Chapter 36

I returned to the third floor via the emergency stairs and made my way to the staff room where Kaede was.

Kaede seemed to be sorting through the belongings as instructed. Since I had brought a lot of things into this room, she must have been selecting items, as she had more things than when she left her home. There weren't many items she could take with her.

Well, my item box is indeed packed with a lot of things.

When she saw me enter the room, Kaede seemed to heave a sigh of relief.

"…I'm glad. You're safe, Azami-san."

It's really unsettling to be this worried about every little thing, even when dealing with just zombies. Kaede, who wouldn't understand my feelings, gave me a bright smile.

"You always worry too much."

I casually replied to Kaede.

"No, I do worry…"

"Ah, sorry. Anyway, Kaede."

"Yes?"

It's unreasonable to tell her not to worry. After apologizing sincerely, I got to the point.

"Listen, you have to do what I say. From now on, I need you to do something."

Suddenly, Kaede's face turned bright red as if a sound had been made.

…Why does it turn out like this?

Ignoring Kaede's reaction, I approached her.

"Ah, Azami-san, at least, please, let me prepare myself mentally…"

"Mental preparation, huh? Yeah, that might be necessary."

"Y-Yes, it is!"

I took Kaede's hand. Her body trembled slightly, but when I pulled her hand and started walking, she followed me, moving her feet as if in a daze.

We left the staff room and walked down the corridor in the back, then opened the silver swing door. By this point, a question mark appeared on Kaede's face.

"Um, Azami-san…?"

Kaede asked in a small voice. Without answering, I continued to the emergency stairs, where a faint sound of someone knocking on the fire door below could be heard.

"Um…"

"Kaede."

"Y-Yes!"

Kaede, who had frozen at the sound, was met with my intense gaze.

I handed her something I had tucked into my pants. Kaede had never seen it before, hidden under my shirt. It was black, heavy, something everyone has seen but most Japanese people have never touched.

"Azami-san, t-this…"

"Don't drop it. From now on, Kaede, you need to use this to kill the zombies."

She must have realized it was real. I placed the pistol on her trembling hand and delivered a cruel line.

+++++

According to my presence detection, the zombie I lured to the emergency stairs was still on the landing between the first and second floors.

I picked up the crowbar placed by the fire door and walked down the dimly lit stairs. Kaede, whose legs seemed about to give out, followed me and asked,

"Do we really have to do this…?"

I didn't answer her. I just kept walking down.

When we reached the landing on the second floor and turned the corner, we saw the zombie below. It started climbing the stairs slowly upon noticing us.

It can climb without crawling. In a way, this is perfect. It will be easier to aim at it while it's standing.

Kaede, who noticed this, let out a small scream, but I ignored her and said,

"Do you know how to use it? Just aim and pull the trigger. Aim for the head."

Kaede looked at the approaching zombie from below. She didn't even aim the gun, her eyes wide with fear, and her breathing heavy.

"What's wrong? Aim it."

Trembling, Kaede gripped the gun with both hands. Her stance was far from proper, but she desperately pushed the gun forward with both hands.

The groans of the zombie and Kaede's heavy breathing mixed together. Kaede, whose knees were shaking, finally shed tears and said to me,

"I c-can't… Azami-san, please do it for me…"

Before Kaede could finish her sentence, I kicked the zombie, which was about to climb the stairs, and sent it tumbling down.

"If you're going to make noise, do it earlier. It's dangerous."

Without even looking at the zombie rolling down the stairs, I gently took the gun from Kaede's hand. Kaede remained frozen in her stance.

"…Can you move?"

I asked Kaede, who stood there awkwardly, like a newborn fawn.

"Are you asking if I can return to the room by myself?"

"Ah, yes…"

"Then go back. I'll take care of this."

"Um, I understand."

With that, Kaede leaned on the railing and started climbing up.

I'm not sure if she felt repulsed by the idea of killing a zombie or if she was terrified by the approaching zombie, but in any case, if this had happened in front of the shelter, she wouldn't have been able to climb the rope ladder.

It was good to test her.

We have time. Although it's tough on Kaede, I'll have her do similar things a bit more.

I put the gun, with an empty cylinder, back into my pants.

Then, I used the crowbar to stab the zombie that was climbing the stairs again, killing it.