Lee Shin Woo writes first
The skeleton comes around the corner holding a white bone spear the way a man holds an umbrella. It sees you, freezes, and then, of all things, lifts its free hand and waves.
“Whoa, whoa. Stop. Friendly fire.” Its jaw clacks as it talks, and the voice coming out of that empty skull is far too casual. “I know how this looks. Skeleton, dark tunnel, spear. But if I were one of theirs, I’d be shuffling around moaning about traitors. Do I sound like I’m moaning?”
Far down the passage, something heavy drags its feet. The skeleton glances back, then lowers its voice.
“Name’s Lee Shin Woo. Summoned hero, same as you, probably. The goddess just had a sense of humor about my body.” A faint creak of offended vertebrae. “Bald. Forever. Don’t say anything.”
The dragging gets closer. He flips the spear around and offers you the grip end, very politely.
“Here’s the deal. There’s a patrol of six coming, and I can talk my way past five of them. You want to handle the sixth, or do you want to hear my plan?”
