NABC Chapter 31: Skeleton
Chapter 31: Skeleton
Chapter 31: Skeleton
Coming out of the Fairy Square, it was the same old stone-paved passage greeting us. But different from the same old was the point that it was much cleaner. Rather than new, it gave the feeling of not yet deteriorated.
The stone walls didn’t display a single crack, even moss hadn’t grown. Even the light panels illuminating the passage from the ceiling, seemed to glow somewhat brighter.
The path draws a loose curve, so the Boss Room at the end isn’t visible, all in all the perspective is quite narrow. But as long as the ceiling or floor doesn’t suddenly open up, or we don’t get suddenly warped in the middle of the passage, there’s likely no risk of surprise attacks.
“Hirano-kun, I have some idea, but the Skeleton, what kind of Monster is it?”
“They’re uh, you know, just bones. Well, Itou’s the one who started calling ’em Skeletons though.[1]”
Seems like it’s none other than that stereotypical Skeleton. The pure white collections of bone rattling along as they attack, they appear frequently in RPGs and fantasy genre movies... but thinking back, it’s my first time encountering a non-living Monster. Somehow or other, all the one’s I’ve seen could be called extensions of creatures found on Earth.
“Yeah, you’ll get it when you see it. And they’re just small fry so relax”
I’m not too reassured with Hirano-kun’s frivolous smile and wild laughs, but from the fact that they’re stuck on the Boss, Mob Monsters wouldn’t be any problem.
“Ah that room, there’s a Skeleton, look”
Nishiyama-san who was walking alongside Hirano-kun reported a discovery.
Looking there, from an entrance to a room along the passage wall, a white figure gaited along. The distance is about 30 meters(~100ft).
“Woah, it really is a Skeleton”
That is, it was so perfect a skeleton, there isn’t any other description. As if the educational model in a biology lab started moving, it was a walking human skeleton.
It doesn’t have clothes, but it’s armed.
Lightly grasped in its bony hand, was a wooden club. At around 50 cm, the club was of rough make, but not too thin or too thick. That reminds me, the clubs equipped on most Goma looked similar. There’s a chance they beat these Skeletons and plundered the item.
“Doesn’t look like it’s noticed us”
“Yeah, they won’t notice till ya get closer”
“So shooting my Magic to beat them is easy as pie see”
I see, it’s like a badly made Monster AI.
“It’s the first for Momokawa and Futaba-san, so I’ll show you the ropes”
How generous. No matter how strong Futaba-san’s gotten, it’s better to avoid challenging on first encounter. If we can observe its movements, she can fight easier too.
Reason for refusal is nowhere to be found, so at your convenience, I replied in agreement.
“What about me?”
“If y’insist, have the first one. I’ll get the two behind.”
The Skeletons entering the passage from the room, number three. There’s no particular sign they’re cooperating, it’s more like a wandering zombie, they’re aimlessly roaming around. One was facing here, and the other two, towards the direction of the Boss Room.
“OK. I’ll be going ahead then, since I’m a Wind Mage.”
With a light intro, Nishiyama-san pushed out her wand. Her wand tip pointed, practically announcing that it was about to shoot Magic.
Thinking of, it’s my first time seeing Attack Magic. I’ve heard all about it from Futaba-san, but getting to see first hand, the staple in fantasy known as Attack Magic, it’s kind of exciting.
Eh, Red Fever? Who’s that?
“الرياح قطع ش—Aer Sagitta(Wind Arrow)”
She quickly muttered something in a mystery language, and right after, the green ball on the tip of the want let out faint light.
With that, leaving behind sharp winds, a whirlwind of glittering green ran through the passage. The emerald wind I saw for a split-second, drew an arc with a form similar to a curved blade.
Then, the blade of wind danced true to its aim, scoring a direct hit on the wandering Skeleton. With a dry clang, as if they took on a powerful slash, the Skeleton’s ribs went flying.
Must have been a quite a blow. The Skeleton’s spine bent back so much it seemed to almost snap, and as if the force was too unbearable, it fell backwards. Falling with a shatter, its movement completely stops.
