Unpilea's Fury
"Kill me……. Please kill me……."
"Kraa, ah……. Aaa!!"
As we entered the village center, elf zombies swarmed toward us as if they'd been waiting. It felt like a scene straight out of a horror movie, but I forced myself to stay calm and ordered the goblins to attack.
"Keruk!!"
"Krak!"
All twenty-four goblins charged, and the elf zombies swung their arms wildly in response. The goblins raised their clubs high and smashed the lead zombie, shoving forward relentlessly.
"Kraaaak!"
The goblins' wave-like assault made the elf zombies scream and topple like dominoes. A normal elf would have been impossible to take down like this, but these half-minded zombies were no match. And these weren't ordinary goblins anyway—they were buffed by the Jet-Black Staff.
"Krak!"
The dozen-plus elf zombies were trampled under the goblins' feet, reverting to lifeless corpses.
"Urk!"
That's when Rishar doubled over and started vomiting. Guilt was written all over her face. I patted her back and spoke.
"If it's too much, you can head back."
Conflict flickered in Rishar's eyes at my words, but she shook her head and gripped my arm tightly.
"No……. I'm fine. Really."
With that, she straightened up and started walking again. She looked fragile, but I decided to let her continue for now.
"Keeek. Heh……. Heh."
As we pressed on, a creepy laugh echoed from afar. I stopped with Rishar and turned toward the sound.
"Ah, aaah……."
A moan escaped Rishar's lips. Tears streamed down her face as she clamped her hands over her mouth. It was a perfectly natural reaction.
Damn…….
What appeared before us was a writhing mass of corpses. More precisely, a tangled heap of elves, men and women alike, giggling maniacally as they stared at us. Voices murmured things like "Keeek, feels good. Come join us," or "Ahh, this is the best. The best place ever." Just hearing them made my stomach churn.
……Is that Unpilea?
I grimaced and opened my mouth.
"Summon Rex!"
The three-meter twin-headed ogre appeared before my eyes.
"Another pile of corpses?"
"Don't let it burst like last time—smash it thoroughly!"
"No, rip it apart!"
"Yeah, smash it!"
Rex bellowed and charged the corpse mass without waiting for orders, shaking the ground with heavy thuds.
"Keeieek!!"
The mass shrieked like nails on a chalkboard and spewed foul, rotten blood.
"Watch out!"
I shouted and raised the healer's staff high, ready to recover Rex if it got hit.
"It's fine! Fine!"
"Be careful! Stop!"
"No! Can't stop!"
"Idiot, I said be careful! Stop!"
"Once an ogre starts running, it doesn't stop!"
The twin-headed ogre stomped right onto the corpse mass. With a squelch, it flattened underfoot—utterly pulverized.
"Ugh! Gross!"
"Feels weird!"
As Rex lifted its foot, dark red blood clung and stretched like taffy.
What the hell? It's dead?
One hit. Just a stomp, and the mass died without resistance. Totally different from before. I eyed it closely, then summoned the Ring of Protection.
I looked at Rex and said, "Step back."
Rex retreated, and the mangled remains slapped onto the ground with a wet splat.
"……Dark Arrow!"
The black arrow shot out and exploded the heap with a bang, leaving nothing behind.
What?
I frowned at the scene.
……Why is it so weak?
I tilted my head, then pulled out my smartphone on a hunch. The minimap showed an objective marker a short distance away.
"No way……. These corpse masses are just trash mobs now?"
The difficulty had spiked way too much. Sure, they seemed weaker, but they could still spawn zombies.
"Master, what's a trash mob?"
"Dummy! You don't even know that?"
"Do you?"
"No, I don't!"
"Kekeke."
"Heehee."
While I pondered, Rex was chattering and laughing among themselves.
What to do? Give up?
After agonizing, I decided to face Unpilea. I could always run if needed. I shook Rishar, who was staring blankly at the remains.
"Rishar, snap out of it."
"Ahh……. Yuhyun. Yuhyun, that thing……."
"Go back for now. I'll handle the rest."
"W-Wait! I'm okay! Please let me keep guiding you! I beg you."
"Seeing more won't do you any good."
