Chapter 49: Arrival at the Grave Isles

(Bon POV)

Harat: "We're... here."

Bon: "Harat, please lead us to your king right away."

Harat: "Follow... me."

We arrive at the island beach a few hours after the Sea Serpent ambush.

Grave Isles is filled with ruined houses and castles. Zombies wander around, and there are no living things in sight.

Even birds were zombies.

Dead trees made the place even more terrifying to an average human.

But it's all tolerable to us fellow undead.

Zombie: "Hhhh... Hheellloo.."

Bon: "Hello there."

A zombie greets me while we were walking towards the castle of the Zombie King. Stronger zombies hang around the castle.

Just now, we walked past a monster who looked like a flesh heap. Grave Champions like Arat were also present.

These guys were equipped with powerful items. Even standard Zombie Guards under their command had equipment.

I also noticed the zombies here are much more responsive than those at the beach. It was one graveyard after another. I wonder what this island was before?

A zombie maid replaced Harat as our guide as we entered the castle. Harat stood by as a guard.

Zombie Maid: "If you're wondering why there are so many graveyards around here, its because Grave Isles is an island of graveyards."

Bon: "How did that even happen?"

Zombie Maid: "This island was a part of a large continent that sank underwater. This island was the graveyard of the large kingdom that once existed."

Bon: "May I ask what kingdom was that?"

Zombie Maid: "It's the Zombie King's old kingdom. Arum As Ibiloj."

Bon: "I see. Is it okay to ask the Zombie King about it later?"

Zombie Maid: "Hmmm... It depends on him. Everything that's happening on this island does."

He sounds like a great dictator, huh? Only an influential person or monster is capable of that.

Zombie Maid: "We're nearly there. I suggest you be on your best behavior around the king."

Bon: "Of course."

The Searcher: "You can count on us."

The Searcher went with me. He had Sina following him. So there's three of us. Souta and his group are temporarily in command of our soldiers at the beach.

Zombie Maid: "Okay, you can go in."

Two large Grave Champions opened the gate of the castle. You could see ruined furniture inside.

Paintings that were too old to recognize and broken things are all over the place.

Zombie Maid: "Please follow us to the throne room."

Harat stayed outside the castle, and the same Zombie Maid guided us. Their skin was much more intact than the other zombies, which made them beautiful even as a zombie. How were they able to keep it that way?

The Zombie Maid knocks on the throne room door.

Voice: "Come in."

We entered the room with his permission.

Zombie King: "Oh, welcome to my king-... Where's the Skeleton King?"

Bon: "He was knocked off the ship by a Sea Serpent, and we need your help to find him in the bottom of the ocean."

I quickly asked for his help since it is an urgent matter.

Zombie King: "Let us go then!"

Bon: "H-huh? Okay!"

I was surprised since he decided to help us out right away.

Zombie King: "I'm the one who asked him to come here, so I am partly responsible."

Bon: "How will we find him?"

Zombie King: "Don't worry; we just got the right zombie for the job. Ono, ready the Zombie Serpent!"

Ono: "Yes, King Yalk!"

The girl zombie rushed into a hallway leading outside the castle.

Bon: "I'm just curious. Why do you have a lot of girl zombies? And where's your royal guard?"

We are walking on the way outside while I asked this question. A group of girl zombies always follows him around.

Zombie King Yalk: "Haha! They're my maids and wives! There was a time I was called a Harem King, you know!"

Bon: "Oh..."

The girls have various faces and features, unlike the regular zombies who pretty much look the same as every other zombie.

A small girl with big breasts and sewing marks. A tall girl zombie with a flat chest. There's even a girl zombie with glasses.

Yalk: "Amazing, isn't it! Doesn't the Skeleton King have something similar in his kingdom? Like a skeleton girl group? HAHAHA!"

Bon: "Ehem... No, he doesn't, and I think it won't impress him since a man and a woman skeleton almost has the same face and body."

Yalk: "Ah, yeah... That's too bad. Every king needs his harem, you know? He must be a sad man indeed."

Oh! Is that it? Sometimes, Lord Idmon looks lonely. Maybe... that's the reason...

Bon: "I see... Thank you for your valuable advice King Yalk. I'll relay it to Lord Idmon later."

Yalk: "Of course. Anytime you need advice about leadership, Ask away!"

What a reliable person.

We reach our destination, which is the Island Port, after a few minutes. The Zombie Serpent was already there.

Bon: "Wow..."

Even though I knew that it's possible to zombify a Sea Serpent, It's still a fantastic sight to behold.

Yalk: "Let's go in."

King Yalk brought a group of 6 zombie girls with him.

Bon: "Aren't you worried King Yalk that they might get hurt?"

Yalk: "Nononono, my friend. They also act as my royal guards, so don't worry!"

Bon: "Ah..."

Woah... I didn't expect that. The Searcher was with us and said that he would join the rescue mission.

The Searcher: "I'd like to test out Sina's battle prowess underwater too. It's a good way to get research material! Hohoho!"

Sina just nods.

Bon: "Okay. Souta!"

Souta: "Yes, Head Wizard!"

Bon: "You stay here and guard the boats, okay?"

Souta: "What about the army?"

Bon: "Just have them do exercises or something. They can also practice the formations that Lord Idmon taught them a while ago."