With the splendid one-shot killing of a Skeleton, I regain an appreciation of the convenient thing known as Attack Magic. Also, a bit of envy. Shit, if only I could do attacks like that...
“A’ight, be a back in a bit. Get a good look at my abilities as a Swordsman”
Completely unaware of my ugly jealousy, Hirano-kun donned a confident smile and named his vocation. In his hands lay a double-edged longsword with a steel blade. A precious partner he scored from a Treasure Chest being its origins.
“Woah, fast”
I had no other comment seeing the sword-wielding Hirano-kun bolting off. Leaving behind only the rubbery sounds of his shoe soles clashing with the stone paving, Hirano-kun’s fairly large figure shot out like an arrow.
“It’s called Quick Step. The effect is as you see”
I see, so that’s the speed boosting Battle Art, Quick Step. Movement boosting moves, if it was an RPG, there’s a big chance they’re useless. I mean, no player wants to waste a turn just to raise evasion rate and maybe increasing the chances for a critical. [3]
However, in real life, boosting movement, in other words, being able to run crazy fast, gives a tremendous advantage in combat. At the very least, if it was an average person, even if Hirano-kun came at them from straight ahead, they’d have no way to cope with his current speed. It’s not so fast that my eyes can’t follow, but it kinda doesn’t feel like a human running with that kind of speed. Even world class athletes I’ve seen on TV aren’t as fast. I wonder what the km/h is.
“Natsukawa-san was even faster you know”
Leaks Futaba-san as if talking to herself. Perhaps even with the same technique in name, there’s differences per vocation. Well, it’s most likely something to do with individual differences though.
Natsukawa Minami was our Shiramine Academy’s Track and Field Ace. If it’s the sprint, there’s no one with more talent than her.
“UoOOOOOOOO—”
Before I noticed, Hirano-kun had closed the thirty meters and had the Skeletons at swords reach. With a roar, he unleashed a full power overhead swing.
On their side, the Skeletons had noticed their friend has been defeated and were slowly turning to it. The existence of the quickly approaching enemy did not have time to enter their mental faculties.
“—Break(Great Gash)!”[4]
For an instant, the sword seemed to slightly shine. The instant phantom glow passed, and a shrill noise echoed. A hit.
One Skeleton was cut from skull to pelvis. A moment passed, and the clump of bone was separated left and right, it rattled, and powerlessly crumbled.
A splendid strike. But one more enemy remained.
That Skeleton finally showed a proper response. Aiming for the opening created when Hirano-kun swung his sword, it greatly raised its club.
“Heh, saw it miles away!”
True to those composure-filled words, as if perfectly foreseeing the Skeleton’s monotonous attack, Hirano-kun bent down, dodging the club’s swing.
“Well duh, no problem for Foresight”
What a show off, that guy, says Nishiyama-san somewhat coldly.
“No but, seeing it and then even evading is pretty amazing”
Well, looking at their behaviour, I doubt Skeletons have the intelligence to use traps or ambushes. But arrogance is fatal. These kinds of Mobs, if they get a Boss character to lead them, they can suddenly become elite troops too.
“Momokawa, you wanna take look inside anyway?”
“Ah, sure thing”
As I was meandering over things, I reply kind of like an idiot, and step into the Skeleton-summoning room with safety guaranteed.
Yup, nothing there indeed. There’s only stone walls here, the room is around the size of a classroom. Nothing more, nothing less. The light panels on the ceiling shone down adequately, making it all too obvious that there’s nothing strange to be found here.
“Have you guys ever seen where the Skeletons come from?”
“Nope, never... Oi, don’t tell me you plannin’ on waitin’ till one comes out?”
“I’m not that bored”
That being said, we move to the next room. With rooms this deserted, even if there was a hidden door or something, without a Thief’s detection skill, it’ll be impossible to find. Looking around would be a waste of time.
“Yeah, other rooms’re pretty much the same as that last one though— Oh, hold up”
Progressing through the passage, as we read the 2nd room, Hirano-kun calls out again.
