Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 41: Post-Battle Cleanup and Rest

Chapter 41: Post-Battle Cleanup and Rest

“I’m… so sorry…”

“…”

“Please, forgive me…”

Right now, I’m prostrating myself in the civic center’s hallway before Kanzaki-san.

She’s standing tall, arms crossed, glaring at me with an absolute-zero stare.

I might freeze solid at this rate.

How did it come to this?

※

Earlier, I was sitting there, covered in blood, dazed and smoking a cigarette.

Kanzaki-san, thinking I was half-dead, rushed over in a panic, laid me down, and tore off my jacket without a word.

“I’m fine! I’m not hurt!!” I shouted, but she ignored me, stripping my upper body bare in no time.

She frantically patted me down, tears in her eyes, until she realized I was unharmed and froze.

Then, her face turned bright red, she stood up abruptly, and glared at me with resentment, leading to this moment.

…Does this count as sexual harassment?

“Look, I was just tired from everything… sorry for the misunderstanding.”

“I was really, really worried!”

“Sorry, sorry, please forgive me!”

“Ugh, honestly! Tanakano-san, you idiot!!”

I kept bowing like a grasshopper for a while.

Kanzaki-san, cheeks puffed out, finally forgave me.

What’s with that girly move?

Cute.

Oh no, bad thought.

※

“…Anyway, the hall’s cleared. How’s outside?”

With her forgiveness, I stood, putting my clothes back on, and asked Kanzaki-san.

“…Just corpses.”

Excellent.

The city’s a tiny bit cleaner now.

I picked up my sword from the floor.

…Yikes, no warping, but the blade’s badly chipped.

I hacked through some bones, so no surprise.

Even for a cheap one, it held up well under all that abuse.

I wiped off the blood and sheathed it.

Sharpening it in this situation’s tough…

I’d try myself, but I don’t have a proper whetstone.

The one I’ve got is some shoddy farm-tool sharpener.

…Guess I’ll head home and swap it for another.

That one was pricey, but no choice.

“Kanzaki-san, you seem capable of anything—can you sharpen blades?”

“What do you think I am, Tanakano-san…?”

A cool, perfect superhuman… maybe?

※

I pulled myself together and looked around the hall.

Gotta recover my cross shuriken and sword naginata.

We collected all the pistols and ammo to prevent misuse, but no police notebooks turned up.

I reluctantly checked the bodies—nothing, so they probably tossed them.

Utterly deplorable scum.

The clothes and food in the guardroom… I don’t want to touch them.

Kanzaki-san clenched her fists, staring at the schoolbag.

“Kanzaki-san, I don’t want to take this stuff back… might be soft, but…”

“…I feel the same. Let’s just report it and leave this place as is.”

We can scavenge elsewhere.

This isn’t the only spot for supplies.

“To everyone killed by those scum, we sent them all to hell. Rest in peace…”

I put my hands together toward the pile of clothes, and we left the hall.

※

Kanzaki-san said she had something to do and went back inside.

I offered to help, but she said it wasn’t much and told me to take a break and smoke.

I’ll take her up on that.

I sat on a bench at the entrance, smoking slowly.

As I debated lighting a third cigarette, Kanzaki-san returned.

Must’ve been a quick errand.

We stepped out to the parking lot from the main entrance.

Fake cop bodies were scattered everywhere.

Seven in total.

With the ones I took out, that’s thirteen—complete wipeout.

Incredible… all headshots…

She hit moving targets from 100 meters away!?

I knew she’d win, but this is overwhelming…

Kanzaki-san’s unreal!!

Gotta stay on her good side!!

Oh no, I already pissed her off!!!

Please spare my life!!!!

※

Back at the parking garage, I dumped the pistols into my backpack.

I don’t know how to handle ammo, so I handed it all to Kanzaki-san.

A misfire in my bag would turn me into Swiss cheese.

Leave it to the experts.

Finally, we can head back…

…Oh! What about the hall?

Leaving it as is could let someone else misuse it.

We left the police uniforms behind too.

Should we go back and burn them or something?

I asked Kanzaki-san, and she said it’s fine.

She checked her watch and muttered.

“It’s almost time. Let’s watch from here.”

Huh? What—

A deep rumble hit my body.

All the hall’s windows shattered inward, followed by a massive explosion and shockwave.

Flames and dust burst from every window.

I stood stunned as the building was engulfed in black smoke and fire.

“…Whoa… whoa…”

The civic center became an ex-civic center in seconds.

“No one’s reusing that now.”

“What… what was that!?”

“I tampered with the boiler for the generator. And the fuel system for extra spread.”

Boilers explode like that!?

The explosion’s wild, but Kanzaki-san’s even wilder!!

Doing that in such a short time!?

…Who is this woman?

“Aaah!!” “Ooooh!!!” “Eeeeee!!!”

Zombies poured from nearby buildings, their windows shattered by the blast.

Those that fell from high up didn’t move, but the rest ran toward the hall.

Whoa… over 100, easily.

The hall’s definitely done for.

“The zombies in this area are drawn there. Let’s retreat now.”

“Aye, aye, Captain!”

“Stop that.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

With mixed feelings, I headed back.

No zombie encounters—their attention was on the hall.

※

I got in the truck and started the engine.

“Whoa!?”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m a total splatter mess!?”

“…Now you see why I panicked?”

The mirror showed me drenched in blackish blood.

