Led Like Livestock to the Slaughter
Is this what it feels like to be dragged off by a butcher? I never particularly wanted to know, but having gone through it now, I could definitely sense the vibe. Sure, we were heading along together, but this nail-biting tension of not knowing when death might strike, this grimy feeling... If I'd known it'd be like this, I never would've listened to Ludia's plea. But there I was, silently trailing behind her and the paladin who'd come searching for her.
"You must have gotten quite lost."
"Our torch went out, and we lost our way."
"Oh dear. At least the Hero's Tomb is a straightforward dungeon, so that's fortunate."
"Ah, y-yes..."
"I'm glad I rushed over right away since you passed the expected arrival date."
The paladin was surprisingly gentle and caring toward Ludia. A long chestnut ponytail, coppery skin, golden eyes. Strip away that heavy plate armor, and she'd definitely count as a beauty. And that massive greatsword slung across her back... what the hell? Wasn't it heavy? It looked like it could neatly bisect a person—no, a zombie—in one swing.
"But... is that mercenary behind you really trustworthy?"
Whoa, you scared me.Turn off your radar for a sec. My body twitched as the paladin turned toward me. Her tone was calm, but those narrow, menacing eyes... If that wasn't the glare of a butcher—or a people-slayer—what was?
I yanked the cloak Ludia had given me down over my head one more time.
"Y-yes, of course. You don't need to worry about him at all."
It was Ludia's job to come up with suitable excuses on behalf of her mute companion—me. Unlike her earlier blubbering meltdown, she was surprisingly quick on her feet. Every time the paladin probed, she'd puff up like that and defuse the crisis.
"But seeing him wrapped head to toe in bandages like that, he doesn't look well..."
"No, no. That's just his preference."
"His... preference?"
"Y-yeah... He prefers wrapping himself in bandages over actually washing up."
"...?? (Huh??)"
"...Ah."
Don't buy it, please... I could see the paladin's eyebrow and lip corner twitching at Ludia's nonsense. That expression—like she wanted to tell this filthy bastard to clean up and hurl a double curse, but was holding it back.
"Please... follow slowly."
Her words radiated a strong desire not to engage further. That final tsk I heard at the end? Must've been my imagination, right? Fuck??
But in this situation, I couldn't exactly retort. I just nodded quietly.
Man... I really just wanna go home. For real.
—Sorry, zombie sir!
"...."
Even she seemed to realize this one was a stretch. Ludia whipped her head around during a gap in the paladin's words and mouthed the apology.
I nodded.
...Sigh. What more was there to say? I'd just play along and bail when the chance came. I didn't know the norms of this world, but at minimum, any paladin spotting a zombie would either hack it apart or blast it—guaranteed.
"Oh, and Ludia. Is that shoulder wound okay?"
"Y-yes?? Yes! Of course!"
Ludia flinched back in alarm just as the paladin reached for her shoulder.
"Oh..."
The paladin pulled her hand back, surprised by the reaction.
"I-it's fine, really. Just a little scrape from a fall."
Ludia forced a smile through her panic.
"Then let me heal the wound..."
"No. No, no."
"...?"
"It's really fine, Mari. Don't waste your Holy Power on a minor scratch like this."
She added a fake cough for effect. Then she shrugged casually, as if to say see? It's fine, flashing a grin.
"Well, if you insist..."
"Yes, yes. I'm okay, so let's hurry and get out!"
Ludia slapped the hesitant paladin's back to urge her onward. The paladin resumed walking with a resigned expression.
"....."
But from behind, it looked pitiful—the bandage around Ludia's shoulder was slowly staining red with blood. And with it came a savory, fragrant, fishy scent teasing my nose and stimulating my salivary glands...
"Huu..."
What the hell am I thinking right now?That's a person! A person!Not chicken!!Why the fuck am I drooling over a perfectly healthy human, you piece of meat?!
"Huuuugh...!"
I took deep breaths to shove out the ridiculous thoughts. The dank dungeon stench mixed with the fishy, mouthwatering aroma flooding my nostrils. And trailing after it, a soft, fragrant scent. Actually, that one wasn't from outside—it was coming from the bandages.
"....."
Come to think of it, these bandages... where the hell did they come from? Before the paladin arrived, Ludia had rummaged in a corner and handed them over in a hurry. I'd seen her wrapping her midsection earlier. Did she carry spares? Or...
...Nah, no way.
After a long trek, the three emerged from the dungeon. Ludia couldn't shake the zombie sniffing behind her nonstop. Why? Why did he keep smelling like that?? They were the bandages she'd worn on her body... Was it sweat? Did she stink that bad??
But nothing else would cover that zombie's face right now! Even if they smelled a bit, please just bear with it...!
If he kept sniffing like that and Mari noticed...
"Ludia."
"Eek!!!"
"...???"
Hah! That startled me. Ludia whipped around in terror.
"I'm sorry to keep asking, but... are you really okay?"
