The situation was resolved.
I lowered the club to the ground and brushed the dirt from my body.
Then I slowly turned toward the Orc Skeleton crouched in the corner.
Clatter.
Its body flinched in fear.
It was almost as large as a mountain, yet it looked completely terrified.
I approached and extended a hand. The Orc Skeleton recoiled, but I ignored its reaction and grabbed the protruding section of its dislocated hip.
All right. Relax.
Crack—click!
With a satisfying sound, the dislocated femur slipped back into its proper position.
“......!”
The blue flames in the Orc Skeleton’s eye sockets flickered as it cautiously moved its leg.
The joint moved smoothly.
Overwhelmed with emotion, the Orc Skeleton sprang to its feet. It then bent forward at a perfect ninety-degree angle and clattered its jaw enthusiastically.
Clack! Clack!
Its reaction was as intense as that of a puppy wagging its tail.
Strangely, I could understand its emotions from the sound of its jawbone alone.
I waved dismissively.
Yeah, yeah. As long as you survived.
What mattered to me was the loot.
I picked up the “orc forearm bone” I had taken from the goblin and used as a weapon.
As expected, Precision Analysis confirmed that it was quite the prize.
[Orc Warrior’s Forearm Bone — Grade: Common]
[Estimated Effect Upon Transplantation: Increased Physical Strength]
Damn, I struck gold.
This would be more than enough to replace my weak left forearm.
In fact, it would probably become stronger than my right arm.
Since orcs were humanoids, the bone’s structure should be perfectly compatible with mine.
I stroked it contentedly and raised my empty left arm in preparation for the transplantation.
But then—
Clatter...
I felt someone staring at me.
The Orc Skeleton was standing beside me, gazing fixedly at the arm bone in my hand.
The blue flames in its eye sockets flickered with a strangely pitiful light.
Clack.
It fidgeted with its skeletal fingers, unable to express what it wanted.
Its hollow eye sockets moved repeatedly between the Orc Warrior’s Forearm Bone and my face.
Despite not possessing actual eyes, it somehow reminded me of a pitiful cat begging for something.
What? Are you injured somewhere else?
The Orc Skeleton shook its head.
Then did you get lost? Do you want me to find your mother?
It shook its head even more vigorously.
The blue light in its eye sockets trembled as though tears might fall from it at any moment.
Only then did I realize exactly where its gaze was fixed.
...Ah, damn it.
I had hoped I was mistaken.
Apparently, this creature needed the arm bone I had claimed as loot.
Is this important to you?
Nod, nod, nod!
It nodded so vigorously that I became worried it might dislocate its neck.
Pretending not to understand, I casually hid the bone behind my back.
The Orc Skeleton’s shoulders immediately slumped.
Its disappointment was so profound that it seemed to be releasing a sigh capable of sinking the earth.
Haah.
A sigh escaped me.
Honestly, I hated giving it up.
It was the perfect component for reinforcing my weak left arm.
But...
If I take it after being stared at like that, I’ll feel like complete trash!
Come to think of it, these were the remains of one of its own kind.
The bone might hold far more meaning for it than it did for me.
In the end, I tossed the bone I had hidden behind my back toward the Orc Skeleton.
Here. Take it.
Clack.
It hurriedly caught the arm bone and hugged it tightly against its chest as though it were a priceless treasure.
Then it repeatedly bowed in gratitude while circling around me.
It appeared relieved, although it still seemed to feel guilty.
Enough, you idiot. It’s fine. We’re both miserable piles of bones. We should at least look out for our own kind.
I waved it off.
I genuinely didn’t mind that much.
Losing the orc bone was unfortunate, but it wasn’t as though I had no alternative.
I turned toward the Green Goblin Chief’s corpse lying on the ground.
Although it wasn’t as strong as an orc, it was much larger, better fed, and more physically developed than an ordinary goblin.
I’ll use this one’s arm instead.
[Precision Analysis (EX) has been activated.]
[Goblin Chief’s Forearm Bone — Grade: Common]
[Estimated Effect Upon Transplantation: Increased Dexterity]
Dexterity? What kind of attribute is that?
Still, it wasn’t a bad option.
Without hesitation, I tore off the Goblin Chief’s left arm.
Then I aligned its bones with the empty space below my left elbow.
[Unique Skill: Bone Replacement (Lv. 2) activated!]
Sizzle—
The bones fused amid a cloud of black smoke.
[Transplantation successful!]
[Bone Replacement has advanced to Lv. 3.]
[Physical Strength has increased slightly.]
[Skill proficiency inherited: Dirty Pickpocket (Lv. 2).]
Something strange came with it!
Had that enormous Orc Skeleton been pickpocketed?
It was certainly a skill befitting a goblin chief.
I clenched and unclenched my new fist.
The arm felt much heavier and more powerful than my original twig-like limb.
When I rotated the joint, it moved smoothly without creaking.
My chances of survival had certainly improved.
In the Demon Realm, strength was the law.
The better the components I obtained, the stronger I could become.
At least until I discovered a way to obtain a human body of flesh and blood, I needed every possible means of protecting my life.
Then I noticed a worn pouch hanging from the dead Goblin Chief’s waist.
It looked surprisingly heavy.
