Whoooosh~
A violent gust ripped through the darkness, scattering a thousand sparks from the abyss below.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" the ghostly guard said casually, as a flaming arrow went straight through his face.
"BURN THEM!""CAN THEY DIE? CATCH HIM ALIVE!""I WANT TO ROAST THAT GUY!"
Yeah. Chaos. Absolute chaos.
A whole crowd was losing their minds, firing burning arrows at our ship — which, by the way, was swimming upstream like some mythic carp trying its best to become a dragon.
Honestly, I did feel a bit guilty.If someone blew up my house after I'd lived there for a couple thousand years, I'd be mad too.
I looked around the ship cutting through this reversed waterfall, oddly fascinated by the contrast between the raging storm outside and the weirdly peaceful mood inside.Ghosts were walking around, chatting, playing games, acting like they weren't under siege.
I remembered how we'd destroyed the stone statue earlier. A torrent had burst open, and before I knew it, the ghosts had summoned this massive ship while the others were still busy looking for the culprits.
"It's been, what, nineteen hundred years since someone managed to open that waterfall? Finally, someone found the way out."A ghost patted my shoulder and grinned.
"WHAT A DAY TO BE ALIVE, HUH, KID!" he yelled, and the rest cheered with him.Apparently, this was the most exciting thing that had happened since their deaths.
'Never thought things would turn out this way,' I muttered inwardly, too tired to react.
In the original novel, the protagonist simply walked back the same way he came.Me? Half-dead, half-soul — I couldn't even walk back.Only "in," never "out."
'Still, at least I remembered those two key fragments… Past me, you genius bastard.'I smiled as another arrow passed harmlessly through me.
"Thanks a lot, everyone!"I waved at the ghosts as I jumped off onto solid ground.
Looking up, I realized this cave's exit wasn't the same as the one I came in from.Figures.
"Goodbye, everyone!"The skeletal guard, his skull still dusty from centuries, gave a dramatic bow to the ghosts on deck before turning to me.
"So, you agree to the terms?" I asked, smiling.
He didn't answer. Just extended his hand.I took it.
"You really are a schemer," he muttered coldly, remembering the contract I'd offered him.
I just smiled wider.
"AAAHHHH~"
I groaned, stretching after what felt like the best nap of my undead life.
Judging by the clock, it was 1 AM.I'd slept, what, twelve, thirteen hours? Not bad for a guy who technically doesn't need rest.
"You'd think I'd feel refreshed after passing out for half a day," I mumbled, dragging myself to wash up and change.
Looking in the mirror, I froze.
...I looked good.
Like, suspiciously good.
If someone saw me right now, they'd never guess I used to be a zombie.My skin was pale but clean, my face smooth — like I'd just come out of a beauty clinic instead of a tomb.
Apparently, long naps really do work wonders.
I left the room, glanced briefly at the skull sitting on the shelf, and ignored the creeping soreness in my body by… grabbing an ice cream.
"Hey, that's mine."
Lunas glared from the sofa, clearly unamused.
"When are you going to stop messing with me?" he said, flipping through a pile of files while munching on cake.
I plopped down beside him, picked up one of the reports, and started reading.Gotta act like a responsible boss sometimes, right?
Crunch. Crunch.
"Hm?"
Before I realized it, Lunas had shoved the entire cake into his mouth the moment he saw me looking.
I blinked. Then burst out laughing.
"Pretty sure I pay you enough, don't I?" I said, handing him a napkin.
"...Whatever you think," he grumbled through a full mouth.
I chuckled, stood up, and stretched. "I haven't had breakfast—or lunch. Wanna go out?"
I grabbed the skull, tossed it into my bag, and closed the door behind me.
Later that day, on one of Pegasus City's busiest streets…
Laughter, music, and chatter filled the air — which only made the sight of us stand out more.
A murder of crows suddenly descended on a man in a black suit and hat, his face hidden under a veil of shadow.They perched on his shoulders and hat, one even landing on the small white skull mounted atop his silver cane.
"Mom, look! That guy's cane looks so cool!" a kid said, tugging on his mother's sleeve.
"Uh—yes, honey, let's go. Quickly."
They hurried away.
"…Am I really that scary?" I asked, glancing at Lunas, who was calmly eating a hotdog next to me.
Unlike me, he looked perfectly normal — just a guy in a white shirt and black pants, sipping on a drink.
"Well," he said, deadpan, "it'd be nice if someone didn't mistake you for a vampire today."
"Hey, not my fault. I'm not your dad, so don't nag me. Anyway…" I leaned closer. "What's with that look?"
He sighed, scanning the park. "Just saying… nobody dresses like a mob boss at an amusement park."
Whoosh!
A roller coaster zoomed by, riders screaming in joy.
I sat down next to him, pretending to be serious.
"I thought this was the annual costume festival."
"Oh yeah? And what are you dressed as, then?"
"…The Black Organization."