That night…
"Demon Slaughter and Fermos's group are supposed to be here by now. Why don't I see them?" Helene looks out the window. Outside, the city still shines with magical lights, with many shops and houses bustling with patrons from various cultures and ethnicities.
Outside, it is calm, the sky is clear, and the clouds are scattered.
"They go to the festival," I sigh and respond, "Without parents to control them like when they are on Earth, I believe they will return tomorrow."
Helene doesn't say anything more; she quietly gazes outside the window, where the lively scene continues, looking as if day and night are no longer affected: from a middle-aged man dressed in a Hanfu selling bags of herbs from the east, a European-style knight strolling down the street, looking dignified and strong, to a guy in a brown tunic selling bread to a girl selling trinkets in the market or a High Elf girl in hunting gear enjoying a Kebab.
Aldo sleeps on the bed for a long time. Zihao still hasn't returned. At least, I finally know what Demon Slaughter (whose real name is Shinji) looks like. He is a Japanese guy slightly younger than me, a bit shorter than Aldo, with white skin, dark brown eyes, a round face, and short black hair (a common feature of East Asians). He wears flip-flops and a rather unique Haori:
He usually appears in a suit that cleverly combines the traditional elegance of Japan with fantasy elements, all within a striking theme of black and blue. The deep black silk coat is tailored in a modern style but inspired by haori, with dark blue lapels decorated with silver anti-demon symbols and sleeves embroidered with intricate blue flames. Underneath the coat is a dark blue shirt that contrasts sharply, while black pants are accented with blue trim and swirling flame patterns. His accessories include a dark blue tie decorated with silver symbols, a pocket square with flame patterns, and silver cufflinks shaped like stylized flames. Completing the outfit is a black leather belt with a silver buckle and blue flame patterns, along with black leather shoes featuring subtle blue accents. Optional items like daggers or short swords inlaid with blue enamel further enhance the mystery of the suit. The blue flame patterns and protective symbols create a magical and luxurious atmosphere, making the outfit truly captivating.
Our team grows larger; hopefully, the chance of survival increases.
I glance at Aldo once more. He lies still on the bed, eyes closed, breathing softly and steadily. Helene also glances at Aldo and then at her own new body.
"Did your group not buy sanitary pads for women?" Helene opens the drawers and furrows her brow in concern as she asks me.
"What do you need?" I think for a moment and then say, "That's right; your body is female now. You mean menstruation, right?"
I lean my head against the wall and shake it.
"I fear there is no store selling them here."
"No store selling them? But your group knows how to create many items from Earth, right? So, don't you know how to produce sanitary pads?" Helene squints, replying in an interrogative tone.
"It's not that we can't, but no one in my group needs them," I slightly tilt my head and respond.
"You once mentioned to me that your group has a female slave, and if what you say is true, Aldo treats her well. He should pay attention to her menstrual cycle, right?" Helene says.
"No, Neva is only 14 years old," I reply.
"Girls usually start menstruating from the age of 10 to 12!" Helene emphasizes.
"I know." I look at Helene and slightly smirk. "But this is a medieval world, and Neva is still a slave, so she rarely gets enough food and proper living conditions. She is likely to menstruate only when she turns 18. However, after Aldo takes care of her with better conditions, she still hasn't menstruated. I guess it's around 15 or 16 when Neva will menstruate," I explain.
Helene sighs and breathes out in disappointment, then looks at me with a somber expression, her eyes drooping.
"So, can your group create sanitary pads or quickly find Bone Collector?"
"Either choice seems difficult…" I reply, "Moreover, we are facing difficulties and are starting to lose our main source of income, which is producing enzymes and chemicals."
I look at Helene once more.
"I fear you will have to adapt to this new body."
"I don't like this body," she responds in a low, sad tone, "The gender reassignment surgery doesn't compare to Bone Collector's Gender Bender. My body changes almost everything!"
"I know. But what other options do we have? All three of us in this room, including the sleeping Aldo, don't know how to use magic," I sigh.
Helene looks at me with understanding eyes, which hide a sense of helplessness.
We continue to remain silent for a long while…
"I know this is very hard to accept, but negative thoughts and suffering do not make you happier. Just sleep well and bathe in the onsen at the hotel tomorrow morning, okay?" I hug her from behind and comfort her.
