How to Deal with Those Who Live in Death

"Someone else who uses a letter as a name?" D asked curiously. "Who?"

"Just someone unimportant. Never mind that." Tarnished changed the subject. "Mr. D, was it? How did you want to work together?"

"You came here for Summonwater Village, didn't you?" D said unhurriedly. "But a 'Boat' has been sighted there. Since you disposed of that undead trash so decisively, I can lend you a hand this once."

Before Tarnished could speak, Rogier snapped, "D, why are you always so hostile toward Those Who Live in Death?"

D snorted. "It's simple, Rogier. People don't need a reason to hate vermin!"

"Those Who Live in Death are living beings too!"

"Living beings should have flesh and blood, not just a pile of bones."

"D, you're too extreme!"

"Rogier, you're the one being hopelessly naive."

The two argued fiercely.

Tarnished asked a question he already knew the answer to. "You know each other?"

"Yes. We're friends, both Tarnished from the Roundtable Hold," Rogier replied.

"We were friends," D corrected. "We went our separate ways after that filthy woman led you astray."

"Miss Fia is a Deathbed Companion. She isn't filthy!"

"Say whatever you like. All I know is that she's alive, yet sides with the dead. She's not just filthy, she's stupid!"

"You!"

D ignored Rogier and asked Tarnished, "Well? Will you accept my offer?"

Tarnished pointed toward Summonwater Village. "I don't think that'll be necessary."

D looked back and saw that Edgar had already led the troops into an assault on Summonwater Village. A hunched figure sat in a little boat. At a blast of his horn, dozens of Those Who Live in Death crawled out of the ground.

"Damn it, you shouldn't have attacked so recklessly!" D said urgently. "That's the 'Boat,' Tibia's Calling Boat! He's skilled in death magic. He can command Those Who Live in Death to fight for him and greatly strengthen those bones. Ordinary soldiers are no match for him. Without my help, your army will suffer heavy casualties. Tell them to retreat-"

Before he could finish, Edgar's troops had already engaged Those Who Live in Death.

Stormveil was still rebuilding, and the soldiers weren't particularly well equipped. They carried large wooden shields in one hand, and in the other, even masonry hammers used to repair the walls. Just as Edgar had said, Those Who Live in Death had no muscles and little strength, so wooden shields could withstand their attacks. Meanwhile, masonry hammers could shatter solid granite. Breaking human bones was child's play.

After all their recent roadwork, the soldiers were exceptionally practiced at swinging their masonry hammers. They blocked attacks with their greatshields, then brought their hammers down hard. Those Who Live in Death couldn't withstand a single blow, their bones smashed to pieces with resounding crashes. Just as a black glow rose from the dust and the bones began to reassemble, the pot throwers behind them splashed over a piss... a pot of holy water. With a sizzling hiss, the bones disintegrated into motes of light and ascended on the spot.

And so the living pressed forward step by step, while the dead were driven steadily back.

Seeing the battle turn against him, Tibia's Calling Boat sounded his horn again to summon more of Those Who Live in Death, then chanted a spell to strengthen the skeletons.

"Not a chance!" Sharp-eyed Edgar immediately brought out his trump card. "Your boat may be sturdy, but my artillery is no less formidable!"

At his command, several soldiers wheeled over a ballista. One raised his thumb toward the Calling Boat. Naturally, he wasn't praising his opponent. He was taking aim.

"General, everything's ready!"

Edgar took a deep breath and bellowed, "Fire!!!"

With a bang, a soldier struck the trigger mechanism hard with a wooden mallet. The bowstring, made from dragon sinew, snapped back. A hum rang out as an enormous explosive bolt shot forth, tracing a beautiful arc through the air. It struck the Calling Boat squarely as he lurked in the rear, believing himself perfectly safe, and blasted him to pieces with a thunderous explosion.

Without the Boat's support, Those Who Live in Death became pathetic weaklings again. The soldiers in front smashed them apart, while those behind splashed them with water. The troops swept straight through, soon helping every moving skeleton ascend. Then they took out torches and began burning the enormous tree growths infesting Summonwater Village. These were plants infected by death, just like the Thorns of Death that had once plagued Stormveil. They made decent ornamental plants for the dead, but for the living, they were time bombs that could explode at any moment. If they wanted to truly reclaim Summonwater Village, none could be left behind.

Under this baptism of water and fire, Summonwater Village was swiftly purified. That was what an army did: simple, efficient, swift, and direct. No matter how hard a lone Tarnished worked, they couldn't achieve this. But in the hands of a professional army, Summonwater Village could now only be described as cleaner than Strath*lme.

Having watched the entire process, D stood with his mouth hanging open.

Tarnished asked, "What were you saying my army should do?"

D: "..."

