Chapter 97
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Zombie Parade
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Even after searching the surroundings, we hadn't found any real clues. All we'd encountered so far were those three zombie brothers from earlier. With nothing to show for it, we pressed deeper into the forest. Time kept marching on.
"It's getting dark. Hey, you wanna keep going?"
Cloudy brought the party to a halt. The sun was setting. We'd planned to camp out anyway, so it wasn't a big deal, but any more searching would be impossible. To get some sleep, we needed to set up before nightfall.
"Indeed. We should probably start making a place to sleep."
With that, our special forces nun Elise began scanning the area.
It was obvious she was looking for a good spot.
Honestly, Cloudy was a total amateur when it came to wilderness survival in the mountains, and Kobson was just... Kobson. The best bet here was to follow Elise's lead. At the mention of setting up camp, Kobson started gathering suitable pieces of wood. I joined him, picking up some branches.
"This spot isn't great. Follow me. I saw a place on the way here."
"Ooh, reliable as always."
Following Elise led us to a nice, flat patch of ground that looked perfect at a glance. Even just breaking some branches and doing a bit of work would make it suitable for an overnight stay.
Had we passed a place like this? When I asked, she said she'd spotted it from afar on the way. Anyway, Kobson and I piled up the kindling we'd gathered in one spot.
"Cloudy, pay attention. Camping in the mountains requires a lot of know-how."
"...I'm used to deserts, though."
It'd be a good experience for her too.
Kobson got to work preparing the campfire while I gathered large leaves and such with Cloudy.
Elise started building a wall using nearby rocks and branches. Panicking at the sight, I handed off the leaf-gathering to Cloudy and rushed over to help her.
You don't make your comrades do the hard stuff alone.
"Ah, thank you. But I can handle it myself..."
"It's faster with two."
"Understood."
We threw up a decent wall and rigged up a makeshift roof. With just rocks and wood, you can make do. There were plenty of materials around, so the work wrapped up quickly. Finally, we spread leaves over the roof and floor. That gave us enough space for four people to lie down comfortably.
Kobson finished the campfire and lit it.
Impressively, he'd scrounged up four flat stones and arranged them around the fire like chairs. The guy had some real flair. As I admired it, he puffed up with pride.
"Sun's down. Let's sit. We can eat and crash."
Once the fire was going, the sky plunged into darkness. Full night. We gathered around the campfire. With the temperature dropping fast after sunset, the fire's warmth felt great.
"Not bad at all. Impressive."
"It's nothing. Just experience."
Elise and Cloudy started chatting. Even to my eyes, the shelter was well-made. Maybe it was her military background coming in handy. We shared that much in common.
It was all the result of countless field exercises. I missed my army days. Not that it was that long ago—just a few years—but the army beat this otherworld life any day.
"Kobson, got any jerky?"
"Nah."
I pulled out some rations with Kobson and warmed them over the fire. This familiar taste. Yeah, this was my staple. Chewy and dry enough you needed water to choke it down.
Things had been going too well lately; I'd almost forgotten it. This was the true taste of home.
"Speaking of, there are barely any undead around. At this rate, the festival'll be over before next week."
"Same here. Damn, it can't end yet."
"Got your eye on some prize?"
"Ain't got a shot at that gryphon otherwise."
"Heh, that's what you get for not enjoying it like me."
Suddenly, Kobson unbuttoned his shirt to show off his t-shirt.
I ♥ Brass Celestial Society.
"This shirt? Awesome. Festivals are for fun, right? Rare chance. Gear's nice, but memories matter too. World's full of suffering. Gotta seize what joy you can or you can't keep going."
He was getting philosophical in the mood, but that ridiculous shirt just made him look like an idiot.
"Must be nice, you bastard. What about the poster?"
"Hanging in my room. Look at it before bed and when I wake up. Lifts my spirits. Makes me think about joining a faith myself."
"You're insane."
"Insane? Nuns are great, right? One perk of the church..."
As Kobson and I bantered, Elise suddenly jumped in.
"You don't need to become a nun to enjoy religion's many benefits."
"Huh?"
For some reason, she pulled a scripture from her belt and continued.
"Isn't that right, Kobson? Why not join the Radiant Cross Society while you're at it? We're always recruiting regular followers and holy knights alike. If you're interested, I can write you a recommendation. I'm just a junior nun, but I can pass it to a senior pastor."
I exchanged glances with Kobson. Coming from the same Krasheim, we both knew exactly how brutal and terrifying the Radiant Cross Society was. Those holy knights? Straight-up thugs.
Elise opened her scripture. It looked like she was about to launch into doctrine or some tedious sermon. That'd be a disaster, so we scrambled to change the subject.
"Haha! If I get interested, I'll definitely ask, Sister Elise!"
"I'll take that positively. If you're curious about the teachings..."
