A Korean Office Worker Who Became a Nuisance Villainess in a Zombie Story - Chapter 112
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“It’s dangerous.”
“Tangerine just jumped in a moment ago.”
“Tangerine is a soldier, but you and Yujein aren’t.”
Have you ever swum in the Sea before? Or rather, have you ever swum at all? Cyprus tilted his head, firing questions in rapid succession.
He’s looking down on me.
Do you know how exhausting it is to swim at dawn and then head to work?
Don’t dismiss the swimming skills I’ve honed through blood, sweat, and tears.
“Of course I can.”
“….”
“And honestly, right now is the time to jump in regardless of whether I can or not.”
I shook off Cyprus’s hand gripping my wrist. It released gently, as if he’d only been restraining me rather than holding me firmly.
I tried to persuade Cyprus, whose expression had grown unusually grave.
“You said the waves are strong, didn’t you? If we keep going like this, I’ll have to jump in somewhere in the middle anyway. Isn’t it better to go in now rather than be dropped in the middle of the Sea?”
“That’s an uncertain problem. It might be enough with just Tangerine and Lime jumping in.”
“That’s also uncertain.”
“….”
“Dear Grand Duke, even as we speak, we’re drifting further from the Island. I understand your concern, but the more you hesitate, the greater the distance Yujein and I will have to swim.”
“I’ll figure something out.”
I’d deliberately mixed in some playfulness, but Cyprus was being obstinate.
“It’s dangerous. Don’t go in.”
Cyprus insisted stubbornly.
At this point, I couldn’t help but understand.
‘He’s lost his mind right now.’
What exactly are you going to do? Are you a mage?
“Are you really that worried?”
I stared directly into Cyprus’s pupils, which had dilated as if in fear. Normally, I would’ve been annoyed at whoever was wasting time spouting such nonsense, but this time was different.
It was simply fascinating.
Cyprus was worried about me. And so intensely at that.
…Wait, was he not worried about me?
“If you’re that worried, should I leave Yujein behind?”
If you’re losing your composure to such a degree, I’ll jump in alone and leave Yujein behind, I said, stretching my arms out.
I’d meant to ease his worry, but instead Cyprus’s face twisted further.
“…Hey.”
“Oh, and you’re using informal speech again….”
“Do you think I’m not worried about you?”
“….”
“Of course I’m worried about Yujein too, but I’m worried about you as well. Why won’t you listen to what I’m saying….”
“….”
“So….”
Cyprus trailed off and ran his hand through his hair in frustration. I simply blinked, watching his visibly anxious form.
I now stood at the ship’s rail, the rough wind lashing against my face.
I spoke to the man wearing that peculiar expression—a mixture of anger and frustration.
“Go inside quickly and hold Lime. He gets cold easily.”
“You’re worried about me.”
“Ah.”
Was he still on about that?
“I’m anxious. So anxious I feel like I’m going mad. I’m furious. What would it take for you to believe me?”
“Mm.”
Hearing his voice tremble with emotion, I felt obligated to answer seriously, so I paused to consider.
What would it take for me to believe him?
Well.
“Never. I’ll never believe you.”
Being deceived by you and dragged through misery once as a child was more than enough.
Once is a mistake, but twice is negligence.
“You know it yourself. There will never be such a thing between us.”
“….”
“Since I won’t believe you no matter what you do, Your Highness should stop worrying needlessly and go inside, yes?”
I laughed bitterly and turned away from the ship.
“…!”
Only after I jumped did I realize I’d leaped backward like someone throwing away their own life….
‘The ship was drifting farther away, making my heart race.’
Ugh. I should have just splashed some water on myself before jumping in.
I watched Yujein emerge in an even more disheveled state than I was, and began moving my limbs.
“At least the weather is warm… Ack, why is the water so salty!”
As I dragged the flailing Yujein toward the distant Island visible ahead, Cyprus had already vanished from my thoughts.
* * *
Remember when college students in 2014 said “there’s too much nitrogen in chip bags, they’d float in water,” made a raft out of them, and crossed the Han River?
I watched and thought, “Chips float better in water than I do,” “Does that make me worse than chips?” and “I definitely need to learn swimming when I get to college.”
Then when I enrolled, the school had a swimming pool…. That’s where I first learned to swim…. Thanks to that, I’m alive now….
Why am I spouting such nonsense?
Because it helps me forget the pain.
“Miss Yujein… I heard you were a good swimmer….”
“I’m, I’m sorry…. It was a lie.”
I was afraid that if I said I couldn’t swim, you’d tell me to stay on the ship. Yujein whimpered.
“I’m an adult too, and I’d have no face left if only I stayed behind on the ship….”
“No, no…. You don’t need that kind of conscience…. From now on, you have to be honest about these things. That way we can make a plan. Ugh.”
I gagged mid-sentence. I’d swallowed too much seawater and felt like I was about to vomit. Yujein, her pink hair clinging to her face like seaweed, quickly patted my back, and then.
“Ugh!”
She actually threw up.
Our backs heaved as we retched, and capable hands patted us firmly.
Yujein, who couldn’t swim and couldn’t even float in water—the person who jumped in and pulled her out together with me was Cherry.
