“‘You must not go outside,’ I have told you many times, haven’t I?”
In the guest room of the Demon King’s castle.
I sat in a chair, my hands resting lightly on my knees, my back hunched, facing Milphobia.
Milphobia stood with arms crossed, looking down at me and said:
“I told you, didn’t I? ‘It’s dangerous outside, so please stay in your room.’”
“Ah, yeah… but there’s a reason for this.”
“What kind of reason would lead to you being cradled by Forte like a cat and carried all the way to the window of this third-floor room?”
During that zombie investigation in the garden, Forte had angrily exclaimed, “What are you doing when there’s a ban on general demon races going outside?!” and immediately took me and Amilta back to our respective rooms.
Milphobia happened to witness that scene while bringing our lunch.
“Honestly, you’re always so careless.”
“I’m sorry…”
“You won’t do the same thing again, will you?”
“I won’t.”
“Are you really?”
“Absolutely!”
“Then what if a rare Tsuchinoko-shaped zombie appears outside the window?”
“Is there such a thing?! Where can I catch one? I’d love to examine it!”
“…”
However, Milphobia didn’t respond to my question. Instead, she gave me a look that seemed to say, “I knew it.”
“…Huh!?”
…This is bad. Could it be that this was a leading question?
“I’ve only been serving as Alaya’s familiar for one day, but I feel like I understand her very well now.”
Milphobia directed an exasperated gaze at me.
“It seems that until this commotion settles down, I will need to keep a close watch on you.”
“Wha…!? If you do that, I won’t be able to do anything!”
“It’s fine if you can’t do anything!”
Yes, she said that with such conviction.
“You just have to endure until the zombies are cleared out. If anything were to happen to Alaya, it would be a loss for the Demon Kingdom.”
After that, Milphobia placed a chair to block the only door in this guest room and sat down.
…What a situation. I wanted to sneak out again and focus on my research regarding zombie brains this time.
“I think if I just tweak the electrical signals in the zombies’ brains a bit, it could be put to very meaningful use…”
“You can’t do that. Please behave until it’s safe.”
Given the current situation where even my mumblings were overheard by Milphobia, it seemed there was nothing more I could do.
Had Forte already taken care of the zombie I had been investigating in that courtyard?
“…sigh.”
I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.
＊ ＊ ＊
～【Side: The Land of Death】～
At the same time that Kiwi was cheerfully conducting zombie investigations.
In the depths of the Demon King’s castle, in a “dungeon” known only to the Demon King and no one else.
“—How long has it been!? There are ‘humans’ on the surface!”
A man at the far depths of the dungeon looked up and exclaimed.
His face, shrouded in a deep crimson robe, resembled a mummy, with dry skin stretched tight over his skull.
In other words, he was also a moving dead person… a zombie.
However, he was not just any zombie.
“My servant zombies, created by my power, have come into contact with beings of the good phase… with living humans!”
The man muttered to himself and then broke into laughter.
“Is it the influence of the war happening on the surface? Kukuku… how fortunate. A day will come again when I can create zombies with living humans.”
From the man’s body, a dark, sinister magical power continuously flowed upward like threads.
When it connected to the “miasma” of the surface, it automatically channeled the man’s magical power. Then the “miasma” instantly transformed into new zombies that began to wander inside the Demon King’s castle.
──This man was a former renowned necromancer who could create zombies.
He was unaware that the creation of zombies was referred to as “spontaneous generation” on the surface. However, he had continued to create zombies repeatedly and search for humans within the Demon Kingdom.
──The results of his diligent actions bore fruit today, after hundreds of years.
The man spread his arms wide and shouted.
“Come forth, ‘Zombie Soldier,’ ‘Zombie Thief,’ and ‘Zombie Queen’!”
Three zombies, exuding a bizarre aura, gathered around the man.
They knelt before him with synchronized, mechanical movements.
The man gazed at these three strongest zombies of the “Land of Death” with satisfaction and said,
“Hear the words of the king! This is a significant event!”
Though there was no response, the man continued with a grin.
“Living humans have come! I do not know whether they were once brave warriors like you, but as long as they exist in the realm of good and possess holy power, there will be no problem. Rejoice, for your brothers, once humans, will increase!”
“「「「……」」」”
“Gradually, special and powerful soldiers like you will increase. Isn’t it going smoothly? Our plan is advancing another step forward. The grand plan of invading the ‘accursed’ Demon Kingdom on the surface, and ‘world conquest’…!”
Turning the surface into a land of death.
That was the great purpose of this man now.
To avenge the grievance of having fallen in this land hundreds of years ago, the man had delved deep underground, hoarding military strength while dreaming of conquering the surface.
He pointed upward, towards the surface.
“Tonight, we will abduct the humans of the Demon King’s castle. Of course, while they are still alive. Do not kill them. The value lies in turning them into zombies while they are still alive.”
“「「「……」」」”
The three zombies silently stood up and began to walk through the dungeon towards the surface.
“…Hmph. This time, I’ll leave some will when turning them into zombies. It’s too boring when they can’t even converse.”
The man muttered with a sigh and quietly sat down.
