The Villainess and I, her Zombie

"...ghuuuuueggghhh..."

A long satisfying burp came out of the shallow cave after system-knows how many rabbits, wolves, and even goblins were thrown there by the crimson-haired humanoid sword running around without showing any signs of tiring out.

|You think that will be enough to satisfy his tummy?|

|I think that he will not be able to leave the cave if Kopia will bring him another monster to feed on. Just talk to him again already!|

Patience answered angrily to Zombie's innocent question.

The blue boy was sitting by the entrance, just so that the young dragon would always see at least a tiny bit of his arm to let him know about his presence – but now, the undead familiar leaned fully into the cave and peeked in, while leaning on Kopia resting in her luxurious scabbard..

"(...you really don't want to eat me...?)"

The voice that resounded in Zombie's mind was a lot calmer, although still carried some audible doubts.

|I... really want to tell him that I'm just fattening him until he is plump and ready to be gobbled up....|

Zombie thought to himself while fighting with the extreme urge to bully the creature.

|Don't you even dare!|

Patience scolded him without even a second of a delay – which only made the boy chuckle.

"Hey... I have been told that dragons are very honorable creatures."

Instead of going with the silly urge, Zombie went with the proper approach – although his words were directly inspired by the speech that the weak prince, Roan, had used to make the monster pledge his allegiance to him.

"I just so happen to be the heir to the throne of pride – so let's say I know a thing or two about keeping one's word and the importance of honor."

The undead changed the tone instantly and his body began shining with pure violet light of the activated superbia to add validity to his words.

"(...I see... and...?)|

The red dragon – who looked a lot healthier than just a few hours prior to the feeding frenzy sponsored by Zombie and Kopia - fidgeted nervously, subconsciously flinching after witnessing the light of a skill illuminate his little cave.

"I want you, little one."

The blue undead spoke in a low, raspy voice, staring into the dragon's eyes with an intense expression.

|OH, FOR THE LOVE OF...! THAT'S BOTH A MALE AND A CHILD?! DO YOU HAVE NO SHAME IN YOUR SEDUCTION?! WHAT, DO YOU WANT TO GAIN A LUST-BASED SKILL TOO?!|

His tone and overall aura that he was giving off caused the sealed overseer to have a little meltdown and let her jealousy ran rampant – and honestly, if her voice was connected to Zombie's ears in any way she would definitely blow out his eardrums.

"(...I am a scary dragon! I am not anyone's property...!)"

Thankfully, the young dragon didn't have a dirty mind like a certain sealed overseer and only stiffened and stuck to the ground as if readying itself for a pounce at the blue boy.

"No, no property, silly. If you will be mine you will join my family... though... truth to be told there are like two of them who actually are my property..."

Zombie waved his hand dismissively and explained, although he did stop in hesitation by the end and stopped in place to consider something.

|Excuse me?! You are grouping me together with an equipment like Kopia?! Who is your property, you rotten bastard?!|

Patience instantly picked up on the little jab that the blue boy made at her, and shouted in anger.

"(...will... will you be able to protect me from the humans that took me from my nest...?)"

Whether it was a result of having eaten up until full or some other unknown reason the little red dragon suddenly lost all aggressiveness from his stance and simply laid down on the stone floor and looked up at the blue boy while using the telepathy skill.

"That's a really tough condition you're putting up, you know, little one?"

Zombie furrowed his brows and made it look like he was actually bothered.

"Do you even know what kind of people kidnapped you?"

He asked in a serious voice, looking at the young dragon looking up at him.

"(N-noo...! Are they very scary...?)"

The red monster asked and his body trembled as if it remembered how the kidnappers caught and tied him up so hard that he lost the feeling in his wings for days.

"Those were the people sent out by the royal family."

Zombie sat on the ground and began explaining everything step by step to the young dragon – although he had no idea whether in the first playthrough the dragon was originally caught by the crown's hunters or just the crown's hunters came across it once it has managed to ran away from its original captors and further worsened its state by eating the poison-filled frenzy rabbit – he decided to use the explanation that was easiest to convey without sounding completely fake.

"The children from intelligent races can become the player characters and receive quests from the system once they turn ten – the common quest that everyone receives, when they are level one, is – kill your first monster. And the nobles of this kingdom have made it into a grand occasion where they organize a big celebration during which each family uses their money and influence to get their hands on the rarest and most exotic monster that will be then heavily weakened and killed by their child. And the first royal prince of the kingdom is still getting older and soon it will be his turn to participate..."

Zombie paused not to catch a breath or anything, but rather to let the information sink in into the dragon's brain.

"(If I get caught I will be killed by that prince?!)"

The monster raised up to its feet and backed into the corner of the cave trampling many of his old scales.

"No. Dragons are considered far too valuable to just kill off like that. Instead, you would have been kept in captivity for a long time, poisoned and miserable, with your wings bound so you won't be able to fly so that your will would be weak so that when the time comes, the prince could show off to everyone else present his benevolence with sparing you while simultaneously making you promise him to become his familiar once he reaches level 10 and receives a tamer class."