Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 60: The Matter of Small Things Before the Big Ones

Chapter 60: The Matter of Small Things Before the Big Ones

“It’s quiet… peaceful, though.”

I mutter in the darkness.

No zombies or humans around.

Really quiet.

I’m at a home center in the North District.

A while back, I ran into that blond guy… uh, Riki!

Yeah, this is where we clashed.

A few days after my shoulder thing, I’m fully healed and here.

Kanzaki-san’s not with me.

Just a quick supply run, so I’m solo.

I’m not planning on getting a single scratch today, or I might get killed if I do.

Why am I in a place that screams trouble? I’m looking for something.

Something I couldn’t find at the smaller home centers in the South District… fireworks.

…Not to have a fun fireworks party with Miku-chan and the others, mind you.

I’m heading to the station to find Miku-chan’s dad soon.

The zombie outbreak probably started on a weekday, so the station was likely packed with commuters and students.

That means it could have the biggest zombie horde yet.

If we storm in head-on, even with Super Soldier Kanzaki-san, it’s easy to imagine us becoming zombie chow.

We don’t have enough bullets, and sheer numbers overwhelm individual skill.

If I were some Vietnam vet, a muscle-bound cyborg from the future, or that cool ponytail neck-snapper, it’d be different, but…

There’s one thing in our favor, though.

Zombies are dumb.

More accurately, they operate on animal-like instincts.

From experience, they’re somewhat sensitive to sound but have next to no vision or sense of smell.

Except for kids and a few others, most zombies are like that.

Hence, fireworks.

By making a big noise on purpose, we can lure them.

I considered using the construction company’s explosives, but they’re too destructive, so I scrapped that.

I thought about prepping some dynamite-like stuff for emergencies, but Kanzaki-san casually had hand grenades, so no need.

Speaking of, when I was lying in the truck bed last time, there was a ton of ammo stacked next to the chick cage.

Miyata-san and the others were floored by the amount.

I broke out in a cold sweat when I found out later.

Anyway, I’m inside the home center now.

My customized, spiffy truck is hidden between some rusty ones.

With reinforced windows, sheets, and a lock on the gas tank, it should be fine even if spotted.

Not like anyone’s gonna destroy it just to steal it.

Time to grab the fireworks and get out.

I set my flashlight to the lowest setting and creep through the dim store.

It’s still early for fireworks season, so other home centers didn’t have them, but I’m pretty sure I saw some here last time…

The place is trashed, but who’d take fireworks in this situation? Not some party bro, I bet.

Oh, a calorie bar on the floor.

…Expiration date’s fine, so I’ll take it.

Vegetable seeds and small stuff too—might as well grab what I can.

Gotta donate to the shelter to keep my hate meter low.

I don’t eat the shelter’s food, and when I do, I contribute more than I take.

I help with farming or carpentry when I’ve got time.

This week, my shoulder kept me from heavy lifting, but I transported those chicks.

…Well, my truck did, while I slept, but close enough.

Lately, people at the shelter keep asking me to “find their family.”

Probably ‘cause I brought Misa-neesan from the next town.

I only helped a friend, not some do-gooder hero.

Miku-chan was a side effect of Miyata-san’s request and circumstances.

Picking up a kid you stumble across is one thing; actively searching is a whole different beast.

I wouldn’t have gone all out for Misa-neesan if she wasn’t a close acquaintance.

Being treated like a people-finder specialist is… uh, awkward.

Misa-neesan survived because of her crazy vitality and fighting spirit, but regular folks need luck.

If I take on random requests and come up empty, it’s uncomfortable, and I’ve got no obligation, so I always say no.

Then I get the “Why won’t you help!?” attitude, which is a pain.

It’s been stressing me out.

The shelter doesn’t ban leaving, so if they wanna go, they can. It’s their risk.

What scares me is that irrational hate turning toward Miku-chan, Misa-neesan, Yukiko-chan, or Ogahara-san.

I’ve been reporting it to Miyata-san, so it’s fine for now.

If anyone tries something, I’ll take them out first.

The cops, Misa-neesan, and Kanzaki-san can handle it too.

Those two, especially, would flatten enemies without hesitation.

While thinking this over, I reach the section with kiddie pools and stuff.

