The Prince Who Absorbs Abilities With a 'Click' - C29

Chapter 29: Cola is the Best!

The wide banquet hall inside the mansion was filled with an awkward silence.

With zombies lined up on either side, I was facing the zombie head across the long central table.

“Mm.”

I knew they were my monsters, but it felt awkward seeing them face to face like this.

What should I say in a situation like this?

‘Hello?’

That seemed a bit too ordinary.

‘Am I your god?’

That sounded like something out of a Japanese isekai novel from my past life.

But am I really a god? I’m more like a Dungeon Master, so maybe that’s close enough?

Still, ordinary seemed the safest option.

“Hello?”

I greeted the zombie head without any emotion.

“Grk. Grk.”

The zombie head bowed its forehead and returned the greeting.

‘A polite one, huh?’

Although it looked scary, it behaved like a well-trained dog.

Anyway, I had to talk to her now.

The rest of the delegation still hadn’t entered the mansion, and Winston, who had been following me, had already disappeared.

‘Hah, the guard knight abandoned the prince and ran away?’

He had said before leaving that he would give his life, but he immediately ran off in fear of the zombies.

‘What an ungrateful guy.’

Normally, I would have punished him right away, but I didn’t do that.

In fact, I appreciated Winston’s actions.

‘This buys me some time.’

Anyway, right now, it was just me and the zombies here.

Before the actual talks began, I could set things up in my own way.

‘This is an opportunity.’

I intended to finish what I needed to do before the others arrived.

First, I looked at the surrounding zombies.

They definitely looked more bizarre than regular zombies, likely because they were apocalypse zombies.

“Still, it’s a bit boring.”

“Grk?”

At first, zombies might be scary, but if they don’t attack, they’re basically just corpses.

As long as they don’t attack, people’s fear of zombies would fade away quickly.

If I wanted to take control in this scenario, I couldn’t let that happen.

“First, let’s change the image.”

“KYAAK?”

Image is a person’s weapon.

It was important in my past life, and it was no different in this world. If anything, it was even more important.

Why do nobles pay so much attention to etiquette and maintain their appearance?

It’s all about refining their personal weapon.

Compared to that, the zombies’ current appearance was nothing special.

‘All they have is the zombie head inside a mimic box.’

To others, it must look like just a zombie head in a box.

This appearance isn’t enough.

The people the zombies will face are elites from the Empire.

If they don’t make an impact, the Empire will try to eliminate them instead.

‘I need something more striking.’

A strong impression that can’t be ignored by the zombies is needed.

In this case, tools could be useful.

‘What did I have?’

I immediately took out my smartphone.

I skillfully manipulated the screen and checked the list of items available to me.

The items were mostly those that Kang Ha-yoon had offered.

But for now, those were enough.

‘I’ll retrieve this one for now.’

I tapped on the magic wand toy held by the skeleton gunner.

[The item ‘Magic Wand Toy’ owned by the Skeleton Gunner has been retrieved.]

[Would you like to place the item ‘Magic Wand Toy’ in the Balderheim Dungeon?]

‘Of course, I will.’

When I touched the screen, a crack appeared in the air, and a pink magic wand fell out.

‘So that’s how it works.’

The sudden appearance of the toy surprised the zombie head.

“Grk?”

I didn’t care about that and held up the magic wand, pressing the button.

Magical girl Linlin ♬

Fear, fly away ♪

The pure heart’s shining ♬

Let’s protect everyone ♪

“Actually, it sounds better than I expected.”

Just like how first impressions are important for people, they’re also crucial for zombies.

Imagine it.

A zombie holding a magic wand toy.

‘Bizarre.’

And that was exactly why it was good.

At least they wouldn’t underestimate me now.

“What else did Ha-yoon send me?”

Kang Ha-yoon, living on an apocalyptic Earth, had sent me more items than I expected.

Normally, I would’ve wanted the pistol used by the Skeleton Gunner, but that had to be used to protect the dungeon.

‘I don’t need a gun here.’

Aside from that, there were various toys, food, and occasionally things like cigarettes.

‘Wait, wasn’t Ha-yoon a minor?’

She looked to be about a middle schooler.

How did she get cigarettes?

Is this the grim reality of the apocalypse?

“Heh.”

That wasn’t good.

Even if Ha-yoon was just a game character, she was another person living in a different dimension.

And I was the one supporting her with in-game purchases.

Wasn’t it my job to guide her so she could follow the right path?

‘Thinking back, I was too careless.’

Also, the timeline in Ha-yoon’s world was different from mine.

‘A day here was a week for Ha-yoon, right?’

That meant the few days I hadn’t paid attention to her were over a month for her.

I’d probably have to pay attention to “The Last Day of Earth, Raising Survivors” after this schedule ended.

But that was something for later. Right now, the priority was the zombies’ image.

A single magic wand didn’t feel like enough.

‘Since I also have cigarettes, I might as well use them well.’

I wasn’t recommending smoking, but nothing sets the mood like a cigarette.

[Would you like to place the item ‘Cigarettes’ in the Balderheim Dungeon?]

“Of course.”

