Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 30: Shelter Commuting

Chapter 30: Shelter Commuting

I must’ve been wiped out—I slept like a rock for over ten hours.

No fatigue, but I feel a bit feverish, probably from the injuries.

I wobbled a bit standing up, likely from oversleeping.

Checking the bandage in front of the mirror, the bleeding’s stopped.

My left shoulder’s almost pain-free, but my cheek still throbs.

Having my right eye’s vision blocked is such a hassle.

I struggled to rewrap the bandage to keep my eye free without reopening the wound.

…This’ll do.

I look like some sword-slaying rival from a jidaigeki, though.

This world’s just a yakiniku teishoku… wasn’t that a thing back in the day?

Bleeding’s stopped, but I’ll keep the bandage on the wound for now.

It’s just past 6 a.m.

Once people are up, maybe I’ll thank Miyata-san.

Time for a quick nap.

Goodnight.

…A bustle of voices and movement woke me.

8:30 a.m. Time to move.

I got ready, slung on my backpack, and left the infirmary.

Cops and refugees gave me startled looks as I headed to the staff room.

“Tanakano-san! Are you okay!?” 

Moriyama-kun spotted me and rushed over.

“Haha, my bad for the trouble…”

“Don’t worry about that! How’s your injury?”

“It hurts, but I’m managing.”

We chatted while walking.

…He’s a good kid when Kanzaki-san’s not involved.

Love’s blind, huh.

I’ve got zero experience in romance, so I can’t offer advice.

We’re not even that close.

“Tanakano-san! …You look well, thank goodness.” 

Miyata-san stood and approached as we entered the staff room.

“All thanks to my carelessness. Embarrassing… Thank you so much this time.”

“No, we owe you plenty. This is nothing…”

I bowed, but he waved it off—it’s about my pride.

“No, it seems I used up some medical supplies. Let me repay this debt properly.”

Bandages, disinfectant, probably antibiotics too.

In this situation, that’s a big deal, and it weighs on me.

To keep things mutual and my sanity intact, I need to settle up.

“I see… Well, once you’re back to full strength, I’ve got a favor to ask. For now, focus on healing.”

“Thank you.”

“We’ll support you as much as we can. You’re more valuable than you think, you know?”

Miyata-keibu got my point and reluctantly agreed.

I’m grateful.

Also, this glitch where my stock’s overrated needs fixing.

“By the way, does this school have a tech workshop?”

Apparently, there’s a big one.

Perfect, then…

“If I provide gasoline, can I use the electricity?”

I’ve got plenty stored at home.

It’s in a cool spot, but gas degrades, so better use it now.

They hesitated, saying it was too much, but I insisted, and they accepted.

They were happy to let me use the workshop.

Alright, I’ll head home, grab food and stuff, and come back.

They’ve been good to me, but I should bring my own meals.

Gotta water my veggie-kuns too.

Miyata-san and Moriyama-kun told me not to overdo it, but aside from my cheek, I’m fine.

Gotta move while I can.

I don’t wanna be a burden forever.

I told them I’d head home to prep and left the staff room.

“Onii-san!!!”

“Tanakano-saaaaan!!!”

At the entrance, Yukiko-chan and Ogahara-san spotted me.

In a flash, they flanked me.

What timing, damn it!

“I-I saw you carried in all bloody…!! I thought you were gonna die!!” 

Yukiko-chan clung to me, tears streaming.

“I heard from Sakashita-san, and I was so worried!!” 

Ogahara-san teared up, closing in.

You girls are too close!!

I’m touched you’re worried, but still!!

Wait—has my popular phase finally arrived!?

…What am I saying? They’re way younger.

That’s creepy, samurai-style.

Worrying about a friend is normal.

These girls are national-treasure-level good people.

…Hope idiots don’t wipe them out.

“Sorry for worrying you, Yukiko-chan. I’m okay now.”

“Sniff, with all those bandages!?”

“Head wounds look worse than they are…”

“Don’t be so reckless!!” 

Ogahara-san chimed in.

“Sorry, sorry, I’ll be more careful!”

A 30-something unemployed guy cornered by two high school girls.

This looks like a crime scene.

The stares around here sting.

With all these cops, I might get arrested.

Scary!!

Oh, there’s Harada-kun behind a pillar—baseball or track team, who knows!

What’re you staring at, punk!? Wanna go!?

I glared, and he bolted.

You’re not at fault, but you’re at fault!!

They figured I was leaving from my getup and begged me to stay, worried I’d get into more danger.

I can’t get caught up in stuff every time I go out… or can I!?

