10th Episode: Contact with Kirioka Agricultural High School

Hayato descended from the roof and pulled out one salt bag from the military supplies.

Agricultural High School could grow crops, but could not prepare salt.

Daily human salt intake is estimated at 0.5 to 1.5 grams. Averaging at 1 gram, a group of 300 would need 300 grams per day.

Salt cannot be sufficiently obtained from vegetables or fruit. Agricultural High School could not acquire it. Thus, salt provided by Hayato would have value.

— Food from another world is suspicious, but salt is standard, with no expiration.

While thinking this, Hayato opened the salt bag and inspected its contents.

Inside was salt identical to Earth’s.

Earth and the other world were different planets. If a supercivilization had installed a transfer device connecting them, similar planetary environments would not be surprising.

Perhaps they connected pre-existing similarities, or perhaps they built it deliberately.

No one knows the purpose, but if it were an environmental experiment, humans on Earth might have done the same.

That was likely why the salt was the same.

Hayato placed the salt bag into his backpack, intending to use it in negotiations.

After filling the bag, he shouldered the backpack.

Then he began walking slowly toward the agricultural high school.

— Perhaps the barricade was built with effort before the collapse of civilization.

The school grounds were surrounded by a wall, clearly constructed since the beginning.

It was meant to prevent livestock from escaping.

Additional wood had been added to increase height, and reinforcement metal used to connect the sections, forming a high barricade.

"Such careful construction might prevent zombie incursions."

Hayato’s strength might break through, but these zombies possess no more force than ordinary humans and can barely use tools, making penetration unlikely.

Hayato took a running start at the main gate and leapt onto the wall beside it.

He scanned the grounds and made eye contact with a pair of girls walking inside.

They wore uniforms resembling those of Kirioka Agricultural High School and appeared to be around high school age.

They stared wide-eyed at Hayato’s sudden appearance.

— Likely students from Kirioka.

If they cannot stay at home, seeking refuge at their alma mater is not unusual.

If they are students, they would know the school has water and food.

And if students arrive, the school would have no choice but to provide protection.

Hayato accepted this logic. The two girls, however, were thrown into confusion.

The wall was nearly three meters high. A human jumping onto it should have been unexpected. The suspicious figure who had just vaulted over the school wall was Hayato, in the present.

Yet the world was overrun with Zombies. It was unlikely to be merely a thief.

A refugee fleeing for safety was the more logical assumption.

Hayato, however, was not a refugee.

"I apologize, but I wish to negotiate. Is the one in charge here a teacher? I would like to speak with them."

Hayato spoke. The two girls exchanged glances.

Then the girl with long hair gave instructions to the smaller one with a bob cut.

"Ana-chan, go get the teacher."

The smaller girl nodded rapidly and hurried toward the school building.

Hayato watched her go. Then he jumped down from the wall. The remaining girl flinched, her body trembling, but did not run away.

Hayato, impressed by her courage, added to ensure she would not be frightened.

I thought I might stand out if I stayed on the wall, attract zombies. Scared you. Sorry about that.

Yes, that's right.

The remaining long-haired girl pretended to accept Hayato's explanation, trying to calm herself.

"What is negotiation?"

Hmm, well, whatever.

A high school girl should not possess the skill to replace a car battery.

Speaking to her would yield no knowledge Hayato sought.

But she remained, whether from a sense of duty or to watch the suspicious individual.

Waiting in silence until the teacher arrived felt awkward. It was not a matter that would cause trouble if known. Hayato decided to explain.

I came here to learn how to replace a vehicle battery. I intend to offer supplies in exchange for the instruction. That is the arrangement.

"Vehicle battery?"

"Yes. Supplies in the city are running low. I want to move the vehicle to a place where water is reliably available, but the battery is dead."

After explaining the motive in detail, she finally showed signs of calm.

Then her attention turned to Hayato's words.

"A place with reliably available water? For example, where?"

"Probably upstream, toward the mountains."

Hayato did not yet have a specific location in mind, so he answered vaguely.

She then gave a slightly disbelieving look.

"Even water from upstream contains bacteria or parasites. It's not drinkable."

