“People working in the mansions of other noble families probably never even thought about it.”

“We were lucky.”

“……”

While I survived by possessing Elizabeth’s body and worked hard for the final quest of zombie extermination, these people also gained favor.

Watching people sincerely celebrating and blessing me made my heart flutter.

‘…Will I ever receive such genuine congratulations anywhere else?’

My home. The place I had to return to was a desolate space overflowing with emptiness.

It was a space where only I could breathe, and warmth like the people around me now was unimaginable.

‘Why? Your expression doesn’t look good.’

As a wave of melancholy swept over, Zero responded like a dart.

“…No, it’s okay.”

When acting as the villainess Elizabeth, waiting for the original work to end was so boring.

But now…

‘I’m grateful that I can meet warm people here.’

『Why is that? Your expression doesn’t look good.』
‘Maybe I can feel a bit more warmth?’

To conceal my melancholy, I smiled broadly.

“I’m a bit tired, that’s all. Dealing with zombies and coming back, my shoulders feel stiff.”

“Hmm… Something’s suspicious.”

His intuition is disgustingly fast.

I lightly tapped Zero and raised a toast to the nine people who had accompanied me to Duo [Dash] 1.

It was non-alcoholic sparkling champagne.

I didn’t want to face a situation where I couldn’t make rational judgments due to intoxication.

Because anxiety and tension always lurked in my stomach.

‘We successfully recovered part of the capital this time, but there’s no guarantee it will be this easy next time.’

And if the goal of the perpetrator who quietly assassinated Viscount Worei of Linestead is to kill all the humans in this world…

It was likely that they would soon notice abnormalities in the capital and pursue us.

‘When that happens, can I really fight against that terrifying presence?’

In a way, the current zombies might just be an illusion. If you penetrate the head, you can go back before infection. Of course, lives have already been lost…

‘If the mysterious black sorcerer, who looked like a villain, can instill reason in the zombies or manipulate them by putting variables, and if those zombies were to swarm in tens of thousands…’

Chilling.

‘Surviving doesn’t mean you can relax.’

What frightened me was exactly that.

What if the people I’ve already given affection to die?

If I lose my life without being able to use any power, just like when my parents died in an accident…

“Ugh…”

Instead of raising a toast, when I showed signs of hyperventilation, someone quickly approached me.

It was Aston Cliter.

Amidst the bustling atmosphere, he didn’t fuss around and gave me instructions calmly.

“…Duke, breathe slowly. If you’re anxious, hold onto my hand or my clothes tightly. This place is safe.”

“Ugh… Ugh…”

I desperately gripped Aston’s hand and tried to calmly and slowly teach myself how to breathe again.

‘What’s wrong?’

Zero, finding me struggling, was surprised and jumped around me, shouting.

In my chaotic state, Aston helped with communication.

“Viscount Kitten is experiencing symptoms of hyperventilation.”

‘What?’

“Have you had such symptoms before? It doesn’t seem like it’s because of anxiety from this place… Are there any vivid memories or wounds in Viscount Kitten’s memories that could be causing this?”

‘I don’t know… I just have this. I’ve never seen Liz show such an unstable appearance before, so… Oh my, she’s going crazy. I didn’t even check the condition of the child I was in charge of. I’m really turning my back.」

“…Since it seems like you don’t know much, I’ll stay by your side with whatever methods I know.”

Aston remained calm, as if he had experienced such incidents many times.

“Ugh… Ugh… Huh…”
I clung to the warmth transmitted through the hands held by Aston as if I were a person drowning. Despite gripping me strongly enough to leave handprints, he calmly reassured me.

To avoid others noticing my current state and worrying about me, he naturally engaged in a private conversation.

“Shh, it’s okay. This place is not the space you remember.”

“Gasp…”

“Whatever you imagine, the worst situation where you fear the past memories as a backdrop will no longer happen.”

“…”

“Because now I believe. That you… Elizabeth Kitten, are a compassionate person fighting for others. Even if that’s not the case, to me, you provided a piece of salvation with warm words. So, even if something happens, rest assured, I will protect you.”

Even in the midst of struggling to breathe properly, Aston’s voice, strangely trembling, was clear.