I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl
Chapter 113 – The Quiet Lakeside

Chapter 113: Chapter 113 – The Quiet Lakeside

The third day of rest.

I woke up earlier than usual. It was still too early even for the merchants to begin their day. The air in the room was cool, the window still tightly shut, and the sky outside a deep blue with a hint of orange at the eastern horizon a sign that the sun would rise soon.

But today... was not a day to stay within the city.

Today, I wanted to go fishing.

I couldn’t remember the last time I truly sat still, cast a line into the water, and simply waited. In my old world, that had been my hobby. The one thing that allowed me to forget everything work, pressure, anxiety. There was peace in watching the water, patiently waiting, and feeling that faint tug at the end of the rod before the first bite.

And now, after two full days of walking, cooking, and interacting with various races that I had once only known from fantasy stories, I felt... the need to feel that again. Besides, in this post-apocalyptic world I was reincarnated into, I wasn’t sure what kind of fish I’d even catch.

I put on the new clothes I’d bought yesterday: a light top with a leather vest and adventurer’s trousers, flexible and comfortable. I left my black dress behind for once. I also wore the wine-red long coat not because it was cold, but because I liked it. And as it turned out, even when I wore other outfits, the effect of the Dress of Death still lingered. So now, I could enjoy wearing various clothes.

After preparing some light food and water in my storage, I left the inn. The city was still quiet. Only a few people were out an old street sweeper, an elderly demon opening his shop too early, and a stray dog barking for no reason.

My destination was a large lake, marked on the map as about a thirty-minute walk from town, down a narrow path winding through trees and fields.

My steps were light. There was no need to hurry.

Sunlight began to filter through the trees as I finally arrived at the lake’s edge. The surface was still as glass, reflecting the brightening morning sky. A thin mist hovered above the water, and the soft sounds of birds echoed in the distance.

I stood still for a moment. This... was beautiful. Truly beautiful.

In this world, scenes like this felt more alive. More real. Perhaps because my senses had become sharper since turning undead, or maybe because this world carried magic in every grain of soil and every drop of water. But this lake wasn’t just beautiful. It felt... peaceful. Well, maybe it’s also because the post-reincarnation world I came from was full of apocalyptic tension. After accidentally being left behind when the portal closed, I could really feel the difference. My old modern world had terrible air quality. Then the post-apocalyptic world was filled with constant tension and destruction. And now, this new world was truly pleasant. Clean air, and so much more.

I walked toward a small wooden dock jutting out into the water. No one else was there. Just a few small boats bobbing gently with the current.

From my storage, I pulled out a fishing rod I had crafted myself from a sturdy branch and strong thread. Not perfect, but it would do. Before heading to the lake, I had stopped by a shop and bought some hooks, floats, and bait made of dried bugs and synthetic worms.

I sat at the end of the dock, legs dangling over the water, and let out a deep breath.

"I thought I’d be nervous or awkward... turns out I’m not."

I smiled, attached the bait, and cast the line far into the lake. The soft plop of the bait hitting the water made me close my eyes for a moment. The wind blew gently, rustling the hem of my coat. The water rippled quietly. Leaves whispered in the trees.

I waited.

Watching the bobber float in the distance. Remembering the past. Sitting by the small river near my old home, a can of soda beside me, and the calming sound of nature all around. Back then, I was just a normal person looking for a little peace of mind.

Now I was undead. A zombie with rank and power, fighting monsters and delving into dark dungeons. Yet the feeling of fishing... remained the same.

Not long after, the bobber moved.

A small tug. I gripped the rod, gently testing it. Then a strong pull.

I smiled. "Alright... come on."

With a swift motion, I pulled the rod. Water splashed into the air, and a large fish jumped out, thrashing its body. After a brief struggle, the fish landed beside me a blue-scaled fish with long fins. It weighed nearly a kilogram.

I looked at it with satisfaction.

"Perfect... this will make a good lunch."

I placed it into a storage bucket and lowered the bucket back into the lake so the fish could stay alive in the water. Then, I attached another bait and cast the line again. And just like that... time passed.

One hour. Two hours. Three.

I kept sitting on the dock, catching fish one by one. The smaller ones I released. The larger ones I kept. But it wasn’t the catch that brought me joy. It was the silent time spent alone, with myself.

From time to time, I spoke softly to Alicia and Stacia, though they only replied in faint whispers from within my mind. As if they too understood today wasn’t a day for long conversations. Today was a day of stillness. A day of peace.

The sun climbed higher, approaching noon. My stomach or whatever had replaced my digestive system began to feel "empty," though as a zombie, I never truly felt hunger. I opened my simple lunch: slices of bread, hard cheese, and a bottle of water. I ate slowly, seated on the dock, fish swimming beneath my feet.

The wind played gently with my hair.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

Silence.

Peace.