"Thank you," Helene smiles faintly.
A moment later, she squints and realizes something is wrong.
"Hey, Veritas! Don't take advantage of me being weak to hug me. My consciousness is still male even if my body is female!"
"Second, why is there an onsen in the Arab cultural region!?"
"Oh, before it was banned and then used as a slave, the Japanese people were summoned here, probably from before the 18th century according to Earth's calendar, and spread this cultural trait," I nod and explain.
Helene continues to glare at me for a long while, an awkward silence stretching between us. Then, she finally speaks up:
"Is there any information about the Bone Collector there?"
"Near the onsen, there's a hotel library for guests passionate about the world of books. As I remember, there's also a section that archives texts about mystical creatures…"
Hearing my words, Helene smiles slightly.
…
The next morning…
Aldo still sleeps, no matter how hard Helene and I try to shake him awake, it's futile. How strange! I've never seen him sleep in so late; it seems the transformation yesterday, also his first time, uses up too much of Aldo's energy? Perhaps this is the only unusual activity he has done that day. Well, maybe I should learn a bit about Fleshmorph biology.
"Aldo won't wake up. He probably spent too much energy on his Fleshmorph shapeshifting ability yesterday…" I urge Helene, who stubbornly keeps trying to wake Aldo by shaking him.
"I know! I know!" Helene grumbles, "But besides those basic abilities, what else does Fleshmorph have?"
"I'm not sure either. Blood, perhaps?" I reply vaguely.
Immediately, Helene takes a needle and pokes Aldo's finger, which shows no reaction, and she uses a piece of cardboard to catch a few drops of his blood, leaving me surprised.
"It's brighter red, shinier…" Helene observes closely, while I stand there with my mouth agape at her actions.
Even more bizarre, she sticks out her tongue and tastes the blood!
"What the hell are you doing!?" I exclaim, placing my hand on my forehead and sighing.
"Pure, slightly sweet or neutral, with a faint herbal scent," Helene remarks.
"Are you a vampire or something? The taste and color come from the specific proteins that enhance the recovery abilities of Fleshmorphs!," I sigh, "If so, I guess my blood would be silver with a strong metallic smell; Fermos would have dark red blood with a sour and pungent scent, hinting at sulfur; and Helzard and Auburn would have black-red blood with an earthy smell, with hints of smoke or sulfur." I reply, continuing to observe Helene's strange behavior.
"Aldo's blood is thicker too…" Helene nods and comments.
"Have you tasted human blood before?" I ask in confusion.
"One time I hit my head and bled when I was little, so I tried tasting my own blood. That counts!" Helene replies innocently.
"This is the first time I see this weirdness from you, Helene," I frown as I look at her.
"Aldo's blood is likely more appealing to demons and vampires, or some succubi who use blood as a nutrient…" Helene speaks to me with the excitement of a child exploring the natural world.
"So, Aldo will attract those kinds. Meanwhile, with blood in this condition, it means Aldo's health is good, and his semen— a favorite food of succubi— will be like a gourmet feast for them," Helene continues.
"Why are you saying all this?" I ask.
"Has he ever been attacked by succubi or vampires?" Helene suddenly turns to me and asks.
"Never. Aside from Auburn and Fermos, no one has targeted those two species… I believe Aldo using peppermint and trying to shower with peppermint shampoo and soap is also a way to mask the scent," I nod and recall, "Why do you need to know this?"
"Come on, Veritas, besides alchemy and mechanics, I'm also interested in the natural world, especially higher creatures, their behaviors, reproduction, and social structures. The interesting part is that these behaviors are consistent, a result of countless events, and carry a rich history that leads to what that species is!" Helene responds excitedly.
"I think you're a bit too excited. Our main task today is to search for materials about the Bone Collector and attend the next session of the conference," I reply.
"Oh, right, I forgot," Helene responds innocently and carefree, "So let's go!"
I nod.
Right after that, we leave the room, leaving Aldo alone. We walk down to the first floor and meet Zihao, who is also coming to find us.
"Hi Zihao, how are you? How was the conference yesterday?" I wave at Zihao.
