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Mist replies after she looked around the area we’re at.
[Yes, that’s right.]
Has sleeping given some kind of positive effect even though it has been quite short?
There’s a hint of liveliness in Mist’s every step.
[The corridor is also quite wide. Is the large amount of pyroxene because it’s matching the size of the area?]
[I heard that pyroxenes would appear more in places where there were an abundance of magic energies…]
I could find numerous pyroxenes in the upper floors.
Does that mean that there are more magic energies in the upper floors?
[If you look at it from another viewpoint, could you say that this floor is somehow special compared to the others?]
[That’s possible.]
I think that this must also mean that we’re gradually getting closer to the monster whose materials I needed.
[Speaking of which, there are things I’ve been concerned but…]
[What is it?]
[That doorway we passed through as we went further into the hidden staircase in this ruins, did that door automatically closed itself?]
The Great Sage must have found the bone meal somewhere deep in this ruins.
That should mean that the Great Sage has opened the hidden staircase when he’s gone out of here.
However, that mechanism has been restored to how it originally was.
[It has already been explained before that ancient ruins were restored by the existence called the “Repair Ghost”. Though I said that, there has been no evidence about their existence. The truth is still unknown up to this date.]
[Repair Ghost?]
[It is said that there are ghosts that reside in all of the ruins. They were the ones who would restore the functions of their ruins every decade or so. Nowadays, it is just considered to be some kind of incorporeal monster.]
Isn’t it just attaching those who are unknown with the occult?
Or maybe, it really was the reason why.
After a few moments, I stopped.
[That door…]
I point towards the door in front of us.
It’s a gigantic door.
It’s pretty wide in terms of both length and width.
Mist steps in front of me.
[There’s something lurking around the place, I could feel it in the air— please be careful, Hati-dono.]
The door in front of us is completely decorated with bones.
That’s quite an eerie door of bones.
My purpose in this place is the Boney King’s bone meal.
[…………]
My target must have been close.
[It seems that one side of the door has already been opened…]
The door of bones was already opened on one side.
I tried to look towards the end of the room.
But I couldn’t see it well from where I’m standing.
I slowly approached the door as I kept my vigilance.
Together with Mist, we peeked inside the room.
A room enclosed in walls filled with bones.
No— it seems that those bones were just stacked up against the wall.
I could see that most of these large amount of bones were from monsters.
Still, there were still some human bones that were included among them.
I couldn’t feel the presence of any monster inside the room.
We lightly explored around the room.
I couldn’t find anything other than these piles of bones.
I’m kind of bothered though since the pyroxenes in here were glowing in orange color.
Hmm?
I bend down and touched the floor.
[Hati-dono?]
[It may be just a hunch, but I think the leading monster in this room may have come out already.]
If I look closely at the traces around the place, there is an indication of something being dragged on the floor.
There are also traces of something scraping through the floor.
There are some traces in here that looks relatively new.
Are these traces something that were left after a monster battled in this room?
As far as I could see the shaved off areas, something large must have been used to make something like that…
Did it leave through the door and is the one who left the door open?
Fumu…
There must have been someone who explored in this place already without waiting for the results of the investigation team.
[What are we going to do, Hati-dono?]
[We would still continue with our search. It’s possible that what’s over there is the monster that I’m after.]
We began leaving the room.
At that time though…
Doggooonnn!
[Did you hear that?]
[Yes.]
[Pii.]
I think that sound came from a distance.
However,
[I guess we have illegal trespassers in our midst.]
It’s coming.
Based on the sounds, it’s probable that it’s just one.
[—iiieeeeeh—ggiiieeehhh—-]
I could hear a loud howl from a distance.
Is it because of the structure of this place?
The echo from that howl sounds strange when it had resounded towards our position.
If this is the case, the place where that voice came from can’t be properly specified.
[Hati-dono, what’s our next move?]
[Move somewhere suitable where we could observe whatever that is. For the time being, let’s move towards the stairs that’s leading to the upper floors. We should be able to easily hide ourselves around that area.]
[Understood.]
The monster’s strength is still unknown right now.
No…
It is still unknown whether that really is the skeleton king.
It could be another Soul Eater for all I know.
I must not be negligent.
We started moving towards the stairs.
On the way, we arrived in a fairly wide area in this floor.
The ceiling isn’t that high though.
After we pass through here, we would finally—
Dooooooggaaaaannnnnnn—-!
Breaking through the walls, the figure of the monster has appeared.