With the facts laid out before him, even this aloof man could only bow his head. He placed one hand over his chest and bowed respectfully. "I apologize for my earlier rudeness. New lord of Stormveil, your strength is beyond question, and your resolve commands admiration. Your merciless treatment of Those Who Live in Death is an example everyone should follow. I sincerely beseech you to make greater use of your power and purge Those Who Live in Death from the Lands Between entirely!"

"Tarnished!" Rogier panicked. He wanted to protect Those Who Live in Death, and the last thing he wanted was for Tarnished to agree to D's request.

Afraid that Rogier's attitude might sway Tarnished's decision, D immediately said, "Rogier, humans must stand with humanity. Your foolish kindness will only lead a wise ruler astray!"

When Tarnished still gave no answer, D dropped to one knee and raised the stakes again. "If you are willing to eradicate all Those Who Live in Death, I will swear allegiance to you!"

Rogier panicked, knowing how much Tarnished valued other people's strength.

Sure enough, Tarnished was moved. He slowly nodded. "All right. I will destroy Those Who Live in Death."

"Tarnished, you...!" Rogier felt as though the sky had fallen.

"Roger, Those Who Live in Death are attacking the living. I have to do this," Tarnished said sincerely.

D nodded repeatedly. "Exactly. Those dead things have been attacking the living all along. They're a blight that should never exist! New lord of Stormveil, you have made an absolutely correct decision. I will honor my promise and serve you!"

Tarnished smiled. "Stormveil welcomes you, D."

Rogier felt furious and cold, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Discovering the Prince of Death's secret was a good thing. Finding a leader worthy of my allegiance was another good thing. Two good things together should have brought even more joy and happiness. But I was here first. Why did it turn out like this?

Just as Rogier was about to make another attempt to persuade him, Edgar walked over. "Tarnished, we found... something in Summonwater Village. You'd better come and see."

"All right. I'm coming."

Anything important enough for Edgar to report in person couldn't be a small matter. Tarnished immediately headed into the village. As the newest recruit, D naturally followed, and Rogier hurried after them, unwilling to be left behind.

Edgar led the three of them to a cellar.

A cellar was practically mandatory in the Lands Between's architectural style, and Tarnished had long since stopped finding it strange.

Some long-necked turtles lingered outside the cellar entrance. Summonwater Village was rich in water and vegetation, so it was hardly surprising that these animals had made their home here. Tarnished was considering setting up a long-necked turtle breeding farm alongside the textile production base when the sight inside the cellar startled him.

The cellar wasn't large, but it was packed with Those Who Live in Death.

Unlike the weapon-bearing undead outside, these Those Who Live in Death were armed mostly with farm tools such as hoes and sickles. Several large skeletons stood at the front, while smaller skeletons huddled in the corner with even smaller ones in their arms, trembling with a clatter of bones.

"What's this?" Tarnished couldn't quite make sense of the situation.

Edgar explained, "This cellar had an imp seal. Luckily, I had a few Stonesword Keys on me, so I could open it. The seal was probably also why the Calling Boat couldn't control these undead. We were startled when we came in, and so were they. But they didn't attack immediately. They just took up this defensive stance. I've never seen Those Who Live in Death behave like this, so I asked you to come take a look."

Honestly, Tarnished had never seen anything like this either. Last time, he had killed every one of Those Who Live in Death he encountered. Perhaps he had seen it and simply hadn't paid attention.

A closer look revealed more than thirty of Those Who Live in Death. The larger skeletons seemed to be playing the role of husbands, with seven or eight of them. The smaller skeletons seemed to be wives, numbering over twenty, while a dozen or so of the smallest skeletons played the role of children.

Those Who Live in Death were nothing but bones. They obviously couldn't have children, so there couldn't really be husbands, wives, or children among them. Right now, they seemed to be...

"Imitating families?" Tarnished said uncertainly.

D sneered. "Probably just remnants of memories from their lives. Don't hesitate. Destroy them completely!"

"No!" Rogier stepped between the two sides and spread his arms. "Tarnished, spare them. They haven't attacked anyone, have they?"

"You mustn't go soft!" D stressed again. "Tarnished, Those Who Live in Death must be dead!"

Silence fell. Everyone waited for Tarnished's decision, including the undead.

"Edgar," Tarnished said.

"Here." Edgar stepped forward. He wasn't on Rogier's side or D's side. He stood only with Tarnished. Whatever Tarnished ordered, he would do.

The larger undead standing guard nervously tightened their grips on their farm tools.

"Confiscate their weapons and organize them to help rebuild Summonwater Village." Tarnished stroked his chin. "Since they're skeletons, they shouldn't need food, drink, or rest. They can keep working indefinitely, right?"

"Huh?"

Everyone froze. None of them had imagined that Tarnished would come up with such a bizarre idea.

"Wait!" D exclaimed. "How can you take in Those Who Live in Death?!"

