“Well... a figurine’s a figurine, I guess...”

“It’s not like controlling myself is anything new...”

With that, I had Eileen move closer so I could control my body more accurately.

“Crack!!”

The hard Bone Blade pierced a crack in the rock. With each careful movement, my body began inching toward the patch of silversteel flowers.

Come to think of it, these flowers usually grow in huge clusters. But they’re incredibly hard, so the only way to harvest them is to dig them up from the roots.

“Hmm... I can’t see very well...”

Eileen lifted me over her head and posed like she was praising the sun.

But I was simply too far away, and there were obstacles in the way. Even with my enhanced eyesight, I could barely make anything out.

“Anyway, let’s dig up that whole patch of earth!”

Krrrk...

My body paused for a moment, then raised the Bone Blade high and drove it hard into the rock beside the silversteel flowers.

Then I used it as a lever to dig the flowers out!

The whole process went smoothly. The soil was softer than I’d expected.

Before long, the silversteel flowers began tumbling down one by one.

But...

Before we could celebrate, we discovered a new problem...

“Oh, crap...”

How am I supposed to get down...?

Eileen held my skull in one hand while bending down to toss the silversteel flowers into the basket on her back. She thought it over, the ahoge on her head orbiting around like a satellite.

“Can’t you just climb down like that?”

I tried to shake my head, but realized I couldn’t move at all. All I could do was twitch my jawbone.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. You know, climbing down a mountain is way harder than climbing up.”

“If I miss a step, you’ll have to carry me around for the rest of the time we’re here.”

Eileen shuddered, breaking out in a cold sweat, and said nothing more.

After a while, no more silver flowers fell.

【Target gathering complete. No remaining targets detected within range.】

【Total gathered: 36 flowers】

“Oh, nice!”

We got more than we needed!

Looks like Dad can pay me a little extra!

“Now then...”

【This system will project its calculations and current predictions into your field of vision in real time.】

Paper-chan’s voice was cold, yet utterly serious. I couldn’t help tensing up.

【However, you must issue all commands yourself. Every fine adjustment will be based on the data in your field of vision.】

【This system can take over your senses, but it cannot control or interfere with your consciousness.】

【This experiment is extremely important. Its results will directly affect future flight attempts.】

[I understand.]

I gritted my teeth and gave myself a pep talk.

“Phew...”

“Eileen, stand back.”

She nodded, hugged me close, and jogged over to one side.

Once I saw that she was out of the danger zone, I told her to stop.

“Now then...”

I focused on the faint, tenuous connection between myself and my body—the thin line controlled by the magical ribbon.

Then I issued the command.

“Jump!!”

At once, my body reacted as if by reflex. It kicked hard against the cliff and leaped into the air!

“Now!! Get into position! Hold your arms out straight!!”

Without hesitation or delay, it did a somersault, found the best position, and stretched both arms out.

A second and a half had passed. Less than four seconds until impact!

“Quick! Spin!”

Brrr-r-r-r-r-r-r!!!!

Its arms spun! Dust and stones flew everywhere!

But all that did was slow its fall.

“Faster!”

A red warning suddenly appeared in my field of vision!

【Maximum limit reached.】

Paper-chan’s sudden voice startled me. I took half a second to react, frustrated and unwilling to give up.

No good! Even with the Bone Blade upgraded, there’s still a limit to how fast I can spin!

In the end, all I could do was watch my body spin helplessly, fighting against gravity.

Still, I was lucky. Even though I didn’t manage to fly, my body eventually began to fall at a steady speed.

BOOM!!

The moment my huge body hit the ground, a deafening crash rang out. The dust it kicked up even hit Eileen and me.

“Cough, cough... Mr. Ojer, fir—cough, cough...”

Choking on the dust, Eileen hurriedly shut her eyes and crouched a little, shielding her face with her staff.

Meanwhile, I watched without a care as tiny stones bounced into my eye sockets and fell back out through my skull.

Before long, the dust settled...

“Sigh...”

