09 Story: Seeking Knowledge

Hayato, unable to start the vehicle, retrieved the chassis using spatial storage.

Where the vehicle had been, something else now stood in its place.

When the resident returned home safely, they would witness the strange phenomenon: the car had become an empty wooden crate, seven hundred medieval oil lamps, and barrels of vegetable oil.

Hayato returned home, imagining what reaction the sight would provoke, and considered why the car’s engine had failed.

"Probably just a dead battery."

"A dead battery?"

"The reason the car’s engine wouldn’t start."

Hayato, who had never owned a vehicle, knew little about them.

He did know batteries could die, and he assumed that was the cause.

Though he knew only in theory—no experience replacing one.

"By the way, Yui, you can’t replace batteries, can you?"

"License, don't have one."

"Yeah, that's right."

Yui, who claimed to be eighteen, was of an age where she could obtain a license if zombies did not exist.

But with civilization collapsed a year ago, driving schools were inaccessible.

Even if a driving school existed, attending lessons would mean being chased by zombies.

The current generation under eighteen in Japan would likely never learn to drive.

"If the internet still worked, I could look up battery replacement."

"Been disconnected from most places for about a year and a half. Hardly anything visible anymore."

"I see. Yeah, that makes sense."

Civilization collapsed a year ago, but the decline had been gradual. The internet had not been functional all that time.

Now, it was entirely offline.

In a world without internet, the only option was to ask someone with knowledge.

"What should we do about it?"

In the dim room, Hayato stood by the window, hand under his chin, murmuring.

The only place definitely still occupied by adults was Kirioka North High School, where Yui had been expelled.

But revealing that Yui had recovered from infection carried risk. Considering her emotional state after expulsion, Kirioka North High School could not be trusted.

After a pause, an idea formed in Hayato’s mind. The expression reflected in the window glass grew slightly brighter.

"Kirioka Agricultural High School might have people."

"Kirioka Agricultural High School?"

Yui tilted her head, hearing Hayato’s murmur.

"A classmate of mine went there. I heard it has a large campus and farmland."

"Really?"

"Rice Paddy, Vegetable Garden, Orchard, Greenhouse. It draws water from the river, so there’s water too."

"That’s impressive."

Yui gasped at the news of food and water.

If such things were consistently available, the shelter would have no need for anyone to suffer.

The supply procurement team would not risk danger, and Yui would not be bitten.

"Adults must be there. Someone can surely replace batteries."

"Or maybe it's livable?"

"We can't manage it, and they likely have a limit on how many they can accept."

"Yeah, that's true."

Hayato could not join a large group, and Yui had to leave Wakakura City.

Recalling this, Yui abandoned her idea.

"Still, if we ask to be taught battery replacement in exchange for supplying goods, the negotiation could succeed."

Yui did not deny Hayato’s explanation.

"Before we go, store plenty of water and food."

"Yeah, thanks."

Then, I’m off.

Hayato kept the favor points he had been told to accumulate as he recalled the route to Kirioka Agricultural High School.

He mounted the bicycle and set out for Kirioka Agricultural High School.

On the city roads, abandoned vehicles were scattered as usual.

Vehicles left abandoned—probably out of fuel.

The information obtained from the school’s staff room stated that gasoline was restricted to disaster response vehicles only.

Police and ambulances taking priority was understandable.

If power supply to gas stations failed, fuel distribution would halt. Staff turning into zombies was a possibility.

Ordinary citizens losing access to gasoline likely meant their vehicles could no longer move.

Hayato pressed the pedals harder and continued forward on the bicycle.

Pedaling with the leg strength of a grizzly bear produced motorcycle-level speed. So fast it felt like the bicycle might break apart.

Hayato could manage on the bicycle alone, but Yui was with him, so a vehicle was necessary.

And since he could not replace the Battery himself, he would have to be taught how.

Trying it without instruction would be disastrous.

"Maybe I should ask about other things too, like switching to winter tires."

He did not want to see a tire come off and roll during travel.

It might be fun to watch on video, but he did not want to experience it firsthand.

Hayato pressed the pedals hard and continued riding through the city.

Along the route stood ruined shops and empty homes. The former bustling life had vanished completely.

"Whoa!?"

As Hayato rounded a corner, a Zombie suddenly appeared directly in front of him.

Hayato jerked the handlebars, swerving the bicycle to avoid the Zombie.

The Zombie recognized Hayato but could not catch up—walking, it could not keep pace with the bicycle.

It followed with a groan, but Hayato outdistanced it and lost sight.

"Ah, startled."

A Zombie appearing directly in front was mildly horrifying.

Even with the strength of a grizzly, Hayato’s heart was chicken.

Had he been iron-hearted, he might have already knocked Yui down.

Hayato pressed on, sweat cooling on his skin, without slowing.

He encountered Zombies several times along the route but escaped each time using the bicycle’s speed.

The Zombies reached out aimlessly, groaning toward Hayato.

The cityscape gave way to a gradual change. The number of buildings decreased. Fields and grasslands spread into view.

The natural landscape expanded with each step forward.

"About time."

Having operated within the city limits, knowing the geography was fortunate.

The Car Navigation System could be used if the vehicle moved. GPS signal would be effective?

Zombies could not shoot down artificial satellites. But if the humans in charge disappeared, the system ended.

The Cabinet Office, responsible for management, should have worked harder with the taxes collected from the people. That thought was hard to suppress.

As Hayato wandered through such thoughts, the school building of Kirioka Agricultural High School appeared, surrounded by barricades.

Seeing the distant school, Hayato advanced cautiously, keeping to the shadows of private homes.

The threat was the Self-Defense Forces.

Kirioka Agricultural High School had been converted into a Self-Defense Forces base. "Mandatory civilian conscription under emergency provisions!" — that was unbearable.

Returned from the Black Empire of another world, conscripted into Earth's Black Japan, overwork death was inevitable.

— Perhaps I should have flattered the Prime Minister and begged to be kept.

If I had said, "I am not a wild beast, Your Excellency. I am your dog," they might have stopped the return.

Whether that would have been a happy life — that is another matter.

In any case, Hayato had no intention of joining Kirioka Agricultural High School.

Abandoning Yui now would be irresponsible.

Check if there was a negotiable party. If negotiation seemed possible, make contact. Offer supplies in exchange for instruction on Battery replacement.

If not, give up and retreat.

—The barricade isn’t made of Self-Defense Force materials. More like Home Center supplies.

Current odds favored the Self-Defense Force not having turned this into a base.

The Self-Defense Force maintained independent bases across the region. Security was higher than at the Agricultural High School.

Food acquisition was more efficient by encircling vast farmland with barricades than by seizing the Agricultural High School.

Hayato approached from behind a house, then dismounted the Bicycle.

"From here, move in cover."

He murmured to himself, advancing while staying hidden in the shadow of a house.

He used thickets and cover to avoid exposure, as much as possible.

When he spotted the barricade of the Agricultural High School, he paused and checked his surroundings.

After confirming no Zombie presence, he turned his eyes toward a nearby house.

Hayato moved quickly to the nearby house and climbed onto the first-floor roof.

— That should give me a better view.

Hayato concealed his body in the shadow of the second-floor section and observed the far end of the barricade.

Beyond the reinforced barricade, several figures in uniforms appeared.

He did not recognize the agricultural high school uniform, but all appeared to be around high school age.

They carried farming tools and moved as if tending crops.