Chapter 47: She’s a Fool Who Doesn’t Hesitate
“It’s Ms. Akiko’s corpse!
This is truly an unforeseen situation. But it explains why Ms. Akiko was so anxious to find us; it’s because it’s critically important, one’s own corpse.
Ms. Akiko pressed her hand to her face, looking troubled.
“Even though I’m dead, my corpse still has some connection with me, so it suddenly disappearing is… a bit troubling.”
“Could it be that Ms. Akiko’s corpse has…”
I understood what Li Nai meant; in fact, I thought the same thing.
If it were just an ordinary corpse, there would be no need to lock it up in a place like this. Furthermore, to keep it a secret, even other people’s memories would be wiped clean. These points indicate that this corpse is definitely not an ordinary one.
The most likely scenario is that Ms. Akiko’s corpse has already…
“That’s right, just like the White Bone Demoness in Journey to the West, if a corpse absorbs essence from the sun and moon for a long time, it can develop sentience and become a spirit. After I died, my corpse received a vast amount of demonic power and became demonized, turning into a truly terrifying monster. It was originally sealed here because it was too dangerous, but someone inexplicably released it.
“So it turned into a zombie after all!”
“It’s a bit different. Zombies are corpses that re-gather Yin spirits because they are in a place with heavy Yin energy, and despite their incomplete souls… they still have souls. But my corpse is right before your eyes, do you think it has a soul?”
“So, Ms. Akiko, your corpse has already developed Self-awareness?”
This is truly strange. After the soul separated from the body, the body itself grew consciousness? If that’s the case, which one is the ‘person themselves’? This is a headache-inducing question.
“No, not to that extent. Because it became a monster instantly upon receiving a massive amount of demonic power, it only instinctively attacks people.
It needs to consume human blood regularly to be active.”
“It’s a bit like a Vampire.
It’s indeed quite serious that such a corpse has been stolen.
If it were to run loose on the streets, it would surely cause a panic.
While it might not be a large-scale destructive bioweapon like Li Nai, sucking people’s blood everywhere is also terrible. It can be considered a kind of killer.
The mission is to retrieve Ms. Akiko’s corpse to prevent a panic.
“So, Ms. Akiko, you want us two to find your corpse?”
Li Nai’s thoughts were clearly the same as mine. Because her own corpse was lost, it was troublesome, so she hoped you would help her find it. This is the kind of development that usually happens in RPG game quests.
However, upon noticing Ms. Akiko’s expression, I dismissed that thought.
The gloom on Ms. Akiko’s face did not dissipate.
If it were just a task to assign us, she wouldn’t have such an expression.
And her next words confirmed this.
“It’s impossible to get it back.”
“Why? Ah, we don’t even know who released Ms. Akiko’s corpse, so the mastermind should be hard to find— but if it just sucks blood and attacks people, Li Nai and I can handle it together, can’t we?”
“The real problem is that my corpse also has a special ability.
“If it’s just that, it’s not a big deal. But more importantly, my corpse also has…
This is the most troublesome part.
“Huh?! It has a special ability too!”
What kind of special ability could it be? I suddenly had a bad feeling.
It’s not that “Li Nai and I can handle it,” but rather, “more people are needed to resolve it.”
And now, we don’t even know how many people are needed to resolve this matter.
“The special ability my corpse possesses is ‘the ability to control other corpses,’ and ‘there is no upper limit to the number.’
Hearing this ability, I trembled all over.
This ability is far too fatal!
At first glance, this ability doesn’t seem particularly powerful. Perhaps it would be more useful in places like cemeteries, but at most, only a few dozen. And where else would there be so many corpses for it to command?
If it were just “a few dozen” corpses, it would be troublesome, but there would still be a way to deal with it.
But, only in this city… Yes, beneath this city, there’s a very special place. I just visited it a few days ago, ‘that place.’ That is the city where the Undead reside, and I happened to witness an immeasurable number of ‘corpses’ by accident.
If all these corpses were to be controlled by Ms. Akiko’s incredible corpse, it would be no laughing matter…
Thinking of this terrible possibility, I quickly looked at Li Nai.
Not necessarily, because if something happened, she would inevitably be involved.
At that moment, she also looked at me, and I could see that her mood was as shaken as mine.
If it happened, the place she lives in would be destroyed.
A massive surge of the Undead.
“The other party deliberately stole my corpse, and I think they are targeting this ability.
“Ms. Akiko, do you already know who the mastermind is?”
“Well, other departments have already collected some important information. The ones who stole my corpse this time are the ones who most want to flatten the City of the Living underground— the ‘natural enemies’ of corpses, the ‘Ghouls.’
“Ghouls—”
It’s actually Ghouls! No wonder. So the corpses Ms. Akiko asked us to investigate have disappeared all over the world, and it was all their doing.
In reality, the corpses didn’t ‘disappear,’ they were ‘eaten’!
“Since they are Ghouls, we just need to ask Xun for help—!”
“No, it won’t work.”
Since the only Ghoul we know is Kaoru Tsukiyose, we might have misunderstood.
