I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl-Chapter 82 – Between Two Worlds

My journey back from the forest to the town passed peacefully. My steps were steady along the dirt road, now bathed in the warm light of dusk. The evening breeze gently swept through my hanging hair, carrying the scents of earth, leaves, and occasionally smoke from the wooden houses that had begun lighting fires for dinner.

There were no real disturbances. Even the wild animals seemed to be resting. Perhaps it was due to the natural aura of danger I emitted or maybe it was just luck. I didn’t really care.

When I arrived at the town gate, the new guards only glanced at me briefly without stopping me. As if my presence was nothing unusual, or perhaps they were just tired and didn’t want to hassle someone who looked like a low-rank adventurer. I had no intention of causing any more commotion.

I headed straight to the hunters’ guild a two-story building made of gray stone with a red wooden roof, not far from the small marketplace at the town’s center. Hanging out front was a wooden sign that read [HUNTERS’ GUILD – SOUTHERN BRANCH], bearing the symbol of two crossed swords and a wolf.

I pushed open the heavy front door and was greeted by a lively atmosphere. The clinking of glasses, the laughter of adventurers, and the chime of coins blended into a single soundscape. But I walked straight to the reception desk. Behind the counter stood a young woman with light brown hair, busily writing with a quill.

She looked up as I approached. "Good evening. How can I help you?"

I pulled out a small pouch filled with medicinal herbs I had harvested today and placed it on the counter. "F-rank quest. Medicinal plants."

She took the pouch and began inspecting the contents one by one. Her eyes lifted slightly, surprised by the quality and quantity of the herbs I brought.

"All in excellent condition... and there are even some rare ones that beginners usually don’t bring. You harvested them carefully, didn’t you?"

I only gave a brief nod.

"Alright. Here’s your reward twenty copper coins." She placed several dull-colored coins on the counter.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough. With a frugal lifestyle, that amount could last me two or three days.

I took the coins and tucked them into the small leather pouch on my waist. "Thank you."

As I turned to leave, the woman called out to me again. "Hey... if you’re interested, there’s an E-rank quest you might like. Still about herbs, but you’d need to go deeper into the forest."

I glanced back briefly. "Later."

Then I walked out of the guild. I wasn’t going back to Velthya’s house tonight. Not because there was a problem just that... I needed time to myself. To think.

Along the way, I observed the small inns lined up on the west side of town. Some were already full, others looked empty. My eyes fell on a two-story building with an old sign that read "Old Moon Inn." Not luxurious, but clean and quiet. It looked like the kind of place that could give me peace tonight.

"Welcome. Looking for a room for the night?" asked the receptionist, an old man with a raspy voice.

I nodded. "One room. No meals."

"Five copper," he said, holding out his hand.

I paid and received an old key with a wooden tag. My room was on the second floor. After climbing the softly creaking wooden stairs, I opened the door and stepped into the small space.

The room was simple. One bed with a somewhat stiff mattress, a small table, a wooden chair, and a little window facing a narrow street. No candles were lit only the faint dusk light seeping through the thin curtains.

I dropped myself onto the bed, letting the weariness seep into my pores.

My body might not feel tired like an ordinary human’s, but my mind... there were too many things weighing on it lately.

Staring at the ceiling as shadows began to fill the room, I let my thoughts drift.

What will I do next...?

I’ve been in this world for several days. Or weeks? It’s hard to measure time precisely. But one thing is clear I still haven’t found a way back.

My system also... for some reason, has been silent for a while. No mission notifications. As if it had died only showing the status as usual.

My thoughts continued to wander. Should I look for another portal? Or create one myself? But how? Even with Void Step, I could only teleport not cross worlds.

Will I stay here forever?

I let out a long sigh.

Part of me truly doesn’t want to go back. This world is quieter, slower. Here, I can live as a normal person. But another part of my heart... screams. My old world Sofia, Celes, my army, they’re all still waiting for me. They need me. And I... can’t leave them alone.

