After driving away the shrunken Youko, I received medical treatment and left.
For the time being, I had my wounds treated and left the hospital, my heart tugged by the worried faces of the two people behind me. The doctors, the Jarrot couple, urged me to rest, but I had to return to my companions. The stitches hurt, and my whole body ached, but I had to go.
Leaving the hospital, Veronica lit a cigarette.
“No smoking while walking!” Ias’s voice called out from behind.
“…Shut up, woman. Tsk, ever since I came to this world, no smoking on the street, smoking seats in restaurants, what’s the deal?”
“Now, now, some people are sensitive to the taste of tobacco smoke. You have to be considerate when you’re with others.”
“Others…”
She started to say, then turned around. Kalm and Lauren were following behind her. Veronica sighed, as if burdened, and put away her cigarette.
As we were running back towards the plaza, several escorts approached us from the opposite direction.
“Are you all right? You didn’t just come from the hospital, did you? You must have escaped because the barrier broke down.”
A barrier? Right, that Youko had blocked our path.
“Quick, go to a safe place!”
They said and hurried past us, busy with their own tasks. However, we were heading in the opposite direction. We arrived at the place where we had parted ways. The next place we needed to go was likely the cemetery, where Cecilia, Philiana, and Pauline had gone. There was a high probability that the main culprit was there.
“Let’s go to the cemetery. There might be another Necromancer there.”
The four of us hurried on our way to the cemetery. Whether we were on the right path or not, we could tell by the aura. A disturbing chill, like a snake, crawled up our backs. A foul odor, making us want to cover our noses, also began to waft. I felt my steps becoming heavy. Only Lauren would be able to remain unfazed here.
“Um, um, what is that? It looks like it’s looking this way…”
I heard Kalm’s trembling voice from behind. In the eerie mist that seemed to be welling up from nowhere, corpses were shambling towards us.
“Damn it, we’re breaking through. Follow me!”
Veronica, with flames in both hands, charged forward. In sync with her, the zombies in front of us swarmed towards the feast that had appeared before our eyes. I followed behind her, slamming into the approaching zombies. The Harpy corpses were sent flying feebly.
“Alright, you two…”
When I shifted my gaze back, a Centaur zombie, like a wall, appeared before me. Ah, right, Centaurs die too.
“Hiyahh!”
I let out a pathetic yelp and ran with all my might. The raised hand missed the air. That was close, but if there were many of these, it would be impossible… Just as I thought that, I was pushed aside by something. Empty sockets, bared fangs, Dark Harpies have rather long canine teeth. But this wasn’t the time to be impressed.
Its mouth snapped open. I instinctively covered my head. Its jaws, with immense force, lunged towards my throat. The skin peeled back, and I couldn’t hold it properly! I was being killed slowly. I wanted to reach for my dagger, but if I let go of one hand, it would be over. Kalm, Lauren, anyone, help!
Just then, an explosion occurred above my body. Along with the bursting flames, the corpse was blown away. I covered my face with my arms as sparks rained down. Was that Veronica? But her flames were purple, so that meant…
“Are you okay? Good, you don’t seem to have been bitten yet.”
“Elana! Haaah, thank goodness. I’m saved!”
Elana, who had been out searching, had found us.
“Sorry to interrupt your reunion, but we need to hurry. Philiana and the others are waiting for help beyond this point. To put it briefly, a Wyvern appeared.”
That’s what the escorts at the town entrance had said when we arrived. So it was true. And if they were waiting, then the three of them were safe?
“The escorts are heading there too, but these corpses are hindering their attack. Veronica and I will clear a path, so let’s go.”
I stood up, dagger in hand, and followed behind her.
