Chapter 14
Richmond gave a low, amused laugh.
“I’ve known humans who feel extreme fear or disgust at moving skeletons.”
Gruev nodded in agreement.
“The humans I knew behaved the same. But Ariella… you’re different.”
“Exactly! You looked at skeletons and immediately thought of using them as soldiers.”
Was that the point? Ariella replied matter-of-factly:
“Gross or not, if things are falling apart, we use everything we can—living, dead, anything that helps guard the home.”
Richmond laughed heartily—as if that was a perfect philosophy.
“Living or dead… guard the home. Exactly! That motto speaks to me!”
Richmond, a form of undead himself, might have meant the “dead dogs” comment as a joke—but he didn’t particularly mind.
“I’m glad to meet someone who thinks like me again. But to answer your question—no, these skeletons can’t serve as permanent guards.”
“Why not?”
“They take time to summon. And they’ve been dead too long.”
Still, he said they could serve—or at least stay close—as temporary protection while Ariella traveled.
Ariella had many questions: how time since death affects magic, why zombies last longer than skeletons, what pros and cons are of undead soldiers, and why necromancy feels different.
Her mind raced with excitement, her lips moving with unspoken questions.
Sensing the moment, Richmond spoke gently:
“Would you like to learn this spell? Most humans fear it.”
“Yes, absolutely.”
But she quickly switched to pragmatism.
“Not yet. There’s other work I need to focus on now.”
Richmond nodded.
“If your determination remains, come back. But there will be a price.”
“A price?”
No free lessons, then?
Richmond’s tone deepened warmly:
“Even as the Demon King’s contractee, you can’t have this for nothing. This spell is the masterpiece of my life, my life and death’s worth of work.”
You could hear his pride and passion in those words.
As Ariella considered them, Richmond clasped his white-boned fingers together.
“When you’re ready and willing to pay the fee, we’ll begin.”
Ariella postponed questions about undead magic for later and left the lab.
Seeing the skeleton follow her, Phily shrank onto Ariella’s shoulder.
“Lady Ariella! W‑Weren’t you scared?”
“Scared?”
“Of… him!”
Ariella shared her thoughts on Richmond:
“Honestly, he was more logical and understanding than I expected.”
“…Huh?”
Phily’s face twisted in astonishment—as if she’d heard something unbelievable.
“What? Was that so shocking?”
“Yes… I’ve never heard anyone praise him before.”
In a lowered voice, Phily continued:
“Actually, people here fear him. Most avoid him entirely.”
“Really? Why?”
“The rumors are awful.”
Apparently, Richmond was rumored—quite frighteningly—to abduct and transform villagers into undead for fun.
Ariella didn’t believe it at first.
‘Would Ludwig really allow that? People would flee at the rumor alone.’
Still, she frowned slightly.
‘…He is a bit unreliable. Do his subordinates tiptoe around him?’
How did she end up in this doomed territory anyway?
She thought of Ludwig, then returned to Rhode’s words—just in time for Phily’s whisper:
“Even if you’re his contractee, you shouldn’t feel completely safe.”
“Why?”
“They say he came all this way because someone higher up—made them into undead, and got caught!”
“Is that so…”
Ariella let it slide.
‘Rumors always grow in the telling.’
If she played her cards right, she just might learn that fascinating spell — and maybe more.
Eager as ever, she asked:
“How much farther now?”
“Just across that river. Remember the bridge?”
“Which bridge?”
“The one that keeps collapsing. They were rebuilding it again when I was here last.”
That was maddening.
Bridges can’t just fall apart, even in her old kingdom. Without them, vital trade and travel would halt.
“How often has it collapsed?”
“The most recent was… right before the Demon King returned. Roughly a year ago.”
A year was still too short a rotation. Bridges aren’t built from toothpicks.
They passed a goblin-run construction site and detoured to a shallow river crossing.
“Over there—slimes!”
They arrived where slimes oozed about.
“You’re going to catch that?”
“Yes.”
Ariella looked at her four orc-skeleton guards.
‘Let’s test them.’
She ordered:
“Capture that slime.”
Silence. Not a single skeleton moved.
The library, Ariella, and even the skeletons were caught in awkward stillness.
Phily looked mortified, prompting Ariella to coax:
“Hey, skeleton squad?”
Silence.
“Skeletons!”
Still nothing.
‘Maybe they can’t hear. But Richmond’s voice worked just fine…’
She tried threats. No response.
Clearly, they’ll guard—but nothing else.
‘What counts as guarding? Will they follow only if I’m threatened?’
They needed more testing, but time was short. She glanced at the cloudy sky.
“Phily—did you say you know simple magic?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Then let’s catch them ourselves.”
“Okay…”
Phily murmured and focused.
Ariella watched in wonder. What kind of magic?
‘Interesting.’
It looked like something she read in grimoires.
“Hold!”
A magic net wove from Phily’s fingertips and wrapped around a slime.
But—
Wriggle. Wriggle. Swoosh!
The slime sensed danger and slipped through the net like water.
“Oh no!”
Phily gasped in dismay.
She tried again:
“Hold! Hold!”
The same happened.
‘She’s nice, but… not very skilled.’
The net had gaps and was too loose.
Ariella realized the flaw immediately.
‘She lacks finesse.’
Watching Phily struggle, Ariella decided to take over.
“Can I try?”
“Uh… yes…” Phily looked resigned.
Ariella hesitated before speaking the words—was this safe for Ludwig?
Richmond said Ariella’s magical vessel was massive—Demon King–level—but too much power might draw on Ludwig’s energy.
It happened once in panic.
This time, she controlled the power carefully.
Her fingertips twisted mana into complex shapes.
‘Not enough… refined…’
She had practiced subtle magic for years—like crafting tiny, delicate sculptures rather than giant statues.
Her ability was extraordinary—even she didn’t know how rare.
“Hold!”
As her magic formed a net, Phily gasped in awe.
