I Reincarnated Into a Healing Game… and It’s a Zombie Apocalypse?! - Chapter 68

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 68

10. Winter is Coming

Coron Maures, the capital city of the Helvetia Kingdom.

This city, located at the northwestern edge, was the first to be visited by winter.

Normally, the market would have been bustling with winter preparations, but after the disaster struck, it had become a desolate ruin with not a soul in sight.

In that gloomy market, three people were present: Nana, Sam, and Ishanka.

“Here’s the passage that leads directly into the Central Palace.”

Sam led the way, weaving through the alley until he stopped in front of a carving etched into an old wall.

“If you press the stone next to here…”

Click.

Slide—

The wall shifted, revealing a hidden entrance.

Nana narrowed her eyes and asked.

“How did you know about something like this?”

“I used to come out occasionally to observe the people’s lives directly.”

“You didn’t sneak out to skip your studies, did you?”

“…”

The lack of response suggested she had hit the mark.

“What a delinquent prince.”

“A-anyway! Let’s hurry inside. According to what you said, something’s happening at the Royal Palace, right?”

That’s right.

The reason Nana had come this far was because of a Quest she had received recently.

* * *

【Special Quest: Error %#$# occurrence.</p】

The cause that turned the world into a zombie apocalypse is in the Royal Palace.

Go to the Royal Palace.>

It was a different Quest from usual.

There was no time limit or massive reward.

Just an instruction to go to the Royal Palace.

Nana looked at the Quest window and muttered quietly.

“…Now they’re finding all sorts of ways to push me forward.”

But seeing the Quest, she couldn’t not go.

When the cause that turned what was once a healing game world into zombie hell in an instant was in the Royal Palace, it would be foolish to just sit still.

‘If the cause is a person, I’ll beat them up with my crowbar, and if it’s an object, I’ll smash it to pieces with my crowbar.’

I’ll make them taste every flavor—sweet, bitter, and rotten.

But before that, there was something she had to do.

A small game room at the edge of the clubhouse.

Brody, Lucas, Ishanka, Sam, and Wina had gathered and were looking at Nana.

“You said you had something to tell us, so what’s going on?”

“Um…, well. This might be hard to believe—”

Nana began to carefully explain her abilities one by one.

That she could purify the Contaminated Land.

That in purified land, zombies don’t attack people and actually follow commands.

However, regarding the reason all this was possible—the system—she vaguely covered it up by saying she communicated with gods, just as she had told Ishanka and Sam before.

“…So that’s how it happened.”

A brief silence fell toward Nana after she finished speaking, and Brody was the first to open his mouth.

“So that’s why. Now I understand why the village wasn’t visible when I first tried to find Sweet Little Village.”

Brody smiled gently.

“It must have been a lot of work to protect the village by yourself. You must have struggled quite a bit.”

Nana felt a sudden surge of emotion and embarrassment at the same time.

“B-but I didn’t do it alone. Isha helped too, and Sam…”

“Didn’t His Highness rather add to your work?”

“…”

Nana couldn’t say anything.

How could he hit the nail on the head like that.

The thought that being a royal court official wasn’t something just anyone could do made her feel newfound respect for Brody.

Then Brody’s gaze turned toward Ishanka.

“And this man must be from a minority ethnic group.”

“B-Brody, how did you…!”

Sam jumped up from his seat.

Brody smiled quietly and said.

“It’s a story that barely remains in literature now, but it’s said that the Northern Ethnic Minority had purple eyes. I had also forgotten about it since it was a record I read by chance long ago, but the moment I first saw this man, I remembered.”

A strange tension flowed through the room.

The minority ethnic groups were long-time enemies of the Kingdom.

Now they had grown to the point of threatening the Kingdom.

Even after the disaster swept everything away, that fact remained unchanged.

Nana quietly organized her thoughts.

That Brody had figured out Ishanka’s identity.

And the fact that he was from Kingdom nobility.

Neither was something that could be taken lightly.

Nana was about to carefully open her mouth to protect Ishanka, but Brody continued speaking first.

“But in this current situation, it would be foolish to judge someone by their origins.”

Brody slowly nodded toward Ishanka and Nana.

“This person is a good person, so you don’t need to worry unnecessarily.”

“How can you be so certain?”

When Nana asked carefully, Brody smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

“Well. I’ve spent quite a while at your farm too. If my eyes aren’t blind, I couldn’t help but notice this man’s behavior and conduct. Besides, he’s been with you all for so long that if he had any ulterior motives, it would have shown by now.”

