Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 75: The Matter of Uneasy Signs and a Lively Gathering

Chapter 75: The Matter of Uneasy Signs and a Lively Gathering

“Phew, great work, Kanzaki-san! Tanakano-san!!”

“We’re back, Officer Moriyama.”

“…Good job.”

Moriyama-kun greets us, stiff as if his bones were made of wire, as I park the truck in the lot.

…Come on, Moriyama-kun, I know you’re smitten with Kanzaki-san, but ease up already.

She’s starting to worry about your health, you know?

She even said, “He’s always so tense. Stress, maybe?”

You’re about to get labeled a patient, dude.

“So, what’s with all this cargo, Tanakano-san?”

“Oh, didn’t find our target, but we stumbled on a shelter. This is their ‘nice to meet you’ gift.”

“Dried fish,” Kanzaki-san adds.

I hop out, untying the ropes on the truck bed.

Peeling back the tarp, Moriyama-kun’s eyes go wide.

“Whoa! Amazing!! …Haven’t seen fish in forever!!”

“So, we’re donating it. Can you guys handle unloading? I’ll report to Miyata-san.”

“Thank you! Got it!!”

Moriyama-kun salutes, and I nod back, leaving it to him.

…When Kanzaki-san’s not involved, he’s just a regular cop.

Well, his combat skills are near rock-bottom.

Above Harada-kun, below a standard cop, maybe?

…What’s that even mean?

“Tanakano-san, something wrong?”

“Oh, no… Just thinking about those zombies today.”

Walking with Kanzaki-san, I’d been mulling over Moriyama-kun’s future when she catches me off guard.

I blurt out a half-truth, but the zombies are on my mind.

Why’d they suddenly show up in a place we thought was clear?

“Maybe they moved from the city center overnight…?”

“Could be. We’ve never seen such large-scale movement before… Have zombies evolved?”

“Hmm… Didn’t feel like it when we fought them.”

If they’d gotten more proactive, their combat patterns would’ve been more varied.

But the ones we faced today seemed the same as always.

Which means…

“…Something must’ve triggered their movement.”

“Yeah, I think that’s the likely explanation.”

Maybe they chased someone, or followed animal noises or something.

“Could be a natural phenomenon, like a loud noise…”

…Or, though I hate to think it.

“Someone led them there on purpose… right?”

As expected of Kanzaki-san.

She cuts to the chase.

“…Yeah, no idea who or why, but remembering those shady survivors we’ve met, it’s not hard to imagine someone thinking that way.”

They were the type to slaughter innocent people without hesitation.

Siccing zombies on a shelter would be nothing to them.

But that raises one question.

“If looting was the goal, why make the place zombie-infested…?”

“…We don’t have enough info yet. Either way, we need to stay wary of malicious survivors.”

“Yeah, with food supplies tightening, self-sufficiency will be key…”

Zombies aside, legitimate shelters are prime targets now.

Yurei’s got cops, so it’s probably fine, but the Fisheries Center’s vulnerable.

Well, I’ll just dump this on Miyata-san and crew!!

※

“Thanks so much for the dried fish.”

“No problem. I couldn’t eat that much alone, and it doesn’t last forever.”

In the principal’s office, Miyata-san bows deeply.

Stop it, man, I was half-slacking today…

Reporting in, I’m thanked way more than expected.

Feels kinda heavy…

I wisely kept quiet about our fishing spree.

Framed it as “exploring the port and finding a shelter.”

I’m a jobless guy who reads the room!

…Sometimes I choose not to, though.

“I’m thinking of sending officers to the Fisheries Center when the time’s right. It’ll help with food supply.”

Good call.

They get cops and veggies; we get fish and info.

“Thanks to your efforts, Tanakano-san, we’ve secured a large truck and fuel.”

Oh, from that construction company haul?

With that scale, they probably had tons of fuel.

My pickup’s enough for me, so I don’t care.

“But zombie luring, huh… Definitely something to keep in mind.”

Miyata-san crosses his arms, deep in thought.

“The motive’s unclear. If they wanted food or gear, why do that…?”

“…I have a guess.”

Miyata-san responds to my question.

…What?

“My job’s given me experience with those types.”

“…You mean criminals?”

“Yeah. Something even the SDF wouldn’t get.”

He glances at Kanzaki-san.

“There are people out there who just want to kill.”

His heavy voice echoes.

“Not for gain, but to kill, destroy, violate… That’s their mindset.”

“…Like psychopaths?”

“I’m no expert, but they existed in peacetime, so now…”

Damn.

That’s a blind spot.

I assumed all those survivors were driven by some kind of ‘desire.’

Wanting ease.

Wanting food.

Wanting women.

I thought they looted and attacked to satisfy those urges.

Wait.

‘Wanting to kill’ is a desire too.

…Yeah, that makes sense.

Now that I think about it, serial killers existed.

Acting without care for the future, just to kill…

Monsters, basically.

When killing’s the goal, not a means…

Unlike the predictable idiots we’ve faced, that’s terrifying.

This zombie mess probably set them loose.

…Just kill zombies to vent, damn it.

“Whether they’re out there or not, we need to plan for that kind of enemy.”

“Yeah, to them, a shelter like ours is a juicy target.”

…Ugh, things are getting dicey.

Oh, crap.

I just remembered something bad.

“Uh, Miyata-san… There’s a prison in Ryuugu City, right?”

Miyata-san’s head snaps up.

