Skeleton Knight, in Volume 6 - Ch 22

Translator: Silver Editor: Namorax

Hidden Deformities

The next day, the sun had yet to rise.

Since our numbers had increased so what, the cavalry kicked up more dew covered blades of grass as we continued northwards.

We numbered a hundred and fifty cavalryn

The hoof beats of so many horses kicked up quite a ruckus.

There was nary a hint of any travelers or peddlers on the road, so excluding us everything was rather quiet.

Ariane shuffled about behind

for a bit before freeing her ears from her gray cloak. Closing her eyes, she seed to be focusing on sothing.

Do you hear anything, Ariane-dono?

Shush!

When I looked over my shoulder and asked her a question, Ariane put a finger to her lips and shushed .

The highway was surrounded by a wooded area and nothing of ntion could be seen.

Sothings here!

The mont Ariane opened her mouth, an unidentified creature burst out of the bush near the front of the cavalryn.

Aaaggghhh!!

Wha-What is that thing!!!

Several cavalryn shouted as they were knocked off of their horses by the surprise attack, their horses following right behind them.

The enemy had appeared from blind spots in the woods as if theyd been waiting for us.

While they were humanoid in appearance, no one would ever confuse them with humans.

Bodies covered in dull, gray skin and attached to the ends of their arms were three sets of hands.

Their most notable features were the ones from their necks up.

What looked like a giant earthworm curled around their necks seed to be entrails that had been pulled through their throats, sohow pulsating as if they were still functional.

The creatures mouth looked like an opened sea anemone was fixed in the center of their face, however, I suddenly heard the sound of bones snapping as the creatures mouth shot out at one of the pinned down cavalryn.

Gyhaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

The cavalry man was dragged into the thicket in his final monts.

So of the cavalryn avoided being knocked over by maneuvering off of the highway, but more of the humanoids monsters were ready and waiting, digging into the horses sides the mont they entered the woods.

Fuck! Whats going on!?

Zahar unintentionally cursed as he watched the scene unfurl before his eyes.

Since the attackers had struck the cavalryn vanguard, Lille and her guards avoided any injury, the horses however were frozen in place by sheer terror.

The man I assud was the leader of the cavalry shouted orders in an attempt to reestablish order, but the worm-n continued to appear one after another.

Ariane-dono, do you know what those are?

I asked Ariane what they were, but she calmly shook her head.

Ive never seen them before but theyre definitely undead.

The stench of the dead has swept into this area

Ariane raised an eyebrow as she glanced over the zombie-like undead.

While Chio grimaced after taking in a whiff of the area.

Another new form of undead has appeared.

Assuming that these undead and the spider chiras shared the sa origins, then theyd been placed here to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the capital.

The situation had continued to deteriorate while Id been contemplating things.

Everyone, help our allies!! Use your spears to keep your distance!

Zahar began shouting directions at the guards behind him in the middle of this chaos. The guards took out two rods and attached them before connecting a blade to one end.

They seed to have detachable spears.

Not even a minute had passed since Zahars order, yet all of them had managed to assemble their spears.

The guards brandished their spears and charged forward with hearty battle cry.

I tightened my hold on Shidens and prepared to act, but Zahar turned around and yelled, Arc-dono, protect Princess Lille! before raising his own spear and charging forward.

I brought Shiden parallel to Nanas horse and saw that the Lille had turned pale at the sight of what was unfolding before us.

It was unavoidable, really.

Her eyes were bearing witness to true horror.

I felt a chill run down my spine as I watched a worm-mans mouth tear out a chunk of at from another cavalryman.

Ariane-dono, Chio-dono.

As I keep an eye on Lille the two of them leaped off of Shiden and drew their weapons.

Well leave the enemies around the capital for Arc.

Ariane raised her slender lion-motif sword as she joked around.

Infernal Fla, reduce all that you consu to ashes

After calmly funneling her magic into fire spirits a pale fla engulfed the blade of Arianes sword.

Ariane simultaneously took a running leap forward.

The hood of her gray cloak fell from her head as she began to engage with the worm-n.

The flas around her blade coiled like a serpent and rcilessly incinerated any worm-man they ca in contact with.

Water Style: Water Shuriken!!

Spheres of water appeared above Chios head and transford into shurikens once she finished her hand signs.

Through the air as Chio launched her water shurikens at the worm-n in-between Arianes sword swings.

The shurikens penetrated their targets with the sa force of a high-powered water cutter.

Kyun!

Watching the two fight seed to excite Ponta since she puffed up her tail and started to raise a gust of wind around herself, preparing to fly off

Its too dangerous this ti.

I gently grabbed Ponta by the scruff of her neck and told her to behave.

Since the opponents were surprisingly quick, especially the sections above their necks, Ponta would be devoured in no ti.

Kyun

Ignoring Pontas protest and her hind-legs sporadic kicking, I invoked Sword of Judgentagainst an approaching worm-man.

