Episode 15. What a Windfall (Part 2)
The Skeleton King's eyebrow twitched at the sight of demons targeting him.
He had no parents.
Truthfully, that part didn't bother him.
After all, someone from his paternal family had come to retrieve him.
Then came the Emperor's words when his uncle arrived to take him away:
"I never expected a direct member of Eshua's bloodline to come."
That single phrase made him realize he wouldn't be welcomed in the family, but that was fine too.
It would soon become his family regardless. Whether welcomed or not mattered little.
Once he seized the position of patriarch, such trivialities would become meaningless.
Until then, he needed to milk every advantage from his naive young uncle who'd come to fetch him.
'These incompetent fools!'
Who did these fledgling demons think they were targeting?
This wasn't even their first attempt - already the second time.
No matter the blood ties, a child constantly hunted by demons would inevitably be discarded once rumors spread.
Especially if it occurred within their own territory!
The Holy Faction would never ignore a child who might become calamity's seed.
As always, excising threats for their safety was natural. For a parentless child? Even less hesitation required.
These demons knew the Holy Faction's patterns all too well.
"Taking that child would only bring endless trouble upon yourselves."
"The demons will keep swarming until that brat's dead."
"Exactly. Leave the child, and we'll let the rest pass untouched."
The Skeleton King's eyebrow twitched at these painfully predictable words.
Taught well, weren't they? He'd behead their teacher when found.
"All follows the great Skeleton King's teachings. As the Saintess' household, you should understand. Let's avoid mutual inconvenience."
Fantastic. How touching that they follow orders so perfectly.
Fine then.
Though strangers, he'd eliminate them before the family could abandon-
CRACK!
A guard-disguised demon's skull exploded.
The sword protruding through its mouth resembled a harpoon, its draw too swift for eyes to track.
The uncle who'd impaled the demon glared with frost-edged eyes.
"So you've truly crossed the line. How dare spout such filth to Eshua."
"Ghk-!"
"Since even demon trash possesses earholes, listen well. We of Eshua, bearers of the Azure Creed-"
Blue holy energy surged along the uncle's blade.
"-are ."
He roared as the sword withdrew:
"No matter what lies your three-inch tongues spew, we'll chase you to hell's end to protect this child and erase your very being!"
BOOM!
The carriage detonated in azure flames.
The Skeleton King emerged from the blast cradled by the Knight Captain, staring appalled at the pulverized remains.
Madmen!
Typical of the Saintess family's lunatics!
Peaceful appearances yet they obliterate carriages without warning!
The child could've died!
Ignoring this, the uncle flicked gore from his sleeves:
"See? Didn't I say? The Skeleton King's behind this."
I'm not, you brat!
Open your damned eyes! Knights, say something-
"Almost a pity to grant them mercy. Had they truly been the Skeleton King's men, we'd have dismembered them for eternal torment."
Ha! These psychopaths!
Collectively insane!
Wrong house to provoke!
Don't even care about their territory's destruction!
The Skeleton King gazed heavenward in resignation. His very name seemed to be House Eshua's berserk trigger.
Though concerned about being discovered, he observed the panicking demons. His eyes had already turned glacier-cold.
Truthfully, none was more perplexed than him.
Demons targeting him?
No - that wasn't the reason.
'I clearly forbade entering human territories.'
This was deep within human lands.
He'd established the absolute non-aggression principle between factions.
Border skirmishes were permitted, but initiating conflicts in others' domains? Never.
A policy he'd maintained relentlessly.
'Preemptive strikes breed wars.'
Hence his defensive border strategy, personally eradicating any who crossed.
Demons stupidly attacking humans as delicacies?
Stopping that alone prevented unnecessary wars, letting demons focus on revival.
Moreover... he was human.
Yes, human.
Even as a nerve-dead skeleton devoid of emotion, he clung to that identity.
Thus his ironclad decrees:
-No invasion.
-No human consumption.
Not mere orders - millennium-spanning blood oaths for coexistence.
Yet these whelps dared violate them in humanity's heartland?
'Judging by their insignia, they're from the remote western command.'
Sea-dwellers drifting inland? Since when was that fashionable?
'To breach the oaths so brazenly...'
'And receiving orders from someone else.'
Meaning traitors with swollen ambitions existed among demons.
