TAVBZ 66

Chapter 66

The child ran to his mother—now a zombie—without a moment’s hesitation.

Behind him, Heresdon had his bow fully drawn.

Fwip!

Idorian shoved him, but the arrow still sliced rapidly through the air.

“Your Excellency, what are you doing?!”

“People who are alive must remain alive—even if it’s like this.”

Uben went pale at the arrow that grazed his zombie mother’s cheek.

“Mom, over here!”

Because she had been heavily pregnant, Uben’s mother moved more slowly than other zombies, reacting to his voice a beat late.

“This way!”

Uben grabbed her skirt and pulled with all his strength.

There was no hesitation in the boy.

It seemed he had already accepted—even welcomed—the idea of turning into a zombie if that was what it took.

…Then does that mean Uben is going to die?

That was the first thought that came to mind amid the chaos.

“Mom, it’s me! Uben!”

Uben desperately tugged at his mother’s skirt.

He had run out of the fortress screaming like that—certainly zombies would gather.

Even if his mother didn’t bite him, he would soon be bitten by others.

Even if a cure were developed eventually, could he survive until then?

If they were extremely lucky, the cure might reach Uben and his mother one day—but the chance of him dying as a zombie first was far higher.

Uben…

The child was of no help to me.

Unlike Lumina, Idorian, or Lilia, he couldn’t create a cure, nor could he assist the armed forces heading to the capital.

So staying still should have been the right choice…

But because he reminded me too much of myself, I ended up running out the gate.

The zombie who did not recognize Uben swung its arm to grab the child.

Its hand finally closed around his forearm.

“Please don’t kill my mom! I’ll take her far away, so please don’t!”

Even as the nails dug deep into his tender flesh—blood scent leaking out—Uben didn’t let out a single groan.

I held my breath the moment I sensed the blood, but that split-second scent made my body react.

My heart thundered violently, and every bit of my consciousness turned toward the droplets of blood running down the child’s arm.

“Your Ladyship!”

I twisted the zombie’s wrist with full strength.

Thud!

The moment I managed to tear its hand out of Uben’s flesh, the zombie toppled sideways.

“What were you thinking?!”

Idorian scooped Uben up by the back of the neck and yelled.

“What on earth were you planning?!”

He grabbed my wrist tightly—and then started running.

He ran opposite the direction of the stronghold, weaving through the zombies already drawn by the blood scent.

“The people of the Retern estate nearly stole all the arrowheads. If a horde gathers at the gate, the fortress will be completely isolated!”

He ran so fast that even though the scent of blood had awakened me—my heart pounding erratically—I fell behind several steps.

Idorian tugged me forward again, as if warning me not to lag.

More zombies swarmed from every direction, drawn by Uben’s blood, and Idorian let out a low curse.

“Your Highness, climb the trees first!”

Idorian had no sword in hand.

If we were surrounded while running like this, it would be disastrous.

“If we keep going, there’ll be a large lake. We need to make it there.”

Despite everything, he spoke with determination, as if he had a solid plan.

Crack.

Idorian kicked the knee of a zombie emerging from the brush.

There was a dull crunch; its knee twisted grotesquely and the zombie staggered.

It tried to follow the blood scent again, but its broken leg gave out and it fell to the ground.

Idorian looked back at me, checking my face quickly before pulling harder on my wrist.

Because I held my breath to dampen the awakening reaction, I fell behind even more.

Grrrrr—

Strange groans of zombies closed in from all sides.

At this rate, we’d be caught.

Idorian was carrying Uben in his arms and holding onto me with one hand.

He could only kick incoming zombies, nothing more.

If he let go of my hand, his chances of survival might increase—even slightly.

“Your Highness, let’s separate. If we split up—”

“Don’t stop, Penelope!”

He didn’t even let me finish.

“Don’t let go!”

He gripped my wrist even tighter. I finally gave up holding my breath and inhaled sharply.

Haa, haa—

The blood scent set off my heart again, pounding violently.

We seemed to run faster—the pull on my arm lightened.

So I needed to hold my breath again.

Haa, haa—

But the thick scent of blood made it impossible.

Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I couldn’t stop.

My heart felt ready to burst, my mouth twitching open on its own.

From between my lips, a faint growl—almost beast-like—escaped.

That was when I met Uben’s pale gaze.

His tiny wrist, stained with blood, seemed impossibly vivid.

“…Stop.”

I twisted my wrist, trying to pull away from Idorian.

The moment I finally slipped free, my foot sank into water.

“Penelope, we’re heading to that small island in the lake.”

Idorian’s head was whipping in every direction, checking surroundings.

“Hurry.”

He pushed a log—large enough to hold Uben—into the water.

He seated Uben on it first, then grabbed my hand.

“If you’re struggling, get on my back.”

Splash, splash.

We waded forward, water rising to our waists. I submerged my head fully underwater.

I couldn’t risk being dragged along by Idorian again—and Uben’s blood scent was still too strong.

Hiding the scent underwater was the only way.

But once we reach the island… will zombies still follow?

Zombies didn’t enter water without reason.

If they freely entered water, we would’ve discovered much earlier that their bulging veins sank in water.

But what if—even in an awakened state—they chased the blood scent into the lake?

Even with limbs severed, zombies reacted to the living.

If Uben’s scent is that strong, they’ll try to follow no matter what…

At some point, my feet no longer touched the bottom.

After staying submerged long enough, my mind cleared.

The urge to bite Uben faded noticeably.

Just when I relaxed—

A strong grip seized the back of my neck and yanked me up.

“Penelope, hold onto this and climb.”

“Ugh—”

He pushed the log—with Uben perched on it—into my arms.

I burst above the surface again and quickly held my breath so the blood scent wouldn’t excite me.

Then I looked back.

As expected, zombies were entering the lake, chasing us.

The water reached their waists.

“With the blood scent, they’ll keep coming.”

“No—they can’t.”

Idorian shook his head firmly.

He lifted me further onto the log, as if urging me to trust him.

“But—”

“They can’t cross water this deep because of buoyancy.”

He spoke as if reassuring a frightened child.

“Look. If zombies could cross, there would be at least one on the island already.”

The island held only two large trees—no zombies.

“All zombies can do is walk or run. They can’t even climb a single tree—how would they cross a lake?”

Splash, splash!

I turned again at the loud water noise.

The zombies were floundering in place, unable to go deeper while still driven by the blood scent.

“It really seems so! Thank goodness!”

At that moment I bumped eyes with Idorian—his gaze narrowing.

He looked like he was glaring at me.

Plop.

Worried the veins on my face were bulging, I dunked my head back underwater.

Then quickly ran my hands over my face.

It probably looked strange to Idorian and Uben, but I had no choice.

My skin feels smooth… so the veins probably didn’t rise after all.

But the thought didn’t last long.

Idorian seized my collar and hauled me back onto the surface.

“We’re almost on land—just hold on a little longer. Please. I’m begging you.”