Hound of the Dead Chapter 21: Change

Not beta read yet.

Gonna be posting the polls in a few hours. First need some sleep.

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-Tokonosu-

Defending the Takagi estate was not an easy task for any of the soldiers stationed at the gates. With the most recent attack, their forces nearly got swept away and overwhelmed had it not been for the intervention of that strange group of students.

“Perimeter clear. Group of ten undead spotted at eleven o’clock. Team C has been dispatched to eliminate them before their numbers increase.” The words left the soldier’s mouth with practiced precision, just another report among the hundreds he delivered each day. There was no room for hesitation or error. Every detail mattered, because a single mistake could cost lives, and hundreds of people depended on the accuracy of his voice to remain safe within the enclosure.

“Oi, any words on the young Miss’s whereabouts, Hiroshi?” another soldier stationed in the same spot as him came over, cigarettes in mouth while handing him a piece of gum which Hiroshi accepted. Given their already dwindling supplies and personal stash, regular things that used to be quite plentiful like beers, cigarettes and even chewing gum slowly started to become a luxury.

Getting more of them meant traversing across the undead infested city was just not worth it. Unfortunately, no one was stupid enough to take such a risk and the boss himself was more preoccupied with other more important things. “Nah, nothing yet I'm afraid. Then again, it hasn't been that long since that last group left. That is if they didn't get fucking killed on the way back to school.”

“Hey, a bit of positivity here? Don't say such grim stuff.”

“Positivity, huh…” It had become a luxury in times like these, one of those things people only noticed once it started running out. Almost as essential as water and food, yet far rarer by the day. The small victory from yesterday had not changed that. At best, it had bought them a bit of time, nothing more. “I can’t complain, I guess. Unlike most, my family is still alive, and I get to see my kids every day.” His voice softened at that thought. “I can’t even imagine the stress the boss is carrying. To push past all of that and still lead us, still keep this place running and everyone breathing… yeah. I really do feel bad for him.”

“You don't have to stay the obvious. Before that Irish kid got here, I remembered him occasionally coming outside late when we were on night patrol and observing the entrance. As if waiting for someone to appear or a group of people.”

“A bus.”

“A bus? Well, I suppose a bus makes sense, but there's no guarantee that the young Miss would have been inside. Could have been another group of civilians like last time.”

“No, you idiot! I mean look ahead, bus incoming!” jolted from his earlier state, Hiroshi looked ahead and just like his partner explained, a bus was indeed heading straight towards them at a rather scary speed. “Shit! At the rate it's going, it will bulldoze through our defenses!”

“Fucking shit! It's another case of the driver dying while still on the wheel! I can't even fucking see the inside because of all the sunlight!” Dread filled their faces, for moments of the past resurfaced where they were genuinely getting overwhelmed by the sheer number of zombies. If this vehicle were to destroy all of their efforts after they rebuilt their defenses, the result would be catastrophic. Hiroshi's mind worked to its limit, gun race and pointed at the approaching bus. Shooting through the window would serve no purpose if the driver was dead.

Even if this was some sort of attack by an enemy, at the rate this thing was going, even if the person in front of the wheel were to be shot, it would be too late. This only left them with one option…

“Shoot the wheel!”

“Yeah, you make it go off course!”

With a bridge separating the estate, their sole option was to change its direction and avoid destroying the walls. Without hesitation, several men opened fire at once, sounds of bullets being fired at once, a handful of people gathered in front of the gates taking position, doing their best to aim for the wheel with some straight shots hitting other places.

But rather than actually puncturing the rubber or creating holes into the metal haul or the glass, this thing remained impervious and stayed strong! “What the hell is wrong with that thing!? Did one of those secret military heavily reinforced vehicles get stolen!?”

“Why the hell would someone still do such a thing and be painted as a school bus!? Heck, why would the government even create a vehicle like that in such a shape?”

“Don't ask me, keep shooting!”

Panic flooded the group yet they could not do anything but just keep shooting. The distance starts to grow less between them until…

Screech!

The brakes slammed down, and the bus began to slow, the heavy vehicle skidding across the asphalt as the tires clawed desperately for any kind of grip. The entire frame lurched sideways, metal groaning under the strain as its momentum carried it far longer than anyone inside wanted to endure. By the time the driver tried to correct it, control had already slipped away. When the front windows finally cleared. Faces drained of color almost instantly as dread settled over the passengers. There, just ahead of them, was the familiar pink haired girl, clinging to the edge of a seat with white knuckles, her body pressed low while the bus shook violently around her.

“Isn’t that the young Miss!?” Hiroshi shouted, disbelief mixing with fear as the thought struck him all at once. Opening live rounds anywhere near her meant death for him. If the father did not do it personally, then the mother certainly would rip off their spine with her bare hands!

The bus screeched again, tires screaming as it slid sideways before finally coming to a stop. For a moment it tilted at an angle that made everyone brace for the worst, then gravity won and it slammed back down with a dull, heavy thump. Students were plastered against the windows, palms and foreheads pressed to the glass. Many of them looked terrible. Several were pale and sweating, mouths open as they fought the urge to vomit.

The doors burst open with a loud bang, metal snapping from its hinges and giving out, being sent flying several meters away. Coughing filled the air immediately. One by one, then all at once, students spilled out of the bus, stumbling and dropping to the ground. The first to fall forward was the same blue haired boy who had arrived with his group the day before. Back then, he carried himself with confidence, spinning a spear and throwing those powerful explosives. Now he looked completely haggard. His shoulders sagged, his eyes unfocused, like someone who had just stepped out of a human centrifuge.

“Damn it, woman, where the hell did you learn to drive!?” the Irish man shouted, his voice hoarse as he staggered away from the bus. “I’ve been closer to death every day since I got here because of you!”

