Night's depths were fraught with danger in a world inhabited by these perilous "dead" creatures.
Ordinary people, fearful of zombies, ran the constant risk of being killed or bitten if they encountered them.
But to people like Busujima Saeko and her group, this post-apocalyptic world no longer felt very apocalyptic at all.
Currently, they lived in a standalone villa.
A tall fence surrounded it.
Of course, simple walls and gates couldn't fully keep the dead out.
However, they had Busujima Saeko's sword spirit, born from her "Annihilation Spirit Blade," on guard.
Even at night, that guardian could handle any dead wandering near, or any ill-intentioned intruders.
After all, it was the apocalypse.
Human nature could be unpredictable.
During the day, they also had four fighters whose combat power was far beyond the ordinary.
They usually split into pairs:
Two went out to gather essential supplies and "farm zombies" for experience points,
While the other two stayed at the villa with Shizuka Marikawa and little Alice.
Naturally, those who stayed weren't lazing around either. In this kind of apocalypse, you had to learn self-sufficiency; relying on external resources wouldn't be enough. So they were researching how to raise crops and livestock.
…
On the balcony.
Dressed in a light nightgown, Shizuka Marikawa was gazing at the bright full moon, lost in thought.
"Sensei, why haven't you gone to sleep yet?"
Rei Miyamoto came up beside her.
A gentle night breeze drifted around them from outside the room.
"You're wearing so little, be careful not to catch cold."
"It's fine. I'll head in soon…"
Shizuka sounded unconcerned.
"Sensei, are you thinking about that friend of yours?"
"Mm… More or less."
Shizuka nodded helplessly.
Just yesterday, she'd gotten in touch with her friend Rika Minami.
Rika was currently stationed at some military base and had invited them to come over.
They'd decided to head out tomorrow to take a look.
But most likely, they wouldn't be staying there.
Shizuka wanted to persuade Rika to come to their place.
With Saeko and the others present—and Rei Ao's chat group as well—it had to be the safest location in this world.
"Don't worry. If she managed to contact you, Sensei, then she's probably fine," Rei said by way of comfort, then headed back inside, reminding Shizuka: "Get some rest soon, Sensei. You'll want to be at your best when you see your friend."
"Sure, I will."
As she watched Rei leave, Shizuka's eyes filled with envy—the kind directed at Saeko, Rei, Saya, and Yuriko.
She envied their relationships with Rei Ao and the power they'd gained.
Being the one who was protected while seeing them grow so strong gave her a subtle sense of inferiority.
"Sigh…"
In truth, she wasn't only thinking about Rika's situation. She was also torn about whether to initiate a trade of her own.
She glanced down at her ample bosom, worried that Rei Ao might dislike a body like hers.
For a moment, she felt completely unsure.
…
Elsewhere…
Rei Ao had finally finished giving Mafuyu Kirisu a full-body massage.
It had taken quite a bit of time and energy.
He cast a glance at Mafuyu.
"Phew…"
She was lying face-down on the bed, her soft lips slightly parted.
Her slender nose drew gentle, steady breaths; eyes were tightly closed.
She'd fallen asleep.
After letting out a series of relieved sighs, Mafuyu had dozed off in sheer exhaustion.
Rei Ao shook his head with a wry grin.
"I go to all the trouble of massaging you, and you fall asleep. That's just…"
But that's how massages worked sometimes.
He only needed to massage from head to toe in sequence; Mafuyu, meanwhile, groaned contentedly and then drifted to sleep.
Rei Ao had no intention of waking her.
He covered her gently with a blanket, tiptoed over to the door, and—
Reaching out his hand, he lightly pulled on the doorknob.
"…"
Seven pairs of eyes met his.
"What are you all doing?"
Seeing seven heads stacked atop one another, Rei Ao really didn't know what to say.
"It was just a massage—why so curious?"
Mai Sakurajima curled her lip.
"You were definitely massaging her, but from the sounds outside, someone who didn't know might have assumed you were up to no good."
Apparently Kirisu-sensei was even louder than Mai herself—and it had been just a massage.
"S-sorry… We were just wondering why Rei Ao-kun's massages make so much noise," said Fumino Furuhashi, blushing and sticking out her tongue.
"Curious, huh?"
Rei Ao gave a teasing grin. "Would you like to try it yourselves?"
"Uh… n-no thanks!"
Fumino repeatedly waved her hands.
She didn't want to make the strange sounds Kirisu-sensei had.
Just imagining it was mortifying.
"I want to try!!!"
Tohru, excited and breathing heavily, chimed in:
"Rei Ao, you massage me, and I'll massage you. I hear you humans have essential oil massages and 'bear press?' I can learn them all!"
"Eh?"
At those words, Fumino and Rizu both gaped.
Could things go that far? Bear press?!
Rei Ao's eyes lit up. Suddenly, he wasn't tired anymore. He was just about to speak when—
"What are you all doing?"
Another figure appeared, frowning at their suspicious behavior.
It was Emilia, who'd just returned, looking worn out.
"Nothing, just fooling around," Rei Ao said simply. Seeing how exhausted she looked, he asked, "How'd your interview go today?"
Yes, she'd gone for a job interview as a phone representative. Her business suit and heels had been picked out by Mai, though the cost had been charged to Rei Ao.
At that mention, Emilia straightened her back proudly, looking smug.
"You think it's tough for me? Interviews are no problem at all!"
It seemed she'd passed.
"That's great. Congratulations on not being unemployed anymore."
Rei Ao played along, clapping lightly.
"Huh? Emilia-san was… unemployed?"
Fumino was stunned. She'd always assumed Emilia was a white-collar worker renting a room here.
"…"
Emilia, feeling as though people had pegged her as a jobless bum, didn't know how to respond.
She'd only just arrived in this world—she wasn't a bum!
What kind of bum could adapt so fast and land a job?
Real bums stayed at home all day without leaving their rooms!
"Ah-choo!"
Simultaneously, in the houses on either side of Rei Ao's place, a blue-haired Mabel and a blonde Gabriel both sneezed.
Gabriel: "Who's thinking about me? Never mind; back to gaming."
Mabel: "Who's bad-mouthing me? Must be Yukino… Let's see what's good in the fridge!"
Yes. Those two were genuine bums.
~~~
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