Beta read by Shigiya and Darklord331
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-Tokonosu-
"I… have an assistant?"
There were many strange scenarios that Shizuka had dealt with while being a nurse. Severe wounds that could forever cripple students, something they somehow got from just playing a simple game of football. Dealing with a potential flu outbreak that occurred before even the current one, where, for some reason, dozens of students would come to her infirmary, all claiming to have severe headaches along with cramps.
Yet, regardless of the treatment she gave them, they would always come back the next day and have her start over with the treatment. It made the woman wonder why these parents would keep sending their children over if it was obvious that their health were poor, but whenever she shared such thoughts with other teachers, they all just gave her a strange look and shook their heads. Claiming that she was too naive and was being taken advantage of.
Shizuka disagreed with that notion. Why fake being sick if those boys always declined going back home when she offered them the possibility? It was clearly something else. But she digressed; all of this usually made her very busy during the day, and it isn't the first time that she wished that she had an assistant.
Unfortunately, the school, to save money, remained very stingy with its hiring process, never agreeing with her demands and claiming that it would be an unnecessary expenditure.
Yet she never expected that her request would finally be listened to, not by the school or when the world was still normal. But rather when their punk lips had arrived, and more than half of the population in this town were already turned into walking husks, biting others to death and infecting them.
"Yep! I think we all started on the wrong foot. You see, Miku Yuuki here agreed to carry her own weight and help out others as a way to seek forgiveness for her past actions. So what better place to start than by literally helping the person who treats others? Although, she did almost hurt you earlier, didn't she? Miku, don't you have something to say to our poor school nurse?"
The one responsible for the chaos this morning just stood behind him, fidgeting on the spot and keeping her silence. Whether she was intimidated by everyone's presence or just uncertain of what to say, no one could tell. But thankfully enough, she followed Cu's words without any complaint. "I am sorry. I didn't mean it."
"Apology accepted~!" As one would expect from Shizuka, the woman didn't carry an ounce of resentment, and just accepted the apology with a smile on her face.
"See? Wasn't that hard now, wasn't it?" That was just the first hurdle; the girl had to do some work around here if she wanted to be accepted by those who carried grudges against the late Shido or herself. "And as a personal favor, this is also a request from me to you. Just make sure this nurse stays away from me and doesn't try to kill me in the process."
"You're still on about that!? Told you it was accident, I wasn't paying attention and tripped!" How a grown woman like her could whine and make a pout similar to a young child like Alice… didn't mean that he was going to let his guard down!
"You say that, but my experiences says otherwise! Every time I'm around you, Donn comes knocking at the door and demands my soul!"
"I-I am the one who bandaged your head!"
"After your giant tits smashed them to the ground and nearly suffocated me on top of that!"
"Seth! That's no way to talk to Shizuka! And you, too, Shizuka, you need to be more mindful of your surroundings." Others intervened, Kyoko getting in between them and scolding both of them like a parent with her unruly children.
As one would expect, both sides stopped with the nurse going over to hug her beautiful colleague, crying fake tears of sadness. "Wuuuuh! You need to help me, Kyoko-chan! I want to prove to Seth that I am not dangerous and that he can be comfortable around me."
"W-What do you even want me to do? Deal with that on your own." It didn't seem like the brunette was willing.
Leaving the interaction between both of them to the side, Cu turned his attention to Yuki, who remained silent and just stood behind him awkwardly. This time, speaking quietly for only her to listen and with a much more grounded tone. "Listen, just like I said before, I'm willing to look past everything. While I don't necessarily agree with your method, you did what you had to do to gain the upper hand in this apocalypse. Even if that meant selling your body and being selfish. Not everyone is a hero. But when given a second chance, I won't be turning a blind eye if you squander it as well."
He could see the gears in her head turning; she was not stupid, at least he hoped so. She knew the implication of his words and the kind of predicament the girl found herself in.
Along this train of thought, he also knew that she wouldn't just accept everything without trying to weasel her way out of it or try to renegotiate the terms. Thus, he waited patiently to see just what she was about to say.
"If you truly understand me, if you really believe my actions were only to give myself a better chance at surviving, then why punish me this harshly?"
Miku Yuuki looked up at him, her amber-brown eyes bright and glassy, flecks of gold catching the light in a way that made them seem almost luminous. Long lashes framed that gentle gaze, the kind that made it difficult to stay angry.
Her fingers curled around the edge of his sleeve, light yet deliberate. The vulnerable look she gave him was enough to make any man's resolve falter. "I can repent by other means… ways that I am more capable than just being an assistant."
The way she leaned forward made her cleavage visible just enough; the outline of her perky breasts and the way they swayed with each movement made it almost hypnotic. He had to admit, no wonder Shido got enthralled by this woman, but he was a bit surprised by how bold she was being.
"Do you seriously think this would work on me?"
"Will it really not work?" She asked slyly, not even attempting to shy away from the truth.
"Good thin' my upper head's in charge at the moment. So as lovely as that sounds, I can't accept that offer of yours. Ye see, I've already got a fiery lass by my side." Grabbing Miku's shoulders, Cu pushed her back just enough to put some proper distance between them without being rough. "Jokes aside, I'm serious now. My first plan was to hand you over to Khota and help the poor lad with whatever mess he's tied up in. But letting you walk around with weapons? That's a bad idea. I can't ignore the chance of you pulling the same stunt on him that you just tried on me."
Restlessness, unease, and frustration filled her eyes.
"Ah, before I forget, don't even try to seduce the other students to work for you or cause a mutiny. I'll be keeping a close eye on everyone."
Was he afraid of that happening again? Not really, unlike back at school, this place also had several professionally trained soldiers, and a sexy body with a pretty face just was not enough to sway that many people who also had family to protect. Not to mention, he doubted she had the same way of speaking as the late Shido.
Also, he trusted that these people feared Saya's parents more than anything else.
Right as he felt that enough words were conveyed, his warning was clearly made clear. Cu walked away from the noisy infirmary, trusting Shizuka to take it from there and allow him the opportunity to focus on more important matters.
Feeling her eyes upon him even as he left, he did not bother to humour whatever thoughts were going through her mind and just hoped she would not squander this second chance.
"Now where are those two…"
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This place truly was a maze of unending corridors and doors that led into so many rooms that it made the old heroic spirit wonder if some space manipulation magecraft was not used to make the inside feel ten times bigger than it looked from the outside. Even the greatest castles from his time paled in comparison to just how massive this place turned out to be, not even taking into account the underground levels. As for the reason for his endless march across this ever-expanding villa? To search for both Yuriko and Soichiro.
