After a lengthy explanation, followed by only slightly less lengthy negotiations which in turn finished with a meal, Zombie found himself spending the night in the elven village.
Of course, he didn't forget about the merchant that they left not that far away from the entrance to the forest, but in response to his worries, Olive simply snapped his fingers and declared that Jackfruit will be safely asleep until the boy will go back and wake him up – and with that, there really wasn't much for Zombie to do.
It was already dark outside and Zombie's presence wasn't necessary for procuring the artifact that would fit his requirements – or rather his presence would straight up make things nearly impossible to do so.
The elves could talk amongst each other about what Envy was doing to them but the system would automatically block their ability to do so the moment a non-elf was able to hear them no matter if that was with the aid of some skill or not – and explaining things properly was the only way to convince the owner of the artifact to part with it.
Because just as Zombie remembered, there were no spare artifacts, each and everyone was in possession of a different elf, getting passed on through generations.
With all of that happening, not to mention every single thing that happened through the span of just that single day, Zombie's small body was so exhausted that he fell asleep the moment his head touched the pillow.
"...zzz..."
His breath calmed down, proving that he was actually asleep...
*shii...*
As if waiting for that moment, the simple one-handed sword which the boy left by his bedside, pulled out from its expensive, high-quality sheath just enough so it could glance at Zombie's peaceful face...
*shing*
...and then it pulled itself out fully, helping herself with the red strings growing out of the sturdy pommel.
Then the bare weapon flashed white and changed into a short girl with long crimson-red hair and piercing blue eyes, wearing a frilly dress.
With that, it was impossible for the girl to be anyone else other than Kopia.
"..."
The girl furrowed her brows and closed her eyes, focusing for a second...
*pomf*
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})...and with a soft sound, her clothes changed into a pajama more appropriate for the late hour.
"..."
Kopia glanced at the door, making sure that no one comes by, and cautiously got on the bed right next to Zombie.
"Ehehe...!"
She giggled cutely, but not too loud because that could disturb the sleeping boy, and then she made a strand of her hair coil around Zombie's right hand – the very hand he was always wielding Kopia in her sword form.
|Ah, you really don't waste any time, do you?|
The voice that Kopia heard once she could her hair around Zombie's arm, did not belong to the boy at all – the one talking to the shape-shifting weapon was none other than the sealed overseer, Patience.
"Shh... You're going to wake master up..."
Kopia frowned and put her index finger to her mouth.
|My voice doesn't work like that. If I want to I can make it so that Zombie will not hear me at all.|
Patience sounded as of she smirked and shook her head.
"Oh. Okay~"
Kopia immediately accepted her explanation without even the slightest speck of doubt.
"Master looks so peaceful... Maybe he won't have any nightmares today?"
She added hopefully.
|That would be ideal, and considering that he cried a bit before, maybe he will be able to finally get some decent sleep for once in his life.|
Patience nodded in agreement but certainly didn't sound very convinced.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"Master doesn't really sleep well... I'm worried. Master still growing, he should sleep a lot."
Kopia slouched and lowered her head with a downcast expression.
|Oh, you picked up some useful knowledge today, didn't you? You're right about the growing and sleeping, though in his case, that's not really a priority.|
Patience sounded as if she nodded benevolently and began explaining.
|In Zombie's case, his growth as a human doesn't really matter, the thing that's important is his rank ups after he will die and get resurrected as an undead, but even so, sleeping right now would be good for his mental hea...|
"Master will die?! No! He can't! I will protect him!"
In the middle of Patience's explanation, Kopia flinched and raised her torso up with a terribly worried expression.
|Kopia, get down. We had this conversation close to one hundred times, it's already high time for you to memorize what will happen in the future. Zombie will get mad at you if you suddenly attack someone he needs or likes at your own accord. And as for him dying, I literally said that he will be resurrected, which means he will come back to life almost immediately, so stop freaking out.|
"Eh...? We talked about it?"
Kopia went wide-eyed and asked in a shocked voice.
|Yes, we did, don't you remember?|
Patience sighed and sounded as if she shook her head, being a little bit done with the conversation.
"I don't, I remember that I need to comfort master if he has nightmares so he won't wake up!"
Kopia declared while carefully returning to Zombie's side.
|Well, at least you know that... though since Zombie has nightmares constantly, it probably has something to do with that too.|
Patience sounded as if she frowned and rolled her eyes.
|Our cute Zombie has to relive either getting tortured by the crazy psycho-stalker or the time when he couldn't save his villainess during the condemnation event, every single night... I'm not surprised that he can't wait to become an undead and be free from having to sleep ever again.|
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})The sealed overseer sighed bitterly.
"...n-noo... Why... I should have been stronger...!"
As if Patience has timed her words precisely for that moment, Zombie yelped quietly and his body shivered as he curled up defensively.
|Ah. It's the loss of the villainess.|
Patience nodded sounding as if she made a bitter expression and nodded, at which Kopia slowly slipped into Zombie's arms and hugged him protectively.
"Master, everything will be alright."
The crimson-haired girl spoke softly, gently caressing the boy's head.
"..."
Zombie seemed to calm down a bit, but Kopia certainly didn't stop comforting the sleeping boy even for a second.
|Just make sure to get away from him before he'll wake up. You saw how angry and defensive he got when he couldn't control his emotions the way he wanted to earlier today?|
Patience pointed out and instructed the crimson-haired girl.
"To me, it sounds like you are jealous that I can hug master and you don't!"
Surprisingly, Kopia went ahead and decided to chose conflict, as she poked fun at the sealed overseer.
|Yes. I'm so jealous that your small brain can't even comprehend it, you simpleton! Are you happy?!|
Patience called out sounding really, really furious... and scoffed at Kopia.
"But everything will be alright when master will meet that villainess again, right?"
Kopia asked, changing the subject.
|...|
"Right?"
She asked again but didn't get the answer.