Once again, a cigarette pack dropped from thin air.

I skillfully put a cigarette in the zombie head’s mouth.

“Grk?”

Oh, this feels right.

It was like putting a cigarette in the mouth of a mafia boss with just a head left.

A zombie head with a cigarette in its mouth, while a magical girl song played in the background?

“That’s truly bizarre.”

And that made the atmosphere much livelier.

It was the strong impression I wanted.

“Now, food… canned food and… cola, huh?”

It wasn’t the brand of cola I knew.

The can just said “COLA.”

‘She didn’t sacrifice something she was going to eat, did she?’

Ha-yoon had a younger sibling.

What if she saved her food to offer it to me?

‘That’s not likely, right?’

The last time I saw Ha-yoon, she was being treated well in the shelter and living without any shortages.

No one would treat her coldly since she was an awakened one.

Thinking about it, no matter how many items Ha-yoon had offered, she wouldn’t go hungry.

Actually, I wondered if she had so much food that she was sending it to me in excess.

‘I hope that’s not the case, Ha-yoon.’

Please don’t ruin my impression.

I put those thoughts aside.

Before the formal talks began, I spoke to the zombie head.

“Can you say anything other than that strange scream?”

This was the most important factor.

Zombies had to say something if we were going to have a conversation.

But if even their master, me, couldn’t understand them, how could anyone else?

“KYAAAAAAK!”

In response to my question, the zombie head screamed some unintelligible noise.

That scream caused another zombie to suddenly go somewhere.

A little while later, the zombie returned, not alone.

“…A person?”

The zombie brought with it a man, bound and gagged.

“Mm! Mmph!”

The man couldn’t speak because he had a gag in his mouth.

“Grk!”

The zombie head looked pleased upon seeing this.

I didn’t understand the words, but I had an idea of what was going on.

‘Did they capture him as a prisoner?’

If so, this meant the zombies were smarter than I thought.

I had assumed they were just randomly infecting people, but they had a strategy like this.

‘That’s actually really good.’

The first thing that made me happy was that I didn’t have to give orders for everything; the monsters could run the dungeon on their own.

‘This makes things easier for me.’

As time passed, my tasks would increase.

It was no longer possible to kill time with my smartphone.

But if the dungeon monsters continue to act on their own, that would be perfect.

Also, I wasn’t creating chaos; they were just playing within the game I set up.

“Take off his gag first.”

At my command, one of the zombies removed the gag from the man’s mouth.

The man, now able to speak, turned to me.

“Y-Your Highness, could it be you?”

He recognized me?

Seeing my surprised look, he quickly explained.

“Two years ago, on the Emperor’s birthday, I went to the Imperial Palace with the Duke.”

Ah, then I understand now.

‘Your memory is quite good.’

On the Emperor’s birthday, high-ranking nobles gather.

The princes do the same, and I think that’s when I was seen.

I remained still, and the man continued speaking with an excited voice.

“Your Highness, I am Mark, the captain of the guard in the city of Balderheim! Looking closely, it seems like the zombies are following you. Please, at least save my life!”

“Ha.”

However, the other party crossed the line first.

I didn’t want to be recognized in this situation.

Moreover, it seemed like he vaguely realized that I controlled the zombies.

‘There’s no helping it.’

In this case, I had to push back strongly.

“Reattach the muzzle and handle it.”

“Grgh!”

At my command, the zombies moved.

Mark, who had thought I was a savior, became pale and screamed.

“I-I’m sorry! I really don’t know anything! I’ll do whatever you say, even if I don’t know who you are!”

It seemed he wasn’t completely oblivious.

“Hmm.”

What should I do with him?

‘It might be good if that guy, Mark, takes charge instead of the zombies.’

But Mark was someone I had no connection with.

There was a big risk because he might pretend to follow my orders and then betray me.

‘Well, maybe it doesn’t matter?’

If things go wrong, I could become a tyrant.

I had already turned the entire city of Balderheim into zombies, so why couldn’t I do the same to the envoy?

My first goal was to enjoy a long and fulfilling life full of dopamine, no matter what.

Though the 8th Prince entered the mansion, no one followed him.

Even Winston, the knight who had followed him earlier, came back outside; they were all afraid of the zombies.

The zombies here were no ordinary monsters.

They were named monsters capable of turning others into zombies, so it was only natural to feel fear.

“Haah.”

Unable to move forward or backward, Viscount Lux was pacing back and forth.

What happened to the prince who entered the mansion?

A considerable amount of time passed, but the mansion remained quiet. The prince had not come back out.

‘He’s not dead, is he?’

The viscount closed his eyes. His temples throbbed.

Even if the prince was weak, he was of noble blood.

He was the child of His Majesty the Emperor.

If something happens here, everyone in the mansion would suffer the consequences.

Perhaps all the responsibility would fall on him.

“Let’s go in for now.”

The viscount had concluded that it didn’t matter whether he died here or returned to die; it would be the same.

He was the first to act.

“But, with so many zombies, is it really okay?”

One of the officers from the carriage earlier asked.

An officer so afraid?

‘Tch.’

