“Master...”
Just as they were about to exit the dungeon, Rorona tugged at the hem of Li Xiuman's robes from behind.
She lowered her head in trepidation.
“Don't worry, no one will find you out.”
“Fantes won't capture you again, either.”
“Up until now, nobody has realized I'm a skeleton, have they?”
Li Xiuman patted Rorona's head and said, “This cloak will cover your face, so no one will see you. I promise.”
Seeing that Rorona was still trembling, Li Xiuman pulled out a spare cloak from his chest cavity and placed it over her head.
Rorona, whose face was already covered by a layer of Firewing Beast hide, was now covered up even more securely.
Clutching the cloak on her head, Rorona nodded.
“Just keep close to me.”
Li Xiuman turned and walked out of the dungeon.
Rorona hurriedly followed, exiting the dungeon with him.
Feeling the natural breeze on his face, Li Xiuman's mood brightened considerably.
“Come on, let's head to the Adventurer's Association first to turn in the quest.”
Li Xiuman oriented himself and walked toward the Adventurer's Association.
The adventurers bustling about the Landmark Tower all stared at Li Xiuman in astonishment.
Most of their attention was focused on the majestic horn of the Fire Lizardman King strapped to his back.
“Is that... Skeleton?”
“Did he just come out of the dungeon?”
“Is that the horn of a Fire Lizardman King on his back?!”
“He actually soloed a Fire Lizardman King? That's insane.”
“The pelt he's wearing seems to be from a fire crocodile from the twentieth-something floor.”
“As expected of Boss Skeleton.”
...
Paying no heed to the whispering around him, Li Xiuman walked straight toward the Adventurer's Association branch located near the Landmark Tower.
Beside him, Rorona looked around with a mix of apprehension and surprise.
“Master, are you really that famous?”
Rorona looked up at him with deep admiration.
He was clearly a skeleton, yet he managed to thrive so well in a human city. It was truly amazing.
“It's nothing special. And don't call me Master.”
“Yes, Master.”
They approached the Adventurer's Association and pushed the heavy doors open.
As Li Xiuman stepped inside, the thick, fermented stench of blood clinging to him rode a draft of wind directly into the hall of the Adventurer's Association.
“Urgh—cough!”
In an instant, several adventurers who were eating and drinking couldn't hold it back and gagged, some even vomiting on the spot.
“Who the fuck blew up a cesspool—”
The man who had thrown up was about to swear, but when he caught the cold gaze Li Xiuman swept over him, he quickly choked back the rest of his words.
What did deterrence look like?
As someone who had openly slaughtered a noble and a whole squad of guards in the streets of White Bear City, there wasn't a single adventurer in the city who dared to mess with Li Xiuman.
Yet, along with their fear, these adventurers also held a deep respect for Li Xiuman.
After all, he had publicly executed a noble who had long exploited and tyrannized adventurers.
Is it really that bad?
Li Xiuman muttered to himself, awkwardly averting his gaze as he walked toward the counter.
Seeing Li Xiuman look away, the vomiting adventurer let out a long sigh of relief.
For a second there, he felt like he was going to be killed.
The rumors were true. Getting looked at by Skeleton is like facing a monster.
I have no idea how he manages to exude such a terrifying, monster-like presence.
He's basically a humanoid monster.
He was very close to the truth.
“He—urp—hello. How may I help you?”
The receptionist squeezed out a strained smile on her pale, pretty face as she asked.
Between his heart-stopping, monster-like presence and the fermented stench of blood that nearly took her head off.
That the receptionist managed to hold back her vomit was a testament to her incredibly high professional standards.
It seemed that even in a magical world, no job was easy.
“I'm here to complete a quest.”
Feeling slightly self-conscious, Li Xiuman decided to turn in the quest as quickly as possible and head back to take a bath.
As expected of the legendary Skeleton. Decisive, swift, and wastes no time!
The receptionist praised him in her heart.
He fit her fantasy of the legendary adventurer perfectly, except for the smell... urk.
And this mature, skull-penetrating stench of blood only served to highlight Lord Skeleton's—gag—masculine musk.
He was practically—urk—a wild magical beast.
Li Xiuman untied the cloth strips, detached the Fire Lizardman King's horn from his back, and slammed it onto the counter with a loud thud.
“The quest to hunt the Fire Lizardman King.”
“And here is my adventurer's license.”
Li Xiuman slapped his identification card down next to it.
“I will process this for you right away.”
The receptionist carefully picked up his card-shaped adventurer's license and began inspecting the Fire Lizardman King's horn.
Li Xiuman watched silently, but his mind had already flown back to his bathtub at home.
When I get back, I'm going to soak in the tub for a whole damn hour.
I wonder if they have soap or bar soap in this fantasy world. Wait, this might be a business opportunity.
How do you make soap again? I should talk to Tedela about it. We might make a fortune.
Fats, lye...
As expected of Lord Skeleton. Standing there so silently, completely unhurried. He has such a—urp—powerful presence.
Even as he stands here, he is probably planning how to—gag—fight his next battle.
The receptionist sneaked side-glances at Li Xiuman as she inspected the horn.
“It is confirmed that you have completed the advancement quest. Your rank has been adjusted to Mid-Tier Adventurer.”
The receptionist handed back his adventurer's license with both hands.
Li Xiuman took the card and slung the horn back onto his back.
“Are you interested in selling this material to the Adventurer's Association?”
“The Association is willing to offer a very generous price.”
“No.”
Li Xiuman bound the horn back in place and walked out of the Adventurer's Association without looking back.
Just as he was about to shut the door behind him, an alarmed cry came from inside.
“L-Lord Skeleton! There's no need to close the door!”
Closing the doors right now would risk mass suffocation.
“...Fine.”
On the way back home.
Li Xiuman turned to Rorona beside him and asked, puzzled, “Am I really that smelly?”
“No, Master will always smell won—urp—wonderful!”
It seems like there's something wrong with their noses.
Li Xiuman decided to trust his own people.
Excellent judgment had always been his source of pride.
Back at his cozy little home.
He pushed open the door.
Having been away for half a month, his little home was covered in a thin layer of dust.
“Master, you should go bathe first. You can leave the house cleaning to me.”
“Alright, thank you.”
Li Xiuman began removing the fire crocodile hide and armor from his body.
He could see sticky strands stretching between his armor and leather, and his undergarments were practically glued to his bones.
“I can clean those for you, Master.”
Rorona quickly took his shed armor and crocodile hide.
“Don't overwork yourself.”
“Don't worry, Master!”
“I still have some strength in me!”
“Alright, I'll leave it to you then.”
Li Xiuman entered the bathroom.
Before long, a series of vigorous clanging sounds echoed from outside.
She sure is enthusiastic.
Soaking in the tub, he grabbed a wire brush and started scrubbing his bones.
This wire brush worked wonders, able to reach all the nooks and crannies of his skeletal structure.
Highly recommended by skeletons.
Rate on N.U.