Neither of those two was outside, so that meant they were somewhere here.
Thankfully, it did not seem like he needed to play this absurd game of cat and mouse any longer for his nose and catching a faint whiff of a particular perfume. "This smells familiar," he said, sniffing the air for the faint aroma of lavender to fill his senses. "This way."
The path eventually led him into what had to be the third living room he had crossed since entering the estate. The place had been turned into a storage hub. Every corner stood crowded with sealed boxes, some labeled in thick marker, others left plain. Ammunition crates lay beside cartons of medical supplies. Water canisters, canned food, spare batteries, coiled rope, and toolkits filled the remaining gaps. Nothing here looked decorative anymore.
Near the center of the room stood what could only be described as a rose with thorns. Yuriko had one leg placed on top of a cushioned seat, skirt drawn back enough to give her room to work. Her lower body remained unmarked, with smooth skin free of scars or bruises. Along her upper thighs, she secured several bladed weapons in fitted straps, adjusting their position so they would not interfere with her movement. A handgun rested holstered against her outer leg, angled for a quick draw.
"Before I even ask where you are going, I should be asking why you are gearing up while still wearing a dress."
Was that too forward? He did not think so. It felt like a practical question. From what he had seen, they were not lacking protective gear. Practical vests and reinforced jackets were stacked only a few steps away.
"There is no need to worry, Seth. I will be staying here to oversee the management of my house along with my husband. Besides, an old woman like me would not be of any help to you on the battlefield."
The husky undertone in her voice made it difficult to tell whether she was teasing him or speaking plainly. He chose to assume the former and moved on.
"I hardly believe that, regardless, I would have declined, even if you two were willing to join."
Looking back at Yuriko, it became clear where Saya inherited her figure. For a brief moment, he almost envied the old man of the house.
"So, are you really prepared? The power plant, unlike the other areas aside from the water treatment facility, holds great importance to our town and our estate. Several dozen of our finest were sent there to keep it secure. With the amount of commotion reported and the messages we have received, the situation there appears unstable."
"I would be shocked if it were not," he replied with a small shrug. "You should not underestimate these undead. They can be troublesome despite moving slowly. And sneaky bastards too. Carelessness is what gets people killed."
As she stepped past him, a faint fragrance reached his senses. A few loose strands of her hair brushed against his cheek before settling back against her shoulders.
"Soichiro is reinforcing the barricades not only at the front gate but also along the sides and rear entrances. That leaves this matter to me."
They walked side by side toward the long wooden table near the far wall. She had already laid out a detailed map of the city, edges pinned down by small weights. A route had been highlighted in bold ink, cutting through several districts before ending at the power plant.
"This is the path our soldiers use regularly," she explained, resting her finger along the marked line. "It is the most efficient route and, so far, the one where we encounter the least number of zombies when crossing."
Taking a look at it, Cu made a rough estimate on how long it would take them to reach their location by either foot or car. Having seen the cars used by the people here, how wide they were, and vehicles generally found within the military — He was not worried about their own vehicle being too big for this. "Who do you plan on taking with you?"
"I don't need anyone to come with me, and right now I think you people need every capable pair of hands you can get."
Multiple areas still required reinforcement, open gaps in the perimeter, crowds that needed calming, supplies that had to be moved from one section to another, and defensive lines that demanded constant attention. Those were only a few of the responsibilities he knew had to be handled immediately.
"I'm hearing a 'but' coming."
"And you'd be right. I already know there's no chance anyone in my group would agree to me heading out alone on somethin' this important. Even if I guarantee them that my life is in no danger, I have the feeling they will get restless."
Saeko, Yoshito, Rei, Saya Takashi, and Igou would be the first to challenge that decision without a moment's hesitation. Of that, he was certain. The rest of the students… he already figured a decent handful wouldn't exactly mourn his absence if he never returned from this mission. Quite the opposite, in fact. Funny, really, for him of all people to be on the receiving end of those particular sentiments. Not that he despised it, or even failed to appreciate it; he just wasn't used to emotions like that being aimed his way. It felt foreign. Almost ironic.
"We can manage. We were perfectly capable before your group arrived, and we'll keep things stable without you here."
He did not doubt that. Still, after everything that happened at the school, pretending he felt no concern would be dishonest. It had nearly fallen apart once already.
As if reading his thoughts, her tone changed.
"And if anyone starts getting ideas, we won't hesitate to use force to keep them in line."
Judging by the firmness in her voice, she was not making an empty statement.
"This isn't only about our safety or that of our subordinates anymore. It's about my daughter's safety. There isn't a line a parent wouldn't cross to protect her."
He smiled faintly. "She's lucky to have parents like you."
Yuriko hummed, "I take it you will be taking the car to save time? I took the liberty of assigning some men to load up the vehicle with all the resources you may need, and emergency restock for those at the powerplant."
"... I was actually planning on going there on foot, truth be told."
The purple-haired woman raised her eyes, expecting him to say that it was a joke, but that never came. And thus, disbelief started to crawl onto her face the more time passed.
"Are you an idoit?"
"Ha! Now you sound like your daughter!"
{Break}
(A few minutes later)
Granted, spending a day to rest and feel energised for his next outing should have been the priority and the most preferable outcome. Unfortunately, time was not his ally, and hundreds of people's lives were at stake currently. If the power plant were to go out of commission, the fallout would be disastrous.
So, not even an hour after his arrival, he was already making his way out of the estate. Wondering where the others parked the car. "Hopefully, they didn't leave it on the other side; it will be a pain to get rid of those undead currently without drawing too much attention."
Yes, he did plan on leaving quietly all by himself.
As for why he would even need the car in the first place, given he could just make his way there on foot with no effort, it was more in case the power plant had several wounded soldiers who needed immediate treatment, which could be brought back with ease. If it happened to be a single person, then he could treat them no problem and bring them back on his shoulder or even two of them. But if it was an entire group of them, then that complicated things.
Then there was the matter of dropping off those supplies Yuriko mentioned.
"The car is on the other end of the estate. You will find an exit that goes through the forests and joins up to the main road a few blocks away." Well low and behold, these people seem to have an ability to just know what he was thinking and searching for, especially Sia's parents, with her father now appearing before him. "You're leaving."
Where the hell did this guy pop out of? Last he checked, the guy could not be found outside.
"I had to talk with your wife, and I can't exactly afford to relax yet. This place may run on generators, but other survivors out there would really appreciate the running power and water. Though I can't see much about the latter one, hopefully it's no longer contaminated." He said while the middle-aged man nodded his head, fully agreeing with this plan and not planning on getting in his way.
"Stay safe out there."
