Swaaaaaaaash. It was a rainy day. The small boy sat huddled. He didn't know how long he'd been there, when he'd arrived, or why. He wasn't hungry. He wasn't thirsty. He simply existed because he was. Days passed, one after another, as he blankly stared at the black sky and red clouds. Then, he heard a noisy commotion. “Honey~ It’s so scary here~” “When are we going back? Professor will worry if we’re too late.” Two women and one man. The women each held one of the man's arms, chattering away, trying to win his favor. The man in the middle, however, remained expressionless, seemingly unimpressed. Then they spotted the boy. “Ah! Honey, I’m scared! Is that an undead?” “…….” The man stopped walking. He stood still for a long time, just staring at the boy. The women, glancing at the man's expression, began to whine. “Let’s just gooo~” “For once, we agree. Honey, we don’t have time to waste in a place like this….” The man snapped his fingers twice. As if on cue, the two women pouted, turned their backs, and walked away. After sending the women away, the man slowly approached the boy. “What are you doing? In a place like this.” “…….” The boy didn't answer. He scanned the man up and down with fearful eyes, then buried his face in his arms again. “Kid, ignoring me, huh?” The man chuckled, craning his neck. “Isn’t it f*cking boring? This gloomy neighborhood.” “…….” The boy lifted his head again, and saw the man’s outstretched hand. “If you’ve got nothing to do, follow me. I don’t know about anything else, but…” The man’s grinning face was etched onto the boy’s retina. “I can definitely guarantee ‘fun’!” For some reason, he thought that smile was warm. The boy took the man’s hand. * * * That's how Prince joined Richard's Legion. Even back then, Richard had many undead, but he treated Prince specially. Prince grew significantly, just as Richard had expected, eventually rising to the position of 'Captain' of the Legion and leading the zombie unit. Every day with him was joyful and happy. He wished these days would never end. '…….' But eternity didn't exist. The Legion was disbanded, and Richard disappeared. '…Making me feel all sentimental for nothing.' Prince, emerging from his reminiscence, rolled his eyes. He saw Simon sprawled carelessly on the sofa in his mansion. Next to him, Pier was boasting endlessly about his newly chosen Legion Commander. It was like a doting parent, so Prince let it go in one ear and out the other. Rustle. After a moment of shifting, Simon opened his eyes. “Ugh.” [Oh! You woke up earlier than I thought, boy!] He got up from the sofa with a sleepy expression and rubbed his eyes. “...Pier? What happened?” [What happened?! You blew away Manus's horde completely! It's only been about an hour since then!] “…….” Simon frowned, clutching his forehead. “I blew Manus away… right?” [Yes! And you even used Corpse Explosion!] Simon blinked, looking up at him. “I vaguely remember blowing him away, but Corpse… what? What’s that?” [Kuhuhuhu!] Pier clicked his tongue. Should he just call it 'talent' that Simon could create miracles with an almost instinctive insight? At this point, they might need to invent a new word just for Simon. Pier explained everything to the bewildered Simon. [Alright, how much do you remember?] “Up to sending the zombies to cover Manus. And then I was concentrating like crazy and somehow….” Simon looked at Prince. “I think I said something cool to him at the end….” At that, Prince let out a small laugh. [Something about showing him how to win? Too bad you don't remember it?] “Ugh.” Simon groaned and turned his head. The Crown was back on Prince's main body. [Don't misunderstand. You dropped the Crown, so I put it on to control the zombies again.] Prince approached his main body and picked up the Crown. [I hate to admit it, but you handle this power better than I do. If you want to take it, well….] Simon shook his head. “I’m never using that again.” [……?] [I agree with the boy's decision too.] Pier nodded seriously and continued. [The boy maintained himself perfectly while wearing the Crown up to a certain point! But eventually, he lost his mind to the Crown's power, and even lost himself. The boy's consciousness at that time was out of control!] Simon nodded. More than anything, his hand was trembling. It was shaking uncontrollably, as if beyond his brain's control, constantly reaching towards the Crown. His gaze, if he didn't consciously direct it, kept drifting to the Crown. [It's an addiction.] Pier said. [The more you use the Crown, the more you become infatuated with its power! If you rely on the Crown's power like that, you'll eventually be consumed by it.] “Yes, it’s too dangerous a power for now.” Simon decided it would be better for Prince to keep using the Crown unless it was a truly critical moment. Prince looked somewhat relieved. [But you really don't remember using Corpse Explosion?] “I told you, I don’t.” Simon replied, drawing runes in the air. “It was something like this, and this, and then this.” He clearly didn't remember, but his body felt tingly. The memory in his head had evaporated, but his body remembered. Simon drew a few lines in the air with his finger and said, “The main rune that acts on the core is 'Rampage'. Right?” [Correct.] It seemed he had accidentally gained a new skill. He was thinking he should review it when he returned to Kizen, when he suddenly snapped back to reality. “Performance evaluation!!” [……?] “I need to go back quickly. I still have a zombie with me! The others must be worried.” Watching Simon hastily grab his outer clothes, Prince chuckled. It was a familiar sight. When he first joined Richard's command, Richard was also a Kizen student. He even remembered times when Richard forgot his supplies, and Prince would come all the way to the Kizen entrance to bring them to him. 