A few days have passed ever since they had the talk about runesmithing and Shiro's condition.
Ever since then, Shiro avoid talking about those subjects and instead focused on learning death magic with Danzel while she answered and explained stuff to the Anabast.
Though among them, the tallest Anabast asked him to be present at Shiro's lesson.
As he was the only one that Shiro couldn't guide in the ways of magic as she herself was clueless about death magic.
Which was a problem of its own as the tallest was much better at learning from him than Shiro herself considering he has an upgraded affinity for dead mana.
Moreover, once he accepted one, the others also wanted to take part.
So in the end, they decided to make a big session each day once they took a break from walking.
It was 3 hours of him teaching and then Shiro teaching everyone else, with all the time Koji and Niyuki being present and listening from the side.
Wherever they were paying attention or not Danzel was unsure as they stayed quiet the whole time.
Though those lessons were a massive time investment and slowed their march toward the unknown.
If it weren't for the fact that Shiro was getting tired, they would even have longer lessons.
Though that didn't mean that Danzel won't be efficient at this point.
When those 9 were learning, he always commanded his draugrs to spread around to scan the surroundings for when they once again went to travel, they will know which direction was the best to go.
But generally, the only thing that came out from it was which was the easiest path to go towards.
But today was different...
"I can feel bits of dead mana mixed there, but you lack control of that mana..." Danzel said as he stared at Shiro's hands trying to create dead mana.
Her mana looked extremely dark which was the result of dark mana, but hidden inside that cluster of mana, Danzel was able to see dead mana. He was trying to make Shiro aware of that mana to target and control the dead mana.
"Mhmmm!"
Shiro tried her best and Danzel could observe small improvements, but far from reaching the level of raising a skeleton.
And as Shiro was trying her best to control the dead mana.
One of the Draugrs came running towards them and called Danzel.
"My liege, we found something that might be worth reporting."
The sudden voice distracted Shiro, which made her lose control of the dead mana, but before it could touch her hand, Danzel send a wave of his own dead mana to wash off her mana. His control was so delicate that no harm was inflicted on Shiro.
That in turn made Shiro look at the Draugr with annoyance.
"What is it?" Danzel asked the Draugr with curiosity.
For one of his undead to come back before the designated time, it must mean either a threat or signs of people.
And as he suspected, it was one of the above.
"We found signs of potential beings residing nearby."
Nodding his head, Danzel raised up from seating down.
"Lead me there." Danzel said with the Draugr nodding his head.
"What about our lesson, Rue?" Shiro said confused.
"Postponed, this matter is more important. You should know."
Sighing to herself, she quickly followed behind the undead with Koji and Niyuki by her side.
It took them around 30 minutes to arrive at where the Draugr was leading them as they just walked there. Thanks to that, the spread-out Draugrs were able to catch up with the group.
And what they saw was quite the familiar sign.
Well, at least for Danzel that is.
What was in front of them was a skull of those haired buffalos that Danzel had killed which was stationed on top of a tree with many other skulls tight on its branched.
For Shiro, it was quite a terrifying thing to see, but to Danzel it was just bizarre.
Walking towards the skull tree, Danzel went ahead and started picking the skulls, only to find nothing particularly interesting.
It was only after he touched the big skull of the deceased-haired buffalo that something interesting came up in the status description.
[Bekai'mou Skull of Warning]: Having lost his way through a snowstorm, this Bekai'mou was hunted down by ice trolls. Now its skull was placed here as a warning that beyond this point, only death awaits.
"Hmpf, it seems like we found what we were searching for." Danzel said as he scoffed at the last pit of the description.
"Did you find something, Rue?" Shiro asked while avoiding staring at the skulls.
"Yes, this tree is just a warning that ice trolls have placed, marking their territory and such I would believe." Danzel shook his head.
He truly found it dump from the ice trolls to put a sign that was no different than telling others that they are nearby.
