Accidentally Formed a Reverse Harem in the Apocalypse Chapter 77 - The Third Party

Because so many people insisted on holding a celebration party, I took out the bundles of food we had gathered from Duo–Sector 1 from my subspace pouch.

‘We can’t go out there and come back empty-handed!’

We had already visited the Damon Duke’s residence, so pass. Duke Keaton’s residence, which was practically our base, also pass.

The only places left to check in the remaining land of the sector were a marquis family’s mansion—whose name I couldn’t even remember—and a small village built for the mansion’s servants to live in.

Compared to the tightly packed mansions in Duo–Sector 2, it really made me realize how widely spaced and luxurious the estates in Duo–Sector 1 were.

We shot zombies on sight with magic-bullet guns, then entered the mansions and took mostly preserved foods.

Or ingredients that had preservation magic cast on them so they would last longer.

Fresh foods like vegetables and meat were easy to tell if they had gone bad, so we left those behind.

But when something looked relatively fine and I wasn’t sure, I always called for Zero.

〈Zero, can we eat this? It’s not spoiled, right?〉

〈「Wait a moment. I’ll type it into the search window.」〉

Like scanning a barcode at a supermarket checkout, whenever I asked, Zero carefully checked the ingredients through his search window.

〈「Oh, this one’s safe to eat.」〉

〈「Ugh, this one’s full of mold inside! If you eat it, you’ll get a stomachache. Throw it away right now!」〉

〈「Oh, this is edible too! I thought it was spoiled, but it’s just originally like this? Interesting.」〉

〈「Uweeegh. I just saw something inside that needs to be censored… My eyes… my eyes…….」〉

Thanks to Zero’s tearful sacrifice(?), we were able to bring back quite a decent amount of ingredients that the kitchen staff would be happy about.

It seemed my companions thought the same, because everyone returned carrying armfuls of ingredients like squirrels bringing back hidden acorns.

“Huh? When did you gather all this? I had no idea!”

Michael, Aston, Ruth, and Benedict each shoved the food bundles they had collected into the kitchen storage.

‘No wonder it felt like there was too little food for such a huge mansion when I was searching!’

So that was the reason.

Michael said to me, who was staring in surprise,

“While Your Grace was diligently putting air holes in zombie heads, everyone quietly stocked up.”

“……So you too, Sir Michael?”

“Of course. It was a useful tip someone taught me. If we don’t use it at a time like this, when will we?”

Oh my goodness. I taught a holy knight how to loot food from empty houses.

‘……I’ve turned the empire’s strongest holy knight into a petty thief.’

Oh Ardel, chief god who protects the Kaladia Empire, please forgive us.

This was an emergency measure for survival. That holy knight is not at fault. If you wish to scold someone for stealing, please contact Zero and hear the full story.

‘That should be enough, right…….’

Michael, who had responded half-jokingly, smiled with satisfaction, saying we wouldn’t have to worry about food anymore.

The kitchen staff were grinning widely too.

“Your Grace and the companions who went out with you look like angels who came to help us out of this crisis.”

‘Hmm, if we were angels, we probably wouldn’t be looting human houses……?’

The large, deserted mansion that had lost its owner had been thoroughly emptied without leaving even a speck of dust. But if that meant survivors could continue living, then it had meaning.

So I didn’t feel guilty.

Though I definitely didn’t think we were angels.

“……Still, we’re not angels. And even if someone tried to call us that, I’d object.”

One of the kitchen servants replied sincerely,

“What’s so special about angels? When times are hard and painful, those who don’t forget people like us and take care of us—that’s an angel.”

She added that you didn’t need wings or a beautiful appearance. As long as you had the heart to help others instead of turning away, anyone could be an angel.

“……Then everyone staying at the Keaton residence must be angels too.”

Aston suddenly appeared behind us and said that.

“The people here all think of one another and try to share food and drink together.”

“Ahem, that’s true.”

It seemed the servant had called us angels to praise me, but when the stoic-looking Aston interpreted it so positively, she couldn’t stop the corners of her mouth from rising.

Seeing the happy reactions, I let out a small laugh too.

“That’s right. Only angels live at the Keaton residence.”

「Does that include me too? Ahem, then I’ll be the guardian angel!」

Zero fluttered around like a butterfly and gave an exaggerated salute.

