The Skeleton Soldier Failed to Defend the Dungeon
Chapter 76: Youll Be Able to Do Something Fun (2)

Chapter 76: You'll Be Able to Do Something Fun (2)

"..."

I came back to life. The darkness in my vision faded, and the thick smoke of the signal flares and the blood-red full moon were gone. The dozens of beasts that had surrounded me vanished as well.

Massive cave walls separated me from the rest of the world. I glanced around—the surroundings were silent and still. Rena lay asleep on a blanket, just as she always did.

So, I'm here again.

My bones clattered as I moved once more. My armor and sword were intact. I wasn't surprised because I'd grown used to this looping world.

How many times now? Seven? Eight?

I died at the hands of the hero. I died three times in a row to the hunters with the hammer and crossbow. I died to a troll. I died to the man in the Blue Armor. I melted to death in the flame. And lastly, I was killed by the T&T officers serving Purson.

And here I was again.

It felt long this time.

My last life had been relatively long. Not only long, but eventful. I had roamed dungeons without rest. The number of bandits and human adventurers I dealt with easily exceeded double digits. I had even ventured into Erast and participated in a tournament hosted by the lord.

There had been no danger. Everything had gone smoothly. I had grown quickly and steadily by handling each task as it came. All thanks to the Slime. Or rather, the perfect backup provided by T&T. But I couldn't risk getting involved with them again.

That's not an option.

After all, it was that same Slime that killed me in my previous life. It had seeped through my armor, melting my skull and leg bones like snowflakes under sunlight. The sensation was less humiliating than it was overwhelming. My body involuntarily flinched at the memory.

The Slime, who claimed to care for human children, had scrutinized me from the beginning.

Clatter.

I shook my head. The inner circle of T&T to which the Slime belonged—it killed those who refuse their recruitment. Perhaps accepting the mark would have been different, but I refused. Getting involved with them was dangerous.

Would it have been better if I'd listened to Rena?

They mightn't have paid us much attention if I had fled as she suggested. The war would have started soon, and they would have focused all their efforts on intensifying it. Rena warned me repeatedly that her gut told her it would end badly. I knew her instincts were rarely wrong. Going to that place was a form of suicide. It was a joint suicide that forced her into my reckless decisions.

Deep down, I may have already known. Not just me, but Rena would die as well. Yet, seeking new experiences, I threw myself into a death trap. And I dragged her along with me.

It was a cruel act. Even if I died, I always came back alive. There was a clear continuity between the version of me that died to the Slime and the me that standed here now. Time fragments, but existence remained the same. My memories, sense of self, and even my abilities carried over. Strength, Agility, Health, Wisdom—every skill I possessed is intact.

But Rena was different. The Rena, paralyzed by the deer's magic, melted by the Slime and left only a jade necklace behind... she was gone. That Rena from that world was truly dead. She could no longer be found anywhere.

...

Guilt wrapped around me. A belated whip of self-reproach. And yet, shamelessly—

Ding!

The cheerful sound effect was as jarring as ever.

[Succession Complete!]

[Name: None

Skeleton Soldier Lv.1 (120)

Health: 53

Strength: 55

Agility: 55

Wisdom: 28]

My stats are still the same.

The level had reset to 1, but these weren't stats one could have at Lv 1. Health, Strength, and Agility were all over 50. Moreover, I could level up to 30 in no time. Objectively, these were extraordinary stats. Taking down small fries, bandits, or D-rank adventurers would be easy.

But...

I sighed internally.

Even with stats like these, could I handle Werewolf Valdorf? Resist the magic of Deer Aezar? Could I do anything against the Blue Armor, who split me in two with a casual swing of its sheath?

I shook my head, speechless. I pulled up the skill window that displayed my skills and perks. Swordsmanship and Sprint were my skills, nothing else. The perks were Flame Resistance and Pierce Resistance. My Insight was E-rank, a completely useless level.

I swiped the window away. Another window appeared instantly as if impatiently waiting to be reviewed.

[Death Memorial

— You have achieved your seventh death since succession!

1. Necromancer's Lover

2. Blunt Weapon Resistance

3. Skull Resistance

4. Flame Resistance

5. Acid Resistance (New!)

— You melted in a superacid that defies normal calculations. Your body will now instinctively neutralize acid upon contact.

