"That's because…"
Mo Yankong paused for a moment.
"Zombies rely on sound to locate their targets."
Saya Takagi's eyes immediately lit up.
She crossed her arms proudly.
"I already know that. If you don't believe me, ask Hirano. I've talked about it with him before."
Mo Yankong looked at her with a faint smile.
"The question is… have you actually tested it?"
Saya hesitated.
"No… I didn't have the chance."
Mo Yankong chuckled softly.
"Then I take back what I said earlier. Your brain is indeed smart."
"But intelligence alone isn't enough."
"As the team leader, I'll prove it and lead everyone out of here."
He continued calmly.
"Besides sound, zombies may also sense body heat, but the range seems extremely short—probably only through direct contact."
"That's all we need to know."
Just like that, Mo Yankong shamelessly declared himself the team leader.
---
Busujima Saeko nodded calmly.
"No objections."
Hirano shrugged.
"Sounds good to me."
Saya snorted.
"Hmph."
But she didn't argue further.
"Alright," Mo Yankong said.
"Everyone take a few minutes to rest and prepare mentally."
---
While everyone recovered their stamina, Saeko picked up the steel pipe spear lying beside Rei Miyamoto.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"Miyamoto… how was this weapon made?"
Rei froze for a moment.
Then she forced a smile.
"I'm… not really sure. I picked it up in the observatory room."
In reality, she had personally seen Mo Yankong twist the steel pipe with his bare hands.
The memory still felt unreal.
Saeko examined the weapon carefully.
Clear fingerprints were visible on the twisted metal.
Someone had bent solid steel purely through brute strength.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Is that even possible…?
But considering zombies already existed…
Maybe someone stronger than zombies wasn't impossible either.
Saeko returned the spear without asking further questions.
---
Mo Yankong helped Rei stand up.
"Can you still run?"
Rei lowered her head awkwardly.
"Sorry… I ran out of stamina earlier."
"I should still be able to run."
In truth, most of her weakness came from losing too much blood earlier.
Mo Yankong simply nodded.
"Then I'll carry you."
Before she could protest, he lifted her effortlessly.
Rei blushed but didn't resist.
---
Mo Yankong looked at the others.
"Is everyone ready?"
Hirano gave a thumbs up.
"Always ready!"
Weapons were raised.
Saya Takagi shot Mo Yankong an annoyed glare.
Then—
The staff room door slowly opened.
---
They moved quietly into the hallway.
Saeko walked at the front.
Instead of killing zombies, she used her wooden sword to knock them off balance, preventing them from chasing the group.
Soon they reached the stairwell.
Everyone froze.
The sight was horrifying.
The staircase was packed with zombies.
Blood covered the steps.
Severed limbs lay scattered everywhere.
Some zombies crawled across the floor with their lower bodies completely torn apart.
Others were licking blood from the ground.
The smell of rot filled the air.
Saya nearly vomited.
She quickly covered her mouth to stop herself from making noise.
Only Mo Yankong remained completely calm.
---
He gestured to Hirano.
"Give me the nail gun."
Hirano hesitated.
But eventually handed over his modified weapon.
Saeko stepped closer.
"What are you planning?"
"Simple."
Mo Yankong raised the nail gun.
"Sound distraction."
He aimed toward the far end of the corridor.
Then fired.
Bang.
The sound was soft.
But it was enough.
Several zombies immediately turned toward the noise.
Then suddenly—
DING! DING! DING!
The school's fire alarm began ringing loudly.
Hirano's eyes widened.
"You hit the fire alarm?!"
"That thing is only the size of a finger!"
"And it's at least twenty meters away!"
Even with proper training, hitting such a small target was extremely difficult.
Mo Yankong simply shrugged.
"Good eyesight."
---
The loud alarm echoed across the entire school.
Hundreds of zombies began rushing toward the sound.
Mo Yankong calmly stood still.
Soon—
The zombie horde rushed past him.
Groaning.
Snarling.
But not one of them attacked him.
Saya stared in disbelief.
"How…?"
Saeko watched silently.
Her eyes filled with admiration.