What a sight… freaky.

I can’t go back to the shelter like this.

I’d give Miku-chan lifelong trauma.

Worst case, she’d cling to me koala-style forever, never letting me leave.

…I need to stop by home to wash and change.

“Um… Kanzaki-san, sorry, but…”

“You’re stopping by your place, right? Go ahead. I’d have stopped you from going to the shelter like that.”

Quick understanding—lifesaver!!

I floored it and headed home.

※

Back at my castle after so long!

My home welcomed me unchanged.

The garden veggies are growing steadily.

The makeshift waterer I set up is still supplying water fine.

This’ll take a while, so I invited Kanzaki-san in.

We went up to the second floor via the balcony and down to the living room.

All the weird stuff’s in my bedroom, so it’s safe.

“It’s a shabby place, but make yourself at home. Watch a movie or something. Here’s some well water.”

“No, no need to fuss… Wow, that’s a lot of DVDs.”

Kanzaki-san was amazed at the DVDs crammed into the living room shelf.

I led her to the sofa, told her to watch whatever, and headed to the bathroom.

Oh, crap, forgot my clothes.

I’m not alone—can’t do a naked carnival now.

I grabbed a top and bottom from the fishing store, the sci-fi inner layer from the bike shop, and underwear, then went to the bathroom.

I filled a tub with well water, soaking my clothes, and the water turned deep red.

Yikes… like a horror movie.

I washed myself, glancing at it.

Ugh, freezing!! Well water’s ice-cold!!

What about winter baths…?

Gotta figure out how to heat water… I’ll freeze otherwise.

Maybe check the home center again.

I scrubbed my head thoroughly, feeling refreshed.

Not quite post-hot-bath glow, but way better than Splatter Ichirouta.

The blood was mostly blocked by my clothes, which helped.

The vest and outer clothes are ruined, though.

No matter how much I scrubbed with detergent, the bloodstains stayed.

…Gotta ditch everything but the inner layer.

Good thing I grabbed spares from the fishing store.

I’ve got a backup vest at home too.

※

Still shivering from the cold bath, I returned to the living room to find Kanzaki-san asleep, leaning on the sofa.

The DVD player’s light illuminated her face, softer and younger than usual.

How old is she? Never asked—feels rude for a woman.

Early twenties… mid-twenties? Hard to tell with young women.

She had a rough day too.

Not slashing up close like me, but she fought seven of those scum in a shootout.

I’ll let her sleep.

I tiptoed to my room to avoid waking her.

※

Sitting on my bed, I checked my beloved sword.

The blood’s cleaned off, but the chipping’s bad.

It won’t snap yet, but the edge is duller than before.

I thanked my sword for its service and pulled another from the wardrobe, wrapped in a sword bag.

Untying it revealed the second-priciest of my three swords.

The “bamboo” in my pine-bamboo-plum ranking.

Unlike the plain black “plum” scabbard, this one’s a refined black lacquer.

The segmented, glossy scabbard reflects light like a snake’s belly.

Inspired by a one-eyed swordsman from a period drama, I had a sword dealer customize it as a faux-Yagyu style.

The blade’s unsigned but quality, and the fittings cost way more than the “plum.”

I considered a Satsuma style, but it’s not suited for iaido, so I passed.

This one’s 2 shaku 4 sun 5 bu long—about 12 cm longer than the 2-shaku “plum.”

At my height of 178 cm, it’s better suited.

I’ll need to train with this length, so I’ll borrow the shelter’s judo dojo.

I wrapped the old sword in the bag and stored it in the wardrobe.

Good job, buddy. I’ll revive you if I find a sharpening method.

Rest for now.

The “pine” sword stays untouched.

It’s pricier than the other two combined—too scary to use.

This “bamboo” is plenty practical.

…I’d rather not need it, but with so many idiots out there, I have no choice.

With my new partner in hand, I went downstairs.

Kanzaki-san was still fast asleep.

Plenty of time left.

I approached to cover her with a blanket, but at about a meter, her eyes snapped open.

Eek!? Is she Golgo 13!?

She recognized me and blushed slightly.

“Sorry, Tanakano-san. I must’ve dozed off.”

“It’s fine. It was a rough day… Wanna rest more? I’ll be upstairs.”

I stopped her from standing as she tried to get up.

“No, I can’t impose that much…”

“You’re the star of the show today. Impose all you want.”

No joke, I might’ve died without her.

Forget the sofa—I’d offer my sister’s bed.

Sorry, sis, you’re cool with that, right? Not waiting for an answer.

“Alright… then, I have a request…”

“Anything! Name it!”

“Um…”

Kanzaki-san’s request was to use the bath.

The shelter has a makeshift bath, but with so many evacuees, it’s not daily.

Makes sense for a woman to care about that… I should’ve offered first.

My ruined clothes are still in there, though.

I told her the water’s cold well water but she could use any shampoo or stuff, then went to my room.

I lounged, reading a classic cat-robot manga by my pillow.

Still fun as an adult.

After a bit, Kanzaki-san called up, looking refreshed.

She offered to wash and replace the bath towel.

No need to worry… or maybe it’s better that way.

Saying I’d wash it sounds kinda pervy.

I picked some Miku-chan-safe DVDs from the shelf, got ready, and we left.

“By the way, Tanakano-san, that’s… a Yagyu scabbard, right?”

…Kanzaki-san never misses a beat!!