Skeleton Knight in Another World (骸骨騎士様、只今異世界へお出掛け中)

We're nearly there.

At long last!

I wonder what it's like.

A hidden land, inaccessible without the guidance of an elf...

It's hard to contain my excitement!

Come on. The Lord Crown should be visible from here, too.

Hello, there. It's me, Arc.

We are currently headed for a spring located near the Lord Crown.

It could lead to breaking the curse upon your body.

There is said to be a spring near the Lord Crown that can break any curse.

I've never seen a finer view!

There's no better example of untrodden territory!

It definitely wasn't an easy trip to make.

Considering everything we ran into...

Being nearly digested by man-eating plants...

Caught in the blast of an exploding monster...

Getting lost in a cave...

It's this way! I'm sure of it!

This way! It's this way! I'm telling you!

I'm certain it's this way!

And after all those countless struggles, we're finally here!

Now, Lady Ariane, where is this spring we seek?

Wait, is that...?

Arc? Is something wrong?

Forgive me! I'm going on ahead!

Wait, Arc?!

There's no doubt about it... This is...

A torii gate!

Perhaps it has some connection to

the Hanzo the First that Lady Chiyome mentioned.

Wh-What the—?

You dare to step on me...?

How very bold of you,

boy!

While this would normally be a breach of etiquette...

Since there's no one else around,

Ponta, my friend! In we go!

Could this be—?

You were able to withstand the pressure of my roar and remain standing?

Maybe you are worthy of challenging me after all.

Please, hold! It's not my intent to fight—

Oh, no! That has to be...

Dragon Breath!

Well, that was a close one!

You were able to withstand that?

Then expect my full power with the next.

I ask you to halt your duel, O mighty Dragon Lord!

Then he really was a Dragon Lord...

You're one of the elf clan that makes their home in the woods

on the other side of the mountain.

And the other is one of Hanzo's people.

That's right! My name is Ariane Glenys Maple,

and my clan makes its home in the Great Canada Forest.

I'm Chiyome—a descendant of the Jinshin clan that Lord Hanzo founded.

We ask only that you hear us out...

And this was shaping up to be my first enjoyable battle in an age.

What a shame that it must end early.

All the same, I very much appreciate it.

My name is Villiers Fim.

And you are?

I am Arc. A traveling mercenary.

I see. So, you've sought out the spring in these lands

in order to repay your debts to this Arc.

It is certainly true that there is something distinct about you, boy.

Be that as it may, stepping on a Dragon Lord...

No matter. It seems I jumped to conclusions, as well,

when I assumed he was a mere scoundrel.

The torii had caught my attention, and I wasn't minding my surroundings.

I ask your forgiveness.

I understand your situation.

The spring is past the torii. You're free to make use of it.

There's a shrine near it that Hanzo used in the past—

that can serve as a landmark for you.

Lord Villiers Fim, may I ask you a question as well?

What is it, child of the Jinshin clan?

The members of my clan

have been searching for Lord Hanzo's hidden village for an age.

Sir Arc once aided in the rescue of many of my kin...

but their numbers were greater than what we could offer refuge in our village.

I believe they could live here without fear.

I ask for your leave to create a hidden village here, where they can all live.

Hanzo dwelt here long here before I made this land my den.

I'm in no position to refuse such a request.

Thank you so much!

This is great, Chiyome.

I owe you all so much for your help!

Well, let's be on our way to the spring!

This must be the shrine that Hanzo the First made use of.

I have to say, at this distance, it resembles a mountain more than a tree.

I wonder how old it is.

I have no idea.

They say it's been around for as long as the world has existed...

What an incredible sense of scale!

Genuinely worthy of a name like "Lord Crown!"

The spring should be nearby.

Let's go.

This is less like a spring...

...and more like a massive, secluded, open-air bath!

The curse is being broken!

This is great, Arc.

You have my thanks, Lady Ariane!

I suppose I'll need to soak in it for a while.

That's quite the strange sight.

Well, there's no time like the present!

I can't deny that being watched is... a bit unsettling...

Even with my skeletal nature, I still retain a sense of modesty!

That makes sense! Of course you'd be embarrassed!

Lady Ariane, since we're at a hot spring,

why not wash away some of the exhaustion from our journey?

We can use a different spring until Sir Arc is done bathing!

Right.

See you later then, Arc!

Okay, I'm all ready!

In we go!

Carefully, now.

This feels fantastic!

I must say, you really do have an impressive body, Lady Ariane.

May I see how it feels?

A-Again?! It's so embarrassing—

This feels great, Ponta.

It's growing back! Look at it go!

And while this would normally be a breach of etiquette...

Since there's no one else around,

Ponta, my friend! In we go!

I wonder what Arc's going to look like once his body is back?

It's hard to imagine at all, based on how he currently looks...

But considering how strong he is, maybe he's rather muscular?

Good point.

Maybe he's... really incredibly handsome?

As if we could be that lucky!

I wonder if, once he gets his body back, our journey will be at an end.