"I will. Take care of my friends as well. Rei will definitely throw a fit after finding out what I did, just make sure to keep her occupied until I come back, I'll find a way to handle her anger."
"You have my word. No harm shall come to them for I will protect them with my life."
Heh, quite a dramatic guy. A simple yes would have sufficed, but he appreciated the extra flair and seriousness.
"Speaking of which, are you no longer carrying that sword around with you?" Just to change the topic a bit, you noticed that Soichiro was no longer holding his precious katana. Something he found quite odd especially after understanding that this man always kept it on him.
Yet for the first time, he saw a strange smile up here on his face. "I left it in capable hands who will use them more effectively in these times."
"Oh? Given you are the one always at the front lines and nearly faced an entire horde by yourself last time just to save your men, pretty sure you that you are going to need it."
Souichiro answered that statement by lifting up the side of his shirt and showcasing a strapped gun to his waist, along with a shorter tanto blade. "I am in no way defenceless without that blade. It was more of a symbol that carried meaning rather than a weapon."
Cu hummed, not that bothered by this man's decision, for in the end, he had no say in it and trusted his judgement.
"It would be best if I sent several men to accompany you. We don't know what might be out there."
A decent offer, one where he could see a few advantages if he bothered to list them out, yet in the end, it didn't matter. He waved a hand over his shoulder as he walked toward the back of the manor, boots crunching lightly against scattered gravel and broken twigs. Cu did not slow down when he spoke, repeating the same thing he had already made clear earlier. "Don't worry about me, old man. I've got it handled. Rather, you should look after yourself first. The only reason your daughter stayed that brave and focused this entire time was because of you two. Just make sure you keep giving her a reason to push forward."
"..."
A man's gratitude, once offered, twice repeated, becomes a weight rather than a gift. The third time he bows, his neck stiffens with the knowledge that words have grown hollow. Soichiro understood this burden well. It wasn't that he resented owing his life to another—it was the impossibility of adequate repayment that gnawed at him. With each passing hour since the outbreak had consumed their city, that debt only compounded. Yet somehow, in the mere presence of this blue-haired stranger, Soichiro felt the weight shift. No sacrifice, not even his own blood, seemed sufficient currency for what had been given to him and his family.
"You're wrong, young man. It is not she who needs our presence to continue living, but rather us who can continue fighting and helping others because our daughter is still alive."
His voice did not tremble, yet it lacked the commanding firmness he used when addressing his men.
Truthfully, had something happened to her at school, had the worst possible outcome come to pass, then Soichiro did not know what would have remained of him. He might have continued leading his men out of habit, issuing orders and reinforcing barricades, but the caution he normally exercised would likely have faded. He would not have chosen a coward's end, yet he might have stepped onto the battlefield without caring whether he returned. A man could endure many losses, but not that one.
…
Behind the mansion stretched a wide expanse of open ground now crowded with several dozen tents. They had been erected in uneven rows, canvas flapping whenever the wind picked up. Inside were civilians and members of Soichiro's household staff. There were family members who had taken shelter together, neighbors who had been rescued at the last possible moment, and strangers who had simply run in the right direction and found help. Some sat quietly with their backs against tent poles, staring at nothing. Others wept openly, clutching children who refused to let go. A few laughed in relief after confirming that a missing son or daughter had survived.
It formed a scene that felt both bitter and warm at the same time.
"Almost feels nostalgic."
He muttered it under his breath as he observed the tents. In another life, he had witnessed sights like this more times than he could count. He had stood at the gates of Ulster as its watchdog, spear in hand, facing invaders, beasts, and rival warriors. After each battle, the same pattern followed. Some families mourned the fallen while others celebrated the return of those who survived. The pattern did not change, no matter the era.
Yet the former Servant of the Spear found himself unable to feel the same satisfaction he once did.
The promise had been kept to Kyouko, and people were alive because of it. Even so, the quiet sense of fulfillment he used to experience refused to settle in his chest. Among the gathered faces, two were missing. The ones who had raised him in this life were nowhere to be seen. Their fate remained unknown, and that uncertainty blocked any genuine smile from forming.
"Maybe I can ask them to look into it," he thought. "No, they're already stretched thin. Communications are down, and I can't ask for the impossible."
Even if the soul within him belonged to a different origin, to a legend carved in another age, the blood flowing through his veins in this body was shared with them. That fact alone mattered more than questions of reincarnation or how he had come into this world. To him, they were as real and as binding as the family he once knew long ago.
"A Heroic Spirit who can't even save his closest family... heh. Seems that's a curse we all share, no matter the era."
"Cu!"
In his distracted state, he failed to notice the two figures walking straight toward him. His thoughts kept him elsewhere until a familiar redhead stepped in close and struck his back with an open palm, putting her full strength behind it. The impact echoed almost like a dull metallic thud, closer to someone smacking a steel beam than a human body. The girl froze at once. A sharp hiss escaped her teeth as she grabbed her hand, cradling it against her chest while fighting the urge to shout.
"What the hell are you made out of!? Metal!?"
"Come on now, this face is far too handsome to belong to some lonely machine."
He forced a grin as he said it, pushing aside the lingering thoughts from earlier. The smile sat on his face, bright enough to hide whatever dark thoughts had been there a moment ago. The last thing he wanted was for either of them to notice. They already carried enough stress. He would not pile his own concerns on top of that, especially not today.
A glance past them confirmed what he had guessed. The two had stepped away from one of the larger tents. Inside, several people moved about, some seated on folding chairs, others resting on makeshift bedding. There were elderly men and women, and a woman in her middle years with striking red hair that mirrored Fumiko's shade almost perfectly. One of the older men shared the same eyes and facial structure as her. The resemblance left little room for doubt.
He turned back to them with a softer expression. "See? I told you that you would be reunited with your family."
Momo nodded, folding her arms. "You should have seen Fumiko earlier. She was crying the loudest when she saw them."
"Momo!"
"My old man is still a pain in the ass," Momo continued without acknowledging her friend. "He keeps checking me every hour, popping out of nowhere. I swear, if he keeps it up, I'll knock him out just so he can get some rest…again."
Her tone came off annoyed, but the relief in her eyes betrayed her. The tension she had carried for days had eased. Even the way she stood looked lighter.
"Are you leaving again, Cu?" Fumiko asked.
Her gaze shifted to the bag over his shoulder and the long spear wrapped in cloth, balanced casually across his back. Momo followed her line of sight.
"What the hell? We just got back. Why are you heading out again? Did you even rest? If anyone here is trying to treat you like free labor just because you're strong, I'll have a word with them."
He laughed, unable to help it. "Pft-hahahaha!"
