Chapter 57: The pain is gone, and so is love...
*slap*
The loud sound interrupted Cranberry's explanation.
Zombie standing outside of lady Raspberry's room clenched his fist.
/Dragon Madness activated
A pop-up message appeared and the world around Zombie turned blue and red.
With his vision like this, he could easily spot the living even through the walls.
He stopped leaning against the wall and turned towards the room itself.
There he saw it.
Right by the familiar life signature of his master, stood another one, it was very faint one that was pulsating in a weak but stubborn rhythm.
No doubt lady Raspberry.
Since both life signatures were so close to each other, no genius was needed to figure out the origin of the sound.
Zombie opened the door and entered the room.
"...re to go against my command?! Who do you thi... Eh?! Who told you to come in here?! Get out!"
Lady Raspberry, who was holding her swollen hand close to her stomach, looked at the blue undead and shouted.
Cranberry had her head down and was clenching her fists so hard that her knuckles turned white.
She knew that Zombie entered even though she told him to stay outside before, but instead of shouting, she simply shook her head without even looking at him.
But her obedient posture only fueled the fires of the dragon madness skill even more.
"Did you go deaf while on the trip with that failure of a daughter of mine or something?"
Lady Raspberry furrowed her brows and asked in a cold voice.
"And what's with that tasteless outfit? Did she pick it up for you? Truly a failure..."
The tall woman shook her head and sighed.
Of course, Zombie had changed out of the clothes that got borrowed from Rotte and got completely new ones that he and his master have picked together along the way back from the destroyed mansion of Durian Greed.
That outfit consisted of a white cropped shirt that showed most of Zombie's stomach, black suspenders attached to the tight, black pants, and the shiny black knee-high boots on high heels that elevated his height to over 6'7.
All of that was completed by a simple silver ring that kept his black hair in a neat low ponytail.
Zombie slowly walked over to the mother and daughter and stared down at lady Raspberry.
"I said, did you went deaf? Get out!"
She demanded.
Although she was a very tall woman, with how Zombie was now she had to raise her head to look at his face.
His angered face with eyes glowing with an eerie reddish light.
"As the head of the family, I command you to get out of this room!"
Lady Raspberry's eyes started glowing as she commanded, but Zombie didn't budge and not even one system message showed up for him or Cranberry.
"...Mother, Zombie isn't a part of our family..."
Cranberry explained in a low voice, still staring at her own feet.
"That...!"
The usually pale lady Raspberry somehow became even paler and took a step back.
"You...!"
When she realized what she did, she became red from anger and her eyes shone much stronger than before.
"I am the avatar of pride! Get out!"
She demanded and an overwhelming pressure had filled the room.
/The unique skill of the avatar of sin detected
Pride's overpower
/Calculating...
/Rotten brain [max] detected
Overpower breaks through
/Dragon madness skill is active
/Servant's title upgrade
Rotten Brain +1[max]
/Calculating...
"Zombie, it's alright. Wait for me outside."
Cranberry stepped up and pulled Zombie back by his left hand.
She activated her own skills and even with the enhancement of the dragon madness, Zombie couldn't resist her strength.
"Graough...! (But, master...!)"
Zombie complained loudly.
In response, Cranberry just shook her head.
"Go."
"Graough. (Yes, master.)"
She ordered and Zombie instantly gave up and left.
"It seems he's not nearly as good as I thought. What a letdown. Just like you."
Since the blue undead left, Lady Raspberry deactivated her skill without waiting for the system to properly calculate the outcome.
"He is mine, and he's not a letdown in any aspect."
Cranberry frowned and glared at her mother.
"You dare to talk to me like that?!"
Lady Raspberry raised her hand again but it seemed that she still felt the pain from the previous hit, because she stopped herself and put her hand down.
"You foolish girl, I am the head of the family, everything that belongs to Prides is my property, that includes you and your servant!"
Cranberry lowered her head but didn't answer.
"And Durian was such a good candidate for a husband for you!"
Lady Raspberry sighed and shook her head.
"No matter. I'll make sure to find you a husband. After you give birth to a child you surely settle down and see thing the right way!"
She scoffed while Cranberry remained silent.
"..."
Lady Raspberry frowned and squinted her eyes.
"I had enough of you, return to your room now. I'll call for you later!"
She clicked her tongue and shooed Cranberry away.
The girl bowed her head slightly and left without a word.
/Warning
/Servant became damaged
Servant has insufficient mana to heal
Permission to use Master's mana required
"...?"
Cranberry raised her brow and looked at her servant standing completely still by the wall.
"Graough... (I tried deactivating the dragon madness on my own and this happened...)"
Zombie growled pitifully unable to move at all.
"System, heal my idiot."
Cranberry sighed and commanded.
/Permission received
Healing in progress...
/Healing complete
"Graough! (Thank you, master!) Graough. (Here.)"
As soon as he could move again, Zombie detached his right hand and offered it to Cranberry.
"Thanks, though you don't have to worry today. It doesn't hurt at all."
The red-haired girl still took the hand, but this time she actually smiled lightheartedly while taking it.
"Haa... I'm never going to have children. Ever."
She suddenly declared.
"Graough. (Alright, if that's what you've decided.)"
Zombie tilted his head, confused by the sudden change of subject, but still ended up nodding and accepting everything his master has said.
"I'll ask you one thing. Are you on my side?"
Cranberry smirked and looked up at him with confidence.
Or at least she tried really hard to make it look that way.
"Graough! (Always!)"
Zombie nodded without hesitation and growled confidently.
"...we'll see about that..."
Cranberry slowly nodded and turned away.
"Oh, and just in case that Greeds somehow learn about our involvement in the whole Durian situation and will try something... be on your guard, alright?"
She asked and glanced over her shoulder back at her blue undead.
"Graough...! (Of course!)"
Zombie nodded and hit his chest with his left hand.
"Then... Goodnight..."
Cranberry raised the blue hand she was holding and waved it towards Zombie.
"Graough. (Sleep well, master.)"
Zombie smiled and waved back innocently, making Cranberry smile.