Vol. 4 - Ch. 31 - Ghosts or Zombies

The Sleeping Devil

Foonf and Zex, former slaves, had transported corpses numerous times, so they were asked to guide us to our destination.

But first, a brief interview was necessary.

They had worked as slaves for nearly ten years and had grown accustomed to corpses.

"We're from the slums. We used to find and gather dead people from alleys. Rotten ones were no good, but clean, fresh ones sold for a high price... We didn't mind the smell or the rot. We just couldn't bear waiting for people to die in our old haunts."

The drug that numbed their minds had gradually been reduced, and lately, it was used only as a sedative during bouts of delirium. As a result, they seemed lucid and unaffected by the drug.

"Aren't corpses supposed to be cremated even in the slums?"

"Before they were collected, we used to roam at night or keep watch over those immobilized by disease."

"From what I can see, you haven't accumulated much corruption. You're fine. Do you only collect bodies from the slums?"

"Sometimes, we sneak into the temple... We replace the bodies meant for cremation with those from the slums."

Commoners, having little magic, accumulate corruption less than nobles. However, that only means they are less likely to descend into madness from guilt or hatred. Prolonged exposure to corruption still leads to deterioration.

Fear of being cursed itself generates corruption.

Therefore, before we set out, we quickly performed a purification ritual.

"Are corpses that hard to come by?"

The bumpy, unpaved road indicated our destination was far from any human settlement.

"Hmm, on battlefields, bodies are quickly burned, and if left unattended, they might become vessels for monsters, so they are strictly managed."

"So, there might be people gathering bodies to create monsters."

"Possibly. Some of our ancestors were obsessed with studying monsters. Their research proved that we had resistance to corruption."

There were such people... But it was only possible because they were Beriards. Could ordinary people conduct such research?

As we continued, we arrived at a dilapidated ruin at the forest's edge, looking ready to collapse at any moment. Even during the day, it was dim and eerie, like a haunted house.

Given its appearance, it made sense that bodies were gathered here.

"Looks like zombies might appear."

"Zombies?"

"Yes, corpses that wander seeking flesh and blood, attacking and turning others into zombies. They keep multiplying, making them a nuisance."

"That's scary. But why do they multiply? If they seek flesh, they should consume it completely."

"True..."

We walked through the overgrown garden while having this trivial conversation. Though unmaintained, there was a narrow path wide enough for one person.

Foonf and Zex pretended to deliver a corpse and knocked on the old wooden door with a peculiar rhythm.

"—It's rare to have visitors at this hour. The condition must be good, huh?"

From a small crack in the slightly opened door, something resembling a crow's beak peeked out. Didier wedged his foot into the door crack.

"We'd like to have a word."

"You... Damn it! That bastard messed up..."

From the door crack, a man with a messy mop of hair and a creepy crow mask peeked out. His hair appeared brown in the dim room, but the light from outside revealed a faint reddish tint. Pink-brown... He seemed to be of a lower noble rank.

"I'm Didier Beriard. You've heard the name, right? Don't even think about running."

"Hah! Who's running? What does the lord's son want here?"

His insolent attitude seemed more out of genuine annoyance than defiance, unlike any noble I had met before.

Didier, slightly irritated, tightened his grip on the door, trying to force his way in. The masked man also pulled back on the door, leading to a tug-of-war with "Open up" and "Go away" exchanges.

"You must be up to something really bad, huh? If we leave now, we'll be back with soldiers."

"What a pain! I'm not doing anything wrong!"

"Then let us inspect the inside. If there's no problem, we'll leave right away."

Didier's vibrant wisteria-colored hair was enough to identify him as the next head of the Beriard family. Reluctantly, the masked man let go of the door.

"Damn it..."

The round glass sections of his mask faced me, and he froze for a moment. When I lightly lifted my skirt in a curtsy, his shoulders twitched in surprise.

The masked man turned and walked back into the house, and we followed. The increasingly strong stench deepened the frown lines on my forehead.

"Could we ventilate? The smell is awful."

As soon as we entered what seemed to be the living room, I suggested this. The man paused, then started opening windows, muttering, "It's a bachelor's place."

Really? The place was indeed filled with scattered trash and was terribly cluttered.

There was a table and chair, but I didn't feel like sitting down. Everyone but the masked man, who sat heavily in a chair, stood, enduring the stench.

"This isn't just a garbage smell, is it? First, take off that mask."

"Huh? You're so annoying."