I let out a helpless sigh.

“Come on, Eileen. Let’s see how things turned out.”

The girl brushed the dust off her clothes, nodded, and walked over to my body, which was sprawled in a heap.

“Hmm...”

It didn’t look like... anything was wrong...

There were no obvious cracks in the bones, and they weren’t broken into a bunch of pieces. Everything was still connected where it should be.

Except for the hole I’d smashed into the ground...

“Eileen, put my head back on. Make sure it lines up with my spine.”

“Oh, okay.”

She climbed onto my legs and put my head back where it belonged.

“Hmm...”

In less than a minute, I could turn my neck again. But I didn’t get up right away. I waited for Paper-chan’s checkup report.

【Checking...】

【Check complete.】

【Unit sustained minor damage.】

【Multiple bone fractures. Twelve bones lost. Third rib on the right side broken.】

【Limbs are in good condition.】

【Damage is within tolerable limits.】

“Phew...”

It seemed I was more or less fine. I breathed a sigh of relief and fell silent as two recovery skills worked to repair my body.

Seeing me fall into “meditation” again, Eileen blinked and started sorting the silversteel flowers we’d gathered.

Out in the wilderness, the two of us settled into a brief silence.

A few minutes later...

【Repairs complete.】

I nodded and carefully got to my feet.

“Heave-ho...”

Then I bounced up and down a couple of times.

“Hmm...”

I really was as good as new. I couldn’t feel a thing out of place.

Looks like magic is a lot more reliable than a fully automated workshop.

Still, it was a shame. I’d managed to fly... but landing was a tricky business...

Or maybe the situation this time was just too extreme...?

【Data collection complete.】

【This system has calculated the theoretical optimal values.】

Paper-chan’s words gave me confidence.

【Next time you take off from a stationary position, you’ll be able to take off and land perfectly.】

[Really?]

【Yes. What’s more...】

【You’ll be able to control other enhanced skeleton soldiers in flight.】

[Holy crap, that’s awesome?!]

Does that mean I won’t have to do anything from now on?

If anyone attacks, I can just send out a few hundred flying skeleton soldiers and lie around at home. That’ll take care of everything, right?!

This is just—

“Mr. Ojer, you’re alive again?”

But Eileen’s voice cut off my wild daydreaming.

She saw me standing up and grinning stupidly to myself. Pouting, she handed me the armor I’d tossed aside earlier.

I gave her a wry smile, took it, and started putting it on.

“Alive again...? I only dropped my head...”

“Hmph!”

She gave a little huff and turned her head away.

“....”

Her sulky reaction caught me completely off guard...

“Well... the job’s done! And we got more than we needed! Now I’ve got some leverage to bargain with Dad!”

“Come on, Eileen. Let’s head back to the guild and turn in the quest!”

The thought of getting paid in gold had me practically beaming!

But...

“Brrr...”

She shuddered and looked at me.

Then she quickly backed away a few steps.

Me: “....”

Eileen: “I don’t want to carry your head again. It felt so weird...”

“Ah... okay...”

I didn’t dare say anything else. After agreeing, I picked up the bamboo basket and returned to Saileda with her.

【Ding!】

【Special Achievement Unlocked: Skeleton Logistics】

【Requirement: Use a skeleton soldier to obtain or transport goods.】

【Break through the ceiling!! Skeleton logistics!!】

【Additional note: Skeleton Logistics—We deliver, no matter what. Even if the recipient isn’t human, we’ll get it to them... unless they’re dead.】

【Achievement reward: [Empathy]】

【Added to your system menu.】

“Huh? What’s this?”

That night, after Eileen had gone to sleep, I decided to go back to the cliff and practice flying some more.

But when I got there, I was a little baffled by the pile of data that popped into my field of vision. I tilted my head.

【The Main System granted you this special achievement and its reward. They were greatly interested in and approved of what you did this time. Consider the reward encouragement.】

“Oh, I see...”

I never expected the bunch of weirdos behind this artificial idiot to like such a bony courier...

