Chapter 31
*No Suspicions Please, I’m a Maid*
Raising the vacuum cleaner wand high, I brought it down on the zombie’s head.
Clang! It was a surprisingly clear sound. As expected of a high-end vacuum cleaner.
The zombie, struck by my attack, fell to the ground. I immediately stomped on its head with my heel. It wasn’t a pretty sight, but I was too captivated by the vacuum cleaner to feel any disgust.
Several more zombies approached, faster than the one I had just taken down. Having seemingly traded their intelligence for reanimation, they mindlessly shuffled towards their target, oblivious to other zombies or obstacles.
Their target wasn’t me, but the carriage. More precisely, the people inside.
This was dangerous. They might try to eat humans just like they ate other zombies. Protecting the young master, Miss Baba, and the ugly coachman wasn’t enough. If even one zombie escaped, it could cause trouble in the nearby villages.
“I won’t let a single one escape!”
Whirr! I turned on the vacuum cleaner and pressed the nozzle against a zombie’s back. Its tattered, decaying clothes were sucked into the vacuum. I pulled the wand towards me, and the zombie was dragged along.
Click. I turned off the vacuum and swung the now-freed wand, striking the zombie.
Thwack!
The zombie’s back split open like a biscuit, dust flying everywhere. I pointed the wand at the next wave of zombies.
I repeatedly turned the vacuum on and off, sucking in zombies and flinging them away. I kicked the zombies approaching from the side and then spun around, striking them with the wand.
The suction power that could swallow a zombie whole, and the wand that was harder than a log…
“Estella! Are you alright? You don’t have to push yourself. If you’re tired, just come to…”
“I love this vacuum cleaner! I want to be buried with it! Thank you for the gift, Young Master!”
I bowed respectfully and then proceeded to explode a few more zombies with the vacuum cleaner. The young master, who was casting a spell, sighed softly. Perhaps he felt sorry for my simple tastes. Probably not, but I wished he did. Maybe he would give me another vacuum cleaner.
Despite my relentless attacks, more zombies kept appearing. The ones that followed were faster and less skeletal than the previous ones. Some even dared to approach the young master.
I glanced at him and saw him frowning slightly. They were disturbing his spellcasting.
How dare they interrupt the young master, who had no other hobbies or talents besides magic!
I swung my arm, and the vacuum cleaner body followed. The recoiling hose tripped several zombies, sending them tumbling to the ground. I stomped on their heads and broke their legs, making sure they couldn’t get back up and reach the young master.
Wiping the blood splatters from my face, I looked back at him, smiling expectantly, hoping for praise. His expression, however, had worsened, as if he had just tasted something disgusting.
“Young Master, did I disturb you?”
“…Don’t even think about coming near me in that state.”
Miss Baba, who had been hiding in the carriage, peeked out to watch. When our eyes met, I waved and helped a zombie that was trying to get back up permanently separate its head from its body.
“You’re a good fighter. Impressive.”
“Thank you for the compliment!”
I flipped my hair back dramatically. I felt incredibly proud of myself.
“Is she really a maid? Or a combatant?”
“She’s a maid. I made her as a gift, not for combat or housework.”
The young master replied dryly and focused on his spellcasting. The ground rumbled with a loud boom. It meant the barrier was up. He would cast a fire spell within the designated area soon.
I had to buy him more time.
I wanted to watch him casting the spell. He shone even amidst the fallen zombies. While chanting and drawing the magic circle, he would casually stomp on any zombie that crawled near him, as if crushing a bug or a stain on the pavement.
His shoes and clothes must have been enchanted, as they remained spotless despite kicking the zombies. I never got tired of watching his focused, indifferent expression.
It made my heart flutter that this expression changed in so many ways only when he was with me. It made me want to tease, annoy, and pester him endlessly.
“Estella. Focus. Behind you!”
He suddenly looked up and glared at something behind me.
Whoosh! Flames erupted, engulfing my vision. I heard the thud of a falling zombie.
As I turned to look at the fallen zombie, I was suddenly spun around. It was the young master. He had rushed to my side, despite the difficulty of moving freely while casting a spell.
“Are you damaged?”
He looked me over, checking for any injuries. I held up my hand, gripping the vacuum cleaner, and smiled, showing him that I was unharmed.
