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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org

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A Corporate Slave Becomes a Villainous Nuisance in a Zombie Apocalypse Episode 23 Boom! Boom! Boom! Brilliant blue lightning descended from the heavens, striking down upon the zombies' heads in rapid succession. Crack! Blue and crimson veins spread across the faces and arms of those struck by the lightning. Thud! They charred black ‌and collapsed. Saint Yujein was methodically driving divine wrath into the crown of every undead creature blocking our path. "Urrgh...." "Gahhh!" Zombies crumbled to ash without a chance to resist. Lightning struck with perfect precision. Everyone's jaws hung open at that overwhelming power. I found myself thinking. Could the 'jein' in Yujein's name... possibly stand for Zeus? -Yusara's Three-Line Poem about Yujein- Yu: Yujein Jein: Zeus In: I'm sorry I won't be a nuisance to you anymore! 'That's pretty spectacular.' It wasn't the reverent scene I'd imagined—where light would envelop the zombies and they'd dissolve like foam—but I found this far more satisfying. 'If lightning suddenly struck like that from a clear sky, I'd definitely start searching for a god.' Though I'd probably search YouTube for "Why Does Lightning Strike" first. Tsk. Now that I looked closer, sparks were crackling from Yujein's fingertips and eyes as well. With her pink hair standing on end and electricity coursing through her entire body, Yujein truly resembled Thor. ‌'Zeus or Thor. That is the question.' I'd seen Zeus in a movie once—he had a beer belly. Let's go with Thor. For Yujein's sake. Crackle. Crackle. After her display of power ended, Yujein swayed. "Yujein!" I quickly moved to support her from beside her. Cold sweat drenched her forehead as she went limp. Her entire body was burning hot. "Are you alright?!" "Yes... My lady. Is everyone else safe?" "Of course we are!" We have Thor in our party, after all! 'How many did she take down by herself?' ‌‌‌I glanced around at the zombies reduced to powder—too many to even count. At this point, the true strongest force in our group wasn't Crown Prince Praha or Grand ‌‌‌‌‌Duke Cyprus. It was Yujein. [Contribution Ranking] 1st Place: Yujein (73)☆ 2nd Place: Praha (29) 3rd Place: Grand Duke (27) Something like ‌‌that? I wonder what that Nuisance Man—the one who'd said "women ‌‌‌‌are useless, let's abandon them and move on"—is thinking as he watches this spectacle unfold. 'You abandoned Yujein on the second floor earlier, didn't you? That means you're dead here.' Hmph! Thinking how much I'd love to hear the esteemed Nuisance Man's insights on efficiency and rationality, ‌‌I draped Yujein's arm across my shoulders. Mascarpone and Consomme, who'd drawn near, supported me in doing so. Mascarpone asked me. "What's happened to you, Yujein? Earlier you were struggling just from casting a blessing." "I... don't know. I just ‌‌felt cornered, like I was at the edge of a cliff... so I prayed that I'd gladly give ‌‌my life if it meant saving everyone else. And then suddenly..." "What?! Your life?! Does that mean Yujein will ‌‌‌die?!" She asked in startled alarm. Yujein shook her head. "I don't think so. ‌‌‌I'm not entirely sure, but... I've never felt my mind this clear before." "Phew. You scared me." I exhaled in relief. She shouldn't die at such a young age. Live long. Get regular health checkups too. 'What's so very Yujein about this is ‌‌that she prayed not for <herself> but for <everyone else>.' If it were me, I'd have begged, "Please save us all! Especially me! ‌You can't forget me!" Me! Me! Me! I probably would've ended up offending the heavens so much that no one got saved ‌‌‌‌at all. Consomme's eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands together. "Such overwhelming divine power! Even the highest priests of the ‌‌‌Temple have never wielded such ability!" "That's right. I always thought such power only existed in legends of ancient mages." Mascarpone quickly added that she wasn't trying to compare divine power and magic. "I'm beginning to feel that perhaps all these mysterious trials the Divine has sent us were arrangements made for Yujein's sake." "Or perhaps the Divine wished to save the Yujein you hold dear from these trials." I agreed. Salvation descending the moment I thought we were truly finished. What else could this ‌‌‌be but the love of the Divine? 