Leaving it behind would have been a waste.
Let’s see if there’s anything useful inside.
Goblins had a habit of carrying stolen goods.
When I turned the pouch over and shook it, an unidentified lump of dried meat and several miscellaneous coins fell out.
Among them was an object that gleamed silver.
It was an old metal badge embossed with the head of a wolf.
[Official Red Wolves Mercenary Badge]
Oh?
It belonged to the same people I had encountered earlier.
The goblins had probably found it somewhere—or looted it from the corpse of a mercenary killed on the battlefield.
This could be surprisingly useful later.
It was worthless while I remained a skeleton, but things would be different if I ever reached a human settlement.
If I acquired a human appearance or found some way to disguise myself, this badge could serve as an excellent means of passage.
I also took the leather belts worn by the goblins and fastened one around my waist.
Then I retrieved the femur I had been using as a dagger and secured it to the belt.
It would have been nice to find another longsword.
I took a second leather belt and used it to fasten the treasured arm bone around the Orc Skeleton’s waist.
Clack, clack.
Once our preparations were complete, I began to leave.
However, the Orc Skeleton followed directly behind me.
It circled around me without showing the slightest intention of leaving, clinging to me like glue.
Do you want to come with me?
Nod, nod.
Sure, why not? We’re heading in the same direction anyway.
Two were better than one.
In particular, having a massive brute like this walking ahead of me would be excellent for drawing enemy attention away from me.
I beckoned to the Orc Skeleton.
Follow me. If you fall behind, I’m leaving you.
We emerged from the undergrowth and joined the procession of defeated monsters moving along the forest path.
Compared with the limping wounded surrounding us, I was in excellent condition. I possessed two functional legs—although they didn’t match—and even had a powerful bodyguard accompanying me.
The assorted skeletons and zombies nearby glanced at us before moving aside.
It even felt as though fewer of them were looking down on me now.
This is convenient.
Whether in a game or reality, good equipment and useful connections—no, a strong party—were indispensable.
Feeling satisfied, I tested my newly transplanted goblin arm.
The joints were still slightly stiff, but a little oil would probably make them perfectly serviceable.
I need to upgrade the rest of my bones as quickly as possible.
I wouldn’t feel safe until I replaced all these shabby, defective starter parts.
I couldn’t remain a weak trash mob forever.
I was looking around for a useful corpse when—
“Everyone, assemble.”
A chilling voice pierced my mind.
...?!
It hadn’t traveled through my nonexistent eardrums.
The voice had resonated directly inside my skull.
It wasn’t merely a sound.
It was a compulsory command that seized the deepest part of my soul and violently shook it.
Ugh...!
My head felt as if it were splitting apart.
The pain was like an awl being driven into my brain and twisted around.
My body froze against my will.
Creeeak.
Every skeleton moving through the forest stopped simultaneously.
Like puppets suspended from invisible strings, their heads snapped toward the direction of the voice. Then they began stumbling toward it.
The same thing happened to me.
Every bone in my body reacted independently of my will.
Wh-What the hell is this?!
My legs moved on their own, attempting to carry me into the formation.
It was an irresistible force demanding absolute obedience.
The instincts engraved into this body warned me what it was.
The Absolute Domination of a superior undead commanding its lesser kin.
So there really was a necromancer controlling these bodies!
Damn it.
I had forgotten.
Skeletons weren’t treated as independent monsters. They were summoned creatures animated by someone else’s mana.
If I allowed myself to be dragged away, it would all be over.
Why would anyone gather defeated troops?
They would either send us back onto the battlefield as expendable cannon fodder or burn us as fuel to replenish their depleted mana.
No. I can’t let it take me!
Exerting every ounce of strength I possessed, I grabbed a thick tree root protruding from the ground.
Scrape—
My feet dragged across the earth, kicking up clouds of dirt.
I held on so fiercely that my jaw felt ready to break, but the voice became clearer and more persistent.
“Come... my servants... Answer my summons...”
The mana within the voice intensified.
My consciousness grew hazy, and my vision began flashing.
A sweet temptation washed over me, whispering that surrendering my body to the voice would make everything easier.
Just as my will was about to collapse, crimson sparks erupted before my eyes.
Crackle! Bzzzt!
[Warning! An attempt at mental domination has been detected.]
[Trait: Player’s Soul has been activated.]
[The command has been rejected.]
Shatter!
I heard the phantom sound of the chains binding my mind snapping apart.
At the same moment, my thoughts became clear as if nothing had happened, and strength returned to my disobedient legs.
Huff...!
Still clutching the tree root, I collapsed onto the ground.
I looked around.
The other skeletons continued walking blankly toward the depths of the forest, their gazes unfocused.
Even the Orc Skeleton beside me was stumbling forward in a trance.
I alone had retained my sanity.
With a trembling hand, I examined the floating system window again.
[Traits]
–Player’s Soul: Your soul exists outside the parameters of this world. Without the System’s authority, no one can break your will.
Player’s Soul...
Only then did I properly notice the trait tucked away in the corner of my status window like a decorative line of text.
At first, I had assumed it was merely flavor text explaining that I had been transported into this world.
But it possessed a real effect.
And not just any effect.
It granted me an S-rank ability—immunity to mental domination.