My Skeleton Soldier Is Strange - Chapter 27

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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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Chapter 27
The Guard Soldier continued as if nothing had happened.
“The knights who guard the Fortress of Darkness are the greatest warriors on the Evern Continent. However, we never grow complacent—we dedicate ourselves to training like this every single day.”
For a moment, Jae-beom pointed at the armored undead and almost asked, “By sweating blood?” but stopped himself.
If the Guard Soldier made that creaking sound again, Jae-beom wasn’t confident he could refrain from treating him like a monster.
Jae-beom surveyed the Training Ground in all directions.
Abnormal scenes like “meditation in a pond of blood” and “stabbing leather—things I’d rather not know about—with bone swords” mingled with awe-inspiring ones like “striking training dummies with a real sword for five minutes without leaving a single scratch on them.”
Of course, Jae-beom had firmly decided never to ask about the former activities.
“With overwhelming power!”
Jae-beom continued deeper inside, listening to the battle cry of the latter group of knights.
“Do you have any questions?”
When the Guard Soldier asked, Jae-beom answered quickly.
“No. Just watching is delightful.”
“
You
have no questions after seeing this Training Ground?”
As a hint of menace crept in, Jae-beom hesitated before reaching for his staff.
‘I don’t think I have enough damage output.’
Since Jae-beom’s class was Overlord, the Guard Soldier had been acting kindly earlier, saying “this doesn’t apply to veteran players.” But judging by his current attitude, that kindness didn’t seem infinite.
Jae-beom quickly scanned his surroundings.
There was a training building in the center of the Training Ground, but he sensed no presence from it.
Jae-beom pointed at the building and spoke.
“That building seems different somehow.”
“Ah.”
At Jae-beom’s words, the Guard Soldier’s face contorted. He seemed relieved that it wasn’t something equally strange.
“It’s an abandoned building that hasn’t been used in ages. I’m not entirely sure, but apparently there was an accident long ago. Since there are many other training grounds, that one simply isn’t used.”
‘Aren’t there far more places that look more ominous than that?’
However, while other locations emanated a twisted atmosphere, that place was certainly ominous in a more “traditional” sense.
The Abandoned Training Ground exuded an eerie aura like a dilapidated structure. The cracked walls, broken windows, and overgrown weeds testified to a place long abandoned.
“An ominous incident, you say….”
Jae-beom glanced at the Guard Soldier upon hearing this, but unlike before, he showed no ghostly demeanor.
“Then, would you mind showing me there?”
“Sure, if that’s what you want.”
‘This seems like the right answer.’
A dilapidated house amid ghost stories might seem odd, but even ruins have their preferences.
Compared to places where blood and entrails mingled, a mere old ruin seemed almost quaint.
As Jae-beom pushed open the creaking wooden door, a musty stench wafted from within.
―Thud….
With a heavy sound, the door opened, and Jae-beom stepped boldly inside. Dust lay thick on the floor, and cobwebs clung densely to the ceiling.
‘Hmm, good. Nothing ominous here at all.’
In an ordinary building, such signs would have been ominous, but this was Evern Online.
To qualify as an “ominous sign” here, you’d need something like “identifying musical notes by screams” coming from the building next door.
I surveyed the interior of the Training Ground with affectionate eyes. Cracked pillars, shattered weapons, weathered shields and armor—a scene frozen in time greeted my gaze.
The only intact thing was the steel dummy standing in the center.
‘Hmm, that’s ominous.’
―Shhhhk….
And that steel dummy was the only ominous element here.
‘The only intact object in a decrepit place equals a cursed item’—it was one of the classic formulas of traditional horror, after all.
Fortunately, since no Item Information appeared, it didn’t seem to be a cursed item.
I glanced around briefly, then nodded.
“Would it be acceptable for me to conduct my training here?”
This place would do.
“Here, of all places…? There are many better buildings. If Mullen recommends….”
‘Better for whom, exactly?’
“I prefer this place.”
“Understood. Then I shall wait at the entrance. Technically, allowing outsiders into the Fortress is
prohibited
conduct….”
‘We’ll see about that, Mullen.’
“Ah, yes. Let’s do that then.”
I nodded and smiled brightly. The me from yesterday, who would have approved of “any change whatsoever,” was certainly
‘And we’ll see about that too, you Evern Online administrators.’
undergoing a significant shift in perspective. The “any change” I approved of did not include the horror genre.
Logically speaking, why would an RPG force you through a horror show?
‘Of course, I’ve heard Evern Online has horror-themed dungeons.’
But I’d never heard of the beginner village becoming a horror zone!
“Summon Skeleton Soldier.”
First, I decided to summon Dercan and begin testing.
It was natural to summon him casually to see how much stronger he’d become.
[Summoning Legendary Skeleton Soldier Dercan.]
But there were several things I didn’t know.
―Bzzzzt… Zzzzzzzt!
“?”
Dercan’s level had risen by 15,
―Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzing!
and Osirius Castle had become a Demon Realm fortress befitting an “Overlord,”
―Crack!
and I was summoning Dercan at level 20 for the first time.
After a series of grand sounds, a tearing noise erupted as a rift opened in the air.
―Thud… thud… thud!
A skeletal hand emanating crimson light revealed itself.
[Aldric’s affinity has increased significantly.]
‘Why!’
It was the moment I learned the name of the Guard Soldier I hadn’t particularly wanted to befriend.
* * *
Soon, bathed in crimson light, the skeletal warrior Dercan slowly emerged from the fissure.
―Screech!
