Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 6: Geography and Exploration Plans

Chapter 6: Geography and Exploration Plans

Sprawled on the sofa, savoring the cigarettes I nabbed on my first scouting trip.

Goddamn, this hits so good.

My head’s clearing up fast.

Now that I’m calm, let’s rethink the situation around me.

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I live in Shiiya City, a regional hub with just over 200,000 people, the second biggest in the prefecture.

It’s smack in the middle of the prefecture, split by a big river into North and South Districts.

My place is in a small residential area in the northernmost part of South District.

Down the embankment I took to the convenience store, there’s a riverbank and a small park.

The train system’s pretty basic—only lines to the prefectural capital or southern cities.

Locals mostly use cars, buses, or taxis.

Within walking distance, I’ve got four convenience stores, including the blue-and-white striped one I hit up.

Plus a drugstore and a small supermarket.

Thinking about it, that’s plenty to keep me alive.

City life, hell yeah!

What? Not a city? Shut up—if it’s got trains, buses, and taxis, it’s a city!

※

Right then, the lights went out.

“Whoa!”

With all the windows shut, it’s pitch black even in the daytime.

I fumbled for the desk lamp switch.

No response.

“Ugh… power’s out.”

It’s day four since my first zombie run-in.

Something must’ve happened at the power plant or the lines.

Either way, electricity’s gone.

Good thing I ate all the fridge’s fresh stuff.

If the town’s in the same boat, fresh and frozen food’s gonna spoil fast.

I lit my Zippo and grabbed a candle from the Buddhist altar shelf.

Lit it and stuck it on a random plate.

“Power went out quicker than I thought…”

Muttering, I lit a second cigarette with the candle.

Farewell, DVDs.

Farewell, gaming console.

Guess I’ll read books by candlelight from now on.

Future scouting trips need to focus on canned and preserved food.

Schools, city halls, or hospitals probably have stockpiles, but they’re likely survivor shelters by now.

Like I said before, I’m not joining any group yet.

Being alone’s too damn easy.

Plus, in places like that, a healthy, single guy like me? I’d get roped into heavy labor or supply runs, no question.

Doing stuff for myself is fine.

But busting my ass for strangers? Not my thing.

“You’re young, so do it.”

“It’s all about helping each other.”

“Hard work when you’re young is worth its weight in gold, right?”

Heard that crap all the time at work.

Now? It’d be a million times worse. Guaranteed.

Jobless, and I’m still dodging work.

That’s why solo’s the best.

Less food and supplies needed.

No extra responsibilities.

If I get sick and can’t move, I’ll just return to the earth.

Even if those places have generators and no power issues, I’m not sold…

※

…Generators?

That’s it!

I saw some at the home center before!

With one, I could have electricity! DVDs and games back in action!

They probably sell solar chargers for phones too.

Comms are down, but I’ve got a standalone map app I’d love to keep usable.

We’ve got a portable gas stove here, so grabbing fuel would make it work.

They’ve got preserved food and disaster supplies too.

Plus kerosene and gas at the lot’s fuel station.

※

…Holy crap, the home center’s an absolute goldmine!

※

If it’s sunny tomorrow, I’m going.

The home center with the bird logo is all over the city.

The closest big one is across the river in North District.

About a twenty-minute drive.

I’ve done enough errand runs for the neighborhood old folks to know the area like the back of my hand.

With the distance and the amount of stuff I’ll grab, walking’s out of the question.

But we’ve got two vehicles in the garage.

Dad’s regular car.

And…

A light truck for fishing.