Bone Tomb
I wasn't the only one taken aback by the lizardmen's sudden shift in attitude.
"El... Elder?!"
The burly lizardman who'd drawn his blade first upon spotting me was now staring in shock at the elder prostrated flat on the ground.
"Kran. This is no one we can fight. Show your respects at once!"
The elder's judgment was spot-on—the best choice for survival. And truthfully, I had the power to wipe out everyone here.
But what made him grovel like that without even testing me? Puzzled, I followed his gaze downward.
The gleaming red sword in my hand. The Drake Soul Sword.
Come to think of it, he'd called me Dragon Slayer the moment he saw me. He must've mistaken me for some powerhouse capable of slaying a drake, judging by the blade. Never mind whether I actually could—I was impressed by his snap decision.
To recognize the Drake Soul Sword at a glance? That was no ordinary insight. Or maybe he had some ability like mine to check info from afar. Either way, this guy was no pushover.
I activated Eye of Avarice to scan the elder.
Not a Star-chaser, at least. Shaman—some kind of alchemist equivalent? Definitely not your average lizardman.
A few others, glancing warily, finally dropped their weapons and flattened themselves as the elder commanded. That left only Kran standing tall.
"Why...!"
Kran trembled, gripping his weapon, his face twisted like he'd been betrayed.
Watching it unfold, I figured: not the power player here, huh? The elder, Ketilen, seemed to be the real leader. Kran felt more like a hot-blooded young vice-captain.
"What is it you desire, Dragon Slayer?"
Ketilen, sharp as ever, picked up on what I wanted and opened the negotiation.
"Lizardmen. Skulls."
Clack.
I had no beef with these guys. I just needed a few skulls for the quest.
Ketilen's eyes rolled in confusion before he asked again, "Our skulls, you mean? How many would you require...?"
"Ten."
The bare minimum for the evolution quest. There were over a hundred lizardmen here—ten was a steal. Just ten heads, nothing more, nothing less!
Ketilen broke into a cold sweat, then bolted upright as realization dawned. "Ah! If it's just bones you need, we have a separate tomb for our fallen kin! What if you took skulls from there...?"
A cautious proposal. I mulled it over. They weren't hostile—hell, they were bending over backward to cooperate. No need to pick a fight in this situation. I needed to get back to the dungeon ASAP and plan countermeasures against that hero.
Wasting time brawling wasn't on the agenda.
"Lead the way."
Clack.
I nodded, accepting his offer.
"This way, please!"
Relieved at avoiding needless bloodshed, Ketilen gleefully guided me inward.
We slogged through the sticky swamp to a modest village.
"This is our village."
The lizardmen settlement was cleaner than expected. Nests built high in swamp trees showed impressive craftsmanship. Smarter than I thought—way more civilized than goblin hordes or trolls.
No wonder they sensed defeat against a skeleton like me and opted for talk. Intelligent enough to qualify as sentient.
"The graveyard is this way."
Tucked away from the living quarters was a massive pile of bones.
So many bones! My pulse raced at the sight of the pristine white lizardmen skeletons stacked high.
Does that work too? I rushed to the bone mound, digging frantically.
Would you like to use the skill re:bone?
Bingo!
Gluttony has activated.
Avarice surged endlessly as my eyes gleamed.
*
The skill re:bone's skill level has increased.
「re:bone lv. 4」
Absorb faint soul essence lingering in bones. Replace specific bones to inherit special abilities.
Currently inheritable parts: Right Shin, Left Wrist, Ribcage, Right Wrist
The welcome chime rang out.
Now the right wrist was available. That meant a new skill!
Plenty more bones left unchecked. I kept excavating wildly, leveling up the skill again amid the frenzy.
"...?"
What's that?
Something in my peripheral caught my eye. I set down the bone, stood abruptly, and approached as if drawn by a spell.
"Ah, this is a special chamber for our great warriors' remains," Ketilen said softly, still hovering nearby.
Great warriors' remains? I stared at the massive door before me.
In the heart of the swampy mire, embedded in a towering tree trunk. According to Ketilen, higher-caliber lizardmen lay within.
Right—the evolution condition mentioned that higher soul essence value in skulls led to greater evolutions. I'd planned to grab any old skulls, but plans changed.
I placed my hand on the door to enter.
"Please wait. Only the qualified may enter—"
Creeeak.
"...Huh?"
"?"
A light push, and it swung open effortlessly.
It just... opened? Ketilen, watching dumbfounded, blurted in shock.
"How in the world...?"
Ignoring his stunned state, I stepped inside.
The interior was surprisingly mundane. Skulls more intact than the outer pile.
The skull of a lizardman who achieved great feats alone.
Mostly similar. Each had slight title variations. Some stood out as special.
A king's skull, surely something special.
I gathered all the King Lizardman skulls, lining ten-plus at my feet.
Would you like to begin evolution?
The long-awaited message appeared. Might as well wrap it up quick!
No hesitation—I nodded.
Crack! I felt my body changing, excitement making my jaw clack.
"Clack!"
In the cluttered heart of Sloth's dungeon.
"Yaaawn..."
Seeria, one of the 12 Lords and bearer of the Sloth Star, let out a lazy yawn.
Didn't want to do a thing. Just melt into the bed forever.
Savoring her profound apathy, a knock shattered the silence in her quiet chamber.
Knock knock.
"May I enter?"
"Sure, granted."
Her voice, languid enough to sap one's will just hearing it, gave permission. Someone entered slowly.
"So, Lishid. Met the Gluttony Star yet?"
The vampire Lishid who'd visited Chiron's dungeon. Seeria bombarded him with questions the moment he bowed politely.
"How was it? Another flop human?"
Gluttony Stars usually went to humans—greedy ones chasing vain ideals fit the sin perfectly. She assumed this one was too.
But.
"This time, the Gluttony's master was a skeleton."
Her expectation shattered spectacularly.
A skeleton? She'd figured a human for sure. Who'd think a destitute bony husk claimed the new Star?
"Hmm...? Fits pretty well, actually?"
Endlessly craving life, dreaming of flesh. A deficient skeleton suited Gluttony, in a way, Seeria mused.
Change after centuries. Maybe nothing major, but perhaps the one to alter this world hurtling toward doom had arrived.
Seeria felt intrigue stir after ages.
"Wanna meet 'em."
"I'll arrange it."
Curiosity enough to stir even her sloth. As she sipped crimson wine, a seductive smile curved her languid lips.