Chapter 64: A Rideable Robot

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Translator: Soafp

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I keep healing the zombified residents of Zotas one after another.

But every time they regain their senses, they lose them again and return to wandering with the other residents.

As I continued healing them over and over, I realized something.

“They're getting reinfected the moment I cure them…”

I can feel that the healing magic is definitely working.

But they're getting infected again at an unbelievable speed and developing the zombie illness.

There's no way around this unless I deal with the root cause.

“That said…”

“Aaahhh!!”

They don't try to enter houses, but the moment they spot me on a rooftop, they climb the walls and come after me.

Not just one or two—dozens of them.

While zombified, it seems minor injuries heal quickly, so rough handling would probably be fine, but if I deal with them one by one, morning will come before I know it.

And once morning comes, I'll have to return to the imperial capital.

Leaving this abnormal situation unresolved feels wrong, so I want to do something about it tonight, but…

By myself, I clearly don't have enough manpower.

So, I decided to go call in some powerful reinforcements.

“Hey—members of the indiscriminate healing magicians, Nightingale—!”

I headed for a small forest near Zotas.

They should have set up a temporary base here… huh?

“Ah… aaah…”

“Ah, great. Looks like everyone here got zombified too.”

“Aaahhh!!!!”

Zombies wearing plague masks and jet-black coats—the symbol of the indiscriminate healing magicians Nightingale—came charging at me.

And then—

From the bushes, another member of Nightingale burst out—the leader, Boss—who swiftly bound the zombie member with a rope, restraining them completely.

Oh, not quite as good as Nee-san, but that's some impressive rope work.

“That's the last one!!—Wait, No-Face-sama!?”

“Good work. Looks like the Nightingale members got zombified too?”

In response to my question, Boss nodded.

“I'm very sorry. It's pathetic, but about ninety percent of the group has lost their sanity… We restrained them with those who were still sane before the damage spread.”

“So ten percent were fine?”

“Yes. We felt our sanity slipping, so each of us smashed our heads against rocks or trees, or constantly used Extra Heal to stay sane.”

“So the people who can use top-tier healing magic are safe.”

…Thinking about it calmly, I myself haven't even shown signs of zombification.

Maybe there's some condition required to trigger it.

It's possible Nee-san, whom I left at the inn, might also have contracted the zombie illness… That thought is scary, so I'll just forget it.

“Then can everyone who can still move help me look for the cause of the zombie illness?”

“Um, I'm sorry. I and the other unaffected members are reaching our magic limits… We were planning to bind ourselves and stay put.”

“Oh, so it's not possible?”

“Yes… Ah, but I think only Lauren can move. He's a golem. Should I call him?”

“Yeah.”

When Boss raised his voice and called Lauren's name, a massive shadow came running out from deep in the forest.

“I have arrived. Master, your orders.”

“Help me search for the cause of the zombie illness.”

“Understood.”

Lauren nodded, and part of his torso opened with a mechanical sound, revealing something like a seat.

Whoa, that's cool.

“Can I ride this?”

“Yes.”

“Then I won't hold back.”

“Magic engine ignition. Output at maximum.”

The moment I climbed onto Lauren, boosters on his back and legs flared, lifting us into the air.

Amazing, amazing!!

Looking down, I saw Boss waving up at me.

“No-Face-sama, please be careful!! I'll bind myself at the base so I don't lose my sanity and cause trouble!!”

Wow, he's really tying himself up. That's impressive.

As we flew through the air at high speed, watching the ground below, we returned to Zotas in no time.

“Report. The magic power drained from the insane residents of Zotas appears to be gathering in one location.”

“Huh? That's super suspicious. Whereabouts?”

“It is estimated to be underground at the center of Zotas.”

“Underground again, huh…”

“Beginning search for a passage leading underground.”

Searching for a passage…

“Eh, that sounds like a pain. Let's just make a hole straight through the ground. I can fix it later with my big scythe anyway.”

“…Understood.”

Lauren reached the airspace above the point where the stolen magic was gathering.

A gun barrel extended from his shoulder, and a magic circle unfolded.

In the next instant, a thunderous roar shook the air above Zotas.

“Oh, there's a hole. Let's go in.”

“Warning. Entering without knowing the enemy's scale or objective is dangerous.”

“It's fine, it's fine. I'll be okay.”

“…Acknowledged.”

Lauren and I plunged underground through the hole we made.

Surprisingly, it was bright underground.

A sci-fi-like space spread out before us, similar to the dungeon I once saw beneath the royal capital of the Kisirika Kingdom.

This is nostalgic.

Back then, I cleared that dungeon with Maidol, Christina, the Sword Saint, and Belchika.

“Warning. Biological reactions detected.”

“Oh? Is this the mastermind behind the zombie illness?”

“In approximately ten seconds, they will emerge from the corridor ahead.”

Hearing Lauren's warning, I got out of the cockpit and braced myself.

Ten seconds later, I encountered an unexpected person.

“Hm. Belchika.”

“Eh? N-No-Face-san!? Why are you here!?”

“That's my line…”

Coming around the corner was Belchika, holding a holy sword, looking completely battered.

“Did something happen?”

“…At this rate, many residents of Zotas will die. I want to stop that…”

“Hm?”

“My companion… no, apparently they weren't originally my companion. They said they found something they had to do, and it seems they're stealing sanity from the people of Zotas and draining their magic.”

Even without thinking too hard, that person sounds like the mastermind behind the zombie illness.

Between that and the white-robed chuunibyou group, Belchika's associates seem to include a lot of dangerous people.

Well, this time Belchika wants to stop it too, so we should cooperate.

“I see. Then I'll lend you my hand.”

“Eh!? Th-that's a huge help, but are you sure? Just so you know, this opponent is stronger than me at full power. I don't think we can win…”

“Giving up before you even try—is that fitting for a hero's descendant?”

“!? …Heh, you really know how to talk.”

Belchika smiled fearlessly.

And so, once again, Belchika and I—along with Lauren—set off to wander through the underground.