I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl-Chapter 341 - 337 – Shadows at the Border

One week turned into two weeks, and the peace in Nocturne began to feel like a fragile dream.

Within the pitch-black, unyielding walls, the city continued to breathe with the same rhythm. The central market grew busier every day: human merchants from the old Earth hawked firearms modified with elven runes, tamed orcs opened stalls selling freshly smoked monster meat seasoned with magical spices, dwarves shouted offers of hybrid armor lightweight yet impervious even to high-level fire spells. Mixed-race children ran between the stalls, laughing while carrying strange toys: rubber balls that bounced on their own thanks to minor gravity magic, or undead dolls that could sing lullabies. The corpse fields on the city’s outskirts yielded abundant harvests of glowing black mushrooms, poisonous apples that became sweet after cooking, and even new plants from the fantasy world thriving in dead soil thanks to undead fertilizer.

Sylvia often sat in the castle garden, a daily ritual she never skipped. The beautifully carved blackwood rocking chair was her favorite spot, a cup of black rose tea always in her right hand, while Sofia usually sat on her lap or beside her, leaning in with her folded twelve wings neatly tucked. The little treant, now noticeably larger after absorbing nutrients from the castle soil, was always nearby, sometimes resting on Sylvia’s lap, sometimes planting its roots in the garden earth while "breathing" softly. Stacia and Alicia frequently joined them, bringing new books or potions from the market, sharing small stories about the increasingly lively city.

But beyond Nocturne, the new world was beginning to bare its fangs.

Reports from the border arrived more frequently, not just minor skirmishes anymore, but increasingly organized conflicts. Groups of mutated humans from the old Earth formed an alliance called "Pure Earth," claiming the new land as their right because "they were the ones who survived the apocalypse." On the other side, mages and knights from the fantasy world formed the "Alliance of Arcana," rejecting the "mutant invaders" they accused of disrupting the magical balance. Small villages along the border began to burn, merchant caravans were attacked, and the death toll rose daily. The remaining old-Earth radios broadcast emergency news almost every hour, while magical messenger birds delivered urgent scrolls to Nocturne every morning.

Sylvia read all the reports calmly as the stack of papers on the garden table grew taller, yet she never appeared disturbed. Zark came every afternoon with the latest updates, his voice hoarse but full of respect:

"My Queen, the clashes in the south are getting worse. There were 47 casualties yesterday. Pure Earth attacked a small magic temple, and the Alliance of Arcana retaliated with a storm spell that destroyed a mutant human camp and village. They’ve started using the name Nocturne as a threat: ’If you continue, the Queen of Death will come.’"

Sylvia merely nodded slowly, sipping her tea. "Let them use the name. As long as no one comes here, that’s enough."

Sofia, who as usual was sitting on Sylvia’s lap, let out a long sigh. "But the casualties are increasing, Sylvia. This morning I heard from an elf merchant that a small child died caught in the middle of the fighting. The child wasn’t even ten years old."

Sylvia fell silent for a moment. Her pitch-black eyes gazed toward the horizon, where thin smoke could now be seen more clearly rising from the southern border. The little treant on her lap murmured softly, its leaves brushing Sofia’s hand as if to comfort her.

"I know," Sylvia finally answered, her voice cold yet carrying a deeper tone. "But if I intervene now, they’ll see Nocturne as taking sides. War will reach here even faster. Let them weaken each other first."

Sofia nodded slowly, though the worry in her eyes didn’t disappear. "I’m just... afraid it will be too late."

Sylvia touched Sofia’s cheek with cold fingers. "I won’t let that happen. Nocturne is our home. If war draws near, I will stop it."

The little treant let out a small "hug... hug..." sound, its tiny branches wrapping around Sylvia and Sofia’s hands as if making the same promise.

In the distance, Zark appeared again with a new scroll. He bowed respectfully. "My Queen, there is news from the mythril mining team. They discovered an underground cave with a large quantity of death crystals. However... a small group of mutated humans tried to approach the area. The earth-element zombies have driven them away, but they threaten to return with greater force."

Sylvia took the scroll and skimmed it. "Reinforce the guards at the mine. If they come again, capture them alive. I want to know who sent them."

Zark bowed. "It has been ordered, My Queen."

He left once more, leaving Sylvia with Sofia and the little treant in the peaceful garden.

Sofia looked at Sylvia with eyes full of concern. "If the mutated humans start approaching Nocturne..."

Sylvia pulled Sofia closer. "They won’t. They know the consequences."

