The Skeleton Soldier Failed to Defend the Dungeon

Lime said casually, ”Oh, right. I didn’t mention your reward for the task.”

I tapped the shining armor. ”The armor is reward enough.”

I didn’t care about receiving any compensation. If Rena were here, she might have been flabbergasted by such a statement.

Lime frowned slightly and waved his hand dismissively. ”No, that won’t do. The client prepared a reward. Please wait a moment.”

Creak.

Lime calmly opened a drawer at the back. I caught a glimpse of an object familiar inside—a small statue. It wasn’t the statue that was familiar but its subject—a human with the head of a lion, seemed familiar.

Creak.

Before I could examine it further, Lime gently closed the drawer and placed a fairly heavy pouch of silver coins on the desk.

Thud.

”If I didn’t give this to you, Rena wouldn’t leave me alone.”

”Hmm.”

”This is a personal gift as well. I’d be delighted if you accepted it.”

Lime handed me a necklace adorned with a small black jade trumpet. It seemed intricately crafted, like great care had gone into its creation.

Lime gave a faint, melancholic smile. ”I’d be pleased if you wore it.”

”...”

The gift was a bit odd, but considering all the kindness he’d shown me, I didn’t feel like refusing. ”Alright, I’ll wear it. Isn’t this an intricate design for jade?”

”It’s just a small skill of mine.”

Apparently, Lime had made the necklace himself.

I accepted it and tucked it into my pouch.

After standing for a moment, I made another request. ”Oh, I’d like to borrow a book.”

After all, the winter nights are long for a sleepless being like me.

Lime asked, ”What kind of book are you looking for?”

”Anything you’d recommend?”

Lime scanned the bookshelf slowly. ”There’s a book called The Ruler of This World. I enjoyed that novel as a reader. Its prose is so compelling that I’ve considered transcribing it for practice when I have time.”

I hesitated briefly. ”A novel sounds good, but I’d like to broaden my background knowledge.”

I had already spent three years immersed in poetry and novels in the master’s library. Her collection was filled with stories of singing winds, playful moonlight, blooming flowers, and indulging emotions.

Now, I wanted to expand my understanding of the world. Even if the prose was dry and the content somber, I needed to build knowledge to protect someone someday.

A trace of regret flickered across Lime’s face—a rare display of emotion that caught me off guard. Nevertheless, he quickly returned to his usual calm demeanor.

Lime handed me a book titled Embermere. ”In that case, how about this book?”

”It’s about Ember, I see.”

”Yes. While much of it may be familiar, it offers a well-organized introduction to the basics.”

The book was thin and seemed easy to read.

”Alright.”

I took the book and returned to my room, where I lay down and began flipping through it page by page.

A narrow isthmus connecting the Empire and the Free Confederation. Sail 24 nautical miles inland, and...

But I couldn’t focus on the book. As I read, my thoughts kept drifting back to the snake tattoo that had consumed the Necron overseer. The image lingered in my mind and left me feeling unsettled.

I couldn’t shake the feeling I had seen that tattoo somewhere before.

It was too small.

The drawing on the man’s neck had been too small for me to be certain.

If I could see it again, maybe I’d recognize it. That snake...

Three days later, after reading about ten books, I went to return them.

Hmm?

A faint chill seemed to seep out from under the door.

I knocked on the door.

Knock, knock.

”Come in.”

Creak.

I turned the handle. The wooden door opened with a heavy sound. Inside, the room was cool. Lime stood by an open window, letting the winter moonlight flood the space unfiltered.

Lime turned around. ”Ah, you’re here?”

Perched on his wrist was a small bird with gray feathers, dozing lightly. Its feathers bore a swirling pattern—a messenger bird Lime often used.

”I came to return these books...”

Lime smiled softly. ”Ah, I see. Oh, I have good news. Rena has passed her test. It’s no surprise, but everyone is astonished by her remarkably quick success.”

”Is that so?”

That was good to hear.

As Lime gently stroked the bird’s head, he continued, ”She’ll be back soon. When she arrives, I’m sure she’ll have something to discuss with you.”

***

The next day, two new humans arrived at the orphanage. Clad in black hoods, they spent a long time talking with Lime in his office. The orphanage gained a few more staff members. They didn’t bother me though, likely because of something Lime had told them.

Then one day, I visited the director’s office to return another book. This time, there was no answer from inside.

Knock, knock.

I knocked again.

Knock, knock.

Lime enjoyed mimicking human habits, so matching his rhythm wasn’t hard.

”Come in.”

I finally heard a voice, though it sounded subdued. I stepped into the director’s office. Lime was slowly tidying up the room by himself. The window was locked, the potted plants were gone, and the coffee maker sat empty, its water tank flipped upside down.

It wasn’t hard to guess what he was doing.

”You’re planning to leave, aren’t you?” I said.

”That’s correct. I meant to tell you, but I’ll be away for a while.”

