The Skeleton's Stunning Transformation and the Sword of a Lifetime
Whoa! You know the skeleton! She's a mid-game boss monster who's absolutely freaking gorgeous.
The Founding Festival, which I'd vaguely heard about from the Northern Duke's family. It's this grand event commemorating the day the Empire was founded, sharing that glory with all the people... or so they say. But in my past life, I saw it as a kind of "fever time" where all the best characters showed up.
A limited event where awesome characters poured out in droves.
And who runs the Founding Festival? The imperial family, sitting at the top of this world, right? So it's a huge deal where not just the Northern Duke family, but all the ducal houses from east, west, and south gather.
More than that, it's the central hub where mercenaries and playable characters flock together, making it the perfect chance to snag some high-stat party members.
Man, thinking back... I kinda miss it.
Not that I miss the days when I experienced this world as a game, of course. Back then, I lived off subsidies and had to hide my gaming from the local thugs. No real connections around me—my deadbeat parents had run off in the night. Short and scrawny as I was, I got beat up everywhere I went, covered in bruises head to toe. Hell, I could've been friends with ants and still had room for more.
But things are different now!
Who's around me these days? The Hero, the Empire's strongest knight who practically built this world single-handedly. In other words, my mom.
With a mom like that, who'd dare pick a fight with me? Mess with me, and they'd taste something worse than hell.
"Hehe~"
Thinking about Mom made me giggle for no reason. She's so cool, so pretty, so reliable, so valiant, so strong, so proud-making—my amazing mom.
After dwelling on those trash heaps from my past life, picturing her lifted my mood right away.
I calmed my fluttering heart and plopped down on the bed, swinging my legs in the air.
Today wasn't about Mom, but the Founding Festival where all those mercenaries gathered—even if she was better than them!
...Still, that means a ton of incidents and accidents too...
I remembered some wise saying from my past life: when five humans get together, at least one's a piece of trash. Or something like that.
Anyway, even among the most righteous mercenaries, there's bound to be a rotten apple somewhere. With it being one of the Empire's biggest events, tons of commoners would crowd in, and hardliners rejecting peace between humans and monsters would definitely be mixed in...
...Suddenly, I'm getting scared.
Eh, whatever. It'll work out somehow. What kind of person is my mom? She could face down the Demon King and even a Reaper who reaps lives wholesale—and win.
...Sure, she ended up marrying that Demon King and having me, but still...
—Knock knock.
"Eek!"
Lost in my scattered thoughts, I jumped at the sudden light knock on the door.
"...Young Master Kael. Are you awake? It's Bellatrix."
"S-Skeleton...?"
"...I'm a lich. Not a skeleton. So, may I come in?"
"Whatever, you're still a skeleton!"
"...I'm coming in."
No sooner had she spoken than the door creaked open quietly.
There was the usual red robe and that massive staff she always carried. See? Hands are bony, face is skull. That's why I call her skeleton—what's the big deal?
A skeleton's a skeleton, duh.
"Hm."
The skeleton who entered my room lightly stroked her jawbone, tilting her skull slightly.
Clack, clatter.
The dry clashing sounds scratched at my ears. Every little movement sent that rattling noise grating inside my head. It felt even louder in the quiet room.
"Skeleton's super noisy..."
"Pardon? What do you—"
"Super noisy! Even moving makes that constant clack-clack! And why'd you come in? You're my teacher. Just teach me—that's your job. Now you're checking if I'm up too?"
"...Ahem."
The skeleton twitched her jaw like she was choosing her words, then let out a small fake cough.
"Even if the Patriarch ordered me to tutor you, Young Master Kael, it's not that extreme... The reason I came in now is—"
Mid-sentence, the skeleton started climbing onto the bed where I was sitting.
"Wh-What?! Why are you getting on?!"
"J-Just a moment... I have something to say, Young Master. Just for a bit—"
"I-I don't like monsters on my bed!"
"......"
Oh crap. I'd tried to soften it like Mom told me last time... but seeing the skeleton suddenly climb onto my bed, fresh from my past-life flashbacks, my raw emotions slipped out.
Hearing that, the skeleton froze for a second, then squeezed her eyes shut and climbed up anyway.
She knelt on the bed and shrugged off her robe.
"Uh...?"
Slowly, bony fingers undid the robe's knot.