But there was no more time to waste.

Viscount Lux took the lead and stepped into the mansion. Then, the others followed his lead.

“Knights, do not draw your swords! Remember, we are here for a peace agreement!”

Viscount Lux shouted as he moved without hesitation. He had served the Crest family for many years and knew the layout of the mansion perfectly.

He headed straight to the banquet hall.

If all the members of the envoy entered, the only possible place inside the mansion was the banquet hall.

More importantly, if someone controlling the zombies had a plan, they would have chosen the banquet hall as the location.

Through that, he intended to gauge the intelligence level of the monster.

After a short while, they arrived at the banquet hall.

And there, they found—

“Your, Your Highness! You’re safe!”

Winston, who was temporarily guarding the 8th Prince, ran to Kain.

After confirming the 8th Prince was unharmed, Viscount Lux let out a sigh of relief.

It wasn’t just a matter of the prince being unharmed; it meant that the zombies had no intention of attacking him.

As the viscount was thinking this, someone spoke from the front.

“Welcome, everyone.”

It wasn’t one of the envoy members.

Most shockingly, the person was standing behind the zombies.

“……!”

Everyone was stunned.

They had thought all the citizens of the city had turned into zombies, but there was a living person!

The person continued speaking.

“I am Mark, serving a noble person.”

“Grgh!”

At Mark’s words, the zombie heads reacted.

It was a sight that left everyone in shock.

“……”

And the one most surprised was none other than Viscount Lux.

Though he didn’t show it, he immediately recognized the person.

‘Captain of the guard, why…why are you…?’

Why was the one responsible for protecting the city now with the very ones who destroyed it?

Moreover, the other party wasn’t even human, but zombies.

The viscount gaze shifted to the zombie in front of Mark.

It was a zombie with only its head remaining.

But the atmosphere felt off.

‘Cigarette?’

The cigarette looked different from the Empire’s usual, but it was definitely a cigarette.

Also, what was the stick beside it?

It was a pink stick, with a heart shape at the top.

‘Could it be a staff?’

If so, that meant the other party was not an ordinary zombie, but a wizard.

‘A lich-type?!!’

A wave of agitation surged through the viscount’s mind.

Even if it wasn’t a lich, it was undoubtedly a monster of comparable caliber.

And it could turn people into zombies?

‘An incredible being.’

But the shock didn’t end there.

A mysterious magical girl, Linlin★

With your sparkling eyes♬

Let’s spread love to everyone♪

From the staff, a strange song began to play.

For some reason, it made him feel odd.

‘…Even psychic attacks!’

The viscount realized that this place was truly dangerous, and everyone present shared the same thought, except for one person: the 8th Prince.

“I will deliver the words of this noble person to you all, as a loyal servant.”

Mark continued speaking with a stoic expression.

In truth, he was acting under duress, intimidated by the 8th Prince and the zombies.

He wanted to reveal everything right away, but the zombie next to him was terrifying.

‘Just, hold on a little longer…’

He didn’t have to worry about what to say. The 8th Prince had already written the lines for him.

He had secretly attached the script to the lid of the box containing the zombie’s head, so all he had to do was read it quietly.

“Ahem.”

Clearing his throat, Mark began reading the script.

“First of all, I sincerely welcome you.”

“Grgh, grgh!”

With the zombie heads’ response, Mark continued his speech.

“The food in front of you is my castle’s offering. I’ve prepared canned food and a drink called cola. However, there isn’t enough for everyone, so be mindful of how much you take. I’ll let you all eat first, then we can talk.”

At Mark’s words, the viscount narrowed his eyes.

‘Cola?’

It was, of course, a name he had never heard before.

In the cup placed on the table was a black liquid.

‘Could it be poison?’

The black liquid looked ominous, but fortunately, it didn’t seem to be poison.

If it had been, the 8th Prince wouldn’t have drunk it without hesitation.

The 8th Prince even drank a full cup, then moved to another.

“Hmm.”

The quiet 8th Prince was being so greedy?

A strange curiosity arose.

Viscount Lux also cautiously took a cup from the table.

The cold sensation transferred to his hand.

‘It’s cold.’

Though drinking felt awkward, even now, the 8th Prince was eyeing the cola in the other cup.

“……”

After a brief hesitation, the viscount finally took a careful sip.

“……!”

The first sip.

The viscount’s eyes widened.

“What is this…!”

The bubbles bursting in his mouth were like little fireworks, stimulating his tongue. A sweet and bitter taste exploded as it went down his throat.

It was a flavor he had never experienced before.

His body instinctively twisted, barely holding back.

“T-This drink, where did it come from?!”

By the second sip, all his wariness had vanished.

Only pure joy remained.

Even the rarest wines and distilled spirits he had ever tasted didn’t give him this feeling.

He had prided himself on having tasted all the finest foods, but what was this flavor?!

His left hand instinctively slapped his forehead.

“Ha, one more…”

He grabbed the cup next to him and drank it all in one go.

His head was buzzing.

“Ah! Cola is the best!”

The feeling of his mouth about to burst with flavor caused the viscount to unconsciously let out an exclamation.