A Korean Office Worker Who Became a Nuisance Villainess in a Zombie Story - Chapter 66

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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 9. Complacency Is a Luxury We Cannot Afford
“Pardon? Moving corpses?”
“Indeed.”
“So you’re saying dead people are walking around alive, attacking the living?”
“Yes.”
“And if we simply sever their heads, they die completely?”
“Correct.”
“…I beg your pardon, Your Highnesses. I fear my ears have deceived me. I cannot fathom what the Crown Prince is describing….”
“Truth be told, I fell for you at first sight. Since you’ve already divorced your wife, how would you feel about remarrying—to me?”
“I beg your pardon?!”
“Would you consider it?”
“N-no, that’s so sudden… far too sudden… Are you serious?”
“Of course not.”
“….”
“Your ears seem perfectly fine to me.”
Praha slurped his coffee loudly.
He never made a sound when handling dishes normally, yet here he was making a spectacle—clearly mocking the man.
We were currently in Lord Promé’s private chamber, sipping coffee.
It had been only thirty minutes since the Lord burst in upon seeing us return in such a wretched state.
‘What are you doing! Prepare a bath and food at once!’
‘No. There’s something more urgent.’
Thud.
Behind Praha, who had stopped the flustered Lord, Cyprus set down the chest he’d been carrying.
‘It’s critical.’
Praha emphasized once more, and so we found ourselves sitting in this opulent chamber, trailing dirt across its floors.
“Please, may I have some pastries!”
Praha glanced sideways at Tangerine, who was gulping down orange juice with an unsettled expression, and spoke matter-of-factly.
“Unbelievable as it may sound, it is the truth.”
Corpses walk about. When a person is bitten by one, they too become a walking corpse. We’ve eliminated all the corpses we encountered, but some may remain on Mount Prome.
Therefore, forbid the territory’s residents from ascending the mountain for the time being.
Lay the cord from the chest we brought around the territory’s barrier, and strengthen patrols.
Seek assistance from the nearest Temple.
All expenses related to this matter shall be covered by the Crown Prince’s personal funds through the Imperial Family.
Any corpses that may still be wandering the mountain will be eliminated by our party.
“We apologize for the inconvenience and ask for your cooperation. The Imperial Family will assume full responsibility for all damages incurred by Promé as a result of this incident. We shall thoroughly search the mountain and eliminate any remaining corpses.”
The Lord, who had been listening with lingering skepticism, furrowed his brow at this final statement.
Lord Promé asked.
“If I may be so bold, Your Highness. If we install that cord around the perimeter, wouldn’t the territory be safe?”
“…For the most part, yes.”
“Then why must your party personally eliminate the remaining corpses on the mountain?”
“…Otherwise, the people who went up the mountain could become infected.”
“In any case, no one visits this territory through Mount Prome. The terrain is too treacherous.”
“Your territory’s people who went to gather medicinal herbs or mushrooms could still become infected.”
“Everything that belongs to this territory—down to a single weed growing on the mountain—is my property as the Local Lord. Those who attempt to steal the Local Lord’s possessions without permission deserve to lose their lives, do they not?”
“What did you just say?”
“If anyone was caught carrying even a single blade of grass from that mountain, their heads would have been severed anyway. They would simply die a bit sooner….”
“….”
Execution for picking a single herb?
‘Now I understand why I haven’t seen a single one of the territory’s residents wandering Mount Prome.’
There was a reason for everything.
Rather than sympathize with his own people starving and foraging on the mountain, he beheads them? The hypocrisy burned within me as I observed Lord Promé’s glistening, oil-slicked skin and protruding belly—the unmistakable signs of excessive indulgence.
Deep fury kindled in my chest.
Cyprus stopped Praha, who had begun to openly scowl, from speaking.
‘Later.’
First things first.
Cyprus, having restrained Praha, opened his mouth.
“Let me be clear: I do not condone your methods of governance. However, since this is your territory, I have no right to interfere. Unfortunately.”
“….”
“But since we have our reasons, we will dispose of the corpses remaining in your territory and depart.”
“That’s right! We don’t need any support! We came to warn you, not to ask for help!”
Tangerine, who had interjected, clenched her fists.
“We’ll thoroughly comb through every nook and cranny of Mount Prome, leaving not a single hair behind….”
“Absolutely not!”
The agitated Local Lord shot to his feet.
Realizing his rudeness, he sat back down, but his face was already flushed crimson.
‘What’s gotten into him?’
“If corpses are wandering that mountain, how could I, as a loyal servant of the Emperor, possibly allow you two Highnesses to enter? Absolutely not!”
“Pardon? But we said we would handle it….”
“Absolutely, positively not!”
‘To this extent?’
“The Promé Knight Order will handle the corpses. As the Local Lord of Promé, I strongly urge you two Highnesses and the Saintess to leave this now-dangerous Promé at once!”
“Huh?”
“What are you talking about? We need to handle this and then leave….”
“I will prepare for your departure tomorrow!”
The Local Lord, practically covering his ears, rang a bell to summon attendants.
It was a stark reversal from the obsequious demeanor he had displayed before us.
