Chapter – 57
✠
At the same time Agnes and Ailet were forming the bonds of priesthood, Tesilid stood in a place filled with crosses like a cemetery.
“…….”
His white uniform, torn and stained with blood, fluttered in the wind. Each inhale filled his lungs with air mixed with ash, choking him.
Crackling sparks shot up into the dark blue sky from all around.
A-rank dungeon, “Execution Ground of Sacrifices.”
On the hillside crowded with iron crosses, each bore a silhouette that looked human.
These were people dragged into the dungeon sync and used for a demonic ritual.
The victims were heretics.
The church never holds funerals for those who died without receiving the baptism of “strict order and virtue.”
The corpses hanging from the iron crosses would, once the dungeon closed, flow into the trash heap of the demon world.
In truth, they could have been saved. If the Holy See had approved dungeon entry just one day earlier…
Now, it was nothing but futile regret.
Tesilid closed his eyes. With his sword lowered, the only thing he could do was offer a requiem prayer.
✠
Kugugu-goong!
A white giant collapsed, sending up a cloud of dust. Even after some time passed, visibility remained poor, so I sheathed my practice sword.
Clang. As the metal clicked together, a message appeared.
[<System> Congratulations! You have defeated the 275th floor boss of the Tower of Trials, “Bone Dragon Bon-Dragos.”]
<That was smooth. Truly excellent.>
“Of course it was smooth. I’ve already fought ten dragons.”
Since becoming an Aura Expert, the last ten floors had been a Dragon Slayer training segment.
Fire Dragon, Ice Dragon, Light Dragon, Dark Dragon, Poison Dragon, Mountain Dragon, etc.
Having hunted dragons of all attributes, I knew all their weaknesses by now.
An undead dragon like this was nothing to me.
<It’s been a whole year hunting only dragons, hasn’t it?>
“Exactly.”
Honestly, the architect is too much—reusing the same bosses ten times…
[‘Architect of the Tower of Trials’ clears their throat.]
Well, if they could even resurrect dead dragons for reuse, the end must be near.
<Time to loot, Ailet.>
“Oh, right.”
By now the dust and bone powder had settled. I reached into Bon-Dragos’s ribcage and collected items.
“There’s some alchemy materials and a skill book… but no weapon.”
<That’s a shame.>
“Sigh… why no weapon? I’m already on the 275th floor. The Tower of Trials should at least give me a proper practice sword by now.”
While grumbling, I noticed something strange.
“Huh? The bones aren’t disappearing.”
Usually, after defeating a boss in the Tower of Trials, the corpse disappears after a certain time.
But Bon-Dragos’s bones didn’t show any sign of fading, almost blending with the surroundings.
I broke off one of the comparatively small dragon forelimb bones. Of course, it was still bigger than my body.
The delicate finger joints in the forelimb, separated from the main body, still didn’t vanish.
“Wow, I can take this!”
<Hmm? Take it for what?>
“It’ll definitely be useful.”
I savored the joy of loot and put the bones in my satchel.
Since they were so large, I could only take one left arm and the tip of the tail—but that was more than enough.
“Before going to the 276th floor, I’ll quickly go outside.”
I used the exit gate, which sent me to my room.
As I strode from the annex to the main building,
<Look, Ailet.>
I spotted a very familiar pink-haired person in the middle of the path.
“Ah! Onii! Onii!”
Prinz, currently studying at the military academy, had come to the White Stronghold for the first time in a while.
Now that I thought of it, it was midsummer, when cicadas screamed.
“Summer vacation starts today.”
“Yeah.”
“You should have told me in advance. I’d have prepared something delicious for you.”
“Doesn’t matter. You can teleport here instantly with your transference stone anyway.”
I examined Prinz, who wore his cadet uniform. In the few months since I last saw him, he had grown taller, his face more handsome.
Now a fourth-year, eighteen-year-old Prinz had grown into a combination of a slender young man and a fresh-faced teen.
“By the way… what about Mangna… I mean, Lord Romdio? Didn’t he come with you?”
“He’s taking a seasonal supplementary class. His grades must not be good.”
“He failed last year and is still on shaky ground this year.”
“Exactly.”
“Did you do well on your exams, Onii? You can’t afford to fail like Lord Romdio.”
“You worry too much.”
Prinz teased me back playfully, ruffling my hair into a mess.
[‘The Critic of Balance’ laughs at having such a kind older brother in the world.]
[‘The Scales of the Soul’ praises the excellent romance-fantasy type older brother he’s become.]
