A Korean Office Worker Who Became a Nuisance Villainess in a Zombie Story - Chapter 36

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

Does the villainess Yusara possess any abilities?
What kind of ability could it be?
“Ah.”
The answer came to me the moment I spoke.
“You’re referring to hypnosis, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
Right… that ability.
‘It is an ability, technically.’
In the novel.
The villainess Yusara leads her subordinate Knight Order and joins the Investigation Team.
Lacking any meaningful survival skills and possessing poor judgment, Yusara survives each crisis by using her knights as shields.
Here’s the question.
How was Yusara able to do such a thing?
Even if she were a young mistress, there aren’t many knights willing to sacrifice themselves before a grotesque corpse monster they’ve never seen before.
Especially considering that Yusara was not a master who commanded the respect of her knights.
But how?
The method was simple.
‘Get out of the way!’
‘Miss! …What?’
‘I said get out of the way!’
‘Wh-what, what?’
‘Grrrrgh!’
Hypnosis.
More precisely, an ability to influence and manipulate another person’s mind.
The duration? Perhaps a minute at most?
The target must possess reason (animals or zombies won’t work).
And there were many restrictions—the target’s face had to be visible, among others.
Moreover, the target would remember clearly that they had been subjected to the ability.
But with this ability, one could hear another’s honest truth, if only for a brief moment.
One could make them exceed their limits and run beyond them.
One could even help them recover forgotten memories from the past.
It was magic.
In a world where divine power was meager and magic was complex in its execution, this was rare—magic that could manifest instantly.
This was the magical talent of Yusara that I had mentioned.
‘It’s quite a remarkable ability.’
If one were willing to utilize it, the applications would be limitless.
But Yusara despised her own ability and kept it hidden.
Why?
‘People would hate me for it.’
(Alone) Yujein, whom she regarded as a rival, bestowed blessings upon people and healed their wounds.
This damp ability that no one would welcome—how could she possess it?
If the people who already avoided her discovered this power, what then?
‘He may have grown accustomed to being despised, but that didn’t mean he enjoyed it.’
Yusara concealed her ability.
Thanks to that concealment, she could deploy it to devastating effect at the final, critical moment.
When the situation hung by a thread, Yusara cast her magic upon the Knights nearby.
‘Ahhhhh!’
The moment the Knights understood what was happening to their bodies, death claimed them.
Once her expendable Knights were annihilated, she began using nearby commoners as shields.
‘Is it you?’
‘No, I… I’m not…’
Yusara dies at the hands of Praha, who has discovered her guilt.
She cannot bring herself to use magic against Praha.
‘If I’m going to be a villain, then I should commit fully—kill Yujein and Praha both with magic. Or if I’m not, then I shouldn’t at all.’
She was caught between two worlds, unable to choose either path.
Even while reading, I found something strange about it.
How Praha identified Yusara as the culprit so immediately.
‘He knew all along. That Yusara possessed this ability.’
Praha spoke.
“If the Lady possesses such magic, it would prove invaluable when interrogating the root cause of this incident. Especially considering no one else possesses an ability like the Lady’s.”
It was sound reasoning.
The problem was.
‘I don’t know how to use that ability.’
But even when I deflected with ‘I have no intention of using that ability,’ Praha remained unfazed.
“It matters not. My proposal to the Lady is motivated primarily by my first reason.”
True enough.
In the novel, he knew of my ability too, yet he’d tried to exclude me then.
Perhaps experience weighed far more heavily than hypnotic ability.
‘Any Korean person I brought would have acted identically to me.’
It felt awkward to receive praise for something so unremarkable.
Watching Praha wait quietly, as though he would obey whatever decision I made.
I made up my mind.
“I apologize, Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
“But the Investigation Team’s work is not my responsibility.”
“…Yes.”
“And to be honest, I don’t know how to use that ability. I’ve forgotten.”
I’d considered feigning competence, but this wasn’t a job application.
If he brought me believing I had the ability, I couldn’t very well say ‘Actually, I can’t’ when the critical moment arrived and I had no choice but to use it.
“But I won’t freeze from fear or panic, and perhaps I can occasionally demonstrate some creativity.”
“….”
“Take me with you. I want to go.”
“….”
“…Is that too shameless of me?”
* * *
Originally, I had no intention of following the Investigation Team.
‘That’s just an express train to death.’
What I wanted was Korea, not the afterlife.
My mind changed in the cafe where I met Cyprus.
A crimson stone bathed in sunlight.
The red stone I’d found on the Attendant’s chest—the one who had stood between me and Mascarpone when I first possessed this body.
There, I saw the Attendant’s soul.
‘What scheme is he cooking up now with that sinister expression….’
‘Is it starting again? I thought today would be quiet for once.’
‘Um, Head Maid….’
‘Grrrrgh….’
‘Head Maid?’
‘Cough!’
‘Ahhh!’
Not just the memories from right before becoming a zombie.
The sense of achievement when I first became an Imperial Family Attendant. The happiness when I received my salary and bought gifts for my parents.
That Attendant’s emotions and entire life were there.
It was the same with the other stones.
I could understand it.
This stone, this crimson stone.
It was a soul stone trapping the souls of those who had become zombies.
‘The reason only my eyes can see this is… because this body is also one that died and came back to life.’
If that were true.
If the souls of those who became zombies through no fault of their own didn’t disappear but remained trapped within these stones.
Wouldn’t it be possible to break the seal on the trapped souls and return their bodies to them?
