Hitoshi didn't notice the skeletons change in demeanor, instead he huffed, placing his hands on his hips. "Yeah, I just got hired today!, pretty amazing right!." Hitoshi beamed, completely forgetting that he was a slave not too long ago and was technically still one though Eri Onee-san never seemed to treat him as one.

" I’m super good at helping out. Just give me a chance." He begged the Skeleton.

The skeleton sighed, or at least made a noise that sounded like a sigh. "Fine...you can come along."

" From now on, you can call me Skeleton No. 4."

Hitoshi blinked. "Skeleton No. 4? That’s your name?"

"Yes..." the skeleton said bluntly.

"...That doesn’t really sound like a good name.... sounds like something a lazy person would pick" Hitoshi muttered underneath his breath, scratching his head, not noticing the annoyed glint in the skeletons eyes.

"Do you have, like, a nickname or something?" He suddenly asked.

"No." The skeleton replied bluntly.

"...You sure?" 

"Yes."

"Well, that’s kinda boring," Hitoshi mumbled under his breath but quickly perked up. "So, who’s this Young Miss you’re looking for anyways?"

Skeleton No. 4 clacked his jaw as if contemplating whether to indulge the boy’s curiosity. "Young Miss Aiko. The Countess’s daughter."

' Wait!, does he mean the Countess?! ' Hitoshi’s eyes sparkled with excitement. ' like the one I read about in that book of rule's Eri Onee-san gave me to read?.'

Skeleton No. 4 grunted. "Less talking, more walking. The longer we take, the harder she’ll be to find."

Hitoshi grinned smugly, feeling extremely lucky. If he were to help this skeleton find the Young Miss, Eri Onee-san would surely be super proud of him right?. Maybe she’d even give him another pat on the head!.

' Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes!!!' Hitoshi screamed inwardly, feeling completely excited at the thought.

With newfound determination, Hitoshi hurried after Skeleton No. 4 as they ventured deeper into the estate’s winding corridors. The torches lining the walls flickered, casting long shadows that danced ominously across the stone floors.

Despite the eerie atmosphere, Hitoshi couldn’t help his curiosity. "So... why are you called Skeleton No. 4 anyways..."

' Are there, like, three other skeletons before you?"

"Yes."

"...Do they have names?"

"Yes, the eldest is No 1, No 2 is second, No 3 is third and I'm the fourth." Skeleton No 4 answered plainly.

"...." Hitoshi didn't know what sort of expression to make when he heard their supposed names, inwardly, he couldn't help feeling that whosever gave them such names was a really lazy person.

"Uhh...Do you all just go around looking for this young miss, or do you have other real jobs?"

' Real jobs?, Why you little!–' Skeleton No 4 felt like smacking the human boy beside him for such visible disrespect but in the end he decided to hold it in. What use was there in beating him here and now when it would only diminish his image for falling for a childs foolish antic's he thought.

"We have other jobs, this is just occasional" He said after some moments of silence.

"...What kinda jobs?" Hitoshi immediately asked.

"Guarding, patrolling, helping run errands, find things"

"Oh, cool!, Like detectives?"

"No not detective's...."

Hitoshi pouted at the skeleton’s blunt replies but didn’t let it dampen his enthusiasm. "Well, I think you’re kinda like a detective. Skeleton Detective No. 4!"

Skeleton No. 4 made a rattling noise that might have been frustrated laughter of someone about to lose his rationality or just his bones creaking.

_________________________________________

Several moments later.......

As they walked further, the air grew colder, and the flickering torchlight dimmed. Hitoshi shivered, hugging himself for warmth as he came to a stop. "Is it just me, or is it getting spooky around here?"

" If you're already tired just head back, I'll continue looking for the young miss on my own." Skeleton No. 4 didn’t stop to wait for him, his bony feet clattering steadily against the floor.

Despite the unease creeping into his chest, Hitoshi couldn't help recalling his father's disappointed gaze all of a sudden. His heart ached while his body trembled a little as if skeletons No 4 words had reminded him of his past life.

Seeing Skeleton No 4 getting farther and farther away he clenched his little fist.

" Hey who said anything about being tired, it was just a bit chilly ok~!." Hitoshi grumbled as he pressed on, seemingly determined to prove himself useful.

"Besides" he said after a moment, "if I head back now who's going to help you look for that young miss huh?" Hitoshi puffed his chest while raising his chin as if he was doing skeleton No 4 a favour by offering his assistant.

Skeleton No 4 didn't reply instead he continued walking forward as if he just couldn't be bothered to take this little brats antic's anymore. 

" Hey wait up will ya!" Hitoshi pouted as he ran to catch up again.

' Just you wait" Hitoshi thought to himself while running to catch up with his cute little legs. "I’m gonna find this Young Miss and show you just how useful I can be. Then you'll see that Hitoshi is the best super awesome servant~! '

And with that thought, he continued to follow after Skeleton No 4 as the headed deeper down the dark corridor.

_________________________________________

[AN: "Slack-jawed" refers to having one's mouth open in astonishment, shock, or confusion, often due to being surprised or dumbfounded. It implies a lack of awareness or composure in response to something unexpected.]

[AN: Follow me on Instagram for more updates, Username: @lord_grimx101]