Zihao, a Chinese guy around my age, wears a bright red Hanfu today with some pink and orange ribbons, looking even more colorful as he hurriedly approaches us.
"Can you guys go see Chun-hei this afternoon? She has important information about the locations of the Sapphic sect throughout Mikhland! You don't need to attend today's conference; I will go and try to gather more new information," Zihao says hastily.
I am a bit surprised, raising my eyebrows as I try to organize all the information I receive. "Wait, wait a minute, Zihao. What's this about? Do you... have a relationship with Chun-hei!?" I frown immediately, "She just attacked us and even invited me to her place tonight!"
"Oh really? That's good! Just come quietly for me!" Zihao replies tersely.
"Wait, you need to explain this to me!" I grip his shoulder, catching Zihao off guard. "What is your relationship with Chun-hei!?" I ask sharply, surprising both Zihao and Helene.
"She is my cousin, a distant relative living in South Korea. However, I have more Han traits, and Chun-hei has more Korean traits," Zihao calmly responds to us, still maintaining that annoyingly placid expression. I look up and realize that Zihao also shares some features with Chun-hei.
"I don't need that information!" I reply.
"So she's an ally," Zihao answers. "Satisfied now?"
I nod and smile slightly.
"Then just go. As for yesterday's meeting, the uprising in Heilop's territory gets mentioned and it becomes a topic of discussion for two continuous hours. The pro-slavery faction loses some advantage before the bicameral parliament; Hitler shows a bit of anger…" Zihao continues, still with his calm and unshakeable demeanor.
"Something feels off!" I go silent for a long time, "By the way, Zihao, which side are you on?"
"The neutral side. It's not the best choice, but at least I still hear opinions from both sides!" Zihao replies.
"But you must go to Chun-hei's place tonight!" Zihao emphasizes.
"Are you scared of your cousin Chun-hei?" I tilt my head slightly, asking provocatively.
Zihao looks at me, silent for a long moment, his cheeks slightly reddening. "No. I'm not scared! It's just that she has important information!"
"Ah, Zihao, it seems we're a bit caught up in confronting a cult. Why don't we just pay some gold coins as a peace negotiation gift and focus on the main task of returning to Earth?" I look away, responding in a tired and indifferent tone.
"If you can do that, you can go to Chun-hei and discuss this option!" Zihao remains very calm, responding to me sharply and decisively.
Great! This guy somehow makes me meet Chun-hei!
"Let's skip this for now," Zihao waves his hand dismissively. "Where is Aldo?"
"He is resting, probably exhausted from using his Fleshmorph abilities," I respond briefly, appearing indifferent.
"He is a neo-Fleshmorph, right?" Zihao raises an eyebrow.
"How precise do you need to be?" I snap.
"Whatever you do needs to be meticulous and careful! Didn't anyone teach you that!?" Zihao calmly retorts.
I fall silent, squinting at him. "There are nearly 20 types of neo-Fleshmorphs. Aldo is exactly a pure descendant neo-Fleshmorph!" I reply.
"Alright! So I understand the situation now! When will Aldo wake up?" Zihao asks.
"Probably this afternoon?" I respond, though I feel a bit uncertain inside.
"Then remember to tell him to come along. Fermos's group has gone somewhere, and I have no way to summon them!" Zihao says, his calm tone revealing a hint of anger when mentioning Fermos (his tone gets higher).
After leaving Zihao, Helene and I continue to the hotel library, where we have heard rumors about ancient documents that might relate to the Bone Collector. The entrance to the library leads down a narrow, cold stone staircase, and the air grows heavier with the musty smell of old books, many of which have begun to rot. Under the dim light of the oil lamp hanging on the wall, we split up to search. Helene is very excited, while I regret not heeding the hotel receptionist's warning when entering the abandoned area. The reason this vast library is abandoned is quite peculiar, and I hesitate to speak of it; the hotel receptionist only mentions that this place has become a venue for forbidden carnal desires rather than a sacred space for knowledge.
After a while, Helene gently waves her hand, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of fear and curiosity. She holds in her hand a faded manuscript, an ancient poem about the Bone Collector, written around 500 BC. We sit down in a secluded corner of the library, and I carefully read each line aloud, my voice blending into the stillness of the library:
"Oh wandering girl in the dark night,
Struggling among the cold white bones.