Drawing his sword, Danzel cut the tree with ease.
"Collect, the skulls." Danzel commanded his Draugrs.
Once stored for future bone shaping, Danzel took the lead to walk in front of the warning sign.
And not far away from the warning sign, they arrived to see various tents though the distance with large pale figures walking around.
Seeing that, Danzel smiled maliciously as his eyes flared up.
"It seems like we found them. That's one worry out of the way." Danzel said out loud.
Shiro looked at him and then at the village.
"Is it really alright to kill them?" Shiro asked awkwardly.
"Hmm, I don't see a reason not to. We are in need of their blood for you. Also, their information and bodies to continue my research. While killing them all is too much, the death of the majority would benefit us." Danzel said in his cold voice.
"C-Can't we ask them for blood and information? Even if they are unwilling, I am sure you Rue are strong enough to force them to comply, no? As for the bodies-"
"No, that wouldn't do. Even if I do what you said, I bet some of them will fight. Nonetheless, we are in need of their food. Or rather you are. Although we have enough, for now, that won't be the case forever."
"And taking into account the nature of those frozen lands, food must be scarce. I bet that for them, taking their food could mean no different than death to them."
Hearing those words, Shiro grabbed her staff with both hands and looked down at the floor.
Danzel didn't know wherever she felt guilty or ashamed and even if he knew, he wouldn't change his choice.
"Shiro, listen to me." Danzel said as he put his hand on her shoulder, making her look towards his flaring eyes.
His voice was neither sweet nor gentle.
But instead was the cold voice of the undead.
"I don't think you realized that your life is at stake here. If there is a point your illness acts and you don't have enough nutrients, you will seriously die. If that happens while you are starving, the chances of you dying is extremely high."
"And I don't know about you, but I don't want to give Agares the corpses of his granddaughter. When it goes for your survival...morality is secondary."
Bringing his hand away, Danzel turned around.
"Also, that magic that you learn is also a tool to kill. Although it's fascinating and can be used for good. You WILL encounter a moment where you can use that exact magic to kill. And when that moment arrives, hesitation can mean the end of you."
Shiro fell silent upon Danzel's words and couldn't see her face.
Wherever she was crying or was disgusted by his words, Danzel told her the truth and nothing more.
He also found magic fascinating and it was fun to discover its secrets.
But at the end of the day, it was primarily a tool to kill and protect oneself.
"Let's go! We are moving out!"
Danzel said out loud to everyone.
But unexpectedly, as the undead were preparing to move out, the tallest Anabast came forward.
"O Creator, may I make a suggestion?"
Surprised, Danzel looked at Anabast and observed his emotions, which were full of expectation and nervousness.
"And what might that suggestion of yours be?" Danzel said in his cold voice.
"I would like to suggest the eradication of that place to be left to us. There is no need to trouble thee, Creator, with a such small task."
Looking at the Anabast, Danzel fell into his thoughts.
'Leaving the job to them would make me miss the XP, but...'
After examing the feelings of each Anabast, he noticed what tallest was aiming with that suggestion.
"So you want to prove yourself?"
"Yes," All of the Anabast said, though the tallest and the one-eyed Anabast also had some desperation in their feelings.
'I guess not naming those 3 stressed them out.' Danzel could only conclude.
So after thinking about it, he nodded his head despite the fact that he will lose some XP.
"Alright, I order you. All 5 of you, go!"
"Leave 3 alive and if possible also their leader alive. As for the rest, kill them without any exception!"
"If you succeed, I will give reward each of you, now go!"
Hearing the last bit, the aura of the Anabast exploded.
"We won't fail there Creator!"
"We won't fail there Creator!"
"We won't fail thee Creator!"
"We won't fail thee Creator!"
"We won't fail thee Creator!"
The Anabast said before their skulls were hidden within shadows and flew towards where the ice trolls were residing.
With only one goal in mind.
Proving their strength.
