Chapter 83
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Zombie Parade
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The forest overflowed with death and was utterly grim.
"Shit."
It wasn't some poetic expression—this place was fucking grim without any bullshit. No, it wasn't just grim. It was something beyond that.
Rotten entrails that were unmistakably zombie guts were scattered everywhere, swirling around. Thanks to the week-long festival aftermath, the forest had become a mess of zombie innards.
If it were just innards, that would've been tolerable. But decapitated corpses showing off their organs were plentiful too. Not a pretty sight for human eyes.
—Whiiiing!
Corpse flies buzzing around happily was the bare minimum, but maggots climbing trees and devouring rotten flesh dangling from branches? That was pure despair.
But despite the atmosphere, the party's morale was sky-high.
The main reason was Elise, the queen of deadpan expressions, blushing and all excited. Even in this nightmarish, almost murderous vibe, she wasn't fazed and flaunted her tastes freely.
"Still, leaving the bodies like this isn't good. With so many, we can't even clean them up..."
She seemed deeply moved seeing the zombies returned to true death.
I suddenly got anxious. If Elise lost it and suggested we clean up all these corpses together, my plan was to smack her on the back of the head and bolt.
"We can team up with other churches later for a mass cremation."
"Sounds good."
Thankfully, no signs of that. The sheer numbers were too overwhelming.
"The smell isn't exactly pleasant."
Cloudy had a better sense of smell than humans, so she was wearing a mukkotsu mask like a face mask. I didn't like the rotten stench either.
But thinking about how sending these pathetic undead back to death meant easy loot for good gear got me pumped anyway. I couldn't help but hum a tune.
Corpses were familiar by now anyway.
Dead folks are dead folks, and the living are the living, right?
"Katt, we need to go deeper. Nothing but corpses around here."
"Yeah. The undead population's totally dried up."
The undead near the city had long been turned into proper dead.
Bodies piled up, but none moved anymore. Even though it was the natural outcome, it felt oddly off.
We pushed deeper seeking living undead. The deeper we went, the fewer corpses and less rot stench.
This is why uncles and aunties hike every weekend. Fresh mountain air recharges you for the next week. The affairs that happen are just a bonus.
—Ororong.
—Orororong.
"There they are."
While scouting the forest, we spotted zombies. They shambled around, leaking grotesque groans from their decayed throats.
It was like horrific screams dragging burning souls from hell's depths.
Mental attack incarnate. If my magic defense were any lower, I'd be clutching my head and rolling on the ground.
—Orororong.
Isekai zombies were literally dead bodies revived by some mysterious magic or soul-like force, shambling miracle monsters.
They had barely any will, only hunger. Not truly alive—more like puppets. Soon as they rise, they drag their rotting bodies around seeking food.
Magic halted further decay or starvation. They just wander until someone puts them down again. Limbs stiff and rotten, walking endlessly.
These probably shuffled from somewhere else. Ragged clothes suggested not locals. Likely a necromancer lured them toward the city for some goal.
Our duty as the living: end their long journey.
—Ororororong.
"Saint, we must purify them now."
Elise turned to me, lips curling up, barely containing her joy. Her hand trembled gripping the morningstar. Elise was a Vibrator-Hand heir too.
She treated this hell like a dream amusement park.
"Of course."
I drew my sword. Cloudy drew a curved blade. Ten zombies total. Slowpokes, so I could handle them solo if careful.
Just don't get bit. Even if bit, no big deal. Their weak jaws couldn't pierce my chainmail. Just protect the face. But a face bite? Game over.
Zombie bites lead to fever, then death and zombification once immunity fails.
High priest's Cure works, but costly—ruin at first bite. Heard some dumb adventurers already met that fate.
"God of Order!"
Elise roared suddenly and charged like an excited bull. She slammed her raised morningstar into a zombie's chest.
—Puk!
—Ororong!
The zombie let out a grotesque death rattle as its upper and lower body split. Fucking insane power. One shot tore off the torso. The legs thrashed in confusion, trying to stand sans body.
"What're you doing, torso?!"
I kicked the lower half hard. Half-rotted and light, it flew into a tree. Finally silenced.
"Straight Sword Technique!"
I delivered a clean downward slash, neatly bisecting the zombie next to it.
