Love, Eroge, Music & Other Craziness

by Geek Girl Naruru

Namikaze Naruto is a normal fifteen-year-old high school student. He has a distant relationship with his sister Naruko, who always treats him rudely. One Day in Spring, he encounters a foreign girl playing a piano on one of his travels to a junkyard and helps her in many ways as he discover that her name is Weiss Schnee.

26. Tsundere in Zombie World -Part 2-

Special Chapter: Isekai Naruko — Tsundere in Zombie Apocalypse World

-Part 2-

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How much time has passed since we hid under Cia's chambers with bated breath? By the time I've begun to lose all sense of time, a sliver of sunlight filters in through the slits in the wall. Morning has come.

"Nngh…" Cia yawns from where she had slept in my lap and looks up

at me while she rubs her drowsy eyes.

"Are you awake now?" I quietly whisper.

"Oneechan…I'm so sorry. I can't believe I fell asleep at a time like this."

"No worries. I took a little nap too."

That's a blatant lie—I didn't sleep a wink. I wasn't trying to stay up; I was simply too afraid of the zombies to fall asleep. Staying awake has brought me a bit of a headache, but it's not bad enough to stop me from moving.

"Anyway, do you mind leading the way out of here? The zombies have quieted down, so I think now's as good a time as ever."

"Okay. I can do it."

Cia guides me down another set of stairs. The tunnel started from the third floor of the tall castle, giving it a significant ways down to go. We take careful steps to ensure our footsteps don't echo through the halls. Several minutes later, we exit into a stark room around fifty square feet large. About the only things of note in the room are a hatch in the floor and a lever affixed to the wall.

"From here we can take an underground aqueduct to the rear garden, but…"

A mind-boggling stench erupts from the opening when Cia opens the hatch.

"Eugh," I groan, pinching my nose.

Cia's eyes are watering. "I-I forgot all water is putrid…."

Because this is almost completely an airtight, enclosed space, the foul odor is leaps and bounds more horrendous than the stench exuding from the open-air lakes and rivers. I'm not kidding when I say continuing to inhale this malodorous air is going to eat away at my internal organs. We're in serious trouble if I don't do something about it soon.

"Can you move away from the hatch for a minute?" I ask Cia, taking her place beside the hatch to peer below.

The distance to the underground aqueduct is about ten feet farther than I expected. The aqueduct is wide enough for one car to drive through with space on either side. Just like everywhere else, the liquid filling the aqueduct is a poisonous shade of purple.

Frankly, I don't want to open my mouth here, but I suck it up and spit below. That familiar holy light begins to light up the dark space. The bubbles stop popping, and the thick purple liquid turns clear. Last but not least, the foul-smelling odor wreaking havoc on my nose is cleanly washed away.

After I deeply inhale the fresh air, I apologize to Cia. "Sorry you had to see me spit. It's disgusting, but it's our only option at the moment."

"Don't be sorry. Your spit that purifies the zombie blight is one and the same as holy water. There is nothing disgusting about it."

How has the world come to this?! Cia has arrived at the exact same creepy conclusion as Ruto! I mean, sure, I'm glad she doesn't view me as disgusting, but calling spit holy water is going a step too far toward crazy. I'm getting more worried by the minute that the people of Grantz had their brains fried by the zombification process! I'm seriously scared for them.

"W-We should head down for now… Er, we're pretty high up, aren't we?"

Depending on the water's depth in the aqueduct, dropping down hard could hurt. I once jumped into a kiddie pool and scraped my butt on the bottom. I'd love to avoid that humiliation and injury this time around.

"We can use this to safely descend below." Cia flips up the lever affixed to the wall beside the hatch, and a chain attached to an anchor appears. When I try pulling on it, the chain jangles its way out of the hole. It winds back down on its own when I let go of the slack.

"Oh! We can scale our way straight down with this."

"It's a meaningless defense if someone comes prepared," Cia notes.

"Well, I can't imagine too many people bringing a ladder to a place like his. Anyway, maybe you should descend first? Oh, but that might not be such a good idea if you fall—"

"O-Oneechan! I am not that big of a klutz!" Cia protests, her face turning red.

"Sorry, sorry," I apologize as I hand her the chain. "If you feel that strongly about it, you can go first."

"Thank you!"

Cia drops the anchor over the side and carefully descends using the chain. I'm holding the chain in place just in case, but I'm on edge because it's swaying erratically.

"Be super careful, Cia-chan!"

"I will! I can do this!"

I wonder if Cia is actually a really stubborn girl. She scales her way down to the anchor and triumphantly smiles up at me.

"What do you think now, Oneechan? Your little sister made it down all by herself!"

"Before you celebrate, look where you're standing—"

"Ah!" Cia misses a step and falls backward into the water. There's a loud splash as water sprays around her.

"Oh dear." I smile sympathetically down at her.

A soaking-wet Cia pushes herself up until she's kneeling in the water. Fortunately, she didn't fall from too high and doesn't seem to be hurt, but… she looks like she could cry at any moment.

"Uggh."

"HUP." I swing the anchor like a pendulum and land perfectly on the walkway beside the aqueduct. When I release the chain, it winds back up to the hatch with a jingle-jangle sound.

"You can really do anything you set your mind to, Oneechan." Cia is squeezing the water out of her dress over the aqueduct. She's shooting me a loathsome look with pursed lips, but her appearance ruins the scariness she's trying to project.

"No, I can't. Aside from being more athletic, I'm normal. Anyway, aren't you cold? Are you okay?"

"Ah, I'm fine. I actually feel refreshed."

"Lucky you! We didn't get to wash off all the sweat from yesterday. Hmm, now I kind of want to go for a swim."

I feel sweaty all over. It'd be weird if I didn't after how much I moved around yesterday, but…this is a grave problem that can do a number on a young lady's mental state.

"But I'll have to save it for later because I don't want my heavy, wet clothing to get in the way."

"When we have the time, you should use the castle's bathhouse instead of the aqueduct."

"What?! The castle has a bath?!"

"It does. Although it isn't very big…"

"I don't care about the size as long as I can bathe! But that's awesome! There's a bath!" I accidentally let out a creepy laugh. How could I not? I love baths! I love them to the point I'd stay in the bath forever if time allowed. On that note, I better keep it a secret that I thought their civilization wasn't advanced enough to have baths. The foul smells definitely have a big part to do with that.

"Um, um…can I join you during your bath?" Cia bashfully inquires.

"It's your castle, Cia-chan. Of course you can."

"Thank you so much, Oneechan!"

Cia must be an incomparable bath lover. She's rejoicing more than I am.

"O-kay! I'm suddenly motivated to do this! I've gotta purify tons of zombies so I can enjoy my bath later!"

I feel like my main motivation has changed, but who cares? I'll still be purifying zombies—it'll just be for me.

"Let's do this!" I pump myself up as I think about my future bath.

(◕ω◕✿)

We follow the aqueduct until we reach the wall facing the rear garden. Since she's already soaked, Cia steps down into the waterway and peeks through the iron grate.

"How's it look? Any zombies?"

"No, I don't see any in the rear garden."

"Okay!"

Most of the nearby zombies stormed the castle while pursuing the living last night. Because of that, I had assumed there wouldn't be many left loitering in the gardens, but I didn't expect there to be none. It sounds too good to be true, but maybe luck is finally on our side.

I sit down on my butt on the walkway beside the aqueduct. Before me is a groove carved into the wall opposite the outer wall. The lever mounted there is perpendicular to the outer wall, and when I push it with my foot, part of the wall moves down, creating a crawl space big enough for one person to pass through.

"Heh. So that's how it works."

Cia told me about how it functions in advance, but seeing a trapdoor work in person is oddly thrilling. It seems to be constructed in such a way that only the lower stone is slanted, making it possible to move with as little force as possible.

"Okay, I'll go first." I wait until Cia pulls herself out of the aqueduct to crawl my way out of the castle wall. Outside is shrouded with miasma again due to the zombies retaking the castle.

I have only one thought when I see the sorry state before me: Do I have to spit again?

"Up you go."

Cia is struggling to get through the tight passage, so I take hold of her hand and pull her through.

"Thank you very much, Oneechan."

"Mm-hmm, you're welcome. Now that we're out…the real challenge begins here."

We advance through the garden, stepping as softly as possible. I furtively poke my head around the side of the tower keep and discover five zombies lying in wait. One zombie is pressing his forehead against the castle wall like he's reflecting on his actions, while the others are sluggishly wandering around, groaning "Bwahhh bwahhh."

The invigorated zombies last night had red eyes, but these zombies don't. However, that's not enough evidence to rashly believe these zombies won't be reactivated into a super state when they see us. I pick up a stone off the ground and chuck it at the inner wall.

The stone makes a direct hit with a clunk. Reacting immediately, the zombies totter and fumble their way toward the source of the sound.

"They aren't moving very fast."

"I was concerned how we would get by if they were in the same state as last night, but we can handle them like this."

The zombies seem to think there are people on the other side of the castle wall, since they're banging against it, ramming their head into it, and launching all sorts of body attacks. I wait for a few minutes, but no other zombies show up. Now's as good a time as ever to strike first.

"Cia-chan, once the zombies are purified, warn them not to kick up a fuss," I instruct Cia before kicking off and launching a surprise slap attack on the zombies from behind. I smack each of them on the back of the head.

How do you like that slap attack?! I think as I hop back a step and watch as the fallen zombies all begin to glow. The dezombification process ends while I swallow a very unfeminine "Booyah!"

Confused dezombified people replace the zombies. Some are about to speak but close their mouths when they see Cia standing there with her index finger pressed to her lips. From the looks of it, all five are knights. If possible, I want their assistance. Explaining the situation to them is critical to earn their help.

I swallow my pride and use charades to convey the situation to them by pretending to be a zombie and then showing the purification process, all through hand and body gestures. I put my thumb and index finger together in a circle to ask if they understand. The knights respond with thumbs-up. My explanation got across to them at the price of my humility, as my bright-red face can attest to.

Pulling myself back together, I peek around the corner wall to grasp what I can of the situation in the front courtyard. Of all the horrible things, I come face-to-face with a zombie! I gulp back the scream threatening to rip from my throat. I'm scared to death, and it reeks! But the bigger problem now is that we've been found.

As I'm hesitating over what move to make, two of the knights yank the zombie back to a spot that isn't visible from the rest of the courtyard. I swiftly slap my hand down on the zombie and touch the arms of both the knights who are already beginning to rot from holding back the zombie while unprotected. The newly dezombified person is bewildered like everyone else, but he keeps his mouth shut when he sees Cia take her "shh" pose.

With that done and over with, I take another gander at the courtyard. Luckily, none of the other zombies have noticed us. But my eyes fly open at how many of them are roaming in circles around the courtyard. Their numbers easily surpass a hundred. I'd taken on a few hundred yesterday, but it's not an easy number to stomach.

In any case, our biggest predicament is how to purify this many zombies without being overwhelmed. We can't just charge in from the front like fools…

"Lady Naruko," a quiet voice interrupts my internal debate. I glance over my shoulder to where two knights are looking at me with determination brimming in their eyes.

"We will draw the zombies' attention from the opposite end of the courtyard."

"Do you see how many there are? That's a reckless plan—"

"Please do not worry over us. We are Royal Knights."

Just saying they're knights isn't very convincing to me when I don't really know much about this kingdom's knights. Though the cold, hard truth is that I can't think of a more effective strategy than the one they suggested.

While I feel bad to ask this of them, I bow my head and say, "Th-Then please do it. But be as careful as you possibly can."

For whatever reason, not only are the knights gaping at me, but they also have nosebleeds. Is it really okay to entrust any kind of plan to these people? I'm worried for them for all sorts of reasons…

"OOOOOOHHHHHHHHH! LADY NARUKO!"

"LADY NARUKO! LADYYY NARUKOOOOOO!"

The two knights had circled around to the opposite side of the courtyard and are now successfully luring the zombies toward them by shouting at the top of their lungs. The hundred or so zombies turn their backs on me and hobble toward the knights. I guess you could call this plan a success… But… "H-Hey! What's the big idea?! Please don't shout my name to lure in zombies!"

"You are such a sinful woman, Oneechan."

"Hoooow?! I don't want to hear that from you too, Cia-chan. What sin have I committed?!"

Even the knights standing defensively behind Cia are nodding. I don't know how or why, but apparently I've committed some great wrong.

"A-Anyway! I'm off to purify the zombies while their attention is being drawn by the others. Watch my back!"

I rush into the fray with the remaining three knights. The zombies don't take notice of my approach. The "Lady Naruko" call is louder than my stealthy steps. There's nothing more embarrassing than hearing your name being shouted, but I just have to put up with it for now.

I whack each zombie on the back as I run around the courtyard. Occasionally, one reacts to my presence, but I'm able to escape unscathed because of how few actually respond and because of the knights who have my back. I spend the rest of the time rapidly purifying everyone until there's not a zombie left in the front courtyard.

