I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl

Chapter 489 - 486 – Endless Queue

That afternoon passed peacefully yet profitably at the central market of the Helios Empire’s capital. The sun shone brightly above the canopies of the merchant stalls, illuminating rows of wooden tables filled with goods. Several customers came and went, mostly housewives, low-rank adventurers, and small traders buying dried spices and imported fabrics at prices Sylvia set quite high but still reasonable. She served them politely yet efficiently; her thin, cold smile actually made many people feel both attracted and intimidated at the same time.Whenever there was a brief lull, Sylvia’s thoughts drifted to her newly checked status. Level 200. An extraordinary leap after absorbing Mušmaḫḫū’s essence as an ancient zombie. Her undead power had now reached a completely new level faster regeneration, deeper death aura, and the ability to store a giant monster without significant aura leakage. She became even more convinced that their journey had just entered a more dangerous yet more enjoyable phase. This world was full of challenges, but also limitless opportunities.

Sol remained curled comfortably in her lap, his soft golden fur warm under Sylvia’s pale fingers. Occasionally the little cat purred softly, enjoying the gentle strokes on his head. "You feel the change too, huh?" Sylvia murmured softly, almost inaudible.

The sun slowly tilted toward the west, painting the sky with a beautiful and dramatic golden-orange gradient. The market atmosphere began to change drastically. The aroma of street food grew stronger grilled meat, spiced grilled corn, and sweet bread mixed with increasingly lively haggling sounds. Lanterns started being lit one by one at the merchant stalls, creating a lively and colorful night market atmosphere.

Sylvia felt bored with the same merchandise. Dried spices and fabrics had sold well enough, but she wanted something more interesting. With quick and practiced movements, she cleaned the stall table and stored most of the old goods into her vast system storage. Then, she took out simple but high-quality cooking equipment: a portable stove powered by mana crystals that glowed soft blue, a large anti-rust iron pot, disposable bowls she had made herself with simple spatial magic, and premium ramen ingredients she had kept for a long time from her previous world.

As soon as the water in the pot boiled, the rich and savory aroma of meat broth spread throughout the entire market area. The broth, which had been simmered for hours with choice beef bones, ginger, onions, and special spices, created an enticing fragrance. The smell was like a living magnet.

"Tonight we’re selling ramen," Sylvia muttered to Sol, who immediately looked up curiously, his little nose twitching as he sniffed the food. "It’s more interesting than the same old dried spices."

The decision turned out to have a much bigger impact than she expected.

Not long after the rich and fragrant ramen broth aroma began spreading across the market, people started approaching. At first, only a few curious individuals, a meat merchant, two adventurers, and a mother with a small child. But within less than half an hour, a queue began to form. News about "ramen from the beautiful black-haired girl with the golden fox" spread rapidly like a summer breeze. Capital residents who rarely tasted this kind of food especially after the world changed due to the planetary fusion immediately flocked over in droves.

Sylvia worked quickly and methodically. Her pale yet nimble hands boiled the noodles, added thin slices of tender meat as toppings, soft-boiled eggs with gently flowing yolks, fresh vegetables, and rich, flavorful broth. The disposable bowls made the process faster, but the demand kept pouring in without stopping.

"Special ramen! Thick broth with choice meat and perfect eggs!" Sylvia called out in a calm and clear voice, even though she was starting to feel overwhelmed inside. The queue had already reached dozens of people and kept growing. Some even came from other stalls just to try it, temporarily leaving their own goods behind.

Sol in her lap also grew restless. His tail moved excitedly because of the tempting food aroma, occasionally looking up to beg for a small portion.

Finally, after seeing the increasingly uncontrollable queue, Sylvia let out a soft sigh and used group telepathy.

Alicia, Stacia. Come to the market now. I need help. This ramen stall is busier than I expected.

Not long after, Alicia and Stacia appeared at the end of the market street, jogging lightly. The two of them were shocked to see the long queue snaking like a giant serpent in front of Sylvia’s stall. Even Sol and Qilin, who had come along, looked overwhelmed by the crowd.

