Original Chapter:  https://ncode.syosetu.com/n0383ht/10

Having achieved my goal, I returned safely to the infirmary.

The time should have long passed evening, but outside it was still as bright as ever.

It seems the mimicking monsters can't faithfully reproduce the passage of time.

As soon as I entered the room, Rea stood up and ran over to me.

And without minding that I was covered in blood, she welcomed me with a smile, saying, "Welcome back!"

I decided in my heart to reply as naturally as possible, and spectacularly stuttered, "I-I'm home..."

So embarrassing, I want to die.

The fact that Rea didn't seem to mind at all pierced me even more.

Following that, Shimakawa kun happily raised his voice.

"Are those behind you survivors by any chance? So there were still safe humans left!"

His gaze was directed at the two boys and one girl in gym clothes behind me.

"I found them hiding behind the shelves at the school store. It seems they're first-years."

"H-hello, I'm Okada from Class 1-C."

"I'm Nagura."

"...I'm Uehara."

The three of them, Okada kun, Nagura kun, and Uehara san, gave light greetings, looking nervous.

It was a complete coincidence that I found them.

While I was gathering the bread left in the school store, I discovered them hiding behind the shelves.

At first, they were terrified because I was covered in blood, but once I explained, they quickly understood I was human.

...Well, they still seem terrified even now, though.

Well, since I killed several monsters on the way back, it might be inevitable that I look like one of the monsters.

"I'm glad to see you're unhurt. Since you're in gym clothes, does that mean the anomaly occurred during P.E. class?"

Okada kun took the initiative to answer Meiji sensei's question.

"Yes. We were playing soccer outside when we suddenly felt the air change. We noticed, the cars running outside and the people walking suddenly disappeared. At first, I thought it was an optical illusion. But a classmate who was further away suddenly screamed... and a massive amount of blood..."

"So the anomaly didn't just occur in the school building."

"It probably means the whole school, including the schoolyard and the athletic field."

"Okada kun, was it? How did you escape from there?"

"We ran frantically. Even while we were running, invisible monster like things were rapidly closing in, and from behind we heard a sound like something being crushed, screams, and also something like a monster's laughter... Those of us who survived somehow made it to the school building, but the inside was also full of monsters, and before we knew it, it was just the three of us left... From there, we hid behind the shelves at the school store and laid low."

As he spoke, his face grew paler and paler.

Meiji sensei immediately handed him a plastic bottle, saying, "Drink this and calm down."

It wasn't the oral rehydration solution that had been in the refrigerator—it seemed she had put the water I prepared into the empty bottle.

They must have shared and drunk the contents while I was out.

It's by no means delicious, and I have no particular complaints.

"I... saw something else, too."

Uehara san, who had been listening silently, spoke up.

"What do you mean?"

"I saw something falling from the sky. It was white... well, it had some brown mixed in too, but something incredibly large, shaped like an inverted triangle, pierced right into the middle of the school building."

"...If there was such a thing, I think others would have noticed it long ago."

Uncharacteristically, Mitsurugi san opened her mouth and said something unnecessary.

Uehara san shook her head back and forth, denying those words.

"I really saw it! These two said they didn't know either, but that's because it disappeared immediately. Yes, it was really just for an instant—the moment that white object touched the ground, I heard a scream from behind, and the first person was killed."

"That's hard to believe right away."

Tatsuoka senpai, you're really annoying.

Even though you have no idea what's going to happen here.

"I don't think Uehara san has any reason to go out of her way to make up a story in a life threatening situation, though?"

"It's precisely because she's not in a normal mental state that there's a possibility she hallucinated."

"I see. Then you don't have to believe it, Tatsuoka senpai. I'll believe it. Hey Uehara san, what did that white object look like to you?"

"Hmm... judging from the texture of the surface, it looked like an animal's claw or fang. But it was too big, I couldn't tell what it was..."

"A fang, huh..."

The moment it pierced the ground, this school turned into an otherworldly realm.

Could it be that this is the "Kaigyo" they were talking about?

