A Korean Office Worker Who Became a Nuisance Villainess in a Zombie Story - Chapter 180

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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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Chapter 1. The Daily Life of Yusara, the Empire’s Only Grand Duke
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“What about Miss Yujein?”
“I-I’m ready too!”
“I am prepared as well!”
“Lord Tangerine, why are you… you don’t have anything to prepare anyway.”
“I have prepared myself to cheer you on!”
“….”
Mascarpone shook her head.
She swayed it with an exasperated expression, but her ears—visible between her short locks—burned crimson. She was clearly adopting a prickly demeanor to endure the mounting tension.
“Then shall we g-g-g-go?”
Yujein was now trembling like a massage chair.
Here was the Southern Region.
Cyprus’s Territory, blessed with crystalline skies year-round, a temperate climate, and a beautiful, warm sea.
Whichever direction one looked, the city resembled a painting—and the Grand Duke’s Castle stood upon its most beautiful hill.
Two seasons had already passed since we installed a Portal between Mascarpone’s Laboratory and the Grand Duke’s Castle to treat Kiriel’s broken leg, Cyprus’s sister.
And finally, today was the day.
“Yusara, you’ll use your power as a kind of amplifier, and Miss Yujein will….”
Mascarpone, who had developed a magical artifact whose principles I couldn’t even begin to comprehend.
“I-I-I-I’m ready!”
“Say that one more time and it’ll be a hundred times, Miss Yujein.”
Yujein, once called a saint, but now more renowned as an Arch Mage capable of wielding two abilities simultaneously.
“Yusara, aren’t you nervous?”
“I am. My hands are trembling so much right now I’ve got them shoved in my pockets.”
I—the Empire’s sole Grand Duke and the Emperor’s betrothed—was gradually discovering the proper applications for my hypnotic ability, which I had once believed existed only to harm others.
“Even I’m getting nervous, what do I do… ugh…”
“I’m not nervous at all!”
“I envy that!”
Consomme, who helped us with her characteristic soft-hearted nature—a master of mental care.
And Tangerine, whom Praha assigned as my Guard Knight.
Five of us joining our strength to mend Kiriel’s leg.
Our first attempt at it.
“Let me confirm one more time. Kiriel’s leg was damaged by being trampled by a galloping horse and carriage, right? The doctor who examined her back then said the bone was completely shattered…”
“Right. Since it happened over a decade ago, there shouldn’t be any variables, they said.”
“So all we need to do is restore the bone and muscle according to what’s already been inscribed on this magical artifact.”
“We just have to do our part.”
“That’s right.”
“Just like we practiced.”
“Just like we practiced…”
“Kiriel is in her room right now, isn’t she?”
“Yes. Our household mages are conducting the final examination. I’ve also had the personal physician on standby just in case.”
“Okay.”
“….”
“….”
I couldn’t delay any longer.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes.”
There was no point in standing here trembling face-to-face with each other.
Over the past few months, we’d done our best to research and practice from our respective positions—all that remained was execution.
I nodded solemnly and opened the door.
For those of us traveling back and forth between the Capital and the Southern Region to heal Kiriel’s legs, Cyprus had provided the Castle’s finest rooms and even converted one into our conference room.
This very room we occupied now.
If things went well, we’d never need to use this room again.
I prayed it would be so!
Please… please…!
‘In truth, Kiriel’s condition is essentially what Mother inflicted upon her.’
I couldn’t compensate for the years lost and the suffering endured, but if it lay within my power, I wanted to set things right.
I swallowed hard, rubbing my palms against my shirt, when Mascarpone whispered to me.
“You’re fine. Think of the Achievement you and Yujein have already accomplished.”
We defeated a god in direct confrontation—surely we can heal a broken leg?
“And even if we fail this time.”
“…fail?”
“We identify the problem and try again. Experiments rarely succeed on the first attempt anyway.”
Even if we fail the first time, we’ll succeed on the second or third.
“Time is on our side in this matter. As long as we don’t give up.”
“…You’re right.”
That was oddly comforting….
“So Mascarpone, could you tell Cyprus over there the same thing?”
I glanced down the Corridor.
Cyprus stood at the bend in the Corridor, bathing entirely in the sunlight streaming through the window. He ran his hand through his hair, clenched and unclenched his fist, checked his watch, gazed out the window—fidgeting restlessly all by himself.
