Ludia's Desperate Plan and the Tinkerbell Terror
In the lodging Mari had secured, lying on the fluffy bed for the first time in ages should have made her body melt away in relaxation. But Ludia lay there with her eyes wide as saucers, unable to sleep.
"Haah... haah... haah..."
She was facing the greatest crisis of her life. Enter the church with a zombie → get caught and die. Don't enter the church → get suspected, caught, and die. No matter what she did, it was a death route. A sigh escaped her lips.
"What am I gonna dooooo..."
She let out a small, plaintive whine, but no clever solution came to mind. After a long while, as if the universe wouldn't let her die just yet, a brilliant idea suddenly struck her.
"Just vanish?"
Her last resort: go completely off the grid. But...
"Ugh... no way..."
Her brow furrowed instinctively. Running off with a zombie—not some handsome prince from a fairy tale! Setting aside shattered dreams, common sense alone rebelled against it. Am I some emergency food stash for Huu or what? And his appearance was so terrifying. When he let out a big "Grraaah!" her heart would drop right out of her chest. She'd probably die of a heart attack before the paladins could even kill her.
"Why doesn't Holy Power work on himmmm..."
Every time she replayed the memories, doubts and sighs leaked out. He'd endured her Holy Power like it was a casual shower. The more she thought about it, the more frustrating it got—she kicked at the innocent blanket. Pok pok pok!I'm strong with Holy Power, aren't I? Did the branch manager lie to me?! If we'd caught the zombie back then, I wouldn't have this brand!!
"...Haa... why does it have to be such a filthy brand..."
Ludia sat up, her hand already caressing the brand on her shoulder. They'd said brands were a technique used only on top-tier monsters. But a common zombie? And why of all things a Breeding Brand?! Why me?! WHY!! Why does this happen to me!!!
"Haauuuuugh..."
Her eyes squeezed shut. Yelling out loud in the dead of night would just make Mari think she was weird. In the end, Ludia buried her face in the pillow and screamed at the top of her lungs. Aaak! Aaak!!
"...Haa. Whatever."
After throwing her tantrum for a good while, her head and heart felt utterly empty. Regaining some semblance of calm, she figured that even if there was no answer, she had to try everything she could to vent her frustration.
"First, I need to hide the brand."
Especially from the paladins.
"And keep the zombie as close as possible..."
The brand would kill her if she strayed too far from its owner. It was a curse designed to keep her glued to him, after all!! So she had to hide him nearby.
"And the saintess candidate position..."
As she sorted through her thoughts, Ludia paused at the words "saintess candidate." What should I do...? Give up the stipend? It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Memories flooded back of all the benefits bestowed on a poor farmer's daughter like her.
"Haa... no, no..."
But she shook her head. What good were they if she was dead? She hadn't even wanted to become a saintess anyway. Handle the urgent stuff first, then take a long vacation. The perks were a shame to lose, but her life was more precious! She only had one!!
To do that, though...
"I... have to talk to him, right...?"
She rubbed her face with both hands for a long time, unable to commit. But with church entry tomorrow, this was her only chance. She needed to warn the zombie ahead of time.
"Huu. This takes some serious courage."
It was a relief he seemed to understand human speech a little. But he was still too scary and gross-looking for that. Especially those sunken eyes staring at her, or when he bellowed loudly... Her whole body felt like it was convulsing just thinking about it.
"Ugh... whatever! It'll work out somehow!"
After wriggling under the covers for ages, Ludia half-gave up and quietly slipped out the door.
Moonlight dimly illuminated the predawn gloom. I'd thought she'd go to bed early with church entry tomorrow, but instead she knocked on my door and led me deep into the woods.
"Gruk gruk. (What's with all these bugs flying around.)"
Moth or fly? Something small kept buzzing in the forest, annoying me as I swatted at it. But Ludia ignored it, glanced around, and finally spoke.
"Z-zombie... I mean, Lord Huu."
"Graa. (Yeah.)"
