Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 49: Exterminating the Vermin’s Nest (※Contains Cruel Depictions)

Chapter 49: Exterminating the Vermin’s Nest (※Contains Cruel Depictions)

After a solid night’s sleep, I check my gear before heading out.

I dampen the sword’s handle thread to prevent slipping.

Left wrist rod shuriken and right hip binder with cross shuriken—fully loaded.

Knee and shin protectors secured.

It’s 5 a.m.

Weather’s clear.

…Alright, let’s do this.

※

“Good morning, Tanakano-san. Shall we go?”

At the shelter’s school gate, Kanzaki-san and Miyata-san are waiting inside.

Kanzaki-san hops in the truck.

Miyata-san, head bowed, speaks heavily.

“Tanakano-san… please, come back safe.”

“Got it! Please hold the fort tight!”

I reply, and we set off.

He probably feels guilty asking a civilian to fight.

No need to worry.

※

“How do we attack, Tanakano-san?”

“Hmm… let’s scout the place first.”

I talk with Kanzaki-san in the truck.

The map shows the construction company borders a residential area.

Unlike the civic center, there’s no good sniping spot.

“This time, I’m with you! Definitely!!”

“Uh, yeah. I’ll try not to slow you down…”

Kanzaki-san gives me a sharp look.

So eager to charge in…?

※

We reach the company’s neighborhood and park the truck discreetly in the residential area.

We go on foot.

I move cautiously, but no zombies around.

Did those idiots clear them for fun?

Scum doing something useful for once.

Still wiping them out, though.

※

Slipping through houses, I spot the target.

“Kishima Construction”… here it is.

The site’s surrounded by stone walls and a fence, with a thick gate at the entrance.

Inside, I see an office building and a large warehouse.

…They’re sleeping in the warehouse, right?

Kanzaki-san and I circle the perimeter.

Possible entry… the back gate?

It’s just wired shut.

It’s early morning; no sign of them.

The parking lot has trucks, a dump truck, a power shovel, and a bulldozer.

…They seriously planned to attack with these?

They’d be swarmed by zombies before reaching the shelter.

Not exactly speed machines.

No one’s on watch, so we climb the back gate and infiltrate.

We check the office first.

Peering through the two-story building’s windows, it’s empty.

Just an open fridge in the vacant space.

We move to the warehouse, staying alert.

Its front has two large shutters and a door on each side.

Careful not to get too close, we circle to the back.

There’s some electrical panels but no door.

A vent and a narrow, horizontal window sit above my height.

No back door means no one’s coming out.

Perfect for a quiet strategy talk.

“I thought about blocking exits and pouring gasoline, but they’ve got blasting explosives…”

“That’s a guerrilla tactic… Those explosives need proper handling to detonate, but there’s always a chance.”

“No way those idiots store them properly.”

I want to check inside first.

If yesterday’s guy was honest, 19 are in there.

I press my ear to the wall.

…Nothing.

Sleeping, maybe?

Let’s check the front door.

We circle back the opposite way to the front.

The gap between the fence and warehouse is tight—too narrow for me and Kanzaki-san to walk side by side.

What’s that?

A pile of scattered black garbage bags ahead.

Food scraps? Smells awful.

I pinch my nose, passing by.

My foot catches…

A pair of eyes stares at me through a torn bag.

I brace for a zombie, but the pupils aren’t red.

Human eyes, wide with terror.

These are… their victims.

Toyed with and killed for fun.

All these bags are bodies.

Their shapes reveal arms, legs, heads.

Yesterday’s “exploits” flash back.

My head grows cold.

My body, too.

“Tanakano-san, what do we…”

A gasp behind me.

Kanzaki-san gets it.

My clenched fists creak.

They’re not human.

It was like this at the civic center.

No bodies then, so it didn’t hit.

I turn to see Kanzaki-san closing a corpse’s eyes.

Her lips, bitten white.

“Let’s go… Kanzaki-san.”

“Yes…”

I call out, moving.

My cold body burns from the heart.

My breath feels hot.

Filthy beasts.

I’ll slaughter them.

※

At the front door, I listen.

Faint snoring.

I turn the knob silently.

Kanzaki-san stands behind, rifle ready.

Reliable.

I ease the door open.

Multiple snores.

The stench of alcohol and cigarettes.

Cardboard boxes of relief supplies block the view.

I move quietly, peeking from behind.

The warehouse is littered with boxes, half-eaten food on the floor.

In the center, about 20 tatami mats are laid out, covered with sleeping bags and blankets.

Lumps rise and fall with snores.

Bottles and snack bags are strewn around.

Black cylinders lie in or near the bags.

Hunting rifles—six visible.

More could be hidden in the shadows.

I count 19 human shapes.

Matches yesterday’s info.

They’re fast asleep, so I scan further.

A keybox by the door holds several keys—likely for vehicles or machinery.

