I’m In A World Infested By Zombies… But I Have Special Perks As A Formerly Isekai’d Person! - Chapter 11: Multiple Challenges

Chapter 11: Multiple Challenges

“Salt is necessary, so it’s a big help.”

Oomori muttered in agreement about the conditions presented by Hayato.

To obtain salt, which cannot be produced within the agricultural high school’s grounds, they would have to go to the sea or explore the city.

In both cases, zombies were roaming, and there was a risk of infection if bitten.

If someone could bring it to them, that would be ideal.

It was natural for Vice Principal Oomori to be positive about obtaining supplies safely.

“I have a question for you, but let’s talk about the car first. Kobayashi-sensei, as far as I remember, you were knowledgeable about cars. What do you think?”

Oomori turned the conversation to the teacher in his thirties who was standing by the wall.

Kobayashi showed a moment of sternness on his face, but quickly regained his composure and spoke.

“About that car, is it yours?”

Oomori also crossed his arms and watched Hayato and Kobayashi’s conversation intently.

Hayato, who was confused by Kobayashi’s question, answered honestly.

“No. I picked out an SUV from the abandoned vehicles in the city. Given the state of zombies roaming around, please understand it as an emergency evacuation.”

Emergency evacuation refers to the illegal act exclusion reason stipulated in Article 37 of the Penal Code.

It is stipulated that acts performed out of necessity to avoid danger to one’s own or others’ lives, bodies, freedom, or property are not punishable.

In other words, Hayato’s act of obtaining a car to protect Yui’s life in a world overrun by zombies was unavoidable, and this act outweighed the infringement of the car owner’s rights, thus excluding illegality.

Hayato learned about emergency evacuation from the comment section of videos about the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Kobayashi, who had heard the explanation, relaxed his shoulders a little and smiled.

“Of course, I understand that. I just thought that if it was your own car, you would know the details, and it would be easier to talk.”

Kobayashi, who seemed to be more knowledgeable about the law than Hayato, returned a wry smile.

“What I want you to teach me is about battery replacement.”

“There are several challenges when it comes to battery replacement. The basic thing is to be careful not to choose the wrong battery, and the memory backup work is also a concern.”

“The wrong battery?”

Hayato asked, not quite understanding, and Kobayashi, realizing Hayato’s lack of knowledge, explained politely.

“There are many types of car batteries. Even for the same model, the type of battery differs depending on the year and grade.”

“I see?”

“For example, if you choose a battery with different terminal positions, the power cord won’t reach, and you won’t be able to install it.”

“Is that so?”

In other words, even if Hayato went to a car repair shop and brought back a battery at random, there was a possibility that it wouldn’t work.

Hayato, who had thought that any battery would do, felt a cold sweat inside.

If he had done it wrong, he might have thought it was his own fault and tried to pull it with force, breaking it.

Hayato was glad that he had properly asked someone for the initial explanation.

“Also, if you choose a low-rank battery, the battery life may be shortened, or the starting performance may be poor at low temperatures. What if the battery fails while you’re surrounded by zombies?”

“It’s over then.”

It seemed that the battery size had to match the car, and even if the size matched, a low-rank battery wouldn’t work.

Hayato realized his misunderstanding about batteries.

“When choosing a battery, you can refer to the model number written on the top of the battery, but batteries with matching model numbers are not always available everywhere. Even if I teach you how to replace it, you’ll have to find the actual battery yourself.”

“I feel like sighing.”

Just hearing about the first problem, Hayato felt that the difficulty level was high for him.

But Kobayashi’s pointed out problems were not limited to batteries.

“Next, about memory. For example, if a car with an idling stop system is equipped, there may be cases where running performance malfunctions occur if the backup work is not done before the battery replacement.”

In other words, there was a possibility that the car Hayato was going to drive would have running performance malfunctions.

If he didn’t like it, he should do the backup, but Hayato didn’t know how.

To begin with, he didn’t know what an idling stop system was.

“Getting gasoline is also very difficult. After the country made it exclusive for emergency vehicles, they added a fuel stabilizer to extend the storage period.”

Fuel stabilizer is an additive that suppresses the oxidation and deterioration of fuel, as well as the corrosion of fuel tanks.

Normally, gasoline becomes unusable due to oxidation and evaporation after about half a year.

However, if a fuel stabilizer is used, gasoline can last for one to two years. And if the amount of additive is doubled or tripled, the deterioration speed becomes even slower.

The raw materials for fuel stabilizers are butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, ethylenediamine derivatives, and so on, all of which can be procured domestically.

The manufacturers are also domestic chemical companies.

As a result, gasoline usually lasts for three to five years, and in an ideal environment, it can last for six to seven years.

In addition, there are also substitutes such as phenol-based compounds, amine-based compounds, and sulfur-based compounds.

All of these are domestically produced, and they can last for two to four years, three to five years, and two to three years, respectively.

“Now, the fuel with the stabilizer has been around for about two years, so if you recover it, you can use it, but after one year, it will become unusable.”

“So gasoline can only be used stably for another year?”

“Also, even if you go to a gas station where there is still gasoline, you won’t be able to recover it unless you insert the hose connected to the pump into the underground tank.”

Even if the car became usable, the fuel would become unusable after one year.

Kobayashi pointed out such problems as well.

The teachers listening to the conversation also seemed to be giving off an atmosphere of stopping Hayato.

But Hayato didn’t have a problem because he could keep the items he had put into space storage in that state.

—

Space storage can’t be shown, though.

Hayato thought to himself.

If he brought the car to the agricultural high school’s grounds, collected batteries and gasoline, and gave them to Kobayashi, then had Kobayashi do the work, everything would go smoothly.

But the power of space storage couldn’t be revealed.

In other words, Hayato would have to do all the work himself.

“Still, the car is necessary, so please teach me. As for gasoline, one year is fine. I’ll bring an equivalent amount of supplies.”

Kobayashi showed a slightly troubled expression at Hayato’s words.

“That’s not a no, as long as you ensure your own safety.”

Kobayashi might have stopped Hayato if he were his student, considering the danger.

But Hayato was a graduate of another school, and even if he was considered as just an 18-year-old, he was already an adult.

“Anyway, why do you want to use a car?”

“The supplies in the city are running out, so I thought I’d try to evacuate to a safer place rather than starve to death.”

“That’s a reasonable reason.”

Having heard Hayato’s explanation, Kobayashi could no longer say no because of the danger.

If they could no longer obtain supplies, they would starve to death.

Moving before that happened was a survival strategy that looked ahead, and it was a natural action.

If there were any complaints, they would have to accept Hayato at Kirigaoka Agricultural High School, but Hayato was an outsider who was neither a teacher nor a student.

Since there was not enough food, outsiders like Hayato could not be accepted, and they would starve to death.

“I can teach you how to drive a car. Later, I’ll use my car to explain it to you. That’s all from me.”

Kobayashi conveyed his conclusion to Oomori, and Oomori nodded.

“I’ll accept the deal, but Hayato, please be careful about your safety.”

“Of course. It’s my own life.”

Hayato was also afraid of zombies, but it was a horror-like fear, not a life-threatening one.

Seeing Hayato’s somewhat relaxed appearance, Oomori swallowed the warning he was about to give again.