"Hmph, what does it matter even if we know that? More importantly, Kuragane san, you were supposed to head out to secure food. Judging from your appearance, you don't seem to have any luggage, so what happened to that?"

I moved in front of the table and, from my smartphone screen, dumped out a massive amount of bread with a whoosh.

"Gross... what is that."

Mitsurugi san said in a low voice.

Honestly, I agree with her on that.

"When I was looking at my smartphone, there was a screen called 'Inventory'. Basically, it is a bag for putting game items in, so I tried putting it in to see if it would fit, and as you can see."

I was surprised when I shoved the bread into the screen half jokingly and it just went right in with a shloop.

Ah, Tatsuoka senpai looks frustrated.

He should just be happy we finally got some food.

"As accommodating as ever, isn't it."

"Preparing such a strange thing, what's the goal of the one who trapped us? It must be the same guy who gave you that power, senpai."

"Maybe they're enjoying seeing Ai and the others terrified."

"That's a really bad taste... I don't want to believe there's a person like that."

"I think the entity that trapped us and the entity that created this are different, though."

"Does that mean you found a clue, Erika?"

"No, not at all, I just felt that way somehow. However, someone named those monsters 'Kaigyo's Gangrene', right? Meiji sensei, if I remember correctly, gangrene is—"

"That's right, it's hard to imagine the creator themselves going out of their way to name it 'rotting'."

"Rotting... is it."

"Zombies and the like are exactly that!"

"Are you trying to say that someone gave Kuragane kun power to survive in a world where monsters have appeared?"

"It's just one hypothesis."

When I said that, Tatsuoka senpai snorted displeasedly, "Hmph."

Uninterested, I pointed to the bread in front of the table and said.

"Well, debating this will only make us hungry. For now, everyone, just eat this. Prioritize the ones that won't last long."

Everyone except Tatsuoka senpai and Mitsurugi san picked up their preferred bread.

Those two also picked out their bread a little later, whether out of dissatisfaction or perhaps unable to overcome their appetite despite being wary of me.

At that moment, my eyes accidentally met Mitsurugi san's.

When I smiled brightly at her, she glared back.

"Hey, Erika."

"What is it, Rea."

"There's quite a lot here, but is this all the bread that was at the school store?"

"No. When I went to the school store, there were already signs that someone had taken bread. I asked the first-years there, and they said it wasn't them, so maybe someone came before they hid."

"In other words, there's another surviving group!?"

"On top of freely moving around the school, the amount of bread taken was too much for an individual to carry. Perhaps they have the same power as me."

While I don't find it amusing, thinking realistically, it's unnatural to assume power was given only to me.

In this vast school building, it wouldn't be strange if there were humans hiding, having created a sanctuary somewhere just like us.

"I see... hearing that makes me feel a little relieved. It would be nice if we could meet up and cooperate."

"A situation where one person monopolizes power is dangerous, after all."

"Are you trying to say I'm dangerous, Tatsuoka senpai?"

"Yes, if possible, you should transfer your power to someone else who can accurately assess the situation."

I see, so he's finally stopped hiding it.

He looks intellectual, but he's unexpectedly short-tempered.

"Ahaha, 'someone who can accurately assess the situation,' who are you talking about? Could it be you, Tatsuoka senpai?"

"I'm the one with the highest aptitude among us here. But I don't mind deciding by majority vote. However—at the very least, I don't think you have the makings of a human who should hold power."

"Based on what?"

"Kuragane san, you are a human who finds joy in violence. Right now, your anger is directed at the monsters, but we don't know when it will be directed at humans."

"Tatsuoka senpai, that's going too far!"

Rea was the first to speak up.

It's truly reassuring, but at the same time, it makes me feel apologetic.

"That's right, Oogi senpai is correct. In the first place, you don't even know Kuragane senpai, do you?"

"Ai doesn't think you can tell that from just a few minutes of association."

"Unfortunately, I'm quite good at observing people. I can tell what kind of person they are by talking to them for a bit."

Even when condemned by those around him, Tatsuoka senpai pushed up his glasses and maintained his composure.

The first-years who had just arrived watched the suddenly started argument uneasily, still holding their bread.

