Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 95: The Mysterious Group?

Chapter 95: The Mysterious Group?

“Delicious… I outdid myself.”

“It’s so good, Tanakano-san!!”

“Wan!”

We’re in the South District of Shiiya City.

On the rooftop of a four-story apartment building.

The view’s fantastic.

Kanzaki-san, Sakura, and I are out searching for missing persons today.

Yeah, we’re doing it properly.

What? The brazier in front of us with those tasty-looking dried mackerel?

…It’s for morale, you know.

After that mess at the hospital, today’s got a bit of a breather vibe.

What was Yamada’s deal, anyway…?

It’s awkward to ask Kanzaki-san, so I’ll let it slide.

Back to the point.

This is Prototype Dried Fish No. 3.

Nos. 1 and 2… well, the salt was off, or they rotted… turned into sad little objects.

But this one’s safe—I taste-tested it.

I promised Kanzaki-san I’d let her try some.

So, we’re having lunch under the guise of searching.

Might as well eat somewhere with a view, right? No zombie danger up here.

Sakura can’t have it due to the salt, so I cracked open a fancy fish can (puppy-safe).

I’ll take her fishing next time.

Introduce her to the old-timers.

They’ll love her.

Man, this is good.

Good call bringing the alpha rice… Can’t stop eating!

“Goes great with rice, huh?”

“Really… Um, Tanakano-san…”

Kanzaki-san’s fidgeting.

…Aha.

“No worries, we’ve got plenty of rice and fish for seconds!”

“Thank you!”

“Kuu~n…”

“You too, Sakura!”

“Wan!”

Eat up, I’m still going!

※

Stomachs full, we sip post-meal coffee.

Canned drinks are the best—long shelf life, easy to stockpile.

Could break a vending machine for more.

…Haven’t done that yet.

I’ve got enough from the convenience store haul.

Sakura, belly round, is sprawled beside me, snoring.

Eat and sleep, you’ll turn into a cow, girl. I lie back too.

Kanzaki-san does the same, Sakura between us.

The sky’s gorgeous… Truly peaceful…

“That was great. Next, I’m trying smoked fish. Should last even longer.”

“Looking forward to it. I’ve done some smoking, so I can offer tips.”

Sweet, an expert’s help will speed things up.

“What’s the plan today?”

“Hmm, pick someone from the file at random and do a searchy-search?”

Our usual laid-back approach.

Where to today…

Suddenly, a burst of rapid pops.

I roll to my stomach, holding my breath.

…What was that?

“Kyu~n…”

Sakura, awake, burrows under me, trembling.

Careful not to squish her.

“Kanzaki-san, that was…”

I whisper to Kanzaki-san, who’s prone like me.

“Likely gunfire… Rifle or machine gun.”

…Thought so.

There it is again.

Babababab in sound.

“No doubt, a squad support machine gun.”

Squad support…?

Whatever, a big machine gun.

Unlike some gun-happy country, rapid-fire weapons here are restricted.

Gun shops only have shotguns.

So…

“SDF or police special forces?”

“…No, that sound’s probably…”

A third burst.

“…Not us or the police.”

She can tell from the sound? Impressive.

I’m just like, “Oh, machine gun.”

…Wait, machine gun’s different from assault rifle, right?

A fourth burst.

“…Sounds like it’s getting closer.”

“Yes, their speed suggests they’re in a vehicle.”

Almost forgot.

I hand Sakura to Kanzaki-san and crawl to the brazier.

Douse it with bottled water.

Don’t want smoke giving us away.

Enemy or not, better to stay hidden.

“Tanakano-san, here. Cover me if it comes to it.”

Back at Kanzaki-san’s side, she hands me the usual grenade.

I’m useless at long range.

But fighting gun-toting soldiers? No thanks.

Hoping we stay hidden and avoid combat.

I pet a trembling Sakura while Kanzaki-san checks her rifle.

So reliable…

I check my shuriken.

Rod ones are meh, but cross shuriken have some range.

Fifth burst.

Definitely closer.

From this apartment, we can see the highway below.

They’re driving something down there.

After a wait, the sixth burst comes, and they appear.

Of all places, they stop right under our building.

Why here? Go somewhere else!

“(I’ll scout. Watch Sakura.)”

“(Be careful.)”

I hand Sakura to Kanzaki-san, ditch my bright fishing vest, and crawl with the monocular.

I reach a spot visible to us but hard for them to see.

Backlit, they’d struggle to notice me.

I peer through the monocular.

A green… small truck-like thing.

One driver, can’t see the passenger seat.

Three in the back, all in orange hazmat suits, like in movies.

Two are restraining something thrashing.

One’s aiming a huge rifle rearward.

Way bigger than Kanzaki-san’s.

Box-like magazine, tripod attached.

Seen that in a movie…

“AAAAAAAA!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!”

“~~~!” “~~~~!?” “~~~~~~!!”

The thrashing thing’s a male zombie, strapped down, screaming.

Civilian clothes, probably a regular guy once.

What are they doing…?

Hard to hear through the suits, but their language doesn’t sound local.

I crawl back and swap with Kanzaki-san, taking Sakura.

To avoid any creep vibes, I don’t look her way while soothing Sakura.

“There, there, got spooked, huh? Quiet now, Sakura…”

“Kyuun…”

I whisper, waiting.

Another burst.

Did they spot Kanzaki-san!?

I glance over—she’s waving at me.

Not shooting at us, then.

This burst lasts longer.

It fades, like they’re shooting while moving.