"Hey! Why are you laughing? I'm serious!"
He found it amusing, not because of what she said, but because of the simple fact that they were worried at all. They had seen what he could do. They had seen him cut down things that did not even look humanly possible. And yet, here they were, scolding him like he was about to trip over his own feet.
"Relax. I'm not someone who gets pushed around that easily," he replied. "I'm going because it needs to be done. It's part of making sure we have the necessities for survival. Nothing too bad. I'll be back before dinner."
He reached out and placed a hand on each of their heads. His palm rested there briefly. Fumiko's face turned red almost immediately at his touch, though she did not step back this time. Momo narrowed her eyes at him instead, studying his expression, most likely trying to see if he is lying.
"Instead of worrying about me, go spend time with your families," he added. "Moments like this don't come often. One day, you might not get the chance again."
"Now you sound like an old man," Momo muttered.
"I am an old man on the inside."
"What? So your like one of those 'old souls' people or something?
The joke did little to ease them. Fumiko, who usually flustered at the smallest tease, tightened her hold on his hand instead of retreating. Her fingers were warm as they traced lightly across his palm before squeezing.
"Is everything okay, Cu?"
"Hoh? What's with that sudden question? Do I not look healthy enough? I feel fine. Like an angry bull ready to charge."
"Just a minute ago, you looked sad," she insisted.
Momo gave a small nod beside her. "You're worried about your parents, too, aren't you? We're still here for you. Maybe we can't do what you've done for us, but we can try. It's the least we can do."
"..."
The lively grin on his face eased into something more worn, though it never vanished entirely. It settled into a quieter version of itself, the kind that stayed even when his shoulders carried more than they let on. He lifted his free hand and, instead of pulling away, gently pinched her cheeks between his fingers. The gesture caught her off guard. Her eyes widened for a second, yet she did not retreat. If anything, she stood her ground, letting him do it, lips twitching as if she wanted to protest but could not quite bring herself to.
"You've got a keen eye there, lass. But I'm not as worried as you might be thinking. My ma and pa are tenacious folk. Not even a tsunami would be enough to take them down without a fight. They can push back against nature and even the gods themselves if it comes to that. So long as they keep that fire in them, I know they'll keep living. One way or another."
"Cu…"
"Come on now, this isn't the time to be feeling sorry for others and letting my situation ruin your moment of happiness. I'll see them again. I'm not the sort to give up that easily."
The two girls looked at him in silence for several long seconds. Their expressions were hard to read. One studied his face as if trying to decide whether he truly believed what he was saying. The other seemed to be measuring his tone, searching for cracks in it. He did not rush them. He simply waited, hands at ease, posture relaxed as though there was no weight behind his words at all.
At last, Fumiko released his hand. "I trusted you before, and I'll keep trusting you now. You'll see them again. I'm sure of it."
"Heh, of course I will. Now you'd better head off. Your pa's is giving me a look that he's going to deck me at any moment."
"Tch, that bastard woke up too soon. I knew I should've put more force into that punch," Momo muttered under her breath before clearing her throat. "Before you leave, we've got one last thing to give you."
"You do?" He tilted his head slightly, curiosity rising despite himself. Perhaps it was more supplies for the road. Yuriko had already been thorough, packing enough water and food to feed a small group, along with first aid kits, spare clothes, weapons, and ammunition. He doubted there was anything left he truly needed.
"It's a surprise. So close your eyes."
That only made him more curious. Seeing how serious they looked, he decided not to argue. He shut his eyes as told. The air felt warmer without sight, and the sounds around him grew clearer. Grass shifted under hurried footsteps. Fabric brushed softly. The movement did not sound like they were walking away to fetch something. Instead, it felt as though they were circling closer.
Before he could question it, he felt it.
Two soft touches pressed against either side of his face at the same time. Warm lips, firm and real. One lingered with boldness, pressing in without hesitation. The other trembled slightly at first, then held steady as if gathering courage in that very moment. The sensation stayed for several heartbeats before fading. When they stepped back, he opened his eyes.
He found himself facing two girls who could not quite meet his gaze. One's face had turned so red it nearly matched her hair, while the other fidgeted with her hands, shoulders tight, breathing uneven. It surprised him slightly. He would have expected the latter to be the one completely flustered.
"Um… we can't really give you much," one of them managed to say. "So this is the first gift from us. There'll be more when you come back."
Cute. That was the word that came to mind. His grin returned in full, lighter than before.
"I'll probably be cursed by my classmates if they just saw two beautiful flowers hand me such a gift."
"Let them. They're too scared of you anyway. And if someone does talk, I'll let my fist do the talking for me." Momo stumbled over a few words at first, but by the end, she steadied herself. "Thanks, Cu. For everything. And… take care of yourself too."
Soon after, they hurried off. The redhead stormed toward her father, who had apparently seen enough to set his temper off. He moved as if ready to chase Cu down, only to find himself grabbed and scolded by his own daughter instead. The sight almost made Cu laugh.
Still, as he touched the faint warmth left on his cheeks.
A simple gesture like that… felt nice.
…
Bam!
The sound of the door of the Humvee closing echoed across the empty parking lot behind the manor, a distance away from the area where all the tents were. Hidden amongst the trees, various spots occupied with similar military cars as the one he was in currently, but half of them were missing, with him guessing that they were those that were sent to protect and maintain both the power and water treatment facility. "This shouldn't be more difficult to drive than a chariot," he muttered while holding on to the wheel, this technically being the first time he was driving in a car.
As someone who also qualified to be summoned as a rider, he had full confidence in driving this steel chariot!
With the engine roaring and coming to life, it didn't take long for him to figure out everything and cleanly drive to the exit with several soldiers wishing him the best, which he did as well and promised to bring back their comrades.
Riding across the now-empty streets, he realised that this part was mostly a ghost town due to the commotion they had caused earlier by arriving with the bus, and thus most of the zombies must have gone over there. Giving him a rare window to safely drive without any hassle. "This makes things easier. Hopefully, Rei doesn't get too angry."
"You should be worrying about whether I am the one who will get angry instead."
"—!"
Behind him!?
"Shit!"
The second voice behind him struck like a bolt of lightning, loud enough to make his hand twitch. The Humvee lurched, swerving left and right before he wrestled the wheel back under control and steadied the vehicle in its lane.
Two slender arms slid forward and circled his neck. To anyone watching, it might have passed for an affectionate embrace. To him, it felt closer to the touch of the Grim Reaper herself.
A grim reaper with long purple hair had somehow appeared in the back seat without him noticing.
Her cold eyes met him in the rearview mirror, steady and unblinking, a faint trace of anger simmering beneath their surface.