As the dezombified people are adapting to being human again, I rush over to the knights who acted as bait. They're both collapsed on the ground exhausted, their shoulders shaking with heavy breathing.

"I was able to safely bring everyone back thanks to your courage. Thank you very much."

"We didn't do a whole lot other than retreat while yelling."

"Ah, about that! Why did you shout my name?!"

"Erm…how can we explain? …Let's just say it's a secret."

"Hah," I sigh. "Well, you pulled it off, so whatever. Just know that you embarrassed me beyond embarrassment!"

I'm grateful they undertook the dangerous role of being bait, but I can't let what they did pass without a word of complaint. However, the knights react in the complete opposite way from what I expected. Their expressions melt into dorky smiles that perfectly match the kind of laughter that goes "Durhurhur." It's rude to say after they just helped me out, but they're kind of creepy. I quickly run away from them and accidentally bump into another knight.

"I-I'm sorry."

"I can't believe I was saved for the second time by you, lass."

That gruff voice! Could it be?! I look up and see just who I expected. "Sir Oden!"

"Indeed. Your pronunciation has improved." Sir Oden gives a satisfied nod. Apparently it paid off that I had imagined the food when I said it, though it had the adverse effect of making me hungry.

"Oneechan! Zombies are spilling out of the castle!" Cia cries out. I shift my attention that way to see zombies exiting from the inner gate in droves.

"Whoa! I'm getting some serious déjà vu here…"

"Then the result shall be the same as the last time." Sir Oden scoops up a nearby shield and holds it in a way that covers his whole body. "They took me by surprise last night, but I'll never lose to these slowpokes. Rest easy, lass. I swear on my name as the captain of the Royal Knights that I will trample all the zombies in your path."

"Uh, please don't. They'll turn human once I purify them, you know? Please hold back—"

"CHAAAAAAARGE!"

Ah, it's no use. He's not listening.

I sigh and follow behind Sir Oden as he charges through the zombies and into the tower keep.

"IT figures it'd turn out this way…"

Sure enough, the corridors are covered with injured people. At the very least, they have been dezombified, but after seeing how hurt they are, it kind of makes me wonder if purifying them was the right thing to do.

"ANY ZOMBIES LEFT?! I, Oden, shall be your opponent!" Sir Oden, the culprit behind the mass production of injured, bellows as he takes the vanguard.

Somebody's full of life, I muse with a dry smile as I jump up to follow him, but instead of launching into a run, I stagger forward. On top of not getting any sleep, I've been running all day. My body has reached its limit.

But I don't have time to rest. Taking into account the high possibility of the zombies becoming super zombies once night hits, we should purify not only the castle but the city as well. As for the castle, only a few sections are left to search for zombies. The third and final floor of the tower keep is almost completely purified, so it's not too far-fetched to say all I have left to do here is clean up the stragglers.

But while that's true, something is bothering me. Despite having purified hundreds of zombies, I've yet to find Ruto. Where are you, Ruto?!

As I'm walking around the third floor searching for him, I come across a room without a door. The location alone tells me this is Cia's bedchamber. Hesitantly, I peer into the room. My eyes bulge at what I see there.

"Bw…ahh…"

A lone zombie is brandishing a shield as if covering the hidden passageway. Unlike the other zombies who roam the corridors, it stays perfectly in place. I think about how strange that is until I realize that zombie is Ruto, and now it oddly makes sense.

"You protected us this whole time."

I highly doubt zombies have intent. But the zombie before me—Ruto— alone is different. Is this a miracle? Or is it possible simply because it's Ruto? I don't know. Only one thought sticks with me.

"…You're kind of cool." I flick Ruto's forehead with my right index finger. The curse on his body begins to lift, and he returns to his human form. Eventually, he regains consciousness, and blinks several times, as if he can't wrap his head around the situation.

"Lady Naruko… What have I—"

"Thank you. Also…welcome back," I say with a smile. I thought these were the things I should tell him before anything else. Ruto looks baffled, but he pieces the situation together on his own. A tranquil smile immediately graces his lips.

"I'm back, Lady Naruko."

How strange. I feel at peace when I'm with Ruto. Maybe it's because he looked like my brother and he's also the very first person I met in this world. As those thoughts are going through my mind, my vision suddenly sways. I fall on the ground with a thud. Ruto is shouting something, but it sounds so far away.

Weird… What happened to me? It wasn't until I asked myself that question that I realized for the first time that I had fainted.

(◕ω◕✿)

I jerk awake. My vision is blurry from just waking up. My brain isn't working well either. I instinctively think I have to go to school soon or I'll be late. I try to crawl out of bed—one that feels much softer than usual.

"Urk," I cry out when I hit my stomach on something. The impact wakes me right up. I look down and see a girl clad in a dress crying as she hugs me.

"Oneechan!"

"…Cia-chan?"

"Yes, I am your Cia. I am so relieved you came to…"

Instantly, Cia's surreal elegance and loveliness call to mind the extraordinary past few days.

"Ahh, right. I fainted after helping Ruto."

"You had been running around the entire time since the prior day… You must have been exhausted."

Physical fatigue was definitely a part of it, but it felt more like I was hit with lethargy from the inside. I think the source was this mysterious power I've never used before—the power to purify. I have to be careful with how I use it from now on, just in case it isn't as limitless as I thought.

"Oh yeah!" I snap back to my senses. "How long was I asleep for? It's not night yet, is it?"

"I-It isn't, but it will be nighttime soon."

I follow Cia's gaze out the bedchamber's window. Outside is slowly turning dark; it looks to be around evening time.

"I have to hurry and purify the zombies in the city before nightfall!" I push myself up.

"Oneechan! You can't with your health! Besides, it is already too late for that—"

"But if I don't go now, everyone will revert into zombies… Last night will happen all over again."

We won't ever move forward if we have to repeat our castle siege strategy every time night hits. I would rather take the risk and purify until every zombie is gone from within the city limits.

"As for that problem, we may have an answer," says a knight standing in the doorless doorway. My eyes fly open the second I see that familiar face.

"Ruto…!"

"I am glad to see you awake and well, my lady."

"Thanks to the hard work of a certain someone."

We smile at each other without saying anything else.

"Okay, care to explain what answer you came up with, then?" I ask, breaking the silence.

"Yes. However, it is not I who will be doing the explaining, but this person here."

Ruto steps aside, allowing a short boy into the room. He looks slightly older than Cia. Unlike the knights in their plate armor, he's wearing airy, loose clothing. That, paired with his neatly trimmed auburn hair, gives the impression he's a nobleman's son.

"He is Grantz Kingdom's royal scholar—"

"Pino," the boy cuts Ruto off. "Let's not waste my time and get down to business."

He comes off as self-important and cocky. For a moment, I doubt a kid his age could be a scholar, but Cia and Ruto acknowledge him as such, so it seems to be true. In any case, I'm not a person of high status who needs to be paid respect, so it doesn't bother me if he wants to act assertive.

"Um, I'm Naruko. Nice to meet you, Pino." I hold out my right hand to shake hands with him.

"Eek!" he squeaks and hops back. He's clearly avoiding my touch. Did I do something weird? Or does my hand still reek of zombie?

Cia parries my worries with her knowing smile. "Rest assured, Oneechan! I thoroughly cleaned your hands!"

Yep, they aren't putting off a foul odor. What a considerate child she is. Maybe she just couldn't take being around that horrid stench without washing it, but I'm not going to press her on it. Ignorance is bliss.

But if stench isn't the reason, I'm even more at a loss as to why Pino is avoiding me. What if it's a visceral rejection of me? I'll be depressed if it is.

"S-Sorry, but I don't believe in shaking hands. I hope you don't take offense," Pino says, rushing to explain himself.

His panic makes him look his age, instantly erasing the superficially polite impression I had of him. Honestly, I don't get what anyone would have against exchanging handshakes, but I'll go along with it.

"Got it. It's cool if you have a reason."

"Sorry about that. Back to our prior topic of discussion… Getting straight to the point, it is possible to make it through the night. And it's pretty easy to do too." He says it like he's sure of it.

"I have a hard time believing that, after running for my life from the super zombies last night. They ran at ridiculous speeds. I simply can't foresee outrunning them—"

"That's the key right there. Your first big mistake is thinking we have to take them on."

"Are you implying we make it so they can't find us? I hate to poke a hole in your plan, but they targeted people inside the castle they didn't know were there last night…"

"I can see why they would. The castle is full of things zombies react to."

What is he getting at?

My confused head tilt seems to be what Pino expected, because he flashes a satisfied smirk.

"A few zombies were still left here and there in the castle after you fainted. Oh, don't worry. We didn't sustain damage to our numbers, because the knights confined them in the dungeon. But I was able to experiment on those zombies."

"What kind of experiments?"

"Ones that test what it is zombies react to." Pino grins and holds up three fingers as he continues his explanation. "Based on my results, I can conclude zombies respond dramatically to three things. First, they react to people who enter their limited range of vision. Second, sound. And lastly, light."

"Light? Like candlelight and fires?"

"Exactly. And what time is light easiest to see?"

"…Right. At night."

That certainly explains why the zombies targeted the castle and broke inside even if they didn't see people. Candles were lit all around the castle last night after all. Torches blazed throughout the courtyards too. I don't think there were many places without light.

I've always had this view that evil things hate light, so the brightly lit castle actually put my mind at rest too. I can't believe that turned out to be the thing that drew the zombies to us.

"Ah! Then the way to get through the night without zombies is—"

"Yes, you're on the right track. We can get through the night by killing all the lights within the castle." Pino smiles victoriously and adds, "See? Easy, isn't it?"

"MM!" First thing the next morning, I go out into the courtyard and stretch.

The zombie blighted environment around the rotten capital city has left a dark fog over the sun, but at least the air isn't bad, since I took care of purifying the area within the castle walls. Waking up to such a refreshing morning is only possible thanks to Pino.

Keeping all light off and lying low within the castle saved us from being attacked by zombies last night. Some of them ran around on top of the castle walls, while others rammed the walls, but that seemed to be their normal behavior rather than a reaction to people. It goes without saying that it was a dauntingly surreal scene anyway.

"I see the holy priestess is an early riser." That youthful voice is at odds with its commanding tone.

I turn around to where Pino is walking toward me from the inner gate while yawning. "I had to go around purifying the zombies who came over the walls."

"And secure us food supplies," Pino remarks as he looks around me. Apple trees grew around the courtyard while I was taking care of business. The castle has gone from imposing and stately to a friendly apple plantation.

"Want one?"

"…I actually haven't had a thing to eat since becoming human again. I'll take one."

Pino stretches up to pluck an apple from the closest tree, but he's just a few inches too short to reach it. He must be terribly embarrassed, because he glances at me with a face redder than the apples. He's kind of cute.

Pino jumps out of desperation, snagging one of the apples and ripping it off the branch, dropping leaves on his head in the process. He takes a violent bite out of the apple as if to shake off his humiliation. A split second later, his eyes go rounder than the apple as if he's had a great shock. He's reacting like a character from a cooking manga.

"Th-This is a fairly delectable apple." Pino ravenously devours the crunchy fruit, polishing it off in a matter of moments. He must really like it. "While it's tasty, we'll have a nutritional imbalance from eating just apples, not to mention quickly grow sick of them."

"I totally agree. Not that we have the luxury of complaining."

"We'll have to increase our food options eventually." As Pino goes on about our future, he stares closely at the apple core in his hand. "I've gotta say, though, it leaves a bad aftertaste when I think of this as fruit grown with your spit. Whoa, why do you suddenly look so happy? I'm speaking ill of you. You're creeping me out!"

"Sorry. I'm just so happy to have finally met someone who reacts normally…!"

My sensibilities were starting to tarnish with everyone around me viewing my spit as some kind of gift from God. I'm relieved from the bottom of my heart to finally come across someone with a sane reaction. Pino seems to have picked up on why I reacted that way too. He heaves an exasperated sigh.

"This kingdom is full of weird people, after all."

"They're all good people, though."

"I can acknowledge that."

Pino's proud tone lets me know just how much he loves Grantz Kingdom. As a scholar, he can attest to it with his intimate knowledge of this kingdom. Speaking of which, I just remembered I had some things I wanted to ask him about.

"Oh yeah, you're a scholar, Pino. Do you know all sorts of things?"

"That's a monstrously vague question. Well, I've been granted then position of scholar at my age. I'm confident in my wealth of knowledge."

"Say, do you know of any items or magic that connects to another world? Hey, wipe that look that practically screams 'What's wrong with this woman?' off your face."

"I merely reacted as you expected I would."

I never thought a boy so much younger than me would turn such scornful eyes my way. It's the kind of look that lays bare just how much of a hopeless case I am, and that kills me on the inside.

"Yeesh, this is what I get for expecting a halfway decent question from you…"

"But you aren't too startled by it, are you?"

"Of course not. You are a strange and unknown being that can purify zombies and nature alike. Nothing startling about bizarre, unfamiliar information coming from you."