The crags from the wall and the pyroxenes flutter around in the air.
In an instant, I understood.
[This guy…]
The strength this guy have is different.
It can’t be compared with the other monsters in this ruins.
Upon seeing the monster, the expression on Mist’s face changed.
[No way… This monster is—]
It seems that I’ve finally found my target.
[The Skeleton King…!]
Chapter 64
Skeleton King
I could see the figure of a crown sitting upon its head.
It’s as big as I had expected.
Is it about as large as the dragon zombie I had fought before?
However, this place is not spacious enough for it to stand upright.
That’s why, it was currently crawling on the ground on all fours.
Its bones were almost colored orange.
There is some orange light glowing behind his dark eye sockets.
The glowing light is moving about as if it was fidgety.
I could see some things sticking out from its shoulder.
They look like bones from human arms and legs.
There are also some monster bones sticking out along with the others.
This guy…
Is it able to grow by taking the bones of other creatures?
That room we were in before may have been a storage for the bones that he has taken.
[Hiiiyyyyyeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaahhhhh—!!!]
The roar he made just now sounds really intimidating.
It kinds of resembles the roar of the Dragon Zombie.
As of the moment, it doesn’t look like it’s going to attack us.
The Skeleton King is observing our movements.
[Hati-dono…]
Mist is biting her lips next to me as she looks at the Skeleton King.
[Hmmm?]
[Please look at the bone under it’s chin. If you look at it closely, you should be able to see a silvery part around there.]
[…Yeah.]
[If you could break that part, you could probably defeat it.]
[Fumu…]
[However— I will clearly tell you the reality of what we’re facing.]
Staring at the monster, Mist continued.
[That is not a monsters that we could fight even if we gather all the mercenaries that have been raiding this ruins. I don’t think even that Drunken Sword Party can fight against that… It has a large body and quick-witted, its bones are also tough and I’ve heard that techniques who make use of magic energy is less effective against it. That’s why I think, even Hati-dono’s technique wouldn’t be—]
The Drunken Sword Party.
They must have been that amazing of a party.
[…………]
I observed the Skeleton King.
Its shining golden eyes are quickly moving about as if it’s a leaf beetle.
I could clearly feel it glanced more often towards Mist than it had towards me.
Did it think that it should be more wary towards Mist?
The stronger one of the two of us is that woman.
I see…
If there is Mist beside me, it may be possible to divert the enemy’s consciousness away from me.
Well then— how should I attack it?
I remember back when I’ve fought the Soul Eater.
I wonder if this monster also has an ultra-high speed ability to intercept others attacks.
That’s something I still don’t know right now.
How high is this monster’s level anyway?
If I want increase the certainty of my skill hitting it successfully, I should find the moment when the opponent is about to attack. I would then match its attack by activating my skill but—
[Hati-dono, I have a request.]
Mist suddenly called out.
Pishi.
Piikkkii,
Pishhiiii—
Snowflakes began to float around on the edge of Mist’s sword.
The amount of these snowflakes gradually began increasing.
[I would try to reinforce my sword and make it blunt with ice. I would then try to break that weak spot. Furthermore, I would be increasing my physical ability by creating my special armor. With the strength that I’ve been stacking up, it should be able for me to defeat it. It’s just that… I’m trying to conceal the existence of this power of mine as much as possible. That’s why, could I ask you to keep what you’ve seen here for yourself?]
The Skeleton King opened its mouth wide.
I could see the light that I’ve seen before started gathering towards its mouth.
Is it going to attack Mist by launching something towards her?
However– it still doesn’t blast it out.
There should be a moment where it would launch it in one go after it swells up.
In order to find that opportunity, I kept on watching over the Skeleton King.
Sometimes, it is necessary to take the risk even if you’re not sure of success.
However, I would like to focus on my certainty through this way.
Find a gap that I could certainly exploit and defeat others through this.
[And also— I’m sorry. If that monster was stronger than I had expected, I don’t think I would even be conscious enough to protect you. That’s why, if that were the case, Hati-dono and Pigimaru-dono should start fleeing—]
[Giiiggeeerrooooo—!]
It looks like it’s about to release that thing it has been gathering.
And the moment when it would produce the easiest gap that I could exploit with—
—is right now.
[—
Shuuuu…
[Ooohh, ooohh—- ooooo…]
The light that has been gathering in the Skeleton King’s mouth started weakening.
So, it didn’t explode itself just like that time with the Lizardman?