Around him, several more people collapsed near the edge of the bridge. Some emptied their stomachs onto the concrete. Others simply passed out where they stood. A few managed to sit down, backs against the railing, breathing hard and staring at nothing.

“I did the best I could!” the blonde woman snapped back from the driver’s seat. “It’s not my fault the streets were full of those things and I had to run them over!”

“You were aiming for them!” he shot back. “If I wasn’t here, this whole vehicle would be a pile of scrap after you smashed through half the walls in the district!”

“Stop shouting!” she yelled, with tears practically streaming down her face. “The windows were covered in blood! I couldn’t see anything!”

A blonde woman stepped out next, moving carefully down the steps. Unlike everyone else, she looked perfectly fine. The soldiers watching could not help but stare for a moment. She had the largest chest any of them had ever seen, made even more obvious by the way her strained buttoned shirts seemed to give out at any moment. She pouted slightly as she looked around.

“Hmph. You should have driven yourself if you were going to complain so much,” she said.

“I would have,” he replied, “if yer massive tits hadn’t shoved me aside and taken my seat!”

“That’s no way to talk to your nurse!” she whined, crossing her arms. “Now stop moving, I-I need to do a basic check up on you. You're bleeding everywhere!

“Not my bloo—w-woah! S-Stay away from me!” he barked. “I nearly die every time you’re near me. No, nonono—urgh!”

His fear proved justified.

Shizuka stumbled on the uneven ground, her balance failing at the worst possible moment. She fell forward, landing squarely on his face with the latter getting buried within her soft bosoms — but the impact against the concrete made it impossible to enjoy the sensation. The rest of her body followed and the hit knocked the air from his lungs, her weight pinning him to the ground. His arms flailed uselessly for a few seconds before going still. His eyes rolled back as his body went limp beneath her.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch. My forehead,” she muttered as she pushed herself up. “I knew I should have left my high heels behind. Eh? Seth? Seth!? Oh no, Seth is dead!”

Hiroshi and the other soldiers stood frozen, unable to fully grasp what was unfolding in front of them. A chaotic scene to say the least, but not the same kind they had endured the day before. This was louder, messier, and filled with too many moving parts at once. None of them knew where to focus first, and for several long seconds they simply stared, hands tightening around their rifles without acting.

That hesitation shattered the moment a pair of furious eyes snapped toward them. Saya turned, her expression twisted with frustration and exhaustion, and her voice cut through the noise without any effort. “What the hell are you looking at with those stupid faces!? Help us out before more of those undead find this place! We made enough noise to alert half of this god forsaken city!”

The sound of her shouting alone was enough to send a cold chill through the soldiers. The tone was far too familiar, carrying the same authority and threat as their boss. No one wanted to test her patience again. “Yes,” several of them answered at once. Without wasting another second, every available soldier rushed forward, spreading out to assist.

They guided everyone inside as quickly as possible. One by one, frightened and shaken students were ushered toward safety, some limping, others clutching onto any object serving as support for each other. Members of the Takagi estate staff moved to help, joined by adults who had arrived from nearby shelters. A few of them were parents, their faces pale and tense as they scanned the crowd, searching desperately for familiar faces.

Cries filled the air, some breaking into sobs of relief when families reunited, others collapsing when it became clear that some of their families were not there. Students clung to their parents, while others stood alone, staring at the ground with empty expressions as the reality settled in. It was a mix of relief and grief, layered together. Through it all, the bus remained parked at the entrance, its heavy frame blocking the entire street that led to the mansion grounds. Positioned sideways, it served as another barrier, its door facing inward toward the estate like another shield against anything roaming outside.

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He did not know how long he had been unconscious. At this point, Cu was almost convinced that Shizuka was cursed or perhaps simply his natural enemy in this world. Every time he was anywhere near that airheaded woman, death seemed to brush against him without fail. Then again, he supposed there were worse ways to go than being crushed or suffocated by an attractive woman. Still, it was not his time yet, and any thoughts of the afterlife would have to wait.

When he finally stirred awake, the young man found himself leaning back against a tree. The rough bark pressed against his shoulders as awareness slowly returned. A quick glance told him that only a few minutes had passed. Some students were still being escorted inside, their silhouettes moving in the distance within the enormous compound. He did not need to ask who had dragged him here. The familiar scent lingering on his clothes gave it away immediately, warm and faintly sweet, clinging to him.

Kyoko rested right beside him, her head leaning against his shoulder. Strands of her brown hair had slipped free and now brushed against his chest and arm, shifting slightly with each breath she took. The steady rise and fall of her breathing, along with how loose her posture was, told him everything he needed to know. For the first time in days, she had allowed herself to relax, even if only for a short while.

Without fully thinking about it, Cu lifted a hand and gently brushed her face — pushing some strands of her locks away. His fingers traced along her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin. When he looked down, he noticed the dark circles beneath her eyes, evidence of exhaustion. That was when her eyes opened. She was not asleep after all, looking up at him and smiling, her expression soft and hard to look away from… almost angelic.

“I am sorry to wake you up, Kyoko,” he said quietly.

“It is fine,” she replied. “I was not sleeping, just resting my head after carrying you here. You are quite heavy.”

Even the way she spoke sounded different now, slower and calmer than before. The tension that usually followed her movements was gone, replaced by something closer to relief. She turned her gaze toward the mansion grounds, watching the last few people being brought inside, a small smile still on her face.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Thank you for what?” Cu asked. “I should be the one saying that. You helped me out back there and for carrying my ass here.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head slightly. “I mean thank you for keeping your promise. I know it was not easy, and I know it caused you trouble. But I am glad you brought them all to safety.”

He let out a quiet breath and leaned his head back against the tree. “Like I said before, I am a man of my word. Keeping a promise to a beautiful woman is a strong motivator.”

She lifted a hand and lightly slapped his shoulder, a quiet laugh slipping out despite herself. “You really have a way with words. Speaking to a grown woman like that, people might misunderstand and think you are flirting with me.”

