Chapter 9

The corpses have started fighting my friends! Outside of a game, this scene makes no sense.

But the more often I come to this world, the more I feel nothing is impossible here. Like skeletons flying in the sky, tuna growing legs, pandas staying in the desert, etc. Although I can get used to nearly-extinct dragons, I still cant stand zombies. I cant stand the undead, and if theyre rotting corpses, thanks but no thanks.

Its because their hearts have stopped moving. Just looking at that unhealthy skin color tells me their blood isnt circulating properly. And yet, in that state, why do they still have lightning speed? And can tell the difference between friend and foe? Even if you want me to believe this is something biology cannot explain, its hard for me to believe you now that Im at this age. Because my mind has stiffened up.

If you tell me these arent corpses, but some people infected by a special virus, then maybe you could convince me. But these are corpses, after all, not patients 28 days after being infected[1].

Josak, they should be dead, right?

Mn, they should be. And they should have died at least a year ago, maybe even longer. The fermentation is coming along quite nicely~ Then why can they still move at a normal speed? H-how are their nerve impulses transmitted!?

That I dont know. The advancement of corpses changes with every day, maybe their functions have developed fairly well? Right, Lord Weller? Ah, the leg broke.

Im not sure, either. After all, the last time I fought these fellas was almost 25 years ago, so they may have evolved a little.

It sounds like a conversation between IT tech people. On the other hand, so theyve fought these things before, I knew it.

The hands-on combat with the resurrected group Ill hand over to those two veterans, and as the combat rookie I have to figure out a way to get out of here. The only exit, the stone door has been smashed to pieces and taken over by the resurrected group with their agile weapons. The enemy density in the room is off the charts, so much so that I cant tell how many of them are there.

And they wont die. No matter how those two alleged Shin Makoku masters kill them, the carcasses will gather and just stand up again. Since Im worrying at the side as I watch, I find that the dead peoples weakness isnt the head, but the legs. Because once they lose their legs, their speed will drop tremendously.

For some reason, I have that feeling after an entire night of playing video games, because by now Im numb to terror. Even so, I havent gotten used to death, its just that its really hard to feel pity for people who are long dead. Watching them lose their arms and legs, and still try to stand and attack us, I can only describe this as so annoying, but the scene in front of me now is really comedic. Crap! Is this the so-called game brain[2]!?

Its just that Saralegui, who doesnt live in the era of video games, reacts differently. Hes crouching in a corner, his body curled up as he holds his head.

Are you okay, Sara?

Mother, she

What are you saying, you want to go back to your mama!?

Yelshi said, Mother isnt feeling well But

What!? So one of those zombies is your mother!? You better point her out quickly then, what if they hit her by accident?

No matter how you put it, maybe its Saralegui who got it wrong in his panic, because corpses cant have kids. But just the fact that the selfish boy king is actually scared out of his wits, seems to say that he has some psychological trauma about zombies. Like maybe he had a scary encounter as a kid, or was forced to babysit zombies during his summer break.

Anyway just sit here quietly! At the very least dont be a burden to Josak and the others!

Im not familiar with swordsmanship or horse-riding, but even if Im an idiot when it comes to fighting, I still picked up some of the most important sword-fighting principles and basic self-defense. For example, leaning on a wall will reduce the risk of being slashed from the back.

Still, even if I wont get slashed, theres still the occasional possibility of a weapon piercing through the wall. Thats why, if the wall isnt thick enough, you have to pay special attention. On this point alone, this wall scores full marks. Its thickness and weight both seem more than sufficient.

I just hope leaning on it wont cause the wall drawings to imprint on my clothes Waa! The two of us leaning against the wall yell out in unison. Not because were attacked from behind, but because the wall has slanted on its own accord.

T-the wall, slanted.

Falling onto my butt, I turn around and see that part of the wall is leaning inwards like a rotating door, beyond which is a span of absolute darkness. Goodness, its just like a secret mechanism. Perhaps out of shock, Saralegui is also staring at the movable wall with his eyes wide and jaw hanging.

What is this, theres no end to them!

Josak, who rarely makes such a loud fuss, starts yelling.

What on earth is the expiry date on these things!? Just how many times must we cut em for them to just die already?

Unless we defeat the one controlling them, theres nothing we can do to them. These things dont have a consciousness,

If so, wheres their leaderpull him out and get rid of him already!

If I knew I would have done that a long time ago.

Lord Weller slashes with his sword, and so one of the resurrected teams heads fly into the sky, splattering a foul-smelling liquid as it went, finally landing by my feet.

Sorry.

