I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl - Chapter 285

Chapter 285: Chapter 281 – The City Beneath the Peaceful Starlight
The air was still warm after the explosion in the sky had faded.

The once-violent waves of energy that had shaken the very fabric of space slowly dispersed, replaced by a lingering heat gentle, almost like the dying breath of the flames and magic that had devoured one another. The violet light that had danced across the heavens dimmed, turning into a soft gray dust that drifted away like fallen starlight.

Sylvia stood motionless amid the ruins of the battlefield, her crimson eyes fixed on the silver-haired man before her…

Decarabia.

He remained composed, standing tall and graceful, as though nothing had happened. And yet, this was the same man who had just stopped an explosion strong enough to obliterate half the underworld… with one hand.

“When you’re ready,” he said calmly, his voice gentle yet carrying the weight of authority, “the gate to the sixty-eighth floor is close by. I’ll guide you there.”

His tone was polite and warm, even but that was precisely what made Sylvia uneasy. Perhaps it was his unshakable composure, or the dignified grace that seemed to radiate from every gesture; he was simply too calm for someone who had just stared death in the face.

Stacia tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her silver eyes.

“So, you’re… the lord of this floor?”

Decarabia turned slightly, offering a soft, refined smile.

“Correct. Or rather the former Lord. I relinquished control of this floor to Lord Belial centuries ago. But I’ve remained here since then… to watch over the gate between two domains.”

Alicia arched an eyebrow. “Sounds like a busy butler’s job.”

“Not an ordinary butler,” Stacia interjected, glancing at Sylvia. “He just stopped a blast that nearly wiped the three of us out.”

Sylvia merely scoffed and began walking. “Let’s keep moving. I don’t plan to linger.”

The four of them descended the shattered silver plain. Cold wind brushed past them, carrying the scent of metal and ash, while the sky above pulsed faintly like the slow, weary breath of a dying world.

Decarabia walked on their right, each of his steps measured and soundless, his long black coat swaying gently under the artificial starlight of the underworld. His voice broke the quiet again, calm, smooth, and deliberate.

“So,” he began, “I was sent personally by Lord Belial. My task was simple: to test the girl who managed to capture his daughter’s attention.”

Sylvia stopped.

She turned her head slowly, narrowing her eyes.

“…Test? You mean that battle just now…?”

Decarabia’s polite smile didn’t waver. “Indeed. And I must say, the result was impressive. You far exceeded expectations, Lady Sylvia.”

His sincerity only made her irritation worse. She exhaled slowly, rubbing her face with one hand. “All this… just because Seere likes me?”

“Precisely,” he replied without hesitation. “Lady Seere rarely shows interest in anyone. When she told her father about a black-haired queen who defied the flow of time, Lord Belial decided it necessary to verify… who was capable of capturing his daughter’s heart.”

“Capturing her heart?” Sylvia almost laughed, but her voice turned flat instead.

“She’s only met me once.”

Behind her, Alicia and Stacia both failed to suppress a laugh. Alicia covered her mouth, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Looks like you’ve got a new admirer, Sylvia.”

“And not just any admirer,” Stacia added playfully. “A demon princess.”

Sylvia froze again, her shoulders tensing. “You two. Stop.” The more she said it, the harder it was for them to contain their laughter. Alicia even reached out to pat her shoulder, still giggling.

“If you become Belial’s daughter-in-law, maybe we can vacation in the underworld without fighting through fifty floors of hell.”

“And we might get a butler this elegant,” Stacia teased, glancing at Decarabia who merely smiled politely, taking it as though it were a genuine compliment.

Sylvia groaned softly, covering her face with one hand. “Please stop. I already have Sofia…” The last word escaped as a whisper quiet, almost wistful but enough to make both her sisters exchange knowing smiles.

Stacia murmured, “She’ll be jealous if she hears about this.” Sylvia shot them a sharp look. “If she does, I’m blaming both of you.”

Their journey continued in that strange mix of calm and mild irritation light-hearted, yet awkward while Decarabia remained unfailingly courteous with every step.

Gradually, the sky above them began to change. The oppressive black faded, replaced by a softer hue of night, shimmering faintly like silk.

Before them rose a tall gate of black stone veined with glowing blue crystals, pulsing gently like the veins of a living being. As they stepped through it… the world changed.

The sky remained dark, but it was no longer dead. Stars scattered across it, some so close that their light seemed to dance upon the streets below. A breeze drifted through, carrying the scent of life warm, sweet, and utterly foreign to their senses.

Yet it wasn’t the sky that stunned them.

It was the sight beneath it.

