Chapter 15 · 9 min

Chapter 15

No, it was still too early to be certain.

A swordsman with silver hair and indifferent eyes.

In this vast fantasy world, surely there couldn't be only one or two swordsmen with silver hair and indifferent eyes. There could easily be silver-haired mercenaries among the common rabble on the streets.

'I can't start getting self-absorbed already.'

But what if, just what if, that silver-haired swordsman really was my original character?

What if the empty shell left behind after its soul departed was slaughtering monsters as though the system had activated some kind of automatic hunting macro?

'...I need to gather more information.'

Just as my thoughts began spiraling, a red notification flashed at the edge of my vision.

'Oh, shit. I zoned out and lost a ton of time.'

I had no desire to put on a magic show in the middle of the tavern where my skin and flesh melted away and turned me into a skeleton.

I left the tavern and hurried through the nighttime streets.

Passing through the desolate road bathed in moonlight, I headed toward the inn building Rena had arranged for me.

But I spotted familiar red hair at the inn entrance.

"Arcanus."

It was Rena. She had been standing guard in front of the inn with her arms crossed, and approached the moment she saw me.

"Where are you coming from at this hour?"

Her tone wasn't suspicious, but her characteristically sharp eyes swept over my appearance. I forced myself to give her a relaxed smile.

"Ah, the night breeze was rather pleasant, so I went for a short walk. I thought I'd take in the atmosphere of an unfamiliar town as well."

"...I see. You must be tired, so don't push yourself. Your room is at the end of the second floor."

"Thanks. See you tomorrow."

Cold sweat ran down my back.

I climbed the stairs as naturally as possible and entered the room at the end of the second floor.

Click.

The moment I closed the door and locked it, the timer before my eyes hit zero.

[Polymorph mimicry has been dispelled.]

FWOOSH-.

The warmth that had enveloped my entire body dispersed like smoke.

The firm muscles and skin that had covered me only moments ago vanished like an illusion, and the chilly night air once again passed freely through my empty rib cage.

I collapsed awkwardly onto the bed.

Clatter.

'Phew...'

That was close.

Since I had no lungs, even the sound of a sigh was replaced by the clacking of my jaw joints.

I rummaged through my leather pouch and pulled out the remaining Polymorph Reagent.

Purple liquid sloshed inside.

'Only one bottle left now.'

Not even enough to last through tomorrow.

If I wanted to keep pretending to be human while gathering information, I'd need a permanent polymorph—or at the very least, I'd have to make the reagent myself.

And so, the next morning.

With tears in my heart, I poured the last remaining bottle of reagent down my throat.

Once again covered in the warm flesh of a human, I went down to the first-floor dining room. Rena was already there eating.

"Did you rest well?"

When I sat in the seat Rena offered, a steaming meat stew was served.

Driven by the determination to enjoy myself like crazy while I still had internal organs, I tore bread apart, dipped it deep into the stew, and ate while talking with her.

"About what you said yesterday regarding the monsters becoming more ferocious. Do you have any idea what might be causing it?"

At my question, Rena set down the spoon she'd been stirring her stew with. Deep fatigue passed across her face.

"You've heard the name Calcion, the 'Lord of Immortality,' haven't you?"

'Calcion.'

Of course I knew him. He was the bastard whose head I'd personally smashed in <Dungeon and Empire>.

"The Undead Lord. The one defeated by the Hero three years ago?"

"Right. His remnants are still crawling around this region. One of them built a stronghold called the 'Tower of White Bones' in the nearby forest and has been churning out monsters."

My chewing stopped for a moment.

The Tower of White Bones.

That had to be old man Malach's base.

"Then why not simply attack the tower?"

"Easier said than done. We've sent scouting parties three times, but every time they got lost and returned empty-handed. Once, half the search party even came back insane."

"Oh dear. Sounds like some kind of disruption magic has been placed there."

Even aside from the Tower of White Bones, that forest had been infamous in the game for its irritating gimmicks. There were even swamps that made you lose your sense of direction and see hallucinations.

"Exactly! The entire forest is practically turning into one gigantic labyrinth. No matter what we do, we can't pinpoint the tower's location...!"

Rena slammed her fist onto the table in frustration.

But a peculiar smile was spreading across my lips.

[Forced Command: Move to the Tower of White Bones]

- Details: Move to the laboratory of the Necromancer 'Malach', the Tower of White Bones.

- Time Limit: 24 hours

- Failure: Forced Annihilation

[Forced Command: Move to the Tower of White Bones]

...

That annoying command was still sitting in the corner of my status window.

'That old bastard keeps sending notifications without getting tired of it, and it was starting to piss me off.'

I'd continued ignoring the command, but there was still a strange pull remaining, and it felt like I'd find the tower if I simply followed it. I restrained the corners of my mouth from rising and spoke calmly.

"I picked up some knowledge about breaking illusion magic during my travels. If you want, I could help you find that tower."