Brody chuckled.

“In the end, what matters isn’t one’s origins but the person themselves. Isn’t that right, Your Highness? Didn’t I tell you this repeatedly when I was teaching you?”

Sam avoided Brody’s gaze.

“Y-yeah. You did. Haha…”

It seemed he was remembering when he had said harsh things to Ishanka, calling him a barbarian and such.

Then Lucas, who had been quiet, suddenly slammed the table and stood up.

“That’s right! We have something more important! Saving people in this rotten world! That’s a knight’s duty and destiny!”

At Lucas’s sparkling eyes, the room briefly filled with surprised energy before gently relaxing.

The atmosphere had definitely become much lighter.

Nana didn’t miss the mood and naturally led the conversation.

She vaguely explained the source of the Quest as communication with gods and explained why she needed to go to the Royal Palace, and eventually it was decided that Ishanka and Sam would accompany her, leading to the current situation.

* * *

“It’s bumpy here, so watch your step. We’re almost there.”

Following Sam’s guidance a little further, bright light poured out at the end of the long darkness.

The place they emerged was the forest behind the Central Palace.

The forest had thick vegetation and gentle wind brushing the leaves, just like before the disaster struck. This too must have been purified by the Stone of Life.

“This is a secret passage known only to royalty, so hardly anyone comes through here. Still, let’s hurry.”

The three changed into the spare noble clothes they had prepared in advance and emerged from the forest.

The three naturally blended into the Central Palace and walked carefully along the corridor, pretending to look ahead to avoid drawing attention.

Just then.

“We’re running short on wine! Hurry and bring more!”

“I’ll prepare the flowers needed for the garden party!”

The words of servants passing by in quick steps reached Nana’s ears.

‘Garden party?’

Nana reflexively turned her head, but the servants had already disappeared into the distance.

“Um… you’re thinking the same thing, right?”

Ishanka nodded briefly, and Sam also gave a light sign of agreement.

“Let’s go. To where that garden party is being held.”

Having decided on their destination, the three followed the procession of people.

Garden in front of the Central Palace.

It was the most splendid place in the Royal Palace.

Long tables were endlessly set with fine food and wine, and nobles gathered in small groups, clinking wine glasses and laughing.

Their conversations were uniformly leisurely and trivial.

“Don’t you think today’s sandwiches are a bit bland?”

“Ho ho, art is always beautiful when it’s slightly lacking.”

The clear voice of a noblewoman laughing while waving her fan rang out.

Similar conversations were taking place near the fountain a little distance away.

“I should have a new fur coat tailored this winter.”

“There’s no reason to go out these days though?”

“Still, we must maintain our dignity. Isn’t being a noble about not forgetting to wear a dress even in a blizzard?”

The nobles clinked their glasses again with laughter.

Nana frowned and turned her gaze, but the scene was similar wherever she looked.

A noblewoman adorned with jewels linked arms with men, giggling and exchanging playful banter, while several nobles threw barely touched food on the ground, complaining that it didn’t suit their taste.

Watching this scene, Nana felt an indescribable emotion.

The world was collapsing from disaster, yet the nobles’ behavior was completely disconnected from that reality. It looked like the desperate struggle of people trying to ignore the end times by reveling until the very last moment.

It felt even more so when overlapped with the exploitation she had witnessed at the Royal Imperial Ground and the Farm.

Just as Nana was about to leave the area, Sam, who had been standing quietly beside her, could no longer contain himself and shouted.

“What is all this madness!”

The garden fell silent as if frozen.

“Outside, the people are starving and suffering. Yet why are you drinking and laughing! Can you not hear anything? Can you not see anything!”

All eyes turned toward Sam.

Then one nobleman sneered and said.

“Who are you? Are you such an important figure that you dare lecture us in this place?”

Soon, giggling laughter spread among the nobles.

Sam answered quietly without even moving his brow.

“You don’t know who I am? Are you someone who can’t even properly look at the Royal Family’s portraits? Or perhaps you’ve never properly set foot in the Royal Palace.”

The nobleman’s face flushed red. Just as his bubbling anger was about to explode, an unfamiliar voice rang through the garden.

“What is this commotion.”

The nobles all stepped aside left and right, opening a path. Walking slowly between them was the King.

The King approached within arm’s reach of the three and looked at Sam with a meaningful smile.

“My son, my legitimate heir. Prince Samuel has returned.”

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