My Harem of Dangerous and Crazy Women as a Reincarnated Necromancer-Chapter 38: Excursion Through the Haunted Forest

Mark and Yuki made their way through the dense forest, moving farther and farther away from the safety of their own dungeon.

The terrain was uneven, covered with twisted roots and vegetation so thick that barely any sunlight reached the ground.

Mark walked with the history book tucked under his arm, occasionally glancing sideways at the woman accompanying him.

Yuki moved with an unnatural grace; her feet barely made any sound on the dry leaves, while her gaze constantly scanned their surroundings.

’It’s strangely relaxing traveling with her.’

Yuki didn’t constantly try to get his attention. She didn’t ask every five minutes if he was okay or if he needed anything.

She simply walked beside him.

’This is... nice.’

Still, Mark decided to break the silence, more out of habit than necessity.

"The forest is pretty dense, don’t you think?" he asked, looking up at the treetops.

"Yes," Yuki replied curtly, without even turning her head toward him.

Mark simply nodded to himself.

They walked in silence for several more minutes before Mark asked another trivial question.

"How long do you think it’ll take us to reach the Demon Lord’s dungeon at this pace?"

"Three days," she answered, maintaining her steady pace with her eyes fixed on the path ahead.

And that was it.

Yuki didn’t try to continue the conversation, didn’t ask why he wanted to know, and didn’t make small talk.

She simply answered and returned to the comfortable silence that had settled between them since they left the dungeon.

For Mark, it was a blessing.

He didn’t have to try to be the charismatic Master or the imposing leader Ely expected him to be.

He didn’t have to pretend to be the perfect figure Aria adored.

He could simply be himself and think.

’What’s the best thing I can do from now on?’

The question kept turning in his mind as he ducked under a low branch and jumped over a particularly large root.

Staying locked inside his dungeon forever wasn’t an option, no matter how comfortable it was.

The outside world was dangerous, and if any kingdom or the Guild decided he was a real threat, they would send someone after him.

And next time, he might not be so lucky.

They could send someone neither Ely nor Yuki could stop.

Or worse, they could send an entire squad.

Mark frowned at the thought.

’I need levels... a lot more levels.’

If the Demon Lord’s dungeon was as dangerous as Ely and Aria claimed, the experience potential had to be enormous.

The monsters there were probably Rank A or even higher from the first floor, and if that was the case, the experience he could farm would be astronomical.

His goal was simple: level up until no one in this world could even dream of laying a finger on him.

Power was the only real guarantee of peace in a place like this.

’If I’m strong enough, no one will dare attack me. And if they do, I’ll crush them before they can even blink.’

Mark smiled faintly at the thought.

’Yeah... that sounds good.’

The first day of travel passed without any major incidents.

They walked for hours, stopping only occasionally so Mark could drink water or rest briefly.

Yuki never complained, never asked for a break, and never showed any signs of fatigue.

’I guess that’s one of the advantages of being undead. She doesn’t need to eat, sleep, or rest. It’s like having the perfect bodyguard.’

When the sun began to set behind the distant mountains, Mark decided it was time to stop.

"Let’s find a place to camp," he said, looking around.

Yuki nodded silently and began scouting the area.

After a few minutes, they found a small clearing protected by several large oak trees.

The ground was relatively clear of underbrush and there was enough space for Mark to comfortably spread out his sleeping bag.

Mark dropped his backpack and let out a tired sigh, feeling the weight of the day in his legs.

"We’ll camp here," he announced, starting to unpack his things.

He didn’t need to worry about making a campfire or setting up a defensive perimeter.

With Yuki nearby—who didn’t need to sleep or eat—she could stay on watch twenty-four hours a day.

Mark spread his sleeping bag on the ground and sat down, pulling some dry bread and cured meat from his inventory.

It wasn’t the most appetizing food in the world, but it was enough to keep him going.

Yuki remained near the edge of the clearing, her red eyes constantly scanning the dark forest.

"Aren’t you going to sit?" Mark asked between bites.

"I’m fine like this," she replied without taking her eyes off the woods.

Mark shrugged.

’Well... makes sense. She’s fully in bodyguard mode.’

Mark finished eating in silence, put his things away, and slipped into his sleeping bag.

The ground was hard and uncomfortable, but after walking all day, anything felt like a luxury bed.

"Wake me up if anything happens," Mark muttered, closing his eyes.

"Understood, Master," Yuki replied in her monotone voice.

And with that, Mark fell asleep, fully trusting that Yuki would keep him safe.

...

...

...

Somewhere in the same forest where Mark slept peacefully, the agonized screams of a man shattered the silence of the night.

"Please! Please, stop!" the voice begged, broken by terror and pain. "I’ll give you whatever you want! Money, magic items, anything! Just let me live!"

But his pleas fell on deaf ears.

The scream turned into a muffled groan, and then silence.

The area was illuminated only by the pale moonlight filtering through the clouds.

Ten corpses lay scattered across the forest floor.

Ten bodies that had once been adventurers—men and women dressed in armor and carrying weapons—now reduced to empty shells.

Their faces were frozen in expressions of terror, eyes wide open and mouths stretched in silent screams.

But the most disturbing detail was their physical appearance.

Each of them was deathly pale, their skin almost translucent.

And every one of them had two puncture marks on their neck—small, perfectly round holes where blood had once flowed, now dried into dark stains.

And now, an eleventh body joined the collection.

Standing over it, licking her lips with satisfaction, was a woman.

Or at least, something that resembled one.

She was of medium height, with a slender figure partially hidden beneath a dark purple outfit.

She wore a pointed witch’s hat of the same purple shade, tilted slightly to one side, giving her a playful air despite the death surrounding her.

Her hair was short and black, cut unevenly just below her ears, with a few strands falling over her pale face.

But the most striking features were her eyes and mouth.

Her eyes glowed with an intense red in the darkness, and when she smiled, she revealed a pair of sharp fangs still dripping with fresh blood.

"Ah, what a delicious feast these companions have given me," she said in a soft, almost amused voice, wiping a drop of blood from the corner of her lips with the back of her hand.

She stretched lazily, like a satisfied cat after a good meal, and observed the corpses around her with satisfaction.

"This should keep me full for a few days," she murmured to herself, counting mentally. "Ten Rank A adventurers and one Rank S... not bad for a night of hunting."

The woman walked lightly between the bodies, showing no trace of remorse or disgust.

To her, this was as natural as breathing.

She stopped beside one of the corpses—a young woman in light armor—and tilted her head curiously. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Though I must admit, the blood of young adventurers always tastes better," she commented with a smile. "It’s sweeter."

She straightened up and looked out into the dark forest, her red eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"But I wouldn’t mind a little appetizer," she said, licking her lips again, savoring the last traces of blood.

Her tongue slowly ran over her fangs, cleaning them meticulously.

"After all... the night is still young."