"Heh, there’s nothing to misunderstand. I am flirting with you. I am kind of surprised you never noticed that, since I have been doing this from the beginning," he said with a joking tone, clearly enjoying the way his words caught the grown woman off guard. In the past, that sort of comment would have earned him an immediate and forceful reprimand, delivered without hesitation. This time, however, she did not react as harshly, neither did she raise her voice or pull away the same way as before. Whether that restraint came from acceptance, exhaustion, or something else entirely, he could not tell, and he did not press the issue.

"This… this isn’t right. You have a girlfriend with you now. You shouldn’t be messing around with an old woman anymore just to tease me," she replied, though at first hearing it sounded quite firm, it lacked that bite they usually carried. Her eyes avoided him for a brief moment, and that small detail told him enough.

"I’m just being honest. Everything I’ve said before was not a lie, and I stand by my words," he answered calmly. At least this part of the situation had finally been resolved without any unnecessary deaths; Shido’s life was not one he even considered. In truth, had it not been for Kyoko stepping in much earlier before the outbreak, there was a real chance things could have taken a more… harsh path. As unpleasant as it sounded, those who did not wish to be saved, or who actively tried to put others in danger, did not deserve to be rescued. They had chosen their own path. He was not here to change their minds, nor was he interested in judging them or forcing them to comply.

Even now, he did not trust everyone completely. Bringing them somewhere safer did not magically erase resentment they had. Some of them almost certainly held grudges against him, and it was not a question of if they would act on those feelings, but when. It could happen during a dangerous situation, or it could be something smaller, like making his daily life just a little more troublesome. Either way, he had accepted that as part of the cost.

"Good thing I don’t need to look after them anymore," he said in an even tone. "I’m not the best babysitter. But I’m more than happy to keep an eye on a few others, like you."

As he spoke, he reached out and gently ruffled her hair. In the past, that casual and familiar gesture would have made her scold him immediately, especially with other people around. This time, she did not resist. She stayed where she was. In fact, he could feel her body relax against his, her weight leaning into him instead of pulling away. It did not help that all of these elements made it hard for him to not get distracted, Especially when just looking down a bit one could see a large part of her cleavage.

Unlike Rei, and even Saeko to some extent, Kyoko possessed a kind of charm that stood on its own; unique in a way. Beneath her strict behavior and the hard shell she presented to the world, there was a gentle side that rarely showed itself. She did enjoy his more intimate gestures, even if she often tried to deny it. Whenever his now former teacher thought things went too far, or when her shyness caught up with her, she would push him away and pretend to be annoyed. Her hair was down, blouse hung open just enough, three buttons undone, teasing the creamy swell of her full breasts, the lace edge of her black bra peeking out like an invitation. The fabric clung to her skin, damp with the faint sheen of sweat, outlining the peaks of her nipples straining against the thin material. Her skirt had ridden up her thighs, exposing the smooth, toned expanse of her legs, crossed in a futile. Even for someone who had lived as long as he had, it took effort not to react… this person exuded enough sex appeal to make heads turn without even realising it.

"There’s no need for you to thank me, Kyoko," he said again, this time with more sincerity in his voice. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drew her a little closer. "I would be a real scumbag if I didn’t listen to you after all you’ve done for me. Don’t treat me like a stranger."

"Heh, you’re the one making it hard for me to do that," she replied, her voice quieter now, carrying a hint of amusement she did not bother to hide.

As he sat there with her, a thought crossed his mind, and it made the former Servant of the Spear smirk. There was a mischievous glint in his eyes that he did not bother to conceal. "Well, you know, even though I’m more than willing to face an entire army for you if I have to, and given that I already did this task, shouldn’t I be entitled to some kind of reward?"

In truth, he did not want any reward at all. As long as she was happy, as long as she smiled and showed him that expression he liked so much, that was more than enough. One could even call it selfish, but he had never denied that part of himself. He simply wanted to make a beautiful woman happy, without any deeper or more complicated reason behind it. Being unable to say no to a pretty face had always been one of his weaknesses, and he had accepted that long ago. It was part of who he was, no matter how much time passed or how many lives he had lived. For now, the request was nothing more than a way to tease the woman resting against him, and he was content to leave it at that.

"I-I… I… um, I do not really have anything left to my name at this point," Kyouko said, her voice uneven as she searched for the right words. "With how this disease turned this place into a literal chaotic ruin, I doubt money will be of any value in the near future. Or rather, come to think of it, it has no value whatsoever even now."

She clasped her hands together in front of her, fingers twisting and untwisting. "As a teacher, I cannot even offer you extra points for your yearly grades. I cannot do that anymore. I cannot give you extra days of holidays, or even help you out by slipping some of the questions from the exams early on. None of those things hold any meaning whatsoever now."

The longer she continued to talk, the more stunned Cu became. She was not joking or brushing it off. She was genuinely taking this seriously, weighing every possible thing she once had and finding all of it worthless in the current world. Her words tumbled into a growing list of things she could no longer give, material or otherwise, all spoken with the same earnest tone.

It was almost endearing in a strange way. Seeing her this flustered and so determined to repay him was amusing, but it also made him a bit exasperated. Perhaps she was taking this matter a bit too seriously than he intended.

"Hey," he said, raising a hand slightly to get her attention. "Maybe you are taking this a bit too seriously."

She froze mid sentence and looked at him, eyes wide as if she had been caught doing something wrong.

"I am not a materialistic person," Cu continued with a small grin. "A kiss from a beautiful maiden is a standard gift I heard that heroes receive in olden times. So I would not mind that."

As he spoke, he turned his head slightly and leaned in just enough to make his intention clear, offering the side of his face. It was meant as a joke, or at least half of one. A kiss on the cheek would have been more than enough, and if nothing else, seeing her get more flustered might have lightened the mood.

