Chapter 273: Underground Exploration

Even though they were surrounded, the "zombies" didn't possess any strategic intelligence.

They simply automatically pursued any human they saw and bit them without thought.

Their movements were as monotonous as a generic video game enemy, making them easy to dodge. To a graceful girl like her, it was astonishing how anyone could end up being bitten by such clumsy creatures.

But there was no doubt that she was far from an easy opponent.

"——...Can you run?"

Migen casually asked. She already knew Ryui's poor athletic ability from their journey so far.

Just as she herself claimed, she was completely incapable of doing anything alone.

Her movements were sluggish, as if she had a serious injury somewhere in her body.

Well, Ryui looked to be around elementary school age, so it wasn't entirely surprising, really.

Yeah. Just a little bit, I'm fine. I can still run.

"Then, come with me."

She mentally mapped out the quickest route to the room's entrance and anticipated having to eliminate two "zombies" before reaching it.

And just to be safe, I also considered the second plan—the route back the way we came.

But I'd prefer not to take this route if possible. There are about four "zombies" gathered there, already drawn by the sound of the door opening and closing.

"Let's go."

"Please."

Then Miyan, moving silently, dashed forward.

— Around twenty years old. A young man. Dragging his left leg.

The field of view is narrow. The passage squeezed between shelves is barely two meters wide. It would be difficult to get through.

The "zombie" in front of me staggered toward me, swaying with its familiar gesture of grasping at the air.

'Voooouuuaaahhh... Uuuuuaaahhhhh!'

It was calling for its companions. Expected, nothing more.

I pulled out a throwing knife from my skirt, kicked off the shelf on my right, and leapt into the air. I landed on the shelf opposite, briefly vanishing from the "zombie's" line of sight.

I briefly used Rui as bait, circled behind her, and thrust my hand through the hole at the base of the skull, aiming to destroy the brain....That was the plan, anyway,

"——!?!"

For some reason, that "zombie" showed little interest in Rui.

Instead, it lunged desperately at Miyan's right foot, biting into it with wild frenzy.

"Damn it!"

Caught off guard by the unexpected move, Miyan twisted her body instinctively and tumbled off the shelf she had just jumped onto. The throwing knives tucked into her skirt clattered noisily.

"Miyan—big sister!"

Rui screamed in panic.

Without hesitation, Miyan pulled out a knife and threw it in an upward arc, aiming at the creature lying on its back.

The "zombie" with the knife embedded in its forehead instantly collapsed, slumping against the shelf like a drunken man, its body filled with black curtains.

— Damn it. I didn’t want to throw it.

Who knows what I’ll have to face next.

There’s no time to retrieve the knife now.

Another "zombie" is approaching.

— Female. Late thirties. Half her skull missing.

This one was easy. As a "zombie," she was already near death.

It was over with just a quick jab of the knife into the empty skull hole and a little stir.

With a light kick to the zombie’s knee, Mei言 waited for the moment the leg buckled, then performed the act—her movements as smooth and precise as a professional chef whisking an egg.

Her work was swift and flawless.

"You're even more impressive than I thought."

"Of course."

"I'm glad I happened to call out to you."

"Of course."

Even among the Yagakou, her skill in killing zombies had been highly praised.

Not a single person had managed to do it as well as she had—except for those granted special powers, of course.

Then, the two hurried toward the warehouse door, reaching for the doorknob.

That was when she realized she had made a decisive mistake.

Beyond the open door, a hallway was packed with countless "zombies," pressing tightly together.

For a split second, their cloudy, white eyes locked onto hers.

『Vooooooooooouuuaaahhhhh!』

『Gh, o, o, o, o, o, o, oooohhhhh...』

『Gaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!』

'No way...!'

By the time she tried frantically to close the door, it was already too late.

Their strength far surpassed that of ordinary humans.

The door they couldn't close was quickly shattered, forcing the girls to retreat without choice.

"Let's run!"

As Miharu shouted, Rui nodded in agreement.

There was no time to hesitate about dealing with the four zombies waiting for them on the return path.

Calmly, quietly, carefully, she threw each knife one by one, striking each of them directly between the eyes.

Before she knew it, her supply of knives had dwindled to less than half.

Deep inside, she gritted her teeth.

Why was she so weak?

— If only I were a "player"...

She leapt over the corpses of the four she’d slain, then opened the door she’d used to enter the room.

As she closed the door, the "zombies" chasing her pounded violently against it.

— This is bad. The noise will draw even more of them.

There was another problem, too.

Something was off about her companion.

Rui's face, like a doll's, was twisted in agony as she muttered,

"What is this... What's going on?"

"?"

"The corridor we just passed through—there was a 'Limitless Surge' gate there! That's why this place was sealed off. But still... something's wrong. I should've received a report about this, but I didn't."

"Then it must be. You were the stegom, the anomaly, to your comrades."

The tone came out cold, even to her own ears.

It also included lashing out at his own sense of helplessness.

"A pawn... you mean?"

You said it yourself, didn't you? 'I can't do anything.' That's exactly why you've been given this difficult task. It doesn't matter when you die—just so long as you do it.

Miyako continued to press her words upon Rui, who was speechless.

That's why you have to get your hands on that treasure right here and prove yourself to those damn so-called friends of yours.

...

"The path of the others! What about the other routes!?"

The sound of someone slamming a door—something that, no matter how bad life got, one wouldn't expect to hear—echoed down the hallway.

As expected, from around the corner ahead, a few "zombies" slowly emerged, dragging their feet.

"Damn it... Like scolding a little kid... like a kitten..."

"You're the one who's tiny. So? Do you know any other routes?"

"I—I do! It's a much longer way around, but I do!"

"Zooot..."

The groans of "zombies" could now be heard from all directions.

The hidden secret maze (dungeon) beneath the theme park.

The girls' exploration continues.