SWY 61

Sharhan, who knew from Lestel what Simon meant to him, nodded.

“He’s unconscious, so we’ll either have to carry or support him. Lestel, you handle it. Derry, you help Abel. I’ll guard the front.”

Sharhan quickly assigned roles with a firm, cold expression, then looked around at the other survivors.

“We’ll be leaving now. You’re all on your own from here.”

“W-wait, where are you going? Can’t we come with you?”

A middle-aged man pleaded desperately.

“Sorry, but we don’t want to take responsibility for anyone else. Besides, we’re not staying in Verden for long, so we have no intention of bringing anyone along. We’ve already taken care of all the nearby moving corpses, so things should be safe for a while. Just don’t make any noise when you move.”

Whether they sensed that Sharhan’s tone left no room for negotiation, the survivors fell silent.

The group left the building, each feeling a bit uncomfortable. As they carefully made their way down the quiet street, they suddenly stopped. They’d sensed someone following. Turning around, they saw a few of the survivors startled and flustered, unsure of what to do.

“I told you we can’t take responsibility for you.”

“We don’t have anywhere to go. The place where we were staying together with our neighbors got overrun by the moving corpses. We ran out in a panic. We’d taken some precautions, but somehow they broke through. That’s when we got caught by the hunters. We won’t be a burden, so please just let us follow. We don’t know where you’re headed, but the more people there are, the better our chances of survival, right?”

The same middle-aged man stepped forward again. From the look of it, they had all been living together already, and he seemed to act as their representative.

“We said we’re leaving Verden.”

“We’re not asking to be taken beyond the city. We’ve heard the gate’s sealed anyway.”

“……”

“Alright, I’ll be honest. It’s because of the man who saved us.”

The man suddenly brought up the merchant guild worker, which made the group’s expressions shift with confusion.

“You don’t mean some sentimental nonsense about repaying kindness…”

Lestel scoffed, but the man finally spoke plainly.

“He belongs to a group of survivors. They’ve got a decent supply of food and even a barrier. They say it’s a livable place.”

“So what you’re saying is, once he wakes up and can move again, you want to head there.”

“Y-yes, exactly.”

Lestel gave a knowing sneer and glanced at Sharhan, who turned his gaze toward Abel. Abel had been deep in thought, then asked the man:

“Do they accept other survivors too?”

“Th-that I’m not sure about. He passed out while telling us about the place… I plan to ask once he wakes up. We won’t force it. It’d be great if they take us, but if not, there’s nothing we can do.”

Whether he was being honest or not was hard to tell, but the man said it all the same. Abel met the eyes of the survivors, all filled with desperation, then said:

“Let’s let them come along.”

“You want to take them?”

“Not exactly. We’re just not stopping them from following. Actually, I’ve been worried about the people who’ll remain at the Blue Spider once I, Ras, Kamil, and Renel leave. If that group accepts outsiders, we can send them there. Even if they don’t… I don’t think it’d be a bad idea for these people and the folks at the Blue Spider’s Goblet to join forces. Sure, more people means faster food consumption, but it also means more strength.”

It seemed Abel had grown attached to the people staying at Blue Spider’s Goblet and was worried about their future. What he said wasn’t wrong, but there was something they needed to confirm first.

“Have you ever killed a living corpse?”

“Yes. It’s not a world where you can get even a sip of water without killing them, is it? We’ve dealt with them a few times while scavenging for food. Lost a lot of our people in the process. We were all just ordinary folks, so we couldn’t fight back against the human hunters, but we won’t be dead weight.”

If they had at least some experience dealing with the undead, then maybe, as Abel hoped, they could get by if they teamed up with the other survivors. Sharhan nodded, relieved, and said to Abel:

“Alright. Let them follow. But like you said, we’re not taking them. If anything happens along the way, I won’t be able to take responsibility for them.”

To be blunt, if it came down to a life-threatening situation, Sharhan would prioritize Lestel first. Then Derry and Abel.

“Of course. I don’t plan to risk my life for strangers I met today. Besides, with my leg like this, I couldn’t help anyone even if I wanted to.”