—Whoosh...
The dark red fabric slid to the floor like liquid.
"Dr-Dress...?"
"A dress? How many times have I taught you that you wear dresses for outings? This is a proper tuxedo."
Black fabric with soft, layered frills. A gentle, flowing silhouette. It was a dress, no matter how you sliced it.
...Worn by a skeleton, it felt weird. That famous uncanny valley? Or how the scariest thing is the unknown...?
The uneasy mix of familiar and strange, that hard-to-describe sensation.
Spotting my expression, the skeleton bowed her head and let out a long sigh, raising a bony hand.
—Snap!
A crisp sound filled the air.
The rattling stopped echoing in my eardrums. Instead, a resonant hum of mana spread like a gentle pulse.
And then.
—Shimmer...
The skeleton's skull began to take on color.
Flesh formed bit by bit, like cells from a book knitting together. Muscles layered on, skin covered them, and a human tone emerged.
Eyes settled into place as if they'd always been there, and at the faint heartbeat echoing in my ears, mine widened round.
"...Is this better...? Sigh..."
"Uh, u-uh...?"
Slowly, the... hu... what do I even call her...?
Her hand—the one spot unchanged by the magic—gently brushed my cheek.
"Pl-Please, say something... I've reconstructed my long-rotted human flesh, but... your thoughts?"
"...Su-Super pretty..."
"...I-Is that so..."
Eyes awkwardly averting. Cheeks faintly flushing.
"Sigh... This is more awkward and embarrassing than I thought. I've manifested the body from my human days, about 200 years ago. Just for a moment..."
With that, gentle hands lifted me lightly.
She drew me close, cradling me snugly in her arms.
"Eep...!"
"Th-This... Various papers say holding a child like this aids emotional bonding. Literature often shows beautiful men cradling kids for comfort too..."
Her hand softly pressed my head, tilting it into the open expanse of her chest.
No smell at all... Just super clean.
I'd braced for corpse rot since she was always a skeleton, but only fresh soap scent wafted.
And... not warm.
But not cold either. Strangely refreshing, even hugged tight.
"Of-Of course, no studies show a child calming in the arms of a huge-chested human-like figure, but... maybe it works...?"
"...Nice..."
"Pardon?"
"Super comfy... So soft... Fluffy..."
"Eh? Really? No research confirms comfort from a human embrace..."
I burrowed deeper, squirming.
Pressed my face into the cool, plush flesh.
"Skeleton... So cool... Love it... Keep hugging..."
"...The effect is... remarkable."
The skeleton murmured, moving her hand as if noting it somewhere unseen.
"...This data must be preserved."
......
"What? The skeleton's my bodyguard?"
"Yes, that's the arrangement."
"Why?"
At my short question, she bowed her head slightly and replied calmly.
"The Patriarch ordered me to stay by your side and guard you during the Founding Festival. Few monsters in this estate surpass me in combat power... And the Dullahan's busy as head butler managing the house."
"So..."
I mumbled, nestling deeper into her arms.
"He picked you 'cause you teach me and know lots?"
"You understand well. I'm proud to have taught you."
She nodded, pleased at my answer.
I snickered and spoiled even more, wriggling in.
Not warm or fragrant, but the cool cleanliness was refreshing in its own way.
As I burrowed, she coughed lightly and stroked my head gently.
Her touch still awkward, but no rejection.
"...And why still call me 'skeleton'? Even in human form."
"Skeleton feels right and cozy! Arms are still bones anyway. I like calling you that. Hehe~"
"So... that's why you've called me that all along?"
"Yup! Bellatrix is too hard... Lich is just your species. Skeleton's easier and better!"
"...I see..."
She made a poignant face, discreetly wiping a tear from her eye.
Looking touched. Curious, I tilted my head.
"Skeleton seems used to this? Petting heads. Did you have family back when you were human?"
"...I died a virgin spinster."
"...Miaw..."
I lisped on purpose.
"...It's fine. Now I have you, Young Master."
Short reply, but her stroking grew subtly softer.
......
And so the Founding Festival arrived.
But get this—I'm the protagonist?
The problem is...
"Choose a sword, Yeong-sik. Choose the sword that will guard you for life."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The Emperor's sudden voice telling me to pick a sword.
And three female knights staring intently at me...
Pick a sword? A person?
...How do I even...?