Chapter 334: The Silver Knight

When I arrived at the western area—

"What... what is this...?"

A round hole had been torn open in the ceiling, leaving me momentarily stunned.

Judging from the situation, it seems likely that Hamada used this passage to escape from the third floor...

Just as I confirm footprints, as if recently stepped in dust, leading westward—

Dok, gasha!

And then, something heavy came crashing down.

Upon looking, it was the silver knight I'd seen earlier.

After glancing around for a moment, he immediately noticed me standing right beside him and visibly flustered.

"……G-g-guh... 'Nameless' guy..."

Calling someone "G-g-guh" on first meeting is quite rude.

In a dating sim, that choice would tank your affection points dramatically.

"You're the one who got bitten by the dog?"

"Eh, y-yes..."

"Nice to meet you."

Ah... H-hello, it's a pleasure to meet you.

Then, after a brief pause,

Hey, cut it out, will you?...Ah, I get it, I get it.

And quietly continued.

From the tone of his speech, it's clear he's communicating with someone.

But who, in the world?

To escape that question, Dog Bite Kunn headed eastward into the western area.

It seems he intends to follow in my footsteps, just as I am doing.

"Did you see Hamada?"

"If I had seen him, I'd have cut him down already."

"Hahaha. That's reassuring."

A dry, forced laugh echoes from his helmet.

Come to think of it, the design of this helmet—doesn't it look just like the helmet Kou-kun's been carrying around lately?

Could this be another reward item from some quest?

I don't recognize this from my past life either.

As I jogged alongside the young man, who was making a clattering, grating noise,

"Oops."

"Well,... it's to be expected, really."

The trail clearly ended, and we came face to face with the "zombie" legion that now dominated the entire Western Zone.

Though not packed like a first-floor corridor, zombies were clustered every few meters, making the area quite crowded.

The trouble is that some zombies have wandered into various stores throughout the area.

Unlike the clustered zombies, dealing with each one hiding in stores one by one is a bit of a hassle.

"What should we do?...We can't just leave them alone, can we?"

"Yes."

Facing zombies in large numbers isn't a problem—provided their approach is restricted to a few directions.

Even the most skilled warrior can't avoid attacks from blind spots. To survive in this world after the apocalypse, you must absolutely avoid being surrounded by enemies.

"Then I'll handle the one that's already inside the store."

"What about you?"

"I'll take care of the ones at the far end of the corridor, one by one."

"...That's not fair."

"Huh?"

"If I'm one, you'd have to face twenty."

"Well, that's true, but..."

"I'll take the larger group."

I raised an eyebrow,

"No, I'm stronger, so I should handle the bigger group, right?"

I was simply trying to explain the principle of matching people to their appropriate tasks, but it seemed Dogbite didn't understand.

After muttering something quietly to that 'someone' nearby,

"Hard work when young is something I choose to bear,"

he gave me a firm thumbs-up.

"O-oh..."

I stared, wide-eyed. I thought it might be some kind of negotiation, but it didn't seem like that at all.

Probably the type who treats girls kindly by default. Judging by how he raised everyone's affection equally, he seemed destined for a platonic friendship ending with his male friends.

"Yeeeeeeah! Here we gooooooo!"

With a single burst of energy, he vanished like a gust of wind.

"…………"

Well, if he says he can do it, he'll surely manage.

So, taking your advice, I decided to go around dealing with the lurking "zombie" types hiding in various places.

That way, I'll have enough energy to replenish my magic with a chocolate bar too.

Feeling tired, I nibbled on the sweet, which seemed even sweeter than usual, and began my rounds, starting with the nearest furniture shop.

'Oh, oh, ohhhhh……'

The behavior of the "zombies" is generally predictable, though every now and then, an individual wanders off from the group.

Holding the chocolate bar in my mouth, I activate *Ultimate Sword II*.

I swing the golden blade toward the "zombie," and the blade extends like a laser, glowing with aura, cleanly slicing through the area above his eyebrows.

I watch as his brain splatters onto the floor, then

"Then, next."

Changing stores, I move on to the next clothing shop in line.

Among the mannequins at a men's fashion store stocked with a wide variety of trendy domestic and international original items, the "zombie" blended in—

"Yeehaw (swoosh)!"

Next.

At a women's fashion retail store featuring modern, sensual, and authentically styled lingerie displays, the "zombie" was aimlessly lingering—

"Yeehaw (swoosh)!"

Next.

A clothing store that, thanks to freedom, agility, and innovative design, still offers great opportunities even with a tightened budget. Incidentally, the "zombie" was hiding in the fitting room.

"Yeehaw (swish)!"

Next.

...and as I methodically dealt with the "zombies," an anomaly occurred at the fifth store.

A couple of "zombies" that had already been eliminated were lying there, collapsed.

"This is..."

Scanning the surroundings, I realize the clothing and organs inside the store have been stolen...

"Ah..."

I suddenly recall the technique used by Mihito-chan when she once passed by the "zombies" underground.

She managed to blend in with the zombies by smearing their blood onto her dress, didn't she?

If that's the case... oh dear.

Inu Kizuku, you might be in danger.