'Then am I the one despised by the Divine?' Our party has both a saint and a villainess. So should I start resenting Yujein and causing trouble now? No, wait—was there even a ‌‌scene like this in the original story? There wasn't, right? Whatever. As long as we survived, that's what matters. "...You're truly remarkable, Yujein. Or should I call you Saint now?" Dazling murmured as if entranced, looking at Yujein with the bearing of someone ‌ready to kneel at any moment. I handed Yujein over to Dazling as she approached and stepped back. In an instant, all the spotlight shifted to Yujein. "To witness a miracle of God with my own eyes!" "If the Temple needs ‌‌‌testimony to prove ‌‌anything, I shall gladly come forward as a witness, Saint." "No... please, ‌‌not ‌‌to that extent." People surrounded Yujein. Those who had just been praising ‌‌‌me moments ago now offered their adoration and reverence ‌‌‌to Yujein. "Well... she is remarkable, I suppose." Even Nuisance Man. I was the ‌only one not included in that circle. It wasn't jealousy, of course. 'If Yujein is a Saint, can she speak with God? Does God know why I was possessed?' I had my own concerns, after all. ‌‌Honestly, Yujein ‌‌‌is amazing. The situation is dramatic too. A horde of zombies appearing at the very end when everyone was ‌‍exhausted. A Saint's awakening that reverses it all in one stroke. A World Cup where human rights are at stake— ‌‌(*Warning! If you lose, all citizens of the losing nation must become slaves to the winning nation for three years) where we're down 0:2. Then suddenly our country's striker, making his first appearance, scores two goals ‌‌in five minutes straight, ‌‌‌tying it 2:2. That kind of feeling? Except it's actually life and death. The awe-inspiring power of God. 'I should be the first to kneel and ask, "Saint! Do you perhaps know a way to send ‌‌‌me back to my original world? Has Thor not mentioned anything?" But I can't.' Praha spoke. ‌‌"When we return to the Palace, I will report everything that happened here and propose that Yujein be formally appointed as Saint." "That's right. Let's return to the Palace first." Yes. That's right. Let's go back first. Once we're back, we can do anything. "This is all thanks to Yujein...!" "No, not to that extent...." "It's true! We still don't know what's happening at the Imperial Palace right now, but I'm not worried anymore!" Thank you so much! Consomme, beaming with a bright smile, rushed toward the ‌portal first. ‌‌‌‌The others didn't stop her and freely headed toward the portal as well. "Yujein! Saint!" "You're so admirable!" I was walking slightly behind. The protagonist has awakened too, and unlike the others, I know for certain the Imperial Palace is safe. Feeling a sense of relief. Alone. That was the case until the Grand Duke spoke to me. "Shall I offer you my arm, my lady?" "Pardon? Why me? I don't understand the reason, but I refuse." "Tsk." 'Making that sound. Go support Yujein instead.' Why was ‌he talking to me now? The woman he loved had become a saint. But then. "My lady! Do you need assistance? I shall go at once!" "My lady! Why are you arriving so late!" "That's right! Come quickly!" Everyone called out to me. Even Praha was looking at me. "Ah...." "My lady!" Yujein, who had turned back mid-stride, ‌‌‌grabbed and pulled me along. "Why are ‌‌you so late? I thought the night would pass waiting for you. Come stand here quickly." Mascarpone and Consomme, who had been standing ahead, shifted their bodies slightly to ‌‌‌make room for me. '....' I stood there in bewilderment. Yujein, Mascarpone, the Grand Duke, myself, Consomme, Nuisance Man, Praha, and Dazling arranged themselves in a circle on ‌‌the portal in that order. "When will it activate!" I glared at Nuisance Man, still reeking of alcohol, standing beside Consomme, then turned my gaze to the portal beneath my feet. The ‌‌‌‌portal, moving by magical power and seen for the first time since I was born, was.... 