Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 33: The Survivor of North Elementary

Chapter 33: The Survivor of North Elementary

This is a park on a small hill in Shiiya City.

Just past 7 a.m.

I parked my truck and got out of the driver’s seat.

Kanzaki-san followed from the passenger side.

“Alright, first stop.”

“Yes, let’s do this.”

Yesterday, I drove to Yurei High early to pick up Kanzaki-san and headed here.

Miyata-san sent us off, stressing to stick to scouting and not push it.

Moriyama-kun gave me a damp glare from behind a pillar, but when Kanzaki-san looked his way, he paled and bolted.

…Is that guy okay?

He’s not some lovesick high schooler…

Whatever, focus on the job.

Why this park? It overlooks our target.

Shiiya City North Elementary.

About 400 students and staff, plus police and locals, totaling around 600.

More people than Yurei High’s shelter, but it went silent after a radio report of zombies flooding the school.

My alma mater…

What a mess…

It was fully renovated after I graduated, so no nostalgia left.

Time to work.

Pulled out a monocular from my pocket and aimed it at the school.

Found it at home—probably Dad’s from his birdwatching phase.

Checked its price online once and was shocked.

Guess my no-budget-for-hobbies style is inherited.

Kanzaki-san whipped out a beefy binocular.

Suits her…

No people in the schoolyard, but chunks of reddish-black flesh and stains are everywhere.

Even without the monocular, the yard’s red.

A massacre went down.

The school’s entrance is blocked by four stacked patrol cars.

…Not for escape—deliberately sealed.

“To keep zombies in…?”

“Likely. They foresaw collapse and acted. Bodies in the driver’s seats.”

“Insane resolve…”

“True police spirit.”

Honest people dying nobly.

Can’t mimic that.

Don’t want to, but I respect it.

“Schoolyard’s empty of survivors, inside is…”

Muttered while focusing on the three-story building.

Some curtains are drawn, blocking views, but a few classrooms are visible.

There—survivors… no, zombies.

Mangled humans standing blankly in classrooms.

First time seeing kid zombies…

Gotta fight if they come, but I’d rather not.

“Looks like all the classroom ones are zombies.”

“From what we can see, yes.”

“Total wipeout…”

The gym to the left of the building… no good, door’s smashed.

Packed with zombies.

They barely move in daylight—creepy in its own way.

Aggressive ones would be worse, though.

No survivors in sight from here…

Can’t see the back, but it’s grim.

No sign of that blond gang I sent here…

Wait, there they are.

Tattooed goons in the gym.

So they came here… I’m not at fault, but don’t haunt me.

I’ll smack you down if you do.

Found them, but no living survivors.

Everyone’s dead or zombified.

Time to move to the next shelter.

“Tanakano-san! Check the rooftop.”

Rooftop?

North Elementary didn’t have one…

Oh! The renovation added it!

My bad, stuck in old memories.

Rooftop, rooftop…

The fenced rooftop is accessible from the building.

Nice setup.

Grass, benches—a chill spot.

Huh?

Something by the water tower…

“There’s… a tent-like thing.”

“Could be survivor traces.”

Hmm.

Looked closer—the door from the building to the rooftop seems boarded up.

Someone made it up there.

Focused on the water tower, max zoom.

Green tent, shoes beside it.

Two pairs… maybe?

Bad angle, so I shifted.

There! Backpacks, cardboard boxes.

Boxes look like disaster supplies, like ones I know.

Can’t read the text.

Rope stretched from the tower to the fence, clothes hanging—kid-sized.

The tent moved!

Someone’s coming out.

“A girl… maybe? What do you think, Kanzaki-san?”

“Long hair, likely a girl…”

Too far to see her face, but she’s definitely elementary-aged.

No way! Surviving alone!?

What grit… mentally tougher than me.

Kept watching from different angles—seems it’s just her.

She ate breakfast outside, then returned to the tent.

Saving energy?

“Didn’t expect a survivor, let alone a kid…”

“She seems awfully calm for this situation.”

Wanna help her, but how?

The building’s zombie-infested, and the entrance is sealed.

Banging on the door would draw them—schools echo like crazy.

