I stared blankly at Martha.

‘So, could it be that she’s been agonizing over not being able to say she can’t stand disgusting things…?’

Martha, who had confessed everything (?) to me, spoke with a sulky expression.

“Do you really think I’m ridiculous?”

She sighed deeply and added as if talking to herself.

“…It’s understandable. The infamous head of Cayenne… Martha Cayenne, known for not bleeding a drop even if stabbed… has such a pathetic flaw…!”

“It’s not ridiculous at all. And that’s not a flaw of yours, Martha.”

Martha, clutching her forehead, looked at me as I spoke.

“This is a flaw I should have overcome long ago. It’s my lack of effort….”

I quickly replied.

“No, it’s just your nature, Martha. This is just who you are. You don’t need to force yourself to change.”

“…….”

I, too, once seriously wondered if there was something wrong with me because of my different, maniacal tastes, so I understood Martha’s feelings better.

Of course, in my case, it was the complete opposite of Martha’s.

Martha, quietly listening to my words, let out a small sigh.

“I’d like to send knights to Kelston right now, but… I wish there was someone who could control the situation in my stead rather than just sending knights….”

Martha trailed off, shaking her head weakly.

“No…. Who in the world would find joy in seeing decayed bodies? If there is such a person, they must be out of their mind. Unless they’re completely insane….”

I silently stared at Martha.

Here I am! The one out of their mind!

‘Fascinating….’

After hearing about the undead, I was so eager to see them that I could hardly sleep at night, and yet Martha was so troubled by it….

‘The world is vast and tastes vary.’

I wanted to beg her to send me, but I thought that would make me seem really strange to Martha and that would be irreparable.

To avoid pleading with her to send me, I focused my mind and slowly spoke.

“I’ll go.”

“Huh?”

“Please send me, Martha.”

Martha’s eyes widened.

“Aren’t you afraid…?”

“My desire to help you is greater.”

“…….”

Martha, silently gazing at me, seemed quite moved by my words.

‘Great.’

I cheered inwardly.

People tend to remember those who help them in desperate times for a long time.

This way, I can see zombies firsthand and also have Martha owe me a favor.

After a moment of thought, Martha spoke,

“Thank you for your words, but there’s no need. It’s too dangerous. It’s better to just send the knights.”

I quickly countered.

“Listening to you, Martha, makes me feel even more that I should go. For the knights’ sake…!”

“……!”

Martha immediately understood what I meant.

“That’s true…. There’s talk that being attacked by the undead turns you into one. Your healing ability might indeed be helpful.”

Martha murmured, seeming to be in deep thought, “Hmm….”

From her expression, it seemed she was leaning towards sending me, but something was still bothering her.

Martha glanced at me and spoke.

“However… if something were to happen to you, what kind of conflict would arise with Allenheim in the future…. Especially if they find out I sent you to Kelston, hmm.”

Martha stopped fiddling with her chin and spoke with a serious face.

“Then Allenheim might very well declare war.”

“So, you’re worrying about my safety, Martha?”

“Well….”

When I spoke as if pleased, Martha looked away and replied indifferently.

“You could say that.”

When I sent Martha a gaze full of gratitude, she coughed lightly.

“It’s funny to say this after kidnapping you….”

Seeing Martha mumbling with her eyes downcast reminded me of Arkle when we first met, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What’s funny?”

“Siblings are indeed siblings.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Anyway, if you’re worried about my safety, there’s a way.”

There was a reason I agreed to go without much hesitation.

Speaking confidently, Martha nodded slightly as if to tell me to go on.

“I’ll hire mercenaries for my protection! If it’s the Taschen Mercenary Corps, you’d feel assured, right?”

At the mention of Taschen, Martha’s eyes widened.

The Taschen Mercenary Corps was an organization formed by people of various nationalities, known for their strength even among renowned mercenaries.

‘Since the leader once requested Arkle to join, Martha must know too.’

“But hiring Taschen won’t be cheap.”

To Martha’s words, I smiled brightly again.

“Don’t worry about that. I have the money you and Arkle gave me.”

With that check, I could probably hire the largest group of mercenaries.

‘It’s a shame to use it up so quickly, but looking at the long term is important.’

Martha handed me a check just for giving simple advice on the Emperor’s illness, so if I do something important for her…?