"Ooh, you sound kinda smart."

"…Are you making fun of me?"

"Never~~!"

"So you say. I know you're judging me based on appearances too." Pino sulkily turns his face aside. What an understandable concern.

"Well, I'll be honest with you. At first, I was like, 'How's this little kid a scholar?' But Ruto and Cia acknowledge you as one, and above all else, I can really tell how smart you are after talking with you like this."

"I guess intelligence just overflows from you when you reach my level, but…"

"Take last night for example. We only got through the night thanks to your brilliant idea, Pino."

"W-We did? Yeah, we did, didn't we? But it only turned out that way with assistance from the Royal Knights. I couldn't have achieved it alone."

Pino is the proud type. Plus, he's sincere when you stroke his ego. I can tell by this conversation that we'll get along great from here.

In a good mood, Pino suddenly becomes talkative. "Now back to your question… When you refer to 'another world,' you mean a different world from the one we are currently standing in, correct?"

"Yep. Huh. Ruto knew what I was talking about too. I'm surprised the people here understand the concept of other worlds."

The theory is easy for me to comprehend because we have words and stories about it, but it doesn't come up in everyday conversations. Maybe it'd be easier to understand if my world had a name used across worlds, but I've never heard of such a thing.

"Our god came from another world, so obviously we'd know of it. Why are you bringing this up?" Pino turns suspicious eyes on me, but I couldn't care less about that right now. The important thing here is that he knows of another world.

"Can you tell me more about the world your god comes from?"

"You're frighteningly hung up on this topic."

"That's because it's super important to me."

The world their god comes from and mine might be one and the same.

"I'm more surprised you don't know anything about it. Even small children know about it."

"How could I? I'm not a resident of this world."

"Hold your horses. You just dropped that into the conversation…" Pino buries his head in his hands and crouches on the ground. "Uhh…" he groans.

Thinking he needs sugar to help his brain along, I ask, "Need an apple?"

"I do," he replies. I pick an apple and hand it to him. After he scarfs it down like an animal, he springs to his feet. Holding up the two apple cores as stand-ins for "this world" and "the other world," he begins working out the scenario. "Let me see if I have this right. You unexpectedly came to this world from another one. So you are looking for a way to return to that other—your former—world?"

"Oooh, you're amazing, Pino! You comprehended that much in this little time!"

If I were Pino, this conversation would've ended with me worrying if the other person was in their right mind. It's funny for me to feel this way, but even I think my story is absurd.

"I simply constructed my answer based on what you told me. Anyway, you're making fun of me again."

"Sorry, I'm just happy you took me seriously, because Ruto wrote it off as being obvious since I'm the priestess and didn't give it a second thought."

"Allow me to make it clear that I respect Sir Ruto before I say…don't ever lump me into the same category as that meathead."

His face is dead serious. It must mean that much to him. I'll avoid tactlessly aggravating him by dropping the subject here.

"Having said that, I get how Sir Ruto feels. After all, while you can believe in the existence of other worlds, it isn't easy to believe someone came from one."

"But you believe me, Pino."

"Don't misunderstand. I am speaking of it as a what-if scenario."

"Tch. That's not fair."

"Now don't get ahead of yourself. This isn't the end of the conversation. I'm of the opinion that nothing will begin if I don't start by believing you, so choosing to not believe you was never on the table for me."

Can I interpret that as him saying he'll try to believe me for now? I don't really get his logic, but I'll be optimistic here and be glad he didn't flat- out reject the idea without listening to me.

"All right, as for our talk about the other world…let's save it for next time."

"What? Why?! Isn't this where we get right into it?!"

"Don't you have things to do right now?" Pino points out, gesturing with his eyes for me to look toward the inner gate. Ruto, Sir Oden, and ten or so knights are heading this way.

"Aaah…" I unthinkingly groan aloud. I had completely forgotten about our plans to head into the city to purify zombies.

"Purifying Grantz Kingdom might not seem like your problem, but it's something I need you to do." Pino thrusts up his index finger as he suggests, "How about this? I will answer any and every question you have once you finish successfully purifying all of Grantz's capital."

"That's what it comes down to, huh?"

"It's not a bad plan in my eyes."

Purifying the zombies in the city is a very dangerous job, but at least the danger drops significantly by not moving around at night. All the knights are going to help out too. In all likelihood, I can pull it off without a hitch. Most importantly, I had every intention of purifying the capital anyway, so gaining information about my world in the process will be killing two zombie birds with one stone.

"Okay, I accept your terms."

"A wise decision."

"Oh, but let me correct you on one thing… Purifying this country isn't 'not my problem' anymore. Just so you know."

Pino looks baffled for a moment before his expression gives way to one of amusement. "Not a bad reply for the holy priestess."

"I keep telling you people I'm not your priestess!"

After snorting at my pitiful objection, Pino turns his back toward me and waves. "Happy zombie hunting, 'Miss Holy Priestess of Spit.'"

"GYAH!"

(◕ω◕✿)

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! Zombie moans rise seemingly to the beat of rhythmic metal clashing. Background music that couldn't be called good even to be polite plays throughout Grantz's capital city.

"Here, zombies, zombies, zombies! Come to me!"

Ruto is luring the zombies by banging two frying pans together. It's an unbelievably surreal spectacle, but I've grown numb to it after watching it play out since morning. The zombies drawn to the drawbridge leading to the castle gates are felled and pinned to the ground by the knights.

It looks seriously painful every time I see it, but there's nothing for it. Apologizing in my heart, I repeatedly smack zombie after zombie, purifying them in rows. Successfully dezombified people are carried or assisted inside the castle walls.

We've been repeating this process since the early morning, and I have no idea how many people I've purified so far. A conservative estimate would be more than five hundred. And yet, for all that, it hasn't even made a dent in the city's zombies. I'm not exaggerating when I say these numbers can't be taken care of in a day or two.

"Sorry, can we call it a day?"

My consciousness has been going in and out since earlier—I'm at my limit now. Ruto looks back at me as he's about to go marching into the city with his frying pans again. My complexion must look like crap, because surprise colors his face.

"I-I sincerely apologize for not noticing, my lady. I did not realize you were so worn out…"

"It kinda seems like whenever I purify something, my stamina wears away."

"Mayhap your fainting yesterday was caused by that—"

"Yep, I think it probably was."

Yesterday I not only purified a ton but was also running around like a madwoman, so I might have just fainted out of sheer exhaustion. But this time, dizziness hit me when I've barely moved at all. Purifying is unquestionably the cause.

"Captain Oden, your thoughts?" Ruto brings Sir Oden into our conversation.

"We are the ones who will be in a pinch if anything happens to Lady Naruko. We'll be best served if she takes the rest of the day off," Sir Oden advises.

I feel bad for making them put things on hold on account of me, but forcing myself through it will only lead to me fainting. That will become a true burden on everyone.

"I'm really sorry. You're all doing so much more than I am too."

"I have repeated myself on this subject multiple times, but we only feel gratitude toward you, Lady Naruko. You're helping us out by resting when you need to," Sir Oden reassures me.

"Thank you."

Going back to my room and getting some sleep sounds good, but I want to wash up first. Fighting to keep from passing out has drenched me in sweat. Aah, if only there were a bath available…

"Oneechan!"

Only one person in the world calls me that. Just as I thought, it's Cia. She's running from the castle as if in a great big hurry.

"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Nothing is wrong. I just had something I wanted to tell you as soon as possible."

"What is it?" I cock my head.

"Everything is all ready! For the bath!"

The second I hear that word, I frighten even myself by how fast I zoom in close to Cia. "Let's go! Right now!"

Cia shows me the way to the corner room on the northwest end of the tower keep's first floor. Along with Cia, I begin stripping my clothes in what I assume is the changing room. In my world, this is where I'd cover my body with a towel, but no such thing exists here. It's kind of embarrassing, but I enter the bath completely naked.

"Oooh!"

I had assumed the bath would be massive because it's in a castle, but it's smaller than hotel public baths and onsens. That being said, it's about the size of five average household bathtubs in a line. Whatever the size, I'm satisfied as long as there is a bath.

"Cia-chan…wasn't it hard getting this ready for use?"

"As for that, the two knights who undertook the dire mission of being bait yesterday offered to help."

"Ah, those two. I feel like I'm always being helped out by them."

"They were more delighted than anything else."

"I'm sure this was one of those scenarios where they fulfilled a lifelong dream by helping out their princess."

"I don't think that was the case this time," Cia says, giggling. I'm curious about what her words imply, but I'd rather submerge in the water than chat. I grab one of the buckets on the ground, scoop up water with it, and swiftly throw it on my body.

"Wooo! This is the stuff! This is nirvana!"

The water is on the lukewarm side but within forgivable bounds. I splash the water onto my body several times. I wrap up the ritual by dumping the last bucketful over the top of my head.

"Phew! I've been brought back to life! Uh, I just thought about it, but isn't water, like, super valuable?! I-Is it okay for me to use this much?"

"We still have plenty of water in the underground aqueduct. Besides, if you grant us use of your holy saliva, we can have as much water as we need…"

"My saliva has no value. I'll give you as much as you need for the sake of baths!"

There's something disturbing about bathing in water cleansed by my spit, but I'm not going to blow this opportunity over it.

"Um! May I ask you to pour water over my head too?!"

"Sure thing." At my beckoning, Cia totters over to me. "Here we go!" "D-Do it!"

I pour the hot water over Cia's head as she stands there as stiff as a pencil. Her soft golden hair becomes wet and sticks to her dainty body. Her aura of adorableness has been replaced by a sense of beguiling beauty.

It seems she can't bring herself to shake the water out of her hair while standing in front of me. She's staying perfectly still with her eyes pressed shut. It's such a funny pose that it pulls a laugh from me.

"Um, have I done something silly?"

"Nope, you haven't done anything wrong. I was just admiring how cute you are." I collect Cia's long hair behind her back, where I comb my hands through it to squeeze out the water. While I'm at it, I sweep the droplets from her eyelids. "You can open your eyes now. How was it?"

"It felt very nice…!"

"It did? Glad to hear it." I smile in response to Cia's tentative smile. Talking about stuff like this makes me feel like we're real sisters.

"Okay, next is— Oh, we don't have any soap to cleanse our bodies with. Well, I guess I should just be happy for what we do have under the circumstances."

"Ah, I actually have good news on that front… Do you remember when I was drenched with the water from the aqueduct the other day?"

"I remember it clearly. You're talking about when you fell in the water."

"P-Please forget that part of it! Auuuh," Cia moans, covering her bright-red face with both hands. Is this girl really the same kind of human as me? She's just too cute to be real! Still a little embarrassed, Cia continues speaking. "It's then that I realized the water you have purified has the ability to cleanly wash off filth."

"Oh! Now that you mention it, the water does take the zombie stink right off my hands…"

"It does! So I believe we don't have to worry about the water being unclean!"

"…Boy am I useful, if I do say so myself."

To test out Cia's theory, I scoop up a lock of hair and sniff it—it doesn't reek. This is a joyous discovery indeed! I'm actually the type who puts effort into taking care of my hair. I'd given up all hope of maintaining it since coming to this world, but now I might be able to repair the damage. Do your best to survive the odds, my lovely hair!

"Whew, it's getting kinda chilly."

"Let's get in the bath before our bodies get cold."

"Roger that! I'll take you up on that offer!"

I sink into the water up to my shoulders alongside Cia. I figured as much when I was rinsing off, but the temperature isn't hot enough to penetrate my skin, though I can almost feel the heat reaching my center since it's my first bath in ages.

"Phew! I feel regenerated!"

"Me too… It feels really nice."

Never did I think there would be a moment when my heart and mind could be at such peace in a world overrun by zombies. Happiness experienced after overcoming adversity has a completely different taste.

"Thanks, Cia-chan."

"…I am the one who should be thanking you." Cia drops her gaze to the hot water she scooped up in her cupped hands and ruefully expresses her worries. "Now that the world has fallen to this chaotic state…it is my duty as princess to lead the people while Father and Mother are missing. Yet I am incapable of doing anything. I have been made painfully aware of just how much I am relying on those around me."

Water seeps through the cracks in her hands, spilling back into the bath. Mortification and frustration color Cia's face as she gazes at the water slipping between her fingers.

"If you weren't here, Oneechan, the castle would not have the peace it does now."

"I really haven't done all that much. I just happened to have the power to purify and am using it how I please."

"It is not easy to face zombies, regardless of what powers you have."

Cia has no intention of changing her opinion. Though she isn't being stubborn about it either. I think she just has an iron will. That strength is the main reason why she's fretting over how she can be of more use to her people.

"You should be proud of yourself, Cia-chan. You're amazing for thinking about the people around you. Meanwhile, I'm struggling just to take care of myself."

"I am not an amazing person—"

"I'm not going to advise you like I know what I'm talking about when it comes to royalty, but I believe if you want to help your people, the chance will come in due time."

