Chapter 05 

Wow.
This was the first time I’d ever heard Kai swear at someone.

But I didn’t have the luxury to be impressed.

“Nicholas… You mean the Second Prince?”

There was another member of the imperial family on this ship besides Kai:

Nicholas Hyden, Kai’s older brother and the Second Prince of the Hyden Empire.

Right—he was basically an extra character like me.

He only appeared as a passing mention.

Pathetically incompetent, incredibly stubborn.

In the original story, Nicholas went off searching for a lifeboat so he could save himself.

Then he got bitten and died. The end.

As I tried remembering the original details, Kai slowly began to speak.

“Those people… all of them were rescued this morning.”

“…What?”

Then why were they monsters now?

Kai’s next answer made me grab the back of my neck in disbelief.

“Nicholas. He sent them all back outside the safe zone. Every single person I saved.”

Here’s what happened:

After the monster virus broke out, Kai immediately ran to Zone 1—the hellish outbreak area.

He rescued the survivors trapped there and moved them to Zone 3, where the knights were stationed.

All he needed to do was quarantine them for 12 hours, the virus’s incubation period.

After that, they’d be completely safe.

But—

“Nicholas forced them back out before the quarantine ended. He couldn’t stand waiting half a day.”

“……”

Kai didn’t answer.

But the bulging veins on his neck and the tight fist in his hand—those told me everything.

He was someone who loved the people of his empire more than anyone.

That’s why he risked his life to save them despite the danger.

And now, all those people he saved… had turned into monsters.

I couldn’t even imagine how he felt.

I reached toward his shoulder—
then quickly pulled back.

I shouldn’t comfort him.

From now on, Kai would face things much worse than this.

Half-hearted comfort would only be hypocrisy in this ruined world.

Besides, as far as he was concerned, I was still a spy. Comforting him would only backfire.

He needed to process this himself.

Like a soldier going to war, I steeled my heart.

A moment later—

“Your Highness, there’s only one way to get past them.”

“…What is it?”

Kai looked at me, asking if I had an actual plan.

I answered confidently:

“We run really, REALLY fast.”

“……?”

“Why are you looking at me like that? I know you don’t trust me, but look—just look at the deck.”

I pointed out the monsters and explained their behavior.

“The ones in the corners are fast, right? But the ones under the lights are slow.”

Monsters weakened under light and became several times stronger in darkness.

Their speed changed too.

Luckily, dozens of bright lights were installed across the deck.

The monsters under the lights were slow—more like speed-walking than running.

So as long as we didn’t get surrounded, it was possible to slip through.

But instead of agreeing, Kai looked me up and down.

“You. Are you fast?”

I hadn’t even answered yet, and he was already shaking his head.

“Judging from your looks, you’d collapse halfway. Don’t be reckless.”

… Okay, that was a little offensive.

I crossed my arms and lifted my chin.

“Why would I run? Smart people don’t do physical labor.”

“…Smart people?”

“Oh—that’s like… someone with a high intelligence stat.
Like me. A genius.”

Kai’s expression twisted oddly.

“You just said running fast was the only way.”

“Correct. Step one of the piggyback strategy. I’m not running—you are.”

“…What?”

No further explanation needed.

I stretched my wrists and ankles, warming up.

Then I tapped his back.

“Well? Aren’t you going to crouch?”

“… Excuse me?”

The piggyback strategy sounded fancy, but it was simple:

Step 1: Threaten him until he crouches down.
Step 2: Climb onto his broad, knightly back.
Step 3: Wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist.

Full-body clinging.

Thus—piggyback.

I became a little barnacle stuck to Kai’s back.

“I have strong legs, so don’t worry—I won’t fall! You can run and shoot at the same time!”

“……”

Kai froze like a stone statue and dragged his hands down his face.

I think he even sighed.

But who had time to worry about embarrassment?

We were literally deciding between life and death.

If this were a normal romance novel scene, it would go like—

‘If we must… climb on.’
‘Oh no, I can’t possibly!’
‘Just do it! I don’t like this either!’
‘…Th-then just this once…’

But right now?

Nope. Zero time for that.

‘Survive first. Everything else later.’

I shamelessly added:

“You know… your back is really wide. Great ride quality!”

“……”

“Now go! When the sun sets, even with lights, those monsters will get faster!”

After several pushes, Kai finally started moving.

As he tested his pace with light steps, I buried my face in his neck.

He smelled good.

‘Is he… human deodorant?’

Despite his huge build, his scent was soft—like baby powder.

Or maybe a gentle musk?

The pleasant smell washed away the stench of blood surrounding us.

The awful odor that had been making me dizzy… faded.

Without realizing it, I probably sniffed a bit too obviously.

“Stop sniffing. You sound like some drooling pervert.”

“…Excuse me?!”

Says the man who touched me all over earlier looking for the key?!

I am an angel. A saint.
I will not snap. I will not.

I pouted but stayed still, leaning against him.

***

In the end, my strategy was a huge success.

Kai ran with me on his back effortlessly.

He was so fast that some monsters didn’t even notice him passing by.

‘Thank the gods for these lights.’

Without them, we would’ve been surrounded by a hundred monsters instantly.

My limbs were shaking from holding on so tightly.

‘Ugh, everything hurts…’

To cling to Kai’s wildly moving back took way more strength than I expected.

Still, because I held on for dear life, Kai had both hands free to shoot monsters coming near.

The barricade ahead was growing larger—
almost within reach.

Then—

Crash!!

A monster burst out from a stairwell nearby.

Because it came from a blind spot, Kai didn’t notice it approaching.

Only I saw it.

Only I could stop it.

So I—

“HIIYAAAAAAAH! DIEEEEE!”

I swung the frying pan in my hand with everything I had.

It was tiny—barely big enough for a fried egg—
but the results were incredible.

WHACK!

The monster flew in a beautiful arc across the sky.

Then splashed into the distant ocean.

“Woo! Nice shot, chef!”

In my past life, I’d been a bit famous as a golf caddy, you know!

Beaming proudly, I turned to Kai, who saw everything and asked,

“Your Highness, did you see that?
How was I?”