“But what kind of skill is [Empathy]?”

【System Skill: Empathy】

【Effect: Share all senses with every familiar, controlled unit, summoned unit, and created unit within 200 meters, including sight, smell, touch, hearing, and sexual pleasure.】

【Note: Some strange users apply this skill to their wives, then enjoy feeling twice the pleasure at night.】

Me: “....”

What the hell is this bizarre note...? Can’t you make it sound normal for once?

Still, this skill filled a major gap for me: keeping track of information and expanding my field of vision.

A moment ago, I’d struggled to judge the height because I couldn’t see through the skeleton soldier’s eyes. That was how this whole farce happened.

But things were different now.

This skill made skeleton scout drones possible!!

“Paper-chan, those perverts of yours really get me. I want something, and they give it to me.”

“But I’ll try this skill another time. Right now, the most important thing is...”

“Time to take to the skies! Wooooo!!”

Two in the morning, eastern Saileda.

Under the moonlight, Saileda was as peaceful and beautiful as ever. The buildings lining both sides of the street had a medieval Central European feel that made it seem like I was in a foreign land, putting me at ease.

“Come to think of it, we got quite a lot out of tonight.”

【Yes. We obtained a great deal of valuable data. This system may need some time to analyze it.】

“Yeah, thanks for your help.”

I strode toward Fei'er’s inn. Because of the curfew, Saileda was almost deserted this late at night, and all the shops were closed.

And yet….

“Huh?”

At a street corner not far from Fei'er’s inn, the dim glow of a rune lamp stood out strangely against the night.

A shop was still open this late?

“What do they sell here? I don’t remember seeing this place open at night before.”

Curiosity got the better of me, and I stepped into the shop, which looked no different from an ordinary inn.

“Um… is anyone here?”

An empty front desk. An elegantly decorated inn.

“No one’s answering… Hm… what a lovely smell.”

A faint, sweet scent drifted through the air. I couldn’t help relaxing, and my thoughts began to drift.

My mind felt so empty….

There's this urge, wanting to...

[Ding!]

[Information about [Spiram’s Allure] acquired]

[Steadfast Will activated]

“!!!”

Suddenly, something clicked on in my mind, and the dizzy feeling vanished at once.

“What was that?!”

I instinctively took half a step back, staring at the long corridor before me with a trace of fear.

“Huh?! When did I get here? And… just now, I felt…”

[You were being charmed, Ojer.]

“Huh!?”

[A psychological suggestion created by combining the scent of burning incense with a fixed magic circle… Weren’t you just feeling an urge to do that kind of thing?]

I nodded.

“What kind of place is this…?”

[Want to leave? This system doesn’t think this is a good place.]

But I had a feeling….

“Let’s take a look around first.”

A long, narrow corridor, with nearly fifty rooms.

Under the dim lights, my solitary shadow moved along the walls.

“Huh…?”

At last, I heard a sound coming from one of the rooms.

The wanton sound of moaning.

Naturally, my mind went to some unpleasant possibilities.

“No way… What are the odds…”

But when I thought it over—the shop open late at night, the alluring scent, all those empty rooms, and a young woman’s moans…

I stopped where I was and gently pushed open a door. Through the gap, I saw what was happening inside.

[Ojer, you’ve come somewhere you shouldn’t have.]

My jaw twitched as I looked at everything in the room. Awkwardly, I replied to it:

[Yeah… I think you’re right…]

Two people, completely naked. An iron collar around the young woman’s neck. Those pained moans.

What a filthy place….

I should’ve known. Slavery was legal in this country, so this kind of business was probably legal too.

No wonder they dared to put up a sign in plain sight in the middle of the night.

[Let’s go. We came to the wrong place.]

I was just about to turn and leave.

“Now, now. Peeping on other people while they’re busy isn’t a very nice habit.”

“!!!”

But a fat merchant wearing a top hat blocked my way.

“Wouldn’t you agree?”

He gave me a sinister smile.

“Mr. Ojer.”