Episode 122: A World Transformed

"Hmmmm..."

"T-this... is...?"

We all wore solemn expressions.

We were stunned by the horrifying scene before us.

"Is this really Ikebukuro...?"

"There's no doubt about it. The sign says so."

After emerging from the Seibu entrance of Ikebukuro Station onto the surface, we were first struck by this bizarre sight.

If one were to compare it to something...

A battlefield site where bombers attacked and tanks exchanged fire, something like that.

Or perhaps it's more like the Eastern Capital after Nappa did his "Kun!"

Yeah, I guess it's easiest to understand by comparing it to 'Dragon Ball.' It's true for anything.

The streetscape of Ikebukuro was, above all, just like that.

Looking around, not a single building remained intact. The tall buildings were all riddled with holes, as if struck by cannon fire from all sides.

Even stores like Big Camera, which I once stood in line to buy a Wii, had completely collapsed at their foundations, forming towering piles of rubble.

The worst hit was once-busy district known as "Sunshine 60 Street."

I don't know what happened, but the buildings around here have completely vanished.

In their place are what look like massive craters.

Though I can't see clearly from here, the entire area seems to radiate an ominous aura.

"What in the world could cause something like this?...Did the military fight here?"

"I have not heard anything of the sort."

Kyōichi spoke with an oddly confident air.

According to travelers passing through Sakuragaoka-machi Station, Japan's renowned Ground Self-Defense Force appears to have long since withdrawn toward the Kansai region.

Apparently, high-ranking government officials hastily evacuated from Tokyo, and there are even moves afoot to designate Osaka as the new capital.

And now, this town's few remaining safe zones are known as the "Ideal Land."

"But is that so-called 'Ideal Land' even real?"

"Certainly, it could be a rumor. In times like these, false information is bound to spread."

"Hey now..."

"But it's also true we have nowhere else to turn."

"True enough..."

So, does that mean what we're doing right now is likely just a wasted effort?

I started to argue back, but then closed my mouth.

When you think about it, no matter what awaits us ahead, it's not really a big deal.

Our goal, mine and Koine's, is simply to "level up" and "help others."

If we can ensure the safety of these five, that's all that matters.

Even if there's no "ideal world" in "Sakagura," we can just build our own "ideal world" there.

"For now... we should probably find a place to rest as soon as possible."

The elderly man in the wheelchair spoke up.

"Ota-san... is your wound hurting?"

"Hmm? Wound? Nah, I'm fine. I'm doing great. Back then, my whole body ached all over, but now it's much better. Thanks to the dogbite medicine."

The homeless-looking old man, whom they'd ended up helping, smiled like a sage who'd attained enlightenment.

For a brief instant, Eiichi and I locked eyes.

Both of us wearing bitter expressions.

This old man must be forcing himself… there was no other way.

Having suddenly lost his right leg and right arm, and now entrusted his life to two unreliable kids.

Ever since he woke up, Ebota has been going out of his way to care for us.

As if he fully understood that this was the only way he could survive.

...There's also the argument that it's better than having to endure constant complaints.

Still, there was an awkwardness to the situation—like we were forcing an elderly, hunched-over man to do strenuous physical labor.

I think old people are best when they maintain a certain distance, lecturing younger generations with their chest puffed out. Being scrutinized from a position of weakness is utterly unbearable.

Fortunately, according to 光音,

— If I really push myself and raise my level up significantly...

I'll be able to use a healing magic.

With that power, apparently, I could even regrow lost limbs—just like the Namekians.

For Yohata's sake, I really need to level up as quickly as possible.

Honestly, I hate grinding, but this time, there's no choice.

"Then, everyone. Let's head back to West Gate for now. There should still be a usable hotel over there."

Kyoichi, leading the group, announced.

And we turned our backs on the chilling scene before us.

▼

Now, while we still have the chance, let me introduce the kids who are currently traveling with us.

The three children were all quick as mice, yet stubbornly tough.

If I were their age, I’d probably have screamed and cried like a baby at the sight of a zombie, but these kids are something else.

Then again, they must’ve had no choice—survival forced them to become this way.

Their names were:

Hideo, the de facto leader,

Akira, the sarcastic one,

and Akari, the lone girl among them.

The three were masters at finding food—especially sweets—coming up with it from nowhere.

Moreover, they even possess the virtue of sharing it fairly among their companions. They're bound to become big players someday.

Or perhaps, in this kind of situation, they instinctively understand that survival as a group is the most direct path to individual happiness...

"Let's just crash here tonight!"

Following Hideo's suggestion, we ended up choosing the hotel that remained almost intact.

The business hotel, barely legible as "APA Hotel," featured a luxurious marble floor.

"Yay! It's like a king's hotel!"

Akari said, her cheeks flushed.

"Such an over-the-top girl for a chain hotel."

Yohata chuckled deeply.

