Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 109: The Assault, Part 2 (※Contains Cruel Depictions!)

Chapter 109: The Assault, Part 2 (※Contains Cruel Depictions!)

“Please, I beg you, forgive me, please…!?”

On the stairs from the second to the third floor.

As I step up, a man runs down, pleading, and I slash his throat without hesitation.

Catching his falling body as he collapses from his own momentum.

Don’t screw with me.

Who’d forgive you?

Not me, not this sword.

Not the wakizashi, shuriken, or revolver.

None of them will ever forgive you.

I stomp loudly, climbing the stairs slowly.

Making sure the third-floor bastards hear.

Reaching the landing, I stand.

Presence from both sides.

I don’t know how many, but they’re ambushing me.

Hmph, as if I didn’t expect that.

I prop up the dead guy I’m holding by the neck and kick him forward.

As his body falls into the corridor, four arrows pierce it.

One from the left.

Three from the right.

I leap into the corridor, kick the front wall, and vault left.

Mid-air, I spot a man with a bow.

“Guh!?”

Landing, I slash his face diagonally with the force of my fall, passing behind him.

I stick close to his convulsing back.

“Ka… ha…”

A jolt through his body.

Arrows hit—two of them.

His body goes limp, dead.

I hold his neck, keeping him upright.

Peering through the gap between his arm and side, I count.

Three left.

One in front, two behind.

“Wow, how kind. Finishing off your own buddy.”

Using the corpse as a shield, I advance slowly.

“You… what the hell!? Are you with Ryūji’s team!?”

One man nocks an arrow, shouting.

…Mistaking me for someone else.

Fine, I’ll play along.

Might get some intel.

Let them be useful before they die.

“Nah, not them.”

“Taihei’s group!?”

“Nope.”

“N-No way, Ryūmonkai’s…!?”

“Wrong.”

“Then where the hell are you from!?”

That’s all the names, huh.

I’ll remember them for later.

While the idiot babbles, I’ve closed enough distance.

“Let me give you the answer… Hah!!”

With all my strength, I kick the corpse’s waist.

“Hyaaah!?”

It slams into the front man, collapsing with him to the floor.

I step over him, leaping at the two behind.

They shoot arrows, but my low stance dodges them.

“Iyaa!! Haa!!”

From a side stance, I slash the right guy’s gut with momentum.

Without slowing, I spin and slice the left guy’s gut in a circular arc.

Nagumo-ryu, Katabami.

Nailed it.

Ignoring the two collapsing, clutching their stomachs, I return to the first guy.

He’s struggling to crawl out from under the corpse.

“Ah, aaah! Move! Get off!!”

Like a corpse would move… well, zombies exist here.

“Hey.” “Hi!? P-Please help! Help!!”

I call out, and he panics, begging predictably.

“Answer time. I’m… just a jobless passerby.”

“Huh…?”

His jaw drops, and I slash his throat.

Gurgling incoherently, he dies.

I scan around.

…Presence, but no one’s coming out.

They’re waiting in the classrooms.

…Bring it on.

Wait for me.

The gunfire outside has stopped.

No way Kanzaki-san’s down, so the courtyard’s clear.

Gotta hurry.

I flick off the blood, wipe the blade on a corpse’s clothes, and sheathe.

I draw the revolver, disengage the safety.

Grabbing the cleanest corpse’s neck, I walk.

Heavy, but I can manage.

Must be that adrenaline strength.

Worried about tomorrow’s muscle pain.

“Die!” “Croak!!” “Bullseye… huh?”

I open a classroom door with presence, and arrows hit my corpse shield.

Kicking the corpse inside, I aim the revolver fast.

Distance: under ten meters.

I pull the trigger, and the gun bucks with a bang.

“Gya!?”

Tch, missed.

Aimed for the chest, hit the lower abdomen.

I refocus and shoot again.

“Igi!?”

Nope, not as planned.

Hit the throat this time.

“Hiiii!?”

Aiming for the head, I hit the blackboard behind.

Ugh, I’ve got no shooting talent.

Five meters, and I’m this bad.

Time to take a page from my favorite movie.

“Aaaah!! Damn you!!”

Thinking I’m distracted staring at the gun, the last guy charges, swinging a chair.

Thanks for coming to me.

I dodge the chair and slam the gun’s butt into his stomach.

“Guh!? Gah!? Urgh!?”

As he freezes, I fire the last two rounds point-blank into his gut.

G*n Kata’s the best.

This suits me better.

“Hey, are Mayu and Kimi the bosses here?”

“…Huh?”

I swing out the cylinder, dropping casings, asking the guy I shot in the head’s side.

He’s collapsed, probably from shock.

The others are dead or dying, unlikely to answer.

“Speak.”

I load spares from my vest, urging him.

This move feels cool even to me.

Revolvers are awesome.

…Even if I can’t hit much.

“Y-Yes! They are!!”

He answers, teary-eyed.

