I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl

Chapter 472 - 469 – Nocture Attack and a Heavy Decision

The next morning, soft morning sunlight slipped gently through the gaps in the thick reddish-golden curtains of the luxurious "The Dragon Inn" room. The golden light softly illuminated the spacious room, creating warm patterns that danced across the polished oak wooden floor and the soft white silk sheets. The scent of cinnamon and lavender from the room freshener still lingered in the air, mixed with the fresh morning breeze entering from the small balcony. Sylvia slowly opened her dark red eyes. Her eyelids felt heavy from the lingering fatigue of the long adventure in the Greywood Labyrinth Dungeon. Her undead body, which no longer needed long sleep, still felt comfortable on the luxurious king-size bed, as if the mattress had been specially designed to soothe the souls of high-class adventurers.She glanced to the side of the bed. Alicia had already woken up first, sitting at the edge of the bed with her slightly messy silver hair. The girl was gently combing Sol and the Qilin’s fur with affectionate movements. Sol, in his chubby and shiny golden kitten form, purred softly with half-closed eyes, enjoying every stroke of the comb. Beside him, the Qilin in its small silver-furred deer form curled up comfortably, its small translucent horns gleaming beautifully in the morning sunlight like fine crystals. Its small tail occasionally moved slowly, showing its contentment.

Sylvia smiled faintly, a small smile that rarely appeared on her usually cold and calm face. Today should be a peaceful day, she thought while pulling the blanket higher, enjoying the warmth for a moment. After the chaos in Greywood, the intense battle against the Ancient Hydra, clearing the giant ant nest, and exploring every deadly corner of the dungeon she felt she deserved a brief rest. The newly achieved Rank S from yesterday also gave them some breathing room before continuing their next adventure.

However, that morning’s peace lasted only a few seconds.

Suddenly, an urgent telepathic message pierced into her mind like lightning striking on a clear morning. It was Zark’s voice, loyal and respectful, but this time filled with tension.

My Queen... forgive me for disturbing your rest in the capital.

Sylvia’s previously sleepy eyes snapped wide open. Her body tensed under the silk blanket. Her cold undead aura spread for a moment, lowering the room’s temperature by several degrees. "Zark? What happened? Speak clearly."

Zark immediately explained in a firm yet respectful tone, as if reporting directly in front of her. Last night, around two in the morning, Nocture was attacked by an unidentified group. They came in secret, taking advantage of the thick fog and darkness we created ourselves as the city’s defense. Their main target was the pure mythril mine deep inside Nocture Mountain. Around fifty strong individuals, mostly high-class hired assassins, dark mages from outside the empire, and several specially trained dark adventurers. They were very well-organized. There was a distraction team that held back our zombie forces with illusion spells and traps, while the core theft team infiltrated directly into the main storage warehouse.

Sylvia sat upright on the bed with a quick motion. Her long black hair fell over her shoulders. Her hands clenched tightly until her knuckles turned white. "Details, Zark. How many casualties are on our side? How much mythril was lost? And who is behind this?"

Fortunately, we reacted quickly thanks to the early warning system Lady Sofia installed. Zark continued in a calming tone, though there was a hint of exhaustion in it. Lady Sofia personally led the zombie angel and shadow zombie forces. Aurellia and Celes also joined in despite still recovering after Greywood. Velthya and her lycanthrope pack guarded the outer area and repelled the attackers’ reserve forces. We managed to drive them away before dawn. Several dozen bars of pure mythril were lost, around 47 bars, to be exact. The attackers were very clever. They provided strong individuals specifically to hold back Lady Sofia and our elite forces in front, while a small, highly agile and skilled team infiltrated through the rarely monitored side tunnels. Some of our intelligent zombies were seriously injured, but there were no fatalities among the high-ranking members. The civilian population was also safe thanks to the city’s strong defenses and rapid evacuation.

Zark added in a firmer tone, The captured thieves have been secured in the underground prison. They are being intensively interrogated by Aurellia. Some of them revealed that they were hired by a shadowy organization from the western part of the empire. Do not worry, My Queen. We will handle this fully. Nocture remains safe under our control. Please continue your journey and duties in the capital.

