The Aftermath: A Hero’s Return and a Villain’s Despair

From afar, the assault team had already broken free of the zombie-infested area, successfully joining Yali and the other survivors.

Witnessing the completion of their diversionary mission, Yodel, with Yelica at his side, fought their way through the remaining hordes, the two of them disengaging from the zombies and converging on the assault team’s position. They swiftly rejoined the main group.

As familiar faces of the survivors came into view, Yodel swiftly tallied their numbers, a wave of relief washing over him as he realized, miraculously, every single one had survived.

Without a moment’s hesitation, they immediately regrouped and departed the contaminated zone.

The journey back proved far safer than anticipated, largely due to Yodel and the assault team having decimated nearly ten thousand zombies, significantly thinning the horde’s density across the entire infected zone.

While scattered individuals could still be spotted along their path, they no longer posed a threat of encirclement.

Once they had crossed the defensive perimeter and returned to the safety of the city, both the survivors and the assault team members experienced a profound sense of rebirth, as if emerging from a long, dark night.

Isolated and helpless, confronted by an endless tide of monsters, they had watched their comrades fall, their numbers dwindling, with no glimmer of hope for escape. Before this catastrophe, no one—be they commoner, noble, or soldier—had ever truly faced such an apocalyptic vista.

Returning from the brink of the apocalypse to the familiar world, it was no wonder they felt as though they had traversed an entire lifetime.

Their safe return, however, could not be recounted without acknowledging Yodel’s pivotal role.

From orchestrating the survivors’ evacuation and engaging Balin in a climactic battle to turn the tide of despair, to ultimately leading the charge to break through the encirclement, his performance had been nothing short of brilliant.

Even Yelica found herself playfully teasing Yodel:

“You won’t be able to pawn off the credit on me this time!” Yelica declared. “Whether you like it or not, the name Yodel Finn is destined to grace the headlines of major newspapers across the kingdom, and indeed, the entire world!”

In the fervent gazes of both survivors and soldiers, Yodel could distinctly perceive their profound gratitude and admiration.

And these were merely individuals with whom he shared a passing acquaintance.

Yali, meanwhile, had long since burrowed into Yodel’s embrace, clinging to him and demanding comfort, refusing to be pried away no matter how much Yelica tugged.

She had been truly terrified for Yodel; the tragedy of losing her brother had nearly replayed itself, and her heart had been gripped by agonizing fear.

Yet, after the initial wave of anxiety subsided, a peculiar emotion stirred within Yali’s heart.

He had, after all, saved her upon their very first meeting, then helped her emerge from the shadow of suicidal despair, and even provided her with a life of comfort and abundance.

This had been more than enough to content Yali; she often prayed to the divine, offering thanks for the heavens having blessed her with a brother like Yodel.

However, as time progressed, witnessing him dispatch cultists with five precise shots, return from the dead, and effortlessly crush a zombie giant, she found her understanding of her brother diminishing with each astonishing feat.

Limited by her own worldview, Yali could only vaguely perceive that her brother possessed an extraordinary power, formidable in every conceivable sense.

His strength, wealth, intelligence, and emotional acumen were all so exceptional that he scarcely seemed human; indeed, he was one of the two best brothers in the entire world!

Naturally, this was Yodel as viewed through Yali’s affectionate ‘brother-filter,’ yet in the eyes of another, he presented an entirely different image.

“Boss!” a voice exclaimed. “I actually thought you were pulling my leg when you said I’d surely survive this ordeal!”

“Now I understand why you were so confident; it’s practically impossible to die when I’m by your side!”

“Did you already have a plan to lead us out when you said that?”

It seemed the sheer relief of escaping death had caused his suppressed emotions to erupt; the red-haired male student was now exceptionally animated, practically bouncing as he grabbed Yodel’s hand, peppering him with questions, clearly revering Yodel as the protagonist of a heroic saga.

“Oh, by the way, my name is Lynn Melson!” he blurted out. “Boss, ah, no, Big Boss, could you perhaps teach me some of your marksmanship? Not the ‘dozens of shots a second’ kind, just those few headshots you used on the cultists would be enough!”

Yodel found himself truly caught between laughter and tears. How could he possibly teach such a thing? While a ‘Big Boss’ might impart skills, he, a ‘cheater’ (TL Note: A slang term referring to someone using illicit game-altering software or possessing an unfair advantage), could hardly bestow his ‘cheat’ upon another, could he?

With Yali having transformed from his sister into a devoted fan, he now found himself with an additional, equally ardent fanboy.

And in stark contrast to the jubilant and excited scene surrounding them, Bob lay sprawled on the ground.

Indeed, the man had passed out.

The moment he witnessed Yodel’s ‘one-against-five’ feat, Bob had already begun contemplating his last rites. He was convinced that with Yodel’s terrifying marksmanship, he wouldn’t even live long enough to escape the infected zone, fearing he’d be eliminated by Yodel’s ‘cold shot’ (TL Note: A term referring to a precise, often unexpected, killing shot).

And when he witnessed Yodel severely wounded by Balin and subsequently taking his own life, a faint flicker of relief had, in fact, stirred within him.

He reasoned that if Yodel returned alive, his own demise was certain. But if Yodel perished, he might just have a slim chance of survival. After all, the zombie giant, having eliminated Yodel, might not necessarily target him next; it would likely pursue the bishop first, allowing him an opportune moment to flee.

However, Yodel had promptly resurrected, impaling both Balin and the entire zombie horde in one swift motion…

Utterly doomed! Completely and irrevocably doomed!

