A Korean Office Worker Who Became a Nuisance Villainess in a Zombie Story - Chapter 4

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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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How does a civilian who’s never swung a sword survive a zombie outbreak?
1. Don’t draw attention to yourself.
2. Follow the orders of armed personnel.
I’d already broken rule one. To prevent the knight’s death. And I failed spectacularly.
I stared at the dead knight’s face—silent now, forever—for a few seconds before turning away.
What else could I do? I had to survive.
I’d warned him clearly. It wasn’t my fault he didn’t listen.
“How could this happen…? Actually, that Attendant wasn’t really dead, was he? He was just pretending for a moment…!”
“No.”
“But that doesn’t make sense! Dead people don’t wake up and move, and they don’t infect the living!”
“No matter how impossible it seems, if it’s happening before our eyes, it’s reality.”
Chaos and confusion.
The Crown Prince and the Grand Duke skillfully calmed the panicking, wailing people.
More precisely, the Grand Duke managed the crowd while the Crown Prince severed the corpse’s legs to prevent it from rising again.
Those watching flinched, their faces pale with horror.
The Grand Duke, wearing an awkward smile, positioned himself between the Crown Prince and the others, blocking their view with his body.
“Don’t mind that over there. Why don’t you all look at me instead?”
He appeared lanky, yet his frame was surprisingly broad. Simply by standing before them, he could obstruct their entire line of sight.
The Grand Duke explained.
“The rules are surprisingly simple. First: corpses move. To stop them, you must sever their necks. Second: if bitten by one, you become infected. Third: from now on, we escape this Island.”
“Escape?”
“Yes, escape. Without being bitten, without dying. Simple, right?”
He spoke as if explaining a game’s rules, but his words would hardly dispel anyone’s terror.
“But Your Highness the Grand Duke, aren’t there corpses like that one roaming outside? Wouldn’t it be better to wait for rescue here…?”
It seemed everyone wanted to barricade themselves in this room, lock the door, and wait for someone to save them.
The Crown Prince, who’d finished severing the corpse’s legs and stood up, was the one who refuted this.
“Rescue won’t come.”
He said only that before moving to the window to observe outside. The Grand Duke, exhaling heavily, elaborated on the Crown Prince’s words.
“Given what’s happened on this Island, the Imperial Palace is likely in chaos as well. If so, they won’t send rescue at all.”
“Then….”
“If the Imperial Palace is safe, they can’t even imagine corpses roaming here. In that case, whoever comes to retrieve us will be unprepared for this situation and will likely be bitten and infected. We’d only be increasing the number of corpses outside by waiting for rescue. It becomes pointless.”
Right. If those corpses seized the escape route, we’d be finished.
“We must leave this place as quickly as possible. If we delay and they swarm toward us….”
“Then what should we do?”
“We need to use the portal. It’s the only way off this Island.”
That’s when Yujein, the protagonist, interjected.
“What about the other people?”
Those who hadn’t even considered anyone else looked at Yujein in surprise. She spoke.
“There are people hiding throughout the villa who couldn’t escape in time. We need to rescue them and leave together.”
Her voice was thin but clear.
‘Hmm. A statement that prompts observation of the male leads’ reactions.’
So what are you going to do?
Will you listen to what your beloved protagonist says in this dire situation?
‘Of course you will. This is some sort of adult romance novel after all….’
“I apologize, but Yujein. We cannot wander through the villa searching for people to rescue when we’re not even certain anyone needs rescuing.”
No good. They won’t listen.
“Especially not when there are five of us who cannot fight right now.”
“But!”
“Escape must come first. We can only save others if we survive ourselves.”
Though his face wore a smile, the Grand Duke remained resolute. Yujein, having been refused, turned her gaze toward the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince, who had been contemplating, finally spoke.
“As for the others.”
“Yes.”
“By now, we should consider them all dead.”
“What?!”
He’s even more uncompromising than the Grand Duke.
The Crown Prince, who had hesitated briefly, offered a more detailed explanation.
“This unidentified condition is highly contagious, and the people outside have no defenses against this type of illness. Until now, no one has come to our room to warn us of danger. That means everyone on this island has fallen victim without any means of resistance.”
“That’s right, Yujein. I understand your concern, but….”
I tuned out the people beginning to chatter and focused on preparing for my own survival.
‘I don’t even know why I’m here, and I’m not about to die getting bitten by a zombie.’
I worked like a dog all last year and got my performance bonus—the money’s still sitting in my account untouched. Dying as a zombie in some book world instead of on Earth would be the ultimate injustice, wouldn’t it?
Move. I need to move.
“We’re currently in the rightmost room on the second floor. The main portal we used to reach this island is outside the villa, but according to the interior map, there’s a sub-portal in the kitchen for transporting food supplies. The kitchen is in the center of the first floor, so we should prioritize moving there instead.”
“Then how do we….”
Ignoring the voices of the others, I spotted a paper knife on the table. I reached out to grab it as a last resort, but someone else picked it up before me.
It was the knight who had covered the head of the person that had rolled toward my feet with cloth.
The knight approached and handed me the knife. His long, elegant hands were covered with calluses and scars.
“Thank you.”
The knight’s eyes met mine, and he hesitated.
“I, my lady. Earlier….”
“Yes.”
“Thanks to you, I was able to survive. I’m grateful. And… I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? For what?”
“For not listening to your words.”
Ah, here I go again.
“Don’t mention it. I’m just glad you didn’t die.”
In a situation like this, having even one more person who knows how to wield a blade alive makes all the difference.
‘Should I butter him up a bit? Ask him to protect me?’
As an ordinary office worker, I have no skill to fight zombies, so flattery might be my only option.
“What is your name, sir?”
