Skeleton Knight, in Volume 5 - Ch 1

Translator: Silver Editor: Namorax

New Problem

The Northern Continent, in a massive forest along the eastern tip.

Centuries ago, the elves escaped their human persecutors by fleeing into this vast forest. The elven village Raratoia was currently covered by the early morning mist, and few people were actually wake yet.

The mansion that sat in the center of the village differed greatly from the regular hos in Raratoia.

Glass windows had been cut into the tree-trunk below to the branches of an unbelievably large tree. The entire mansion was the fusion of a building and a tree, a fantastic example of the mysterious workings of this world, while also maintaining a welcoming atmosphere.

I had just woken up in one of the mansions rooms that had been provided for

and was now sitting on my comfortable bed.

The clothes I was wearing had unique elven patterns sewn into them, but since they had been wrapped around my skeletal body theyd ended up becoming a little disheveled.

When I glanced into the full body mirror in the corner of the room, I saw blue lights sitting in the eye sockets of a human skull.

Ive beco very familiar with this body ever since I ca to this world, but I still raised my hand and started making strange gestures just to confirm that it was really

I was looking at.

After that was done, I picked up the leather canteen of hot spring water I had placed next to my pillow the night before and began to drink from it.

The change in my body was almost instantaneous.

The skeleton I had been looking at in the mirror was replaced with a body that filled out the clothes when I drank the curse dispelling water.

The reflection of the strange looking skeleton was replaced with the visage of a browned-skinned, muscular man.

The man appeared to be in his mid-thirties and looked slightly Arabian with raven-black hair, a strong jaw, and stubble sprouting from his chin. However, the crimson eyes and the unnaturally long ears were not those of a human.

I started to move around to ease so of the stiffness in my shoulders.

Hmm, there doesnt seem to be any problems.

I made that comnt as I stood up in this still dark room.

There was a snoring, green fur ball lying on the bed whose tail fidgeted a bit when I stood up.

Pontas still asleep

The sixty-centiter small, fox-like animal had patches of skin between her fore- and hind legs that were similar to those of a flying squirrel. She had been my companion ever since I saved her shortly after coming to this world.

Her back was covered in light green fur with a white underbelly that extended to the center of her tail. There was no sign of her waking up as her mouth opened and closed.

The suit of armor that I always wore to hide my skeletal body and a two-handed bastard sword were sitting in a corner. I thought about changing but decided against it before leaving the room.

In this world, people woke with the rising sun, so the mansion was still quiet because the day had yet to begin.

I could hear the chirping of the birds that nested in the tree as I cautiously walked across the wooden floor.

I went down to the second floor and took a peek inside the dining room, but no one was there.

Well, I suppose it still too early

When I scratched my head while staring at the unlit stove, a voice called out to

from behind.

Youre quite an early riser today, Arc-kun.

When I looked back I saw a young dark elven won with shoulder-length, snow-white hair and golden eyes.

She looked puzzled as to why I was in the dining room and her arms were crossed under her ample bosom.

Oh, Glenys-dono.

She was the wife of Raratoias village elder and the acting elder while he was away on business.

I was surprised to see an unknown person walking about.

She giggled a little as she said that.

I usually walked around this place as a skeleton, believing that wandering around like that was bad for peoples hearts, but maybe shed grown used to it.

At this point, the cursed skeleton-look had started to beco _________Perhaps the cursed skeleton look was appealing in a broad sense.

Really? By the way, why are you up so early?

After looking up from my body when Glenys asked why I was up.

Oh, that. I was wondering if the crewn of the trade ship heading to the Fabunaha kingdom had given their permission yet? You could say it made

a little anxious

Glenys was startled for a mont by my reply before she shrugged her shoulders.

You do know that you cant gain permission from other villages in a single day? Do you really want to go to the Southern Continent that badly?

Her words made

feel like an elentary schooler that couldnt wait for an upcoming field trip, so I looked out a nearby window to hide my embarrassnt.

I could see that the morning sunlight was starting to peek through the early morning haze.

Huaa, good morning Its a bit early isnt it.

When I heard the voice of another woman, I looked in the direction of its origin.

The yawning woman that was rubbing her eyes as she entered the room looked similar to Glenys.

She had the sa snow-white hair, golden eyes and lilac skin as Glenys. Though her hair was longer, she greatly resembled her mother who was standing next to .

Her na was Ariane Glenys Maple.

She was a warrior from the forest capital Maple and Ive been in her care since shortly after I first ca to this world.

Good morning Ariane-dono.

When I greeted the still yawning Ariane, Glenys clapped her hands together as if she had just thought of sothing.

Since its gonna be a while until we hear anything about the trip to the Fabunaha kingdom and breakfast isnt ready yet, how about you help Arc-kun with his swordsmanship Ariane?

She turned towards Ariane with a smile on her face as she spoke.