But deep in her cold heart, Sylvia knew this peace was fragile.

Out there, the dispute was growing larger.

And though Nocturne remained peaceful, the shadow of war was slowly creeping closer.

Sylvia took her final sip of tea, gazing at the darkening horizon.

If necessary, she would act.

But for now, she chose to savor the moment with Sofia before the storm truly arrived.

In the black castle garden, the evening breeze blew gently, carrying the scent of black roses and still-fragile hope.

Nocturne still stood.

And the Queen of Death waited coldly, patiently, with power ready to erupt at any moment.

...

Night began to fall over Nocturne, the faint blue aurora from the fusion of worlds still hanging in the sky like a thin curtain that never truly disappeared. Sylvia and Sofia remained in the castle garden, even though the night wind had started to carry a piercing chill. The little treant had fallen soundly asleep in Sylvia’s lap, its small roots anchored deep in the soil, its leaves spread out as though dreaming of the afternoon sunlight.

Sofia still leaned against Sylvia’s chest, her head resting on the Queen of Death’s shoulder, her twelve wings neatly folded but their tips occasionally brushing Sylvia’s arm like a gentle caress. She was quiet for a moment, listening to the heartbeat that didn’t truly exist in Sylvia’s chest, only the subtle vibration of the eternal Death Flame, like an everlasting breath.

"I’m scared," Sofia whispered softly, her voice nearly swallowed by the night wind. "I’m scared if the war gets closer... if it eventually reaches here. Nocturne is our home. I don’t want to see it destroyed again."

Sylvia didn’t answer immediately. Her cold hand slowly combed through Sofia’s blonde hair in a soothing, almost spell-like motion. Her pitch-black eyes gazed toward the city walls visible from the garden there, the dwarven crystal lamps began to light up one by one, creating warm patterns of light that contrasted with the darkness of night. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"If it reaches here," Sylvia said at last, her voice cold yet certain, "I will stop it. No one is allowed to touch Nocturne."

Sofia nodded slowly, though the worry in her eyes didn’t fully fade. "I know you can... but I don’t want you to have to do it. I want them to stop on their own. I want them to see what we have here that peace is possible."

Sylvia looked at Sofia with an expression she rarely showed anyone a hidden tenderness beneath absolute darkness. "They will learn. Or they will be destroyed. That is their choice."

The little treant murmured in its sleep, its small branches touching Sofia’s hand as if joining in the comfort. Sofia gave a small smile, wiping away the tears that nearly fell. "You’re right... but I still hope."

They fell silent again, simply enjoying each other’s presence. The night breeze carried the sounds of the city beginning to quiet merchants closing their last stalls, mixed-race children being called home by their parents, undead guards changing shifts with slow but steady steps. Nocturne breathed gently, like a living creature that knew its queen was watching over it.

Suddenly, Zark appeared again at the garden gate. He bowed respectfully from a distance, not daring to approach without permission. Sylvia gave a small nod, signaling him forward.

Zark approached slowly, his voice hoarse but filled with respect. "My Queen, forgive the intrusion. There is an urgent report from the scouting team at the northern border. A large group of mutated humans approximately five hundred strong is moving south. They’re carrying heavy weapons from the old Earth labs, and there are rumors they’re searching for a ’new energy source’ in our mythril mountains."

Sofia tensed in Sylvia’s lap. Her eyes widened. "They’re... heading toward the mine?"

Zark nodded slowly. "Most likely. The earth-element zombies and dwarves have already reinforced the defenses, but if they come with full force..."

Sylvia was silent for a moment. Her pitch-black eyes looked northward, toward the mythril mountains the newly discovered source of power. The little treant slowly awoke, its leaves trembling uneasily.

"How long until they arrive?" Sylvia asked, her voice remaining cold.

"If they maintain their current speed... three days," Zark answered. "They don’t know we’re already aware."

Sylvia nodded slowly. "Reinforce the mine. Do not attack yet. Let them come closer. If they enter Nocturne’s territory... I will greet them personally."

Zark bowed deeply. "Your orders will be carried out, My Queen."

He departed once more, his steps firm yet cautious.

Sofia looked at Sylvia with eyes full of worry. "You... will go?"

Sylvia pulled Sofia closer. "Not yet. Three days is enough time for them to reconsider. If they stop, good. If not..."

She didn’t finish the sentence. But Sofia knew if war came, Sylvia would end it in the way only the Queen of Death could.

The little treant murmured softly, its branches hugging Sylvia and Sofia’s hands as if unwilling to let go.