It'd only been a short time, but now my head nodded at the name Huu. No idea if it was a person's name or a sigh, though. At least the zombie had a name? Sometimes if I listened closely, it sounded like "Juan," some passionate Spanish name... Haa... damn it all. Not Huu, you idiots...
"I-I have something important to say..."
"Gruk. (Yeah.)"
"H-h... s-sorry. I'm so nervous, my words keep..."
"...??"
But why the weird atmosphere? She couldn't even meet my eyes, twisting her body this way and that. She was always like this, but something felt different now. At least she wasn't shaking like a leaf.
"Um... first off, we need to keep our... relationship a secret, right?"
"Graa? (Our relationship?)"
What relationship? Her hesitant words alone made my chest stir. But watching her now, my suspicions solidified. No way. Were we in that kind of relationship? Since when did she start liking me? Wasn't this too sudden?? One thing was sure—she was quite the catch. In this world, did asking once make her mine? Beastly setting, but absurdly convenient. For a girl like Ludia, I'd gladly bite her again...
"Now that I'm like this, you'll have to stick with me..."
Ludia glanced around once more and slightly pulled down her collar. White skin marred by red bite marks. And atop it, a vivid black pattern.
"Huu. (Oh, that.)"
What a letdown. I sighed the moment I saw it.
"I've been thinking... how about coming to the church with me...?"
An inexplicable disappointment. But Ludia explained politely and at length. The gist: hide quietly in the church.
"But not too far away..."
"Graaa. (Yeah, yeah, got it.)"
"You can use the room right next to mine."
"Gruk. (Yeah. Got it. I'll stay quiet and go in without a word.)"
Whatever. From my perspective, her proposal wasn't bad. Wandering this unfamiliar place alone as a zombie wasn't safe. And since I'd bitten her and caused the wound, going along was the decent thing to do. Last time I took some Holy Power? It stung, but nothing major. Just watch out for sword-wielding types like Mari.
"Grrooo... (Or we could just bolt and hide somewhere. When Mari's deep asleep.)"
Of course, running off was a solid option too.
"Pardon?"
"Grroar... (No tracking here, right? If we hide, they probably won't find us.)"
"Um... is something bothering you...?"
"........."
The more I opened my mouth, the worse it got. I shut up in the end. What kind of filter was on this trap mouth?
"W-well then... if nothing else... shall we head back...?"
I nodded. The instant I did, Ludia spun around with a relieved sigh, even muttering "Thank goodness."
"........."
Talking to me must not be easy. Her slender shoulders hunched tight, then relaxed. Why did I have to possess a zombie and tire everyone out like this? Poor Ludia—with that massive moth stuck to her back...
WHAT??
"GRRAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!! (Shit, Tinkerbell!!!!!!!!!!!!)"
That demon thing—why was it here?! The moment I spotted Tinkerbell, a guttural roar erupted from my gut. Bad luck: as a zombie, it wasn't just loud. It was a booming zombie howl that BOOM!! rippled the air, sending a fierce gust whipping through the surroundings.
"Hiiiieeeek!!!!!!!!!"
Ludia, right in front of it, froze stiff.
"Grrgrr... (Sorry! That wasn't on purpose.)"
"...."
Fuck... I screwed up again. Looking at her, her pupils were half-dilated, eyes glazed as she trembled. Then she suddenly dropped to her knees on the dirt.
"I-I'm sorry, Lord Huu!!! Forgive me!! I'm sorry for interrupting!!!"
She mumbled in a soulless voice. Thick teardrops welled in her big eyes.
"Grroo... (No, that's not—)"
"Spare me!! I was too bold!! I won't do it again!! Never!!"
"Grrgrr... (Calm down first, stand up, and talk...)"
"I offer everything! Body and soul!! Just please don't eat me, spare me!!"
Now it didn't matter if I was there or not. Tears streamed down as she stared into space. It was pure instinct—her body remembering and reacting.
"Huu..."
How many minutes would this take? After waiting ages for her to snap out of it, I shook my head and pointed at her back. I'd considered removing it myself, but that might scare her more, so I held back.
"Graa. (Tinkerbell's on your back.)"
"...Huh?"
Finally noticing something off, Ludia reached back.
