Chapter 12. Awakening from Life (12)
"I don't recall, but according to your story, wouldn't I be closer to a man?"
"Why do you think so?"
"Because using the first-person singular feels natural to me."
We laughed softly, with the soft clatter of my bones ringing between us.
"What are you curious about yourself?" she asked.
Was there a need to lie?
This woman had awakened me from the grave. She didn't seem to harbor any malice toward me, so I decided to be honest.
"It feels like time is repeating itself. Where should I even ask about something like that?"
"Time... is repeating?"
Rubia looked up at me with wide eyes. However, she didn't seem as surprised as I had expected.
"Yes. When I die, I find myself back at the moment I awakened in the grave. I have no idea what's happening."
"Hmm, then..."
Rubia pondered quietly.
Is she not surprised?
I was surprised by her unexpectedly calm reaction. Maybe it was because it was so absurd that she reacted like that. Or perhaps she thought I was crazy.
"Do you know the Tower of Azure by any chance?" Rubia asked.
"I do."
Rubia suggested, "Why don't you try asking there? Although it's quite far away."
"It is certainly far."
"Well, I've heard a similar story before!"
I perked up. "What?"
"There's a book called The Genius Archmage Trapped in the Crevice of Time. It's a novel written by an unknown author. It's about a wizard trapped in a time trap created by a dragon."
I sighed in exasperation. "There are definitely no such things as dragons, so that's just a novel."
"Uh, are you sure there are no dragons?"
"Absolutely."
Zero dragons appeared even after twenty years. Only the Sixteen Demon Lords appeared ten years later, and humans, wizards, and swordmasters would mercilessly crush them, especially the heroes who appeared all over the place.
"I see..."
Rubia seemed noticeably disappointed.
"Still, wouldn't the Tower of Azure be able to tell you something?"
"I'm not sure..."
We shared what we knew about the Tower of Azure. The Wizards of Azure were said to be the wisest in the world. They were located in the Tower of Azure, in the snowstorm-battered North. They were called the Wizards of Azure because they lived there.
When people thought of magic, there were common things they imagined. Mandalas, reagents, scrolls, and triggers were the four elements of magic. On a meticulously drawn mandala, a wizard who has swallowed a reagent speaks the trigger and tears the scroll. That's how magic was cast.
However, the ones who could use magic without any of those four elements were the Wizards of Azure. They could leisurely walk around and still freeze the ground, ignite flames, and change the wind. They didn't call themselves the Wizards of Azure though. They just called themselves "wizards." They didn't use the term "Tower of Azure" either. Instead, they used the term "Tower."
The wizards didn't even know that such naming was arrogant. The Tower was within the Empire's territory. However, it was a sanctuary where imperial law could not be applied.
There were only about two hundred people in their group, and that was including all the names listed at the Tower.
"Only about fifty people actually live there, right?"
Indeed. Despite having only fifty people, they had managed to claim 35.4 square kilometers of the Empire's territory as their own. It was obvious how powerful those wizards were.
When it came to mysteries and miracles, nothing could be discussed without including them. However, there was a reason why I couldn't go there.
Rubia asked, "Is it because it's far? Well, I guess you'd be going from one end of the Empire to the other."
"Not just that. Even if I could walk all the way there without any incidents, it would still be a problem."
"Perhaps..."
"Yes. The Tower of Azure rejects necromancy and black magic. If they see me, they might destroy me immediately."
"But aren't they known to be curious people? Would they really do that?"
"People like that might be even more dangerous."
The people Rubia mentioned who might intentionally choose to accept my consultation were the most dogmatic and insane people. To them, solving their curiosity was more important than the end of the world.
If I were to go there for a consultation… their eyes would probably light up in excitement as they imprisoned me in a magical prison. I could be trapped in a spellhold created by the Wizards of Azure. It was a place even high-ranking demons found difficult to escape from. Needless to say, a Skeleton Soldier like me wouldn't stand a chance.
I shook my head, and Rubia suggested, "Then... how about we buy some clothes first?"
"Clothes?"
"Armor. I don't think we can enter the city like this, and it might be difficult to even travel the road..."
At Rubia's words, my neck rattled. She was right. I needed armor. I had to wear a full plate, complete with gloves and a helmet. Not for defense, for concealment. Even if I hid only in the mountains, I could encounter humans anytime.
I was a skeleton soldier. If I wandered around like this, I would definitely be attacked. I couldn't even walk freely unless I planned to crawl between the bushes. The world belonged to humans. It might not be that bad in the Eastern Mountains or the Western Desert, but here, in the Southern Empire, places free from humans were especially rare.
Dungeons were constantly raided, just the same. The few monsters were holed up in dungeons, waiting in fear for humans to come.
I suggested to the woman, "Then let's go to Grassmere."
"Grassmere? Oh..." Rubia nodded. "But how do you know about Grassmere?"
"Well... I've heard about it here and there."
It wasn't really from here and there. I had heard everything from my master.
"Here and there?"
"If someone teaches a Skeleton Soldier to speak and read, he can acquire knowledge too."
"…What?"