Kanzaki-san taps my shoulder, pointing to the opposite wall.

Brown sacks, like rice bags, line it.

My monocular reads “Industrial Explosives.”

…Blasting charges, just tossed there.

Interior checked.

Now, how to attack?

I want to charge in and cut them down, but that’s too risky without a plan.

Four or five, maybe, but 19’s too many.

They could be hiding weapons in the bags, making Kanzaki-san’s gunfire risky.

One good shot could kill or disable me.

Think… think…

Wait, if I use that…

※

“Pretty bold plan…”

“It’s the most effective… Could take them all out if it works.”

We step outside to talk.

They’re asleep, but could wake anytime.

Gotta move fast.

“This key… it’s the one.”

I climb into a parked mid-sized truck.

Fuel’s full, no issues.

It’ll work.

I insert a key from the keybox.

I grabbed all the keys, so even if we miss some, they can’t escape easily.

I spot Kanzaki-san by the warehouse.

I wave from the driver’s seat; she raises her left hand.

Ready.

“Here we go…!”

I turn the key, engine roaring.

They’ll wake up fast.

I slam the accelerator, shifting gears, speeding up.

In seconds, I cover 100 meters, the warehouse’s front shutter looming.

“DIE!!”

I grit my teeth, bracing.

A crash shakes my body.

The truck smashes through the shutter, debris and all, into their sleeping area.

I glimpse a few jumping up, stunned.

The truck mows them down, crashing into the opposite wall with a roar.

Seatbelt and helmet keep me fine, just dizzy.

I grab my sword, leap out.

Speed’s key now.

End this before they recover!

I lower my helmet’s visor, draw my sword.

The truck carved a bloody path through their beds, neutralizing many.

Groans and screams echo.

Some died with hands sticking out of bags.

“Ugh… what’s…!?”

A guy staggers up from an intact bed.

I slash his throat.

Kanzaki-san runs in, rifle raised.

“No!? Stop!?”

A gunshot—another guy’s head explodes.

“Don’t cross my line of fire!”

“Got it! Take the front!!”

I move opposite her aim.

“Gah…! You bastard…! Die!?”

A guy with crushed legs grabs a rifle.

I lunge, slashing his face diagonally, then stab his spine mid-air.

“Stop… save me…!?”

Screams from Kanzaki-san’s side.

No shots—she’s using her bayonet.

I kick down a staggering guy, slice his neck.

I stab another writhing nearby.

Scanning while moving, a rifle pokes from a bag ahead.

I dive diagonally as it fires, the bullet hitting the wall behind.

I slash the guy’s right wrist, disarming him.

“Gah!? Ugh!?”

I kick his face, snapping his neck back.

Steady gunshots and screams continue.

“Clear!”

Kanzaki-san’s side is done.

No one’s coming at me either.

The truck plan was insane.

Mass is unbeatable.

I wipe my sword on a blanket, sheathe it.

I draw the sword naginata for finishers—it’s easier for rough cuts.

As I signal Kanzaki-san, something moves in my peripheral.

A pile of blankets by the wall.

A guy emerges.

Cushioned by the pile, huh?

Lucky bastard.

Still dying.

“Don’t move!!”

He holds a lit Zippo.

Behind him… torn blasting charges!?

No way, more were hidden!?

I missed them behind the boxes…

“Drop your weapons!! You too, woman!!”

He glares, spitting orders.

“Do it, or I blow us up!!”

He’s desperate.

I don’t know the charges’ power, and he’s too far to rush.

Guess I’m desperate too!

“Alright…!”

“Guh!?”

I fake dropping my sword naginata, then kick it.

Nagumo-ryu Secret Technique: Flying Swallow (Minor Change Edition)!!

It flies straight, piercing his stomach.

I charge, keeping the kick’s momentum.

A gunshot.

His right hand jerks left, dropping the Zippo onto bare floor.

“Die!!”

I front-kick the naginata deeper into his gut.

“Guhhh!! Guhhhh…!”

He collapses, clutching his stomach, groaning.

“…That’s my favorite, but I’ll lend it to you for now.”

“It hurts… hurts… don’t wanna die… no… no…”

“Like I care. Die, die, die, you scum.”

The naginata pierced through his back.

He’s done for, but not instantly—a brutal wound.

Suffer, regret, and die writhing.

“Phew, saved my ass, Kanzaki-san.”

After he stops moving, I finish off a few still breathing with the retrieved naginata, then regroup with Kanzaki-san.

“It was a 50-50 shot. Thanks for moving.”

“Didn’t think the move would land so clean… We’re even.”

Kanzaki-san, bayonet bloodied, smiles.

Blood on her face, and she’s still stunning.

Beauty’s unfair.

All done, time for a smoke…

“Tanakano-san, no flames here.”

“Ugh…”

Lame ending.