Why bother pondering over this and that? Why didn’t they consider the conditions of possessors like me who barely scrape by, completing quests as freelancers and living day by day?

In my irritated ears, the enraged cries of the zombies were heard.

“Grrrraaaah…!”

‘Ugh.’

It had been weeks since the human prey disappeared from view. Now, thanks to Ruth’s attack magic, their eyes were also not visible, so it was only natural for their rage to skyrocket.

‘I need to come up with a solution quickly!’

If Zero couldn’t do it, the next one was Ruth.

“Ruth! Can you attack the hearing of the zombies like you did with their eyes?”

I urgently asked, and Ruth’s eyelids closed silently.

“…I’m sorry, my lord. It seems quite difficult.”

“No way…”
“The same wide-area magic from earlier cannot be used twice due to circumstances. While maintaining the mobile defense barrier, I need to return to the mansion with enough magical power and, if possible, reserve magical power for emergencies. By using the wide-area attack magic against the zombies earlier, one-third of the magical power I possess has been depleted. I’ll try to take a magic recovery potion, but it’s not easy, perhaps due to recently taking a lot.”

Upon Ruth’s words, the expressions of the attendants turned gray. Facing the despair that there seemed to be no other way, given that Ruth, whom they trusted the most, said so, they carried the weight of despair.

‘…I expected this.’

Amidst the silence, Benedict hesitated for a moment before quietly raising his hand.

“Uh, may I speak?”

“…Go ahead, Benedict.”

“If Ruth’s wide-area magic can’t be cast, how about using my spirits instead? Spirits are subtly malicious… Ah!”

As Benedict was speaking, round twinkling lights appeared around him. They were spirits.

Spirits of various colors gathered, expressing their displeasure to Benedict.

【We like Ben, but we can’t tolerate being called mischievous!】

【That’s right. Sometimes we can be aggressive, but… in general, we’re very gentle and kind!】

‘Well…?’

Other than Benedict, the spirits seemed to have no affection for humans, but in any case, their logic was such.

【We love Ben, and Ben cherishes us more than a mere contractor! Please speak more nicely about us!】

【These days, the spirit world is noble, and what Ben says will become the image of spirits!】

【Got it, I didn’t know!】

After the spirited spirits finished their nagging, Benedict’s curly green hair floated around as if it had been chewed.

“Oh, I get it. I understand. So, spirits. Spirits, can’t you use your abilities to manifest something like Ruth’s wide-area magic? I think your abilities are sufficient for that.”

【…….】

The chatty spirits all looked at me at once. Looking into their eyes, which felt like they were pressing bright stars, gave me the feeling of being stripped down to my soul.

They stared at me and slowly pronounced each syllable.

【Divine will…….】

【No, we shouldn’t call it that now. We shouldn’t call it that because we don’t know who among the strange scarecrows outside might hear.】

【Then shall we refer to it as this child?】

【Not bad.】

【Okay. Ben. We understand your feelings. For this child, you want to maximize your power and attempt an offensive area-of-effect spirit magic.】

【If we only talk about the conclusion, we can do it.】

“Then right away…!”

The excited voice of Benedict was cut off by the spirits.

【But you can’t.】

“Why not?”

【Spirit magic is about borrowing the power of spirits. Since you are filled with our love, we can lend you the power to destroy such wretched creatures outside at any time if you wish. However, the problem is that your body is not strong enough to withstand that immense power.】
At Benedict’s words, his expression stiffened.

【You can try… But in the process, parts of your body will be torn into pieces. You might have to offer your arms or legs as sacrifices.】

“…….”

【So even if you say you’re okay, we can’t permit it.】

【That’s because it would be pushing the life of a favored spirit user we found after such a long time into ruin.】

【All we want is for you to live happily until you grow old and die.】

【So, we can’t support reckless choices that will gradually wear away your body.】

【Sorry.】

The spirits restrained Benedict with a feeling of cherishing and worrying about him, like his parents or close siblings.

“……I understand.”

Benedict seemed to grasp the feelings of the spirits, who were like family.

‘What should I do?’

Is there really no way to remedy this situation?

‘The protagonist won’t die so miserably in a situation like this!’

Damn gods, if you’re going to give me the qualification to conclude the story, give me some fantastic ideas!

At that moment, something caught my eye as I rolled my eyes.

‘…A freezer?’

The place we were taking cover in was a store in the Fourth Zone Quatuor.

I thought it was a place selling groceries for commoners, but there was a freezer.

The freezer was an expensive artifact usually found only in the mansions of affluent nobles or aristocrats.

Unlike Earth, this revolutionary invention powered by magical stones was a luxury item not easily found in the Quatuor Zone where commoners lived.

However, considering the location, it could have been purchased to supply groceries to the nearby Tress Zone, where the affluent lived. It might have been a cheap freezer, but…

“Milord, what are you doing?”

“I’m checking if there’s meat in the freezer.”

“What?”

Upon opening it, I found neatly stacked pieces of fresh beef and pork.

Seeing the piles of beef and pork, I smiled and asked.

“Zero!”

「Uh, yes?」

“Do zombies go crazy for human blood, right?”

It was time to counterattack!