I Became a Veteran Who Has to Stir Up Trouble to Survive - Chapter 13

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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[013] Skeleton Warrior
「You have transformed into Narhgal, a low-rank Pirate Skeleton!」
「Your current level and stats are insufficient to fully harness the Skeleton’s power. Agility has decreased. You have become extremely vulnerable to holy power. Insight is locked at its minimum value.」
「Due to the low-rank Skeleton’s traits, your strength has diminished.」
「You can gather bone fragments to strengthen your body!」
My flesh was engulfed in black mist, and in an instant, it decayed away, transforming into a yellowed skeleton.
At the same moment, a voice filled with shock echoed from behind me.
“Wh-what? Undead transformation…? I’ve heard only a select few Black Mages can convert flesh into undead form…!”
Malton stared up at me with eyes wide as saucers, but I had no time to concern myself with his reaction.
The moment I tightened my bony grip around the orb, a chilling warning message blazed across my vision.
「The Andira Cult’s treasure, the supreme cursed orb, is experiencing impact!」
「Warning!!! If the cursed orb is destroyed, a permanent curse will embed itself in your body.」
「Just a bit more force and the orb will shatter.」
「Do you have any regrets?」
‘Regrets? Why is this thing so talkative?’
I ignored the warning and squeezed the orb even harder.
Accepting an eternal, incurable curse was reckless beyond measure, yet this was no blind gamble.
The same message had appeared when I first snatched the orb from the Ghost Ship.
「An artifact of the Andira Sect, capable of casting powerful curses or
greatly strengthening the undead.」
」
‘This orb has the power to strengthen the undead…!’
The reason Andira was both a hotbed of all dark magic and a god who commanded death’s messengers.
It was absurdly rare—a sacred relic powerful enough to bind even pure-blooded dragons, yet no one would waste it merely strengthening a single undead.
In the game, transforming into undead usually resulted in a death judgment, leaving no opportunity for experimentation. However, the Andira Cult’s cursed orb was a recurring topic of speculation across community forums.
What if a player transformed into undead and used the Andira Cult’s orb to strip away only the debuffs while keeping the buffs intact?
And just how powerful would such a strengthened undead become?
It was time to verify the rumors that had drifted like wind for so long.
But I had no leisure to savor the transformation gradually.
The moment the slowly cracking orb shattered completely, my vision flooded crimson with an overwhelming surge of agony.
「The cursed orb has been destroyed!」
「The curse of the god Andira—’Bones Return to Dust’—does not fade! The curse that was placed upon the elf Malievertone transfers to you.」
「Because you are in an undead state, some of the curse acts as an advantage.」
「You have achieved the hidden piece ‘Blessed Orb of the Departed’! All stats permanently increase by 3.」
「Due to the powerful curse, the undead’s restrictions have been lifted! You can temporarily wield transcendent power.」
「…Yet remember, the price of touching a god’s sacred relic is never light.」
「A great being has noticed that a portion of its power has been released into this world.」
「Darkness seeps into your body.」
―Kugh, hack!!」
Unbearable agony crashed down upon me.
My soul felt as though it were shattering into fragments of glass, splintering apart.
A sensation as though someone were brutally hacking at my very essence.
Was Malton experiencing this on a regular basis?
I thought becoming undead meant losing all sensation of pain….
No, this was far more than simple agony.
Emptiness, disillusionment, solitude, rage, regret.
Remorse, despair, sorrow, yearning, terror.
A torment that branded the curses of countless dead souls onto my spirit like a searing mark.
The curse of Andira—far more than a mere hex.
―Gaaaaahhh….
After an indescribable agony washed over me like a tidal wave, I swiftly regained my composure and assessed my condition.
‘Damn… what kind of curse is this… First, let me note any visible changes….’
My body felt lighter.
The undead-specific debuffs that had shackled my movements like chains had vanished completely.
More than that, I felt strength surging through me as though awakening from a long slumber.
I sensed I could now face hordes of monsters without hesitation.
Worthless humans—I could cut them down mercilessly and quench my thirst with their blood without a shred of guilt.
And….
―Ah… now my voice is working properly….
“Y-you….”
―…I’ll go ahead. Follow me. First, we deal with the Bandits.
「You have chosen to oppose the Bandits! Emergency Quest, ‘Resistance’ has been activated!」
I bolted forward without waiting for Malton’s response.
