Chapter 87
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: A Knock from Within
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There's a survivor camp in the neighboring town of Kintne. But its leader has a rather vicious streak.
He's apparently quite resourceful, having amassed a good amount of food extorted from other survivor camps.
‘Should I try raiding it?’
His camp was set up in a place I knew very well. The Sinclair Hotel, Kintne branch.
‘Hmm, but I'd have to go all the way to Kintne for that. Can I even get there safely?’
A fight could break out if I'm not careful. This seems like an impossible plan.
I'm a pacifist. Unlike Aurora in *Love in a Ruined World*, I had no desire to conquer survivor camps and reign as the number one power. I wasn't cut out for it, anyway.
‘I just want to live a quiet...’
We should just stick together quietly and survive.
Besides, Aurora and Theodore will be the ones to find a solution to this whole mess. They're the main characters, so they'll figure something out.
“I think we can gather food from the mountain behind the house or hunt wild animals, but we should split into teams and strategize carefully since we might be attacked by monsters. We just have to hold out until the crops grow.”
It would be great if we could raid the remaining food supplies in Brunel, but there are too many monsters there. Not as many as in the bigger cities, of course, but a lot is still a lot.
“Understood. Let's work out a more detailed plan later.”
Harrison agreed with my opinion, seemingly seeing no other choice.
Hunting is Vanilla's specialty, so it would be best to talk to her.
“More than anything...”
Harrison suddenly trailed off and took off his glasses. He pressed the bridge of his nose and continued.
“I'm so relieved that you're safe, my lady. I'm also very curious about what happened during that time.”
“Ah... Of course you're curious. But I'm also curious about your story, Harrison. How you got here, and how you met Jose and Vanilla.”
I was genuinely curious about this. I wanted to hear in detail how he got involved with Jose, a major character from *Love in a Ruined World*.
“If you would tell me your story first, my lady, I will explain mine.”
Harrison replied quite firmly. Damn. Where do I even begin? Haha.
I gave an awkward laugh and briefly explained to Harrison what had happened.
About settling down in Brunel, how I met Ethan and Knox, the sudden end of the world, and Susanna's death.
Just then, Amy entered the salon at the perfect moment.
“Sister! The doctor is looking for you. Said it's for a regular check-up?”
“Oh, is that so...?”
Perfect timing, I thought, and shot up from my seat. It was Harrison's turn to bombard me with questions. I had to get out of here before that...!
“I guess I have to go!”
Hahaha. I gave Harrison a cheerful laugh and was about to leave the salon when he mercilessly delivered my death sentence.
“My lady, I think it would be best if you and I had a talk this evening. A very long one. I haven't even begun to ask the questions I want to ask.”
He grimly issued a notice for this evening's interrogation. I stopped in my tracks and stiffly walked back to Harrison like a Lego figure.
“Does it have to be today?”
I had a good idea of what he was going to say, and I wasn't ready to answer.
“We haven't finished our conversation, so we must talk today. It can't be postponed any longer.”
Unable to delay my sentence, I meekly nodded my head.
“Alright...”
Seeing me like that, Harrison burst into a helpless laugh. But he didn't cancel the sentence.
“Harrison, the truth is, the world is about to end. There's going to be a plague that turns people into monsters. I'm going to Brunel to prepare for the apocalypse.”
Damn it, I shouldn't have said that. What kind of excuse can I make? If I talk about the novel, he'll treat me like I'm sick again.
Harrison is the type who won't let things go until he's satisfied, so the conversation won't end unless I come up with a decent excuse. I'd get to experience what it feels like to be on a nonstop express train to infinity.
For now, since we agreed to talk tonight, I'll have to think hard and come up with a plausible excuse by then.
…………….
……….
….
But in the end, evening arrived, and I still hadn't come up with any excuses.
‘I'm screwed. Royally...’
How many hours will Harrison's nagging last this time? It would've been fun if there was someone to bet with me.
I'll be tired, so maybe I should have some milk before we start. That's probably the last of the milk. My time might be the last, too.
As I was lost in this stream of consciousness, people began to gather in the banquet hall one by one.
In the kitchen, Victor was passionately cooking, juggling three burners at once.
