Chapter 2. Died and Reborn, But..(2)
After dying and waking up I found out that I became a skeleton. My mind was in total chaos. What happened to me? Why I became a skeleton? I asked myself questions who's answer I didn't know.
I am..A mob...?
How did that even happen?
There was no doubt that I was eaten by a dragon. But despite that I am still living...
Am I even alive right now?
Isn't skeleton an unded mob incapable of dying?
Even with the consciousness and ability to move my body, Am I still classified as dead ?
No, rather than that, what should I do in this situation. That's the first thing I should be thinking of.
Since,I cannot talk with this body. If I returned to Town, I'd immediately branded as a monster and became a target to get rid of. I can't return to the town just to be killed.
So, do I just continue to live here?
But even if this is a labyrinth near the border, people stringer than me are wandering around.
If I ran into someone like that, I would be able to escape?
"This is more troublesome than I thought".. I mumbled to myself.
Whether I live or Die, A monster like me doesn't have choice....
Do I bury myself deep in the Labyrinth and distance myself from humans..?
No, just because I'm a monster doesn't mean I'll get along well with other monsters.
If I get defeated by someone stronger than me as a <<skeleton>> that's the end.
Becoming food for the other mobs...
That's when that a crezy thought came to my mind.
"... Hmm?"
"Food...?"
"Monsters food..."
...!!...
"That's it!
" There was another option ! Now that I am a monster like this. I should be able to do it, right?"
"𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍"
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It was one of the day where Jared come to visit a lab where he meet and chat with the scientist.
Her name was Lorraine Leonard.
After having some talk with Jared , Lorraine said to him, " Jared there is this certain strange trait that can be found in monsters. They can absorb magic energy from the monster they defeat. That process is called as an '𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍'.
" EXISTENTIAL EVOLUTION..? Jared asked confusion written on his face.
Lorraine smiled at him and said " Humans can also absorb ->strength<- from the monsters they defeat. But there's a natural difference in the absorbing rate and quality between Humans and monsters."
" Humans can absorb magical powers too, But not all of it efficiently used. That's why there are those who become strong, after an outrageous number of years. However monster body are strongly influenced by magic."
" The difference is attributed to the difference in cells within the body and inherent balance of magic but..... Basically, the more you fight, the stronger you'll get. If only we knew how it worked, we might find some useful information about the circumstances that the monsters in the Labyrinth live in. "
After saying that Lorraine took a book from nearby shelf and handed them over to Jared and said," Here are the recorded documents. Now then ,as the price for the information, How about I have you clean up my room."
" You're the same as ever Lorraine...
I'll get right to work then..."
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After recalling this conversation with Lorraine, a small smile appear on his face.
"Wouldn't I be able to do it now? EXISTENTIAL EVOLUTION"... he thought to himself.
After that, I read quite a bit of research books on monsters.
'When skeleton evolves they become ghouls.'
I read something like that in one of them. While a ghoul is still an unded creature, it resembles a human being more than a skeleton. If I cover my flesh with robes and face with mask, I should be able to insist that I'm a human...
With that, I might be able to go back to town and explain what happened to some people I know.
Honestly, I don't know if I'm even a monster right now. I know it might be absurd idea, but it's only thing I can do right now. I'll defeat monsters and aim for Existential Evolution.
And so, I let out sigh, physically unable as a skeleton, in my mind. And steeld my resolve, clinging to a hope I didn't want.
"𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵, 𝗜'𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹."