Episode 179: A Day Off

The next day.

When I stepped out of the room, I saw the figure of "Gambling Master" right in front of me.

"...Hey."

She seemed to have been waiting for me to wake up.

"Hey."

An awkward atmosphere formed instantly.

It had been since after the battle with the "King," hadn't it?

Sure, we'd both been busy, but...

For some reason, we'd kept putting off talking to each other.

And now, it had led to a slightly awkward feeling between us.

I don’t want to think our relationship has broken down...

But one thing was certain: it wouldn’t go back to how it was before.

As long as the "Gambler" sees the incident with Ayaka-chan as a "debt."

"…I’ll be leaving this place before noon. That’s why I came to say goodbye."

"Leaving…?"

"Remember our promise? To go where that player who can resurrect the dead is said to be."

"...Is that so."

Conflicting thoughts arose within me.

A player capable of resurrecting the dead.

The thought that such a convenient person couldn't possibly exist.

Yet, perhaps… just maybe…

Going with her.

Of course, that option was available.

But… I’m someone many people rely on.

I can’t so easily leave the territory I’ve established.

"I am…"

"You don't have to come....It'll probably be a dangerous journey. Risking your life should be something you do alone."

"But—"

"If refugees are attacked by players, you're the one I can rely on."

...Hmph.

Nintomoka nantomo.

Still, what the "Gambler" said made perfect sense.

Right now, the situation is already perilous—no one even knows when Phase 3 will arrive.

We needed to strengthen our defenses in preparation for the emergence of a powerful enemy.

"Then I'm off."

The "Gambler" grabbed my hand, vigorously shaking it up and down, then turned her back.

"Wait—Gambler-san!"

I couldn't help calling out to her.

Regretting that, if this was to be such a brief farewell, I should have made time to talk properly much earlier.

"...What is it?"

"There's a lot on my mind, but... above all, don't push yourself too hard."

"Are you actually worried about me?"

"No, not really."

I deliberately chose a cold tone.

Knowing her sarcastic nature, I thought that straightforward kindness might only backfire.

"——Just remember, you're a valuable asset to many people here. Don't forget that."

The Gambler smirked, twisting the corners of their mouth,

"Indeed."

"You still don't have the freedom to just collapse on your own terms. You understand that, right?"

"...Yeah."

I didn't really want to say something so preachy like this.

Maybe it was because I'd just woken up—my words felt a little slippery, unsteady.

Still, I'll believe that the core of what I wanted to say was understood.

The Gambler gently wrapped their arm around my waist,

"Then, I'm off."

A tight hug.

She looks just like a small child, just as she appears.

"Take care."

Praying this won't be our final goodbye.

▼

Well, wow.

I can't help but think this whole morning has been oddly unsettling.

Pushing open the massive door, resembling a bank vault, at the entrance to the evacuation shelter beneath Akihabara, I emerge onto the surface.

The reason was to finally talk to everyone I'd been putting off greeting.

Lately, I've been so busy clearing out the "zombies" beyond the barricades that I haven't had a proper conversation with anyone.

Walking slowly through the bustling city street,

"Oh? It's Haku."

Immediately, a familiar face appeared.

"Hey there, Rinne-san."

Rinne looked as if she'd been covered in mud for thirty years.

It looked as though she were carrying a steel frame so large it would take several adults working together to move it, all while her beautiful face was smeared with mud and oil.

"…You wouldn’t think someone in their teens would be dressed like this."

"It's fine. This way is easier."

"I heard you volunteered for dangerous work on purpose—so I’m told."

"Work like this just feels so stifling. I heard there was an opening for slave labor, so it worked out perfectly."

"But..."

I'm feeling uneasy.

Why am I the one jumping into dangerous situations, one after another, from friend to friend?

"Just so you know, from my point of view, this side's actually safer. I mean, I'm ridiculously beautiful—when I stay quiet, weird guys start coming around, like flies."

Rinon spoke as if her beauty were simply the most fundamental rule of the world. Well, I won't deny it, but...

"I'm tired of playing the queen. I've always wanted to be a woman who can protect herself—just like you."

...As long as you're ready to fight, that's perfectly fine.

"By the way, this steel frame isn't very practical as a barricade as-is. Can't you just chop it up haphazardly or something?"

"I'd love to say it's no problem, but I've got plans to rest today."

"Oh, was that so? Sorry about that. See you later then."

With that, Rinne waved her hand lightly and walked steadily toward the outer district of Akihabara.

...In the end, she never once put down those steel beams during our conversation, did she? Just standing there chatting, holding onto them like a handbag.

Despite her delicate, petite appearance, her strength is like that of a gorilla.

No wonder guys stay away from her.

Then again, someone who finds that kind of thing attractive might show up eventually.

▼

Afterward, I happen upon a group of familiar faces gathering together.

Hibiya Kosuke, Imano Ritarou, Tada Ritsuko, Kumano Asuka.

"Senpai!" "Yo!" "...It's been a while." "Oh my, hello there."

Seeing my face, the four of them brightened up, their smiles blossoming like flowers.

...That kind of thing is quite nice, isn't it?

"Hey hey, Shokun. How's it going?"

Raising one hand with a self-important air, Kosuke responded with a grimace.

"That's... uh, take a look at this, please."

Pointing with a finger, Kosuke gestured toward a single well—exactly the kind you'd expect a ghost like Sadako to crawl out of.

Peering inside, he grimaced.

"Ugh..."

Instead of a ghost in a white dress, the well was filled with a massive number of zombies.

"Ooooh... oh... ohhhhh..."

The well was completely packed with the dead, jammed so tightly it looked like it might burst.

"What the heck is this zombie trap?"

"It seems like a cycle—zombies entering the well, groaning inside, drawing more zombies, repeating over and over..."

I see.

A natural zombie trap had formed.

『Oh... ohhh... ohhh...』

Poor things—they must have been trapped inside the well for a long time.

The zombies inside seemed utterly drained of energy.

"Could we possibly make use of this mechanism somehow?"

"...We'll figure that out later. For now, I'd like to make sure we can use this well. It might not be suitable for drinking water, but it could come in handy for growing crops."

Hmm.

Never mind who'd actually use well water soaked in zombies.

It's always better to secure a water source, after all.

I promised Mr. Norio I'd take the whole day off, but helping out a little shouldn't be a problem. After all, it's an issue that can't be handled by anyone but me.

"I considered dragging each one out and dealing with them individually, but... that could easily lead to unforeseen risks, you know."

It'd be ridiculous to risk lives over such a questionable water source.

"Then, shall we burn the 'zombies' inside with a fire spell? We'll collect the ashes and bones later."

"Agreed. Please do it."

With my junior's approval secured,

I first casually toss a few enchanted pebbles and miscellaneous items into the well.

Then, just to be safe, I clasp my hands together,

muttering, "Nam nam..."

before unleashing, "——Flame Slayer."

Grrr, a fierce flame burst from my right palm, brightly illuminating the inside of the well.

"Ooooh... ooooh..."

The crackling sound of flames, accompanied by a mournful, zombie-like moan.

Thick, pitch-black smoke.

And an unbearable stench.

The smell of rotting, mushy human flesh being burned.

"Maybe I should put up a 'Do Not Use' sign for a while."

"Yeah... even if no one specifically warned us, nobody would use it anyway."

Kosuke gives a wry smile.

True, this smell... it doesn't seem like it'll disappear in just one or two days.

At that moment, my stomach growls softly.

"Anyway, everyone—have you had breakfast yet?"

"...Ah, no, not yet."

"Then how about eating together?"

"I'd love to!"

We turn our backs on the round well spewing black smoke and start making plans for breakfast.

I have a feeling everyone who passed by is giving us really disgusted looks... well, yeah.

Let's just pretend we didn't notice.