"Tatsuoka senpai, you're bad at lying."

"Where is the lie in what I said?"

"You actually just can't stand the fact that a dropout like me has power, right?"

"Nonsense. Do you think I judge things based on such jealousy?"

"You are. Otherwise, you wouldn't swallow the claims of Mitsurugi san, who clearly has a bad relationship with me."

"Why are you bringing me into this!"

Mitsurugi san, who had her arms crossed in the corner of the room, raised her voice.

However, she didn't have the composure she had when she used to look down on me.

What was there was "impatience".

"I'm good at observing people too. I'm good at distinguishing malice directed at me from others, so I knew right away. That Tatsuoka senpai and Mitsurugi san are the same type."

"That's a persecution complex."

"But you heard it from Mitsurugi san, didn't you? That I was severely bullied by my classmates and there's a possibility I might seek revenge."

"What are you talking about?"

"You really are bad at lying. Fine, I'll tell you. It's exactly as Mitsurugi san says, right now, I'm having so much fun wielding violence, I just can't help it!"

When I showed my teeth and smiled broadly, the cheeks of Tatsuoka senpai and Mitsurugi san twitched almost simultaneously.

That amusing reaction made my heart dance even more.

"You know, right before I found the first-year kids earlier, I killed Yoshioka san and Asanuma kun."

"No way..."

Mitsurugi san let out a strained voice.

Cute.

"Well, of course, the two of them had become zombies. But seeing the people who had been unilaterally using violence against me until now, treating me like trash, die like rotten trash, I felt a happiness I've never felt before in my life! It was so much fun!"

"Y-you..."

"What's wrong, Tatsuoka senpai, why are you so terrified? Backing away. Where's your bravado from earlier? Ah, did you maybe think I'd submit if you threatened me a little? No, you're wrong. Mitsurugi san taught you that, didn't she! Ahahahahaha! You're wrong, you're wrong. I didn't have a choice until now. Because I had no power. That's why I couldn't do it, but deep in my heart, I always, always, always wanted to slaughter everyone who tormented me! That was my true feeling!"

My voice came out louder than I imagined, echoing through the infirmary.

Everyone was looking at me with surprise, fear, and contempt.

Meiji sensei was surprisingly calm, but Rea, for instance, was visibly bewildered.

Yes, that's right. This is the real me.

I'm a lost cause, right? You regret being kind to me until now, right?

It's fine, it's okay, I'm not sad.

Because that was my everyday life, and above all, even while looking at me like that, everyone has no choice but to rely on me now.

"It seems people who are born strong surprisingly don't notice it, but you know, humans have no choice but to obey power. For example, the first person to hit me was Shudou kun, but back then there was still an atmosphere of 'that's going too far', or rather, everyone was put off by it. Just like everyone here right now. But as it was repeated, they got used to it, and everyone started hitting me normally."

"So... what are you trying to say?"

"You'll get used to me too, eventually. Because Tatsuoka senpai is weak, you have no choice but to obey me."

"...S-so you have no intention... of handing over the power."

"I don't even have a way to do that right now, and even if I did, why did you think I'd give up my right to revenge?"

"..."

"Ah, I get it. Tatsuoka senpai, you're worried you might get killed. Don't worry, I won't kill a living human."

Any more than this, you know.

"Of course—"

I walk up to Mitsurugi san and bring my face as close to hers as possible.

"I want to give appropriate retribution for suffering and pain, but simply killing them would just make it easy for them, right?"

"Hah... hah..."

"If I don't make them suffer for as long as possible, it's bland compared to what I've experienced. In that sense too, I think simply killing a living human is boring. Mitsurugi san, who had tormented me so much, understands, right?"

Cold sweat trickled down her cheek.

She was terrified, shaking her head back and forth in small movements, but in the end, her legs gave out and she slumped to the floor.

I looked down at Mitsurugi san, my heart trembling at the wonderful view.

"Look up, Mitsurugi san."

"N...no... nooo..."

"That's the scenery I always saw. Eyes filled with malice, sneering at me from above, again and again. You hate it, don't you? Just being here makes it hard to breathe, like you're going to suffocate, right?"