"E-Eh?" Kyoko let out a small, confused sound. Her face began to heat up almost instantly. "W-Well, I suppose so. Y-you are still a young healthy boy with a lot of energy. It is my fault for ignoring your feelings back then, but I was afraid that you would regret doing so with an old woman like me. Rei is also your girlfriend, and maybe I am just taking too much already."

Holy shit. She had started rambling again.

Cu felt his patience thinning, not out of anger, but out of a mixture of frustration and exasperation. Letting this spiral any further would only make things worse. He turned back toward her with an apologetic smile, ready to shut this down before she dug herself any deeper.

"All right, I was just kidding. You do not need to take i—oof!”

The rest of his words died in his throat. Both sides of his face were suddenly grabbed, fingers pressing in with surprising force. He blinked in shock as Kyoko pulled him closer, her grip firm despite how badly she was trembling.

Her face had gone completely red, all the way down to her ears. She avoided his eyes for only a second before leaning forward, clearly acting on impulse rather than thought. Her lips pushed against his in what could barely be called a kiss, more like she had nearly headbutted him with her face.

Cu reacted on instinct. Raising a hand and placing his palm between them, slowing her down just enough to prevent the collision. The moment stretched for several more seconds, with him even feeling her erratic heartbeat sounding like it would burst out of her chest at any moment.

Her lips met his in a simple, stiff kiss and quite inexperienced, with just a faint raspberry taste from her lip balm she must have kept on herself. She stayed frozen right after that, unsure, like it was her first time or close enough after years without doing anything like this.

He smiled inside, not laughing at her, but wanting to make it better than awkward. He shifted, cupping the back of her head to pull her closer gently, his other hand on her cheek, thumb stroking soft and slow to ease her. “Mm~!” It worked right away with the faint sound that came from her. Her wide eyes softened, her body relaxed, and her lips moved with his, still shy but better than before. Her hands slipped from his face, arms wrapping loosely around his neck.

Unfortunately, it ended quickly. A few seconds in, she tensed up, pushed him back with both hands, and stepped away, catching her breath while fixing her clothes and standing straight.

"T-That… that should suffice," she said, forcing a serious tone. "As a teacher, I should not be doing something this scandalous. It is immoral and completely out of line. But since you said so, and so many students then I will…"

Cu did not let her finish.

Rolling his eyes as she slipped back into another spiral, he reached out and pulled her toward him before she could step away again. She let out a small yelp as he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her into a firm embrace.

"There is nothing to be shy about," he said calmly. "You are a good person, Kyoko and I enjoyed that reward. Know that I will always be here to help you out."

She hesitated, then slowly relaxed against him, her forehead resting against his chest.

"You need to take care of yourself too."

She whispered quietly, staying like that for quite a while till they eventually went back to sitting with having each other close by. Her breathing grew more shallow and the last of her tension faded as sleep finally claimed her, her weight settling against him. Not long after, the young woman began to snore softly, peacefully, her head resting comfortably on his lap. One of her hands curled loosely in the fabric of his pants, fingers twitching once before going still. Cu did not move, letting her rest without shifting even an inch, his posture steady despite the awkward position.

After a moment, he lifted his gaze forward where he spotted a man approaching them. One hand remained behind his back, while the other gripped the familiar katana he always carried at his side. The blade stayed sheathed and as clean as ever. His eyes met Cu’s, and though his expression remained as unchanging as a rock, there was something different there today.

From an outsider’s point of view, one might have assumed this man lived in a permanent state of irritation, similar to Archer, but with a bigger stick up his ass somehow.

Which in itself was an astonishing accomplishment.

“You brought her back,” Soichiro said, observing Kyouko for a brief moment before taking his attention off of her.

Cu smirked faintly. “Of course I did. Just like I said I would. Saya was never really in danger, not even without me, that lass would have made it here one way or another. I only sped things up, or slowed them down, dependin’ on how you want to look at it. Probably slowed it down, considerin’ I had to keep an eye on every student along the way.”

He glanced toward the surrounding people, many of them resting, others speaking quietly among themselves. The man followed his gaze, several emotions passing across his face in quick succession.

“We took in as many people as we could,” the middle aged man added. “Some of them are civilians, parents whose children were trapped at that school. Back then, many of them chose to push past their despair and stay strong, all for the chance of seeing their loved ones again. In ways you probably have not considered, you saved more people than you realize. For that, I am grateful.”

He bowed deeply, a full and sincere motion. The action caught several of his own soldiers off guard, their surprise clear as they exchanged brief looks.

“There’s no need for that,” Cu replied, letting out a quiet chuckle. “You’re going to make me blush. Besides, it wasn’t exactly charity. I had something to gain too. A room to myself and decent food are rare luxuries these days, and I’m not about to pretend otherwise.”

Soichiro straightened and nodded. “Those requests hardly compare to what you have done. Still, you kept your word, and I will keep mine. If you need anything at all, provisions, ammunition, weapons, whatever resources we have, they are at your disposal.”

Cu considered the offer in silence.

The idea of having a private space where he could work without curious eyes watching every move held its appeal. He imagined setting up a small workshop, maintaining his weapons properly, maybe even improving them. Unlike many mages, doing such a thing was hardly an interest of his, but he knew the advantages of having one more than anyone. His teacher made sure to drill that in his head after all… sometimes literally.

He could have done some of that back at the school, but the atmosphere there had been strained. Here, at least, things felt more stable. The decision sat easier in his chest.

“So,” Cu said at last, “what’s the next plan?”

Soichiro’s eyes widened slightly as he stared at him. “You just arrived and you are already thinking about heading back out there? I admire your drive, young man, but rest is not optional. It will become something you cannot ignore if this continues.”

Cu waved a hand dismissively. “I can go days without sleep and still perform at full capacity. No drop in focus, no mistakes. Besides, I’m not asking to leave right now. I just want to know what I should be expecting. You are not planning to sit here and wait for this outbreak to solve itself.”

