My Harem of Dangerous and Crazy Women as a Reincarnated Necromancer-Chapter 13: A Yandere’s Jealousy

The walk back to Thornhaven was extremely uncomfortable.

Ely walked on his right side, so close their shoulders almost brushed with every step. Her posture was rigid, territorial — like a wolf marking its territory.

Yuki walked on his left, moving with such absolute silence she seemed more like a ghost than a person, her feet barely touching the ground.

And between the two of them, a tension so thick Mark could feel it as a physical weight on his shoulders.

It was like walking between two storms on the verge of colliding.

’This was a mistake,’ Mark thought. ’Definitely a mistake. What the hell was I thinking?’

"Master," Ely said at last, breaking the silence, "why does she have to walk so close to you? There is plenty of room on this road."

"Ely, please. Don’t start."

"I’m just pointing out that there’s plenty of space. She doesn’t need to walk practically glued to your side as if she were some kind of shadow... That is my role."

"You’re also walking practically glued to my side."

"That is completely different! I was first, and she is nothing but a... newcomer. An intruder."

Mark sighed inwardly.

He had modified Ely to be madly in love with him... but he hadn’t stopped to consider that it also meant madly jealous.

Like an all-powerful, psychotic girlfriend.

’Great... just great.’

"Yuki," Mark said aloud. "Can you move ahead and scout the road? Make sure there are no ambushes."

The assassin looked at him with those black, unreadable eyes, and for a brief moment Mark thought he caught a flicker of something...

Disappointment?

Sadness?

It was hard to tell with her.

"As you command, Master."

And then she was gone.

One moment she was there, solid and present; the next, she had vanished as if she had never existed.

Not even footprints remained.

"Thank you, Master," Ely said, sounding relieved. "Now we can talk in private."

"Ely, there’s something I need to talk to you about... something important."

"Yes, Master? You can tell me anything. I will always be here to listen."

"You can’t be jealous of Yuki. She’s a tool, just like..."

Mark stopped, realizing what he was about to say.

"Just like me, Master?"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Mark could hear the pain in Ely’s voice.

Pain that he himself had carelessly caused.

"I didn’t mean it like that. Ely, I..."

"But it’s true, isn’t it?" she said quietly. "We are tools. Weapons. Servants you created to serve you. Not people. Not companions."

"Ely..."

"I’m not angry, Master. Truly. I just... want to understand."

Ely was quiet for a moment before continuing.

"What am I to you? A tool? A companion? Something more? I need to know."

"It’s... complicated. Our situation is complicated."

"That is not an answer, Master."

"I know. But it’s the best I can give you right now... I’m sorry."

Ely didn’t respond right away, but Mark could feel her heaviness hanging in the air between them.

A tangled mix of emotions he couldn’t fully untangle.

Pain.

Confusion.

Love.

Fear.

All of it blended into a cocktail that was probably unhealthy for both of them.

They reached the gates of Thornhaven at dusk, just as the sun sank below the horizon.

Yuki reappeared at his side as if she had never left, silently reporting that the way was clear.

"Thank you, Yuki," Mark said, forcing his voice to sound normal. "I need both of you to hide now. I can’t walk into the city with the two of you at my side."

Ely nodded and melted into his shadow without a word.

Yuki did what she always did: vanished instantly — though now Mark understood it was an invisibility skill she possessed.

’Great... now I have two jealous undead women following me around.’

Mark passed through the gates without trouble and headed to the inn.

He needed rest, time to think, and probably something very, very strong to drink.

The inn was fuller than the night before.

Adventurers packed the tables, drinking, laughing, and telling exaggerated stories with wild gestures.

The noise grated on Mark’s nerves, but he decided to ignore it.

He sat down in a corner, away from curious eyes, and ordered a jug of the strongest ale they had.

Mark’s situation was a mess. He had two high-level undead under his control, but one was openly jealous and the other was silently devoted.

Both were absurdly powerful, completely loyal to him.

But instead of feeling safe, Mark felt like he was standing in front of a bomb that could go off at any moment.

"Master," Ely said suddenly, her voice urgent. "Someone is watching you... and has been for several minutes."

Mark tensed, but resisted the urge to look around.

"Where?" he asked mentally, alarmed.

"Table near the bar. Young woman. Blonde hair. White robe... probably a healer. She has been watching you since you walked in."

Mark took a sip of his ale, using the movement to glance discreetly in the indicated direction.

He spotted her immediately.

She stood out among the dirty, rowdy adventurers like a flower in the middle of a weed-choked field.

Blonde hair.

Large eyes with heterochromia — one blue, the other red.

A delicate face wearing an expression that was... concern? Curiosity? Interest?

And she was looking directly at him, without even trying to hide it.

’Damn. Does she recognize me? Does she know something about me?’

The woman stood and began walking toward him with purposeful steps.

’Damn, damn, damn. This can’t be good.’

"Master," Ely said, genuinely alarmed, "would you like me to intervene? I can take care of her before she reaches you."

’No! Wait. Let me handle this.’

The healer stopped in front of his table, biting her lower lip with obvious nervousness.

Up close she was even prettier... and younger than Mark had thought.

Early twenties, maybe.

"E-excuse me," she said in a soft, almost timid voice, trembling slightly as if she were just as nervous as he was. "Are you... the adventurer who saved a young girl in the forest a few days ago? The one who scared off the bandits?"

Mark blinked, genuinely caught off guard.

"Uh... yeah?"

The woman’s face lit up instantly with a brilliant smile... then she flushed when she realized she had raised her voice and drawn attention.

"I knew it!" she exclaimed, quickly lowering her tone. "I-I mean... that girl is my little sister. She told me everything you did for her. How you saved her from those horrible men. How you scared them off with your magic."

"Oh..."

Mark didn’t know what to say — he wasn’t used to being sought out for positive reasons.

"It was nothing, really... anyone would have done the same."

"Don’t say that!"

The healer sat down across from him without asking permission, her eyes shining with a gratitude so intense it was almost uncomfortable.

"My sister is everything I have in this world. Our parents died when we were children. If anything had happened to her..."

She shuddered visibly.

"I don’t even want to think about it..."

"Well... I’m glad I could help."

"My name is Aria," she said, extending her hand. "Aria Lightwood. I’m a guild healer. Rank S."

"Mark," he replied, shaking her warm hand.

The contrast was stark.

So different from the cold touch of Ely and Yuki that it almost made him flinch.

"Mark," Aria repeated, as if carefully filing the name away in her memory. "It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve wanted to thank you in person ever since my sister told me what happened."

"It really isn’t necessary..."

"It absolutely is!" she insisted, her determination clashing adorably with her delicate appearance. "Please, let me buy you a drink. Or a meal. Or... whatever you’d like, really. It’s the least I can do."

"Master," Ely said with dangerous coldness. "Why are you letting her touch you?"

Mark discreetly pulled his hand back, now very aware of Yuki’s invisible gaze on him as well.

’She’s just a grateful healer. Relax. She’s not a threat.’

"I don’t like the way she’s looking at you. Not one bit," Ely replied, making no effort to hide her jealousy.

’Ely. Please. Behave.’

"A drink sounds good," Mark said aloud, ignoring the tension radiating from his own shadow.

Aria smiled again, and Mark had to admit it was a genuinely charming smile — one that didn’t seem to hide any ulterior motive.