‘The reward will be much greater than the initial check.’

Outwardly, I showed a pure face with sparkling eyes, but inwardly, I was already smacking my lips in anticipation.

‘Besides, if this succeeds, Martha will have to acknowledge my usefulness.’

I gain Martha’s favor, and Martha gains the Emperor’s favor.

Helping the Cayenne siblings for a long time will be far more profitable than saving money now.

‘If I plan to live here for a long time, I should think long-term. Yes, right.’

I watched Martha, waiting for her permission.

Martha, who had been staring at me, quietly asked.

“…Isn’t it a waste? The money you’ve earned. Especially for something you don’t have to do.”

Indeed, Martha Cayenne might not understand my actions.

She was someone who wouldn’t even glance at something unless it was her own matter.

“Do you think I’m foolish?”

At my candid words, Martha quietly looked at me.

And she answered honestly as well.

“Yes.”

“Humans are said to do foolish things. For those they like!”

“…….”

“And I like you, Martha.”

“…Thank you.”

Martha, who had been looking at me with a peculiar expression, replied.

She coughed lightly and added.

“Thank you for saying you’ll go to Kelston for me… and for not laughing at my flaw… thank you.”

“It’s not a flaw.”

When I spoke firmly, Martha, who had been looking at me, nodded.

“Well, whatever. First, let’s talk to the Taschen Mercenary Corps.”

“Thank you!”

“I should be the one thanking you. Oh, I have one request… could you not tell anyone why I’m stepping back? …Especially Arkle and Naran.”

Martha mumbled with a face that showed just thinking about it gave her a headache.

“If those brats find out my weakness, they won’t leave me alone… they’ll tease me until I die.”

I couldn’t quite imagine Arkle and Naran teasing their sister, but there might be sides of family dynamics I didn’t know.

I nodded vigorously.

“Yes! I won’t tell anyone.”

“I’m counting on you.”

“In return, please don’t be troubled by this nature of yours anymore.”

“…I’ll try.”

I smiled brightly and said, “Well then.” as I left the room.

The possibility of seeing real zombies….

‘It’s too much of a shame to see them just once… oh, I should take that.’

A fitting item suddenly came to mind.

‘I should ask Juan to get it for me.’

❖ ❖ ❖

The next day, Arkle slowly entered Martha’s office.

His sister, as usual, didn’t take her eyes off the stack of documents and didn’t even glance at her brother.

Arkle, seemingly used to it, got straight to the point.

“I’m afraid I can’t comply with your request to accompany me to Kelston. I apologize.”

“Is that so? Understood.”

Arkle raised an eyebrow slightly at his sister’s too easy acceptance.

She was truly a persistent person, so he came prepared to refuse to the end.

‘Does it not matter?’

Arkle thought nonchalantly as he was about to leave the room.

“It can’t be helped. Even if your wife feels uncomfortable among strangers.”

Arkle stopped in his tracks and looked at Martha.

“…What did you just say?”

His red eyes, calmly watching Martha, seemed to flicker like flames.

“Why would Lize be among strangers….”

Martha, pretending to be indifferent, was actually smirking inside.

‘If he goes along, it’ll be incomparable to the Taschen Mercenary Corps.’

There’s someone here worth dozens of mercenary groups, so there’s no need to waste expensive money.

Of course, that money belonged to Lize, so it was none of Martha’s business how it was used….

‘No, that’s not right. Anyway, for now, she’s part of Cayenne, so that money is also a precious asset of Cayenne.’

Thinking that she was doing this to protect Cayenne’s assets, Martha explained the situation to Arkle.

❖ ❖ ❖

I spent the whole day following Juan around, persistently asking him to get me a certain item.

At first, Juan said he couldn’t promise anything, but when I wouldn’t stop talking, he eventually surrendered, saying, “Alright, alright, please stop.”

‘He’ll definitely get it for me since I asked so much, right?’

I was sure and excited.

Knock knock—

“Wife.”

Arkle’s voice came from outside the door.

When I opened the door, he looked down at me and spoke abruptly.

“—I’ll go.”

“What?”

At his sudden words, I looked at Arkle in confusion.

Under his usual expressionless face, I felt like he was suppressing something.

“I’ll go. So no one else is needed.”