“Dazling, my lady.”
“How lovely. Sir Dazling, I congratulate you on your survival. Please continue to live well. Would you care for a warm cup of water?”
Without waiting for a response, I poured water from the kettle and offered it to him.
“Consider it a bribe. A bribe to ask that you treat me well until we return to the Imperial Palace. Is it insufficient?”
“Not at all, my lady. How could I presume to refuse? I shall drink gratefully.”
“Yes. Please have some pastries as well.”
And take care of me too, would you?
“I will trust only Sir Dazling. After all, you’re the only person here who has shown concern for me, aren’t you?”
In that instant, the room fell silent.
I glanced around. Everyone had turned to stare at me and Dazling.
The Crown Prince, the Grand Duke, Yujein with a look of surprise, Supporting Character 1 with a frown, the Troublemaker, and even Supporting Character 2, partially obscured from view.
“…Have I intruded?”
“…No.”
The Crown Prince said no, but his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that spoke volumes before he looked away.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
Could it be because of what I just said?
But it’s the truth, isn’t it?
When that person’s head rolled in front of my feet earlier, was there anyone besides Dazling who showed concern for me?
* * *
Once we had decided on our destination, we armed ourselves.
The Grand Duke took the dead knight’s sword, while the Troublemaker insisted on carrying the dagger and small shield, arguing that ‘it was only proper for a man to bear weapons.’
The Crown Prince and Dazling already had their weapons.
Me? I had a paper knife.
‘I wonder if this will suffice.’
“My lady, what are you doing?”
“Looking for a weapon.”
“Hah.”
What now?
I turned to see Supporting Character 1.
Meeting my gaze, she spoke with a sharp edge to her voice.
“My lady, you certainly do treasure your own life. But what exactly could you accomplish with a weapon?”
Supporting Character 1.
The highest-ranking woman here besides me.
Her family operates a trading company specializing in magical artifacts.
‘Like that magical rope the Crown Prince has.’
Magical artifacts are extraordinarily rare and difficult to handle, so it’s safe to say that ninety-nine percent of the magical shops in the empire belong to her family.
Her name was… Mascarpone, I believe?
“Of course my body is precious, isn’t it? There’s only one of it.”
I replied with a note of reluctance.
“And well, isn’t it more likely that having some kind of weapon is better than having none at all?”
“No, it’s not. If a weapon ends up in the Young Lady’s hands, those of us nearby get nervous. Who knows if she might accidentally swing it and impale one of us?”
“Mascarpone, that’s enough.”
Supporting Character 2 approached and tried to stop Supporting Character 1. But Mascarpone showed no signs of backing down.
“I’m already anxious enough without you stirring things up beside me!”
Good grief.
“Your name is Mascarpone, correct?”
“Ha, so now you can’t even remember my name?”
Hmm. Then the one next to me would be…
“You’re… Tiramisu, perhaps?”
“…No, I’m not.”
“I see.”
Oh dear, my apologies.
Fortunately, she seems to think I’m just being forgetful and lets it slide.
I turned to Mascarpone.
“Miss Mascarpone, I understand you’re anxious, but does picking a fight with me really ease that anxiety? I doubt it. What if I hold a grudge and stab you when you’re not paying attention?”
“What did you just say?!”
“If you don’t like me having a sword, then arm yourself with something too. I’m not naive enough to entrust my life solely to someone else’s hands.”
Without waiting for a response, I turned away.
This wasn’t the time for such bickering.
‘Look at the state I’m in.’
My long hair cascaded down to my waist in disarray, and the dress with its plunging neckline was so long that I’d definitely trip over it if I tried to run. To make matters worse, I was wearing heels.
There was no way I could even reach the Kitchen, let alone the stairs, dressed like this.
First, I tore the dress up to my shins. As the fabric ripped with a sharp sound and my calves were exposed, the male leads over there hastily turned their heads away in embarrassment.
“The Young Lady’s finally lost it.”
I ignored Mascarpone’s snide remark.
After tearing it to shreds, I gathered a usable piece of fabric and tied my hair back tightly with it.
Next came the shoes.
I found the severed leg of a dead knight.
Without hesitation, I removed the boots from it and put them on.
“She’s… insane…!”
I ignored the gasps of horror around me.
As I tightened the laces of the military boots that came up past my ankles, they became wearable enough.
I looked at Mascarpone, who stood with her arms crossed watching me, and then at Yujein and Supporting Character 2 behind her.
‘They’re definitely wearing high heels too.’
I retrieved the indoor slippers I’d spotted earlier in the corner. It would have been nice to have three pairs, but unfortunately there were only two.
‘The dead Attendant’s shoes would be too large for them.’
There was no help for it. I tossed the slippers I’d picked up directly at Mascarpone. Just as she was about to shout in protest, I beat her to it.
“Are you planning to run in those?”
When I gestured with my chin toward the heels visible beneath her dress, she hesitated and closed her mouth. She let out a small laugh and turned away. Soon I heard the sound of the two of them discussing who should take which pair.
“I’m really fine. Please, both of you wear them.”
“Thank you, Yujein.”
I’m concerned about Yujein having to move around in high heels, but she’ll manage on her own.
‘Finally, we’re leaving.’
I took one last look around the room.
I desperately hoped my smartwatch—the one I’d bought to record my boss’s verbal abuse—would go off soon and wake me from this insane possession.
“Miss, aren’t you coming?”
“I’m coming!”
‘But what is that?’
Didn’t something just glimmer on the corpse’s chest?
[Imperial Villa 2nd Floor Secret Room]
– Yusara, Yujein, Crown Prince, Grand Duke, Mascarpone, Supporting Character 2, Troublemaker, Dazling (Alive)

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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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