Prayers from the past do not redeem,
But lead to a blind and lonely realm.
You seek a shadow in the night,
Hastily trading your soul for power.
The evil laughs loudly in the deep darkness,
Granting you both endless might and calamity.
But where is that shadow now?
What do you find among the dried blood and bones?
Those who were once friends now have families of their own,
The memory of you fades like the last autumn flame.
Your eyes blaze with fire, but your heart is filled with ashes,
Madness rises, shadows overwhelm.
You kill and consume the soul of the demon,
Forever becoming a wanderer of the dark night.
Sixty-five years pass, you return again,
Bringing with you the strange, the creatures of death.
Children morph into strange beings,
Livestock in the village also become bizarre.
The villagers tremble, lighting lamps but daring not to sleep,
Screams echo from deep within the forest.
Bone Collector, destroyer of all life,
Forever alone in the gloomy dark.
Oh wanderer in the black night,
When will you release your hatred?
Your shadow vanishes into nothingness,
Leaving behind whispers of quiet tears."
Both of us remain silent after finishing the poem. The images of the village girl and her bloody actions become vivid in my mind. Helene trembles as she closes the book, her eyes fixed on the darkness of the distant shelves. "I really don't think this could be true," she whispers.
Actually, it isn't as horrifying as Aldo's description of the neo-Fleshmorph lurker and parasitic with his cheerful expression.
I hesitate, then respond, "Even if it's just a legend, this story has sown fear for hundreds of years. In fact... perhaps we should learn more from those who have confronted the Bone Collector."
Helene nods and flips through the pages; finally, we come across another book, seemingly a local history document. It recounts an event from 65 years ago when the villagers in a remote rural area discover dozens of livestock and several children missing in one night. All they find are traces of mud and blood spilling across the main road leading into the deep forest. Many villagers say that on that night, they see the figure of a woman wrapped in a long black cloak, accompanied by deformed creatures of unclear shapes: a child with a goat's head, a sheep with an octagonal face, a pig standing on two legs with a human face, etc.
Helene continues flipping through the book, her face growing pale as she reads the pages recounting the first confrontation with the Bone Collector:
"In 789, a group led by the sorcerer Kalmir ventures into the forest where the Bone Collector hides. Kalmir is one of the most famous sorcerers of the time, accompanied by a team of warriors, guards, and a few young sorcerers. They bring all kinds of charms and weapons, preparing thoroughly. However, just a few hours after entering the forest, each of them begins to disappear, only to reappear with pale faces and hollow eyes."
Kalmir never leaves that forest. He loses his mind and begins wandering, whispering words that no one understands. None of his companions survive to return, except for a young sorcerer. This sorcerer recounts that in the final moment, he sees Kalmir facing a dark figure with glowing red eyes before being choked by his own hands in panic.
And we skim through events related to the Bone Collector:
250 BC - The event "Silent Spring"
In a remote village nestled in a valley, all living beings—including the inhabitants, livestock, and wildlife—lose their voices throughout the spring. The villagers report hearing heavy footsteps, and on each full moon night, their ancestors' graves are dug up, leaving behind strange markings with white bones arranged in complex shapes on the ground. When summer arrives, voices return, but the residents are haunted by the fear of the silent, voiceless time.
185 BC - The event "Bloody Dawn"
A coastal village suddenly loses all its livestock in one night, leaving only their corpses arranged in a strange circle in the village square. The villagers say that every time they look at the sea at dawn, the shadow of a woman with flowing hair and a black cloak appears, standing on the rocky shore, staring toward the village. They call it "Bloody Dawn" because the morning sun has an unusual red hue for several days.
120 BC - "The Crying Children"
During a freezing winter, a number of children disappear from the village in one night. The adults say they hear the faint laughter of a woman echoing in the air. Three days later, the children return one by one but have no memory of what happened, with pale white eyes, a vacant stare, and strange gestures as if they have lost their souls. Families have to lock the children in closed rooms until this condition gradually fades over several weeks.