"Ah... is that so?"

Hayato groaned, realizing the girl was pointing out a flaw. She was a vocational high school student—she seemed more knowledgeable than he was.

"What should I do?"

"If filtration isn't possible, go to a place known to have clean spring water."

"Clean spring water, then?"

"Any place where water quality tests have confirmed it is safe for drinking is acceptable."

"Really helpful. Thank you very much."

"You're welcome."

Hayato, still dazed, offered his thanks. The girl responded with a look of concern in her eyes.

Then, perhaps because she now held psychological superiority, she showed no fear at all, and asked casually.

"Where do you live now?"

"Originally from Kirioka City. My home is about three kilometers from Kirioka Station."

"You haven't evacuated?"

"Large communities. Managed. Hard to endure."

She was part of a community herself. Hayato thought she would not understand.

But to his surprise, she nodded in agreement.

"Yes. It is hard."

Hayato was startled by the unexpected reaction when the girl who had run off earlier returned from a distance, followed by adults who appeared to be teachers.

Ten adults approached at a jog, each carrying a blunt weapon.

— One opponent would be excessive.

Hayato thought internally.

Visitors were rare. A commotion was possible.

Students arrived in a steady stream, drawn by the sound.

Eventually, an older man among the adults who had reached Hayato asked.

"Did you say you wanted to negotiate?"

"Yes. I came to ask for instruction on replacing a vehicle battery. We can offer salt, or other supplies."

Hayato shook the backpack he carried. The older man nodded.

"Understood. Come inside to talk."

By bringing supplies, Hayato had already proven feasibility.

And if dozens of adults were present, instruction on vehicle battery replacement was achievable—no one would be incapable.

The negotiation was likely to succeed.

The elderly man turned and walked toward the school building.

Hayato followed him. The adults who remained alert trailed behind.

——Incidentally, he had the strength of a grizzly bear.

A grizzly bear could probably not be defeated even by ten adults wielding clubs.

Hayato walked forward, recalling the image of a grizzly bear overwhelming a siege, its dominance unchallenged.

He was led to a reception room for visitors.

A leather sofa and a matching table were placed inside.

Certificates hung on the walls. The recipients had included the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.

Hayato bowed slightly and sat on the sofa. The middle-aged man who had guided him took a seat opposite. The accompanying adults stood along the wall.

Many people. But the matter was negotiation.

Having the key figures present avoided unnecessary repetition.

After observing Hayato’s expression, the middle-aged man spoke.

"I am the vice-principal of Kirioka Agricultural High School. My name is Oomori."

Oomori spoke while maintaining direct eye contact with Hayato.

He used no polite speech. Hayato was too young.

Hayato was currently twenty-one. He did not look old. A male high school student with Hayato’s appearance could be found in any agricultural high school.

A teacher responsible for guiding students would risk being treated as subordinate if they used polite speech toward students.

Especially in a world overrun by Zombies, where leading a group was necessary.

Hayato did not react. He introduced himself.

"Kumakura Hayato. A resident of Kirioka. I graduated from Kirioka High School three years ago. I came here because a classmate from middle school attended Kirioka Agricultural High School. I had heard various things from her."

"Various things?"

A self-sustaining environment, I was told. So I thought someone must be here, and came to ask about replacing a car battery. Salt cannot be produced here, I assume."

Hayato placed his backpack on the desk and opened it.

Inside, a woolen bag occupied half the space. He removed it and opened it, revealing a white powder resembling salt.

The backpack's capacity was twenty liters. Half that was ten liters, roughly ten kilograms of salt.

Assuming the agricultural high school consumed three hundred grams per day, this would last more than a month.

Of course, there might not be three hundred people, and those working outdoors would require more salt, so a month is merely an assumption.

"An incredible amount. Wasn't it heavy?"

"I've brought it all the way here. It's manageable."

Hayato possessed physical strength comparable to a grizzly bear, utilized spatial storage, and could heal from bites, so triple reinforcement was manageable.

Watching Hayato's relaxed expression, Omori exhaled deeply and stared at the ceiling, lost in thought for a moment.