Although Rody had potions for repair, fortification, and adding fire attribute damage, a broken-handled dagger was clearly inadequate against the hard stone walls. Fortunately, Nicholas, his tireless and uncomplaining Dark Servant, kept working without giving up.
Rody exhausted all his potions and used the alchemical magic ring to create a small but potent explosive potion. Only then was he able to break through the stone wall, turning a small crevice into a passable hole, wearing the dagger almost to nothing. The hardworking skeleton of Nicholas dug out handfuls of dirt with its bony hands, its hand bones wearing away severely from the relentless work. Meanwhile, Rody, mentally controlling the skeleton, would fall into deep sleep from exhaustion every now and then.
When Rody finally emerged from the small hole, covered in mud and seeing the stars in the sky, he couldn't help but shed tears of joy. It felt like being reborn.
Although Skeleton No.1 was left with only one arm, Rody didn’t abandon it. He discarded many alchemical reagents and catalysts and burned two sets of alchemist robes to make room for his hardworking Dark Servant in the magic ring.
"Mom, Mom, open the door!" Rody returned home covered in mud to find the animal trap at the door destroyed and a smell of blood, which alarmed him greatly.
"My baby, Rody, where have you been these days? You scared me to death!" His mother's voice, filled with surprised sobs, came from inside. Before Rody could react, the wooden door opened and his mother rushed out, hugging him tightly, her tears falling on his face. Rody wanted to cry out loud but didn't, instead patting his mother's cheek and trying to smile lightly, saying, "I accidentally fell into a mud pit and just climbed out."
"My heart, if anything had happened to you, I wouldn’t have been able to live..." Rody's mother kissed him frantically, not minding his mud-covered face.
It took two days for Rody's mother to truly believe her son had returned alive. She often woke up at night to touch Rody, reassuring herself that he was well before she could go back to sleep. She didn’t let Rody step outside the door for those two days, both for his safety and because she sensed something amiss around them.
Someone had been spying at the door but was injured by the animal trap and ran away. Although she didn’t know who it was, she was sure they weren’t well-intentioned. She guessed it might be related to her son's accidental fall into the trap but didn’t dare tell Rody, fearing he would worry.
Rody, who had narrowly escaped death, was so exhausted that he slept for an entire day. He had a bizarre dream where he became a powerful necromancer commanding thousands of skeletons, surrounding those who had bullied him, including the pope, Lady Mary, his two brothers, blacksmith Hendel, and the couple Markul and Emma. They were all trembling and begging for mercy while he laughed triumphantly...
In the dream, Rody also saw his father and wanted to kill him, but then saw his tearful mother pleading for mercy.
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Rody woke up startled to find his mother sitting beside the bed, holding his hand and crying.
"Mom, don't cry, I’ll make sure you’re never bullied again! Mom, please don't cry!" Despite knowing the world's disdain for necromancers, Rody resolved to practice necromancy to become stronger. Of all the magics, necromancy was most connected to the spirit element, which he felt would be easiest for him to learn. Although he couldn’t meditate or sense the dark element, Rody had devised a way in the chamber: to use Nicholas' body for meditation, gradually strengthening it to protect himself and cast spells on his behalf.
"Rody, I know you're a good boy, but you're still a child. Don’t push yourself too hard," Rody's mother said, unaware of her son's thoughts. Hearing him talk about protecting her, her heart warmed. She wiped away her tears and cheerfully got up to prepare dinner for her beloved son.
Every day, Rody would retreat into the depths of the forest, taking out the crystal skull and summoning Nicholas, his ever-loyal Dark Servant. He used Nicholas' body to sense the dark element, no matter how faint the progress was. After five days, Nicholas' body was filled with the dark element, significantly repairing his broken bones and worn arm, nearing full recovery.
If Rody had more time, he would have waited for Nicholas to regrow his arm and even learn to use his body to cast simple magic before moving away with his mother, as it would guarantee their safety on the road.
However, he didn’t have much time left. Marcus was watching him closely, and the date for Lot's promotion to Temple Knight was approaching. With less than a month left, if Rody didn’t leave soon, his estranged brother would likely send him to the stake as a sacrifice to the God of Light.
Before leaving, Rody knew he had to kill someone – Marcus. As long as Marcus, who was tasked with watching him, was alive, Rody and his mother couldn't escape from Koro.
Marcus, too, seemed to be losing patience. He sharpened his axe and spent his days dismantling Rody's traps in the forest. Rody, pretending to shop at a grocery store, learned that Marcus had bought new ropes and ordered two new wooden frames from the carpenter, seemingly preparing to make his move. A feeling of being hunted arose in Rody's heart, but it also ignited his anger and desire to kill.
Thinking of burning him and his mother alive on a wooden frame? In his dreams... The one to die would be Marcus!
Rody bought two daggers at the grocery store, along with various necessities. The female store owner, pleased with the business, subtly warned Rody to be careful and not wander around the town too much, to avoid running into the blacksmith seeking revenge.
Although Rody smiled on the surface, he felt a chill in his heart.
"My young master, are you finally well? Is there anything I can do for you?" Marcus, seeing Rody leave the house, followed him from a distance.
"Marcus, I caught a large wild boar. If you help me take it to the butcher, I can give you two rabbit skins! Or a live-caught little hawk." Rody hesitated, then added, "Put down your axe. You don’t need it to carry things!"
"Why not? I’ll follow your orders, young master. But don’t forget the two rabbit skins. Oh, and I want five pounds of wild boar meat!" Marcus really put down his axe and followed Rody bare-handed into the depths of the forest. His behavior made Rody slightly relax his vigilance.
Marcus casually followed, even unbuttoning his shirt to reveal his hairy chest. He was indeed unarmed, reassuring Rody further.
The wild boar had fallen into a trap and was tied up by Rody. It struggled for a long time before Rody stabbed it in the anus with a short spear. Marcus pulled the boar's body while Rody watched from a distance.
"My young master, are you just going to watch Marcus work alone? Come and help, I’m exhausted!" Marcus, red-faced with anger, said.
"Marcus, I'm still a child, I don’t have the strength," Rody flatly refused.
"Then come and untie the rope. I only have two hands, damn it, this boar is so heavy, heavier than my wife!" Marcus cursed as he slowly dragged the boar’s body. Rody saw the rope was indeed troublesome and carefully went to loosen it. When the rope loosened, Marcus fell to the ground, pushing the boar away and cursing as he got up.
Rody had just untied the rope and hadn’t put it away when Marcus suddenly charged from behind, pinning him to the ground.
His iron-like huge hand tightly grasped Rody's neck as he sneered, "Young master, I don't care for rabbit skins, because capturing you brings a bounty of ten gold coins. Do you know how many rabbit skins and wild boar meat ten gold coins can buy? Enough to make a small mountain, my dear young master! Do you know how long I’ve waited for this day? Do you think I need an axe to deal with you? I only need one finger to handle you, understand? You're just a useless waste!"