I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl-Chapter 384 - 380 – Execution

The nights in Nocturne were always cold, but that night felt colder than usual. Thin black mist drifted slowly through the obsidian corridors of the castle, carrying the scent of black roses blooming in the lower garden and the faint smell of hot iron from the dwarf forges that still worked late into the night. In the queen’s private chambers, a large room with jet-black stone walls, a massive obsidian bed layered with phantom wolf fur, and tall windows overlooking the faintly glittering city of Nocturne beneath the mist Sylvia and Sofia slept together.

Sofia curled up on Sylvia’s left side, her head resting on the queen’s chest, golden hair spilling across the darkness like fallen sunlight. Her breathing was steady and soft; her arms wrapped around Sylvia’s like she never wanted to let go. The purple snowflake crystal pendant at her neck glowed gently with every rise and fall of her breath, its small light the only star in the dark room. Noir curled at the foot of the bed, his small body coiled warmly, red eyes half-closed but still watchful, a loyal guardian who never truly slept.

Sylvia didn’t sleep deeply. She lay still, red eyes open, staring at the obsidian ceiling adorned with faint death runes. The Chain of Abyss lay loosely coiled around her wrist, cold and calm, but her mind never stopped turning. The traitors had been captured. The leaked pure mythril had been secured again. Veyr and the three human infiltrators were in the underground prison, awaiting execution this morning. Alicia had reported everything in detail: the gaps in the spirit perimeter had been sealed, human guards at the mythril vault replaced with lycanthropes, and the mining dwarves punished with a two-year ban on crafting anything from mythril.

Yet even though everything had been resolved, something still gnawed at Sylvia’s chest. Her trust in humans was wearing thinner. They who leaked, they who betrayed, they who always found reasons to take what wasn’t theirs. She had almost ordered the gates closed to human merchants, but Sofia’s words from the previous night still echoed: "Don’t close the door completely, Sylvia. Nocturne is great because of many people. Not because of one or two traitors."

Sylvia let out a soft sigh, cold breath escaping her lips and mingling with the warm vapor from Sofia’s. She pulled the phantom wolf fur blanket tighter around the girl, then closed her eyes. Not sleep, just rest. Her mind kept turning tomorrow morning, the execution. Celes would lead it. And after that... she would have to decide the next steps for Nocturne.

Morning arrived with black mist thicker than usual. Purple crystal light from the castle towers filtered slowly through the tall windows, bathing the room in cold, dark tones. Sylvia woke first, as always. She rose silently; her black coat already neatly folded beside the bed. The Chain of Abyss gave a single faint tremor, as if reminding her that today was no ordinary day.

Sofia stirred gently, golden hair tousled across part of her face. She opened her golden eyes slowly, then gave a small smile when she saw Sylvia already standing.

"Morning... ready for today?" she asked softly, voice still heavy with sleep.

Sylvia gave a small nod. "Yes. Get ready."

They prepared quickly but calmly. Sofia put on her dark gold tunic with a short misty-gray cloak the same outfit she had worn when they left Nocturne. The purple snowflake crystal pendant still hung at her neck, glowing softly like a reminder of their journey. Sylvia donned her long black coat lined with raven fur, Chain of Abyss coiled around her right wrist, the newly repaired crystal dagger at her belt. Noir leaped onto her shoulder; his cat size made him look like a cute yet deadly living accessory.

They left the room and walked through the cold obsidian corridors. Lycanthrope guards bowed respectfully at every intersection, their yellow eyes glowing with unwavering loyalty. There was no grand welcome, only quiet nods and firm silence. Nocturne was not a place for celebration; it was a place of power and today was a day of justice.

The castle’s black courtyard was already filled with Nocturne’s citizens gathered in quiet order. Shadow elves stood in the back rows, their red eyes glowing faintly. Mining dwarves stood with heads bowed, beards hanging heavy with shame. Young lycanthropes lined the sides; bodies tense but obedient. In the center of the courtyard rose the obsidian execution pillar not an ordinary gallows, but a column etched with death runes glowing dark purple, ready to absorb souls without leaving a trace.