"You are correct, we cannot afford that."

Another voice joined the discussion as Takagi’s mother stepped forward. Yuriko Takagi. This time wearing a purple dress that practically clung to her figure, her hair neatly arranged despite the circumstances. It crossed his mind, not for the first time, that there had to be something wrong with the water in this world. Let alone the younger ones, even women into their early middle age looked like they had stepped out of a magazine shoot with no exception. Compared to many noblewomen of his own era, she would not have looked out of place among royalty.

‘This one could even give Medb and Shishou a run for their money… then again, so can many here.’

"Right now, despite having generators, we are still relying on the local grid for electricity, as well as water from the municipal plant," Yuriko continued, ignorant of the thoughts crossing his mind. "Keeping those running does not only benefit us. It allows other groups in the city to access clean water and to receive information through broadcasts. That matters more than most people realize."

She gestured toward the east, where the distant skyline sat under a dull, gray haze.

"Unfortunately, just as the number of undead keeps increasing around this district, the same is happening near the power stations and the water treatment facilities. We have been informed that army units are on their way. They should arrive in a few days, at which point we can begin a proper evacuation and move as many people as possible out of the city. Until then, we have to keep this place functional. If the infrastructure collapses, everything else will follow."

Cu nodded slowly, his expression turning serious as he listened. Even if they were to be in an age where magecraft existed like in his own world, he understood the truth of her words. Entire armies had fallen without a single spell being cast against them, simply because food and water stopped coming. Supply lines mattered more than heroics. People needed to eat. People needed to drink. That truth did not change with time, the world and it did not care whether one wielded a spear or a spell.

"So what’s the plan, exactly?" he asked. "From what I saw the last time I was here, you’re already stretched thin just keeping this place secure. I can’t imagine it’s improved now that you’ve got hundreds of students to look after, at least for today."

Takagi Soichiro exchanged a glance with his wife. Both of them clearly agreed with the concern, but before either could answer, Cu continued, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

"And let’s be honest. At a time like this, if you can run and you can carry a weapon, whether it’s a sword or something more modern, you should earn your stay. No one should be sitting around while others risk their lives. Whip these kids into a group that can at least hit a target close to them. If not that, then have them help with chores, patrols, or gathering supplies. Everyone pulls their weight."

Neither Takagi nor Yuriko dismissed the idea outright. Instead, they fell silent, looking at each other as several considerations clearly ran through their minds.

"That is something we have discussed," Soichiro said at last. "If the situation escalates faster than expected, we may not have any other choice."

Yuriko’s expression tightened slightly.

"The problem is trust," she added. "Handing weapons to students means giving them the power to kill. In a panic, many of them will not think clearly. I cannot expect all of them to hold their ground or make rational decisions under pressure."

As she spoke, her gaze shifted toward Cu, lingering on him for a moment longer than necessary.

He let out a short breath and shook his head.

"You flatter me, but I can assure you I’m not the only one who can handle themselves out there," he replied. "You’d be surprised how many capable people are hiding in that school."

"I am aware of Miss Busujima," Yuriko said.

Cu shook his head again.

"I’m not just talking about her," he said. "I mean others too. Some of them have gone well beyond what anyone would expect. One kid even put together a makeshift firearm using industrial nail guns. Crude, sure, but effective. It can put those things down from dozens of meters away."

He folded his arms.

"People in my group like Igou, and even Takashi, can be vicious when they have to be. I’ve watched them crack skulls over the past few days without hesitation. Give them proper weapons and they’ll adapt. You can also count on Yoshito, the mean looking lad. Don’t let his face fool ya. Give him a job and he’ll see it through seriously."

He paused briefly, then added, more casually, "As for your daughter, I can’t say much. I haven’t seen her fight firsthand, so it wouldn’t be fair to judge."

"Oh, she is quite capable. I made sure of that myself, fufufufu~!

"Huh, guess I should have known. Anyways, going back to what we discussed," he continued once the humor faded, his tone returning to business, "what is the last word you received from the power plant and the water treatment facility?"

At that, the man across from her shifted in his seat. His expression changed in a way that did not inspire confidence, his mouth pulling into a thin line before he finally spoke.

"For now, things are stable at the power plant," he said. "There are no signs of failure, and emergency systems are still functioning. But our records show something else. A body was found not that long ago, before the outbreak fully surfaced. It was discovered on the same day, floating near the water treatment facility."

"What?"

The word left Cu before he could stop himself. His earlier laid back posture vanished as he sat upright, careful not to disturb Kyoko as he adjusted his position. One arm remained securely around her, keeping her settled against his side while his attention locked onto the two adults in front of him.

"You do not mean to say that it is responsible for this entire shit hole?”

The man let out a slow breath. "Honestly, this matter slipped my mind at the time. I received the report only a few days ago. The local cleaning crew already removed the body and disposed of it somewhere we are not aware of. For all we know, it could still be sealed in a coffin inside a van. But I have a suspicion. That body could have been patient zero, or at least partially responsible for how fast the virus spread."

"Hold on," Cu said, cutting in before the idea could settle. He raised a hand slightly, then brought it to his forehead, rubbing slowly as if trying to organize his thoughts. "Something does not make sense here. Ever since the outbreak, I have mostly been drinking bottled water and beer. But I have seen plenty of others using faucet water to wash themselves regularly. Some even tried to drink it early on. None of them showed any immediate changes."

As he spoke, his gaze drifted for a moment, recalling the past days with uncomfortable clarity. Even though he had warned many people early on to stick to bottled water, it would be wrong to assume everyone followed that advice. Some washed their hands with the same tap water. His own group had done so while they were stuck in that house. They had showered, rinsed off sweat and blood alike, letting the water run over their skin. It would have been easy for that water to enter their system in one way or another.

