Accidentally Formed a Reverse Harem in the Apocalypse – Chapter 65 – The Second Party

Author: Asternkm

In front of a well-prepared table, everyone’s expressions slowly melted into satisfaction.

“Thank you for the meal!”

“For Duke Elizabeth Keaton!”

“For the god who protects us, Lord Zero!”

Those holding celebratory drinks cheerfully enjoyed the delicious food, fully caught up in the festive mood.

The alcohol was replaced with non-alcoholic sparkling champagne.

〈Since a god and the Saint are present, this place is practically a holy site. Excessive drinking would be improper, so it would be best to avoid it.〉

This was due to Michael’s strong request.

I thought Michael had been gradually adapting to a more worldly life after being abandoned by the temple, but with the appearance of a god and a Saint, he had reverted to his strict and upright holy knight self.

Thankfully, the siblings of House Damon and the entire Marquis Celeste family agreed unanimously that his argument made sense.

The servants also raised no objections to their masters’ wishes.

And so, the modest party hall was soon filled with cheerful chatter from people freely enjoying good food.

“This isn’t bad either.”

I said while chewing on my portion of turkey.

「Nom nom nom nom. I think it’s amazing.」

Now that he no longer hid his identity, Zero buried his face into the soufflé pancakes the chef had poured his heart into, smiling in pure happiness.

“See? I knew you’d like it.”

「……You see me as way too much of a pig, don’t you?」

“A full pig is better than a hungry hamster.”

「I told you not to tease me!」

“But if I can’t tease you at least a little, how am I supposed to survive this annoying zombie apocalypse world?”

I kept stuffing delicious food into my stomach without losing a single verbal exchange when my party members approached the seat I was in.

“Hm? Is something wrong?”

My seat was set up as a single-person spot, so I could comfortably eat with Zero.

But having four large men approach me at the same time was, well… scary. Even if they were on my side.

‘What is this…… are they coming to kill someone or what?’

With stiff, intimidating expressions like guardian statues, I couldn’t tell whether they were coming to kill me or eat with me.

Judging by the plates piled high with food they were carrying, it was probably the latter.

I stood up and spoke to them.

“Uh, excuse me, but this seat is meant for just one person—”

“I know.”

Aston replied on behalf of the group.

Then they brought over a nearby dining table and chairs and pushed them together.

Since it was a square table rather than a round one, it fit easily.

They placed it right next to mine and sat down to eat.

“Um, gentlemen? Why are you so set on eating with me?”

Weren’t we only pretending to be close when hunting zombies together?

When I asked in genuine confusion, Ruth, then Michael, Benedict, and Aston answered one by one.

“In this crowd, the only place I can eat comfortably is next to you, Duke.”

“Same for me.”

“……For me as well. The spirits are the quietest when they stay near you.”

“The Marquis Celeste family has been overly considerate toward me, which made things uncomfortable. This place is much more relaxed. From now on, I’ll eat beside the Duke.”

“……Huh?”

They all had their own reasons for wanting to eat next to me, and somehow it felt a little sad.

‘Guys…… you were embarrassed to eat alone, weren’t you…….’

Yeah. Being zombie hunters was enough to feel a sense of belonging.

When I looked at them with warm, sentimental eyes, Zero—who had finished his soufflé pancakes and now had a fully stuffed belly—looked at me like I was ridiculous.

「Hey. I think you’re misunderstanding this in a very weird direction. They actually want to eat with you, so they brought whatever flimsy excuse they could. This is basically a green light.」

“Zero…… are you still talking nonsense? Are you possessed by the ghost of someone desperate for romance? People call that axe disease.”

「No, I’m serious!」

“Yeah, sure.”

Nom nom nom. This pasta is good. I hope the chef serves it again sometime.

Exhausted, I decided to relieve my stress by eating to my heart’s content.

I had no idea that the four men were sneaking glances at me as I stuffed my cheeks full.

「Fine. Just stay single forever. A shining solo life is great too.」

I didn’t even hear Zero’s sarcastic comment, which sounded almost enlightened.

As I ate, I was lost in deep thought.

‘……Where did the souls of the people from Count Wray’s family go?’

Souls that left their bodies without leaving even a speck behind.

Human souls were considered the highest-grade sacrifice in dark magic.

Why did the culprit attack them?

No—what if Count Wray’s family cooperated with the culprit of their own will?

If the overthrow of the imperial family had already succeeded, then what were they trying to achieve by offering their souls and choosing a path with no salvation?