…There they are!

Summer’s classic fireworks sets!

Nice, plenty in stock since it’s off-season.

I grab a bag and start sorting.

Handheld sparklers are useless, so I skip those.

I’m after the loud ones.

I pick out ground-based ones that crackle and handheld launchers.

Rocket fireworks? Yeah, I’ll take those too.

And the real prize…

Firecrackers.

Long ones!

Tie a weight to these, and I can throw them far!

I’m taking the whole stock!!

Mission accomplished.

Back to the shelter, sort gear, and tomorrow, we hit the station.

Gotta make as many shuriken as I can too.

Oh, the bokken that died in action got replaced with a shiny new one from home.

Nothing beats a good ol’ mass weapon for zombies.

The sword and shuriken are for humans.

I stuff the fireworks in my backpack, making sure they stay dry with some oilpaper later.

I grab other essentials on the way out.

The looted store’s empty of preserved food, but tons of vegetable seeds remain.

You need a proper base to grow them, which is a hassle.

That’s why places like Yurei, with actual farming, get targeted.

As I head for the exit, I spot something in the parking lot.

Wasn’t there when I arrived.

I kill the light and hide in the shadows to check.

…That gaudy painted car looks familiar…

Right, it’s the one Riki and his crew had.

And now there’s two more with the same vibe.

Damn it! Why’d I have to run into them today…?

They’ve got a grudge, so I really don’t wanna meet.

Riki might even be dead.

The home center’s huge, and the lights are off.

I could hide in a corner until they leave…

“Come out, old man! We know you’re in there!!!”

Riki’s voice blares through a megaphone.

He’s alive, huh.

…Looks like they were watching me from the start.

What a grudge.

“If you don’t come out, we’ll smash your truck!!!”

That’s Take’s voice?

Both of them today, huh.

I sneak a peek with my monocular, staying out of sight.

Riki and Take stand by the cars with a megaphone.

Around them, a group armed with pipes and bats.

Rough count… fifteen.

…That’s a lot.

Losing the truck would suck, but walking out front’s a sure way to get jumped.

Lucky for me, none seem to have ranged weapons.

Good thing there’s no gun shop in the North District.

Now, what to do?

Honestly, this is my fault for being soft back then.

Showing half-assed mercy led to this.

I should’ve finished them all off.

My lack of resolve caused this cool scar on my face, but I’ve learned my lesson.

So, what now?

…Gotta kill them all here.

They came to kill me, so I’ve got no choice.

Letting them go means they’ll come back.

Decision made—time to prep.

Lucky I’ve got some “good stuff” on hand.

“Come out, damn it!! No escape!!”

“Long time no see!! What do you want!?”

After a while, Riki shouts again, and I yell back.

Caught off guard, he goes quiet.

“Think it’s obvious!? You’re gonna pay for what you did to Riki!!!”

“Pay!? You attacked me first, and I just fought back!!”

Take yells, so I shout at him.

“Shut up, old man! Who cares!! Riki can’t use his hand anymore!!!”

“Don’t care either! Be glad that’s all it was, idiot!! Thank your stars you’re alive, moron!!!”

Guess I severed a nerve.

They’re here to kill me anyway, so I’ll taunt them all I want.

“Does Ishikawa-san even know about this!? You’re the ones in the wrong!!”

“Who cares about that guy! He ditched us for Ryuugu to find someone!!”

No way, Ishikawa-san abandoned them?

…Ditching your crew’s a heavy sin!

I’d do the same, though!!

“You’re not gonna forgive me no matter what, right!?”

“Come out quietly, and we’ll spare your life!!”

Total lie.

What’s with that axe in your hand?

Not like I’ve got any intention of bowing to these clowns.

“Get out here already!!!! We’ll kill you!!!!”

See, Riki’s not even hiding it…

Could’ve acted a bit better.

My “prep” is done, so it’s about time.

“If you’re here to kill me, don’t complain when you get killed, brats!!!”

“AAARGH!! Shut up, we’ll kill you!!! Come out!! Come out!!!!”

Impatient, the group starts walking toward me.

Oh, coming to me?

Nice, as dumb as zombies—easy to read.

Time to attack.

