Book 6: Chapter 89
Book 6: Chapter 89
Tafel examined the weapons laid out before her. Back on Erde, magical weapons consisted of wands and staves and the occasional talking sword. They were usually made with materials conducive to channeling mana. The weapons on the ground in front of her were either poorly made, or she was too dumb to understand how they worked.
No! Absolutely not!
Tafel raised her head. Lindyss had said she was creating a body, but it was awfully noisy for that kind of activity.
What do you mean no? Lindyss asked and crossed her arms.
I have to define no for you? the zombie that dressed like a mummy asked. No means no!
Look here, Lindyss said, her brow furrowing. Whos the one building the body? Have you ever built one before? Have a seat, and let the professional do her thing, alright?
Tafel raised an eyebrow before turning her attention back onto the magical weapons. Lindyss had said not to disturb her, so Tafel wasnt going to comment. The demon picked up an object that looked like a painters palette. Instead of paint, there were crystals of different colors embedded inside it. Tafel tilted her head at the strange weapon before flipping it over. Only one side had gems embedded in it, so she assumed it was the top surface. She channeled her mana into the object, and the crystals glowed brightly.
A normal body! Just build me a normal body!
Shut up, Lindyss said. Your head used to be a dogs; you dont know what normal means.
Tafel blinked and turned her head towards the zombie covered in bandages. Was that Jackal? Unless Lindyss happened to zombify another dog-headed person. Well, the tower was a strange place. Maybe dog-headed people were more commonly found on the second floor. Tafel lowered her gaze back onto the palette. She held it out and used it as a wand, channeling a fireball spell through it. A normal, no, a slightly weaker version of her usual fireballs appeared in the air in front of her. Evidently, it wasnt meant to be used as an unwieldy wand. A frown appeared on Tafels face. Why couldnt Lindyss have brought back instruction manuals as well? Then again, the cursed elf did say she could ask the zombie questions about the weapons.
I mightve had a dogs head while I was alive, but that says nothing about my understanding of normal, the zombie said. In what world does a normal body have six arms?
Lindyss rolled her eyes. Squids? Hello? Ever heard of them before?
Im a hominid not a cephalopod!
Yeah, well, you died without putting up a single ounce of resistance, so obviously, youre missing something thats vital to keeping you alive, Lindyss said. Isnt your death clear proof of a fault in your bodys design? If you had six arms, three heads, and nine hearts, do you think you wouldve died as easily?
Yes! I was instantly disintegrated by a large surge of mana, the zombie said. No matter how many hearts or heads I had, they all wouldve perished.
Tafel scratched her head. Was now a good time to ask the zombie how to work this palette? Although she could put it down and pick up another weapon, one that she might know how to use, the thought of giving up because she couldnt figure something out irked her. She gripped the palette, and her horns glowed with a purple light as she sent her mana inside the object. The gems lit up in rapid succession, and
Pffffft.
The palette made a farting sound as a small cloud of mana rose out of it like steam. Tafels eye twitched, and she waved her hand, dispersing the cloud. Perhaps each gem recorded a different spell. Instead of activating all the gems at once, all she had to do was guide her mana towards a single gem. She narrowed her eyes, the glow coming off her horns intensifying. A red gem on the palette lit up, and nothing happened. Tafel stared at the so-called weapon before turning her head towards Lindyss.
Does wood even belong in a persons body!? What are you doing with those dowels? At some point, the zombies bandages had been tied together, preventing the zombie from moving its arms and legs. Ive never built a body before, but I know wood isnt included!
Dont worry, Lindyss said. This is a special type of wood. It grows only in environments with corpses aplenty, and it has a spirit-attracting effect. You see, your soul is more closely linked to your body than you think. Itll be difficult for you to control your extra limbs if I dont add these dowels for your soul to attach to.
I already said I dont need extra limbs!
And as Ive alluded to many times, I dont care about your opinion, Lindyss said. Someone who got killed has no right to say they dont need anything changed about their body. If I recreated you exactly as you were, youd simply die off again. Even if this design isnt perfect and you happen to get killed again, Ill know what went wrong and build you a better body next time.
The zombie fell silent. After a few seconds, it said, Im not going to die again.
Oh? Lindyss raised an eyebrow. Youre not going to get revenge against the person who killed you? You dont think they can kill you again after demonstrating the ability to kill you once already?
I was ambushed, the zombie said. It wont happen again.
Make all the excuses you want, Lindyss said. Im building the body; I get the final say. Besides, since you havent paid your first installment, technically, Im the owner of your soul right now. Youre not allowed to defy me. The cursed elf raised her head and turned it towards the side. Alright, Tafel, youve been looking this way like a lost puppy for a while now. What do you need?
Hey! the zombie said. At least pretend to look at the parts youre sewing together!