Caw~ caw~

As Nina and I stepped into the cemetery, two sharp caws echoed. Then eerie wails rose from all directions.

Under the bright moonlight, grotesque zombies shuffled slowly toward us. Their tattered clothes hung in shreds. Exposed flesh showed patches of rot. Maggots writhed faintly beneath their decaying skin.

“M-Master…”

I felt Nina trembling violently behind me. I turned to see her eyes glazed over, face pale as death. This wasn’t just simple fear.

“Don’t be afraid, Nina.”

I placed my palm on her forehead and activated “Divine Protection.” Holy light streamed from my hand. It banished all negative statuses, boosted resistance and defense, and calmed her mind.

Nina sighed deeply. Her trembling stopped. She looked back to normal.

“Feeling better?”

“Much better, thank you, Master.”

Nina seemed a bit ashamed. I nodded slightly and used Appraisal on a nearby zombie.

Zombie

Level: 6

HP: 20

MP: 1

STR: 15

CON: 20

DEF: 1

RES: -20

Skills: [Low-tier Fear Aura] [Bloodlust]

These stats were weaker than a child’s. The odd part was this low-tier zombie having a Fear Aura skill. Though basic, hundreds of them stacked up. No wonder Nina couldn’t handle it.

“Feel the cleansing power of Holy Light.”

My right hand glowed with brilliant white light. A Holy Light orb, the size of a watermelon, formed in my palm. I hurled it upward. The orb floated high, flooding the cemetery with daylight.

Agonized screams filled the air. Every zombie crumbled to ash under the light.

“Master, 666!”

“…”

I looked at Nina, torn between laughter and exasperation. Who knew this silly girl still remembered to shout “666”?

“Let’s go, Nina. It’s not over yet.”

“Yes, Master.”

Clearing the surface zombies was just step one. Next, we needed to check the underground crypt for anomalies.

At the cemetery’s center, the crypt door stood open. Faint light glowed from luminescent stones on the walls, as if welcoming us.

Descending the stairs, I saw shattered bones everywhere. Stone coffins in hollowed walls were empty. Adventurers must have fought skeletons here before.

Sure enough, not far in, a squad of skeleton soldiers blocked our path. They wielded cleavers and moved with sharp agility. Unlike zombies, they feared no sunlight. Though that meant nothing to me. At least zombies made me queasy.

The skeletons raised their cleavers instantly. Before they could strike, they shattered into dust. Honestly, fighting such weak monsters felt beneath me.

I cleared the entire first level quickly.

I searched hopefully. My mood crashed. This place was dirt poor.

Even as monsters, the skeletons had nothing but bones. I picked one up and chuckled bitterly. Could grinding this into powder give me calcium?

The cleavers might be worth a few copper coins. I couldn’t even be bothered to pick them up.

Rushing anxiously, I headed straight to the second level. All I wanted was to finish this cursed quest and go to sleep.