I was a skeleton that had just risen from the grave to her. She looked perplexed. But I didn't want to talk about it. I didn't want to share. It was a memory I wanted to keep to myself. While there was much to gain by sharing and communicating with others, the memories with Lady Succubus were not of that kind.
I changed the subject to the city of blacksmiths. "Grassmere is the hottest city in the South. Not for geopolitical reasons."
"Because of the blacksmiths, right?"
It was said that if one passed through the city gate and entered, the heat from the densely packed blacksmith shops would overwhelm them.
"That's right."
"I always wanted to visit. When you open the gate, will there really be blacksmith shops lined up so densely? It's in an inconvenient location, but they say the quality is so good that merchants always stop by at least once."
"The burly blacksmiths set up shops in every alley, so there's no need to maintain a separate security force."
"If we're going to buy armor, it's best to buy it in such a place!"
"That would be appreciated. Anyway, let's head to Grassmere."
I walked through the cave.
Rubia silently followed and asked, "After getting the armor, where do you plan to go?"
"Well... there is someone I have to meet."
Not exactly a person, but it would be easier for her to understand it that way.
"Someone you have to meet?"
"But it'll be a while before I meet them. There's nowhere specific I have to go."
"Nowhere to go... That sounds like me..." Rubia murmured.
I hesitated, wondering if I should agree with her. Ultimately, I just walked through the cave, keeping pace with her.
Drip.
Drip.
The sound of water dripping from the tip of a stalactite and our footsteps quietly echoed through the cave. If I could meet my master again, there might be choices I never had in the past. But such choices were never given for free. Before meeting her, I had to fight and establish my own domain, free from human interference.
How strong must I become to be free from the encroachment of others? Just how much…
Rubia asked, "How do you know your way so well? This place looks like there, and that place looks like here..."
Her words pulled me out of my thoughts. She was looking at me with her mouth agape in awe.
How should I explain?
"Well, I just do..."
The cave was shaped over an incomprehensible span of time beyond the perception and time of small beings.
"It's like a maze... No, I don't think anyone could create such a maze..."
"Is that so?"
I continued walking without giving much of a response.
Rubia kept chattering beside me. "It's wide and dense. I've read quite a few books about caves, but how do you even find your way through something like this? The branching paths are endless.
"Really... It all looks the same... It's hard to see, so how do you know where you're going? Wow... It's amazing."
Ding!
[Rubia's Affection has increased by 3!]
[Rubia thinks you are an extraordinary skeleton who is remarkably good at finding your way.]
[Servant System: Succeeded in making the master think, 'He's incredibly good at finding his way.']
[Title: Pathfinder acquired.]
[While moving with the master, vision increases by 10%.]
So this thing is popping up again.
At the same time, I felt like I could see a little further. This thing called the Servant System, it was the second time it had appeared.
I wish this had been available when I was with my master.
Perhaps I could have protected her a little better. Anyway, I needed to take care of this woman named Rubia now. I checked her status screen.
[Name: Rubia Ray
Necromancer Lv. 1
Health: 6
Strength: 5
Agility: 6
Wisdom: 12]
[Affection: 9
— Rubia has a slight attachment to the skeleton she awakened. Watching your achievements, trust is beginning to sprout.]
[Basic Skills:
— Unlock by increasing Affection.]
[Perks:
— Unlock by increasing Affection.]
[Titles:
— Unlock by increasing Affection.]
Her Affection has increased by 6.
I hadn't paid much attention, but her Affection for me was rising quite well on its own. I had no complaints about that, of course. However, the basic skills, perks, and titles were still locked.
***
Rubia kept exclaiming at every step. "Seriously! It all looks the same... It's hard to see, so how do you know where you're going? Wow..."
I kept my mouth shut. She seemed impressed every time I chose a path, which was almost every time the path branched.
"Is it really that amazing?"
"I'm terrible at finding my way."
I kept a close distance to help her follow along.
Rubia asked, "How long does it take to form a cave like this? It's hard to believe there's such a complex and long cave inside a mountain."
"Is that so?"
I kept walking without much response to her occasional chatter. After about two hours of walking, we came out of the opposite side of the cave. The entrance on the other side was also hidden by bushes. This was a completely different location.
The mountain birds chirped loudly when we exited the cave.
Coo-coo-coo-coo-coo!
Kyoo-kyoo-kyoo-kyoo!
Peep! Peep!
Pyu... Pyu-pyu! Pyu... Pyu-pyu!
They sing regardless of the weather.
Amidst their cries, I heard a familiar sound effect.
Ding!
However, these were messages I had never seen before.
[C++ level maze cleared!]
[You gained 15,000 experience points]
[Cleared the maze without using any skills.]
[Additional 100% experience granted.]
[You gained 15,000 experience points]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up...]
...
[...Up!]
[Level Up!]
"Huh?"
It's a maze? I didn't even think much about it. How hard could it be to pass through a cave once? I just walked down a familiar path. And I got experience points for walking?
One, two, three... nine, ten.
My level went up by ten instantly. I stood still, lost in thought for a moment.
Does this even make sense?
I thought back to when I first entered the cave. One couldn't tell day from night inside the cave. But for some reason, I felt the passage of time. It felt like I had spent about three years inside the cave.
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