The Mercenaries were beginning to look dangerously cornered.
Drawing my cutlass and moving toward the Bandits’ rear while they were locked in standoff, several of them spotted me and cried out.
“A-a Skeleton!!”
“Where did a Skeleton come from?!”
“Is it a naturally spawned one…? Wait. Let me handle it and come back.”
「The Bandits are panicking.」
「They appear startled by the sudden appearance of an undead.」
「Due to the Passive Skill [Chaos], your Strength temporarily increases by 1.」
「The Bandits still underestimate you! To raise your stats further, unsettle them more!」
One of the Bandits approached me with a swagger.
I could sense the contempt in his careless expression.
He swung his blade with force—but―.
‘He has no experience fighting undead.’
I regarded the incoming blade with a pitying gaze.
Why had I struggled so against the Skeletons on the Pirate Ship?
Simple sword strikes do not penetrate Skeleton bone.
Crack―!
“What—what is this so slippery…!”
As the Bandit’s blade slid across bone, he panicked and swung again, but I simply stepped forward and took the blow with my body rather than blocking it.
A combat style only possible for a Skeleton without flesh and blood.
Not the severing of flesh to break bone,
but rather
the severing of bone to break flesh.
―Tch… there’s no helping that my clothes are getting damaged.
“What—what…?! A Skeleton that speaks!?”
―Die.
While the Bandit’s blade caught between my ribs, I raked the curved edge of my scimitar across his abdomen.
With enhanced strength, I drove the blade deep into his flesh, and as I twisted and withdrew the sword that had bitten down to his wrist, his elongated intestines came spilling out.
The Bandit beside him, whose eyes met mine, was seized with terror and frantically swung his blade at me—
Schwick!!
I deflected his sword and severed his forearm with the blade’s edge.
Such panicked, wild attacks were nothing but laughable.
Did they truly never imagine they would become the hunted instead?
‘…What is this?’
In an instant, a repugnant emotion churned within me like maggots in rot.
―How absurd!!
Even in combat with monsters, there existed fierce exchanges where lives hung in the balance.
Even the lowly Kobold understood how to cast aside its life like a dog and burn with total commitment.
Yet humanity, which prides itself as the pinnacle of all creation, presents such a pathetic sight.
Where had that iron-willed determination they boasted of gone? Where was that radiant pride?
―How utterly ridiculous!!
I laughed with wild derision, swinging my scimitar.
With each swing of my blade, agonized screams tore from the Bandits’ throats.
Whenever the blade flashed, blood pooled and sloshed within the eye sockets.
My entire form was painted crimson with the blood sprayed from my enemies.
There was no need to contemplate complex swordplay or tactics.
I was a Skeleton, after all.
「You have successfully drawn all enemy attention upon yourself!」
「They no longer regard you as a mere Skeleton! You, strengthened by the Evil God’s orb, are a terrifying existence!」
「The Bandits, consumed by fear, experience a temporary massive surge in stats!」
「To raise your stats further, continue drawing their focus, deceive them, and break them!!」
‘…How base.’
These Bandits were not assassins trained in any particular skill.
In pre-modern society, most Bandits were primarily those who worked in farming or mills and temporarily strayed from their livelihoods.
Those who could only fell trees across forest paths to block carriages or launch ambushes through sheer numbers would never have encountered a monster like me.
As I mercilessly butchered the bodies before me, the Bandits shrieked and cried out.
“This fucking insane undead!! It’s not a normal Skeleton! Everyone, be careful!!”
“Silver! Does anyone have a weapon?! Or someone who knows how to use holy power?!”
“F-Fire!! I heard undead are afraid of fire, so let’s try this!”
The Bandit swung the torch he’d been holding at me as if he’d just remembered some brilliant secret technique.
―How absurd! Did you truly believe such a pathetic candle flame would work on me?!
I who have walked away from infernos that consumed entire buildings!
Crunch!!
I bit the torch and snuffed it out, the flames flickering beyond my eye sockets as the Bandit’s face drained of all color.
「Death’s aura consumes the flames!」
「The Bandit feels intense terror and loses control! Intelligence temporarily increases by 1!」
―How delightfully ridiculous!
I laughed with the arrogance of a Death Knight, my curved blade reaping through the Bandits’ necks.
With each elegant sweep of my saber, fresh corpses rolled across the ground, piling ever higher!
‘Perhaps I should seriously research the undead swordsman path….’