"?!"
Flutter flutter.
"Hiiiieeeek!!!!!!!"
Tinkerbell, startled by her touch, beat its wings powerfully and flew off into the sky.
"Grroo. (See? It was on your back.)"
"........."
"Grrgrr... (Even I find big moths gross. And popping up at night like that—anyone would jump...)"
"...Huuuugh..."
Thud.
"Graa? (Huh?)"
Ludia, deceased (not really).
A perfectly fine girl suddenly foaming at the mouth and collapsing. What's the right move? 1. Eat her. 2. Leave her. If this were a test question, I'd pick 2. Oh, right—zombie now. But let's tweak it. What if it's a pretty girl who loses it easily foaming at the mouth? 1. Carry her on your back. 2. Drag her. 3. Princess carry.
"Grrooo..."
Hmm... modified problems are tough. I stared at the fallen girl, deep in thought. No trace of her earlier freakout. Eyes closed in total surrender, breathing softly. With her mouth shut, her plump lips and thick, lush lashes burned into my brain.
"Grrooo..."
Definitely 1. 3's overkill. Why'd I have to bite this girl? I sighed pointlessly. She had this airheaded side that made her... worrisome. High-maintenance type. Made me wonder if trusting her and heading to the church was smart.
"Graaa. (Wake up. Oh, right—you can't.)"
Anyway. Time to carry her. My body moved decently, holes aside. Uh, smell okay? I lifted my stiff, withered arm to my nose. Sniff sniff.
.....This is fine. Sunlight disinfection for the win—trekking all day in the sun paid off. Skin crisp like jerky on the outside, firm inside—no smell. Plus, as a former civilized person, I washed my face (sometimes) and showered (once) as a zombie.
"Graaa. (Alright, prop her up halfway...)"
Whatever. Options for a collapsed girl? I half-raised the sleeping her against a tree trunk, then squatted and shuffled backward toward her.
Poof.
"Grrgrrrrr........."
Soft. Warm. Incredibly squishy. The subtle, sacred sensation against my back nearly made my eyes drift shut.
"Oh."
Wanted to stay like this forever, but priorities. I looped her arm roughly over my neck and stood with her on my back.
"Ugh?!"
Suddenly, heavy gravity tugged at my arms and shoulders. Whoa, she's got weight. Didn't look it. All the fat in one spot?? But this cozy pressure wasn't bad. Her familiar flesh scent grew thicker.
"Grr. (...No way??)"
Did those bandages really grow?? Nah. Just the bandage smell intensifying from the strain.
"Uuh..."
As my zombie senses prickled uselessly, Ludia squirmed uncomfortably on my back, rubbing her cheek and groaning.
"Graa. Grrooo. (Just sleep. I'll get you home.)"
"Uu... uuh."
As if understanding, she nuzzled my back a few more times before drifting off again. No way she imagines she's on a zombie's back. Wonder what her reaction'll be when she wakes.
"Gruk. Gruk... (Pfft.)"
Thinking about it, she's hilarious. Memories of her absurd antics bubbled up, making me chuckle. No hobby in tormenting her, but the crying, laughing, raging, fainting—exhausting, but entertaining from a beauty like her. And usually so sweet and docile.
"Uuh... M-Mommy... ah..."
"Gruk?"
Did I laugh too loud? Or dream-mommy time? She sleep-talked, rubbing her cheek on my hard back.
"M-Mooom... my..."
Faint, thin whimpers. Hearing them tugged at my chest. The journey must've been brutal. Go find your mom, then...
....Yeah. After all this, who could blame her? Wanting to ease her fatigue even a little, I gripped tighter and hoisted her snug.
But.
"You stink..."
"Graa? (What?)"
The sentiment was shattered. Eyes still closed, she sniffed and wrinkled her nose.
"Bathroom... smells rotten..."
"........."
"Ugh... the smell. Should I set it on fire?"
....Should I just toss her? Why is she so radical? Her body’s so dry, she'd probably burn beautifully.
"Grrgrr. (Agh. Just...)"
A wry chuckle escaped. Not tossing her today. For now.