"So if the water was contaminated," Cu continued, lowering his hand, "it should have affected more people much sooner."

"It is not a guarantee that everything happened because of that body," the man replied. "But it does help explain why the spread was so fast in this town specifically. There is also a possibility that the infection only happens if it enters our bloodstream through an open wound. With how many times my men got splashed by the blood of those they shot, half of my group would have been dead by now. My guess is those who got infected first either had open wounds inside their mouths or washed themselves when they had an injury. This allowed a swift contamination to be spread quickly across the entire town.”

Cu's eyes twitched. That lass who got shot by the nail gun had to be treated back then, the only reason they used water from a bottle was because it happened to be close by. And Shizuka immediately followed it by using alcohol and other antiseptic solutions.

‘Good thing I was there to make sure no one in my group got hurt when we were searching for a path. Alice had no injuries too.’ This proved itself to be far too close for comfort.

"Then what about the other towns?" Cu pressed. "Those places were already overrun before things started here. I remember dealing with a couple of them the day before the outbreak even hit us. Our water system does not extend that far."

"Yes," the man admitted, nodding once. "That point does weaken the argument. Still, the timing is too coincidental to ignore completely. The most logical conclusion is that this did not start here. We were simply one of the last areas to be hit. A few days earlier, multiple countries and cities around the world went radio silent almost overnight."

"We have another possibility," the woman said, speaking up at last.

Cu turned his attention to her, his expression expectant as he waited. She took a moment before continuing, choosing her words carefully.

"Another assumption is that this was intentional," she said. "If there is an entity behind this, then several points around the world may have been set up at once. Multiple patient zeros, spread across different regions. For what purpose, I cannot say. It is hard to tell whether it was a terrorist biochemical attack, an experiment, or something else entirely, given how quickly everything escalated."

Compared to the theory about the contaminated body, this one also made sense.

In the end, those two explanations stood above the rest.

Cu shifted, then gently lifted Kyoko into his arms, making sure her head rested securely against his shoulder. He stood up slowly, careful not to jostle her. Before turning to leave, he looked back at the two adults, his expression steady despite the weight of the discussion.

"Whatever you plan on doing next, I will support you," he said. "Consider it thanks for building a sanctuary here. There would be no point in joining a place like this if it was going to fall apart in a few days because of bad decisions or hidden problems that no one bothered to address."

With that, he gave a brief nod and turned toward the exit, Kyoko held close as he left them to consider what came next.

“We appreciate this,” the mother said, before reaching into her purse and pulling out a key, the metal clinking softly as she held it up. “Second floor, third room on the rightmost hallway. You will find Miss Kyouko’s accommodation right next to yours. She can rest there along with Miss Shizuka and any other female teachers. I am sorry we could not give her a private room like yours.”

He lifted a hand and waved it once, easy and unbothered. “Don’t worry about it. I’m already grateful for this.”

With that settled, he carefully gathered the unconscious Kyouko into his arms, adjusting his grip so she rested securely. As he moved deeper inside the building, Cu gazed at his surroundings. The interior felt like a maze in places, almost like a giant modern castle.

The door opened into a spacious and well-furnished room. A large bed stood at the center, wide enough for two people to sleep without discomfort, which made sense given it was meant for Kyoko and Shizuka.

He carried her inside and laid her down on the bed, taking a moment to make sure she was comfortable and properly covered. Before fully stepping in, he glanced back outside through the window. Several students who had been part of Shido’s plan now stood with their parents, laughing and smiling as if nothing had happened. He could not decide what to think about them anymore. Still, watching them carefully felt like a sensible choice.

Saya remained busy nearby, issuing instructions to the soldiers serving under her father. Takashi and Igo assisted where they could, moving crates and speaking with the adults. For a brief moment, Saeko looked up and met his gaze from across the field and smiled at him. Whatever went on inside her head was not something he cared to guess at right now.

Strangely enough, Rei was nowhere to be seen. He assumed she had gone to take a shower or was changing somewhere.

After carefully placing Kyoko on the bed and adjusting the blanket, he turned to leave. He stopped short when he noticed an orange-haired girl leaning against the doorframe. “Speak of the devil,” he muttered as Rei stood there with her arms crossed, watching him with a look that carried more suspicion than curiosity.

“I get that you are close to one another,” she said, her tone controlled. “She shares your role as a guardian after all. Still, sometimes I feel like there is more going on between you two.”

“Of course there is more going on,” he replied without hesitation. “Kyoko matters to me, and I have done what I could to show that. Are you really bothered by the attention I give her right now?”

Rei clicked her tongue and looked away, her arms tightening across her chest. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. You are just embarrassing yourself with those assumptions.”

He did not buy it, this stepping closer, closing the distance until she had no room to retreat. Reaching out and catching her by the waist, pulling her a step nearer till her body pressed against his. She stiffened at first, then stopped resisting altogether before bringing her lips against his hungrily.

“—!”

“Ouch!”

Rather than experiencing a beautiful moment, the next thing he felt was his lower lips getting bitten by the little minx who glared back at him. “Was it Saeko who kissed you?”

Damn it, he should have known about this!

But before he could explain himself, Rei leaned in again, her eyes narrowing with that mix of jealousy and desire. Nipping at his lower lip once more, then slowly parted her own, teasing his mouth open with the tip of her tongue.

He hesitated for a split second, realising the noise would wake up Kyouko. But she didn't wait, sliding her tongue deeper, swirling it against his in a wet, insistent rhythm that made saliva trickle down their chins.

Her hands fisted in his shirt, yanking him closer as she sucked greedily on his tongue, the kiss turning messy. He responded in kind, his fingers digging into her ass and sunk into her flesh, pulling her body flush against him with the girl wrapping her legs around his waist while he walked to his room. Their breaths came in hot, uneven pants, lips smacking sloppily as tongues battled and explored, leaving a slick trail of heat between them.