But Mari's concern was simpler than expected. Ludia's complexion was off. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, her lips were parched, and she kept glancing back nervously. No matter how you sliced it, she looked like someone being watched... or stalked.
"I-I'm fine, really. Thanks to the potion you gave me earlier, I'm overflowing with energy!"
Ludia flashed a bright smile as if nothing was wrong. But seeing the forced curl of her lips, Mari decided to voice the suspicions she'd been holding back. She leaned in for a whisper.
"Just say the word, Ludia. If that man behind us is trouble, I'll cut him down right away."
He was suspicious as hell. Bandages wrapped tight enough to hide his entire body—that mercenary. According to Ludia, they'd hired him before entering the dungeon, but the red flags were piling up. Mute? What kind of mercenary couldn't speak? And that occasional oppressive aura... was it even human? He seemed like a seasoned fighter, so why was he with Ludia? Mari suspected the naive saintess candidate had gotten tangled in something shady.
But,
"N-no, Mari! Not him! You absolutely can't do that!"
The response was a vehement denial. Ludia's face hardened with resolve as she shook her head fiercely.
"Then I'd die!"
"...Huh???"
And the follow-up was downright absurd. Ludia's emotions had jumped the rails, spilling her raw truth. Mari sensed something was deeply wrong.
"That scummy con artist's...!"
"Mari!"
She grabbed her hand. How dare he scam and threaten a potential saintess! As Mari's sense of justice ignited and she reached for her sword, Ludia desperately clutched her hand to stop her.
"He's not a con! He's really not like that."
"What exactly is your relationship with him, Ludia? Just tell me, and I could take on a hundred."
Mari's voice rose with excitement. The man behind them tilted his head, glancing over curiously.
"W-well..."
"......"
We're bound in a master-servant relationship...
If that monster dies, so do I. Even if we separate too far, I die.
Ludia swallowed the words that had risen to her throat.
"He's my... benefactor."
She fidgeted with Mari's tightly gripped hand, prying it away from the sword hilt.
"Your... benefactor?"
"Yes..."
Benefactor. Hah... this is insane!Look at the mess I'm in because of that zombie!!
Ludia held back the boiling rage inside, her face flushing. She wanted to lop off that damn zombie's head in one go, but that would cost her own life too. And telling the devout Mari? She'd scream, You submitted to evil, you Ludia bitch!!! and lop hers off instead. Obvious as day.
"He saved my life."
"...Ah."
"He might not look it, but he helped me out a ton in the dungeon."
To survive, Ludia spun another lie. To erase Mari's lingering suspicion, she wove a tale from thin air. He lost his voice in a childhood accident, so he never speaks. The bandages? Full-body burns from wartime. Despite appearances, he's a famously good-natured mercenary. She even threw in a fabricated tale of him throwing himself against a wolf pack to protect her, capping it with a single tear rolling down her cheek.
At this point, she half-jokingly thought she should ditch saintess training for bard instead.
"And I didn't even know..."
The effect was tremendous. Mari's expression twisted in complicated remorse, but she soon clamped her mouth shut and bowed her head. She'd made up her mind.
"I need to apologize. Right now."
"No, you don't have to—"
"No. I've been too arrogant. Judging by appearances and thinking such vile thoughts...!"
Ah, wait, Mari!!What do you mean it's working this well?!
Mari strode toward the zombie, leaving Ludia behind.
"Huu?"
"I'm sorry! I misunderstood!!"
She bellowed and bowed deeply.
"I didn't know you were Ludia's benefactor! I misunderstood!"
The zombie looked up at Ludia in bewilderment. No words, but his gaze screamed, What the fuck is this?
"Huuu..."
But Ludia's eyes were glazed. She had a lot to say, but her face said whatever, screw it.I didn't tell her to apologize...
Looks like she'd hit her limit.
"I'll serve you properly all the way to the church!"
"Ch-the church?!"
Ludia jolted again at Mari's words. But Mari, now straightened up, wore an expression like What's the problem?
"You have to pay the mercenary anyway. Normally, the church's administrative office handles it."
"Ah... r-right, yeah..."
We're screwed!!I shouldn't have called him a mercenary!!How am I supposed to bring that into the church?!
Ludia's insides were charring black despite her calm exterior. Separating too far from the zombie would trigger the master-servant brand, killing her. She'd learned that in church lessons multiple times—ironclad fact. So she'd have to keep some distance while dragging him along, but... the church? She'd get caught immediately!
What now? If I bring him, we're busted!! Her mind spun in chaos.
"By the way..."
"W-what is it, Mari???"
Should I just tell Mari everything? Kneel and beg for mercy?Haa... why am I putting myself through this hell?!
Ludia's eyes swirled like her thoughts when Mari, apology done, returned and whispered again.
"Do you know that man's name?"
"His... name?"
"Yes. If we're serving him ongoing, I need to know what to call him..."
"Ah......"
Fuck, why is a person's name Huu?? Huh?? Can you really name someone like that just 'cause he sighed once?? My lips pursed at Ludia's naming sense.