I must return. Somehow.

But for now, tonight, I need rest.

Unconsciously, my eyelids began to close. The sounds outside began to fade. And in the silence of that little room, I drifted into a sleep I rarely found.

The next morning, I was awakened by the warm sunlight seeping through the small window in my room. The light slowly spread across the cold wooden floor, marking the start of a new day.

I sat up slowly on the bed, blinking a few times before letting out a long sigh. No dreams, no strange voices just a quiet and empty sleep, as if I had been embraced by a calming silence.

After getting ready quickly, I went down to the first floor and stepped out of the inn. The morning air was fresh, with a light breeze carrying the scent of flowers and freshly baked bread from nearby shops. Though I didn’t physically need food, this body had grown accustomed to the rhythm of human life. Maybe it was just habit, or maybe... a small part of me still wanted to feel "alive."

I bought a piece of hard bread wrapped in a thin brown cloth and a glass of cold milk from a roadside stall. The vendor smiled kindly without asking too many questions, and then I made my way to a small park in the center of town.

The park was still quiet just a few children playing tag and an old woman feeding birds. I chose a wooden bench under a large tree, sat down, and unwrapped my bread, dipping it into the milk before taking a slow bite.

As I slowly chewed, I looked around at this town. People were living their lives peacefully. No screams. No chaos. A strange contrast to the world I came from or the world I was supposed to be in. But here I was, sitting with a piece of bread and a glass of milk, as if I truly belonged here.

And just as I was about to take the next bite

"There you are!"

A voice rang out sharp, emotional, and full of relief from a distance. I turned, and there running toward me was a very familiar figure.

Velthya.

Her blue dress was a little wrinkled, her silver hair disheveled like she hadn’t had time to brush it properly, and her face... full of worry. Her steps were quick, uncaring of the stares from people around who were now watching due to her raised voice.

Once she reached me, she stopped and bent slightly forward, panting.

"Y-you’re unbelievable... Where have you been all night?!" she half-yelled, half-panicked. "Why didn’t you come back home? Do you even know how worried I was?! I thought you were kidnapped! Or ambushed! Or dragged into another dimension again!"

I just stared at her in silence, still holding my piece of bread. My silence wasn’t from indifference... I was just taken aback. Being scolded like this first thing in the morning? That was... new.

"Don’t just stare at me, say something!" Velthya stepped closer, her expression a mix of relief and frustration. "You think I could sleep peacefully when you just disappeared?!"

I lowered my head slightly and placed the bread on my lap. "Sorry."

Velthya froze for a moment. Her eyes widened slightly, perhaps not expecting me to apologize.

"I just... needed some space," I continued. "Last night, I wanted to think. Alone. I didn’t realize you’d be so worried."

Velthya bit her lower lip. Then slowly, she sat down next to me on the bench. Silence followed, with only the sound of wind rustling the leaves.

"I get it," she finally said, her voice softer. "But... you’re not alone, you know? Even if you think you don’t need anyone... someone cares. I care."

I turned to look at her. Her clear violet eyes were fixed straight ahead, not meeting mine, but I could feel the sincerity in her voice.

"If you disappear like that again..." she continued softly, "I’ll be really, really mad."

"Okay," I replied quietly. "I won’t vanish like that again."

She finally gave a small smile, though her eyes still held a trace of worry.

We sat in silence for a while, letting the morning slowly turn into midday. My bread had gone cold, and the milk was almost gone, but for some reason... it didn’t taste as bitter as before.

Velthya let out a long sigh and then stood up, fixing her hair.

"Well, if you’re done eating, let’s go home. I made you some tea."

I raised an eyebrow slightly. "Tea?"

"Special herbal tea that calms the mind," she said with a teasing smile. "You need it. Or would you prefer... a full day of scolding instead?"

I stood up without saying a word, simply nodding. Then followed behind her as we walked down the city streets.

For some reason, my steps felt lighter than usual.