No—I couldn’t even be certain anymore whether calling him a skeletal warrior was appropriate.
The Tomb Keeper’s twin blades still rested in his hands, but the pitch-black swords were now engulfed in crimson energy.
Moreover, the armor that had previously encased his form had vanished without a trace, replaced by the same scarlet aura that wrapped around the twin blades, now coiling around his bones.
“What exactly is that…?”
Aldric took a slight step backward at the sight, though his voice trembled with both awe and exhilaration.
“Oh, it’s just a skeletal warrior. I’m a Necromancer, after all.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Upon hearing my words, Aldric flinched in surprise before nodding slowly.
“Indeed, such a setting… or rather, a ‘Necromancer’s’ skeletal warrior. I understand now.”
‘He doesn’t believe me.’
Not that I could blame him—even I had to admit Dercan didn’t look like an ordinary skeletal warrior. I myself wasn’t just a Necromancer, but an advanced class beyond that.
―Screech!
Finally, the fissure opened completely, and Dercan’s form was fully revealed.
“Hmm.”
And seeing him, I became certain.
‘This skill name has no conscience.’
‘Legendary-grade’ wasn’t some universal trump card, so how could this possibly be called a skeletal warrior?
I hadn’t abandoned my attempt to convince Aldric for nothing. Aside from the skeleton itself, there was virtually nothing in common.
A normal skeletal warrior couldn’t even be enhanced!
It would be like me suddenly claiming, “I’m the leader of a global girl group. I’m the center and the visual,” and expecting anyone to believe me. Except for the species, nothing was the same.
And furthermore.
―Boom! Boom!
Gone was the old “trudge… trudge…” sound—now the ground trembled with every step.
―Gulp!
Aldric swallowed hard at the sight.
[Aldric’s affinity has increased.]
‘Stop going up.’
I’d never even completed a single quest, yet Aldric’s affinity was rising endlessly—it wasn’t some bargain sale on quests.
―Rumble…
Finally, the fissure sealed shut, and the summoning’s aftermath subsided. In the center of the silent Training Ground, Dercan stood towering, radiating a blazing crimson aura.
Watching him, I thought simply.
‘Did his level and confidence rise together?’
He had the air of someone who wouldn’t obey orders worth a damn.
“Dercan.”
―Whoosh.
At my call, Dercan turned his head to look at me.
―Uuung….
A crimson glow emanated from his hollow eyes.
―Master.
Finally, Dercan’s mouth opened.
Fortunately, it wasn’t some insolent remark like “Are you still my master?”
“He’s… he’s speaking!”
[Aldric’s favorability has increased.]
Aldric was practically on the verge of fainting. Even the most devoted fan wouldn’t react like this.
“I was born for this moment….”
I deliberately ignored Aldric and addressed Dercan.
“Is that all you can say?”
―Basic… communication. Possible.
“Oh!”
I let out a light exclamation. Dercan, who had barely managed single words before, was now constructing actual sentences.
“Try reciting the alphabet.”
―A, B, C, D… E, F, G.
“Oh. Oh oh oh oh!”
That last exclamation came from Aldric, not me. I decided to ignore the rising favorability notification that appeared once again.
“Excellent. Just a bit more development and you’ll be perfect.”
―Thank… you.
“Krrgh!”
“Could you please keep it down a bit?”
I finally spoke to Aldric with a hint of irritation. The progress was too slow, and I was hoping to lower his favorability even slightly.
“Yes, Master! Ah, I mean yes!”
Aldric showed no signs of his favorability dropping whatsoever.
‘Why am I his master anyway?’
I wasn’t into being called “master” by men, so I shook my head.
“Alright then… how about we spar for a bit? I want to assess your physical capabilities too.”
Dercan’s appearance and linguistic development were improvements, but the real measure was combat ability.
This was where things truly mattered.
―Whoosh….
No words were needed between us.
After all, I wouldn’t be talking when fighting monsters either.
―Thud.
―Boom.
The moment we both kicked off the ground and charged toward each other.
―Screech.
The sound of the building door opening echoed through the space.
“I heard some commotion and came to check, but… there’s an outsider here.”
“H-Herman, Vice Commander!”
‘Vice Commander?’
“At your service!”
Aldric instinctively saluted at the sudden arrival of this high-ranking figure.
“Yes, you’re working hard. But what brings an outsider here?”
“Ah, this person has an introduction letter from Mullen!”
“From Mullen?”
Aldric immediately handed over the introduction letter. Herman examined it carefully before offering a greeting.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Herman, Vice Commander of the Iron Light Knight Order. Should I address you as… Stagnant Water?”
“Yes, nice to meet you. You can call me Stagnant Water.”
Moments like these made me regret choosing such a hastily-made nickname. At least the NPCs didn’t seem to care much about player names.
“That’s quite a peculiar name, indeed.”
“…”
Though it seemed the name itself had changed with the start of the new season.
“Ah, but that’s not what matters.”
Herman quickly refocused and finally revealed his true purpose.
“I happened to pass by and sensed something remarkable about your aura. So, if I may be so bold…”
―Ding!
[Title: Sudden Quest]
[Content: Spar with Herman.]
[Objective: Complete the sparring match.]
[Reward: Increased favorability with the NPC.]
“Would you be willing to show me a technique or two?”
I took a moment to assess the situation.
A fortress restructured around “Overlord.” The knight commander within it. And the Guard Soldier Aldric’s favorability that had been rising endlessly even without quests…
‘Can I even refuse this?’
For the first time since playing Evern Online, I found myself wanting to decline a quest.

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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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