Chapter 6
Pop–!
At my shout as the signal, we burst out running.
“Kwaaagh!”
Crunch–!
I swung my hammer wildly as I charged forward.
“Argh!”
Crack!
A zombie’s arm clawed into my side, but I smashed it off and brought the hammer down onto its skull.
Its limbs dropped off one by one before the body crumbled into a heap.
Smash! Crack! Thud! Sickening sounds of breaking bones echoed all around.
Some of the randomly corroded skeletons shattered easily, while others nearly tripped me as I almost slipped on scattered bones.
Are they keeping up?
I glanced back. The Crown Prince was chasing after me, his deep wine-red hair whipping in the air. His eyes, gleaming between the disheveled strands, sparkled like scattered gold dust.
As expected, his full strength is reassuring.
Relieved, I continued smashing through zombies as I ran. Luckily, by cutting straight through the ones lunging from either side, I managed to reach the gap created by the grenade’s blast.
“Haa, haa.”
After swinging the hammer while sprinting at full speed, I was out of breath.
The zombies hadn’t closed the distance yet, so I could catch my breath for just a moment here.
Smash! Crack!
But only for a moment. The safe zone was already shrinking, and I started clearing a path toward the cliff again. Soon, I reached a jagged crevice that looked like a lightning-shaped sinkhole.
It was dizzyingly deep and terrifying just to look at, but with a makeshift bridge, it was crossable.
But first, I need to secure the safe zone on the northern ground.
Zombies swarming from the north were tumbling into the abyss, leaving no foothold.
I pulled another grenade from my pouch.
BOOM–!
After clearing some space, I turned back.
“Your Highness, now let’s set the bridge—”
Huh? Where was the Crown Prince? My outstretched hand grasped at nothing.
Sensing something wrong, I quickly looked around. When I finally spotted him, my mouth slowly fell open.
He was still in the middle of the horde.
Zombies that had broken out of the fence were climbing over each other, piling up and surrounding him.
Meeting my gaze, the Crown Prince smiled—as if amused.
Damn it! How can you smile right now?!
My chest tightened in anger just as the zombies completely engulfed him.
“Your Highness!”
Suddenly, a spear swung wide through the horde.
Whoosh–!
A fierce wind scattered bone dust as several zombies were blasted away, clearing the cloud of debris.
“Phew.”
There he stood—sighing deeply, brushing back his wine-colored hair, calmly surveying the fallen zombies around him.
I was still reeling when one of the toppled zombies reached for him—its skull hadn’t been destroyed.
“Behind you!”
At my shout, the Crown Prince reacted instantly.
“Tsk.”
As if annoyed, he grabbed the zombie’s skull with his bare hand.
“Kieeehhk–!”
The veins on the back of his hand bulged blue as he squeezed.
Crack!
The corroded jaw split apart, shattering the lower skull.
As bone fragments crumbled, I let out a stunned laugh.
Did he just crush it with grip strength alone? Even with weakened bones, what is he, a nutcracker…?
I was speechless at his superhuman strength, but only for a moment.
He dashed toward me, placing the makeshift bridge over the crevice. Keeping watch on the rear, he gave me a quick nod.
“Go first, My Lady.”
“Follow right after.”
When he nodded firmly, I felt reassured and set my foot onto the bridge.
BOOM–!
“Ugh!”
The ground shook violently, splitting further apart.
I quickly stepped back as the bridge collapsed, my body tilting forward.
I’m falling!
The abyss filled my vision.
“My Lady!”
The Crown Prince grabbed me roughly, yanking me back just before I fell.
Panting, I rested the back of my head against his chest as the quake subsided.
The thought of almost falling made me shudder, but my mind quickly snapped into clarity.
What just happened?
Why…
Why is an earthquake happening when the Saintess hasn’t even appeared yet?
In the original story, earthquakes struck when the Saintess descended—her holy power clashing with the energy of the zombie lands.
How she actually purified the zombies with her holy power was never explained, but now wasn’t the time to think about it.
I turned to the Crown Prince, just as bewildered as I was.
“Damn it, no choice then.”
He cursed lightly, then slid his arm beneath my thighs and lifted me.
I lost balance and grabbed his shoulder for support.
He stopped after a short run, muttering that this was enough distance. A bad feeling spread through me.
“…What are you planning?”
“We need to cross.”
“While carrying me?”
He raised a red brow, glancing at me.
“Of course.”
“Have you ever jumped while holding an adult woman before?”
“Are you scared?”
“I asked if you’ve done it before.”
Crunch!
He kicked away a lunging zombie and looked back at me.
“…Not sure.”
Damn it, so no.
At that moment, he wrapped his spear arm around my waist.
“Hold on tight, My Lady.”
Thud–!
He sprinted swiftly and leapt.
“Ahhh!”
You lunatic, what exactly am I supposed to hold onto?!
I desperately grabbed his flying hair instead.
Every sensation was vivid in the air.
My hair shot upward in the wind before plunging down again.
Thump.
We landed with a solid, reassuring impact.
I half-opened my eyes.
There were zombies all around—the northern ground. This was the safe zone I had cleared earlier with the grenade.
We… we made it.
All the strength drained out of me like air from a popped balloon.
“You can let go now.”
A cold voice pierced my ears.
I turned my head slightly—he was glaring at me with eyes as sharp as blades.
Both of my hands were still tangled in his hair.
I quickly let go, strands of crimson falling between us.
Blowing them away with a puff of breath, I forced a sheepish smile.
“Did that hurt?”
The Crown Prince gave a stunned laugh before setting me down, shaking his head, glaring.
“In all my life, this is the first time a lady has grabbed the Crown Prince by the hair. No wonder they call you the rowdy young miss.”
Crunch!
I smashed a zombie that approached just in time and scowled at him.
Why should I be the one feeling guilty? He’s the one who picked me up and jumped without asking.
Well, thanks to him, we did cross.
I shoved aside the unnecessary thoughts and pointed toward the forest.
“Your Highness, we’ve lost too much time. Let’s head for the forest.”
“Very well.”
He nodded easily and began clearing the way.
Just as we turned toward the woods—
Rumbleee–!
The ground shook again.
The vibration rattled not just my legs but deep into my skull.
Ugh, another earthquake? Why now?!
Through my shocked vision, I saw the Crown Prince tilting toward the cliff.
“Your Highness!”
I lunged forward, barely catching his arm.
“Urgh.”
I dropped my hammer in the process, using both hands to drag him back, but my effort was futile—I was being pulled forward instead.
My grip slipped from his forearm to his wrist, then finally just his hand.
With pale fingers, I clenched his hand desperately, teeth gritted.
Damn it…
“Graaagh!”
Zombies closed in from behind, the Crown Prince would die if I let go, and I was being dragged forward myself.
A complete disaster.
“My Lady.”
His voice reached me then. Unlike my panicked groans, his tone was drowsy, almost peaceful—like someone waking from a nap.
“Wh-what! Just drop the spear and grab my hand already! Don’t tell me you don’t even have that much strength left?!”
I snapped at him, words rough.
Because right now—it felt like both my arms were about to be torn out of their sockets.