Kanzaki-san’s eyes widen.

“You’re right! …Completely slipped my mind.”

“A blind spot. We were so focused on zombies… Inspector Miyata! That place is…”

Kanzaki-san seems to recall something.

Miyata-san, looking pale, mutters.

“Yeah, a prison for long-term, high-risk offenders…”

No way!?

Full of mass murderers and the like!?

…If that place got breached…

Ryuugu’s probably a nightmare.

They’re not likely to trek all the way to Shiiya.

…Not yet.

But who knows moving forward.

“For now, we need to stay extra vigilant. With no government aid, we’re on our own.”

The meeting ends on a grim note.

※

“Doi~tsumo koi~tsumo! Karatakewa~ri♪”

I sing along to my favorite tune from the car stereo, watching the scenery pass.

After that heavy mood, I said goodbye to Kanzaki-san and left Yurei.

The prison thing totally slipped my mind.

Even if no one’s locked up now, ex-cons are probably out there.

For them, this chaos is a dream come true.

…I’ll keep ignoring how comfy I find this world.

The simplicity of life-or-death is nice…

“Ichiro-ojisan!”

“Miku-chan!”

Pulling up to Mondo-occhan’s place, Miku-chan runs out as I step from the truck.

Fast! Sharp ears, Miku-chan.

Guess I’m the only one driving here these days.

“Here, here, here, here!”

I catch Miku-chan as she leaps at me, spinning her around.

Our usual routine.

“Kya! Hahaha!”

Her joyful smile wipes away the gloom from earlier.

Man, it’s like my soul’s being cleansed.

Is this what having a daughter feels like?

“Whoa! That’s a crime scene!!”

Misa-neesan yells from the doorway.

Stop it! That’s not funny!!

“Mmm?”

Miku-chan sniffs me curiously.

What? Do I smell?

Is age finally catching up…!?

“Ojisan smells like the sea!”

…Oh, that.

Almost swore to restock deodorant.

Well, better do it anyway.

“Yeah, I went to the sea today to look for stuff.”

“Cool…”

Miku-chan looks a bit jealous.

I’d love to take her, but…

Not safe in this mess.

If we could secure things better…

“So! Here’s the thing!”

“Hya!?”

I raise my voice to dodge the topic.

Sorry, Miku-chan.

“I brought souvenirs for you guys! …Wanna see?”

“Souvenirs? Yes, yes!”

“Alright! Follow me~♪”

I hoist her onto my shoulders and head to the truck bed.

Pulling back the tarp, I grab the cooler.

“Ta-da!!”

“Wow!”

Open the cooler, and it’s packed with fish!

“Amazing! Did you catch them, ojisan!?”

“Kanzaki-oneesan helped too.”

“Hmm… A date… I smell a date, Ichirouta…”

Don’t pop out like that, Misa-neesan!!

What kinda smell is that!?

※

“““Itadakimasu!!!”””

Before me, glistening ají, mackerel, and young yellowtail sashimi.

Plus quick-pickled nanbanzuke and namerou.

Thanks to obachan, the fish are next-level.

…Wait, wasn’t I supposed to drop off the fish and leave?

Why am I at the dinner table?

“Mmm! Delicious! Ojisan, it’s so good!!”

Miku-chan, next to me, stuffs her face with ají sashimi, eyes sparkling.

…Can’t say no to her, huh.

“Mmmph! Mmph!!”

…Yukiko-chan, plenty to go around, no need to rush.

“Hng! So good~!”

…Tastes good enough to cry, Hina-chan?

“Here, Atsu-kun! Ahh~!”

“Mmph… Delicious, thanks, Tanakano-kun.”

So~ sweet!!

Is this soy sauce laced with sugar!?

You two are like lovey-dovey high schoolers!!

“Can’t stop drinking, bouzu! Nice job!”

“Easy there, dear. But fresh fish is amazing!”

Glad the ossans are happy.

…But the liquor’s vanishing fast!?

Obachan’s keeping pace, too!?

Her drinking’s refined, but that speed!?

Since when is shochu chugged by the glass!?

Boozehound couple, huh!?

Man, this is so good…

I’d only think of sashimi or grilled fish on my own.

Coming here was the right call.

This nanbanzuke’s unreal…!

Namerou too—I could eat rice forever!!

Oh! Miku-chan’s got that “I’ve got an idea” look!!

“…Ojisan! Ah—”

“Miku-chan! Ahh~~~!!”

“Ahh! …Mmph mmph.”

Heh! Not letting you win!

I’m not some pushover for little girls forever!!

…Clean chopsticks, of course!!

“Mmm! Yummy! Tastes even better than usual!”

…Does it change that much?

Glad she’s happy!

“Good, good, eat up~”

“Mmph mmph.”

Phew! Crisis averted!

No more 30-something jobless guy getting fed by a kid!!

Uh… Hina-chan? Yukiko-chan?

When’d you get next to me?

…What’s with those faces?

What’re you waiting for?

Your eyes are scary!

That expectant look!?

Help! Someone help!!

・

・

・

“Ichiro, you’re gonna get stabbed someday.”

“Manly charm… I’d say, but to bouzu, they’re all like little sisters.”

“Fine by me. Kind and strong’s enough for a guy.”

“I wanna feed Miku too…”

“Atsu-kun! Here, here! Ahh~! Ahh~~!!”

“…Miku’ll have a sibling before that, I bet.”