Cia's body is small, appropriate for her young age. Trying to carry the burden of an entire kingdom's future on those small shoulders is no easy feat. Perhaps having to do that despite the difficulty is what it means to be royalty, but in my humble opinion, she doesn't need to push herself to the brink just yet.

"Besides, what do you mean you can't do anything? You're the one who prepared this bath for me. Thanks to restoring my energy here, I'll be able to tackle tomorrow's zombie purification with gumption!"

"…Oneechan."

I scoop up the hot water and toss it at Cia's troubled face. "Take this!"

"Ulp! Wh-What are you—"

"C'mon, you'll really make your people worry if they see their princess with such a grim face." I lunge for Cia and tickle her sides. At first she holds back, but eventually she bursts out laughing. Accelerating my fingers, I pursue Cia as she squirms and tries to get away. "Is this the spot~? Are you ticklish here~?"

"O-Oneechan! N-Not…there!"

I can understand why Cia wants to fulfill her duty as princess. But, as an outsider, I feel more strongly about her being too young to bear all of this. When I was twelve, my thoughts were mostly carefree: Aw, middle school is right around the corner. Am I gonna have to waste all my time studying?

While it's not my personal problem, I should wrap up purifying all the capital city's zombies soon for Cia's sake. Finding her mother and father along the way should lift some of the burden off her. Just as I've made up my mind, Cia goes limp in my arms. She seems to have burned off all her energy laughing.

"I-I can't take anymore…"

"…Sorry. I went too far."

(◕ω◕✿)

From the morning until the afternoon, I've been doing nothing but touching zombies. At no point in my life did I ever imagine myself spending my days surrounded by a stench fouler than ten rotten eggs stuffed into gym socks and set in the sun to putrefy. The eventual result of pushing through the smelliness for a way home and to help out Cia is—

"That was the last of the zombies in the capital city."

"It's finally OVERRR…!" I fall back on my butt on top of the drawbridge.

No matter how many times I experience the exhaustion that comes from the purification process, I can't get used to it. It's similar to when your arms and legs feel like lead after a hard workout. Purification fatigue is like having exercise exhaustion spread from head to toe. Pressure weighs down on my entire body, making my chest hurt and triggering dizziness attacks. I'm doing okay today, but it's a sensation I'd rather not go through multiple times if I can avoid it.

"You truly worked hard, m'lady. Thank you. Please take the rest of the day off."

"Thanks. You and the knights did good work, Ruto… Is no one else resting?"

The knights look ready to go on another zombie hunt. Knights from the outer ward joined the patrol numbers—a total of fifty knights altogether— before crossing the drawbridge.

Sending a sidelong glance to that scene, Ruto explains what's going on while holding up his two frying pans. "I said that was the last of the zombies, but only as far as what we could lure here through sound. We can't ignore the possibility of zombies still lurking within buildings, so we are going on a mission to hunt down the stragglers."

The castle is overcrowded with people after all the zombies I've purified thus far. Frankly, it's getting cramped in there. But the problem will be solved if we can guarantee the city's safety. I amble to my feet and pat the dirt off my skirt.

"I'll come too."

"You don't have to, Lady Naruko. You have already helped us more than enough today—"

"It's all good. I don't mind. I still have strength left because I purified fewer zombies today. Besides, isn't it more convenient to have me around to purify on the spot?" I flash a grin to show him I've still got energy. Wanting to do something about our situation applies to me too. I'm not fond of passing out, but I want to do what I can.

"…Thank you very much, Lady Naruko. In that case, I shall take you up on your offer."

"Mm-hm. Let's wrap this up!"

I haven't been to the city since we first ran for our lives through it. The sea of zombies prevented me from looking around at the time, but now that I can, I see the buildings are in shambles.

"In this condition, it's going to take a while before people can actually live here even after we liberate it from the zombies."

"That is an inevitable factor we must contend with. We will just have to work together to make repairs," Ruto says as he watches our surroundings.

Canals run through the city, and what looks like flowerbeds are located beside many of the homes. I'm sure it was a beautiful cityscape before the apocalypse. If possible, I would love to see it regain its former glory someday.

"But it sure is a relief to have more living people around. The castle has come alive again."

"That is because zombies were everywhere at first. Now, people being present is much more reassuring than it was before." Despite that being a good thing, Ruto doesn't look too happy about it. "However, the presence of people is worrisome in its own right. Various problems arise with an influx of people during a disaster."

"Like spreading the word about not using light and keeping quiet at night," I supply.

"The continued existence of our kingdom hangs in the balance—forcing compliance is inevitable."

"Then there's the food problem."

"People are fighting over apples as it is."

Even if there is an apple shortage, I'd rather not partake in spitting on the ground with the same repetition it takes to pound mochi or knead bread. Well, sure, I'll do it under dire circumstances, but I can't shake the feeling I'm giving up an important part of what it means to be a person.

"I hope to get our hands on grains soon."

"Can we eat bread after that?"

"Wheat and grain need vast plots of lands to grow, so it will have to come after we secure the area outside the city walls."

"Is the bread here crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside?"

"Grantz's bread is the best in the world… It's not an exaggeration to

say it's the most supreme bread in the universe. I guarantee the taste and texture will blow the brain juices right out of your head."

"I'll do my best. I'll work for the sake of bread."

Something that blows the brain juices out of your head is a bizarre way to phrase it, but I'll just assume that means it tastes delicious. This was kinda reminds me of Mito Obaa-chan way to cheered me up, because of how delicious her homemade bread was I always feel motivated. Just remembering it is making me drool, so I quickly clamp my mouth shut. That was close!

But I wonder what kind of bread I can eat here. Immersed in imagining all types of baked goods, a sudden crash startles me. The noise came from inside a two-story house to my right.

"…Is it a zombie?"

"Let's check!"

I follow Ruto into the house. As a matter of course, the inside is dusty, the walls have cobwebs, and the wooden floors are cracked and damaged. Tiptoeing so as not to make a sound that'd attract the zombie, we ascend the staircase.

What I see on the second story causes me to blink. It's not a zombie, but a man. He's noisily rummaging through the drawers, squatting on the floor with his butt pointed at us.

"What are you doing there…?"

Jumping at the sound of Ruto's voice, the man reluctantly looks over his shoulder. He pulls the kind of face I'd expect to see accompanied by a cry of "Geh!" He looks to be in his early twenties. His wild two-block hairstyle complements his charming facial features, but his looks are ruined by his raggedy clothes.

"We warned everyone not to go into the city because it's dangerous." Ruto steps forward intimidatingly. The man scoots back on his butt to reopen the distance.

"Ah, um, well…y-you see! My kid sister has been worried sick about her stuff so much that she can't sleep at night, so I came here to get it for her. This is my house! I ain't doing nothin' suspicious!"

A blatant lie. He's stammering like crazy, and I can see shiny objects that look like they're worth a pretty penny poking out of his pockets and clasped in the hand he's hiding behind his back. Nobody will believe his story.

"I see… Then I'll overlook it this once."

"Holy zombie stench! You believe him?! He's lying through his teeth!"

"H-He is lying?"

Ruto seriously didn't pick up on it. There's a limit to how trusting a person can be!

"There's no other way to see it. If he really isn't doing anything wrong, he would have discussed it with you and the other knights first. He's probably stealing that stuff. From the amount he's got on him, I'd say he's stolen from other houses too." I turn a suspicious eye on the man. He scrunches up his face as if he knows the jig is up.

"Tch! And here I had him eatin' the lies outta my hand… You just had to go and say somethin' unnecessary!"

Whoa. He's spewing typical villain lines. I never thought I'd run into someone like this in real life. As I'm enjoying this moment that seems straight out of a story, the man assesses me with his eyes.

"You're the Holy Priestess of Spit, aren't'cha?"

"Not me. You have the wrong person."

"Nah, I know a face when I see—"

"I know no one by that name," I reply emotionlessly. Who in their right mind would acknowledge being called the Holy Priestess of Spit? Even if I go down in history with such a name, I will firmly deny it until the day I die.

"Ruffian! Never use the word spit with her name! We will only hear you out after that!"

"I-I don't really get ya, but sure…whatever ya say." The man gives a big nod in response to Ruto's frantic persuasion. Good boys. I'm fine as long as they get it. "Anyway, shiny things like these serve no purpose in a world overrun by zombies. Get the picture? Let me off the hook, Miss Priestess.

Aren't ya a big shot?"

"I'm no priestess, and I'm not a big shot. For that matter, I don't have the right or power to do anything with you. I'll leave your fate to Ruto."

"You heard her. Come back to the castle with me without resisting." Ruto shuffles closer to the man.

"Damn it!" the man spits and leaps out the open window beside him.

I quickly run over to look out the window with Ruto. The man lands without a scratch and hits the ground running. He's a fast one.

"Ruto!"

"Yes, m'lady! I will commence pursuit!" Undaunted, Ruto jumps down and gives chase after the man.

I take the less dangerous path by using the stairs before running after them. As you'd expect of two fit adult men, their backs are already a good distance away. The surprising thing is that muscleman Ruto is being left in the dust.

"He-he! Nobody is faster than me— Whoaaaaaaaaa?!"

A zombie plops down on the ground in front of the man, coming from the two-story house beside the road. Just as Ruto feared, some zombies are still around. The abrupt appearance of the monster makes the man's legs buckle.

"G-Go away! D-Don't come any closer!"

He's chucking his stolen loot at the zombie, but it shows no signs of slowing. "Bwaaah," it cries, drooling as it reaches for him. But that hand never touches the man. Ruto repels it with his shield.

"Y-Ya saved me!"

A split second after the man's relieved shout, a zombie appears from the house's first story. Either it's because this zombie isn't going "Bwaah bwaah" or because the man's so utterly relieved that he doesn't realize it's sidling up to him.

"Run away! Zombie to your right!"

My shout finally makes him aware of the zombie. His legs must still be Jell-O because he can't seem to stand up. The zombie wraps its arms around him.

"GAAAAAAAAAH!"

The man's body is rotting before my eyes. I arrive at his side by the time his face is beginning to turn bluish purple. I push the zombie away from him, then follow up with a strong right hand thrust at the man, canceling out his "Bwahhh." My open-handed slap ripped a nonzombie moan from him, but that's just part of the job. At least, that's how I look at it.

"Lady Naruko, please take care of this one too!"

"Roger that!" By purifying the zombie Ruto has pinned, I've secured our safety for the moment. "I can't believe there really are some still left inside."

"Indeed. That was a dangerous spot."

After finishing my conversation with Ruto, I hold out my hand to the man who's still sitting on the ground. "Are you okay?"

Just when I think he's too dumbstruck to speak, he mutters, "…Boss Lady Priestess!"

"Huh? Boss Ladyyyy?!"

"The name's Rosso. That was one numbin' hit!"

The man—Rosso—hops to his feet and looks at me with sparkling eyes. The suspicious thug look has been washed clean off his face. It's been replaced with the expression of a boy who's met the girl of his dreams.

"Stop, stop, stop! Why are you suddenly acting like my underling in a gang?! You're clearly older and stronger than me!"

"Age and brawns ain't got a thing to do with it. I was moved by your soul, Boss Lady!"

His 180-degree change confuses me to no end. "Hey, Ruto, talk some sense into him for me!"

"I get it, I totally get it, Sir Rosso!"

"No way…"

Ruto places his hands on Rosso's shoulders and nods in strong agreement. "I've been deeply moved by Lady Naruko's way of life too. I completely, thoroughly understand how you feel…!"

"Ruto, my bro!"

"Sir Rosso!"

They firmly cross arms in a brotherly salute. They've totally hit it off together.

Gazing up at the sky, I think, What the heck is wrong with these people?!

(◕ω◕✿)

Earlier this morning, we finally set out to tackle the land beyond the city walls. Overwhelmingly more zombies were roaming outside the city, but I only struggled in the beginning. In open spaces, the zombies were no match for the knights who had learned how the game works inside the city.

Since then, I've been smacking the ever-growing number of immobilized zombies near the city gates. No accidents have occurred so far. While it's been incident-free, there's one big problem.

Said problem is getting in my face during my break inside the walls after smoothly progressing through my workload.

"Boss Lady! Aren't you tired?"

"Ah, nope. I can keep going."

"Boss Lady! Would you like me to massage your shoulders?!"

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm good."

"I'm your underling, Boss Lady! Ask anything of me without holding back!"

"Okay, mind keeping quiet for a while?"

Rosso, the thief I met yesterday, has been hanging around me ever since. Normally, he would be imprisoned for his crimes, but circumstances being what they are, he was let off with a stern warning.

I have no objections to their decision on that front, but I'm starting to wish I had put up more of a fuss if I'd known he was going to be following me around like a dog. Of course, I have no power to overturn this kingdom's rulings anyway.

"Sir Rosso, I feel bad for making you help out when you aren't a knight."

"No worries, man. It's only natural to work together at a time like this."

