A Korean Office Worker Who Became a Nuisance Villainess in a Zombie Story - Chapter 119

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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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The ominous girl the Old Man had spoken of was Cherry.
Where he’d found such energy, I couldn’t say, but he’d picked up a bucket and rushed toward us, attempting to strike Cherry’s head with it before Praha blocked him.
Praha seized the bucket from the Old Man’s hands and raised it to strike his head in kind.
“…Sigh.”
Some inner Confucian spirit seemed to hold him back as he exhaled a long breath and tossed the bucket aside.
He’d never been taught it, yet here he was practicing Confucianism. Confucius would be proud.
Crack!
With a single gesture, Praha shattered the bucket into pieces, but the Old Man paid it no mind. Trapped against Praha’s arm, he thrashed about wildly.
“A wretch like you sets foot in our village and we don’t burn down? How will you compensate us for this? Huh?!”
As the Old Man bellowed, villagers began gathering one by one. Among them, a few who recognized us and General began whispering to each other and pointing.
The Old Man sneered.
“These little brats are all from that Island too, aren’t they? Why are all you wretched things crowding here? What’s your intention?!”
“He was quiet when he needed our help earlier. Why is he acting like this now…?”
Tangerine muttered. My thoughts exactly.
“Dragging along a string of beggar children to squeeze what out of us?!”
As if there’s anything left to squeeze from, with the fire and all.
“You’re working with those bandits, aren’t you, really?!”
“What conspiracy? We told you there was an incident on the Island.”
Cyprus looked up at the sky, took a deep breath, and responded. He was smiling, but his lips trembled slightly. He seemed to be wringing out his patience.
“These are children who lost their parents and barely escaped. We already told you that. I don’t know why you’re suddenly angry, but is it really too much to ask an adult to show compassion toward children?”
“…Lost their parents?”
“Yes. A plague spread across the Island, and these children are all who survived. So….”
“Good! Those cursed things are all dead!”
Ptui. The Old Man spat.
An icy silence fell, broken only by the Old Man’s continued ranting.
“Whether you all die or live on that Island is none of our concern, but you can’t bring that curse into our village! And you’re even sick? Get out now! Just seeing that silver hair brings three days of bad luck!”
…If I had one regret in this moment, it was that I only had two hands—I couldn’t cover the ears of all these children listening to this garbage.
Their parents were dead, and this man dared say it was good? What kind of human decency was that?
One thing was certain: this Old Man had never learned Confucianism.
His nature was rotten to the core.
‘No one’s stopping this grandfather. They must all share his opinion.’
Ah, I really can’t be a good person, can I?
I grabbed Praha’s elbow. He bowed his handsome face as if it were obvious, and I spoke.
“After hearing all this, do we really need to stop by the Lord’s Castle to ask for help? Wouldn’t it be better to leave as soon as possible?”
“…Yes. I agree.”
“How long do you think it would take for relief supplies to reach this village if we don’t help?”
“Probably an indefinite wait.”
“Good.”
So we left the village immediately.
Canceling all the support we’d been planning and any help we’d intended to provide.
Turn it off. Let’s turn it off.
One final emphasis: virtuous action is the most intelligent action.
* * *
“They probably recognized me because of my hair color.”
“Why would your hair color matter?”
“I mentioned our family serves the God of the Underworld as the Prophet Family, didn’t I? Sometimes their abilities exceeded their limits, and they would catch glimpses of things the God hadn’t revealed.”
“They peeked?”
“Yes. One of our ancestors warned people about what they’d glimpsed that way… and according to the story, they were cursed for it, which is why their hair turned white.”
“W-well, but silver hair is so beautiful.”
“Your hair is beautiful too. Anyway, that’s why the villagers hate us. They say we’re cursed.”
“There’s more to it, sister!”
“And whenever something troublesome happened in their village that they couldn’t handle, they’d put that person on a ship and send them to our Island.”
“Troublesome, how?”
“Like a wife abandoned because her husband was unfaithful with another woman.”
“Huh?!”
Shouldn’t they be exiling the husband instead?
“So the villagers call us ominous. Cursed, and harboring only the descendants of unlucky people. And I’m the worst of them.”
“So there was no contact between you.”
What a twisted village.
I did well leaving them to sort out their own mess.
“Meow.”
“Right, we ended up avenging you too without meaning to, you furball.”
We had just left that village and arrived at a nearby City not far away.
