Chapter 52: Apocalypse Cuisine
First, I easily found a place to sleep.
I discovered a three-story general goods store where zombies wandered aimlessly and no one else was around.
On the second floor of the store, there was a bedding section, with several beds placed there.
After quickly clearing out the zombies, I said,
"I'll take the best bed in this shop."
"Yes, understood, Master (whispered)."
I've decided to claim the finest bed and down comforter in this shop.
Next, food.
Since I found a supermarket nearby that had been partially looted, it looked like I could manage.
"Hmm……"
I fold my arms and ponder for a moment.
Honestly, I'm getting tired of canned meals lately.
I'd really like to prepare something a bit more homemade.
But fresh food infested with flies is unusable.
"Mmmmm……"
I ponder deeply (incidentally, just a moment ago, I instantly eliminated three "zombies").
"Cooking... cooking... curry... hmm..."
Suddenly, a lightbulb flashes in my mind.
"This is it!"
I grab a pack of mature curry, medium spicy, and oden.
Praying this sudden idea brings me good fortune, I also collect some snacks.
I did use a bit of magic to cook those zombies I encountered on the way, after all. Thanks to the *Hunger Resistance* ability, I no longer feel an unbearable hunger, but I still want to make sure to replenish my magic power properly.
Next, I headed to the bookstore.
I spent thirty minutes pondering which manga to pick (incidentally, I eliminated around six zombies during that time).
Given my current mood, I chose a lighthearted four-panel comic with minimal harshness—something cheerful and playful, full of giggles and cute reactions. I just needed some comfort right now.
And, heating appliances.
After much thought, I've decided to let it go.
Portable gasoline-powered generators are difficult to carry around.
Moreover, thanks to the skin reinforcement, I no longer felt the cold as intensely.
That should be enough if you just layer the futon.
Finally, the bath.
It didn't seem too difficult to make this happen.
There was a sample bathtub displayed at the general goods store.
With that, a large pot, a cassette stove, and a large amount of water gathered, I was all set.
Alright.
Then, let's get started.
First, I warmed up the instant rice using a water bath, filled the large pot with water, and made curry just like normal.
The curry had just come together perfectly without any vegetables.
I'm dropping in the oden ingredients, one by one, with a splashing sound.
Grow delicious, grow delicious♪
Oh, please, do get delicious.
The expiration date seemed fine, and these were about the only things I could find that might work as curry ingredients.
Pile curry with oden ingredients high on a bowl of rice.
This is the ultimate apocalypse cuisine.
Then, I'm eating! ♪
First, a bite.
……Hmm.
…………Well, I guess that's about it?
It tastes like curry with oden ingredients (obviously).
But surprisingly, it's not bad at all.
The radish, beef tendon, boiled egg, octopus, and lotus root rolls don't seem to lose their flavor.
On the other hand, the kelp and konjac are a bit off. In the magical world of curry, they're overstepping—really showing off.
As I pondered and contemplated, the pot was suddenly empty.
Hehe.
I felt as though I'd unlocked a whole new world of flavor.
One day, I really must open a restaurant serving oden curry (mission accomplished).
"Thank you for the meal♪"
I expressed my gratitude to the old civilization that had gifted me such a delicious meal.
"Well then..."
Having finished eating, I hummed a tune as I carried the cassette stove and bathtub up to the rooftop.
When I stepped onto the rooftop of the general store, I quickly heated water from one container after another.
After waiting for about half an hour,
I filled the bathtub with hot water and gazed up at the sky from the building's rooftop.
A sky full of stars looked down upon me.
"……Alright then!"
With a burst of spirit,
I decided to fully enjoy a relaxing bath in this open, boundless space.
In this world without the shadow of the living,
there was no need to worry about prying eyes.
I plunged into the warm bathwater.
"……………fuuuuuuuuu, melting, melting……"
No way.
Last time, I had a great time soaking in the bath at the drugstore, but this time is even better.
Staring blankly at the starry sky.
Splashing water lazily.
The only downside was that I could hear the groans of the "zombies" nearby.
I felt like I could stay like this forever.
In fact, I think I stayed like that for over an hour.
▼
I felt completely refreshed, both mentally and physically, so I put on the Pikachu-nyan (a bizarre anime character who insists on calling animals he’s brainwashed into obeying him “friends”) costume pajamas I found in the bedding section, and lay down on the bed.
“Mmm….”
Reading manga by candlelight, I began to feel drowsy.
According to plan, I should arrive in Sōtama around noon tomorrow.
So... what kind of situation will I end up in?
As I was idly thinking along those lines,
I thought I heard a voice, coming from somewhere far away.
"Hi-sa-tsu...——《Bakuretsu Hyakuretsuun》..."
"Huh?"
Could there be someone somewhere?
The very next moment,
Dooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
A deafening explosion that utterly shattered my peaceful sanctuary.
"What... what the hell?!"
I hastily grab my sword and leap up from the bed.
At the same time, a strange event occurs.
For reasons unknown, the shopkeeper's lamp flickers and suddenly lights up all at once.
In an instant, the entire building is enveloped in the light of civilization.
Stunned and disoriented, I stare intently at the spot where the explosion happened.
A human figure stands there, shrouded in dust and smoke.
「ふっふっふっふっふっふっふ。……ふははははははーッ、うえー、ごほごほごほ！」
笑ったりむせたりしながら、一人の少女が現れます。
歳は中学生くらいでしょうか。
ボーイッシュに髪を切りそろえた、活発そうな女の子でした。
「お前が“流浪の戦士”だな！」
「……は？」
「あーしが現れたからには！ おまえの悪事も、ここまでだ！」
—The "Just Warrior" is taking hostile action.
—Eliminate her or force her to surrender.
"Wait, what, huh, huh, huh...?"
"Come on, come on, come on! Show me your stuff!"
"Huh?!"
I have no idea what's going on, but...
Can I at least get help changing into a fresh pajama set, please?