'Like the ceiling paintings of Gyeongbokgung.' Vibrant hues of green, orange, and blue applied generously. Clouds and animals drawn there. As Praha murmured something quietly, light immediately entered the portal. That light surged upward like a pillar. The bright light obscured the outside world. ‌‌All I could see were the faces of my companions gathered in a circle. "It will take some time to fill the magical ‌power completely." "Yes." My companions replied obediently and looked at one another. Watching their grimy faces, each of us chuckled softly. "Just in case, please hide behind myself and Praha the moment the portal activates." "Yes. Understood." "Ah, I really... I'm going to wash up the moment we arrive." "Me too." "Yeah, Consomme, you definitely need to wash up." "My!" Lighthearted banter exchanged back and forth. "Mascarpone, you're not much better off either, you know?" "Still, I didn't blow my nose on my clothes." "Oh my! Oh my!" "Consomme, did you blow your nose on your clothes? Good heavens." "Grand Duke!" "What about the princess?" "What? I got snot on my clothes?" "...No snot actually got on them, but it seems you did ‌‌‌blow your nose." "...Ah." "I'll keep it ‌‌‌a secret." I found myself naturally woven into their banter. "Princess, why did you suddenly go so quiet? Are you struggling?" "Um... no, it's just. It is hard, but..." The moment I acknowledged that reality, I couldn't help but let out a small laugh. 'Wasn't I a ‌‌‌loner in this group just a moment ago?' I'd made friends without realizing it. '...This doesn't feel ‌‌‌so bad.' I brushed my cheek with the back of my hand to hide my rising smile. I looked ‌‌‌at my companions with fresh eyes. ...Let me admit ‌‌it. Honestly, I felt good. That must have been ‌‌‌why. I'd ‌‌‌carelessly let my ‌‌guard down after saying with my own mouth that ‌‌‌‌it wasn't over until it was over. 'Maybe the moment I enter this portal, the possession will be undone and I'll return to my original world.' Could this portal that looks like ‌‌‌the ceiling of ‌‌‌‌Gyeongbokgung be foreshadowing? I harbored hope arbitrarily. I muttered to myself with drooping shoulders. "Ah, I want to go home...." I miss Mom. I want to eat kimchi stew that Mom made with steamed eggs. I want to wash up refreshingly and drink coffee milk. When I get back, I'm deleting my search history and YouTube watch history first. What if ‌‌the police already saw ‌‌‌all my YouTube history since the missing person report was filed...! "Still, I just want to go home." The Grand Duke looked down at me muttering alone. He tilted his head and whispered. "It seems you've been through quite a lot. To hear the princess say she wants to go home." "What?" "You hate your home." "Ah...." That's right. Princess Yusara hates her home. Her parents discriminate between her and her younger brother. Unwilling ‌‌‌‌to be at home, she reluctantly attended parties where she wasn't welcomed, and filled the self-esteem that went unfulfilled at home by picking fights here and there. Hearing myself called "Princess." The Grand Duke, who had been close to the Princess in childhood, knew this fact. 'But how do I know about this situation? I don't think this ‌content was in the novel.' The doubt that flashed through my mind vanished quickly thanks to Consomme linking her arm through mine from beside me. Consomme, who was more reserved compared to her friend Mascarpone and had only grown close to me near the very end despite coming all this way together, smiled at me. "We're finally going home! The Princess must want to wash up quickly and take a hot bath too...." "Kyaaaah!" A zombie that burst through the light lunged at Nuisance Man with its jaws ‌open, and at that same instant, Nuisance Man grabbed Consomme standing beside him and used her as a shield. Consomme's arm, which had been linked through mine, went slack. The zombie's gaping maw tore into Consomme's cheek as she was thrust forward. "Aaaaaahhh!" "No!" At the same moment, the portal activated. [Imperial Villa Main Portal] - Yusara, Yujein, Praha, Grand Duke, Dazling, Mascarpone, Nuisance Man (Survived) - Consomme (Infected)

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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please ‌read directly on our official site: valirscans.org

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