— Acid Resistance increased by 20. But this much won't save you!]

Acid Resistance, huh?

I planned to avoid the slime anyway, so I wouldn't have to fight it. There was no need to invest in Acid Resistance. Besides, twenty points of resistance wouldn't be enough to make me think I could resist it either. Before I could consider the fifth option further, another message appeared.

Ding!

[Perk automatically selected!

Necromancer's Lover: This hero-level perk will be enforced until another one is activated.]

This affinity perk was forcibly equipped from the Death Memorial list. It seemed I would remain stuck with it until I unlocked other perks.

Do I have to keep dying in different ways?That may be the only way to unlock new perks.

I had no particular grievance against Necromancer's Lover, but it just seemed impractical. The perk greatly increased necromancers' affinity toward me and slightly boosts their necromancy proficiency. The perk was useless because I planned to act alone in this life.

I'll just help Rena grow a bit more, then leave her behind as soon as she's independent.

With that in mind, I opened Rena's status window.

Ding!

Huh?

Something was different. Unfamiliar messages hovered over Rena's name.

[Assimilation rate: 88.119%

Scenario is in progress.

Initial bonuses applied for achieving Affection (60).

Initial bonuses applied for achieving Level (30).]

Bonuses?

I scrolled down.

[Name: Rena

Affection: 11

Affection Cap: 60 (+)

Thief Lv.5

Trickster Lv.1 (+)

Hunter Lv.1 (+)]

Health: 21 (+)

Strength: 19 (+)

Agility: 25 (+)

Wisdom: 19 (+)]

[Enhancable traits:

— Exceptional Dexterity: Can wield most weapons. Even entirely new ones become familiar after just a few uses.

— Criminal Affinity: She rejects human morality entirely. She doesn't hesitate to stab, rob, or deceive. She plants drugs on guards and sets fire to the lord's castle.]

She's changed, hasn't she?

Her stats weren't the same as before. I carefully analyzed them, one by one. Compared to when I first saw her, her stats had increased by 32 points. A message appeared and stated that bonuses had been applied to her basic skills, perks, and titles. However, perhaps due to her still-low affection level, I wasn't able to view the detailed breakdown.

I stared fixedly at the line:

[Assimilation Rate: 88.119%]

As I watched, the last digit flickered and changed.

[Assimilation Rate: 88.118%]

As I kept staring, the number dropped from 8 to 7.

[Assimilation Rate: 88.117%]

It felt like I might be suffering from some kind of nervous breakdown, but I wondered how bones and a body devoid of flesh and muscle could weaken. Maybe this world had always been this chaotic and nonsensical.

Just then, another message popped up.

Ding!

[Assimilation Rate has decreased!

Assimilation Rate: 87.75%]

A wave of nausea and dizziness swept over me.

Clatter!

I shook my head. Looking at Rena again, I noticed the message about her traits being enhanced. Her Criminal Affinity trait was almost laughable, but the Exceptional Dexterity trait seemed genuinely useful.

At least that's something.

Better this than her stats and skills staying stagnant.

Thud, thud.

I slowly walked around and noticed two books by Kevin Ashton nearby.

Rustle.

I thought about increasing my Wisdom, so I opened one of the books. However, I couldn't focus. There was too much information flooding my mind from dying and coming back to life again. I closed the book.

At that moment, Rena yawned and sat up. "Huuaahhh..."

Tears gathered slightly in the corners of her sleepy eyes. I stared at those eyes for a moment.

"..."

For a brief moment, our gazes met.

She spoke first. "I had a strange... dream."

Her voice was hazy, dreamlike. She'd never said anything like this before. Not once had she ever mentioned dreams.

What could've influenced this?

Perhaps it was related to the initial bonuses granted by achieving a certain Affection level. I could only guess.

I asked her, "You had a dream?"

Rena slowly nodded. "Just... a strange dream."

She didn't elaborate further. Though her expression was dazed, her demeanor was firm. I couldn't press her for more.

"Mmnnnnngh..."

Her expression shifted. Suddenly, she became more alert and stretched, twisting and extending her arms and legs. A series of cracks came from her joints. Rena reached into her chest pocket and handed something to me. It was a small pendant on a string.

"Here..."

It was her mother's pendant.

"A token of trust?"

