Chapter 72
Nightfall in Alfyro
Editor(s): Speedphoenix, Joker
The sun began to set and the moon began to rise as evening descended upon the city . It was twilight, and the sky was dyed in a brilliant mix of orange and black to match . Most of the city"s population had retreated indoors .
Its streets weren"t nearly as populated as they"d been during the day . The few people that wandered about were far less rushed . In fact, they almost seemed to blend into the backdrop . The whole town had taken on a more relaxed atmosphere . Its emptier streets and beautiful architecture came together to form a cityscape I could only describe as enchanting . The experience was so magical I could almost hear the town"s evening BGM .
Like everyone else still outdoors, Lefi and I had also melded into the scenery . We walked side by side as we slowly made our way towards the the inn we had stayed at the night before .
We had already bid the hero farewell—at least for the day . Surprisingly, she seemed to enjoy her time with us . So much so, in fact, that she had happily asked us to meet her in front of the governor"s manor the next morning without any sort of prompt on our parts . I guess all that hero training she"s gotta do has made her so busy that she rarely ever gets the chance to kick back and relax . I should probably help her blow off all her excess stress . Guess I"ll have to figure out a good way to entertain her next time she hits up the dungeon .
"I have to say," said Lefi, breaking the silence . "I cannot help but label it a shame that we are the only two of the dungeon"s inhabitants to partake in this experience . "
"Yeah, true . Having them here would"ve made this trip a whole lot more lively . " A bit of a smile appeared on my face as I imagined the scenario . I could practically see Illuna excitedly dash around the alleyways while Lyuu chased her with a look of panic plastered all over her face all the while . Unlike the two overly energetic hooligans, Leila would probably stand by and keep an eye on them with a smile .
Rir and s.h.i.+ though… yeah, no . The only possible thing I could imagine the two of them doing was causing a huge uproar . The same went for the three wraith girls .
"Heh . " I chuckled a bit as I imagined the mess they would cause .
"What is it?"
"Nah, nothing too important . " I paused for a moment . "It"s just that… I really didn"t expect you of all people to say that . "
"I concur . " Lefi nodded . The smile on her face was a bit of an awkward one . It was clear from her expression that even she found it strange . "Never once had I ever imagined that I would one day long for the presence of another . "
"Yeah, true . " I led my reply with a shrug . "But honestly, I"m liking this whole just you and me thing a good bit too . It"s been a long time since we"ve had anything more than just a moment to ourselves . "
"T-That, I cannot refute . " The dragon girl stuttered as she did her best to keep a grip on her composure . "And I daresay, I find it strange that I have known you for no more than half a year . It feels as if you have been by my side for decades . "
"Right? Those are some mighty fine words right there . Almost makes me think you actually do more than just laze around all day . "
"That claim is one that you make for the sole reason that you knew not what my days were like prior to my relocation . My former nest was one in which I spent many a day naught but drifting back and forth between this land and the land of dreams . "
"Wait . You"re saying you"re actually being less lazy now…?"
"Precisely . I have spent my time in your presence expending much more energy than I have in the period that preceded it . It cannot be helped that I find myself too drained to a.s.sist you with the housework . "
"Talk about faulty logic…" I turned towards the dragon girl and flashed her a wry smile .
We continued our journey in silence, basking in the city"s warm atmosphere as we did . But alas, the silence was broken .
By a scream .
A woman wearing clothes typical of an adult out to enjoy the city"s nightlife shrieked like a banshee as she came tumbling out of a nearby alleyway . After her chased a man holding a bloodstained knife . Oh man, look at those eyes . That guy"s totally lost it .
Adding to the effect were the dry groans that leaked from the man"s lips . G.o.d . f.u.c.king . d.a.m.n . It . Man, today was going so well . But noooo, this a.s.shole has to show up and spoil it .
