Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 5: The First Expedition

Chapter 5: The First Expedition

“It was a long, hard battle…”

That ossan’s corpse, left in the garden.

It’s only been… what, dead? Three days, so no stench yet, thankfully.

I loosened up the tension I’d built for scouting and dealt with the body.

No way I’m keeping that as yard decor.

I grabbed that ossan’s ankles, dragged him to his own garden, and laid him there.

I covered him with soil borrowed from his yard.

The spot was nicely sunken, so he disappeared under the dirt quick.

That’ll do for now.

He’s probably happy to rest at home.

I’ll burn some incense for him when I’ve got the time.

※

Refocusing, I set out to scout.

Today’s target: the blue-and-white striped convenience store nearby.

A bit over ten minutes’ walk from home.

Perfect for my first trip.

Plus, I need a cigarette ASAP.

Honestly, I want smokes more than food.

The fastest route is straight through the residential area—five minutes—but it’s got bad visibility and a school, so I’ll take the long way along the main road.

It’s up on the embankment behind the house, with a clear view.

If there’s a zombie, I’ll spot it instantly.

Climbing the embankment, nerves on edge, I saw exactly what I expected.

※

Overturned cars everywhere.

Chunks of what looked like human parts scattered on the road.

Bloodstains all over.

The sharp smell of gasoline and blood.

Plumes of smoke rising from fires in the town center.

A small part of me hoped this wasn’t a big deal, but that hope’s dead.

No need for the wallet I brought.

Sighing, I moved along the road.

Keeping my eyes peeled, I saw no zombies or living people.

It was so quiet, it felt like I was the last person on Earth.

My heavy clothes—out of place for the season—made me sweat buckets, but safety first.

I checked car shadows and interiors as I went.

In one overturned car, I spotted a figure and gripped my bokken.

Peering in, it was just a corpse, neck twisted backward, probably from the crash.

Guess dying in an accident doesn’t turn you into a zombie.

※

Looking down at the town from the embankment, I saw someone.

In a house’s garden, in the shade, facing away, head down.

Missing their left arm, right shoulder gouged out. Definitely not alive.

Looked like a middle-aged woman.

Swaying slightly, but not moving.

I picked up a fist-sized rock from the road and tossed it toward the street across from the house.

Thud—the rock made a loud noise.

“Aaaaaaaah!!!!”

She screamed, charged, and vanished into the shadows.

More screams like hers echoed from the same direction.

I crouched low, out of sight, catching my breath.

They react to sound.

And yeah, they’re not too bright.

The zombie obasan didn’t jump or dodge the hedge—she just barreled through it.

Guess that ossan wasn’t uniquely dumb.

Another piece of their behavior learned.

※

Keeping to spots with clear sightlines, I reached the convenience store.

One car in the parking lot, half-crashed into the store.

A figure in the driver’s seat.

Approaching quietly from behind, I checked—it was another corpse.

The store’s front glass was shattered, insides fully visible.

Lights were on.

No movement or bodies in sight.

I stepped in cautiously.

What a mess.

Shelves toppled like dominoes, magazines and food scattered on the floor.

The food racks had big gaps.

Looking at the counter, behind the smashed register was the cigarette shelf.

My brand was there.

Suppressing my excitement, I stepped carefully to avoid crunching glass and circled to the counter entrance.

A zombie was there.

Inside the counter.

A young woman in the blue-and-white striped uniform, straddling a male corpse in the same uniform.

Her back, visible to me, was torn open, pale skin and dark red ribs exposed.

“…!”

I gasped, and my boot crunched glass underfoot.

She slowly turned toward me—

In that instant, I swung my bokken down from high stance, full force.

The blow hit her head dead-on, sending a weird gong shock through my hands.

My wrists hurt. Gripped too tight. Should’ve wrapped the handle.

“Gh…”

She let out a faint groan, collapsed with a splat, and stopped moving.

For good measure, I hit her head again.

And the corpse beneath her, just in case.

Neither twitched.

※

I exhaled, easing my tension but keeping my stance.

The bokken had just a slight dent—no major damage.

It’s a damn good weapon.

Thanks to that ossan, my body moved well too.

Experience matters, huh.

Feeling this about it probably makes me a bad person, but whatever.

Before grabbing smokes, I checked the backroom.

Empty.

This store usually has a manager besides the part-timers.

I was a regular, so we’d exchange greetings.

Hope he escaped. Hope he’s okay.

I scanned the store slowly.

Nothing moving but me.

I slung off my backpack and started looting.

Cigarettes first.

I gave a quick prayer to the corpse and ex-corpse, stepped over them, and hit the shelf.

Grabbed my favorite brand, resisting the urge to light one, and took all eight packs.

Stuffed one in my vest pocket.

Found three cartons of my brand and two of my second-favorite under the shelf—into the backpack.

Grabbed all the lighters from the counter too.

Fire’s useful in a pinch.

Next, food.

Sandwiches, onigiri, and bento shelves were wiped out.

Someone beat me to it. Great minds, huh.

The snack aisle had some intact cans. Thankful for that.

Canned goods, vacuum-packed frozen food, sweet buns, instant noodles.

Some cookies and dry snacks too.

That’s about it.

I stuffed the backpack until it was bursting.

We’ve got a hand-pumped well for gardening, so no need for water.

Thanks, Mom.

I split some energy drinks and calorie bars between my vest pockets.

Fishing gear’s seriously clutch.

Thanks, Dad.

Got what I came for, so I bolted from the store.

Quick check around.

Spotted a few… things in the parking garage of the pachinko place next door.

I tensed, but they didn’t notice me, just standing there blankly.

Guess their eyes aren’t great. Lucky break.

※

I headed home a bit faster than I came.

No incidents.

Guess my good karma paid off, yeah.

Set up the ladder, climbed to the balcony, and pulled it up after me.

Inside, I ditched the helmet and boots, went downstairs, and dropped my backpack in the living room.

Sank into the sofa, pulled a cigarette from my chest pocket, and lit it.

Took a slow drag after three days.

“Aaaaaaah… so good… too good…”

Sinking into a dizzy, drunken haze, I sprawled on the sofa.

Ash fell on it—who cares.

I just wanted to savor this moment.