I came here to kill humans, not to indiscriminately destroy skeletons. However, claiming I came here to ¡°help¡± might be a stretch. I didn¡¯t have any goodwill, not toward the monsters of other dungeons or skeletons like myself. If I had to fight them, I had no reason not to. But I decided to try persuading them first. ¡°Calm down, friend.¡± ¡°Ughhh?¡± The skeleton paused a little at the sight of my white skull. But after hesitating for a moment, it approached me again. Can it not understand? Or perhaps it was simply dull. None of the skeletons in this dungeon could speak. I had been the same when I was here. Can¡¯t it understand what it sees? I tilted my head. Sometimes, skeletons would fight each other. This one too? The gatekeeper had never attacked me before. Swish! The rusty sword cut through the air. The skeleton was quite earnest in targetting me. It¡¯s swinging properly. It seemed to show a faint killing intent. Inside its hollow eye sockets, a faint blue light flickered. Swish! But it was slow. Its pace was as slow as its steps, its reach was short, and its power was weak. It posed no threat at all. It felt like I was watching in slow motion. Of course, the agility difference between the skeleton and me would be more than threefold. No matter its weapon or strategy, it could never defeat me. When I was in the ossuary, this skeleton was at a similar level to mine. But now, it couldn¡¯t land a single hit on me. Between this skeleton and me, there was now an insurmountable gap. I could easily handle five or ten of them if they attacked. It felt like a lie that I had once been at a similar level to this thing. I felt slightly elated, but my mood sank again when I thought about how I got here. I had witnessed the death of the Succubus who protected and nurtured me. I had lost the human woman who had awakened me several times before reaching this point. And this is all I¡¯ve achieved. Swish! Swish! I dodged the sword several times and tried to speak to the skeleton. I removed my helmet and said I did not intend to hurt it, but it wouldn¡¯t listen at all. ¡°Ugh! Ughhh!¡± It only charged at me and uttered strange noises. There¡¯s no other way. I looked down at myself. I thought maybe its hostility toward me was understandable. I wore a full plate armor similar to that of a human. I held not a rusty, dull sword but a shiny human weapon. Moreover, it had never seen me before. My familiarity was based on memory. The gatekeeper was naturally distant toward me. The skeleton raised its sword again. ¡°Ughhh!¡± I didn¡¯t want to treat it roughly. To be honest, I didn¡¯t want to fight such a skeleton. Perhaps things would improve if I took off the armor. Maybe it would recognize that I, too, was a skeleton and stop attacking. But... This was the armor Rubia had bought for me. The armor she had purchased before being killed after entering the city. I didn¡¯t want to take it off. If the gatekeeper wanted to fight, perhaps it was only polite to respond. I grabbed the arm, swinging the sword. The skeleton struggled wildly, but its bones didn¡¯t move at all. Weak. It was pitifully weak, and I had no intention of playing with it. Such an act would be shameful. These were the beings that had been persecuted alongside me, but I didn¡¯t want to be hindered either. I raised my hand to snatch away the gatekeeper skeleton¡¯s rusty sword and threw it far away. Clang! The rusty sword clattered against the stone floor. I pushed the skeleton back and knocked it down. Clatter! It toppled among the pile of bones. The sound was loud, but it rose again and charged at me. It grabbed the rusty sword. If the sword became duller, it might as well use a club. At least it would be more suitable for striking. It kept coming at me. What now? It was becoming a nuisance. I grabbed one of its shoulder bones, dislocated it, and threw it into the pile of bones. I removed its legs. Thud. Only then did it collapse to the ground. Rather than collapsing, it seemed to be trying to pick up its fallen arms and legs and reattach them to its body. It would stay like that for a while. Reattachment was not easy. Once separated, it took time to reconnect. It was successfully neutralized for a while. As I confronted it, I realized again how weak Skeleton Soldiers were because I didn''t even use my weapon. I had just dodged easily, grabbed its arm bones, and removed them. A perplexing message appeared as I walked past the fallen gatekeeper and took a step. Ding! [Experience increased by 34.] [You have begun a dungeon conquest!] Dungeon conquest? Those words suited a human. I hadn¡¯t come here to conquer the dungeon. I came to guard it. When I neutralized the gatekeeper, a message about starting a dungeon conquest appeared. It felt like the natural course was for me to conquer the dungeon. What is happening? I continued walking deeper into the dungeon. I found several human corpses stripped down to their underwear. There was quite a bit of blood that hadn¡¯t completely dried yet. They hadn¡¯t died long ago. This sight would be much more threatening for humans than a slow, lumbering skeleton like the gatekeeper I had just knocked down. Did they fight among themselves? It seemed like they had fought each other and stripped off their leather armor after killing. The skeleton soldiers of the ossuary wouldn¡¯t strip humans. They didn¡¯t take their belongings. I was the same when I was in this dungeon. This was the work of humans. I nudged the corpses with my sword. There wasn¡¯t a single coin left on them. Whoever killed them took everything. They most likely had fled outside. Dungeons were concealed spaces that some humans used as places for conflicts. They might attack their comrades for desirable items, even striking their party members from behind when confronted with monsters at a critical moment. However, it was unlikely these people died in such a manner. This was an F-rank dungeon, not a suitable place for backstabbing. It seemed like their goal was to murder them from the start, or they were just fighting among themselves and ended up like this. The bodies of those who died in the dungeon weather away, eventually becoming a part of the dungeon. They become walking skeletons. The humans I kill here will end up like that. I looked down at the bodies for a moment, then went deeper inside. Coffins were set up or laid down here and there. Of course, no skeletons were resting properly in the coffins. All the skeletons were trapped by some unknown force in this dungeon. They just waited for an intruder to appear. The skeletons wandering around near the coffins looked at me. Five skeletons wielding rusty swords didn¡¯t seem like they would fit into anything. They were not much better than the gatekeeper I had just put to rest. Click, clack... Clatter, clatter. They clattered their teeth as they slowly walked toward me. I didn¡¯t know why I appeared so hostile to them. They were not creatures I wanted to fight at all. Moreover, there was no reward or benefit in dealing with such things. I had entered the dungeon when there were no humans around. My timing was bad. If the human adventurers had been in full swing, I could have ambushed them nicely from behind. Click. I pointed at my skull with my fingers after removing my helmet to show them that I was a skeleton too. However, they still looked at me with hostility. This was becoming tiresome. ¡°Ughhh!¡± They clattered and charged at me. I didn¡¯t expect hospitality. I wouldn¡¯t even know how to receive it. However, I hadn¡¯t expected them to attack me as soon as I entered the dungeon. ¡°I¡¯m a skeleton too.¡± ¡°Ughhh! Ughhh!¡± It would have been better if they had surrounded me properly and attacked in unison, but they pitifully came at me in a straight line. Swish! I dodged the swinging swords lightly and shoved them aside one by one. They collapsed pathetically, overlapping each other. They were slow and weak. Clatter! Clatter! Crack! Thud! I neutralized each of the charging skeletons by dislocating them and throwing their remains aside. It wasn¡¯t just my high stats, I knew better than anyone how to deal with them. [Level Up!] After putting all five of them down, I even leveled up because my level was still very low. It wasn¡¯t pleasing at all. I had entered the dungeon to catch humans, not to tussle with these things. Finding my way was easy. I passed old vines and puddles, and everything looked familiar. These were spaces where I had clattered around for years. I couldn¡¯t get lost, even if I wanted to. I occasionally found shabby boxes and tables made of broken stones. I wondered if they all had been looted because the creaky boxes were completely empty. I went further inside. The creatures guarding the dungeon kept coming, but they couldn¡¯t stop me because they were all pathetically weak. I easily walked through the dungeon and reached the desired location. There should be a stone wall around here. Next, I needed to activate the hidden mechanisms one by one. Snake, owl, horse... After clearing away some branches and stones, I quickly found the symbols. Then I activated each mechanism. In this dungeon, which had no mechanical or magical traps, this was the only proper mechanism. It wasn¡¯t hard to remember. Rumble... As I expected, the stone wall opened. The mechanism wasn¡¯t even that complicated. Even if I failed, there were no pits or rolling stones. Boom! The stone wall rose all the way up. Ding! [You have deactivated an F-rank mechanism.] [Experience increased by 350.] I received a small amount of experience, but my level did not increase. Is it because I just leveled up? Suddenly, something happened. Chapter 24. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (2) Chapter 24. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (2) A rather aggressive sound echoed, characteristic of the noise made by skeletons. They were waiting behind the stone wall that opened with the mechanism. Advanced Skeleton Soldiers. Four Advanced Skeleton Soldiers stood and stared at me after the stone wall opened. They were a bit different from the other skeletons outside. They were a little bigger and slightly more menacing. Their weapons seemed decent, too. It reminded me of my three years in this dungeon during my first life. Back then, these guys had seemed truly formidable. I was even afraid of approaching them. "Hello?" "Kuooo?" Now, these guys who couldn''t even speak yet seemed almost cute. At best, these Skeleton Soldiers ranged between levels 15 to 20. Nominally, my level was not even 10, but in terms of stats, I was already close to level 70. Twenty years ago, I thought these creatures were terrifying when I wandered around the ossuary. "Kuooo!" They approached while uttering strange sounds. There was nothing to ridicule. In truth, I also couldn''t speak for a very long time. My master taught me how to speak, pouring her heart and soul into the task. She even infused her limited, irreplaceable magical power into me solely for this purpose. She believed it was pitiable to be unable to express oneself, as language shaped perception, which in turn influenced thought. These Skeleton Soldiers who lacked the ability to speak likely suffered from a diminished capacity for precise thought. Their poor fighting skills might not be due to the fact that their abilities were absurdly low. "Kuoo!" A skeleton wielding a large greatsword charged at me from the front. The greatsword it held looked somewhat usable. Suddenly, a strange thought crossed my mind. Why are they desperately rushing at me? Were they brainwashed to attack the moment the stone wall opened? There''s no necromancer here. No necromancer hiding in this dungeon would give them orders with intent, only fellow skeletons. So why are they so eager? What do they hope to achieve by doing this? While I was lost in such random thoughts, the skeleton came right in front of me. I casually kicked it. Thud! It was sent flying quite far and crashed into a stone coffin, dropping the large greatsword it had been holding. Clang! The greatsword hit the stone floor with a loud echo that resonated throughout the hall. "Ugh!" Did I kick it too hard? Clatter! Clatter! The other three skeletons also charged at me with their weapons. The space inside the mechanism''s area was a large hall. I only learned about this place after wandering the dungeon for over a year. The hall was somewhat protected from humans as it was less invaded since the mechanism and the stone wall shielded it. Of course, it wasn''t impossible to enter. There were many prepared adventurers, such as those who knew everything about the dungeon beforehand. They would knock down every hidden creature and leave, thrilled with a 100% dungeon conquest rate. This F-rank dungeon was essentially a beginner''s playground. Most humans who ventured here were ill-prepared, and many were unaware of the simple mechanism that operated the wall. Yet, even in this basic setting, a clear separation of privilege was evident. Those who managed to pass beyond the stone wall were undeniably the privileged ones. Even in this humble dungeon called the Ossuary, a hierarchy existed among its weak inhabitants that human adventurers trampled over like toys. Ironically, the strongest entities in the Ossuary of the Wraiths hid themselves in the safest area and didn''t allow other weaker skeletons to enter. Crash! While thinking about all sorts of things, I kicked the charging skeleton away with my foot, sending it flying. "I told you, I don''t want to fight..." I truly didn''t. But letting them hit me without resistance was also troublesome. The armor might protect me, but I couldn''t just keep getting hit. I grabbed my sword, and swung it at the three skeletons charging at me. The one-handed sword, which wasn''t particularly heavy, struck their weapons three times in succession. Swoosh! Clang! There was a loud clanging sound of metal colliding. At the same time, all three skeletons dropped their weapons. That was unlikely to happen. The weapons they held were much bigger and heavier than mine. My strength was enough to fend off that weight and size. Clang! Clang! Clatter! All three weapons flew off simultaneously, rolling across the floor. "Kuoo!" The skeletons staggered back a few steps. Thud. Thud. Thud. Then, all three sat down, slumping backward. Not from fear or pain but purely from the physical impact. That was the extent of my current strength. "Don''t bother me. I''m here to catch humans." "Ughhhh!" But they got back up. They continued to charge at me to the end. Couldn''t they distinguish friend from foe? Honestly, I didn''t intend to side with them... but if I dealt with the humans, it would be easier for them too. This dungeon felt comfortable. It might''ve been because there were skeletons like me clattering around. But there was something oddly inexplicable. It felt more so once I entered the hall. Perhaps something in here made this place a "dungeon." I planned to stay in this dungeon for a while. It would become exhausting if I had to knock these skeletons down every time they got up. Maybe I should try taking it off. Click. I removed my armor. Then, I placed it carefully inside a stone coffin nearby. "Ugh?" The charging skeletons stopped. It seemed they recognized me as one of their kind. Finally. Rumble! A faint tremor suddenly resonated, and a coffin began to open. A figure then stepped out from the large stone coffin. Boom! I''ve never seen a creature like that before. That skeleton wore different kinds of armor on different parts of its body. Of course, it was hard to call it proper armor. Compared to my armor, which covered me entirely from head to toe, it was vastly inferior. Its armor looked more like a patchwork of iron plates attached here and there. Was there a creature like this? I had been in this dungeon for three years. Yet, I had never seen a creature like this before. Ding! [Dungeon Boss: The Wraith Ossuary''s Leader] [Rank: F+] [Player Level: 7] [Recommended Clear Level: 25] [Difficulty Rating: Self-Torture!] [Attempting Solo Play!] What the hell is this? As a question mark appeared in my mind, I was more concerned with the message hovering in the air than the creature that had jumped out of the coffin. "Skreeeel!" The skeleton let out a rather unique scream. Its head was at least twice the size of the other skeletons. So, this is the boss of the dungeon. That much was clear. But what does "Player" and "Difficulty Rating" mean? I had no idea. Boom! Boom! It charged at me, making the ground shake threateningly. To me, it looked pitiful. But instead of amusing me, it annoyed me a bit. If I had seen it before, I would remember it. I was sure this was my first time seeing it. While all the other skeletons were shattered countless times outside the stone wall, had it just been lying flat in the coffin, quietly hiding? "Guoooo!" "Ughhh!" As it stood up, the other skeletons lying down tried to charge at me again. The creature that rose from the coffin held a large shield in one hand and an axe in the other. With its left hand, it positioned the shield in front, and with its right hand, it held the axe back, ready to swing at any moment. Swish! It jumped at me, then lowered its body almost to a kneeling position with its right knee bent. It blocked above with the shield in its left hand and swung the axe horizontally with its right hand to strike me. I quickly stepped back. Swish! The axe sliced through the air. The leader of the ossuary. It seemed like this creature was the one preventing the other skeletons outside the stone wall from entering the hall. It appeared to be exerting its command here. Even when I clattered around in this dungeon for three years, I knew how to open the mechanism, but I couldn''t enter the hall. Every time I tried, the other skeletons inside the hall would attack me. It had been hiding all by itself. Maybe it was time to stop going easy on it. I took a step forward out of my defensive stance and swung my sword forcefully downward. The "leader" raised its shield. Bang! The force of my strike seemed to be beyond what the creature had imagined. "Kuooook!" It was a good, reinforced shield. But it could not withstand my speed and force. The creature wobbled, and sparks flew from the top of the shield. The other skeletons couldn''t even get close. Bang! I struck the shield again, as my strength and speed alone were enough. The creature dropped its shield, and I kicked it with my foot. Crack! The leader rolled around, its bones breaking in several places. Snap! I lunged at the other charging skeletons. I kicked them all away at once, separating their bones. Now, the skeletons clattered but dared not resist. They couldn''t even lift themselves and groaned. Clatter! That one is getting up again. The leader clattered and stood up again. Thud, thud. I slowly walked toward it. Despite losing all its allies, the leader charged at me again. I swung my sword again, sending its shield and weapon flying. Clang! The shield shook, and the axe fell to the distant stone floor. Judging by its movements, it seemed to be at level 30 at best. So, it was even weaker than I was when I failed to protect my master. Maybe that level was enough to be the leader of these ruins. Clatter. On a whim, I handed the creature its weapon back. "Try again." Will it understand? The creature''s bones clattered as it charged at me again. Clang! Once more, I swung my sword, knocking the axe away and kicking the shield. Then I kicked it. "Is that all you''ve got?" I handed over its axe again. Clatter! I knocked it away. I brought it down again. I repeated this several times. Before I knew it, I was standing near the coffin the creature had leaped out of. I placed my hand on the coffin and looked at the creature. At that moment, a message popped up. Ding! [Experience increased by 1.] [You have reached the core of the ossuary.] [Your species value is confirmed as a skeleton.] [You will gain 1 experience point every minute until level 30.] Huh? I stared quietly at the stone coffin where my hand rested. Ding! [Experience increased by 1.] After a minute, another experience point was added. This coffin... is the core of the Wraith Ossuary. Some dungeons had cores, and specific monsters were drawn to the energy emitted by the core. Some dungeons were created without a magical core. I had never thought about it, but surprisingly, the F-rank dungeon, Wraith Ossuary, had a core. I didn''t know such a thing existed. This creature had been monopolizing it all along even when I was here, always. If shared, everyone could have reached level 30. But it had kept it to itself, using the coffin as its own. It had already reached level 30 but kept everyone else away. I was annoyed. If not for this foolish creature, everyone in this ossuary could have reached level 30 long ago, including myself. Chapter 25. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (3) Chapter 25. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (3) "Ughhh!" While I was sitting on top of the coffin, the creature charged at me, emitting a blue light from its eyes. I stared at it. Is it claiming ownership? After dodging its attack, I stepped on its shield. Then I pierced its head with my sword, splitting it in half. Splurch! The creature''s helmet was useless. It couldn''t even keep the split skull together. I didn''t regret the impulse to split it apart. Ding! [CLEAR!] [You have defeated the Leader of the Ossuary.] [Rank Evaluation: F+] [Difficulty Evaluation: Self-Torture] [200% Hero Points added due to difficulty evaluation.] [You cleared the dungeon alone.] [100% Hero Points added.] Clear? Hero... Points? I wasn''t a hero. Instead, I was quite the opposite. My goal was to kill heroes, so seeing such messages was odd. This quest window was weird too. Before I could think any further, more messages appeared. Ding! [F+ Rank Clear: 13 points] [Difficulty Bonus: 26 points] [Solo Clear Bonus: 13 points] [You have earned 52 points!] Ding! [Calculating Shop Access Permissions.] [Shop Access Level: Novice ¡ª Next Level: 52/256] [Insufficient Permissions.] [You cannot directly access the Hero Shop.] ¡ª As you level up, your shop access permissions will increase. This restriction is designed to prevent novice heroes from wasting their points. We appreciate your understanding. [Automatically purchasing the most optimal benefits. Scanning the environment...] [Scanning the player...] The screen flickered and the unfamiliar words flickered. Rank evaluation. Permissions. Hero Shop. Points. From start to finish, I could not comprehend anything. The message seemed somewhat friendly, but in reality, they were not. They assumed something as a given, while I was deeply perplexed. Ding! [Auto calculation complete. Points used.] [You have acquired Swordsmanship Talent Lv. 1!] [Quest: Training has been unlocked!] What is this? Talent? Can something like talent be acquired like a level? I was left bewildered. Suddenly, more translucent words appeared before my eyes. [New quest!] [Swing your sword 10,000 times.] [0/10,000] [Reward: Swordsmanship Lv. 1] Just... swing it? Only 10,000 times? If I swing my sword 10,000 times, my swordsmanship level will increase? From my perspective, knowing how difficult it was to acquire a proper skill, this sounded absurd. But I started moving, as if hypnotized by something. I picked up the bastard swords that one of the creatures had dropped. Whoosh! I gripped the sword with both hands and swung it from above, slicing the space in front of me precisely in half. A small window appeared on one side of my vision. [1/10,000] The number really changed. I wanted to check immediately. Maybe it was true that I could increase my swordsmanship level. Swinging a sword about 10,000 times was extremely simple. I need to finish this quickly. Swish! Swish! I swung rapidly and roughly, excited at the thought of mastering a proper skill. I aimed to quickly reach 10,000. Huh? But the number didn''t rise. It remained at [1/10,000]. Why isn''t it counting? I thought momentarily and then assumed the same stance I used to first swing the bastard sword. I grabbed it with both hands and focused, swinging it from above. Whoosh! [2/10,000] Finally, the number increased slightly. Do I have to concentrate while swinging? Still, the condition wasn¡¯t too difficult. I decided to focus on this for now. I wasn''t sure how much I could gain through this training, but I had to try. Hmm. I held the end of the sword handle with my left hand and grasped just below the guard with my right hand. I simply felt like I should do it this way. I swung it down based on my gut feeling. Whoosh! [3/10,000] That was a clean strike. And then I swung again. Whoosh! [4/10,000] ... [1,502/10,000] The more I repeated my strikes, the more accurate my stance became. I didn''t need to drink, eat, or sleep, nor did I feel fatigued. I just had to keep swinging the sword until my body couldn''t move anymore. ... [2,998/10,000] [2,999/10,000] [3,000/10,000] Ding! [You have completed downward strikes. Change your stance.] What stance should I use now? Something came to me instinctively. I raised the sword upright at my chest, then stepped forward with my right foot, swinging it horizontally to the side. I then stepped forward with my left foot and swung the sword horizontally in the opposite direction. [3,001/10,000] [3,002/10,000] This was indeed the correct method. My swing count rose by two. ... How many hours have passed? No, has it been a day? Had two days passed? Ding! [You have depleted your stamina.] [If you move further, you could break your bones.] [Remaining Stamina: 1.3%] [9,998/10,000] I had two swings left. I swung the sword two more times. Whoosh! Whoosh! Fortunately, my bones did not break. Ding! [Quest Clear!] [Training completed.] [Reward: Swordsmanship Lv. 1 acquired] I felt something and wondered if this was what it felt like to have every bone ache. Well, all that can ache are my bones. That must be it. I didn''t even have the strength to think. It was a sensation I hadn''t experienced in 20 years. I had never done something so properly or diligently before. Naturally, whatever I did, wherever I went, no matter how hard I tried, I could never receive any proper ¡±reward.¡± Clatter. I felt ¡±exhausted¡± for the first time. The feeling of fatigue enveloping my body was unexpectedly quite sweet. Thud. Still holding the sword, I collapsed onto the floor. I planned to recover my stamina before taking any further action, but a new set of messages popped up. Ding! [New Quest] [Swing your sword 30,000 times.] [0/30,000] [Reward: Swordsmanship Lv. 2] Well, this is something. The screen seemed to be forcing me to get up and start swinging the sword immediately. I stared blankly at the messages floating in the air. *** I looked back at my past. Over twenty years, while I had been rolling around on the ground, it wasn''t as if I hadn''t thought about wanting to get stronger. But there had been no hope. After passing level 20, leveling up became increasingly difficult. Once a Skeleton Soldier leveling up past 30 felt utterly impossible. Even if a Skeleton Soldier leveled up, it wasn''t really anything impressive. Adventurers were absurdly strong and I was absurdly weak. It was because of the difference in skills. Stats from leveling up were important. What made those stats useful was the skill. However, no matter how much I imitated humans swinging their swords, there was no improvement. I did acquire skills, but they were ridiculous. [Swinging Randomly] [Poor Thrusting] These were skills with silly names that provided almost no help. Just hearing the names suggested how weak and ineffective they were. When was it?Around the fifth year after I rose from the grave? It was during the time when humans from the empire and the Free Confederation were waging war against each other, a period when monsters could get slightly less attention from humans. For three years in the mountains, I swung a rusty sword with all my might. If I counted, it was about one level per year, which was slow. There¡¯s slow, and then there''s something like this. My growth rate was terribly slow. [Swinging Randomly] only increased from level 2 to 5. It was as if someone was scolding me, saying, "How dare you try to climb higher?" Even that training, it ended when a passing grizzly bear swatted me with its paw. Whack! My bones scattered everywhere. I had to struggle for a long time to gather my bones back together. Not that there had ever been a time when I wasn''t struggling, but that time was especially brutal. Most of all, what was humiliating was, against the bear, the skill I had painstakingly acquired by desperately swinging that rusty sword for three years was utterly useless. [Swinging Randomly] I had learned that pathetic skill excruciatingly slowly. Thinking about that time, the speed at which my [Swordsmanship] skill level was increasing now felt incredibly strange. Whoosh! [89,999/90,000] [90,000/90,000] Ding! [Quest Clear!] [Reward: Swordsmanship Lv. 3 acquired] [You have diligently trained in swordsmanship without a single break.] [Bonus Reward: Strength +2] Clatter. I did it again. My eyes were drawn to the bonus reward. They gave a bonus just because I had swung my sword without resting even once. I didn''t need to sleep or eat. If I depleted my stamina, I could swing the sword very slowly. That didn''t seem to count as ¡±resting.¡± Thud. After completing the [Quest: Training], I sat down as if collapsing. Swordsmanship Lv. 3. It only took a month to acquire this skill. I focused all my time and dedication on swordsmanship training because it was a chance for me to get stronger. Numbers floated in the air. [89,999/90,000] To change these numbers, I had to have the correct stance and swing with all my strength each time. I had to concentrate and rest carefully whenever my bones were on the verge of overloading. Even so, I could easily swing 4,000 times a day. The conditions weren''t particularly strict. No, that''s not it. It wouldn''t be right to say it like that. Considering the twenty years I had been through, I should say that these conditions were absurdly easy. Whoosh! After I swung the sword horizontally, I immediately felt a difference from before. The sound of the sword cutting through the air was different. I felt that my stance was much more stable, and I could control my movements. After swinging 10,000 times, I acquired Swordsmanship Lv. 1. After 30,000 swings, Swordsmanship Lv. 2. After 90,000 swings, Swordsmanship Lv. 3, and in addition, Strength +2. In the past, no matter how many years I practiced, I could never obtain such skills. If I lived like this, I would have become strong long ago. Clatter. Before, no matter what I did, there was no hope. Now, just by swinging a sword, it showed up as a number. I could see exactly how far I had come. Do humans live like this all along? So conveniently? It was almost unbelievable. It seemed I needed to catch a human and interrogate them. *** Whoosh! [269,999/270,000] [270,000/270,000] [Quest Clear!] [Reward: Swordsmanship Lv. 4 acquired] [You have diligently trained your swordsmanship.] [Bonus Reward: Agility +3] I planned to capture a human. But in isolation inside the stone wall, the training was so delightful. Watching the numbers go up one by one gave me satisfaction and joy. I didn''t want to waste a moment. Rather than going out to catch a human and engage in conversation, I wanted to focus on training first. However, even if I didn''t go capture a human, there was still one thing I needed to do. *** Two hours later, I gazed at the skeletons inside the hall for a while. They were all new faces. I had thrown out all the ones who originally occupied this hall. It was a form of punishment. I threw the ones who had been hiding deep inside out to the entrance of the dungeon, where they would face the humans. Instead, I picked a few who had been closer to the entrance. I brought them inside the mechanism. I started with that struggling doorkeeper. I let it lie in the core of the ossuary to raise its level. Then something amusing happened. Chapter 26. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (4) Chapter 26. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (4) Ding! [Doorkeeper Skeleton Affection has increased by 4!] [Dungeon: Ossuary of the Wraiths Affinity has increased by 0.4%!] [0.4%/100%] The Affection of the Doorkeeper Skeleton and the dungeon''s affinity had increased. "Hmm..." Well, I wasn''t sure about the affection, but the dungeon affinity didn''t seem that useful. *** Six months passed. Swish! During that time, no one ever discovered the mechanism and entered deeper inside. Given that this was a place where novice adventurers played around, it might not be too strange. Swish! [809,999/810,000] [You have completely depleted your stamina.] [If you move further, there is a high chance of total dislocation.] [Remaining Stamina: 0.17%] I had one more swing left. Swish! [Quest Clear!] [810,000/810,000] [Reward: Swordsmanship Lv. 5 acquired] [You have diligently trained in swordsmanship without resting.] [Additional bonuses granted.] [Strength +2, Agility +2.] Thud. [Recovering stamina.] [0.171%...] [0.174%...] A few hours of rest should do it. Then, I planned to resume training. However, the messages I received this time were different from usual. [Swordsmanship talent has reached its limit. Current talent: Lv. 1] [You can no longer increase skill levels through training.] [Please purchase a higher talent!] Is it over?Is this the end? So, there was a limit to this thing called talent. Of course, if it continued like this, it would be absurd to become extremely strong with no other conditions than just swinging a sword. Was it called Hero Points? I received that talent automatically after clearing the dungeon and earning those points. Does that mean I have to find another dungeon to continue this? But I didn''t know where the other dungeons were located. I didn''t plan to survey the world. From the 10th year onwards, I had been caught up in the war between the Demon King''s army and humans, unable to move freely. I needed information. I need to interrogate a human. Even now, it seemed like doing that was the right thing. Hmm. It would take about an hour for me to recover to normal. I stared blankly at the core of the dungeon. Inside the stone coffin, another skeleton was gaining experience points¡ªthe doorkeeper skeleton that had first entered the coffin was now outside. I didn''t know what level it had reached before I left. I could see Rubia''s status window, but I couldn''t see the status windows of the other skeletons. Currently, I hadn''t used that coffin yet because another skeleton was gaining experience. I planned to level up all the skeletons here before entering it myself. Taking advantage of my break, I opened my status window. [Name: None Skeleton Soldier Lv. 8 (64) Health: 30 Strength: 38 Agility: 39 Wisdom: 9] Below various basic skills, the glowing [Swordsmanship Lv. 5] message caught my eye, and I felt quite proud. Suddenly, I heard a sound from the system. Ding! [Dungeon Message: An intruder has entered! ¡ª Current Dungeon Affinity: 5.4% ¡ª Initial alert provided when affinity exceeds 5%. ¡ª The higher the affinity, the more dungeon functions you can use.] Perfect timing. It had been a while since a human entered. A good prey had arrived. After all, I had left the dungeon intruders alone for too long in the name of training. I tried to get up. No, I intended to get up, but my legs wouldn''t listen. Ding! [You are in an exhausted state!] [You cannot move.] [Recovery time: 58:42] *** In front of the F-rank dungeon called Ossuary of the Wraiths, three adventurers were about to enter. The three adventurers consisted of one man and two women. "How much do you get paid for an F-rank?" The question came from a woman in tight leather armor. The woman sent a coy look at the well-armed man. The silver-haired explorer in a cloth outfit sneered at her. "Rena, you don''t come for the pay from an F-rank. Just think of it as practice." The woman in leather armor clenched her teeth subtly. "Oh, is that so? Haha... Fonza, you''re so smart!" However, her words and thoughts were completely different. What a sly fox. She''s clearly got her own agenda. I''ll kill the man with poison, then slowly slice her up with a knife. I''ll tear that smug look off her silver-haired face and cut her body bit by bit. The silver-haired woman maintained her mocking smile and responded, "Hmm, didn''t you even check that much before coming? What a waste of armor." She was blatantly provoking her. The silver-haired woman thought, This suspicious woman keeps acting all cute. It''s disgusting. I need to push her buttons. Invisible sparks flew between the two women. At that moment, the man, wearing chainmail and carrying a large great shield on his back, tried to diffuse the situation. "Haha. Everyone, Fonza is right. An F-rank dungeon is just for defeating the monsters inside. But Rena, your curiosity is good. Always ask questions. Shall we do a quick briefing then?" He had a rather short but heavy-looking mace on his waist, suitable for wielding with one hand. It looked like a blunt weapon designed to shatter bones. "Yes!" "I''ll listen carefully!" Both women turned to him with eager eyes, intending to flatter the man. The man boasted as he continued, "The main monsters here are skeletons. There are some big spiders, but they only appear much deeper inside. And they say other adventurers have already wiped them out." The woman in leather armor widened her eyes and asked, "Skeletons? You didn''t kill them?" Adding an obvious question like this would usually make men feel like they were special. It was necessary and akin to warming up the muscles before killing them to make the knife cut smoothly. "Haha, Rena, you''re such a novice. Skeletons reassemble themselves over time after they''re killed. Now you get it?" The man tapped the woman in leather armor on the head with his fingers, his hand sliding through her hair to scratch her scalp subtly. "As long as you don''t break the skull, they just keep coming back together, so it''s perfect for practice." "Wow... that''s amazing. And a bit sad, too." Rena found the man disgusting but did not show it at all. Instead, she moistened her eyes and acted innocent. "What''s there to be sad about?