”I see.”

I had no right to ask where he was going. That was Lime’s business.

”You’ll see me again soon enough. Don’t worry about it.”

Despite his assurance, his methodical clearing of the room suggested he wouldn’t return anytime soon. I didn’t press him further.

”For now, here’s the book I’m returning.”

I placed the book on Lime’s desk.

Thud.

He smiled faintly and gestured toward the wall lined with books.

”The books here are free for you to read anytime. If you find one you like, you may keep it.”

I was taken aback.

Keep it?

Lime valued his books dearly. While he had always allowed me to borrow them, he had never said I could keep any.

I clearly remembered when he refused to let me take them. ”It would be troublesome for you to take the books.”

I asked, ”I can keep it?”

”Yes. Is there a particular book you’d like?”

”No. What about the children?”

”I’ll say my goodbyes to them tomorrow morning, then leave. Have a good night.”

His parting words felt oddly cold, like there was some distance between us. I turned and left, closing the door behind me.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. It must’ve been my imagination.

Distance? A sense of unfamiliarity? Ridiculous. I don’t really know this slime at all.

***

Morning came.

I looked out the window and watched Lime bid farewell to the children one by one. Then he rode off alone on horseback, leaving the carriage behind.

Two more days passed. The staff Lime had hired to take his place cared for the children diligently. I had nothing to do and stayed in my room.

I avoided Lime’s former office. When something that had always been there disappeared, the space wouldn’t be the only thing that felt empty. A corner of my heart had emptied too, leaving a gap where a cold wind slipped in.

That night, as I stared blankly out the window, I felt a sharp grab toward my hip bone from behind.

”Got you!”

Clatter!

I jumped so hard I nearly flew off the ground.

”You didn’t notice~ You didn’t notice~”

Caught completely off guard without my armor, I was defenseless and vulnerable.

I turned around in shock, but the presence behind me moved faster. A cold hand reached deep into my spine, clutched it tightly, and refused to let go.

”What were you thinking about... so deeply... that you didn’t notice me, hmm? Were you thinking about another woman?” The voice playfully circled around me, but then it suddenly took on a tone of surprise. ”Huh? What’s this? A necklace?”

The cold hand reached out and grabbed the black jade necklace nearby.

”Wow, what a touching gift. You were planning to give it to me, weren’t you?”

The hand gripping my spine finally released me gently.

Clatter.

I turned around at last.

Rena stood there, delightedly putting the jade necklace around her neck. ”Wow, it looks great on me.”

”...”

It was the jade necklace Lime had given me. There was no way I could take it back now. I let it go and changed the subject.

”You look like crap,” I stated.

Her face was slightly sunken, showing signs of exhaustion. Dark circles under her eyes hinted at sleepless nights, and her lips were chapped. Her collarbone was more prominent, her skin sunken near her neck.

She had likely bathed recently, but the marks of hardship were evident.

”Do I look that bad?”

She tried to make a playful expression, but it seemed overly exaggerated. Her lips forced a smile, but her eyes betrayed a sharp tension as though she couldn’t hide her worries.

Unconsciously, I glanced at the jade necklace around her neck. Our eyes met, and Rena clutched the trumpet-shaped jade, tucking it inside her shirt. That small gesture only heightened the tension in the room.

She spoke first. ”Why don’t we just... drop everything and run away?”

Startled by her sudden words, I replied, ”What are you talking about?”

”Let’s abandon the guild and everything else. Let’s just live in hiding.”

”...”

”Let’s escape together—the three of us. No matter if war breaks out or whatever happens, surely we can find a place to live quietly. Maybe deep in the mountains where no one can find us, or we could kill anyone who tries to intrude.”

Her eyes trembled, glistening in the moonlight streaming through the window. Though she seemed firm and steady, there seemed to be an audible ripple from within, like the sound of water shifting.

It was absurd. I shook my head firmly. ”I refuse.”

Rena was someone with ambition and goals.

Is she just worn down and wanting to escape?

I couldn’t allow her to crumble like this.

Rena protested, ”Why not? We’ve saved enough money. I can... I can protect both of you.”

I had no desire to live under the protection of a human woman. More than that, I was curious why she was suddenly saying such things.

”Why are you saying that all of a sudden?”

”I’m just... tired of everything.”

She shrugged her shoulders. Her tone was light, but it was a ridiculous statement. I saw no reason to entertain it further.

”If you’re going to run, there’s no reason for me to stay with you. Didn’t we agree to use each other? If you’re running, do it alone.”

”...”

Her expression looked as if she’d been struck.

I coldly said, ”Weren’t you aiming to become the guild’s branch leader? Grow stronger. Grow so you can be of use to me.”

Truthfully, I had no intention of asking her for help. She had already done plenty for me. If I couldn’t be of use to her, I wouldn’t ask her for anything else.

At that moment, something slid off Rena’s wrist as if it were alive.