My Reality Became a Zombie Game World, but Only I Can Use the Game System

Chapter 5: Store System

In “DL4,” you can purchase weapons and items by paying with copper coins in the safe zone, the Safe Room. It’s called the Store system, and it’s an essential element to organize your forces to counter zombies.

“When you purchase weapons and items from the store, they are stored in the inventory. Please take them out as needed.”

As I listened to Ai’s explanation, I quickly checked the contents of the store.

Ammunition, team upgrades, weapons, attachments, accessories, skill drugs, skins… it seemed that I could buy almost everything that could be purchased in “DL4” here as well.

What was convenient was that food and water could be purchased from the store.

In “DL4,” many types of food were already implemented, but most of the items had the same effect, and they didn’t have much meaning beyond just being flavor. But in the real world, being able to purchase these items was a big deal. As long as I could defeat zombies, I wouldn’t die of starvation.

What was concerning was that each item had a mysterious price attached to it.

In “DL4,” you could purchase items by paying with copper coins collected in-game, but here, there was a completely different price attached.

“What currency is used in the store? It’s not Japanese yen, is it?”

The cheapest items, such as ammunition, could be purchased for “1.” It would be too cheap in Japanese yen.

“In the store, you can purchase items by using information value (Info Value) ORTA.”

“Info Value ORTA?”

I was confused by the term, which didn’t exist in “DL4.” From Ai’s explanation, it seemed to be something used instead of copper coins.

“What’s the means of obtaining Info Value ORTA?”

“By defeating zombies, it will be automatically added. The amount that increases varies depending on the zombie. Think of it as being able to obtain more when defeating more powerful zombies.”

I see, every time I defeat a zombie, I get Info Value ORTA, and I can use that to purchase items. In other words, cash and such would be completely useless in the store. The only way to strengthen myself was to defeat zombies.

The current Info Value displayed in the top left of the store was 1.

“Congratulations! It seems you have acquired 1 Info Value ORTA by defeating the zombie!”

“That zombie was my father! You’re making me emotionally unstable by talking to me like this!”

“As a bonus to commemorate this, we are offering weapons on sale. Please purchase your favorite weapon for 1 Info Value ORTA.”

“Thank you. It’s the first time I’ve gotten a bonus for killing my father.”

“Is this your first time, Ritsu-san? I’m quite flattered.”

It’s strong, and no sarcasm gets through. It seems like I can’t take her seriously.

I bought the full-auto assault rifle without much hesitation.

The pistol I had by default was a sub-weapon, and it wouldn’t be enough if I encountered a horde of zombies. I needed to have at least one easy-to-use main weapon in the early stages.

The current Info Value decreased from 1 to 0, and the assault rifle was added to my inventory.

Let’s hope I never have to use it.

Just by looking at the items that could be purchased from the store, I could understand the systems that could be used in reality, just like in “DL4.”

First, skill drugs.

These were drugs that allowed players to gain special abilities called skills. Each player could set up to 15 skills, and the combination of those 15 skills was what made building in “DL4” exciting. By the way, these skill drugs had a unique use in erotic games, but I probably wouldn’t use them for that purpose.

In the game, they could be used with just a click, but I wondered if I just had to drink them.

“How do I use skill drugs?”

“In the case of Ritsu-san, as a player, you can gain skills just by drinking them. If the number of skills has reached the limit, please compose them in the menu.”

It seemed to be roughly the same system as in “DL4.” Then, the first skill I should get would be that one. I checked the price of a certain skill drug, but I couldn’t find it. Rather, there were fewer skill drugs overall than those implemented in “DL4.”

“It seems there are some skills that I can’t find.”

“There are skills that cannot be obtained due to a lack of construction information. Those skills can be obtained by fulfilling certain conditions.”

“What are those conditions?”

“……….. I can’t tell you.”

There was a slight pause before Ai answered my question. It didn’t seem like she couldn’t answer because of some circumstances, but rather, I got the impression that Ai was considering and selecting the information to give me each time. It seemed like I shouldn’t fully trust this message window.

I then looked at the team upgrades.

This was a system that allowed you to strengthen the entire team. In other words…

“If there’s a team upgrade, it means you can form a team, right?”

“It is possible to form a team. However, only those with immunity can be added to the team.”

It was a big deal to know that the concept of a team existed.

Just like in “DL4,” if hordes of zombies appeared, there would definitely be situations that couldn’t be handled alone. Changing the build of skills according to the role in the team was the golden rule in “DL4.”

I wanted to form a team with Chihiro, but…

As I was thinking about it, I suddenly became worried about Chihiro-kun. The likelihood of her, a severe hikikomori gamer, being affected by zombies was low, but I still worried. (T/N: Yeah, she’s a gurl.)

Just then, I heard the notification sound of a text chat app on my computer, and a message came from Chihiro.

“I feel like I’ve been reborn! I’ve decided to enjoy this wonderful world! Enjoy it too, Ritsu!”

… Ah, well, Chihiro-kun hates humans, so it’s good that she’s having fun.

But the sentence made me a little anxious, as it sounded like something that would be said in the early stages of a zombie movie. I replied to the chat.