‘Then couldn’t I bring Consomme back to life too?’
Even if not, it was worth trying.
It’s an unrealistic thought, but then again, a person possessing a book is equally unrealistic.
If there was even a possibility of saving someone, I didn’t want to abandon it just because it seemed impossible.
‘Why can’t I save a dead person? I can possess a novel. If a person can possess a book, then saving someone dead in that book should be possible too.’
Honestly, I was terrified.
I wanted to ignore the zombies and everything else, find a way to return quickly, and get back to Earth.
But if I didn’t do this.
If I turned away when there was something I could do.
I felt like I’d regret it for the rest of my life, even after returning to Earth.
‘I don’t know. You only live once.’
Might as well try living decently.
I mean, in movies like 【Cool Bodies】 or 【Warm Bodies】, zombies fall in love and regain their humanity, right?
Why should it be any different here?
While working with the Investigation Team, I’ll find a way back, and save Consomme too.
What about the bite mark on her cheek?
Yujein can fix it somehow!
But I couldn’t tell Praha about the red stone outright.
‘He wouldn’t believe me anyway.’
Fortunately, Praha agreed immediately.
“I would be delighted if you would accompany me, my lady.”
“Hehe.”
I laughed.
Then suddenly, my nose started bleeding.
“Huh?”
“My lady!”
Praha closed the distance in an instant, his hand shielding my face.
“Don’t tilt your head back.”
His large hand pressed against my nose, applying gentle pressure. His other hand cradled the back of my head, tilting it forward.
I found myself looking downward, nearly enveloped in his embrace.
His broad chest, draped in crimson fabric, filled my vision.
‘He smells nice.’
Still that soap scent.
“Do you often get nosebleeds?”
As he spoke, his firm chest rose and fell slightly. I answered through my nose.
“Mm. No.”
It seemed to happen only when I was exhausted.
Like when I juggled three tutoring jobs and part-time work in university, during job hunting, and last—during the promotion exam?
“It seems like it’s been months since the last one?”
“That constitutes frequent occurrence.”
“I suppose it does.”
My breath escaped between my lips, struck his hand, and returned to my cheek.
‘I’m dizzy.’
Between the sleep deprivation and the nosebleed, my vision was spinning.
Fearing a repeat of last time—kissing Praha’s neck—I gripped his forearm to steady myself.
Praha flinched when I grabbed his arm.
“…? Your Highness, is something uncomfortable?”
“…My earring.”
“Ah.”
When I looked up, I saw he was still wearing a small piercing on his ear.
‘It seems she couldn’t remove it herself. Her hands are too large.’
“Is it mandatory to wear earrings at the Imperial Palace?”
“It’s Mother’s preference.”
“It doesn’t bother you, though?”
“I’m barely restraining the urge to cut off my ears entirely.”
“Oh. Shall I remove them for you?”
“That’s unnecessary. Besides, if you keep talking like that, my hands grow restless.”
“Ah, yes.”
‘Sorry. I’ll be quiet.’
While I was at it, I withdrew my hand that had been gripping Praha’s forearm.
Praha, freed from my grasp, flexed his arm several times.
Yet his hand pressing against my nose never left.
Praha, leaning close, spoke in a hushed tone.
“The books must have been quite entertaining. Reading until you had a nosebleed, no less.”
“Ah. Well, the truth is—”
We have a maid at home, and… no, wait.
“Never mind. I won’t say anything. Your Majesty finds it ticklish.”
“…Yes.”
I pretended not to notice the pressure intensifying in Praha’s hand as he gripped my nose.
* * *
“Would you care to join me for dinner?”
“Me? Here?”
“Did I not promise to treat you?”
At my questioning gaze, he added quietly, “At the Villa.”
Did he? I don’t even remember.
“Shouldn’t Your Majesty return? The Aide is waiting.”
“My Aide will handle it.”
“Oh. Is there a reason?”
“My Aide’s nose is congested, so he cannot smell.”
“…”
So that person really does have a sweat odor.
“No, I should go. I might have another nosebleed otherwise.”
“What a pity. Do rest early tonight.”
I’d like to, but I still have work left.
I’ll have to endure with some coffee…
“Oh, speaking of which, the Grand Duke bought me coffee a few days ago.”
“…Cyprus?”
* * *
Upon my casual response to Praha’s keen interest in the mention of Cyprus buying me coffee, I returned home to find the sun already set.
The Grand Duke, who had come to greet me, beamed with a broad smile, as if word had already spread that I had met with Praha separately at the Palace.
“Splendid, my daughter! The weight loss truly has made a difference!”
That wasn’t it at all.
He only cared about my career.
“Why not seize this momentum and invite the Crown Prince to your morning dressing ceremony?”
“Invite him to what, exactly?”
A maid beside me, noticing my confusion, carefully explained.
“His Highness the Crown Prince would be invited to observe the process of you selecting your dress, applying makeup, and adorning yourself with jewelry in the morning.”
“…So selecting a dress means I’d have to be in my undergarments until then?”
A getting-ready-with-me session with the Crown Prince?
Absolutely not.
I was about to refuse outright and head to my room when the Grand Duke suddenly swayed.
“Your Grace!”
“Your Grace!”
The maids nearby rushed to support her in alarm.
“What’s wrong?!”
I asked, startled myself.
Of all days, trouble erupts right at the very end!
“Are you alright?”
The Grand Duke, leaning on a maid, replied weakly.
“My head aches and I feel chilled.”
Her eyes, blinking weakly, had turned bright red.
She seemed to be breaking out in a cold sweat as well.
“Shouldn’t you rest?”
“Yes, I should. I keep feeling thirsty….”
“Thirsty….”
“….”
“….”
“….”
“Didn’t you mention attending the concert today?”
“I was planning to, but I should rest. I’m so dizzy!”
“Yes, that would be best.”
I watched the Grand Duke being supported away, then turned my head.
The blonde maid who had been watching my reaction flinched.
It was the Head Maid who had discarded my slippers.
[(Temporary Safe Zone) Duke’s Residence]
– Yusara (Survived)

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————