Chapter 173: Corpse Animation

Chapter One Hundred Seventy-ThreeCorpse Animation

Before Klein could form a new thought, he saw Councilman Maynard’s entire body stiffen. With both hands propping himself up, carrying a heavy gust of wind, he lunged straight toward Klein—toward Klein’s left side.

If it had been before, upon encountering such a sudden situation, Klein’s reaction would mostly have been sluggish, making it hard to dodge. Even if he had sensed it in advance, he would have had to roll and scramble to escape the range of the other party’s pounce in time.

But now, almost by instinct, Klein responded. His polished leather boots without buttons pressed down, and his entire person leaped diagonally away, landing on the high-backed chair.

Because he had advanced only yesterday, he was still not especially adapted to his strength, agility, and speed. In his panic, this leap went too high and too far, and the place where he landed turned out to be the very top of the chair back.

It was only a narrow strip. Klein’s heart tightened, and he swiftly controlled his body, adjusting his center of gravity.

He wobbled several times, yet actually stood there steadily, like a black cat flaunting its sense of balance.

While wobbling, his left arm swung. Following the momentum of the “living corpse” Maynard’s forward pounce, he struck its side ribs with his cane, knocking it off balance and sending it staggering onto the carpet.

Standing atop the high-backed chair, Klein’s right hand shot upward, reaching under his arm as he tried to draw his revolver and fire a silver Demon-hunting Bullet into the living corpse before him.

But at that instant, he suddenly realized how he would have to clean up the aftermath.

If he blasted a hole through Councilman Maynard’s corpse, how would he explain the cause of death afterward to the man’s family, and to the New Party councilmen concerned with the matter?

I merely gave his corpse an extra shot?

As that thought flashed, Klein’s right hand slipped into the corresponding pocket of his police uniform and touched a triangular thin sheet.

A Requiem Charm…

He immediately made the judgment. Without hesitation, he took out that silver charm and cried out a word in ancient Hermes:

“Crimson!”

As the activation incantation echoed, the charm radiated a tranquil, peaceful sensation. Klein hurriedly infused spirituality into it and threw it at the “living corpse” Maynard, which was struggling to stand.

Ice-blue flames sprang into existence, wrapping and burning the triangular thin sheet. Quiet, gentle blackness swiftly spread, eliminating the spirit’s tension and unrest.

The “living corpse” Maynard stopped where it was. Its hollow eyes stared blankly at the floor, while viscous fluid dripped from the corners of its mouth, drop after drop, onto the carpet.

Klein relaxed and was about to take out materials, set up a ritual, and use purification to solve the unclean creature before him.

But suddenly, Maynard’s throat once again produced that ho-ho sound. Those hollow eyes turned once more toward the left pocket of Klein’s police uniform.

What the hell…

Klein leaped forward, jumping from the top of the high-backed chair to the sill of the oriel window.

Almost at the same time, he heard the high-backed chair crash down and break.

With his scalp faintly tingling, Klein had no choice but to take out another rectangular silver sheet.

This was a Slumber Charm!

It was not only the living who needed sleep. The dead themselves were already in “eternal sleep.” Only when something abnormal occurred would they awaken and wander upon the earth.

In certain mysticism books, some “living corpses” were even described in this way:

They slept during the day and awakened at night.

“Crimson!”

Klein once again shouted the ancient Hermes incantation, deciding that if this failed too, he would stop worrying about the consequences, draw his revolver, and fire wildly.

Only the living were qualified to worry about what came afterward!

Sensing…