Chapter 3

In "The Crystal of the Evil Eye," I was deemed a failure, but upon discovering that I possess magic, my spirits soared.

I summoned eleven skeletons at once and even healed wounds that would have exposed my internal organs—this is quite a high spec, isn't it?

I was about to take advantage of this momentum and explore the forest with the skeletons as my guards, but the skeletons didn't seem very enthusiastic.

"Could it be that you're bound to the land and can't leave?"

"No, there's no problem with following you, Master Kent, but our strength is a bit... lacking."

Hmm, the phrase "following" did sound a bit off.

"What do you mean by 'strength'?"

"Ogres and saber-toothed tigers will appear ahead. In that case, we won't be able to protect you, Master Kent, with our current strength."

"Hmm... Is there any way to fix this?"

"If you could enhance us, there would be no problem."

"Enhance? That sounds good. How do we do it?"

"Enhancing monsters generally involves absorbing the magic stones of other creatures."

"Absorbing magic stones?"

"Exactly. So, if you select three of us and have the rest absorb the magic stones of the goblins, that should do it."

"Wait, is that okay?"

"It's fine."

"What happens to those who lose their magic stones?"

"We are no longer human, so we will simply cease to exist."

"No, no, no, that's a big problem, a huge problem."

"It's fine."

Reinhardt's decisive statement made me feel a bit rebellious.

"Even though we've just met, I won't allow you to disappear by eating each other!"

Expressing the anger in my heart, Reinhardt nodded as if to say, "I understand."

"Master Kent, it's not about eating each other."

"Then, what is it...?"

"We are already beyond the realm of ordinary humans, wandering in this world. Disappearing means returning to our original form and ascending to heaven."

"Is that not a bad thing?"

"Of course not. Will you send us off, Master Kent?"

"But, wouldn't it be better to send everyone together?"

"The remaining ones will carry on the will of those who depart and protect you. That is also an honor."

Indeed, skeletons are like wandering spirits. Defeating them means helping them find peace. I decided to send off everyone except for Reinhardt, the former squad leader, Basten, the former platoon leader, and Fred.

I stood before the eight skeletons in formation. Upon closer inspection, they all had missing bones or missing arms, either from last night's battle or some distant past battle. Despite their battered state, they responded to my call and fought to protect me.

"Thank you all. Thanks to you, I am... I am..."

The skeletons, who should have been terrifying, seemed to watch over me warmly, and tears welled up, making it hard to continue.

"Master Kent, please don't cry. We can depart thanks to you."

"That's right. If you hadn't called us, we would still be wandering."

"Sure, our families and friends are probably waiting for us."

"So, please send us off with a smile."

Through my tear-blurred eyes, I saw the rugged, kind faces of the men smiling.

"Okay... Thank you all, really. Please rest in peace."

I must have looked terrible with tears and snot, but I managed a smile and sent them off.

"Then, squad leader, I'll go first. Thank you for everything."

"Platoon leader, stay well, though you're already dead."

"Guys, when you get there, tell my family that I'll join them after protecting Master Kent."

"Take care of Master Kent for us too."

"Sure, leave it to us!"

"See you on the other side."

"Yeah, see you."

I didn't fully understand necromancy, but I prayed from the bottom of my heart that they would reach their families and friends. The eight skeletons were enveloped in warm light and disappeared as sparkling particles. Eight translucent magic stones were left behind.

I gathered the magic stones from the skeletons and the goblins and immediately began enhancing Reinhardt, Basten, and Fred. There were fifteen magic stones in total, so five each.

"By the way, how do we absorb the magic stones? Do we gnaw on them?"

"Some monsters eat them, but in our case, we press them to our chests and absorb them."

Indeed, skeletons don't have esophagi, and gnawing would be too scary.

"So, what do I need to do?"

"Please assist with necromancy."

"But I'm not consciously using necromancy. How should I do it?"

"Just imagine us after we're enhanced."

I see, enhancing skeletons mainly involves strengthening their bones and improving their movements and weapons. It would be good to ask about their combat styles before enhancing them. So, I interviewed the three and solidified my image before proceeding with the enhancement.

