The Suspicious Man
The man's demeanor exuded more refinement than any being I'd ever encountered. His neatly tailored uniform added a touch of crisp elegance, and his long hair, combed back impeccably, showed not a single strand out of place. But the more polished he seemed, the more suspicious I grew. As some nameless ancient sage once squinted and warned: never trust a narrow-eyed schemer. He had that exact vibe—like he was hiding some ulterior motive. No, saying it with eyes wide open would just make him even more suspicious! It was stirring up prejudices I didn't even have before.
"Who?"
Clack?
I kept my guard up against this sudden intruder, still gripping the Drake Soul Sword tightly in one hand as I mentally sized him up.
One strike. Dead.
This distance was plenty. Roughly two steps separated us. He'd closed in completely defenseless.
"Greetings. Bearer of the Gluttony Star. I am Risid. Also one who inherits the glorious blood of the progenitors."
High level. Was his confidence born from that? Even now, feigning carelessness, maybe I should just decapitate him. But I held still.
In a world where Wanderers respawn endlessly, and in this dungeon where time crawls, a man with near-immortal flesh approaches without a hint of caution. No way he lacks self-protection. No, he definitely has something up his sleeve. Striking first would be too risky.
"Purpose."
Clack.
A curt warning: state your business, no fluff. Risid, who'd been spouting flowery nonsense, shut his mouth at my single word, then flashed a sly smile with those narrowed eyes.
"More taciturn than expected."
Taciturn? I just can't string words together long. Same difference, whatever!
"Purpose... Nothing grand, really. I was simply curious about the newly born Star."
Enemy or ally? He hadn't decided yet either. Hey, for a shady-looking guy, he's surprisingly honest. At least no open hostility—plenty of room for talk, we both figured.
"Boss! Sorry to interrupt, but you need to decide soon?"
The gnome foreman, who'd been blankly watching our exchange, suddenly piped up. Oh, right. We'd been discussing dungeon renovations. But I still hadn't picked a layout.
"Design plans would be ideal? The more precise, the higher the quality?"
Like building a house, he said blueprints were key for big projects. I gave an awkward shrug. Blueprints? As if I had any.
Risid, listening quietly, twinkled those sly eyes and smirked.
"Remodeling the dungeon? We happen to have a few dungeon-specific designs... Shall I fetch some for you?"
Tempting offer. But I latched onto what he'd said so casually: 'we.'
Monsters usually see themselves as lone operators. I was sure now. He belonged to someone. That overflowing confidence came from solid backing. And blueprints? He had to be some big shot. Lord-class, or close.
Arrogance or self-assurance? Leaning toward the latter.
"Price?"
Clack?
"Hahaha! None at all. Just a gift."
Clear goodwill. Guess Risid doesn't see me as a foe. For now.
"You seem busy, so I'll take my leave."
He pulled out a stack of blueprints from who-knows-where, handed them over, and bowed with elegant grace.
"Until next time."
Only after his presence fully vanished did I lower my guard.
"Trust him?"
I shrugged at Gular's question.
"No."
Clack.
Trust a total stranger? Not that naive. And a narrow-eyed vampire? Basic rule: suspect first.
Not that a skeleton like me should talk!
"Boss! You saved me!!"
A sudden commotion made me turn. What the—?
Dodging something, the gnome foreman scurried about. And chasing him?
"Guuuuh!!"
"Why's a ghoul here?!"
Karen. Drooling, she pursued with ferocious zeal.
"Ghouls' favorite food is probably gnomes."
What a coincidence. A gnome buffet right in front of her.
"H-Hiiik...!!"
Caught by Karen, the foreman trembled like prey in a predator's grasp. As she drooled and opened wide for a bite—
"Waaah—"
"Stop."
Clack.
I grabbed her arm.
"Guu...?"
Her eyes questioned why block her meal. I spoke again.
"No eating."
Clack.
I shook my head firmly. No way. Gnomes were vital for fixing my dungeon. Couldn't let their foreman get munched.
"Guu...."
I patted her sulky head to soothe her.
"S-Survived..."
Slathered in Karen's drool, he crawled on the floor, stroking his head frantically.
"Boss...!! Thank you for saving me!!"
Still shaking, he steadied himself into pro mode after deep breaths.
"Which blueprint for the dungeon?"
Risid's gifts split into two types, piled beside me.
"One goes up to 3 floors?"
One: tall tower-like. The other: deep underground like now.
I weighed pros and cons. Which made life comfier and Wanderers suffer more?
Underground: Gloomy! Depressing! Even for a sunless skeleton, being buried sucks.
But advantages: Forces straight down, no tricks. Traps and mazes? Perfect classic dungeon.
Tower: Vulnerable to siege. But the real perk? Romance. My towering spire piercing the sky. Irresistible.
"Towers are trendy these days?"
Visibility issue? Whatever—position's exposed anyway. Wanderers find it fine.
Short deliberation. Decision: easy.
Why hesitate? Tall it is! Romance and practicality. Build up! Time to be a landlord.
*
Thud! Boom! Thud! Boom! Rat-a-tat-tat!!
Leaving the gnomes' busy construction behind, I headed inward alone. Time to finish that search during the break.
Gripping the key from Torumo's treasure vault, I practically skipped to the Forgotten Shadow Underground, buzzing with excitement.
You have entered the special dungeon 'Forgotten Shadow Underground'.
Now an empty shell. Staring at Torumo's final map, I pondered. Third floor, roughly? Amateur sketch—lots of confusion.
But prior visit helped; map clicked in my head.
Deep in Greius's audience chamber: small rooms. Farthest right.
Confident, I descended. Past the second-floor lab. Greius's chamber again.
Still that eerie solitude, desolate air. Past the lonely stone throne to my goal.
Click!
Tense moment. Key turned smoothly.
Creeeak—!
The vault yawned open, overwhelming. Dazzling gems, gold coins. Mysterious weapons, jewels everywhere.
Jackpot!
But what first snagged my greedy eyes?
◈ A ferocious skull with a protruding jaw. Perfect for re:bone.
Front and center: savage lizard skull, snout jutting out. Self-explanatory.
But I couldn't look away. Like the Drake Soul Sword—maybe a way to use it?
Sure enough, touching it triggered:
re:bone skill reacts!
Compatible skill confirmed.
All evolution conditions met.
Attempt evolution?
Bingo.