A sprawling city stretched out before them. Smooth blackstone streets gleamed like glass, lit by sapphire lanterns at every corner. Buildings of all shapes and styles stood in harmony, spiraling towers, curved-roof houses, crystal bridges arching over glowing canals.

Everything radiated a tranquil brilliance, as though even the darkness here had chosen to rest.

“This is… a demon city?” Alicia whispered in awe.

“Not just any city,” Decarabia answered softly.

“This is Altherion, the City of Equilibrium. A place where the races of the underworld coexist without war. Here, Lord Belial’s law holds absolute sway.”

Stacia observed her surroundings with wonder. Among the streets moved beings of every kind, horned demons buying fruit from a stall, two succubi laughing outside a café, even a tiny dragon selling books from a floating cart.

As Sylvia and her sisters walked through, many turned to look. None dared to approach. Some even bowed their heads in quiet respect, recognizing the overwhelming aura around them.

They stopped by a small stall selling bright purple fruit. Sylvia tilted her head. “What fruit is this?”

“It’s called Velcora,” Decarabia replied smoothly. “It tastes like a mix of grapes and roasted meat. Though… it can be dangerous for ordinary living beings.”

“Dangerous?” Sylvia asked.

Alicia activated her appraisal magic, reading the faint runes that appeared.

“‘Temporarily strengthens the body for ten minutes, but may cause tissue damage.'”

“For humans, yes,” Decarabia added. “But for undead like yourself… it enhances the regeneration of dead tissue.”

Sylvia examined the fruit for a moment then bit into it without hesitation. Its flesh was soft, tasting like sweet wine soaked in smoky sauce. Strange, but refreshing.

Alicia stared at her. “You didn’t even think before eating that?” Sylvia gave her a flat look. “I’m already dead. Poison doesn’t matter.” Stacia chuckled. “She’s not wrong.”

Decarabia quietly handed over a few black crystal coins to the vendor, his manner utterly composed.

A few nearby demons watched curiously but quickly turned away once they saw him standing behind Sylvia. Wherever they walked, crowds parted instinctively half out of curiosity, half out of reverence.

After passing through the marketplace, Sylvia looked toward the city’s center, where a massive blue crystal tower reached toward the stars.

“That’s where Belial is, isn’t it?” she asked softly.

Decarabia followed her gaze, eyes filled with reverence.

“Indeed. Lord Belial’s palace rests atop Altherion. If you wish, I shall escort you there now.”

Sylvia’s eyes softened. “Not yet….” She turned, gazing at the city glowing beneath the starlit night.

“…I’d like to walk a little longer first.”

Her tone was calm, not nostalgic, but serene. Alicia and Stacia exchanged small smiles.

Decarabia bowed gracefully. “As you wish, my lady.”

They wandered the cobbled streets under the soft blue glow. The mingling voices of merchants, demons, tiny dragons, multi-eyed beings blended with the scent of spices and laughter. For the first time since entering the underworld, Sylvia’s steps felt light.

She stopped before a food stall where greenish meat sizzled on a hot stone pan. The air was thick with a metallic, savory aroma.

Alicia eyed it warily. “Are you sure that’s safe to eat?” The short-horned vendor smiled. “For humans? No. But for an undead queen… it’s quite nourishing.”

Sylvia shrugged, taking a piece and biting into it.

“Hm… texture like grilled fish, but with a metallic aftertaste.”

“It strengthens bone structure,” Decarabia explained evenly while paying with another coin. “By Lord Belial’s order.”

Stacia chuckled, sipping a cup of violet liquid she had just bought.

“So even street food counts as a royal command?”

“Indeed,” Decarabia replied without missing a beat. “Lord Belial dislikes his guests wandering without proper hospitality.”

Alicia sipped her own pink drink and promptly coughed.

“It tastes like flowers steeped in fire!”

Stacia laughed softly. “You forgot to neutralize the heat.” She tapped the table, sending a small surge of mana into the cup. The color shifted to a gentle blue.

“Try again.”

Alicia drank slowly this time, then smiled. “Ah… much better.”

Meanwhile, Sylvia continued walking through the rows of stalls. Her gaze lingered on glowing fruits, silk spun from young dragon hide, and jewelry embedded with living runes. There was something oddly soothing about the coexistence of demons and peace.

“This place…” she murmured, “…is nothing like the underworld I remember.”

Decarabia smiled faintly behind her.

“Lord Belial believes that even darkness must have a place to breathe.

And here… that darkness learns to live without killing.”

Sylvia looked up at the tranquil night sky, where stars hung softly above the blue crystal tower.

For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to simply stand still and enjoy the silence.