"You smell like her," Saeko whispered near his ear.
Her voice made him shiver. It sounded calm, almost detached, yet something coiled underneath it, restrained but intense. The contradiction made her tone far more unsettling than outright fury.
"Hopefully you two had your fair share of fun," she continued, her hold tightening just enough to remind him how vulnerable he was. "Did she manage to ease your tension, or were you not satisfied?"
This one definitely had a talent at twisting her words that come off as both seductive and threatening. "We didn't get to go that far. A certain schoolmate ended up barging into the room. Shame really, I could tell Rei wanted to go for round two and try to come up on top this time."
The arms around his neck squeezed even further, her perfume filled his nose, and had it not been for the chair… the man knew he would have felt the sensation of her large chest pressing up against him.
"Aside from that, Saeko… What the hell are you doing inside the car?"
Cu truly felt embarrassed to have not noticed her presence, for when he got inside the car, he just gave the back a quick look and saw all the boxes, and without thinking much, just got in and drove away. It wasn't like she was an assassin with presence concealment, yet he still missed it.
He really let his skill get dull since reincarnating.
"I saw the soldiers loading the boxes inside this car in particular. I thought you and the others would arrive, but only you came over. I put two and two together, and here we are. A shame, I was hoping for you to call me out for this opportunity, let's hear you are being so selfish to do everything by yourself."
"You would have been more helpful at the estate, keeping the others safe." He tried to explain himself, only for the two pairs of arms to tighten around his neck ever so slightly, the pressure building up, but it was not a full-on choke hold.
"And who are you to decide that for me? I have proven myself more than capable plenty of times, and any excuses you give of wanting to keep me safe will not be tolerated."
"Uhm… I was in a hurry?"
He just threw that in the open without much of a plan, though it also was not a lie, given every wasted minute could potentially mean a last life that could have been saved.
"Humph," That seemed to have been enough for her, with the woman letting go of him and moving to the passenger seat in front, and it was there he saw her holding a particular weapon which made him laugh on the spot.
"That damned old man, He had planned this from the beginning, didn't he?"
Such shrewd people were truly the bane of his existence, always so stoic but no different, but still a fox scheming behind his back, even if it was without any malicious intentions. Oh well, now that he has already driven so far, there was no point in going back around to drop her off.
"Are you really happy with her?"
"Hm?"
The few minutes of silence were broken with Saeko speaking once more, giving a side glance when asking that question. "Are you satisfied with Rei?"
"I don't see why I wouldn't be?"
Sure, the girl possessed a temper no different from an active volcano, but he enjoyed it, funnily enough. For it brought him loads of fun every time he teased Rei, anyway, her outbursts and pouts were a form of entertainment. No different from a cat who hissed at him one second and then cuddled up to him the next.
"... She does not know the real you."
Dangerous way of saying that, for it almost sounded as if she had uncovered his former identity. Yet he remained certain that this could not be the case. "Real me? I haven't made any attempts to hide who I am from her, was never my style. Not sure what gave you that idea though."
"You know what I'm talking about. You said it yourself, we are the same." Oh, so she meant that other part. "What if she sees that part one day and ends up being afraid of it.
"Then I'll step away, simple as that. If things aren't meant to work, then who am I to force it?" He shrugged, giving her a straight and simple answer with not a speck of lie. Currently, he did enjoy his time with Rei, never fooling himself otherwise, but if such a time were to come… then he would just cherish the brief memories of this time period and hope they stayed friends at the very least.
"Rei is a good lass, her heart is in the right place, and she shares a lot in common with me. And well… I guess I'm just used to dealing with women like her; they are loud but affectionate."
Her figure moved, and next thing he knew, Saeko's head rested on his lap — while he continued to drive.
"Is that your only taste?"
"Of course not, I have plenty of preferences. At the end of the day, as long as they are fun to be around, I'll give it a shot. And I know what you're going to ask next, I suppose Kyouko fits every criterion."
He was not blind to what Saeko tried to do at the moment. And just like with Rei initially, his hesitation to do anything grew bigger by the day. For he was pretty sure that those two boys had a crush on her.
Having already taken Rei, though not intentionally, why would he do so with Saeko? It was not his goal to be a scumbag and ruin their friendship. Igou and Tatsumi were good people; they also deserved a chance, and for him to just mind his own business this time.
"..."
For the rest of the road, a silence fell between them, with the girl soon falling asleep, still using his lap as a pillow. If it wasnt for the chaotic scene outside; this could have easily been a laid-back and tranquil atmosphere where he just rode around town with a beauty on his lap. All that was missing was a beer in one hand and some music playing in the background.
He did not wake her up for the rest of the journey, staying true to the path Yuriko showed until he finally started to approach his destination.
"Something's wrong."
As soon as these words left his mouth, Saeko immediately turned her attention back to the road after getting up. There she saw what Cu meant. The entrance of the power treatment was swarming with zombies.
"Damn it, the defenses were breached!" he exclaimed, eyes fixed on the scattered remains of the gods who had stood guard only hours ago. Their bodies lay torn apart across the pavement, chunks of flesh missing, ribs exposed, dried blood staining the concrete in dark patches that had already turned brown under the sun. The metallic scent still lingered in the air. The main entrance to the building stood shut, heavy doors closed tight. From the outside, it looked intact. "The main entrance is closed. There should be survivors inside."
Saeko said nothing at first.
Rather, she stepped out of the car the moment it stopped moving, one hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "About two hundred," he muttered after a glance across the courtyard and the surrounding streets. "This will be tricky."
He wasn't afraid of the odds. Two hundred of these things meant little to him. What really concerned him was the girl beside him. No matter how skilled she was, fatigue would come for anyone eventually, and exhaustion made even the best stumble.
Instead of replying, she glanced at him and moved. Her feet pushed off the ground in a quick burst, blade drawn halfway before the first corpse even turned fully toward her. Her right hand held the sword firmly while her left guided the scabbard away. Light slid across the polished steel, reflecting the pale sky above and the broken walls around them.
He stayed where he was for a moment, watching.
'She got better again,' he thought quietly, choosing not to rush forward immediately. Rather than charging straight into the mass and cutting them down at full speed, he found himself curious. Wanting to see how far she would go on her own.
Her first swing mirrored the approach he would have taken. Clean. Direct. Several heads dropped in a single motion, thudding against the ground before their bodies followed. She flicked the blade to shake off blood, then stepped forward again. Each arc cut across several of them, the bloody spray covering her front; not that she cared. The girl kept moving. Despite the clear disadvantage in numbers, she did not slow.
