“It’s just too lacking in planning.
Have you ever been exasperated by yourself like this?
I have.
‘Really, things just aren’t going my way…’
As I was locked in a room that felt like a storage space in a demon lord’s castle, I lamented greatly.
From outside the door I was leaning against, I could hear unmotivated groans like ‘ahh’ and ‘ugh,’ and I could also hear the sound of scratching against the door.
‘I was supposed to return to the room after examining just one zombie, but who would have thought I’d encounter a horde of zombies in the castle corridor right after stepping out?’
In fact, the initial mistake was thinking that zombies only appeared outside. I never imagined they would be lurking in the castle corridors.
Did Milphobia pass through this kind of place to reach my room?
‘By the way, you guys, gathering around me like this, do you actually have some sociality?’
[Ahu~!]
‘What do you say? Are you willing to answer?’
[Ugghhh!] scratch scratch scratch
No good; they really don’t seem to understand me.
I feel no intelligence from them, nor do they seem to have any social behavior.
It feels like they’re just randomly gathering, drawn by sounds or the presence of living beings.
…I guess I have to catch at least one and examine its body structure; otherwise, nothing will get started.
Fortunately, the storage room didn’t have only one exit.
There was a window. In the corner of the room was a curtain that seemed to have been unused for a while.
And this is the second floor.
…It seems possible to make a short rope and descend to the ground.
I decided to do just that.
It took quite some time, but I tore the old curtain to make a rope, opened the window, and lowered it down.
Then I successfully landed outside.
‘Now, this time, I must act without being spotted by anyone…’
I crouched low and walked while looking around.
Where I landed seemed to be one of the gardens inside the demon lord’s castle, with a small fountain in the center, overgrown grass that wasn’t well-maintained, a storage shed, and scattered trees.
And on the roof of that storage shed,
‘Feh…!’
Amilta was there, opening her mouth wide and hugging Mior tightly, crying out in a pitiful voice.
‘What is that child doing…?’
I couldn’t just leave her alone in this situation.
As I approached, Amilta jumped and looked down at me when she heard my footsteps.
When she recognized me as the owner of the footsteps, her eyes widened for a moment, and then,
‘Ki-Kiwi-sensei~~~!!!’
She waved her hands frantically, tears streaming down her face again.
‘Amilta, what on earth are you doing here?’
‘Sensei… help me! There are zombies below…!’
‘Hm?’
Amilta pointed to the opposite side of the shed from where I was standing.
Judging by the situation, it seems she was chased by zombies and took refuge on the roof.
‘Kiwi-sensei, zombies, zombies are so creepy~~~!’
‘Really… that’s not okay. It’s dangerous to wander around alone.’
‘Wah, but, but…! I just thought I’d go for a walk, and then somehow there were so many zombies, and I couldn’t get back to my room…!’
…I’m not good at talking with children.”
“First of all, it’s not good that logical thinking hasn’t developed, and emotions take precedence at that moment.
Well, I guess it’s understandable since they are children.
‘Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe.’
‘Yeah…’
‘So, how many zombies are over there?’
‘Just one…’
Amilta replied, holding up one finger.
I see, just one. If that’s the case, I should be able to handle it myself.
I took a moment to check my surroundings, and there were no other zombies in sight.
It was likely because the small courtyard was surrounded by buildings on all sides, preventing any zombies from wandering in.
‘Just stay still and wait there for a bit.’
I called out to Amilta and crouched down in place.
Then I grabbed the overgrown grass and began to twist two handfuls together to form a loop.
[Ugghhh]
It seemed the zombie had noticed my voice.
From behind the shed, a zombie with a dull-colored skin and wrapped in tattered cloth was slowly approaching.
‘Kiwi-sensei! The zombie!’
‘I know.’
I stood up, took a few steps back, removed my lab coat, and held it out with both hands, facing the zombie.
…Hmm, is this one of those zombies that supposedly appeared naturally? It really looks like a human corpse. It’s hard to believe such a detailed form could arise naturally without any intervention.
[Udaaa~]
The zombie groaned and continued to shuffle towards me.
Then its foot got caught on the loop of grass I had just formed, and it fell forward with a thud.
‘Fuhaha! You fell for it, you fool!!!’
What a chance!
I thought its low intelligence would prevent it from climbing to the roof where Amilta was, but I never expected it to fall for such a classic trap!
I threw the removed lab coat over the fallen zombie’s head to block its view and climbed onto its back.
The zombie tried to get back up, but it didn’t have the strength to throw me off.
‘Kiwi-sensei, are you okay?!’
‘Yeah, no problem! Just wait a little longer; I’m going to try to neutralize this zombie.’
I touched the zombie’s earthy-colored arm.
It was cool and moist.
It felt like touching the soil of the dug-up ground.
…Now, there are two known methods to neutralize a zombie that are passed down in the kingdom. The first is using sacred arts to dispel the magical power of the corpse, and the second is to crush the head physically.
Of course, the first method is impossible for me, a human who only possesses magical power. That leaves the second option of crushing the head…
‘Given my strength, that method is impossible too, so I’ll just manipulate the brain with my magic.’
By applying the use of diagnostic magic, it’s possible to intentionally alter parts of the brain and create barriers within the brain to hinder electrical signals.
I was about to place my hand on the zombie’s head when…
‘Since it’s such a rare opportunity, why not take a slight detour?’
Instead of the zombie’s head, I pressed my hand against its back and immediately channeled diagnostic magic into it.
‘Ohhhh!!!’
I couldn’t help but shout.
── The skeleton, muscles, and body structure are just like a human’s.
── The spinal cord and nerve pathways are definitely present.
── The reproductive organs… are there.
‘…It’s like god playing with clay!’
[Au~]
I was moved by that mystery.
At the same time, I found it strange.
How could something so uncertain as “miasma” form something that resembles a human body to this extent?
…It’s a mystery, but I can look into that later. The immediate issue isn’t that.
‘If I can control the electrical signals in its brain and make it act as I want…!’
I could mass-produce simple laborers!
Now, to investigate the brain structure—
‘—Kiwi? And Amilta-sama too?! What on earth are you doing there?!’
Suddenly, a loud and unexpected voice echoed from above.
Then, with a flapping sound.
Descending from above with flapping wings was Forte, the eagle-headed demon who had escaped to this demon realm with me.”
