Ch.65Chapter 65. Woohyoooooo…..

# The Undead.

Strange beings that arise when corpses are reanimated by the bizarre powers lingering in this world.

“Uuuuuuugh.”

“Woooaaah…”

I don’t know why a follower of the lord who commands these monsters has entered this place, but what matters now isn’t their intentions—it’s escaping this situation.

The one fortunate thing is that their master doesn’t seem to be present. But even without someone commanding them, the Undead are creatures devoted to their instincts, obsessed with devouring the living.

What follows will be a chaotic battle with dozens of Undead rushing toward me, intent on devouring me alone.

“Woo, ooooh…”

Is it possible?

With only the weapon in my hand, can I defeat this many Undead?

“Woohyoooooo…”

No, I don’t need to defeat them all—just enough to create an escape route.

As I tensed up and aimed my spear at the Undead from against the wall, I suddenly realized they had stopped in place, staring at me.

With hollow eyes fixed on me, their mouths hanging open blankly…

“Woo, woo…”

Raising my spear shaft warily at their behavior, they soon began tilting their heads while looking at me, emitting dull voices.

From their hideous mouths, smeared with blood from devouring several people.

“Woo, Hyo…?”

What emerged was clearly a distinct word, not just the moans of corpses.

“Woo-Hyo, Woo-Hyooo…”

“Uuugh, Woo-Hyoooo…”

…What’s with these creatures?

Why are they suddenly calling my name?

“Woo-Hyoooo…?”

“Oooh, Woo-Hyoooooo…”

For a moment I thought I was imagining things, but listening again, what came from their mouths was unmistakably my name.

For some reason they’re only saying “Woohyo” and leaving out my surname, but that’s probably because their tongues and jaw joints aren’t normal.

Right, these creatures think about eating people as soon as they meet them, so standing there saying something isn’t normal behavior to begin with.

So what they’re saying must definitely be my name…

“WOO-HYOOOO!!!”

“WOO-HYOOOEEEEEE~~!!!”

…But isn’t this a bit strange no matter how you look at it?

Even though Undead are known to move in hordes and shout, why are they suddenly gathering and calling my name in such a commotion?

“Woooong~”

And what are you doing, Ego Weapon?

If you think this situation is dangerous, you could just jump out like before, so why are you joining their chorus at this particular moment?

“Woo-Hyo~ Woo-Hyo~”

“Woooong~”

But even as time passed, no hostile atmosphere formed between us.

Seeing even the Ego Weapon just whimpering quietly, I felt foolish for having been so tense about facing them earlier.

For reasons unknown, judging by the current atmosphere, these creatures didn’t seem likely to attack me.

“Um… if you don’t plan to attack me, could I pass through?”

“Woo-Hyoooooo…”

Despite my tentative question, the Undead remained standing there blankly without attacking.

Still cautious, I used my spear shaft to gently push them aside and create space. Their legs moved limply from their positions, opening a path for me.

Even when directly touched and stimulated, there was no reaction.

After carefully clearing them one by one, I stepped into the corridor I had come from and looked back. As soon as I moved away, they began looking at each other and making crying sounds.

“Woo, Woo-Hoo…”

“Wooeeee~ Woo-Hyooo~”

“…It’s my name, but watching them like this feels like witnessing some voodoo ritual.”

I survived somehow, but the situation left me feeling uneasy in many ways.

But seeing the weapon in my hand still humming, I had some understanding of why the Undead had reacted that way to me.

After all, the Ego Weapon, which had no self-awareness, quickly developed one through my ability.

Similarly, it’s possible that the Undead, obsessed only with their instincts, became unable to ignore my existence through the power that forcibly imprints my name.

Of course, thinking back to when I faced the Knight of Death, I don’t think such power would work on beings of the Four Knights’ caliber.

“Well, it would be difficult to expect this to work on boss-level entities.”

After escaping the scene, I took time to review the current situation while preparing to return to where my party was.

Currently, this dungeon contains a being powerful enough to twist Irie’s prophecy.