A groan rose near his left side. "Uuurgh!"
The undead began pressing closer around him; he figured they would not have left him alone despite the commotion caused by Saeko. His arms reached to the side and grabbed onto the closest one, jaws snapping. With simple, efficient movements, he drove the spear forward. Each thrust pierced straight through their chests or heads, leaving neat holes before he pulled it back out.
Cu shifted his stance and swept the spear in a wide arc, knocking several aside. A quick slash opened a path for him to gain ground, and a thrust pinned another to the ground. When one got too close, he drove his knee into its torso and kicked it back with enough force to send it crashing into the cluster behind it, toppling several at once and creating more space.
All the while, he kept one eye on Saeko and the other scanning the area.
Soichiro had mentioned that they had been stationed here since the first day of the outbreak. Hundreds of them should not have overwhelmed trained soldiers so quickly if they were doing fine this entire time… the giant pile of rotting bodies behind proved that things were going well for a while. The blood on the ground had dried in places, but not entirely. Judging by looks alone, this happened several hours ago, not yesterday.
"There are more of them incoming. Let's not waste time trying to kill all of them right now," he called out.
Saeko answered not with words but with action. She moved through the crowd like a storm crossing open land. With a wooden sword, she had already proven herself dangerous. With real steel in hand, her efficiency rose noticeably. Each strike removed a head. Each step placed her in range of the next target. Blood sprayed outward in wide arcs, staining the ground and nearby walls.
She did not linger. The moment one body fell, she was already turning toward another. By the time a corpse collapsed fully, she had already cut down two more.
There was a faint smile on her face.
A crazed one.
He let out a short laugh. "Would you look at that… She's getting too engrossed; she can't even hear me anymore. Now I can't let her one-up me like this. And I can't ruin the fun."
Realizing he had spent too long observing instead of acting, Cu clicked his tongue softly and tightened his grip. He had allowed himself to become distracted. That would not happen again.
"Hah…"
He drew a steady breath and pushed everything unnecessary from his mind. One objective. Clear a path. Secure the entrance.
Adrenaline and magical energy spread through his limbs. His fingers tightened around the shaft of his spear until the muscles along his forearm stood out. Faint runic patterns were traced along the steel, glowing briefly as they reinforced the weapon's structure, ensuring it would not crack under repeated impact.
And then, his eyes opened, crimson light shining across them as he moved with a gigantic grin on his face, "hah!"
Carnage.
That was the only word that properly fit the scene unfolding before them. On one side, she fought with precision, each strike placed exactly where it needed to land. Her blade slipped between ribs, across throats, into eye sockets, always searching for a vital point to end things in a single motion. She moved through the dense crowd of undead like a current cutting through water, bending at the waist, twisting at the hips, ducking under grasping hands by mere inches. Several times within a single second, she would shift her footing, lean back just enough to avoid a snapping jaw, then pivot and sever a neck without breaking her rhythm. Not once did rotten teeth manage to graze her skin.
The other side held no such restraint.
"Hahahaha!"
There was no refinement in his approach, no careful calculation visible to the naked eye, for he needed none of that. It resembled the release of a feral beast onto the battlefield that devoured every moving person in its line of sight. Tearing through the undead without pause, ripping bodies apart as though they were made of soaked paper. His spear could no longer be properly seen by human sight, reduced to a pale streak that cut across the field in wide arcs and sudden thrusts. Each swing carved through multiple bodies at once, splitting torsos, shattering skulls, and sending limbs spinning away.
Severed arms, cracked skulls, and torn flesh littered the ground. Blood sprayed across signposts and ran down cement pillars in thick trails.
Metal bars that had once blocked pathways were sliced clean through, collapsing with heavy clangs against the pavement. The stench of decay that had clung to the area moments ago was drowned beneath the overwhelming scent of fresh iron. It coated the air, heavy enough to sting the nose and settle at the back of the throat. Anyone unused to such a scene would have gagged immediately and emptied their stomach on the spot. A shallow stream of blood gathered along the uneven asphalt, flowing around fallen corpses and swallowing them inch by inch until only scraps remained visible.
'I really miss Gae Blog.'
Despite all the fun, the sensation of the spear still differed greatly from his trusted Noble Phantasm. They stood leagues apart in all aspects, and he feared nothing in this world would come even close to giving him the same sensation unless…
'If I can find the same ingredients or something similar. Then why can't I just make a copy of it? Wouldn't be the same but still better than a weapon that already started getting dull after a few swings.'
A thought he could revisit later on, now, he just enjoyed the onslaught.
At that moment, he had no concern about shielding someone else. There was no need to constantly watch over anyone as he had done before. He did not feel that protective tension that used to bind his movements when fighting beside Saeko. There was no group he needed to guard, no fragile line he had to maintain. Nothing held him back. He let himself move freely.
Letting all the past frustration bleed away and be replaced with pure joy.
A grin spread across his face, matching the one forming on hers. As he cut through another cluster of corpses, he shifted tactics and began just playing with his prey, no fear of getting wounded. At times, he grabbed one by the skull, fingers digging into matted hair, and tore the head free with a violent twist before hurling it toward the nearest pack.
Bam!
The severed head became a crude projectile, slamming into decayed faces and knocking them aside like a cannonball. Blood rained down afterward, droplets scattering through the air and falling across the pavement, across abandoned cars, across their clothes, as though a sudden storm had chosen this single street.
On the other end, a different train of thought occurred within the girl.
With the numbers shrinking rapidly under his assault, Saeko found herself fighting nearly side by side with Cu.
Each time her eyes drifted toward him, she could not help but stare. What she saw no longer resembled the man who would speak casually with the others, who would joke without restraint and flirt without thinking twice. The easygoing tone, the relaxed posture, all of it had been replaced by something akin to a monster. He laughed openly as he fought, the sound carrying over the wet thuds of collapsing bodies.
Compared to him… her own actions seemed almost restrained.
Yet she did not fear it. If anything, her pulse quickened from the beautiful sight ahead. For she recognized that grin anywhere, having seen it a few times whenever she finished a battle and stared at the mirror.
The purple-haired swordswoman adjusted her footing and tried to match his pace. Their movements began to overlap, if barely, as though they stood in a grand ballroom rather than a ruined street.
The undead formed a grotesque audience around them. Her cuts grew cleaner, her timing improving with each exchange. She refused to slow him down. She refused to become an obstacle. Instead, Saeko leaned into the rhythm of it, letting herself sink into the sensation of moving alongside him even when it proved to be a bigger challenge.
Her weapon just could not move that fast. Such terrifying strength to rip apart bodies did not belong within her, and casual acceptance of his own brutality on his face…
"He's…" The thought lingered unfinished in her mind.
