That 302: Light and Heavy Armor

Afterward, I explained the situation to Ran-chan, and she explained hers to me.

It turns out Tōru-san intentionally matched our outfits for that one joke.

"Seriously, I'm sorry. My Tōru..."

Ran-chan clasped her hands together in apology, and I responded with a dry, awkward laugh: "Ahaha hau huff."

Even just walking past someone as a pair is awkward enough, but this... this is unbearable.

"Hehehehe. Well, it's fine. If you put on body armor, you won't notice it anymore."

Nanami said.

But we all politely declined the offer.

As we'd discussed yesterday, Tōru Vladimirov was somewhat careless, but we had a feeling this advice was actually correct.

Then Nanami raised her eyebrows sharply,

"Hmm? So you both really want to stay like this?"

"Yes."

"We've already got all the necessary exploration gear prepared—enough for everyone."

I glanced at the cluttered pile of equipment shoved against the wall,

"Ah, that's not necessary."

"Huh?"

At that moment, Nanami's eyes opened just slightly.

"We've already prepared everything thoroughly in advance."

"You're not even taking weapons? Not even that... the 'blade that's never drawn'?"

"Yes."

To me right now, a sword is an overkill weapon for dealing with zombies—and more importantly, I simply can't risk losing my grandfather's heirloom.

"That's a bit of a problem. I already mentioned yesterday that we'd prepare it on our side."

"Huh? But isn't whether or not to use it up to our discretion?"

"That wasn't the intention at all."

Oops, we've misunderstood each other.

"Well, this time, isn't this fine enough?"

"No, it's not. I had a specific image in mind on this side too."

"But a life cannot be replaced."

"Hmm. I think this side is safer, though."

"Can I just take responsibility for that judgment myself?"

"Well... umm..."

Nanami seemed somewhat uncertain.

This won't do. I meant to give advice, but it's turning into an argument—might be risky.

Small disagreements like this can easily escalate into bigger fights.

Still, I'm not experienced enough to smoothly handle mistakes like this, so I just mumbled incoherently.

It was Nanami who stepped in to answer instead.

"I think it'd be better if the team split into light and heavy armor types."

"But if we run out of magic, the only thing we can rely on is the weapon we brought with us."

"We've brought plenty of food to avoid that situation. Just leave the extra baggage to us, though—we'll handle the burden so you can rest easy."

"...Hmm... Well, I guess there's nothing we can do about it. Got it."

Thanks to Ran-chan's gentle words, the situation somehow smoothed over.

Really, social skills are the ultimate power.

"But at the very least... hehehe. Could you take this handgun with you?"

"Well, that's fine... but why?"

"Obviously, for suicide."

I was slightly startled and asked,

"Suicide... you mean you might actually do it?"

"Yeah. Probably."

Nanami says it matter-of-factly.

"Because people who've just turned into zombies might not be resuscitated even by Reika's Soul Replicator."

"Aah... I see."

So that's a possibility too.

"If Rika suddenly starts saying something like 'people who become zombies can't be revived,' then we'd be truly stuck. So, if you're prepared to accept death, the best move is to deactivate all defensive skills and shoot yourself in the head....Hehehe."

That does sound a little scary, to be honest.

Either way, we should proceed with caution over there.

Lan-chan and I each shove a pistol into our backpacks, which are stuffed full of chocolate bars, and finish our preparations.

"Then, let's go—into the dreamlike otherworld adventure."

Well, the "otherworld" we're heading to this time seems to be waiting only for a horde of "zombies."

"Which way should we head first?"

I ask, though I actually already have a hunch about that.

The underground beneath the Cartoon Zone was once a space where Miharu had attempted an expedition.

Thanks to information she had passed on to me, I already knew there was a "Gate to Another World" in that area.

"Hmm. Apparently, all the paths leading underground are completely sealed off... So this must be the route the 'Undead Troop' uses when heading underground."

"Ah."

That's a route we didn't have information about.

The elevator for transporting supplies at Nya-kky's house.