Even if it’s not the Lord of Corpses himself, whose danger rivals that of the Demon Lord, it would be unreasonable to expect kindness from any of the Four Knights who follow him.

If there’s any possibility, it might be with the Knight of Death whom I met before, but even he spared me with the expectation of making me a comrade someday, so I should be cautious about encountering him.

So if possible, I should leave this dungeon immediately after rejoining my party, but as I was planning this, I noticed dozens of Undead gathered and positioned before me.

“Uuugh.”

“Kruuuugh…”

These aren’t mediocre Undead.

Though their armor shows signs of age, each one is properly armed and could be called elite.

They’re clearly troops brought from outside rather than adventurers turned into zombies, which means one of the Four Knights has entered the room where my party is.

“Damn, they’re already here.”

Irie’s prophecy has collapsed, and all I have is the mythril Ego Weapon.

Thinking coldly, the correct answer would be to abandon the party and flee alone to save myself.

The party members who entered this death trap with me…

And that girl who got labeled as a Failed Hero because of me—I should turn a blind eye and run away as she dies miserably at the hands of the Undead, just like that Murderer who was devoured earlier…

*Teeth clenching*

No sooner had I thought of this than I felt strength in my jaw.

Even though I believed retreating was the right answer for those without qualifications, my feet were already moving toward where my party was confronting one of the Four Knights.

There was never really a choice to begin with.

To escape the dungeon, I need to find the way out and have food supplies, but the map I’ve drawn and the bag containing food are all where the party is.

Moreover, with unknown dangers ahead, the cooperation of someone like a Hero is absolutely necessary.

“…Uh, wooer?”

As I advanced with this resolve, facing the Undead before me, I pointed my spear tip and quietly said:

“It’s not ‘wooer,’ it’s Hyoseong Woo, you things.”

Hoping that this cursed ability would help me survive against these monsters resurrected from death.

****

There are no safe zones for humans in a dungeon.

But currently, Henrietta, the mage following the Failed Hero, felt no particular sense of crisis despite exploring such a dangerous place.

Unlike other times, this party included a “competent sucker” who unconditionally listened to her words.

“You’ve worked SOOO hard! Thanks to the Hero blocking all the passages in this area, we can search this entire region with peace of mind!”

“Th-that’s good… Aha, ha.”

With all corridors connected to the area blocked by piled-up structures.

Henrietta approached the Hero who had exerted herself building barricades, chuckling “huhu” as she handed her a water bottle.

A water bottle not for rest, but to replenish the strength needed for work to come.

“By the way, Hero. This area seems larger than expected, so could you help a bit with the search as well?”

“The search too?”

“Yes~ I know you’re already working hard with night watch and dealing with monsters, but when we investigate, we can only check one place at a time. But with your strength, we could search an entire section at once~”

“Ah, yes. I’ll do it. Just a little… more…”

Garam Lee, the Failed Hero, stretched her trembling legs and moved forward to investigate the room again.

Seeing this, Henrietta burst into laughter, prompting the vanguard and monk from the same party to approach her.

“Miss Mage. Isn’t this too harsh, even for you?”

“Yeah, even Heroes don’t have unlimited stamina.”

“Haha~ We’ve blocked everything around us, so what danger could there possibly be right now?”

Henrietta laughed while fidgeting with the staff in her hand.

Her eyes, fixed on the Hero’s staggering footsteps, showed not even a hint of self-restraint for her actions.

“As I said before, there’s nothing to hold back for. Rather, if we don’t establish our position from the start like this, she’ll definitely look down on us and oppress us like other Heroes did.”

“…Well, let’s just watch for now.”

“Yes, for now.”

Though not directly participating, they too shared the same hatred for the Hero species.

Even if she was labeled as Failed, they were certain that girl would treat them no differently than the Heroes who had oppressed them.

With that conviction, Henrietta polished the staff in her hand with a sinister smile.