We made a huge cognitive error, believing that ‘Ghouls can survive without eating corpses.’
“That’s right, we can’t count on Kaoru Tsukiyose for this matter. In fact, she can be considered an anomaly among Ghouls, as she only handles corpses rather than actively seeking better corpses like other Ghouls. Therefore, she was ostracized by the other Ghouls. They act in groups, like Kaoru Tsukiyose…
She was driven out. After all, Ghouls are social creatures, and the weaker ones form groups to act together. Kaoru Tsukiyose is almost considered a ‘heretic.’
Ghouls are called Ghouls because they have to constantly eat flesh. They can only survive by eating dead flesh.
“So, the reason I called you two here this time is to tell you not to get close to the Underworld anymore. Recently, possibly tonight…
There will be a war between Ghouls and the Undead, and the entire Underworld will become a battlefield. No, perhaps it should be called a hunting ground.
A large number of Ghouls pouring into the Underworld, and what will happen is almost predictable.
Moreover, the Ghouls have an ace up their sleeve that makes them invincible: Ms. Akiko’s corpse, which can control all corpses.
When Ms. Akiko calls it a hunting ground, she’s being too kind. To be honest, it’s a ‘slaughterhouse.’
“How can I stand by and watch them be harmed! Where is the Organization? What is the Organization doing? Send the Control Department to mediate this conflict immediately!”
Li Nai became frantic. She also knew the seriousness of the matter. If they didn’t find a way to stop the Ghouls this time, the place she lived in would be destroyed.
“The Organization… will not interfere this time.”
“Why?!”
Upon hearing this unfortunate news, Li Nai almost screamed uncontrollably.
This was the first time I had seen Li Nai so agitated.
After all, the Organization was their last hope. If even the Organization decided not to intervene, there would be no way to stop this war.
“You should understand the Organization’s modus operandi.
I understand…”
“Balance.”
“We are dedicated to maintaining balance in the world. The first day I joined the Organization, I was repeatedly emphasized this.
We do not take sides; it’s like being guardians of a scale.
And this time, the dead are not the ‘underdog,’ so the Organization does not intend to act. That should be the case.
This judgment is reasonable. Not helping either side is the correct choice. Perhaps even the theft of Ms. Akiko’s corpse was ‘tacitly approved’ by the Organization.
Was this a decision made by the Principal, or by someone higher up?
Perhaps, for the Organization, this is the most stable judgment.
However, it’s too much…
‘Excess undead in the Underworld.’
Li Nai also understood. She clenched her fists and lowered her head. I could see her body trembling slightly.
Her title color turned orange, and her [Furious] emotion was clearly written under her name.
Ms. Akiko did not reply, but we all knew it was an unspoken confirmation.
At this point, there was no way to stop what was about to happen. With just Li Nai and me, we couldn’t possibly influence the overall situation.
The room became quiet. Ms. Akiko remained silent, and I stood there wordlessly. Li Nai lowered her head deeply, as if she had been dealt a heavy blow.
As her partner, I should comfort her at this moment.
I, as her partner…
Thinking this, I walked to her side and was just about to pat her shoulder when she suddenly raised her head and looked at Ms. Akiko with a resolute gaze.
“I understand.”
“Then I’ll find a way myself!”
And then she stormily walked out.
“What?”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Li Nai suddenly started kicking the room door!
But Ms. Akiko showed no intention of stopping her. She even smiled and looked towards the room door. With a bang, Li Nai kicked the door open.
SF Light Novel
As soon as the room door opened, Li Nai glanced back at me and Ms. Akiko, then rushed out directly.
Is this guy really going to her death!
“Ms. Akiko, stop her quickly!”
“Hehehe, no one can stop a stubborn zombie girl?”
Looking at Ms. Akiko’s smile, I suddenly understood something and exclaimed in shock.
“I see! Ms. Akiko, you knew from the beginning that Li Nai wouldn’t obediently listen to you!”
She didn’t want to keep us here; she wanted us to go there, which is why she told us all this!
“Oh, I just thought that if it were Nana, she wouldn’t just stand by and do nothing. So Juncheng, what about you?”
Damn it, this is no joke, you’ll die, you’ll absolutely die!
Tsk! I’m an idiot too! Ms. Akiko, if I come back alive, please give me a raise!
“Of course, I’ll give you triple salary~”
Then I also rushed out of the room.
The moment the room door opened completely, I felt something in me tear apart, cracking open along with space itself. It felt as if death had descended upon me.
But when I came to my senses, I realized that nothing had happened. That feeling was just an illusion.
An unsettling illusion.
But I still followed her without hesitation! I can’t leave her alone!
The elevator doors slowly closed. I shouted as I rushed towards them.
“Damn it! Wait for me!”
However, the elevator doors had already closed.
Ugh, if I take the stairs, I might get trapped midway. But I don’t know if I can still catch up to Li Nai.
Just then, the elevator doors reopened.
Li Nai, smiling mischievously, extended her hand to me and said.
“Oh dear, guest, this is a direct elevator to Hell, you know?”
“Who fears whom…”
The long night begins.