"H-how about we decide on watch shifts first?!"
"Watch shifts? True, some undead are stealthy, so rotations make sense."
Even in his panic, Kobson lowered his voice.
Maybe that was a talent in itself.
Everyone's got something they're good at, and Kobson might just be a pro at pitching his voice low around women. Dodging with watches was a solid move, though.
I turned my head.
"Cloudy, you hungry?"
Her lavender hair seemed to glow in the firelight. When I spoke, she leaned her head on my shoulder.
"Mmm."
"What?"
"Feed me."
This woman... I took off my gauntlets and broke some rations into small pieces, feeding them to her. Cloudy seemed antsy, like she had worms. It was around our usual bedtime, after all.
We killed time like that until night deepened.
Warming ourselves by the fire against the chill made us drowsy naturally. Time to hit the sack. When I stood, everyone else did too.
"How we doing watches?"
I asked. Rock-paper-scissors would be ideal, but as I said, otherworld versions vary wildly by birthplace, home, and faith—shapes and rules all over the place. Not practical for daily use.
Once you start debating it with hermits pulling out freaky variants, you fall into madness. I wanted no part of that. Never again getting stabbed over something so stupid.
"Hmm..."
First watch is best, last is second-best. Second and third? Pure hell.
"I'm fine with anything, so pick your preferred slots first."
"Nah, can't do that."
We hashed it out roughly. It took a bit, but in the end, Elise—who could use holy power—took first watch. Cloudy wanted to go back-to-back with me, so she got second and I took third. Kobson had last.
Shifts set, time to sleep. First-shift Elise sat by the fire and bowed.
"Good night, Saint. I'll wake you when it's time."
"Yeah. Don't overdo it."
The impromptu survival tent was cozy enough. Just having a roof makes a difference.
Positions: Kobson on the right end, me in the middle, Cloudy on the left. With the cold setting in, I pulled Cloudy close as we lay down. Her warm body heat hit me, and sleep crashed over me in seconds.
Ah, this breastplate is a pain.
Regulations say no removing armor outdoors.
"Hee hee hee..."
Suddenly, Cloudy leaned in for a kiss. I blocked her mouth with my hand and whispered harshly.
"Hey! Comrades right next to us!"
Kobson was practically on top of us, and Elise the nun was there too. Absolutely not. Damn it! Back home, time for a sex ed refresher!
"Sleep!"
"Just once?"
"..."
A forehead kiss settled her down.
And just like that, I dozed off—
"Saint, your shift."
"—Huh?"
Time had jumped ahead surprisingly.
Cloudy was snoring softly beside me.
"I gathered extra wood during the downtime, so just keep the fire going. Moonlight's bright, but fire's essential."
"Ah, uh... Time flies, huh."
I got up and stepped outside.
Sure enough, there was a huge pile of wood, just as Elise said. Enough for a week, not just a day. She'd gathered everything in sight.
"No signs of anything. The forest is dead quiet. Not even small monsters."
"Got it, got it. My turn now. Go sleep."
"See you in the morning."
Elise lay down in my spot without hesitation. Then Cloudy pulled her into a hug. Wait, what the hell is this woman doing?!
"Uh, um... Saint?"
Clingy Cloudy started nuzzling into Elise. At the unbelievable sight, Elise flushed and panicked.
"Calm her. Stay still. One wrong move and it's trouble."
"...Trouble meaning?"
"Something unbelievably shocking."
I calmly worked to separate Cloudy from Elise. Her freakish strength demanded precise control and serious muscle.
"Nooo!"
She wouldn't budge, so I lightly tugged her earlobe. She let out a weird moan and twisted away. Elves have sensitive ears.
Finally free, Elise exhaled heavily.
"...Sleep well."
"Whew... She's burning up. Good night."
Alone now, I sat by the fire, feeding it logs to pass the time. The forest really was silent. Normally, you'd hear all sorts of night sounds out here.
Wings flapping, creatures rustling in the brush, unknown things prowling. But nothing. Just the crackle of the fire and the wind.
No stimuli made it brutally boring.
I was dragging it out endlessly when—
—Thud.
"Hm?"
Something falling? No. Footsteps? Too heavy for that. What the hell?
I drew my sword and scanned left and right.
Wake the others?
Might be nothing. Hold off.
Then—
—Thud.
What the fuck is this.
—Thud!
I jolted upright, yelling to wake everyone.
That instant—
—Crack!
"Wh-what?!"
A tree toppled as something massive emerged.
As a mere mortal, I beheld the colossal aberrant monster.
—JYURURURURURURURU!!!
"El iiiiiise!!!!!!!! Cloooooudy!!!!!"
Bursting through the trees was a monstrous mass of flesh.
This gigantic undead, stitched from countless chunks of meat, was nearly three meters tall.
"It's a flesh golem aaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!"