Skeleton Knight in Another World Vol. 4

by Ennki Hakari

  Prologue

  The Holy East Revlon Empire took up the eastern portion of what was once the Revlon Empire, consuming much of the northeast area of the northern continent. Habahren, this sprawling empire’s capital, was right in the center. It was one of the largest cities on the entire northern continent, with a population of around 80,000—a massive circle in the middle of a vast plain, radiating out from Siguenza’s impressive imperial palace.

  Back in the days of the unified Revlon Empire, before the split between east and west, Siguenza had been built as a reinforced fortress. It was intended to support the empire’s efforts to annex more land to the east, which explained its rather ugly appearance. It was, however, sturdily built, and looked rather imposing on the horizon.

  The emperor who ruled this massive eastern empire was sitting in one of his studies, deep within the confines of the palace. A glimmering—though not overly glamorous—chandelier hung from the ceiling, illuminating the room beneath, the gloomy light befitting the emperor’s work.

  At the back of the room sat a large, well-polished desk, and a chair reserved for the emperor himself. The chair, like the rest of the room, was rather simple in design, although the intricate carvings etched into the wood betrayed its true value. A young man with deep-set gray eyes and a distinguished nose slouched in the chair, dressed in a well-tailored military uniform. He wore his untamed reddish-brown hair in a ponytail. The man’s name was Domitianus Revlon Valtiafelbe, emperor of the Holy East Revlon Empire, and rival to the Great West Revlon Empire in their struggle over the northern continent.

  The young emperor had fixed his scrutinizing gaze on the man directly across from him, who was reading from a report.

  “A large group of monsters without employ rings went on a rampage in the western Karyu fort that held them. They descended upon the town like an avalanche, resulting in significant casualties. Just before the monsters’ rampage got underway, the massive hydra Fumba captured earlier broke out of the fort and attacked the lord’s castle, killing him instantly. Fumba hasn’t been seen since, and rumors suggest that this may have been an act of rebellion on his part.”

  In stark contrast to the gravity of this news, the man grinned as he looked up at the emperor. Domitianus furrowed his brow.

  The man reading the report sported a large belly and a pathetic excuse for a mustache. His flashy clothes, even more ostentatious than those of the emperor himself, gave him the appearance of a well-to-do merchant. There was something altogether unlikable about him and his irritating grin.

  The man’s name was Velmoas du Lyzehl. He served as the lord chancellor and administrator of the Holy East Revlon Empire’s political affairs.

  Domitianus eyed Velmoas with suspicion as he mentally ran through the report he’d just heard. “A rebellion by Fumba? He’s nothing but a drunk and a womanizer. What would he have to gain by standing against me?”

  Velmoas’ grin didn’t falter. He simply shook his head slightly, as if to say, “How should I know?”

  Although a vein bulged in the young emperor’s forehead, Velmoas simply turned his gaze back to the report in his hand, and continued reading.

  “It also says here that the rampaging hydra was killed by some…demon…that appeared out of nowhere. Witnesses described it as a half-human, half-monster covered in flames, resembling an old legend about a man sent to hell and consumed by fire. The townsfolk are rather shaken up about it.”

  Domitianus pounded his fist on his chair’s armrest and fixed his lord chancellor with a steely glare. “That demon managed to tear apart my hydra?! Dammit! And we just made a special employ ring for it, too! Without Fumba, we’ll never be able to capture anything that size again.”

  “Well, there’s no sense in getting mad at me. It’s not like I can do anything about it. Anyway, a Hilk church was destroyed in the battle, and the church officials are demanding money so they can rebuild it right away. Apparently, the locals are pretty upset by the idea of a demon from hell burning down their church.”

  Velmoas looked back up from his report. Anger was no longer apparent on the emperor’s face; a sly grin replaced it. His expression clearly reflected his thoughts.

  “Heh heh heh. So, that parasite religion that’s been such a pain in the empire’s ass was burned to ash by the fires of hell? The gods have a sense of humor, after all. What happened to the other monsters?”

