Chapter 39

We have arrived at the cave where the General Zombie resides. I'm about to start the zombie extermination, enduring the stench. Thinking about it makes me lose my nerve, so I'll try to think of something fun.

"Yuta, this cave seems to have been here since ancient times. It's not very long, but it's quite spacious, as if it has been expanded. The General Zombie inside might be a bit special."

"Special? What do you mean?"

"Do you think ordinary zombies would expand a cave? This General Zombie probably has intelligence. Normally, zombies only gain intelligence when they become a King, but there are rare cases where a General-class zombie has intelligence."

Special individuals sound strong and I don't like that. Besides, I've never heard that Kings have intelligence before.

"Hmm, should we go to another General Zombie?"

"That's fine too, but in terms of strength, it shouldn't be a problem. It's just a General, after all. Since Kings have intelligence, it would be good to get used to it here."

"But is it just a General if it's a special individual?"

Am I playing too many games? Special individuals are usually stronger than regular bosses. They could even be stronger than Kings.

"If it were strong, it would have already become a King. When they get stronger, they evolve, so it's natural."

Hmm. So it's a General Zombie with intelligence. It sounds tough, but since Kings and Liches have intelligence, I'll try it out with a weaker one.

"Then, I'll start by exterminating the General Zombie here. Bell, Rain, Tulu, go in first and wait. Ask for support if it gets dangerous."

"Got it!"

"Kyu"

"I'll do my best."

The spirits happily fly into the cave. I always think it's an advantage that they are invisible.

"Then, I'll go in."

"Good luck."

I've entered the undead lair many times, but unlike Bell and the others, I'm still not used to it. However, I have made some progress by entering the lairs multiple times.

One is that my night vision has improved. During exploration, my vision suddenly became brighter, and I realized I had gained the night vision skill.

I thought about whether I could learn stealth skills since I move silently, but Sylphie told me that skeletons and zombies are not sensitive to presence, so it's impossible to learn them here.

Another is the method of getting Bell and the others to cooperate. Undead creatures stand idly in the shadows, and when I encounter them unexpectedly, I get a terrible shock. I end up overkilling them, and the sound and presence attract more undead.

So I thought, why don't I have Bell and the others float above the undead? This way, I don't get surprised, and I don't have to fight in a cramped space.

Ghosts and Liches are too strong for me, so I have everyone quietly take them down.

As we move through the cave, Tulu points down. I quietly approach and cut off the head with a saw. A survival knife would be easier to use, but I use it for processing food, so I don't want to cut zombies with it even if I clean it.

I wave to Tulu, and Tulu waves back and flies ahead. As we move forward again, Rain is floating. I quietly approach and see a skeleton standing there.

Skeletons make a lot of noise when they fall, which is a bit troublesome. In such cases, cutting off the magic stone from behind is the quickest way, even though it feels a bit wasteful. The bones collapse with a little noise, but it doesn't seem to attract other undead.

I cut off the magic stone and wave to Rain to move forward. But it's clear that this General Zombie has intelligence.

The undead are lined up at equal intervals, and unlike previous lairs where zombies and skeletons wandered aimlessly, there is no such behavior here. It feels like they are organized.

Oh, it's Bell. ...That's a zombie imitation. Recently, Bell has been mimicking zombies and skeletons to tell me the enemy's species. This time, it's a zombie, as it's walking in a slow, sluggish manner.

Well, since spirits can't be heard by anyone other than me, there's no point in making gestures, so Bell is probably just doing it for fun. I quickly cut off the zombie's head.

As I move forward, Bell, Rain, and Tulu are floating in front of the passage. This pattern signals the end of the passage and the location of the main enemy force. They are waving excitedly, so I wave back. I can't let my guard down. I need to be more cautious this time. I need to stay focused.

Last time, when I had the spirits cast magic inside, all the enemies were wiped out, and I didn't get any combat experience. So, I'm trying to fight on my own unless it's dangerous.

Honestly, even with the lower-level spirits like Bell, I can easily defeat the enemies. If I could contract with Sylphie, there would be no point in fighting myself, but since this is a fantasy world, I want to become strong too.