'Haa, so I have to go back to Kizen too?' Prince looked at his main body. It would take at least two years to move this to Kizen, but Simon wouldn't let him go, so he had no choice. His days as a king were over…. “Your main body can stay here. Prince.” Prince was startled by Simon's next words. [R-really?] “You said you rule Deathland, right? And since I control you, Deathland is ultimately mine.” […….] “I think it’s not bad to have a dedicated territory by just placing a captain there. Don’t you think, Pier?” Pier nodded. [Of course! Among the undead, there are some too large to enter my ruins, or those harmful to humans! We can just release them appropriately in Deathland and manage them!] “Sounds good.” Most importantly, Prince could descend into any zombie anywhere on the continent, regardless of distance, as long as certain conditions were met. His main body would remain in Deathland, but he could be summoned to Kizen anytime. “In that sense, please continue to take good care of Deathland, Prince.” […….] To be asked to take care of Deathland from now on. The expression Prince made was hard to pinpoint. He seemed confused, yet also touched. [B-but are you really going just like this? What about shackles? What if I betray you?] “Betrayal? What betrayal? The Legionization already shackled you, so it’s fine.” […….] Prince sighed deeply and approached his main body. Rip. Snap. Then he tore off his pinky finger and an ear from his beloved main body. Simon’s eyes widened. “Prince! What are you…!” [Wait.] Prince kneaded his body in his hand as if compacting it. Rumble! Black lightning fell from the ceiling and entered his hand, and his main body was being extremely compressed. [This should be enough, right?] And when he took his hand away, a gray ring had been created. Prince tossed it towards Simon. [Wear that on any finger, and if you pour Jet Black into the ring, you can talk to me.] Simon put on the ring as Prince instructed and poured Jet Black into it. The ring turned black, and he put it to his lips and said, “Can you hear me?” [Loud and clear.] Prince nodded. [The next function is to place your hand with the ring on a zombie's body. Then I can descend into that zombie. If you need my help, well….] Prince scratched the back of his neck, looking embarrassed, as he spoke. Simon looked down at the hand wearing the ring and smiled. “I’ll cherish it.” [Kuhuhu! If I call, don't mess around and come over immediately! Let's go, boy.] “Oh, right, Prince!” Simon suddenly remembered something and said, [Why?] “Is there anything good in this mansion that I can turn into a zombie?” * * * With only an hour left until the performance evaluation ended. Students who had been searching Deathland for zombie materials were now returning to the camp to prepare for the evaluation. Class A students were lined up in a long queue, and in front of them, under a large tent, Aaron and the teaching assistants were busy evaluating zombies. And. “Simon! Why is he so late?!” Mei-rin stomped her foot and shouted. “Ah, he escaped safely! He should have arrived by now, what’s he doing?” “...I’m worried about Simon.” Kamibarez mumbled, constantly looking around. After the battle with Prince, Dick and Kamibarez had been unconscious. Mei-rin, rescued by Simon, joined them later and woke them up, and the three safely made it back to the camp. And according to 'Pion,' who rescued Mei-rin, Simon was also kidnapped by the Corpse-collectors after that incident, but escaped on his own and entered the sewers. They thought there would be no problem since he was in a safe zone, but they couldn't help but worry. Dick shivered. “Ugh, I still remember it. When I faced that incredibly strong zombie, I thought I was going to die for sure.” Kamibarez also nodded. “Yes, it was a miracle we survived.” “Be grateful! Pion-nim saved us!” Dick turned his head slightly. “But you know, are we just waiting for Simon based on what that Pion guy said? Is he really trustworthy?” “Oh, of course! He’s the one who saved my life!” Mei-rin flared up. “And he told me to go back to my friends! Why else would Pion-nim know you guys? He saved you from that strong zombie!” Dick propped his head with his arm. “I’m a little doubtful, though. You said Pion was wearing that cool skeleton from the mansion as Bone Armor, right?” “Yeah.” “That skeleton attacked us, didn’t it? Don’t you remember?” Mei-rin stopped talking. There was no way she couldn't remember. A slash had come, and Simon had thrown himself to save her. Thinking of that, her face suddenly flushed, and she fanned herself rapidly, saying, “Ah, that! At that time, he probably didn’t know who we were! Or he was mistaken!” “It’s a little strange though….” Mei-rin glared at Dick with a fierce look. “Are you doubting Pion-nim right now?” Dick flinched and backed away, afraid of being hit again. Just then, Kamibarez, who had been quietly pondering, opened her mouth. “...Perhaps.” Both their gazes turned to her. Kamibarez cautiously offered her opinion. “Perhaps that Pion person is Simon?”
Please login to track progress