The artist gave the portrait to Ryder.
Ryder observed the portrait before showing it to Rale and High Duke Mila.
"It doesn't look like a normal skeleton. What do you guys think? Do you know about anything like this?" Ryder asked Rale and Mila.
" Generally skeletons are white. A black one should be easy to differentiate, that too one with the tattoo," Ryder continued as he hoped for a clue.
" I do know about black skeletons. They are generally Commander level Skeletons, which are normally more intelligent than normal skeletons," Rale explained to Ryder as he looked at the skeleton.
"True. Black Skeletons enjoy a good reputation in the Undead Region. They are stronger than average skeletons and can think for themselves," High Duke Mila suggested as she smiled.
" What about the tattoo of the skull? Do all black skeletons have a tattoo on the skull?" Ryder inquired as he looked around.
" They don't. I don't think I've seen a skeleton with a tattoo like that, at least not on the skull. That's what makes it so strange," High Duke Mila said as she frowned.
"I have fought in the last great war between the Death Domain and the Demon Realm. We saw many strange things as the war raged on, and millions were killed. The Death Domain warriors used a lot of Undead in the battle, but none of the Undead was like this. Either it's a new type of evolution that had appeared after the last great war, or it's a skeleton that the Death Domain Warriors weren't able to control in the last great war, making them not use it," she continued.
"So we have no proof that it's someone from the Death Domain. I guess I'll have to talk to the Vampire King," Ryder muttered as he frowned.
'I didn't want to meet him as that can get troublesome since he's here to find someone that we already killed, but it looks like I have no choice. I do have the quest which needs me to find the Black Skeleton. If I can, I might be able to get an opportunity to take part in an S-Rank event,' Ryder thought as he looked towards the girl standing before him.
" Anyone have any more information about a skeleton of this type besides what we already know about its origin?" Ryder inquired as he looked around.
Everyone looked at him and shook their heads. They knew about a black skeleton, which they already talked about, but they didn't know about a black Skeleton with that tattoo besides what they already shared.
Ryder understood the meaning of their looks, and Ryder started looking in the direction of the girl that had seen the skeleton in Demon Realm.
"Alright. You can continue. Describe everything that took place on the day you saw this mysterious skeleton," he told the girl.
The girl nodded her head as she started talking about that day.
"It was just two days ago. At around 9 in the night, I was going to a friend's house. I had to walk through an empty street, but when I reached there, I saw that skeleton. I immediately hid in fear since it looked scary. My legs and hands were shaking, so I couldn't do anything. I just stood there blankly and watched the skeleton leave," the girl told Ryder
"After a long time, when I finally gathered some courage and got my legs to move, I found the guards and told them about it, but they all thought that I was crazy. None of them believed that a skeleton could approach in the main city without being noticed by them. Even when I told my neighbors, they refused to believe me, I tried so much, but I was considered crazy. I can't describe how glad I am that I got to talk about this today and bring focus to this topic," the girl said as she sighed in relief.
She was really scared about the safety of this place, but as no one believed her before, she couldn't do anything with this Knowledge. She was excited that she got to share her information and that too, in front of the highest authority in the kingdom like the Prince and the High Dukes.
"Alright. Take me to that place. Miku, drop the visits to other Dukedoms. We'll leave this place after settling the matter about this skeleton. Send them a message about the delay. Tell them that I'll be there after two days," Ryder looked at Miku and told her to inform the others about the delay.
'Even though there is no time limit about the quest of finding the reason behind the missing demons but still, the faster I do it, the better. Two days should be enough to get an idea,' Ryder thought as he nodded his head.
"It will be done," Miku said as she nodded her head.
"That's good. As for you..." Ryder said as he shifted his focus back to the girl standing in front of him. "Take us to the palace you saw the skeleton at."
The girl nodded her head.
Ryder stood up with the others.
"Can you fly?" He asked the girl.
"I can't," The girl said as she shook her head.
"It's fine. Rale, you carry her. Flying should be faster," Ryder muttered as he glanced back at Rale.
Rale also agreed.
Ryder, Rale, High Duke Mila, and Devilia, along with a few guards, went back to the balcony and flew away, under the watchful eyes of the citizens.
The citizens had already guessed where they were going as they saw the girl being carried by them.
"They're taking that girl. They must be going to investigate the skeleton appearance!"
"True. The Prince and the High Dukes are already involved in this matter. There's no way that skeleton can roam around freely."
"I still believe that the girl is trying to fool everyone with the fake story. She is only trying to get some fame."
"That's possible as well, but if that's true, I'm sure the Prince will give her a death sentence."
The citizens started talking about them. Most of them believed that the girl was lying and talking about made-up stories. They were all proud of their demon lineage, and they looked down on skeletons. There was something really unbelievable at the thought of a weak skeleton being able to kill a demon.
Ryder and the others were brought to the portion of the street where the girl had found the black skeleton.
The street was still empty, but as they all landed there, it's started looking crowded since it wasn't a wide street.
