Episode 8: First Achievement

"Then, let's go... one, two, three!"

With the shout of a woman I've never seen before, the door swings wide open.

I've already confirmed it—there are no enemies on the field.

Having entrusted the key, my belongings, and the sword's scabbard to Rika Papa, I set off light and unencumbered.

Following the teacher's lead, I proceed into the space I've never set foot in during the past three years.

"Over here."

Beyond the sports field, around the back of the school building. After passing the gymnasium, a neat courtyard came into view.

Huh, I didn’t know this place existed.

"You’re a third-year, right?"

The female teacher asks, glancing at my outfit (wearing gym clothes).

Our school’s gym uniforms differ by grade, so she must have figured it out that way.

"Yeah, I guess."

"You’ve been attending school for three years, and you didn’t even know about this courtyard?"

She says it with a slightly puzzled tone.

"It's just how it is—my house is only a few minutes' walk from the main gate."

"Even so…?"

Then, the teacher started to say something, but the conversation abruptly cut off.

『Woooooohhhhhhhhh………』

Because two "zombies" were seen staggering toward them from across the courtyard.

"They're here...!"

The teacher gasped, their voice trembling with fear.

The "zombies" seemed to vary in how fast they moved.

One moved with a quick shuffle, the other dragging their heavy body along.

Either way, once you calm down, the movements aren't hard to anticipate.

Holding my blade at the ready, I face off against the faster of the two “zombies.”

“What now?”

The teacher asked, and I replied with a single word: “Back off.”

Deep breath.

I waited until the target entered my range, then—

swiftly.

The blade plunged deep into the zombie’s forehead.

I kicked the corpse, which collapsed like a switched-off machine, then quickly readjusted my sword stance.

Immediately afterward, I slashed sideways across the forehead of the slower "zombie"—it too fell motionless without a struggle.

Easy.

"Seriously impressive."

That was the teacher's comment from behind me, sounding genuinely awestruck.

"I'm not sure if I should praise this kind of thing, but you're really calm about it."

"Calm? About what?"

"Um... the texture, the feel of it... doesn't it make you feel weird?"

"I'm fine."

I speak the truth, exactly as it is.

"That's right... I just can't handle anything grotesque at all."

"It's just habit."

Besides, I try not to think about it too much.

Crossing the inner courtyard, our destination was right there.

As expected of a back gate, it was slightly smaller than the main entrance.

Next to the guard's booth, a small building stood nearby, and across the road, a convenience store came into view.

"Shall we stop by the convenience store on the way?"

"Don't be ridiculous. You know what the situation is right now, don't you?"

I thought it was a clever idea, but I was scolded.

"Besides, there's no staff there. You can't possibly shop."

Ah...

Not exactly shopping.

More like securing the supplies we need.

More like taking it without permission.

Honestly, it's more like stealing.

Yet it seemed that, among these young female teachers, the very idea of "stealing" had completely slipped their minds.

Well, these people seem to believe rescue is coming soon, and it might actually happen after all—so saying that's wrong isn't entirely fair.

"Then I'll just close it quickly."

Fortunately, due to the narrow entrance, there weren't too many "zombies" invading the premises—about five, to be exact.

There's no point in describing their features in detail, as it only makes one feel queasy.

Let's just say they were men and women ranging from their sixties down to their teens.

Of course, all of them looked unmistakably like people who were clearly dead but still walking.

"Need any help?"

Perhaps due to the consecutive encounters, the teacher's tone had regained its composure.

"Then, make some noise—shout or clap your hands—to draw them in."

When I casually made the request, a look of regret crossed her face.

It was likely out of a sense of responsibility as an adult that she offered help, but honestly, she probably didn’t want to get involved in killing.

"...I understand."

Still, the teacher spoke firmly, holding her ground.

"Then... let's go!"

After saying that, the teacher suddenly shouted out,

"Alright! Attention—!"

Her voice was even louder than I had expected.

"Everyone! Over here!"

That's when I realized I recognized her voice.

That's right—she's definitely the gym teacher.

Although we're in different grades and I've never really looked at her face closely, I do remember hearing her energetic voice coming from the field during class.

"Look here! Over here!"

Fortunately, her clear voice came in handy.

The five "zombies" all turned their attention toward her at once. As someone who's always been painfully aware of my own invisibility, I must have become nearly invisible myself by now.

I approach the side gate from outside the zombies' line of sight, circling around behind the guardhouse.

I grasp the steel door, circling around the back of the guardhouse.

"Hnnn... Mmm!?"

Then, an inconvenient situation arises.

A female "zombie" suddenly lunges through the iron gate just as it's closing, timing her move perfectly.

Perhaps I was drawn in by the teacher's commanding voice.

A sickening, squishy sensation runs through the hand gripping the iron gate, and the door is gently pushed back.

"Ghnnn... Mmm!"

The female "zombie," nearly crushed by the heavy door, groans in annoyance.

I didn't panic.

Stepping back slightly from the "zombie," I repositioned my blade.

And with calm precision, a single strike aimed at its forehead.

I kicked the motionless "zombie" out with my foot, glancing back at the convenience store with a faint sense of regret.

But upon confirming at least forty or fifty more "zombies" approaching from across the road, I reconsidered. Honestly, taking on that many right now seemed like too much to handle.

『WOOOOOOOOOOO!』

『Oooohhh……』

『Guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu』

A few of them notice me and let out a sound.

Then, as if the whole group realized, they all start moving toward me at once.

Huh.

They seem capable of some level of communication.

Still, I'm not treating them as actual opponents.

Anyway, time to close up. Have a good one, everyone.

I firmly closed the door and locked it, then responded to the urgent plea from behind: "Hurry up! Over here, quickly!"

Holding my bare blade, I returned to the teacher's side.

What awaited me wasn't much of a challenge.

Just a simple task—dispatching a horde of "zombies" that were chasing the teacher like obsessed fans in front of their idol, one by one from behind.

At the very moment I finished off the final one.

Along with the familiar fanfare,

— Congratulations! Your level has increased!

Once more.

— Congratulations! Your level has increased!

This time, a more elaborate and dazzling version of the previous fanfare played—pomp-pom-pa-pa-pa-pa-pom-pa-pa—then,

— Congratulations! Achievement "First Safe Zone" unlocked!

The voice said.

I nearly fell over in surprise.

Achievement unlocked.

This isn't a Western game, after all.