...Still, for us, who had long since mastered the art of sleeping haphazardly, the hotel truly felt like a "king's" lodging.

"I think this place suits me just fine."

"Yeah. Above all, it's great that there aren't any 'zombies' knocking on the door."

"Then it's settled....Well then, Great Master. I leave it in your hands."

"Understood."

And I put on the "Hero's" helmet.

— Huh? Work already?

At the same moment, 光音 replied.

I had become a warrior clad in silver armor, gripping my sword as I faced several "zombies" already moving toward me.

"Ah. I'll just take off your outer layer."

——Okay. I don't even have clothes like that to take off, though!

▼

"Say, this area seems relatively free of zombies. Light Sound, do you know anything about that?"

―Hmm? …Ah, that's because there's a "dungeon" right over there. For some reason, zombies don't come near the area around the "dungeon." Probably some kind of territorial division among them?

"A 'dungeon'?"

―I'll skip the details, but basically, it's a place filled with monsters.

"That explanation you just gave doesn't exactly feel like it's skipping details..."

―It's fine. They're inactive anyway right now.

"...So it's safe now? I can trust that?"

Of course.

Then that's fine.

After disposing of every "zombie" I'd seen, I broke open the securely locked automatic doors and invited my companions inside.

Koichi gave a mysterious, condescending nod.

"Hmm. Quite the ordeal, I see."

A smug smile played on his face.

I led everyone to the floor with guest rooms via the emergency staircase, securing a safe location first.

Although each of us could have used a private room, given the circumstances, we unanimously decided to share a slightly larger twin room.

It wasn’t surprising. Given the current state of the world, even I found it unsettling to sleep apart from my companions. My body had been conditioned to instinctively suspect "zombies" at the slightest rustling sound from the next room.

After that, I made several round trips, bringing back sufficient food, a large supply of water, and enough changes of clothes for everyone.

"...But how do you plan to handle this huge amount of water, aside from the food?"

At that, I declared.

"We're all moving to the open-air bath from now on."

"A bath?...But..."

"There, everyone will get cleaned up."

"Ah, so that's quite a luxurious idea..."

"We need to appear even slightly civilized in the eyes of the 'Utopia' group."

At once, everyone fell silent.

Everyone was stunned by the utterly bizarre idea of "washing their bodies."

"But, water... it's such a waste..."

Akira's hesitant objection was met with,

"We have plenty of drinking water, so don't worry about it. What matters more is getting rid of months' worth of grime. We all stink like livestock in the barn."

Fortunately, it had warmed up enough that we didn’t need to heat water—something we were glad for.

After that, we moved to the bathhouse, where everyone—old and young, men and women—stripped completely naked and washed their entire bodies with the water we'd brought.

For the elderly man with limited mobility, we all helped him, scrubbing him thoroughly.

"Uuuuuuuh... This feels wonderful..."

I thought Oboha-san, at that moment, spoke words that came straight from the depths of her heart.

▼

Still, though.

The grime that had embedded itself into everyone's bodies was truly terrible.

It had gone beyond dirt... a kind of white powder was spreading throughout the bathroom.

But then again, that was to be expected.

For the past five months since the "end" arrived, everyone had prioritized simply "surviving." Water was meant only for drinking, not for washing one's body.

A few hours later.

We were completely clean and shiny, collapsing together onto the bed.

It wasn’t a coincidence that everyone was overwhelmed by intense drowsiness almost simultaneously.

That’s how wonderfully addictive it felt to sleep in a warm bed.

Akira and Akari clung to my arms like they were hugging me.

On the double bed next to them, Koichi and Yotaka, and Hideo were each sprawled out in the shape of a river.

At that moment, we had obtained everything necessary for life, and were completely fulfilled.

▼

The world's happiest sleep.

The following morning.

I naturally woke up, brushing my teeth with the hotel's provided toothbrush while gazing blankly at the scenery outside.

Of course, not for sightseeing.

I was concerned about the movements of the "zombies."

In a world after collapse, if you see something walking on two legs, it's undoubtedly a "zombie."

Even if there aren't many around here, there's no guarantee you won't encounter a group. I need to start thinking about which route to take.

...But.

"——Huh?"

Something appeared in my field of view, and my eyes locked onto it.

It was something rare these days— a living human being.

I squinted, staring intently at the figure.

From the look of it, there appears to be one man and one woman.

In the man's hand... a survival knife.

The woman seems to be gripping a shovel.

It’s hard to believe they could stand up to those zombies with just that...

—But generally, I figure anyone who uses weird magic or becomes unrealistically strong is probably an enemy...

I recall Kōon’s words.

Who exactly are they...?

That's right, weighing things carefully.

"Onii-chan... something wrong?"

Akari, having just woken up, calls out to me.

"No. Nothing at all."

In any case, I can't expose these kids to danger.

"It's still too early, so you can sleep a bit longer."

"Fa...i..."

At that moment, an idea came to mind.