"You have promise! Let us protect Lady Naruko together!"

"Aye, Boss Man!"

Ruto and Rosso are having a heated conversation. I'm grateful they're thinking of me, but I'd be happier than the zombies let loose on the city at night if they toned it down a little. I'm at a loss for how to deal with them, when Pino, escorted by two knights, comes over to me.

"You've obtained an amusing fellow as a follower in the short time since I last saw you, huh?"

"Hi, Pino… He's less of a follower and more somebody who won't stop tagging along. Ahaha," I say with a dry laugh as I state the truth.

Rosso suddenly starts appraising Pino with his eyes. "Boss Lady… forgive me for the rude question, but who's the little brat? Is he your kid brother?"

"I'm neither a kid nor her younger brother," Pino huffs, facing away from Rosso. He seems really upset about being treated like a child.

"This is Pino. He's supposedly a big-time scholar. You don't know of him, Rosso?"

"Nah. I don't know much about that stuff. I know about Her Highness the Princess, my bro Ruto here, and Captain Oden. That's about it," Rosso bluntly admits with disinterest.

"I didn't become a scholar because I wanted fame. I couldn't care less if he knows of me. We have more important matters to tend to… Miss Priestess, I came here because I have a favor to ask of you today."

"Need help with something? I'll give you a hand if it's within my power."

"I want your saliva."

"Hiyaah!"

"Unggh! My nose! My nose is going to fall off!" Pino cries out after I shove my zombie stink hand in his face. He writhes around clawing at his face for a while before springing upright and zeroing in on me. "Wh-What did you do that for?!"

"Hey, that's my line, buddy. Don't come asking for my spit out of the blue."

"I simply want to use your saliva in an experiment!"

"Then say so from the start!"

"You're the one who crushed my nose with that fetid hand of yours before I could!"

I don't care how unjust they call me—I'll fight till the bitter end concerning this particular topic.

"Yeesh… For your knowledge, I have zero interest in you. I only see your value as the priestess."

"Wow, that hurts."

"Don't ya worry, Boss Lady! I'm immensely interested in your manliness!"

"O-kay, zip it, Rosso."

"URK!"

I gift Rosso with a face full of zombie stench as well. It lands a critical hit. Rosso has been silenced.

"Hmm, but looking at it another way, when you say you have zero interest in me, that implies there's someone you are interested in."

"…I simply made a verbal blunder. There's no one special—"

"Did you just pause before answering?"

"Argh! Enough! I didn't come here for this drivel! I'm here for the experiment! The EXPERIMENT!"

He's so transparent. I can't help grinning. Pino promised to tell me anything once I've finished purifying Grantz Kingdom. Now I'll just have to ask him who he likes when I ask him about the other world. This is going to be fun…!

"Why do you look so happy?"

"No reason~! Anyway, you brought up doing an experiment, but what do you want from me?"

"Not much. I just want you to purify the moats around the city."

"The place is still teeming with zombies, though…"

"They aren't a problem. Their presence is actually beneficial." Pino flashes an intrepid grin.

What in the zombie apocalypse is he scheming?

For now, I put an end to my break and go ahead with Pino's experiment with the help of the knights. The moat is long, so some zombies are still emersed in the poisonous liquid in the distance. I dribble into the moat while thinking about how I've never purified water when the zombies are in it.

"You can look this way now!" I alert everyone after forcing them to face away from me. Surprised voices rise from them once they turn around. Zombies are painfully writhing in the purified water. Pino tosses a stone, and the closest zombie reacts to it. It slowly stumbles our way.

"They appear more sluggish than usual," Ruto observes. "That one there is floatin' in the water like it's dead."

"Pino, is this what you had in mind?"

Pino seems to have predicted this outcome. He's the only one calmly observing the slower moving zombies.

"My theory was right, then. You see, I got the idea that water purified by you might have some sort of effect on the zombies."

"And this is that effect."

"It isn't powerful enough to bring them back to their human form, but it is capable of drastically weakening them. This is a great discovery." Pino looks as pleased as can be.

Hope blooms on the other knights' faces when they hear of a way to weaken zombies. I, on the other hand, am too troubled by what I see to be genuinely happy. The water around the zombies is darkening by the second.

"Too bad it looks like that effect doesn't last long."

"That sucks. The water's gradually growin' dirtier," Rosso points out. "If zombies remain in areas that have been purified, their presence brings the blight back. This sequence seems to be the same as it was with the decaying land."

Pino is referencing the time the super-activated night zombies reclaimed the castle, bringing death once more to the greenery and apple trees that had grown in the courtyard after I had purified it.

"Hmm. This is a noteworthy result for the time being. You all have my thanks for your assistance."

"BWEI! BWEI! BWEI!"

A creepy cry cuts Pino's thanks short. I've never heard this sound before. I scan the area for the source until my eyes stop on a dark shadow in the distance. It has a long neck connected to a lengthy torso and four strong legs ending in hooves. From the way its head protrudes from its body, it's definitely not human. It's got to be—

"A horse…?"

"A zombie horse to be exact."

As Pino has pointed out, the horse is zombified. Its skin is a bluish purple, and a poisonous liquid is foaming from its mouth. I'm more surprised that there's a horse than that it's a zombie horse. After all, I haven't seen a single animal since waking up in this world.

"But it's actin' kinda funny," Rosso notes.

"It's closely watching us." Despite not wanting to look at it, I can't pull my eyes away. It's sickening.

"Why are you here…?" Ruto croaks. He's acting like he's just been reunited with a long-lost relative.

"Do you know that horse?"

"That is my cherished mount…Vianta," Ruto says sadly, starting to walk toward the zombie horse. But Vianta does the opposite by turning tail and galloping into the wilderness beyond.

"Wh-Where are you going? Wait, Vianta!"

Ruto's slumps forward, dejected by the horse's departure. He's more depressed than I thought he'd be. It throws me for a real loop because it's so different from how he usually is.

"You'll see Vianta again. She can't have gone too far. We'll find her, okay?"

"As you…say."

"I'll purify her right away the next time we find her. Come on, cheer up."

"…Thank you, Lady Naruko." Ruto exhales a long sigh before raising his head. His smile is clearly faked, but it gets across the point that he's trying to move on. I curl my hands into fists and answer him with an encouraging smile.

Our moment is cut short by a sudden blast of wind. Amid all the surprised shouts, an unsettling feeling stirs in my chest, making me sick to my stomach. I've experienced this eerie sensation before…

Black fog suddenly appears from the direction Vianta disappeared in. It passes over our heads with lightning speed, covering the entire capital.

"This is the same black fog from that time… I've got a real bad feeling about this."

"Do you have some knowledge of this, Miss Priestess?" Pino asks.

"Yeah." I nod once. "We ran into it once on the way to the capital. A zombie horde came right after, as if summoned by it…"

"No zombies coming 'round this time," Rosso reports as he surveys the horizon. He's right; the zombies I can see a ways away from us aren't moving any differently from before.

"You should stop purifying for today," Pino suggests with a hard face. "Even if the zombies aren't reacting yet, they very well could later."

"You mean they'll come at night?"

"It'd be wise to keep the possibility in mind."

It definitely won't be a laughing matter if we fail to prepare and are overwhelmed by a zombie horde at night.

Ruto looks torn. "But zombies still abound outside the city walls. Will we truly be capable of protecting the spacious capital city from an attack by the active zombies?"

"Narrow down the space until it's protectable."

"Are you suggesting we evacuate everyone into the castle again? The citizens will feel cramped, but…we have little choice."

"It's better than dying, no?"

At the sound of Pino's decisive tone, the knights in the area brace themselves for what's to come. Is this boy really a child? I'm often left with that question. If nothing else, he's undeniably got a better head on his shoulders than I do.

"I have several strategies in mind. I would like to request the assistance of the Royal Knights… May I, Sir Ruto?"

"We are at your command…!" Ruto resolutely agrees.

We have no firm proof the zombies are going to attack yet. But an unsettling feeling deep in my chest is telling me they will come.

…I sure hope I'm wrong.

(◕ω◕✿)

The evacuation of the people into the castle has been completed, and the knights are preparing to intercept a zombie attack. The black fog is still hanging overhead. Shifting my gaze slightly brings a darkening sky into view. Night is nigh.

"Oneechan…" Cia, escorted by two Royal Knights, comes to my side as I'm absently staring at the sky in front of the inner castle gate.

"What's up? It's dangerous for you to be outside."

"But when I think of what happened last time…" Her thin voice trails off, her lower lip trembling.

I don't blame her for being uneasy. Cia has seen firsthand the zombie horde lured by the black fog and the freakishly stronger night zombies. Smiling, I stroke her hair, brushing my finger along her chilled cheek.

"You're the princess, right, Cia? Everyone will worry if they see you looking like that."

"That is…a good point. A princess shouldn't let her fears show on her face."

"This time is different. We have lots of knights on our side. I'm sure it will work out."

I was concerned those words wouldn't be enough to ease her misgivings, but a commanding aura transforms her worried face to that of a princess. I'm always impressed by how mature she is at times like this.

"Please be careful, Oneechan."

"Thanks. I'll kick some zombie butt for you and the others." I pose with both fists held up and turn to the Royal Knights behind me. "Take care of Cia." They nod reassuringly and return inside the castle with the princess. Ruto takes up position at my side as I watch her go.

"You are a truly brave young woman, Lady Naruko."

"Honestly, I want to run away at lightning speed… Not that there's anywhere I can run to."

"We, the proud knights of Grantz, shall protect you at all costs." Ruto raps his fist against his chest.

"I'm counting on you like my life depends on it…because it does." While I can handle the sluggish daytime zombies, the fact of the matter is that I can't do a thing about the super night zombies alone. As pathetic as it is, I have little option but to rely on the knights.

"Well, let's just hope that nothing happens."

"Even if it does, we are fully prepared for it, m'lady. I don't want to sound as if I am letting down my guard…but it will assuredly be all right."

We have prepared two primary defense measures. One is the ropes we have pulled taut between the grooves in the merlon and the apple trees, creating a web of crisscrossing snares and nets. It's constructed in such a way that zombies jumping from the outer walls into the wards will get caught in it. According to Pino, "with their rot-addled brains, they aren't likely capable of the complicated thought necessary to navigate through the ropes without getting themselves snared like rabbits."

I've played around in a rope jungle-gym used in an obstacle course before, and I clearly remember not making any forward progress when I relentlessly struggled to get out of it. This should work as long as they don't chew their way through the ropes…

The buckets placed beside every knight are the second defense measure. Many more are stationed alongside the walls. Inside is water purified by my spit. Pino's afternoon experiment taught us that the zombies are weakened by purified water. So this defense is putting that knowledge into practice.

Our preparations are as good as they're going to get in the time we have. I don't want a horde to show up, but if they do, we're ready for them. Harboring mixed feelings of apprehension and boldness, I look at the black fog above. Instantly, the visible darkness deepens. Evidence that true night is upon us.

It's quiet. Everyone is watching and waiting with bated breath. Nothing has happened yet. Had this been a groundless fear all along? I'm okay if that's the case, but…

All of a sudden, the black fog slams down on us. The courtyard is caught in a whirlpool of confusion, but then a strong wind whooshes through, scattering the fog. What the heck was that? I sweep my eyes over the area, but the fog is gone. Maybe the danger has lifted?

I got my hopes up too soon.

Bone-chilling screeches can be heard in the distance, accompanied by the sound of shaking ground from all four directions. Before we knew it, countless silhouettes had appeared on top of the castle walls.

"Light the torches! They're here!" Sir Oden's orders thunder through the courtyard. We'd decided in advance to secure visibility by lighting the torches should they attack even when there was no light.

Flames burst to life all around, instantly brightening the darkness that shadowed our view. No sooner are the torches lit than we see a swarm of zombies on top of the ramparts. Even though an unimaginable number are already running along the walls, more and more keep joining their ranks by climbing up.

Zombies begin jumping off the walls into the castle grounds. The enemy is coming from all sides. We will be squashed under their sheer numbers if they come right at us, but…that's not what happens. They get caught in our crisscrossed ropes, the myriad of snares hooking zombies as they find feet and hands entangled, all of these traps serving their purpose to reduce the swarm's mobility.

But it's too soon to relax. The zombies are violently struggling against the rope; some are even trying to chomp and rip their way through. Most damning of all, they're plopping down off the castle walls faster than bubbles rising in roiling water. How long can rope last against these numbers?

"Men, use Lady Naruko's holy water!"

Per Ruto's orders, the knights throw the buckets of water onto the zombies. The rampaging zombies stop thrashing so vigorously, their movements slowing, becoming weaker. Their obnoxiously loud cries of "SKRIEEE!" die down to moans of "Bwahhh."

"What a relief… It works even when they're souped-up."

The effect surpasses all expectations. I'm kind of torn to think they hate being doused in my spit that much, but it is what it is. Then again, someone who rejoices over being soaked in spit would be the wacky one, so their reaction isn't all that strange.

