Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 54: Storming Akizuki Town City Hall

Chapter 54: Storming Akizuki Town City Hall

“It’s like this…”

Hanada-san starts talking about the city hall.

“It’s likely still operational. The city hall’s managed by the local government, not us, so I don’t have details.”

“The local government? No coordination with the police or SDF…?”

“There was a plan, but with zombies and rioters causing chaos, communication systems collapsed, and contact personnel went missing…”

“Since the garrison was closest to this hospital, we’ve been tied up securing it and setting up the environment.”

Got it.

In the chaos, securing a base and housing evacuees took all their resources.

Makes sense—tons of people probably fled here.

“Uh, is the city hall close? I don’t know the area well…”

I relied on GPS the first time I came here.

“Oh, it’s that brown roof over there.”

Huh!? That one?

It’s maybe a kilometer away by sight.

That’s super close…!

“You think it’s close, don’t you?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“Do you remember how the road here was blocked when you came before, Tanakano-san?”

“Oh, yeah. It was a bit of a hassle… Wait, no way…”

Hanada-san nods.

“We’ve cleared the national highway, but the roads to the city hall are still clogged with vehicles… Roughly doubling the distance.”

No way… Did everyone in town try escaping by car?

“And worse, a zombie horde hit during the traffic jam. There are three routes to the city hall, but all of them…”

…Oof…

So, it’s a trek on foot through cars and zombie hordes…

This just turned into hard mode…

No wonder the SDF’s hesitating.

“Hanada-san, got any secret SDF personal jetpacks? Or a portable heli…?”

“Sadly, no such thing.”

I’m so desperate I’m spouting nonsense.

…Hm?

I thought I saw something toward the city hall…

I pull out my monocular and zoom in.

“What’s that… blinking lights? A signal?”

“It’s Morse code via signal lamp, sent daily at fixed times.”

Morse code, huh!

“So, you’ve decoded some of it!?”

“No, they don’t seem to know detailed signals… Every day, it’s just ‘SOS.’ We ask questions, but it’s always ‘SOS.’”

Ugh!

All they know is “help”…

But at least someone’s definitely still there.

“We’re trying to get there, but with the cars and zombies to clear… it’ll take time.”

Hmm, what to do…

Might as well check.

“Hanada-san, can I go up to the roof?”

※

With permission, I trudge up the stairs to the rooftop.

It’s a rural hospital, but eight stories with a helipad.

Definitely the tallest building in town.

Alright…

I pull out the monocular again and scan the town below.

Wow… zombies, cars, zombies, cars everywhere.

The roads are a total zombie samba.

Hmm…

Oh?

If that’s there and it works like that…

Go there, then…

Yeah… yeah…

Damn, looks like I can make it…

Here we go again…

※

“Via the rooftops…?”

“Regrettably…”

At SDF HQ—apparently the hospital’s central nurse station—I explain my plan to Hanada-san.

He’s giving me a “You’re kidding, right?” look, while Kanzaki-san’s got a “This guy again…” vibe.

I show Hanada-san my phone’s map app and break it down.

“From this warehouse on the hospital grounds, climb over the fence, hit the bus stop roof below, then go via the bus roof… to the bridge’s maintenance walkway.”

“It’s… technically possible, but…”

“Right? Then from the walkway, drop to this convenience store’s roof, and walk along the shopping arcade’s canopy…”

“…It’s true, the path connects… if you can call it a path.”

“Then you reach the city hall’s warehouse, and from there, straight to the second floor!”

It’s a crazy plan, and I’d rather it wasn’t doable, but I found a route, so no choice.

It’s a path the group-oriented SDF wouldn’t spot.

“So, please watch my truck for a bit. I’m heading out.”

“…You’re really going?”

“I found a doable route. If I don’t go now, I’ll regret it later…”

It’s my annoying nature.

I’d rather regret going than regret staying.

“Plus, if I fail, it’s just me who—”

“Tanakano-san!!”

“SORRY!!”

Kanzaki-san’s terrifying glare shuts me up.

Yeah, I should drop that joke…

※

“You’re really coming, Kanzaki-san…?”

“Of course! Left alone, you’d throw your life away!!”

“Uh, Hanada-san… is this okay…?”

“Haha… I’m counting on you, Tanakano-san.”

Yeah, yeah, I get it.

…So that’s how it is.

Fine, let’s do this!

Operation name: “Cherish Life!”

Unlike North Elementary, the path ahead’s unclear, so sudden zombie fights are likely.

I’m taking the bokken, sword naginata, and shuriken.