‘Huhu, to think the day would come when that horrible character would bow to my words and obey~ It would be nice if I could keep milking this situation~’

Trusting only in the sturdiness of the barricades set by the Hero.

Thinking only about how to manipulate that Hero next.

*Rumble*

But an unexplored dungeon is an unknown space untouched by human hands.

Relying solely on a Hero who follows her words is dangerous—there’s potential for dangers far worse than attacks by Murderers.

Along with monstrosities beyond human comprehension inside, there’s also the possibility of transcendent non-human beings rushing in from outside.

*CRASH!!*

The moment such a being broke through the barricade and invaded the scene.

The faces of the party members watching turned pale.

“What’s this, an attack!?”

“Impossible! Wh-why are Undead here?!”

Undead hordes began entering through the cracks in the barricade. And among them, one massive Undead formed by their collective mass.

Realizing it wasn’t a giant’s corpse but a “Rag Golem” made of dozens of people stitched together, Henrietta ran toward Garam in shock.

“H-Hero! We’re under attack! The Undead are attacking…”

“I-I’m sorry. My strength… is completely drained now…”

“You useless, worthless Hero!”

Having expended too much energy in a short time trying to accommodate unreasonable demands, the girl was exhausted.

But Henrietta had neither the leisure nor the heart to show consideration for the girl.

“Eek! Everyone, take positions! We need to hold this place until the two on reconnaissance return… Wait! Where are you going?!”

“Shut up! How are we supposed to handle that many with this few people?!”

*Fizzle, BOOM!*

Henrietta cast spells against the rushing Undead, dispatching them.

After clearing a path through the Undead that fell weakened by flames and electricity, she ran toward the opening with an arrogant smile.

Taking advantage of the moment when the Undead’s attention was diverted to her companions, she tried to escape alone through the crack in the barricade.

“Haha! Y-yes! Even without a Hero’s strength, dealing with corpses isn’t much of a problem… KACK!!!”

But even this attempt at escape was suddenly blocked by an Undead that appeared.

Startled by the being that emerged from the darkness and grabbed her neck, Henrietta cast a spell, but the corpse hit by the fireball didn’t burn—instead, it just stood there, tightening its grip on her neck.

“Wh-what is this Undead?! Let go of my neck right now… GACK!”

“Were you trying to abandon your companions and run away?”

Indeed, this was no ordinary Undead.

She could tell by the way it withstood her magic with its body, and by the thirst that overwhelmed her from the hand gripping her neck.

“Ah, ah, ga, arg… w-wait…”

By the time she noticed, moisture and nutrients were already being drained from her body, starting from the neck where the hand gripped her.

Even her hand, extended in resistance, was drying up in real time, while the empty hole under the hood before her was directed at her.

“That was quite a bad thought you had. Let me make you a graduate student!!!”

*CRACK!*

Everything in her body was sucked out in an instant, followed by the sound of bones and skin sticking together.

As her incredibly lightened body fell limply to the floor, terror bloomed on the faces of the party members watching.

“Wh-what is that…”

“Her body suddenly dried… HUCK!”

But even that was just the beginning.

The ominous power that seeped into the place where nutrients were stolen soon awakened instinct based on the lingering attachment in that flesh.

The powerful obsession toward the living, driven by the survival instinct that all living beings prioritize above all else.

“Uh, uuugh. Uuuuugh…”

The being who accepted the reanimated Undead with its dried flesh as a subordinate.

Approached the adventurers surrounded by Undead and spoke.

“You living ones there. Since we’ve met like this by fate, let me make a proposal.”

A rough voice flowing from beneath the black hood.

A dried flesh where bone and skin cling together, making the concept of decay meaningless.

The black-hooded specter, symbolizing starvation and hunger itself, opened its hollow mouth and explained its purpose to them.

“The world is vast, but human lifespan is far too short to learn about this world…”

“So, would you all like to join me in becoming the dead and learning about the world infinitely?”

Knight of Famine – Gorgon

Among the loyal servants of the King of the Dead, the (self-proclaimed) Devourer of Knowledge who governs drought and famine.