The Skeleton Soldier Failed to Defend the Dungeon

It was a narrow, treacherous path. Thick stones jutted up here and there, perfect for tripping an unwary traveler. If Rubia were walking beside me, would she still stumble? Either way, both versions of her were precious to me.

Peaceful memories surfaced, only to be smothered by the brutal final moments that had ripped them away. Never once had I been granted a gentle farewell. I wanted to finish the scenario somehow, so that a happy life could be preserved as something that had happened in the past.

A little farther along, a familiar trap came into view.

Has it not been sprung yet?

Within a day, a wolf cub would be whining here, caught and in pain. I thought about checking in on it, but I didn’t want to meddle too deeply in its life.

Kaang!

Cutting the trap loose, I flung it far away. Another large trap lay further ahead. After a moment’s hesitation, I severed that one too. The snowfield Troll had once killed me, but its frenzy was only a husband’s desperate revenge.

Pat!

Climbing higher, I soon saw the mountain cabin piled with snow. When I’d run here with Acorn, the trip had taken three or four hours. Now, it took barely ten minutes.

Kang!

With one strike, I sheared through the iron lock and stepped inside. The cabin was dark. A single Troll remained within—a small male, preserved as a stuffed corpse. I glanced at it then headed upstairs. I had only one purpose for coming here.

How to kill a troll...

Kevin Ashton’s book still sat openly beside the bed. I flipped through the already familiar pages once again, carefully scanning backward.

With broken fragments do interact...

The final line, scrawled in cursive, read naturally in my head.

3/7...

The numbers beneath the sentence had changed.

Hmm...

I fell into contemplation. That handwritten phrase had to be tied closely to the shifting number. I recalled the first time the number had appeared, and each time it had increased. I considered the people I had met then.

Was it related to Rubia or Rena? I quickly dismissed the thought as the numbers didn’t align.

What was the seven? Whom had I contacted three times? Even as I reviewed all my experiences, no set of events matched the numbers exactly.

Broken fragments...

Crunch.

My hand clenched into a fist. I recalled a poem from a book titled On the World’s Unofficial Armed Groups, volume 1.

#27

...

A fragment that exists everywhere tenderly arranges my corpse

...

#41

...

What does this mean? But it doesn’t matter, because it was only a small fragment

...

The Assassins’ Guild. Poems that glorified Red Flake. Seven full members. The fragments must mean Red Flake. When I met the Starlight Azure Fox, the number one had appeared for the first time. After meeting Lumen Valdorf, it shifted again, from two to three. The only problem was the missing link in between.

Who is the Red Flake’s member?

If my assumption was correct, then I had likely passed by a member of Red Flake without realizing it. Someone who’d never revealed their true identity. But who? Many faces flitted through my mind, but I couldn’t be sure of any of them. I closed the book on its final page.

Ding!

[Wisdom has increased by 1.]

The Assimilation Rate remained unchanged. I tucked the book away and left the cabin. Perhaps Isaac could glean something new from it.

***

Keeping myself hidden, I slipped through Grassmere’s gates and made for the inn Yube used as his base. I knew the exact room he stayed in. I passed the three men guarding the entrance and found Yube, half-dozing as he checked the account books. Judging from his drowsy blinking, he’d just finished lunch.

I revealed myself suddenly, right in front of him. ”Hey.”

Yube choked on his own breath, eyes bulging. ”Khugh!”

His chair nearly toppled, but I steadied it for him. He fumbled for the paper knife on the desk, but I snatched it and channeled sword aura.

Uuung!

”Th-that’s Sword Energy...!”

Blue aura surged across the entire blade. Yube’s expression changed completely. Whatever reason I had come here, he was sharp enough to know shouting would do him no good. He clamped his mouth shut.

”As you can see, I wield Sword Energy freely,” I said.

Yube swallowed hard, nodding repeatedly. ”Y-you appear to possess the power of a master-class swordsman...”

I couldn’t be sure of that myself.

Bzzzt...

Lightning flickered at my fingertips. ”And I can use magic as well.”

Yube flinched again, then let out a shaky breath as he pressed a hand to his chest. ”I see... truly formidable. What would you have me do?”

His reaction left me faintly embarrassed. That brief moment was enough for him to gauge my intentions and adjust his behavior. His quick read of the situation was impressive.

I hesitated, and Yube smoothly drew a black card from his breast pocket. ”Would you accept this? It’s basically our business card...”

He was bold to the point of absurdity.

I stretched out my hand and took it, if only to hide my own awkwardness. ”I came to make a request.”

His tension had already dissolved. ”Please, tell me anything. It is an honor that you came to me and not to another merchant.”

Somehow, I felt foolish for expecting more, but since I was here, I pressed on. ”Could you keep a discreet eye on Rubia Ray of Erast?”

”You mean the succession dispute? I doubt I can be of much real help.”

”That’s fine. Just do what you can, comfortably.”

Yube nodded calmly. ”Understood.”

”Then, I’ll repay this debt to you later.”

With that, I cloaked myself once more and slipped out of the inn. I ran through the alleyways toward the inner keep.

There it is.

I followed the familiar corridors to the lord’s chamber at the back. After the embarrassment with Yube, I decided not to appear before the lord so suddenly.

Knock, knock.

