I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl-Chapter 349 - 345 – Morning in Nocture

Sylvia and Sofia continued their steps through the forest that now felt far safer. The branches that had previously intertwined like prison bars now willingly parted to open a path, the black leaves swaying softly as if escorting them home. The suffocating silence gradually faded, replaced by the faint sound of morning wind carrying the scent of dew and damp earth. Sunlight began to slip through gaps in the canopy for the first time since they entered the forest last night, a soft, pale golden light, like the lingering breath of the Simurgh library still clinging to their skin.

Sylvia paused for a moment at the forest’s edge, glancing back. The black trees stood silent once more, but something felt different as though they were watching, not threatening. She let out a soft breath, one that no longer felt heavy.

"It’s morning already," she murmured, her voice low but clear. "We spent the entire night there."

Sofia nodded, the golden spear of Lucifer still gripped tightly in her right hand. The holy light from its blade was now dimmer under the morning sun, yet it remained warm, like an embrace that never let go. Her eight wings were folded tightly, but the tips of their golden feathers still trembled faintly, as if responding to the lingering energy from the vision of Lucifer she had just experienced.

"I don’t feel tired at all," Sofia said, her voice light but tinged with wonder. "It’s like time inside that library... didn’t flow the way it normally does."

Sylvia gave a faint smile, her deep black eyes gazing at the brightening sky.

"Ancient knowledge has its own way of toying with time. Simurgh didn’t give us hours, it gave us moments. And those moments were enough to change everything."

They stepped fully out of the forest boundary. The moment their feet touched the ground beyond that zone of stillness, the world seemed to breathe again. The morning breeze of Nocturne greeted them gently, carrying the scent of newly bloomed black mushrooms, smoke from the dwarves’ forges already at work, and the faint fragrance of black roses from the distant castle garden. The death crystals along the city streets began to dim slowly, replaced by sunlight filtering through the thin morning mist.

Nocturne was waking up gradually. Merchants of various races were already opening their stalls, mixed-race children ran through narrow alleys carrying glowing orbs from tame wisps, and dwarves walked with heavy steps carrying fresh equipment from the mythril mines they had only recently reopened after the explosion days ago. A few earth-element zombies stood motionless at the roadside, their empty eyes patiently watching the morning traffic.

Sylvia and Sofia walked toward the city center, their steps in sync even without words. Before heading to the hunters’ guild to report the "exploration quest results" which were in truth far greater than just a forest map they decided to have breakfast first. Their bodies no longer needed food, but old habits died hard, and this morning felt like the perfect moment to sit, breathe, and think about what they should actually report.

"No one will find the Simurgh’s place," Sylvia said quietly as they turned toward the morning market. "That forest chooses who may enter. If we tell them exactly what happened, the guild will either think we’re insane... or lying."

Sofia nodded. Lucifer’s golden spear was now stored in Sylvia’s inventory, yet she could still feel its warm pulse in her palm, as though it didn’t want to part from her.

"So what do we report? Strange forest, unstable vegetation, invisible monsters?"

Sylvia gave a small smile. "That’s enough. Let them think we were just lucky to survive. The rest... stays with us."

They stopped in front of one of their favorite stalls at the edge of the market, a small kiosk run by an elf woman who used to be a chef at a high-end restaurant in her homeland before moving here through a portal. Her name was Mira. Her light green hair had faintly glowing golden tips, and her gentle green eyes lit up the moment she recognized them.

"My Queen... and Miss Sofia," Mira greeted softly but with deep respect. "What a beautiful morning. The usual breakfast?"

Sylvia nodded. "Two portions of meat soup with bread, and warm soy milk."

Mira moved quickly, but when Sylvia reached for some coins to pay, the woman shook her head firmly.

"No, my Queen. This is for you. Free. You’ve already given us Nocturne a place where we can truly live again, not just survive. This breakfast... consider it a thank-you from all of us."

Sylvia looked at her for a long moment, then let out a soft breath one more like a gentle breeze than a human exhale.

"Very well. But next time, let us pay."

Mira beamed. "Next time, my Queen."

Soon after, two steaming bowls of meat soup and two glasses of warm soy milk were handed to them. The soup was a clear, gentle broth with chunks of monster boar-like meat, rich earthy aroma mixed with a subtle sweetness from spices. The hard bread beside it was crisp on the outside, soft within, and felt almost like biting into frozen mist.

They walked to a small park near the market that had once been ruins but was now filled with glowing lush trees and deep-purple flowers that bloomed only in the morning. They sat on a long stone bench facing a small lake, its surface rippling gently like a breathing mirror.

