The Skeleton Soldier Failed to Defend the Dungeon

Guided by Isaac, I walked through the inner chambers of the sanctuary. Carrying a full-sized cannon and a greatsword had been cumbersome. However, once I did as Isaac instructed, the weapon—now drastically reduced and called the sniper device—was much easier to handle.

”How did you shrink this, anyway?”

”Heh heh... Got a feel for it? Surprisingly decent grip form, I’ll give you that.”

As the Engineering skill activated, I instinctively understood how to hold the weapon properly.

”I do have some engineering knowledge of my own...”

”Oh? That’s rare. Hardly anyone in the Empire has technical knowledge. I suppose you’re special because of your connection to Ashton, huh?”

”...”

Engineering. It was a skill he had absorbed from the masked sister with the codename Starlight Azure Fox. She had used the power to drive a hook deep into the heart of Marquis Leandro. The mark she left was too vivid to forget. Where could she be now? She’d claimed she would witness the assassination of the emperor with Gith-Za-Rai.

As a member of the assassin order... we, the Red Flake, verify and make sure the contract is completed.

I wanted to meet her again. The memory of the gliding giant iron beetle, along with how she slit her own throat with a hook inside the Kraken’s belly, resurfaced.

”What are you so deep in thought about? Thinking of an old girlfriend?”

”A sister.”

”A sister? Heh heh... They’ve got their charms too. Once you teach them pleasure, they start squirming and moaning like—”

”So, this thing, does it run on mechanical engineering?” I desperately wanted to steer Isaac’s lewd rambling in a different direction.

”Hmm... No. This isn’t powered by mechanical engineering.”

”Then what is it?”

”It’s magitech.”

”Magitech?”

”I’ll teach you slowly. Even in the Confederation, only a handful know of this field.”

”Hm...”

”Ahem. Not very impressed, are you? Shouldn’t you be clinging to me for answers?”

”If you want to use me, you’ll have to teach me anyway.”

I needed to extract as much as possible from Isaac, but I knew better than to expect more by begging.

”What a rude brat... Just keep walking.”

”What else are you planning to take?”

”The truly important stuff lies ahead. It’s infuriating, you know. Refined as I am, being crammed inside this hunk of crude metal... Left. Go straight... Here.”

I stopped where Isaac instructed, but nothing was there—just wood fragments and scraps of metal scattered across the floor. It was a spot I had paid no attention to when I passed by with Rena.

”Clear the debris.”

I didn’t bother arguing and swept the fragments to the side.

”Mm... There. Stick your sword in the crevice.”

There was no crevice in sight. As I hesitated, Isaac chuckled.

”See that dark spot? Stick it in there. That’s the seam.”

Click.

Just as Isaac said, the blade easily sank into the black portion of the floor. Even with the Insight perk, I hadn’t been able to detect that gap.

”So now I just turn it...”

”Nice instinct. Go ahead.”

Whrrrrr...

The stone floor emitted a strange grinding sound.

Thoom. Thoom. Thoom. Rumble...

A peculiar echo resonated from deep beneath the ground.

Grrrk!

Roughly two square meters of the floor began lowering downward.

”Ugh. Look at all that dust.”

Oddly, Rubia, standing far off, didn’t look our way.

”Surprised? Don’t worry. She can’t hear any of this. The moment you pressed the button, a shielding barrier activated.”

Thunk!

The platform stopped about three meters down, revealing a small chamber ahead.

Gazing at the crow-shaped statue in front of them, Isaac said, ”Grab it by the nape and channel mana into it.”

”What kind of mana?”

”Doesn’t matter.”

I grasped the back of the crow statue, which stood about fifty centimeters tall. Its surface felt like hardened crystal, and its body was tightly coiled in black wire-like strands. Instead of hurrying me, Isaac watched with an almost smug satisfaction, as if showing off.

I was curious. What would happen next?

[Spell charging...]

[Double Casting]

[Blaze Lv. 2 & Wind Blast Lv. 1 will be used in combination!]

[Proficiency is extremely low.]

[Mana consumption increased by 300%...]

[Surging flames...]

[Skill: Blazing Flare Lv. 1 activated.]

Fwoooosh!

Winds and flames coiled around the bird’s pitch-black frame. Gradually, its eyes flushed red. Though layers upon layers of paint covered its surface, each seemingly weighted with the passage of countless years, the glow remained a rich, unclouded crimson. Its black, hardened beak began to bend gently, as if drawing breath.

