Dead Queen Nala's
02 Monster Union

Kronii took me to a place in the woods. He didn't say where or what, which made me a little nervous. It's been a week since that incident. Kronii said that he did not question him, and his attitude toward me has not changed. At first I was also trying to relax, but suddenly he invited me today, making me think that he was actually upset. Whatever he does, I hope it ends soon. I will give up on what will happen to me.

We stopped at a giant rock. Is this where I'm gonna be executed? Slowly, small lights appeared and began to illuminate the area, making the place the only part within the forest that could be seen clearly without the help of night vision. And along with that, various kinds of monsters began to enter the glowing area.

On top of the giant rock, a white-robed figure followed by a green-haired girl with antennae and insect eyes appeared. It seems obvious that they are important in this group.

"So I'll be executed by being witnessed by a lot of people, or monsters I mean. Not bad. So how am I gonna get executed?"

"What do you mean, my dear?"

"Huh? You brought me here to punish me for killing that young man, didn't you?"

"Eh? No one will punish you. Even what you have done has made you recognized as part of us. You know, my dear, I don't really trust you. A sane zombie, who is very human, and does not want to say who he really is. I'm afraid you're a spy sent by the kingdom to find out where the monster king is. But what you're doing is making me sure you're a monster."

"Hm.." I don't know if I should be relieved not to die again, or offended that Kronii indirectly called me a real monster.

"wait. You said monster king? What do you mean the white-robed one?"

"Yes, the White Spider Queen, the current King of Monsters."

I've heard the story. Not expecting if the monster king was female, especially his posture seemed small. It does not feel like a creature that should hold great power. But you can't judge someone by their cover alone. Especially in a world where anything can happen. The fact that the monsters respected him meant that he was indeed the current leader of the monsters.

"So why is he still hiding? Aren't monsters endangered?"

"Well, if the king is still injured since his battle with King Schlain before. But take it easy, as long as the monster king is alive, the monsters still have hope."

"Hopefully." I don't really care much about these humans and monsters. The most important thing for me now is to survive. And since I live as a monster, I should have supported my kind, even if it meant that I had to be an enemy of humans.

The insect girl behind the monster king came forward. The antenna was lit up, then I could hear a sound.

"Don't worry" said Kronii. "This is telepathy. He'll pass on the information going on out there to all the monsters here with understandable language."

Marvellously. And hopefully that's good news, or at least, that's what I was hoping for, until the bug girl finished giving out the information.

I walked to a place where I could sit alone. Calm down after hearing the news that everything is good. It was all about how the royal knights found the hideout of the other monsters so easily, making me somewhat afraid that sooner or later, they would also find out about this group.

I closed my eyes and tried to calm down. I have to do something. Just because I was reborn as a monster in this world, doesn't mean I have to give up. I'm going to start using my time to think about ways to increase my chances of living.

When I opened my eyes, a brown-haired girl with dog ears and tail, or rather called a wolf girl was right in front of my face with a big smile. A gold bracelet on his leg caught my attention.

I tried to talk to him and he replied to me by talking like a dog. None of us understand each other's language.

"Ah.. Aye." Yeah." His manner of speaking is very polite. Reminds me of a schoolmate. "So you know me already?"

"Yes. Miss Kronii told us the same day you were first brought here, but we don't know why she didn't introduce you. I mean, even among monsters, a zombie that still retains its sanity has never existed before."

"Well.. I'm a little special." I don't mean to brag, seriously.

"So, do you want to accept his friendship invitation?" The wolf girl, Dora, still hasn't changed her smile to me.

"I don't know. I'm not sure we're in a time where we can play games. You said it yourself, right? The monster is on the verge of collapse. I think we should take our time by starting to think of a plan to defend ourselves."

Pufu somehow smiled more at my words. "You're like Kronii said."

"What did he say?"

"He said you're not only a zombie who keeps his sanity, but you think like a human being."

"Eh? Did ya? Isn't that a natural thing to think about? It's about life."

"It seems like no one thought that far. We rely more on instinct than on thought. Look at them. They look mediocre, you know why? Because we are monsters. For humans, we are pests that must be immediately eradicated. Grand Order or not, as long as humans consider us enemies, our lives will always be close to death."

"Don't you want to live longer?"

"Of course I want to. That's the monster king's job, setting us up to last longer."

"But Kronii said he was.."

"Yes, but as long as he exists, our hope of survival remains. That's why I think it's okay to be more relaxed and friends."

"Yes friend?" I barely remember the memories of me being friends with other people. Even I doubt if I have someone I can consider a friend. But if a friend is someone who is there to help us, then I think it never hurts to make friends.

"Tell him if I want to be friends with him."

Pufu relayed my answer and Dora immediately jumped in joy at me.

I realized that this might have been a waste of time and that it was only my time that I should have spent thinking. But I also did not forget about the disaster I was facing right now. Because even now..

"Pufu, I appreciate your thoughts. But I'm sorry, I'm not the kind of monster who's just waiting for my head to be beheaded and my body to be burned. I'll make sure I survive, with or without the help of someone else."

I am increasing my success in survival.