Mari's Burning Suspicions
To Mari, Huu was an unknown entity with no discernible origins, appearance, or thoughts. She found him unsettling and wanted to pry him away from Ludia, but he was someone who enjoyed Ludia's absolute trust. That's why she wished he'd just leave on his own.
"Mari! Why is the crystal orb glowing?!! Don't tell me...!"
"It's a Holy Power reaction, Lady Ludia. Lord Huu possesses Holy Power as well."
Ludia's eyes widened in disbelief. She muttered something like, "Sa... saved," under her breath.
"Pardon?"
"Ah... no, no. I was just worried Lord Huu might be displeased. But he seems fine. Right?"
"His face is bandaged, so I can't read his expression well."
"Lo-Lord Huu. You're alright, aren't you??"
*Nod...*
"Hehe..."
"......"
I don't like it. That man called Huu. Mari alternated her gaze between Ludia and Huu, feeling a bitter pang.
Why of all people did that gruff brute have to possess Holy Power? And...
"This is truly fortunate... hehehehe..."
...Does Lady Ludia actually like that man named Huu?
Mari bit her lip hard as she watched Ludia grinning at Huu.
"As expected, his level is higher than most paladins."
The captain couldn't hide his amazement as he stared at the brightly glowing crystal orb. Ludia was amazed too, of course—though for entirely different reasons.
"He must be at least a Chief Paladin."
"So you already knew, Lady Mari."
"How could I not?"
"I sensed it immediately—it felt just like a paladin's aura—so I tested it right away. Hahaha!"
She acknowledged it, but Mari's mind kept circling back to why him of all people!
She had sensed Huu's Holy Power from the moment they first met. But he had never once used it. If anything, it felt like he was deliberately suppressing it—something only someone specially trained like her would notice.
That only deepened her suspicions about his identity, but since he possessed Holy Power, he didn't seem like some major deviant. If he had been a monster or heretic, she would've cleaved him in two on the spot.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
"You've worked hard, Sir Dalton."
With a brief exchange of farewells, the captain left the room with a lighthearted expression.
"Lord Huu! You're amazing! I had no idea you had Holy Power! Hehehe..."
*Nod nod nod nod.*
"....."
Is it really that great? What's so special about it?
The guy who was always so stoic and unresponsive was now nodding nonstop. It wasn't like he had escaped death or anything. And did he really need to grip Ludia's hand so tightly?
Mari's stomach bubbled with irritation as she watched the two holding hands and beaming at each other.
"...I, I'll step out for a bit."
"Sure! Hurry back!"
This won't do. I need to investigate him thoroughly.
This isn't suspicion—it's loyalty to Lady Ludia. If he's truly suspicious, I have to separate them immediately.
She ground her teeth and headed outside.
**
"Lord Huu, were you perhaps... a paladin?"
"...."
No way he'd have bought that title.
Even if she stutters in front of me, why phrase it like that—breaking right at "paladin"?
Still, since neither of us knew, I lightly shook my head no.
"Wow... that's amazing. So how did you get it??"
Ludia's innocent gaze made me feel like I had to say something, but...
"Grur... (Beats me. I thought I was done for.)"
What good would explaining do? To this airhead.
I grumbled in a near self-abandoned state.
"I-it's okay, Lord Huu. You don't have to tell me."
Ludia awkwardly smiled and averted her eyes at my indifferent reaction. She looked like a puppy cowering before a violent owner, watching for cues.
This made me feel like the bad guy again.
"Grrr... (No, I want to be nice, but my mouth's all fucked up...)"
But even if I wanted to be kind, my voice filter was still a mess. The frustration of wanting to rip out my throat and replace it...
In the end, I figured I'd just nod vigorously to her questions.
"Still... we cleared one hurdle, so that's good, right?"
*Nod.*
"No, wait—doesn't this make things even better?"
*Nod.*
"Right? Hehehehe..."
Fortunately, Ludia bounced back quickly. Her emotions showed plainly on her face. Right now, her lips were curling up in a goofy grin.
Earlier with the captain, she had been gnawing her lower lip like it was tough meat.
"Grurr... (You okay here?)"
Doesn't it hurt? Her lips were vividly red and swollen, tugging at my concern.
I only meant to check closely, but before I knew it, one hand had grabbed her chin and gently pulled.
"...?!!!"
She flinched in surprise but slowly leaned in, following my touch. Her milky pale skin and plump pink lips bloomed invitingly. Brushing my thumb lightly over them, I felt they were a bit more swollen and rough than usual.
And her cheeks flushed as red as her lips. Her eyes looked dazed.
""......""
Silence fell as our gazes locked, entranced. Our bodies slowly tilted toward each other.
A seductive pull drawing us naturally. As I tugged her chin a bit more, her closed lips parted like overripe fruit...
*Smack.*
"Guhk. (Whoa, wait... what the—)"
Just as Ludia's nose brushed mine.
*Zap!* A sharp jolt of electricity surged through my body.
The haze cleared, revealing Ludia's flushed face.
"Grulk grulk. (S-sorry. No, I didn't mean to—it was like I was possessed, my mind just...)"
Panicking, I flapped my jaws furiously, but to this zombie maw, it just sounded like arrogant grulk-grulks. Utterly ridiculous.
And why is she going along with this?!
"Th-that, Lo-Lord Huu... I-I..."
"Grur... Huu... (S-sorry.)"
I'm insane. A total lunatic! What the hell is this—I'm no perverted dog!
I slowly leaned back, taking a deep breath. A warm, soft scent from the bandages wafted into my nose and filled my body.