Closing his eyes, covering his ears, and pushing forward—he was the very embodiment of a certain type of politician.
“As one entrusted with authority over Promé by the Emperor, I refuse your continued stay in Promé. I humbly ask for your understanding of my loyalty…!”
When I came to my senses, we had already been expelled from the Local Lord’s Private Chamber.
We were left dumbfounded by the Local Lord’s sudden reversal.
“Why is he acting like that?”
Tangerine summed up my feelings in a single phrase.
“Indeed.”
The Local Lord apparently despised the idea of us returning to the mountain.
But to chase us out so abruptly?
“Does this mean we’re simply being expelled?”
“Unfortunately, yes. No matter that we are the Crown Prince and the Grand Duke, the Local Lord is the one to whom His Majesty granted authority over this territory.”
“But the Crown Prince is here, is he not?”
“He is Crown Prince, not Emperor.”
“Good heavens.”
While I reeled in shock, Praha remained silent, lost in thought.
Sensing my gaze, Praha looked at me and spoke.
“I was thinking something seemed amiss.”
“Yes. I thought so too.”
“I also thought it was strange!”
“I, I did as well.”
“Oh. Me too.”
Cyprus rubbed the corner of his eyebrow with his index finger and spoke.
“Corpses could be wandering his own territory, yet he reacts this way? It’s not concern for unknown bodies—it’s that he dislikes us searching the mountain far more.”
“Unless something is weighing on his mind!”
But as I had just said, if the Local Lord expels us, we have no recourse.
He is the Local Lord of Promé, after all.
At this rate, we would be cast out empty-handed.
“This is troublesome. And time is running short.”
Cyprus said.
‘Hmm.’
After weighing several possibilities in my mind, I spoke.
“I might be able to resolve this, if fortune favors us.”
“You, my lady?”
“Yes. I’m not certain, but… to do so, I need to meet with Smoothie first.”
“Smoothie? Ah, yes.”
“Yes. The Local Lord’s steward.”
* * *
“G-g-g-grand Duke?!”
“Yes. It’s been a while, Smoothie. May I come in?”
“Forgive the intrusion.”
Before I could even ask permission, Praha strode in ahead of me.
His demeanor was far colder than usual.
Smoothie’s face went pale at the sight of the Crown Prince appearing in his office in the dead of night.
“Y-your Highness, the Crown Prince…”
“Is there anything to drink here? The coffee Marquis Prome gave me doesn’t suit my taste at all.”
“I prefer sweet drinks!”
“Eek!”
Following that, the Grand Duke and an Imperial Knight appeared.
“Oh, hello?”
Even the Saint, who had been hidden from view until now, popped out and greeted me.
Leaving the now-tearful Smoothie behind, I leisurely surveyed Smoothie’s Office for the second time.
For the office of someone in a relatively high position—a financial administrator of this territory—it was remarkably cramped and dilapidated.
My reason for dragging my companions all the way here was simple.
I flashed a smile at the trembling Smoothie and quietly locked the office door behind me.
Click.
“M-Miss… Your Highness… Saint… Knight… Your Majesty? Ah, His Majesty isn’t here… W-what brings you all here…?”
“Ah. I’d like to see the ledgers.”
“Y-yes?”
“You’re the financial administrator for Lord Promé, aren’t you? You must have the accounting ledgers for the merchant company operated by House Promé and the territory’s finances?”
Even if the originals are kept in the Lord’s Office, there’s surely a copy here somewhere.
“I’d like to see them.”
“B-but why the ledgers…?”
“I need to blackmail the Lord.”
If my initial impression of this territory was correct, Lord Promé was certainly evading taxes through various means.
The crime of avoiding taxes that should go to the imperial treasury—taxes meant to be used for the Emperor and the Empire’s people—was grave.
It was as good as directly stealing from the Emperor.
‘And if Lord Promé is indeed evading or concealing taxes…’
Smoothie, the Lord’s financial administrator, is the primary architect of that crime.
A quite capable one at that.
‘Did I really forget such an important fact?’
If I could shake down the documents Smoothie possessed, uncovering the truth would be simple.
Only then did Smoothie, realizing why we’d come, offer timid resistance.
“B-but… I cannot show you the ledgers unless it’s the Lord himself. They’re territorial secrets…”
“Of course! That’s your duty as a financial administrator! I knew you’d say that, Smoothie!”
I applauded, genuinely impressed by his faithfulness to his professional obligations. Clap, clap, clap.
Confused, Smoothie asked.
“Then… why…?”
“That’s exactly why I dragged all these people here!”
I pointed in turn at Tangerine sprawled across the sofa, Cyprus with his amused smile, and Praha’s expressionless face.
Yujein, her lips pressed together with grim determination, rushed to the door and stood guard to prevent Smoothie’s escape.
Praha, whose eyes met mine, nodded and rolled up his sleeves.
“You don’t need to show us the ledgers, Smoothie.”
We’ll just take them by force.
[(Temporary Safe Zone) Smoothie’s Office]
– Yusara, Praha, Cyprus, Yujein, Tangerine (Survivors)

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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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