A month's training had sharpened my swordsmanship noticeably. The efficient strike diced the zombie clean. It collapsed limply.
Like slicing a moving hay bale.
"Elise! Cloudy! No head wounds, got it!"
"Yeah, obviously."
"Of course... though a bit disappointing."
Elise found meaning in smashing heads. Let her disappointment slide.
"Keep the smell off my blade..."
—Shiiik!
Cloudy swung, decapitating three in one go. Zombies danced a bizarre headspin routine before collapsing, unaware.
"Nice and clean."
Her blade spotless. Mine already stained black with goo. Sick of it, I sheathed and switched to my specialty: taekwondo.
—Orororong!
"Phantom Demon Kick!"
I smashed a lunging zombie with a Phantom Demon Kick.
"Whirlwind Kick!"
Followed by Whirlwind Kick finisher. Its spine snapped from my mighty roundhouse, slamming into the ground. Just soccer kicks, really.
Not even real taekwondo.
Pure bullshit.
"All done."
While posing, it ended. Elise rampaged like a fish in water, smashing all zombies. I got two, Cloudy three, Elise five—incredible score.
"Katt, want me to cut the heads?"
"No, stay put. I'll do it."
I stopped Cloudy from harvesting fallen zombie heads.
Needed to sever heads and bag 'em on my back. Pure talants.
Like butchering meat on a board, I lopped 'em off. Didn't want Cloudy doing this dirty work; Elise only had her morningstar. My job.
Bag swelled quick. Ten shrunken heads still weighed plenty. Skeletons better—no smell.
"Leave the bodies... Too many to clean now. Waste of time per encounter. Mass cleanup later—focus on purging undead."
Elise explained future plans fluently, like speaking in tongues. Itchy to charge ahead, she led us deeper.
Elise fearlessly scouted front. Undead slayer expert, pinpointed nests from traces.
"Found them."
—Gragrak.
Squad of skeletons. I could solo 'em with taekwondo.
"These skeletons are... too weak."
Cloudy muttered watching them strut.
"Desert ruin skeletons are armed to the teeth—tricky."
"Ruin skeletons?"
"Yeah, royal tomb guardians. Tough bones, fast moves, swarm like army. Called [Guardian Skulls]."
Royal treasures—Egypt vibe.
"Brutal name. Could I win?"
"One-on-one? They're scary in formations. Two or three might be tough."
"Am I too weak...?"
"Huh? No, you're fine. You're a strong guy. Willpower matters more than skill. With will, anyone grows strong. That's why you, Katt..."
Our eyes met. Such embarrassing words heated my face. Her lips so close...
"You two look close. Interrupting would be rude. I'll handle these undead!"
Elise charged like a mad bull again.
"God of Order!"
—Ppak!
—Ppak!
Morningstar raised like a general, she dove into the skeleton pack, rampaging. Each swing scattered bone shards.
Mere skeletons couldn't handle that monster saint. Helpless.
Their skulls joined my bag as loot.
Thus, we stirred the mountains hunting undead. Zombies, skeletons, mummies... undead feast nearly overwhelmed me.
"Fuck!"
Then shit hit the fan.
—Whiiiyuuuuu!!
"Fuck, a ghost!"
Ghost appeared. Panicking, I bolted behind Cloudy, hugging her waist for cover. Kim Geuntae always feared ghosts extreme.
"H-ha?! My lower back's sensitive... Ngh!"
"So fucking scary, what do I do!"
I spewed panic. Ghost circled us. Peak crisis in Kim Katt's life! First ghost since army days!
"Calm down, Saint. It's just vermin."
Elise showed cleric boldness. Right—she's a nun. She'd smash that ghost easy. I gazed at her like an angel.
"I'll buff you."
"By the glorious power of the god, drive out the wicked..."
"Holy Enchant."
⟨ Holy Enchant ⟩
Suddenly, holy light poured from my sword.
"O-oh...! This power!"
"It'll let you cut formless beings immune to physical attacks."
The light was radiant.
Trembling, I aimed at the ghost. Holy Enchant buff surged courage naturally. Fear vanished. I glanced at Elise.
"Give it a try."
"Got it!"
—Whiiiyuuuuu!
I faced the ghost. It flinched at the glowing blade.
I thrust without hesitation.
"Bankai!"