"Let's start with Reinhardt and enhance one at a time to solidify the image."

"Understood."

"First, Reinhardt."

"Sure, thank you."

Reinhardt was a power type known as "The Mighty" in life. I decided to go with heavy and hard tungsten with a mirror finish. Why do I know tungsten is heavy? It's common knowledge for a middle schooler.

"Let's start the absorption while I assist with the image."

"Alright, let's begin."

As Reinhardt started absorbing the magic stones and I sent my magic and image, a black mist began to cover his body. The mist, initially thin, gradually thickened, turning almost pitch-black and emitting purple lightning. It was intense, and I was a bit scared, but as the summoner, I couldn't show weakness, so I pushed through, even though I almost wet myself.

Eventually, the dark mist condensed, and a bright flash of lightning revealed a metallic skeleton with a black greatsword.

"This... This is..."

"Three times more menacing than in life..."

"Yeah, if I met him on a dark road, I'd definitely wet myself."

Even without martial or magical skills, the aura was so intense that it was clear he was dangerous. Basten, who had known him for a long time, was speechless. Reinhardt tested his new body, gripping and opening his hands, rotating his shoulders, and then, lifting his greatsword...

"Zwooooriiii!"

With a powerful cry, he lunged at a nearby tree, swinging his greatsword with such speed that it seemed to blur. The tree, thick enough for three adults to hug, was obliterated.

"Whoa... What was that?"

"No, no, you assisted, Master Kent."

"Truly... a monster..."

Reinhardt's flashy destruction left us all stunned.

"Hahaha, wonderful! This body is wonderful!"

Wait, isn't Reinhardt's character different now? Looking at Basten and Fred, they both shrugged and gave up. The defeated pose of a skeleton is quite fitting. Ah, I get it, this is his true self, and he was just pretending before.

With the reborn Reinhardt, I might have gone a bit overboard, hehe. But since I need to survive in this world and have them protect me, I'll go all out. So, I enhanced the remaining two as well.

Basten, known as "The Blazing" in life, was a spear expert. Imagining a light and strong titanium, I created a matte titanium-colored skeleton with a black spear, emerging from the dark mist.

"Shaaaaa!"

The black spear pierced a tree, creating a hole about a meter wide and even piercing the trees behind it. It was so fast I couldn't follow it with my eyes. Did the spear extend, or was it a shockwave? I don't understand, but it's okay since he's on our side.

Fred, known as "The Instant Slayer" in life, was a dual-sword wielder. Imagining a light and flexible composite carbon fiber, I created a carbon-black skeleton with black dual swords, standing naturally as the dark mist dissipated.

"Shiiii!"

With a quiet cry, the dual swords sliced through a nearby boulder like tofu. What are these swords and spears made of? Unknown materials? Dark matter? The three skeletons, admiring their weapons, were terrifying, and I definitely don't want them as enemies.

They approached me in unison, kneeling before me in a show of respect. I took a half-step back, but I hope they didn't notice.

"Thank you for the wonderful bodies and weapons."

"We three will serve and protect you, Master Kent."

"By the honor of our swords and spears..."

"Even though I'm a weak master, please take care of me."

"Hai!"

After enhancing the three, I was incredibly hungry. I asked if they could get me something to eat. Reinhardt looked up at the sky.

"Basten, perfect timing, there's a bird. Take it down!"

"Understood! Shaaaaa!"

Basten thrust his black spear at a flying bird. It was so high, but the bird exploded, scattering feathers.

"Wow, that's amazing, reaching that high... But, if it explodes, we can't eat it."

"Hai... I apologize."

The power increased, but the control is lacking. I'm afraid I'll be caught in the crossfire during battles. Will they remember to protect me?

In the end, we gave up on the bird and satisfied our hunger with fruit. Ah, it's delicious, but this world seems to be vegetarian.

Afterward, the three asked me to name their weapons. Of course, partners need names.

"Reinhardt's sword is Gram."

"Hai."

"Basten's spear is Gae Bolg."

"Hai."

"Fred's dual swords are Laevatein and Dainsleif."

"Hai."

As I named their weapons, the three held them and smiled menacingly. I can now see their expressions clearly. Is this just getting used to it?