“I shouldn’t have worried.”
“You were worried about me?”
I couldn’t stop smiling, feeling pleased. He pushed me away gently and returned to his spellcasting. The shimmering light emanating from his fingertips turned violet.
“I meant, don’t make me worry.”
“Yes!”
As I replied cheerfully, I spotted a zombie approaching his feet. I swiftly extended my leg and stomped on it. The zombie core rolled out and then crumbled.
“Oh, I can’t collect this one.”
The young master stared at me, slightly bewildered, frowning slightly.
“Are you not squeamish, or…”
Miss Baba, feeling more at ease, approached us from the carriage. I could see admiration in her eyes.
“Are you sure you’re a maid?”
“I am!”
“Be honest, you’re not a maid, are you?”
“You still don’t believe me after seeing my cleaning skills? I’ll have to try harder.”
Years of experience in complex kitchen work and meticulous cleaning couldn’t be ignored. Even though I had just received the vacuum cleaner today, I could wield it like an extension of my own body.
I swung the wand downwards, smashing the approaching zombies. I swung the vacuum cleaner body like a flail, hitting the zombies further away. The falling zombies looked as pitiful as fallen leaves.
Although I couldn’t sweat, I pretended to wipe my brow to express my sense of accomplishment. I had taken care of almost all the zombies around us. By the time I was done cleaning, the young master had completed his spell.
“Estella, come here.”
“Yes! I’ll be right there, just a moment!”
I wrapped the tangled vacuum cleaner hose around my arm and started cleaning up, brushing off the unknown goop from my clothes.
“Estella.”
The young master called out to me, his voice low and angry. But I couldn’t help it. I grimaced as I retracted the hose.
“It’s too unsanitary to approach you like this. There’s something tangled in the hose, and I think it’s…”
“Stop with the disgusting details and just come here.”
“But it’s dirty…”
“I don’t care, hurry up.”
His expression told me he was about to lose his temper. I hugged the vacuum cleaner body and ran towards him.
Before I could reach him, he reached out and pulled me into his arms. Startled, I tried to pull away, but he held me firmly.
“I’m dirty! Covered in sticky zombie goop.”
“I see.”
He held me calmly and told Miss Baba to stay in the carriage.
Then, whoosh! Flames erupted around us. It was a strange sight. The grass and insects remained untouched, only the zombies burned.
The crackling sound of the zombies burning was grotesque. Even I, a talking, thinking doll, couldn’t help but flinch.
The remains of what were once humans crumbled away.
As I tried to step back, the young master’s arm supported me. I looked up and met his gaze. I felt a sense of relief. Despite his prickly personality, I felt like he would protect me. Just as I wanted to protect him, he cared about me too, didn’t he?
“You’re really filthy.”
I stomped on his foot.
“I was just having a touching moment, thinking about the loyalty that transcends the master-servant relationship. Is it okay to shatter my hopes like this? I’m going to complain to Head Butler Godora.”
“I’m just saying you’re dirty. You always whine and complain when you have to wash up.”
The flames had receded somewhat. The young master relaxed his hold on me and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. He then proceeded to scrub my face as if cleaning a burnt pot.
“We can’t have stains on this beautiful face.”
“Because I’m too pretty?”
“…”
“You don’t want to answer because it’s true, right? You’re speechless because you agree.”
“You would be perfect if you just kept your mouth shut.”
“That means I have no flaws. Thank you for the compliment.”
The crimson flames created by magic faded away, leaving behind only scorched earth. The fire, which had spread to the horizon, formed a giant wall of flames before vanishing in an instant.
As the situation calmed down, the goblin coachman awkwardly emerged from the carriage. He looked back and forth between me, the young master, and Miss Baba, then sighed deeply.
“I’ve never seen anything so bizarre in my life. Thanks for saving me.”
He offered me his hand. Perhaps he was forgiving me for calling him ugly.
“You’re welcome!”
As I bent down to shake his hand, the young master said quietly,
“We’ve eliminated all the zombies, but there’s another unexpected guest.”
Miss Baba smiled at me, puzzled.
“Remember the fortune about receiving praise from an unexpected person?”
“Yes! I received unexpected praise from Mr. Coachman!”
“No. Someone else is coming to praise you.”
Her expression was as sharp as it had been when she pointed her knife at the butcher.