  “After the hydra died, the surviving soldiers conscripted some locals. They were somehow able to suppress the rest of the monsters roaming around town. Things are starting to settle down now, but it’s only a matter of time until the townsfolk express their anger over this whole situation.” Velmoas eyed the emperor curiously as he finished his report.

  Domitianus’s sinister grin only widened. “Let’s drill it into the townsfolk that believing in Hilk did nothing to protect them, and that a cursed sinner destroyed the church itself. We can use that to breed resentment toward the church officials and decrease the number of believers in the area.”

  “Are you sure? The church will surely fight back against any plan to wrest control from them.”

  Domitianus snorted and leaned back in his chair. “This could be a great opportunity for us to rid ourselves of the mold growing in our great empire. All those scoundrels do is demand money under the table, in the form of alms, while preaching superficial platitudes of love and freedom. Luckily, the Karyu region borders our territory. The church officials probably think this will be a great opportunity to fill their coffers, but by the time they notice there’s no money forthcoming, it’ll be too late.”

  Velmoas wrote a note along the margin of his report and bowed his head deeply. “As you wish. I will carry out your orders at once.”

  “Continue the search for Fumba. Even if it turns out that he’s dead, the Runeology Cloister has finished making their employ rings. We might not be able to capture any large monsters without him, but we can at least drum up an ogre battalion or something.”

  The emperor shifted in his chair and gazed out the window toward the Karyu region, a sly grin spreading across his face as he contemplated what the future might bring.

  ***

  Northwest of the northern continent lay the Great West Revlon Empire, the western half of what had once been the Revlon Empire. Vittelvarlay, the massive capital city, was located in the center of the vast domain. Tall buildings of beautifully polished stone, broken up by expansive roads and parks, towered behind the city’s massive wall. The capital had a festive atmosphere, and was filled with people in all manner of dress, walking, shopping, and chatting with each other.

  At the capital’s center sat the majestic Dyonburgh royal palace, so massive that it could be considered a small city in its own right. In one corner of the palace was a grand hall, where the people who controlled the Great West Revlon Empire’s fate met. At the end of this intricately decorated hall, Emperor Gaulba Revlon Selziofebs sat on a throne which gave him a commanding view of the room.

  Deep wrinkles creased Gaulba’s forehead below his soft, delicately combed white hair, which matched the long beard growing from his chin. His eyes maintained a sharp intensity as he glared at the people below. Atop his head, he wore a gold circlet—the imperial crown—its surface studded with all manner of precious gems. The emperor, dressed in luxurious clothes befitting a man who ruled an entire empire, also wore a rather displeased expression on his face.

  As palace steward, Salwis du Ohst—the handsome man at the emperor’s side—was charged with assisting the emperor in his public and private affairs. The report he was currently reading had caused the emperor’s ire.

  “Tisheng has been invaded by our enem
ies to the east, and has likely already fallen. The enemy attacked with a company of monsters and humans. It’s unlikely that the Southern Imperial Army soldiers remaining in the region will be sufficient to handle the threat.”

  After Salwis finished reading, the senators assembled in their seats erupted in a chorus of shouts, the noise slowly spreading throughout the chamber.

  “What’s this?! Tisheng was left shorthanded, for what? So the Southern Imperial Army could assist Wetrias? We must send Lieutenant General Keeling and the army back south at once!”

  “First and foremost, I want to know what this army is all about! I’ve never heard of monsters and humans fighting together! Those bastards in the east must be nothing more than filthy swine!”

  “That’s hardly important right now! Tisheng is essentially cut off from the world by the deep forests surrounding the Siana mountain range. I want to know where this attack came from! The routes running along Febient Marsh are barely large enough to accommodate merchants, let alone troops—and in such a short time, at that! How did they conceal their movements?”

  “Tisheng was, without a doubt, shorthanded, so a smaller force would easily have overwhelmed them. I’m sure they were defeated before they even knew what was happening.”

  As he listened to the senators bicker among themselves, Emperor Gaulba maintained an indignant expression before finally snorting in annoyance.

  Salwis turned to the emperor, a look of concern on his face.

  “The East hit us hard. But we can’t move our forces from the Southern Imperial Army, since they’re guarding the border with the Delfrent Kingdom. To make matters worse, Tisheng is surrounded by forest on three sides, allowing the enemy to dig in. We don’t even have enough troops stationed in the northwest to mount a rescue operation.”

  Emperor Gaulba listened intently, chin resting on his fist. He furrowed his brow and let out a short sigh. “So, the monster invasion near Wetrias was a feint? They actually planned to chip away at our forces to the south, and move on the port of Bulgoh? But where did they even come from? As the senator said, it’s hard to believe they went through Febient Marsh. And we seeded the eastern Rhoden Kingdom border with cultivation rune stones to draw in monsters and close off the route. You don’t think they used the monsters we drew in, do you?”

  “It’s a possibility. It’s also possible that the eastern forces made their way through the forests at the base of the Siana mountain range, although we haven’t had a chance to confirm that. However, if that’s the case, then they must have had assistance. We should put the city of Hartbahlk on notice, since it borders the forests to the east.”

  The emperor groaned, the wrinkles in his forehead deepening. He turned his gaze back to the senators, still arguing among themselves. As the scene descended rapidly into disorder, he picked up the elegant royal scepter lying at his side and thumped it on the floor twice.

  The crisp sound echoed throughout the chamber, immediately putting an end to the senators’ bickering. It plunged the room into a deafening silence, broken only by the rustling of the men’s robes.

  Fixing the room with a steely glare, Emperor Gaulba rose from his throne slowly. “We can’t leave the east unchecked, or just give them the port of Bulgoh. We cannot cede any more land to these barbarians. So, we will dispatch Lieutenant General Keeling of the Southern Imperial Army back to Hartbahlk to recapture Tisheng. I want Hartbahlk’s soldiers to begin making preparations in advance of his arrival. We’ll task Lieutenant General Minzaya of the Northern Imperial Army with subduing the monsters in Wetrias and the border town of Februent. He will also hire mercenaries from the Soowin Kingdom to put pressure on Carrish on the other side of the bay. I want you to send orders to the Western Imperial Army to increase the watch on their western borders, and make sure that Asbania doesn’t mobilize. That is all!”

  The emperor fixed the room with another glare before thumping his scepter again, eliciting a bow from all the senators. They made their way out with heads hung low, each to carry out their respective orders.

  When the five consul members seated in front of the emperor finished recording their minutes, they also hurried out of the chamber.

  Gaulba turned his gaze to Salwis. “Tell Lieutenant General Keeling that I want him to capture the monster soldiers. We need to understand their technology, and look into whether it’s something we can use ourselves.”

  Salwis raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? I doubt the Hilk will be too pleased with the idea of employing filthy beasts. They’ll almost certainly come straight to me with their complaints.” In spite of the wry grin on his face, the tone of his voice and his dramatically slumped shoulders showed how Salwis felt about having this role thrust onto him.

  Gaulba gave a light snort before dropping back onto his throne. “Hmph. Purity…filth…none of that matters if it protects the empire. Besides, all those annoying little priests are after is a bribe. Just throw some money at them and make them go away.”

  “As you say, Your Excellency.” Salwis gave a sardonic grin before bowing deeply to the emperor.

  No one could see the rage that washed over his contorted face as he bent down low.

  Chapter 1:

  Those Who Squirm from the Depths

  Deep within the Great Canada Forest lay the elven village of Lalatoya.

  A large, undulating outer wall separated the village from the mana-rich and monster-infested trees. The wall was made of large wooden pillars, each of which twisted and bent to close any gaps with its neighbor. Despite the wall’s natural appearance, the regular placement of the pillars made it apparent that this was an artificial structure. The thirty-meter-tall living wall kept the tranquil village safe from the dangers of the forest beyond.