I don't think it's right to leave them alone like that, but this will test Souta's ability to lead while we're gone.

Souta: "Okay, okay..."

Bon: "Don't worry. We aren't going to go to war yet. You'll have your time to show off for Lord Idmon."

Souta: "A-ah... Yes! Thank you very much!"

This eager boy has a great future. His loyalty is something Lord Idmon can rely on in challenging times.

Yalk: "Okay! In we go!"

The Zombie Serpent opened its huge mouth, and we went inside. It was a magical creature, so The Searcher's ethereal body can't go through it.

We travel underwater with great haste.

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(Souta POV)

!

Souta: "Harry, are you there?"

The gate for that is connecting the spirit realm to this realm is shining brightly, but Harry was nowhere to be seen.

Have I lost my right to be his owner? Is it because my soul is tainted from being an undead?

Harry: "Hmmph. Don't be such a gloomy kid."

A regular size bear came out from the gate. I didn't recognize Harry at first, but I remembered that spirit animals grow along with with their summoners max magical energy.

As the pool of magic grows, larger gates can be opened, and more of the spirit animal's original strength will go through.

Souta: "Harry. I'm so sorry-"

Harry: "Don't be."

Souta: "Huh?"

Harry: "You want to say sorry about turning into an undead without asking for my advice, right?"

Souta: "Y-yeah."

Harry: "I don't mind it. Be it undead or a human, as long as you can grow stronger. My only goal is to get my original body back in this realm. Those shitty seals from thousands of years ago need a lot of magic to break."

Souta: "You aren't a resident of the Spirit Realm?"

Harry: "Of course not. I and a lot of other powerful creatures back then were being sent to the Spirit Realm to serves as summons."

Souta: "Oh..."

Harry: "They put us on a leash, and we would experience excruciating pain if we disobey. Those communications with nature ritual are all shits. It's just someone passing on the leash to another."

Harry looked, really angry.

Souta: "Don't worry, Harry. I'll grow strong enough to break the seal for you, but you have to help me reach that level."

Harry: "Deal."

He made a roar before going back inside the gate to the Spirit Realm.

Alno approached me after my conversation with Harry (Spirit Bear).

Alno: "Everything okay between you and the bear?"

Souta: "Hmm? Yeah."

Alno: "Hehehe. You wanted to go, didn't you? I can see it in your face."

Souta: "That's a given Alno. You know I live to serve Idmon. By the way, are YOU guys okay?"

I've been ignoring the fact that they got dragged in. The others weren't planning to turn into undead, but they did it for me.

Alno: "Me? Of course, I'm okay. I'm great!"

He was silent for a while. I looked at the foggy sea for a few moments.

Alno: "Souta."

Souta: "Yeah?"

Alno: "Don't overthink it. You may not notice it, but I was already around 200 years old when we teamed up."

Souta: "Huh!?"

Alno: "It's true. I've been prolonging my human life with spells and forbidden spells in the Monk Class. I also went deep into dungeons to search for anti-aging potions. I was so scared of death before."

What? Alno scared of death? From what I've seen in our battles before, Alno is the type of person who would fight to death.

I was wrong.

Alno: "Funny, right? I never attempted to turn myself into an undead back then. I didn't have undying hatred inside me too, so it might as well be considered as suicide."

Souta: "It's normal. Some are just good at hiding it."

Alno: "They sure are. You know when we were kneeling for the ritual. I was nervous. I was about to experience death back then but was also excited. We were assured of second life as a skeleton. In my mind, even if I have to follow all his orders for eternity. I prefer eternal servitude a lot more than eternal death."

Souta: "I see.."

I finally understood Alno a bit. Before, we were just party members. Now we might as well be called friends.

Souta: "How about Roln? Do you have an idea on his side?"

Alno: "No. Sorry, Souta. I never even talked to Roln properly. Most of our conversations with him are just exchanging glances and lots of nodding."

Souta: "You're right. Haha..."

I looked at Roln, who was sitting on a rock. He gazes in the direction of the Haven Continent. Probably towards the North Region if we were closer.

He would always do this when we were resting. Sitting and looking towards the North Region. His home. Maybe he didn't want to turn into an undead. I might have destroyed his life.

Alno: "Souta... One more thing... Keep it in mind..."

Souta: "What?"

Alno: "We didn't have any choice back then... Lord Idmon was indeed going to give us a chance to walk, but his servants won't. I saw the eyes of Head Wizard Bon back then. There was no mercy to be found."

They would take us out if we refused, huh?

Alno: "Anyways, right now... It's not your decision being right or wrong is what's important. What's important is we have to make the best of it and if Roln hates it. We just have to make it easier for him. Even if he decides to leave us forever."

Souta: "I understand."

The sadness in Roln's skeletal gaze towards the sea could be felt from afar. And as for Lea-

Lea: "Hi, guys! How are you doing"?

Lea seems to enjoy being an Ice Witch's apprentice. Her skin turned to blue already because of the exposure to ice. I think it's safe to say she's already an Ice Witch.

Lea and Alno get into a lively conversation about spells. I walked towards Roln.

Souta: "For me, I have no regrets, no matter what happens to us in the future."

I said that to his back. He turned around.