It was Cherry.
I lay sprawled on the sand-covered ground, looking up at Cherry as I asked.
“But why did you jump in?”
“I’m quite a good swimmer.”
“Yeah, you really are…. But you didn’t have to.”
“You never know. It’s better to jump in now than to have to abandon ship halfway.”
“Your wound—didn’t it hurt when the water touched it?”
“It hurts. It stings terribly.”
“Oh dear.”
“Woof!”
“Why did that one follow us too?!”
I’m going to lose my mind.
I stared at General, who was shaking water from his fur, my mouth agape.
“Everything that happens is just one disaster after another….”
I need to get up and find Tangerine, Lime, and Praha who left ahead, but I don’t have the strength to move.
The three of us lay stretched out on the ground side by side, resting.
“Yujein, you lie facing that way. Keep watch for zombies. Cherry, you face this way.”
“Either way, I can’t see anything with this collar on.”
“Right. How did you even swim with that thing on?”
“I channeled a powerful will to survive and managed somehow. I got annoyed halfway through and ditched the gloves.”
“After going through all this hardship, it would be so unfair to become a zombie.”
“That’s exactly what I mean.”
“Hahaha.”
“Hehehe.”
“Hehe.”
We’re all so exhausted right now that we’re not in our right minds.
After lying there in a daze for a while, Yujein suddenly asked.
“Did I hurt him with what I said?”
It was phrased so abruptly that it was almost cryptic, but I understood immediately.
‘I absolutely don’t believe that.’
She was asking whether my words before I jumped in might have wounded Cyprus.
I shrugged, then realized Yujein wasn’t looking at me and opened my mouth.
“But it’s the truth.”
Just a truth that happens to be hurtful.
And regardless of what I say, he doesn’t get hurt that easily.
You can’t be wounded without emotions, can you?
The old me was hurt by a single shift in Cyprus’s expression, a flicker in his gaze, but now even if he married another woman right in front of me, it wouldn’t affect me at all.
‘No, wait. I decided not to go to Cyprus’s wedding anyway.’
So there’s no way to confirm whether I’m truly unaffected or not.
When I jumped down earlier, there was that unstable green gaze fixed on me. My clothes wrapped around his masculine neck. The memory came flooding back.
“…I once knitted a scarf for the Grand Duke.”
“…You did?”
“Yes. I was terrible at knitting then and now, so it took forever. I wanted to make something good even though I couldn’t do it well.”
Because I was giving it to someone I cared about.
“The Capital is much colder than the Southern Region, so I wanted him to stay warm in winter… I spent months on it and finally finished it as a gift. Cyprus smiled and accepted it gratefully, and all my suffering seemed worth it.”
“…And then?”
“The very next day at a party, I saw someone else wearing it. Saying it was a gift from the Grand Duke. She even greeted me, saying she’d use it well. And Cyprus was standing beside her, smiling exactly the same way as the day before.”
“Good heavens!”
“That bastard!”
“It’s fine. I immediately ran over, ripped the scarf off, and tore it to shreds with my bare hands.”
And that wasn’t all. I went crazy trying to strangle that woman with it before I was dragged away.
That’s how I was back then…
And even after that, I didn’t learn my lesson—I embroidered a handkerchief and gave it to Praha.
-Yusara’s Knitting Epitaph-
Knit: Knitting
Wit: What a dog!
I’m never knitting anything again. If I do, I’ll wrap it around my own neck and keep it.
“The cardigan I left with Cyprus earlier might be around someone else’s neck in twelve hours too.”
I said it as a joke, but Yujein and Cherry’s expressions turned serious. Both of them looked ready to scratch Cyprus’s face off if he were in front of them.
“Anyway, the Grand Duke won’t get hurt.”
And he shouldn’t.
“I wish he would get hurt?!”
“Heh.”
I brushed Cherry’s hair back and pushed myself up.
“Let’s get moving. We need to find dry clothes and look for the others who arrived first.”
We need to move before sunset.
I forced my waterlogged body to move.
I rubbed my itchy nose. Sniff.
“Would it be warmer if I carried General on the back of my neck?”
“What if General pees on your neck?”
“That’s what the back of the neck is for.”
“You sisters really can’t name things. Calling such a tiny dog General.”
“The Crown Prince named him.”
“W.o.w. W.h.a.t. A. M.a.g.n.i.f.i.c.e.n.t. N.a.m.e.”
“…I’m thirsty. I want to drink Lime Aide.”
“When we meet Lime, I’ll ask him to take his clothes off so I can squeeze him.”
“Ugh!”
“That’s so gross!”
“Ugh, ugh…”
“Apologize to us right now!”
“Y-yes, apologize!”
“Urrgh….”
“General, you apologize too!”
As I peeled away the clingy, damp fabric clinging to my body and walked forward, I found myself already at the Dock. I could see the boxes Praha had left scattered in the distance.
“Who will I encounter first?”
Who knows.
As long as it’s not a zombie.
[Back on the Island]
– Yusara, Yujein, General (Alive)
– Cherry (???)
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Torryy
Please don’t turn Cherry into a zombie… THEIR FRIENDSHIP IS SO COOL!