“We’re in luck, Skeletons straight ahead”
As I follow Hirano-kun and peek into the room, sure enough, they’re in there.
This new room was around twice as big as the last one, and at the center stood three stone pillars. Behind the right interior pillar, as if hiding itself, a Skeleton... no, two of them, were vaguely roaming around.
As usual, they don’t look like they noticed us. Big chance for a preemptive strike.
“The floor’s all yours”
In accordance to Hirano-kun’s words, said as if he was requesting us to fill-in for classroom cleaning duty, Futaba-san and I challenge our first Skeleton subjugation.
“Futaba-san, you alright with the usual?“
“Yup, if you can tie the legs, leave everything else to me”
Futaba-san returns a strong reply. Or rather, she nonchalantly left out Red Fever there. Well, it’s not an immediate effect Curse, so it’s pretty much a waste of mana anyway, so that’s fine.
“Momokawa-kun and Futaba-san’s vocations, what are they?”
Off we go, but before that, we need to let them know our vocations. On their side, their vocation and abilities have already been laid bare.
But we can’t go being too frank and reveal everything here.
“I’m a Shaman, and Futaba-san is a Warrior”
I’ll keep quiet about the class change for the time being. Being a Berserker doesn’t necessarily mean Futaba-san has gone insane, and there’s no outward change either. It’s probably a special exception to the rule, but letting their hopes rise because of that would be problematic.
“Let’s do this”
Detailed explanations come later. Let’s first beat the Skeletons and give them a demonstration.
“Entwine its escape, with weaving hair— Blackhair Bind”
I step into the room and take the initiative. From the shadows near the pillar where the Skeleton is wandering, suddenly, a bundle of weed-like Blackhair gushes out. Wriggling in a gross manner like tentacles, the hair tightly latches onto the bone ankle.
“Now!”
I call out, and with that Futaba-san swings up her axe and— I thought, but she’s just standing beside me, and doesn’t seem like she’ll run ahead anytime soon.
“Err, Futaba-san, what’s wrong?”
Her suddenly becoming unwilling, doesn’t seem to be the case. Futaba-san is on alert, and glaring straight at the Skeleton.
She wasn’t replying, and lets go of her weapon that is the axe. She takes her now free right hand, and thrusts it into the Goma pouch hung at her waist.
“— Ei!”
Along with that lovely voice calling out, I hear a powerful hum cutting the wind. The next moment, a dry shattering sound echoes loudly.
“... Eh?”
When I noticed, the Skeleton’s head was gone. Wait what, Futaba-san, when did you suddenly become able to use Attack Mag—
“Yah!”
Next, the 2nd one’s cranium shatters. It burst away so cleanly, one could argue there was a bomb implanted in there beforehand.
“I’m done, Momokawa-kun”
We present the hero.
Indeed, since I was standing right beside her, I came to understand how Futaba-san finished off those Skeletons. It’s nothing complicated, she was just throwing stones.
I’d given her a bag of throwable stones thinking they’d at least be used as faints, but they suddenly became one-shot kill projectiles. The Berserker’s strength has me in awe yet again.
“Woah, Futaba-san, that was friggin’ cool...“
“You’re sure Futaba-san isn’t a Pitcher right?”
Their surprise isn’t unreasonable.
“We can totally beat the Boss with this right!?”
“Yeah, I think this can work”
Nevertheless, her awe-inspiring power had come across in that performance. The reception is highly positive.
It may be a bit too optimistic, but I feel like we can at least take down a Boss now.
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[1] Skeleton is said in English, and Hirano described them as ... a skeleton (骸骨).
[2] Aer — Air in Latin I guess
[3] Change: Martial Art → Battle Art
[4] 大断 — Dai Dan — Break, it’s not too complicated
[5] The Aer stuff is all romanized by author so I’m keeping those.
[6] 風連刃 — Fuuren Ha – Aer Blast (Tempest Edge) ... I’m kinda making this up here, but the kanji name doesn’t matter anyway~