kscans

Chapter 124 - The Maiden of the Demon Lord's Army, Zombie Count Robele, Appears!

North of the town of Mildo. Deep in a misty, gloomy forest, there stood a single eerie mansion covered in rose vines.

"W-wow… Th-that building really looks like a ‘den of necromantic monsters’…" said Hero Ares Scarlet with a trembling voice. Mamoru, his hood pulled down low, nodded.

"No doubt about it. The one inside is… one of the Demon Lord’s Four Heavenly Kings, Zombie Count Robele."

"Hiee!? A-a zombie!? I’m not good with horror stuff, you know!"

"Don’t worry. Neither am I. Except for the looks."

Guiiiii…

Suddenly, the heavy iron door of the mansion opened on its own. And there appeared a figure in a frilly black nobleman’s outfit that swayed like a skirt, with a rose eyepatch over one eye, an elegant curled wig… but half of his face was a skull. A person of such appearance could only be one in this world.

"Oh my♡ Are you visitors? Welcome, you cute little things♡"

"…………Eh?"

Hero Ares’s thoughts came to a halt. Even Mamoru froze in place.

"Oh, don’t stare at me like that♡ My name is Zombie Count Robele-sama♡ As you can see, I might be a little bit of a skeleton, but on the inside I’m 100% maiden, you know~♡"

While poking his skeletal cheek (?) with a finger, Robele spread his arms and twirled around.

"Come, come, don’t be shy, please come in♡ It’s just about time for afternoon tea. Today we have lavender tea and cake, and you know, I also have some new embroidered handkerchiefs♡"

"Eh… So, one of the Four Heavenly Kings is a zombie and a cross-dresser with maidenly hobbies…!?"

"Who are you calling a zombie! How rude♡ (Even though I am a zombie.)"

Mamoru let out an exasperated sigh, but his eyes widened when he saw the embroidered handkerchief on the table.

"…Th-this level of detail… it’s like a work of art…"

"Fufufu♡ I’m so happy to hear that~! This ‘Autumn Wind and the Shiratama Rabbit’ was a masterpiece that took me three whole months♡"

"A-amazing…!"

"He’s way more of a maiden than I thought…!!"

And just like that, they plunged into a discussion of tea, idle chat, and embroidery.

Ares, on the verge of tears, said, "I’ve never even touched a sewing machine…," but for some reason, Robele embroidered "A・S" on the corner of a handkerchief for her, and in the end, they became good friends.

Then, as they were leaving.

"Robele-san…"

"What is it, Hero-chan♡"

"Um… would you… come with us…? You may be one of the Demon Lord’s Four Heavenly Kings, but… you’re kind, and wonderful, and reliable…"

"Kyaaaa♡ I feel like you just confessed your love to meeee♡" Robele, despite being all skeleton, blushed a bright pink (or so it seemed).

"It’s a deal♡ The maidenly zombie makes her grand entrance♡ It’s decided, I’m joining the hero’s party~~♡"

"…Seriously?" Mamoru thought. He’s a zombie and a cross-dresser.

And so, the crybaby hero Ares’s first companion turned out to be one of the Demon Lord’s Four Heavenly Kings, a maidenly, half-skeletal, cross-dressing nobleman, making for a most unusual start to her party.