He guided her out into the hallway and closed the door behind them, careful not to make a sound. At the opposite end, he pressed her gently back against the wall, holding her wrists above her head. Rei allowed it, her breathing uneven as she looked up at him, anticipation clear in her eyes and a faint smirk forming on her lips.

“There, that's better. No more traces of that bitch.”

This lass…

“Let's see how long you can keep that energy of yours going.” He said, having long since gotten inside his room. Both of their clothes were thrown to the ground. I like their first time, she was much more energetic and forward with her actions, already sitting on top of him with lust exuding from her very being.

Alas, going any further proved to be impossible. For in the next second, the door leading inside the room was barged open with a naked figure rushing in hastily, panic filled eyes widening with pure shock as she gazed at their rather intimate position.

Of course, the first one to get angry was…

“Can’t we get ten minutes of fucking privacy in this place!” Rei shouted loudly while the lass who he remembered was called Yuki fell to the floor.

.

.

.

(A few minutes later)

“So this is what it feels to be blue-balled.” Cu said putting back on his shirt, safe to say, the prior atmosphere was completely ruined for them to continue. Rei looked like someone contemplating on how to secretly kill and bury the one responsible for this.

Yuki has been bound by roads and thrown to the corner of the room with the bed’s sheet wrapped around her. Fearfully looking at him and a few people who were chasing her earlier on like Yoshito — who he ended up dismissing. It was not worth their time to worry about this one, they had more important things to handle.

“P-Please don't kill me.” Yuki said fearfully, that exclamation earned a raised eyebrow from him.

Squatting in front so that they were on eye to eye level, he asked with a slight tilt of his head. “Why would I want to kill you, lass?”

“...”

She said nothing, keeping her silence and I'll continue to tremble like a leaf in the middle of a hurricane. “Quite funny, don't you think so? Even though I was not there for the entirety, I heard plenty about you from the others. Arrogant and filled with confidence that nothing bad would happen to you. Shido’s little personal bed warmer who practically treated herself as the queen.”

“P-Please… I-I didn't do a-anything…”

“I believe ya,” he said casually, an answer which she was not expecting clearly given how her eyes widened ever so slightly. “I know people like you, you rarely do anything with your own hands or take action. You're more like a succubus who whispers sweet words to the ears of your partner and has them do everything for you. What I am trying to figure out is what part of Shido’s actions were actually influenced by you.”

The dread in her eyes really tenfold, “I did not do such a thing! It was all his plan from the beginning! I-I… I just stood by his side because h-he he… forced me to follow his words! Yes, he raped me! I'm the victim in all of this as well! I had no choice!”

Scratching his own ears, this girl screamed louder then a fucking banshee. Even putting Rei to shame with that sheer volume.

“I don't believe ya.” This time, he gave her a completely different answer with his smile slowly fading away. “Like I said, I am quite familiar with your kind. I experienced a couple people like you in the past myself, so no point in acting like you were a victim. But, just find your actions, I don't think you would have been someone who would try to kill others, right?”

“Y-Yes! I would never do such a thing! I swear!”

His smile returned and she visibly relaxed slightly. “And if you look at it my way, we also kind of owe you an apology. Or rather, Yoshito owes you one for nearly killing you. Speakin’ of killin’, it makes no sense that I would do such a thing to you given it is quite an effort to keep you breathin’!

“E-Eh?” Yuki was momentarily lost, a few seconds passed and then she raised her arm to point a finger at him with disbelief. “That light from back then… I-It was you?”

“Light?” It did not take long for him to connect the dots and figure that in her previous state, she must have seen and remembered the effects of his runes. Not that he had any issues with it, there being absolutely no chance anyone would take a word seriously even if she tried to spread the word.”If you mean by me and Shizuka saving you, then yes.”

“... Where is Shido?”

“Dead.” Rei answered instantly, her voice coming from the other side of the room as he heard the girl go through several clothes given to them. “So don't even try to worm your way out of this. Or else you will follow the same path as him.”

“Heh!” Amused by her answer, the Irishman chuckled while Yuki went completely pale with horror. “Don't mind her. She still has some bloodlust when it comes to that man. And yeah, I'm afraid your lover got eaten by a horde of zombies as he tried to escape from the crashed bus. Shame really. Nothing I could have done to save him. Care to tell me why you're looking for him?”

“Why even bother asking that question?” Rei mumbled dryly, irritation filling her tone. “She was obviously eager to return by his side and play the role as his personal fuck toy. This bitch knows that without him she can do nothing.”

“Oh? Is there some history between you two?” He couldn't help but ask.

“No, she just has a very well-known reputation at school amongst the student population. Especially the boys, She probably slept with half of them and I and not even trying to insult her. It's not even a secret that she used her body to sleep with teachers in order to get a better grade.”

“Woah, quite the history!” Was he disturbed, disgusted, or even disappointed? Not at all. Given he also had plenty of physical relationships in his youth, it would not be fair for him to judge her. It was just entertained by the open hostility showcased by Rei towards Yuki.

“..ay—”

“Hm?” At some point, she gave an answer but spoke so silently that he barely heard what she said. “Care to repeat that?”

“I… I wanted to make him pay.” Yuki repeated, strands of her hair blocking her eyes. “I gave him everything, I made him experience heaven again and again. He promised me everything and at the end that fucking bastard ended up using me as a shield!”

“...”

Her sudden outburst grew louder.

“He didn't even hesitate! Did not even use some other bitch next to him and just had to pull me in front! And when I got struck, it did not even bother to act concerned! Running away and leaving me to die with you idiots! I wanted to find him and make him experience the same thing! Fucking fill his mouth with nails and force another one through his dick until he begs me to stop and then and him with a hammer up his ass! So what if I slept around with other men and boys to get what I want!? It's my body, my choice! It's not evil and why would I care if a bunch of jealous bitches do not want to do the same or can't even control their own boyfriends to think with their lower part!? None of those things should have me treated like that! It's not fair! IT'S NOT FAIR!”

