Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Strictly Distinguishing Public from Private - 1
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I once watched a movie called 28 Days Later. It was a disaster flick like a zombie movie, where people infected by the rage virus wrecked the world.
And in this game, the undead transformation that breaks out during the plague event turns out the same way—not fully dead like the rage virus, but shifting into an infected state while still alive and nearing death.
Well, that was just the lore. In the game itself, it was treatable, but otherwise no different from regular undead.
Anyway, according to the lore, there were three key traits when the plague progressed to full undead transformation.
First: Infectivity.
If the bodily fluids of someone who's undeadified get into another person's fluids, it spreads the plague.
Second: Aggression.
Once undeadified, they feel hostility toward all living beings, try to spread the plague, and their aggression ramps up.
Third: Enhancement.
The plague's changes remove the body's limits during undeadification, making that NPC way stronger than their original state.
Of course, "stronger" was still nothing compared to regular undead.
Among players, some used these transformed NPCs as XP fodder, while others undid the undeadification to save them.
Both had pros and cons.
Ruthlessly killing NPCs could make it hard to get their support later.
Especially important NPCs had no replacements, so you might miss out on related events or quests entirely.
On the flip side, you got way more XP than from regular undead.
Saving them flipped that around, obviously.
So, what kind of NPC was Rudhi, Evangeline's little sister?
As far as I knew, there were no quests or achievements tied to her specifically.
Killing her right here shouldn't cause any issues, then.
-Kwaaaang!!
"Th-that thing..."
With the sound of the wall shattering, a couple of elf priests got flung out. Peeking inside, I saw holy relics related to the Healing Tree Tribe placed there.
-Krrr...
A white-clad bob-cut elf stepped out, crushing one of the relics like it disgusted her.
Wounds burst open all over her body, her eyes bloodshot.
Fever-split wounds festered and rotted, pus dripping in globs—it looked just like a corpse shambling around.
Plus, using strength beyond her body's limits made her creak and groan like she might break any second.
Did I mess up the earlier attack? Her right hand was torn open, white bone exposed.
Yet instead of pain, she was wrapped in deathly aura, unleashing pure hatred toward the living.
"Th-this!!
"Rudhi!! Snap out of it!!"
Rudhi was a skilled alchemist with strong mental fortitude, but maybe the undeadification had progressed too far? She ignored their calls, just roaring in rage.
-Kraaaaa!!
Roaring like a beast, she lunged at the nearest priest. I immediately aimed Moonlight at her.
-Tung!!
She bounced off the barrier, baring her teeth. Maybe she sensed my magic—her rage turned fully on me.
"Come on."
I switched Moonlight to staff mode and pointed it at her bloodshot glare.
"Sage! Let me help...
"Don't get cocky and infect yourself."
"But you're in danger too!"
Sure, I had infection risk.
Even a scratch in combat with someone mid-undeadification could infect you.
But that was for normal folks. With my barriers, it was no issue.
Her attack power wasn't even that high.
-Krrr!!
Rudhi charged at monster speed. I swung the staff before her arm reached me.
A long armed staff versus bare hands.
Big reach difference—who'd win?
Rudhi took a hit, flew back, recovered her stance, and leaped at me again.
But eating a plain attack without proper skills...
"I've fought way too many battles!!
-Paak!!
I spun, slamming the staff's tip into her side.
Crack—bones snapped, and as she tumbled across the floor, I slammed my hand toward the ground.
-Kugugugu!!
One of the shaman skills: Earth Shackles. Mud ropes erupted from the earth, snaking around to bind her legs.
She strained to break free, but my shaman arts were too strong for that.
-Paak! Paak!!
One to the face, one to the side.
Legs pinned, she couldn't move or defend—just raged, flailing punches at empty air.
As if. I laughed at her and swung again.
Felt like beating a scarecrow.
Hell, back in the game, I'd rounded up mobs like this for easy XP grinding and level-ups.
Nostalgic, I beat her gleefully. After a while, she started feeling pain, roaring out.
"Aaaaaagh!!
"Ru-Rudhi!!"
The elves watching cried out in worry. Some grabbed weapons to stop my merciless beating.
"Rotello! Block all approaching elves!
"Huh? Uh?!
Rotello panicked but spread his arms to hold them back. Lianhua did the same.
"What good is beating her like that!
An elf shouted desperately, watching Rudhi's flesh tear from the blows.
What good?
Clueless.
"Anger management issues improve with a good beating!