I-its okay, its okay

I say its okay, but my quivering voice cant hide how shaken up I am inside. Having heard our conversation, Saralegui tries to avoid those undead, swaying unsteadily towards the wall.

Sara!

Hazels persistent advice from back then flits across my mind.

No, you cant go in there!

Why?

Because that is

Thats the underground maze that even an experienced treasure hunter trembles to think of. Its not somewhere people like us, who are unfamiliar with the maze, can simply enter and come out in one piece.

But if we want to escape from Mothers houjutsu, we can only go deeper underground where the power of the gods cannot reach We have to dive somewhere deeper in.

What did you say?

Mothers houjutsu?

So youre saying that the person controlling these zombies, is your mother!? Wait a sec, there are houjutsu like this as well W-what a disgusting hobby

Although she has abdicated, but she was once the ruler of a country. Judging from the bloodline of Saralegui and Yelshis mother, she must be an elegant, strong and beautiful Empress, who would have thought shes secretly a zombie control expert. As a result, the image of an Empress in my heart, once more crashes apart.

E-even so we cant simply enter the maze, do you want to get lost and die in the maze!?

Were just hiding inside for a while, Yuuri. Just until Mother cant sense our presence anymore and gives up the attack.

Why do you So youre saying that your moms target isnt us, but you?

Just because he was born without houryoku, his relationship with his own mother is this bad? But thats their family business. Right now the most important thing is still to get out of our current mess.

Its no use even if you want to stop me, I still want to go in.

No, Sara, I cant let you go in alone.

His expression pained, Saralegui takes another half step back, his body almost swallowed whole by the darkness. I have to figure out a way to make him give up, if I let him go on his own and something happen , then thatll be bad.

If the king of the powerful Shou Shimaron dies in a mission with us, there will definitely be a serious international conflict. This isnt something an apology can fix.

Young Master, Young Master, I suddenly think what that puppet is saying isnt half bad!

What are you saying, Josak?

I think theres nothing wrong with hiding out for a bit, we just have to hide until these things back off.

Maybe its because of the difference in their level of trust for Hazel, so the two soldiers have different opinions. Josak takes one step at a time, slowly approaching the wall were at.

Yuuri, if you want to escape those things, your only choice is to run underground, yknow.

But thats really dangerous! He doesnt have a torch either, how can one person

Saralegui suddenly pulls my hand. And at the last possible second, Josak blocks off an enemy attack from the right. In order to avoid the attack, I lose my balance and fall into the darkness from the left.

Its a very strange area inside.

Its obviously connected to the room with the red wall drawings, but it feels like a different world altogether. It feels just like passing through a tunnel or standing in an ascending elevator, when your ears and throat feel stuffy, and you cant hear sounds too clearly. When I crossed that borderline, the scenes in the room look like a TV show on a square screen.

Surprisingly surreal.

I still think this place isnt too

Just as Im ready to walk back out, the wall starts moving with what sounds like the noise made by an earthquake. Still in front of the borderline, Josak turns around immediately, holding his breath as he watches the entrance start to close. Although I want to pull Saralegui back into the room, theres an unexpected force preventing us from going back. The same thought flashes through my mind, I cant leave him alone here.

Young Master!?

Having noticed that I cant move, Josak rushes in at the last moment. If he were a second slower, he may not have been able to make it.

Through the slit that a person cant pass through anymore, I see Conrad dashing over here. When I want to yell his name, I realize that theres danger behind him.

Behind you!

Lord Weller turns around and uses the hilt of his sword to block the heavy blade swung his way, and sparks fly everywhere.

Conrad! What to do, there are still so many of those things!

Ill be fine!

He turns his head back a little, but has no choice but to face the enemy immediately. From what I can see through the slit alone, there are around 10 more corpses that can fight.

You guys go on, Ill be fine.

But

Conrad speaks before the entrance closes up completely, his voice coming through the slit.

For sure

The wall makes a sound like the city doors closing, and seals up completely. The red light from the fire and the wall drawing which illuminated the whole room doesnt penetrate the darkness at all. The only source of light here is the torch in my hand.

Its a light that gives no sense of security whatsoever.

Saralegui mumbles,

Its no use, we had better go forward and look for another exit,

How can it be no use!

Josak and I try to push the wall with all our strength again, but no matter what method we use, the stuck stone just wont budge, and we cant hear even a sound from outside. Its as though there was never any mechanism there, no cracks or bulges.

When theres nothing more we can do, I finally say those terrifying words,

Are we trapped in here?

No, were not trapped, weve been swallowed.

I can even say this darkness has long ago been waiting for us.