As I'm thinking about completely worthless stuff like that, my thoughts are interrupted by Ruto's frantic shout.

"Lady Naruko! May I ask you to purify them?!"

"You've got it!"

"I shall accompany you!"

The knights are using sasumatas—six-and-a-half-foot-long poles with wide U-shaped prongs on the end—to restrain the arms and torsos of the weakened zombies, pull them out of the rope, net, and snare traps, and hold them down on the ground. The scene is so brutal I nearly avert my eyes from it, but this is a necessary measure to bring the zombies back to the world of the living and to prevent others from becoming like them. Hardening my heart, I slap the restrained zombies as quickly as I can.

"Take this! And this! Hiyaah!"

"Well done, Lady Naruko!"

"Y-You think so? Ehehe." I was getting cocky because of Ruto's praise, but I'm cruelly pulled back to reality when I see how many more zombies are still leaping down from the walls. "…Th-There are too many for me to purify."

"We already took that into consideration!" Ruto tells me before turning to give orders to the knights. "Once you've restrained the weakened zombies, chuck them all into the underground aqueducts and pickle them in holy water!"

The knights line up the captured zombies on top of the rope net, tie it up, and drag the load behind them inside the castle. It's a creepy scene surpassing even surrealism.

"You can see what our plan is now. I apologize for the debased request, but I hope you can regularly provide us with saliva!"

"Start by doing something about the way you say it."

Bantering away like we usually do, we continue intercepting the endless swarm of zombies. Preparing for these turbo-charged ones in advance has paid off—time flows by without incident.

Occasionally, zombies chomp their way through the ropes or climb their way over others caught in the various traps below them, but quick action on the part of the knights suppresses them before any major damage can be done. About an hour has passed now.

"Lady Naruko, how is your body faring…?"

"Taking a break earlier gave me enough energy to keep going for now." Granted, I have much less energy than it sounds because of the fast speed and countless zombies I'm purifying nonstop. On the bright side, there's no threat of our line of defense being breached even in the event I'm rendered incapable of purifying. Moreover, the zombies scaling the walls have become more sporadic.

"Things look like they'll end well if we keep this up," I say, catching my breath.

I spoke too soon.

KABOOM! A bone-rattling, explosive sound shakes the ground. I jump and shudder.

"Whoa! What was that?!"

"The castle gates!"

Right after Ruto's reply, the metal grates from the gate burst into the courtyard. A large figure looms in the gateway with nothing left to stop it.

"What the devil is that?!"

Torchlight reveals the massive figure to be a gigantic zombie! From top to bottom, it appears around fifteen feet tall, and abnormal muscle growth has given it enormous bulk! Between its swollen-beyond-recognition joints and protruding masses of flesh, it looks like a boneless ham. The complete lack of body hair is frankly revolting.

"GROAHHHHH!" Boneless Ham roars and charges. It's not the most agile zombie, but each step covers a lot of ground. In an instant, the zombie is upon the two closest knights, and it sends them flying with a sweep of its meaty right hand. The knights tumble and bounce off the ground several times until they finally lose momentum. They're barely moving—their injuries are serious.

"Get back!" Sir Oden orders, standing before the Boneless Ham with his trusty shield. "I'll take this monstrosity—" The words are knocked right out of his mouth as the Boneless Ham easily sends him flying with the same blow. Sir Oden slams into the wall and limply slides down.

"Captain!"

"Th-This can't be happening…!"

How could THAT Sir Oden be taken down in a single hit?! Reinfection is the least of our concerns now. Several of the knights are paralyzed in the face of certain death.

"Holy water! Hit it with holy water!"

One of the knights tosses a whole bucket of holy water on Boneless Ham. It squirms like a dog that's been sprayed with a hose, but that's it. It doesn't slow like the normal zombies.

"I-It doesn't work?!"

It's taller and wider than some houses. Maybe it simply needs to be hit with a much larger amount of holy water… Even if that's the case, it's near impossible to get close to the hulking thing without being knocked out. Most of the knights can't even get near the rampaging Boneless Ham.

"Hey…isn't this, like, really bad?"

"Yes, it is. To borrow your words, Lady Naruko, we are frickin' doomed."

With how aggressively it's going berserk, I'll be squished into a pancake the second I go near it. No way can I purify that thing.

Grinding his teeth, Ruto glowers at Boneless Ham. "Someone bring Lady Naruko inside the tower keep!"

"What are you going to do, Ruto?!"

"I will draw its attention. There is a serious threat of the ropes being destroyed if it continues its frenzy unchecked."

A sizeable army of zombies are still caught in the ropes beside the inner castle walls. If they get set loose, everyone, including the people sheltered inside the castle, will be devoured. But!

"It's way too reckless for you to take that thing on alone!"

"Even if my enemy is so large I must crane my neck to see it, or reeks so bad my nose is going to fall off…I, Ruto Strombrekar, will not cower in fear!"

"Ruto!"

Ruto tosses his shield aside and runs at it with his sword drawn. Even he seems to have determined it not to be human as he swings his sword without mercy. But its skin is much thicker than anticipated and repels his sword with a clang.

"I-It's rock-solid!"

Boneless Ham is completely fixated on Ruto now. After increasing the intensity of its growl, it begins dishing out repeated downward slams. Having tossed aside his shield in favor of lightness, Ruto easily evades its attacks. At first glance, he seems to have a possibility of success, but the Boneless Ham's destructive strength is powerful enough to blow large holes into the ground with a single strike. He stands no chance if he's hit by that.

"Ruto…!"

"Hurry, Lady Priestess, while Sir Ruto is redirecting it."

The knight rushes me into the castle. I'm so worried about Ruto, I keep looking over my shoulder. He's still dodging the attacks, but…I don't think he can keep it up until morning. Besides, we don't have any guarantee Boneless Ham will grow weaker in the sun.

Judging by its skin color and mutation, our opponent is definitely some form of zombie. Maybe defeating it is possible if I can just touch it, but that's a death wish even with my level of athleticism. On the contrary: a bad move on my part could put Ruto's life in danger too. Is there any way to stop it?

Clinging to the idea that I can do something, I sweep my eyes around the area until they land on an apple tree, and I'm struck with a thought. We might be able to injure the zombie if I can get a seed with my saliva on it to instantly mature into a full-grown tree right under its feet. Even if that doesn't stop it, it should inflict some damage.

But something is still lacking with this plan. After all, it's game over for me if I get hit once. I want to play any cards we have. First, we have to entrust planting the seed to someone agile—

"Oi! What're you doing?! It's dangerous out there! Get back inside!"

"Let go of me! Boss Lady is outside! Let go!"

I overhear a noisy argument the second I step into the castle. I quickly turn that way and see Rosso push his way past the knights.

"Rosso? What're you doing here?"

"Boss Lady! I was worried about you when I heard that explosion— Whoa, Boss Lady? Why do you look like you're about to make a life- changing gamble…?"

I was just thinking about how he had shown up at the perfect time. He's nimble and quick enough to slip away from the knights. Nobody is more suitable for the job.

"Rosso, I have a favor to ask of you."

(◕ω◕✿)

I move through the castle at a quick march with a group of twenty. Everyone is holding vases and buckets of various shapes and sizes. Inside each swirls water I have purified.

"Hard labor is outside my area of expertise…so why am I stuck partaking in this?" Pino grumbles as he walks beside me.

"No complaining. Look, even Cia-chan is helping out."

"One, two, one, two." Cia is teetering unstably a few feet behind us.

"…What must be done must be done." Pino relents, unable to complain when he's compared with his country's young princess. Unwilling as he is, he ups his pace to a brisk trot. Striding alongside him, I peer into the bucket I'm holding against my chest with both hands.

"I wonder if the water will work."

"Didn't the zombie squirm from it?"

"Yeah, kinda cried out with an 'Ugyaaah' too."

"…In other words, we can assume that, while it has a higher resistance than normal zombies, holy water unmistakably affects it. No reason not to use it."

When I discussed my idea of how to defeat the Boneless Ham with Pino, he came up with a strategy based on it. The reason everyone is carrying around a large volume of water is to dump it on Boneless Ham.

At last, we arrive in the corridor facing the courtyard. All of a sudden, a bone-shuddering noise shakes the passage. Quickly, I look to see what happened outside the oriel window. Even now Ruto is taking on Boneless Ham in the courtyard. He evades blows by rolling on the ground and springing to his feet. His movements no longer have the same composure and grace they did earlier.

"He's close to his limit," Pino warns. "We have to hurry."

From the corridor just above the inner gate, an eaves-like scaffold protrudes over the courtyard. I step out onto that scaffolding with the others.

"Rosso, it's your turn!" I wave both hands at a corner of the courtyard. Rosso, who is on standby there, waves back.

He breaks into a run when he sees an opening in Boneless Ham's movement. He's as quick on his feet as ever. In the blink of an eye, he arrives in front of the inner gate.

Rosso quickly uses a shovel to dig a hole in the ground, plant the seed, and fill it with soil. He thrusts the shovel into the ground and grabs the wooden flask dangling from his waist.

"All set!"

With that signal, I lean over the scaffold and shout, "Ruto, draw it toward Rosso!"

"You've got it, m'lady!"

Ruto shouldn't know what it is we're trying to do, but he follows my command without questioning it. He slowly makes his way toward the inner gate while luring Boneless Ham and dodging its attacks.

"Rosso, I've brought you a friend!"

"Leave the rest to me, bro!"

Ruto runs by Rosso with Boneless Ham hot on his tail. That hulking mass of muscle steps on the spot where the seed is buried, where Rosso had previously poured the holy water from his flask. Boneless Ham unleashes unsparing attacks without pause. Rosso nimbly evades them by diving to the side.

"Suck Boss Lady's enriching spit! Grow up big and strong, dear apples!"

Enriching spit? How the heck did he come up with that one? I'd love to lecture him on it for a whole day, but for now the entire area under Rosso's feet is brightly glowing. A sprout bursts from the ground, immediately flourishes into a full-grown apple tree, and powerfully lifts Boneless Ham off the ground.

"HELL YEAH! That did the job!" Rosso exclaims, rejoicing.

Caught in the branches, Boneless Ham is having trouble moving. However, with its strength, the overpowered zombie breaks branch after branch. We don't have much time.

"Your Highness!" Pino instructs.

"Yes! Do it, everyone!"

At Cia's signal, everyone tosses the water on top of Boneless Ham. Each bucket didn't have that much water on its own, but combined, it's a fair amount. Soaked with no spot on its enormous body left untouched, Boneless Ham writhes in agony.

"GWRAAHHH…!"

"It's working!"

Sadly, the apple tree can't withstand Boneless Ham's excessive weight. Creaking, it finally snaps. Boneless Ham rolls onto the ground. Affected by the water, it lies there limp.

"Miss Priestess," Pino bellows as if he was waiting for this moment, "purify it now!"

"All right! Leave it to me! …Uh, hold on! How exactly am I supposed to get down from here?"

"The answer is obvious. Jump."

"…Excuse me?"

Pino, the boy who had been stone-faced until now, flashes a killer smirk—the kind that literally kills, because he just shoved me off the freaking ledge. My hands dog-paddle through the air to grab hold of the scaffolding ledge in vain. My whole body is plummeting toward the courtyard.

"NO! You little jerk! Is this some kinda sick joke?!" I scream as I fall.

"Do your job, Miss Priestess."

"Oneechan!" Cia, unlike the ruthless jerk Pino, reaches for me. But I'll drag her down with me if I take her hand.

You'd better remember what you did here, Pino, because I'm coming for you later! Resentfully cursing him, I prepare myself for the inevitable.

"Sir Ruto, a lady is falling from the sky!"

"L-Lady Naruko?!"

"I-I'M COUNTING ON YOUUUUUU!"

My flight time is brief. Ruto catches me. He's holding me princess-style, but there's not even a molecule of a sweet, romantic mood in the air. On the contrary, Ruto's face is so strained the veins are popping from his face.

"NNGHHH!"

"I'm not heavy, am I?"

"O-Of course you are light, m'lady!"

"You pass with flying colors. Anyway, thanks!"

I wrap up that conversation with Ruto within a few seconds and leap from his arms. When I get closer to the weakened Boneless Ham, its excessively protruding muscles and bloody veins are graphically defined. Frankly, it's so disgusting it's making me physically sick. Having to touch this thing makes me want to cry, but doing that is the only option.

I'm finally close enough that my hand should reach it. Enduring the rancid stench, I stretch out my arm as far as it can go, but before I make contact, Boneless Ham's pure-muscle left arm swells. Regaining its agility, it sends a left-hand thrust my way.

Uh, is this really happening?! I'll break—bones and all—if that boulder-sized fist hits me. It'll be end of story. End of the line.

Just as I'm preparing for my last moments, Boneless Ham's fist is flung upward as if repelled by something. What in the world just happened? The answer is right in front of me: the bloodied knight who leaped in front of me

—Sir Oden—deflected the punch with that big shield of his. "Sir Oden!"