"Because we're short of workers," Tarnished said as if it were obvious.

"Those are completely separate issues!" D shouted. "Those Who Live in Death should all be destroyed. You just promised me!"

"I did promise to destroy Those Who Live in Death. I won't show mercy to the ones who hurt people, but I'm willing to give the harmless ones a chance." Tarnished glanced at Rogier. "As Roger said, they used to be human too. We shouldn't slaughter one another."

Rogier was so excited he nearly wet his pants. He felt that if he were a woman, he'd gladly let Tarnished stand up and pound away at him. "Tarnished, thank you. Thank you so much!"

D, however, looked as though he'd been betrayed. "This isn't what we agreed on. I won't honor my promise to serve you anymore!"

"That's all right, Mr. D. Stormveil welcomes anyone who comes and won't stop anyone from leaving. Your departure is regrettable, but Stormveil's gates will always remain open to you. You're welcome to return whenever you like."

"You!" D was furious and frustrated. He was furious because Tarnished was just as softhearted toward Those Who Live in Death as that idiot Rogier, and frustrated because such magnanimity commanded his admiration and made him reluctant to leave.

Tarnished offered no further argument. He told Edgar, "Carry out the order."

Edgar scratched his head. "Confiscating their weapons isn't a problem, but getting these undead to help with reconstruction... I don't know how to communicate with them."

"Let me do it," Rogier volunteered. "Tarnished has done so much for me. Now it's my turn to do something for him. I promise I'll make sure they obey and never hurt anyone."

And so the matter was settled.

Tarnished gave these thirty-odd undead a chance, and they seized it.

Perhaps time had given them a spark of intelligence, or perhaps there was some other reason. These Those Who Live in Death were capable of simple communication. Though their understanding was extremely limited, through Rogier's efforts, the living and the dead finally reached an agreement.

These undead would remain in Summonwater Village and work for Stormveil. In return, Stormveil would guarantee their safety and provide them with a place to exist.

Those Who Live in Death asked for little. Without flesh, they had no need for food or drink, and thus few desires. The place they wanted was simply a corner of Summonwater Village, once an ancient graveyard lined with rows of stone coffins. They had slumbered there since the era before Erdtree burial became common, until the Prince of Death's power awakened them.

Simply put, they were people who had died before the Golden Order was established. That was probably why they differed from other Those Who Live in Death. As for how their bones had survived so long without decaying, this was a magical medieval world. The answer was divine power and magic.

"Phew." That night, Rogier let out a long breath and slumped in a chair. Though utterly exhausted, he looked thoroughly satisfied.

D, by contrast, looked thoroughly irritated.

Well, D had kept his helmet on the whole time, so his face wasn't visible at all. Tarnished was only guessing about his irritation, but he was probably close enough.

"This is absurd! Taking in Those Who Live in Death! Tarnished, you're playing with fire. You should change your orders immediately and throw those bones into a pool filled with holy water!" D was still trying to persuade him.

"That won't do. Holy water is an important product. If bone fragments or other foreign matter get into it, Stormveil's brand image will suffer." Tarnished shook his head, then smiled. "Come on, D, don't be so tense. It's only thirty-odd undead. They can't cause much trouble."

"Those Who Live in Death should be exterminated!" D remained a staunch advocate of genocide.

"But the problem is, we can't wipe them out." Tarnished sighed softly and continued seriously, "You hunt Those Who Live in Death all the time, so you should understand. As long as the Prince of Death remains, they'll keep coming without end. Your ambition to restore peace to the world is admirable, but you also need to consider reality. Faced with an endless stream of undead, killing them only treats the symptoms, not the cause. We need to solve the problem at its root."

D's eyes lit up. "You mean kill the Prince of Death?"

Tarnished was speechless. "Even the Night of the Black Knives didn't finish off the Prince of Death. What am I supposed to kill him with, my head?"

D knew he'd jumped to conclusions. "Then how do you intend to solve the problem at its root?"

"It's simple," Tarnished said. "Those Who Live in Death are really just a special kind of creature. They need space to exist and have a primal desire to expand their population. That brings them into conflict with the living. But all of this stems from chaos without rules. Which territory belongs to the living, and which belongs to the dead? How should the undead expand their population? How should the living view the resurrection of the dead? Without sensible systems and rules, conflict keeps breaking out. Destroying one side would naturally end the conflict, but the problem is that we can't destroy the living, and we can't wipe out the dead. So what we need to do is..."

D ventured, "Keep killing them?"

Tarnished rolled his eyes. "Establish rules. Regulate where the dead can go and how they behave. We also need to establish new ways of thinking, so the living can view the resurrection of the dead properly."

D was somewhat bewildered, but Rogier suddenly understood. "I see. You mean..."

"If there are no rules, we'll establish them." Tarnished smiled. "Have you heard of An... the underworld?"