‘Ahh. My head hurts. I’ll think after I eat.’

Eating well helped you think well—that was my philosophy.

Chew, chew, chew.

While chewing carefully, I decided to ask Jacqueline to look into information about sorcery.

‘And then… we grind.’

No matter what, that damn sorcerer clearly wanted to destroy the world using zombies.

Since he wasn’t showing himself, the best way was to anger him enough to force him out.

‘And for that, we need to slowly but surely take down the zombies he risked everything to create.’

Busy eating and planning ahead, I suddenly noticed my plate was empty.

‘Hmm…… I don’t really feel like going to get more.’

Too full to eat a lot more, but too unsatisfied to stop here.

As I stared at the empty plate, wondering what to do, a fork appeared on it.

“……?”

The fork placed a piece of salmon onto my plate.

The culprit of the salmon sneak-attack was Benedict.

“……The salmon is good, Duke.”

“Uh…… yeah? It is good.”

But why give it to me?

‘As far as I know, in this world’s dining etiquette, you’re not supposed to share food you took for yourself?’

Was this some advanced, indirect way of cursing me to get sick for all the trouble I caused him?

While I was confused, more forks began delivering food onto my plate.

This time, it was fries.

The culprit was Ruth.

“The fries are good, Duke. Please eat this and regain your strength.”

“I-I appreciate it…… but do you all have a problem with me? Why are you doing things you never did before?”

I was scared, but food was innocent, so I quickly ate it.

The long fries, fried in clean oil, were fantastic. I silently praised Ruth’s excellent choice.

‘Wow. If this weren’t a world on the brink of collapse because of zombies, I’d be really happy right now.’

As I cried internally, Aston gave me a piece of his turkey, and Michael offered grilled fish.

“I’d like you to eat more and put on some weight. What if you collapse again?”

“No, that was because of the spirits—”

“I agree with His Grace. Given the heavy mission you bear, Duke, it would be best for you to eat and sleep well to maintain peak condition.”

“…….”

Is this how it feels to be a grandmother being fussed over by four grown grandsons?

“I don’t know why you’re all bringing me food, but thank you. I’ll eat well.”

Food was innocent.

Without refusing, I filled my half-full stomach with the food my party members gave me.

Strangely, maybe because it was food given with genuine acceptance, it tasted even better.

‘So this is how it feels to be taken care of.’

It wasn’t bad at all. It felt like joy was pouring down between my heart, like the star fragments the spirits once showed me.

Feeling bad about only receiving, I endured the trouble and brought food back for them as well.

I chose skewers loaded with vegetables, mushrooms, and meat.

I picked only the best-grilled ones and handed one to each party member.

Zero’s was replaced with tiny ingredients skewered onto a toothpick.

“Eat up and gain strength. Let’s work exactly as much as we eat.”

In other words, I planned to work them to the bone.

‘To eliminate the zombies quickly, I’ll have to keep sending the party outside the barrier.’

All four were skilled enough to accurately blow off zombie heads, so I wasn’t too worried.

Since I was basically useless in direct combat, I decided to continue acting as support like I had been.

“Sir Michael, Mr. Ruth, Mr. Benedict, and Your Grace Duke Whitewood. You’ll be able to go hunt zombies safely even without me, right?”

At my question, all four froze.

“Duke Keaton.”

Michael spoke first.

“You must come with us. Shouldn’t you go hunt zombies together with us?”

“……Me?”

Why. Me. Specifically?

I wanted to stay here at the Keaton estate, give orders, and take it easy……?

Seeing my dazed expression, Michael whispered,

“You are a Saint, after all. According to records, Saints and Holy Ones possess vast divine power—capable of healing, purification, and even rivaling the sacred springs of temples. When fighting impure beings, such abilities are perfectly suited.”

“Huh? Excuse me? What?”

「I’m not looking.」

Zero quietly hopped away from my side.

That’s when I realized the small, cute rodent had definitely not told me everything.

“Sir Michael, can Saints use divine power for combat too?”

“You didn’t know? I assumed Lord Zero had told you.”

“…….”

No, he just suddenly told me to be a Saint. How was I supposed to know that?

When I shot Zero a sharp glare, the hamster—with whipped cream on his mouth—slowly walked back in front of me.

“……What.”

「For now, healing and physical healing. Purification only becomes possible after awakening.」

Huh? Healing and physical healing aren’t the same thing?