_____________

"I'll take a look around the forest for a while. I've wandered for a long time, so I'm quite good at finding my way."

"It'll be dangerous. I appreciate the help, but don't push yourself."

SPLAT! SLASH!

"GWEEEK!"

The slime habitat deep inside the [Echoing Cave].

I had come straight here and was swinging my bastard sword around, cutting down every Chameleon Slime I came across.

[You have defeated Chameleon Slime(Lv.5).]

[Your level has increased.]

[You have become Hybrid Skeleton Soldier Lv.6.]

Along with the refreshing sensation of leveling up, my pouch grew heavy with slime mucus.

'She really was such a pushover... no, such a kind person.'

After promising Rena that I'd locate the 'Tower of White Bones,' I managed to get a large supply of mana catalysts from her.

They were expensive enough that the mercenary company's quartermaster's pupils practically trembled, but apparently it was repayment for what I'd done yesterday.

Seeing Rena's sharp eyes shining with trust toward me made me feel a little guilty...

'Well, I really am going to find the tower. I have business there too.'

So I decided to collect the mucus with a clear conscience.

I also made sure to obtain the beginner-grade unique item [Abyssal Mucus Sac] from the 'Dark Slime' in this [Echoing Cave].

It wasn't very large, but it was still a useful item that could substitute for a dimensional storage pouch.

'I'll put this inside the leather pouch and use it to expand the storage space.'

After cutting down a few more slimes, I settled into a corner of the cave and mixed the ingredients according to Arcanus's recipe.

After mixing slime mucus with the mana catalyst, I drew mana from the [Guardian Golem's Mana Core] in my chest.

HUMMM-.

The core's remaining mana dropped sharply for a moment, but thanks to its dual-core structure, I still had plenty to spare.

Before long, five bottles of sloshing purple Polymorph Reagent were complete.

'Phew, I won't have to worry about disguise potions for a while.'

I patted my now reassuringly full leather pouch and left the cave.

On the way back, I changed direction and headed toward the 'Tower of White Bones.'

I wanted to check it out in advance before telling Rena the route.

When I reached the boundary of the disruption field, an ominous, dense fog blocked my vision just as Rena had said. It was a typical disruption spell that caused one to lose their sense of direction.

But I had the [Forced Command] navigation system.

Before long, the silhouette of a bizarre tower rose above the middle of the forest.

And from the top of the tower came the pulse of dark, ominous mana.

That had to be the Necromancer Malach.

'Information. Give me information.'

Since I was already here, I tried probing it obsessively with [Precise Observation].

"..."

As expected, I couldn't see anything. Looks like this distance really was too much.

But one thing was certain: something felt strange. The mana was unstable, trembling precariously like a patient on the verge of death.

'He seemed perfectly fine when I met him last time.'

I licked my lips and scanned the undead army guarding the tower.

Dozens of skeletons and zombies swarmed around, but most of them were worthless trash mobs below level 5. And among those weaklings, one enormous frame stood out conspicuously.

A massive rib cage, with bones as thick as logs.

And carefully tucked at its waist was the arm bone of an Orc Warrior.

[Orc Skeleton(Lv.10)]

'You're alive!'

Good to see you, buddy.

You look strangely bigger. Well, I suppose that's natural since you've gained two levels since we parted.

I'll have to pull him out beforehand so he doesn't get caught up in the attack.

With light steps, I turned back toward the frontier city.

_______________

Clatter. Clunk.

The Orc Skeleton's large bones rubbed together, making dull, heavy sounds.

The faint blue flames flickering inside its empty eye sockets trembled precariously like candlelight before a fierce wind.

'...'

A tiny, fragmented will to return to somewhere precious.

Whenever it touched the sturdy bone hanging at its waist, something like a fleeting warmth passed through it, but only for a moment.

- Come. My reasonably

useful

toy.

A chilling, absolute voice pierced through the inside of its skull.

It was the summons of the Necromancer Malach.

The moment that voice reached its mind, the faint blue light of self-awareness barely holding on inside the Orc Skeleton's eye sockets was swallowed by murky black mana and gradually faded.

CREEEAK.

With its own will draining away like the receding tide, only blind obedience remained within the body.

The rough finger bones that had been about to protectively grasp the bone at its waist fell limply through the air.

THUD. THUD.

Its legs began moving regardless of its own will.

No emotion or thought arose.

Dragging its grotesquely creaking joints along, it mechanically walked toward Malach's laboratory, from which sinister mana poured forth.

The Skeleton Soldier Is Good at Replacing Bones

Author:

Metdoyo

Publisher:

Jakga Dabang

Publishing Registration:

No. 2025-000022

Address:

3rd Floor, 50-9 Myeongmul-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Telephone:

02-313-7388

Email:

info@jakgadabang.com

ISBN/UCI:

G720:N+A475-20261015075

Publication Date:

October 23, 2026

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