"f.u.c.k you! And f.u.c.k that stupid a.s.s bucket of cold water you ruined my mood with too!" I shouted as I picked up a nearby rock and whipped it at his face . The projectile whizzed through the air and almost seemed to dig into the side of his skull as it hit him dead on .
Unable to defend himself from the sudden attack, the man was sent flying into a nearby building, where he promptly collapsed . The wound was a pretty heavy one . There was blood everywhere . I was sure that the man had either died or suffered a concussion . But much to my surprise, he got right back up .
His head twisted towards me in an unnatural, eerie fas.h.i.+on as his body rose in a manner that almost made me think of a jiangs.h.i.+ .
"The f.u.c.k? That"s h.e.l.la creepy," I said .
"You would do well to activate your Magic Eye," advised Lefi .
"Uhhhh… suuure…"
I followed Lefi"s instructions and looked towards the crazy dude with the skill active . The h.e.l.l? His whole body"s covered in some sort of magical energy . It almost looks like it"s binding him .
"I believe it would not be incorrect to declare the man before you a corpse," she said .
"You serious?"
"Indeed . Necromancers are amongst the enemies I"ve faced in the past . The spirits they employ are restrained by mana . The fetters that bind him remind me much of their work . "
“I see…” I nodded . Alright, yeah . I get it now . Dude"s a zombie .
Though I had labeled the man as a zombie, he wasn"t operating under the influence of some sort of virus . His reanimation had instead been brought about by a magic-based means . Specifically, he had been dominated . Someone had taken control of him in the same manner I had taken control of my cursed axe . He was practically a puppet .
I knew that there had to be someone out there controlling him, but my enemy detection skill wasn"t coming up with any results . Alright, enough thinking, Yuki . Deal with the zombie first . Think after .
I frowned a bit and began contemplating my next steps . It"d be easy if the guy was just infected . Virus controlled zombies can be ended with a quick snap of the neck . Or I could just flat out blow his head off and call it a day . But the fact that he"s being manipulated with magic means he"ll probably keep moving even if he"s missing his brain .
"So how"d you handle these things anyway?" I turned to the dragon girl for advice .
"It was a simple task . I merely set the necromancers themselves ablaze . "
"I-I see . . "
Oh, I get it . You have to light filthy things on fire so you can disinfect them . Makes sense .
In the end, the only conclusion I came to in the short span of time I had was to overwrite the mana that kept the corpse moving with my own . Fortunately, it had already switched its target and began lumbering towards me . The way it walked got to me . It was disgusting, inhuman .
I immediately knocked the creature over and grabbed it by the back of its skull the moment it touched the ground . I gathered up my magical energy and immediately forced it through the man"s head . The mana that already existed within resisted me . But that was all it could do . Heh . That ain"t anywhere near enough juice to stop me .
The zombie moaned and convulsed as I continued to forcefully channel my magical energy throughout . But no matter what it did, I didn"t stop . The man"s struggle, however, did . The forces compelling him to motion were overruled . And so, he collapsed . Much like a puppet with its strings cut loose .
***
Editor"s note: Hey, guys! Joker here . Man, it feels like it"s been forever since I did a proper editor"s note . I know you guys missed me, so let"s dive right into it . Yuki"s been enjoying his time in the city, which is good . If only all the c.r.a.p that keeps happening wouldn"t . It would make for a much more positive experience for him and Lefi . And yeah, I"d have to agree with him . Illuna would be running around everywhere while Lyuu tried to catch her . Leila would probably look at books somewhere . Rir and s.h.i.+, though, probably wouldn"t be welcomed with open arms by the townsfolk . Such a shame . Rir is King Good Boy after all, and s.h.i.+ is a lovable puddle of jello . He could probably clear the whole town of trash easily . He"s the world"s best recycle monster, after all . But it looks like our resident Demon Lord is gonna have to smash some necromancer"s head after ruining his day with Lefi . Poor guy doesn"t know what"s about to hit him . But I guess he"ll find out soon . See y"all in the next chapter!