56: The Knight’s Spine
“Yes, it’s a bone,” Rebecca confirmed, answering my question.
“A dark elf’s spine… and a summoning device. Do you see the runes carved into it?”
Rebecca pointed with a slender finger, and indeed, runes were carved into each vertebra, following the curve of the spine.
“A summoning device?”
“Actually, I don’t know much about it. Eldritch-sama simply said, ‘Take this. It might be interesting.’”
So, that was the ‘perhaps.’
And Eldritch-sama is… that kind of person, huh?
Eldritch, Commander-in-Chief of the Undead Army, the Greater Wraith.
I hadn’t actually had a proper conversation with him. He must have been busy. The Undead Army had a wide range of duties, and a heavy workload.
The Undead Army was the largest in terms of sheer numbers. This was due to the fact that everyone, except demons, became undead upon death.
Not everyone became undead, and even the undead had a sort of lifespan, a limit to their existence. They could also be ‘killed.’ So, their numbers didn’t increase indefinitely.
However, dark knights, beastmen, and even civilians could be resurrected, and since the Listrea Demon Kingdom didn’t allow ‘stray undead,’ they were all incorporated into the Undead Army. And undead, as long as they were properly supplied with mana, had long ‘lifespans.’
Thus, the Fourth Army, the Undead Army, was a significant force.
If he hadn’t supported His Majesty’s decision, I might not have become a supreme commander.
And since I’d requested wraiths as part of my forces, I had a military connection with the Undead Army.
“Apparently, a veteran of the Undead Army is sealed within…”
The fact that he’d sent such a potentially ‘useful’ individual could be seen as a sign of support for both His Majesty and me.
That means I have high hopes for this… whoever is sealed in this summoning device.
“How does it work?”
“You should be able to summon them by holding it and calling their name. Introduce yourself and say, ‘Answer my summons.’”
“…Hmm.” I gently picked up the spine-shaped summoning device.
“—I am the Lord of Disease. Answer my summons.”
Nothing happened.
“I’ll say it again. I am the Lord of Disease, a supreme commander of the Demon King’s army. I have been entrusted with this summoning device by the Commander-in-Chief of the Undead Army. Answer my summons.”
I tried again, explaining the situation more clearly. But still, nothing happened.
Rebecca spoke hesitantly, “…Perhaps they only answer to those they recognize as their master.”
“Oh? So, they don’t recognize me as their master?”
“That would be the case.” Rebecca nodded.
I gripped the spine and brought it closer to my face.
“Alright, I’ll ask one last time. —Answer my summons. If you don’t, there will be… consequences.”
But still, nothing happened.
“…Can we assume there’s no response?”
“It seems so.” Rebecca nodded. I turned to Liz.
“Liz.”
“Yes?”
“Let’s use this to make stock for today’s soup.”
I offered her the… bone, formerly known as a summoning device.
“Wait, are we allowed to do that?”
“Hold on! Wait a minute! That’s a rare summoning item!”
“If it’s useless, then it’s just a bone.” I said coldly to Rebecca, who was looking increasingly desperate.
“…W-well, I don’t think that’s appropriate. Besides, who would drink that soup?”
“Naturally, since it’s a soup made with such a rare and high-quality ingredient, it’s only polite to offer it to my new, cute subordinate.” I smiled sweetly.
“Just to be clear, that subordinate… is me?”
“You’re learning, Rebecca. That’s right.”
Rebecca snatched the bone from my hand. She leaned closer, pleading.
“…Please! Please! Just answer the summons! She’s insane! She’ll actually do it! I’m not bluffing!”
“Such unwavering faith.”
“Even though we’ve just met. I’m so touched.”
“I think that’s a negative kind of faith…”
“It’s still faith.”
“Kukuku…”
A sudden burst of laughter echoed through the room. The bone in Rebecca’s hand vibrated, then floated into the air. Eerie blue-green flames, characteristic of the undead, engulfed the floating spine.
“I am Harken! Answering your summons!”
When the flames subsided, a skeleton stood before us. Yellowed human bones, clad in tattered chainmail with an exposed spine, a longsword and a dagger hanging at its hip. Over the chainmail, it wore the remnants of a surcoat, also tattered, bearing the emblem of the Listrea Demon Kingdom.
A skeleton.
A moving, human skeleton—or rather, a dark elf skeleton, since they’d said it was a dark elf’s spine.
That said, there was no skeletal difference between humans and dark elves. Things like ear length were irrelevant once you were reduced to bones.
“A rather… interesting master, aren’t you?” The skeleton, who’d introduced himself as Harken, rattled his jawbone, laughing.
“Thank you for answering my summons, Harken. Now, you’ve lost points for not responding immediately, and I’m afraid you’re still a candidate for garden fertilizer, guard dog treats, or soup stock. With that in mind, you may begin your excuses.”
“A mere test of my potential master’s character. If I hadn’t approved, I wouldn’t have minded becoming soup stock, fertilizer, or dog treats.”
“Oh? What about your knightly pride?”
“Feed that to the dogs. I am but a lowly undead, a summoned creature. My life and death are uncertain, so I’ve decided to live as interesting a life as possible.”
“You’re hired!”
I clapped my hands together.
“My new master seems quite reasonable.”
“Are you sure about this, Master?” Liz looked at Harken uneasily.
“It’ll be fine, it’ll be fine.”
“Based on what?”
“My gut feeling!”
“…Rebecca, do you think this is wise?”
“Don’t ask me. I’ve only just met her.”
“I doubt a supreme commander of the Undead Army would send someone dangerous.”
“That’s true, but…”
“We have a prime example of a dangerous supreme commander right here.” Rebecca, that was harsh. She seemed to have warmed up to me quickly.
“I’d like to get to know you all better. Any suggestions?”
“Hmm. While I lack the capacity for sexual desire, perhaps we could start by stripping that little necromancer naked?”
“And then drenching her in slimy ooze?”
“Precisely! You understand me perfectly, my master!”
“Want to join in?”
“While my gender is… fluid… I consider myself male, so I’ll refrain from gazing upon my master’s… unclothed form.”
“Alright. I have a demon named Samarkand. Could you join him on patrol? Be nice to him.”
“Understood. I’ll get to know my new colleague while we patrol.”
“…Liz, I think those two crazy people just hit it off.”
“I think so, too.”
“So, Rebecca, shall we… bond?”
“Sorry, I have a pressing engagement.”
“No, you don’t, Rebecca.” I grabbed her shoulder firmly.
“I’ve made you an offer to bond. —However, depending on the nature of this ‘pressing engagement,’ I might reconsider. Whether it’s work-related or personal, I’m willing to listen. I’m a very understanding superior.”
“I see. I’m glad to have such a kind superior. Then—” Rebecca smiled, relieved.
“Of course, bonding is important, so this is just a postponement.”
Rebecca’s smile froze.
“Now, tell me about this pressing engagement.”
Rebecca’s ears drooped slightly. She looked down, her voice dry.
“…It’s no longer pressing.”
“Alright, Liz, a little help here, for the sake of our shared gender. Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle.”
“W-what are you—”
“You know what~♪”
Rebecca’s face paled.
A little girl’s despairing face is so cute.
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