Despite his words, the man united the string at the back of his head and smoothly removed the eerie mask. Underneath was an unkempt beard and dark circles under his eyes, matching his unkempt hair. He looked exhausted, likely in his thirties.

"You're a noble, aren't you? What are you doing here?"

"Nothing much. I'm just a low-ranking noble without any land or title. What's so strange about living in a rundown place?"

"What are you using the corpses for? You must know we're aware of that much."

As Didier's interrogation began, Julius, who was covered in a black cloth, started to tremble slightly beside me. I connected with him telepathically, asking, "Are you okay?" but he shook his head slightly without responding.

"—I told you, I'm not doing anything illegal! Stealing and selling corpses is a crime, but there's no law against buying them."

"That's true. But it depends on what you use them for. If you say it's just for viewing pleasure, I'd have to question your sanity."

At that moment, there was a small retching sound, and Julius threw off his cloth with a rustle.

"Teacher, is that okay?"

"I can't breathe with this stench. In the worst case, we can deal with him."

The man stiffened again, looking back and forth between me and Julius. He was so shocked by Julius' black hair that he didn't seem to realize his life was at stake.

"No way... White with black, what kind of creatures is the current lord keeping?"

"Watch your mouth. If you insult Sheriel again, I'll decapitate you."

"And what about that black-haired one?"

"He'll kill you himself if he's not pleased."

The man shrugged, saying, "Oh, scary."

His name was Johan. He had the blessing of life, but his magical power was minimal, and he was a stray noble without land, title, or master.

Such people were not uncommon. The term "noble" simply referred to those with magical power, not those with wealth or authority.

"Where did you get the money to buy the corpses?"

"My parents left me a bit of inheritance."

"What are you using the corpses for?”

"........."

"Are you eating them, by any chance?"

"Of course not... Are you out of your mind?"

After an awkward silence, Didier cleared his throat and looked around the room, which looked like it had been ransacked by thieves.

He then began to walk out of the room. Johan hastily followed him, and we followed them both.

"Wait! Don't wander around on your own!"

"Hmm, there's something here, isn't there? Ah, maybe over here? I see this bookshelf, huh?"

I had a vague idea of what Didier was using as a guide. In this dusty house, there were spots that weren't clean, but showed signs of frequent use.

Ignoring Johan's attempts to stop him, Didier manipulated something, revealing a staircase leading down to the basement. At the same time, a stench far worse than before wafted up.

It was a nauseating odor, like leaving garbage out on a hot summer day, rotting cheese and pork, a sludge-filled sewer, and livestock excrement all mixed together. The stench was so overpowering that it felt like everything in my stomach was rising up.

Johan hurriedly put on the crow mask hanging around his neck.

"This is terrible. How many bodies have you hoarded?"

"Ugh... Can't you do something about this..."

I looked up at Julius for help, but he also frowned. The only ones who seemed unfazed were Foonf and Zex.

"Let's create a barrier... Construct it."

"Are you a genius, Teacher?"

"Just now...? Match the coordinates to your earrings, specify an area around you, and... establish a transference circle for the object..."

"We'll connect it to the outside to bring in air. I'll give it a try."

The stinging smell made it hard to concentrate, but I desperately wanted to escape this agony. I may have constructed the magic more diligently than ever before.

"Huh? Who are you people? That construction..."

There was no time to respond to Johan's astonishment.

Blocking the air entirely could be fatal. After testing if ventilation worked, I adjusted the spell again.

A sharp sound rang out, and with wind magic, I expelled the stench, allowing us to finally take a deep breath.

"What is that... I've never heard of such a spell!"

"Got it memorized? Is once enough?"

"No problem," "You saved us, Sheriel!"

While the two of them chanted spells and established a protective barrier, I used the mark on Dirk's ring to create a barrier large enough for the three of us.

"Both of you, stay close to Dirk. Since the ring is the focal point, it's best not to stray too far from it."

"Wow! What is this!"

Zex tried to touch the barrier, and his arm slipped through. Since the barrier only blocked air, straying too far from the focal point caused one to exit the barrier.

We didn't have to worry about that since our earrings were the focal point.

"Is that barrier enough to block the smell? Can you do it for me too?"

"Don't you have your mask?"

"It's only slightly better with it!"

"No. I might consider it if you fully explain everything."

Johan seemed determined to obtain this barrier at all costs, insisting emphatically, "It's absolutely necessary!" He guided them underground.

After explaining, doesn't he think he might get caught or executed...?