The longer she fought, the less the blood, the corpses, and the destruction around them held her attention. Her focus narrowed until it rested entirely on him.
She could not look away. The heat building inside her chest and core felt uncomfortable and all-consuming. The woman's legs felt unsteady for a brief moment, like they might give out beneath her, and at the same time, a flicker of jealousy surfaced in her thoughts. An image of the orange-haired girl appeared.
'I'm sorry, Rei. But you're just not suited for him.'
How could that girl ever hope to understand what truly made him happy? The answer was simple: she could not.
'The only similarities you two share are your love for spears. But aside from that, I don't fall short in the other departments…'
The kiss from before further proved that he also felt a similar sort of attraction.
Yet still he went to Rei that night.
'Ah… so this is what jealousy feels like? I don't like it. I hate it. I despise this.'
Soon, only a handful of undead remained upright. They staggered forward mindlessly, unaware that the battle had already been decided. Cu stepped ahead. His spear thrust forward in one smooth motion, punching fist-sized holes straight through their throats. One after another, they fell, collapsing in twitching heaps. The final corpse was seized by the head. His fingers tightened, muscles in his forearm flexing, and with a single squeeze, the skull caved inward. The body dropped, its jaw hanging loosely before it crumpled at his feet.
He gave his spear a casual twirl before resting it against his shoulder. Rolling his neck once and stretching his back, he exhaled as though he had merely risen from a long nap rather than carved a path through a sea of the dead.
"Phew, that should be all of them. It was pretty nice. It's been a while since I let myself loose like this. How about you, do you feel bett—mmph!"
What came next was another fiery kiss with Saeko leaning towards him and practically smashing her hungry lips against his. His words were swallowed whole by the ferocity of her kiss. Cu's initial surprise melted away in an instant, replaced by an amused grin against her mouth for this sensation of deja vu repeated once more. It would be a lie to say that this fight had truly pumped him up and, at most, served as a small warm-up.
Yet the same could not be said for Saeko.
His free hand, the one not holding his spear, shot out and clamped onto the curve of her ass, fingers digging into the firm muscle through her skirt. "Hmmm~!"
He pulled her flush against him, a low moan from the girl rumbling as her soft breasts crushed against the hard planes of his pectorals.
The kiss deepened instantly, with both of them going a bit further than last time. Her tongue invaded his mouth, and he met her challenge with equal fervor. They wrestled, a slick, intimate dance of dominance and surrender. He tasted her: mint, a hint of copper from the air, and something uniquely intoxicating. She moaned into his mouth, a soft, vibrating sound that sent a jolt straight to his groin. The hand on her ass slid lower, fingers tracing the seam where her thigh met her body.
Teasing the woman again and again.
Saeko's own hands weren't idle. One tangled in his hair, gripping the blue strands tightly, holding him in place as if she feared he might vanish. The other roamed over his chest, feeling the rapid, powerful beat of his heart beneath her palm. She arched into him, a silent plea for more, her body a live wire of sensation. The jealousy, the anger, the frustration; it all funneled into this single look she gave him.
He broke the kiss for a fraction of a second, his lips hovering just over hers, both of them panting heavily. His eyes, dark with lust, locked onto hers. "If you moan any louder, you might end up attracting another horde."
"Good," she breathed, her voice husky. "We can play another round together then." She surged forward again, her teeth nipping at his lower lip, hard enough to sting, before her tongue soothed the small hurt.
He pinned her against the cool brick of a nearby wall, the rough texture a stark contrast to the heat of their bodies. Her mouth left his, trailing a blazing path down his jaw to the skin of his neck. Sucking hard, intent on leaving a dark, possessive mark. She was forced by a hard bite that even hurt him for a brief moment. "Ouch! Did you get bitten during this fight? I ain't gonna turn if that's your plan."
She chuckled at that statement with his thumb brushing against the underside of her breast before his palm fully cupped its weight. He kneaded the soft flesh, his fingers finding her already-pebbled nipple through the fabric of her shirt and bra, rolling and pinching until she was writhing against him.
"Cu… please…" she begged, the word torn from her throat. But unfortunately for her, his mind did not remain clouded with lust for long, and common sense soon rushed back in and got the man to push her away.
"Let's stop here." He truly hated himself, part of him wanting to continue, to take her back to the car and have her ride him until both was satisfied, but ignoring those potentially trapped inside just because of a moment of lust would be inexcusable. "It's not fun getting blue balled twice in a single day, but this is just not the right place for that. And once again, hah… I ain't taking another step forward since I'm with Rei. My younger self would have made that mistake, but I can't do that. Not again."
"Again with Rei…"
Would she hate her after hearing his answer? He hoped not. These two could be very good friends and could look out for each other during battle.
Hesitation and frustration were the two clearest emotions in her eyes. Her fingers twisted into the front of his shirt, knuckles pale, the fabric stretching tight enough that another pull might have torn it. Her gaze remained hazy, not unfocused but clouded, as if something inside her kept pushing forward while she tried to drag it back.
"Why her…"
Thankfully, she had not lost herself completely to lust or bloodlust.
His words reached her.
They settled. She pressed her forehead against his chest and stayed there, breathing in slowly through her nose, then out through parted lips. The rise and fall of her shoulders steadied little by little. Several seconds passed with nothing but the sound of her breathing and the faint crackle of distant fires. When she finally stepped back, her face had returned to its usual calm, that composed mask she wore so well.
"S-Sorry, I got a bit too excited. Ignore what I said earlier. I… I-I was not thinking straight."
He waved his hands nonchalantly.
"Can't blame ya. I got a bit too excited myself, even if I went overboard with you and them," he replied, gesturing around them at the bodies scattered across the ground. His smile turned awkward as he took in their appearance. Both of them were soaked in blood, some of it still fresh and sliding down their clothes in dark streaks. "Hopefully, those inside don't get a heart attack when they see us. We might look scarier than the undead."
Saeko did not answer right away. His gaze shifted to her hands. They trembled faintly, not from fear but from the effort of holding herself together. Her grip loosened, and she drew a quiet breath.
"All right. Let's go."
The best way to deal with emotions that threatened to spiral was to focus on something practical. Without another word, they moved toward the entrance. Cu stepped forward and drove his heel into the door. The impact echoed through the corridor. Metal bent inward with a harsh screech, the hinges tearing free from the wall as the frame gave way in one violent motion. The door collapsed inward and clattered against the floor.
They expected to find a barricaded group inside, survivors waiting for rescue. Instead, they stepped into another scene, soaked in red.
