Bio Defense ~A City Built in a World That Has Ended~ - Chapter 4-5

Chapter 4-5

Subaru’s car, having left the highway, now drives through a deserted town. The number of infected is based on the population before the panic, so this area might not have had a large population.

As they drive, keeping an eye on their surroundings, they follow Matsushiba’s directions.

They pass the police station and enter a wider road, where large buildings come into view. Electronics stores, supermarkets, and home centers are visible. These are the typical places where people take refuge in stories and movies, but here, there is no sign of human life.

As they continue along the road, following the prefectural road, they spot the town hall.

“There’s something written there,”

Kanata, in the front seat, says, looking at the town hall. On the roof, a flag with the word “HELP” is fluttering, and in the upper-level windows, like a clock tower, a white curtain or something similar hangs, with what appears to be a number of survivors written on it.

“Grandma?”

Subaru slows down and prompts Matsushiba for a decision.

“No, just keep going. It seems too late.”

Matsushiba shakes her head.

“The entrance is broken, the curtain with the number of survivors hasn’t been updated in a while, and they don’t even show their faces from the windows, even though they must have heard the car. Probably, this place is already…”

Indeed, despite being so close, there is no reaction. Subaru had been gradually reducing his speed, but as they pass the town hall, he lets out a soft curse and accelerates.

After following Matsushiba’s directions for a while, they reach a road that runs along a river. This area has fewer large buildings, and individual houses are spaced apart.

“From here, just follow the river, and you’ll see the tunnel. You can just follow the road until then.”

Having said that, Matsushiba sits back in her seat, having been leaning forward. Even though it wasn’t their main purpose, it still seems to take a toll on her to see signs of survival.

From then on, there’s nothing notable, and they continue down the path without seeing any infected.

Their main purpose this time is that Matsushiba’s hometown is ahead, and it was discovered by chance that there are a significant number of survivors in the Mihama settlement in that hometown.

Tachibana obtained the information. Tachibana, who is devoted to Matsushiba, secretly gathered information about the Mihama settlement. The Mihama settlement is located in the mountains of Mt. Tsurugi, and there is a steep but passable national route nearby. People who had evacuated from the central area via that route had run out of gasoline and food in that vicinity. Thinking it was the end, they received a night’s accommodation, food, and a portable gas can from someone who seemed to be a resident of Mihama settlement, and somehow managed to reach NO.4.

Tachibana immediately verified the information and judged it to be correct. She immediately reported it, and although Matsushiba wanted to go to the rescue, it was a completely personal matter, and she couldn’t use the city defense team for her own purposes. That’s why she asked Kanata and the others, explaining that it was a personal request and that they wouldn’t be acting officially as NO.4. Thus, Kanata and the others are heading to the Mihama settlement with Matsushiba.

As they continue driving, the houses become more sparse, the road narrows, and they gradually enter deeper into the mountains. At times, the road is so narrow that it would be impossible to pass an oncoming car. Looking around, all they can see are trees, and they feel as if nature is closing in on them.

Subaru, who has been talking less and less, carefully maneuvers the steering wheel. After all, just beyond the guardrail is a cliff. The slope is quite steep, and there are old signs here and there indicating chain installation locations.

“I imagine you’re surprised by how deep into the mountains we are,”

Matsushiba says, and Subaru nods with a wry smile.

“I can’t help but feel the overwhelming power of nature… it makes you feel like humans are so insignificant,”

Kanata also feels a sense of awe and reverence.

“Well, when I was little, it was truly a threat. We couldn’t travel back and forth as easily, and we felt an overwhelming force that humans couldn’t resist.”

“So, Grandma, do you think things were better in the past?”

Daigo asks Matsushiba, who is reflecting on the past.

“I don’t know… once humans become accustomed to convenience and comfort, they can’t let go of it. Now, humans are encroaching on nature too much, but it would be good if we could return to a state of equality.

Kanata feels that Matsushiba’s answer is like a goal that humanity should strive for. Harmony. That’s the word that comes to mind. But he also thinks it’s not an easy thing to achieve. After all, he himself lives in that world of convenience and comfort.

“Oh, we’re almost there. There’s a tunnel ahead, and the settlement is beyond that.”

Everyone seems to be thinking their own thoughts, but Matsushiba’s words bring some life back into the momentarily quiet car.

“Wow, finally. I don’t want to drive today.”

Subaru, who must have been under a lot of stress, was the first to say so. It would have been nice if they could have taken turns driving, but just thinking about climbing that road with Matsushiba driving is enough to give them chills. They’ll have to rely on Subaru for the return journey as well.

Eventually, they pass a large curve, and the tunnel entrance comes into view. The tunnel, which is newer than they expected, has orange lights lined up at regular intervals.

“Ah!”

“Hey, Subaru, stop!”

Kanata and Subaru, who were sitting in the front seats and could see ahead, both exclaimed at the same time.

“What the hell is that!” “No way…”

Matsushiba and Daigo, who saw it a moment later, were speechless.

Inside the tunnel, illuminated by the orange lights, there were a large number of infected, packed together.

“No, we have to back up!”

“But…”

Matsushiba, panicked, tells Subaru to back up, but on this narrow mountain road, it’s not easy for the inexperienced Subaru to back up smoothly. Besides, as they do so, some of the infected notice them and begin to move.

If they stay here, the other infected will notice them soon enough. Subaru and the others can only alternate between looking at the infected and looking at Subaru.

“Gaon!”

At that moment, a loud noise echoed through the area. The infected who had been walking toward them began to look around inside the tunnel, and then they returned to the center.

“… What’s going on?”

They stare in shock. Subaru also stops, stunned.

“Hey! Car over there, if you don’t want to die, back up quietly and leave.”

They are stunned, not knowing what has happened, when a man in his 60s appears from the bushes on the left, carrying what looks like a gun on his shoulder.

“Can’t you hear me? This place is dangerous. They react to sound, and when we make a loud noise in the tunnel, the echo makes it hard to tell which direction it’s coming from. But as long as they’re in there, it’s okay, but if they come out, they’ll be impossible to handle. I don’t know what you’re doing here, but get down the mountain as soon as possible!”

The man tries to return to the bushes, but then

“Seihei, it’s you, Seihei from Yoshida’s place!”

“Huh?”

Of course, it’s Matsushiba who calls out to him. The man turns around when called, and opens the sliding door to reveal himself. The man, who had been looking at her suspiciously, eventually recognizes her, and his face changes to a friendly one.

“You’re from Kira’s place! You’re the young lady.”

“What are you talking about? Calling me a young lady is a bit much. Anyway, how’s the settlement? Are everyone okay?”

“Yeah, for now, we’re managing. But have you returned? If so, you can’t use the tunnel. We’ve blocked the other side. If you’re coming by car, go back to the hot spring entrance and take the old road around. I’ll go ahead and let everyone know. Sorry, but first, come to the assembly hall!”

The man disappears into the bushes again.

“So, Subaru-kun, could you go back a little?”

“R-Roger!”

Subaru backs up the car to a wider area, turns around, and drives off.

“Ugh! We have to go through here again?”

Subaru’s scream echoes through the quiet mountain road.

TIPS: Setting Collection No. 7
Why are the Urban Defense Forces named ~ban-tai (unit numbers)?

In the setting, one of the people who worked hard to establish the Defense Forces was a fan of the Shinsengumi. The original concept for the uniforms was inspired by the light blue haori coats of the Shinsengumi, but they didn’t seem to match well with Western-style clothing. There was also an idea to model the group after the Suikoden (Water Margin) band of outlaws.