55 BC - "Festival of the Living Dead"
In a village on the edge of the forest, during the winter festival night, the villagers see many strange dark figures swaying across the fields, moving unsteadily. Under the cold moonlight, these dark figures gradually reveal themselves to be human forms, but their faces appear rotting, and their limbs are deformed. It is believed that these are the children and livestock transformed into grotesque beings after being collected by the Bone Collector. The event occurs just hours before all the "living dead" disappear into the deep forest.
10 AD - "The Sleep Disaster"
The villagers suddenly fall into a prolonged delirium, sinking deep into a sleep from which they do not wake for three days. Upon awakening, they all say they dream of a woman in a black cloak, picking bones from abandoned graves. The dreams are identical for everyone, frightening them. After this event, the ancestors' graves that are checked are all empty.
75 AD - "The Sea of Bones"
A riverbank suddenly fills with pristine white skeletons, scattered among rocks and in the water. Researchers believe these are the remains of livestock and children who went missing from previous events, but no one can explain how the bones surface from the riverbed. Those brave enough to approach the river often return in a delirious state, mumbling about the image of a woman wandering by the river.
Oh! Helene, shy and strange, continues to read. I feel too frustrated, so I move to a corner to rest, thinking Helene will give up. I am mistaken! She reads it out loud:
410 - The case of Lugh, the woodsman
Lugh, a woodsman living near the forest edge, hears whispers whenever dusk falls. One night, while hunting, he accidentally encounters the Bone Collector standing in the woods, picking up the bones of a dead deer. Afraid but unable to retreat, Lugh takes a slice of cucumber from his dinner and throws it at her in panic. Surprisingly, when the slice hits the Bone Collector's black cloak, it bursts into flames. The Bone Collector recoils, her face contorted in pain, and then vanishes into the darkness.
445 - The story of Elsa, the desperate mother
Elsa, a mother who has lost her child, hears rumors about a dark creature that has been abducting children from the village. In her effort to find her child, she confronts the Bone Collector at the grave of the child. At that moment, with only a few dry pieces of bread in her pocket, she instinctively throws them out to keep her distance. The Bone Collector suddenly screams and retreats as soon as she touches the bread crumbs, her red eyes vanishing in an instant. Elsa recounts the incident to the villagers, and from then on, they begin to keep bread crumbs near their door to protect their children.
497 - The carpenter Edric and wood dust
Edric, a carpenter, has an encounter with the Bone Collector while building a new house in the village. The Bone Collector appears at dusk, but when Edric panics and throws the wood dust clinging to his hands at her, the Bone Collector cries out in pain, her skin seeming to burn. The villagers then keep a little wood dust near their work areas for self-defense.
531 - Tarik and miraculous phlegm
Tarik, a nomad, meets the Bone Collector when he strays into the plains after a storm. He tries to talk, pleading for his life, but the Bone Collector approaches, her cold red eyes fixed on him. In a moment of desperation, Tarik spits phlegm onto the ground and exclaims that she cannot touch him. The Bone Collector suddenly recoils, her hands appearing to be scorched. After that night, the story of "the phlegm of life" spreads, and the villagers believe that somehow, phlegm can protect them from evil.
558 - The legend of shepherd Mahmud and goat blood
Mahmud, a shepherd, sees the Bone Collector appear near his herd of goats. Knowing that any action could provoke her, Mahmud draws a knife, takes some goat blood, and draws a circle around himself. The Bone Collector hisses as she touches the blood, immediately retreating and disappearing. Mahmud returns to the village, recounting the incident, and from then on, goat blood becomes a protective tool for the nomads.
Wow! My team and I have to battle an ancient entity, a few cults, and many factions all at once! It's really exhausting! I thought being an adventurer for the Guild was the hardest thing! I was mistaken.
In 112 BC, there is a woman named Eirene, living in a small village that has now vanished from all maps. Eirene is a resilient woman, despite having endured many losses in her life. She loses her first husband to a plague, and her son disappears one winter afternoon without a trace. The whole village whispers that Eirene's son is one of the children "swallowed by the darkness," but she never gives up. Somehow, Eirene believes her child is still somewhere, lost amid the darkness and the mysterious forces surrounding the village.