  Inside the wall’s perimeter were wooden houses interspersed among fields for growing crops and plains for grazing cattle. Each house was topped with a wooden deck, and a large roof that gave them the appearance of large mushrooms. The houses’ walls were carved with intricate elven symbols. A quaint, lamp-lined stone path meandered between the fields and houses.

  Beyond this pastoral scene, toward the village’s center, the trees grew larger and larger—almost unnaturally so. Their massive trunks, far wider than even the widest giant sequoia, were topped with an impressive layer of foliage. These trees were, in fact, homes—a perfect blend of nature and artificial construction. Glass windows in their trunks reflected the sparse light that managed to break through the gaps in the thick foliage above. Birds called from among the gigantic branches, giving the whole scene a mystical feel.

  Two figures, wooden staves in hand, stood before the village elder’s treehouse while a pair of spectators watched. The tension in the air was thick.

  One figure, a young-looking woman, had skin the color of amethyst, and snow-white hair tied back in a braid. Her beauty had a magical, almost bewitching quality. Her golden eyes—a color unseen among humans—stared ahead in silence, fixed on me. If I didn’t know better, I might have said her guard was down. But her elongated ears twitched slightly with every movement I made. She kept a close eye on me, gauging what I would do next.

  The woman standing at attention opposite me was Glenys Alna Lalatoya, the village elder’s wife, and a dark elf—a rarity on this continent. She wore traditional garb covered in elven symbols.

  I faced off against her—a two-meter-tall, armor-clad knight. That was the avatar of “Arc”—the game character I’d been playing as when I was suddenly transported to this mysterious world. The wind rustled my dark cloak and revealed glimpses of my silver armor’s intricate white and azure designs. The armor was simply magnificent, like something worn by the knights of legend.

  My cloak was as black as night, and was lined with what looked like glimmering stars, as if it had been ripped from the night sky. I was armed only with a wooden staff, having set aside my sword and shield for the moment.

  Glenys and I stood approximately three meters apart, watching each other closely.


  Even having attained the highest level possible in the game, I stood little chance against this woman, who’d been training for the past several hundred years.

  Figuring it’d do me no good to continue standing there staring, I lunged toward Glenys, swinging my staff down. It sliced through the air at breakneck speed, thanks to my immense strength. But Glenys apparently read my movement well in advance, and deftly knocked my staff aside with her own.

  I recovered and swung my staff back up, this time aiming to knock her off her feet. She evaded the attack easily, causing me to miss by a fair distance, and struck the back of my hand with her own staff.

  The strike didn’t hurt, thanks to the mythical-class Belenus Holy Armor that protected my body, but the loud, metallic clang caused me to cry out.

  Glenys pointed her staff toward me and offered a piece of advice. “Don’t move and then strike, Arc. You need to strike as you move.”

  I nodded and waved my staff back and forth a few times, trying to wrap my head around her instructions. “Understood, Miss Glenys.”

  However, considering that I’d never had any actual sword training in my life, I knew there was no way I could pick it up in a day.

  Glenys deftly dodged my next few strikes and scored a blow on the back of my hand.

  She furrowed her brow and let out a sigh. “All right, I want you to try to avoid my attacks this time.”

  “Okay, I’ll—whoa!”

  Before I could even get the words out of my mouth, Glenys was already lunging at me. My enhanced perception and high reaction speed barely enabled me to dodge. I readjusted my stance to aim my own staff at Glenys, but she continued her graceful dance, evading my blows even as she pressed the attack.

  I fell back again and again, until I eventually found myself up against a tree. An instant later, Glenys landed blows on my hand, chest, and head. The clanging sounded an awful lot like a xylophone.

  I came to my senses to find her standing in front of me, a gentle smile on her face. “I guess I win this round?”