I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl

Chapter 493 - 490 – Departure from the Capital and an Unexpected Meeting

The next morning, the sunlight gently slipped through the windows of the suite at The Dragon Inn, waking the three sisters with its warm and refreshing golden light. The rays danced across the polished wooden floor, illuminating small dust particles floating slowly in the air. The previous night had ended with a warm dinner, light laughter, and old stories that lightened their hearts. However, that temporary peace didn’t last long. After a simple breakfast of warm toasted bread, clear meat soup, and fresh herbal tea, Sylvia, Alicia, and Stacia decided to head to the Hunters Guild. They wanted to look for new missions or at least get the latest information about dimensional rifts or dungeons that might still remain around the capital.The morning sky was clear and cloudless, the air still cool with the aroma of fresh bread and sweet cakes from street vendors who had started their business. The three girls walked side by side on the neat stone sidewalks, their steps light and synchronized. Sol walked behind in his adorable golden cat form, his tail wagging cheerfully, while Qilin followed as a small deer with soft fur and faintly glowing little horns. The capital’s streets were beginning to bustle: merchants opening their stalls, horse carriages passing with the rumble of wheels, and citizens going about their morning routines. The atmosphere felt different after their spectacular victory over Mušmaḫḫū. Some people glanced at them with respect and admiration, others whispered while pointing, but no one dared approach or disturb them. The powerful aura emanating from the three sisters created an invisible circle around them.

Upon arriving at the magnificent Hunters Guild, the atmosphere inside was already quite busy even though it was still morning. Low-rank hunters crowded in front of the large mission board filled with paper scrolls, while receptionists quickly served the lines. The smell of old paper, ink, and a hint of adventurer sweat filled the room. Sylvia immediately approached the main desk with confident steps, her long black hair cascading beautifully down her back. She inquired in detail about high-level missions or information on new dimensional rifts that might have appeared.

Unfortunately, the receptionist’s answer was disappointing. "I’m sorry, Lady Sylvia. There are currently no major missions available around the capital. The dimensional rifts that appeared after the Mušmaḫḫū incident have already been fully explored by elite teams. The nearest dungeons are also in a cooldown period for natural mana recovery," the female receptionist said apologetically while bowing respectfully.

Sylvia nodded slowly, her expression remaining calm even though she was slightly disappointed. She turned to her two sisters standing behind her. "It seems it’s time for us to leave this capital. Nocture must be waiting for our return, and we need to continue our journey before the intrigue here gets any more complicated."

Alicia and Stacia agreed without hesitation. They had no strong reason to stay longer in a place full of hidden threats like this. After returning to the inn, they quickly and efficiently packed all their belongings. Stacia used her reliable spatial magic, soft incantations flowing from her lips as her grimoire glowed faintly. Most of the supplies including food provisions, spare clothes, and personal items disappeared into the storage dimension with a grayish light. Meanwhile, Sylvia checked the horse carriage and the two zombie horses waiting faithfully in the inn’s back stable. The undead creatures looked strong and obedient, their eyes glowing faintly with eternal loyalty.

Not long after, the simple yet sturdy horse carriage was ready to depart. They boarded neatly: Sylvia sat in the coachman’s seat as usual, with Sol immediately jumping onto her lap and curling up comfortably. Alicia and Stacia sat inside the comfortable carriage with Qilin, who had returned to his small and cute form.

The journey to the city gates was slow due to the heavy morning traffic. Horse carriages jostled against each other, the sounds of wheels and horse hooves filling the air. When they finally reached the magnificent main gate with its tall towers and statues of guardian gods, a long queue had already formed. City guards in full armor were thoroughly inspecting every vehicle, ensuring no smuggled goods or threats.

Sylvia let out a soft sigh, preparing herself for what might be a long wait. Beside them, a luxurious but inconspicuous horse carriage stopped. Sylvia glanced over and was surprised to recognize a familiar figure standing near the carriage. Elara, the leader of Party Eternal, looked as elegant as always with her silver hair neatly tied and high-quality travel attire. The other party members were also around, but their atmosphere looked more somber and tense compared to their last meeting.

"Elara?" Sylvia called softly from her coachman’s seat.

