Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 21: The Drive with the Beauty and the Deadbeat

Chapter 21: The Drive with the Beauty and the Deadbeat

“So, you practice swordsmanship and iaido, huh? You seemed pretty skilled…”

“Nah, I just dabbled at a dojo. You, though, Kanzaki-san—that was impressive. Martial arts or something?”

“Rifle bayonet fighting. I’m better at it than shooting.”

“Oh, makes sense. Can’t exactly learn bayonet stuff as a civilian…”

“Tanakano-san, what’s your style, by the way?”

“Huh? Oh, just a bit of Nangun-ryu…”

“Nangun-ryu! First time meeting someone who practices it.”

“No way, you know it? Such a niche style…”

“I hear it has some unique techniques, like entangling moves and first strikes, right?”

“Yeah, it’s got a ton of tricky stuff… I’m shocked you know a style without even a wiki page…”

Driving to Shiiya City, I was chatting with Kanzaki-san about fighting techniques.

The cigarette thing broke the ice, and turns out she’s super into martial arts talk.

Who knew I’d discuss this with a woman? Life’s wild.

My iaido style’s pretty obscure.

Not some secret one-hit-kill assassin art—just too few students.

It’s supposedly ancient, but I’m skeptical.

Kanzaki-san mentioned unique techniques, but it’s nothing fancy.

Ambushes, first strikes, feints, projectiles.

Dirty tricks useless in fair matches.

But the style’s “do anything to survive” motto is handy now.

This chat’s easing the awkwardness of having a beauty in the passenger seat.

I can smoke, too! Perfect!

Out and back, smooth sailing!

Oh, crap, forgot.

“Kanzaki-san, mind if we make a quick detour?”

“Huh? Sure, go ahead.”

I veered across the lane to the riverbank.

Yup, the cabbage field from earlier.

Got five on the way, so I’ll grab five more.

Want more, but I can’t eat them all, and spoilage’s a pain.

Planning to try sauerkraut from that preservation book.

“Love cabbages, huh?”

Kanzaki-san chuckled.

She didn’t have to, but she helped me pick.

Such a hard worker.

“I’ve always liked them, but fresh food’s rare now… How’s the SDF handling it?”

“Rations and hospital vitamins. We’re starting a garden on the premises.”

A garden, huh…

My yard’s packed with lettuce, mini tomatoes, and potatoes—no space left.

…Wait, just remembered a small field nearby.

Could I borrow it?

Supermarkets and home centers still have seeds untouched…

Might as well try—nothing to lose.

Winter’s a problem.

Only know potatoes grow then.

Maybe raid pharmacies for vitamin supplements?

Or make dried persimmons?

“Tanakano-san, you’re… so normal.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, with the world like this… you’re so chill, natural.”

After driving a bit, Kanzaki-san said that.

“Hmm… I was already jobless before this. Family’s overseas, so it’s just me in Japan. Only thing to protect is my life, so maybe I’m just relaxed.”

“That’s… how it works?”

“Pretty lame answer, but probably.”

I analyzed myself.

That’s likely it.

“People are stronger when they have something to protect,” they say, but I don’t get it.

Is it inconvenient if someone with nothing to protect is strong?

The SDF’s got tons to protect—must be rough.

I feel for them.

Got peckish, so I munched a chocolate bar.

Offered one to Kanzaki-san—she ate it with a faint, happy smile.

Sweets are the best.

Chatting made time fly, and we hit Shiiya City quick.

Same old flipped cars, corpses, zombies, and flesh chunks.

Total post-apocalypse.

“Tanakano-san, is this road’s condition normal?”

“Yeah, hasn’t changed since I first went out.”

“Something’s off…”

Kanzaki-san muttered.

Something bugging her?

“Slow down a bit, please.”

I dropped to about 10 km/h.

“Look at the regular corpses and zombie corpses.”

Don’t wanna, but okay.

…Nothing stands out.

Corpses rot like that… ugh…

When I die, bury me, please…

Wait.

“Zombies aren’t rotting…?”

Normal corpses are gross, but zombie ones, despite damage, don’t decay.

“Like they’re pumped with preservatives…?”

“…!”

My mutter hit her funny bone—she burst out, then coughed to cover it.

Cute.

“Right. At the hospital, we buried zombie corpses quick, so I didn’t notice.”

Hmm, so zombies don’t rot?

Weird.

Some virus slowing decay?

Oh.

Then that ossan’s remains won’t rot either!?

If they surface, it’s a neighborhood scandal!

…Gotta re-bury him deep when I’m back.

Maybe plop a big rock on top?

Nah, too tiring.

“We don’t know what causes this. No contact with research labs…”

“Virus, mutation, or leaked bioweapon… like a B-movie.”

“Good thing zombies lack intelligence or superhuman strength.”

True.

I can half-ass it because zombies are brain-dead.

If they were like those new sprinting, wall-climbing zombie movies, I’d be screwed.

“Also, good thing this is Japan. If home centers sold guns like some countries, we’d be mobbed.”

“That country? It’s exactly like that. Heard it from the Lieutenant when we still had contact with higher-ups.”

For real?

Knew it…

Lots of looting there, too, I bet. Yikes.

“Tanakano-san, could we stop by your place first?”

“Huh? Why my house?”

Been driving a while when she said that.

I don’t have nukes or mechs stashed…

“The Lieutenant said we’ll likely work with you more. I want to know your location for emergencies.”

What!? The SDF trusts me that much!?

Why!?

Did Sakashita-obasan hype me up as a modern saint in that short time!?

What happened!?

“In this situation, someone acting alone and calmly is rare. We want to build a good relationship.”

Calm… me?

I’m a cool-headed superman now…?

Something’s off—my rep’s too high.

I caused a bloody mess with Riki-kun…

“If you’re okay with it…”

“Nah, if my dump’s fine, look all you want…”

I agreed, uneasy.

Could’ve said no, but sharing my address is fine.

If they wanted to turn it into a base, that’d be a no.

“Quite… an impressive house…”

We got to my place, and Kanzaki-san “praised” my nail-trap walls and boarded-up first floor.

…Is she freaked out?

It’s fine—safety’s top-notch!

“Sorry for the wait.”

Kanzaki-san logged my coordinates on some GPS thing, and we hit the road again.

Heading to the shelter.

Can’t wait to give Yukiko-chan her mom’s letter.

I checked with Kanzaki-san, then lit a cigarette.