The next morning…
The pale sun filtered through the gray clouds in the sky.
In front of the house, Hirano walked up to Yuu, moving awkwardly. He cleared his throat a couple of times before speaking.
"Uh, Izumi-san… do you have a moment?"
Yuu, who was watching the girls getting ready in the distance, turned his head.
"Sure. What's up, Hirano? You're walking like a zombie. Did you get bitten already?"
"N-no, nothing like that!" Hirano waved his hands frantically and then scratched his cheek. "It's just that… I'm out of sniper bullets. Do you have any more?"
"Seriously? I gave you a decent amount. You burned through all of them yesterday?"
He had given him a good supply the day before.
At the mention of his favorite topic, Hirano seemed to completely forget his shyness. His glasses gleamed with excitement and he straightened up.
"Yes! They were so accurate and the recoil was perfect! I shot all day, and then at night I tested the other weapons you gave me. It was amazing!"
Yuu chuckled.
"I completely underestimated your enthusiasm. And today you want more? Don't you wanna rest?"
"Yeah, but today I wanna play again! I mean… I wanna shoot more zombies and keep them away from the shelter."
Hirano said that while puffing out his chest solemnly. But on his face, his childlike glee over a new toy was obvious.
Yuu waved his hand and produced a duffel bag full of ammo.
"Here. Don't let your trigger-happiness make you forget about your safety."
"Izumi-san, you're the best! A true hero among men! I'll never forget your generosity!"
Hirano's eyes welled up as he hugged the bag.
"Yeah, yeah, you're embarrassing me…"
"I'll handle the shelter! I'll keep it safe while you're gone!"
With that, Hirano spun on his heel and ran back toward the house.
Yuu watched him trip over some rubble on the way. Then he turned to the girls, who were watching him not too far away.
Saeko kept her serene expression, and when she saw him looking, her rosy lips curved into a sensual, seductive smile.
Rei tried to look just as serious, but Yuu noticed her hands trembling slightly behind her back. Same as yesterday.
Jin-ah shifted lightly on the tips of her toes. She looked excited, though her big eyes also showed a bit of nervousness, and her fingers kept tightening and loosening their grip on the beautiful silverwood staff he'd given her.
Yuu flashed a broad smile at the three of them.
"Ready for the hunt?"
"Always ready to walk your path, Yuu-sama."
"Yes! I'm… ready."
"M-me too. I wanna get stronger."
That was why she came.
To get stronger, and so she could heal her mother.
At that moment, Saya, standing to the side with Shizuka-sensei, raised her voice. She wore her glasses, and beneath them, her beautiful pink eyes showed a determined expression.
"Izumi-kun. I'm coming with you."
"Are you sure? It won't be a pleasant trip."
Truthfully, Yuu had expected this. In fact, even if she hadn't asked, he'd planned to take her along.
"I'm not some helpless girl. I wanna see how you use your powers. And… I wanna see this world with my own eyes."
That morning, she'd found out Rei and Jin-ah had powers too. It left a bitter taste in her mouth. Because now only she, Shizuka, and Hirano were still normal.
If she was supposed to be the genius, why was she the one without powers? Maybe, by analyzing them up close, there was a chance she could awaken something too.
She didn't know it was actually Yuu who had given them their powers.
Even so, she didn't wanna fall behind. She didn't wanna be left out.
"Kami-sama~, don't leave poor Saya-chan all alone~."
Shizuka clung to the white-haired boy and rubbed her cheek against his.
"And don't forget your favorite sensei~."
Yuu sighed, grabbed Shizuka by the collar, and lifted her up like a naughty kitten.
"Cut the drama."
"Muu~ Kami-sama is so cruel!" She whined, dangling from his hands until he dropped her back on the ground.
"Alright. Time to move out."
Today, his girls would face zombies to level up.
×××
The streets were packed with zombies shuffling in the same direction. It looked like they were in the middle of some clumsy, aimless parade.
It was a bit far from the house where the group was staying, but even so, the number was considerable.
And the reason they were all walking in the same direction…
"♪ Lalala~ Zombies, come to me!~ ♪"
On Yuu's shoulder rested a radio blasting loud music.
Yuu sang along, grinning from ear to ear.
The girls gave him flat looks.
"…" All of them.
"Seriously?"
Saya was the first to speak, her tone dripping with disbelief.
Then she poked Shizuka's waist, since the teacher looked about ready to sing and dance along.
"It's like luring cockroaches with sugar…"
"Although… he actually sings pretty well."
While Rei sighed, Jin-ah found herself blushing a little.
Saeko just tilted her head with a faint smile.
Despite their expressions, they all silently admitted it was fun watching him act like that. Even Saya, though she pressed her lips tight, couldn't deny Yuu's voice was surprisingly pleasant.
Still, she was worried.
"Izumi-kun, there are too many coming!"
She pointed with her finger, her brows furrowing.
Sure enough, a wave of zombies rounded the corner, clearly drawn to the music.
Yuu turned to her with a big grin plastered on his face. He adjusted the radio on his shoulder, and while her attention was on him, he cranked the volume up.
"Relax, Saya-chan! It's the perfect training! Singing and killing zombies. What could be better?"
"Hahh?!"
Was this guy actually sane?!
Saya shouted in disbelief, but Saeko raised her katana and cut off her interruption at the root.
"It's time. Kurokami, with me."
