OBNVZ C4

Chapter 4

How can an ordinary person who has never even swung a sword survive a zombie outbreak?

1. Don’t stand out.
2. Follow the instructions of armed people.

I had already broken rule number one—to save a knight. And I had failed spectacularly.

I stared for a few seconds at the dead knight’s face, now forever silent, then turned away.

What else could I do? I had to live.

I did warn him. It was his responsibility for not listening.

“How could this happen…? That attendant—he wasn’t really dead, was he? He just pretended for a moment…!”

“No.”

“But this makes no sense! The dead waking up, moving, infecting the living—none of this makes sense!”

“Even if it doesn’t, it happened before our eyes. That makes it reality.”

Noise. Confusion.

People wailed in panic, and the Crown Prince and the Grand Duke skillfully calmed them.

More precisely, the Grand Duke soothed the people, while the Crown Prince cut off the corpse’s legs to ensure it wouldn’t rise again.

Those watching looked like they might faint.

With an awkward smile, the Grand Duke stepped between the Crown Prince and the others, blocking their view.

“Let’s not focus on that. Everyone, look at me.”

He appeared slender, yet his build was surprisingly large—enough to block everyone’s line of sight just by standing there.

He began explaining.

“The rules are surprisingly simple. First: the dead move. To stop them, you must cut off the head. Second: if bitten, you become infected. Third: from this moment on, we escape this island.”

“Escape?”

“Yes, escape. Without getting bitten. Without dying. Simple, right?”

He spoke as if explaining game rules—but that didn’t lessen anyone’s fear.

“But Your Grace, aren’t there corpses like that wandering outside? Wouldn’t it be better to stay here and wait for rescue…?”

It seemed everyone wanted to barricade themselves in this room and wait to be saved.

The one who refuted that was the Crown Prince, who stood after severing all the corpses’ legs.

“No rescue team is coming.”

After saying only that, he walked to the window and looked outside. The Grand Duke sighed and added,

“Since something like this has happened on the island, there’s a high chance the imperial palace isn’t peaceful either. In that case, no one will come.”

“Then…!”

“And if the palace is peaceful, they won’t even imagine corpses roaming here. Anyone sent to fetch us would be unprepared, likely get bitten, and become infected. Waiting for rescue would only increase the number of corpses outside.”

That’s true. If those things take over the escape routes, we’re done for.

“We must leave as quickly as possible. If we delay and they swarm this way…”

“Then what should we do?”

“We go to the portal. It’s the only way off this island.”

That was when the heroine, Yoo Je-in, spoke up.

“What about the others?”

People who hadn’t even considered anyone beyond themselves turned to her in surprise.

“There must be people hiding throughout the mansion—people who couldn’t escape. We need to find them and take them with us.”

Her voice was soft, yet clear.

Hmm. That’s a statement meant to test the male leads’ reactions.

What will you do?

Will you listen to the woman you love, even in this crisis?

Of course they will. This is a romance novel, after all—

“I’m sorry, Miss Yoo Je-in. We can’t search the entire mansion for people who may not even exist.”

…Nope. Guess not.

“Especially when five of us can’t even fight.”

“But—!”

“Escape comes first. We have to survive before we can save anyone else.”

The Grand Duke smiled, but his tone was firm.

Rejected, Yoo Je-in turned to the Crown Prince.

After a moment of thought, he spoke.

“As for the others…”

“Yes?”

“By now, we should assume they’ve all become corpses.”

“What?!”

Even colder than the Grand Duke.

After hesitating briefly, he elaborated,

“This unknown condition is highly contagious, and those outside weren’t prepared for such a disease. No one has come to warn us. That means everyone on this island has already been overwhelmed.”

“That’s right, Miss Yoo Je-in… I understand your concern, but…”

I ignored the growing chatter and focused on preparing to survive.

I don’t even know why I’m here—I’m not about to die from a zombie bite.

After working like a dog all last year, my bonus is still sitting untouched in my bank account. Dying as a zombie—not even on Earth, but inside some random novel? That would be beyond unfair.

Move. I need to move.

“We are currently in the far-right room on the second floor. The main portal we used to enter the island is outside the villa, but according to the internal map, there’s a sub-portal in the kitchen for transporting ingredients. Since the kitchen is on the first floor, central area, we should head there first.”

“But how do we—”

Ignoring the voices behind me, I looked at the paper knife on the table.

I reached out to grab it—only for someone else to take it first.

It was the knight who had covered the severed head near my feet earlier.

He approached and offered me the knife. His long, elegant hands were covered in calluses and scars.

“Thank you.”

He hesitated when our eyes met.

“My lady… earlier…”

“Yes?”

“I was able to survive thanks to you. Thank you. And… I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For not listening to you.”

Ah. That.

“I’m just glad you’re alive.”