"Do it now, Lady Naruko!"

Spurred on by his desperate cry, I kick off and slap the staggering Boneless Ham's belly.

"YICK," I can't help whimpering at the sticky, jellylike feeling under my hand as Boneless Ham's body begins emitting light.

Puzzle piece–like seams emerge on the figure, and from there, the body falls apart like droplets of water. By the time the light fades, Boneless Ham is gone. In its place is a large number of—

"A-Animals?"

Cows, deer, and pigs have fallen out of the seams onto the ground. Though they seem to be unconscious, every animal is alive and breathing. I know I was calling that thing Boneless Ham like the meat…but to think it really was made up of animals. I don't think I can eat another ham… On the other hand, I'm personally more surprised to see animals I recognize. It's probably because we already defeated it, but a part of me wishes Boneless Ham had actually been more of a horror creature.

"Vianta!" Ruto pushes his way into the herd of fallen animals. It sounds like his beloved horse is in the mix. Vianta, the chestnut horse lying on her side, opens her big brown eyes as Ruto strokes her muzzle. She nuzzles his face, rejoicing in their reunion.

"So Vianta was in there too. I'm glad you found her."

"Me too! I have you to thank for that, Lady Naruko. Truly, I can never thank you enough…!"

She must be like family to Ruto. I'm enjoying the happy moment, except it's ruined by the chorus of "Bwahhh bwahhh" around us. I was so caught up in defeating Boneless Ham that I'd forgotten about the town's worth of zombies still ensnared in the ropes.

"Their purification can be saved for another day. As the Goddess's blessing has it, continuing to douse them with water renders them containable," Sir Oden suggests, standing at my side.

Holding off until another day takes a big load off my shoulders. I'm pretty positive I'll pass out if I tried to purify now. But we have other things to be more concerned about at the moment. Such as the blood spurting from Sir Oden's head.

"Sir Oden, thank you for saving me. Are you all right? You are bleeding—"

"Ha! I wouldn't be the captain of the knights if I collapsed from this puny blood loss— Blurgh!"

"Hey?! Sir Oden?! You look like you've sustained some serious injuries, though!" I cry out, flustered.

"Just kidding," he guffaws, giving me thumbs-up.

Is he really okay? Chances are high he's just pretending to be fine, so I want him seen by a doctor as soon as possible.

I take another look around the destroyed courtyard. Unfortunately, not everyone got by unscathed. If nothing else, though, we will see the morning alive and unzombified.

(◕ω◕✿)

Ten days have passed since the night of the black fog that brought Boneless Ham. I spent most of that time purifying the zombies flocking around the outer wall. There were so many I was starting to get fed up with doing it every single day, but that mission just ended a few moments ago. Grantz Kingdom is finally on the way to revitalization.

"I. Am. BEAT! Can't move anymore."

We're in the outermost sector of the capital city. I plop down on the cobblestones near the castle gate. It's improper to sit on the dirty ground in the middle of the road, but I couldn't care in the least right now. Exhaustion ten times worse than ever before presses down on me—perhaps from the relief I won't have to purify anything for a while.

Lots of people are walking around the city already. Reactions to the state of things vary from those who are debilitated by depression over their destroyed homes and those who quickly set about making repairs. As I watch them from the road, I'm struck by a sudden question.

"Hey, do you have enough building materials?"

"As you rightly guessed, we do not. We are especially lacking in wood," Ruto answers from where he stands attentively at my side.

"I wonder if we can use the apple trees."

"Apple trees don't make for good lumber, so the most it could be used for is smaller items," Ruto explains, shifting his gaze beyond the walls. "In any event, we have little choice but to set up an expeditionary squad to harvest trees."

"You want to harvest the trees? Uh, aren't they rotten everywhere?"

"Indeed. For that reason, may I request your saliv— AHEM! Your holy

water, Lady Naruko?!"

"You were just about to ask for my saliva again, weren't you?"

"Never. I asked for your holy water, Lady Naruko."

Putting it that way sounds just as bad. On the flip side, digging in my heels about it is just going to make it worse for me, so I'm leaving it at that.

"Well, whatever. I plan to help out where I can if it's for the sake of rebuilding."

"Thank you very much. I wholeheartedly rejoice that you are who you are, Lady Naruko."

"…Let me be clear: I'm only helping out because I want a safe place to sleep and bathe. I still view this as your problem, not mine. I'm not the saint you think I am, Ruto."

"For your benefit, we shall leave it at that."

"Grr! There you go again, deflecting what I'm saying!"

Things will just get too constrained for me if they expect too much of me as a "do-gooder." I'm speaking from my experience as "Class Rep Naruko" in elementary school. Just because I was the class representative they took advantage of me, saying things like "You can solve this problem" and "You can eat the school lunch without leaving anything on your plate" and "The teachers can leave you to watch over the class while they're away." To this day, it's still a huge mystery to me how following my brother's cryptic advice to stop wearing my hair in braids actually freed me from the hell of being picked as class representative. When it all comes down to it, I just want to live in comfort. That's my true reason for helping them with their zombie problem.

"Boss Lady!"

I look toward the main road where I heard that shout and find Rosso waving at me. The second he's standing in front of me, he slams his hands on his knees and drops into a deep bow.

"Thank you for working hard at your duties today!"

"Didn't I tell you to lay off that greeting?"

I hate feeling like he's aged me to a working adult. "Why?! Doesn't it sound cool?!"

"When I say no, I mean no!"

"Yes, ma'am."

We've repeated this same conversation five times already. He hasn't stopped yet, so it's a given he'll keep it up.

I sigh and ask him why he's here: "So? What's up? You must have a reason to come all this way."

Given how annoyingly huge the capital city is, you work up a sweat coming to the outer castle wall. It's hard to imagine him making the trek out here for nothing.

"Right, right. I do. That tiny scholar Pino entrusted me with a message for you."

"Pino did? What did he say?"

"He said, 'Come to the Royal Library to discuss that matter,'" Rosso relays, imitating Pino. I'll keep it to myself that he doesn't sound a thing like him.

"That matter" must be our discussion about the other world. I'd completely forgotten his promise to tell me about it once I'd liberated Grantz's capital city from zombies.

"Thanks for the message, Rosso."

"Don't mention it. Anything for you, Boss Lady."

At first, I had a tough time getting used to Rosso, a guy who looks just like a small-time villain, idolizing me, but now it seems so natural. I'm startled by my ability to easily adapt to these things.

"M'kay, I'm off to see Pino. See you two later," I say in parting and run off, only to skid to a halt a second later. I look over my shoulder and ask, "Uh, where is the Royal Library?"

(◕ω◕✿)

The Royal Library was constructed near the castle. It looks like a stone tower on the outside. Though shorter than the castle, it's the second tallest structure. My curiosity about what this building was has finally been sated after all this time.

I part ways with Rosso, who showed me the way here, at the entrance and go inside. I swing my inquisitive gaze around the building while Pino, who met me at the entrance, leads the way.

"Wow! This is my first time inside such a huge library…"

Innumerable bookshelves line the walls. The atrium structure allows you to see the upper stories from below, and every floor is filled to capacity with bookshelves. Sadly, the interior is constructed from wood, which rotted with the zombie blight. Because of that, I have to watch my step as the floorboards occasionally give way.

"This was normally a place of tranquility, but you can see the deplorable state it's in now."

"Do you think I can purify it?"

"Doesn't hurt to try."

With that decided, I spit on a nearby bookshelf while mentally asking for every librarian in the universe to forgive me. After the bookshelf glows, it regains its former glory. That test proves I can purify the books, but…

"Geh! It only did one shelf!"

I'd imagined the holy light spreading through the library, purifying the whole thing like with water, but things never go as easy as I hope they will.

"In conclusion, we can bring the library back if you spit on every bookshelf," Pino states like the concluding paragraph of a research paper.

"Not happening."

"I thought so."

"I mean, it's not like I can't do it, but I don't even want to imagine myself doing it, much less actually commit the act…"

Just from what I can see, there are more than a hundred bookshelves. In what world can you find a junior-high school girl going around spitting on over a hundred bookshelves in a library? I don't think there's any person, let alone junior-high school girls, who would do that. In no way do I want to cross that line into irredeemable weirdo-freak territory.

"Well, I don't think we should rely on you for everything, Miss Priestess."

"You really are the Grantz Kingdom's conscience, Pino…"

"I simply want to prevent this country from stagnating."

"Aw, there you go being modest. Want me to pat you on the head and tell you what a good little boy you are?"

"Don't treat me like a child!"

As we're having that conversation, we arrive at the reading space prepared in a corner of the first floor. We find a suitable table and sit facing each other.

"Time to begin our discussion."

"Please teach me, Professor Pino."

"…What's with that form of address?"

"You're going to teach me stuff, so I figured I might as well act like a student."

"Please act normal."

He sounds fed up with me. Darn.

Pino clears his throat and begins his lecture. "About this world…is where I'd like to start, but you should learn the basics about our god first. After all, you don't seem to know anything about this world, Miss Priestess."

"You are indeed correct, Professor," I say with teasing formality before switching back to casual dialogue. "Say, is that god the same as the goddess Ruto and the others talk about?"

"They are one and the same. God of love. God of fertility. The names vary throughout the lands, but they all apply to the same deity: Goddess Sadia. The being who created this world."

"Goddess Sadia…" I repeat her name, but it doesn't mean anything to me.

"However, the Goddess didn't create the world from nothingness. Word has it that she created this one based on her own. This is lore from the beginning of time when the Goddess supposedly spoke with man."

"It'd be reasonable for me to think of the world the Goddess is from as 'another world,' right? Do you know what that one was like?"

Pino laughs dryly like I'm a lost cause when I immediately latch on to the mention of another world. "Of course. I assume there are similarities between the two because the other world was the basis for ours. I have no doubt it's more developed than this one too."

"Hmm. Mine is definitely further along than this world, and there are a lot of similarities… Like the food, animals, and buildings."

Obviously, there weren't any zombies…unless people without caffeine count.

"Do you know anything else?"

"Regrettably, this is it. I'm sorry to have deceived you, but as you just heard, all I have is conjecture."

Apparently, he has only this obscure information. "Ugghh," I groan. Pino folds his arms in front of his chest as he reclines against the back of his chair.

"That being said, I believe it isn't necessary for your world and the Goddess's world to be one and the same for you to go home."

"H-How so?"

"I sincerely doubt anyone aside from the Goddess is capable of the extraordinary feat of bringing someone here from another world."

"You mean she summoned me here? For what purpose?"

"Ask the Goddess. The one thing I can say for sure is that she has the ability to connect this world to others. You don't have to lose hope if you know that much, no?"

Using Pino's hint, I voice my conclusion. "In other words, there's a chance I can return to my world if I meet this goddess?"

"There you have it. Even if you can't go straight home, that should take you one step closer to it."

"But is a goddess someone you can meet? You can't meet gods and goddesses in my world."

Regardless of whether deities actually exist, gods visible to the public don't exist in my world. There are beings who are worshipped like gods, but naturally none of them possess the power to create the heavens and the earth like this world's goddess.

"For what it's worth, I haven't met her," Pino says dully, resting his chin in his hands. "Accounts of people beholding the Goddess can be found in old texts, but their authenticity is up for debate. And let's face it—the world has literally gone to hell. What is our goddess doing, then? It's reasonable to assume she's not here right now."

"Seriously? Then what am I supposed to—"

"Don't panic just yet. I've already thought about that." Here it is again—Pino's killer smirk. "You see, there's this theory that the Goddess and the Dark Djinn are opposite sides of the same existence. The basis for this lies in their power. The Dark Djinn's power to corrupt everything stands in direct contrast to the Goddess's power to purify everything."

"You're right… They are polar opposites."

"See? So when you apply that theory to my idea that she 'isn't here right now'…it leads to but one conclusion."

"Oh! I know what it is!" I think I have the right idea, but I'll run it by him to be sure. "Let's see… There's a single entity called God, and while Goddess Sadia is in control, the Dark Djinn sleeps. Then when the Dark Djinn is in control, the Goddess is asleep… Does that fit?"

"Correct. So, what do you think we should do based on that information?"

"If the Dark Djinn is also the Goddess, we just have to meet the Dark Djinn to find her. Uhh, but doesn't that bring us back to the beginning? We don't know where the Dark Djinn is either."

"Unlike the Goddess, we actually have information on the Dark Djinn, you know?"

I can't remember ever hearing anything about where the Dark Djinn is. But Pino is acting like I should know. In other words, I've obtained the information along the way without realizing it. The Dark Djinn is the god of evil, so he should be the symbol of evil things.

"The zombies?"

"Wrong."

"The rotten earth?"

"Wrong."

"Grr…" I childishly puff out my cheeks. I can think of only one more possibility. "…How about the black fog?"

"Correct. Though I had expected you to get it on your first try."

"Sorry that I suck at guessing."

