On the way

The carriage was raiding on the road leading through the open field, anything taller than an occasional bush by the roadside was far away on the horizon.

The Dandelions were hired to escort an important person, it was supposed to be an easy, well-paid mission from a wealthy client that was asking for the best service, so they didn't bother notifying Cranberry about it.

After all, she and her undead were only interested in the monster subjugation kind of missions and didn't want to stand out.

Uresha was the coachperson, holding the reins of four scaly horses, and Rotte was squeezed beside her, making a rather unhappy face while doing his best not to fall off.

Shanks was sitting on top of the carriage, using his skill to scan the area for any possible danger while Lairs was sitting at the back with a frown.

"We're fucking cursed, I swear..."

Laris growled stared daggers at the carriage.

"How can we be so unlucky, to met them on our day off...?!"

She clicked her tongue and kicked at the air in pointless anger.

"I... I guess our stories must be connected somehow..."

Shanks didn't look much more content with their current situation than Lairs was.

"And I'm actually glad it's them, at least we don't have to worry about failing our mission."

Uresha smiled holding the carriage steady and waving to the people working in the fields.

"That's because you're too kindhearted."

Shanks laid on the carriage's roof and patted Uresha's shoulder.

"He means that you're too soft, and could you please scoot over to the side a bit? I'm really going to fall off!"

Rotte complained holding onto his seat, barely able to balance himself.

"I am soft."

Uresha blushed.

Before their journey started she removed a part of her new chestplate, and now she tugged on her undershirt while bashfully glancing at Shanks to check if he's watching.

"...heeey, Ure-ure... when are we going to reach the next inn...? I'm getting sick from all this bobbing and jumping already..."

Lairs moaned and sprawled on the roof, taking the advantage of Shanks moving away.

"Still a few hours away, but we should get there before dusk, we won't have to camp outside."

Uresha hummed back at her, Shanks couldn't help himself and kept stealing from glances at the large woman, which caused her to be in an excellent mood.

"I like well-paid jobs like this one."

Shanks was doing his best not to be too obvious but his eyes seemed to have mind on their own.

"Shan-shan, you're perving on Ure-ure..."

Lairs mood seemed to lighten once she learned that they won't have to spend the cold night outside, and she playfully poked the rat-faced man's side.

"N-no I'm not!"

Shanks's face turned completely red from shame and he hurriedly sat up straight to prove his point.

"Shan-shan, it's okay, Ure-ure wants you to do that, gather your courage and confess already."

Lairs got up on all fours and whispered to Shanks after sneaking up to him.

"...re-really...?"

The rat-faced man fidgeted and glanced shyly at the large woman.

"Fuck yeah, even I can see that, go for it!"

Lairs grinned and...

"Whoa! Damn it, Uresha! Move your ugly fat ass! I'm falling!"

Rotte shouted, basically hanging off from the driver's bench with one asscheek.

"Ah! I'm sorry!"

Uresha flinched and quickly scooted over.

"Shut the fuck up, Rotte!"

"Yeah! Shut the fuck up, Rotte, you empty-headed donkey!"

But instead of getting back on the carriage, Rotte was kicked off of it by the angry mage and thief.

"Ugh! What was that for?! Hey! Wait up!"

Rotte got up and dusted himself off but then he noticed that the carriage wasn't slowing down at all.

"As if! Walking a bit will be good for you, you lazy fuck barrel!

Lairs stood up and shouted at him while making a pantomime of someone having a giant stomach.

"Alright. Shan-shan, go and sit with Ure-ure."

After she finished mocking the ex-leader, Lairs turned around and gave Shanks a little push.

"B-but I need to survey the surroundings...!"

Shanks became even more bashful and tried to protest.

"For fuck's sake, just go! I'll do the scouting."

She rolled her eyes and basically shoved him at Uresha.

"Seriously..."

Lairs smirked watching her embarrassed companions and their awkward attempts at flirting.

She sat upright and pulled back her hood slightly.

Two long pointed ears popped out and started glowing.

"Everything's clear."

Lairs reported and closed her eyes, focusing only on her hearing.

"...nnn...? What's going on? Are we at the inn yet...?"

Cranberry yawned and stretched waking up from a nap.

She moved around and shimmied a bit and ended up on her back, looking right at Zombie's face.

"Graough. (Sorry, master, not yet.)"

Zombie growled apologetically and shook his head while pointing out at the window.

It was still bright outside.

"Ah... Right, we're supposed to arrive at the next inn by dusk, right?"

Cranberry rubbed her sleepy eyes.

"Oh well, wake me up if there will be something to kill."

She shrugged and smiled happily.

Then she rolled on her side and nuzzled against Zombie's thighs.

"Graough... (They could be a bit more silent... they're acting like a bunch of rowdy kids...)"

Zombie shook his head a bit irked off and glared at the roof.

He was getting annoyed that someone dared to interrupt his master's sleep.

"Don't mind them, don't mind them~"

Cranberry who was in a shockingly good mood waved her hand dismissively, relaxing with her head on Zombie's lap.

"You're so nice and cool... I could travel like this forever~"

She purred like a happy cat and went back to sleep.

"..."

Zombie blinked a few times not knowing how to react.

The two of them were on their way to the manor owned by the man that Cranberry's mother ordered her to marry.

The blue boy was a nervous undead wreck, constantly thinking about how they could get Cranberry out of this mess.

The system wasn't sending them any warning messages so it seemed like they weren't doing anything against the script, but it only made everything worse for Zombie.

For some time he was convinced that his master was the villainess, but after discovering the existence of Fillia Envy, a fiance of the blond prince, Roan Greed, he realized that, in fact, his master wasn't anyone important.

She was just another background character, sharing a name with a fruit.

But he himself was the so-called essential character.

That was also the most likely explanation why their affection and bond couldn't grow any further than level 2.

Why would an essential character be allowed to grow attached to the npc?

Not in a game.

Not in an otome game.

Zombie clenched his fists.

Did that mean that the system will force him away from his master?

Is this voyage together with Cranberry their last time together?!

His heart was cold and dead but while looking at Cranberry's happy sleeping face he felt a piercing pain at the thought of being separated.

"Graough... (I also would want to stay like this forever...)"

He growled quietly and his lips formed a sad smile.