I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl

Chapter 492: Chapter 489 – Holiday and the Calm River

The next day, the morning sunlight gently slipped through the gaps in the thick silk curtains of the suite room at The Dragon Inn. The golden light softly split the darkness of the room, illuminating tiny dust particles dancing slowly in the air like golden flakes. There was no sound of the market crowd, the clatter of horses on the stone streets, or the shouts of merchants that usually filled the capital’s mornings. Only a peaceful silence that they rarely experienced lately, as if the world was giving them space to breathe after a long storm.

After days filled with intense battles, deadly palace intrigue, and the unexpected activity of selling ramen amid the chaos, the three sisters decided to take a complete break. No quests, no rescue missions, no dangerous journeys, and no plans other than to restore their tired bodies and minds. They needed this day a small pause before returning to the challenging reality of Nocture.

Sylvia woke up earlier than usual, even though her undead body didn’t truly need long sleep. She sat on the edge of the large, soft bed, her long black hair messy and cascading down her back, brushing against her pale shoulders. Alicia and Stacia were still sound asleep beside her. Their breathing was steady and peaceful, their chests rising and falling in a calm rhythm. Alicia’s beautiful face looked so relaxed, her lips slightly parted, while Stacia curled slightly to the side with an innocent expression like a child. Sol curled up at the foot of the bed, his bushy, soft tail covering his little nose. Qilin slept soundly in Alicia’s lap, his holy horn emitting a faint, warm light, as if guarding the dreams of the two girls with its natural holy power.

Sylvia smiled faintly at the sight. A rare smile full of warmth and affection. "Rest as much as you need," she murmured softly, her voice almost lost in the room’s silence. She rose with light and smooth movements, careful not to wake anyone. After putting on a simple loose grayish robe, she went downstairs to the dining hall alone.

The morning dining room was still quiet, with only a few servants busy preparing tables with clean white tablecloths and gleaming silverware. The aroma of warm toasted bread mixed with richly spiced thick meat soup, scrambled eggs with fresh herbs, and steaming herbal tea tempted the appetite. Sylvia ordered a light portion of toasted wheat bread with berry jam, a bowl of chicken soup, and a glass of warm chamomile tea, then sat at her favorite corner table near the large window overlooking the inn’s back garden.

The garden was green and peaceful, with morning flowers beginning to bloom and dew still clinging to the leaves. Sylvia slowly enjoyed her breakfast, savoring every bite with gratitude. Her thoughts drifted to various things: her new Level 200, Mušmaḫḫū who had become a loyal zombie under her control, the reappearance of the traitor Viktor, and the increasingly dangerous intrigue from the Crown Prince. However, this morning she chose not to think too much about them. Today was a holiday.

After breakfast, she returned to the suite room. Alicia and Stacia were already awake, but both chose to spend the day with relaxing activities indoors. Alicia sat at a small table near the window, the morning sunlight illuminating her soft blonde hair. Her sewing needle moved quickly and precisely, weaving fine protective runes into white silk fabric that would become a spare dress. Every stitch was accompanied by a small flow of mana that made the runes glow faintly. Qilin slept comfortably in her lap, occasionally purring softly as Alicia’s hand stroked his soft fur with affection.

Stacia, as usual, was immersed in her own world. She curled up comfortably on the soft sofa with a thick leather-bound novel in her lap. The pages turned slowly as she flipped through them, occasionally a small smile appearing on her lips when she found a funny or romantic part of the story, or she would frown when the plot took a dramatic and tense turn. "This is really good," she muttered occasionally, fully absorbed in the fictional world.

Sylvia didn’t have a hobby suitable for staying indoors like her two sisters. She tried sitting on the small balcony, gazing at the clear blue sky free of clouds, listening to the cheerful chirping of sparrows, and feeling the cool wind brush against her skin. However, boredom slowly crept in. Her undead body, which was always thirsty for movement, challenges, and action, was not used to a truly quiet and still day. She paced back and forth in the spacious room, cleaning small weapons that didn’t actually need cleaning, rearranging items on the table, and finally let out a long sigh while staring at the ceiling.

"If it’s like this, I’ll go crazy," she muttered softly, her voice filled with mild frustration.

Alicia looked up from her sewing, smiling gently and understandingly. "If you’re bored, just go out, Sis. We’re fine here. Enjoy the day however you like."

Stacia nodded without looking away from her novel, but her voice was warm. "Take Sol with you. So he doesn’t get bored either. Maybe he wants to run around outside."