Celes was already waiting in front of the pillar. Behind her, the three human traitors and Veyr the shadow elf intermediary were bound with glowing obsidian chains. They sat slumped on the ground, faces pale, eyes empty. There was no resistance left; they knew the end was near.

When Sylvia and Sofia appeared on the high balcony, the entire courtyard fell instantly silent. Every eye turned to their queen. Noir on Sylvia’s shoulder let out a single low growl almost inaudible, but enough to make the air feel heavier.

Sylvia stepped forward to the edge of the balcony. Her black coat fluttered gently even without wind. Her glowing red eyes looked down at the traitors, who now bowed their heads, too afraid to meet her gaze.

"Celes," Sylvia called in a flat but clear voice that carried to the far end of the courtyard. "Proceed."

Celes nodded. The obsidian chains binding the traitors vibrated, then slowly pulled them upward one by one toward the pillar.

There were no screams. No resistance. The death runes on the pillar flared brightly, absorbing their souls slowly but surely. Their bodies shuddered once, then went still. Their eyes emptied, breaths stopped. Their souls vanished into the dark purple runes, leaving nothing behind but empty husks that fell to the ground like broken dolls.

The entire courtyard remained silent. No cheers. No applause. Only heavy silence and the gentle rise of thin black mist from the earth, like the satisfied breath of the city.

Celes lowered her hand. Her crystalline wings folded back. She looked up toward the balcony, awaiting the next order.

Sylvia gave a small nod. "Done. Clean up."

Lycanthrope guards stepped forward, lifting the empty bodies quickly and efficiently. The mining dwarves bowed even lower than their punishment still in effect, but they knew this was not the end. Sylvia looked at them for a long moment, then spoke in a voice that reached the back of the courtyard.

"Mining dwarves. Your punishment stands: two years without touching mythril. Learn from your mistakes. Nocturne does not tolerate negligence."

Grimgor, the head miner, nodded slowly, his beard hanging heavy. "We accept, Your Majesty."

Sylvia looked across the gathered citizens. "Nocturne is strong because of all of us. But that strength is fragile if there are traitors within. Human, elf, dwarf, lycanthrope all the same. Betray once, pay dearly."

No one dared speak. Only respectful nods and firm silence.

Sylvia turned away, Sofia following at her side. They returned inside the castle. The obsidian corridors felt colder than usual, but to Sylvia, it was home. She walked to her private study, a large obsidian desk piled with parchment reports, and tall windows overlooking the city.

Sofia sat on the soft sofa in the corner of the room and let out a long sigh. "It’s over... but it feels heavy."

Sylvia sat in the small throne chair behind the desk, staring at the stack of reports. "It’s not over. We tighten everything again. Mythril mines are locked down strictly. Only dwarves are allowed inside. No humans near the vault."

Sofia nodded slowly. "And the humans who come to Nocturne?"

Sylvia was silent for a moment. She almost wanted to restrict them, close the gates to human merchants, forbid them entry except by special permission. But Sofia’s words from Ironvale still echoed: "Nocturne is great because of many people."

"I’ll allow them," Sylvia finally answered. "But stricter oversight. No more gaps."

Sofia gave a small smile. "Wise."

After that, Sylvia didn’t stop working. She left the castle again with Sofia and Noir, visiting various districts of the city. The southern farmlands: vast green fields now yielding abundant harvests of wild apples, crystal mushrooms, and lush green vegetables after the long rains. Farmers bowed respectfully as the queen passed; some offered small baskets of fruit as thanks. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The western livestock pens: enclosures for thick-furred cows with crystal horns, low-flying chickens, goats with glowing yellow eyes, rabbits with knife-sharp teeth. All the animals were tamer now lycanthrope handlers had trained them well. Sylvia touched the muzzle of the nearest cow; it bowed respectfully. "Good," she murmured. "Continue."

That afternoon, they returned to the castle. Sylvia entered her study and sank onto the soft obsidian sofa in the corner. She slumped gently, a quiet sigh escaping her lips from exhaustion. Her black coat fell to the floor, Chain of Abyss silent at her wrist.

Sofia sat beside her, hand resting on Sylvia’s shoulder. "Tired? Rest for a while."

Sylvia gave a small nod, her red eyes half-closed. "Yes."