Zombie Outbreak (2)

Zombie Outbreak (2)

Being a formally recognized magician by the academy, and having enough wealth to afford a huge mansion in the best infrastructure area at the very center.

The mansion was naturally protected by numerous protective spells to prevent any kind of terrorism.

‘Whether there are protective spells or not.’

One overwhelming magical attack that surpasses them would render everything meaningless.

Watching the mansion explode to the point where I could say everything had disappeared rather than just exploding.

I quickly turned around and moved rapidly in the opposite direction using space compression magic.

‘Then while all attention is focused here.’

As planned earlier, I should release zombies and observe them.

With that thought, I quickly moved to the place where the Heaven God Cult members had tried to tempt me.

*

‘It was definitely here.’

A building near the central staircase.

Near a rather impressive-looking building, I quietly hid myself while emptying the box containing zombies underneath.

‘Since it’s dawn, there will hardly be anyone walking around.’

Still, I don’t particularly want innocent civilians to get hurt.

I deliberately scattered mana around the area, preparing for any potential problems the zombies might cause.

‘Now, shall we observe?’

While I was watching the zombies slowly repeating actions they had done before dying.

I was able to spot one zombie doing something particularly noticeable.

‘… Why does it keep trying to get into the large trash can?’

Of course, since it’s a zombie’s action, there’s a high possibility it’s meaningless.

But the fact that it was repeating the same action alone warranted investigation.

As I approached the trash can with such thoughts, I noticed a zombie frantically scratching at the lid, trying to open it.

‘Did they hide something in here?’

Given the situation, it’s possible.

I thought they might have hidden a Seed of Negation, so I opened it.

Inside the trash can, there was only a pile of various garbage, nothing particularly special.

‘Was I mistaken?’

Just as I was about to look away with that thought.

I felt a very faint, sticky mana wave emanating from inside the trash can.

Realizing this was a trace of the Heaven God Cult, I immediately used magic to compress all the garbage together.

‘… What on earth did they hide in here that’s so important?’

With such curiosity, I checked inside and saw a dark red potion stuck to the wall of the trash can.

‘A potion?’

Why would they stick something like this here?

Thinking it would be best to first identify what the potion was.

I put the potion in my pocket, observed the zombies’ behavior a bit more, then moved to Chloe’s mansion.

*

After returning to the mansion.

I immediately took out the Seed of Negation to try and identify the nature of the potion.

[Heh…]

Perhaps because the magical modification of the Seed of Negation wasn’t complete yet.

It showed a significant decrease in intelligence, drooling like an idiot despite being just a box.

I let out a light sigh as I looked at the seed of negativity and spoke briefly.

“Get up.”

[Huh…]

Can’t even answer, huh.

Well, I already knew that, so I didn’t pay much attention to it. I took out a dark red potion from my pocket and waved it in front of the seed of negativity.

[……]

After shaking it for a moment, the seed of negativity began to glow.

It started rolling towards the dark red potion in its box form.

‘It’s certainly related to the Heaven God Cult.’

And if the seed of negativity reacts like that, there’s a high probability that it’s an item with a considerable amount of ‘negative energy’.

I hit the seed of negativity once to calm it down, then picked up the potion.

‘It would be easier to have someone else analyze it, but.’

Not wanting to leak information about obtaining this, I decided to analyze it myself.

‘Well, it’s not like I’m going in completely blind.’

If I complete the magical modification of the seed of negativity perfectly, its intelligence will return to its original state.

Using this creature’s information and senses to analyze it, I should be able to figure out the information without much difficulty.

‘So for now, focus on completing the seed of negativity.’

I decided to figure out the identity of the potion later.

* * *

The next day, the newspaper produced by the academy was filled with mixed stories about zombies and terrorism.

As I noticed that there was still no mention of the ‘Heaven God Cult’ amidst all this,

I was admiring the abilities of the Heaven God Cult members in various ways when Chloe spoke up.

“My little one, are you going back today then?”

