Chapter 36
I didn’t think he’d suddenly change his mind after keeping my secret all this time.
“……”
The image of the zombie whose head Heresden had just cut off flashed through my mind.
If, by any chance, Lumi decided to tell the others about me…
Unable to shake off the unease, I hurried after him and caught up to him again.
“Lumi, wait a moment.”
“What’s wrong?”
“…I just want to be sure about something.”
He’d said before that the reason he hadn’t told anyone about me, despite his suspicions, was because he wasn’t completely certain yet.
But now, even after confirming for sure that I was a zombie, he still hadn’t told anyone.
“I want to know why you’re hiding me.”
If it wasn’t just pity or compassion, then I needed to understand what it was—so I could make sure he didn’t change his mind.
“Is there something you want from me?”
“Ah…”
Lumi blinked a few times, then let out a small sigh.
“What I want from you is…”
He lowered his gaze, as if trying to find the right words. I waited quietly.
“I haven’t really thought about it much.”
After a long pause, he finally spoke again.
“I think… I just don’t want Penelope to die.”
“…What?”
“It’s true that you’re dangerous, but in a way, you’re also the one we need the most right now.”
He drew out his words slightly, watching my expression.
“So that’s it.”
So the reason Lumi was helping me was because I was useful for understanding the zombies.
It felt a little strange, like I was some kind of experimental subject—but at least it meant I was necessary to him. That was enough.
“Does that answer your question?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
This situation wasn’t going to end anytime soon, so I could at least relax for now.
“But Penelope, I told you before—you need to be more careful from now on.”
As we descended the stairs, Lumi whispered quietly.
“Ah, yes. I’ll be more careful.”
“First off, you eat too little. And normally, after long training sessions, people would be tired—but you never seem to get exhausted.”
I thought I had been being careful…
“So, maybe you should stop working so hard.”
“Alright, I’ll do that.”
I nodded to his warning.
“But why are you working so hard on the fields anyway? I really can’t figure that part out.”
“That’s…”
“You don’t even seem like someone who needs food in the first place.”
Lumi tilted his head, clearly unable to understand.
He must have thought there was some hidden reason I was planting crops.
“It’s really just because I’m worried that we might run out of food here in the fortress.”
Because of those people—the ones who would end up stealing it all.
A few of them passed by, their hair still wet, probably fresh from washing up.
Their stares were almost rude, making me uncomfortable right away.
They hadn’t been here earlier, and now that Lumi and I suddenly appeared, their lingering glances felt cautious—borderline suspicious. My brows furrowed instinctively.
“Ah, um…”
Some of them seemed to want to greet me, stepping closer, but I turned away.
They’d come here just to steal food—what was the point of pretending to be friendly?
They’d end up drugging us with opium and stealing everything anyway.
“…But still.”
That was when Lumi, standing beside me, murmured softly.
“So, it’s for our sake.”
“What?”
I’d been distracted by the newcomers and missed what he said, so I turned back to him.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as selfless as you, Penelope.”
His voice sounded oddly subdued.
“Are you always this kind to everyone?”
“Ah…”
He’d completely misunderstood.
He really thought the reason I worried about food—despite not needing to eat—was for the sake of everyone else.
Did he think I plowed the fields, pulled weeds, watered plants, and tended crops every day for the group’s sake?
“That’s not exactly…”
In truth, I just wanted the main party to hurry and create the cure—so I could turn back into a human.
Their survival was directly tied to mine.
But of course, I couldn’t say that.
“To everyone… this much kindness…”
I was wondering if I should just pretend to be a good person when Lumi murmured softly again.
Strangely, his expression looked… off.
His brows dipped slightly, the corners of his mouth downturned—almost as if he was disappointed.
‘What’s that about?’
I couldn’t understand why he looked that way, and tilted my head.
Just then, Lumi opened his mouth again, as if about to say something—
“Penelope, Lumi.”
Idorian’s voice cut through the moment.
“Where have you two been?”
He sounded a bit curious that we’d been missing for so long, but before we could answer, he started walking off quickly.
Following him into the kitchen, I saw Uben and Lillia standing by the fire, busily moving about.
With all the new arrivals, things had gotten hectic.
“Lumi, give me a hand here.”
“…Yeah.”
At Idorian’s call, Lumi trudged over.
I was left standing there blankly amidst the bustle, until Idorian called out to me.
“Penelope, come help wash some dishes.”
He pulled several plates from the upper shelves as he spoke.
They were dusty and unused for a long time. I followed him out into the backyard with an armful of them.
“I haven’t seen you around. Where were you?”
“…I just needed to talk with Lumi for a bit.”
He blinked slowly, nodded, and then looked away.
“Those new people are from the Leton Territory.”
He finally spoke again.
“After the gates closed, their lord started collecting food taxes excessively.”
He must’ve assumed I hadn’t heard the news yet.
“They said it was to secure rations for the future, but I guess he took it too far.”
“……”
“Even if it was meant as preparation, the lord just got greedy.”
A flicker of sympathy passed across Idorian’s face.
“In the end, they lost everything and left their land looking for food.”
I slowly scanned the people walking around the courtyard.
This time, when our eyes met, some of them greeted me nervously first.
“They climbed the mountain thinking the fortress would have food.”
So, yes—they had come here for the food. But who knew how much of their story was true?
“…I see.”
I nodded vaguely as Idorian looked at me, as if waiting for a reaction.
Was there this many people entering the fortress in the original story?
With so many of them, it seemed even more dangerous than I remembered.
Sure, some looked weak up close, but…
They still had the advantage—because none of the main party suspected them.
Who could’ve guessed that these seemingly ordinary people would end up taking Lillia hostage, putting us all in danger, and then stealing every bit of food left here without caring what happened to anyone else?
“Until the Imperial Army arrives, we’ll be staying together, so I’ll introduce you to them properly later, with Lumi.”
I nodded as I wiped dust off one of the dishes.
“For now, the storage rooms are still full, but with this many people, it’s a concern. It’s a good thing you planted those crops, Penelope.”
I nodded again at his words, though my mind was elsewhere.
Still… it would be better if the group started being a little wary of those people.
When I lifted my gaze, I met Idorian’s eyes.
He’d been watching me.
“…You don’t look so good.”
“Ah, I see.”
I brushed my furrowed brow with my hand.
“Are you okay?”
“…Your Highness, there’s something I want to tell you.”
After some thought, I decided—it was time to speak with Idorian.
