The Villainess and I, her Zombie

"Patience basically said that now without the need to worry about the threat of the titan-class monsters, they will no longer need to bother with anything except watching out for the world's end - right? What about the skills they were using to allow all the sloth-made mass-produced weapons to be usable? And what about sharing the acedia skill that allowed Sloth soldiers to go over level 99 and gain tremendous stats?"

Shanks was too worried to react to Cranberry's question.

"...you've mentioned something about that before right?"

Mary nodded while furrowing her brows.

"Without the acedia, no human can go over level 99... what will be the consequences for someone who was above that level when the skill that allowed for that would suddenly disappear...?"

Shanks breathed out with a cloudy expression - looking like a kindhearted general worried over his soldiers.

"Not sorry to interrupt your conversation, but there's a group of other living approaching from downstairs. No one I know or recognize. Their skills and stats and skills seem to be blocked just like ours, but their life signatures suggest that all of them are around as strong as Shiv. With our current tempos, we should meet each other around the platform around three-quarters of the tower's height."

Zombie reported suddenly, interrupting Shanks and reminding everyone that they weren't this wasn't the best time to discuss things.

"...raa...? (...did he just said that he's - not sorry -?)"

Arion growled to Mary in confusion.

"That shouldn't be too problematic. After all, what did we achieved here?"

Shanks shrugged his shoulders and sighed, ignoring the undead's way of speaking.

"Since you all already know about the Patience, you are all basically in the same boat as all of us Sloths. That group you spotted bringing the new host for Patience to take over... which means all of them are most likely from the main branch of the Sloth family who shares the burden. Just don't be aggressive and everything will be fine."

He explained.

"Ha. There's no reason for us to do anything inside the tower."

Cranberry shook her head and didn't even try to raise her baseball bat.

"...thank you for understanding and your consideration, young lady..."

Shanks breathed out and bowed his head to her.

"If they are from the main family, that means they are like me - unfortunate prisoners to the power of the being far beyond our reach."

Shanks smiled sadly.

"What if they will see things differently and try to punish you for letting the outsiders learn about the terrible secret of the avatar of sloth?"

Mika pointed out.

"...haa... you never experienced abuse, we get it, now hush."

Cranberry sighed and rolled her eyes at the brown-haired girl.

"Miss Mary, as long as you won't do anything outrageously stupid, nothing bad will happen. So just keep your mouth shut and just let me speak with them."

Shanks glared at the brown-haired girl and declared.

"Are you sure that they won't get angry about you bringing us to see the avatar and ask us what we're doing here...?"

Mary asked, questioning the actual convenience of the plan.

"Miss Mary, did you not heard me when I have said multiple times before that the previous host of Patience was my big brother? If you would shut up about punishment for five seconds, you would realize that the group of Sloths below us doesn't actually know that we met Patience! They will first assume that I was visiting the remains of my brother! Those people below are basically a funeral procession leading the next host towards their sad fate, why wouldn't there be someone returning from the top after paying their respect to the remains of the expired host? Or do you think that I wouldn't be allowed to do that in the first place? Being selected as the next avatar of sloth - so a host for Patience - isn't a glorious occasion for the members of the Sloth family. It's a painful duty forced on us by Patience themselves! But it was also something necessary to protect the rest of the kingdom so the Sloths have been silently bearing with it for hundreds of years! Showing the next host that their sacrifice will be remembered and they will be deeply missed, is the final thing the rest of the family can do for them! So please, stay quiet!"

"...sorry..."

Shanks's words spoken in a harsh tone made Mary cower and apologize in a small voice.

The awkward silence followed them all the way to the platform where they indeed met the funeral procession.

The descending group walked on a platform and respectfully made a place for the ascending group.

Shanks, standing the closest to the stairs, nodded towards the person leading the group.

Without a doubt, it was the host themselves.

She must have been in her mid or late teens.

She had short, dark hair and pale blue eyes, her face was somewhat similar to Shank's face but her features were much more gentle and instead of being reminiscent of a rat, like in Shanks's case, it made her look like a cute mouse or a rabbit.

But even with a friendly face like that, the strong, determined look in her eyes showed that she was no pushover that would try to cry or ran away from their fate - she knew that would only lead to another member of her family be forced by the Patience to comply.

"...!"

Once the next host saw Shanks's face, she instantly glanced up towards the top of the tower and her eyes shook slightly.

"...ah...!"

Someone from the back also gasped, clearly recognizing the rat-faced man, but even with that nothing else was spoken.

"He fulfilled his duty splendidly, I'll do my best to not bring shame upon the legacy that he and those who came before him left behind."

The next host bowed her head towards Shanks and spoke up with great respect.

In response, the rat-faced man stepped forward on put his hand on the girl's shoulder.

"...I know you will..."

Shanks gritted his teeth and his shoulders trembled.

"I was banished for a long time. Before you go, could you tell me your name so I will remember you?"

He breathed out and asked.

"I'm Almond. Daughter of Cherry and Apricot. That would make us cousins, Shanks."

The short-haired girl smiled gratefully and nodded.

"..."

Shanks closed his eyes and breathed through his nose.

"Everything will be alright."

He opened his eyes, put his hand on his cousin's shoulder, and assured her.

"No, it won't. But I am ready. Please remember me. Thank you."

Almond shook her head and smiled before moving past the rat-faced man.

"..."

Each and every person from the host's group bowed their head to Shanks and then continued on their way up.

"...it is so messed up...!"

Mary, green in the face, trembled and said in a weak voice.

"Yes. It is. Now let's get out of here as soon as possible."

Shanks nodded and commanded.

Their group began walking down the staircase twice as fast a possible - no one wanted to stay in the cursed tower any longer than necessary.