Elara turned quickly, her eyes widening slightly in surprise before forming a warm, faint smile. "Sylvia... and the Unhuman team. What a coincidence meeting here."

They chatted while waiting for the slow-moving queue. Elara explained calmly that their giant bird could no longer be used. The party member with the ability to summon and tame the creature had died heroically in the battle against Mušmaḫḫū. Now they were forced to return using an ordinary horse carriage for the long journey. "We will return to the elf kingdom," Elara said firmly, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes.

Sylvia frowned, her curiosity awakened. "The elf kingdom? Isn’t that very far from here? Crossing ancient forests and mountains?"

Elara nodded slowly. "That’s right. We are all pure elves. We used high-level illusion magic techniques to change our appearance so we could blend in with humans during our adventures. And... I am the princess of the Elf Kingdom, Elara Sylvana, heir to the eternal forest throne."

The revelation surprised and impressed Sylvia, Alicia, and Stacia. It turned out that all members of Party Eternal were pure elves who had been hiding their identities. They had decided to return because a new dimensional rift had appeared in the elf kingdom’s territory. Although the kingdom had elite warriors and ancient mages, they were worried that the monsters emerging from the rift were too powerful to handle locally. That was why Elara and her team hurried back after finishing their business in the human capital.

Hearing the explanation, Sylvia’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "May we join you? Our strength could help deal with the threat."

Elara looked pleased with the offer, but there was clear hesitation in her beautiful eyes. "I would be very happy to hear that. Your strength is extraordinary, especially after witnessing you fight Mušmaḫḫū. But... the Elf Kingdom is very anti-human. They almost never accept outsiders, especially those who are not of the elf race. Their traditions and forest protections are extremely strict."

Sylvia smiled faintly, her mind working quickly. "In that case, may we use camouflage magic? We can appear as pure elves while we’re there."

Elara’s eyes lit up with hope. "That’s a very good idea! If you can do it perfectly, no one will suspect anything."

Sylvia nodded to Stacia. The girl immediately opened her thick grimoire, the pages rustling softly as she began chanting a long and complex spell. A soft grayish light enveloped the three of them like thin mist. The change happened subtly but astonishingly: their ears lengthened into beautiful pointed elf ears, their skin became fairer with a natural dewy glow, and their facial features became slightly softer and more elegant. Sylvia’s hair remained long and black, but now looked more lustrous like moonlit silk. Alicia and Stacia also appeared even more beautiful, their auras closer to elven grace.

"Excellent," Elara praised with sparkling, admiring eyes. "You look like pure elves now. Even the elders might be fooled."

The queue finally moved forward. Both carriages rolled out of the capital gates together, their wheels rumbling on the stone road. The wide road outside the city walls stretched far, surrounded by dense forests and rolling green hills. They decided to travel together at least until the border of the elf kingdom. During the journey, conversation flowed more smoothly and familiarly. Elara shared a little about her vast ancient elf kingdom, the giant tree of life that served as the center of their mana power, and the ancient traditions that had endured for thousands of years.

Sylvia listened attentively, occasionally asking deep questions about the newly appeared dimensional rift and the types of monsters that might emerge from it. Stacia and Alicia actively joined the discussion, sharing their experiences fighting ancient monsters and battle strategies. Sol and Qilin played cheerfully around the carriages, occasionally jumping between the vehicles when they got close, making the atmosphere even livelier.

The sun rose higher, illuminating the road with bright light. The air felt fresh with the scent of green leaves, damp earth, and wildflowers. Sylvia sat in the coachman’s seat, the wind sweeping through her hair, which now looked like that of an elf. Although their outer appearance had changed, their true power remained intact. She felt excited for this new adventure. The elf kingdom was sure to hold many secrets, ancient powers, and possibly artifacts that could help with their evolution and Nocture’s development.

Evening approached as they stopped at a small rest stop on the side of the road. A campfire was lit, and food was shared including salted fish, bread, cheese, and fresh fruits. Stories continued under the warm firelight. Elara became more open, sharing her concerns as a princess who had to protect her kingdom from both external and internal threats.

That night, under the beautiful starry sky, Sylvia lay in the carriage while gazing at the full moon. The journey to the elf kingdom had just begun, and she knew it would be a new Chapter full of challenges and golden opportunities for the three of them.