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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Breaking the Skeleton
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I looked down at the fist I'd just swung, thinking.
'I tricked the Scale without even realizing it...'
Could the name Daphne really hold such sway over me?
Feeling a greater sense of crisis than ever before, I instinctively tricked the Scale and instantly swung my fist.
It was the first time. The entire process had unfolded so naturally, even without my conscious will.
'Now what...?'
This skeleton knew my Master, and possessed a way to contact her.
That fact forced a lot of considerations upon me.
I was troubled. How should I deal with this skeleton?
'Murdering to silence (殺人滅口) would be best, but...'
Since this skeleton wasn't human, 'killing the bone to silence' (殺骨滅口) would be more accurate, but that wasn't the important part.
'There's no way to kill it.'
Only after examining the skeleton with my Heavenly Eye did I realize. This skeleton was bound by a contract I dared not interfere with.
It was clear, seeing how it lived as a skeleton without a speck of demonic energy, and how both its body and mind were perfectly intact even after an attack that would have instantly killed a normal person.
This skeleton couldn't find complete rest, no matter what happened, until the terms of its contract were fulfilled.
'What should I do?'
My worries spiraled, one after another, and many solutions sprang to mind.
Grinding its bones to dust and scattering them across the world like Dragon Balls.
Dropping its torso from the Weeping Cliff at the northernmost edge, and tossing its skull into the lava of the active volcano at the southernmost edge.
"Junior? You're not thinking anything strange, are you? Your eyes suddenly turned terrifying..."
Perhaps my expression seemed unsettling.
The skull lying on the floor spoke to me in a worried tone, and I squatted down in front of it, responding with a smile.
"How do you know my Master?"
"We were old colleagues."
"Ah, I see."
If anyone else had given that answer, I would have immediately crushed their skull, telling them not to lie.
But knowing that my Master was an old maid over a hundred years old, my head instinctively nodded.
The plausibility was undeniable. My Master, an ancient virgin, and this fellow, so ancient only his skeleton remained.
After much deliberation, I decided to converse with this self-proclaimed old colleague of my Master.
Perhaps that was why. A friendly expression naturally formed on my face.
"I was just thinking."
"Haha, thinking, you say... Well, that's how it is at your age, isn't it? Shall I hear what kind of thoughts our junior here is having?"
"I was wondering what to do with a wicked fellow who not only stole my belongings but also tried to mess with my acquaintance. For example, this skull..."
I kindly explained the various methods that had come to my mind.
"Ahahaha..."
Had I become frightening to it? The skull, which had been wearing an awkward smile, soon let out a shriek of disgust.
"You can't do that!"
"Why not? It's not like you'd die, anyway."
"Of course I wouldn't die. If given enough time, I could even reattach my torso and skull. But you can't!"
"So why not?"
"Having my head separated from my body always feels like shit."
What on earth would that feel like?
A sudden question arose in me, and I looked at the skull with curious eyes. The skull, perhaps feeling I was like a demon, squeezed its eyes shut and quickly continued.
"Alright. I'm sorry. I'll explain everything about why I did it. So please, just don't do anything so outrageous..."
"Tell me in detail. I'll decide after I hear you out."
"Just a moment. This isn't a story just anyone can hear..."
Saying that, Malik began to move his torso, not his skull.
An arm bone lifted, and a bony index finger pointed at Randel.
At that, Randel, who had been idly watching, suddenly collapsed on the spot. Sleeping magic released from the bone had instantly put Randel to sleep.
Realizing this new fact—that a skeleton could use magic even without its skull—I was more than a little impressed internally.
"Alright, I'll tell you now."
'Finally, we'll have a normal conversation.'
I nodded with a pleased smile, and the skeleton, who introduced himself as Malik, began his explanation.
What kind of relationship he and Daphne shared,
Why he had come here, and why he had played such a mischievous trick on me.
It was a feast of astonishing stories for me.
Like the fact that Daphne and this skeleton had existed for over a thousand years,
Or that the reason they could live so long was due to a contract forcibly made by that previous Captain fellow.
The stories of this world, which I hadn't known, were more than enough to capture my interest.
As I listened, many questions began to arise.
Why did that previous Captain fellow and I share a similar appearance?
