Episode 101: In a Dream

"Here's my special creation—mapo tofu and curry mixed together, the 'Mapo Curry'! Please enjoy!"

Ugh, delicious!

But I'm starting to get tired of curry variations, you know?

We're already on our fifth plate.

The expressions and creativity of everyone around me are beginning to show signs of fatigue and limits.

"How much longer... is left?"

Hibiya Norio let out a deep sigh.

"We're not out of materials, but I have to admit, I'm running out of appetizing combinations."

"Please don't worry, we're almost there..."

Just then, Saya suddenly popped her head in,

"Next one should be the last!"

A welcome piece of news.

"Really...!"

Hope flickered in Kio's expression.

"Well, we still have the job of roasting the 'zombies' we've defeated, so we'll probably have to make a few more round trips, but still..."

"If it's that much, we'll help out too."

"That would be a great help."

The area was already completely dark.

Although Ayaka-chan, who had the "Heart Eye" skill, wouldn't have any trouble, I'd be in serious danger.

Well, even if I get bitten, I don't take much damage, but it's still mentally taxing. I'd hate to have my clothes torn off, too.

"——Enchant. ——Fire."

Using the Fire-element spell, which serves as a substitute for the late Matsuri, I swiftly dispatch the surviving "zombies."

The "zombies" surrounding the community had already been nearly eradicated.

"Hmm, hoo~♪ Lulu lulu lulu~♪"

Humming a tune, I charge toward what appears to be the final group.

After finishing off the last one, just like squashing insects one by one,

Congratulations! Your level has increased!

Congratulations! You've unlocked the achievement "Zombie's Worst Nightmare"!

Congratulations! You've unlocked the achievement "Savior"!

With the fanfare of level-up, two achievements unlocked.

Achievement unlocks aren't something I've done in a while, actually.

Honestly, only three levels gained? And this includes the bonus for helping others, right?

I thought I’d slashed through quite a few "zombies" here.

Their experience points must be barely above slime level.

Hakka-san said something like, "Those 'walking corpses' are just empty shells, retaining only the vessel of their souls," or whatever.

Troublesome creatures, yet they don’t even contribute much to leveling up.

These people are quite a handful, really.

▼

"Alright everyone, you're safe now—"

I call out to those inside, stepping over the barricade.

Their eyes—filled with fear, or perhaps hope—look up at me.

"Ah... thank you..."

A primary school kid with messy hair speaks for the group.

Scanning around, I realize everyone here is either a woman, a child, or an elder.

"Where are the adults... um, the men?"

"Everyone's gone somewhere."

Hah hah, I see.

I don't know exactly what's going on, but it seems like a tragedy happened.

Then,

"How's it going?"

Saya appears.

She must have realized she'd finished off the 'zombie' with the level-up fanfare.

"Is there anyone here who seems like a leader?"

As I ask, the children look at each other.

"...When you say 'leader,' I guess it's probably the older sister?"

Hm. The older sister.

"Is she someone specific?"

"Well, just now, she was over at that bicycle shop..."

Looking closely, I notice a bicycle shop surrounded by barricades, leading into a safe zone beneath the elevated tracks.

"Then, then, let's go say hello..."

Just then.

"Wh-who's there?!"

A scream suddenly rang out from inside the bicycle shop.

"That's the older sister's voice!"

Without delay, my sister and I rush toward the bicycle shop.

We pass through the empty shop and head toward the source of the voice—the second-floor living area—where a girl is hunched over, her head down.

"What's wrong?"

"T-the old man... he's..."

Looking closer, an elderly man lies on the bed, frothing at the mouth.

Next to him is a bottle of sleeping pills and a yogurt.

Perhaps he ate the cornflakes as if they were snacks, chewing away with gusto.

What a sight.

I've heard that suicide by sleeping pills often fails.

"Sayaka-chan. Use Healing Magic II."

"Got it."

With a roll of her sleeves, Sayaka gently directed a soft light toward the elderly man's body.

"W-what on earth are you...?"

"Leave it to me."

She spoke with the confident air of a top-tier doctor.

Of course, I didn't just stand by and watch.

After contacting Shuuri and temporarily taking over her abilities, I joined with Saya-chan to cast the Healing Spell together.

"……………………………………………………………………………g, gnuu…"

He soon began breathing again.

"U-uh… no way…"

The young woman who appeared to be the old man's relative gasped in astonishment.

Well now.

Indeed, it feels great to do something good.

――Congratulations! Achievement "Detoxification and Rescue" unlocked!

And as a bonus, another achievement earned.

"Umm... where... is this...?"

The old man, now looking completely healthy.

With plenty of healing magic cast upon him, he should be healthier than he was before nearly dying.

"Grandpa!"

"What in the world?... Still alive...?"

It's okay now! It's going to be fine... Help has arrived...

Oh... right, I see... sorry about that...

The daughter hugs the elderly person tightly.

It was a touching scene.

Cao and I quietly exit the scene, reading the air.

Just as we stepped out of the living space and reached the bicycle shop,

Wait a second! "Haku"!

The girl from earlier caught up with us.

...Yes?

I tilt my head.

Gag? I don’t feel like throwing up, that’s for sure.

“Excuse me, are you mistaken about who I am?”

“Ah… uh… you don’t even remember how you’re supposed to be called, do you?”

???

The girl stares at me like I’m some madwoman, her eyes full of confusion.

“Could it be… you don’t recognize me at all?”

Only then do I finally look at her face—really look.

……?

………….

Ah… umm…

"You're Ogata Rinne, right?"

"That's right....Well, I kinda expected it, but you're just now realizing it?"

Come to think of it, that was a silly thing to say.

I never thought I'd run into a classmate here, of all places.

Plus, you couldn't tell it was me in casual clothes.

"Ouch. I thought I stood out in class."

Rinne gives a wry smile.

"...There's so much I want to say... But for now, I'll just apologize. Thank you. You saved everyone, didn't you?"

As for me, I was quietly replaying something Asahina had once said.

"'What happened back then... How should I put it? It felt like something from a distant dream.' That's exactly how it was."

Exactly that.

It was as if a character from a dream had suddenly appeared in reality.

That's the strange feeling I had.