Chapter 16: Reliable (??) Companions

In front of the back gate, surrounded on all sides by a barricade of desks.

It kind of looked like the atmosphere of a medieval Colosseum... not entirely implausible?

After confirming that everyone training as "zombie hunters" had taken their designated positions,

"I'll leave it to you."

I gave the signal.

"Got it....One zombie, going!"

At the same time, Kousuke slightly opened the back gate.

Boom.

"Oooohhh……"

You managed to guide it perfectly. Just as promised, only one "zombie" came in.

Over the past week, their skill at luring in the "zombies" had become nothing short of masterful.

"Come on."

I poked the zombie in the chest with my sheathed blade, provoking the man wrapped in a tattered sweater.

『Oooooooohhhhh!』

Immediately, the "zombie" lunged forward, leaning forward with a sudden rush.

I calmly waited for the right distance, dodging the grab—

"Whoa!"

In an instant, the survival knife plunged into the "zombie's" back of the head.

"Shit! Damn it!"

Yoshitaka-kun growled fiercely, twisting the knife.

A sickening *thud* echoed, and blood gushed out.

"Die! Die! Hehehe!"

"Rintarou-kun. How many times do I have to tell you? When taking down those bastards, use only the minimum force necessary."

"Sorry! I'll be more careful next time!"

Rintarou-kun said, unapologetic, his face smeared with splattered blood.

The other four sighed in near unison.

"Is that the same answer you gave last time...?"

Even Kousuke, usually the most considerate of the group, was starting to lose patience.

"But you know, I just want to be extra careful! I can't take any chances!"

"Just one stab to the brain is enough. There's no need to completely destroy it. Besides, if you spend too much time on a single 'zombie,' you'll end up getting caught by the others. Make sure you understand that clearly."

Explaining it logically, Ryutarou-kun hung his head in shame.

"Then, next... let's go with Asuka-san."

"Yesss, here I go, senpai~"

A cheerful anime-style voice.

"Even though we're the same age, please don't call me senpai."

"Hehehe. Even so, you're still my senpai, you know~"

Huh.

This exchange has happened dozens of times now.

"Then, Ko Suke-kun—please."

The back door swings open, luring in the "zombie."

The same process repeats.

I draw the "zombie" in, from behind,

"Over here~!"

Asuka-chan delivers the final blow.

Her weapon? A shovel from the maintenance room.

No wonder they say it saw heavy action in close combat during wartime—it was truly powerful.

It could thrust, bash, and even dig up soil.

It might even be more practical than a katana.

"Got it!"

Asuka-chan pulled the shovel out from deep within the "zombie's" head and smiled brightly.

Over the past week, we've learned a few things about the "zombies."

For reference, here's a summary of the characteristics we've discovered so far:

・There's individual variation in walking speed (ranging from a wobbly shuffle to a brisk pace).

・They show no signs of sleeping or resting.

・They keep moving indefinitely as long as their brain isn't destroyed.

・Their grip is incredibly strong—they can easily tear through human flesh.

・They are only interested in human flesh (I've seen them a few times, but they completely ignore the presence of dogs and cats).

・They growl and call out to their companions.

・Their attention span and thinking ability are on par with insects, or even worse.

And that's about it.

After experiencing combat a few times, it became clear that directly confronting "zombies" head-on is far too risky.

When taking them down, always approach from behind and strike with one decisive blow.

That is the unwritten rule.

"Alright then, let's call it a day for now."

Upon saying this to everyone, all of them relaxed, their expressions easing.

We easily climbed over the barricades made of desks secured with wire, following our usual routine.

Checking the clock, it was just past noon.

To avoid getting overly stressed and ending up unable to move when it really matters, I always made sure to finish exercising in the morning (though some, like Kousuke, seemed to do basic fitness training on their own initiative).

"Phew! Made it through another day—still alive!"

Rintaro said cheerfully, and everyone seemed to be thinking the same thing, offering faint smiles in response.

That was when—

"Everyone~"

A thin, glasses-wearing youth is seen running toward them, waving his arms high.

"Everyone~! Listen to me, listen to me!"

His name is Takehara Yuuo.

Despite his bold and majestic name, he looked so emaciated it was as if he'd lived on nothing but water and vegetables. He had volunteered to keep watch from the rooftop of the school building, observing the outside world.

"What is it?"

Kousuke tilted his head, puzzled by his unusual expression.

"‘Captain’—you know, the one from the nearby market!"

I recognized the name "Captain."

It was a supermarket chain near the school, where I used to shop before the world turned this way. They had pork priced at 120 yen per gram there.

"Right now, Kousuke’s parents are on the rooftop of that place."

"What?!"

Kousuke’s eyes widened in shock.

It seemed he had been separated from his family.

I hadn’t checked everyone’s family situation one by one, so this was my first time learning about it.

"Everyone okay? Are all three of them safe?"

"Yeah, your little sister’s here too! That’s great, man!"

Yuo suddenly lit up, as if sharing the relief personally.

Among those who had taken refuge here, there were many who had nearly given up hope of hearing from their families.

Under such circumstances, reuniting with family felt almost miraculous.

"But we can't just rejoice all the time."

Yūo's expression grows dark.

"The situation is far worse than we thought. Just come to our location, no matter what."