Chapter 11: Zombification
"For the price of ten thousand yen, I shall grant you devil power."
The Zombie Devil proposed its condition. This was exactly what Otonashi Chiya had instructed it to say; to get the yakuza creditor to sign the contract on the spot, the price couldn't be non-existent, but it couldn't be too steep either.
The yakuza boss didn't give it a second thought. He immediately pulled out a ten-thousand-yen bill. To a man like him, ten thousand yen was pocket change.
As the Zombie Devil accepted the money, the contract was instantly established.
The yakuza boss was zombified in a heartbeat. He died without even knowing how it happened—in fact, he likely didn't even realize he was dead.
"Power... power..."
The boss's brain was eroded by the zombie virus, leaving behind only a lingering obsession with strength. He muttered to himself in a low, raspy growl. His face grew increasingly distorted and terrifying, his eyeballs bulging and bloodshot. Very quickly, he had completely transformed into a zombie.
Next, following Chiya's orders, the Zombie Devil commanded the boss to return and infect all of his subordinates. This was the reason Chiya had used the Zombie Devil instead of striking personally.
While Chiya could easily have killed the creditor himself, he wouldn't have been able to uproot the problem entirely in one go. Though this old man seemed senile, the yakuza organization he controlled was actually quite formidable. Its reach extended beyond Suginami City, spreading across Tokyo and even throughout Japan—it was likely one of the largest syndicates in the country.
If Chiya had acted personally, it would be easy for the gang to trace the kill back to him, and Denji would certainly be targeted as well. Unless he wiped out the entire organization, neither he nor Denji would ever know peace.
Using the Zombie Devil was the perfect solution. By having the man die of "zombification," no one would link it back to Denji. Chiya had also ordered the Zombie Devil to keep the truth a secret, and the devil didn't dare disobey a "not-too-outrageous" command. Furthermore, they could use the zombie infection to wipe out all the yakuza members in the Suginami district in one fell swoop. As for the members in other regions, that would have to be dealt with later.
"What's happening to him...?"
At that moment, Denji poked her head out from behind the Zombie Devil, looking at the yakuza boss in shock. She had been shielded from view by the devil's massive frame until now.
"He's been zombified. He's essentially dead now; you never have to worry about your debt again," Chiya said, expressionlessly watching the old man climb back into his car.
Even though he was a zombie, the man still retained the muscle memory of his life's skills; the Zombie Devil simply had to issue the command.
"Whoa, that's great!" Denji was overjoyed. She had suffered under the weight of that debt for so long, living in fear every single day. Finally, she was free.
"Since you've packed your things, let's head out now." Chiya had a slight change of plans. "Zombie Devil, have that man drive Denji and me to Nerima Ward first, then carry out the original plan."
This would save him and Denji from having to catch a subway late at night.
"Understood," the Zombie Devil replied.
Shortly after, Chiya and Denji rode in the yakuza boss's car toward Nerima Ward, where Chiya's apartment was located. As they got out, Denji made a face at the boss inside the car. "Goodbye, you old geezer."
Those words were both a farewell and a final parting—a goodbye to her tragic past. Of course, the boss didn't respond; he no longer possessed a conscious mind.
"My place isn't far from here. Let's walk the rest of the way." Chiya reached out his hand, intending to lead Denji.
Denji hesitated, looking embarrassed. "But... I'm so dirty..."
She didn't want to get Chiya-niichan's hand dirty, and she was worried that she would be hated because she was so filthy.
"What does that matter?"
As he spoke, Otonashi Chiya took off his coat and draped it over Denji's shoulders. "The temperature drops a lot at night. Wear this so you don't catch a cold."
Denji froze, her heart filled with shock. This was the first time she had ever met someone who didn't look at her with disgust because of the dirt and smell on her body. She stopped being so restrained and reached out to grasp Chiya's hand.
The big brother's hand was warm, strong, and large, providing her with a sense of security she had never experienced before. However, her small heart began to go thump-thump, beating a little too fast, and a shy blush crept onto her cheeks.
[Ding! Host has activated the achievement "Denji's Sense of Closeness (Lv.3)." Gained 8 Attribute Points!]
This system notification caused Chiya to instinctively take note of Denji. He began to realize something was slightly off.
Wait!
Don't tell me Denji has developed special feelings for me?
While Denji was quite cute, she was still young—at the age where one's first feelings of love might bloom. Out of a sense of morality, Chiya didn't harbor any such thoughts toward her; he viewed her as a younger sister. He decided not to address it for now, as he wasn't entirely sure. If Denji actually did something later, he would guide her properly.
As for the Zombie Devil and the yakuza creditor, Chiya didn't need to worry about them anymore. Until the Zombie Devil completed the task he assigned, the contract remained in effect.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the apartment. Chiya led Denji and Pochita upstairs.
"This is my home, and it'll be your home from now on too," Chiya said, pointing to the door.
"Whoa~"
This was Denji's first time entering such a high-end apartment building. Naturally, she had no idea what a suite inside looked like. She was instantly filled with curiosity and anticipation.
As Chiya opened the door, it felt to Denji as if she were entering a whole new world. The living room alone was significantly larger than her tiny shack, not to mention the kitchen, the bathroom, and the two bedrooms. Denji looked around in wonder.
"Can I really live here forever?" Denji could hardly believe all of this was real.
"Of course. Unless we move—and even then, it would only be to a better place," Chiya said.
"Can I take a bath first?" Denji was disgusted by her own smell and dirt; she wanted to enjoy a hot bath to her heart's content.
"Go ahead. Wear my clothes for now; tomorrow I'll take you to buy new clothes that actually fit you." Chiya grabbed a set of his own clothes for her to use as a temporary fix.
In the bathtub, Denji hummed familiar nursery rhymes as she washed. It took a full half-hour before she finally felt clean. She looked at the clothes Chiya had given her. Whether it was from soaking in the hot water for too long or from shyness, her face was bright red.
These are clothes Nii-chan has worn... they have his scent on them...