The telepathy ended after that, leaving a heavy silence in Sylvia’s mind.

Sylvia sat silently on the edge of the bed for a few moments. Her pale face grew even colder, her red eyes narrowing with calculation. Nocture was her home, the underground kingdom she had built from nothing with sweat, blood, and her undead power. Pure mythril was not just a valuable resource; it was the source of strength for weapons, armor, and evolution rituals. Losing even one bar was painful, let alone dozens.

Alicia, who had been watching her sister’s expression change, approached with concern. Sol and the Qilin also looked up, sensing their master’s restless aura. "Sylvia? What happened? You suddenly became so tense."

Sylvia explained everything through group telepathy to her two sisters. Stacia, who was still half-asleep on the bed beside her, immediately woke up fully, her thick novel falling to the floor with a soft sound. "They dared to attack Nocture? Insane. Who is bold enough to do this?"

Sylvia let out a long sigh, cold air escaping from her mouth. "Zark said it was a shadowy organization from the west. It could be anyone, perhaps envious nobles, or even groups that have noticed our growing power. But one thing is clear, this is a warning."

Alicia bit her lip. "Should we return now? Nocture is our top priority."

Sylvia stood up from the bed and stretched her body. Her undead muscles felt refreshed after a night’s rest, even as her mind spun rapidly. She walked to the window, opened the curtains wider, and looked at the capital city beginning to bustle below. Merchants were opening their stalls, city guards were patrolling, and smoke rose from kitchen chimneys into the blue sky.

"Part of me wants to return immediately," Sylvia said softly. "But my reason holds me back. If we stay in Nocture all the time, my growth will slow down. Level 110 still needs an enormous amount of experience for the next evolution. We need new dungeons, Rank S quests, and deeper information about the empire. Besides... Noir, who is one level below an Elder Dragon, is still there. He, along with Sofia, Zark, and the others, are more than enough to protect Nocture. We cannot become too dependent on one place."

Stacia nodded, though her face was still worried. "True. But we should strengthen the defenses. Maybe send more shadow troops or install new magic traps."

"They’ve already done that," Sylvia replied. "But yes, we’ll send additional instructions later tonight."

The three of them then prepared. Sylvia tied her long black hair into a simple ponytail and changed from her casual clothes into an elegant black dress that suited her. Alicia chose a simple light blue dress, while Stacia lazily put on her comfortable reader’s robes. Sol leaped onto Sylvia’s shoulder, and the Qilin returned to Alicia’s embrace in its cute small deer form.

In the luxurious dining hall on the ground floor of the inn, the aroma of fresh toasted bread, beef soup with spices, herb-seasoned scrambled eggs, and fragrant herbal tea greeted them. The room was already starting to fill with guests, some high-rank adventurers and wealthy merchants but the moment the three sisters entered, the conversations quieted for a moment. News of yesterday’s Hydra slaying had already spread widely.

They sat at a table near the large window overlooking the main street. Sylvia ordered a full breakfast for the three of them: toast with honey, thick soup, smoked meat, and fresh fruit. Sol and the Qilin each received premium fresh meat portions in special bowls.

While sipping the steaming hot soup, Sylvia thought about today’s activities. The rewards from the Hunter Guild for the Hydra should be ready to collect this morning. They also needed to sell some rare dungeon loot remaining Hydra scales, crystal cores, and rare potions. In addition, they would gather information about the empire, rumors about the shadowy organization, and possibly look for new dungeons or hunting areas suitable for their current levels.

"After collecting the rewards, shall we go to the black market?" Stacia suggested while chewing bread. "There might be useful information there."

Alicia nodded. "And we should contact Zark again tonight for a Nocture update."

Sylvia looked out the window, her eyes filled with cold determination. The morning felt calm on the surface, but her mind was already full of plans and vigilance. The attack on Nocture served as a harsh reminder that the outside world was becoming more dangerous. Their enemies were starting to move, and the peace they were enjoying was only temporary