A magic formation appeared at the worm mans feet before the sword of light penetrated it through the chest.

The worm-mans body dissolved in a similar manner as the spider chira, but they also left behind a putrid stench.

While the sea anemone-like organ was capable of moving very quickly, the rest of the body couldnt keep up.

It wasnt that much of a threat as long you attacked between movent intervals.

In fact, the guards and cavalryn managed to turn the forrly hopeless situation around by having the cavalryn distract the monsters with their swords and letting the guards use their spears to attack the monsters bodies.

Of course, it was thanks to Arianes and Chios support that theyd been able to regroup so quickly.

While Id been observed to battle from atop Shiden, a group of worm-n managed to sneak up behind us however, their mouths couldnt get through the reddish scales of the dragon mount, so they were only sucking on thick hide.

Shiden was annoyed by this and knocked the worm-n down with a flick of his tail.

His tail was like a giant whip, crushing the worm-n without rcy.

Ugh, intense

When he was finished, their bodies had been reduced to lumps of ground at.

Next to us, Nina and Lille were looking at Shiden with bulging eyes.

Dragon mounts were like living armored vehicles.

I was starting to understand why the people of Tajiento built their wall, fearing the tiger tribe.

While I indulged in such thoughts, the worm-ns attack was brought to a swift end.

There was nothing special about them apart from their ugly appearance

Once the flas coiling around her sword died out, Ariane took a look around and shrugged her shoulders.

Their bodies were as soft as a regular persons. It would have been rather troubleso had they wore armor like the undead soldiers in Tajiento.

Chio voiced her agreent to Arianes statent while fixing her hat.

All of the cavalryn looked at them in utter amazent.

Well, I suppose I should heal the injured.

Once I confird that Lille was no longer in any danger, I began healing the n who had been injured in battle.

Its better to sell favors while you could.

Even though my motivation was steeped in self-interest, everyone showed

surprise and gratitude the mont they saw severe wounds vanish without a trace.

Id taken off my helt several tis throughout this trek, drinking the spring water to restore my dark elf form beforehand, so they were well aware of my status as an elf.

Having their lives saved or the Hiruku doctrine what would you choose in this situation?

Hmhmhm, I quite the scher.

As I was internally singing praises for myself, my eyes wandered into the undergrowth several cavalryn had been dragged into.

There were those I could do little for with this level of healing.

If one of the cavalryns arms had been eaten, so I used healing magic to stop the bleeding and restore the flesh around damaged section of the arm.

They lost an arm, but it was still better than dying.

However, there were still people that were impossible to treat.

Even if I used my resurrection magic on them, there was nothing I could do for those whod had large portions of their bodies devoured by the worm-n.

It was better than I didnt reveal resurrection magic in a place such as this anyway

In the aftermath of the attack, the death toll numbered to less than ten and only several n were crippled.

Im terribly sorry, Arc-dono. Would those monsters have been companions to the undead that besiege the capital?

Once she regained her composure, Lille showed her gratitude for healing the injured.

However, I also caught her muttering sothing to herself.

Her anxiety was hitting her hard.

Arc-dono, here.

Chio suddenly ca out of the thicket and held sothing up.

It was a bloodied dieval backpack.

There was a set of branches tied to the top of the pack, and the shoulder straps had been chewed through.

It probably belonged to soone that ca here to collect firewood.

Those who approach the capital were ambushed by those creatures

Chio had found the pack while searching for other cavalryn.

Hurry!

I looked back to find Lille riding with Nina, whose complexion was quickly deteriorating as she grasped her horses reins.

When she silently nodded at , I turned to Zahar.

Zahar nodded back and started handing out instructions to the scattered people.

Those who can no longer fight will stay behind! Five or six of the cavalryn will lead them back to the town from this morning! All others, prepare to set off after checking your equipnt!

Yes!!

Everyone began to fulfill their respective duties, separating the injured from those who would be advancing to the capital.

The smiles were wiped from the cavalryns faces as they scanned the surrounding area.

Those who hurried ahead carried a silent tension as the sound of hoof beats spread through the area.

Eventually, we broke through the woods and our speed declined as the road took on a gentle incline.

They were probably just cautious of another ambush, but the cavalry leaders horse ca to a near standstill when he reached the top of the hill.

The others, not wishing to crush into him, slowed down as well.

Lille realized sothing was wrong as she watched their strange behavior.

Nina! We have to hurry! The capital should be just beyond this hill!

The look on the guards faces caused the princess to turn around and urge her to guard forward.

In accordance with her plea, Zahar ordered the cavalryn to part ways, but the mbers of the princesss group simultaneously inhaled as they gazed at the scenery below.

Shiden.

Provoked by their strange behavior, I guided Shiden to Lilles side.

What.

One word leaked from my mouth as I viewed the sa scene as they had.