Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 19: Expedition to the Next Town, Part 1

Chapter 19: Expedition to the Next Town, Part 1

“There’s a demon in you! And in this girl!”

The music and story sync up here—it’s so intense…

Wish I could shoot snake aura from my arms.

Wanna swing a massive nodachi all swooshy-like.

Today’s lineup is from the same studio as that pig movie.

A perfect hunk—looks and heart—who rides a deer, seeks a curse cure, and bonds with a wild girl in an epic adventure.

I’ve watched it as much as the pig one, and it never gets old.

That was awesome.

Riding a wolf would be so cool.

Next up, the sky castle one or the third-gen thief?

It’s the day after I lightly carved up that idiot blond, Riki-kun, and his crew.

Yesterday, I got home, cleaned my sword thoroughly, checked it, ate simply, and slept like a rock.

Woke up at 4 a.m. and recharged with my favorite movie.

Why?

I’m heading to the next town to find Sakashita-san’s mom.

Biggest trip since the zombie mess started.

Gotta get pumped.

It’s 8 a.m.

Got ready and hopped in the truck.

Gear, check!

Locks, check!

Watered the garden, check!

Hid the ladder, check!

Spare gas, check!

Bokken, check!

Sword, check!

Food and water, check!

Cigarettes, three packs—regular, emergency, spare—CHECK!!

Let’s roll!

I didn’t tell Yukiko-chan I’m looking for her mom.

If she’s dead or missing, it’d crush her.

Best to keep it Schrödinger’s mom for now.

…Totally forgot the shelter’s full…

She’s family, so maybe it’s fine?

If I grovel to Miyata-san with a carton, he might let it slide…?

Whatever, I’ll figure it out after finding her.

Drove east along the riverbank.

The next town’s upstream.

Sakashita-san’s mom’s hospital is in its center.

Normally a 50-minute drive, but who knows now.

As expected, the road’s littered with abandoned cars.

Luckily, it’s not fully blocked, so I’m weaving at about 40 km/h.

Dodging cars, zombies, and… stuff I don’t wanna look at.

Not bad progress.

…When gas runs low, siphoning from these cars could work.

I’m out of Shiiya City now, entering Akizuki Town.

Pastoral fields everywhere.

Fewer cars—nice and easy to drive.

Might get there faster than I thought.

Man, that’s some lush green.

Cabbages?

CABBAGES!?

Almost missed that!!

Found a path down the bank and hit the field.

Jackpot! Slightly overgrown, but cabbages!

Clear view, easy to spot zombies—none!

Grabbed five.

Marked the spot on the GPS.

No clue how long they’ll last, but scored vital vitamins!

Back to the truck and took off.

Grabbed a cabbage, peeled a few leaves, and ate.

Tough, but edible.

Crunch, crunch.

Delicious! Almost cried! But tastes like dirt!!

Should’ve washed it in the river!!

First fresh food in forever!

My body’s thrilled!

I love cabbage, could eat tons.

Breakfast: cabbage and salad-y chicken on the go.

I’ll grab more on the way back.

They’ll wither without care, so good timing.

Any tomato fields around?

My mini tomatoes need time.

“Hospital… that’s it, right?”

Munching cabbage, I reached the town center.

Took about an hour and a half.

But then, trouble.

Just before the hospital, the road’s completely blocked.

Tons of patients or people thinking hospitals are safe?

Two lanes, packed tight with cars.

I see a white hospital-like building in the distance.

GPS says it’s 500 meters away.

No detours.

Gotta walk.

Parked the truck in a house’s shade to keep the gas cans from vaporizing.

Sheathed my sword, grabbed my bokken, and started walking.

Dodged or dispatched zombies stumbling from car shadows.

Passed looted convenience stores and supermarkets—nothing good left.

As the hospital came into view, I spotted green military vehicles.

At the main gate, figures in camouflage with long rifles.

This shelter’s under SDF control?

Miyata-san said their base fell, but survivors are here?

One SDF member at the entrance spotted me, aimed, and shouted.

“Stop right there! This shelter’s full!!”

Déjà vu much?

“Hey, I’m not staying! Just checking on a friend’s mom!”

Dropped my bokken, raised my hands.

Five rifles on me now.

Scary.

Flopped on my stomach, but they said that wasn’t needed, sounding sorry.

Embarrassing.

Then, probably from a radio call, a clearly strong, high-ranking SDF member came out.

Whoa… a jacked dude, rivaling Miyata-san.

But unlike Miyata-san’s bear vibe, he’s a sharp-eyed wolf.

Same height?

“Hello. I’m Lieutenant Hanada, in charge of this shelter.”

First Lieutenant—Captain in standard military terms?

Pretty high up?

Polite, good impression.

His eyes aren’t smiling, though. Spooky.

“Hello. I’m Tanakano from Shiiya. Like I told your subordinate, I’m here for a friend’s mom.”

Hanada-san glanced at my sword, narrowing his eyes.

“That’s…”

“Self-defense. No plans to draw it here.”

He nodded, satisfied.

Even if I were Musashi, I wouldn’t draw now.

I’d be a holey cheese corpse in seconds.

“So, why do you think your friend’s mother is here?”

“She said she’s a nurse here. Sakashita Mayumi-san, with a high school sophomore daughter.”

“Got it. I’ll have it checked. Wait in that tent. Kanzaki! Ask Tanakano-san about Shiiya’s situation.”

“Yes, sir!!”

Hanada-san headed back inside.

Kanzaki, the one who spotted me, called out.

Thought her voice was high—female soldier.

Cool beauty type.

Her movements scream martial arts training.

“Hello, I’m Sergeant Kanzaki. Tanakano-san, this way.”

“Oh, thanks for the courtesy.”

Kanzaki-san led me to a tent by the entrance.

Offered a chair, I set down my backpack and sat.

Didn’t want to trouble them for a drink, so I pulled out my water bottle.

Asked if I could eat—got the okay.

Pulled out a cabbage.

Lunch: half a cabbage and water.

Kanzaki-san’s eyes widened—didn’t expect cabbage.

She kept glancing.

Hungry? …Nah, probably just weirded out by a guy munching raw cabbage.

While eating, I answered questions about the city and shelters.

“Question from me—did Shiiya’s SDF base really fall?”

“We don’t have details, but no contact, so likely.”

“That radio urging indoor shelter—is it from the SDF?”

“No, it’s a government broadcast.”

Asked about zombification causes:

• • Incubation varies by person.

• • Bites always turn you, sooner or later.

• • No one’s survived a bite.

• • Here, bitten are isolated and dealt with if they turn.

Same as Miyata-san’s info.

At least the info’s consistent.

Also, like the police, the SDF’s cut off from other units, acting on their own.

…Is the government okay?

Hope it’s not already gone.

Then the tent got noisy outside.

Sakashita-san’s mom?