Just as in reality, all Belheim swordsmanship is founded on the principle of defense.
In this place where hardcore elements are ruthlessly embedded, even the highest-ranked players can fall pathetically to a blind novice’s blade.
Therefore, all swordsmanship—at least the techniques wielded by fragile humans with regenerative limits—was fundamentally designed to protect the user while cutting down enemies.
But now, freed from the constraints of weak flesh, I could employ far more aggressive techniques.
Absorbing trivial blows with bone, and in the time it would take to dodge an enemy’s attack, driving my blade deeper—a miraculous exchange of damage!
Undead swordsmanship without fear or hesitation, pushing forward with nothing but relentless offense!
―Kahahaha! How amusing!! What delicious absurdity!!
“This fucking insane undead!!”
“W-Wait, how is a Skeleton even speaking human language….”
“That aggression…! That swordsmanship…! This isn’t just any Skeleton!!”
“”It’s a Death Knight!!””
―…Hmm?
You wretches have never actually seen a true Death Knight, have you?
I let out a soft chuckle.
Had Orgillian been here, he would have scoffed and shown them what a real Death Knight truly was, but he is absent from this place.
Given the shock these Bandits have received, such a misunderstanding is hardly unreasonable.
As I approached with blood dripping steadily from my entire frame, the terrified Bandits retreated hesitantly.
Realizing they couldn’t face me alone, they desperately racked their brains and clumsily formed ranks.
They intended to surround me and launch a coordinated assault when I drew near.
‘Then perhaps I should use that.’
With a gesture into the void, white flowers sprouted from the Field.
Flowers that gleamed beautifully, suffused with the gentle light of the moon.
Yet their true nature was utterly grotesque.
Flowers composed of human finger bones—Bone Flowers.
From the center of each bloom, bloodshot eyes opened and fixed their gaze upon the enemies.
―Spirits of the departed, your eternal rest is disturbed by these wretches—I command you to strike them down… Bloom!
With a snap of my fingers sharp as a musket’s flintlock—crack!—the bone flowers erupted and engulfed the Bandits.
The grotesque writhing of dark mana, bone fragments scattering across the battlefield, and a symphony of screams.
The Bandit Gang, experiencing undead black magic for the first time in their lives, fled in utter panic—but….
Did they truly believe safety awaited them in flight?
With another snap of my fingers, an even more violent bone storm swept over them.
A spell designed for total annihilation, recognizing no safe zones, no distinction between ally and enemy.
I laughed brazenly as bone fragments erupted in all directions around me.
This was the moment when my experience researching magic during my Necromancer alt’s development bore fruit.
While I could wield magic freely thanks to absorbing the Evil God’s orb, I had to use it while I could.
「The Bandits are paralyzed with fear. Your strength increases due to [Chaos]!」
「The Mercenaries are terrified. Your luck rises!」
Hm? Why are the Mercenaries…?
Puzzled by the log, I turned toward the carriages and saw the Mercenaries standing awkwardly with drawn swords, staring at me.
Their gazes were filled with profound confusion.
A monster? Should we help it or not?
It’s been slaughtering the Bandits, so it can’t be an enemy…?
Though honestly, the skeleton looks far more sinister in appearance!
―Either way, what a farce! A farce! Kahahaha!!
“Damn it!! Why is such a mad undead wandering around this field?!”
“Oh, karma! Heaven’s punishment descends upon us…! We’re all doomed….”
While the demoralized Bandits stumbled about, desperately seeking any means of escape, a subtle discord tickled my skull.
As everyone retreated from me, a presence approached silently across the grass.
The distinctive aura of a formidable warrior.
I laughed heartily and caught the longsword with my cutlass, and the man who had attempted the ambush’s expression twisted.
―So you’ve finally arrived, Mercenary Captain! Or should I call you the Bandit leader now? Lehiman, sir!
“…I have no recollection of befriending an undead.”
―And I’ve never hired a brigand as an escort. Wouldn’t you agree?
“…You couldn’t possibly…!”
―Let’s dispense with idle chatter.
Crack―!
I laughed boldly and stepped forward with my skeletal foot, and the Mercenary Captain’s longsword, aimed at my chest, slid straight through.
The sharp blade tore through the space where my heart once was, but there was only cold air to cut.
The Mercenary Captain was momentarily flustered, but quickly withdrew his blade and countered my attack.
‘A master swordsman…!’