After the long seconds of shouting to the point her voice even started to crack, Yuki finally came to a stop, breathing harshly with tears and saliva streaming down her face.

“Hahahaha!” Hearing all of that, for the first time Cu laughed loudly. It was not even done mockingly. “Good one, lass! This is definitely the first time you spoke with your heart! Not an ounce of lies anywhere! I like that!”

Finally standing up once again, he turned to look at Rei. “So, what do you think?”

She huffed, “Up to you. I honestly couldn't care less.”

“Better than nothing.” With that, extended his hand towards Yuki, much to the latter's confusion. “Listen, I have no problems with you. I honestly don't care about your past and in a way I can even understand why you would choose to do so. But, you'll need to pull your weight this time without shaking your butt and having others do it for you. If you want to get food, water and even be trusted, then you'll need to start somewhere. So, what do you say we put all of this behind and start fresh? I know someone who will definitely need help from a gal like you.”

She looked at his hand for a few seconds, hesitating. He was patient with her, knowing that people could not change with just a snap of the finger. But as long as they were willing to show even the tiny bit of willingness to try, he could see himself giving her a second chance. Thankfully, he did not need to wait long before Yuki extended her own arm and placed her hand on top of his.

“By the way, my name is Cu, I doubt you remembered it. You can call me Seth though… or Cu, whatever works for you.”

{Break}

-Tokonosu Power Plant-

“Raise the barricades! Make sure No fly gets in or gets out! I see you getting sidetracked and it will be your ass on the line!”

On the other side of Tokonosu, a similar atmosphere filled the power plant with a handful of people running around keeping the place functional for as long as they could while pushing back against the occasional number of undead groups that wandered too close.

“The oil reserve looks good, Captain! If nothing goes wrong this place can easily keep on going for the next few weeks without needing to be refilled.”

“You need the cleanup crew over here to get rid of the blood! Or else this place will start rusting all over!”

“Someone call Hideyoshi over here, that idiot still hasn't finished replacing the busted cables from last time!”

Several voices sounded from all across the place, due to their small number, Each one of them were burdened with more work than a usual worker. Thankfully, not all of them were soldiers, several of the original power plant workers had managed to escape the outbreak by staying locked up inside until help arrived. Continuing to do their duties while hoping for aid to arrive quickly and take them away from the city.

Bang!

At the entrance, several armed men kept the same formation as the group at the Takagi estate. Gunning down any limping figure that's so much has got close to the power plant in general. This went on for long enough that a small hell of rotting bodies started circling the entire place.

“Urgh, Don't we have a flamethrower or something to clear this up?” One of the armed men complained, a sentiment shared by everyone for the stench was getting more and more unbearable by the day. “I've seen some messed up things in my life, but no amount of war and training will get me used to standing near a rotting pile of corpses for hours on end without a horrible migraine.”

“Just power through it, Akira.” The second person next to him said, having a similar uniform on but the symbol on his chest showcasing him being the leader of the group. “We already sent a message to the Takagi estate, our request was approved and we should be getting a team to clean up this mess soon enough.”

“Humph, soon enough… I know It hasn't been that long actually but this entire stench and rot makes it feel like we've been standing here for weeks rather than days. Hold on, another group of these monsters are getting close.” Looking ahead, the captain spotted a handful of undead, a former salaryman and even one or two cops amongst them who had gotten infected. Half of their face rotten and the thirst for blood in their eyes evident. He let his subordinate handle them, wasting bullets was not a good idea and a single person with a gun was more than capable of taking out dozens of these things if needed.

Confident enough in his men, the captain checked his phone to see if he had received any messages from his other team.

Bang!

Bang!

“Aim for the head, those things won't stop even if you should do them in the heart.”

Bang!

Bang!

“What th—”

“Hm?” The noise of gunshots stopped, followed by a distinct sound of something heavy cluttering to the ground and wet gurgles. A chilling sensation spread across his skin, immediately he brought his attention back to his subordinate, about to ask him what was going on only to see horrifying sight.

“A-Akira?”

Someone who had worked under him for nearly a decade, a capable man who was no slouch himself and could even take out a group of people unarmed. That same individual now looked back at him with lifeless eyes, his arms going limp to the side while his throat was bitten and ripped apart with an entire chunk coming out by one of those zombies.

“—!”

He did not even have time to wonder how this even happened, how they got close enough. Instead, the captain immediately aimed his gun at the target intending to blow its head. But his moment of stupor robbed him of too much time and at that moment… His vision was filled with a row of teeth coming from the other side — intending to rip him apart as well.

‘Did that thing just… run?’

.

.

.

Ever since the outbreak, the town itself was unrecognisable, the once beautiful metropolis turned into ruins in the span of a single day. Smokes billowing in the sky and the stench of rot and decay expanding to its neighbouring regions.

But within this hellhole, less than a handful of places remained untouched, one of these places just happened to be an old Somin Shorai dedicated shrine that had started to decay not from the chaos but from time itself. Left unattended for an unknown amount of years with the wood losing its prior lustre and breaking apart bit by bit. Plants overgrowing on the shrine itself, vines covering the walls and nature slowly engulfing the place and having it soon become a forgotten point in time.

But within this space, on the small altar, a small wooden idol remained untouched by dust, cobwebs or any other foreign substance. Hanging all by itself with nothing to disturb it anymore… except for the faint split that started from the top and reached a third way down.

Crack!

Except this time, the small splinter continued making its way downwards, happening so suddenly that the echo bounced off the walls faintly. Some of the cracks spread around like spider webs, but stopped halfway through.

The last raise of sunshine illuminating the idol till the sun eventually set and the room was thrown into pure darkness once more.