I spoke firmly, resolved to unsummon her. But she clung desperately.
"No! This……. This is my duty. Back then, I should have convinced Lady Irene properly……. I failed……."
"That's not your fault, Rishar. Irene made the final call."
"You're wrong……. I……. I could have pushed for you, Yuhyun. I could have secretly given you the black stone. But……. I didn't trust you deep down. I thought maybe you were tricking me, just like Lady Irene said! So this is all……."
"Rishar."
"My fault. Let me guide you. It's the least……. The least I can do."
I bit my lip. Why carry so much guilt? Irene was the decider; Rishar was just a low-rank soldier following orders. She had no reason to torment herself.
"Do you really have to put yourself through this pain?"
I asked sincerely, worried her mind might break if we continued.
"……You don't need to see your kin's corpses."
They were elves she'd lived with in the village. It had to hurt. Rishar glanced around at the bodies, then met my eyes squarely.
"Let me guide you."
Her resolute voice left me silent for a moment. Then I nodded.
"Understood."
I let her lead, and we soon reached a spot swarming with corpse masses.
This is…….
Like queen ants, they were spawning elf zombies—and regular ones too, pouring them out endlessly. I grimaced at the horrifying sight and turned to Rex and the goblins.
"Wipe them all out."
Rex led the charge. The masses screeched and belched zombies to defend themselves, blocking Rex's path.
Squelch!
"Kraaak!"
Zombies burst like grubs underfoot. Goblins followed, clubbing the masses until they popped.
In the chaos, a few zombies lunged at me.
Shit!
I raised the Jet-Black Staff, but Rishar swung her sword with a fierce cry.
"Kyak!"
Her blade severed its head; it collapsed with a final screech. But it wasn't done.
"Dark Arrow!"
I blasted another. Meanwhile, Rex had smashed every mass and was yelling, "Popping feels great! More?!"
"Summon orcs. Clear the remaining zombies."
"Chwiik! As you command, Master!"
The orcs dove in with the goblins, mopping up the rest.
"Hoo……."
I sighed, surveying the cleaned area. It felt eerily quiet now.
Was this the zombie production hub?
Made sense—no more zombie cries echoed. Just silence and the stench of blood.
……Good news for now.
I rallied the group. Then—
"How dare you kill my children!"
An enraged woman's voice filled the clearing. Startled, I whipped around. Rishar beside me cried out in horror.
"Lady Unpilea!"
In the direction she stared stood a stunningly beautiful woman. Even with her furious scowl, her beauty was undiminished—her anger only made her more alluring. If there was such a thing as a nation-toppling beauty, it was her.
That's High Elf Unpilea…….
Irene's mother, indeed. I gripped my staffs tightly, tense.
"Who are you to know my name?"
"Lady Unpilea, it's me! Rishar!"
"Rishar? Wrong! You're not Rishar! Wait, you are Rishar. Yes, I remember. The little girl laughing on my lap……. But you're too big? Rishar is a child. So you're not Rishar."
Clearly unhinged, Unpilea shook her bound golden hair and shouted.
"Lady Unpilea!"
"Shut up!"
Rishar pleaded desperately, but Unpilea snapped back harshly. Glaring, she strode toward us with murderous intent.
"Goblins, attack!"
I yelled immediately.
"Keruk!!"
The goblins bravely charged.
"Hmph!"
Unpilea scoffed derisively and kicked the first goblin, shattering its jaw.
"Kek!"
It convulsed and vanished. Enraged, the others swung clubs.
"Filth daring to—!"
She deflected a club with her forearm, grabbed a goblin's neck, and hurled it into the others.
"Kyeak!"
"Kkek!"
Sickening crunches—three or four goblins gone in an instant.
What the hell is she so strong?
Overwhelmed, I swallowed hard. Rishar kept pleading.
"Lady Unpilea, stop! Please!"
But Unpilea massacred the rest. Rex fidgeted and looked at me.
"Master, can I fight too?"
"You crazy? How do you beat that monster?"
"Smash it!"
"Huh? Yeah! Let's smash!"
Rex bounced impatiently. I hesitated, then ordered.
"Rex, orcs! Help the goblins—attack Unpilea!"
They surged forward.