¡± the silver-haired woman spat out curtly, apparently displeased by the atmosphere. The man wielding the mace nodded. He wanted both women. "Yeah, Rena. They''re there just for that. To be broken and reassembled, over and over. That''s their purpose." "If priests conducted a large-scale purification, wouldn''t they stop coming back to life?" Rena asked. "True, but who would bother? The supply would just dry up. Practice skeletons are always necessary." "I see..." "Hmph ,¡± the silver-haired woman snorted. "Alright, shall we go in?" The two women nodded. "Just trust me. Follow closely behind, and stay in line. Got it?" the man said in a creepy voice as he led the way. *** "See that pile of bones there? It could reassemble into a Skeleton Soldier. Be careful. They''re really slow, though. Hahaha..." The man swung his mace in the air. Whoosh! Whoosh! The silver-haired woman stepped back from the man, uncomfortable about being hit by the moving mace. She asked a question she didn''t care about to make it seem natural. "What is this pile of ashes?" She pointed to the ash pile gathered on the ground. But, the man did not know what the ashes were. "Oh, that? Don''t worry about it. Just ignore it." When unsure, that was how he answered. He thought that whatever he didn''t know wasn''t worth knowing. Tap tap. The three walked across the stone floor. The man knew the path well as he had been here many times years ago. He didn''t even consider this a dungeon raid. Both of them are mine. He thought of it as a conquest of women, not a dungeon. "There''s a fork in the road! What do we do?" The woman in leather armor, Rena, pretended to be scared. "Haha... Should I use my intuition? I feel like two paths are blocked, and one is open." "If you say so... I believe you!" Rena clenched her fists tightly. Of course, both the man and the women knew it wasn''t intuition. The man confidently walked ahead. Clang. Clang. The metal parts of the mace the man carried clanked against each other as he walked carelessly. In truth, the man was thoroughly prepared. He had the perfect gear combination for dealing with skeletons: a great shield and a mace ideal for smashing bones. One strike would be enough to knock them all down, and there was no chance of him getting hurt. After walking a short distance, they reached an open area that adventurers used. Torches and campfires were set up, brightly illuminating the place. "Hey, ladies, if you want to rest, just let me know," the man said, now referring to both women as "ladies," showing he no longer saw them as fellow adventurers. His adventurer rank was much higher than required for such a low-level dungeon. He was only focused on impressing the novice adventurers to get them both into bed together. Just thinking about it sent a shiver of excitement from his toes to his head. "He he... I''ll do this with one of them... and that with the other...." He felt a heavy sensation as if blood was pooling downward. Not because he was tired but because of his thoughts, which made walking awkward. The flirtatious behavior of Rena, the woman in the tight leather armor, further provoked him. They had hardly walked before they stopped to rest. "Shall we go now?" After a few minutes of walking, Rena pointed toward the ceiling. "Dead vines are sticking to the ceiling. They aren''t alive and moving, are they?" "Come on, Rena, think sensibly," the silver-haired woman interjected sharply. "Haha... It''s okay not to know everything, but this is an F-rank dungeon. Just follow me," the man replied confidently, holding up his great shield. An F-rank dungeon. While further subdivided into F+ and F-, dungeons were fundamentally categorized into six levels, from A to F. The F-rank was the lowest tier. F-rank dungeons had to meet specific criteria. Of course, the types of monsters in the dungeon determined its classification, but there were other conditions as well. First, F-rank dungeons could not have any traps, magical or mechanical. If the ground suddenly collapsed into a pit filled with spikes or drops into a poisonous swamp, it wouldn''t be considered an F-rank dungeon regardless of how weak the monsters were. Second, the path had to be easy. It should be simple for even a novice to navigate, find their way in, and get out without much trouble. Even if the monsters were just spiders, if the layout was such that someone needed advanced tracking skills or risked starving to death by getting lost, it wouldn''t be considered an F-rank dungeon. Instead, it would be classified as a D-rank labyrinth or a C-rank maze. There were a few other criteria, but in short, an F-rank dungeon was simply easy. There was no chance of something like a living vine being present. The man swung his mace at the dried-up vines. Chapter 27. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (5) Chapter 27. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (5) The vine slightly blocking the path was torn off and fell to the ground. It could have been left alone, allowing them to pass easily. However, the man did not want to miss the chance to swing his mace when he could. Whack! Whack! He swung the mace recklessly at the few remaining vines. Then, the three adventurers encountered their first skeleton, a new gatekeeper. Clatter. "A skeleton!" Rena shouted, clinging to the man''s back. The skeleton was one of those originally inside the mechanism. Now, it had been thrown toward the dungeon entrance. Clatter! Sensing the intruders approaching, the skeleton rose from its spot. It approached slowly with only a rusty sword in hand and no shield. The man had warmed up by chopping the vines. He looked at the skeleton and said, "Haha, stick close behind me." He let out an exaggerated battle cry and charged forward. "Hup!" He aimed precisely at the skeleton and swung his mace. The skeleton''s movements were slow, and each step it took was lethargic, making it far too easy to target. Whoosh! The iron head of the mace swung with great force, producing a loud sound. Thud! It hit its mark. The frail arm bone holding the rusty sword flew off, breaking off once again after flying off dozens of times before. It was an immediate and unhesitating first strike. The man considered himself an honorable adventurer wielding the mace in the name of humanity without hesitation. After losing its arm bone, the skeleton fell to the ground. "Uuugh...Uuuh..." Clatter. Clatter. It crawled, inching toward the lost arm bone. Whenever a Skeleton Soldier was struck down, unless the skull was destroyed, it would act this way. It would try to reattach what was lost, as all that remained for the skeleton were its fragile bones. "Uuuh...." The skeleton squirmed on the ground, trying hard to reach its missing arm bone and reattach it. Crack! The man stomped on the skeleton''s spine, stopping it from moving any farther. Clatter! The skeleton placed one hand on the ground. It needed to move, but it couldn''t make any progress in that state. "Uuugh...Uuugh...." The skeleton groaned with the hollow sigh of the dead, but it only wriggled in place, unable to advance. The weight pinning it down felt different. The man pressed down on the skeleton with all his might¡ªhe used his great shield, mace, chain mail, and his body weight. He turned to the two women and said, "Haha... See? Easy, right? You think you could do it too?" His manner of addressing them had already degraded to "you girls." The silver-haired woman grimaced slightly but endured it since she needed the man''s help. If she had intended to tackle the dungeon alone, she wouldn''t have had to endure this. The man turned to the silver-haired woman and said, "Ponza, try hitting it with the mace." "Okay." The silver-haired woman stepped forward. "Hmm... It''s still kind of gross." Thud! Still, Ponza swung the mace down, aiming at the skeleton''s remaining arm bone. She hit the skeleton, wanting to strike the man standing on it instead. This skeleton must have been a man, too? Thud! Thud! Her grip tightened as she swung the mace fiercely. The man laughed cheerfully at the sight. "You''re doing fine for someone who finds it gross. Haha!" "Can I break its skull once? Is that okay?" she asked. "If it dies completely, the next person won''t be able to use it. Think about the next person. Of course, in case of danger, do whatever you have to. But I''m here to protect you, right? Just give it a gentle knock." The man acted as if the skeleton was his to dispose of, granting permission to the woman. Tap! Tap! Ponza tapped the skeleton''s skull with the mace. A slight crack began to form on the skeleton''s skull. She put considerable force into it. She took out her frustration on the weak skeleton because of her anger at the man. "Oh, it might die. Take out the healing potion." Ponza was startled not by the idea of the skeleton dying but by the command to take out a potion. "Healing potion?" she asked. "Yeah." "Something that expensive!" "Haha, if you make a good impression on me, I can buy you that much." The man standing on the skeleton''s neck stroked the silver-haired woman''s hair and laughed playfully as if enjoying the feel of it. Ponza, while thinking it was disgusting, shrugged and endured it. He must be incredibly wealthy if he was willing to use a potion so casually. However, the woman''s shoulders trembled slightly from the touch, reacting to her aversion. Behind her, Rena, the woman in leather armor, smirked at the scene. Disgusting? You''re the one who followed him out of your own will. Anyway, using a potion like that? Wow, that guy... I knew he was rich, but now he''s going to give it all to me. Rena knew. She had followed him after thoroughly investigating. The man was a wealthy adventurer. His equipment and items were excessively good compared to his level. Her purpose in following him was clear. She planned to cut his throat in the dungeon, steal all his gear and money, and escape. She was a trainee of the T&T Guild. T&T was a guild dealing with assassination, thievery, and information trade. Killing this man would provide enough money for the guild fee. I''ll become a full-fledged guild member, right? Different dreams filled each mind. While everyone was lost in their own thoughts, a small amount of healing potion was applied to the fallen skeleton''s head. The skeleton remained conscious. However, its limbs were completely crushed. "You can play around like this, too," the man said as he detached and reattached the skeleton''s limbs, playing with it for a while. Then, as if he had lost interest, he kicked the skull away. Bang! Clatter! The round skull rolled far away and got stuck somewhere. The group moved further inside. After encountering two more skeletons and breaking them, they moved on. "Ahhh!" Rena screamed. Three human corpses lay near a water puddle. The corpses had been cleanly decapitated. "Hmm." Seeing the bodies, the man''s posture stiffened a bit as if he felt some sense of caution. Rena, who was planning to stab him in the back, was not pleased. Damn, I made him tense. Whoever left these corpses should have cleaned them up. The man, serious, spoke to the silver-haired woman, "Hmm, I''ll guard the rear. How about you take the lead, Ponza?" "Me? Isn''t it better for a man to lead...?" "No, you''re here for adventure, right? You should gain some experience." Seeing the three toppled corpses made the man feel slightly uneasy. Ponza''s neatly groomed eyebrows furrowed completely. But she had no choice but to take the lead. Clatter. Clatter. As they moved further inside, four skeletons with rusty swords appeared. "Take this!" Whoosh! Crack! Ponza''s mace struck the skeleton soldiers'' skulls. Her movements were quite impressive, but it was more that the skeletons were too slow. Their rusty swords only swung clumsily in the air without forming proper curves or lines. "You''re doing great!" the man shouted, jumping into the fight after assessing that there was no danger. He blocked the slowly approaching rusty sword with his great shield. Bang! And he swung his mace, separating the skeleton''s spine from its skull. The skull flew far away. Clatter! "Phew," they all sighed and moved forward. I got nervous for nothing, the man thought, feeling embarrassed. It was, after all, an F-rank dungeon. The five skeleton soldiers were dealt with quickly. The excitement from the fight released adrenaline into his veins. He took the lead again. There should be a mechanism around here..., he thought as he searched for the mechanism. Swish! A rusty sword came flying. Clang! The man hurriedly raised his shield. The rusty sword hit the shield and fell to the ground. There was a small skeleton standing there. The man didn''t remember, but the two had met at the dungeon entrance years ago. The skeleton that had thrown the rusty sword had been guarding the entrance of this dungeon for a long time. Now, it was guarding in front of the stone wall for someone who had leveled it up. Clatter! The skeleton, which had been a gatekeeper for a long time, charged with a blue light deep in its eyes. One hand held a shield, and the other a sword that wasn''t rusty but rather well-maintained. "Urrgh!" Making the sound of the dead, it approached. "Was that there the whole time?" Ponza asked in surprise. "Looks like it," the man replied, staring at the skeleton. It seemed clear that the sword was thrown when they approached the mechanism. "Why did this thing hide quietly and then throw a sword? I almost got hit!" The man advanced towards the skeleton, raising his mace and swinging it threateningly. Swish! "Wow, it dodged it?" The man was a bit taken aback, but the skeleton''s movement wasn''t particularly fast. It dodged just enough by throwing its body aside and didn''t seem to think about counterattacking. The man laughed. "No matter how much it tries, it''s still just a skeleton." He confidently swung his mace. "Just give up your experience points quietly, skeleton." Bang! The mace struck the skeleton''s shield violently. The skeleton''s arm shook. Crack! They heard bones cracking, but the skeleton struggled and did not let go of the shield. The man swung his mace again, and the skeleton swung its sword in return, despite its current state. Clang! The skeleton staggered back two steps and knelt on the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Ponza swung her mace to join the attack as it tried to stand up again, believing it was best to strike when victory appeared assured.. "Take this!" Thud! Cornered and defenseless, the skeleton could not withstand the combined attack. The man swung his mace again. Crack! The shield and bones shattered, and the skeleton fell to the ground. Clatter! The skeleton tried to get back up. "Hmm, why is it so persistent?" But each time it did, the man swung his mace. He crushed it thoroughly, treating its persistent attempts to stand as a challenge to him, stomping it down until it was reduced to fragments. "Arrogant for a skeleton," he said and looked around. Surely, no one thinks that was funny? That was exactly what they thought. His manner of saying something unfunny and demanding laughter was absurd to Rena and Ponza. However, they laughed along, trying to please him. No matter how small a group, the one at the top loses their sense of humor when there was a hierarchy and power dynamics. Tap, tap. Satisfied with the womens¡¯ laughter, the man walked back toward the mechanism. If I do this... He manipulated the mechanism, utilizing the information he had bought with money. Rumble! The stone wall began to move. *** "Kuoooh!" Four skeletons stood near the door. Two wielded large axes, one had a decent long sword, and the last had a massive flail with spikes at the end. The skeletons wielded their weapons with purpose and did not stand idly by. They roared, as if steeling themselves for a confrontation, ready to face the humans. "Skeleton Soldiers!" Rena shouted dramatically. "They''ve been Skeleton Soldiers all along," Ponza retorted, gripping her mace tightly. "Hmph!" The man let out a battle cry and advanced, thinking of nothing else but getting both women into bed. The information about the mechanism was accurate. The man was an adventurer, but he ironically hated the idea of adventure itself. He knew the skeletons inside the mechanism were much weaker than him. "I''m coming!" He laughed and swung his mace downward with all his might. Chapter 28. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (6) Chapter 28. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (6) Clang! The skeleton in the middle blocked the flail with its iron mace. Whoosh! But the attack did not stop there. The man was displeased that the skeleton was still moving. He swung the flail upward from below. Crack! "Uuugh!" The skeleton that was struck in the jaw took a step back. The rotation radius of the metal flail was short. The skeleton''s jaw did not shatter all at once, but cracks formed, making it dangle. Whoosh! The man did not stop. He swung the flail hard to the side. Crash! The flail got caught in the ribcage of the skeleton wielding the axe and broke it apart, knocking the skeleton back. The broken rib bones rolled across the ground. The man chuckled leisurely. "Already finished with two of them?" "Hiya!" "Take this!" The two women beside him played their roles as well. Ponza charged in with a mace, attacking the fallen skeleton. Rena circled behind the skeleton with the cracked jaw and struck its legs. A skeleton wielding a longsword attacked the man. However, the longsword was slow. It didn''t even produce a proper slicing sound. The man slightly raised his great shield. Clang! The sound of a steel shield meeting a longsword echoed, but in terms of weight and strength, the shield was superior. Clatter! The skeleton stepped back, just as it always did. The man didn''t miss the opportunity and quickly stepped forward. Whoosh! He swung the flail recklessly. That wild, violent attack shattered the skeleton''s pelvis. With its spine broken, the skeleton fell without even voicing a complaint. The man stepped on the skeleton and snickered. "Sorry, but even if you were human, you''d be no match for me." "Rooaaarrr!" The remaining skeleton charged. The man stepped back, using centrifugal force to swing the flail with great strength. Whizz! A sharp whistling sound filled the air. The skeleton had no shield. It didn''t even take a proper defensive stance. Crack! The weapon caught by the flail flew far away. Clang! The weapon hit the stone floor, and its sound echoed in the dungeon. "Haha, judgment time!" the man shouted, full of self-satisfaction. The women shook their heads at the sound. The dead skeletons weren''t receiving divine judgment¡ªthey were receiving the judgment of a pathetic man. *** "Damn, I don''t have much stamina left." [Recovering Stamina... 8.71%...] I could hear the sounds of the adventurers rampaging right next to me while I lay still beside the stone coffin. It was inconvenient. Of all times, they had to invade while I was in a state of exhaustion. The skeletons were fighting bravely, but in reality, they posed little threat. More strictly speaking, they were completely useless. I didn''t stand up. My stamina had not even recovered to ten percent yet. If it went over five percent, I could get out of the state of exhaustion and move. What if I get up in that state? I''d be in trouble soon if I couldn''t subdue them quickly. It would be safer to wait until it reached ten percent. There were three enemies. I quietly estimated their levels. One seemed slightly weaker than the guard I had fought. The other two appeared even lower in level. Judging from their movements, dealing with them seemed quite simple. I could already visualize in my mind how to move and handle them. Is this the effect of leveling up my skills? There hadn''t been a significant increase in my abilities, but I had acquired swordsmanship. Should I wait a bit longer? I continued to lie still. I was going to fight alone anyway. It would be better to recover as much as possible before making a move. The man''s voice rang out. "Haha! This is divine judgment!" However, there was no divine judgment in this world. No one decided the winner or announced the final verdict. This world was where demons and violence built their homes side by side, all eager to pluck each other''s eyes and tongues. Where could judgment possibly be? If anything, we all judge ourselves. [Recovering Stamina... 8.94%...] "That was amazing!" "You both did well too. Haha!" I heard the sound of something being fiddled with. Taking advantage of their conversation, I quietly began to put on my armor. When practicing swordsmanship, I had taken off my armor. It was cumbersome to move with it on, and wearing armor drained my stamina faster. Clink. I put on my helmet first, then I fumbled for the sword with my fingers. I continued to monitor the status screen. [Recovering Stamina... 9.05%...] [Recovering Stamina... 10.1%...] That should be enough. I donned the armor and gripped the bastard sword tightly. Clank. Clank. The adventurers, who had been chattering noisily, started to speak in slightly cautious tones. "Did you hear something?" "Huh? What sound?" "A metallic sound. Like clanking..." They must have heard it. I had made the sound deliberately, after all. "From where?" "From the stone coffin area." "Could it be that something''s left?" "Why don''t you check it out, Rena?" "Hmm! No, I''ll go." Tap, tap. The adventurers walked closer. Clatter. I grabbed my sword and stood up. The ones fighting in this hall earlier were like pigs with their heads overheated. Or like wolves with bloodshot eyes chasing sheep. But the battle had ended, and quite some time had passed. They had all calmed down after the initial excitement. In terms of timing, now was the right moment to strike. "Hi-huh?" The man who came close was startled and took a step back. "Living... Armor? I heard there were no such things here!" "Heard what?" the silver-haired woman asked. "Ah, it''s... What the hell is that?" the man mumbled. Thud. He took a step back. The party of adventurers consisted of one man and two women. How should I handle them? They are still busy talking amongst themselves. "Is it a Skeleton Soldier?" "What kind of skeleton would wear something like that?" I decided to speak to them first. I could ask them questions after subduing them. But there was a risk I might accidentally kill them during the process. If I swung carelessly, I might sever a neck. If I struck to incapacitate and an arm or leg tore off like a flower petal, there might be excessive bleeding. Two women. Human women were frail creatures, so I needed to be cautious. I had many questions, so I decided to start with one. "You there." The silver-haired woman gasped in surprise. "How did you disable the mechanism?" The woman in leather armor butted in and uttered, "Sir... a lord?" These kinds of armor were usually worn by lords, so she thought I was one. I nodded slightly. "Yes. I was training in a quiet place." The man responded warily. "Show your face first. Who talks with a helmet on?" "I have a scar. It''s embarrassing." I refused, because if I took off the helmet, we would immediately start fighting. But the man insisted, "Then we won''t tell you anything either! Not to a suspicious person like you!" "If I take off the helmet, will you answer me?" The man''s voice was filled with agitation as he shouted, "Yeah! Take off the helmet already!" He had little insight. Perhaps it was too much to expect insight from an adventurer exploring an F-rank dungeon. I thought that a novice adventurer would have some fear, yet his voice lacked any hint of fear. I muttered quietly, "Shall I?" "Yes! This isn''t a joke. You''re suspicious!" The man''s expression twisted rather harshly. He held a flail and a great shield in his hands. Removing the helmet wasn''t difficult. This helmet was a mask. It was easy to remove the mask in front of the weak. I could impose myself completely. There was no need to watch for signs or hide anything, so I didn''t have to pretend or act kind. "If I remove the helmet, will you answer properly?" The man nodded and replied, "Yes!" [Recovering Stamina... 10.9%] I looked at them, and observed how they gripped their weapons. The more I watched, the clearer it became. I will win. I would win overwhelmingly. They were already within my range. I could render them unable to resist instantly and leave them unable to grasp anything for the rest of their lives. Making them corpses would be even easier. Even if all three tried to flee with all their might, I felt confident I could catch them. Tap. I touched the helmet lightly. This mask was a clumsy favor I was offering them. There was a surprisingly genuine aspect to this courtesy. The man didn''t know this, and he insisted that I remove the mask. People often demanded the truth they could not bear to handle. Clank. I took off the helmet. A sharp scream burst forth from the silver-haired woman. "Aaaargh!" She swung her mace wildly in the air and stumbled back. The man and the woman in leather armor gasped in shock. "Ugh!" "Eek!" "Why are you surprised? It''s only natural for there to be skeletons in a charnel house." This was a charnel house. It was only expected for yesterday''s humans to walk around as skeletons. Weren''t these the ones who have come this far by smashing skeletons all along? Their surprise was exceedingly unnatural. Clatter. I tilted my exposed skull to the side. *** Rena, the woman in leather armor, shouted, "I-It wasn''t human!" Their expectations had been wrong. The invading man and two women had expected a human under the helmet. What they imagined inside the helmet was the mysterious killer who had created the corpses in the corridor. When fear was anticipated, it became routine, something easy to accept. But the unexpected creeping into the everyday would turn into fear. Even encountering a skeleton like me in a charnel house could spark a moment of panic if it caught someone off guard. Nevertheless, humans were adaptable creatures. "He-hey! Maybe this is actually better!" The man quickly calmed down. He continued as he rushed forward, "If it''s a skeleton, it''s easier to deal with!" Whoosh! The human man swung his flail a few times. The iron bits cut through empty air. There was still a fair distance between us. I quietly watched his monkey-like gestures. He said to the women standing near him, "Don''t be scared! The skeleton just happened to pick up some armor! This is an F-rank dungeon... We can handle a skeleton like that anytime!" Should I call him quick to adapt? He explained the situation in terms he could understand, and perhaps he genuinely believed his own words. The more limited his understanding, the more limited his expression. This was an F-rank dungeon, and the skeleton before him¡ªme¡ªwas something he could manage. That was the extent of his imagination. The woman in leather armor interjected, "But that armor doesn''t look ordinary." As if giving the women a lesson, the man said, "It''s just decorative. Look, it doesn''t matter what a skeleton wears. We can easily knock it down. Let''s finish it off and take that armor for ourselves!" Whoosh! He advanced forward at a deliberate pace, his great shield providing ample protection for him. He swung his weapon wide. Should I call it passionate? His movements resembled a gorilla showing off its height to impress a female. There was something hot-blooded and primal in his movements that I could never possess. In a way, I almost envied the man¡¯s passions and desires. "I''ll blow its head off in one hit!" For some reason, the man''s shouting was louder than the sound of the flail''s iron bits spinning. Clang! Clang! Like a gorilla beating its chest, he banged his large shield with the flail. The flail was on the shorter side. If the handle and the iron bits of the flail were longer and swung with both hands, it would pack a stronger punch. Instead, he held the great shield in one hand. Chapter 29. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (7) Chapter 29. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (7) Most Skeleton Soldiers used rusty weapons. If, by any chance, a randomly swung blade grazed a human, they might contract tetanus. Using a shield, however, effectively prevented such things. So, you came prepared, I see. Unlike using both hands to swing, even if the attack failed, they could protect themselves with the great shield. It was a solid, commendable weapon choice. However, more than anything, it was clumsy. There were too many openings to exploit. Even if I wanted to be hit, I couldn¡¯t. It''s slow. "Hiyaaat!" The man charged forward, and for a few seconds, our movements unfolded like lines drawn in the air. I moved instinctively, without much thought. Whoosh! He swung his flail. Clang! I lightly caught it with the blade of my sword, pulled it back to throw it off balance, and then immediately swung my sword forward again. Clatter! The thrown-off flail fell to the floor behind him. Slash! Splat! The forward-swinging sword severed the man''s arm. It grasped nothing and spun in the air, splattering blood all over the silver-haired woman¡¯s face as it fell. "Aaaaargh!" The fight was decided in an instant. The man couldn¡¯t even use his shield due to the significant difference in power and speed. Most importantly, I felt the impact that a skill could make. In this case, it was the effect of swordsmanship. When the man swung the flail, I thrust the tip of my sword into the connecting chains of the iron parts. Then I yanked it back hard. His arm, which had been swinging the flail, was pulled forward with great force. I brought my sword down sharply on his exposed shoulder, severing it. All of this happened naturally, as if I had been trained for it. I believed that this would be the outcome, but it was still surprising. I looked at the man who had been shouting so confidently. The cut on his arm was wide, and the bleeding was severe. "Aaaaaaagh!" I stood still, looking down at the human male rolling on the ground with his arm cut off. It was not a particularly pleasant sight. "Guh, guwaaaah!" he screamed loudly, desperately trying to escape from reality. His face grew thinner and more distorted with every moment due to the pain and blood loss. "Eeeeeek!" "H-hiiik!" It seemed they were more surprised by how quickly the fight had ended than by the sight of blood. Gripped by fear, the women did not even think to pick up their weapons. The man with the severed arm continued to scream. "Guwaaah!" His agonized wail echoed as he kept painting the cave floor with blood. He looked at the silver-haired woman and shouted, "Potion, potion!" Whoosh! At that moment, the woman in leather swiftly snatched the man''s bag from the silver-haired woman¡¯s hand. She then threw the bag at me and pleaded, "P-please spare me!" Interesting. She was the type who would do anything to cling to her miserable little life. Such people were certainly more entertaining. Some tended to panic when faced with death, screaming in shock as their only response. They refused to grasp the situation, burying their heads in the ground and trying only to run away. But then there were others. There were those who would become more proactive in the face of crisis. I looked down at her and asked, "Why?" "I know a lot! You wanted to ask something, didn¡¯t you? I¡¯ll tell you everything! I am¡ª!" She was one of those types. The woman desperately read my expression. Faced with death, her mind worked quickly. Beyond mere quick adaptation, she showed an instinctive cunning. Of course, she was better than those who were dull and clumsy. She was a much more communicative target. Oddly enough, I thought of Rubia. If she had been like this, would she have survived longer? How would she have survived? "Ah, aaaah!" Even while I was lost in thought, the silver-haired woman¡¯s screams did not cease. She struggled as she tried to push the man¡¯s severed arm off herself. I watched the man thrashing around, spattering blood everywhere. Then he stopped moving. Is he dead? Just moments ago, he had been rolling on the floor, screaming, but now he seemed to have just breathed his last. [Level Up!] [Dungeon Affinity has increased!] [Current Dungeon Affinity: 6.15%] I had leveled up. It seemed killing him had meant that much. Along with the level, my Dungeon Affinity had also increased. I still didn¡¯t know what the Dungeon Affinity was for. It had gone up after I earned favor from the other skeletons, and it increased after I killed a human. In any case, now wasn¡¯t the time to be looking at this. I moved the window floating in the air aside and looked at the silver-haired woman. She was sitting on the floor, scooting backward. Her long silver hair was drenched in blood, making it messy, but her hair still seemed to be in good condition. "Uh, uh, ah!" Is she trying to flee outside? She barely managed to stand, turning her back to me. At that moment, the woman in the leather pulled a dagger from her chest. The tip of the dagger in her hand gleamed with a bluish hue. I realized something was smeared on it. Whoosh! It was a clean throw. Her posture even seemed neatly aligned, and it was clear she had clearly thrown many daggers before. Her stance was solid, and there wasn¡¯t even a hint of hesitation in the way she threw the dagger. Thud! "Guh!" The dagger lodged in the silver-haired woman¡¯s back. Something was strange. Although the dagger was embedded in her back, she clutched her throat and collapsed. Tap, tap. "Gah, gah!" I walked closer to her. Bluish veins surfaced on the woman¡¯s face and turned darker. It was a ghastly sight, as if death itself were blossoming on her. Blood foamed at her mouth, and the area around her lips was turning black. Poison? "Guh!" The silver-haired woman fell to the ground. I turned around. The woman in leather stood calmly where she was. When our eyes met, she smiled faintly. "Hehe." This