Part 328: A Half-Hearted Hero

Tokyo Big Mall rooftop.

Normally, this space would be used by refugees to tease the surrounding "zombies," cook food, or play casual games—but now it had turned into hell.

"Hot! It's so hot... Renji-niichan...!"

"I know. It'll be okay. It'll be fine...!"

I could feel Akari's pain right through me.

Her legs were now completely red up to her knees, clearly in terrible condition.

She wasn't the only one injured.

"Damn it, why does this have to happen...!"

"It hurts, it hurts...!"

"Damn it... Damn you, Hamada...!"

"Dog Bite, please, do the usual... the magic one, hurry...!"

All of their comrades huddled in the rooftop corner were suffering damage of various sizes and severity.

Sorry, everyone. Right now, defeating the enemy is our top priority.

"B-but... you know..."

"Even a little girl like this is holding on..."

"Damn it... uuuu..."

It seems Hashida had secretly placed copper wires among the chaotic graffiti scattered around.

Thanks to the heat generated by the Level 3 Lightning Magic, the copper wires have melted into a gooey, magma-like state.

The companions, relieved to have reached a safe zone, were nonetheless injured—caught in the aftermath.

"Damn it... I'm in trouble..."

Dog-Bite Lian’er, while administering emergency care to Akari, desperately suppressed her urge to use a healing spell on her.

But with enemies still attacking, she couldn't risk it—there was the danger of exhausting her magic power.

Unlike a typical "player," he relies solely on equipment and thus has poor magic recovery efficiency from eating food. Therefore, he must carefully choose which spells to use.

Near the dog's side, Kyōichi stands, looking on the verge of tears as he tends to Akari.

"I am truly ashamed... If only I hadn't overstepped..."

I understand what he means.

No matter how you look at it, the arrangement was wrong.

If those four girls fighting inside the mall had been here, they could have healed these people in an instant and safely transported them to a secure area without delay.

"Stop worrying. He did what he thought was best. I don't hold it against him."

"But...?"

"Relax. We've got the goddess watching over us, right?"

"Indeed..."

He glanced sideways at the helmet placed beside him—and toward the one who, through it, was surely watching him.

What was so infuriating was that, apparently, they had been led right into the enemy’s trap all this time.

The copper wires set on the rooftop seemed carefully arranged to keep them confined in one place.

In other words, the refugees were now like birds in a cage.

This, it seemed, was a message from Hamada Kensuke.

As if locking them away in a drawer, always ready to be killed at any moment.

"Aniki!"

Just then, Hideo arrived, breathless,

"It's safe around here now! The barricade is up!"

"Thanks. …By the way, that barricade—"

"Nothing with electricity! Right? I built it all out of wood and plastic!"

"Nice one, brother."

"Hehehe…"

Expressing gratitude to a dependable friend, Inu Ito picks up his helmet.

It took a little time, but the zombie defense measures are complete. Even if the horde comes this far, it should hold for a while.

After that, there's only one possibility—either the enemy dies, or we lose and are wiped out completely.

There's no other way.

"Koichi. Can I leave this to you?"

"...Yeah. You're going, then?"

"Yeah, save the cute girls and join the harem-type protagonist's crew."

Making what seemed like a joke, Kyōichi let out a weak laugh.

"Then I'll just have to look forward to being granted a minor female side character, out of kindness, as my friend role."

As he thought about which of the four it might be, Kennkō carefully ran through the unstable terrain.

The steel door used for accessing the rooftop had melted into a gooey mess, no longer fit for its intended purpose.

From beyond the barricaded staircase, the groans of the "zombies" could be heard.

It felt as though he was leaping into a pit of damned souls waiting in hell.

He had to rescue the four girls as quickly as possible and deal with the traitor, Hamada Kensuke.

――

Inukakushi briefly held his breath... then took a deep, deliberate breath.

Thinking, This is the first time I've ever killed a being capable of communication, unlike zombies.

"Alright. —Time to equip it."

Declaring so, he donned the helmet.

At once, his entire body was enveloped in silver armor.

His crimson mantle billowed in the darkness.

Before him, a familiar monitor was displayed, rapidly showing his status.

Name: Inugami Renji

Job: "Hero Half-Blade"

Weapon: "Hero's Sword"

Head: "Silver Helmet"

Body: "Silver Armor"

Arms: "Silver Gauntlets"

Legs: "Silver Boots"

Mantle: "Gleam Mantle"

Status

Level: 34

HP: 136

MP: 129

Attack: 78

Defense: 89

Magic: 88

Speed: 42

Agility: 9

"Let's do it, Hikone."

――Yesss! Here we go, here we go, here we gooo!

Whenever she spoke, two words always surged from deep within her body.

The word "courage."

Always thanks, she silently murmured in her heart, and Dog Bite drew the sword "Shikanda" from its sheath.

The light from below gleamed brightly off her beloved sword.

And so, he leapt down into the lower level.