I strap the bokken to my back with cord.

The Japanese sword and backpack stay with Hanada-san.

“Yagyu-style mounting… fine taste. I’ll keep it safe. Be careful.”

Hanada-san’s got a deep martial arts streak too.

Like boss, like subordinate…

I climb the warehouse roof to the fence.

Scramble over, then drop to the bus stop roof below.

It makes a loud noise, but the SDF’s cleared this area, so it’s fine.

Kanzaki-san follows with a tenth of the noise.

…So capable, so capable!

I hop onto the bus roof, then approach the bridge’s maintenance walkway.

A short run, then jump.

I grab on.

Now we’re in zombie territory.

Below, a mass of zombies crowds the bridge.

They can’t climb, but if they notice us and follow, it’s trouble.

I wrap a towel around my boots to muffle sound.

I move carefully, silent.

…Kanzaki-san’s making no noise without any towel.

…Am I even needed?

No, no, what am I thinking?

I can’t let Kanzaki-san go alone while I chill.

The Olympics are about participating, right?

…That makes no sense.

I walk over zombies, jumping from the bridge to the convenience store.

It’s one street’s distance, but the height difference makes it reachable.

I forward-roll on landing.

Ouch! The bokken jammed my back!

…Kanzaki-san’s roll is flawless.

Even with a gun, she avoids hitting it…

On the way back, we can’t jump up, but overturned cars make a barricade to climb back to the bridge.

Alright, the real deal starts now.

The shopping arcade’s canopy stretches ahead.

I climb a ladder on the greengrocer’s wall next to the convenience store, reaching the roof.

From here, we can move via rooftops.

I peek over the roof’s edge.

Quick scan.

No zombies.

I climb up and check the next roof.

…Three buildings down, a fallen figure.

From here, I can’t tell if it’s a corpse or zombie.

Gotta keep going…

I move one building and check again.

…It’s rotting.

A corpse, then. Good.

…Not good, but you know.

I offer a quick prayer, pass by… an upper-body zombie in the shadows!!

I instinctively stomp its neck with my boot, feeling a dull snap.

It exhales and stops.

Close call… no time to draw the bokken.

I pull it from my back anyway.

…Not a ninja, so it’s a bit tricky.

Gotta practice.

I glance at Kanzaki-san and move on.

We reach the middle of the shopping arcade.

Halfway to the city hall.

Good spot to rest.

I sit on the sports store’s roof.

“Phew… let’s take a break, Kanzaki-san.”

“Okay.”

No zombies, and the canopy muffles noise downward.

I pull out a cigarette and try to light it… no flame!?

I try a few times—just sparks.

…Damn, out of oil.

“Here.”

Kanzaki-san, already lit, offers her cigarette.

“Uh… could I borrow your lighter…?”

“Mine ran out too. So, here.”

What… I’ve only done this with guy friends…

This won’t count as harassment, right…?

I nervously touch my cigarette to hers, puffing to light it.

Wow, her lashes are long… like a model…

I’m so flustered… embarrassing…

The cigarette hits harder than usual.

Am I a middle school boy!?

My face feels red.

Seriously, doesn’t Kanzaki-san realize she’s a beauty?

※

After a barely restful break, we move on.

We navigate rooftops with height differences, sometimes creeping along flimsy canopies.

Luckily, no zombies, so we reach the arcade’s end safely.

The three-story city hall looms ahead.

The grounds are packed with zombies.

The main entrance and first-floor windows are boarded up from inside.

No signs of a breach.

There might be survivors.

The signal lamp came from the third-floor window, now curtained.

I sprint from the arcade’s end and jump.

I land on the flat roof of the city hall’s warehouse, rolling forward.

…Yes! No back jab this time! …I feel the growth!

Look, Kanzaki-sa… Kanzaki-san’s slipping!?

Her foot’s on a plastic bag.

Did she land on it by chance!?

I rush over, grab her right arm, and pull her toward me.

We collapse on the roof, practically embracing.

She smells amazing!

※

Gah!? The bokken! It jabbed me!!

Divine punishment!?

God, why!!

“S-S-Sorry, Tanakano-san…!”

“No, no, it’s nothing, nothing at all.”

Kanzaki-san, face red, scrambles up.

It was embarrassing, but she’s helped me so much, it’s fine.

More like a perk!!

…Man, I’m being super creepy today…

Pent up or what?

…Focus, focus, clear your mind!

I take a deep breath, calm down, and stand.

After all this, we just walk the roof and knock on the second-floor window.

I start walking, avoiding Kanzaki-san’s tomato-red face.