One zombie’s nothing, but 100 or 200? I’d be crushed.

She’s alone, so food and water last longer, but she’s on borrowed time.

Think… think, my brilliant brain… any ideas…?

…Oh? If that and that line up, I could use that spot…

Might work.

It’s the only shot.

Gotta contact Miyata-san.

Turned on the truck’s radio, and Kanzaki-san connected to the shelter.

“A kid, alone!?”

“Hard to believe, but I saw her. She’s alive.”

“But what to do… even sending all our cops…”

“Got an idea.”

“What?”

“I’ve got a plan.”

“You sure about this?”

Kanzaki-san asked, worried.

Don’t wanna, but some things you gotta do.

If she were an adult, I might’ve hesitated, but a kid? Different story.

Letting an innocent kid die would haunt me.

Not like she’s being eaten right now.

I’ll do what I can.

If I fail, only I die.

Worth the gamble.

“I should go…”

“No, Kanzaki-san, I need you for backup. You’re support, right?”

“Well… yes. Be careful.”

“If it goes south, take the truck and run. Here’s the key.”

“Don’t jinx it!”

Yikes… she’s pissed.

Just a suave joke…

Can’t risk Kanzaki-san—she’s way more valuable.

Right person, right job!

Ditched all weapons but my sword to stay light.

Clothes on, obviously.

Grabbed rope from the truck bed and steeled myself.

Left Kanzaki-san at the park and headed down the hill to the school’s side.

The school’s surrounded by a 1.5-meter wall topped with a 2-meter fence.

Moved along the left wall to the gym’s side.

The gym’s roof is curved, peaking at the building’s third floor.

It’s linked to the first floor by a covered walkway, its roof at second-floor height.

Plan: climb the gym roof, cross the walkway roof, hit the second-floor balcony railing, and reach the rooftop.

Can’t cross the zombie-packed gym or building.

Too many unseen zombies.

No choice—this is the route.

Zombies can’t climb, I hope.

Gritted my teeth, climbed the wall, and scaled the fence.

Slipped down the other side quietly.

Spotted a maintenance ladder on the gym’s wall and used it to reach the roof.

Damn, it’s high.

Windy too.

Not afraid of heights—lucky.

Crouched and climbed the roof.

The top’s windier—nearly blew me off.

Phew, sat to rest.

Waved at a Kanzaki-san-like figure in the park.

…Feels like she’s glaring.

Focus.

The roof’s slippery, so I descended carefully.

Clanking boots, but no zombie reaction below.

Reached the walkway roof’s junction.

It’s a sharper triangle than the gym’s.

Tested its strength, stepped on the gutter, and moved.

Creaking sounds killed my nerves.

Made it to the building.

Now the real challenge.

The walkway roof aligns with the building’s front, but its edge is 50 cm from the balcony railing.

Roof → 50 cm gap → railing.

Flat wall, no footholds.

Fall, and I’ll break a leg.

No turning back.

Took a short run-up and leaped for the railing.

Yes! Grabbed it!

Left hand caught, swung right hand up, hugged the railing, and climbed.

Phew, made it… never again.

This classroom’s curtains are drawn—no zombie eyes.

Caught my breath, stood on the railing, and reached for the third-floor balcony’s ledge.

Light jump, grabbed it, and hauled myself up with all I had.

Guh! Up!!

One last push.

Same move from the third-floor balcony to the rooftop.

Massaged my arms, rolled my shoulders.

Here goes!

Then, a curtain twitched.

Wind or a zombie? No clue, but I locked eyes with a kid zombie.

Goddamn you!!

“KIAAAAAAA!!”

High-pitched zombie scream.

Dammit! So close!!

Scrambled onto the railing and leaped for the rooftop edge.

As I pulled up, glass shattered below.

Hurry! Hurry!

Felt a hand graze my boot but made it up.

Close call…

Below, zombie howls and thuds—some pushed off the balcony by the mob.

Looked up to climb the rooftop fence and saw a girl.

She came to check the noise, eyes wide, holding a wrench as a weapon.

We stared through the fence for a bit.

“Hey, hi, little lady… I’m here to help.”

I called out to her.