The two from yesterday are the bosses… women leaders, rare.

“Huh, why’s that?”

“They… they were president and vice-president of our university club… so it just happened!”

College kids, as expected.

“Hmm, archery club or something?”

Done loading.

Takes forever when you’re not used to it.

“N-No, Mayu and Kimi did it in high school, I think, but we’re the tennis club!”

“Oh, where’d you get the bows?”

I snap the cylinder back.

“I-I don’t know! Kimi found them somewhere…”

“Got it. Where are they now?”

Click, I cock the hammer.

He’s too caught up to notice.

“I-I think they were both on the rooftop earlier…”

“Thanks.”

“…Huh?”

I shoot his forehead point-blank.

He slumps, face frozen in disbelief.

…At this range, even I can hit.

I swing out the cylinder, load one round.

Gotta collect the spent casings.

Might be useful, and these scum are enough trash to leave.

I finish off survivors and head to the corridor.

Time to clean the third floor before the rooftop.

Right out, I spot a figure near the stairs.

Long hair… a woman.

I holster the revolver and draw the wakizashi.

No point shooting at this range—I’d miss.

“You… did this?”

She speaks.

“Yeah… you Mayu or Kimi?”

I reply, and an arrow flies.

Quick from nocking to shooting.

No problem.

I knock it down with the wakizashi.

“…Mayu or Kimi?”

“What… why!? Why’re you doing this!?”

I close in, half-turned.

Limits her aiming spots.

Master drilled this into me.

One-on-one, face-to-face, I won’t screw up.

Her skill’s nowhere near Master’s.

“Why… just felt like it. Felt like wiping you all out.”

I slash another arrow.

Her aim’s precise, making it easier to counter.

“Tch… that’s it!? You killed all these people for that!? Murderer!! Murderer!!”

This arrow misses.

She’s shaken.

“…You’re the same, aren’t you?”

“Huh…?”

Almost in striking range.

“You killed because you wanted to, right? Women, kids, you had fun killing them, didn’t you?”

“…!!!”

I’m in range.

“So.”

I plant my foot, kicking off the floor.

“I’m.”

Her terrified face nocks another arrow.

“Killing you!!”

My wakizashi, fueled by my charge, pierces her solar plexus.

“Ka… hyu…”

I grab her bangs as she reels back, pulling her toward me.

Her pain- and fear-filled eyes meet mine.

“I love killing human scum like you. …Simple, right?”

“N-No… no…! Help, hel—”

“No way. I’m not listening to that.”

I twist the wakizashi 90 degrees, kick her torso, and pull it out.

She collapses on her back.

No surviving that.

“Repent until you die… if you’re lucky, maybe you’ll be a speck of plankton next life.”

“Gah!? It hurts…!! Aaaah!! It hurts!!”

I look down at her, clutching her stomach.

“So what? The art room woman endured worse… I’m not as twisted as you, so this is your pass.”

“Igi… th-that was Mayu… not me…”

So she’s Kimi.

“Tell your excuses to Enma. Don’t worry, Mayu’ll join you soon.”

Her breathing grows shallow and ragged.

It’s time.

“Why… in a place… like this…”

“Your own damn fault, idiot.”

“…Ah…”

Eyes wide, Kimi’s breathing stops.

One left.

※

“Tanakano-san, are you okay… blood splatter, good.”

Back at the stairs, I meet Kanzaki-san, cradling the machine gun.

“Whoa, Kanzaki-san, you look cool, like R*mbo.”

“Ugh, not flattered… so, the enemy?”

“Rooftop’s all that’s left. Final cleanup… let’s go.”

“Yes!”

We climb to the rooftop.

The entrance is a battered door.

No windows, so I can’t see what’s up there.

…Something’s blocking it from outside—it won’t open.

“Step back, cover your ears.”

Kanzaki-san steps in front.

I comply, and her machine gun roars.

Ugh, even with ears covered, it’s loud!

Rattles my guts!!

I kick down the now-perforated door and rush out.

If arrows are aimed, Kanzaki-san can’t block them.

As expected, I knock down an incoming arrow.

Gunfire from behind.

“Gya!?” “Fugu!?” “Gah!?”

Three bowmen in front collapse.

I scan—enemies only ahead.

Two men, one woman left.

That’s Mayu!

Her face from yesterday—I won’t forget!!

I leave the rear to Kanzaki-san…

“Rear clear!”

Reliable!

“Hey there!! Just a passing jobless guy!! Now die!!”

I yell, charging forward.

The three scramble to fire second arrows.

I throw the wakizashi at the right man.

A shuriken at the left.

I rush straight in, empty-handed, cutting the scabbard’s mouth with my left hand.

Dodging Mayu’s desperate arrow, I step in, right hand on the hilt.

“Nuuuaaaahhh!!”

I twist my hips, open my stance.

My iaido draw, fueled by rotation, slices through Mayu’s torso with a sharp whistle and a spirited yell.

