I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl-Chapter 61 – The Return of Taste

Sofia placed a large piece of roasted meat—still steaming and warm—right in front of Sylvia. The cut looked mouthwatering: crispy, browned on the outside with a strong aroma of spices, while the inside remained tender and juicy from melted fat.

Sylvia stared at it in silence.

"Can I really... taste it this time?" she wondered quietly, lowering her gaze. A small hope she had long buried began to resurface.

With slow yet steady movement, two black chains emerged from her arms—their ends forming sharp, curved blades that gleamed under the firelight. With delicate precision, the chains moved, slicing the meat into smaller pieces. Then, like a trained servant’s hand, one of the chain tips skewered a piece and gently lifted it to her mouth.

As the meat entered her mouth and touched her tongue, Sylvia froze.

Then...

Something exploded inside her—not literally, but a sensation she hadn’t expected to feel again. Tender, fatty, savory, rich with seasoning... the juicy meat combined with the scent of garlic, black pepper, and a hint of honey made her tongue feel like it was dancing.

Her eyes widened slightly.

"I can... taste it...!" she whispered, barely believing it.

Her lips slowly curved into a smile. This wasn’t just food. It was a victory—against death, against loss, against the numbness of a body that never hungered. Now, she could eat. She could enjoy.

The chains, as if sharing her joy, began moving enthusiastically. Cutting, skewering, feeding her in a steady rhythm. Sylvia didn’t even need to lift a finger. She simply sat there, silent, savoring... and for the first time in what felt like forever, she ate heartily.

Sofia, sitting across from her, was stunned.

Her expression shifted from shock to a warm smile she couldn’t hide. She watched Sylvia eat nonstop, eyes alive with expression... and Sofia knew, this was more than just food. It was the return of a part of Sylvia’s humanity.

Sofia took a piece of meat from her own plate, dipped it into the house sauce, and began eating as well.

"Careful now... if you keep eating that fast, you might choke" she said teasingly with a smile.

Sylvia glanced at her, then raised an eyebrow and keep eating

Sofia chuckled softly.

The night rolled on warmly. Light banter, small talk, and the savory taste of roasted meat filled the back courtyard of the base. Some other soldiers joined in for a bite, and the atmosphere turned into a small feast amid the ruins of the world.

For a moment, in the middle of a ruined world... they celebrated the return of taste.

About an hour later, all that remained of the feast was a pile of giant boar bones and dying embers. Thin smoke drifted lazily into the night sky, while the orange glow of the fire painted the courtyard in warm hues.

I sat on a long bench, gazing up at the star-filled sky. The night breeze was gentle, carrying the earthy scent of smoldering wood. My stomach felt full, yet my body remained as light as ever.

Strange. I ate that much... yet my stomach isn’t even bloated.

I glanced down at my abdomen, puzzled. But then I smiled faintly. Maybe undead bodies don’t store fat like humans do.

I turned toward Sofia, who was cleaning up the cooking tools with the kitchen crew.

"Can I stay here for the night?" I asked.

Sofia looked over, and her smile bloomed instantly, like a flower touched by fresh water.

"Of course! You can sleep in my room," she replied—her voice softening at the end, cheeks turning slightly pink.

I simply nodded, accepting the offer without thinking much of it.

A few minutes later, the two of us were back in her room. A soft light glowed from the lamp, and the scent of lavender from a diffuser filled the air. Sofia, now seeming much more energized, suddenly grabbed my hand and said cheerfully, "Let’s bathe together!"

I paused, my body pulled toward the bathroom without a chance to resist.

Embarrassing... I used to be a guy, you know.

Still, my mind tried to stay calm. I’m a girl now... so this shouldn’t be a big deal, right?

As I stepped into the bathroom, the sound of running water and the scent of soap welcomed me. Sofia had already gone in first. I slowly began undressing, until I stood before the large mirror on one side of the room.

And for the first time since reincarnating, I saw my body—completely.

A slender yet strong build. Pale skin, soft like porcelain. Perfect curves. Long black hair cascading down my back. A face that... was too beautiful to admit out loud.

I stared at the reflection for a long time. Strangely, there was no awkwardness or lust. Just neutral admiration. A new body that felt like a perfectly fitting outfit.

I wrapped myself in a towel and stepped into the bathroom.

Sofia was already sitting in the oversized bathtub that was almost as big as a small pool. Steam rose gently, creating a light mist in the air.

"Come on in, the water’s nice," she said with a smile.

I nodded, sat on the edge, untied my towel slowly, then took a ladle and poured water over my head without much thought.

But the moment the water hit my hair, Sofia screamed, "No! Don’t do that!"

I froze. "...Why?"

Sofia looked at me like I was an alien. "You... you can’t just dump water like that! Long hair like yours needs proper care!"

I fell silent. Good grief... being a girl is complicated.

Sofia sighed, then came closer. She began to teach me directly how to wet my hair properly, apply shampoo from roots to tips, and the right motion to massage the scalp.

"I thought you were just a clueless zombie... but turns out, you’re even more clueless than that," she giggled.

I held back from saying that I used to be a man who showered in five to ten minutes, never caring about steps or techniques. No need to untangle long hair or choose soap based on floral scents.

And now... I was in a bathroom, with the light-girl, learning how to bathe.

Life really is strange, I thought.

But... maybe, strange like this isn’t so bad.