Episode 69: The Right Way to Live

The place my (male) self and Saya-chan headed toward was the northeastern part of "Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park"—a branch campus of an arts-focused university known as "Ippon Geidai University."

Well, more accurately, it was a branch campus that *used to be* a university.

While walking through a quiet residential area without incident, we were suddenly called out to.

"Hey you... you two!"

The voice carried a tone of someone searching for something.

Looking up, I saw an elderly man on the second floor of a nearby house.

"Ah, hey there!"

Responding with the same casual, friendly tone one might use when approached by a sociable person during a school commute,

"Run! You can't stay here! You have to get out!"

His voice sounded desperate, strained.

...Hmm.

I fixed my gaze on the man's face.

His outline appeared to glow yellowish.

—Status: Alert

I see.

The item I'm currently wearing is called the "Glasses of the Coward."

It's a reward I received from a "achievement" I earned back when I was bitten by a "zombie."

Its effect is:

――"Glasses of the Coward" allows the wearer to sense others' emotions toward themselves when equipped. ※These lenses do not correct vision.

That's it.

Incidentally, I correct my vision using contact lenses.

I'd been keeping these tucked away in the back of my backpack all this time, but now that my appearance has changed so drastically, I figure it's about time I put them to use.

That said, while it's helpful to read others' emotions, my vision does get pretty blurry when I wear them.

Guess they're still a bit of a mixed bag.

Well, since I've gone this far, I'll keep wearing them for a while.

Anyway, it'd be awkward to just ignore the old man's words, so let's hear what he has to say.

Bouncing lightly off the wall and using it as a foothold, I grabbed the railing on the second floor of the old man's house and peered through the window with a quick hop.

"U-uh... w-wait a minute!"

The old man was so startled he nearly lost his balance.

"Ah. Sorry, did I scare you?"

"A-ah, yeah... no, it's fine. Wow, you're something else. Did you do gymnastics or something?"

"Former member of the Chinese Acrobatic Troupe."

Just for fun, I made up a completely pointless lie.

Well, since I'm heading out to tell a big lie, this is just practice.

"R-right... I guess... Honestly, I figured the only ones who could survive in a world like this are people from the circus. Ah, no, that's not important."

The man with the salt-and-pepper hair regains his composure and says to us.

"You two, it gets dangerous from here on."

"Dangerous?"

"Mad people have taken up residence there."

"Ah."

"Bad guys," "kidnappers," "savages"—that's all I ever hear about the people ahead.

I've heard absolutely nothing good about them.

Yet, oddly, it only piques my curiosity.

"You get it, right? It's been a while since the dead started rising. Yet there's been no sign of rescue....Everyone's just gradually losing their minds."

"So? What exactly does 'not being sane' mean?"

"One. They're armed. Two. They feed on women... You understand? I'm talking about your lovely little sister."

The man gives a subtle nod toward Ayaka, who's lazily munching on a rice ball by the roadside.

Wait, sister?

They don't really look alike, do they?

Anyway,

"What's the exact number of them?"

I asked the man, hoping he might have some useful information.

"I don't know exactly... but there were maybe forty or fifty who seemed quick to fight. There might have been more. Their boss is especially cunning, and apparently has a terrible weakness for women."

"But... Iroha... no, my little sister—she's still a child. She doesn't have any charm or anything like that."

Aware of what was being discussed, Saya-chan suddenly waved her hands excitedly, saying, "Yay!"

"It's none of our concern. Mr. Yoshida over there, who lives a bit further away, had his elementary school-aged daughter taken too. Awful, really."

"Huh?"

"They call it a 'safety fee.' They say they're killing off the zombies around here for us....But half of that's really just for their own benefit, right?"

The man's words, laced with contempt.

At that moment, the door to the old man's room slowly creaked open.

"Uncle...?"

It was a little boy.

"My boy turned out to be a boy. ……I just don’t understand why the world turned out like this."

The little boy walked slowly, step by step, toward his uncle and clung to his legs.

"Ah, there, there…"

I folded my arms and said to the two of them.

"…Well, just hold on a little longer."

"Is that so?"

The uncle murmured, clearly aware the words were little more than empty comfort.

"If you keep living, something good will surely come your way... Yes, please tell Mr. Yoshida that as well. Then..."

And I turn sharply away from the house.

"H-hey...!"

My uncle called out, seeing the direction we were heading.

Without responding, we quicken our pace.

▼

"Big sister, shouldn't we tie your hands soon?"