Bob now felt there was no need to even contemplate his last rites. With that kind of firepower, if his body were even reduced to ash, it would be a testament to Yodel’s extraordinary mercy.

Thus, after Yodel finally annihilated the zombie giant, Bob, amidst the joyous laughter of the surrounding survivors, effectively ‘called it quits’ (TL Note: ‘GG,’ a gaming term for ‘good game,’ implying surrender or defeat). His vision swam, then darkened, and he promptly collapsed into unconsciousness.

Ultimately, it was the assault team members, oblivious to the full truth of the situation, who carried the unconscious Bob back.

“Wake up, we’ve made it out, wake up!”

Bob groggily fluttered his eyes open, only to find a silver-white gun barrel gently tapping his cheek.

The one holding the weapon, however, was Yodel himself, gazing down at Bob with a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

“W-what are you going to do?” Bob stammered, trembling. “Don’t forget, I have connections with the Chant Church! Don’t think you can act with impunity just because you’re powerful!”

Bob shivered uncontrollably, his gaze fixed on the rifle that had undoubtedly claimed countless zombie lives, his sole hope resting on the possibility that the Church’s name might deter Yodel.

“Ah, yes, yes, yes,” Yodel drawled, “you know the Bishop, don’t you? Yelica, come over here and greet ‘your acquaintance’.”

“Huh? *My* acquaintance?”

Yelica, leaning on Yodel’s shoulder, peered out and squinted intently at Bob, scrutinizing him.

“Who are you?”

“I… I…”

“He claims to be collaborating with your Chant Church,” Yodel elaborated, “and even threatened to send inquisitors to ransack my home…”

Yelica instantly became alert, her lingering weakness forgotten. She seized Bob by his collar and shook him vigorously, shouting as she did so:

“Who sent you to sow discord between Yodel and the Chant Church?! Speak! Who *are* you?!”

As she shook Bob until he foamed at the mouth, she still managed to turn to Yodel and explain:

“I don’t know this man, Yodel! You absolutely mustn’t believe a word he says!”

“Alright, alright,” Yodel placated her. “I never believed him to begin with. I only called you over for the sheer amusement of it.”

Only then did Yelica confidently release Bob, tossing him aside without a second thought. But upon reflection, she summoned a few monks, instructing them to apprehend Bob and escort him back.

“Find his home address,” she commanded, her voice sharp. “Ransack his house for me! No one, *no one*, can be allowed to jeopardize Mr. Finn’s cooperative relationship with the Church!”

From Yodel’s embrace, Yali watched Bob being dragged away, murmuring to herself, ‘It seems I won’t need to seek out Principal Heliq after all. Brother truly can handle him all by himself.’

****

The survivors, having narrowly escaped death, celebrated amidst a cacophony of intertwined chaos and laughter as the sun slowly began its descent.

Despite the clear blue sky overhead, faint rumbling thunder echoed from the distance. The citizens quickly realized it was, in fact, the sound of heavy artillery opening fire.

Within the Kingdom Army’s encirclement, the venerable Leicester University was engulfed in smoke and dust, with flames leaping skyward.

Ancient tomes, portraits of past rectors, and priceless artifacts—all were buried alongside the zombies beneath a deluge of cannon fire and crumbling ruins.

Amidst the raging inferno consuming the academy, the zombie catastrophe finally reached an imperfect conclusion.

****

Kaik gazed in the direction of Leicester University, understanding that, at last, everything had concluded.

The Chant Church’s decisive blockade had not only saved millions of citizens but had also, inadvertently, spared him, the very instigator of the zombie catastrophe.

The hunched Elder approached his side, and together with Kaik, they watched the thick plumes of smoke ascending from the distant horizon.

“It’s all over,” The Elder murmured.

“Indeed,” Kaik replied. “The Eternal Life Society is finished.”

The Elder nodded slowly, his already gaunt frame appearing even more shriveled beneath his robes.

“Who, then, truly killed Balin?” Kaik pondered aloud, a note of confusion in his voice. “Wasn’t that bishop rumored to be quite weak?”

“The specific circumstances remain unclear,” The Elder replied. “I only managed to extract a vague piece of information from the zombies.”

“Oh?”

“While besieging the Bishop, they unexpectedly encountered a Divine Chosen One (TL Note: A person specially chosen by the gods), who was as monstrously powerful as they were accurate, landing headshots with every single shot. Even with every ounce of effort, they proved impossible to defeat.”

“…A Divine Chosen One?”

The Elder could only sigh in helpless resignation. He had instigated Balin to lead the assault on Yelica, and initially, everything had proceeded according to plan. Who could have foreseen Yodel emerging single-handedly, carving a path of destruction that shattered all of his carefully laid schemes?

With the entire upper echelon of the Eternal Life Society annihilated, all that remained were the defected Kaik and himself, a mere researcher…

“What will you do next?”

“I shall go to the Cross-Eagle Empire,” The Elder declared, “to continue my experiments.” He attempted to straighten his hunched back, then began to walk, his steps leading him deeper into the city.

“You haven’t given up yet?” Kaik exclaimed, recoiling in shock, taking several steps backward.

“Eternal life was Balin’s and my lifelong dream. As long as I draw breath, I will never abandon any hope of continuing to live.”

“I will defeat death! Even a Divine Chosen One cannot stop me!”

At a temporary isolation camp, a certain Divine Chosen One sneezed.

‘Strange, wasn’t my body just reset? How could I catch a cold so quickly?’