woman had thrown the dagger. She extended her left thumb, clasped it with her right hand, and brought her right hand to her chest. I recognized that gesture¡ªit was used in the southern part of the Empire, a sign of pledging obedience until death. She performed such corny things without batting an eye. "Did you think I would recognize that gesture?" I asked. The woman nodded. As if prepared, she answered, "Yes, sir. You seem to be quite knowledgeable about the human world." Quick to adapt, as expected. I did not reply. The woman cautiously watched my expression and continued to speak. "I am Rena of the T&T Guild. It¡¯s a guild that deals in assassination, thievery, and information. Is there anything among these that you need?" I hadn¡¯t heard of the T&T Guild, but the explanation piqued my interest. I approached her sternly and asked, "You threw that dagger without permission." "Wouldn¡¯t it be troublesome for you if she escaped?" No. I could have easily caught up with her anyway. This woman was playing tricks I could see through. She had another purpose for throwing that poisoned dagger. She wanted to make herself the sole survivor between the silver-haired woman and herself, and prevent herself from being killed recklessly. When we first met, I had indicated my willingness to talk with them. There were many things I wanted to know. I wanted to know about the group that killed Rubia, the human trafficking syndicate, the mercenaries, the lord of Erast, and the guards of Grassmere. Who are these people? Right now, I knew nothing and needed a guide. If the silver-haired woman were alive, I¡¯d have more choices. I could listen to either of them. I could toss a coin, kill one as an example, and start from there. Even if I tortured them, having a spare would make things convenient. This woman had narrowed my two choices down to one. "You said your name was Rena. Do you always carry poisoned daggers like that?" "I¡¯m a woman, after all. Shouldn''t I always carry poison and a dagger?" Her answer seemed natural, but she was quite nervous. I could see her slightly bitten lips. The power over life and death in this situation rested with me. She clearly understood this. I could kill or torture her at any moment. "Didn¡¯t you think of using a weapon against me? That would be your usual tactic." "You don¡¯t seem like someone I could take on. You¡¯d be at least C-rank if you joined a mercenary guild. Besides, it doesn¡¯t look like poison would work on you, so I have no choice but to beg for my life, don¡¯t I?" A mercenary guild. Right, I should¡¯ve headed there. She was a woman who could guide me. I lowered my sword completely and grabbed Rena by the neck. I could feel her pulse racing, but she didn''t resist at all. She relaxed entirely and went limp in my grip. I slowly walked to a corner of the hall, where an old cobweb hung high above. They said giant spiders had once lived in this catacomb, but they were gone now. I had never seen them myself¡ªonly these sticky, tough, and elastic cobwebs remained. Unless the creature that wove it was cooperating, even a large animal caught in it wouldn¡¯t be able to escape and would die. The cobweb seemed too valuable to waste. I might as well use it now. Whoosh! I threw her into the large cobweb. The sticky strands spun by the giant spider clung to her. Her pretty face tensed with anxiety. "Are you going to leave me as food for the spiders?" "There¡¯s no reason for that if you answer properly," I replied. In truth, there were no spiders here. Rena wouldn¡¯t die unless she held her breath or bit her tongue, but I doubted she would do that. This woman was the type who wouldn¡¯t kill herself even if I had a knife to her throat. "You should start by explaining the circumstances that brought you here," I said. Rena glanced sideways at the dead man. "To be honest, I followed him to swindle him," she admitted. She swallowed hard, then continued speaking. "He seemed like a fool. There are those who are born rich, spend their items carelessly, and treat dungeons like they¡¯re playing around. He was that type." She watched my expression carefully and added, "It seemed like that silver-haired woman followed him for a similar purpose." "You were planning to swindle him?" I asked. "Yes," she replied. I wasn¡¯t convinced. Bringing a poisoned dagger just to swindle someone seemed a bit much. The poison on the dagger wouldn¡¯t work on a skeleton like me. She clearly had come prepared to stab a person. "Let¡¯s be honest," I said. I left her hanging in the cobweb and turned away because I wanted her to give up everything. She wasn¡¯t ready for that yet. "Think carefully about what you can say. Organize the useful things in your head," I said. "W-wait!" she pleaded. It would be better to talk to her after she became a bit more desperate. I turned my attention to the corpses of the silver-haired woman and the man. I rummaged through their belongings, looking for anything useful. The potions might be useful. [Obtained: Lowest-grade Healing Potion!] [Obtained: Low-grade Healing Potion!] [Obtained: Low-grade Aphrodisiac Potion!] There seemed to be a strange potion among them, but I ignored it. I also remembered to collect some food. I might have to feed it to the woman hanging there, but only when she became sufficiently compliant. After retrieving the useful items, I rolled the corpses into a pit. I then stepped outside and lowered the mechanism. Rumble! The woman was trapped inside the hall with the broken skeletons. She seemed to have cried out for mercy a few times. I wondered why she was pleading so desperately when I had already spared her. I walked away. With every step I took, the broken skeletons caught my eye. The first one I noticed was the skeleton that had once guarded the entrance. It was the one I had placed in the sarcophagus, the one I had leveled up for a long time. Its body had been shattered to pieces. A bit too much. It seemed to have resisted until the end. I quickly put the bones back together so it could get up again. Ding! [Dungeon Affinity has increased!] [Current Dungeon Affinity: 6.19%] Chapter 30. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (8) Chapter 30. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (8) The Dungeon Affinity increased as I went around putting the skeletons back together. However, compared to the one percent increase when I killed the man, the amount was very small. An alert sounded when the affinity passed five percent, signaling that intruders had entered. I wondered what would happen if it went up more. I saw the broken skeletons. The man with the flail and the two feeble women I had subdued in mere seconds had crushed them. I felt a bit lonely, thinking about how they had destroyed all of the skeletons in this dungeon. However, the loneliness I felt wasn¡¯t pure. It was mixed with a thick impurity. "Was it a sense of superiority?" The skeletons who fell to the humans I easily killed... For them... Clatter! I shuddered. I had a long way to go to be feeling that way about such things. I had already pieced most of the skeletons back together already. In about five days, they would start moving again. Ding! [Dungeon Affinity has increased!] [Current Dungeon Affinity: 6.89%] I went outside the catacomb after I put the skeletons'' bones back together. My original goal was to wait for humans inside, but I suddenly felt like getting some fresh air. "Not for long, just a little while." The wind was blowing. Outside, there was no one. It was dark and quiet. "Did I choose the wrong time?" It seemed I had picked the wrong time to come out. No one would choose to enter a catacomb in the middle of the night. I walked for a while, running my hand along the blade of the sword. Then I found something interesting. It was an overturned cart with piles of paper bundles tangled in its wheels. Books were scattered messily on the ground. Maybe some bandits had attacked a bookseller, but there were no corpses. "Books, huh?" I could read. I didn¡¯t remember when I had learned. Was it five years after I awoke? Ten years? Was it after I met Lady Succubus? She had taught me the proper way to read and speak. But even before that, I had known a bit, perhaps due to memories from my past life. I picked up one of the books that had fallen to the ground. I opened one and tried to read it. There was no moonlight, so it was hard to make out the text. "I should take these inside." I grabbed a few books randomly and headed deep into the dungeon again. Rumble! I moved the mechanism, closed the stone wall again, and started reading. "Ugh..." The woman hanging in the spider web groaned. I glanced at her briefly and returned my focus to the book. This place was well-lit with torches, making it good for reading. The first book I grabbed was About the Unofficial Military Forces of the World ¨C Volume 1. I found a well-lit spot, took off my armor, and lay on my side to read. I could sense the desperate look on the woman hanging in the web. I planned to leave her hanging for a while longer anyway, and finding these books came at the perfect time. If not for these books, I would have been stuck endlessly practicing a skill that wouldn¡¯t even help me level up. With a sense of enjoyment, I opened the first book. But then... "What a ridiculous book." It was a rather absurd book. Oddly enough, it was filled with a lot of strange poetry. I flipped through the pages impatiently. #27 On a happy day A joyful day Drunk on women and wine Fell asleep in a stolen bed Drank deeply from the cup There was a sound I sensed someone there Familiar, so familiar I muttered, "Curious, who could it be?" Moved to the wall Through the wall I confirmed a presence Saw a scene, and felt at ease A piece, a simple piece Neatly arranged my corpse. --- #41 There was a rustling sound I, a war hero, Was stabbing the enemy¡¯s wife, rejecting The fate of a slave I lamented war, but I enjoyed the slaughter, the violence Enforced strict discipline, but Secretly hoarded spoils One day, there was a rustling A sound Behind me Under the bed From a pile of stolen Spoils in the tent What sound is this? No point in searching For it¡¯s a tiny piece It¡¯s everywhere The sound soon comes from within me. Rustle Rustle The blade leaves my chest As it should Returned to broken pieces I felt at peace. "What the hell?" The book contained over a hundred crude poems, and at the end, there was a short explanation. These poems, sung in hundreds of different versions, are thought to have been created and spread by the assassin group Red Flake to increase their value... Many rulers would call upon minstrels to request these songs, hoping to buy even a fraction of favor from Red Flake, who they believed might be watching them, hoping they would not accept a contract against them. "What is this book even about?" I couldn¡¯t tell what part of this was supposed to be about "the unofficial military forces of the world." There was no real information in it. Just as I closed the book, a message popped up. Ding! [Wisdom has increased by 1!] "What?" Clatter! I jumped up in surprise and checked my status. "It really went up!" [Skeleton Soldier Lv. 9 (65) Health: 30 Strength: 39 Agility: 39 Wisdom: 10] My Wisdom had indeed increased by one, reaching a total of ten. I was extremely bewildered by this turn of events. I had never heard of someone gaining Wisdom by reading a book. If that were possible, readers would have taken over this world long ago. Besides, the book I just read barely had any content. I paced around anxiously, then ran outside to gather more books. I picked up all the other books scattered on the ground and brought them inside. "Can reading actually increase Wisdom?" With tense anticipation, I opened the next book, Kill the Imperial Currency System. I quickly skimmed through it. ... And, naturally, we have widgets. Those widgets in your pocket. The same widgets in my pocket. The ones you can use to pay for Orishian wheat beer at the tavern with the busty hostess and chew on some moist bread. ... Seiron and roti, and widgets¡ªthere is, as you can see, a significant disparity in value between them. Seiron and roti go together, but widgets are somehow isolated. Different institutions produce them, and their values are entirely different. Where does this disparity arise? ... Forget the author¡¯s lengthy discourse. The answer is hatred. The hatred of the imperial family and nobility toward commoners causes this disparity. ... Many nobles and wizards dislike even touching widgets. They don¡¯t care to know their worth. ... The imperial family and nobility wish to dig a moat that commoners cannot cross in every field. They fill their bellies with honor, wealth, and power. They build high fences and dig deep moats. Without this, they feel anxious and can¡¯t bear it... I turned the last page. It was an interesting book. However, my Wisdom did not increase. "Maybe..." I recalled what happened during the swordsmanship training. I carefully read each word with full concentration. Still, my Wisdom didn¡¯t increase. "What¡¯s going on?" I paced around the cave and picked up another book to read. The next one was The Street Where the Boy Disappeared, a short novel about a boy who walked through walls. The writing was clear, and the story was imaginative. I turned the last page with satisfaction. Again, my Wisdom did not increase. "Maybe I need to read several books?" The first time my Wisdom increased might have been an exception. I picked up the fourth book, The Ugly Wizard. Since I couldn¡¯t figure out what caused my Wisdom to increase, I diligently read every word from the first page. Wizards are an extremely pragmatic lot. They enjoy the conveniences of the class system. They let the resentment caused by oppression fall on the nobles and sneak away in the background. They pass on the villainy. Even commoners who despise nobles revere the Tower of Azure. They idolize Wizards and make them the protagonists of their songs. But unless you are born with it, you can never become a Wizard. If you are not born with an Arcane Heart, no amount of effort or training will matter. Both nobles and Wizards are merely the result of simple chance, a lucky spin of the roulette wheel. ... Wizards don¡¯t even try. They enjoy maximum rights without any obligations. They produce nothing. This time, the book was filled with mockery and disdain for wizards. As I read, I thought, Won¡¯t the author get assassinated by the wizards? The contents of the book that provoked such concerns. I reviewed what I knew. The Wizards of Azure were powerful and wise, embodying mystery and miracles. With a wave of their hand, ice formed in the air. When they stomped, the ground cracked, and lava erupted. Their tower was a kind of sanctuary. The villagers near the tower considered serving a wizard to be the highest honor. However, the book I read sharply mocked their intelligence and crudely attacked their morality. "I was thinking of visiting them..." I had considered asking the wizards about what was happening to me, but this book greatly diminished my desire to go to the Tower of Azure. I checked the author''s name to see who was slandering the wizards. It was Kevin Ashton. "What kind of person is this?" Of course, there was no information about the author. It might even be a pseudonym. With an uneasy feeling, I turned the last page. At that moment, I heard the system alert. Ding! [Wisdom increased by 1!] "What?" I checked my status again. Sure enough, my Wisdom had gone up by one. "What¡¯s going on?" This was the second time it happened. I was bewildered. I continued reading other books about the empire''s history, geography, and more. However, my Wisdom did not increase again. I stopped after reading about twenty books. Then, I grabbed my head and looked at the two books that had increased my Wisdom again¡ªThe Ugly Wizard and About the Unofficial Military Forces of the World ¨C Volume 1. The common point was immediately apparent. The author was the same. "Kevin Ashton." I had never heard of him. "Hm." Judging by the name, it was a man. If reading books written by this man increased Wisdom just like that, then this was as surprising as dying and coming back to life the next day. I checked the remaining books for the author¡¯s name. There were no more books written by that man. And, of course, my Wisdom did not increase from reading any more books. "This is truly surprising." I thought that if I ever went to a city, I should look for more books written by this person. I lay down for a long time, rolling around and reading books. I even practiced my swordsmanship as a test. Ding! [You can no longer increase your skill level through training.] However, only the same message kept popping up occasionally. It seemed impossible. Two days passed like that. "This is the last book." The last book I grabbed was about mercenaries. It wasn¡¯t written by Kevin Ashton, but it detailed the exploits of legendary mercenaries. The content wasn¡¯t long. It explained in detail how mercenaries ranked themselves. They ranged from the beginner level N to F, E, D, C, B, A, and finally, S rank. The classification criteria were briefly outlined. "Hm..." I took out the identification card in my pocket for the first time in a while. [Benson Fletcher Class: Melee Issued: 1143.7. Rank: D Pylon Mercenary Guild] It was the ID I obtained by killing the hammer wielder. It had been issued four years ago. The guy''s rank was D. Chapter 31. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (9) Chapter 31. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (9) According to the book, a D-rank mercenary card meant they were considered a competent combatant anywhere. "Rank, huh..." I said absentmindedly. I wondered what rank I might''ve had. It had been quite some time since I defeated him. I thought I might be at least a C by now. I called out to the woman. "You." "Yes!" she answered in a desperate voice. Her body trembled. I understood why she seemed overly eager. She had been hanging there for two days, starving. "Humans need to eat, after all." It must have been painful. I had hung her in the spider web, but I was also her only hope. Only I could give her a sip of water. I asked, "What rank are you as a mercenary?" "Yes!" she responded immediately, then quickly added, "In terms of mercenary rank... I''m a little above E+." "What about the others?" "The dead woman was an E, the dead man was around a D-." She only referred to them as others, but I immediately understood she was talking about her dead companions. There was no need to ask again. The woman said dryly, "I, Rena, am telling you this honestly. I truly want to help. I don''t want to die like this." She seemed desperate. Thud. I set the book I was reading down on the sarcophagus and walked slowly toward the spider web. The woman babbled nervously upon sensing my approach. "The truth is, I was planning to kill the man with the poisoned dagger. The other woman was just as much of an obstacle. I intended to kill them both and take everything." Her story was predictable. "Do you always kill your kind like that?" With an easygoing attitude, she answered, "I only kill when necessary, like those who try to harm me or are too much of a nuisance." She talked about killing her own kind rather lightly. I didn''t dislike that attitude. There was no reason for me to object. "I think we could make a good partnership. I want to accompany you. I want to help." The woman had been hanging for two days without food, but she was quite polite and eager. "Why?" "I hate humans." A human who hated humans. That wasn''t rare. I remembered the past, when the Demon King had descended. Many humans had sided with the Demon King''s army and abandoned humanity. There were various types. Some despised humanity. They were proud of their misanthropy, considered it a noble sentiment, and joined the Demon King''s army to attack humanity. Others were consumed by a vague desire for revenge against all of humanity. Some had a more specific and clear sense of vengeance. They joined the Demon King''s army to achieve that goal. I didn''t know how successful they were. What type is this woman? In truth, she was probably just wearing a mask to survive. "Really? You want to be on my side?" "Yes. Please use me. I will do my best. No, I will excel." It seemed as if she would do anything, but this was the same woman who would kill her kind without hesitation. If I let her go, she would surely run away. Chasing and killing her would be a hassle, a difficult task. She would spread rumors among humans about a strange skeleton. They would try to hunt me down somehow. Clack, clack. I ground my teeth. I had no intention of releasing this woman right away. I pondered what to ask her, then opened the quest list in the status window. "This should work." The words I needed to ask were right there. "Tell me about the Necron Society." The hunters with the hammer and crossbow pursuing Rubia belonged to that organization. They had tried to kill me multiple times. I needed to learn about them first. As if it was not a hassle, the woman answered my question willingly. "So you know about them. The Necron Society is a human trafficking group." I had suspected as much. "Is that their main business?" "They also do contract killings and manufacture drugs, but human trafficking is their main trade. They capture weak humans and turn them into slaves." "That must lead to a lot of resistance." "Hmm, it''s easy to break someone''s spirit if you really want to,¡± she said casually, almost as if it were obvious. "Do they break easily?" Thinking about Rubia possibly suffering that fate made my mood sink. I stayed silent. She watched me carefully and continued speaking on her own. "There is something odd about them. Human trafficking is certainly a troublesome business, and there are many things to consider. With their organization and manpower, there are other ways to make money, but they seem particularly obsessed with human trafficking." "Who?" "Well... I don''t know who." It was natural that she couldn''t answer such a difficult question about who led the Necron Society. "Go on." "They''ve also established a good distribution network everywhere. They have branches in every major city." Something crossed my mind, so I asked, "Are they in Yubram too?" "Of course, they probably are. Law enforcement either turns a blind eye or is directly involved. In Yubram''s case... it''s probably the latter. They''re known for doing all kinds of dirty work." I organized my thoughts. "They''re not separate, then." The two people chasing us and the five in the guard uniforms were either part of the same organization or closely related. The targets I needed to destroy grew clearer. "Do you have a grudge against them?" the woman curiously asked. I nodded. A grudge? Of course. She rolled her eyes, examining me carefully as she tried to appease me. "I''ll help you." I wondered why I detected a hint of sincerity in her tone. "Why?" "Heh, I also dislike those bastards. I heard they even sell children. Wouldn''t it be best to burn them alive?" She was an amusing human female. Even though she had killed her companions in front of me just to survive, she was subtly speaking of justice. "Do you think it''s worth fighting them?" "Hmm... It won''t be easy. Their roots run deep. There''s a rumor that even some of the higher-ups are involved." "Those are all just rumors. You don''t seem to know much." "You''re hitting a sore spot. But I can find out." "How?" Suddenly, her tone became more energetic. "There are two ways. One is to buy the information. I''m a member of T&T. I know where to buy information." That was interesting. I thought I might play along for a bit. "How much money would it take?" "Price matters, but... T&T tracks information buyers. If the people tracking us offer enough money, we might be exposed." She seemed to be trying hard to earn my trust. It was rather cute. "Is there no code of ethics?" "Of course not. Where is there such a thing as ethics in this world?" I crossed my legs while sitting on the sarcophagus. "Then what do you suggest?" She was about to get to the point. "Heh..." The woman grinned. Despite having gone hungry for an entire day, she still managed a smile. It was impressive. "We can make the guild investigate them." "Stop beating around the bush." "Heh, if I rise in the guild ranks." "How high?" "Branch leader. T&T branch leaders can access records without restrictions." "Are there many branch leaders?" "There''s at least one in every major city, so around a hundred, I think." "And how many guild members are there?" "I think there are between five thousand and ten thousand." It was an outrageous story. The woman appeared to be a low-ranking member at a glance. She clearly didn''t even know the exact number of members in her organization. Yet, she was asking to be made a branch leader. Hanging in a spider web, starved for a day, and speaking like this in front of a walking skeleton... If ever there was a time to use laughter, this was it. "You seem to like negotiating, so fine. Let''s start negotiating. I''ll just leave you hanging and continue my training." I turned away, leaving the woman behind. She was amusing for forgetting her situation and trying to climb out of it. There were probably plenty of informants like her. I could catch as many as I wanted while waiting here or exploring other dungeons. *** "Please, I was wrong! Spare me..." The woman starved for another day, and I continued reading more books. During that time, no one else entered the dungeon, which was boring. I turned to look at the woman. She was hanging from the spider web, sticking out her tongue, catching droplets of water falling from the stalactites on the ceiling. If a human drank something like that, it would cause severe stomach issues. She must have been dehydrated to the point where she couldn''t think rationally. Her hollow eyes shone pathetically. Tap, tap. I approached the woman. She had been hanging on the web for three days without food. If I didn''t intend to kill her, it was time to let her down. At that moment, a message appeared. Ding! [Dungeon message: An intruder has entered!] The familiar, semi-transparent hologram appeared. It was the second time I had seen the dungeon message. Humans had broken in again. They were probably F-rank adventurers suited for an F-rank dungeon. "Should I go catch them?" But I quickly decided to wait. I planned to interrogate them when we met. Besides, I wanted to see something. There was a woman who had been starving for three days, tied up in a spider web here. I was curious how the human adventurers would react. I decided to watch. I did not release the woman and turned back. I hid behind the sarcophagus. Before long, I heard loud voices from outside. "Hey, why is there nothing here?" "Looks like someone already cleared the place." "Aw, that''s no fun." I heard footsteps and voices. It was a party of three male adventurers. Naturally, there were no sounds of fighting. The broken skeletons outside had not yet been reassembled, so the adventurers walked in without encountering any resistance. I¡¯ll calmly capture them one by one and interrogate them. The more sources of information, the better. However, they were blocked on the other side of the stone wall. "Hey, what''s going on here?" "Do we need to push it?" "There should be some kind of control..." They had foolishly entered without any information about the mechanism. "That''s what a novice party is like." They were truly a clueless bunch if they couldn¡¯t solve that mechanism. I had briefly hoped they might be useful as informants, but it seemed unlikely. I snapped back to reality. "Got my hopes up for nothing." Dungeon exploration was, after all, a matter of life and death. If they entered without even that level of preparation, their capabilities were obvious. "Still, I could give them a chance." I thought I might as well take a look at their faces. Clunk! I operated the mechanism to open the door for them. Then I hid on the other side. "Oh! It''s opening! It''s opening!" "Whoa!" "Does it open automatically when you stand in front of it?" The adventurers entered. They looked rugged and unpretentious, like they were from the countryside. They seemed like they would be more at home cutting grass or chopping wood. Of course, the simplicity of humans was just a sanitized term for a kind that made a person¡¯s skin crawl. Humans alienated everything else around them to a startling degree. The simple ones were the worst. Moreover, these individuals had chosen the life of adventurers, a lifestyle marked by vagrancy and pillage. They had chosen to take, steal, and destroy. They would desecrate peaceful dungeons and attack the villages of different races. "We found it!" "Let''s raid it!" Life already exists in those places. What exactly did they discover? What exactly did they raid? Boom! The stone wall opened up at the perfect time. As soon as the adventurers entered, the skeletons inside the hall began to slowly rise. "Are they already recovering?" Clatter! "Th-there it is!" "Let''s get them!" The biggest man shouted some nonsensical words at the skeletons. "Kehaha... Give up now!" What more can they surrender? What does he think they¡¯re still holding on to? These beings had already given up everything. But, when I thought about it, the man''s words were normal. The more a person surrendered, the more they were asked to give up. That was how the world worked. Chapter 32. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (10) Chapter 32. Why I Devour My Kind with Drowsy Eyes (10) Like the woman I had caught and hung up had said, there was no such thing as ethics in this world. Whoosh! The man who demanded surrender swung his axe. He wielded it like someone who had chopped a fair amount of wood. Perhaps he was tired of a life where all the firewood he chopped was taken by the lord. Now, he was here in an F-rank dungeon, chopping down weak skeleton soldiers. Swing! He might as well have been in the Lumberjack class. Crack! He skillfully swung his axe. The already broken skeletons were shattered again. Skeletons that had just risen, unable to regain their full strength, were caught off guard and destroyed. Fortunately, they didn''t feel pain. I watched them from my hidden spot. "Huff... huff..." All the skeletons were destroyed. The men swinging their weapons were panting. They were amateurs, unable to control even their breathing. Among humans, they were of the lowest caliber. They were purely F-rank adventurers. After catching their breath, the men noticed the woman hanging in the spider web. "Hmm?" Their discovery was rather late. The woman dangling there didn''t even look at them. She didn''t beg to be rescued. She remained quiet the whole time. The men exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, it''s a woman!" But they didn''t reach out to help her right away. "How did you end up hanging here?" They began interrogating her. I watched with interest to see what they would do. The woman didn''t answer. "What the...? Isn''t she going to ask us to help her?" They showed a subtly mocking attitude. "Aren''t they going to help her right away?" I was a little surprised but quickly came to terms with it. Maybe such behavior was natural. The woman in the spider web was weak, bound, and powerless. Humans showing kindness to the weak was unnatural, especially in this situation. Dungeons were places of savagery. Even if the three men who entered showed malice, the woman hanging there had no way of retaliating with her own malice. They had nothing to fear in terms of retribution and no one to hold them accountable. They could do whatever they wanted. "A bit unexpected." Thus, it wasn''t the behavior of the men that was surprising. It was that the woman wasn''t asking for help that was unexpected. The man who had been holding the axe grabbed his water bottle from his belt. In front of his fellow human suffering from thirst for three days, he lifted the bottle and said, "Your lips are really dry. Want a drink?" Then he guzzled the water down in front of her. The bottle emptied quickly. The man then used the empty bottle to thump the woman''s head as she hung there. "Smile, come on, give us a pretty face. We might decide to save you." "Yeah, yeah! Why are you hanging there, huh?" They poked at the spider web with their iron rods, laughing loudly. It was amusing to see them surrounding the woman, teasing her with their backs turned to her. Waiting and watching had its rewards. The men looked around and asked the woman, "Don''t you have any companions?" The question had no hint of intention to bury the bodies of her dead comrades with dignity. They were simply checking if anyone might interfere with them doing as they pleased. Or they were asking if anyone else had strung her up in the spider web. If there were, they would either negotiate or fight. The woman remained silent. The atmosphere grew tense. They were being ignored by someone they could kill and trample at any moment. The realization enraged them. In their small world, such a thing was unthinkable. The man with the axe frowned. "Hey, are you ignoring us?" "In that situation, shouldn''t you be begging us to save you? Ask for help! Beg for your life! Then ask, ''What can I offer in return if you save me?''" The man outlined the scenario he wanted quite specifically. The woman sighed dryly, seemingly unaffected by his shamelessness. For many, shame was still a challenging virtue. "Sigh." "Sigh?" The men''s eyes narrowed. The woman enunciated each word clearly. "Why are you guys so stupid?" "What?" The woman, still hanging, spat out her words like she was vomiting. "Wouldn''t you get annoyed if a worm started talking to you? Slimy things drooling all over the place like this." "W-what?" The men were flustered. They looked as if they were questioning their own hearing. One of them even touched his own ear, wondering if it was still attached. After confirming it was in place, his hand slowly lowered. "Can''t understand words, huh?" The face of the man with the axe turned red. The veins in his neck bulged. "This... is this woman insane?" "Get lost. Go drool on each other, you idiots." I was a bit taken aback too. There was a certain sincerity in the woman''s aggressive tone. It was genuine irritation. There was a force that seemed to come from deep within her. It would be difficult to act like that after starving for three days. Despite her hunger, the woman''s voice still had strength. Even after three days without food, she still shined brightly at this moment. The man in front muttered harsh words about what he would do to her, mentioning things about her body that wouldn''t end just with words. He raised his axe, ready to strike. Clatter. I stepped forward. It seemed like there would be bloodshed if I left them alone. Maybe they were too excited. The three men didn''t even notice me approaching. I spoke softly from behind them. "Do you know anything about the Necron Society?" This was an important question that would determine their value to me. If they knew something, I might consider sparing them. While I was speaking, I was more than willing to keep them alive. "What''s that?" "What society?" "Eek!" For a moment, they thought the question had come from one of their own. But when they turned around, they were startled. I only wore armor and hadn''t put on my helmet. I didn''t want to hear them ask me to take it off again. I asked again, slowly, "Do you not know about the Necron Society?" "What... what is this?" "A skeleton... it spoke!" The three men surrounded me. One of them nearly tripped over his own feet. "I guess they don''t know anything." If I could have sighed, I would have. Clatter. I moved my cervical vertebrae, lifting and lowering my ribcage slightly. "What the hell is this? Why is it wearing armor?" "Hit it!" I tilted my head and asked them, "Isn''t it a bit much to attack me without even bringing a sword?" They might''ve thought I was joking, but there was a bit of sincerity in my words. Approaching them unarmed and getting attacked right away was certainly something to question. There was, of course, a reason for approaching them barehanded. I was confident. These men were even weaker than the silver-haired woman who had died from a dagger. The men didn''t answer my question. They didn''t even try to figure out what was happening. Instead, they let out a battle cry. "Yaaah!" Whoosh! One of them swung the iron rod he was holding at me. The same rod they had used to poke at the spider web. He was the more agile of the group, but he was still tediously slow. I raised my hand. As the iron rod swung at me, I grabbed it firmly. "Eek!" The rod was pulled away smoothly, as if he had intended to hand it to me. The man stumbled forward, and I brought the rod down hard. Crack! The man''s head was crushed. Brain matter and blood splattered into the air. The brain matter seemed a bit pale, perhaps because it wasn''t filled with much. "Well, I guess that doesn''t matter." Reflecting skeptically on my biology knowledge, I took another step forward. "Aah!" The remaining two men recoiled in fear. Terror quickly overwhelmed them. Clang! I dropped the iron rod to the ground. I had no intention of scaring them. I was simply asking them out of curiosity, like asking for directions. "You really don''t know, do you?" "Eek!" The remaining two men screamed but stopped backing away when they saw that I was unarmed. "Hm? They stopped." After all, this was a dungeon where skeleton soldiers appeared. They had come to hunt skeletons. I was wearing armor, and something seemed to have happened just now. But in the end, I was just a skeleton... Was that what they were thinking? The man with the axe and the one with the sword exchanged glances and gripped their weapons tightly. "Oh?" I found it amusing that they were about to charge in despite witnessing the overwhelming difference in strength. "It''s just a skeleton! Don''t be scared!" I could call them brave if I wanted. To them, I was still just a Skeleton Soldier that deserved to be broken. In a way, it was a pure perspective. The situation was strange, but they didn''t care and charged in. Many people tended to immerse themselves in a single view without any thinking. Because of that view, they were cut down. "You... you killed my friend!" the man holding the axe shouted loudly. "If that''s how it is, what about my friends here?" I pointed at the broken skeletons. He didn''t refute my words, nor did he reply. Of course, I didn''t expect a calm discussion. "Die, monster!! Aaaaah! " He swung his axe fiercely. The axe handle was impressive. I thought about the trees he must have chopped with that axe. I had no loyalty to speak for the trees. I just pondered the lifestyle of constantly having to chop something down. "Yaaah!" The other man swung his sword from the side. I dodged the swinging axe blade lightly, taking a step to the side, and tripped the man wielding the sword. "Ugh!" The man who stumbled and fell struck the neck of the man holding the axe. The sword swung weakly. For such simple men, maces and axes suited them better than swords. The man was not familiar with wielding a sword. The axe barely cut into his neck. "Ugh, ugh..." The man with the axe clutched his neck and collapsed. Blood was trickling out, but it hadn''t even cut an inch deep. It would take a while for him to die. I took the sword and drove it into the man¡¯s chest. Slash! If one carried a sword, they would eventually meet someone else who carried one. If they swung it, they must be prepared for their heart to be pierced by it. Judging by his expression, he had not been prepared. The eyes of the man with the sword were wide open with disbelief. Splat! Blood spurted like a fountain from the gaping wound in his chest. I sidestepped to avoid the blood spray. Then I swung the sword and cleanly severed the head of the man with the axe. Thud. The axe wielder''s head rolled across the floor. It was almost embarrassing how low their level was. Even if I killed several of them, my experience wouldn''t increase. However, killing the three of them raised my level. [Experience increased by 121.] [Experience increased by 134.] [Experience increased by 125.] [Level up!] My level was absurdly low compared to my actual abilities. The adventurers coming here were of a low level, but so was I. I checked my status. Status window. Ding! [Name: None Skeleton Soldier Lv. 10 (66) Health: 30 Strength: 39 Agility: 39 Wisdom: 11 Remaining Points: 1] I allocated the remaining point to Strength to balance that and Agility. Sometimes I raised Agility first, sometimes Strength. Keeping these two stats balanced was important. [Strength: 39 -> 40] I began to search the bodies of the adventurers. Ever since I rose from the grave, I had been doing this frequently. These were the bodies I had just killed. "Am I getting used to this?" I checked the chest pierced by the sword and rummaged through the bag slung over his shoulder. I inspected the stiffening body with my hardened hands. Clatter. Their wallets were thin. Only a few rotis, but they had a decent amount of food. Chapter 33. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (1) Chapter 33. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (1) I searched through the belongings of the man who had swung his sword clumsily. He had awkwardly wielded a bastard sword that seemed newly acquired, and he awkwardly swung it around, lacking any trace of skill. Among his things, I found a large wooden box and wondered what it was. "Is it a lunchbox?" Clack. I opened the lid. Inside were various kinds of fruits. Among them, large grapes caught my eye. The grapes were plump and looked fresh. I plucked them one by one. The skin, red and ripe, could make good wine. I carefully peeled the skin with my fingertips, ensuring not to tear the flesh inside. The inside was moist, and the flesh was plump, with no seeds. I could feel the fertile soil and the hot sun that had ripened these grapes. I tapped them gently a few times with my fingers, swiftly peeling them without breaking the skin. I carefully peeled the grapes. However, I wasn''t going to eat this sweet fruit myself. I could chew it, but I had neither a tongue to taste the flesh nor internal organs to digest it. Between my ribs, there was nothing but empty darkness and air. Rattle. I looked at the woman hanging in the spider web. Humans were fragile. They could die just from not drinking water. If I left her like this, it wouldn''t take long for her to reach her limit. If I didn''t plan on killing her, it was time to put something in her mouth. There are no other hostages. I just killed the three who had entered the dungeon. I cut one''s throat and stabbed a sword into another''s chest. There were no other useful ones left. I had to keep this woman alive, because I had many questions to ask. Tap, tap. I approached the spider web. I expected the woman to plead or make a desperate request, but she said something unexpected instead. "Are you willing to negotiate now?" I flinched in surprise. For a moment, I stopped in my tracks, puzzled by the unexpectedness that rose up my spine. This woman was hanging in mid-air. She had been starving for three days like that. Her eyes were sunken, and her voice was faint, barely audible. In that situation, she spoke of negotiation. She''s amusing. I looked at the peeled grape with its white flesh exposed. I did not offer it to her. I put it in my mouth and swallowed it. I felt the juicy liquid flow down between my teeth. Drip. If I had a tongue, I would be savoring the rich grape flavor and the sweet and sour taste, but unfortunately, I couldn''t feel such sensations. This was just to tease her. "Sigh..." The woman sighed as she must have felt regret. After a few chews, I stopped. The half-chewed flesh fell to the floor through my empty ribcage. However, I was the one who felt annoyed. "How does it taste?" I couldn''t taste anything, and she pointed that out. "..." If I had skin, my face would have turned red. I looked at the woman. She was young, perhaps around twenty. I had acted childishly toward a young woman. Rattle! I shook my head in disgust at myself. Thankfully, the woman broke the awkward silence. "Did the word negotiation offend you?" That was true. Admitting it would have been embarrassing. Click, click. Pretending to be calm, I replied, "That word is funny. Do you think you''re worth that much?" The woman nodded. "Yes! I must be worth more than those guys, right? You killed them right away, but you kept me alive, didn''t you?" She looked at the dead men, and I did too. She had a point. The contrast between the sprawled-out men and the woman hanging in the web was striking. At first, she had begged for her life. But now that I put my sword away and sat at the table, she didn¡¯t back down. She was clearly aware of her own card. In an F-rank dungeon, adventurers as valuable and cooperative as her were rare. Most of the adventurers I met were useless, like the three dead men. They were either a little better, or even more pathetic. What they knew amounted to the knowledge in a single book. They would see the world through only one crude perspective. Even if I demonstrated an overwhelming difference in strength, many would still merely see me as a Skeleton Soldier who deserved to be broken. Hmm. I hesitated for a moment, but I had to admit it eventually. I needed to use this woman. Fwish. I peeled another grape, and the woman opened her parched lips. "Ah..." Did she sense I was going to feed it to her this time? I pushed the grape into her mouth, like feeding a baby bird. "Ha..." She let out a sound that sounded like a sigh and a moan. She chewed it thoroughly, savoring it. Her whole body trembled as she ate. If she was going to eat like that, why did she talk about negotiations? "You have remarkable self-control,¡± I commented. "Hehe..." The woman hanging there smiled with her eyes. I peeled a few more grapes and fed them to her, giving her small amounts of other food as well. It felt like feeding a bird. "Mmm... mmm..." I let her eat slowly. I figured she must feel somewhat satiated by now. I asked, "Why did you do that?" It wasn''t an interrogation. It was a simple question because I was genuinely curious. Why did she act that way? The woman looked at me in response to my question. From her perspective, it was a sudden question, but she seemed to have an idea of what I was asking. "What do you mean by that?" She didn''t answer immediately and tried to buy some time. She smiled shyly. It was a smile that would likely work well on a human male. Is that a habit? I asked again, "Why didn''t you ask them for help?" Why hadn''t she asked the men to rescue her? Honestly, there were still many important questions I hadn''t asked, such as the surrounding dungeons, for example. That would have been a practical topic. But more than anything, I wanted to ask her that. The woman tilted her head and replied, "Eh? How would a man save a woman?" The answer came without delay. Her tone was one of puzzlement, as if wondering why I would ask something so obvious. I was taken aback. "But you''re the same species, aren''t you?" "Ahahaha..." The woman burst out laughing cheerfully. Her laughter echoed several times through the dungeon. Despite her lack of strength, she laughed with her whole body. What¡¯s so funny? "Why are you laughing?" "Heh... You think I''m of the same species as them? It wouldn''t be easy to be that far from being one, even if I wanted to." The woman paused briefly before continuing, "They would never think of me as the same. Without caring what I think, all they want is to tear off my clothes and pin me down. Is that what you call being the same species? Ha, what a great species indeed." Suddenly, I thought of what had happened to Rubia. The woman''s words, still hanging in mid-air, started to make a bit more sense. I silently mulled over her words. She continued, "If anything, you and I are more like the same species. Much closer." "Because we share the same enemy?" "Our structures are similar." "Structures?" "Look at them. When they see you, they just want to rush in, crack your skull, and loot everything, right? Oh, look at my mouth." She glanced at me cautiously. "We''re in similar situations, you know." I could sense what she was trying to say, but I didn''t press further. Whether I agreed or not, continuing to ask questions and listening to answers about this felt like establishing some kind of mental connection with her. Thinking of what happened to Rubia made me feel a bit uncomfortable. I decided to change the subject. "You''re called Rena, right?" "Yes! That''s right." "Do you not have a name, Mr. Knight?" she asked. "I don''t." "Hmm, can I give you one?" She suddenly took a bold step. I didn''t answer. "I don''t think we''re on that kind of level." "Sorry. That was rude of me." I paused for a moment and then spoke again. "I''m thinking of using you. I''ll collect human relics for you. You sell them. Grow in your guild and bring back information." Rena smiled brightly and nodded without hesitation. "Great! That''s what I wanted." Then she added, "But instead of saying you''ll use me, why not trust me?" It was amusing to hear such words from someone who seemed unlikely to trust anyone. Or perhaps it was intended as a joke. It was a light joke that could only come from someone who had a ludicrous distance from trusting someone. Rattle. I moved my cervical vertebrae slightly. Would she recognize this as a sign of laughter? I cut through all the spider web, laid out a blanket on the cave floor, and placed the woman down. Thud. Rena slumped onto it. "Ugh..." Her whole body seemed to ache, and she twisted a few times before settling down. "Tell me everything you know about the nearby dungeons." "Hmm, I have a question." "What is it?" "Is your goal to hunt adventurers, or to conquer dungeons?" "Both." "Oh..." Rena let out a small moan. I didn''t plan only to deal with the adventurers who got caught in the dungeon. I had achieved Swordsmanship Lv. 5 after eight months of swinging my sword without any conditions. It wasn''t a skill gained from hunting humans. It was thanks to the swordsmanship talent Lv. 1 obtained by defeating the boss of the catacombs. I also planned to claim those rewards from the bosses of other dungeons. Is it acceptable for a mere Skeleton Soldier from an F-rank dungeon to roam around other dungeons and hunt their bosses? That question was fundamentally flawed. It was a trivial matter, not even worthy of debate. There were things that could be done by luck, and there were things that could never be done. A mere Skeleton Soldier wandering other dungeons to hunt bosses clearly belonged to the latter category. Before considering whose side one was on, such an occurrence was impossible. There was no need for value judgment on what fundamentally could not happen. But I intended to do just that. The woman looked up at me wide-eyed and said, "Everyone will be your enemy." She coughed lightly and continued, "There''s one E-rank dungeon, one D-rank dungeon, and two C-rank dungeons." "Is that all?" "Yes." "That''s all I know within a week''s distance. The E-rank is the Dry Underground Cemetery, the D-rank is the Ruined Spider''s Vault, and the C-ranks are the Twisted Mist Region and the Deceptive Jungle." "Within a week''s distance, by foot?" "Yes, by walking. Oh. Is that a lot? I thought it was quite a few..." She tilted her head. I guess that''s how it was in this period. The Abyss hasn''t opened yet. "There aren''t many monsters around here, are there?" Rena nodded. "Yes, the south is the second rarest region for dungeons after the central area. If you go to the western desert or the eastern mountains, there are still quite a few. There are also quite a few tribes if you didn''t know." Indeed, monsters lived in the western desert and the eastern mountains. Of course, some monsters lived there because they liked sand or mountains. But those were not the majority. More than half lived there because they had been pushed out. The land had the scorching sun, the dry air, the cold of high mountains, and rugged terrain. They lived there because it was less horrific than humans. To avoid contact with humans, monsters lived in such places to be treated as if they didn''t exist. Chapter 34. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (2) Chapter 34. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (2) The central and southern regions had fertile plains along the great river. The temperature and humidity created an ideal environment for living, allowing high-quality fruits and vegetables to grow in abundance. Monsters couldn''t set foot in such places. Before the Dark Lord''s descent, it had been a distant dream for them to even attempt it. Areas near rivers, rich in resources and fertile land, solely belonged to humans. These were places where the moonlight was soft and flowers bloomed beautifully. Thud. I heard something fall while I was lost in thought. It was the sound of Rena plopping onto a blanket. Soon, her light breaths softly echoed within the hall. Is she asleep? I quietly observed the woman. She didn''t seem to be pretending to sleep. She had been hanging in the spider web for three days and nights, so she hadn''t eaten or slept properly. I placed another layer of the adventurers¡¯ travel blanket over her. I had plenty of time to think about this woman, so I quietly reconsidered my decision to accept her. I believed my judgment was not wrong. Moving toward my goal alone would come with many limitations. First, I needed someone who understood humans. The ones I would kill soon were also humans, and those I would kill in ten or twenty years would be humans called heroes. Hmm. Rattle. In truth, I also had the thought of trying to find a companion. I had failed to make Rubia a companion. Before that, I had rattled around aimlessly for twenty years. Excluding my master, I had no one I could call a companion. Adventurers who entered the dungeon called each other companions, but I didn''t have such a thing. I didn''t have someone who would even hold my hand, let alone someone who would die trying to save me. I stared at the sleeping woman, wondering if she could become a companion. Rattle. I shook my head. We might be able to stay together for a while, but she wasn''t a companion. It was too much to use such a familiar term. The woman willingly spoke to me out of a sense of kinship, but I still felt a sense of distance between us. I could listen to the strange things this woman said and observe what she did. But I couldn''t understand her heart, nor would I be able to in the future. I was certain that she would be useful, but I wasn¡¯t so sure about her reliability. While I was lost in my thoughts, a system message popped up. Ding! The familiar, light-hearted sound rang out, just like always. [B-rank Scenario, Rena''s Story, is starting.] [Help her become the T&T Guild Branch Manager! The Ally in the Dark scenario will be activated.] [Don''t be complacent with her high affection! She could betray you at any time.] It was an amusing message. My neck rattled as I let out a small chuckle. I thought it was considerate of them to let me know so much. The information wasn''t particularly unwelcome. She can betray me at any time? I thought of it as a helpful warning. After all, I was a skeleton. Even forming a relationship where a human could betray me was difficult. Betrayal and conspiracies were things that happened to humans, not skeletons. I looked at the sleeping woman. She was sleeping deeply, her breathing steady. [B-rank Scenario, Rena''s Story, is starting.] I reached out and touched the sparkling letters that spelled Rena. Ding! [Name: Rena Thief Lv. 5 Health: 13 Strength: 11 Agility: 17 Wisdom: 11] [Affection: 11 ¡ª Rena feels a sense of kinship with you.] [Basic Skills: ¡ª Unlock by increasing Affection.] [Perks: ¡ª Unlock by increasing Affection.] [Titles: ¡ª Unlock by increasing Affection.] It seemed that without increasing her Affection, I wouldn''t be able to see her basic skills, perks, or titles. But when did her Affection increase? I hadn''t done much, yet her Affection toward me was eleven. She was a woman whose motives I could not grasp. Rena''s abilities were decent. Humans varied greatly as individuals. Some were born with ridiculous strength, and some grew at an astonishing pace. I couldn''t see her perks or titles yet, but Rena clearly had talent. If she leveled up quickly, she might soon surpass me. If there ever came a time when I had to kill her, or if I wanted to kill her, I needed to choose that moment carefully. I looked at the sleeping woman with cautious eyes. *** "Hmm..." Rena slowly woke up, and she looked at me with a sleepy expression. Despite appearing capable of sleeping for the next five years, she woke up in less than a day. She had been buried in a deep, dreamless slumber. She turned over and sat up. Then she let out a sigh and searched for something in her pocket. I realized my mistake and felt a bit uneasy. She might have some dangerous weapon hidden on her. Humans could have all kinds of special and extraordinary weapons. There were even portable bombs. If she took out a bomb hidden somewhere in her pocket and threw it, I would be blown away. My entire skeleton would be shattered, and even if I didn''t die, I would certainly lose the woman. Perhaps I had been too careless. Until now, I had never searched the body of a living human, neither Rubia nor Rena. I had no idea what they had or were hiding. It seemed I had been needlessly polite, unknowingly adhering to expectations no one had from me. I tightened my grip on my sword and readied myself to sever her neck at any moment, but it turned out to be pointless. Rena rummaged through her pocket leisurely, and what she took out didn''t seem to be a weapon. "Um... " Rena extended her hand toward me. There was a small trinket with a string in her hand. It looked old and crude. At the center of a crossed design was a small cubic stone. Rena said, "This is my mother''s pendant." "A pendant?" "Yes." A pendant was an ornament worn around the neck, usually with a jewel in the middle. This one looked like a string with a purple cubic stone. The cubic stone had lost its luster and the edges seemed somewhat worn. It didn''t seem like something sold anywhere, not even in an antique shop. Her saying it was her mother''s pendant didn''t seem like a lie, but even if it were genuine, it didn''t hold any meaning for me. "Why give me something like this?" "It''s a token of trust. Even though you released me, I thought it might still be hard for you to trust me completely." I thought it was a ridiculous statement. Trust was a deeply subjective feeling that rose from the heart. No object could ever be a token of it. I didn''t take the pendant. If I were to trust her, I could do so without her giving me a single leaf. "No." "What?" "I said no." Rena hesitated. From how she held the pendant, it seemed like it held considerable meaning to her. She looked somewhat troubled. "This pendant... it''s real..." "If I choose not to trust, even a bottle with a heart in it won''t make me believe you." Thinking it wasn''t worth it, I continued while clenching my teeth, "Let''s just use each other as long as it''s helpful." Even as I spoke, I realized I wasn''t sure what kind of relationship I wanted with the woman in front of me. Unlike the feelings I had for my master or Rubia¡ªwhose death I had witnessed multiple times¡ªI had no desire to protect her. Of course, I didn''t trust her as an individual either. It was absurd to think that a woman who had no qualms about killing her own kind wouldn''t stab me in the back. For now, I wanted to use her. I wanted to provide what she wanted and receive what I wanted in return. Perhaps that was fine instead of soft feelings like trust or the desire to protect. Or maybe... "Haha..." While I was lost in thought, the woman chuckled softly in front of me despite my rejection. "This really does seem foolish, right?" Her face was bright. She put the pendant back into her pocket. At that moment... Ding! [Rena''s Affection has increased by 3.] [Current Affection: 14] She was a woman whose Affection increased in response to strange events. I changed the subject. "Did you sleep well?" "Yes, thanks to you. Which dungeon should we go to first?" "Let''s go by rank." "Then I''ll set the next destination to be the Dry Underground Cemetery. Shall we prepare?" "Do we need to prepare?" "To be honest, if I¡¯m with you, there probably isn''t much we need to prepare." The Dry Underground Cemetery was an E-rank dungeon. Going to a D or C-rank dungeon would yield more experience points, but it was safer to progress step by step. Should we go there now? However, something else was on my mind. Something had been changing whenever I mended the bones of skeletons in this dungeon and killed invading adventurers. I still didn''t know what Dungeon Affinity was. What purpose does Dungeon Affinity serve? What does it mean? I quietly recalled everything up to this point. When the affinity had increased by 5%, there was a dungeon alert. It displayed who had entered the dungeon and alerted me of intruders. If it increased by 10% or 20%, something else might''ve been given. Rena cleared her throat beside me. "Uh, ahem. What are you thinking about?" I realized I had been lost in thought, neglecting her for too long. I had left her hanging in a web for three days, and even after releasing her, I had let her remain in a daze. I looked at Rena. "Why don''t you visit a village?" "What?" "You said you wanted to join me, right? You should sleep properly before coming." I had fed her, but it was far from enough. Even though I''d laid out a blanket, she still slept on the cave floor. Rena looked rather shabby. A living human needed to wash regularly. They needed to clean the sweat and salt from their skin with water. Rena couldn¡¯t do that in a dungeon like this. The woman looked up at me with a surprised expression. "Oh..." She stared at me as if she found it hard to believe and asked, "Are you really letting me go like this? Seriously?" I looked at her and retorted, "Do you not want to?" "Oh, no! I''ll go." Though she said that, she still hadn''t gotten up. Is she worried that leaving too quickly would make her lose trust? I inspected the pile of goods from the adventurers. There were many miscellaneous items, but nothing seemed particularly valuable or small enough to fetch a high price. The pile resembled the lives of F-rank adventurers. Everything was bulky and mostly useless. The items lacked liquidity and were worthless. Clang. I sorted out the weapons, hoping they at least could be sold for scrap metal. Selling everything could yield some money, but I had no intention of selling them myself. I wasn¡¯t releasing the woman without a purpose. These items were loot obtained from slain adventurers, far more dangerous than items obtained by fraud, blackmail, or theft. However, Rena mentioned she worked for a guild in the underworld, so she should have more than enough ways to deal with these items. "As long as the price is right, there must be plenty of people who won''t care about the source of these items." Rena nodded. "Of course." I pointed to the pile of goods. "Look at the stuff I''ve gathered." "Yes!" "You handle it however you see fit. Sell them, use them, whatever." "I''ll handle it cleanly." Rena could still run away at any moment. She could abandon me. If I let her go, she might even come back with a subjugation team to attack. However, if I wanted to use her properly, I would have to send her to a human city alone several times. There would be many instances where she would need to act on her own without me. If I kept her by my side and constantly watched her, her usefulness would be incredibly low. If I decided to keep her alive, it would only be natural to actively put her to work. Chapter 35. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (3) Chapter 35. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (3) Rena organized the loot. Her manner of sorting through items taken from corpses seemed quite practiced. It looks like she''s done this plenty of times. I could easily picture her collecting items from people she had killed, then heading straight to the black market. She was a dangerous woman, indeed. "I''ve packed everything important." However, the pack she made wasn''t very large. Most of the bigger items were left behind. I looked at her with a slightly puzzled expression, and she smiled faintly. "I''ll make several trips. I just don''t have the strength to carry everything now." I nodded and explained how to operate the mechanism that separated the inside from the outside of the hall. "The obelisk is here..." I showed her the location of the hidden control device and how to align the symbols. "Turn the obelisk in the order of the snake, owl, and horse drawings..." Rena nodded. "Ah, so that''s how it works!" It was a simple device, but I didn''t think someone could learn to operate it so easily after just one demonstration. She grasped it quickly, as expected. With a low rumble, the stone wall opened. "I''ll try closing it this time!" Rena operated the mechanism a few times. She opened and closed the wall, and then left it open to finally walk outside. "Alright, I''ll be back!" "Be careful." The words slipped out unintentionally. Rena nodded lightly, smiling, and her footsteps faded into the distance. I turned my gaze to the weapons lying on the ground, then looked at the spiderweb where Rena had been hanging. The air inside the hall gradually cooled. I felt strangely empty. Was I excited just because she had been around, even though I carelessly left her hanging for three days? Whoosh! I wanted to shake off my thoughts, so I swung the sword with one hand. It was a pointless gesture. My swordsmanship level wasn''t going to increase any further. The quest was over. *** An hour passed. I was contemplating whether to go outside and hunt some humans instead of staying idle. Ding! [Dungeon Message: Intruders have entered!] [Number: 5] Hmm? An alarm suddenly went off, and a message alerted me that five adventurers had entered. It was a trivial alert as intruders in the dungeon were expected. However, a chill ran through me, like a cold blade cutting into my thoughts. Is this related to Rena? The timing was odd. Only an hour had passed since she went outside, and now five adventurers had entered the dungeon. The likelihood of a connection was high. Did she betray me the moment I released her?Had I been expecting it? In the end, I realized I had trusted her. The feeling of betrayal settled heavily on my chest like a stain. Of course, it was a hasty judgment. The five adventurers might have nothing to do with Rena. In any case, assuming the worst was safer. I must prepare myself. Rena had watched me fight. She wouldn''t have brought ordinary adventurers. If she brought them, they would certainly be capable of subduing me. Shiing. I slowly drew a sword from its scabbard. Thud. I rested the tip of the sword lightly on the stone coffin. I waited, standing at an angle. I stared at the blade. It was sharp enough. Looking at the edge was required to examine a sword, but to know the wielder, I had to look at the hilt. I drew my gaze inward, toward the leather-wrapped hilt. The owner of this sword had been the one who carried only a bunch of food. The hilt wasn''t stained or worn, which meant that the sword was relatively new. Dozens of swords lost their owners in this condition daily. The hilt wore out far slower than the severed necks of their wielders. What kind of hilts do those entering the dungeon hold? If they own a sufficiently worn hilt, my head might get crushed. Tap, tap. The footsteps drew closer. They echoed throughout the dungeon. The dungeon walls were uneven, causing the sounds to bounce around chaotically. "Hey, are you sure there''s something good here?" It was a man''s voice. "Heh, you''re not planning to run away, are you?" Another voice sounded, deep and rough. "How could I escape from a place like this?" Rena? I heard her voice. Running away? "You said this was a dungeon, but there''s nothing here. Are you telling us the truth?" "Did you think I was lying?" There was a hint of flirtation in her voice. Hearing it a second time, I was sure it was Rena. Is she really bringing someone in right after going out? "It''s much better to be inside here than outside, isn''t it?" Rena continued. The sound of footsteps came right up to the stone wall. I heard the mechanism being operated. Guuu... Boom! The stone wall opened, hitting the ceiling with a loud thud. The sound of the heavy impact echoed throughout the dungeon. Dust scattered both inside and outside. I was puzzled as I watched the humans enter the hall. I stared blankly at them while sitting on the stone coffin. There were five of them: Rena and four men. However, they weren''t properly armed. They had no armor or weapons. They wore plain clothes, and they weren''t adventurers or hunters. They were just human men, not even remotely prepared to explore a dungeon. They looked so out of place that I wondered if this world was really safe for them. "Heeek!" The men gasped in surprise when they saw me. They took a few steps back instinctively. They seemed to have had no idea there would be monsters here. Did they not even know they were entering a dungeon? "Eek! What is this?" Or perhaps, they were dragged in thoughtlessly under someone''s persuasion. If they had any courage, it was foolish courage, and I almost wanted to applaud their sheer lack of thought. The men pointed at me, startled. "It''s a... skeleton!" one said. They still didn¡¯t run away. I looked at Rena. I was about to demand an explanation, but something was strange. She was wet. Her body and hair were damp. Her black eyes and hair glistened with moisture. I asked Rena, "What is all this?" Rena chuckled and replied, "Sorry, but could you kill these guys for me?" "Argh!" She twisted the wrist of the man holding her hand. She snapped it easily, and slipped away from the confused group of men. Shaking her wet black hair, she quickly walked over to me with light steps. The intruders, with bewildered expressions, yelled out in confusion. "W-what are you doing?" "Couldn''t you handle this on your own?" I asked. I really had no idea where she had brought these civilians from. When the alarm had gone off and the men had entered the hall, I wondered if she was trying to betray me. But what I saw in front of me was a group of absurdly unprepared men. I couldn''t fathom where their confidence had come from to crawl into a dungeon without a single weapon. Rena was already walking briskly toward me, putting distance between herself and the foolish-looking men. She sneered at them as they backed away. I asked her, slightly irritated, "What are you doing?" Rena twisted slightly and replied, "Ugh, I couldn''t just enter the city in this filthy state after three days without washing up. Please cut me some slack." "So?" I never told her not to wash. "I was washing in a valley when these guys showed up. They asked if I was deliberately tempting them, and it didn''t seem like I could slip away easily. It felt like they were about to attack me right there." "Was there a need to drag them all the way here?" "Well, I could''ve killed them myself, but it would have been bothersome to deal with the bodies..." Rena trailed off. Rattle. I intentionally expressed a sigh with my bones. She had deliberately dragged them all the way here, hoping I would take care of them. It was half a joke, but the purpose was clear: to increase trust. The deaths of those four men would serve as the first offering to strengthen our relationship. I looked at the men. To my astonishment, they were each picking up a weapon from the pile I had gathered. "If we attack together, we should be fine! It looks like that¡¯s the only skeleton moving around!" "I thought she was just some sly woman hiding out here. Let''s deal with her and hand her over to the temple!" The men who had been startled by my presence now appeared emboldened. I turned my head and said, "Rena, I''m curious about something." "Yes! Ask me anything." "Where does that kind of confidence come from?" "Exactly. Maybe I should knock it out of them." I adjusted my grip on the sword. I wasn''t kind enough to tell them to leave. Since they had no baggage, they were probably from a nearby town. If I was going to kill them, I would do it quickly. Whoosh! I pushed off the stone coffin and lunged forward. Slash! "Gah, urgh!" I pierced one of the men¡¯s hearts with a direct thrust from my sword. His flesh and muscle tore like paper. His eyes widened, and he spewed blood from his mouth and chest before collapsing to his knees. [Experience increased by 14!] [Dungeon Affinity increased by 0.09%!] Even after witnessing the instant death of one of their comrades, the others barely reacted to my movements. I withdrew the blade and immediately swung it, slashing through the two men standing side by side. Splat! Splat! Blood sprayed everywhere. The two men fell heavily to the ground. [Experience increased by 9!] [Experience increased by 11!] [2-hit combo! The opponent is too weak. Swordsmanship proficiency has not increased.] [Dungeon Affinity increased by 0.2%!] "Eek, eek!" One man remained. He tried to turn and run, but I stabbed his defenseless back with my sword. Thud! The blade pierced through his back and came out of his chest. Then I pulled it out, making the blood spurt forward. He staggered three steps forward, and with a final gasp, he collapsed facedown in the pool of blood he had spilled. [Experience increased by 18!] [Dungeon Affinity increased by 0.12%!] These were very low-level opponents as they barely gave any experience. Four new corpses now lay in the dungeon. I had swung my sword without even asking for their final words. Even if I had listened, I had no intention of honoring any of it. Words muttered after leaving this life held no meaning, no matter what was said. Rattle. I turned around and flicked the blood off the sword. Then I wiped the rest with a cloth. I had killed the four men in just a few breaths, none of which were mine. "Hah..." It was Rena''s breath. She trembled slightly. Whistle! Rena seemed pleased. "Whew! That was thrilling." It seemed like the reduction in human numbers was directly linked to her excitement. I didn''t comment on her reaction. Rena came over and searched the bodies. "As expected, there''s nothing useful... I guess we''ll just have to be satisfied with killing them." Aside from the items she already had, there didn''t seem to be anything else of interest. Naturally, in a world where plunder and killing prevailed, the best items ended up with the strongest. "They were weak." "Of course. They scrape together what little they have, only to have it taken away so easily. Do you pity them?" "Should I? They tried to take you." "Hehe, at least at that moment, they could feel like the strong ones. They must have been excited. Oh, here." Rena handed me a wallet she had taken from one of the corpses. Chapter 36. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (4) Chapter 36. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (4) [You obtained 2 rotis and 91 widgets!] It was a small amount of money. I took the wallet and asked Rena, "Bathing in a valley in this weather? Isn''t it cold?" "It''s not winter, just autumn," she replied. I tossed the wallet back to Rena. [You gave 2 rotis and 91 widgets!] "Take your bath at an inn." "Want to join me?" I didn''t respond. Rena cleared her throat and continued, "How about we keep doing this?" "Doing what?" "Instead of just waiting around... I''ll lure humans here, and then you handle them." "Hmm..." Rena''s suggestion was somewhere in between hunting humans outside versus sitting around waiting for intruders. "Are you volunteering to be the bait?" "I find it easy and convenient. It suits me. I can bring them in¡ªugh!" Rena coughed. She had probably caught a cold from spending days without eating and being in cold water. Clack, clack. I clicked my teeth together because I didn''t have any better ideas. I decided to let her handle it. "Then it seems I''ll have to stay here a little longer." Rena, swallowing her cough, nodded. "No more than a month. Staying too long would be dangerous. In the meantime, we''ll lure as many as we can and clean them out." A month. Any longer and I probably wouldn''t gain any experience anyway. Rena added, "If adventurers keep disappearing, the lord will take notice." Her words made me curious. "Aren''t they just the scum of society? Why would a lord worry about adventurers?" "Adventurers might feel offended if they heard that. Don''t they play a part in the division of labor in society? They protect humans from monsters." "Really?" "No, not really. They''re all troublemakers. They only cause unrest. They''re a nuisance, really. But it''s funny because the lords still encourage them." "The local lords encourage adventurers? Aren''t they an unlicensed armed group? You''d think they''d be wary of them." "That''s true. But both the imperial family and the lords encourage adventurers. They even offer bounties if their ranks are high enough." "Why is that?" Rena scratched her head, searching for the right words. "Well, it''s because they need an enemy." She swallowed and continued, sitting on the ground, "They need to shout that there are monsters outside. The more the threat is exaggerated, the scarier the monsters seem. That way, it''s easier to suck blood from those inside." "Hm..." "So they have to pay attention to the adventurers, don''t they?" Rena tapped my arm, laughing. "These are people who fight against monsters like you." "..." I didn''t reply. "I''ll gather more information from around here. I''ll also buy some items with the money you gave me!" Rena grinned and walked out of the cave. *** I spent another night inside the dungeon. Thud! Thud! I threw the four corpses into the empty space at the back of the hall. Plop. I leaned against the stone coffin. I didn''t feel particularly tired. I had killed four untrained humans. Their strength made them better than a Lv. 1 Skeleton Soldier, I guess. But now, my actual stats were at Lv. 66. Killing them had been instant, like dust to be brushed off with a hand. The four men buried in the cave were no more than that. Rather, they should have been, but some uncomfortable tension was nagging at my mind. It was guilt. I felt the weight of the lives they had lived, and would have lived. It did not disappear but settled like a stain on my bones, and a damp path of water flowed into the depths of my heart. It was easy to be submerged in that emotion and sink into it. However, a question began to surface from a deeper place. Clack. I thought this emotion was odd, suspicious even. Why do I feel guilty? Why am I the only one who feels guilty? During the twenty years I lived as a Skeleton Soldier, I never felt guilt toward the adventurers who attacked me. They merely sneered, wondering how a skeleton dared to attack them, and swung their weapons with all their might to subdue me. Even when they fought among themselves over rank and ideology, they always banded together to come at us. To them, I was experience points and a tool. Now that I could subdue at least some of them, nothing could stop me from thinking the same way. There was no need to feel guilty thinking from a human''s perspective about human happiness. They never cared about the skeleton''s perspective or the skeleton''s happiness, after all. I wasn''t human. I wasn''t their kind. I started to understand what Rena had been trying to say. *** Another night passed. Rena returned, freshly cleaned. She must have thoroughly dried herself because there was no moisture on her hair or clothes. "How do I look?" I nodded. "At least you''re clean." "Oh, come on, take a closer look. Is it good enough? I just picked it according to my taste. How does it look? Do you think I''ll get a lot of attention?" I looked at her with an expression that asked what she expected me to say. "I''m not one of the human males you''re trying to seduce." "But there''s such a thing as an objective perspective, right?" Rena spun around in front of me, walking this way and that. Forced to critique, I looked at her slowly. Beneath the new black evening dress, her slim, white legs stretched out. Her waist, cinched with a leather belt, curved in sharply. Her chest wasn''t particularly large, but it was softly rounded. With her balanced proportions and good figure, her body appeared quite toned overall. "If you walk alone like that, people will probably follow. Yes, I think they will. If not, I''ll have to go shopping again." "That seems likely." "Great, then it''s settled!" Rena twisted her body slightly and extended her arm. Then s dagger shot out from the sleeve of her voluminous dress. Swish! "How''s that? Isn''t it useful?" I nodded approvingly. Three days passed like that. Days of seduction and slaughter continued. Rena lured men, three or four at a time, which were just the right number for me to handle, and I kept cutting down the adventurers. It was an invitation to death. Our collaboration to exterminate the adventurers passing through this area wasn''t bad. Rena seemed to enjoy it even more than I did. "Are you having fun?" I asked. "Yes!" "How do you manage to lure them in so easily?" "Because they haven''t been properly tempted yet." "What?" "Humans, I mean. Those who don''t end up as slaves or corpses... they just haven''t been properly tempted yet." Rena licked her lips and flashed a playful smile. "Just make sure you sell the stuff properly." I pushed the adventurers'' loot toward her. It was Rena''s job to sell off the equipment the adventurers had left behind, but her comings and goings seemed a bit excessive. Sometimes she went back and forth between the dungeon and the city twice a day. "Why do you keep going back and forth so much?" "It''s not good to take too much at once. It makes you look suspicious, doesn''t it?" But watching her constantly going back and forth made me suspicious. I wondered if she was meeting someone in the city. What is she doing there? It seemed like she was hiding something. She spent less and less time in the dungeon, and even when she was with me, her mind seemed elsewhere. Yet I didn''t bother to ask. I hadn''t fully trusted her from the beginning anyway. The scenario window that had appeared at the start had warned that she might stab me in the back at any time. Still, I decided to use her. After all, in the worst-case scenario, I''d just have to die. Ding! [Dungeon Message: Intruders have entered!] [Number: 4] A message popped up as usual. Rena entered the dungeon with three men who looked excited. They were moderately equipped adventurers, but not with high-quality gear. They seemed like suitable prey. As I waited for them to approach, I looked at the inscriptions on the cave wall. The words ¡±Beginner''s Playground¡± and ¡±Do not break the skulls had been erased. New words were carved there. Trespassing: Death Penalty Rena engraved those words. Slash! And I faithfully enforced that inscription on the new intruders, making hot blood splurt from their severed necks. Did anyone ever refuse Rena''s invitation? The stream of adventurers seemed truly endless. I thought these people walking defenselessly into the dungeon were truly insane. Before they could even encounter the other rattling skeletons, I would sever their heads at the entrance of the dungeon or shoot them dead with a crossbow. Sometimes, when she brought weaker groups, Rena would also slit the men''s throats with a dagger. For every three I killed, Rena would kill one. But more often than not, I ended up killing them all myself. Rena would sometimes complain, asking me to let her handle a few more. I silently ignored her. I was a bit reluctant to let her gain experience points. One day, I asked her, "How do you lure the men in so easily?" Rena replied, "I just recruit them. It''s easy. You just have to walk along a mountain path, and they gather quickly. Humans lust for sex all year round, you know. But for someone like me, it''s more concentrated at certain times..." "I''m not that interested." "Even if you''re not, you should listen a little. Don''t you think it''s important to understand your companion''s desires?" "No, enough." "I can help, you know. Your body is also hard." "..." Being teased by a human was a very unsettling feeling. We continued making corpses. Rena seemed to truly not consider them her kind, showing no empathy whatsoever, killing without any hesitation. As she cut off the breath of the human males who had fantasized about mating with her, she never even grimaced. Of course, I, too, had no reason to feel troubled about killing humans. Both my level and Rena''s increased little by little. But the effect was completely different. I was a skeleton. Each time I leveled up, my stats increased by one. Meanwhile, Rena''s stats increased by three each time she leveled up. Humans generally gained two stats per level up. Someone like Rena was usually what humans called a prodigy. I''m going to get caught up. I thought it might be dangerous if I didn''t kill her. But there was still a considerable difference, and leveling up wasn''t that easy anyway. I thought that if things continued this way, in about a year, there wouldn''t be a single male adventurer passing through or living around this area. Rena remarked, "This is good work for humans too, you know. I heard the natural sex ratio is about 1.1:1. If we don''t kill these overexcited human males like this, it would be a problem." She continued, with a bright face, saying that the desire for ejaculation was similar to the desire for death, and therefore, she was doing the right thing. I did not judge her logic. No matter how absurd the nonsense Rena spewed sounded, it had nothing to do with me. Whoosh! The sword that had pierced the adventurer''s heart was pulled out. Warm blood sprayed fiercely, coating my white bones. [Experience increased by 118.] [Dungeon Affinity increased by 0.14%!] As long as my experience points kept increasing like this, that was all that mattered. Chapter 37. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (5) Chapter 37. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (5) If I could meet my master in twenty years and gained the ability to protect her again, then nothing else really mattered. "If I die in this dungeon, do I become like them?" Rena asked, pointing to the other clattering skeletons. "Some people do. I''m not sure exactly." At that moment, the alarm sounded again, indicating an adventurer had invaded. It was a genuine adventurer, entering without Rena''s lure, something that hadn''t happened in a long time. We were unfortunately in the hall. I heard the sound of several skeletons breaking. I walked toward the entrance and encountered the adventurer. He was alone, and he was very large. He seemed strong enough to enter a dungeon like this. "Ha, a skeleton wearing such ridiculous armor..." However, he wasn''t strong enough to be worth speaking to. Before he could swing his axe, I spun around and severed his neck with my bastard sword. I had killed his kind countless times before. I was tired of it and had had enough. Thud! The severed head rolled on the floor. Ding! [Dungeon Affinity has increased by 0.35%!] [14.57/100%] [Experience increased by 391.] [Level Up!] [Please distribute the points: 1] Is it time to level up? Status window. [Name: None Skeleton Soldier Lv. 14 (70) Health: 33 Strength: 40 Agility: 39 Wisdom: 11] [Remaining Points: 1] I allocated one point to Health. Feeling a refreshing sensation spread throughout my body, I picked up the axe the adventurer had dropped. [Acquired: Battle Axe!] Hmm. The quality of the battle was decent. I held the blade of the axe between my thumb and forefinger, sliding them along the curve. It felt sharp, which was good enough. The blade was well-honed, and the back was thick, giving it a good weight. I felt like it could cut through anything with a single strike. Not bad. However, something had been bothering me lately. The more I stayed in the dungeon and continued slaughtering, the more I felt like I was floating. My head felt foggy, and I was strangely comfortable. I couldn''t understand why I felt this way. Several days passed. Then weeks went by. I repeated similar tasks. The subtle floating sensation that I felt a while ago grew stronger. While I was pondering over what this could be, Rena spoke to me. "I''ll be out for a while this time. I''ll be back in about a week! I have some things to prepare before we leave this place." Rattle. I nodded. "Do as you wish." I was left alone in the dungeon again. *** Several more days passed. No intruders came. The cloudy feeling in my mind and the relaxing sensation grew stronger with time. While I was lingering near the entrance, I felt compelled to venture deeper into the dungeon because I wanted to. I thought there was no point in swinging my sword or axe anymore. As I walked deeper inside, I saw the skeletons wandering slowly and I approached them. I moved at the same slow pace as they did, walking around. Clatter, clatter. Thud, thud, thud. I matched their rhythm. My head felt foggy, and I felt comfortable. I wanted to forget everything and simply wander around the dungeon. I aimlessly clattered about, leaned against walls, or lay on the floor, gnashing my teeth. It felt strangely comforting. Ding! [Your Dungeon Affinity has exceeded 20.] [The dungeon is trying to consume you.] [Rolling dice...] [Wisdom: 11] [You failed the resistance roll.] [You have succumbed to the nature of a Skeleton Soldier.] What... is this? My consciousness grew hazy. Then, I heard a dinging sound. It seemed like... a dungeon alarm. [Dungeon message: An intruder has entered!] [An adventurer has entered.] [Number: 1] It was one person. Enduring the foggy, dazed feeling a little, I walked toward the dungeon entrance. It was Rena. She was carrying a massive backpack on her back. It looked like it was filled with something heavy, weighing down her shoulders. I wondered what was in that backpack, but I wasn''t curious enough to ask. I slowly moved my jaw and asked, ¡°Alone this time?" She hadn''t brought any adventurers. "Yes, it seems like it''s time to leave soon,¡± Rena said seriously. She seemed quite excited, but when I didn''t react, she checked my expression. She looked a little disappointed. She wanted attention, but I wasn''t very interested in her. "Hmm..." I was reluctant. I wanted to stay here longer. "Why don''t we stay just a bit longer?" My demeanor made Rena''s expression change. Her face, which had remained unflinching even while killing dozens of men, contorted a little, as if dealing with an unexpected problem. "Uh, uh ..." She seemed flustered. "You really won''t go? It''s dangerous. Humans will invade in large numbers." I replied, "Yeah. I won''t go." The words came out naturally. I wanted to stay in the dungeon longer. It felt as if I was wrapped in cobwebs. Each bone seemed to have decided on its own to remain in this dungeon. A confused Rena tilted her head and asked, "How long will you stay?" "I''m not sure." "Oh... I really want to go with you. I''ll wait for just one more day." "Hmm." She crouched near the entrance of the dungeon. With a slightly tired expression, she looked at me, weary and anxious. But her expression didn''t bother me much. I was a little concerned, but I simply wanted to stay inside this dungeon. Everything else was a secondary issue. Still, Rena waited for me. When a full day passed, I still hadn''t left. Rena, too, had not left me. Why isn''t she leaving? Until I met my master, no one had ever waited for me. No one had spent their time watching over me. The adventurers and heroes who stormed in and trampled me, and even the Demon King''s army that forcibly enlisted me ten years later had never waited for me in any way. They threw me into the front lines, discarded me when I was broken, never gave me time to grow stronger, and never took care of me. For someone to make time for me... This was a novel, gentle, and warm situation, far from boredom. But I continued to neglect her. I continued to make her wait. In any case, I intended to remain in this dungeon. *** Another day passed. Rena asked again, "Are you really not going?" "I have something to check..." "What do you need to check?" "Hmm..." I wasn''t sure. I just wanted to stay here. I wanted to hide here and make clattering noises. *** Rena waited for another day. At first, she had brought an enormous backpack, almost as big as her body, but as she went in and out of the dungeon over the past three days, the size of the backpack decreased significantly day by day. I wondered if the backpack had been filled with provisions. However, I wasn''t curious enough to ask about the backpack. Today, after going outside once more, she urged me again. "I''m really leaving now. What about our plan?" She complained, asking me to hurry up and go. Her complaints were quite reasonable, but I still didn''t want to move. At that moment, a message appeared. Ding! [An intruder has entered.] [Number: 40 or more] Even without the alarm, I immediately knew many intruders had entered. A loud noise was coming from the dungeon entrance. The sound of them marching in resonated throughout the place. "Oh..." Rena sighed. "It''s finally over." She let out a deep breath. Only then did I feel like I was regaining some clarity. The daze that had clouded my mind began to lift slightly. Even thinking through the fogginess, I knew this was dangerous. There were more than forty intruders. Even if we assumed that all of them were F-grade adventurers, that was a dangerous number. As the enemies approached the door, my foggy mind began to clear little by little. My vision was still a bit blurred. The light, disconnected feeling of hiding alone in the dungeon, wanting to avoid the dizzying outside world, avoiding the sunlight and hiding from human blades, and living in concealment still enveloped me. However, with the claws of the world now inside the dungeon, I had no choice but to open my eyes. I knew this day would come. It would be a lie to say I didn''t know. There were enough signs. All crises made themselves known and always gave a warning. And yet, I just kept my eyes closed. I wanted to stay tucked away in this hole. Why... did I do that? The question came belatedly. The outcome was obvious, so why did I bury my head inside? I couldn''t understand. Is this related to the dungeon? I thought I had regained my senses, but I still wouldn''t move properly. It felt like something deep in the dungeon was still pulling me in. Thinking about going outside felt difficult. I was scared. As I remained still, Rena grabbed me and shook me. Rattle! Rattle! "Look at this! What is it? You acted like you wanted to do something serious, like you had big dreams, so why are you like this now? It''s over. Aren''t you awake yet?" I looked at her calmly. What was I trying to do? Lady Succubus. Rubia. Revenge. Ember. The Tower of Azure. Even those thoughts were clear in my memory but seemed to be coated over with a thin layer, not reaching me vividly. I looked straight at Rena. In contrast to me, her eyes were lively. She was alive. Somewhere in my head, I felt a spinning dizziness. Clatter. I started to come to my senses. "I should... get out, right?" "Do you think you can?" "I have to try." "Sigh..." Rena sighed and shook her head. *** At the front, the first line, there were those carrying shields. They held short one-handed weapons suitable for their shields. These were maces, perfect for smashing the skeletons that lived in this dungeon. I saw the man with the iron flail who had come with Rena and the silver-haired woman she killed. The man who wielded the iron greataxe came to mind. A dozen of such men advanced in formation. If there were only three or four, I might have had a chance, but I was not confident in breaking through that number. There wasn''t much I could do. Thump! Thump! Past the graffiti that read ¡±Trespassing: Death Penalty,¡± the invaders'' ranks pounded the floor as they approached. Clatter! The skeletons rose. They walked toward the human invaders thoughtlessly and swung their swords with what strength they had. Clang! Clang! Not a single hit landed. The dense shields easily blocked the skeletons'' attacks. Clang! The dull clatter of metal echoed weakly inside the dungeon. Their attacks were foolish. Even if I wanted to coordinate a flanking maneuver, the skeletons in the dungeon would not follow my lead. They just walked blindly toward the intruders and swung their swords. Chapter 38. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (6) Chapter 38. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (6) "Push forward!" The first line of intruders who had entered the dungeon held iron shields. They jabbed fiercely at the skeletons with the sharp lower parts of their shields. Crack, crunch! For a moment, I had forgotten that sound. It was my first time hearing it in over a month. Yet, it was a sound I had grown all too familiar with over the past several decades. It was the sound of bones breaking. "Pull! Yank it out!" The dungeon''s skeletons fell in a horrific state. The intruders pulled each skeleton one by one. They yanked out their cervical vertebrae and snapped their sternums. They grabbed the skeletons¡¯ pelvises and flung them far away. The dismembered skeletons collapsed like sand. No, it was a bit different. The sand scattered cleanly all at once. The remnants of the skeletons were more pitiful and miserable. Thud. Thump. Thud. Thud. Skeletons with their central parts pulled out turned into broken dolls. They rolled on the ground, kicked around carelessly, and scattered everywhere. Clatter! The sound of bones rolling echoed loudly in the dungeon. I heard the humans shouting to each other. "What¡¯s happening here?" "It''s just skeletons so far! Nothing special. How could so many adventurers have gone missing in a dungeon like this?" Someone in the second line shouted, "No, this is the right place. Stay alert. Sweep the floor with spears, and advance again!" The second line of intruders, holding long spears, swept the dungeon floor with their spears. Crack! Crunch! "Clear!" "Advance!" Thud. Thud. They advanced slowly, one step at a time. I walked out from the inside, watching them. "..." It was hard to call them adventurers. They were a well-organized small army. The first line carried shields, and the second line held spears. A little further back in the third line were archers. Their roles were well-defined. However, their clothing wasn¡¯t uniform. The colors and styles varied widely, which was somewhat surprising. They looked more like mercenaries. Each one seemed to be at least E rank and decently trained. They couldn¡¯t be taken lightly. They weren''t the impulsive and simple fools that Rena found easy to lure. Did the lord make a move? If they were mercenaries, it seemed the nearby lord had invested a considerable sum to solve this dungeon problem. But something seemed a little strange. Many of them are injured. They looked like they had been in some fierce battle somewhere. Many were bleeding from large and small wounds. They were limping. Even those who seemed uninjured had Weary expressions on their faces. Thud. Thump. The shattered and dislocated remnants of the skeletons blocked their steps. Some parts had flown all the way back here. I slowly moved forward. There was still quite a distance between us, but as the other skeletons broke, the intruders quickly noticed me and began to focus. "He''s here!" "Isn''t that the one?" "Be careful! He must be the boss." Ping. They aimed at me. In unison, bowstrings were pulled tight with arrows ready, filling the air with tension. Thump. Thump. The first line of men with large shields slowly approached me. The distance between us narrowed. I felt the space around me gradually tightening. They shouted to each other. "Focus!" "This is the dungeon where dozens died." "Stay vigilant!" Shing. I drew my bastard sword and let it hang down. Why did I stay here all this time? Why didn¡¯t I listen to Rena? I couldn¡¯t understand my actions at all. Thud. The shattered skull of another skeleton caught on the tip of my sword. This one wouldn¡¯t be clattering around again, not that I had any sense of solidarity as a comrade. I didn¡¯t want to live like this. In fact, I wanted to escape from such a life. But I couldn¡¯t help feeling troubled inside. Among the fallen were some that I had placed in the sarcophagus to level up. They were defeated, too. This won''t be easy. I turned my head and looked in Rena''s direction. Rena was slowly emerging from the bend in the dungeon. I asked, "Why don''t you just surrender?" "Ahaha, you¡¯re joking, right?" Rena took a step outside. The intruders saw Rena and shouted, "A witch!" "A witch who controls skeletons!" "She might be a high-level necromancer. Everyone, be careful!" They all murmured at once. Rena shrugged and signaled to me. "See? It¡¯s not exactly a surrendering atmosphere, is it?" "Are you a witch?" The fog in my head still hadn¡¯t completely lifted. Perhaps because of that, I asked a rather stupid question. Rena smirked. "Maybe I am." Then she added, "If they don¡¯t do some real witchy things, women end up at a huge disadvantage in life." The intruders kept their cautious eyes on us. They were still advancing slowly, sweeping the floor. I watched them tensely. Rena stood beside me and said nonchalantly, "Looks like in the next life, I¡¯ll definitely have to learn some magic." "..." "Still, I like killing a lot before I go." Whistle! Suddenly, the archers in the third line simultaneously released their arrows toward Rena. A dozen arrows flew. Whoosh! I threw my armored body in their path. I swung my sword broadly to prevent the arrows from hitting her. Thunk! Thunk! Most of the arrows struck and bounced off my armor. A few got caught in my sword. I blocked them all. "Why didn¡¯t you leave earlier?" I asked Rena, my eyes still on the intruders. The intruders were overly cautious, and their advance was too slow. They could trample and destroy me if they rushed in all at once, even if they had to sacrifice some. However, they were only breaking the skeletons that came at them first, slowly advancing while sweeping the floor with their spears. I muttered to myself, "Why are they like this?" Rena answered in a sing-song tone, "One question at a time. I guess the traps worked a bit. I set up dozens of traps around the dungeon, so it seemed like something was off. Some were poisoned, some weren¡¯t." Then, she giggled and shouted at the intruders, "Did my traps grip you well, folks? You like a tight grip, don¡¯t you? Am I right?" The adventurers or mercenaries approaching us seemed furious, their faces turning red. "Witch!" "We¡¯ll burn you alive!" "Hehe... We¡¯re not the end. Stupid witch, we''re just..." "Shut up. Want me to cut off your tongue?" The dungeon was filled with the sound of them shouting to burn the witch. I asked Rena, "You set up dozens of traps?" "I don¡¯t know, I didn¡¯t count. It could be over a hundred, anyway." She shrugged and added, "I spread them pretty wide." I had no idea. Suddenly, I remembered the enormous backpack she had been carrying that was larger than her torso. "Were all those traps in that backpack?" Rena nodded. Her smile had a hint of sadness. "Yeah, they were all traps. I was going to lay them all out before I left." "Why bother, since you were leaving anyway?" "Haha. Well, after staying here for over a month, I got a bit attached. I wanted to give those intruders a hard time." All this while... While I had been idly hanging around in the dungeon, aimlessly clattering away, she had been doing that outside. She had done that for me, who stayed stubbornly inside, not listening and acting stupidly. Thump! Thump! The intruders stepped cautiously. As they slowly realized there were no traps in the dungeon itself, they began to quicken their pace. The heavy atmosphere of the dungeon quivered with their hostility and tension. "Why... didn¡¯t you leave earlier?" Rena chuckled softly and replied, "I was really going to leave you behind today... but it got a bit delayed. I guess it didn¡¯t work out." As we spoke, we retreated further inside. Clink! I quickly picked up the greataxe lying on the ground. With one hand, I could wield the bastard sword. I had the strength for that. Effective level: 70. Strength stat: 40. "Fire!" Whoosh! With the leader¡¯s command, a dozen arrows flew again. I raised a large iron shield and threw myself to shield Rena. Thunk, thunk, thunk! Dozens of arrows struck the greataxe, which was large enough to cover my entire body, and bounced off. The iron-coated shield remained intact. "Come a little further in!" Rena shouted. I stepped back and reached her side. "Sorry.¡± "It¡¯s no use saying things like that. If we survive this, let¡¯s try saying some nicer things, okay?" I poked my head out to look at the dense crowd. The intruders were still cautiously feeling their way forward with spears. They must have been caught in the traps quite a bit. "Since they¡¯re packed so tight, this is perfect." Rena pulled something out from her chest. It was a small object with a short fuse attached. "A bomb?" "It¡¯s a crude one. This is all I could get with my connections." Rena pulled out a large glass bottle from her back pocket. Her hands moved swiftly as she strapped it to the bomb with a band. Thump! The transparent glass bottle sloshed with a pitch-black liquid. Even at a glance, it looked dangerous. I didn¡¯t need to ask to know it was poison. Rena finally pulled out a small matchbox from her back pocket. Fwoosh! The freshly struck match flared up, emitting a pungent sulfur smell. Fwoosh! She lit the end of the short fuse, which was no longer than a fingertip. "A farewell gift for closing up shop!" Whoosh! Rena hurled the bomb straight at the intruders. Boom! Shatter! A loud explosion rang out, accompanied by small flames, glass shards, and acrid smoke spreading over the intruders. Visibility was obscured for a moment. ¡°Cough, cough!¡± People coughed. The explosion was loud, and the smoke was thick. The ranks of the shield-bearing intruders were disrupted. Many were writhing and screaming, likely due to the poison in the bottle. In the confined, narrow dungeon, the effect was maximized. But the smoke quickly spread toward us. Rena covered her mouth and nose with a towel soaked in water from her canteen. She nudged me urgently. "We only have one shot. The smoke will clear soon, so let¡¯s get out quickly!" The smoke filling the dungeon seeped through my armor. "Cough, cough!" "Fall back, fall back!" The intruders shouted in confusion. The toxic smoke seeped through their armor, but it had no effect on me. Only humans breathed. Whoosh! I kicked off the ground and ran. Rena stuck close behind me. Chapter 39. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (7) Chapter 39. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (7) "Block them!" The most disorganized front line attacked me. I quickly spun around, pivoting on my leg, and deflected their weapons with the shield. Clang! Clang! Their aimed weapons were knocked away. It was a clash of force against force. Fortunately, none of the humans here seemed to be stronger than me. They weren¡¯t even close to my level. I guess I''ve become quite capable. Once more, I firmly planted my feet and swung my shield to push them back. Clang! The front intruders were already affected by the poisonous smoke. Many were dropping their weapons and writhing in pain. Breaking through wasn''t difficult. "Argh! Cough!" "Grr!" "It''s poison smoke! Fall back!" Thud! Thud! The men, overwhelmed by force, fell back. It was impossible to chase them all down and finish them off one by one. However, breaking through the collapsed formation seemed possible. Whoosh! Whoosh! I broke through the first line. Two spearmen from the second line thrust their spears at me from the front, but the dungeon passage was narrow. Their numerical advantage was losing its effect. I just have to get out somehow. It was my responsibility. I concentrated and swung my sword forward. This was when my Lv. 5 Swordsmanship shone. Slash! Slash! The two spears that were thrust from the sides had their shafts completely cut off. Thud! Thud! The severed spearheads dropped helplessly to the ground. "Eek!" "Huff!Huff! It''s him, after all!" The ones who lost their spearheads retreated hastily, breathing heavily as they ran away. They didn''t seem to have a strong will to stop me. Rena was crouched close behind me. At this rate, we might be able to escape. "The smoke will clear soon," Rena whispered to me. I could see the smoke that once filled the passage slowly dispersing elsewhere. Whoosh! I quickly stepped forward. Someone who seemed like a commander shouted something, but I approached faster than they could retreat and closed in. Those holding spears could no longer maintain their advantage in distance. While protecting Rena with the shield in my left hand, I wielded the sword in my right, swinging it wildly. Clang! Slash! Thud! Most of the sounds were of metal striking metal or metal hitting wood. There was neither the time nor reason to kill each one individually. The archers at the very back had, for some reason, already retreated outside. I pushed away the few remaining intruders who were still coughing and moved toward the entrance. Did we survive? I had made the foolish choice to stay inside, but perhaps I had managed to escape. I still didn''t understand why I had decided to remain here. Beside me, Rena said, "Huff... Something feels... off, doesn''t it? Considering how desperately they came in, they gave way too easily." It was true. It almost felt as if they wanted us to break through. "It''s like they expected us not to be able to stop them. We could have died here, and it wouldn''t have been surprising." "Could they be aiming their bows at us from outside?" I raised my shield and opened the dungeon door. Creak. The dungeon door opened. Bright light from outside flooded in. For nearly a month, I hadn''t seen a clear sky. The dry air felt refreshing. And, under that sky stood a man in blue armor. I couldn¡¯t identify the material, but the armor had an unmistakably unique presence. The blue armor was beautifully inlaid with a dragon. The attire was impeccably clean, with not a speck of dust on it. The man looked to be in his late twenties. He had a neat, polite appearance that anyone would call handsome. However, a strange stench emanated from his face. It was like the odor from countless corpses piled in an unseen pit. Beneath his clean expression, it felt like hundreds or thousands of corpses were concealed underneath. Tap. The man habitually patted his head. His fine hair, neatly swept back, was an ashen blue, giving off a peculiar aura. The man frowned. "This isn''t right." The clear autumn sky and the moderately dry, fresh air also seemed to dampen simultaneously. He looked at me, and our gazes met. The man complained, "With this kind of mess... I won''t even reach the two mages, let alone the Royal Guard. What a complete waste of time." The man in blue armor glanced to his side. To his side? There, a man in a silk robe was trembling. There were other lords around him. And the archers, who had lowered their bows and were standing quietly, came into view. It was a new scene I hadn''t even realized was there. Ah... Only then did I realize that the presence of the man in blue armor was so overwhelming that everyone was captivated by it. Thus, I hadn''t noticed the man in the silk robe or the other lords standing around. The man in blue armor spoke to the man in the silk robe. "You." The man in the silk robe stiffened in shock. "Y-yes, master!" "Your report was exaggerated. Kill yourself." The man in the silk robe trembled violently. His belly and chest quivered with each shake. The instincts I had accumulated over time screamed at me. Some primal instinct was howling madly. Run. Run. Run. But I couldn''t move a single step. I could only stare blankly at what was happening in front of me. "K-kill m-myself...." The man in the silk robe shakily reached into his clothes. Is he really going to kill himself? "I''m joking, lord. I can''t make informants kill themselves. If I kill them all, who would make accurate reports? Right?" The man in the silk robe couldn''t speak and just continued to tremble. Then, as if something that had been binding him had suddenly been released, he collapsed to the ground. The man in blue armor slowly walked toward me. It was silent. He wore the same full plate mail as I did. Yet, his footsteps were silent. I couldn''t tell if there really was no sound or if I just couldn''t hear it. At that moment, it felt like only he and I existed in the world¡ªno Rena, no one else around. Whoosh! The man swung the sword at his waist, scabbard and all, slowly. It was slow enough to see the trajectory. The swing was so slow it was boring, enough to make one drowsy. It felt like he was dragging the space itself. It was so slow that there was nowhere to dodge. [Skill: Intimidation activated.] [Rolling for resistance!] [Strength is too low. The wrist attempting to roll the dice won''t move.] [Intelligence is too low. You''ve forgotten how to roll the dice.] It felt like time and space were being dominated. I couldn''t lift my weapon or shield. Thud! A violent impact struck my head. [Attacked by someone with an immeasurable rank in swordsmanship! All resistances are ignored.] [The level difference is unimaginable! The chance of evasion is fundamentally eliminated.] My skull split in two. The pure white scabbard with a blue glow split my skeleton and the armor that the dead Rubia had bought in half. What will happen to Rena? That thought was the last thing on my mind as my consciousness faded. *** Clack! The feeling of the scabbard, without a sharpened blade, slowly slicing my skull, remained as a lingering impression. Clink! Clank! I shook my body, but the unpleasant sensation didn''t easily go away. I lifted my arm to check. Tap, Tap! I roughly felt my skull. It was flat, with no cracks or gaps. It was solid and intact, very well attached. A dream? Was the splitting of my skull something that happened in a dream? Clatter! I shook my head vigorously. No, it wasn''t a dream. Of course not. A Skeleton Soldier couldn¡¯t dream or go mad. It had all actually happened. I had definitely died. "..." The surroundings were very quiet. All I could hear was the faint echo of someone''s soft breathing. Breathing? It was a familiar sound. I turned toward the source. There was a woman asleep on a blanket. Clink! Startled, I stumbled backward. Thud! I hit the wall. The sound echoed throughout the hall. "Ugh ." The woman mumbled in her sleep, twisting slightly. That face wasn¡¯t just familiar. Until a moment ago, we had been together, trying to escape the dungeon. Rena. It was her. Ding! [Succession Complete!] [Name: None Skeleton Soldier Lv.1 (70) Health: 34 Strength: 40 Agility: 39 Intelligence: 11] [Automatic progression... Marking the usage of Uskoreniye of Constricted Regression as complete.] [Assimilation rate has decreased.] [93.54% -> 92.49%] A status window appeared before my eyes, clear as if etched into my brain. However, some of the words initially appeared faint. Gradually, they became clearer over time. The term ¡±Uskoreniye of Constricted Regression¡± was like that. My head hurt. It genuinely throbbed. For a while, I stood still, unable to move. It felt like a fine crack was forming. Uskoreniye of... what? Do I need to raise my intelligence to understand something like this? It was a completely unfamiliar term and feeling. Maybe if I had some extra points later, I could try raising it, but... In truth, points were always lacking, even when I invested solely in Strength, Agility, and Health. Intelligence was directly tied to the power of magic, and I was far from magic. Clatter. I shook my head. I decided to focus on what I could understand for now. I¡¯ve come back to life. However, the situation had changed. I hadn''t returned to the grave. The surroundings were quiet, and there was no storm pouring down like madness, no thunder so loud it made my head tremble. There was no clumsy necromancer in a gray robe. No desperate cries calling my name. The woman who was startled by my every move was gone. Rubia. Has she disappeared for good now? It had always started in the graveyard at night. The rain and her always began together. She wasn''t much help. I died multiple times trying to protect her. Her every action was clumsy, especially as a woman who had learned about the world solely from books. Nonetheless, she wasn''t someone who deserved to die like that. Not that anyone should die in such a miserable way, but there was no such thing as that kind of morality or ideal. Abuse and torture existed everywhere. Plundering and killing were the norms of the world. In the end, everyone fed off corpses. However, she was the one who had raised me from the grave. She welcomed me for the first time and showed me affection. She was surprised and moved by even my trivial actions. This place was a dungeon, The Ossuary of Wraiths. It had returned to the moment I took Rena down from the spider web and laid her on the blanket. Is Rubia''s death a fixed event?Can I not return to the point when I met her again? I hoped not. Rubia had met a miserable end. Thinking that she had been buried in the past made my chest feel tight. Ding! Ding! Ding! While I was lost in my thoughts, the annoying sound kept ringing in my head. The empty space before my eyes was continuously filled with translucent blue windows. [Death Memorial] [You have achieved your fifth death since succession.] [An incomprehensible concept has been applied to this death. You cannot gain any related perks.] [You can enhance another perk. Please choose a number.] For the Necromancer+ Blunt Weapons are Dangerous Skull Protection Method Chapter 40. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (8) Chapter 40. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (8) An incomprehensible concept? Indeed, I couldn''t move at all in front of that attack. I had no idea what was happening when the man stepped forward leisurely and slowly sliced through my armor-clad body with his blunt sword sheath. Who exactly is that man? How did he end up in an F-rank dungeon, The Ossuary of Wraiths? It was a place filled with people who didn''t even know how to swing the swords they''d bought properly. After dealing with such opponents, have I become complacent? Clatter. I shook my head. No, the man in the blue armor wasn''t on that level. Even after twenty years of clattering around, I''d never encountered anyone like that. Not that I was in any position to make such judgments. The very idea of dying in such a way was beyond comprehension. I slowly recalled how he swung his sword. It was not even the sword, but the sheath. The pure white sheath was like snow beginning to fall from the sky. The unadorned sheath resembled a conductor''s baton. It expressed a very slow, calm, and leisurely tempo. That sheath swung at such a pace had sliced me in two. I still felt confused. Anyway, I needed to focus on what was before me now: a perk enhancement. I didn''t deliberate much. If it''s a choice... it has to be number one. There was no need to hesitate. The first perk had a + sign next to it. It indicated that it had been strengthened once before. If there was a chance to upgrade something by one step, I thought choosing what was already enhanced again would be more effective. After all, a second enhancement was likely more difficult than the first. "Number 1." [Are you sure you want to choose number 1? This is irreversible. Please choose carefully.] [Confirm/Re-select] "Confirm." [Enhancing perk...] The message stayed on for quite some time. I did not regret it, even though there could be a chance that the other options were more practical. It was a perk that increased affection with necromancers. Affection was one-sided. There was no guarantee that someone else''s favor would always work in my favor. However, I still chose this perk. I didn''t want to think that I would never meet Rubia again. There must be a way. When I meet her again, I hope she¡¯ll feel more comfortable with me. [Perk has been enhanced!] [Assimilation rate has decreased.] [93.04% -> 92.49%] Somewhere, a space gently opened. Darkness slowly crept up to my toes. From my toes, it started to softly wrap around me layer by layer. I stood still, letting the darkness embrace my body. [Perk is being equipped automatically.] [Perk: Necromancer''s Lover (New!)] ¡ª You start with a base Affection of 20 in all relationships with necromancers. ¡ª The Affection of necromancers with whom you have a servant relationship increases by an additional 10. ¡ª Your presence inspires necromancers. The proficiency of necromancy for necromancers near you increases by 5% faster. ¡ª This is a Hero-level perk. It will be forcibly selected until another Hero-level perk is activated. Hmm. I couldn''t choose any other perk. It seemed like my point investment had just vanished. A perk focused on Affection, huh? In any case, it was my choice. I could doubt it, but I couldn''t complain. Still wearing armor, I stepped carefully, so as not to break the silence of the hall. Then I delved into my thoughts. Unlike my previous deaths, this death left many questions. First, why did I want to remain in the dungeon? I kept walking while pondering this question. When did it start? Was it around a month after I had been stuck in the dungeon? It was probably around then. My consciousness had gradually become blurred. I couldn''t make proper judgments. I couldn''t connect one thought to the next. I just wanted to stay hidden deep inside the dungeon, in the shadows. It felt like it would be okay just staring blankly into the void and clattering around. It felt like everything would somehow work out. Why was that? Even thinking about it now, it was hard to understand. It seemed like there had been some message floating in the air. I couldn''t remember well because my consciousness was already fading. The more I thought about it, something came to mind. Was it because of the Dungeon Affinity? After surpassing 5%, then 10%, I had no idea about the purpose of Dungeon Affinity. Certainly, as it increased, I found myself wanting to stay in the dungeon more and more. I couldn''t think of anything else. I should leave before it reaches 10%. If I set the limit at 10%, the time I could stay here wouldn''t be long. If it was similar to the last life, then perhaps it was around ten days. Things were about to get busy. I glanced at Rena, who was still sleeping peacefully. I felt sorry for her in many ways. At first, I had doubted her. I thought of using her but didn''t trust her. She had approached me actively, claiming we were kindred spirits. But I had dismissed her words. I thought it wouldn''t be strange if she betrayed me as soon as I let her go. I had half-heartedly utilized her, thinking things would go however they went. But Rena had been astonishingly loyal to me. She had genuinely seduced men. She had sold off the mementos diligently and deftly beheaded adventurers. It was hard to explain her enthusiasm solely with the fact that she had ¡±agreed to do so.¡± The job seemed perfectly suited to her aptitude and preferences. She really did well. Moreover, she had even prepared many traps around the dungeon for me, who was stuck inside. In the end, I had ruined everything. Clatter. I must do better this time. When I made this resolution, a message blinked in the air. [B-rank Scenario, Rena''s Story, is in progress.] Is this it? Once again, I reached for the glowing word: Rena. Ding! [Name: Rena Thief Lv. 5 Health: 13 Strength:11 Agility: 17 Intelligence: 11] [Affection: 11 ¡ªRena feels a sense of kinship with you.] [Basic Skills: ¡ªUnlock by increasing Affection] [Perks: ¡ªUnlock by increasing Affection.] [Title: ¡ªUnlock by increasing Affection] It was the same as before. Her stats were quite good. This time, I should train her properly. I gazed at her with a calm look. I vividly recalled how she had tried to take me out until the last moment. *** "Mm..." Rena let out a soft moan. She slightly opened her mouth and exhaled a trapped breath. She was slowly waking up. Her eyes still bore traces of exhaustion. I leaned against the wall and watched her quietly. She woke up sooner than I had expected for someone who was sleeping so deeply. Was the timing of the return when she was about to wake up? Or did my pacing through the hall disturb her slumber? "Ugh..." Rena twisted herself in various directions. Her expression was similar to before. "If you''re tired, why not lie down a bit more? Weren''t you hanging for three days..." To be honest, that wasn''t something the one who had left her hanging should say. "Ugh... what...?" She let out a small sigh and then gave me a bewildered look. It wasn''t necessary to look so startled. "Or you could go to an inn. Resting for a few days wouldn''t be so bad." Rena blinked. Why is she looking at me like that? Jingle. I dropped a few silver coins, collected from the travelers'' bags, beside her. "That should be enough for you to use alone." Rena flinched and recoiled. "Um... why are you suddenly being like this?" "What do you mean?" "Why are you suddenly being so kind? It''s scary when you''re like this, sir." Why did I suddenly become kind? I had nothing to say. I hadn''t done anything in particular. I hesitated momentarily, trying to think of a response, but nothing came to mind. But keeping my mouth shut wouldn''t make a suitable answer come to mind. I blurted out what came to me. "Really? I''m usually kind." "..." Rena had a blank look on her face. Did I choose the wrong answer? To break the awkward silence, I asked, "Anyway, didn''t you agree to become my companion? Make yourself comfortable." She seemed a bit taken aback, but then her expression changed. She suddenly placed her hand just below her chest and started laughing uncontrollably. "Ah, hahaha... hahaha..." Why was she laughing? Was she supporting her chest that shook when she laughed? She placed her hand just below her chest, her body shaking with laughter. Is it a habit? I didn''t quite remember if she had laughed like that before. "Hahaha... What is this, sir? It''s really funny." "What''s so funny?" "You took a nap, and suddenly your personality has changed drastically, huh?" "..." I thought her laughing face was cute. Maybe that was why I noticed the text floating above Rena''s head a little late. Ding! [Rena''s Affection has increased by 6!] [Current Affection: 17] The message was displayed in the translucent window. A small difference. Did our idle chat help ease the tension? Her Affection had increased. It seemed a bit higher than last time. While she was laughing for a long time, she reached into her pocket. Hmm. Inside that pocket would be a small dagger, a vial of deadly poison, and a matchbox to light a bomb. But what she was trying to take out and hand to me was a pendant. "Um..." It was a memento from her mother. She handed me the small, worn-out ornament hung on a long, dangling string. "Here, take this. I was going to give it to you, but I almost forgot while laughing." It was the same as before. The only difference was that this time, her eyes and mouth were slightly smiling. "This is my mother''s pendant." I asked her, "Is this a token of trust for me?" Rena''s face blushed slightly. "Oh! That surprised me." With a slightly flushed face, she continued, "How did you know? I was thinking that to myself." I heard it from you. That was what she had said a month ago. Or, what she was about to say to me soon. I didn''t answer her question. If I told her the truth, she''d probably just think I was crazy. "It''s not important; let''s just move on..." I mumbled, watching her expression closely. When I had first received the pendant from her, I thought I couldn''t trust her anyway. Even if she had left a bottle with a heart in it, I wouldn''t have trusted it. I had felt something close to that. Now, I had experienced being with her. I trusted her. Now, even if she didn''t pick up a single leaf for me, I could trust her. Either way, a pendant was still meaningless. But now, her story was beginning to mean something to me. I continued speaking gently. "Feelings or promises... They can''t be contained in objects, right? What''s meaningful to you probably isn''t the pendant itself." The tone was similar to when I first received the pendant from her. But my attitude had completely changed. It had to. I softly returned the ornament with a string to her white hand. "Oh..." Rena looked at me with wide eyes. "Keep it with you. You said it was your mother''s pendant, right?" "Yes, that''s right." "Then tell me about your mother. That would be more convincing." Rena blinked her wide eyes. I looked steadily into those eyes. Rena''s expression was somewhat complicated. "My mother... needed to eat three people a day." Chapter 41. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (1) Chapter 41. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (1) "What did you say?" I stopped in my tracks abruptly. Clack! Startled, I clenched my teeth. Rena laughed at my reaction, her hand resting below her chest. It seemed to be a habit of hers when she laughed. I thought about my own habits. If repeated actions could be considered habits, maybe losing or breaking things were mine. Rattle. I resumed walking, and Rena kept laughing. Her slightly unhinged laughter echoed against the cave walls. "Ahaha... you get startled so easily over little things. I was just joking." "Joking?" She nodded with a mischievous grin. "Yes, it was a joke," she said, pouting slightly. "I just felt like I was the only one getting spooked all the time." Our eyes met, and I noticed the remnants of drowsiness in her gaze had vanished. "You kept saying things to startle me as soon as I woke up. Was it a coincidence, or are you just that observant?" "Observant?" I asked. "Yes, you pointed out all my weak spots so precisely. Anyway, thank you. I thought you were... pricklier." "Prickly?" I raised my hand and looked at it. Indeed, there wasn''t much flesh covering it. "Haha... I didn''t mean physically. I thought you seemed guarded. Then again, living as a skeleton in this world, that''s probably expected." Rena chuckled. "So, are you really curious about my mother?" Rattle. I nodded. I wanted to know more about her. "She was a street woman, and she worked to satisfy men. She couldn''t even charge much and mostly attracted lowlifes." Rena briefly recounted her mother''s life in a neutral, composed tone, and I didn''t interrupt. The story was brief. "She eventually died, torn apart by an illness and depression, without holding even a few coins for herself." After a pause, Rena added thoughtfully, "Hatred sticks to you like inertia, doesn''t it?" I didn''t fully understand what she meant or why her expression held such sorrow, but I thought I understood a little. "She couldn''t adapt to life?" I asked implicitly about her mother. "She just... couldn''t go numb." Rena brushed the edge of a pendant with her fingertip a few times before tucking it back into her clothing. Rattle. I quietly mulled over Rena''s story and stared at her. Our eyes met once more. If I had a heart, it might have quickened its beat. I felt a sense of closeness. At that moment, a sound I had never heard before accompanied a translucent blue screen that appeared before my eyes. Doo-doo-doo~? [Rena''s Affection cap has increased by one level!] [Current cap: 20] [New cap: 40] [Current Affection: 17] What? The bizarre sound shattered my thoughts. An Affection cap?Is that really a thing? I recalled how Rubia''s Affection for me had never surpassed 20. So there''s a fixed cap.... It didn''t really matter, though. I looked at Rena. I had already decided how to treat her once I returned to this place, just like before. I would release her. She could run away or betray me, and I''d let her do as she pleased. I had made things difficult for her in the previous life, so this time, I would repay that debt. For a moment, I felt uneasy about my own thoughts. This life? I was assuming I would keep returning to live these lives over and over again after death. Such a mindset was dangerous. It''s already changed. I died five times. As a result, the timing of my rebirth had changed. In this world, Rubia no longer existed. She had died miserably. Rubia''s death was part of a fixed past. There would be no chance to turn back. I hadn''t returned to the beginning. It had become clear that this cycle was not guaranteed to be permanent. I felt unsettled. Can I really not go back? I had hoped to become stronger and meet her again, to protect her properly this time. She had been someone I couldn''t leave alone, someone I couldn''t help but stay beside. But the memory of the brown-haired necromancer, the one who had been mercilessly cut down, had become part of the past. Rattle. A heavy feeling settled in my heart. In the next cycle, even Rena''s death might be predetermined. It felt as though the air beneath my ribs was chilling and settling. The tension wrapped around me. Tap tap. To ease the tension, I tapped the hilt of my sword a few times with my fingers, the small sound echoing in the hall. Rena looked at me intently. I broke the silence. "Thank you for sharing your story." "Oh, it''s nothing. I just suddenly felt like telling it as well." "Go rest in the city." "What?" "Just don''t stay for more than ten days." Beyond that, I would lose control over the dungeon, and my mind might succumb to it. Rena looked taken aback at my words. "You''re really letting me go?" I nodded. Rena blinked and let out a small sigh. "Uhh..." "Don''t you want to?" I asked. She took a deep breath to calm herself. "No, I''ll go." This time, our conversation flowed a bit differently. She was more accepting of my decision to let her go. "Sell that for me. I can''t exactly handle the trading." "Haha... alright." Rena nodded and gathered her belongings with practiced efficiency. With her things packed, she began walking toward the dungeon''s entrance. As she left, I muttered to myself, loud enough for her to hear, "If someone feels like washing up in the river, it''d be wise to carry a weapon." Rena glanced back at me, chuckled, and left the dungeon. "..." Rattle! I realized I''d forgotten something important. I hadn''t taught her how to open or close the stone walls or operate the mechanisms. Guess I''ll have to leave it open. *** A night passed. The waiting wasn''t filled with anxiety. It was different from waiting for Rubia because Rena was capable of protecting herself. For her, driving a dagger into someone''s neck or pouring poison into their ear came naturally. She was not a child left out in the elements. Rena could handle herself effortlessly, especially men. I waited with ease. By the second day, the dungeon felt confining, so I stepped outside. It was night. Sitting on a rock, I looked at the moon. Its light, which didn''t penetrate inside, now washed over my body. It was the night of the new moon, close to the thirtieth day. The moon cast shadows over the autumn mountains and eerily tinted the closed doors of the ominous mausoleum. The chirping of the crickets on this autumn night felt friendly. I held my sword up to the sky as though drunk. Instead of moonlight, starlight rested on me, reflecting off my figure. "..." Rattle! Something came to mind. That cart with the scattered books. There was a spot where books had spilled from a cart as if bandits had ambushed a book peddler. I had found it while strolling after tying Rena up. It wasn''t far. Even if it were farther, I had a reason to go. Among those books were some that increased Wisdom just by reading them. Was it... Kevin Ashton? I absolutely had to get my hands on those two books by that author. Swish! I dashed across the ground. It didn''t take long to reach the overturned cart, but only the cart was there. No books. No matter how many times I looked around, they weren''t there. Nothing. After circling the area a few more times, I realized I''d gotten the timing wrong. The books were already in the mausoleum. I had brought them to the corner of the dungeon. Because this was my first time coming to life at this point in time, it had confused me. Swish! I kicked off the ground and returned to the mausoleum. The skeletons still had not fully recovered, and the dungeon was very quiet, a good environment for reading. I quickly found the books I had stored in a corner. On Unofficial Armed Groups of the World - 1 Kevin Ashton. After confirming the author, I opened the book with a serious expression. Although I''d already read it, I was hoping to gain another point in Wisdom. These poems, in over a hundred versions, were spread by the assassin group Red Flake to raise their own bounty... I read up to the last page, but there was no real information of value. Tap. I closed the book, my heart tense. At that moment, I heard the system message sound. Ding! [Wisdom increased by 1!] Got it! Rattle! My wisdom had gone up by 1. It might not seem like much, but the thrill of discovery made me want to dance. Reading a book I had already read had increased my Wisdom. Status screen. I summoned the status screen to confirm. Ding! [Name: None Skeleton Soldier Lv. 1 (70) Health: 34 Strength: 40 Agility: 39 Wisdom: 12] [Skills: Swordsmanship Lv. 5] The blue window displayed my stats clearly. The Wisdom stat, which had been 11, was now 12. I hadn''t specifically raised Wisdom but focused on Strength and Agility. Wisdom had never felt useful, but any improvement in stats was welcome. Let''s read something else. It was another book by Kevin Ashton. This time, I took out The Ugly Wizards. It was a book filled with scorn and disdain for the Azura wizards. I read it with an even more serious attitude than before. Without an Arcane Heart at birth, no effort or training can make a difference. Nobles and wizards alike are merely products of random chance, as though spinning a roulette wheel... I nodded as I read. According to the book, I was an entity that couldn''t use magic anyway. Even if my wisdom increased, it might be of no use. Tap. Another chime sounded when I closed the book, and my Wisdom increased by one. Is it thirteen now? Regardless, increasing stats was always good. Buoyed by excitement, I strolled through the dungeon with a light heart. *** Several more hours passed. By now, it should''ve been morning. Though sunlight didn''t enter, I could tell. Ding! [An intruder has entered the dungeon!] [Number: 1] Just one person. I walked toward the dungeon entrance. It must be Rena. Rena exclaimed happily, "Oh, you came for me!" We spotted each other simultaneously. Her face seemed bright as she entered the dungeon. It looked like she had picked up a few things from the city. She set down her bag and said, "So, how do you like my outfit?" Initially, I had declined to give my opinion. This time, though, I decided to indulge her. A different outfit. It was different from the black evening dress she had worn before. It was a natural change since I hadn''t devised any schemes to lure adventurers. Unlike the voluminous-sleeved evening dress, her leather jacket and pants now looked comfortable for movement. "How is it?" "It looks practical." "That''s it?" "It suits you. It has lots of pockets, so it seems functional." Rena pouted. "You don''t have any comments about the sleek fit or anything?" "Hmm?" "Never mind. Next up..." Rena stepped back and reached into her large bag beside her, pulling out a tightly wrapped object. Chapter 42. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (2) Chapter 42. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (2) "Try this on!" "What?" I looked at what she held up. It looked like a crimson robe. "I bought it because I thought it would add a nice touch over your armor. Just hold still." Whoosh. Rena unfolded the fabric in her hands. What I thought was a robe with a hood turned out to be a simple crimson cape. "Alright, hold still...." She moved behind me. Clink. Clink. Without hesitation, Rena unlocked a few of the connectors on my armor and slid the crimson cape she had bought into place between them. "...¡± Wearing something extra over my armor naturally felt strange. But still. In my last life, she had died because of me. Although I hadn''t confirmed it, there was no way she could have survived. Refusing something this small seemed difficult. "Hmm...." "Wow, it really suits you." Rena looked pleased while I muttered a slight complaint, my last bit of resistance. "Why did you buy something like this? I don''t need a cape." "Who said you needed it? I bought it because I wanted to see it. It''s for my pleasure.¡± "...¡± Rena chuckled as she secured the cape deeper into my armor. I decided to determine the cape''s benefits. "With a color like this... if I get covered in blood, it won''t be too noticeable." ¡°Ah, you''re so ruthless.