(Insert Image of Minami Rika)
The next morning.
After breakfast, the group continued with the plan they had made yesterday.
Akuto and Saeko first cleared today's hunting zone, then Saya assigned everyone their supply-gathering tasks.
Unlike yesterday, when they only gathered water and food, today Akuto had expanded the scope: medicine, fuel, tools, seeds, fertilizer, and more.
Once the area was secure, Akuto climbed onto a salvaged motorcycle, with Shizuka seated at the front.
"Takagi, while I'm gone with Shizuka, management here is in your hands along with Saeko-senpai."
"I'll be back no later than tomorrow morning."
"If you're unsure about management matters, consult with Miss Yukinoshita."
"If force is needed, you can rely on Saeko and Rei."
Yesterday, Akuto had also turned Rei into a devil, granting her the powerful talent of the Heavenly Spear Gun Style.
Now, aside from Akuto and Saeko, Rei was undoubtedly the strongest within the shelter.
"…Got it, leave it to me!"
Saya arched a brow, sneaking a puzzled look at Rei.
She remembered that yesterday Akuto had still called her "Miyamoto-san," so why was it "Rei" all of a sudden?
And strangely enough, Rei looked more beautiful than she had yesterday.
[Don't tell me… Rei already…!]
Damn that Rei—while she was working herself to the bone managing the base, Rei swooped in and took advantage?!
The thought made Saya's refined face flush red.
For a moment, she regretted focusing so much on management.
After finishing his instructions, Akuto sat back on the motorcycle. Shizuka hugged the front, and the two sped off down the road.
"Woooooo~!!!"
On the highway, Shizuka squealed with excitement as the wind whipped against her face and Akuto's steering skill thrilled her.
Originally, Akuto hadn't planned to bring her along.
But when she learned he was heading for the airport to look for Minami Rika, Shizuka insisted on coming.
Her reasoning—"If I'm not there, Rika won't agree to come with you"—had been enough to convince Akuto to take her.
"Aku-chan, there's a little kid up on that wall ahead," Shizuka called out from the front.
"Yeah, I see her."
Even without using the Eye of Data, Akuto's perception was sharper than hers. There was no way he would miss the small, trembling figure on the wall.
"If it's just one kid, we can take her with us."
Normally, he wouldn't bother.
He was riding a motorcycle after all—no room for extras.
But one little girl? That was fine.
Besides, he had already recognized her soul's unique strength.
The reddish-brown-haired girl was Alice Maresato, the mature-minded loli from the original story's main cast.
...
Meanwhile, at the airport.
A tanned sniper in a black uniform lay prone at her vantage point, picking off zombies clogging the runway.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With each shot, Rika Minami's chest bounced inside her tight uniform, serving as an unintended shock absorber.
Thanks to her marksmanship, the runway was soon cleared of the undead.
"Zombies are down. We can send people to sweep the runway," she reported over her earpiece.
"Good, I'll notify command. Police Chief Minami, you can rest for now," her spotter, Tajima, replied.
"VRROOOOMMM!"
The roar of a motorcycle engine outside the airport snapped Rika's attention back.
In this world, few people dared make such noise anymore.
Intrigued, she quickly raised her binoculars.
And then her jaw dropped.
A black-haired boy rode a heavy Harley, a busty blonde clinging to him in front, and a small reddish-brown-haired child riding behind.
What kind of sandwich combo was this?!
"Wait—that busty blonde looks… familiar!"
Rika's eyes narrowed.
Before she could confirm, her earpiece crackled with alarmed shouts.
"Chief Minami, look at the sky!"
"There's a huge flock of something approaching the airport!"
"Bats! And crows!"
"They're big—and fast!"
"Arghhh!!!"
Rika had barely raised her binoculars when Tajima's scream pierced her ears.
"Damn it—birds are infected too?! That means airplanes won't even be safe!"
Panic spread as passengers stampeded off the planes, rushing back toward the terminal.
BANG! BANGBANGBANG!
Zombie bats and crows smashed against the terminal's reinforced glass, cracks spreading with each impact.
The motorcycle's engine noise soon drew their attention.
Slashing through the fence, the Harley roared across the runway.
"Rika!!! Where are you?!!!"
On the bike, Shizuka stood up, shouting at the top of her lungs for her best friend.
"…That voice—!"
Rika stiffened, swinging her binoculars around.
Damn it, of course—it was that brainless blonde cow!
"She's dumb, fine—but the guy with her, he's even dumber?! Making that much noise is suicide!"
She quickly raised her sniper rifle to cover them.
But then—she froze.
The black-haired boy stood up on the speeding bike, drawing a sword from his waist.
SHRRRRK!
Sword-light flashed like a hailstorm, weaving an impenetrable barrier that shredded every zombie bat before they could get close.
"…"
"…The hell? He's human?!"
For once, Rika was at a loss for words.
Snapping out of it, she returned to her own shooting—only she wasn't aiming at the small fry.
Her sights locked onto the massive bat leading the swarm.
BOOM!
The shot ripped through the air toward its target.
Even against a moving enemy, her skill was more than enough.
But this wasn't just a moving target—it was shielded by dozens of smaller ones.
By the time the round punched through a dozen bats, its momentum was spent, leaving nothing but a dent on the massive bat's hide.
That wasn't the worst of it.
The giant bat had now locked onto her position and was coming straight at her.
Its entire swarm followed, a wall of wings and fangs.
"…Shit."
One giant bat she could gamble against—but a giant bat surrounded by hundreds more? That was death.
As despair set in, a shadow suddenly dropped into view.
The boy leapt straight through the observation port—over ten meters high.
[What the hell?! That's a ten-meter fall!]
Rika gawked as he raised his sword… and hurled it with deadly force.
WHOOOSH!
The blade tore through the air, ripping apart dozens of lesser bats before piercing the giant's skull.
A split second later, its head was severed.
Blood sprayed in the night sky as the massive corpse crashed into the building wall beside her.
"…Holy shit. This guy's a monster."
For the first time, the famously headstrong Rika felt a flicker of dependence on a man.
And strangely enough… she didn't mind the feeling.
(End of Chapter)
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