"Ha... ah... ah..."

"What's wrong, Mitsurugi san? If you hate it that much, you should just look down on me and sneer at me like always. Being on the receiving end isn't like you"

"...I-I'm sorry."

Mitsurugi san said in a faint, vanishing voice.

I smoothly erased the smile I had floating on my face.

"What?"

"I'm sorry. I apologize... for what I've done, I'll apologize, so..."

"So you want me to forgive you?"

Mitsurugi san nods her head vigorously many times.

"Did you not think you'd actually be killed, and now you're panicking? Did you think I'd hand over the power obediently if you threatened me? Were you underestimating me that much?"

This time she shook her head side to side.

"Tell the truth."

When I said that in a flat voice, she let out another "Hii!" and this time nodded her head up and down.

"I told you, I don't particularly want to kill living humans. Ah, or did you think I'd go out of my way to turn Mitsurugi san into a zombie and kill you? Haha, that is certainly interesting! For me right now, catching a mere zombie is easy, so it might be fun to try! Good idea, as expected of Mitsurugi san! You weren't in that class for nothing!"

She shakes her head frantically back and forth.

It's no longer clear what she's denying.

"But you see, you're free to apologize, but—even if you did apologize, what do I gain from those words of apology? Will time turn back? Will the bruises left on my body disappear? Will you return my cut hair?"

"I c-can't do that, but... but..."

"I see. Then apologize. Get down on your knees and apologize to me with all your might right here and now."

Perhaps there is still some pride left in Mitsurugi san; despite being this desperate, she doesn't immediately prostrate herself.

She shows gestures of conflict typical for someone her age.

"You won't?"

When I dripped a single drop of malice there, pushed and shoved down, she immediately moved into a prostrating posture.

The methods around here are also things everyone taught me, my beloved classmates.

Then Mitsurugi san rubbed her forehead against the ground and shouted loudly.

"I'm sorryyyyy! I was wrong! I will never bully Kuragane san again, so please, don't kill meeee!"

"Ahahahaha. Self preservation is seeping out, zero points."

"Eh?"

Mitsurugi san raised her face.

I kicked her face right in the front with all my might.

While letting out an ungraceful voice, "Hebu?!", she was blown away.

"Erika!?"

"Hey, that's really going too far!"

Even Rea and Shimakawa kun, who had been silent, couldn't help but raise their voices at this.

Ignoring their voices, I announced to Mitsurugi san, who had a broken nose and was bleeding.

"Yes, this is the end. I won't seek revenge against Mitsurugi san anymore."

"H-huh...?"

While her consciousness was hazy from the pain and impact, Mitsurugi san looked up at me and let out a bewildered voice.

Tatsuoka senpai also unintentionally muttered, "What is she saying..."

I approached the fallen Mitsurugi san and held my hand over her face.

"Healing."

The emitted light healed her broken nose.

Then I grabbed her hand and made her stand up.

"Ai can't understand what just happened..."

I know I'm leaving the other people behind.

"What are you intending...?"

"Mitsurugi san wasn't the type to directly use violence against me, and to be blunt, she's a small fry, so there's just no reason to hold that much of a grudge against her."

"Even so, there's no one who kicks someone in the face with all their might..."

"That was a necessary ritual, Shimakawa kun. Did Mitsurugi san think she was so pure and innocent that she'd be forgiven for nothing?"

"...That's."

Right about now, what she did to me is probably playing back in Mitsurugi san's head.

This isn't a world with the values of "it's okay to do anything as long as it's to Kuragane."

It's strange coming from me, who kicked her, but she's looking down on her own actions with "normal values."

As a result, the conclusion she reached is—

"I did things that make it inevitable for me to be kicked."

Not as words of apology for self-preservation, but as if squeezing it from the bottom of her heart, Mitsurugi san said.

It might seem like I just made her say it, but at that point, my goal was achieved.

"And so, we've reconciled with this. It doesn't mean we're getting along, it just means we're back to zero. Also, Tatsuoka senpai, don't get any weird ideas anymore. You're already the type I don't get along with."