"Such courage…"
Rei clung tightly to Mo Yankong's shoulder.
She didn't even dare breathe.
Yet Mo Yankong remained completely calm.
As if standing inside a crowd of zombies meant nothing.
---
When the path finally cleared, he waved his hand.
"Let's go."
Everyone quickly moved down the stairs.
Saya walked past him and whispered quietly.
"Well done."
"For now… I acknowledge you as the team leader."
Mo Yankong smiled faintly.
"It's my honor."
---
Soon they reached the parking area.
The school bus was still there.
After dealing with a few scattered zombies, they successfully reached it.
But just as they were about to start the engine—
Shouts came from the school building.
"Wait! Please help us!"
Everyone turned around.
A group of students was running toward them.
Leading them was a familiar figure.
Koichi Shido.
Rei's expression instantly darkened.
Hatred filled her eyes.
Mo Yankong noticed immediately.
Their gazes met.
Rei lowered her head.
Her lips trembled slightly.
But she said nothing.
Mo Yankong gently lifted her chin.
"Don't worry."
"I'll handle him."
Rei's eyes brightened.
"Thank you…"
---
From the driver's seat, Marikawa asked nervously,
"Should I start the bus?"
Mo Yankong shook his head.
"Wait."
"We can't just abandon fellow students."
Saeko glanced at him coldly.
She clearly remembered what he said earlier.
Deal with Shido.
Was he serious?
---
Mo Yankong narrowed his eyes.
The approaching group was getting closer.
Among them was a delinquent student with dyed yellow hair.
One of Shido's followers.
Mo Yankong's gaze suddenly sharpened.
An invisible pressure descended.
Like a predator locking onto prey.
The yellow-haired student froze mid-run.
His mind went blank.
His legs lost strength.
He collapsed heavily onto the ground.
"Teacher! My leg!"
"I think it's broken!"
He grabbed Shido's pant leg desperately.
"Please help me!"
Koichi Shido looked down coldly.
Zombies were already approaching.
He smiled faintly.
But the smile contained no warmth.
"Is that so?"
"Then this is where you die."
The student froze.
"Teacher… what are you saying?"
Shido kicked him violently in the face.
"I don't need dead weight."
The student screamed in terror.
But Shido had already abandoned him.
---
Watching the scene, Mo Yankong smiled coldly.
Perfect.
Now everyone could see Shido's true nature.
---
Mo Yankong stepped forward.
"Rei. Saeko."
"Help the others board the bus."
"I have something to discuss with Teacher Shido."
Rei immediately grabbed her spear and jumped down from the bus.
Saeko followed silently.
Within seconds, the zombies nearby were cleared.
The remaining students hurried onto the bus.
Only Shido remained outside.
Mo Yankong blocked the bus entrance.
He looked at him calmly.
"Teacher Shido."
"We meet again."
Shido pushed his glasses up.
"Oh?"
"You're the student from the infirmary this morning."
"What's the matter?"
Inside his eyes lurked hidden malice.
But his voice remained calm.
He already understood Mo Yankong's intention.
The boy wanted revenge.
However—
Shido was confident.
He was a teacher.
Among students, teachers naturally held authority.
If he played his cards right…
He could easily turn the others against Mo Yankong.
---
Mo Yankong smiled.
"I plan to leave you here."
"To feed the zombies."
Shido blinked.
Even he didn't expect such a direct statement.
Then he sighed sadly.
"Is this because I'm a teacher?"
"Because I tried to correct you this morning?"
"So you want revenge?"
His voice was deliberately loud.
Everyone on the bus could hear him clearly.
Mo Yankong nodded slightly.
"That's part of it."
"But not the main reason."
Shido shook his head with a sorrowful expression.
"This is an emergency."
"We should help each other."
"If we start abandoning people…"
"How can anyone feel safe?"
His words were clever.
He was subtly turning the group against Mo Yankong.
If Shido was abandoned…
Who would be next?
Mo Yankong calmly blocked the bus door.
"I already said."
"I'm leaving you here."
"To feed the zombies."
---