At my words, Michael’s blue eyes widened a bit.

He had a reaction as if he couldn’t imagine hearing such words, since all the coming and going words had been harsh in our relationship.

‘This much is necessary to show sincerity so that this person won’t dare to leave.’

I smiled wickedly to myself.

From the moment he had blathered about the barn, I had a clear picture of what Michael was thinking.

We, true to the original work, clashed over every little thing about Sienna each time we met.

Staying for a long time in the house of a wicked villainess like me was something Michael wouldn’t want, so he must have planned to leave after a while…

‘I won’t let go of a combateffective person who has come rolling in.’

Losing Michael here would be the same as giving up going home.

“The deadline will be until we safely retake the capital Agatha from the zombies. How about that?”

“……Yes?”

“Hmm, did I set it too long? Then please stay with me at least until we retake Hwangseong. I can’t concede on this.”

The imperial capital Agatha is divided into five areas.

With Woonus, where Hwangseong is located, at the center, there are Duoo, where the nobles live; Tres, where the seminobles live; Quatuor, where the commoners live; and Quinque, where the slums are, all surrounding in a snail shell shape.

To retake Hwangseong in the center, the other areas must also be penetrated.

Although retaking the capital and Hwangseong were about fifty steps and a hundred steps away, I pretended to back off.

I knew that Michael, who becomes weak with good people, would not be able to refuse this offer.

“No, I was just… surprised.”

‘As planned.’

Michael fell for my fishing.

“I never thought that Duke Keaton would… offer such altruistic terms.”

Yes. That’s how it is.

‘You’ve seen it right, Michael.’

Even now, I’m moving to save this world from zombies after receiving a quest, not acting purely out of good intentions.

‘It’s frankly profitable for me.’

In many media, zombie viruses usually spread quickly.

I don’t know how long Duke Keaton’s mansion is safe right now, but there’s no guarantee that it will be fine when the zombie attack comes.

Even if the Duke’s mansion was fortified and held out, moving would have been inevitable due to food issues.

Without even knowing that, Michael was apologetic to me.

“To be honest, I thought Your Grace would… make the same choice as the Pope.”

“For example, saying that I will live alone and use you as an escort?”

If I had been the real Elizabeth, I would have done so abundantly.

Not just a common contract like this, but one created with magic, made unbreakable the moment the contract was signed, and even forcing constraints, using Michael as a human shield to escape this mess.

But I, who must do as Zero wants to go home, couldn’t do that.

“If I had tried to escape by thinking only of my safety, I wouldn’t have made this offer to you. As long as I have people from Duke Keaton’s mansion to care for, I won’t run away alone.”

Michael’s eyes gradually began to sparkle at the words that stirred responsibility.
“……I think I’ve been looking at the Duke with too narrow a view all this time.”

“It’s pretty much the same, so let’s not talk about it anymore. What’s important now is to survive together.”

“You are right.”

Gone was the hostility from when they first met, and Michael signed the contract as if possessed.

The anger that had clouded his eyes when he was abandoned by the Pope was clear once again.

“While we’re together, I will do my best to protect the Duke and his people.”

“I ask the same of you, as an equal colleague.”

When Michael reached out his hand, he willingly accepted the handshake.

“Of course.”

Ding, and a cheerful notification rang.

[Congratulations on acquiring a colleague!] [A new member will be added to the ‘Zombie Defeat’ party.] [Current party members: 2/5]

‘Hmm?’

……Why is the total party member including me five?

A bad feeling came over me again.

I talked to Zero with a ‘no way’ attitude.

‘Hey, Zero.’

「Yeah?」

‘This isn’t…… what I’m thinking, right?’

There are a total of four male protagonists in the original novel of this world.

Prince Louis, who was bitten by Siena and had already turned into a zombie, the strongest knight Michael Ister, the next tower owner Rus Critchern, the hybrid of a fairy and a human Benedict Fairman.

And…… the dark horse Kieran Worrey, who confused readers by pretending to be a male lead candidate.

‘No way? No way?’

Just after becoming colleagues with sub male lead Michael, I asked because the notification that rang was creepy, but Zero spoke with a gentle smile.

「Sorry. It’s exactly what you think.」

‘Hey.’

「It can’t be helped. As the story flows dramatically, it’s easier to fill causality.」

Ding.

A new notification from the quest rang.

[We reveal the conditions to become a part of the ‘Zombie Defeat’ party.] [Only strong characters from the ‘original’ can form a party with you.]

‘Hey, this……!’

This…… damned cute rat that won’t be satisfying even if bitten to death!

My complexion must have deteriorated rapidly, as Michael asked with worried eyes.

“Duke? Is there anything wrong? Your face is…….”

“Ha…… Haha. It’s nothing.”

‘Damn, damn!’

I screamed inside.

‘The only people mentioned as male lead candidates who are strong enough to fight zombies among the original characters are the sub male leads and the dark horse!’

Prince Louis had already become a zombie, so all that was left were sub male leads and the dark horse.

A team of the original villainess and sworn enemies……

‘Yeah. I don’t want to do this.’

「You don’t have the right to refuse, okay?」

‘Shut up, Zero? Can’t you see I’m despairing now?’

This group project seems to be doomed from the start.

What do I do?