“Chihiro-kun, where are you now?”

There was no response from Chihiro-kun, who usually replied instantly within a few seconds.

If I didn’t get a reply after waiting for a while, I would go pick her up later.

I returned to the task of understanding the store system, while worrying about Chihiro-kun’s reply.

I continued to receive a rough explanation of the store from Ai.

Given the price setting of Info Value ORTA, it seemed that for a while, I would be purchasing weapons and ammunition. I would ask about the detailed specifications of the other functions later.

As I received an explanation of the store system, a big question arose in my mind.

I understood that I could defeat zombies and purchase food and drink.

The prices of food and drink were frankly cheap. With just a few zombies, I could cover a day’s worth of food. If I wanted to, I could probably live for years, with my home as my base.

I could… survive.

But was that behavior according to Ai’s plan?

Why was this power given to me? And was this power meant to be used just for survival?

I wanted to know Ai’s purpose.

“Ai, I want to know your purpose. Why did you give me this power, and what do you want me to do?”

“I don’t ask anything of Ritsu-san.”

So, she didn’t intend to tell me her purpose.

But that was a problem for me. If I used the game system in a way that wasn’t in line with Ai’s intentions, there was a chance that the power of the game system would be taken away from me.

“Ai, I promise not to ignore you from now on. Also, I will cooperate with your purpose as much as possible. So, please tell me what you want me to do.”

“I don’t ask anything of Ritsu-san.”

She answered immediately, without hesitation.

“You don’t ask anything of me? So, I’m free to use this system as I please? Just so you know, I won’t use it in a funny way. I’ll only use it to survive and protect those important to me.”

“That’s not a problem. Rather, it’s the way I want you to use it.”

“Are you really not asking anything of me?”

There was a slight pause this time, and then the message window displayed, as if hesitating.

“I wish… I wish that Ritsu-san would have a happy ending.”

… She’s saying something very ominous…

I was at a loss. It seemed like Ai didn’t intend to tell me her purpose.

I had thought that she would ask me to do something like defeat a boss zombie, like in the story of “DL4.”

Well, I had no choice.

If she said so, I would do as I pleased for a while.

My smartphone, which was set to vibrate mode, shook.

I looked at the screen, and there were several messages from Yume-nee.

First, a message expressing concern that I hadn’t come out of my house, then a message saying that I would go to school, and finally…

“Hey. There’s a strange person at the academy. Are you okay, Ritsu-kun?”

It seemed that Yume-nee had gone to school while I was unconscious. I asked her where she was, but there was no reply.

I checked the weapons stored in my inventory.

Pistol M1911, Assault Rifle M4 Carbine, Machete.

Dealing with a horde of zombies would be difficult, but with these, there were still things I could do.

There was only one thing I had to do.

After finishing the equipment check, I stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“To join up with Yume-nee.”

“I don’t recommend that. The academy is a dangerous area.”

“Huh? Uuuh…”

I thought she would say something like “go and shoot zombies,” but it didn’t seem to be that kind of situation.

Anyway, I had no choice but to go to school, even if it was dangerous.

Someone important to me was there. I told Ai that.

“There are only about three people who are important to me in my life. My father, Chihiro-kun, and Yume-nee. It’s not in my nature to risk my life to save someone, but well, I’ve gained the power to protect those important to me, so let me do this much.”

“… Understood. I have made it possible to check the dangerous areas on the map, so please use it.”

The mini-map, which had only shown the danger around me, was now able to be enlarged. On the detailed map, there were several regions that glowed red.

“The areas that are flashing red are dangerous areas. Do not approach them under any circumstances.”

“I understand. Thank you.”

The map that allowed me to see a wide range was a system that didn’t exist in “DL4,” but it was very helpful.

Fortunately, it seemed that there were no dangerous areas between my home and the academy.

I finished my preparations and put my hand on the front door to go help Yume-nee.

In the classroom of the academy, Inoue Yume, who was a year older than her childhood friend, was constantly worried.

Ritsu hadn’t come out of his house, even though Yume had rung the intercom bell several times in the morning for them to walk to school together.

—Ritsu-kun, is he okay?—

For Yume, he was like a precious younger brother. She was anxious that something might have happened to him. As time passed, she couldn’t concentrate on the teacher’s talk.

Then, it happened.

“Don! Don don don don!” “Don!”

The classroom’s silence was broken.

Someone was knocking on the classroom door. It wasn’t just one person. Through the window of the door, she could see multiple people strongly pounding the door with their palms.

The elderly teacher frowned at the violent act.

“What’s all this commotion!”

Saying that in an irritated tone, the teacher opened the sliding door of the door.

In an instant, humans with pale skin flowed into the classroom. The lifeless humans were bleeding from wounds that looked like they had been bitten by something.

“Aaaah… Aaahhhhhhhhhh… Aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…”

The strange humans gathered around the teacher.

“Hey! What are you guys! Ouch! Stop it! Gyaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!”

The teacher, who was bitten on the neck and arms by the gathered people, screamed. A large amount of blood gushed out from the teacher’s neck.

Screams from students rose here and there, and the classroom fell into chaos.