Accidentally Formed a Reverse Harem in the Apocalypse Chapter 21 - Let the Mage Scout for Food

Chapter 21 Let the Mage Scout for Food

 

After Ruth and Michael returned with a zombie that had reverted to the state of a corpse, we all went back to our rooms to rest.

Ruth said she needed to extract information from the zombie she dragged in, so she went down to the basement with Michael’s help.

News that we had taken down all the zombies that approached right up to the front of the Keaton Ducal Estate quickly spread throughout the mansion.

Emily and Rose, Miliana and Patrick, drunk on the joy of victory, bragged loudly to the other servants.

“When His Grace gave the signal, I shot the magic bomb with my slingshot, and guess what? It hit dead-on!”

“It’s been so long since I held a weapon, but with His Grace, I felt no fear, hoho.”

“Do you know what it feels like to take down a zombie? Haha. Of course you don’t! I had the honor of fighting alongside the duke!”

Their shoulders puffed up like they were stuffed with cotton, and they kept busy telling their little tales of heroism. The way they grabbed any servant nearby to chatter at with happy smiles made them look just like woodpeckers.

‘I don’t know why they’re so desperate to include me in all this.’

They were the ones who landed the hits on the zombies’ heads.

Even if I had asked Ruth to cast a buff that increased their accuracy, none of this would’ve been possible if the volunteers hadn’t had the courage to step up.

Yet it was still strange hearing them praise me as if all of this was thanks to me.

‘It is… kind of ticklish in a way…….’

Much better than when I had to force myself to act like the “bad person” Elizabeth Keaton.

I mean, I’m a person too. Being acknowledged isn’t a bad thing, right? Ahem.

I tried to hide the grin tugging at my lips as I pretended to read a book, when I heard a knock at the office door.

‘Who is it?’

“Your Grace, it’s Lina. May I come in?”

“Come in.”

With my permission, Lina appeared with a face flushed with excitement. Her eyes sparkled like stars.

“Congratulations, Your Grace! Word has spread all through the mansion that you defeated a whole ten zombies!”

‘Figures.’

The zombie-slaying squad, who hadn’t stopped bragging for even a second while I was resting, had apparently managed to inform everyone in the mansion within just a few hours.

“Everyone wants to celebrate the victory you led, Your Grace.”

Lina clasped her hands neatly and looked up at me with shining eyes.

“Is that really necessary…….”

I avoided Lina’s gaze out of embarrassment, but inside, I was filled with satisfaction and pride.

‘Hehehe. Just as planned.’

「Isn’t there a huge difference between what you say and what you think?」

Zero scolded me. But I didn’t flinch.

‘Yeah, but it is true that I did well! And it’s also true that you should give me extra rewards for this!’

When I refused to back down, Zero jumped up on his short arms and legs.

「W-What? What reward!」

Well, well.

‘Look at this! What a terrible administrator we have here! Isn’t it obvious there should be a reward for securing the first victory in the main quest of clearing zombies? Hm?’

Does your Possession Administrator Bureau not have the concept of incentives?

「I never promised anything like that. A-And this time, you acted on your own without even having a side quest……」

You’re avoiding eye contact, which means your bureau does have incentives, huh?

Zero, your staff is shaking.

He was already tiny like a bean, and seeing him shrink even more didn’t make me feel sympathetic at all.

‘Give the reward while I’m asking nicely, yeah?’

Boosting my motivation is good for your quick clock-out time too.

When I shamelessly pestered for a reward, Zero apparently ran out of excuses and raised the white flag.

「……What do you want.」

‘Oh? So you’ll give me anything I want?’

「Of course not! I’m just a mere civil servant…… Tell me something within my authority to grant.」

I fell into thought at Zero’s words.

What should I ask for that would be useful in the upcoming zombie-clearing journey?

‘I am worried about food supplies.’

The Keaton estate’s food storage was still fairly plentiful, but not enough to relax.

As the kitchen staff had worried earlier, fresh foods like raw meat, seafood, and vegetables—things that depended on freshness—were already running low.

‘We can’t run out of food. Then maybe I should ask for food……’

Just as I was about to ask Zero for a reward—

“Your Grace, Your Grace?”

“H-Huh?”

I had been so focused on talking with Zero that I forgot about Lina.

“What are you thinking about so hard? Did you even hear what I said earlier?”

Lina, who had been thrilled by my achievements, now sounded quite sulky.

“Uh…… sorry, Lina. What did you say?”

“Oh honestly. The butler and the head maid asked me to suggest that we hold a small party to celebrate this victory!”

A party? What party?

I understood they were happy, but given our current situation, where we had to conserve food, it didn’t sound like a good idea.

“In a situation where we’re isolated, a party doesn’t seem like a good choice.”

When I gently said it wasn’t a good idea, Lina nodded as if she had expected that answer.

“You’re worried about the remaining food, aren’t you?”

