Chapter 63: Idmon, Tob, and the Dark Lord.

(Idmon POV)

The adventurer known as Tob woke up and is now thanking me non-stop.

Tob: "Thank you, Lord Idmon! Thank you!"

He was bowing again and again.

Idmon: "(t) Alright, stop already. I need to know more about your weapon. Can you tell me how it works?"

Tob: "Of course, sir! You can look at it all day!"

He was so enthusiastic about it. Bon said it was because I was his hero.

Although I don't remember him individually, he was part of the skeletons we dug up in the kingdom and turned into undead citizens.

I can't believe they were so thankful to me, even though I resurrected them so that I would get more workers and people in the castle.

After thinking about that, I went closer to Tob to examine his fists.

He had removed it, but the power still radiates from the fist. Bon was right about it being alive. I could feel the source of energy inside the weapon.

I put my hand above the weapon and tried to speak with the entity using .

Idmon: "(t) Hello. Is anyone there?"

???: "Hohoho. What is this? A new Skeleton King? But why are you so weak?"

His voice was menacing and reminded me of the Skeleton Duke way back in the North Region.

Idmon: "(t) You're the Dark Lord, I presume?"

Dark Lord: "I am; what about it? If you are thinking of dominating me, then forget it. I am not so weak to surrender my will to a skeleton whose power is lower than mine."

Idmon: "Then why are you helping this boy? He is a vassal of mine and technically under my command."

Dark Lord: "Because it's interesting! Hahaha! A boy skeleton is wielding the power of the Dark Lord!"

He seemed to enjoy what he was doing sincerely.

Dark Lord: "And so what if he serves you? Do you think he will remain the same after attaining so much power?"

He's right. Some people can easily change depending on how much power you give them.

Additionally, a strong person dislikes obeying orders from a weaker or commoner.

Arguably, some of my men are stronger than me, but their loyalty is the only thing that's keeping them from rebelling.

I treat them right so that they'll serve me out of loyalty and reverence, but how long can that last?

I need to attain more power to keep what I have now. To enforce peace and make a haven for my people, I need to do everything to become more powerful.

I remember that before, all I wanted to have was a place where we could be safe. That doesn't exist, so I have to make it myself.

Idmon: "(t) I see. That's understandable. Then I won't waste any of your time. I just wanted to know whose side you are on."

Dark Lord: "As long as the side has some fun and action, then I will be on that side."

I stopped communicating with him and raised my hand.

Bon: "How did it go, Lord Idmon?"

Idmon: "I know he will not be a threat to us."

Not yet, anyway. I turned to Tob and rewarded him.

Idmon: "(t) Since you have displayed heroism by covering your incapacitated comrades, I will give you this."

I gave him a letter of endorsement to my blacksmith, Golb.

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Idmon: "He can improve your first weapon and give you a custom suit of armor of your choosing."

Tob: "Thank you, Lord Idmon!"

Idmon: "As for the rest, I will reward 500 gold coins each."

Claire: "Thank you!"

Beko: "Finally, we can get better gear. Thanks, Lord Idmon!"

Even though I'm skeptical about what kind of equipment a treeman wears, I didn't say anything.

Idmon: "(t) That is all. Goodbye for now."

Tob: "Lord Idmon, wait!"

Tob stood up from his bed.

Tob: "Please let us help with the Paladins!"

Claire: "Yes, please. We also want to do something for our kingdom."

Beko: "The Tree people also consider the South Region our home. We want to help you."

They would be a great help to our army, but after talking to the Dark Lord, I can't risk placing Tob so close to me for now.

Idmon: "(T) Thank you for your offers. However, I cannot take your group into my army."

Tob: "Why? Is it because we are children?"

He looked sad; I could tell even though his face is just a skull.

Idmon: "No, that's not it. I see your group as talented adventurers, and adventurers are a big part of this kingdom too."

It's true. Soldiers can't always go monster hunting to keep the region safe.

The adventurers take care of that.

Idmon: "Don't worry, though; I will contact your group if I have a special mission that I need adventurers to help with."

Tob: "Thank you for considering our offer, Lord Idmon!"

Once again, they thanked me and bowed.

I left the tent since the searcher needed to tell me something.

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The Searcher: "Lord Idmon, I came here because I have urgent news that might help us take on the Paladins."

Idmon: "(t) What is it?"

The Searcher: "Unintentionally, our scouts discovered a sizable cave that was magically hidden. And inside the caves is something unbelievable."

Bon: "What did they find?"

Idmon: "Is it a weapon?"