"Don't pout. I wouldn't call this an apology, but I've already located the source of the black fog, based on the information you provided me before."

"I knew I could count on you, Pino!"

Exasperated with how fast I bounced back, Pino spreads a map out on the table. "Take a look at this. The black fog has shown up in two spots. First, on the highway leading to the capital. Second, Grantz Castle. The black fog moved the short distance between these two locations. You can find the origin by following its course."

Pino's small finger traces the line drawn from Grantz Castle until it eventually intersects with the line extending from the highway. The intersection point is right where a forest is drawn on the map.

"Are you suggesting the Dark Djinn is around there?"

"If we leave out the unanswered question of whether the black fog only travels in a straight path."

"This is a case of 'it doesn't hurt to look,' huh?"

"Exactly. In addition, we don't know for sure if the Dark Djinn itself is there. But you are very likely to find information relating to it."

We're groping for clues at this point. Anything that can be tested should be tested.

"I'll investigate into the matter for you. It's a given the knights will jump at the chance to help you if I throw your name out. Even if they have to slobber all over themselves to do it."

"Slobber all over themselves…?"

"Oh, my bad. It's our holy priestess who slobbers," Pino says with a smirk. "Whoa. Down, girl. I'm sorry for joking around! So please put that chair back down."

"You should be sorry!" I grumble as I place the chair on the floor. Taking my seat again, I run another one of my questions by him. "But wait, aren't we forgetting something important. Even if we find this Dark Djinn, Goddess Sadia is supposedly asleep. What do I do when I find it?"

"The answer is right there, no?"

I follow Pino's gaze to my right hand resting on top of the table. "My hand?"

"It has the power to remove the Dark Djinn's curse. Maybe it's capable of giving control back to the Goddess."

"Hmm… I wonder if that's really possible."

"We literally have no other hand to play. I, at least, believe it's worth a shot."

What form has the Dark Djinn taken? What kind of powers does it have? Not even being able to imagine it makes me uneasy, but nothing will happen if I don't act.

"I see what you mean… Okay, I'll try it."

"Understood. Then I'll expect you to move according to that plan. I'll contact you once I finish my investigation. Feel free to do what you want until then." Pino stands and walks toward the door before he finishes talking. "I'll be taking my leave now."

"Aw, you're leaving already?"

"I have to, because a certain someone has just stuck me with a ton of work." He doesn't look like he hates that as much as he makes it sound. Maybe he's excited as a scholar to learn more about the Goddess and the Dark Djinn.

"Pino, thanks for everything!"

"Don't worry about it. This is a cheap price to pay to thank you for saving my country." Pino waves at me over his shoulder.

I watch his tiny back leave the library, thinking how mature he is for his age.

(◕ω◕✿)

Today, like every day, is just another day of zombie purifying. On the bright side, the zombies flocking around the outer walls have been fully taken care of, which makes purifying the outlying area my primary duty now. I've also grown crops with my spit, but I consider that a part of my dark past never to be mentioned again.

"By the way, I heard everyone has been sent back to their homes. Is that smart?"

It's a nice and warm, sunny afternoon. I'm walking down the capital's main street with Ruto, watching the people rebuilding the city.

"Won't zombies come bwahhing at their door if they make too much noise? I've purified most of the zombies in the general area, but in a zombie apocalypse, you can never be too cautious."

"As you feared, the outer walls are still too dangerous. Our countermeasure has been making that area off-limits to all but the knights regardless of the time of day. I feel sorry for residents of the affected regions, but we have moved them into alternative housing for the time being."

"They just have to put up with it, huh? What with the straggler zombies we run into now and then."

All the zombies in the area were supposed to have been taken care of yesterday, and yet several dozen more were discovered this morning. They must have migrated during the night.

"We have a long ways to go before we can relax. Orders have gone out to the citizens to stay as quiet as possible at night just in case."

"I get the feeling a lot more households are going to start telling their children that zombies are going to come for them if they don't go to bed."

"Z-Zombies realistically might show up, giving weight to that threat…" I can tolerate zombies because of all I've been through, but their appearance is downright horrifying. If I had seen their gruesome faces as a child, I would've been traumatized for sure.

"Anyway, I just don't know what to do with all my sudden free time."

"Are you speaking of the matter you requested of Sir Pino? I heard of it from the Royal Knights. What a brave lady you are, volunteering to embark on a journey to defeat the Dark Djinn in order to save the world …"

Ahh. That's the story he told? This must be Pino's clever way of spurring people to action when few would believe the fishy story about my being from another world and wanting to go home.

"A pure and beautiful heart that thinks of the people's safety above all else—as to be expected of you, Lady Naruko."

"K-Knock it off. I keep telling you I'm not like that."

Of course, I hope the people of this world can live in peace as a result, but I can't tell them my desire to return home is the driving factor.

"Please allow me to accompany you in subjugating the Dark Djinn. I, Ruto Strombrekar, swear to be of use to you."

"Sure. I'll ask you to come along when the time comes."

"Thank you, m'lady!" Brimming with confidence, Ruto taps his fist against his chest.

A loud clatter suddenly echoes from somewhere nearby. I whip my eyes toward where lumber has fallen and scattered in front of a house. A little boy is crouched on the ground holding his leg.

"Are you okay?!"

"It hurts! It huuuurts!"

I dash over to the boy. Leaning over, I examine his leg. He hit his knee, though the injury isn't too severe. He seems to have tripped over the squared lumber and landed on his knees. Blood is oozing from the scrape. We need to disinfect it fast.

"Ruto, can you bring me water?"

"Yes, m'lady! I will be right back with it!"

The boy probably doesn't want his scrape rinsed with water cleansed by spit, but he'll just have to bear with it. If my powers have stuck me with the cliché priestess title, the least they could do is heal injuries.

A split second after that thought, faint light emits briefly from my left hand placed on the boy's leg.

"...That's weird… It doesn't hurt…" The boy is calm and quiet, as if his tears had been fake. I blink several times, but not because the boy suddenly stopped crying.

"The scrape healed…?"

The bleeding cut on the boy's knee has cleanly vanished. I know I was thinking it'd be great if I could heal, but I didn't think it'd actually happen. In retrospect, I've been smacking people with my right hand all this time and barely touching others with my left. As far as I can remember, I haven't touched a single injured person with my left hand.

"I've been looking everywhere for you, Lyle. Oh dear. Why are you sitting in a place like that?"

"Ah, Mommy! I tripped over those logs and fell."

"You fell? Are you all right? Did you hurt yourself?"

"I was bleeding, but this nice lady healed me." The boy, Lyle, points at me.

"She healed you…?" The mother turns a suspicious eye on me.

I've read and watched plenty of stories where people freak out when someone heals others with a mysterious power. People are already gathering around us. Gazes are burrowing into me from all directions. This can't be good.

"I-If you will excuse me…"

"Wait just a moment."

I had spun around and was about to make a quick escape, but they called me to a stop. I fearfully turn back.

"Wh-What is it?"

"Thank you. How can I ever thank you enough? Lyle, thank the nice lady too."

"I know. Thanks, lady!"

I'm thrown off balance by their unexpected reaction. But suddenly becoming aware of how extremely suspicious I'm acting, I quickly muster my composure to respond in kind.

"M-My pleasure. I didn't do much."

Even though I say that, viewed objectively, healing a wound in an instant is doing a lot. The onlookers seem to think so, too, as they continue regarding me with skepticism. Ruto returns with a jar of water around the time a slight commotion starts to break out.

"Lady Naruko? What is going on here?"

"Oh, Ruto. Uh, I seemed to have instantly healed this child's wounds with my left hand."

"I see."

"You aren't surprised?"

"No, m'lady."

What a fast answer. I seriously don't understand Ruto's sensibility. But I'm about to.

"After all, Lady Naruko is the holy priestess! Healing an injury or two is only natural for you!"

"What the heck is with that nonsense reason?! And would you please lower your voice?!"

Thanks to Ruto's big mouth, surprised chatter rises from the crowd. "He said she's the priestess."

"That lady is the priestess?"

Oh my gosh. What I've been fearing all along has come true! It won't be long now before they snort, "This pitiful woman is the priestess? Pft!"

As I'm holding my aching head, a voice rings out like a flash of lightning in the sky: "No! You are incorrect!"

Searching for whoever said that, my gaze lands on a young woman clad in what looks exactly like the distinctive habit worn by Catholic nuns. The woman, with her well-defined facial features and violet eyes, is enchantingly beautiful even by my standards. Silver hair peeks out of her veil.

"She is not the priestess," the nunlike woman declares, then continues in an authoritative voice, "She is the Goddess!"

(◕ω◕✿)

In a corner of the castle's third floor, I'm enjoying tea with Cia in an inner garden with a beautiful view outside. Naturally, a luxury item such as tea leaves could be prepared only with that method. It's a little late for it now, but when I think about the process needing something from inside my body, I can only say I have complicated feelings. It's best not to think about it at all.

"Oneechan, you look unwell," Cia comments, her voice laced with worry. To be perfectly honest, I've been hoping she would ask why I'm so out of it so I could complain.

"Listen to this! Someone showed up while I was patrolling the city during lunch and proclaimed, 'She's not the priestess. She's the Goddess!'"

"G-Goddess… That's a new one…"

"Right? Calling me Goddess is taking it a step too far. Priestess is already awful enough."

That nunlike woman had continued shouting "Goddess! My goddess!" after that. Things took a turn for the worse when she began preaching and insisting to the crowd that I'm the Goddess. Ruto and the knights who ran over to assist were able to get the situation under control, but I felt like burying my head in the sand the whole time… Ugh, my stomach hurts just thinking about it.

"But why goddess of all things?"

"Yeah, that had to do with this kid who happened to fall and hurt himself. When I placed my left hand on the injury, it fully recovered in an instant."

"O-Oneechan Goddess!"

"Don't you start too, Cia-chan!"

"I was joking," she giggles, then adds, "And half-serious."

Is it just me or does she look completely serious, not just half? Please let it be just me.

"However, it isn't unreasonable for this woman to believe you are the Goddess, for you have the exact same powers the Goddess is said to have in myths."

Now that she mentions it, Pino also said the Goddess has the power to purify. If the power to heal is included with that, then it makes the claim more credible. But—

"Just so you know, that isn't me, okay? I'm not your goddess or your priestess."

"Yes, your Cia knows this," Cia responds with an ear-to-ear grin. This is that same playing-along-with-it face from before.

When people get like this, whatever I say just falls flat, so all I can do is sigh. Anyway, they sure are working fast at strengthening the outer moat from what I can see outside. My thoughts on the matter are interrupted by the clang of armored footsteps. I look that way and see Ruto standing in the pillared corridor facing the garden.

"Pardon the interruption, ladies. May I borrow a moment of your time?"

"Yes, I do not mind. How about you, Oneechan?"

"Go right ahead."

Ruto descends into the garden with my unenthusiastic approval. "LadyNaruko, I investigated that woman."

"That woman? You mean the one who kicked up the goddess fuss this afternoon?"

"Yes," Ruto affirms. "Her name is Iris. She appears to have been raised in an orphanage located in a village not far from the capital."

"In an orphanage?"

"Indeed. Regrettably, that orphanage went under by the time she was twelve due to financial difficulties coupled with not receiving government aid."

I don't know how to respond. Losing the place where you grew up must have been a terrible shock to her.

"She has lived in a church located in the capital ever since, but whether it stems from the orphanage shutting down or not, she often has crazy bursts of activity, causing constant problems under the banner of it being God's will. This time is no exception, for she has…well…started the Church of Our Lady Naruko."

"That's my name!"

I like my name, but there is no more humiliating way for a name to be used than to have it turned into a religious cult! Couldn't she have come up with something a little more, I don't know, creative?

"H-Has anyone joined yet?"

"No, not one. If anything, they seem to be avoiding it like the zombie curse."

"I'm the biggest victim of this atrocity."

It totally makes sense that people wouldn't join such a dubious cult, but…I seriously feel like my ego just took a major hit.

"There is one major concern, though. The people of this kingdom worship Goddess Sadia, and among their ranks are extremist religious fanatics. Iris may be in danger if they view her actions as sacrilege against the Goddess."

"A-Are they really dangerous people?"

"I understand they turn people to stone and decorate them as goddess statues…"

"Yeah, okay, that's dangerous." Iris is the epitome of a weirdo, but I don't want to see her put in danger. "How do we handle this one?" I groan.

Cia springs to her feet. "We can't leave this matter unattended if we consider the anxiety it causes Oneechan. Ruto, please keep track of the movements taken by both parties. Apprehend them if they go too far."

"As you command, Your Highness." Things seem to be taking a violent turn. "Please don't get too rough—"

"No. This is the time to bring down the hammer. It is a good opportunity to show one and all what happens when they cause problems for you, Oneechan. Now go, Ruto!" Cia orders in a frigidly firm voice, thrusting her finger in the direction of the city.

Um, cute little Cia? Did your personality just change?

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