Sensing our gaze, Cyprus turned and forced an awkward smile.
“Why are you standing there? Come in if you’re here.”
“…I didn’t want to intrude.”
He’d been unable to enter, thinking he’d be in the way while we had our important conversation, and had been pacing anxiously in the Corridor alone.
His handsome face, unable to settle its gaze anywhere, looked particularly haggard today.
‘Right. He must be nervous.’
We were nervous too. How much more anxious must he be, Kiriel’s own blood?
I could still vividly recall Cyprus’s expression from two seasons ago when Mascarpone first said she had a way to heal Kiriel’s legs—his eyes had turned bright red, his mouth hanging open wordlessly.
‘Kiriel’s condition is an old wound for Cyprus as well.’
So please, I really hope today goes well….
Success on the first attempt is rare, but just this once, I wish it would be the exception…!
While we stood rigid with tension, only the stout-hearted Tangerine casually brushed cookie crumbs from her clothes.
Together, we creaked our way to Kiriel’s Room.
“Kiriel.”
“Good morning, everyone. How are you?”
The spacious room that Cyprus had extensively renovated for his sister’s mobility, Kiriel sat in her wheelchair sipping tea and turned to face us.
Unlike us, trembling and nearly on the verge of tears, her expression was serene.
More than serene, even.
“You’ve arrived at just the right time. The Head Chef of the Grand Duke Household has just developed a new sugar confection, and I was sampling it. Would you like to try some?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!”
She was completely unchanged from her usual self.
Tangerine’s eyes sparkled with “A new sweet?!” and the two of them giggled together.
At her composure, our tension should have eased…but not a chance—we grew even more anxious!
‘If not for the accident, she would have inherited the Southern Region with that kind of boldness.’
“It’s truly delicious! Is that peach I’m tasting inside?!”
“That’s right. The peaches from the Southern Region are flatter than those in the Capital….”
A faint smile crossed Kiriel’s face as she spoke proudly of the land where she was born and raised.
While Mascarpone wrapped the magical device around Kiriel’s immobile legs, tightened it firmly, and then hung jewels infused with mana all around, Kiriel didn’t furrow her brow even once and chatted casually with Tangerine.
At this point, she’s practically a warrior sage.
Meanwhile, Consomme and Yujein bounced in place, clapping their hands together.
“What are you two doing…?”
“Ah! We’re trying to make our hearts beat faster so the blood flows better! Apparently that makes it easier to handle mana!”
“Is that so?”
I should do that too.
“But why is Consomme….”
“It’s nice to do it together!”
After bouncing like that for a while with the two of them.
“We’re ready.”
Mascarpone, who had been discussing something serious with her mages, called us over.
I downed the cold water that the Grand Duke Household’s Butler handed me—I’m not sure when he arrived—and approached.
Yujein, sitting cross-legged on a cushion laid on the floor, placed her hands on Kiriel’s shins.
I sat facing Yujein with Kiriel’s legs between us, placing my hands over Yujein’s two hands. Mascarpone, a step away from the three of us, likewise sat on the floor, spreading notebooks and various magical devices across her lap.
“I know this position is the most efficient, but I’m still sorry. Making the three of you sit on the floor like this.”
“No, it’s fine. I actually like sitting on the floor.”
I’m the kind of person who deliberately sits in front of a perfectly good sofa.
“Huff.”
Consomme drew in a breath as she watched us prepare.
Cyprus couldn’t bear to watch and covered his eyes with his palm as he left the room, but returned in less than three seconds.
Even Kiriel, who had been speaking casually, fell silent now.
I met Yujein’s gaze.
“Are you ready, Yujein?”
“Yes, yes!”
“Good.”
I was ready too.
I closed my eyes.
Magic fundamentally rests upon yearning—the desperate wish to make the seemingly impossible possible, the fervent will that refuses to accept limitation.
‘I want to heal Kiriel’s legs.’
Because of my mother and her father, Kiriel had been sacrificed to the selfish desires of greedy adults. I wanted to ease that burden, to restore what was taken from her.
And….
I opened my eyes.
Yujein, who had been watching me, met my gaze.
“Yujein, heal Kiriel’s legs with your magic.”
Light erupted from Yujein’s hands.

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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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