After a while, it’s gone.

Phew, they’re far off.

Kanzaki-san stands and returns.

“Good work. All okay?”

“Yes, they weren’t shooting at us.”

As expected.

I let Sakura off her leash and sit cross-legged.

Kanzaki-san sits beside me.

“Who were those guys? Not SDF or police…”

“Probably a foreign military stationed here… or their research arm.”

…Figures.

If it’s not SDF or police, that’s the only option.

There’s a base in this prefecture, not Shiiya City.

“The big rifle and language?”

“That, and the truck’s plates were foreign military.”

Didn’t notice that. Sharp eyes, SDF.

“No point overthinking here. Head to Akizuki to report to Hanada-san?”

“No, I’ll radio from Yurei. Come here.”

I follow Kanzaki-san to the roof’s edge.

“What a parting gift…”

Below, a swarm of zombies that weren’t there before.

All that gunfire drew them.

Damn, getting out’s gonna suck.

“Saw the zombie in the truck?”

“Yeah, strapped down…”

“When I looked, they were drawing blood. Surgical tools for cutting, too.”

Zombie vivisection?

Why…?

And those hazmat suits…

“Zombies… that virus or whatever, is it airborne?”

“No, we haven’t confirmed that here. The suits are likely for bodily fluids or bites.”

Makes sense.

We know nothing, basically.

Kanzaki-san’s stumped, so I’m clueless.

Time to move.

Gotta inform the police too.

I gear up, tucking Sakura into her pouch.

She looks anxious, but I’m here for her.

“Let’s go home, Sakura.”

“Kyuun…”

I pet her nervous face, tightening the pouch’s straps.

I check below again.

…So many.

If we wait, maybe they’ll wander off.

…Not rainy or night, so slim chance.

Wait, I’ve got something.

I dig through my backpack.

Found it!

Firecrackers from Shiiya Station!

Kept them for a moment like this.

Wrapped in oilpaper, so no dampness.

“Use these?”

“Nice one, Tanakano-san!”

Sasuga me!

Kinda proud.

We rest a bit.

Don’t want those guys nearby.

…Five minutes pass.

Good enough.

I light the firecrackers and hurl them.

They land in the residential area across the street, popping loudly.

“Hyan!?”

Oops, sorry, Sakura.

The zombies bolt toward the sound.

Nice, firecrackers work like a charm.

I toss another, wait, then clean up lunch and leave.

A zombie lingered on the stairs, but Kanzaki-san’s sharp kick snapped its neck, sending it to nirvana.

※

Wary of those guys, we took a different route but reached Yurei High without incident.

Today’s gate guard wasn’t Moriyama-kun, so we got in easy.

“I’ll report. See you later.”

“Thanks, Kanzaki-san.”

Kanzaki-san bows and heads to the staff room.

She’ll report to Miyata-san too—saves me trouble.

What now?

Could head home…

Might as well make more shuriken while I’m here.

Just then, Moriyama-kun pops out, sniffing us out.

The tech room’s got nails and stuff, so I’ll ask him to watch Sakura.

“Really!? Leave it to me!!”

Moriyama-kun’s dead-serious face agrees instantly.

I hand over Sakura’s snacks and leash.

“Sakura, Daddy’s got work. Play with Moriyama-oniichan.”

“Hyan!”

“So smart~ So cute~~~”

I wince at Moriyama-kun’s wiggling but leave her with him.

Some unease, but female officers join, so she’s fine.

…No police dogs here, huh.

Probably at another shelter.

Zombies don’t attack animals, so they’re likely okay.

Hope they’re thriving.

Honestly, dogs rank higher than weird survivors for me.

I get Moriyama-kun’s okay and head to the tech room.

With Harada-kun indefinitely MIA, no school troublemakers to deal with.

So peaceful…

…!

Ugh, another one.

Someone who might hassle me.

A high school girl ahead.

…Ooki-kun’s ex-fiancée’s sister… Forgot her name.

Let’s call her Gyaruko in my head.

The tech room’s closest this way, but there’s another route.

No need to pass her and deal with drama.

I U-turn, speed-walking to the courtyard.

Crisis averted.

I’ll loop around to the tech room.

Waving at familiar kids, I reach it.

Time to work and get home.

I shape iron plates into squares, cutting them into cross shuriken.

Stock’s running low.

Gotta hit the home center again.

Plenty there, since it’s not food or essentials.

…Someone’s here.

Behind me.

Through the door’s glass reflection… Gyaruko’s peeking.

What’s her deal with me…?

Oh, Kanzaki-san mentioned she wants me to find her sister.

Just talk to me, then.

I sharpen the shuriken.

Grinders are so handy.

Maybe I’ll grab one…

Gyaruko’s still there, not talking.

…What?

Waiting for me to notice and speak first!?

No way!

What a “read the room” type!

I pretend not to notice.

I keep making shuriken, bundling them in stacks of ten, tying them, and packing them.

I clean up fast and bolt to the courtyard.

Never looked her way once.

I speed-walk across, grab Sakura from Moriyama-kun and the officers, thank them, and hop in the truck.

“Sakura-chan, see ya~”

I nod to Moriyama-kun and the officers, starting the engine.

In the rearview, Gyaruko’s glaring resentfully behind them.

“Phew, what a hassle, Sakura.”

“Hyan!”

Her “What’s that?” face is cute as I pet her and hit the gas.

Gotta dodge her every time I come to Yurei now…

I’ll ask Kanzaki-san about it later…