“Of course our small and adorable god would be the angel who protects us.”

“We’re grateful that Your Grace has such a precious connection.”

“People working in other noble houses probably couldn’t even imagine this.”

“We’re lucky.”

“…….”

All I did was survive by possessing Elizabeth’s body and try to complete the final quest of eliminating the zombies. These people just benefited along the way.

But seeing them sincerely happy and blessing me made my chest tighten.

‘……Where else would I ever receive such genuine celebration?’

My home. The place I was supposed to return to was overflowing with cold emptiness.

It was a space where only I could breathe, so warmth like the people beside me now was unimaginable.

「What’s wrong? Your expression doesn’t look good.」

As gloom crept in, Zero noticed first.

“……It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

When I used to act as the villainess Elizabeth and just wait for the original story to end, everything felt unbearably boring.

But now……

‘Now there’s a part of me that’s grateful to have met warm people here.’

It should be okay to feel this warmth a little longer, right?

To hide my gloomy thoughts, I forced a bright smile.

“I’m just tired. After fighting zombies, my shoulders feel stiff.”

「Hmm…… that’s suspicious.」

He’s annoyingly sharp.

I gently pushed Zero away and passed celebratory drinks to the nine people who had gone to Duo–Sector 1 with me.

It was non-alcoholic sparkling champagne.

I didn’t want to end up in a situation where I couldn’t think clearly because of alcohol.

Anxiety and tension were always lurking in my stomach.

‘We successfully reclaimed part of the capital this time, but there’s no guarantee it’ll be this easy next time.’

And if the culprit who quietly wiped out the Warrey Count family of Linsted aims to kill every human in this world……

Then sooner or later, they would notice the abnormal situation in the capital and come after us.

‘When that time comes, will I really be able to fight against something that terrifying?’

In a way, the zombies right now might just be a distraction. If you pierce the head, they return to their state before infection. Of course, their lives are already gone……

If, like the dark magician who seemed to be the mastermind near the secret passage of “Angel’s Breath,” someone could give zombies reason or manipulate them with variables—

And if hundreds of thousands of those zombies attacked all at once……

A chill ran down my spine.

‘Just because we survived doesn’t mean we’re safe.’

That was what scared me.

What if the people I’ve grown attached to die?

What if, like when my parents died in an accident, I lose them without being able to do anything at all?

“Huff…….”

As I was about to raise my glass, I suddenly began to hyperventilate. Someone quickly came to my side.

It was Aston Cliter.

Without making a fuss in the noisy atmosphere, he gave me quiet instructions.

“……Duke, breathe in slowly. If you feel anxious, grip my hand or my sleeve tightly. This place is safe.”

“Huff…… huff…….”

I desperately grabbed Aston’s hand tightly and tried to teach myself how to breathe calmly and slowly again.

「What? What’s wrong!」

Zero had been munching on party snacks made by the servants, but when he noticed me, he jumped up in shock and bounced around me.

Aston spoke for me while I was too out of it to respond.

“The Duke of Keaton is experiencing hyperventilation.”

「What?」

“Has she had symptoms like this before? I don’t think it’s because she feels unsafe here……. Is there a memory in the Duke’s past—something intense and painful—that might have triggered this?”

「I don’t know…… I’ve never seen Liz like this before, so……. Damn it. I’m losing it. I didn’t even properly check the condition of the one I’m assigned to.」

“……Since you’re unsure, I’ll stay by her side using the methods I know.”

Aston was calm, like someone who had dealt with this many times.

“Huff…… huff…… ha…….”

Like a drowning person, I clung to the warmth coming from Aston’s hand. Even though I gripped him hard enough to leave marks, he didn’t mind and soothed me.

So that the others wouldn’t notice and worry, he pretended we were simply having a quiet private conversation.

“Shh, it’s alright. This isn’t the place you remember.”

“Ha…….”

“No matter what you imagine, the worst situation you fear—based on sketches of your past memories—will not happen again.”

“…….”

“Because now I believe. That you…… Elizabeth Keaton are a kind person who fights for others. Even if that weren’t true, you gave me a piece of salvation with your warm words. So even if something does happen, I will protect you. Don’t worry.”

Even though it was hard to breathe, Aston’s strangely trembling voice was clear.