“Ahem! Good, that’s the spirit! That’s how my chosen vessel should be!”

Laughing a little at Zero, who got excited even with a little praise, one of the local lords cautiously raised his hand and spoke to me.

Uh… Duchess Kitten.

“What’s the matter?”

Excuse me, but someone left without saying a word and turned off the communication. I thought I should inform you.

‘Oh…’

Who is it? Who just heard the information about zombies appearing and ran off without a word?

“Muktu! Muktu appeared!”

Zero trembled violently and got angrier than me.
‘Surely this won’t cancel the quest, right?’

Anxiously, I checked my inventory, but the reward ‘Everything About Curses’ was still there.

Probably because I had already successfully completed the quest conditions. Only one guy had messed up, but I had secured promises of support from most of the local lords within the Kaladia Empire.

“We must catch the rat that listened to the information and ran away!”

Squeak, squeak. Emitting rough breaths, Zero leaped around in the air, swinging his staff.

…It was hilarious to see Zero, in the form of a hamster, complaining about a rat, but I barely managed to hold back my laughter. Laughing here would only add fuel to Zero’s anger.

Calmly, I added a layer of composure and courage, then asked the lord who had provided the information.

“Who is that mischievous human?”

…It’s the work of Lord Harris Cockfield.

“Oh.”

This bastard?

Anger surged as soon as I heard it. It was truly embarrassing because Lord Harris Cockfield was a subordinate of Duchess Kitten.

If it’s Cockfield, isn’t he affiliated with Duchess Kitten’s territory?

The local lords roared again. It seemed like they didn’t know he was a subordinate of Duchess Kitten, and their expressions showed embarrassment for not recognizing the fact.

‘Ugh, damn it.’

How should I deal with this guy to relieve my anger?

Managing the subordinates affiliated with the family was the duty of the family head.

Due to the sudden death of the previous head, Duke Henry Kitten, and the outbreak of the zombie crisis, I didn’t have time to summon the subordinates… but this was clearly a flaw that could be pointed out.

Trying to seek help from other local lords while not properly handling even one affiliated subordinate was absurd.

For this reason, the local lords seemed uneasy again.

Did, did I say something unnecessary?

The lord who provided the information to me looked uneasy.

“…No, it’s okay. It would have been more difficult if you hadn’t told me.”

‘Phew…’

Lord Harris Cockfield, huh?

‘If caught, you’re dead.’

Judging solely by a person’s appearance is not appropriate, but… Lord Harris Cockfield looked like a corrupt official at first glance.

He constantly showed displeasure while I was talking, and I remembered him more because he was a person who seemed to frown just by hearing my voice.

Zero seemed to share the same sentiment, as he loudly requested something from me.

“This chubby potato-like guy must be caught and given a good beating!”

‘Will one beating be enough?’

With a faint smile, I mumbled to myself inwardly.

‘Phew… huhu… Let’s make him realize how angry a Korean person can be when you sprinkle ashes on finished rice.’

I will beat him thoroughly, not missing a single spot.

In the midst of my burning anger, Zero unexpectedly handed me a sudden quest.

“This is unbearable! It must be considered an insult to me, and he must be punished!”

Growling hamster Mr. Zero presented me with the quest:

[Sudden Quest Catch the Arrogant Rat!] [Let’s give some kind of punishment to ‘Harris Cockfield,’ who only took the information and ran away.] [The method doesn’t matter. Let’s screw up ‘Harris Cockfield.’] [The moment ‘Harris Cockfield’ folds his hands and bows, the mission is clear!] [Reward: Mental satisfaction + resources and soldiers from Cockfield Territory]

‘Oh, well…’

Staring at the reward items, I asked Zero.

‘Hey, Zero.’

「Squeak. Hm?」

‘In the reward items, it says soldiers… Could it be that this Harris guy embezzled money and secretly recruited soldiers?’

It felt like it might be true, but I asked to confirm.

「Uh… Umm…」

Seeing Zero unable to answer and mumbling, I gave him a bitter smile.

‘Life is really not easy… I feel it every moment, but… it’s really like crap.’

Hey, Duke Henry Kitten, who was bitten by zombies and died. What the hell were you doing?

Didn’t you know that this potato-like guy was embezzling money and secretly raising soldiers on his own territory? Hey? Weren’t you supposed to be competent? Hey? Did you leave this pile of dung for me to clean up?

I suppressed my excited emotions and turned my gaze to the lord who provided the information.

I had already looked through the list of summoned local lords. Therefore, I quickly remembered who this person was.

“Lord Harpen of the Kitten Duchy’s affiliated god, right?”

Ah, yes!

It was something like Harpen. I remembered the name vaguely.

With a cold smile, I gave him an order.

“Half-kill Harris Cockfield for me.”

Yes… huh?

“Harpen’s territory is close to Cockfield. So, Harpen Marquis, who is more capable than me in a situation isolated in the capital, can handle Harris Cockfield better, don’t you think?”

You’re dead, you bastard.