“Kuhahahaha...”

The greatsword trembled. Something that had lingered within it spilled out like a soul-fire, pouring into the crow.

Crackle!

The black wires that had tightly bound the crow unraveled. Dozens of thin, crystal-like plates unfurled simultaneously into wings, fluttering as they expanded. Even while sitting still, the flapping stirred a gust of wind strong enough to sweep the space.

”...”

”Do you hear me? From now on, I, Isaac Bel’Homec, shall dwell here.”

The crow figurine, previously compressed into a fifty-centimeter frame, now unfurled its wings to well over a meter. It raised its head and looked directly at me. Hundreds of sleek, black, crystal feathers shimmered and shifted subtly, as if performing a self-check. Though I didn’t want to offer Isaac any praise, the sight was undeniably breathtaking, and not something one could casually come across.

Just as I was about to ask what kind of construct this thing really was...

Squelch.

The splendid wings, spread like a night sky, drooped and crumpled.

”Ugh... I’m exhausted...”

Isaac’s voice came from the figurine, now returned to its original compact form. It stood in stark contrast to the majestic voice from moments earlier.

”What was that?”

The question clearly referred to the sudden size reduction.

”This thing is fancy, sure, but not very efficient... You’ve got to recharge it with mana constantly.”

”Mana recharge?”

The phrase didn’t sit well with me.

”Originally, it runs on Lurium. If you keep using it like this, you’ll need to keep feeding it mana.”

”That’s a pain.”

The tiny crow figurine flitted through the air with a few flaps. At least, it flew easily enough, though it lacked the gravitas it had shown earlier.

”Don’t worry. We just need to visit my order and get some Lurium. That’ll solve it.”

Isaac’s voice was unusually somber as he brought it up. The order. I had already told Isaac that his order had been completely wiped out. Perhaps that was why. If we went there, he would see firsthand the corpses of his slain followers.

Still, I couldn’t help but wonder. Would the crow maintain that dazzling form if given a proper Lurium supply? I found myself quietly hoping so.

”Now head up. We’ve got more useful things to collect.”

Rumble...

I pressed the section Isaac indicated with his sword, and the stone platform rose once more.

”Next is... that one.”

Isaac pointed with his beak from atop the greatsword’s hilt. What he referred to was a peculiar-looking ring housed inside a large box. While the band resembled a typical ring, the central body was oversized. Inside, two needle-like pointers, inscribed with strange runes swayed slightly, shifting with his movement.

”What is this?”

”It’ll help you navigate. You won’t understand it just by looking, so just ask me when you need it.”

When I stopped moving, the two needles pointed in different directions. Had Isaac anticipated his confusion?

”It’s not broken. Comparing this to an ordinary compass would be a huge mistake.”

Next, Isaac handed me a bracelet. It looked so plain and black that, without specific instructions, I’d have walked right past it.

”What’s this?”

A surprisingly useful item.

”It doesn’t seem to do anything...”

I tapped the bracelet a few times. All I got was a dull, hollow sensation.

”Heh... Try channeling sword aura into it.”

Sword aura? I tilted my head in doubt, but followed Isaac’s instructions.

Clack!

”Oh...”

Blades shot out from the bracelet. Of course, that couldn’t literally be true, but the tightly packed spikes gave off an illusion as if they reeked of blood.

”A throwing weapon?”

At a glance, it was clearly designed to be hurled.

”Sharp eye. It’s optimized for severing an enemy’s lifeline and returning to you. Want to give it a try?”

”Later.”

Even though Rubia was some distance away, I wasn’t about to start flinging unfamiliar weapons around the shared space just for fun.

”Now open that box.”

Isaac, perched on the hilt, pointed to the next item. Inside was a long, trailing necklace.

”What does this one do?”

”It’s just a necklace.”

”Hm... Should I infuse it with mana?”

”I said it’s just a necklace! Don’t you think it’s pretty? It’s made of black obsidian. Even at the lowest appraisal, it’s worth over a hundred seiron.”

It suddenly occurred to me that Rena would’ve liked hearing that. Had she been here, she probably would’ve snatched the necklace straight from the crow’s beak. She would’ve even picked it up before I had the chance.

Was Rena doing well? I deliberately suppressed the urge to go see her. For her sake, staying away would be safer. If I found out where she was or how she was living, I could cause harm again. Even if I did search for her, I would do so slowly, after things had settled down.

”Mr. Skeleton!”

Rubia’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.