Lately, this smell always made me feel fuzzy and calm. Like a personal stabilizer for mind and body.
"...Ah! Ri-right! The bandages!"
"Grur? (Bandages?)"
Ludia, who had been staring blankly at my deep breaths, suddenly went "Ah!" and rummaged in her pocket, pulling something out.
In her hand were several bundles of fresh white bandages.
"The ones I gave you last time... they smelled a bit, right? Sorry... that was all I had. These are new."
"Grurrr. (Nah, they were fine.)"
Ludia blushed and handed them over.
"I sweat a lot, so..."
"Grrr... (Yeah, that happens. Especially if it's wrapped around your body...)"
...Wait. Hold up. What did she just say?
My nonexistent eyelids shot wide open at Ludia's words.
"Grulk grulk. (Sweats a lot? And sweat smell on the bandages? Wait, does that mean these are...)"
"Sh-should I at least change the ones on your face... for you??"
"....."
In my past life, I'd heard about guys sniffing used bras, and I thought those perverts deserved to die.
"Kuh. Kuhuh. Kuhuhu... (Ha... haha... hahaha...)"
...And now that's me. Might as well die.
**
"Hah! I'm crazy! Totally crazy!!"
Back in her room, Ludia kicked at the blankets while sprawled on the bed. Her face was beet red, her eyes half-filled with tears.
"Why did I do that all of a sudden!!"
She couldn't comprehend what had happened.
When the zombie grabbed her chin and pulled, her body responded naturally, without resistance. Her heart raced, her body heated up—like it was prepared for it, that... that...
"Ha-eut!!!"
Imagining the rest was too much; she shuddered with a weird squeak.
"No! I hate it! Really hate it!!"
Sane Ludia was rejecting Huu.
Huu was just a being she kept around to survive. But reacting like that?! I didn't want it!
And why offer to change his bandages like that!?? Am I actually crazy??!!
"Damn it! No! It's all because of this!!"
Ludia whimpered, rubbing the brand on her shoulder.
It had to be this brand activating. That's what the Breeding Brand does, right?! Why is it so strong?! I have strong Holy Power! Why couldn't I resist even once!!!
Good thing Huu hesitated and stopped. If not...!
"....Huh?"
She had been grinding her teeth, thinking First time with a zombie?! Ridiculous! when a sudden doubt made her blink.
"That's weird. Back then..."
The mood had definitely heated up. And monsters are slaves to desire. In that situation, something profane would've happened nine times out of ten.
But Huu stopped, and even when she offered to change his facial bandages, he just sat like a stone. Afterward, he even gestured for her to leave after wrapping them.
"Come to think of it..."
"....."
What's going on? Is he really a zombie?
Ludia pondered Huu with growing doubt.
He understands speech, which is amazing enough, and he eats and sleeps like a human. Plus, Holy Power? Don't zombies melt or die from Holy Power exposure?
"Huu... Huu..."
A scary zombie. A zombie immune to Holy Power. A strange zombie.
When he suddenly lunged from the darkness and bit her shoulder, she thought he was just a low-grade monster.
Now, she rationally suspected there was more to him. And aside from the missing flesh, his jawline seemed sharp enough, his eyes somehow soulful and captivating...
"...Ahhat! No, this isn't right!!"
Ludia shrieked again and pounded the innocent blankets.
She needed time amid the confusion.
**
A few days after arriving at Ludia's quarters,
"Shall we go, Lord Huu? Lady Ludia."
*Nod.*
Ludia and I had reached the time to reap our sown lies.
"The administrative office is surprisingly crowded. It's best to go early in the morning, so I woke you up ahead of time."
"Huu... I know, Mari. Better to go quick and come back. Right, Lord Huu?"
"...."
Great, my ass. I wondered why she woke me at this ungodly predawn hour. Just for the admin office?
But since I'd decided to play along with Ludia's act, I couldn't complain. Even as a zombie, my sleepy eyes wouldn't open, leaving me grumpy and fidgety.
Look at Ludia—she's barely awake, eyes half-shut.
"I'll prepare so Lord Huu can receive payment and leave immediately."
"??!!"
But Mari's next words made Ludia's eyes snap wide open!
One hell of a wake-up call.
"Wh-why?"
"Why? You're a mercenary, so you need to find other work."
"No, no... we, we have a contract... Ah, right! A long-term contract!"
"Long... term contract?"
"...?"
All three of us made the same Huh? face.
Long-term? Lies spill from her mouth nonstop now. Hard to believe she's a saintess candidate.
...Well, she doesn't seem like the saintesses I know anyway.
"Lord Huu. Is that true?"
*Nod.*
I had to match her lie, or my head would roll. Nodding without hesitation was key to survival.
Ludia, satisfied, secretly flashed a thumbs-up behind Mari.
"I see. Then hand over the contract. It needs administrative certification for payment processing later."
""......""
We froze like ice at Mari's businesslike response. Mari narrowed her eyes, sniffing something off.
"...No way."
"....."
Today, one zombie and one liar head to the Lord's side.
Maybe being in the church lately was making me crave prayer all of a sudden.
"Um... Mari. Lord Huu..."
"....?"
But as always, Ludia found a way out. Gone was her flustered look; now she brimmed with confidence.
She really was trustworthy!
"Lord Huu can't read."
"....Ah."
"He's illiterate—can't read letters, numbers, nothing."
"...."
Faith's reward is betrayal, huh?
Even if in my past life I was a top uni grad... fuck it, whatever. I'm just a rotten zombie anyway.
And Mari just nods like, "I see."
"Huu..."
Suddenly, my eyes start to well up.