[—Ooohhh, –oohhh? ooooohhh…]
The monster’s movement has completely stopped.
I could feel the confusion in the Skeleton King’s face.
It doesn’t have a face to make expressions, but I know.
I took a step forward towards it.
[—-Eh?]
A short, dumbfounded voice leaked out from Mist’s mouth.
The snowflakes that has been gathering in her weapon stopped halfway.
Calmly, I turned to her and replied.
[I understand. This strength that you spoke of, I swear that I won’t leak it out towards others without your permission.]
I turned back towards the Skeleton King again and extended my hand towards the paralyzed monster.
If this were to work against it, then it means that I won’t need to know some sh*tty weak points.
[
The Skeleton King’s gigantic body turned purple.
It seems that
Just like that time with the rotting dragon, the skill was still effective even against monsters who were made up of just bones.
I still don’t understand the principle around this skill.
However, I’ve successfully invoked my abnormal state skill against all kinds of targets.
Well, with the exception of that f*cking goddess but…
[What in the world is that…? A technique? A magical equation…?]
Mist looks baffled as she looked up towards the King of Bones.
Her eyes were wide open while she’s still holding the sword of ice in her hand.
Ah, I see.
Is this the first time that Mist have seen someone using
I look back towards her.
[I will make sure that I will not utter a word about your power. In exchange—]
While the King of Bones is currently being afflicted by my poison, I spoke.
[Could I ask you to keep the knowledge of this power to yourself?]
Mist still doesn’t seem to have caught up with the situation.
[And also, these so-called abnormalities that have been happening in this ruins… those were probably just the corpses of the monsters I have killed with this power.]
[Ha- Hati-dono’s…?]
[Listening to have the Drunken Sword Party has described it when I had met them earlier, that’s the only plausible thing that I could infer. Killing a monster with this power of mine basically seems to leave no trauma in them. Now that I think about it, haven’t you experienced it yourself before?]
Back in that forest, I have invoked
It seems that she haven’t noticed it yet when I have put her to sleep before.
[Well, this power is kind of—]
I pointed towards the Skeleton King behind me with my thumb.
[It seems that it’s a bit of an abnormality in this world.]
Chapter 65
U N K N O W N
When the paralysis gauge was about to run out, the Skeleton King has finally died.
Its gigantic body made of bones began collapsing as it rattled out.
A large amount of the debris from the collapsing bones began scattering about.
The mixture of human and monster bones began to spread out on the floor.
It’s as if I’m looking at the result of some mass genocide.
My level still haven’t gone up.
Now that I think about…
[…………]
I’m certain that the strength of the monsters here in the ruins were in another level.
I understood it with just a glance.
However, I immediately knew that monsters in this ruins were weaker than the monsters from the Disposal Ruins when it couldn’t respond back towards my attack.
It may have been because I’ve already struck a tougher bridge, the Soul Eater, and already had experienced fighting a tougher monster than the Skeleton King.
Is it because I’ve listened to Mist’s explanation about this monster being too strong and I just thought too much about it?
No— I don’t think it’s good to blame Mist.
If I can’t even properly determine the strength of others…
[The monster that Hati-dono was looking for, is it perhaps the Skeleton King?]
[Yeah.]
Pekkkiinnn…
Stepping on the thin bone fragments on my path. I got closer towards the head of the Skeleton King.
[The purpose of my arrival in the Mills Ruins is because of this monster.]
Mist held the sigh that she’s about to exhale.
I quickly take out the Encyclopedia on the Forbidden Arts and checked the corresponding page that refers the Skeleton King.
“The bone meal from the silver bone.”
Okay.
[It seems that there’s no mistaking it.]
I close the book and returned it back into my bag.
When the officer was checking my luggage, I had just explained to him that the “Encyclopedia of Forbidden Arts” is just an old book.
Well, the person in charge places more importance on treasures that have been brought back from the ruins.
Basically, I don’t really to go into the details about what the contents of my luggage were.
Even the mercenaries also dislike being asked about the details of their belongings.
As a result, it was just cast aside as they didn’t even try to “pilfer this treasure” of mine.
That’s what the officer that I had met explained towards me.
[The material that I needed was the weak point of this monster huh…]
I take out the small hammer from my bag.
Is it possible for me to just separate the silver bone part from the others?
I crouched in front of the silver bone.
Klang!
I try hitting another bone beside the silver bone with my hammer.
Pishhii!
I was able to make a small crack on it.
[Hmm? Isn’t it unexpectedly brittle?]