“……That’s right. We’re isolated right now. It’s impossible for the merchant who used to deliver ingredients to visit, and we can’t go to the market ourselves either.”

I might still be getting a fairly luxurious diet as the duke, but the limit was approaching.

So even if I wanted to tell everyone to eat and drink freely, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

‘When people run out of food, their personalities get so much worse.’

A person facing hunger can’t hold out for long.

My expression darkened at the truth I knew from experience, but Lina smiled brightly as if telling me not to worry.

“It’s okay, Your Grace! Sir Ruth, who is such a skilled mage, is here with us. There’s no way we’ll starve!”

“Ruth isn’t some kind of master key. Unless that guy can magically find hidden food supplies…… huh?”

Wait a second.

Now that I thought about it, Ruth Chricerne was an all-around mage who could use most elemental magic well.

‘……Then wouldn’t he also be good at using detection magic to find fresh food?’

It would work. No—it had to work!

In the original story, Ruth even found and gifted Sienna that rare plant she wanted to see.

If I changed the focus of that ability to mushrooms growing in the mountains or edible fruits?

It would work!

‘Eureka.’

This was good news for me, who had planned to use Zero’s reward to solve our food shortage.

I grabbed Lina’s hands tightly and spoke with sincerity.

“Lina, thank you. You’re a genius.”

“Wh-What?”

“You’re right. If it’s Ruth, he can work as an excellent food detector…… no, a food supplier. Fufu, fufufufu. I was foolish to think he was only useful in combat. Thank you!”

“Th-Thank you?”

Lina shrank back at my overwhelming energy.

「Hey, your eyes are overflowing with madness.」

No matter what Zero muttered, I didn’t care.

“Go ahead with the party! Food ingredients that rely on freshness will only spoil if we save them anyway.”

“R-Right?”

“Tell Butler Patrick and Head Maid Illiana that I approve. And while we’re at it, make it a belated welcome party for Ruth the mage and Sir Michael the holy knight.”

“Really?!”

Lina lit up at my permission. I pushed it even further.

“Tell everyone they can eat and drink as much meat and alcohol as they want just for today.”

Better to eat them while they’re still good, before they spoil.

‘And it’s good to recharge morale when it’s high.’

Even if my meals were still luxurious, I was well aware that the servants’ diets were becoming poorer.

At this point, letting them enjoy themselves a bit wasn’t a bad choice.

“But don’t go overboard. Keep things under control.”

“Of course.”

“And, just so you know, I’m only going to drop by for dinner and then leave.”

“Huh? Your Grace won’t stay and rest?”

I simply smiled at Lina’s question.

“Someone has to protect the estate, right?”

I planned to stand watch as well as discuss future plans with Ruth and Michael.

When asked if they would attend the party, both refused. Analyzing the zombie took priority.

I also wanted to hear about the state of the zombie Ruth was examining.

Even though I said it for my own convenience, Lina somehow interpreted it differently. She covered her mouth, eyes watering.

“Your Grace……! You’re doing all this just to protect us!”

[The servants of the ducal estate like and trust you more.]

[You are now considered a rather dependable lord.]

A sudden status window popped up, which was ridiculous but not unwelcome.

‘With loyalty increased, it’ll be easier to organize and lead them.’

Times like this, you just smile.

“Hahaha.”

“I’ll help the butler and head maid, and I’ll hold the best party together with Emily and Rose!”

Um, Lina. You said it was supposed to be a small party. The budget must be limited, so what exactly are you planning?

Before I could stop her, Lina ran off like a runaway train with flames in her eyes.

“……She’s gone?”

「So, what reward are you going to take?」

Since I planned to use Ruth as a food detection device, I obviously needed something useful for the main quest of zombie extermination.

“Tell me the current locations of the other people I need to recruit as party members.”

I knew where the holy knight Michael and the mage Ruth Chricerne were, so finding them had been easy. But the others weren’t the same.

Especially the last sub male lead, Benedict Fairman.

He was a half-elf—half fairy, half human. After Sienna chose Crown Prince Louis, Benedict quietly packed up and returned to his hometown, El Seca…….

‘El Seca is a secret city the fairies built in hiding, to avoid humans.’

There was no way an ordinary human like me could find it.

So I absolutely needed Zero’s help to locate him.

‘And the hidden villain, Kieran Warrey, is also a mysterious figure, impossible to track down.’

If I could find those two, Zero would have to give me additional rewards—two birds with one stone.

「Fine. I’ll give you your reward.」

Zero tapped his tiny staff, and a new skill was granted to me.

[A new skill has been given.]

[Hey Kid, Where Are You? (Intermediate)]

[Once per day, you can locate the person you want to find.]

[This skill kindly provides not only the person’s location but also the route you need to take to meet them.]

[However, remember that it may not work properly on individuals whose life or death is unclear.]

‘Nice!’

The new skill made me feel secure.

Maybe I’d be able to gather the male lead candidates much faster than I thought?