“Gyaa!?”

Blood and guts spray as Mayu collapses spread-eagled on the rooftop.

“Agh!?” “Gyu!?”

Gunshots behind.

Kanzaki-san finished the men I hit with the wakizashi and shuriken.

“Ugh… gah, aaaah!!”

I approach Mayu, writhing and clutching her stomach.

“Hi, h-help, help me!!”

“No chance. You die as is.”

I spit coldly at her pleading.

“Why… why this… no, no… I don’t wanna die…”

Her face pales rapidly.

Blood loss, probably.

She’ll stop feeling pain soon.

“You killed defenseless kids, didn’t you? Mothers shielding them… this is just that coming back to you.”

“What… just… for that…?”

Rage I’d suppressed erupts.

My vision turns red.

“Just for that… just for that!?! You bastard… damn you!!!”

I yank the revolver from its holster, aim, and fire.

“Don’t screw with me!!!”

Gunshot.

“You’re not human!!!”

Gunshot.

“Lower than zombies, scum!!!”

Gunshot, gunshot, gunshot.

“You didn’t care, did you!? After all that, you felt nothing!! You… you!!!”

“Tanakano-san!”

Arms wrap around me from behind, snapping me back.

“She’s dead.”

Kanzaki-san’s voice.

“No more…”

Click, click.

My index finger keeps pulling the trigger like it’s possessed.

The gun’s long empty.

Mayu’s face, hit by five bullets, is lifeless.

“Am I… the crazy one?”

I mutter.

“Is it just that… am I wrong to be this angry?”

The park flashes in my mind.

“No… no!”

Her arms tighten around me.

“I’m the same… I’m furious too!! They’re the crazy ones!!!”

…Her warmth through my back brings reality back.

Haha, what was I thinking?

“…Thank you, Kanzaki-san.”

I did what I wanted.

The dead won’t return.

Maybe it’s just self-satisfaction.

Still, letting them live wasn’t an option.

If they lived, they’d cause another tragedy like that mother and child.

The corpses haunt my mind.

I couldn’t let that happen again.

“‘Not a life born to be spilled…’ huh.”

“Huh…?”

I recall a manga line.

Yeah, by killing them here, I saved lives that would’ve been spilled.

Stupid self-justification, maybe, but it’s enough for now.

That’s all I need.

“…By the way, pretty passionate, huh, Kanzaki-san?”

“Ah… eek!”

I tease, and she jumps back, realizing our position.

“Haha, if you don’t like it, don’t do it! Haha!”

“N-No… it’s not like that!!”

Stammering Kanzaki-san’s back.

Been a while.

Alright, cleanup’s done.

Let’s head back.

This town should be peaceful now.

…Survivors are near zero, though.

“I’m okay now, thanks to you. Let’s wrap up and go.”

I holster the revolver, turn, and tell Kanzaki-san.

“…Yes!”

She smiles, face red.

…Corpses everywhere, but it’s a great smile.

※

“…Alright, done!”

“Finished here too.”

I meet Kanzaki-san, holding a fuel can, on the first floor.

We head to the courtyard, and I light a cigarette with my lighter.

Kanzaki-san leans in with her cigarette.

Oops, her lighter’s dead again… gotta stock more.

Our cigarettes touch, and I puff to transfer the flame.

…Wait, I could’ve lent her my lighter!

Oh well.

We savor it, then I toss the lit cigarette into the front entrance.

It lands on the glistening floor, and fire snakes inside like a living thing.

Explosions echo, and soon the whole school’s engulfed.

We used gas from their cars to set it ablaze.

Kanzaki-san placed explosives strategically, so it spreads fast.

The old wooden school burns well.

Fields surround it, so no worry about spreading.

We moved the victims’ bodies to the first floor’s hottest spot.

The art room woman too.

There was a body around Miku-chan’s age… I fought tears carrying it.

Kanzaki-san looked pained too.

Those bastards… I’d kill them again.

Too many to bury, so we cremated them with the school.

If we had heavy machinery like in Shiiya, it’d be different.

The scumbags’ bodies stay where they fell.

Don’t want to touch them, don’t care if they half-burn.

No point keeping this place.

No refugees, and a corpse-filled building might breed disease.

Kanzaki-san says the annex and gym will survive, so that’s fine.

“It’s getting dark. Let’s go.”

“Yes, Sakura-chan’s probably worried.”

“…Maybe mad. I’ll bathe with her to cheer her up.”

We climb into the same truck.

Medium-sized, tough.

Just a dented hood, still runs fine.

Comes in handy.

I confirm flames rising from the third-floor windows and hit the gas.

“…Oh, by the way.”

“Yes?”

“Even if I’m crazy, if you feel the same, that’s fine by me.”

“…Nya!?”

“Since we’re comrades… Kanzaki-san? You okay? Feeling sick?”

“…N-Nothing’s wrong…”

“…?”