Episode 353: Just the Right handicap

The image of a plump person wobbling along while running somehow comes across as comically awkward.

Yet what we witnessed at that moment—was far from something we could laugh about or casually talk about.

First of all, even we who have grown accustomed to seeing "zombies" were overcome by an intensely nauseating stench emanating from them.

Their abdomens were swollen like balloons due to rotting gas, their scalp hair nearly gone, and their eyeballs and tongues bloated from absorbing water, sticking out in all directions in a grotesque manner.

Looking at them closely again, it's clear that "zombies" don't actually move using muscle movements, after all.

Their decaying bodies seemed to move completely unrelated to physical laws, no matter how you looked at it.

"Guh... gah... bō..."

Some of the refugees couldn't hold back anymore and vomited.

Still retching, each one fled in accordance with their survival instinct.

"Head toward the intersection!"

I'm grateful that Shiba quickly took charge.

Right now, I don't think I could do that myself.

"…………………"

Peach, peach.

I tapped my left foot once more.

Yeah, this really doesn't move much, does it?

Was it just a coincidence that this delayed-effect technique suddenly took effect right now?

Or was it carefully calculated, with every detail adjusted to control its power?

I kinda get the feeling it's the latter—though maybe that's just my imagination.

――True fame is achieved through wicked deeds.

Before he passed away, Hamada said that to Dog Bite.

You'd better prepare yourself—you've done something really terrible.

If everything happening right now is part of his plan—then we must somehow escape his calculations.

And once everything is settled, we’ll completely forget about this incident.

That would be the strongest rebuttal to his words.

"Hey, 'Nameless'!"

Dog Bite cried out, as if in a scream.

"How is it going? Is it impossible? Can't we escape?"

"We're not running away."

"Wha—?"

"Nothing has changed from the plan. You'll be at the rear, and I'll lead everyone ahead."

"Lead...? With those legs?"

"Yes."

With only one leg, I kicked off the ground at a steep angle and bounced forward like a rabbit.

Thanks to my powerful leg, I quickly caught up to the fleeing civilians running at full speed.

"Whoa... 'Nameless'-sama..."

When Kou-kun saw me in my umbrella ghost style, his eyes widened in surprise.

"See? You didn't really need to lean on my shoulder, did you?"

"Uh-huh."

Heh. If I competed in the Olympics right now, I could win a gold medal and still have enough energy to play Othello.

...But there's no time for smugness.

What I'd somewhat prepared myself for, in the back of my mind, was now finally happening.

"Guh, guh, guh, ah, ah, ah, ghhhhhhhh...!"

Ahead of us, another group.

A horde of "water corpses," zombie-like creatures.

It seems they've all surged out at once, responding to the lead monster's cry, having been hiding underground.

Was it our mistake not having explored down below when we passed through here earlier?

I never imagined we'd face enemies capable of breaking through steel shutters like that.

Before us stood a row of dozens of stout figures—something you'd never see even at Comiket.

"U-uh... is this the end...?"

I casually patted Shiba's shoulder, who had completely lost his spirit.

"Take heart. We'll take care of them all."

That's what makes a superheroine—showing everyone a glimmer of hope in times like this.

...Still, the mission we were given was no easy task.

Make it through a horde of "zombies"—dead bodies bloated with rotting gas—and safely deliver all the refugees to the "door" located in the center of the Scramble Crossing.

Well then... just how far can I push myself...?

Still standing on one foot, I hop forward with a spring,

"Everyone, I'll carve a path through. Be careful—don't let their blood get in your eyes or ears."

Then I take a deep, deliberate breath.

Hama's miscalculation was surprisingly simple.

It was—yes.

He completely misjudged my true strength. (-`ω-)

I can't have him think I'm useless just because one leg's disabled.

I still have full confidence in my ability to unleash violence.

I pull out the longest blade of my multi-tool knife and prepare myself.

『Uwaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!』

The movement of the crowd of corpses was fortunate—it wasn't particularly agile.

More or less the speed of the girl in class who's worst at marathons.

To me right now, that's just the perfect handicap—being unable to use one leg.

The distance between us was roughly a hundred meters.

It would take about twenty seconds before they reached me.

"Then let's test it out...—《Flame Column》!"

I first launch a Level 5 Fire Magic at the creature leading the group.

The familiar magic square appeared beneath their feet, and just as a burst of flame shot up, the gas within it ignited, causing several of them to detonate in succession.

Ugh, gross!

Remarkably, some blood and flesh fragments have even splattered as far as my feet.

A "running" zombie-type bomb, huh? Definitely need to handle this with extreme care.

Visualizing the next move in my mind.

I—advance.

Straight toward the center, where they've gathered.