Book 2: Chapter 47 (2/2)

Mr. Skelly frowned at Alice before turning his head towards Henry. “You’re right. She does have a stick stuck up—”

“Please don’t agitate her further,” Henry said, cutting off Mr. Skelly. “Guild master, you’re causing a commotion.” He glanced at the surrounding people. They were pointing at the group while whispering to each other.

“I’m causing a commotion? You’re the ones throwing a party to celebrate a necromancer!” Alice shouted and pulled her hand back. Mr. Skelly’s arm snapped off with a loud crack. “What are you going to do if the holy dragons find out? Everyone here will be declared traitors to the throne! What good is your head for if you can’t even use it to think!?”

Henry bit his lower lip. “What other option did I have? You ran away to play adventurer, and the mayor passed away due to the earthquake. The only ones offering to help were the skeletons. Was I just supposed to let everyone die because of the holy dragons’ words? How could I when they’re already proven false?”

Alice gritted her teeth and flinched when someone tugged on her sleeve.

“Calm down,” Tafel said and retrieved Mr. Skelly’s arm. She passed it back to the skeleton. “Despite their deviant behavior, the skeletons aren’t bad people. They don’t kill or do anything to harm anyone. In fact, they improve the qualities of people’s lives everywhere they go.”

“It doesn’t matter how they act,” Alice said. “Their existence is a mockery of life. All undead should be purged with holy fire.”

“That’s some serious propaganda the holy dragons have been spreading,” Mr. Skelly said and scratched his head. “How am I a mockery of life? I feel very much alive if I may say so myself. I remember everything from when I was alive, and quite frankly, I’m glad I was brought back by the resurrector.”

Alice made a face. “How many undead are there?” she asked Henry, causing the man to flinch.

“A-about a thousand,” Henry said.

“Oh, that’s not a lot,” Tafel said and looked at Mr. Skelly. “Can you accomplish Grimmy’s mission with so few numbers?”

“Oh, it should be fine,” Mr. Skelly said. “Overwhelming numbers is only one tactic in our repertoire; there’s a lot more we can do.”

“A thousand undead isn’t a lot?” Alice asked, her expression darkening. She ground her teeth together and jabbed Tafel’s ribs with her finger. “This is your fault.”

Tafel blinked twice and pointed at herself. “My fault? How is this my fault?”

“And fault implies something wrong was done,” Mr. Skelly said, raising one finger into the air. “No one’s at fault because nothing happened for someone to take the blame.”

Alice glanced around at the streets of Anfang. Everyone was still chattering and laughing amongst each other. She bit her lower lip and glared at Henry. “When this celebration is over, we’re having a serious discussion.” Her shield shrank in size as she turned her gaze onto Mr. Skelly. “You as well. When does it end?”

Mr. Skelly cackled. “The party never ends.” He took a jug off a nearby skeleton waiter. “Have a drink?”