Yeah, Id be really grateful if you could be my partner

After signing off on Glenys suggestion I also turned towards Ariane and waited for her reply.

My current body was that of my forr ga avatar and it still had the high stats I amassed from playing, but my lack of actual combat training ant that I moved rather monotonously in battle, so the last ti I sparred with Glenys I was utterly defeated.

I had outstanding power and speed, but I couldnt follow a curve ball or sothing like that.

While I doubted there were all that many people with her level of talent in the world, it would be for the best to beco more accustod to combat.

Ariane sighed a bit as she sleepily patted down her hair before she answered.

I see I dont want to work up too much of a sweat, but a light spar should be fine, right? Co on, Arc.

Ariane walked out of the dining room and gestured for

to follow.

I gave Glenys a slight nod and she sent

off with a big smile and a small wave.

After a bit of moving about, I stood in the mansions backyard, facing Ariane with a wooden sword in hand.

As a warrior from Maple, Arianes swordsmanship was obviously on a different level than my own.

Not to ntion that she had been receiving her mothers training for all her life, while Ive only just begun to develop my own fighting style.

While I wasnt yet at the stage where I could learn anything from sparring with Glenys, training with Ariane should make

a decent enough fighter.

Since I wasnt wearing the Holy Armor of Belenus today, my body felt light.

I tightened my hold on my wooden sword and quickly launched an attack at Ariane.

Id thought without my armor I would be able to gain the upper hand using my speed, but Ariane managed to sidestep my attack at the last second and proceeded to launch a counterattack.

Whoa!

I jerked my body to avoid the attack and tried to fall back and regroup before attacking Ariane again.

However, she didnt overlook such an opening.

With minimal movent, she managed to launch an unexpected thrust at .

Ah!?

I reflexively leaped back when I noticed her incoming attack.

I didnt intend to put so much power into the leap, but I realized that I was at least three ters away from Ariane.

In fact, when I looked back at Ariane I saw the dissatisfaction on her face as she stared at

with her sword lowered.

Hey, wasnt that dodge a little bit exaggerated?

Uh, sorry. Its just

I was still confused by my own actions but I apologized anyway.

Moving back towards Ariane, I resud a fighting stance.

This ti Ariane opened with an overhead strike, I managed to block the attack with my reflexes, but when I saw her sword heading toward the left side of my stomach after her fourth swing I haphazardly swung my sword around to block.

Ahh!?

Normally you block attacks like this with minimal movent. Why are you overextending yourself so much?

Ariane looked confused as she reviewed my unconvincing performance so far.

I wasnt trying to act any differently than I usually did, but my movents were rougher than normal.

After that, we went through the sa routine again and again, but it was only after the effects of the spring water had worn off did my movents improved.

It seems that sothings wrong with your true body, want to stop for today?

Shaking my head I told Ariane, who was currently holding her sword over her shoulder:

Please, one more bout, Ariane-dono.

Alright.

I thought back to all our previous bouts as she readied herself.

While there wasnt a major difference from our other bouts, I was more confident this ti.

My gaze focused on the wooden sword in my skeletal hand.

Here I co!

With a spirited cry, I launched a diagonal slash.

Ariane managed to block the attack with the side of her sword and managed to slip inside my range and counter-attacked.

With a single swing, I managed to calmly block two of her attacks. However, while I had been dealing with those, she managed to shift her body to create a false opening that she could easily counterattack from.

Instead of falling into that trap, I tried to break the engagent and put so distance between us, but he anticipated that move and took a swing at .

Ariane had a smile brimming on her face as we locked swords with one another.

See, you can do it correctly.

Haa.

It was Glenys shouting from a window that interrupted our mutually high spirits.

Breakfast is ready.

Oka~y.

With that comnt, Ariane brought our spar to an end

Whew, Im totally starving right now.

While Ariane was saying that and walking back to the mansion, I stayed and started to swing my sword around.

I was going over everything Id learned from Ariane.

Theres no doubt about it

I sighed a bit as I said that.

When I regained my body, the emotions that accompanied attacking or being attacked were regained as well.

Whenever I was attacked, the sense of fear and dread that surged up stifled my reactions and made

overextend myself in my defense.

Rather obvious, if you think about it.

While I was a skeleton, my emotions were heavily repressed and I could calmly deal with attacks, but when my raw feelings returned together with my flesh-and-blood body, it was impossible to imdiately access the situation and respond accordingly because I had no experience controlling my emotions in stressful situations.

As a skeleton I was always prepared for battle, no matter the circumstances, but I doubted I would grow as a fighter if I relied on that alone.

If I wanted to live with a body made of flesh and blood, then I would need to repeat the earlier part of the sparring session again and again until I learned to be calm under pressure.

This is gonna be harder than I thought

With that bit of grumbling, I looked up at the large tree as the wind rustled the branches above.