I promised to stay nights here and avoid risky stuff until my injury heals—not that I want to anyway.

With some chocolate bar bribes, they finally agreed.

Sweets are clutch—unemployed wisdom acquired!

I made it back home.

I unloaded the fishing gear from the truck and brought it inside.

Fishing comes after repaying the shelter.

My injury’s not healed yet.

I packed some canned food and instant rice.

Filled a small tank with well water.

While watering the garden, I made a DIY irrigation system from that gardening book I got at the bookstore.

Filled a tank with water, poked two holes—one for a wick, one for air.

Set it in the garden with the wick down.

It should drip water slowly.

Probably. Hopefully.

I’ll come back daily, so it’ll be fine.

I grabbed iron rods from the home center haul and steel plates from Dad’s DIY stash.

What was Dad planning with these plates?

No grinder at home…

I’ll bring an anvil and hammer too—school might have them, but just in case.

A hibachi grill and charcoal too.

Don’t forget the small stuff for sword maintenance.

Two 20-liter gas cans—still got six left.

Locked up tight and headed out!

Back at Yurei High in no time.

Thought about hitting a supermarket, but Kanzaki-san might kill me if I got hurt again.

I’ll hold off until I’m better.

Swallowed my tears and gave up.

First, I dropped off the gas.

Borrowed a school cart and hauled it to the fuel storage.

They’ve got diesel, gas, electric, and gas-powered generators here.

Impressive for a school—plenty for nighttime or emergencies.

I moved my stuff to the tech workshop.

It faces the schoolyard, so unloading was easy.

It’s right behind the bench where I did that ninja show.

Didn’t notice then.

I could’ve started work, but it was farming time, so I helped out.

A nearby cop said the gas was enough, but I insisted.

Gotta work visibly to avoid seeming unfair to the refugees.

Learned that as a jobless homebody.

I mixed fertilizer, tilled, planted seeds, and watered until noon.

After a quick lunch, I got to my own work.

Lit the hibachi, and like before, shaped iron rods into rod shuriken.

Clang, clang—the kids came running at the noise.

I told them to watch from a distance ‘cause it’s dangerous.

Then I spotted Kanzaki-san among them.

What am I saying, but where’s your job!?

I kept at it, shaping rods and grinding them on a whetstone.

Second time’s a charm—went way faster here than at home, no need to worry about noise.

Turned all the rods into shuriken.

Four times as many as before.

I poked around the workshop.

Found a grinder with interchangeable blades on a shelf.

Damn… should’ve seen this earlier…

Whoa! A lathe too!?

This isn’t even an industrial school—pretty hardcore…

Oh, right, this place had an industrial course ten years ago!

My friend went here—forgot about that.

Must be leftovers from then…

Anyway, I can use those steel plates now.

I drew a grid of squares on the plates with a marker.

Hooked the grinder to a generator via an extension reel, attached a cutting blade, and clamped the plates in a vise.

Sliced through them fast—way better than a hacksaw.

Churned out palm-sized squares in no time.

Marked shapes on them, cut roughly, then swapped to a grinding blade to refine.

Simple shapes, so it was easy, if tedious with the quantity.

Angled the edges and sharpened the tips for piercing.

Done!

Juuu-ji-shuuu-ri-keeenn (cat robot voice)

These are “cross shuriken.”

Unlike rod shuriken, my school uses these with a spin, so they’re stable and long-range.

Couldn’t make them at home without heavy tools.

Time to test them outside.

Kanzaki-san’s still here!? No work!?

Oh, you’re free now? Okay.

Her staring bugged me, but I shook it off and tested.

Power’s about the same as rod shuriken, but the spin makes them easier to throw.

They stick well—super handy!

“…Wanna try, Kanzaki-san?”

“Thank you.”

She was staring so much, I handed her one.

Whoa, she’s good!!

Sticking them perfectly!

What is this woman?

Her combat skills are insane.

She seemed to love them, so I gave her a rod shuriken and a cross shuriken.

She’s thrilled, but is that okay for a female Jieitai officer?

And there’s Officer Moriyama staring from the school shadows!!!

Come over here, it’s creepy!!

I beckoned, and he blushed and ran.

…That’s the wrong thing to be shy about, dude.

Anyway, for anti-human gear, rod and cross shuriken are set.

I’ll grab more materials from the home center.

Rods and plates are common enough to scavenge.

It’s getting late—time to clean up and rest.

No injured folks, so I can use the infirmary.

Nice…

Oh, I forgot my DVD player!

I’ll bring it tomorrow.