Chapter 73

Because Yuki was alive and at that shelter.

Because after hearing Mr. Oda's struggles, I wanted to help him.

So, I just decided to change my plans and spend time at that shelter.

I can't say I didn't feel anything about Mr. Oda rejecting me.

But that choice was very natural for him as the leader who brought the shelter together.

So, I just followed it.

I climbed the emergency stairs of the home center and headed to the third floor.

I opened the silver swing door to the back and entered the staff room.

Seeing the sofa, bed, and small dining table, I couldn't help but smile wryly. This room, which hardly seemed like a staff room, felt quite familiar and nostalgic, even though I had only spent about a week here.

I plopped my hiking backpack onto the sofa.

It was something I had brought from the department store on a whim, just in case. If I was going to pretend to be dead, it would be unnatural for my backpack to still be around.

Looking at the two office chairs side by side and the bed, a girl's face suddenly popped into my head.

The reason I didn't leave the shelter.

It wasn't just those two reasons; her existence was another one.

When I first saw her, maybe because I had just returned from another world, she reminded me of Eris, and I felt a vague sense of familiarity. But now, it's different.

I developed quite a bit of affection for a stranger I met by chance.

Looking at my palm absentmindedly, I realized something.

Come to think of it, I never fulfilled Kaede's request to pat her head again, even after she overcame her fear of me.

I left the staff room and headed to the changing room.

I approached the entrance to the women's changing room, which was blocked by furniture.

I moved the furniture and opened the door.

The moment I did, a stench of decay filled the air.

It was already summer, so it was to be expected.

Facing the corpse, whose head was badly crushed and was starting to melt and infested with maggots, I spoke.

"I delivered your daughter to a safe place. Rest in peace."

Of course, there was no response.

I scratched my head.

"Doesn't seem like me, does it?"

I don't even have the ability to hear a response, so what am I doing?

Even if I did have the skill, I doubt I could do it in this situation, not right after death.

I glanced at the corpse one more time and closed the room's door.

+++++

I infused my axe with magic and sliced through the zombie's head as if scooping pudding with a spoon.

The skull split open, and brain matter oozed out.

Ignoring it, I quickly approached the next target within my perception range and swung my axe again.

The path I had taken was already overflowing with zombie corpses.

As night fell, I was outside.

I had no specific purpose.

No, I did have a purpose, but I couldn't tell if it was my true purpose.

I just impulsively cut down the enemies in front of me.

The lingering resentment, frustration, sadness, emptiness, and loneliness in my heart.

I hunted the zombies I saw, as if trying to forget those negative emotions.

At first, I thought I would thin out the zombies around the department store for safety.

But before I knew it, I was filled with hatred for these bastards who had made the world this way, and I was venting my anger on them.

But even so, it didn't help to vent my frustration on these emotionless creatures.

Still, if it would benefit Mr. Oda and the others, I couldn't stop swinging my weapon.

Before leaving the home center, I had brought all the useful items from the second-floor tool section down to the first floor.

I thought that maybe, one day, Mr. Oda and the others might come to get them, just like today.

I didn't think I had any obligation to do so.

Even if I was expelled, I didn't resent it.

I wanted to do as much as I could to protect Kaede and Yuki.

Most of all, I still respected Mr. Oda.

I hunted zombies all night, entered a nearby building when the sun rose to wait for nightfall, and then hunted zombies again when the sun set.

I continued this routine for several days.

The area within a few kilometers of the new shelter, the department store, was already overflowing with zombie corpses.

I couldn't touch the area within sight of the department store, but they would gradually disperse.

I couldn't kill them all, especially those inside buildings, but this area was much safer now.

I felt a bit of the weight in my chest lift, thinking that I had done all I could for them.

This concludes Chapter 2.

Thank you for your reviews, bookmarks, and ratings.

I look forward to your continued support.