One night, Eirene dreams of a grotesque creature, half-human, half-beast, wandering around the village's edge, occasionally stopping at houses to pick up little things. In the dream, the creature looks at her through a hazy mist and whispers, "If you want to see them, follow their traces." Upon waking, Eirene realizes it is not just a dream, but a vague clue—something she will pursue with both hope and fear.
Eirene begins her journey into the deep woods, where the people gossip about distorted creatures appearing on moonless nights. She follows small footprints, hears strange laughter echoing in the dark, and catches glimpses of blurry figures as if the creatures are hiding behind the mist and trees.
Then one night, as she enters a secluded valley, Eirene happens upon a group of bizarre creatures gathered by a stream. At first, she thinks the shapes resemble humans, but as she approaches closer, she realizes they are not entirely human. Their skin is wrinkled, their eyes cloudy like those of the blind, and their forms are distorted, closely resembling the animals she once kept in the village. But the most horrifying part is that, for a brief moment, Eirene recognizes one of the creatures as her missing son.
Compelled by a supernatural force, Eirene steps forward, wanting to touch the creature, wanting to save it from what has turned it into a stranger, but it shrieks and recoils in fear. She stands frozen as the other creatures also begin to retreat, gradually fading into the darkness of the forest. At that moment, a strange chill sweeps through, and the Bone Collector appears, tall and cold, with glowing red eyes and an arrogant demeanor.
The Bone Collector points at Eirene, whispering in a ghostly tone: "You have found them, but nothing will change. They are what they deserve to become." Eirene screams, questioning the nature of these distorted creatures, asking why they resemble the missing children and livestock from the village.
In a threatening tone, the Bone Collector tells Eirene that every 65 years, to maintain her power and form, she must absorb the "innocent lives" from the souls of young children or innocent livestock. After the children or livestock undergo her arcane rituals, they are no longer humans or animals but become distorted and tormented entities, forever bound to the Bone Collector. These creatures cannot return to their original forms; they can only exist in a state suspended between life and death, embodying broken dreams and twisted curses.
In her pain and hatred, Eirene screams a vow to break the Bone Collector's curse, to bring peace to those poor creatures. But the Bone Collector only laughs, a chilling sound like the cries of tormented souls. For a moment, Eirene feels the Bone Collector's terrifying power. She cannot save those beings, but she understands their true nature. Returning to the village, Eirene tells the story to the villagers in deep anguish, and her tale becomes a legend, warning future generations about the horrifying truth that the Bone Collector brings.
From then on, every 65 years, the villagers prepare, protecting their children and livestock, lighting fires around the village and placing protective items near their doors, as a reminder and a precaution against the return of the Bone Collector and the distorted creatures. The stories of Eirene remain a haunting warning, a secret passed down through generations to remember the sacrifice and suffering that those beings, once human, endure.
Helene crouches down, her hands trembling as she closes the book. She turns to me, her voice shaking. "It's just a legend, right?"
Such a familiar motif! It can't be more surprising than Hitler being reincarnated, I think to myself.
I don't respond, but I recall the other entries in the history book, detailing strange events that occur regularly every 65 years—a chilling coincidence. Helene also remarks that 65 years could be a very old age for the people in this world, like an endlessly long waiting cycle.
Helene closes her eyes for a long moment, then softly says, "I need… to escape from this for a while. There's an onsen here. Would you like to come with me?" She tries to smile, but her eyes still brim with fear.
I agree, and we head down to the hotel's onsen together. In the warm water, all the tension gradually melts away. We sit next to each other in the communal bath, mist and steam enveloping the surface, creating a hazy, tranquil atmosphere completely different from the horror we just read in the library.
After a moment of silence, Helene begins to speak. "When I was on Earth, I never thought I would end up in a world like this. I am German, living an ordinary life, sometimes a bit boring. My family protects me very well, although they give me a little freedom to satisfy my curiosity and explore my surroundings; they never let me go far for too long."
I already know she is German!
I nod, sensing the homesickness in her voice. "As for me, I am Vietnamese. My family is very simple. I never imagined I would experience things like this."
We continue to share fragments of memories, feeling closer in the solitude of this new world. This peace becomes a temporary refuge amid the nightmare called the Bone Collector.
Ah, and we haven't visited room 232 yet!!!