The searcher said, "They can be our weapon in this coming conflict. They are dragons!"

Idmon: "(t) What the hell? I thought there were no dragons in Haven."

Monster registries and books did not mention dragons existing on this continent.

The Searcher: "Ancient scripts in my libraries mentioned them. Even from their timeline (1 to 2 thousand years ago), the dragons were very few."

Idmon: "I see. So how many ancient dragons exist in that cave? Also, I believe they are 8th to 9th tier; how can we hope to capture them?"

The searcher said, "Don't worry! There are no ancient dragons left."

Bon: "What?"

Idmon: "Then why did you say, Dragons?"

The Searcher: "There are indeed dragons—just young ones. Some can't even fly yet. I estimate them to be around 500 years old."

Bon: "Do you think the magic hiding them has anything to do with their age?"

The Searcher: "Maybe, since the scripts say that a clan of ascended humans killed all the Ancient Dragons but left their eggs intact, hoping to tame them when they hatched."

Idmon: "(t) However, someone hid the cave, and they never found it again."

The searcher: "That's right! So these eggs might have hatched some 500 years ago, and the person who hid them is still there, caring for them. Maybe even train them."

Bon: "Aren't they humans? They wouldn't last 1000 years, let alone 500 years!"

Idmon: "(t) Maybe the ones who hid it are not humans."

The Searcher: "True. There are a lot of races in the world."

This discovery could play a significant role in the coming battle if we can tame the dragons. Even if we can't, if we defeat them, we can make bone dragons.

The problem is how fast we can do this. The Paladins are going to move soon.

I have an idea.

Idmon: "Let's take a small team only to go to the cave."

The Searcher: "Why? There might still be some powerful dragons left there, and we need help."

Idmon: "If the Paladins find out we took a part of our army somewhere else, they might attack and wipe out the rest of our forces."

Bon: "That's right. Maybe we could get some help from our allies? The Dwarves and perhaps even the Ents and Tree people?"

Idmon:That's a good suggestion; let's do that."

The Searcher: "By the way, Lord Idmon?"

Idmon: "(t) Yes?"

The searcher: "Maybe you should bring Lina too. I believe she is getting bored in our capital, Un Deth."

Idmon: "(t) Hmm."

We might face some flame-breathing dragons, and taking Lina would be the right call.

I just don't know who will supervise the kingdom while she is gone.

Searcher and Bon will be coming with me.

Bon: "How about asking for help from King Yalk? I bet he's doing nothing useful right now, anyway."

Idmon: "Right. Let's leave the protection of the capital to him."

He might not display it, but he has immense power. It's much more than mine.

He's the zombie king, after all.

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Intermission: Lina's Sculptures

(Lina POV)

Lina was in her room in the castle, waiting for orders.

Something is keeping her busy, though.

Lina: "Just a little more, right there."

She was making ice sculptures. However, the shapes of the sculptures are very similar to each other.

Someone knocked on her door.

Lina: "Ah! Who is it?"

She quickly covered the sculptures with a cloth.

Skeleton Soldier: "It's a message from Lord Idmon."

Lina: "Really!? Alright, I'll open the door."

She flew towards the door to open it.

After she opened it, something unexpected happened. A wind blew from outside the window, and the clothing covering the sculptures flew away.

The sculptures were visible to the soldiers outside—even the guards.

Skeleton Soldier: "Isn't that Lord Id-"

Lina: "Ah! Stop it!"

She created an ice wall to hide the sculptures from view.

Lina: "Just tell me the message and get out!"

Skeleton Soldier: "Okay, ma'am. Lord Idmon wants you to join him in an expedition to a recently discovered cave."

Lina: "I see. Thank you. Sorry for shouting. Just forget everything you saw today, okay?"

Skeleton Soldier: "Y-yes, ma'am!"

He left, and Lina closed the door.

The Skeleton Soldier was confused about why she was angry.

Skeleton Soldier: "I guess that sculptures are a surprise for Lord Idmon, and that's why she didn't want others to see."

He walked outside the gate and thought about it again.

Skeleton Soldier: "Why were there so many of them, though?"

Meanwhile, in Lina's room...

Lina: "AHHHHH!!! It's so embarrassing! What am I doing?"

She rolled on the ground.

Lina: "Damn it! Damn it! I made them because it's so dull here in the castle."

She rolled some more.

Lina: "I'm going to meet him again soon. I hope that soldier keeps his mouth shut, or I'll freeze it for him!"

The Skeleton Soldier felt a weird chill on his spine while he was walking away from the castle.