"Wow... the line is so long!" Stacia said while blinking, her hair slightly messy from running. "Sylvia, what did you make? This smell... is amazing!"

"Ramen," Sylvia answered shortly while continuing to pour hot broth into bowls. "Help serve the customers in front. Use disposable bowls so they can take it home. I’ll focus on cooking in the back."

Alicia and Stacia immediately got to work without asking many questions. The gentle and friendly Alicia served customers with a warm smile, explaining the available toppings and patiently taking orders. "Add more meat, okay? There’s also a spicy version for those who like a challenge," she said to a young mother carrying a small child.

The more relaxed but quick-witted Stacia helped with packaging and receiving payments efficiently. "This is tonight’s special ramen! It’ll definitely be addictive," she said with a wide smile to a group of young adventurers.

Fortunately, the disposable bowls prevented the queue from piling up too much. Customers could immediately take their food home while still enjoying the steaming aroma.

Sylvia stayed in the back of the stall, her hands moving fast and precisely. She boiled the noodles al dente, prepared new broth when it ran out, and added toppings with care. The savory ramen aroma spread even wider, attracting more and more people from all corners of the market. The night market became even livelier. Lanterns shone brightly, street music could be heard faintly from the end of the market, and Sylvia’s stall became one of the busiest spots.

"Add an egg please, Miss!" shouted a large-bodied male customer.

"Extra spicy broth, and lots of meat!" requested another.

"Is there a vegetarian version?" asked a shy elf girl.

Sylvia worked without stopping, but she enjoyed the rhythm. A thin layer of sweat dampened her forehead, but there was a unique satisfaction in seeing people enjoy her creations. Occasionally she glanced at her two sisters working hard in front. Alicia smiled patiently while serving a small child who asked for extra meat with sparkling eyes, while Stacia deftly packaged orders and occasionally made light jokes with customers, making the stall atmosphere even friendlier.

Sol and Qilin also helped in their own ways. Sol sat cutely on the front table to attract the attention of children and women, his tail wagging adorably. Qilin kept watch around them with his faintly glowing holy horn, preventing anyone from trying to steal or cause trouble.

Time passed very quickly. The originally very long queue began to ease around 11 PM. The market lights started dimming one by one, and other merchants had already packed up their stalls with the sounds of creaking wood and fabric. Sylvia could finally breathe a sigh of relief. She turned off the portable stove, thoroughly cleaned the cooking area, and sat on the folding chair with her two sisters behind the stall.

The three of them sat side by side, their bodies tired but satisfied. Sweat and food aromas clung to their clothes. Sol curled up in Sylvia’s lap with half-closed eyes, while Qilin slept soundly in Alicia’s lap.

"So tired..." Stacia complained while stretching her sore arms, but her smile was wide. "I didn’t expect your ramen to be this popular. We made a huge profit tonight!"

Alicia smiled tiredly while gently stroking Qilin’s back. "But it was fun. Seeing people happy eating our food... It feels relieving after all the battles and intrigue yesterday. Like a little bit of normal life in the midst of this chaos."

Sylvia nodded slowly, her eyes gazing at the starry night sky. The cool wind blew gently, carrying the lingering aroma of food, dry leaves, and a faint smell of lantern smoke. "Tomorrow we rest first. After that... we plan our next steps. It might be time to leave this capital before the palace intrigue gets any more complicated."

The three of them sat in comfortable silence, surrounded by the gradually quieting sounds of the night market. Occasionally, soft laughter from merchants heading home or the distant sound of horse hooves could be heard. Though their bodies were tired, a sense of peace enveloped their hearts.

On Sylvia’s lap, Sol let out one final soft snore before finally falling into a deep, peaceful sleep. Meanwhile, Qilin was already in a very sound slumber. Alicia and Stacia slowly adjusted their heads, leaning comfortably against each other in a horizontal position. The pair of beautiful eyelids gradually closed, welcoming the warm embrace of the dream world beneath the silent night sky of the capital.