Accidentally Formed a Reverse Harem in the Apocalypse Chapter 46 - Ugly Human

After cutting off the communication, I felt so satisfied that I almost wanted to dance around.

‘Ehehehe.’

Rescue. Friendly. Successful.

Seeing the number of party members and collaborators steadily increase made me feel good.

I didn’t want to show how happy I was, because I’d probably end up smiling like an idiot, so I was just grinning to myself—but the expressions on the party members’ faces were really strange.

‘Why do they all look so sulky?’

It was like they were face-to-face with the real Elizabeth Keaton and didn’t like it.

As I was feeling puzzled, Benedict muttered,

“Why do you say ‘I love you’ to just anyone?”

“…Huh?”

“Isn’t love among humans an emotion you can’t say lightly?”

“Well… that is true, but….”

Why was I being questioned over something like this? I was dumbfounded.

‘Is it because he’s a fairy half-blood? Because he doesn’t understand humans very well?’

If that was the case, I should try to understand him.

「I don’t think so. This is definitely…!」

Zero crossed his short arms into an X, but I ignored him completely.

‘Yep. Blocking out nonsense.’

“I didn’t mean love in a romantic sense. It was more like an expression that comes out when you’re happy, you know? I was just grateful, because I thought Lady Celeste would take care of everything thoroughly even without me saying it.”

I kindly and clearly explained why I’d said it.

They were precious party members, after all, so I had to match their level.

But even after my explanation, Benedict still couldn’t hide his sulky look.

“…I see.”

‘What exactly are you unhappy about?’

It was like a student who didn’t understand the answer even after being shown the solution, yet still said, “Yes, I understand everything now.”

Ruth and Michael were the same.

“…This shouldn’t be a big deal, so why does it feel bad?”

“…I agree.”

The three of them sat in the reception room of Duke Damon’s estate with their arms crossed, all wearing grumpy expressions.

‘What is this? I’m the one talking—are you saying I’m not allowed to say I love you to just anyone?’

What if our favorability is dropping fast because of something like this?

A sense of unease washed over me. These were party members I’d worked hard to recruit—before we’d even defeated zombies, our relationships couldn’t start cracking already.

I was sweating nervously and just watching their reactions when Benedict stepped closer to me.

He was about a head taller than me, and he bent down to meet my eyes.

‘…?’

He was so close that I could almost feel his breath, and I found myself staring into his brown eyes without even remembering to breathe.

Benedict’s personality was cold, but his eyes alone were a warm brown, which felt oddly surprising.

“Um…? Why are you doing this?”

“……”

After staring at me with a frown for a few seconds, Benedict suddenly blurted out,

“You’re not pretty at all. You’re ugly….”

“……”

“It’s strange. Before, I didn’t even care.”

Are you done talking now?

My temper flared up instantly. How could he say something this insulting right to my face?

「You’re a possessor anyway, so this face isn’t even yours, right?」

Zero asked with a snicker, but this time I didn’t want to play along.

‘Hey, it may not be my real face, but right now I am Elizabeth Keaton!’

No matter what, I couldn’t forgive anyone for criticizing Elizabeth’s looks.

Hair like strands of soft silver silk woven together one by one. Beautiful violet eyes, like amethyst and violets melted and brewed together.

Sharp, cat-like eyes that gave her a fierce impression, yet facial features that were perfectly balanced and harmonious.

Aside from the original female lead, Siena, Elizabeth Keaton could easily be considered one of the most beautiful women in this world.

Even people who despised her as a villainess still acknowledged her beauty.

‘And yet… what? Ugly?’

You… rude fairy half-blood brat?

‘The weird one is you.’

“Ah, yes, sure. I’m sorry for being ugly.”

If someone talks badly to you, it’s only natural to reply unpleasantly.

I spoke with clear annoyance.

“That works out perfectly. Since I’m ugly, you probably won’t want to have friendly conversations with me where you casually say things like ‘I love you,’ even as empty words. From now on, I’ll communicate with you strictly on a business level, Benedict, just like the professional relationship we formed to exterminate zombies.”

But instead of being pleased, Benedict stepped back in a panic and waved his hands.

“Th-that’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?”

I could see the spirits around him moving about in a fluster.

【No!】

【That’s not it!】

【He didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable!】

【Ben just isn’t honest!】

【Idiot Ben!】

【Stupid Ben!】

Because I was Zero’s assigned possessor, I could see and hear everything the spirits said.

【If you want kind words, just say so honestly!】

【You idiot who doesn’t even understand your own feelings!】

【Idiot!】

‘…What?’

「The spirits agree with me. Hmm. Green-light supporters.」

‘Stay out of this.’

As I fumed, Benedict muttered timidly, totally unlike him.

“…I don’t want to never hear you say you love me for the rest of my life, Your Grace.”

“What?”

Since that sounded very easy to misunderstand, I questioned him, and Benedict hurriedly explained.

“I-it’s meant as praise, isn’t it?”

So… he wanted to be praised?

Maybe that “big dog” keyword wasn’t completely meaningless after all. I felt my mood sink, like I’d become the owner of a huge dog that never listens and causes constant trouble.

Hmph. Either way, I didn’t feel like being nice to someone who wasn’t kind to me.

“I’ll decide based on how you act, Benedict. And this applies to Sir Michael and Mr. Ruth as well.”

As the trouble spread to them, Michael and Ruth widened their eyes in protest.

“Why me…?”

“W-what did we do wrong?”

“This is the price for not stopping your friend and companion, Benedict.”

Those two had been grumbling behind the scenes too, so they deserved punishment.

“From now on, don’t pick fights with me over trivial things. It’s true we didn’t get along before, but let’s not forget that we’re officially bound by a contract and cooperation. Understood, or not?”

With my hands on my hips, I demanded an answer. The three men finally nodded.

“…Understood.”

“…Got it.”

“…Yes.”

It wasn’t fully satisfying, but after getting their answers, I clapped my hands loudly and urged them on.

“Alright, let’s move. We’ve already wasted a lot of time, so once we reach the Marquis of Celeste’s estate in Duo-2 District and join up with the people there, we’ll return straight to the Keaton Ducal House.”

That would complete today’s objective.

Michael, Ruth, and Benedict nodded obediently.

‘See? If they’d just listen like this, everything would be so much easier.’

I sincerely hoped that there wouldn’t be too many small but exhausting incidents like this until this insanely difficult group assignment was finally over.

“Lady Damon and Nadia, you should get ready to head out too—hm?”

“Hmmm.”

“Hm.”

Sherry and Nadia had somehow moved right up next to each other, arms linked, staring straight at me.

Both of them were watching the argument between me and the party members with extremely interested looks.

“W-what is it? Why are you looking at me like this is so exciting…?”

“Because it’s fun!”

“My goodness… this is such a fascinating situation. Hoho.”

Despite having a bad relationship in the past, the two of them seemed to be happily whispering to each other.

“What about it?”

“Some things are like that.”

“I think it’ll be more fun if you don’t know, Your Grace.”

It seemed there were even more people now who enjoyed teasing me, along with Zero.

I looked away from the two pairs of shining blue eyes and picked up my luggage.

The others gathered in the reception room had either picked up their bags or packed them away in subspace pouches, dressed lightly for travel.

“Let’s go quickly! Ruth, the magic!”

“Got it.”

『O shadows, hide our presence for a moment.』

With the now-familiar soundproofing and stealth magic cast, we strode toward the Marquis of Celeste’s estate.

 

 

****

 

 

 

When Sherry and Cloud were joined by the few remaining servants of the Damon ducal household, it took longer than expected to arrive.

“Brother, my feet hurt.”

“Just hold on a little longer.”

That was also because they were being considerate of Sherry, a noble young lady who had never walked for such a long time before.

‘Noble ladies usually travel this kind of distance by carriage.’

For Sherry Damon, who had lived wrapped in only good and precious things, the current situation could feel like quite a shock.

I worried she might start complaining that it was unbearable, but Sherry didn’t falter at all.

Instead, she stared intently at the leather shoes her brother Cloud was wearing and said,

“This won’t do. These shoes are uncomfortable. Brother, I want to wear flat shoes too. Something comfortable, preferably made of leather? Something similar to what you’re wearing.”

“Head maid, among the luggage we brought, is there a pair of flat shoes Sherry could wear?”

Cloud asked Marie, the head maid of the Damon ducal household who had come along.

Marie looked troubled before answering,

“My apologies. We don’t have any flat shoes suitable for the young lady….”

“Then how about letting her wear mine?”

“Your shoes are way too big, brother. I’d wobble and fall. And if I accidentally bump into one of those zombies, it’d be the end.”

Sherry shuddered and pointed at the zombies swarming nearby.

Even though we had hidden our presence with magic, moving through them without being noticed made my heart pound.

While we moved carefully, avoiding touching even a single zombie, the servants of the Damon ducal house looked as though they had aged ten years from fear.

‘I should’ve brought a few extra pairs of shoes when packing my things.’

As I fiddled with my subspace pouch in regret, Zero, who had been sitting comfortably on my shoulder, suddenly snapped,

「Hey, don’t feel guilty over nothing. This isn’t your fault. If it weren’t for you, these people would’ve starved to death back there.」

‘No, it’s just… I’m only disappointed that I didn’t think of it ahead of time.’

It really was something I hadn’t imagined at all.

I knew noble ladies wore pointed high-heeled shoes, but I’d unconsciously assumed they would also have comfortable shoes, like sneakers.

After all, in “Elizabeth Keaton’s” shoe closet, there were flat shoes and boots with no heels, comfortable ones just like what I was wearing now.