¡± She sighed softly, standing close as she helped me don the cape. Her breath brushed against my shoulder blades. "Isn''t that why you picked it out?" "Who buys clothes thinking like that? But speaking of which..." Rena changed the subject. "Go ahead." "How did you know something would happen at the river?" Apparently, something had happened there, which was likely something similar to last time. I responded with feigned nonchalance. "It was an easy guess. Isn''t that typical of you humans?" She laughed, but it wasn''t exaggerated, just a faint chuckle. "In truth, I seriously considered it. I thought about running away for good, but I made up my mind. If a skeleton trusts others this much, I should stay by its side." I looked at Rena. A status window appeared. Most of it was the same, but her Affection had risen to 21. Her feelings seemed to have shifted while she was alone at the inn. It''s past 20. A milestone I had yet to see. [Name: Rena Thief Lv. 5 Health: 13 Strength: 11 Agility: 17 Wisdom: 11] [Affection: 21 ¡ª Rena feels a sense of kinship, familiarity, and usefulness toward you. ¡ª She wishes to grow closer to you. Her affection continues to increase.] [Basic Skills: Dagger Throwing Lv. 3 Trap Making Lv. 3 Strategy Lv. 2 Neck Slitting Lv. 2 Tracking Lv. 1 ??? (More Affection required)] The perks and titles were still locked. It was similar to the window I had seen when Rubia''s Affection had reached 20. "What are you thinking about so deeply?" "Once the supplies are handled, I''ll move on to the next place." "You could stay here a bit longer... though it''s nice that you''re proactive." "I''d like to finish exploring the dungeon quickly." Rena seemed to ponder for a moment. "Would starting with the Barren Underground Tomb be okay? It''s an E-rank dungeon. Although it''s close to D-rank with two added stars, it''s the closest one." "Isn''t that the place with skeletons?" She nodded. "Yes." More of my kin, then? Yet, I felt no hesitation. "Alright, let''s go there." "I''ll go get a map." *** Three days passed by, and Rena quickly managed the supplies. She brought back a detailed dungeon map and various supplies with the money from her transactions. She wore a large backpack, and every pocket seemed full of something. Probably poison, bombs, or throwing weapons. Creak. We opened the dungeon door and stepped outside. I''m finally stepping out. Memories from my last life surfaced. I had remained in the dungeon, unable to leave. I had dismissed my plans with Rena and rejected them without reason, only for her to perish while waiting. Remaining in the dungeon felt familiar and comfortable. But as I stayed, my mind grew clouded. I lost control over myself and sunk into vague, chaotic reveries. Thud, thud. We walked to the dungeon''s entrance. There was a man in blue armor standing here. I wondered who that man had been. The man with grayish-blue hair had glared at me. He mentioned something about a wizard and royal guards. Then he destroyed me, speaking in riddles I couldn''t understand. He was a powerful human, far beyond what I had to defeat him. Even in the wars against the Sixteen Demon Lords, I hadn''t encountered such a strange human. If I continued to come back to life, perhaps I would see that man again someday. "What are you thinking about?" Rattle. Rena''s words snapped me out of my thoughts. She glanced at me before moving closer to speak. Together, we walked along the mountain path that lay ahead. "It rained yesterday. Autumn rain is nice, too. I came a day later because of it. You wouldn''t know since you were inside." "Yes." "So, how does it feel to be out?" "It''s nice." I nodded slightly, taking in the scenery. She was right. A round of autumn rain had passed, leaving the soil spotted with raindrop patterns. Autumn is in full swing. I had buried Rubia last winter. It felt like time had flown by. I had walked the autumn mountains before entering the mausoleum. The beginning and the peak felt different. The autumn of night and the autumn of day, walking alone and walking with someone else in autumn, felt different, too. Thud, thud. Some autumn leaves were as red as blood from the heart. Not all the foliage was bright red, though. Many trees, still green in parts, had leaves in various shades, from crimson to light green. Rustle, rustle! "Oh! A badger!" A small badger ran across our path, scurrying through the dense autumn leaves. "Is it running away?" "Maybe it''s just going about its business. Animals know whether or not they''re in danger." "Do they?" "Yes, they really do." Rena''s gaze softened as she watched the animal, a warm look in her eyes. "How cute." It was a stark contrast to how she had lured men into the dungeon and then mercilessly slit throats. Hmm. Is she some sort of animal-loving misanthrope? Rena kept consulting the map as we walked. Swoosh... As the sky began to darken slightly, we encountered a waterfall cascading down between dozens of stone steps. The spray burst into white foam as it hit a small pool below. Under the waterfall''s misty spray, Rena led me to a path. "This way!" The flowing water carved a hollow in the rock wall. Inside, a wide stairway continued downward. Is this it? Clank! We descended the steep, wide stone steps one by one. "Whoop!" Rena kept up, gracefully dodging the spray and brushing her damp hair back as she followed me down. Perhaps I should go alone. This was an E-rank dungeon. Even though she was prepared, it might still be dangerous for her. Even if I shielded her, unforeseen factors could still pose a risk. I should prevent her from entering. However, I couldn''t stop her from following me to the entrance. Thud! I leaped down the last step in full armor. Hum... At the center of the hollow was a large iron door encased by an arched stone frame without any engravings or designs. I stood before it. "We got here quickly." "Yes, it''s only half a day away." The Barren Underground Tomb was indeed close to The Ossuary of Wraiths. Though we had traveled quickly since morning, the sun had yet to set. "It''s much closer than the other dungeons. Do you think it''s because they''re similar?" She was right that it was a dungeon of similar nature. Both housed skeletons. However, the level of this place was much higher than that of the mausoleum. "I''ll go in alone from here," I stated firmly. Rena raised an eyebrow and grumbled, "Oh, come on. Isn''t that line a bit cliche??" "Are you planning to follow me?" "Are you really going to leave me out here alone? What if some bandit kidnaps me while you''re gone?" What?" "Who knows what kind of scoundrel might come by if you leave me here? Or if I run into someone who likes amputating limbs..." "..." "I''m in danger, you know. Real danger." Rena lightly brushed the crimson cape she had helped me wear. "Are you really going to leave me? Honestly, I can handle an E-rank dungeon. I promise not to tag along for the next one." I had nothing to say to that. "Fine, let''s at least check first." Thud, thud. I approached the large iron door, stopping in front of it. Nothing appeared. "...¡± "Is there something you''re waiting for?" "...Just." I recalled the mausoleum, where the dungeon''s name, rank, and recommended level had been displayed when I stood before the door. But here, there was no indication of the dungeon''s name, level, or anything at all. There was no window. Though it felt strange, I didn''t show it to Rena. I guess I''ll have to go inside to see. I pushed against the iron door. Rumble... The door opened smoothly, with little resistance. "..." Clank. The dungeon was silent. Is no one here? I stepped inside, and my footsteps echoed. Nothing responded. There was no presence. "It''s completely empty?" "This doesn''t make sense." "Right? Maybe adventurers have been here? But there''s no trace at all..." Rena alternated her gaze between the dungeon map and the empty corridors ahead. The hallway was empty. The left open space where an ambush might have occurred and the small water-filled room on the right were both empty. "Where did everyone go?" They left. Rena''s words struck a chord. Yes, the creatures that had once occupied this tomb had gone somewhere. Could that really happen? The world belonged to humans, and monsters had no place to go. Usually, monsters were bound to their dungeons, waiting for adventurers to come and hunt them down. As a lowly Skeleton Soldier, I shared that fate. I remembered my first life. I hadn''t considered leaving until humans tore apart the mausoleum amidst a strange war. If humans trampled over me, I endured, breaking again and again without complaint. Of course, comparing my small mausoleum to this sizable underground tomb might be inaccurate. The residents in this tomb might differ in strength. There could be skeletons in the Barren Underground Tomb capable of leaving with sentient thought. Still, this is strange. A mass migration like this was unusual. Consumed by doubts, I trudged through the empty corridor. Unlike the natural cave-like mausoleum, the floor here was fully tiled, and the walls were neatly bricked. However, that was it. "Even the traps marked on the map are gone. Everything''s gone. This is really strange." The dungeon felt barren. A place that should have been full of bigger, stronger, more varied skeletons, along with traps and scattered bones, was empty. We continued deeper inside. "All the iron bars are open, too!" The iron bars separating different zones were all raised. This dungeon had areas divided by iron bars, yet every bar was lifted. The large candles that should have cast a grim light on the dungeon were all extinguished. Even the candles hanging from the ceiling and those on the shelves were out. Chapter 43. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (3) Chapter 43. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (3) It felt as if everything had vanished. Yet, amid the emptiness, Rena gathered anything of value, from old boxes to wooden bowls. "Diligent, aren''t you?" I remarked. "If I can grab it with just a stretch of my hand, it would be a waste to leave it, right?" Jingle. Rena handed me a pouch. Among the coins collected from the dungeon, there were many coppers but quite a few silvers. They were slightly rusted, but their worth remained intact. A translucent window appeared as I accepted the coins. [You''ve acquired 41 roti and 74 widgets!] Not bad. That amount was enough to buy a suit of armor like the current one I had. I handed the pouch back to Rena. Then, while she focused on collecting the money, I tapped the dangling chains in the corridor with my sword. Clank! Clank! The sound of the chains echoed throughout the dungeon. Even though the chains were meant to signal intruders, nothing in the dungeon responded. Bang! Bang! I slammed my shield against the wall, making loud sounds that reverberated deep inside. Despite all the noise, not a single sound emerged from within. I took a few more steps and tried making more noise, but it was pointless. A hollow sensation washed over me. "Hold on a moment," Rena said as she double-checked the map. We stood at the center of a domed open space, which was five times larger than the hall of the mausoleum. There were massive stone pillars supporting a ceiling that was three times as high. Rena pointed. "Look up. It''s completely empty." "Hmm..." Dozens of empty cages hung above rusted black iron, large enough to trap a human in a crouch. I looked closer. Three shackles were positioned at different heights: one near the top, two in the middle, and two at the bottom. "This is it," Rena said. She looked around and added, "Normally, dozens of skeletons and specters would be screaming and charging at us." I struck the ground with my shield. Thud! "It seems like there''s nothing to worry about." I still didn''t sense any reaction. "Is this the end?" Rena nodded. "Yes. We''re at the deepest part. It''s hard to believe this could happen in just ten days." "Ten days?" "This dungeon''s information was updated recently. I made sure to get the latest information." "Could adventurers have cleared it out?" Rena shook her head. "You know this isn''t a typical raid. It''s more like..." I waited for her to finish. "As if the residents inside... moved somewhere else. It''s too neatly emptied." Moved, huh? There was a more fitting word: extraction. The skeletons of this E-rank dungeon, the Barren Underground Tomb, had all been extracted. Not even the dungeon''s core or any skeletons remained. "Would we have known if we''d arrived sooner?" I asked. "We might have been caught in it ourselves. Let''s head up." Together, we walked slowly out of the dungeon. As we exited, Rena glanced around, and occasionally sighed. She remarked, "Seeing it calmly, this place is really spacious. An empty dungeon isn''t bad. The tiles are all in place, too." The dungeon seemed more like an impressive piece of architecture with no residents. "We could even live here. It''s wide and pleasant. Can''t we just claim it as ours?" Rena asked. I chuckled, rattling slightly. Previously filled with skeletons, the dungeon was now empty. Most likely, it would become a bandit''s hideout. If it held strategic value, a formal army might take control. Otherwise, it probably would turn into a dangerous den for outlaws. I suggested our next move. "Let''s move on to the next dungeon." After a brief pause, Rena asked, "The next one''s a D-rank dungeon... Wouldn''t that be a bit challenging?" "What type of dungeon is it?" "It''s a dungeon with mid-sized spiders. It''s called the Twisted Vault." I wondered about the size of the dungeon. Rena continued, "The spiders are about a meter tall. They can spit venom and are weak to fire." Rena lifted her backpack and tapped on it. Tap, tap. "We''ll need plenty of empty bottles for the journey. We should make firebombs at the dungeon entrance." "Your backpack looks like it''s already full of things." "It is, but I don''t carry oil cans or empty bottles around." "Fair enough." Though I thought stopping in the city would be a hassle, listening to Rena seemed wise. "Thinking of hunting humans along the way?" "Hmm...." After a brief thought, I shook my head. I didn''t want to cause trouble in this area. The man in blue armor. That man crossed my mind. He was due to appear in a month, though his current location was unknown. However, the thought of that cold, white blade severing my armor still sent chills down my spine. "Let''s go quietly." "A path without humans? In that case, let''s go this way." Rena pointed to a spot where the contours on the map were stacked closely together. I recognized the location immediately. ''It''s the same path from before.'' Rena led me to the mountain route I had taken on that first night of survival with Rubia on the route to Grassmere. That was where we encountered the troll. The snow troll had crushed five hunters in an instant and then shattered my skull with her hands. Rattle! After shaking my head briefly, I asked Rena, "Did you hear anything about troll appearances?" "I didn''t look that far. Trolls have a broad range, so it''s hard to predict where they''ll show up." "Let''s just go through the human-populated route." "In that case, we should pass through this city." Tap, tap. Rena pointed to a spot on the map. I ground my teeth unconsciously. Rena glanced at me and said, "It''s the city of Yublam." *** The season had changed, and so had my companion. Instead of the crunch of snow, the dry rustle of fallen leaves echoed underfoot. Rena took the lead, and soon, familiar gray walls emerged through the autumn foliage. "We''re almost there." We had arrived at Yublam, the city Rubia had never walked out of. She''d been discarded like garbage and thrown off a cart. Rattle. Rena looked back at me, her brow furrowing slightly. "What''s wrong?" Despite my efforts to conceal it, my reaction was obvious. Rena had been attentive to me throughout our two-day journey. "Are you going to tell me what memory has you so on edge?" she pressed. "..." I found the idea of explaining it absurd. She was trustworthy and showed me great affection, but my memories with Rubia belonged to her. I didn''t want to share it with another person. "Let''s go." We walked down the mountain path, leaves crunching underfoot. The sprawling wheat fields below had ripened fully. Farmers wielding large scythes moved through the golden waves. "Looks like the harvest is in full swing. After another week, it should be done." We walked through the wheat fields, taking in the sight ahead. The gray walls rose tall, complete with towers and watchtowers. I''d left Rubia in this city alone. My regret came too late, but I would enter with Rena this time. Jingle. Rena took a few silver coins from her pocket, clinking them in her hand. Two guards stood by the drawbridge inside. "Hey, stop right there!" the guard shouted from the front of the drawbridge. Their demeanor was lax, but when they saw us approaching, a slight tension appeared in their posture. Is it because of me? Clad in full plate armor and carrying a massive greatsword, it was no wonder they straightened up as I approached. They might not let us in. I clenched the hilt of my sword, careful not to draw it by accident. I had no intention of starting a fight, but it would be pointless, and I wasn''t reckless enough to take unnecessary risks. Death carried unknown consequences. The guard gestured toward us. "Alright, lady, you come over first." Rena crossed the drawbridge. The guard asked, "And who might you folks be? And what''s with the armored guy?" "He''s my husband." "..." Listening to their conversation from a distance, I remained silent. Rena discreetly slipped something into both of the guards'' pockets, and then a faint clinking sound followed. The guards cleared their throats. "Hmm, you seem like ordinary travelers. Just don''t cause any trouble inside." The guard who had been dozing beside him added, "Be careful. You could lose your head if you mess around. The city guard here is strict¡ªnothing like what you might be used to elsewhere." After a bit of idle chatter, the massive gates opened. Creak... We stepped through the gates. "Who''s your husband?" "Who else? You, of course." "...What?" I shook my head, baffled. My shoulders rose with my silent laugh. "A husband is just a title. Just play along.¡± Clank. I shook my helmet and said, "I refuse." Rena ignored me, taking my hand as we walked forward. "Now that I''m holding your hand, you''re my husband. Isn''t that right?" She didn''t let go. For some reason, I didn''t have the strength to pull away. I simply allowed it and walked beside her. It felt like a void somewhere deep within was filling with water, slowly and steadily. "Autumn''s chilly." Rena leaned closer to me. I tried to pull away, thinking she was teasing me, but she held me tightly and whispered close to my helmet. "I can smell opium in the air." My sense of smell wasn''t as keen as a human''s, so I could only nod in response. "Is that so?" "The sweet scent is everywhere. I''m sensitive to smells, you know. Even the guards'' eyes looked dull. We''ll need to stay alert." "They''re addicted to opium? The whole city?" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Shh. Someone''s probably watching. We''re outsiders, so let''s be careful." I remembered the innkeeper who''d been addicted to opium. He''d been completely ruined, unable to make coherent decisions, his moods swinging wildly. I thought the opium served as an escape from pain caused by torture. But perhaps the innkeeper had been addicted from the start. I said quietly, "The two at the gate seemed fairly alert." "That depends on the dose. If they only consume a small, controlled amount, they can function... if they ignore the addiction. But did you see how hazy they looked?" "They did seem that way." "That''s an early symptom." "..." I looked around at the people on the street. Though no one appeared conspicuous, Rena''s words made everyone seem like an addict. Clang! Clang! Clang! Thud! Thud! Thud! The sound of hammering echoed. There was a blacksmith''s shop by the gate. I glanced at the armor displayed out front. Some pieces resembled the armor I wore. "Looking at armor?" "Don''t mind it. I''m not buying." I already had one crafted by the same blacksmith. A frail old man emerged from an alley, giving us a once-over. Then he stroked his white beard and retreated into the alley. "Is he an addict?" Rena tilted her head. "Looks like it. The opium scent is strong, but his eyes were quite clear. It''s hard to say." "Why was he watching us?" "Who knows?¡± We continued along the cobbled street. Brown wooden buildings lined both sides, some roofs were painted white while some were painted black. Some were blue, and others were red. Rena stopped in front of a three-story white building. "This is it." "The only inn here, right?" "Yes." It was the inn where Rubia had stayed. I felt a chill in my chest. This was the inn I''d first entered after purchasing my armor. The route matched perfectly, the city where she had died, and the inn where she had stayed. It felt like I was stepping into enemy territory. Creak. Rena opened the door, leading the way inside. Chapter 44. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (4) Chapter 44. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (4) The heavy wooden door creaked open. The door was a solid, imposing piece. A woman sitting at the counter greeted us. "Welcome." She appeared to be in her early forties. Though faint wrinkles graced her neck and eyes, she was fit, toned, and dressed in clothing that accentuated her figure. Men sitting at nearby tables stole glances at her with obvious interest. A new owner? I had killed the previous owner. That man had complained about the Necron Society taking over the inn. So, is this woman part of that group? Perhaps she was a puppet controlled by an underground trafficking ring. I sensed a crawling sensation as if snakes were slithering right beneath the surface, ready to spring forth at any moment. I stayed alert, expecting the men at the tables to join any type of ambush. Tap! Rena tapped my side, snapping me back to reality. I might have been leaking a murderous intent, but the woman behind the counter only gave a faint, melancholic smile. "First time here, I take it? Are you travelers?" Rena nodded. "Yes!" I scanned the area. The tables and chairs were neatly arranged, and the floor was clean. At first glance, it didn''t seem like a den of criminals or a drug haven, yet this was undoubtedly the same place where Rubia had disappeared. "Rooms start on the second floor. Will you two be sharing one?" "Of course. We''d like a room with a bathtub, please." As I continued to survey the room, Rena shot me a subtle glance, ordering a beer to buy me time to inspect the first floor. I hadn''t said a word, but she had already caught on. Thud. A large wooden mug full of dark beer was placed on the bar. Rena leaned in, making small talk with the innkeeper. "Do you have any cheese to go with it?" "Here you go. I''ll add some dried snacks, too." Rena stood at the counter, sipping her beer slowly. Meanwhile, I wandered around the first floor, observing the patrons. There were no familiar faces, at least not those of the bald man and his lackeys. I tapped my foot against the ground here and there. The hollow sound indicated that there was a space below. There''s a basement here. However, it wasn''t unusual for an inn to have a basement. It could be used as a wine or cheese cellar. I found nothing particularly suspicious. Eventually, Rena finished her beer. "We only have one dinner option. Shall I bring it up to your room?" the innkeeper asked. "Yes, please. And could you bring another dark beer as well?" We climbed to the fourth floor and entered our room. It was spacious, and it only had one bed. Not that it mattered to me, because I didn''t need to sleep. Rustle. Rena undressed by the bathroom. I sat in the corner, looking away toward the window. The sound of each piece of clothing falling to the floor filled the room. Rena started running the hot water and then stepped inside. Her voice drifted out, mixed with the steam. "Isn''t it great how convenient things are these days? Even hot water is convenient." The technology to draw and heat water was first developed in Embermere, the city-state known for its engineering prowess. From there, it spread to the Free Confederation and the Empire. This all happened about a century ago. "How old are you?" A leisurely reply came through the humidity. "Why? Can''t I comment on how great things are just because I''m young?" I heard a splash. "Would you like to join? We don''t have to stop at just a bath, you know." "I''ll pass." "Aww, a dark beer and a bath are a perfect combo. You sure?" I ignored the absurd joke, keeping my gaze focused beyond the window with the sword resting against me. Lost in thought, I muttered to myself, "I hate confined spaces." Images of the numerous cages in the depths of the Barren Underground Tomb surfaced in my mind. Those cages, perfectly sized to fit a single skeleton, had haunted me. Being trapped in a cage like that amplified helplessness and pain. I, too, had once been confined in such a cage. Many high-ranking demons had used Skeleton Soldiers to imprison them with those. While I was absorbed in those grim thoughts, Rena''s voice startled me. "Then next time, let''s go to a hot spring. They''re more spacious, right?" "..." After about two hours of splashing around, Rena slowly emerged from the bathroom, humming softly. Warm steam followed her out after she opened the door. Wrapped loosely in a large towel, Rena raised both hands to tousle her damp black hair. I caught a glimpse of her healthy, slightly tan skin and her well-proportioned limbs. She smiled as our eyes met. "Like what you see? Should I drop the towel?" she teased, tugging playfully at the towel''s knot. "..." Growl. Her stomach rumbled, breaking the atmosphere she''d tried so hard to set. The mood she had orchestrated crumbled under her own hunger. I laughed, my bones shaking slightly. Rattle. "Tsk..." Rena''s face flushed a deep red. She slipped under the blanket and turned away, but it didn''t bother me. Knock, knock. Right on time, a knock came at the door for dinner. I accepted it and called Rena, who was hiding in the bed. "One serving should be enough to fill you up." "Ugh..." She groaned but emerged to eat. Nineteen, right? Nineteen was a fitting age for someone with a good appetite. With my sword in hand, I observed her briefly as she ate before sitting off to the side. I positioned myself with a clear view of the door, prepared to strike and interrogate any intruders. However, after the meal was served, no one else came. With Rena''s silly comments urging me to take off my armor, the late autumn night eventually passed. *** "Ugh...mmph..." That was Rena''s first utterance around noon when she woke up. There was an unusual charm in her untidy, disheveled state. She pulled her hands out from underneath the blanket and raised them to her head, taming her messy hair. "Too early?" I asked. "It''s already noon." "Exactly. You should''ve taken that armor off when I asked. This is all your fault, you know?" Maybe I shouldn''t have raised her Affection. Once her Affection level passed twenty, such teasing remarks came out as if by habit. It was mildly exhausting. Is she mocking me for being incapable of physical intimacy? "Status screen,¡± I muttered while looking at Rena. With a faint chime, her status window appeared. Our time together had raised her Affection stat again; it was now 29. The thought of what would happen if it exceeded 30 gave me a slight headache. I might need to bring that down a bit. Ignoring Rena''s playful jabs, I responded with a stoic silence. Eventually, she shifted to a more serious topic. "We should gather supplies for firebombs. Have you ever used one?" Rattle. I shook my head. I had never used one nor been on the receiving end of one. It probably seemed absurd, considering my experience on chaotic battlefields with various weapons. However, Skeleton Soldiers on the front lines were never given proper gear. Once a battle started, it didn''t last long. We weren''t briefed on strategies or given proper training. We were used as a disposable cushion to absorb enemy attacks. Three minutes. On the battlefield, Skeleton Soldier units would be decimated within three minutes. In war, they were nothing more than sacrificial lambs. The swords they wielded were rusty, blunt relics. "I''ve never used a weapon like that,¡± I replied. "It''s not difficult. Just throw it so it breaks on impact. The jar will shatter and go whoosh! A fire cloud then bursts out. If you mix in something sticky, the flames will cling and be even more effective." "I see." "Let''s go buy the materials." "Do you think they sell oil here?" "They''ll sell anything if you have money. Normally, anyway. And if they don''t... we can stir things up a bit." I was not entirely sure what she had in mind, but I decided to follow her lead. We stepped outside, and Rena led the way through narrow alleys between tightly packed houses while consulting a city map. I walked beside her, keeping watch. Sunlight barely reached these alleyways, and the smell of opium was strong enough for me to detect it. "Quite consistent here," Rena commented. "Consistent?" "If this is a drug den, you''d expect a wider variety. But there''s no scent of silphium or hashish. It''s all opium." "What does that imply?" I asked. Rena lowered her voice and answered, "Probably rationing." The people loitering in the alleys had vacant expressions. Those in ragged clothes looked far worse off than the guards at the gate, as their eyes were more unfocused. Upon seeing me in my plate armor, some flinched with a faint, powerless wariness in their gaze. "Let''s go." We reached a general store at the end of the alley. Rena peered inside briefly. The shop was sizable, far greater than a place for basic necessities. Though there was only one floor, it could comfortably accommodate about twenty people at a time. Every inch was packed with goods. A separate red-painted shed stood nearby, catching Rena''s attention. She sniffed the air slightly. "They have plenty of gasoline." We entered the shop, where a man in a navy jacket greeted us. "Welcome." His gray hair was neatly tousled, and his short beard was well-maintained. Peering into his eyes, it was hard to tell if he was under the influence of opium. He scanned the rows of drawers behind the counter. The numerous drawers extended well beyond his height. Each one was marked with a unique symbol, presumably for the shopkeeper''s reference. "What are you looking for?" "First, I''ll take 30 empty bottles," Rena answered. "Empty bottles? I don''t even have 3, let alone 30. Why bottles?" Rena frowned. "A general store with no empty bottles? That''s odd. Then I''ll take your cheapest bottled liquor... and a barrel of tar." "No tar, either." "What? You do have gasoline, right?" "Nope..." "Isn''t that shed outside filled with gasoline? I can smell it." Rena pointed toward the red-painted shed outside. "Ah, I can''t sell that. It''s reserved for someone else. All pre-sold. And what''s that armored guy looking for?" Rena smirked, puffing out her chest as she tapped my armored chest, the clang echoing faintly in the store. "He''s my husband. A fine free knight." The shopkeeper''s expression remained firm. "I told you. It¡¯s out of stock." He pursed his lips tightly, looking resolute. "Is it because we''re outsiders? When did general stores stop selling to paying customers?" The shopkeeper leaned forward, planting his hands on the counter. His hands were thick and calloused. "When I say I''m not selling, that''s final. We''re different here." The two argued for a while, attracting glances from other customers and even passersby outside. That''s not like her. Rena''s argument seemed deliberately provocative, almost as if she was intentionally drawing attention. The shopkeeper''s refusals were curt and straightforward. After about thirty minutes, he finally snapped. "Just leave! You''re disturbing my business!" "I''ll keep bothering you! Why won''t you sell what''s clearly available?" I motioned to Rena. "Let''s go." I didn''t know her full intentions, but she''d garnered enough attention. Then, I felt the presence of someone trailing us from behind. "Someone''s following us." "Soon enough, there''ll be more. They''ll try to ambush us, no doubt." "..." ¡°Guess I''ll have to rely on you!¡± Rena exclaimed. Chapter 45. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (5) Chapter 45. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (5) The tail continued following us. They kept a consistent distance, and it was only one person. Strange. We had been wandering narrow, dark alleyways long enough for an ambush to occur, yet no attack came. No additional followers appeared either, though others might have remained hidden. However, I sensed the presence of a single, ordinary human. Thinking further, it seemed like this person was, in fact, quite ordinary. Thud, thud. After walking for some time, the figure drew closer. I prepared to draw my blade. Clink. Gripping the hilt, I turned swiftly on my left foot. But the one standing there was... An old man with a white beard. That old man? "Oh, that grandpa had been trailing us all this time? Impressive stamina," Rena remarked. It was the man we had seen near the blacksmith''s forge, the one who had observed us before retreating into the alley. Cautiously, I kept my hand on the sword hilt. If our pursuer had shown himself, it could mean an attack from all sides was imminent. Yet, nothing happened. The old man merely took a few steps forward. "You..." "Speak," I firmly said. "Come with me." "Come with you?" I remained ready to draw my sword at any moment. Human combat skills were unpredictable. "Yes. It''s dangerous to linger here." "This alley?" "No, this city." The old man seemed eager to say more. Upon closer inspection, he seemed frail, but his eyes were sharp and focused. Something about the situation felt odd, almost urging me to follow. I looked at Rena. She nodded, sensing the same feeling. "Let''s go. This man isn''t an addict, and that''s enough reason to follow him." "Yes, I thought you''d notice." The old man led us through the alleyways with practiced familiarity. Soon, we arrived at a small house, where he produced a key from his pocket. "Come inside." Creak. As the door opened, the smell of iron wafted out, and inside were various weapons displayed on racks. Even to an untrained eye, these were clearly high-quality items. "I won''t offer tea," the old man said, casting a cautious glance. "Nor will I offer you a seat. You should leave this city quickly." "What do you mean by that, old man?" Rena leaned her chin on her hand, but the old man wasn''t looking at her. His gaze was focused on me. Why is he looking at me like that? I wondered, remaining silent. Instead, Rena spoke again. "If you followed us here to talk, why not explain properly?" The old man continued to gaze only at me. "Leave before the guards return to the city." He clasped his hands, and metal clinked against metal. The old man was talking about the guards, so I asked, "Return? What do you mean?" "Just that. They''re not here now, but they''ll be back by day''s end." "The guards were at the gates when we arrived," Rena pointed out. Tap. I gestured for Rena to hold back. "Are you talking about a... different group? Criminals dressed as guards, perhaps?" The old man''s eyes widened. "Yes! Did you come here already knowing that?" "Go on," I prompted. "They left to execute anyone in the city who resisted." "Execute?" Rena echoed. Meanwhile, I kept silent, feeling a shiver. I had experienced six deaths, but this was my first lucky encounter. Until now, information like this required repeated deaths, learning bit by bit, finding people who could provide clues, exploiting weaknesses, and gaining trust. Luck? Upon reflection, luck didn''t quite fit. No, something about this situation felt unnatural. "Why are you telling us this?" I glanced around the room. Aside from the odd number of displayed weapons, the house was meticulously organized. "That armor." The old man pointed to my armor, his hand steady despite his age. "I made it. That forge on the street? My shop." "..." "That''s the last piece I ever crafted." I felt a strange dizziness. I had taken this armor from the innkeeper''s home. It was the armor Rubia had purchased. "You made this armor?" "Yes. The last set I ever forged. You''ve been wearing it this whole time." Naturally, removing it would leave me defenseless and vulnerable to human attacks. I nodded. "Yes." "You must really like it, haha..." The old man''s laugh was hollow, and it seemed there was no need to clarify further. "It was hard to ignore once I saw you wearing it. And... it reminded me of the woman who bought it." His voice faltered, leaving the sentence incomplete. The woman he mentioned had to be Rubia. "Last winter, was it?" I said. The old man took a sharp breath and asked, "How did you know?" "Just a guess. That''s when I acquired it." The old man let out a long sigh and continued, "I was born in Grassmere, met a woman from this city, and moved here. Forty years of life... yet lately, I''ve seen too many sins." Regret filled his face, indicating the guilt of a bystander. It was as if he were choking on words left unsaid. "Please, tell us clearly. What kind of guilt?" Gulp. The old man gulped and answered, "The lord grows opium here, distributes it, and forces the people of this city into addiction. Anyone who resists or complains is killed." Rena interjected, "And you?" "I... have my uses." The old man looked back at the weapons displayed around us, guilt thick in his voice. "I forge the guards'' weapons. I claimed I couldn''t work under the influence. That''s how I survived." "..." "Being alone, with no one to threaten, they let me be." "And the guards?" "Pah, nothing worth mentioning. They''re the lord''s dogs. Three years ago, he brought in a dozen criminals to reinforce the guards. Things only grew worse after that." I got straight to the point and asked, "Do you know of the Necron Society? Are these guards part of that group?" The old man blinked in surprise. "There are rumors, but it''s dangerous to speak..." Clearing his throat, he continued, "Even rumors have stopped circulating. I''m just an old man trapped in this city. I can''t tell you anything more than that." Rena asked, "Is it alright to tell us all this?" "What more can they do to me? You look like adventurers. I assume you''re planning to go to the dungeon? The spider cave, right?" I nodded. "Be careful. The guards also went there to feed live humans to the spiders. If you go now, you''ll meet them. They won''t let witnesses live." "Uh..." Rena shuddered, then asked the old man, "You know all this, and you still haven''t left?" The old man smirked. "Who would let me?" "It wouldn''t be difficult to escape alone, especially since you''re not addicted." He shook his head. "My wife was born and buried in this city. Where else would I go? I''ll die here, too." "Haa..." Rena sighed. I turned back to the old man. "Is there... a bookstore in this city?" "A bookstore? Why, may I ask?" Hesitating briefly, I decided that we could trust the old man. "I''m looking for a book written by a man named Kevin Ashton." "Never heard of him. We don''t have a bookstore. There''s the lord''s library, though." It was unlikely they would grant me entry. I had expected that much. We prepared to leave. "Take this," the old man said, handing over a black metal bottle. "I saw you at the general store earlier. I gathered you wanted to enter the spider cave... Consider this a gift in thanks for wearing my last piece of armor." "What is this?" "If you go to the cave, use it. Even diluted with water at a one to thirty ratio, it''ll be more potent than any oil. They call it Grassmere''s Fire." Rena''s eyes widened. "That... that''s..." I had heard of Grassmere''s Fire. The succubus I once served enjoyed reading while resting her head on my lap, and explaining the concepts she read about helped her unwind. Whenever an interesting part came up, she read it aloud. Clink. Recalling her stories, I asked, my voice rattling slightly, "The legendary unquenchable liquid fire?" "It''s a secret from my birthplace. I succeeded in crafting a single bottle in my lifetime. I planned to save it for a masterpiece... but why should I give it to those devils?" "Are you sure about this?" I hesitated to accept it because its value was undoubtedly extraordinary. From his tone, it seemed this old blacksmith had managed to make only one bottle of such a rare substance in his life. "Of course. Take it." "If you have any requests, speak now." The old man changed the subject. "I don''t have much time left. The years are nearly up. To throw away this fire would be wasteful." "Isn''t there anyone else you can give it to?" "They''re all addicts. They''re slaves to their very souls. Morality and values have vanished." "Is it simply a matter of receiving the drug?" Rena asked. "Exactly." "Sir, that''s not really what you want to say, is it?" The old man chuckled. "Sharp young woman. I''m asking you to... use this well." "Just say it." "Tonight, the guards will return. Head to the spider cave and burn everything in it." Rena smirked, one corner of her mouth curling upward. "Hah, I figured as much." "If they return, they''ll track you down for coming to my house. They''ll assume I told you something. Then they will try to kill you." "..." "Strike first. This is your one chance." Crossing my arms, I felt the weight of my armored fists. Rena grinned slyly at the old man''s thinly veiled threat. I asked, "Is this about revenge?" "For seventy-five years, I''ve lived as a coward, only concerned with my survival. After my wife died, my life had no more meaning, no sanctuary." The old man sighed deeply. "I live on without purpose, while the lord poisons the city with drugs." "Since when?" "Three years ago. If my wife had been alive, they would have killed her. She was too passionate about justice." "..." "Bearing this has become unbearable. And then I saw you two. So, will you indulge the pitiful plea of a worthless renegade?" Chapter 46. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (6) Chapter 46. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (6) The old man asked me to kill the guards who had gone to the spider''s lair. Three years ago, the lord had brought that brutal group of guards in. However, I needed more confirmation. "What about their leader? I mean... someone like the captain of the guards?" The old man flinched. Without giving him time to react properly, I asked directly, "What does he look like?" "He''s almost completely bald. Built like a rock," he answered. "You''ll recognize him the moment you see his eyes. They scream of leadership." Click. I tensed up. It must be them¡ªthe ones who murdered Rubia. I could vividly picture those brutes dragging a cart through the city gates. "Did that man go to the spider''s lair as well?" "Yes. He moves with his subordinates. When he''s around, the others are especially obedient. If anyone doesn''t perform, well... he nearly kills them on the spot." I clenched my jaw as I was certain of it now. I remembered that bald man''s disdainful gaze as he berated his underlings, looking around as if he would devour everything in sight. I need to focus on this. Even without the old man''s request, I would''ve sought vengeance anyway. This just made it easier. Trapping and burning them would be simple and efficient if they were all gathered in the spider''s lair. That''s the best option for now. As I dug deeper, I would eventually reach the city''s lord or perhaps even something greater. Currently, I lacked the overwhelming power to hunt down each guard, torture them alive, or march into the lord''s fortress and turn everything upside down. Maybe I could someday, but not today. *** The old man instructed us on how to use the fire. "This is how you use it." The black iron sprayer felt heavy as I gripped it with both hands. It emitted a chilliness that spread through my bones. It''s cold. There was a hand-cranked pump attached to it, and at the front was a long tube designed to spew the sticky fire. "How do you put it out?" I asked. The old man warned, "Be careful. You can''t extinguish it." "I can''t extinguish it?" "It''s an eternal fire," the old man said with a hint of pride. "Can''t I douse it with water?" "Water?" The old man chuckled. "Feel free to try, but make sure you''re at least thirty steps away when you do." "So, it really won''t go out?" "This fire can burn even in the depths of the sea. Mud or sand won''t extinguish it either." The old man handed us a bag of powder. "Sprinkle this on yourself before you use it." Rena interjected, "What is it?" "It''ll protect you from the fire. With this on, you won''t feel the heat." "That''s amazing." "Yes, it is. This will shield you from the flames," the old man said with a satisfied grin. We practiced with water in the sprayer several times instead of Grassmere''s Fire. I held down the button on the sprayer. Psssh! Water shot out in a long, powerful stream, reaching about ten meters ahead. "The pump on this thing is quite strong," I commented. Before we left, the old man handed us another black iron sprayer. "This one''s diluted to a twentieth of its strength. You''re better off getting a feel for it first outside." Then we departed from the old man''s house. *** "I''m surprised you accepted the request," Rena said after we left the city. "Yes." "It feels like you really wanted to do this." "Isn''t this beneficial for us? We have one more fun weapon, so there''s nothing to dislike¡ª" I paused mid-sentence. Rena quietly studied me with wide eyes. "Are you flustered?" she asked. Maybe my words had come out too fast. I felt as if she had touched something deep within me. As I stayed silent, her face flushed slightly. "I''m glad you accepted that old man''s offer." "What do you mean?" I thought it was odd. Doesn''t she despise humans? I recalled her killing men without hesitation, slicing throats with joy, a stark contrast to her current demeanor. "I wanted to accept that request too. It moved something in me." I still couldn''t quite understand. In the end, I bluntly said, "You..." "Yes?" "Don''t you hate humans?" "Haha..." Her laughter was a mystery to me. I assumed she followed me out of spite for humanity, but perhaps I had misunderstood. Rena smiled. "Maybe. Most humans are clingy, always trying to exploit me blindly." "..." "I liked you because you''re straightforward. You give and take clearly." I didn''t fully understand. Would increasing my Wisdom stat help me understand someone like her better? "You''re a self-centered skeleton who still thinks about others while pretending not to. It''s quite admirable." Surprisingly, Rena blushed slightly, an expression I couldn''t remember seeing before. At that moment, a string of translucent messages popped up before my eyes. Ding! [Rena''s Affection has increased by 6!] [Affection has surpassed 30!] [Perks unlocked.] [Perks can now evolve.] [Checking partner''s information.] Ding! [Name: Rena Class: Thief Lv. 5 Health: 13 Strength: 11 Agility: 17 Wisdom: 11] [Affection: 35 ¡ª Rena has been deeply impressed by your actions. Her Affection has significantly increased. ¡ª When maintaining the atmosphere, focus on actions that boost her Affection. Her level will rise more rapidly than usual.] [Basic Skills: ¡ª Dagger Throwing Lv. 3 ¡ª Trap Crafting Lv. 3 ¡ª Scheming Lv. 2 ¡ª Throat Slashing Lv. 2 ¡ª Tracking Lv. 1 ¡ª ??? (Affection level insufficient)] [Perks: ¡ª Talent (B): Sufficiently Exceptional Talent The owner of this perk possesses far superior talent and growth potential compared to ordinary people. They gain +2 stats per level up. ¡ù In the locked state, only +1 stat per level up applies. ¡ª Battle Sense (B): Heightened Senses This perk owner exhibits superior combat power even with identical stats to others. Detailed effects: ??? (Affection insufficient) ¡ª ??? (Affection insufficient) ¡ù In the locked state, this applies only to opponents below level 10.] [Title: ¡ª Increase Affection to unlock.] I closed my mouth, momentarily speechless. What on earth is this? Aside from the sudden, unexpected surge in Affection, Rena''s status screen was overwhelming. I couldn''t even begin to compare myself to her. Humans gained two stat points per level, twice the amount I could gain. Considering the default stat difference, even a Lv. 20 Skeleton Soldier was weaker than a Lv. 10 human. However, her growth potential was twice that of a normal human''s, with four points for each level. She was growing four times faster than me. Then, there was her Battle Sense perk. She has the same stats, yet better combat skills? She had a terrifying growth rate and the ability to use it efficiently. This woman was a monster¡ªa rare, exceptional talent even among humans. She was weak now, but if she developed properly... I didn''t have to think hard to reach a conclusion. It''s a bit frightening. If she reached level twenty, she could easily knock me down at my current level. I might even prefer her in her current state, which was weak and manageable. Rena''s voice drifted in from right beside me. "What are you thinking about?" I turned, seeing her pretty face up close. The idea of protecting her seemed more absurd at the moment. "Nothing," I replied. *** Rena led me to a secluded riverside. "Let''s try spewing Grassmere''s fire out here! How about it?" "Where?" She pointed to the river where water flowed, producing a clear, calming sound between the rocks. "Over the water." I held the sprayer containing the diluted liquid, aimed it forward, and activated the pump. Whoosh! A strange sound echoed as flames burst forth in a fiery display. The fire shot straight like a liquid, reaching ten paces ahead, then swelled and danced in the air. When it touched a rock rising above the river, the stone blackened, and black smoke swirled above the flames. "Wow... I''d only heard about it, but seeing it is something else. So, that''s what it''s like." "It would be hard to survive a hit from that." "And it''s not regular air inside either. The spraying power is incredible." "I''m impressed, too." If the one-twentieth dilution proved this potent, the undiluted liquid must be unimaginably powerful. Clack. "Ah!" Rena gasped. I grabbed the black sprayer from Rena. "I''ll hold it." Talent aside, she was still fragile. Even with a one-twentieth dilution, the power of the fire was shocking. I didn''t want her handling it. *** "This way!" Rena said, alternating her gaze between the map and the trail ahead as she led the way. "You''re good at this." "There are traces of dozens of people walking through. With a fixed destination, it''d be harder to miss." The tracks were clear. "So, the old man''s words were accurate." "Fifteen guards. He said ten people were marked for execution, right? That looks about right." We kept walking. I wore my armor with a crimson robe draped over my back. "That looks better every time I see it. I''m glad we bought it," Rena said, looking proud. She seemed genuinely pleased with how I looked. The cloak wasn''t particularly cumbersome, and its weight was hardly noticeable. If it made her this happy, then there was no reason to deny wearing it. As I followed Rena, almost lost in thought, the scenery began to change little by little. "The trees are dead." The number of withered trees increased. Upon closer inspection, there weren''t any leaves clinging to the branches. Rena drew her blade and peeled back a bit of the tree''s bark. Screech. After examining it briefly, she stated, "The sap has been completely drained." We walked a little further. Rena pointed ahead. "There." Is that a dungeon? A massive, dark opening appeared at the end of a winding staircase. All the surrounding trees were black and lifeless. "Why are all the trees like this?" "It''s because the spiders dig tunnels underground and drain the sap from the tree roots." "Spiders drain sap?" "Of course, normal spiders don''t. But these are chimeras, creations of a sorcerer. With them, anything is possible." "Is that so?" "Yes. This is my first artificial dungeon." Unlike natural formations like The Ossuary of the Wraiths, created by clusters of undead, some dungeons were man-made, like the ones guarded by golems. The D-rank dungeon, Vault of the Fallen Spider, was filled with discarded chimeras left behind by a sorcerer. Rena scanned the area carefully, taking items out of her pack as she approached the dungeon''s entrance. "That group that the old man mentioned definitely went inside." "Should we follow them in?" "Hold on..." Rena slowly unwound a coil of wire wrapped around a long stick. She tied the wire around several thick trees and began digging small holes in the ground. She set traps in various spots, smearing poison on the blades and creating snares. "Setting up traps?" "Yes. If we can''t kill them all inside, we''ll need to handle them out here as well." She worked quickly even as she spoke, her hands moving with practiced efficiency. After a while, she stepped back with satisfaction. "All set!" "Is it done?" Rena nodded proudly. "This is our territory now!" I checked the traps she''d set, noting how thoroughly she''d prepared them. There was a spark of satisfaction in her eyes, a glint that showed her enjoyment of this dangerous work. "You really enjoy this, don''t you?" I said. She smirked, looking at me. "Maybe. I like feeling in control of a situation. It''s... satisfying." "Then let''s make this count." Together, we approached the dungeon entrance. The opening loomed above us, dark and foreboding, with the sound of scurrying creatures echoing faintly from within. I tightened my grip on the handle of the black sprayer. The anticipation thrummed through my bones, sharpening my senses with a familiar, cold focus. "Ready?" I asked, glancing at Rena. She gave a firm nod, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Ready as I''ll ever be." We stepped inside, our steps echoing down the stone passage as the shadows swallowed us whole. Chapter 47. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (7) Chapter 47. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (7) Rena set up wire traps, laying down poisoned snares throughout. The traps would catch ankles, while some would even spit venom. She double-checked their positions with a satisfied expression. "If things don''t go well inside..." she said, trailing off. I knew what she meant. We''d fall back to this spot. If things really went south, even retreating here might be impossible. "Let''s go." We stepped into the deep, dark cavern. As we descended the spiral staircase, I noticed the wooden railing, a strangely thoughtful addition. Step by step, Rena followed silently behind me. The cave had an ominous atmosphere. The surrounding dead trees seemed to warn that entering recklessly would mean death. But despite everything, this was merely a D-rank dungeon. The dungeon where I once lived with Lady Succubus was, I heard, classified as A-. I''d faced champions who breezed through a challenge of that level. The cave brightened slightly inside as glowing orbs embedded along the walls provided light. Eight orbs dotted the walls, reminiscent of a spider''s many eyes. We stopped in front of a small iron door, and a translucent message appeared before me. Ding! [Vault of the Fallen Spider] [Dungeon Rank: D] [This dungeon is beyond your level to clear.] [Recommended Level: 31-40] [Suggested Party Size: 4-6] This was the second one I''d seen since The Ossuary of Wraiths, which had an F-rank with a recommended level cap of 15. I checked my status. [Name: None Skeleton Soldier Lv. 1 (70) Health: 34 Strength: 40 Agility: 39 Wisdom: 13] ... [Skills: ¡ª Swordsmanship Lv. 5] My level remained at 1. Ever since that blue-armored knight killed me, I didn''t hunt any humans along the way. The dungeon''s warnings were based on my current level. According to that standard, attempting this was madness. "This is a higher-ranked dungeon, but the entrance is narrow. We''ll have to work through a long, narrow corridor," Rena said. "You memorized the map?" "Of course. The narrow passages favor smaller numbers. We can unleash fire as we go, and they won''t stand a chance to resist." I nodded. Rena looked at me and added, "This time, I''ll join in a bit. After all, we have fire." I watched her closely. Her potential was remarkable. If she leveled up, it wouldn''t take long for her to surpass me. I was wary of her when we first met, but now I could trust her. She wouldn''t simply be handling gear or gold from human loot. As she grew, she''d become a formidable ally. I should help her grow. If necessary, I''d let her gather experience points, if circumstances allowed, of course. Clank. I attached the fire sprayer to my belt and drew my sword. The blade slid out with a cold, sharp sound. With one hand on the hilt, I pushed open the door with the other. Rumble! The iron door groaned as it swung open, revealing a narrow path sloping downward. Though tight, a human could pass through it. The wizard who designed this dungeon had intended for it to be for humans. We descended the winding corridor for a long time. Only the glowing orbs embedded in the ceiling illuminated the path. We turned right for a while, then left again. "This doesn''t seem to be a living area," I commented. "No, we need to descend further. There''s nothing in these corridors." "They mentioned feeding condemned prisoners to the spiders, right?" "Right, but if they were left here, they''d just starve to death." I nodded lightly. "True." Rena seemed to ponder something, then murmured quietly, "Getting eaten alive by a spider or starving to death..." "Not exactly a pleasant choice," I replied. "Wouldn''t it be better to get eaten? I heard that spider stingers contain an aphrodisiac." I refocused on our path down. After a long descent, the floor began to feel sandy underfoot. Eventually, we reached a small open area. "There!" Rena exclaimed, pointing to three charred spider remains nearby. Each spider was at least a meter long. "Are you not afraid of spiders?" She shook her head. "Why would I be? I don''t plan to keep one as a pet, but... are you scared of spiders?" "It''s just a general thing. Humans tend to fear them." "I suppose they''d hate the ones lurking in drains or hiding in clothes and bedsheets," Rena remarked with a chuckle. Then she added, "Anything hidden in those places would be disgusting, but you''re welcome under my sheets anytime." She wandered around the area, checking for any other signs. Following her gaze, I noticed holes scattered across the floor, barely wide enough for spiders to crawl through. "That path''s not an option." "No, it''s for spiders only," Rena confirmed. Our only path was deeper into the cave. "This way," she said. We continued downward. Eventually, we saw spider corpses and a few humans half-stuck in spider holes with their torsos lodged inside. Blood was spattered around the holes, suggesting that the spiders had feasted on them. Rena frowned slightly. "The guards went deeper in. Looks like they''re planning to tackle the boss." "That''s... not great?" "Further down, the space opens up. That doesn''t play to our advantage. We''re better off in narrow corridors." Skitter! Skitter! Just then, two spiders covered in blood crawled out from one of the holes where a human torso had been. "Step back." I pushed Rena behind me and charged forward. Skitter! Skitter! The medium-sized spiders made strange, clicking sounds as they lunged at me. Each of their eight legs was the length of a longsword and as thick as a human woman''s waist. Thud! I drove my sword into the closest spider''s body. I had the advantage in both strength and speed. These spiders were merely cannon fodder compared to the dungeon''s stronger inhabitants. Skewered on my sword, the spider flailed helplessly as I shoved it back into the hole. Shriek! The other spider quickly met the same fate. I skewered it and pushed it back into the hole as I blocked the entrance with my shield. Then I wiped the green blood off my sword and watched it drip onto the cave floor. Skitter! Even as the spiders dragged the human corpses further inside, I had no intention of giving them time to feed. I grabbed the sprayer containing the one-twentieth dilution of Grassmere''s Fire, aimed the nozzle at the hole, and cranked the manual pump hard. Whoosh! Roar! Screech! Skitter! Flames spread through the narrow opening. They''re clearly weak to fire. The shrieks of burning spiders echoed from within, even though they hadn''t done anything wrong. Driven by their instincts, they simply attacked whatever entered their home. It was a natural, if not brutal cycle. I felt no need to justify my invasion. I crushed their defense with merciless flames. To humans, I was a menace. To these spiders, I was equally a blight. However, it didn''t matter if it meant gaining the power to protect someone someday. I''d do anything. [Level up!] [Level up!] [Level up!] [Level up!] Silence settled from the hole. The two spiders I''d shoved inside were dead, but it hadn''t taken more than a few seconds. Under normal circumstances, I would''ve had to hack off their legs and pierce them multiple times with my sword, a messy and time-consuming job. With the right weapon, I''d saved myself the trouble. However, overconfidence was dangerous. The spiders outside were mere weaklings compared to the boss lurking within. Four level-ups. I allocated two points each to Strength and Agility. [Health: 34 Strength: 42 Agility: 41 Wisdom: 13] With both Strength and Agility above forty, I felt the increase in power and speed immediately. "There should be a door soon," Rena said beside me. "A door?" "Yes. The narrow corridor should end soon. Are you going further?" "I am." Perhaps I''d led her too far in. I wasn''t sure if I could protect her, but we moved forward anyway. After a few more minutes of walking, we reached a small iron door, just as she''d said. Creak... "Wow..." Rena breathed out as we opened the door, revealing a canyon-like space beyond. "It looks like an ancient coliseum. Wizards have strange tastes." Spiderwebs covered the canyon, and black spiders with bright red eyes crawled along them. Here and there, bundled-up humans hung within the webs. Rena noticed the hanging humans the same time I did. "They left them here, still alive." "Doesn''t look very comfortable." A woman''s pale leg twitched as it hung from the web. I looked closer, wondering if she was still alive, but her head, or where it should have been, was bright red. A spider had bitten it off. The twitching leg was simply dangling. I averted my gaze and scanned the canyon floor. Charred spider remains and shattered oil flasks lay scattered across the blackened ground, their surfaces crusted with fire and tar residue. The signs of recent battles could be seen everywhere. "They went down further." "Yes. Most of the condemned seem to have been dumped here," Rena observed. "Mind lending me the fire?" I asked. Rena handed over the sprayer containing diluted Grassmere''s Fire. I aimed it toward a massive web on the other side of the canyon, then cranked the pump. Whoosh! Flames shot forward, engulfing the thick web. Both the spiders crawling along it and the tightly wrapped humans within were consumed by the blaze. Screech! Screech! Spiders leaped down from the webs, scrambling toward us across the canyon. Though there were only a few left, likely survivors of the guards'' earlier assault, they still appeared menacing. One, two... five of them. Roar! Whoosh! With a calm, detached look, Rena aimed her stream of fire at the spiders, catching three of them mid-jump. Their bodies ignited and thrashed as they burned, while explosions sparked around the canyon, reigniting spots drenched in leftover oil from earlier battles. As a spider crawled up the canyon wall toward us, I thrust my sword deep into its head, and it spasmed before going still. I swung the creature''s body off the cliff and watched it fall. [Level up!] Once again, I leveled up. More importantly, I glanced at Rena. Above her head, I saw similar notifications pop up. [Level up!] [Level up!] [Level up!] [Level up!] [Level up!] She really leveled up that fast? [Name: Rena Class: Thief Lv. 10 (New!) Health: 13 Strength: 11 Agility: 17 Wisdom: 11] [Remaining Points: 20 (New!)] [Affection: 35 ¡ª Rena is drawn to you. ¡ª She trusts you deeply and wants to help you however she can.] [This character has not formed a bond with you.] [Distributing points automatically.] [Health: 19 Strength: 17 Agility: 20 Wisdom: 16] [Initiating Ana?pxia resonance with Character Doll.] [Assimilation Rate has decreased.] [92.49% ¡ú 90.14%] For a moment, the world seemed to shake slightly. Chapter 48. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (8) Chapter 48. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (8) At first, the strange words that appeared were blurry, but then they gradually became clear. [Initiating Ana?pxia resonance with Character Doll.] A sudden headache seized me, making my head feel both present and absent. My vision blurred, faded, then sharpened, only to tremble violently once more. It felt as if a curtain had dropped over my consciousness. No, it was as if I had only now noticed the curtain, and it was tearing slightly. Ana?pxia... What was that again? This was the second time such messages had appeared. The fragmented, oddly angled letters created a tension I couldn''t quite shake. Additionally, my assimilation rate plummeted each time. My current assimilation rate was 90.14%. The word "assimilation" was growing familiar, settling firmly into a corner of my consciousness. Scenarios, tutorials, and assimilation... A creeping suspicion slowly crawled up from my ankles, rising through me. What happens if it drops below 90%? Perhaps the change was already underway, slowly consuming me and the world. There was the world, unaware of assimilation, and my assimilation rate of 90.14%... I couldn''t quite put it into words, but the world felt different. Something was rising and seeping in, like a cold blade slicing into me and peeling away layers. It was knocking on the door of my consciousness. Knock, knock. Tap, tap. Tap, tap. "Sir?" a woman called out to me, her knocking gentle yet insistent. Tap, tap. "Sir Knight, are you alright?" She opened the door and entered. The woman who once invaded the catacombs now seemed to be invading my consciousness. I gazed at her for a long time before I spoke. "Level." "Sorry?" "You leveled up." Rena nodded as if it were perfectly normal. "Yes, I just leveled up from killing the spiders hanging in the webs." Looking at me curiously, she asked, "What''s on your mind?" Clatter. I shook my head. Now wasn''t the time to discuss it because moving forward was the priority. For now, I had to focus on killing the enemies in this dungeon. "No, it''s nothing. Let''s go." We descended further into the canyon. The ground was littered with charred spiders and broken firebomb remains. They''re all dead. If all these spiders had been alive, we would''ve had a tough time dealing with them. The number of shattered firebombs and dead spiders scattered around proved the fierceness of the earlier battles. In the depths of the canyon stood a temple built within the cave. The temple might have been a relic of some old wizard''s taste. Its crumbling walls were decorated with spider carvings. "The details are still well-preserved," Rena commented, examining the carvings. "Think they''ll come to life?" Rena chuckled. "I doubt it. If the magic to animate them still existed, the temple would be in much better shape." The temple was old and worn, and chipped marble pillars littered the ground. Spiderwebs connected the various carvings and fragments. I moved forward, ready to unleash Grassmere''s Fire at any moment, but most of the spiders had already been slaughtered. We entered the temple and forced open an iron door tightly bound with webs. Snap! I tore it open. There was no passage beyond the door. What is this place? Inside was a small, enigmatic room that could be locked from both the inside and outside. Maybe it''s an emergency shelter? The room seemed to be just large enough for one person. Should I leave Rena here? I thought it might be safer for her. Meanwhile, Rena was checking the nearby chests. My goal here was revenge, but she had her own objective¡ªto collect items. "Everything''s empty," she said, disappointed. "Then we''ll just have to take what the guards are carrying." Rena nodded in agreement. We continued forward, stepping over blackened cobwebs and burnt corpses on the jagged, dark rocks. Skitter! Skitter! Every now and then, a surviving spider would leap out to attack. Its eight limbs would click against the rocks with an eerie, rhythmic sound. "Stay back," I warned Rena, charging toward the spiders. Eeeek! The first spider let out a high-pitched noise while spewing venom. Slash! I swung my bastard sword diagonally, cutting through the stream of venom and slicing the spider down from its mouth. Sizzle! The venom spattered on my armor, corroding the surface with a loud, acidic hiss. But it was not enough to harm me significantly. Thud! I leaped and brought my sword down again, slicing the spiders in half as their venom splattered around. They were only remnants that had escaped the guards'' earlier purge. [Level up!] [Level up!] [Level up!] After killing a few spiders, I quickly gained three levels. This wasn''t much of a challenge. I hadn''t come all this way to be spider food. Thanks to the level-ups, Rena''s agility and decision-making noticeably improved. She stayed out of the way, avoiding the risk of getting caught up in the fight, which lasted for a few minutes. Then, Rena whispered to me, "Shh. We need to be cautious..." The sounds of something shattering, roaring flames, and desperate cries echoed from nearby, painting a vivid picture. Bang! Whoosh! Aaaaaah! "Or maybe not," I said. "It looks like the action''s started," Rena remarked, checking her map one last time. "The boss hunt." I looked at her. I''d have to go alone from here because I wasn''t confident I could protect her in the chaos ahead. "Stay here." "No way! I''m coming with you." "..." I hesitated. "Wha¡ª" Thump! I gently struck the back of her neck, knocking her unconscious. She had almost detected my intention at the last moment¡ªany more awareness, and she might''ve dodged it. Her instincts were impressive. My Agility was more than double hers, and yet she''d nearly reacted to an attack from right beside her. Nonetheless, I couldn''t drag her into the chaos ahead. I carried her to the small shelter room we''d passed that was just large enough for one person, and locked her inside. It could be opened from the inside, so she had a way out if I didn''t return. I turned and rushed toward the sounds of battle. I took out the powder the old man had given me, dusting it thoroughly over my armor, cloak, and all exposed surfaces. This is it. I gripped the large black sprayer which was as wide as Rena''s waist. This was the undiluted Grassmere''s Fire. Aiming the long nozzle forward, I tightened my grip on the manual pump. Tap. I stepped forward, leaving the temple behind as I headed toward the burning chaos. [Entering the boss''s range of perception.] [Boss hunt in progress.] [Alignment: Creature.] [A perk will be granted.] [Would you like to oppose the dungeon boss, the twelve-legged spider (True Name: Webslinger)?] [Yes/No] ¡ª If you aid Webslinger, there is a 0.051% chance that you will charm her. ¡ª There is a 0.049% chance that she will ignore you. In other words, there was a 99.9% chance she''d attack me. Not that I''d planned to help her. From a vantage point, I could see a massive spider about four meters long, with twelve legs instead of the usual eight. Her movements were astonishingly quick for her size. Trapped within a ring of fire, she darted frantically, evading the guards'' relentless firebombs. At her feet lay gnawed human remains, which I was certain had been unarmed prisoners. That makes sense. I quickly took in the situation. Webslinger had been feasting on the prisoners thrown to her by the guards, only for them to trap her in a shrinking ring of fire. Boom! Whoosh! Clang! Roar! The guards continued throwing firebombs, tightening the fiery prison. The ring spanned roughly twenty meters in diameter, and Webslinger darted back and forth within it, her dozens of eyes scanning frantically as the flames closed in. The fire was already spreading across her abdomen. Screech! Her agonized cries echoed throughout the canyon as the guards encircled her, savoring her torment. I looked around, scanning each of them. Then, I finally spotted the bald man, who stood with his arms crossed. Clink. I gripped the sprayer of Grassmere''s Fire with both hands. Even amidst the chaos, the bald man didn''t miss the small sound. He turned, and our eyes met. A flicker of alarm crossed his hardened face. I didn''t know his life story, but I knew how it would end. He pointed at me, his finger shaking. "There! Over there!" I aimed the sprayer at him and his men, pumping the handle as hard as I could. Roar! A blinding, white flame erupted, tearing through everything in its path. The flames around the pit turned a fierce blue as the fire surged, exploding into a blazing inferno. The air ignited white-hot. At the epicenter, Webslinger disintegrated to ashes in an instant, while the guards, engulfed in flames, burned to death within seconds. "Ahh! Aaaagh!" Half of the guard captain was on fire, and he writhed helplessly in the flames. Perhaps he''d doused himself in fire retardant to survive for a long time, but he inevitably met his end. However, even within the blazing inferno... I don''t feel the heat. I felt nothing. The flames swept across the dungeon, and yet I was untouched. In my mind, a constant sound echoed as countless notifications flashed before my eyes. Ding! Ding! [Level up!] [Level up!] [...] [Level up!] A full page of level-up messages filled the screen. Ding! [Clear!] [Dungeon Boss Defeated.] [Rank Evaluation: D+] [Difficulty Evaluation: Despair] [400% Hero Points awarded due to difficulty rating.] Ding! [D+ Rank Clear: 54 points] [Difficulty Bonus: 104 points] [You''ve earned 158 points!] Ding! [Calculating store access privilege.] [Store Access Rank: Novice] ¡ª Next Rank: 210/256 [Insufficient privileges.] [Direct access to Hero Store unavailable.] ¡ª Store access restrictions are designed to prevent novice heroes from wasting points. We appreciate your understanding. [Automatically purchasing optimal perks. Scanning environment...] [Scanning player...] [Unable to grant perks...] I tilted my head in confusion. Unable? Why? Crack. For some reason, I couldn''t move. I didn''t feel hot. Rather, I felt cool. I wondered why as I looked down. Thunk. Suddenly, my skull fell to the floor. Crunch. It shattered into dust. The last thing I saw was my skeleton, melting like a candle in the flames. Why? My bones disintegrated just as a question formed in my head, and my consciousness faded completely.