We had to conserve ingredients, so it was probably just stew at best, but the important thing was that it was stew made by a real chef.
“I'm already so happy.”
Jose stared blankly towards the kitchen, clutching a spoon tightly in his hand.
Jose is so easily moved. Seeing a pretty boy with such a deeply moved expression wasn't a bad sight, but I wished someone would close his gaping mouth. He looked like he was about to drool.
Right on cue, Amy, who was sitting next to him, closed Jose's jaw. Then she tucked a napkin into his shirt, making a bib for him.
Anyway, after being so wary and suspicious of Jose, she had started looking out for him ever since he sided with her during the role-assignment meeting.
It was a very welcome change. If she dug too deep into Jose's background, it would be awkward for both Harrison and me.
As I watched Emma bring out the stew bowls, I stood up, and the thread of my shirt caught on a nail sticking out of the chair.
*Riiip—*
And just like that, the shirt tore easily.
“Ugh.”
At my small cry, Mrs. Emma came over, set down the stew, and examined my torn shirt.
“I'll mend the clothes for you, my lady.”
“Really?”
“It's my responsibility, isn't it? I own a clothing store, so you can leave this to me. It'll be done in no time.”
Emma smiled warmly, her eyes crinkling. I'd heard Emma was in her forties, but she still looked like a delicate flower. Like a lily.
In fact, there were many younger and prettier women here than Emma, but I still thought Emma was the most beautiful among them. For the record, the second most beautiful was Jose.
As I was blankly admiring her beautiful smile, I heard a strange sound from somewhere.
*Thump.*
It was the sound of something hitting something else. As if someone had struck a wall with an object.
What was that?
A brief silence fell over the banquet hall.
Because the sound hadn't come from outside, but from within the mansion.
“It sounded like it came from nearby?”
Knox craned his neck to look down the hallway outside the banquet hall. The sound had come from very close by.
Remembering when Susanna disappeared, I quickly scanned my surroundings. Ethan, Knox, Harrison, Vanilla, Amy, Jose, Victor, Emma. Thankfully, everyone was in their place.
Just then, Ethan placed a hand on my head and stood up.
“Everyone stay here. I'll go check.”
I shot up from my seat to follow him.
“This is my house. I should be the one to go.”
With a grim expression, I picked up the axe I had placed next to my chair. Harrison, who had come closer, stared at me with wide eyes.
“My lady. This is dangerous.”
He gently took the axe from my hands and placed it back on the table. He was acting like this even after seeing my monstrous strength when I rescued Victor and Emma.
‘Huh? Wait a minute. Did I ever tell Harrison about my super strength...?’
I told Susanna about it, so why did I keep it a secret from Harrison? But then, why hadn't Harrison asked about it either?
‘Don't tell me he was planning to ask about it during tonight's interrogation.’
I'm flustered by how many questions I anticipate Harrison will bring up during his interrogation.
Knox, as if he couldn't understand Harrison's attitude, spoke up.
“Dangerous? I must have misheard you, Counselor. The most dangerous person here is probably Miss Cherry.”
Finishing his sentence leisurely while stroking his chin, Knox even winked when our eyes met.
“One punch from Miss Cherry, and we might all die instantly...”
“Mr. Ludpersher.”
When I called his name, he gave a playful smile and shrugged.
“I like you, Miss Cherry. You know that, right?”
“No. I don't.”
As I was glaring at him, Harrison said something unexpected.
“I know you possess immense strength, my lady. I didn't find out from seeing you swing the axe; I've known all along. From the very beginning. But even so, I want you to be as safe as possible...”
“What?”
What? You knew? From the very beginning? I tried so hard to hide it because I was embarrassed about gaining super strength...!
But before Harrison could finish his sentence,
*Thump—*
the same sound was heard again.
Ethan finally shot up from his seat and ran out.
I followed Ethan, and the others trailed after us in a line.
Ethan stopped in the hallway and looked around. To be precise, he was standing in front of his room and mine, which were next to the banquet hall.
“Miss Cherry, did you hear that? It sounded like it came from inside a room. It was close.”
I heard it too. I stood next to Ethan and carefully observed my room and his.
*Thump, thump—*
Just then, the sound came again. This time, I heard it clearly.
It came from my room.