Sylvia smiled faintly, feeling warmth from her sisters’ attention. "Alright. I’ll go to the river on the outskirts of the city. Fishing might calm this tangled mind of mine."

She changed into comfortable casual clothes: a simple loose black tunic, comfortable long pants, and light boots suitable for walking. After that, she called Sol, who immediately jumped onto her shoulder with enthusiasm, his tail wagging happily. After a brief farewell to Alicia and Stacia including a message to order lunch if they got hungry Sylvia left the inn.

The afternoon air felt warm and fresh, the gentle breeze carrying the scent of flowers from the city parks and a slight smell of damp earth. She walked casually along the capital’s main street, passing busy merchants hawking their wares and citizens going about with light steps. Some people glanced at her with looks of admiration and respect the news of the spectacular victory over Mušmaḫḫū had spread widely like wildfire but no one dared approach or disturb her. Sylvia felt relieved; she didn’t want popularity to ruin her holiday.

The walk to the river on the outskirts of the city took about half an hour on foot. The path she took became increasingly quiet, with lush trees beginning to dominate the scenery. The river finally came into view: flowing calmly between rows of willow and old oak trees, its water crystal clear to the bottom, sparkling like jewels under the sunlight. Some local fishermen were already there, patiently casting their lines, but the area was spacious enough that Sylvia could choose a quiet spot under a large willow tree. Its branches hung beautifully over the water’s surface, creating a natural shady curtain.

She sat on a smooth flat rock by the riverbank. Sol jumped down and sat beside her, his little nose sniffing the air with curiosity. From her dimensional storage, Sylvia took out a simple fishing rod she had made herself a sturdy bamboo pole, fine silk line, and a sharp iron hook. She attached a plump earthworm as bait, then cast the line into the middle of the river with a practiced motion. The water flowed slowly, creating beautiful and hypnotic ripples. The sound of wind brushing through the willow leaves, birds singing cheerfully overhead, and the occasional splash of fish jumping on the surface filled the air.

Sylvia sat silently, her dark red eyes staring at the constantly moving water surface. Her thoughts drifted far, but this time they weren’t too heavy. She thought about her new Level 200, her increasingly powerful dark strength, Mušmaḫḫū who had become an unexpected ally, the traitor Viktor who needed to be dealt with soon, and the latent threat from the Crown Prince. Everything felt like a tangled thread that she had to carefully and coldly unravel. But here, on the bank of this calm river, she could breathe for a moment without pressure.

Sol also stayed quiet, his tail wagging slowly. Occasionally he stared at the water with curious eyes, his ears twitching at small sounds.

A few minutes later, the fishing line tugged strongly. Sylvia pulled gently but firmly, and a large trout leaped out of the water, its scales sparkling in the sunlight. She smiled slightly, carefully releasing the fish into a small woven basket she had prepared. "Not bad for a start," she muttered while stroking Sol’s head.

Time passed slowly and pleasantly. Sylvia continued fishing, occasionally talking softly to Sol about their past, about the early days in Nocture filled with zombies, about Sofia’s struggles, about the dream of building a safe undead kingdom. Sol purred in response, as if truly understanding every word, occasionally pressing his head against Sylvia’s arm seeking affection.

Afternoon turned to evening. The sunlight began tilting westward, coloring the river with a beautiful golden-orange gradient. The shadows of the willow trees lengthened across the water’s surface. Sylvia let out a satisfied sigh; her basket was already full of fresh, still-twitching fish. "Enough for dinner tonight. Let’s go home, Sol."

She stood up, stretched her stiff body, then walked home with light steps. Sol returned to her shoulder, his tail wagging happily. The evening breeze blew cool, carrying the scent of wet grass and wildflowers. For a moment, the world truly felt peaceful far from battles, political intrigue, and the smell of blood.

But Sylvia knew this peace was only temporary. Tonight, she would discuss their return plans to Nocture with her two sisters. Viktor had to be confronted directly, and this empire was starting to become too dangerous for them to stay any longer.

When they arrived at the inn, Alicia and Stacia greeted her with wide smiles. The aroma of simple cooking could already be smelled from the small kitchen in their suite they had prepared fresh vegetables and spices. That night, they ate together at the small table in the suite: freshly grilled fish with aromatic herbs, crispy warm bread, clear vegetable soup, and sweet herbal tea. Light conversation flowed with warmth, soft laughter, and old stories about their adventures. For that night, there was no talk of danger or enemies. Only family enjoying each other’s.