Part 39: Greeting

Pig.

It's a pig.

Sure enough, it was a monstrous "monster" in the shape of a giant pig.

"What are you doing?"

"It's sniffing around."

The pig wandered about near the corner of the schoolyard, making strange sounds like "pugii, pugigii," after entering the sports field.

"Over there... I think that's..."

"Yeah. That's where we buried the 'zombie' we took down."

The "zombie" we killed for practice should have been burned and buried there.

That's where the pig is snorting.

"...Could it be drawn by the smell of roasted meat?"

"Maybe. According to Dad's story, the 'zombies' near the Self-Defense Force camp were also burned and disposed of."

Below us, a group of over a hundred "zombies" had already gathered.

"Zombies" are drawn to noise.

Likely, they were attracted by the grunts of the pigs, which is why so many gathered here.

Fortunately, it seems they haven't noticed us yet.

Whether zombies or monsters, they're just wandering around aimlessly.

"Anyway, it'd be best if they just left us alone like this."

"That's... probably not something we can expect much from. I've heard animals have sharp instincts."

For a brief moment, the pig turned back toward us. I felt our eyes meet, and I quickly pulled myself away from the window.

"But there's no way we could take something like that down."

True enough.

That enormous pig was, as Hibiya once said, at least twice my height. If you measured its entire volume, it would easily surpass the size of the entire room in the rundown apartment where I used to live.

But...

Now might be our chance.

If I'm honest, I should be able to cut off his head with my enchanted sword right now.

After all, I've specifically acquired magic-related skills precisely to fight creatures like these "abnormal" monsters.

Of course, it would be far better if we didn't have to fight at all.

Right now, all we can do is hold our breath and pray the pig wanders off somewhere far away. That's all.

"Ugh......No,...this is bad...!"

In that dire situation, Takamatsu, who had been peering outside from the window, let out a soft moan.

Following his gaze, I looked outside and saw a woman stumbling through a crowd of "zombies."

"Is that Mizutani-san?"

"...Mizutani-san?"

The surname rang a familiar bell.

A "zombie" who had emerged from among the refugees.

Shimotani Ichirō, already bitten.

Shimotani Ko no Suke, who had already fallen victim.

The one who executed both of them—me.

A head floating in the air.

And the corpse, even after its head had been severed, still spasming with mouth opening and closing.

That scene flashes back into my mind.

The middle-aged woman walking unsteadily—she was surely Mr. Mizutani Yukinobu's wife, Mrs. Mizutani Tadako.

"What... what is that person doing?!"

Kosuke grits his teeth.

"It's no good... He's surely planning to die."

Takakuni stared at the woman's back, his face on the verge of tears.

"Having lost both her husband and her stepfather... she's been withdrawn for so long. I've had to keep an eye on her, sometimes seeing her wandering around at night like this... damn it."

"That's not funny. She still has her daughter, Rui-chan, doesn't she...!"

When was it?

Rui-chan had said once,

"Big sister, are you strong?"

The words floated in her mind.

"Hey, Senpai!"

Before she knew it, she had leapt out.

She landed on the sports field after vaulting over the second-floor window.

"Uwaaahh...!"

Without a pause, she slashed through the several "zombies" that had surrounded her.

"Get out of my way!"

She shouted at the walking corpses, even though she knew it was pointless.

Using only the minimum necessary force and movement, she took down and dodged the "zombies," inching closer to Mizutani's back.

Mizutani advanced without anything blocking her path, heading straight toward the pig-like monster.

The lifeless way Mizutani walked might have made the "zombies" unable to distinguish her from their own kind.

No good.

I won't catch up like this.

"Mizutani!"

I shouted.

Please stay alive! Rui-chan surely wants that too!

Our eyes meet with Mr. Mizutani.

The woman smiled faintly, looking troubled.

I gave a little bow.

As if encountering an awkward acquaintance on the roadside.

In an instant, her upper body was blown apart like petals scattering in the wind.

Red,

A sudden downpour of intensely red rain soaked the ground.

"Ghooiiii! Gigi-gigi-gigi-giiii!"

The pig-like "monster" roared, baring its fangs in a threatening display.

At its feet, Mr. Mizutani's lower body lay crushed into a gruesome, mangled mess.

A shiver ran through her.

An emotion she couldn't quite name surged through her entire body.

"——Enchant"

She gently smeared liquid onto the blade.

"——Fire"

Ignition.

"Gee! Gigi!"

The "monster" glared at us, emitting a noise like static from a broken radio.

...Enemy.

These guys are humanity's worst enemy.

Suddenly, such words come to mind.

It was just before eight o'clock.

It was a beautiful night with the moon shining brightly.

Assume a stance with the sword of fire.

You... I'll kill you!