"Someone must have gotten bitten," she said quietly.
He nodded, eyes sweeping across the bodies. Several lay crumpled near overturned tables. Others were slumped against the walls. The final expressions on their faces remained frozen, mouths open, eyes wide in shock. Either way, he didn't take chances. One by one, he drove the tip of his spear through their skulls with clean, efficient thrusts. Bone gave way with dull resistance. He withdrew the weapon every time, checking for any movement before stepping forward.
"Not good. This place looks like it's falling apart. Gunshots were fired everywhere, and it must have occurred in several areas. Yuriko mentioned this place had a duty to accept any surviving members who weren't bitten," he said as he moved among the corpses. "It's possible they missed one. Regardless, change of plans, we may need to leave this place quickly after finding anyone alive."
He wiped the spearhead against a torn sleeve and glanced toward the stairwell.
"I'll head upstairs and see if I can find anything or anyone. You check the other rooms."
"Got it."
With that, the Irishman crouched and leaped, clearing the steps in a single bound before landing on the second floor with controlled ease. Below, Saeko turned down another corridor, her footsteps light despite the blood underfoot.
Upstairs was no better. The hallway stretched ahead, lit by flickering emergency lights. More bodies lined the walls. Some wore security uniforms from the Takagi estate. Others were civilians, office workers, even a few who looked like they had come here seeking shelter. A small hat covered in blood near one of the desks suggested a child had been present. Cu did not linger on it. As before, he pierced every skull he passed.
In moments like this, his mind narrowed to the task. Thinking too deeply about what could not be undone served no purpose. Still, he tried to piece together what had happened. If there were a surveillance room, the cameras might have recorded the outbreak inside these walls.
"This place is a mess," he muttered.
The structure itself remained mostly intact. Consoles still hummed. Indicator lights blinked in steady patterns. Somehow the power plant continued to run, though for how long without staff remained uncertain. If no one arrived soon to maintain it, that would become another problem.
After checking several rooms, he found one lined with monitors. Multiple screens were mounted along the far wall, each displaying grainy footage from different angles of the facility.
"All right, how do I use this?"
Buttons and switches covered the control panel. He understood modern technology well enough, but this system went beyond simple devices. Labels were smeared with dried blood, making it difficult to read what each control did. He leaned closer, brushing aside flakes of red with the back of his sleeves, trying to identify a rewind function; if there was something like that in the first place.
Step.
"—!"
His body reacted before his thoughts caught up.
Crash!
Something slammed into the control panel where he had been standing. Sparks burst from the damaged console. The blue-haired man pivoted, spear raised, eyes locking onto the source.
The undead that had attacked him staggered upright. It wore civilian clothes, a shirt torn at the collar where teeth marks had broken the skin. Its face looked ordinary aside from the pale tone and cloudy eyes.
"That thing just ran at me?" he muttered.
Since the outbreak began, most of the infected moved at a steady walk. They relied on numbers, on corners and obstacles, on the chance that their prey would stumble. This one had sprinted. Not only that, it had waited. It struck while his attention remained fixed on the monitors.
He adjusted his grip on the spear, studying it.
"It even waited until I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. What the hell are you?"
"Raaaah!"
As one would expect, he got no answer rather than a blood curdling scream, yet rather than rush towards him, Cu heard the window behind him shatter, turning around just in time to grab onto a face with its teeth and mere millimetre away from his skin. It was not just one of them!
"Ansus!"
Just like earlier, they remained fragile humans whose skulls could be crushed under his palm. With the first one rushing towards him, he rushed right into a room which immediately ignited its body. Yet it did not even stop in its tracks, forcing Cu to smack it away with his spear, with enough strength to have it crash through the cement wall and into the neighbouring room.
"Raaaah!"
Once again, the thing continued to move, even as its lower body started to turn into literal ashes, somehow it managed to move despite its muscles should have already been charred by now. Using its hand to crawl towards him, even if slowly. This was not normal.
The butt of his spear came crashing down into its skull, squashing it into pieces with the flames continuing to consume what remained, and soon everything turned into ashes. Yet he was no longer as nonchalant and carefree as before, for this sudden development brought a bad feeling to his gut.
This didn't bode… bang!
Allowed commotion suddenly sounded from the other end of the building, more and more pipelines around the walls, and the room below, rather than burst with steam and fire bursting from several areas. Red light filled the hallway, and that alone told him enough of what was to come. "Saeko!"
The man wasted no time heading to the other side, seeing the commotion and hearing the noise grow louder, the entire place was crumbling apart, fires bursting from several pipes, and the overall chaos becoming more and more prominent the closer he got to the boiler room.
He accelerated and reached the end of the second floor, where he could see towards the floor below and a vast area filled with corpses and undead.
And in the middle of it all, the lonesome woman stood with her katana held above. The zombies around her, thankfully enough, are the regular kind who are not capable of running at a fast speed. Yet still, she did not move and had practically turned into stone with her widened eyes staring at the undead in front of her. More specifically, at the undead child who was missing a single shoe, limping towards her with life having long since disappeared from his eyes.
It did not stop there, for a shadow behind her moved at great speed and made the Irishman feel a sense of dread for the first time in ages. "Behind you! Move!"
She did so, snapping back to reality at the sound of a scream, and jumped to the side right as the undead practically threw himself where she stood and missed her entirely. His body tumbled ahead and crashed into several large pipes and valves that broke upon impact.
A large cracking sound followed, with the boiler visibly reaching its limit and about to detonate and release all of its content at any moment.
"It'a about to blow!"
The fire, on the other hand, broke down the room further, blocking any entrance for Saeko in a rare moment of weakness, and she found herself blinded by the smoke.
Unable to find her way out.
Right as the tank burst entirely, Cu moved and jumped below.
There was no time to retrieve her. As fast as he was, he could not immediately pull her away, given he had less than a second left. So left with no choice, he landed right in front of her and wrapped his arms around the girl right as a thunderous explosion echoed from behind.
Boom!
An explosion of high-pressure steam, boiling water, and crumbling concrete filled the room. The last thing Cu was able to see was the dense white smoke filling his vision and both of their bodies, with the ceiling crumbling on top of them.
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The next 5 chapters of Snafu, and my other Fate fics (Fate Coiling Sword with 3 chapters, A Fake Familiar Reborn with 3 chapters, Steel Eyed Faker soon to be 3 chapters, Taimanin with 3, Hound having 3 and To love a sword having 4 chapters) are already available on my P@treon. With 4 more Broly chapters at /NimtheWriter. Also, I post commissioned arts on each story, already posted a few on an Archer's Promise, Broly and Snafu.