“Lestel, what about you? Derry?”

Derry nodded without hesitation. Lestel looked reluctant but agreed with a condition.

“You better keep your word. If anything happens, we’re not stepping in for them. Honey, we need to make it to Serman alive, and fast. Iris is waiting.”

“I know. I’m only looking out for you, Derry, and Abel. Don’t worry.”

“Hah, now even the Red Wolves’ captain is in your little circle. You sure give your affection out easily.”

“Oh, shut up.”

Sharhan shot Lestel a look at his grumbling, then turned to the survivors to deliver their decision.

“You can follow us. But like I said, we won’t be responsible for you. If something dangerous happens, don’t expect our help.”

“Understood. Thank you.”

The survivors bowed hurriedly.

“I’m sure you know this already, but don’t make a sound. If you get in the way, we’ll leave you behind.”

“Yes, yes. We understand.”

Sharhan gave a stern warning before taking the lead again. He led from the front, with Lestel behind him and Derry and Abel at the rear.

Keeping a bit of distance from the followers, Sharhan’s group resumed their journey toward the Blue Spider’s Goblet.

***

“There it is.”

They ran into a few scattered moving corpses, but arrived at their destination without serious incident.

The Blue Spider’s Goblet, already looking like it might collapse any day, now had a grim, eerie air. The walls were damaged with holes gouged into them and stained with dried blood. The area reeked of rot and filth. Corpses had probably been dragged nearby, and the stench was overpowering.

Still, they’d managed to build a rough barricade around the building using whatever they could find, furniture, sharpened sticks, kitchen knives. Crude, but better than nothing.

As they approached, someone standing guard inside ran out. It was Kamil.

“Oh my god, Sharhan! You’re alive! C-captain? Are you hurt?”

Delighted to see Sharhan, Kamil rushed over, but when he saw Abel, he gasped and ran to him.

“He got his leg cut a bit. How’s Ras?”

“Not good. Did you find any medicine or food? How did you meet Sharhan? And who are those people?”

“Let’s talk inside first.”

Kamil finally opened the barricade and let them in, then ran ahead into the inn. A moment later, Renel came out. After greeting Sharhan, he lifted Abel – still being supported by Derry – and carried him inside. Renel, barely five and a half feet tall, was so strong he could lift boulders as big as himself.

‘Ha, I can’t believe I’m actually happy to see this crumbling fourth rate inn.’

Sharhan let out a dry laugh and stepped inside. He saw a group of people murmuring together. Among them, only the four from the Red Wolves were familiar. The innkeeper couple wasn’t there, likely dead.

“Mr. Sharhan?”

A boy peeked down from upstairs at the commotion, then ran down excitedly.

“Raul!”

It was Raul, the errand boy. He rushed over and hugged Sharhan, who patted his back. During their brief chat, Sharhan learned Raul had been at home when things went bad and, realizing the danger, had brought his younger siblings to the inn. He figured it would be safer with the mercenaries.

Turned out he was right, since both he and his siblings were alive.

While Sharhan was talking with Raul, Abel, having spoken with the Goblet survivors, gestured him over. Sharhan approached with Lestel and Derry.

“We agreed to let them stay, but they’ll need to handle their own food. Sharhan, go upstairs and rest. Your old room is still empty. Derry, you come with me and check on Ras. Oh, and bring the merchant guy too. Might as well look after him as well.”

“I only know a bit about herbs, but… I’ll check on him.”

“Where is Ras?”

“In the room the innkeeper couple used. He’s sleeping now, so greet him when he wakes up.”

Abel assigned places for the newcomers to rest. Sharhan and Lestel headed upstairs together. Renel easily lifted the merchant and followed Derry to the innkeeper’s room.

Entering his old room, Sharhan slumped onto the bed. He’d said they wouldn’t take responsibility, but he’d still led a large group, and the tension had drained him.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you tired too? You should lie dow–”

Sharhan’s sentence never finished. Lestel, who had stood silently by the door for a long time, suddenly crossed the room and pressed their lips together.