The strong naturally master their tempers.
Rudhi finally spat blood and passed out after the thrashing. As she went silent, the elves gaped, then glared at me.
"What. Why. Never seen physical therapy before?"
"T-Tongue, Sage. Is that okay?"
"Of course. I only beat her enough not to kill."
"...Isn't that enough to kill?"
"Nah~ She won't die from this."
I overlooked her blood-soaked, near-death form and cast Heal on her. A few Healing Tree Tribe priests ground their teeth at my heal, but whatever—part-time job.
Confirming some recovery, I collected her overflowing blood and said,
"Lay her in bed, tie down her arms and legs. She's drained enough she won't move for a bit, but just in case. And no approaching."
"...How dare you attack an elf like that in the elf forest. Human!! You're insane!!"
Heh. It was treatment.
I grinned at their fury.
"It's one of the treatments. Mad dogs need a good stick."
"What?!
"Think about it. Leaving her locked up while undeadification progresses just worsens the damage."
"Even so!"
"You want all these elves going berserk like that? Wow. What's your name?"
"Why?"
"To etch it in history as the elf who helped doom them."
The raging elf bit their lip.
"Anyone else wanna say something?"
Some grumbled it was too harsh a treatment, but nothing major. A quick rebuttal, and though hostile, no one interfered.
"Alright. Carry on. Call me if she flips out again."
Worth the effort—easy sample secured.
Whistling, I returned to the alchemy gear. By the time I made antidote from Rudhi's blood, the sun had set and moon risen.
"Sage. You sure it's fine?"
"Elves might reject your treatment."
Worried about the backlash. Rotello and Lianhua looked uneasy as I administered the antidote to the downed priest and checked her state.
"They won't be that stupid."
"Hmm. I'm Healing Tree Tribe too, but... some elves refuse anything but elven healing... Especially our tribe and allies."
Many insisted on prayer and holy rites over alchemist potions.
Plus traditionalists stuck to old ways.
Jeez. All kinds in this era.
In-game, I'd just kill refusers once plague hit...
Hmm... Should I?
Goal's stopping the plague anyway...
Yeah. Do that. No need to take the hard road when easy's there.
Save who I can, mercy-kill the rest.
"We'll think on that later."
"Sigh. So? Is that the plague cure?"
"Nope. Undoes undeadification. Just alleviates plague—full cure needs more research."
But base done; tweak as we go.
Test more with elf alchemists, mass-produce once kingdom and church aid arrives.
I set down the antidote vials, grabbed syringes.
"Going somewhere?"
"Undo more undeadification. Let's go."
Dragging Rotello and Lianhua, I headed back. Hostile, puzzled, wary stares hit me.
Some Rudhi allies even drew blades.
Beat her that bad—if treatment failed, they'd skewer me.
Haha. Brats.
No wonder I don't like elves.
"If killing stares worked, I'd be dead a dozen times."
Lianhua looked ashamed. Even elves felt bad treating a helper like this.
Rotello especially—couldn't lift his head.
"Um... Let me apologize for them...
"Own your mistakes. I won't forget this debt."
"Ugh... But stopping plague treatment...
"Nah."
Must treat the plague.
No matter the treatment I get.
Ignoring stares, I walked in.
Rudhi lay fixed by all limbs, drooling, glaring with hate and rage.
"Oh? Still glaring like that?"
-Krrr...
After that beating, eyes open? Not anger management—real disorder?
Whatever.
She's non compos mentis now—forgive it.
Post-recovery glare like that...
I jabbed the syringe into her vein. Some elves gulped.
-.......
Drug in, her eyes' murder and rage faded. Growling eased, ragged breath steadied.
How long passed?
Rudhi twitched, then slumped. I called nearby elves.
"Wanna heal but it'd bug you? Heal her."
"...Human. Is Rudhi okay?"
"See for yourself."
I lifted her chin. Beautiful girl like Evangeline but younger, eyes shut tight. Long dark lashes quivered—then opened.
"Ah. Oww... Where... *cough*! *cough*! ...Huh? Y-you. Who..."
She who'd barely spoken in undead state now struggled words.
Plague lingered—feverish—but consciousness back, death aura mostly gone.
Elves gawked at me.
"...M-my god."
"D-death aura gone?! From one shot?!"
That surprised?
Plague treatment's just starting.
Author's Note
Huge thanks to Parkrow for the support~
Hello~ Malmulmalmul here~
Hope you enjoyed~ Good night~