ABFD CH 03

Clink, clink. Clink, clink.

In the dark square where not a single human shadow could be seen, the eerie ringing of bells echoed endlessly.

What filled that place were things that could no longer be called human.

They were dead, yet not corpses; once human, yet no longer human.

Whenever the bell-strung ropes tangled around their bodies and jingled, the creatures would look around violently, then slowly resume walking in search of prey.

What they craved were living beings.

And among them, they desired human flesh and blood, tearing it apart piece by piece, chewing and savoring it as their crimson eyes flickered wildly.

Suddenly, all of the creatures turned their heads toward one point at once.

“Ugh!”

At the end of the main road, a man rushed out and, startled by the countless gazes fixed on him, fell backward in panic.

“Ugh… Father…”

“Shh! Mari, be quiet.”

Eileen, who had been hiding under a window near the square, quickly covered the sobbing girl’s mouth while holding her breath.

The girl trembled violently, tears streaming down her face as she dared not even make a small sound.

It had been warned countless times.

At night, the dead would return as monsters, so one must never step outside.

Do not emit any light, scent, or trace—hide as if dead until the darkness recedes.

If the warning was disobeyed, she would neither help nor come to save them.

Survive another day like that.

That man had not listened.

The capital where the imperial palace stood would likely be enjoying peaceful daily life, free from the curse of monsters. The belief that reaching it would restore their former peace had led him to death.

“Just… just a little more patience, Mari.”

It was, in a way, fortunate.

At least he had abandoned his daughter Mari, likely calculating that the path would not be smooth.

And that Eileen had managed to catch up and save the girl after she ran after her father.

No, she couldn’t yet call it “saving.”

Until dawn rose and the sunlight could slow the movements of the undead, there was still a long way to go.

No further hope for rescue existed.

It was a rule she had repeated endlessly to everyone.

Do not try to save those who disobeyed the warning.

Doing so would only create more living corpses and eventually hand over the entire territory to the zombies.

So even if something were to happen to Eileen herself, no one must, absolutely must not come to save her.

“Grrr… argh!”

The man tried to get up again, only to be immediately caught by the creatures.

His scream became the signal.

The pitch-black things filling the square all surged toward one point at once.

Their sluggish, unnatural movements turned razor-sharp, like beasts.

Crunch, growl. Clink, clink. Clink, clink.

The monsters, eager to taste fresh flesh, threw themselves again and again onto the fallen man.

“Ahhh! S-save me!”

Soon, the square filled with the sound of bells and monstrous roars, mixed with horrific screams.

“Cough… ugh… gurgle…”

The screams did not last long. The man was soon swept into the black wave and torn apart, vanishing beyond death.

When the screaming stopped, a chilling sound followed.

“F-Father… sob…”

The gruesome noises relentlessly assaulted the ears. The girl’s body, barely calmed, began trembling again.

Hearing her father being devoured by death, her pupils widened and lost focus.

Eileen hugged the girl’s small back tightly, gently stroking her, praying desperately that the horrifying memory would be buried beneath others and forgotten.

The feeding time was short. The red-eyed creatures that had gathered where the man fell slowly scattered again, searching for new prey.

Growl… grrr…

Their sharp roars had now become low growls.

Fortunately, despite the large number gathered, there seemed to be no mutants.

If they could just hide quietly until morning, they might return safely inside the fortress—

“Eek!”

No, that hope had already collapsed.

As she turned to warn them to stay silent, Mari was pointing somewhere in the square, covering her mouth with one hand.

When Eileen followed her gaze, she met eyes with a larger creature than the rest.

It looked less like a corpse and more like a demon.

Unlike the others, its yellow, piercing eyes locked directly onto the window where they were hiding.

A mutant zombie.

“Get a grip. We need to leave here.”

If there was a mutant, this shabby place was no longer safe.

Eileen pulled Mari, who was shaking violently, to her feet.

There was only one place inside the walled city where they could survive a night against a mutant’s threat—the grain warehouse near the gate.

It was made of stone, had few windows, and a reinforced iron door, enough to withstand a zombie assault.

The problem was how to reach it.

When she looked outside again, the mutant was slowly approaching.

It was time to move.

*******

In the end, they were surrounded before even reaching halfway.

“Wind Cutter!”

As Eileen extended her hand, blades of wind sliced through the heads of the zombies in front.

For a moment, a path opened.

But soon, it was blocked again.

The speed from behind was faster than she could clear the front.

“Sorry, Lady… it’s my fault… sob…”

“Don’t waste your breath crying, Mari. Stay focused.”

The magic she had learned over three years was only mid-tier.

People called it impressive, but after all that preparation, she couldn’t die now—just one year remained.

“Fireball!”

Screech!

The fireball struck three zombies. Because they were packed tightly together, the flames quickly spread.

But as she stepped forward through the burning horde, Eileen froze in despair.

‘Ah… of all things…’

Beyond the burning zombies stood the mutant.

Its twisted mouth curved upward as if mocking them.

It bent down to strike—and at that moment—

Whoosh, thud.

An arrow flew in and pierced its neck, followed by the sound of movement behind her.

“Excuse me, ladies.”

A man’s voice. At the same time, a strong arm grabbed Eileen’s waist and lifted her.

Before she knew it, she was carried onto a rooftop.

There, several knights were waiting.

In the faint moonlight, their faces were unclear.

Only their presence was unmistakable—strong, imposing.

“Who… who are you?”

“Is there a safe place until morning?”

The answer came from the tall man holding her.

Though it was more of a question than an answer.

Black hair, sharp jawline, piercing blue eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight.

Eileen stared at him, dazed.

The man she had so desperately wanted to see—and yet tried to avoid—was here.

Her fate had finally caught up to her.

The world’s main male protagonist.

The Imperial Fourth Prince, Tristan.

And as Eileen Whitewood faced him, she knew—

The river of fate she had tried to delay was now rushing forward once again.