In times like this, having even one more person who knows how to wield a weapon is a blessing.

Maybe I should butter him up while I can. Get him to protect me.

As an ordinary office worker, I had no way of fighting zombies.

“May I ask your name?”

“Darjeeling, my lady.”

“Alright, Sir Darjeeling. Congratulations on surviving. Please continue to do so. Would you like some warm water?”

Without waiting for an answer, I poured from the kettle and handed it to him.

“It’s a bribe. A small token asking for your protection until we return to the palace. Too modest?”

“Not at all… I would never dare refuse. Thank you.”

“Here, have some snacks too.”

And take care of me while you’re at it.

“I’m counting on you, Sir Darjeeling. You’re the only one here who showed concern for me.”

The room fell silent.

When I looked around, everyone was staring at us.

The Crown Prince. The Grand Duke. Yoo Je-in, looking slightly surprised. Supporting Character #1 frowning openly. The nuisance man. Even Supporting Character #2, half-hidden.

“…Did I interrupt something?”

“…No.”

The Crown Prince said no, but stared at me for a long moment before looking away.

What’s his problem?

Was it something I said?

But it’s true.

When a human head rolled to my feet earlier, the only one who showed concern for me was Darjeeling.

* * *

Once the destination was set, we armed ourselves.

The Grand Duke took the dead knight’s sword. The nuisance man insisted on taking a dagger and small shield, claiming “as a man, it’s right for me to carry weapons.”

The Crown Prince and Darjeeling already had their own weapons.

Me?

…A paper knife.

Will this even work?

“My lady, what are you doing?”

“Looking for a weapon.”

“Hah.”

I turned. Supporting Character #1.

She shot me a sharp look.

“You seem to value your life very much, my lady. But what exactly do you think you can do with a weapon?”

Ah. Her.

The highest-ranking woman here after me.

Her family runs a merchant group specializing in magical tools—basically monopolizing the empire’s magic item shops.

Like that magic rope the Crown Prince has.

Her name was… Mascarpone?

“Well, of course I value my life. I only have one.”

I replied flatly.

“And having a weapon is still better than having none, isn’t it?”

“No. If you’re holding a weapon, the rest of us will just feel uneasy. Who knows when you might swing it and stab one of us by mistake?”

“Mascarpone, that’s enough.”

Supporting Character #2 tried to stop her, but Mascarpone wasn’t done.

“We’re already on edge, and now you’re making a fuss!”

Unbelievable.

“Your name is Mascarpone, right?”

“Hah. Don’t tell me you don’t even remember my name now?”

Hmm. Then the other one…

“And you are… Miss Tiramisu?”

“…No.”

“Ah. My mistake.”

Oops.

Fortunately, she let it slide.

I turned back to Mascarpone.

“I understand you’re anxious. But picking a fight with me—does that help? Probably not. What if I hold a grudge and stab you when things get chaotic?”

“What did you say?!”

“If you don’t like me having a weapon, then grab one yourself. I’m not naive enough to entrust my life entirely to others.”

I didn’t wait for a response.

Now wasn’t the time for this.

Look at me.

My long hair hung down messily. My dress exposed my chest and was so long I’d definitely trip while running. And my shoes were high heels.

At this rate, I wouldn’t even make it to the stairs.

First, I tore the dress up to my shins. As the fabric ripped, the male leads quickly turned their heads away.

“Looks like the lady has finally lost her mind.”

I ignored Mascarpone.

I tied my hair tightly with strips of cloth.

Next—shoes.

I found the severed leg of a dead knight and took off his boots without hesitation.

“Th-That’s insane…!”

Ignored.

They were a bit large, but once I tightened the laces, they were wearable.

I glanced at Mascarpone, Yoo Je-in, and Supporting Character #2.

They’re all wearing heels too.

I grabbed a pair of indoor slippers I had noticed earlier. Only two pairs—unfortunate.

The dead attendant’s shoes would be too big for them.

No choice.

I tossed the slippers to Mascarpone.

“What are you—?!”

“Are you planning to run in those?”

She fell silent as I gestured at her heels.

Smirking, I turned away. Soon, I heard them arguing over who should take them.

“I’m really fine. You two should wear them.”

“Thank you, Miss Yoo Je-in.”

I felt a bit concerned about Yoo Je-in running in heels—but she’d manage.

Finally, we’re leaving.

I took one last look around the room.

If only my smartwatch—bought to record my boss’s verbal abuse—would ring and wake me from this insane possession…

“My lady, aren’t you coming?”

“I’m coming!”

…But what was that?

Did something just glint from the corpse’s chest?

[Imperial Villa, 2nd Floor Secret Room]

• Yusara, Yoo Je-in, Crown Prince, Grand Duke, Mascarpone, Supporting Character #2, Nuisance Man, Darjeeling (Alive)