Sylvia sipped her soy milk slowly; the warmth spread through her undead body that shouldn’t have been able to feel temperature anymore.

"We need to be very careful with our report," she said. "The guild doesn’t need to know about Simurgh, the codex, or the spear. Just say we found an area with unstable magical energy, some fast shadow monsters, and we survived... thanks to luck."

Sofia nodded while blowing on her soup. The meat pieces inside the bowl gave off a soft glow every time she stirred.

"I agree. Besides, if we tell them the truth, they’ll ask endless questions. And I’m not ready to explain why Lucifer’s spear suddenly ended up in my hands."

Sylvia let out a rare, quiet, genuine laugh.

"You are now the rightful owner of the strongest angelic weapon that ever existed. That’s not something that can be explained with ordinary words."

They ate in comfortable silence, accompanied only by the distant laughter of children of various races playing and the morning breeze carrying Nocturne’s scent. The sun climbed higher, the morning mist began to dissipate, and the singing city of the dead felt more alive than ever.

Yet beneath that calm, both of them knew something was stirring. The codex that remained unopened, the newly acquired spear, the sudden holy breeze they had felt on their skin earlier... all of it felt like signs that the world’s balance was shifting once more.

Sylvia gazed at the small lake before them, her reflection in the death-essence liquid appearing sharper than usual.

"We have to become stronger," she murmured softly. "Not just for Nocturne. For whatever comes after this."

Sofia nodded, her hand resting on the golden spear now safely stored in her inventory once again.

"I’m ready. With you."

They finished their breakfast in that comfortable quiet, then stood up. The hunters’ guild awaited them, and the report they would give was merely the surface of everything they had truly brought back from that silent forest.

(They finished their breakfast in comfortable silence, accompanied only by the distant laughter of children of various races playing and the morning breeze carrying Nocturne’s scent. The sun climbed higher, the morning mist began to dissipate, and the singing city of the dead felt more alive than ever. Sofia’s soup bowl was already empty, but she still held her glass of warm soy milk with both hands, as though seeking extra warmth from the drink. Thin steam rose from the glass, curling slowly in the air before vanishing, like unspoken thoughts.)

Sylvia set her bowl down on the stone bench, her fingers briefly touching the cold surface. She looked at Sofia, who was still staring at the small lake with an expression mixed between calm and unease.

"We should head to the guild now," Sylvia said quietly, her voice flat but firm once more. "The longer we delay, the more people will wonder why the Queen and her angel disappeared all night."

Sofia gave a small nod, then finished the last of her soy milk. The gentle sweetness lingered on her tongue, reminding her of ordinary mornings that now felt distant. She stood, brushed off her white dress that was slightly dusty from the forest journey, and extended her hand to Sylvia.

"Come on. Better finish this before the rumors start spinning."

Sylvia took the offered hand and rose with the graceful motion that had become part of her. They walked side by side toward the Nocturne Hunters’ Guild, passing over black stone streets that glistened from morning dew. Several city residents bowed respectfully as they passed.

The hunters’ guild was housed in a large building of black stone and undead wood, its doors wide open with a massive quest board dominating the main wall. The atmosphere inside was already lively despite the early hour: people of various races checking the board, a beastman arguing about quest rewards, and a few elves whispering about the latest rumor from the mythril mines. The moment Sylvia and Sofia entered, the room fell briefly silent like a sudden pause in the wind.

The same nervous-looking elf receptionist from yesterday, pale green hair, large anxious eyes immediately stood straight. Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for the registration book.

"Y-Your Majesty... Miss Sofia... welcome back. The northeastern forest exploration quest... How did it go?"

Sylvia stepped forward, her voice calm and even as always.

"We returned in one piece. The area is indeed dangerous, unstable magical energy, strange vegetation, and some very fast shadow monsters. We couldn’t map it fully, but it’s enough to know that place shouldn’t be entered carelessly."

The receptionist scribbled quickly, hands still shaking but trying to remain professional.

"Were there... Any special findings? Or monsters that need to be noted as warnings?"

Sofia glanced briefly at Sylvia, then answered in a soft but firm voice.

"Nothing specific. Just living darkness and an instinct telling us not to go too deep. We survived... thanks to luck."

The receptionist nodded rapidly, as if afraid to ask anything more. She crossed out a few notes in the book, then handed them the quest receipt.

"Reward of 500 death coins will be transferred to your guild account. Thank you... and welcome back."

"Done."

They turned and left the guild without many words. Outside, the sun was higher, the death crystals had completely dimmed, and Nocturne felt brighter than usual. Sofia let out a long breath, as though a small weight had lifted from her shoulders.