To Be a Power in the Shadows!

Chapter 204 – Kayu……uma

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!!”

Margari-san reacted instantly to Christina’s scream.

“Boy, lets go”
“y- yes!”

Margari-san and I rushed up the stairs and came to a stop before an extravagant door.

“Behind here!”
“Should we destroy it?”
“You idiot! something like that would violate the law for the protection of cultural properties!”
“Eeh… It’s an emergency situation so it can’t be helped surely”
“Where do you think we are! This is Oriana, the kingdom of fine arts!”

Margari-san observed his surroundings.

“That way, we can enter from there!”

He pointed towards a small employee-use door. Looking closely the door was slightly open.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!”

At that moment, Christina’s scream rang out for a second time.

“Hurry!”
“Yes”

I followed behind Margari-san and entered the small door.
Inside was a large hall-like space. Perhaps there were plans for some kind of event since decorations had been put up.
However, the beautiful marble floor was dirtied by bright red blood.
The traces of blood were reminiscent of claw marks, and of something being dragged.
At the center of all that blood was Christina, clutching her shoulder and her sword drawn.
Surrounding her were countless zombies.

“Are you alright!?”
“―! Be careful, they’re all nobles!”

As she said that, Christina swung her sword to catch the incoming zombie.

“T- Tough….”

Christina’s sword stopped halfway into the zombies arm.
Basically all the nobles here have turned into zombies huh.
And naturally since they’ve had training in using mana, this resulted in zombies with high physical abilities.

“Uooooaaaaa!”

With a war cry, Margari-san charged in.
His greatsword blew the encircling zombies away creating an opening.

“Woah, Margari-san is surprisingly capable”

I assisted him slightly and secretly blew away some of the zombies. The fact that i only slightly helped is a testament to his strength.

“Are you okay miss?”
“Eh, eeh, I’m fine”
“It seems like somehow I’m in top form today but were outnumbered here, let’s retreat”

Even if he’s getting full of himself Margari-san makes a correct decision.

“That seems like a good idea…”
“Qui- Quickly this way”

While pretending to tremble, I instantaneously eliminate the obstructing noble zombies, securing us a path of retreat.

“Hurry miss”
“…..”

Margari-san and I support the sluggish Christina and leap through the small door.

“Quickly, the door”
“I got it!”

Just as Margari-san closes the door, a zombies arm grabs Christina’s leg.
Even though the zombies arm is caught in the door it refuses to let go of Christina’s leg.

“Ooh… ei, ei”

While passionately trembling, i kick lightly at the zombies arm.

“Ku…..This!”

Christina stabs at the zombies arm with her sword, severing it.
Then the door closed fully.
To think i would be able to witness a ‘Zombie arm shoots out to grab you just as the door is closing’ scene in person!
While basking in the feeling of satisfaction, the door shook with a clatter.

“Bring something to barricade!”

Margari-san yelled as he held the door down.

“Let’s carry that piece of furniture!”
“Ok”

Christina and I carried some heavy looking furniture to seal the door.
Then Margari-san finally removed his hand from the door and took a deep breath.

“It doesnt look like the door will immediately break but…”
“We don’t know how long it will last right?”
“Yup, we should take turns to keep watch. Well then, was there food?”
“There was at the back but, before i could take any…”

Christina stared at the rattling door reproachfully.

“It can’t be helped in that situation, it would have been nice if we could’ve taken some though”
“It sure is troublesome, I didn’t expect that the nobles would be annihilated like that. They should have had bodyguards after all.”
“That’s true now that you mention it…”

Margari-san nodded.

“There were signs of claw marks in the bloodstains. Big ones”

I reported what I saw in the hall.
There’s definitely a mutated power-up zombie around. I guarantee it.

“I saw it too”
“Claws you say…..A beast is it, or maybe something else”
“….I’m not sure, but there’s a chance something might be lurking around”
“If that’s true then this could be bad, we may not be able to defend with just three people…”

As Margari-san spoke with a grave tone, Christina shook her head.

“Sorry but I’ll have to take my leave here”
“Eh?”
“What do you mean?”

Margari-san and I observed Christina.

“Look here”

She laughed sadly and turned her left shoulder to us.

“Thi- this is…”
“Achaaa”

There was a horrible bite wound. The opening was was turning black, it was undoubtedly the presence of an infection.

“Sorry….Sooner or later i too will….”

She hung her head and squeezed out her voice.

“Miss….”
“I’ll leave this place, I don’t want to cause any trouble”
“Bu- but….”

Margari-san tried to speak but the words wouldn’t come out, he turned to me with a pleading look.

“Hmmm…….”