A Deal With The Frigid Wizard - Chapter 20

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Chapter 20

Hisran and Jaeha were immediately ushered into the parlor.

The Viscount said with a humble face.

“I didn’t know you would come so soon… You must be hungry because you have come a long way, so please wait for a moment with a cup of tea. Even if I can’t provide you with respectable hospitality because I prepare it in a hurry, I will prepare warm food with sincerity.”

“I didn’t come here to be treated. I came to solve the case, so you don’t have to worry about it that much.”

“Though you have come a long way to help? It must have been more difficult because this place is a remote place, and there is no magic tower branch nearby.”

The dinner, which seemed to have been prepared in haste by hiring a cook, was not bad.

Hot soup, soft bread, fresh salad, juicy stir-fry, everything was there. Thanks to the statue that not only drives a carriage well, but also cooks well, for an outdoor setting, they tend to eat well, but compared to the proper table setting, it was not enough.

After a safe dinner with the Viscount and the Viscount’s family, they listened to detailed stories about the mysterious incident that occurred in the Viscounty.

“It has been a little over a week since the start of the mysterious incident in this tiny estate.”

At the beginning of the Viscounty’s incident, Hisran’s brow furrowed slightly.

He didn’t know if he was overly sensitive, although it was because the time when Jaeha fell into this world and the time when the incident occurred were similar.

‘…Let’s not think too much. This is more likely to be a coincidence.’

“Because this territory and the Usturas Mountains are adjacent to each other, people were often injured or killed by the occasionally appearing beasts. Even a week ago, the snake monster, wheedrus, appeared, and those who were poisoned died after being ill for two or three days. However, on the third night, after they were buried, the dead came back alive… To their own house.”

“They went to their house…?”

“Yes, it is. Those who returned like this only had pale faces, and they were not much different from their appearances while they were alive. However, with sharpened nails and tremendous strength, they attacked and killed their family and neighbors. Despite their gait being a bit unusual, it was so fast that few have ever escaped their hands. There were hunters and knights among those who were attacked, but… they got them all. Only three or four of them, who had been hiding as dead rats without running away or resisting, survived and informed me of this…”

“Hmm, the information the Viscount told me and the status of the guys I met while I was here are almost identical.”

“Yes…? Have you encountered them?”

Viscount Koufen and his butler stared at Hisran in surprise.

Those who returned from death led the living to death and increased their companions. They grew bigger as time went on, and they attacked even Hisran last night.

Its body was solid, and it was capable of knocking down trees, and it was also quicker than a wild beast, so it was difficult for even armed knights to deal with them.

It took all fifteen of the Viscounty’s knights to fight against only five. Even then, the victims did not come out because they endured with all their might until the sun came up and they retreated on their own.

“How, how many creatures have you met…”

“There were four. Jaeha let me know that their weakness is fire, so I burned them to death.”

At Hisran’s words, Viscount Koufen and the butler showed interest in her for the first time.

Of course, she had been with Hisran even before that, so they treated her with respect, although they gave her little attention to no attention.

“The knights of the territory, scholars, and the few wizards all said they were monsters they had never seen before, but how could Miss Jaeha…”

Jaeha was quite embarrassed when Viscount Koufen, who was the same age as her father, gave her the title of ‘Miss.’ Since she was introduced as Hisran’s assistant, she was conscious that she should speak respectfully to Hisran who was seated next to her.

‘I don’t know if I’m being too harsh on Hisran, though isn’t it funny to come here and speak respectfully to him now…?’

She felt the fact that this was a class-based society, and responded to her own words.

“I’m from a foreign country, and I’m currently working as an assistant to the Tower Master. It is speculated that the one that appeared here is a monster that has been passed down through literature from where I lived. It’s called ‘Chinese Zombie,’ and it’s made with special drugs and magic.”

Hisran admired Jaeha’s narration, which explained it well without telling lies, and Viscount Koufen and the butler were astonished at the content.

“Made means someone is creating monsters on purpose?”

“Maybe, it was the work of a warlock.”

“A, A warlock—!”

At Hisran’s next words, Viscount Koufen and the butler’s complexion turned pale. It was a big deal for those who lived quietly on the outskirts to suddenly encounter.

As if he felt sorry for it, Hisran spoke again.

“Don’t be too scared. So, this is why I came directly. With Jaeha, who knows monsters well.”

“Me and the citizens will just believe in the Tower Master and Miss Jaeha.”

Viscount Koufen answered with trembling lips.

“I have a few more questions for you, Viscount. How was its movement? Aside from speed, well, things like flexibility. Were their arms and legs flexed well? Did they do any bending or rolling?”

“I don’t know. Although it seems a little stiff, it’s so fast. Oh, I saw them bending your back. Right, Doilson?”

“Yes, Viscount. I saw it bend over and dodge Michael’s sword.”

Hearing the conversation between the Viscount and the butler, Jaeha’s head tilted slightly to the side.

‘Is the movement more advanced than the Chinese Zombie I know…? Then, it would be dangerous to come face to face.’

“How about its rigidity? Did the sword stab well?”

“Among my knights, Ronald’s skills are quite good, but his sword was only half in. Ugh, thinking about it again is dizzying… If Ronald hadn’t rolled on the ground quickly, he would have been stabbed in the throat by the monster’s claw… Its claws are so powerful that it just pierces walls.”

‘It seems that strength and toughness are similar.’

“Lastly, did they retreat when the sun came up?”

“Yes, that’s right…! When the sun shines, it screams and disappears quickly. You were really, really, an expert who knew them well.”

Viscount Koufen is now starting to look more passionately towards Jaeha than Hisran. Jaeha gently avoided the burdensome gaze and continued explaining.

“Except for the increased flexibility, the monster I know, ‘Chinese Zombie,’ seems to be correct. The Chinese Zombie’s body is very hard, and it’s disadvantageous to face it face-to-face. Fortunately, they have a fatal weakness. They dislike sunlight and are immobile during the day, and can be completely destroyed by burning with fire.”

“Oh, my God!”

“Then, if we find them as soon as the sun rises and burn them with fire, will we win?”

When Hisran said with a smirk, Jaeha nodded her head.

“Usually, it’s said that they return to the coffin in the morning, but this time, the existence of a behind-the-scenes force is also suspected, so I think we should find all the places where they can avoid the sunlight.”

“Great. Viscount Koufen, first let me know where they have appeared at least once. Let’s deduce together where the monsters are hiding.”

“Yes, I will explain while looking at the map.”

The first Chinese Zombie appeared in four places as herbalists who died after being poisoned by wheedrus.

After that, as the number of victims increased and the number of Chinese Zombies increased, the creatures appeared in a total of nine places.

“The haunting area is expanding in the form of a circle.”

“Yes, I see it that way. Each location can be reached within thirty minutes on foot.”

“If we use Haste magic with all our power, it can be done in less than ten minutes. The range of influence of the one who controls the Chinese Zombie is like this. The unpleasant way they gain strength as the number of victims increases is also similar to black magic.”

Hisran muttered, clicking his tongue.

“I think you should focus on defense and tracking tonight. It bothers me a bit that I already got rid of all four Chinese Zombies at once. It doesn’t seem like the answer is to kill everything you see without knowing exactly what’s behind it. We might commit the mistake of stirring up the bushes to make the startled snake run away. Viscount, I’ll ask the red tower for support and then I’ll take a look outside, so you should take care of their defense.”

“Understood.”

Viscount Koufen responded vigorously as to whether he had hoped that the monsters would disappear if he endured tonight.

—

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────