I step into view at the entrance.

“Come on, you brain-dead minnows!! Walk this way! Walk this waaay!!”

I clap my hands for emphasis.

“You mocking us!?! Go get him!!!!”

They charge at me.

“Not much, but here’s a gift!!!”

I grab something hidden in a blind spot and hurl it to land right in their path.

It arcs beautifully, smashing at the feet of the lead guy.

“Wha—!? AAAGH!?!?”

The splash ignites, and a fire pillar engulfs three of them, including the leader.

Nailed it.

“Got seconds!! Don’t hold back!!!”

I throw another, and it reacts with the first fire, creating an even bigger blaze.

“GAAAH!?” “F-Fire!?” “Put it out, put it out!!!”

Some roll on the ground, spreading the flames.

Others panic, grabbing friends and making it worse.

What a hellscape.

Yup, I made Molotov cocktails.

Found some canned gasoline for generators in storage.

Poured it into beer bottles, stuffed in torn cloth for a wick, lit it with a lighter, and threw.

Only had time for three, but they did serious damage.

Action movie knowledge ain’t no joke.

“Take this!!”

I hurl the last one, hitting Take’s axe dead-on.

“GYAAH!?!?” “Take-shi!!?”

Take, now Take-shi, turns into a human torch.

Fire’s power is unreal—seventeen enemies, and they’re done.

They thought it’d be an easy beatdown, but now their friends are burning alive.

Lack of imagination’s rough.

Their stupidity saved me, though.

While they’re panicking, I finish it.

I rush out, smacking the disoriented group with my bokken.

None have decent armor, so it’s easy.

I’ll finish them later—first, I target legs and heads to stop them.

Three or four get clean headshots, bits flying, so they might not need finishing.

Just a ragtag bunch of amateurs.

They collapse fast, groans filling the parking lot.

“Help!?”

I bash the temple of a guy begging, silencing him.

“You bastard!?”

I crush the throat of one swinging a pipe.

“Stop, stop!!”

I slash upward, smashing the groin of a guy using a friend as a shield.

“No, nooo!!”

I throw a shuriken into the back of a fleeing guy’s head.

I dart through the chaos, striking from left, right, cutting them down.

No mercy—everyone goes.

Soon, I’ve neutralized all but the charred Take and Riki.

Over half lost their will to fight from the Molotovs, so it wrapped up quick.

Didn’t plan to save those two for last, but they were in the back, probably leading.

Take’s crispy from the surprise Molotov, so only Riki’s fully intact.

“You… YOU!!!”

“Your vocab’s worse than a grade-schooler’s.”

I approach Riki, trembling with Take’s axe.

The original owner’s twitching on the ground.

Glass shards are embedded in his face… gotta put him out of his misery.

“Why’d you get in our way!? Why won’t you die!! Why’s my crew like this!?!?”

He’s incoherent.

Reality’s so harsh, half his brain’s warped to another world.

“Don’t know, don’t care. The world doesn’t bend to your whims, trash.”

I’m done with him, but I’ll say my piece.

This is the end, anyway.

“Told you to back off, didn’t I? Blame your pathetic, learning-deficient brain.”

“Ughhh!!! I’ll kill you!! I’ll kill you!!!!”

“Know what? Yapping about stuff you can’t do puts you in the ‘idiot’ category.”

“AAAAHH!!!!”

He raises the axe with his good hand.

“See ya. Come back as some random weed next time.”

I flick a rod shuriken into his throat.

As he freezes, I thrust my bokken straight through.

“Guh… oh…”

The bokken drives the shuriken deeper, piercing halfway.

“Take that!!”

I pull back and swing upward, slamming the bokken into his forehead with all my strength.

The crunch of bone echoes through my hand.

Eyes half-popped out, Riki collapses, silent forever.

After, I finish off six still barely alive, slicing their necks with the sword naginata.

Take’s already gone, probably from burn shock.

I refill the used gasoline, grab my backpack, and hop in the truck.

I left their bodies scattered.

If zombies are around, they’ll clean up.

I killed them thoroughly, so no worry about them turning.

“Man, I’m beat… should’ve brought a hype CD.”

Muttering nonsense, I leave the home center.

Doubt I’ll ever come back.