What kind of being was he, to be able to forge a nearly impossible contract?
"So..."
While listening to Malik's story, filled with questions, I couldn't hold back and had to furrow my brow and open my lips.
"'The Opener of Fate,' and my Master's disciple, you wanted to test my abilities, but then you saw I resembled someone, and that I seemed to have many girls around me, so you got spiteful. Is that it?"
"Haha... something like that?"
"Are you kidding me?"
"I'm sorry."
"Haa..."
When I asked, Malik chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his skull. I sighed, giving him a pathetic look before posing a question.
"But 'The Opener of Fate,' what exactly is that?"
"It's exactly as it sounds. A being who opens up new destinies, not predetermined futures."
"Predetermined futures?"
"Yes. I don't know if you'll believe me, junior, when I suddenly say something like this, but..."
Malik trailed off, pausing for a moment, then began speaking again in a serious voice.
"The destiny laid out for this world is destruction."
"Destruction? How do you know that?"
"There's just something to it."
"Explain it in detail."
"First, could you put my skull back on? It's a bit hard to talk like this..."
Malik said, looking at his torso standing idly far away. I pondered for a moment, then granted the skeleton's fervent wish.
"Ah, upper air is definitely better than lower air."
Then Malik rattled his neck bones, muttering something.
"First, let's assess your abilities, then we'll talk."
Without warning, he pulled two daggers from within his bones and took a stance.
"...What are you doing?"
"I'm checking if you're worthy to hear this story. It's that important."
Malik said in a serious tone, pulling up his mana.
Watching him, I suddenly regretted it. I should have just ground his skull into fine powder and sprinkled it in the chicken coop.
"...Alright."
But what could I do?
After all, it was I who had put his skull back on his body.
More importantly, this being was one I couldn't kill, no matter what I did.
On top of that, he was an acquaintance of my Master, so it seemed I had no choice but to take what I could get.
"First, let's make a promise."
"What promise?"
"Regardless of the outcome, you won't contact Master first until she comes looking for you herself."
"She'll find out anyway, so is there a need for that?"
"Coming right away and coming later are different, aren't they?"
"Hmm, then I might be in trouble later, mightn't I? You're not perhaps thinking of using this senior as a meat shield, are you, junior?"
Malik tilted his head and asked back, and I waved my hand, replying no.
'This sharp-witted skeleton.'
How did he know?
I didn't know why, but it seemed I needed to change the course of the conversation.
"If you keep this up, you might find yourself in trouble right now."
"Junior, do you perhaps have a personality problem?"
"As if you, senior, who casually commit acts like kidnapping and imprisonment, are one to talk."
"Come to think of it, you're right. Alright. But there's a condition."
"Ah, what now!"
"Look at you, shouting. You really do have a personality problem."
"..."
"It's nothing much. Just don't trick the Scale when you fight me."
As I shouted at the continuous nonsense, Malik rattled the bones around his mouth and proposed to me: not to trick the Scale when fighting him.
'Why should I?'
I tilted my head, asking Malik with my eyes why I should give up my full power.
"That previous Captain fellow screwed up his life doing that. The bastard. As if screwing up his own life wasn't enough, he had to screw up everyone else's too."
"..."
"Ah, sorry. Seeing you, a junior in the same predicament as that previous Captain fellow, just got my temper up."
"Was he also...?"
"Yes. He was a Vessel of Sin. And that Vessel shattered. Thanks to that, our plans shattered too."
Why was it? Even as Malik cursed, I felt a deep sense of regret in his voice.
"So, junior, don't trick the Scale constantly like that bastard. There are plenty of ways to get stronger even without doing that."
"..."
"By your expression, it looks like you want to ask, 'Who are you to lecture me?'"
How did he know?
"Just try attacking me like that. This senior will prove it to you himself."
"..."
"By your expression, it looks like you're thinking, 'What can someone like you even do?' I'll just go first. Try to block it well."
Had he mastered mind-reading? I genuinely admired Malik, who kept voicing my every thought, and adjusted my stance.
Let's hear the full story after I've broken his bones first.
So I thought.
"If you can block it."
Whether he knew my thoughts or not, Malik uttered a childish line, then began to quietly chant.
"Divine Sword Style, First Form."