The Skeleton King pressed his lips tight.
Well.
Sealed for 150 years - perhaps a new Skeleton King had risen.
Maybe this neighboring king ordered the saint's assassination.
Fine. He'd adapt.
Mustn't become a stubborn old relic.
"Vile Skeleton King! Sending minions into human lands after escaping prison? Rot in filth!"
"Human scum! Don't insult Lord Isaac!"
"Everything for our King's revival!"
...Seems no new skeleton ruler after all.
The Skeleton King's eyebrow spasmed.
He knew.
To revoke blood oaths required overwhelming the predecessor's power - as he'd done.
Had the oaths broken, he'd have sensed it. Meaning these fools acted unilaterally.
Yet he never anticipated such brazen identity theft.
"Kill all! Bring the Saint's corpse! Others may be devoured!"
They dared violate the highest oath - human consumption ban?
The Knight Captain misinterpreted his expression, gently stroking his face:
"Young master Isaac, don't fret. Your uncle's exceptionally strong."
That's not the issue.
"We'll incinerate the hateful Skeleton King's lackeys without leaving magic cores."
Spare the cores, won't you?
I know you're strong, but do you know how rare those are?
Technically they're not even my subordinates, just strangers.
The Skeleton King's gaze sharpened.
His expression darkened because these five weren't the full force.
'More coming.'
At least forty.
Likely their comrades.
'Moving while suppressing energy to evade patrols.'
Normally undetectable, but even in a child's body, he remained the Skeleton King.
Among the approaching forces, one particularly strong presence stood out.
'The mastermind?'
A perfect chance to capture all and trace the source, but his current 1st-tier magic couldn't discern specifics.
Activating detection spells would change matters, but difficult while being carried by a 6th-tier paladin-
Then:
"Young master Isaac. Please remain here briefly."
CLAP!
The Knight Captain formed a sigil, creating a defensive barrier around him.
"Back soon."
Joining the uncle against stronger foes, she left him encased in a multilayered ward.
'Impressive barrier density for this body to breach.'
A frontline knight's work indeed - even he admired its craftsmanship.
The Skeleton King's mouth quirked.
Impenetrable from outside meant nothing leaked from within either.
ACTIVATE SURVIVAL ORIGIN: MAGIC UNLOCK
His magic system differed from others.
CRACK!
Within his primal inner world, a cosmic map of spells unfolded - constellations of known and unknown magic.
Unusable spells remained dark, requiring specific conditions to activate.
His magic core blazed.
WHOOSH!
<Watcher (Whisper)>
Black mana resembling living smoke seeped from his body.
[My liege!]
'Long time. Stay hidden.'
The sentient mana withdrew, though its ecstatic voice continued:
[Ah! My glorious master lives! I thought never to see your precious form again! Congratulations on shamelessly stealing this child's body!]
Mocking or praising?
The Skeleton King clicked his tongue.
This was detection magic granted intelligence - essentially mana given life and personality.
[Those filthy god-spawn! How dare imprison your magnificence in this wretched-]
Enough. Scan enemies.
[Detection range: 100m.]
[88 hostile demonic entities detected. Beneath your notice, glorious liege!]
The Skeleton King frowned.
88? Insane.
Demon swarms elevated threat levels.
Could flatten cities.
Even low-tier swarms raised territory alerts.
Worse, paladins might establish garrisons.
'Need to eliminate them all stealthily.'
One captive for intel sufficed.
He sighed.
Annoying.
Requires high-tier magic beyond his current reserves.
Though possible with their species' weakness.
'Indirect attacks. Traps.'
But draining all accumulated mana.
So scarce in this body... Wasting it on fools!
If only he had subordinates.
But to avoid suspicion...
[No need, liege!]
'What? 88 demons mean paladin reinforcements. Must eliminate-'
[Ah... They're gone.]
...What?
The Skeleton King's face contorted.
Gone? How?
ROAR!
A colossal mana presence approached.
"Lilai's young master!"
"Their backer?"
Demons laughed through guard disguises:
"Comrades! Help us kill the Saint-"
Their words died as blades shredded them.
"Ghk! Who-?!"
"Non-human attacking us-?!"
Demon corpses littered the ground, magic cores scattering.
A familiar shadow loomed.
The Skeleton King smirked.