The calm-eyed girl nodded at Rei and Jin-ah, then brandished the katana she'd named Kurokami.
With graceful steps, she advanced to the front, her long purple hair swaying in the wind.
Rei hesitated for a second, but then let out a long sigh and tightened her grip on her spear.
"Hah… fine. I'm going!"
She dashed after Saeko.
Jin-ah took a deep breath, clutching her staff.
"Please… let it work…"
She raised the staff toward the sky, then set it firmly on the ground.
"By this light, a swiftness surge."
As soon as she spoke the words, Jin-ah felt some of her mana drain into the staff. At the same time, a blue glow spread from the aquamarine crystal at its top. Two streams of light flowed out, covering Saeko and Rei before fading.
Both girls immediately felt lighter on their feet.
What Jin-ah had just used was a buff that boosted Agility and Movement Speed.
"A buff?"
Rei was surprised at the sudden change in her body.
"Yes, it's Jin-ah…" Saeko narrowed her eyes with a faint smile.
"Thanks, Jin-ah!"
Rei shouted as she drove her spear into the first zombie's skull.
—Crack!
The thrust pierced the rotten forehead with a sickening sound. Rei twisted the spear and shoved the body back, freeing the tip.
"Ugh… disgusting!"
"Be careful! The buff only lasts 2 minutes!"
Even so, it was a huge help.
As Jin-ah's voice rang out, two more zombies lunged at Rei. She stepped back and swung her spear in a wide arc, severing both their arms in a single sweep.
Saeko, meanwhile, moved fluidly from side to side. Her steps made little noise, but her katana sliced the air with a whistle.
—Shhhing!
A head rolled.
—Shhhing!
A torso was split diagonally.
"The front line's mine. Rei, focus on the ones trying to circle around. Jin-ah, keep your distance and support us."
Every time she swung Kurokami, the crimson line running down its blade glowed like fire.
With a calm voice, her eyes narrowed, and a thrill coursed through her as she watched her enemies bleed.
Jin-ah trembled slightly at the back of the group, but when she saw her companions pressing forward without stopping, she clenched her teeth and followed.
At that moment, she noticed Rei's face had gone pale as she fought. Her hands trembled a little, and in her eyes, Jin-ah saw panic.
It looked like she had a trauma…
With that thought, she focused on the zombie approaching Rei.
"By this light, fly and find your mark!"
Jin-ah aimed her staff at the zombie, and the aquamarine crystal at its tip shone brighter as light gathered inside it.
On the zombie's head, a small, almost transparent blue mark appeared.
As she spoke "find your mark," a bright yellow orb of light shot straight from the crystal at high speed.
—Crack!
It struck with a sharp, clear sound, like shattering glass, and the zombie's head turned to dust.
The magic projectile had hit exactly where the mark was.
'Huh? Dark attributes?'
Jin-ah was stunned. After all, her "light" attribute attack shouldn't do much damage to flesh-and-blood enemies. At most it might sting a little and leave them dazed for a few seconds.
But against dark creatures or those sensitive to light, it was particularly effective. Because it purified them.
That meant these zombies weren't normal zombies. Even if sunlight didn't affect them, she'd found their weakness.
Their weakness was her light attribute.
"Kami-sama, I want a pretty magic too!"
Yuu smiled at Shizuka.
"You'll have one. One as beautiful as you."
"R-really?!"
"Th-this…"
Saya, watching from a little farther back, had her glasses sliding down her small nose.
"She's really using magic…"
"That's not scientific at all!"
That voice wasn't Saya's. It was Yuu's, who had just shut off the portable radio.
"…"
Saya stared at him, her lips trembling. That was her line! She suddenly had the urge to bite his arm.
Unfazed by her murderous look, Yuu reached out and gently adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose with one finger.
"Much better."
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"
Blushing, she waved a hand to push him away, but Yuu had already stepped back.
His attention was back on the battlefield, where Rei skewered another zombie with her spear and Saeko cleanly sliced through a neck with her new katana.
A soft smile tugged at his lips.
"Saeko, Rei, Jin-ah… look at them."
As he spoke those words, he said it to himself, but loud enough for Saya and Shizuka to hear.
"Aren't they cute?"
×××
[Status]
—Name: Sung Jin-Ah
—Path: The Beginning and the End
—Rank: Pathstrider
—Level: 1
[General Stats]
Strength: I 0
Endurance: I 0
Dexterity: I 0
Agility: I 0
Magic: I 0
[Exclusive Skill]
—Final Radiance
—Linked Path: The Beginning and the End
—Description—
The light that never goes out, even in the darkest night. Jin-ah's radiance is a beacon that lifts the hearts of those who walk beside her.
—Effects—
—First Effect: [By this light, fly and find your mark—Basic Level]: Offensive ability especially effective against dark creatures or those sensitive to light. When invoking this ability, Jin-ah projects a concentrated ball of light that automatically seeks the target she's marked.
—Second Effect: [By this light, a strength to forge—Basic Level (2 minutes)]: Grants a slight increase in physical strength and attack power to selected allies.
—Third Effect: [By this light, a swiftness surge—Basic Level (2 minutes)]: Grants a slight increase in movement speed and agility to selected allies.
—Fourth Effect: [By this light, a guard to hold—Basic Level (2 minutes)]: Grants a basic shield to selected allies.
---
[Active Skills]
—None
[Passive Skill]
—Aegis's Blessing