I opened the door formally.

”Welcome—who are you?!”

He had probably assumed that if I’d been allowed this far in, his life was already forfeit. Yet, he neither rang the alarm bell nor raised his voice. Perhaps he was simply too weary of life to bother.

Masquerade.

For now, I removed my helm.

The lord’s eyes widened. ”You’re quite the handsome man. But who are you, to appear without warning?”

Yet behind him, I felt an even stronger jolt of shock. Masquerade replicated the perception of another. The gaze I shared now was the gaze of the one watching through the lord’s eyes.

[...45% resemblance.]

If Isaac was watching this, he’d be burning with unbearable curiosity.

”I am the emissary of Malphas. Tonight, one who fancies himself clever and acts without restraint will slip away from you.”

Perhaps I had spoken too harshly. I followed it with everything I knew about the Chandler family and Isaac.

”Heh...” The lord could only stare, mouth agape, before finally murmuring, ”You truly are Malphas’s emissary...”

This time, unlike before, Lord of Grassmere didn’t even pause to think. He believed me absolutely. Was this the power of appearance? The thought left me oddly uneasy, and I put back my helm.

”Open the hall.”

”Ah, yes sir.”

Ding!

[Quest activated.]

[The Sorcerer of the Tombs...]

The lord summoned his steward, explained everything, and led me to the great hall. Once the doors opened, I left the others outside. First, I retrieved the titan sniper from its crate, which appeared like a meter and a half long cannon. As per Isaac’s instruction, I slid my hand into the barrel, pulled a small latch, and adjusted it.

Pakang!

It compressed into a hand-held weapon barely a meter across. One of the rare tools Isaac had claimed would be useful. I ventured deeper, retrieving the greatsword embedded in the stone wall.

Brody Valdorf’s words came back to me, and those of the dwarves in the underground halls.

”We’ve always wanted to try working with something like that.”

”If it really is Primophite, we’d probably only be able to assist a master smith.”

”Just bring it here. If it’s for the village, we’ll find a way to handle it. So, where is this sword now?”

They had only asked me to deliver it. Back then, it wasn’t feasible as the Ashen Knight’s barrier had melted the blade away. I felt like trying again now. They had said that refining the special metals within would greatly enhance the efficiency of both mana and aura. If I trusted Lime’s instincts, it was worth it.

Thud-thud.

Recalling my time here with Isaac, I brushed debris from one side of the floor and pressed my blade into the blackened section.

Rumble.

The stone floor rumbled downward, step by step. Beneath lay the crow statue I had come for.

[Blazing Flare...]

I seized the crystal-hard nape, channeling mana into it. Red light flared in the bird’s eyes, but the sensation was wholly different from when Isaac had been here. I carried the glass vial of the lord’s blood down below.

[The Hall of Isaac Bel’Homec...]

I passed the towering brass golems standing motionless at their posts and stood once more before Isaac’s sarcophagus. It was time to get to work.

”Hey. Are you listening? High Priest, bound in direct contract with Demon King Malphas, ruler of the imperial south, master sorcerer of the golden dawn.” I stepped closer, uncorking the vial. ”You hid away under the goddesses’ curse, but now it’s time you had some fun with me.”

Even though I’d come here seeking his aid, my words refused to come out gently, perhaps due to the sting of being betrayed so many times. I poured the blood into the cracks around the sarcophagus.

Krrr...

It was opening. I didn’t know if he’d attempt possession or not, but I had resistance against mental interference. Without Rubia to be taken hostage, I wasn’t at much of a disadvantage.

Whoosh!

I plunged my sword into the gaps and ignited it.

Boom!

Black smoke burst out, and obediently slipped into the crow effigy.

”What? Why so compliant?”

”...”

No attempt at possession. No anger.

”Hey, End-Times Prodigy.”

The crow effigy shivered, its eyes flickering, and stepped back cautiously. ”Were we close...? I must have wronged you somehow, didn’t I?”

What an unexpected reaction. What kind of life had he led to respond with such guilty fear? Maybe he thought that only a vengeful, perfectly prepared spirit would come to him now. And if someone knew him this well, it was natural to assume they’d once been close.

”I’ll tell you everything. But on one condition.”

”What condition...?”

Whatever he imagined me to be, Isaac seemed strangely cowed, ill-suited to his usual demeanor.

I met his gaze, pressing each word firmly. ”You must keep no secrets from me.”

”Se... crets?”

”Hide nothing. If you do, I’ll never come back. Your chance to tell the truth will vanish forever.”

”Isn’t that too much to ask...?”

It was meant as a threat, yet hearing his earnest protest left me baffled. How could honesty be such a difficult demand? Still, better this than ordering him to trust me blindly. Though an honest Isaac was awkward, to say the least. Still, I wasn’t going to bend. I had plenty of other options besides him.

”If I refuse, you’ll go to someone else. Won’t you?”

Sharp as ever.

”You understand well.”

”Fine. I won’t deceive you for three years.”

”Only three?”

”We’ll decide what comes after then...”

Renew it every three years, then.

I had never survived longer than that anyway.

Clack.

I nodded.

Isaac circled nervously, glancing up at me with anxious eyes. He seemed so tense he couldn’t even flutter his wings. The sight almost made me laugh.

”I am...”