(How did we bring all those children, you ask? We didn’t return the stolen Ship—we just sailed it here. When Praha tore off a shirt button and gave it to them, they accepted it without hesitation.)
Seeing this much larger and livelier Port City, I couldn’t help but think we should have come here sooner.
“It worked out well. We managed to reach a bigger City because of it.”
It was a slight detour to our final destination of Sodom, but there were still benefits to be had.
This City with heavy foot traffic had a Magic Shop operated by Mascarpone’s family, a Costume Room, and even a national-level Errand Guild.
The plan was to let the children rest first, then use the Mascarpone Trading Company’s help to send each of them to their guardians.
“So you’re heading to the Southern Region, Cherry?”
“Yes. My older sister who became a Priest lives there.”
“And you’ll take General with you.”
“Yes. Since I could become a zombie later, I want to raise her together with my sister.”
“You’ll be fine. I vouch for it. So we’ll be parting soon.”
I have no intention of ever going near the Southern Region.
As we talked, we entered the Inn—a clean, white establishment overlooking the Sea that nobles frequented. Muffin, sitting in the Lobby and looking around, spoke.
“The outside world is… actually fine. I thought it was a lie.”
“…You didn’t believe me until now?”
“Well, you said it yourself back on the Island. You saw someone bitten on the ankle by a zombie.”
“Mm.”
I think I might have said something like that.
“But that doesn’t make sense. The outside is perfectly fine, so how could you have seen someone like that? That’s why I thought you were lying to reassure us.”
“Ah.”
Children really are the cleverest.
As I marveled at this, Praha approached and spoke.
“We’ve rented out the entire third floor. Everyone can use whichever room they prefer, and you can come down to the Dining Room whenever you wish to eat.”
“Oh, there were really that many vacant rooms?”
“I employed a beauty strategy.”
Cyprus, who had come over, lowered his glasses that he wore to conceal his face and gave a playful smile with his eyes.
The staff member at the counter’s face had turned red—it clearly worked.
“So now we should let the children sleep soundly for a night, find guardians for each of them, replenish our supplies, plan our next moves, and…”
“There’s so much to do!”
“What about the children who don’t have guardians?”
“My estate in the Southern Region will take them in temporarily.”
“Will that be alright, Cyprus?”
“It’s just a few children. We could send them to the Capital, but the Southern Region is closer from here. Cherry and General are heading south anyway.”
“It’s certainly better for them to stick together and go south rather than to the Capital where they have no one to rely on…”
“I heard earlier that Muffin and Cheese have relatives living in Sodom!”
“Then it would be better if we took them with us, since we’re heading to Sodom anyway.”
Taking children to such a pleasure city felt morally questionable, but… well, it’s still a place where people live, after all.
After concluding this internally, I ushered the children into their rooms to wash up. Once I’d patted their bottoms and sent them inside, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders.
I dusted off my hands and turned to face the group.
“Should we stop by the Magic Shop first?”
“Um, I think I should check the children first to see if they’re injured anywhere.”
“I’ll bring meals to the children’s rooms!”
“I need to dispose of the Ship we arrived on and the zombie fingers we collected. We can’t just leave it docked at the Port City like that.”
“Then I’ll go to the shop.”
I’m tired, though.
It’s better to finish all the tasks first, then wash up refreshed and sleep.
Otherwise…
I might end up in the hell of sloth…
“Shall I come with you?”
Praha followed behind me as I descended the Staircase.
“Sure. Two people make carrying things easier. Should we go to the Magic Shop first?”
“There’s something more important than that.”
“Yes?”
“You need to change out of that cursed outfit you’re wearing.”
“…”
I looked down at my appearance.
I was wearing a tattered white one-piece dress with what was clearly men’s clothing layered over it, top and bottom.
= Cyprus’s clothes.
“I was planning to buy new ones anyway since I ruined a set….”
“Since you what?”
“I don’t have the money for it.”
I don’t have a single coin to my name.
As I spoke those words while looking at him, Praha blinked.
“I have it.”
“….”
“Plenty.”
“That sounds nice.”
“….”
Wait, is that what this is?
My mind spun as realization dawned.
“Oh.”
He’s going to buy them for me?
[Generous Port City]
You have entered the (Temporary) Safe Zone.
Survivors: Yusara, Praha (Characteristic: Wealthy), Cyprus, Yujein, Tangerine, Cherry, General, Muffin, Pickle, Cheese, and others

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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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