I peek inside and see zombies and skeletons standing in a space that isn't too crowded. In normal lairs, the area is usually packed like a train, so the fact that it's empty confirms that they have intelligence.

Looking further in, I see zombie mages and zombie archers. Having enemies with ranged attacks is troublesome. I can't just kick them away with a hammer, so I need to keep in mind the existence of ranged attacks during the fight.

The General Zombie is holding a sword. Did it evolve from a zombie knight? Well, as a melee fighter, it's easier for me. Shall I go in?

(Then, I'll charge in. If I'm in danger, please help me.)

(Got it!)

(Kyu)

(Okay)

I can't hear their voices, but they respond in a whisper, which adds to the realism and makes me quite happy.

Shall I charge in? Normally, I would take out the enemies with ranged attacks first, but since this General Zombie has intelligence, I need to decide which to take out first. ...I don't know what it will do with its intelligence. I'll take out the General Zombie first.

I enlarge my hammer to its maximum size and charge in, aiming to flatten the General Zombie quickly.

"Enemy! Defend!"

Oof. It's probably the General Zombie giving orders. The zombies with different jobs have gathered around the General Zombie and hidden themselves.

Damn. Usually, they just attack, but with intelligence, they respond quickly. Spells and arrows are flying, so I dodge and keep my distance. The first surprise attack failed. It's a bit disappointing.

I use my hammer to knock back the approaching zombies and skeletons and observe the situation. Wow, this is troublesome. Zombie soldiers and zombie knights form a wall of flesh, and there are many of them, making it quite thick. A literal wall of flesh... I've never seen this before. Arrows and spells are flying from behind the wall.

I can only dodge and gradually break through the wall. My reflexes have improved as my level has increased, so I should be able to handle this.

Well, if I can't dodge an attack, Bell and the others will block it for me. It feels like a warm bath, but I still take it seriously.

I dodge, approach, and swing my hammer wildly. When spells and arrows fly, I dodge and retreat. I look for an opening and approach again, swinging my hammer. The wall of flesh is getting thinner. A few more approaches should blow it all away.

"Wait. Stop, adventurer. Why are you doing this?"

The words, though a bit hard to understand, are comprehensible. Is it the General Zombie? I think about what to do while on guard. Should I respond?

"I'll ask again. Why are you doing this? Coming alone into an undead lair is not sane. Why are humans in this desolate land?"

None of your business. I'm not alone because I have Bell and the others. That's why I'm sane. And I'm not here by choice.

"We live here peacefully without bothering anyone. What reason do you have to carry out such a cruel massacre? Answer me."

Hmm? I'm starting to feel like I'm doing something really bad. What do you think? But they are zombies, right? Undead that attack people, right? Ah, there are no people here. ...What does that mean?

"Answer, adventurer."

I'm not an adventurer. Why... why... I'm confused. I'll answer honestly.

"To level up, I guess?"

"...So you trampled this peaceful paradise just to level up?"

I'm starting to feel really bad. Is this a mental attack?

"But you are monsters. Even if you say you live peacefully, only you have consciousness."

"...They might eventually gain consciousness. Are you going to take away that possibility?"

He's really angry. He might have a point, but I don't quite agree. Ah, I see.

"You spread miasma, right? Miasma is bad for the world. So, it's not a problem to exterminate you."

What about a zombie paradise? If they keep evolving, the one who will suffer is me, living in the land of death. I can't have the land full of miasma. What will happen to my crops if the fields wither?

"There are plenty of other monsters that spread miasma. Why us? You should exterminate the monsters that attack people. We just live in this cave."

"But I live around here... a bit away from here, and the ones that attack me are zombies and skeletons."

"Tha...t's... why. Don't live in such a place. Even I, who have been a non-human for a long time, can tell. This land is an undead lair. It's natural to be attacked by undead if you live here. The miasma is bad for the world because it invades and disrupts the balance. This land has been dead for a long time."

...I feel like I'm at a disadvantage. But I can't admit it. If I lose to a zombie with a rotten brain, I won't be able to hold my head high in the future. I have to defeat him.

Thank you for reading.