"It's about that thing... I think it's a bit unrealistic to tie your hands and drag you along like this. How about you pretend to be tricked into following me instead?"

"Tricked?"

"Yes. Basically, just pretend to be dumb."

"I see... pretending to be dumb, huh... That's kind of hard, though."

"Just be yourself—it's fine."

"W-What?! No way!"

As we were talking like this,

"Hey!"

a voice called out.

Just as I thought we were the ones being called, it turned out the voice wasn't directed at us after all.

"Hey! Over here! Come on! Damn it, damn it!"

Looking over, I saw a man shouting at a "zombie."

"Come on, hurry up, you'll get caught, hehehe!"

"Come on, come on!"

"Hey, hey, hey, this is serious—don't we need to do something about this fast!?"

A few voices shouting encouragement.

Peeking cautiously from behind cover, I see six men, aged roughly between twenty and forty, surrounding a single "zombie."

"Yeeek, yeeek!"

One of the six is facing off against the "zombie," likely in his early twenties. His hair is dyed brown, and he's clearly trembling, gripping a wrench tightly in his hands.

"Come on, you can do it! It's gonna bite you!"

It seems he's deliberately being forced into a one-on-one situation. I don't know what kind of ritual this is, but the blond-haired guy clearly seems to be at a disadvantage.

Finally, the "zombie" lunged at the blond-haired guy.

"Yieeek!"

"Ooooh, Saka ta-kun's in a tight spot! Are you gonna join forces with those guys right now!"

The boy, Saka ta-kun, desperately struggles.

"Big sis!"

Saya-chan lets out a sharp cry.

"Leave it to me."

Of course, I was already dashing forward.

Closing the distance of a dozen meters in an instant, I slice off the zombie's head.

"Wha—what the hell?! What's going on?!"

Everyone, including Saka-ta-kun, gasps in shock.

At the same time, everyone's "status" turns red—indicating hostility.

How odd—this "coward's glasses" seems to categorize opponents by color: red > yellow > blue, giving a rough idea of their mental state.

Well, frankly, it's obvious enough that these people are angry—no need for the glasses' power to see that.

Some of them had guns pointed at me.

Several of the weapons looked like real submachine guns.

Honestly, that's a bit frightening.

"What the hell are you?!"

Ah... wait, did I just mess up?

After a brief hesitation, I mutter to myself.

"Um... bullying... that's really embarrassing."

A few seconds of silence.

Then, everyone around me bursts into laughter all at once.

The status indicator gradually shifts back from red→yellow to a greenish blue.

"……………?"

I don't quite understand, but I reach out anyway toward the guy named Sagata who's lying on the ground.

"Damn it!"

He brushes off my hand and stands up on his own.

At that moment, a man whom I assumed to be the leader stepped forward from among the laughing crowd.

"Looks like there's been a little misunderstanding."

"?"

"This is an exam. A test to join our group."

"An exam...?"

"You just did something like taking a breath—killing 'them' is the condition for passing."

"Then...?"

"Yeah. This one's failed."

At that, Sagata jumped up abruptly.

"Wait, wait a second! Let me join you too! It's okay, right?"

"Ah... I don't know. Hmm. Actually, I think I've got a better idea."

All eyes turned to me.

"You still look like a kid, but you're pretty good. What were you doing? Where'd that sword come from?"

"It's my grandfather's hobby. I'm not great with it, but I manage."

"Hardly looks like it."

The man studied my bloodstained sword with clear interest.

You've got potential. How about joining us? We're looking for someone to help with the hunting jobs.

...puff.

Everything's going according to plan (voice trembling).

That was originally my intention.

I see! Then I guess I can skip the detailed explanation.

Yeah... I've got a little gift too... Hey! Come on over here!

When she called out in the direction where Ayaha was hiding,

"Huh...?"

A reply from them.

"Who is that guy?"

I heard you were gathering girls, so...

...What's your connection to them?

Just called out to her casually—she followed along on her own.

Hmm.

The leader glanced at Ayaha as he strolled over with a relaxed pace, sizing her up.

"Hey... Nii-chan, what's wrong?"

Ah, that kid. I told her to play dumb, but she's overdoing it a bit.

Inside, I'm nervous and anxious,

"……Could it be that he's… lost it?"

"Likely."

It seemed we'd managed to avoid detection.

"Hmm... Well, whatever. Even idiots have some kind of job, right?"

Then, the man gave me a slight, sly smile and extended his hand for a handshake.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Oda—same character as Oda Nobunaga, the Sengoku warlord. …Welcome to the 'Association for the Correct Way of Life.'"