Superior in strength, agility, and reflexes to the common Bandits.
His swordsmanship, utilizing the long blade’s structure to defend and attack simultaneously, followed textbook form.
The ability to attack while defending was one of the sword’s most formidable characteristics as a weapon.
So the leader commanding the Bandit Gang was no mere amateur, after all.
―Oho… You! You certainly know how to wield a blade! Did you perhaps train at some mediocre Swordsman Guild?
“You insane undead bastard…!! How did you even disguise yourself as human?! For a whole four days!”
―Once you’re dead and become my subordinate, I’ll tell you. It will surely be fascinating!
“…Damn this accursed monster!!”
Lehiman roared with fury, his blade sweeping through the air in a vicious arc.
I admired his counterattack inwardly as I continued my relentless assault.
Each clash of steel sent sparks dancing and murderous intent flooding the space between us.
I met his incoming strikes blade-to-blade, twisting and deflecting them aside.
And when his sword came from an unexpected angle?
―Krahahahaha!!!
“Gack?!”
Rather than block, I surged past his guard and drove my cutlass through the gaps in his armor, crimson blood seeping across the metal chains.
The Mercenary Captain staggered backward, his face twisted in agony.
The more he retreated, the more relentlessly I pressed forward.
―Exquisite!!!
Slashing! Blood! Bone!
The sublime art of swordplay—cruel and fierce, interlocking in a dance of death.
A ghastly feast of dripping crimson trails.
With every step, every breath, I wove killing intent into my movements.
A sneer beyond the sparks. A blade strike beyond the thunder.
Cutting and cutting again!
Until bones shatter!
Attacks without power?
‘I’ll take them with my body!!’
I laughed arrogantly and thrust my head forward, catching Lehiman’s blade against bone.
One rib cracked under the weight of his heavy longsword, but what of it?
I was Skeleton now.
One resurrected from death, walking the mortal realm.
Scars etched into withered flesh and brittle bones were trivial things.
―Krahahahaha! How delightful!! Mortal! Entertain me further!!
“Ugh…!! You mad undead…!!”
―Growing weary already? Your movements are sluggish, are they not?
“Cough…?!”
In the fleeting instant our bodies crossed, I channeled magic into my left hand and pressed it against the Mercenary Captain’s abdomen.
As I whispered the incantation, a sickening crunch echoed out—his bones twisted and protruded grotesquely.
It was a mortal wound; crimson blood leaked from his lips.
The Mercenary Captain found himself in a desperate position in mere moments.
As the tide turned against him, Lehiman drew a dagger and attempted a desperate strike.
Just as I was about to absorb the pathetic blow with my body―.
―…!!
An eerie sensation suddenly washed over me.
As if warm flames were crawling up my bones….
I quickly moved my feet to evade, and a white aura flickering at the dagger’s tip caught my eye.
―So it was a dagger imbued with holy power…! How remarkable!
“….”
―It seems that was your trump card after all! …But what will you do now?
“Damn it….”
Lehiman stared at me with eyes burning with hatred, spitting blood-tinged saliva.
At this rate, I felt like I’d become the villain of this tale!
Yet I too found myself regarding him with a newfound wariness, far different from before.
‘Those who’ve been tempered in real combat cannot be underestimated.’
No matter how much I’d been strengthened by the [Chaos] skill and the orb, it was impossible to bridge the gap in levels and skill accumulated over years.
My opponent was a mercenary who’d been grinding through this harsh dark fantasy world for decades, and skilled enough to lead a bandit gang at that.
Though I’d managed to hold my own fairly well—perhaps because he lacked experience fighting the undead—now that he’d drawn that holy power dagger, charging in recklessly could spell serious trouble for me.
But I simply sheathed my blade with an indifferent smile, the moon at my back.
―It seems the time has come… How unfortunate.
“Time’s up…? What do you mean…?”
―Krahaha! You’ll spend the rest of your life regretting that you didn’t die by my hand today!
“…What does that mean?”
―What does it mean, you foolish mortal? Exactly what I said.
The most terrifying thing in this place wasn’t the jester Skeleton, nor some holy power dagger.
The moment the Mercenary Captain furrowed his brow in confusion, a black shadow materialized behind him.
―Kanf, mortal! You’re late! Now, grant this one his eternal rest!
“….”
Malton, freed from the curse, severed Lehiman’s tendons with a distinctly displeased expression.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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