When I nodded, Chloe made a very regretful expression and said to me.

“If possible, I’d like to take you around one by one, but I’m so busy… Sadly, my little one will have to go alone.”

Just as I was about to say that it was actually better this way.

Chloe whispered something to a nearby maid, then spoke to me.

“Then let’s see each other again later. If you need anything, just let me know anytime.”

“Yes.”

“Then for the last time, a kiss…”

“……”

When I turned my head away in refusal, Chloe smiled softly, hugged me, and slowly left the dining room.

“… Phew.”

As Chloe disappeared, Delia let out a sigh of relief and slumped down.

It seems that although she hadn’t said anything, Chloe’s influence and abilities had been quite pressuring for Delia.

‘Well, she’s a rare 6th Circle high-ranking magician, and her personal influence is considerable too…’

The pressure must have been overwhelming in many ways.

As I was nodding in understanding of Delia’s reaction.

Rumi’s eyes sparkled as she stuffed her cheeks full of steak.

“Ish sho good…”

Because she was talking with her mouth full of food, I couldn’t quite understand what she was saying.

As I watched Rumi, who didn’t seem to feel any pressure at all, I thought that being simple has its own merits.

By then, Delia, who had calmed down, started to speak to me.

“So what are you going to do today?”

“I plan to look around the third floor and write down what I generally feel.”

“That’s quite ordinary for you, Deren.”

Since just going to the third floor would probably earn good points, it would be enough to write down something that seemed rare.

I nodded at that thought and finished my meal.

* * *

As soon as the magic society’s field trip ended, I immediately returned to my family home.

There were several reasons, but the biggest one was to finish researching the Seed of Negation.

‘On top of that, I need to finish up on magic penetration as well.’

Judging that it was right to hurry back, I immediately shut myself in the research lab at my family home.

While I was repeating this immensely enjoyable research and progressing with it.

Someone began to gently knock on the door of my lab.

‘… Is it Rumi?’

Actually, there was no one else who would visit at this time except Rumi, so I decided to give her a light flick on the forehead and send her back.

Sighing inwardly, I spoke briefly.

“Come in.”

As I turned around, wondering what reason she would bring up this time.

Contrary to my expectations, it was Sien standing there, not Rumi.

I was looking at Sien, who was wearing a rather loose white shirt instead of her usual armor, with a puzzled expression.

Sien called out to me in a slightly subdued voice, unlike her usual self.

“… Lord Deren.”

I wondered why she was acting like that, so I met Sien’s eyes.

Sien briefly met my gaze, but soon looked away shyly and spoke softly.

“I haven’t been able to see you for a while… As soon as I heard that Lord Deren had returned, I rushed over.”

At those words, I could recall that I hadn’t seen Sien recently.

I awkwardly nodded at her words, and Sien slowly approached me and continued speaking.

“I really wanted to see Lord Deren.”

A simple confession.

At such a confession, words that made my face heat up just by hearing them, I was trying to calm my heart.

Sien looked at me and continued with a somewhat serious expression.

“During the time I couldn’t meet Lord Deren, I thought long and hard about why I couldn’t see you for such a long time… I came to think that perhaps I had made a grave mistake towards Lord Deren.”

It wasn’t about mistakes or anything, we just couldn’t meet because we were both busy.

I don’t understand why she’s saying such things.

As I was wondering where to start correcting her misunderstanding, Sien took another step closer to me and said.

“So I asked a maid at the mansion how I could ask for Lord Deren’s forgiveness. As a result, I received this answer.”

Sien unbuttoned the front of her white shirt, and with a face full of determination, she told me.

“According to the maid, who has plenty of dating experience, if you write on the body of the person who made a mistake like this, the other person easily forgives them.”

“… Write?”

“Yes. At first, I didn’t know what that meant, so I asked the maid, and she pointed to my chest. So I tried it based on that reference.”

I couldn’t help but close my mouth when I saw the word ‘Deren’ written on Sien’s chest.