Thanks to the protective barrier, there was no smell or change in the air around them. However, it somehow felt damp.

It seemed they had some connection to the basement since yesterday.

With only minimal candlelight, they descended the stairs, Julius gripping the hem of his clothes.

Opening the iron door with a creak, inside was illuminated dazzlingly by magical tools, so much so that they involuntarily squint their eyes.

There were large workbenches and various instruments lined up inside, and against the wall lay a body in an uncovered coffin.

"This..."

"What kind of experiments are you conducting here?"

Seated at the workbench, Johan spread his hands proudly and declared, "Medical arts! I am a medical artist."

"A medical artist? Not a doctor?"

Though his face was hidden behind a mask, it was clear he shook his head as if mocking him.

"Hah, that's why you aristocrats... A doctor just brews herbal concoctions for you useless trash. I surpass doctors and healing magic. That's why I need corpses."

At Johan's claim of surpassing even healing magic, Didier burst out laughing. Certainly, healing magic had its limits. It couldn't heal wounds that people couldn't heal themselves, and it could hardly cure illnesses.

Still, it was magic. Didier found Johan's words about surpassing the unfathomable magic of human knowledge amusing and finally began laughing heartily, clutching his stomach.

"Hahaha! I see, so corpses! Well, it's better than Beriards not experimenting on live humans! Surpassing healing magic..."

"Hah! If you want to laugh, go ahead. You wouldn't understand, being someone with so much magic power."

There was no need for Didier's words to enrage him. He himself was aware that his attempt was considered unreasonable in the world.

If Beriards, the embodiment of unreasonableness, laughed at him, I might get irritated if I were him.

"Is Johan dissecting corpses?"

"Kaihou? Disassembly?"

Well, it's the same thing. You have to know everything about the subject you're trying to heal."

With those words, Julius nodded.

Only Didier, Dirk, and the three of them who realized that the body was being dismembered, had lost their complexion, clutching their mouths as if they were sick to their stomach.

"A study of healing magic. I'm interested."

"It's not healing magic! It's medical art. It's still not known in this country, but research has already begun in other countries with low magical power."

I see, so magical power was related to the development of medical arts after all. In this country, diseases are brewed with herbs and injuries are healed with temple healing magic. Herbs also contain magical power, so they have some effect.

Of course, using the temple requires some money, so folk remedies are also spreading, but still, medical arts were not as developed as they were in previous lives.

"Where did Johan learn medical arts?"

"Where did you learn that kind of literature?"

Johan murmured bitterly, as if he were crushing it.

"... My teacher was an immigrant. He was a foreign medical artist. But before I could learn properly, that old man died. So I've been researching alone."

"I see. Well, I don't think it's a bad thing, but dissecting bodies in this country is taboo."

To manipulate the bodies that become the source of pollution is like studying poisons. And it's considered ethically reprehensible.

Honestly, there are no emotions in the soulless body, but I think it's grotesque.

"So I paid a lot of money and bought it from Count Cussion. I'm not good at magic, but I've been studying for the sake of people. And you guys say it's taboo..."

"Have you properly performed the purification ritual? What about contamination? And, considering infectious diseases, you need appropriate facilities for dissection."

"We haven't done the purification, but we'll burn them right away... Wait, infectious diseases!? Why are you bringing that up!?"

Bang! Johan jumped down from the workbench and shouted loudly. However, Didier ignored Johan and tilted his head.

"Huh? Sheriel, are you planning to help?"

"Not exactly... but isn't the advancement of medical arts a good thing?"

"I see! I thought Sheriel might have compassion for the dissected bodies."

Johan pounded the workbench with his fist, interrupting their conversation.

"Don't ignore me, damn it!"

"Shut up. We're talking about you now. The lord has full authority over the domain's autonomy. But we can't overturn national taboos. Sheriel understands that and is trying to let you off. Be quiet for a moment."

Ignoring Johan's inability to keep up with the conversation, I asked Julius for his opinion.

"Professor, what do you think?"

"I'm very interested. Healing magic is the only magic that can't be modified, and it seems useful for my research."

"That's right! Setting aside what to do with the bodies, the research itself isn't bad, right?"

"Haha! Bringing you two was the right decision after all! So, what do we do?"

Didier, who had been laughing at Johan's ambition until recently, was now fully enthusiastic. It's good that he can switch gears so quickly.

Only Dirk and the other two looked as if they had seen a demon, struck dumb with shock.

Vol. 4 - Ch. 31 - Ghosts or Zombies

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