[‘The Critic of Balance’ doubts the unfair application of genre-change rights.]
[‘Architect of the Tower of Trials’ remarks that he’s not a possessed younger sister anyway.]
While the gods argued over sibling stereotypes, I continued talking with my older brother.
“Why don’t you tell me your grades? As your younger sister helping you, I have the right to see your report card.”
“It’s embarrassing. Besides, I always get a scholarship, so what’s the point.”
“Hah, I’ll make you give back all the potions and elixirs I’ve sent you every semester.”
“No, no. Everything’s gone. Turned into bones and muscle.”
We bickered for a while, then agreed to duel after dinner and parted ways.
<Poor Onii… comes home and immediately gets his rank reorganized by his sister.>
“Rank reorganization? We’re settling scores with swords.”
After parting with Onii, I headed to the library.
I wasn’t going to read books. A dungeon farm gate was hidden in the corner of the library.
By pulling out a specific book, the dungeon gate appeared.
I slipped inside and found a farm, as well-organized and maintained as a garden.
Clatter? Clatter!
The skeletons working there saw me and clattered their jawbones together, dancing. A clear invitation.
Some even made it understandable.
<The farm owner…! The farm owner has arrived…!>
Awakened Hellberos ran along the furrows toward me.
I tossed him some herbal scraps, and he ate them eagerly with flames flickering.
Even though they were demons, they had a pet-like quality.
“Hello everyone. Been well?”
<Woof!>
Clatter!
“How’s the farm?”
Epidem gestured with all his limbs. I watched him seriously. But…
‘Sorry. Can’t understand anything without Bianca.’
Thanks to Hellberos as interpreter, I understood.
<Since the herb stew is finished, I’m fixing the reservoir. After that, we can grow freshwater carp. Some ended up in the dungeon sync.>
“Okay, you can grow them. Any difficulties with the work?”
Clatter…
Epidem’s gestures grew weak. Sure enough, Hellberos conveyed bad news.
<Hiass’s arm is fractured, Akapan’s leg bones are completely out.>
“What?”
I quickly surveyed the work site. Hiass had a splinted arm and was digging, while Akapan struggled to reset his leg bones.
“Ugh, I knew this would happen. I told you not to overwork.”
<They wanted to raise carp, so they worked hard…>
These skeletons were several hundred years old. Their bones were worn and brittle.
Apparently, two of them had overexerted and caused this incident.
“Come here. I’ll treat you.”
But…
Rattledderrrr!
Both skeletons hugged each other tightly and shook their heads vigorously.
“Huh?”
Were they rejecting my help?
I gave Hellberos a look.
<Don’t, farm owner…! If you heal, Hiass and Akapan will be punished! Forgive them! Hellberos promises! Will work harder! Waaah!>
“Really, I’m not using heal. Don’t worry and come here.”
<Really?! You won’t use it to save them?>
“I’m not a demon. Relax and come over.”
Only then did Hiass and Akapan reluctantly approach. Still trembling, though.
“Alright!”
Clang!
I took Bon-Dragos’s left arm and part of the tail from my satchel.
I examined them carefully, pulled out the middle finger bone, and fitted it into Hiass’s broken arm.
“Perfect fit.”
Bone replacement complete!
Clatter…!
Hiass marveled at his restored arm. Once confirmed, I moved on to the next patient.
“Akapan, you’ll need some processing.”
I removed his worn leg bones and carved the dragon bones with aura, then fitted them back.
“Try moving.”
Clatterraaaack!
Akapan raced across the farm at incredible speed.
Hiass, already treated, returned to work, digging like crazy.
<Hiass and Akapan’s stats are boosted by the dragon’s energy!>
Unintended power-up effect—nice!
<Wow. I didn’t know dragon bones could be this useful.>
Agnes also admired.
“Other skeletons, come here too. After hundreds of years, each of you must have aching parts.”
Clatter! Clatter!
The skeletons, already sparkling with excitement, gathered and chattered about their pains.
Hellberos immediately interpreted.
<Astor’s chest is stiff… Bellow’s left hip is…>
One by one, I disassembled their bones, replaced them with new parts, and reassembled them.
I felt like the skeletons’ personal doctor.
[‘World-Builder of Words’ is moved by the true healer even tending to the undead.]
[‘Scales of the Soul’ feels annoyed at spoiling one’s own followers.]
Clatter, clatter, clatter!
<Everyone’s really thankful to the farm owner!>
“Really? Seeing you happy makes me feel good.”
<But… the farm owner…>
“Huh?”