Rena tilted her head in confusion. "Huh? How did you know?"

"Just a guess. I'll accept it."

I took the pendant and immediately hung it around my neck because I wanted to.

Thud.

The worn, small ornament touched my bone, and a faint sense of nostalgia spread through me.

Rena watched me. "You're really putting it on? The jewel's fake, though."

"As long as the story behind it is real, it doesn't matter."

"A story?"

"You said it was a token of trust. It must have a meaning, right?"

Rena looked startled, and she blinked a few times.

A message appeared:

[Affection has increased by 3.]

Her current Affection was now 14, which felt odd to me.

Her Affection rose even when I didn't accept it before.

Rena was a strange girl filled with malice toward humans but oddly kind to me. I carefully tucked the faded cubic pendant under my armor. If I were to part ways with Rena, this pendant would be the only thing left to remember her by. Owning a small keepsake wasn't a bad idea.

I resolutely said, "We're splitting up here."

She looked confused. "What?"

I continued explaining on my own. "You'll head to Yublam..."

I recounted to Rena everything about the dungeons and quests I'd been through so far. I pointed out precise locations, dangers she might face in each dungeon, and methods for dealing with each dungeon boss.

I also mentioned places where human bandits had hidden their loot, which was revealed during quests. I explained every single detail.

"Huh?"

Rena's expression turned odd. "Why are you telling me all this? Can't we just go together?"

Clatter.

Feigning decisiveness, I shook my head. I'd sacrificed her far too much already. It was all because of me.

I declared, "I'm leaving."

Amid my sudden announcement, Rena grew more confused. "You're leaving?"

"Yes. We won't see each other again."

I considered warning her about the director but decided against it. Rena had good instincts. She could avoid danger on her own.

Warning her about the slime might only sow unnecessary doubt. Without me, Rena's chances of being recruited into T&T's inner circle might significantly decrease. After all, she was human.

I continued, "You'll be safe here for about two weeks. But don't stay longer than a month."

In a month, the Blue Armor would come. The smell of corpses always lingered around him, and I believed it was best to avoid him altogether.

"Two weeks... got it."

"You remember everything else, right?"

Rena nodded slightly, still looking bewildered. "Where... will we meet again? Are you really leaving?"

I simply replied, "There won't be another meeting."

"..."

"I'm sorry for keeping you tied down. Live well, and do what you want."

Whoosh!

I launched myself outside. For some reason, I felt embarrassed. I even activated Sprint to escape quickly. Rena's bewildered figure faded into the distance.

I kept repeating to myself, This is the right decision. This is the right....

I had to part ways with her here. I must continue to confront death and the unknown in this world. Getting further entangled with someone else would only lead to more pain. Even just witnessing their death was unbearable.

Moreover, when I returned, they wouldn't remember me. If things continued like this, my heart would gradually wear down.

Whoosh!

My feet pounded the ground hard, and the scenery sped by in a blur. I kept running for a while.

[Sprint duration has ended!]

This should be far enough.

Ten minutes later, the skill's effect ended. I stopped in my tracks, grabbed my skull with hands and fell into deep thought.

Where am I even going?

Driven by guilt over letting Rena die twice, I hastily separated from her. However, I had no plan or strategy. I simply left her behind. I'd already shared all the dungeons I knew with her. I couldn't go there myself. It could distort the timeline I'd set and ruin the gift I had prepared for her.

"..."

I stared blankly at my hands. Each held a book by Kevin Ashton. I must've grabbed them impulsively when I couldn't focus earlier.

I guess I should read these.

Reading books increased Wisdom. There was no downside to raising my Wisdom stat.

But reading outside feels strange....

I needed a quiet place. The Wraith dungeon would've been perfect, but I had just stormed out of there. After a brief hesitation, I decided on my destination.

I'll head there.

My target was the Barren Underground Tomb, an E-rank dungeon. It was the closest dungeon to the Ossuary of Wraiths.

The journey wouldn't take long. I recalled my visit during a previous life. The place had been entirely empty. For some reason, not even a single ant had inhabited that dungeon.

There weren't any torches, either.

However, I remembered the deepest chamber lined with faintly glowing gems. I began walking toward the Barren Underground Tomb.

Tap, tap.

I feel like that chamber would be the perfect place to read quietly.