"...I don't recall thinking any such thing."

He still won't break, huh.

But he probably won't get any weird ideas for a while.

I'd like to think he's not that foolish.

"The ones I hate are only the small group of humans who harmed me. I want to protect everyone here. Or rather, I'm happy to have reached a position where I can protect, and I don't want to do anything to destroy that myself. So, as long as you don't direct malice at me, I'm everyone's ally."

I said that with a smile.

I didn't intend to fake it, but since I'm not good at smiling, I wonder if it really had the effect of making everyone feel relieved.

"...After being shown that earlier, it's impossible to tell us to believe all that. Though I do want to believe it."

As if speaking for the new first-years who were still deeply disturbed, Shimakawa kun said.

Unexpectedly, Meiji sensei argued against that.

"I wonder about that. It's only natural for any human to have a dark side. Regardless of the reason, since she says she'll protect us, I think it's fine to trust her."

"When you get to that point, Sensei's carefreeness makes me respect you."

"I'm embarrassed to be praised."

I also think that Meiji Sensei's way of speaking, which completely ignores the atmosphere, is worthy of respect.

But up to this point, the person whose reaction I cared about the most hadn't opened her mouth once.

Rea.

Even after the series of conversations ended, she remained standing still, looking down.

...Did I make her hate me?

Well, she felt like a person living in a different world from the start, so she finally returned to a normal state, I thought—

"...!"

When I thought that, Rea tackled me.

She buried her face in my chest with a thump and held my body with both arms.

...Did she hug me?

Because there was more momentum than I thought, it took me a little while to recognize that.

"Erika... Erika..."

"What's wrong, Rea? If you're scared, you don't have to force yourself to hug me."

"No, it's not like that."

Raising her face, Rea, with her eyes wet with tears, looked up at me and said.

"Don't go any further than that."

The destructive power is outstanding. They say tears are a woman's weapon, but it seems if the power is high enough, it even works on women.

The only problem is—I have absolutely no idea what Rea is talking about.

As if to cover it up, I awkwardly patted her head.

◇◇◇

We each split into groups within the infirmary, nibbled on the bread we received, and waited for time to pass.

Tatsuoka senpai seemed unable to swallow his food, and the bread in his hand remained unopened.

As for Mitsurugi san, she hugged her knees, looked down, and didn't twitch an inch.

The first-years I saved occasionally directed frightened glances my way.

I changed out of the bloodstained uniform, and I declared that I would protect everyone, so they really don't need to be that scared.

In the corner of the infirmary are various supplies I gathered when I stopped by classrooms on my way back.

Buckets and tubs for storing water, ropes that are handy for various things, plastic bags and towels, and gym clothes and uniforms whose owners have died and will never use them again.

I chose items of the right size from among them and changed clothes.

I filled a tub with water using "Water" magic and lightly washed my body there, so I felt refreshed both physically and mentally.

To allow others to use it too, I secured a space behind the curtain installed in the infirmary, so Ushizawa san is currently cleaning herself.

My body is enveloped in a pleasant sluggishness, and if I let my guard down, I let out a yawn.

However, the brightness outside remains unchanged.

To check the time, we have no choice but to use a smartphone or the clock installed in the infirmary.

Right now it's seven in the evening.

In some households, it's the time for eating dinner.

Perhaps because of that time, Uehara san, the first-year, hugged her knees and missed her family, saying, "I want to go home soon..."

But I'm fine.

I'm glad I don't have a family I would miss.

"...I'm sorry, Erika."

Rea was beside me.

Having laid a towel blanket on the floor, we were sitting side-by-side, so close our shoulders are touching.

Rea leaned lightly against me, and finding comfort in her weight, I felt a slight self-loathing at my own creepiness.

"Probably, I'm the one who should be apologizing."

"Why?"

"Because I've been hiding the fact that I'm that kind of person while talking to you."

"That's not true... Besides, my impression of you hasn't changed."

"That's weird in it's own way."

"Is it? After all, no matter what kind of person you are, it doesn't change the fact that you saved my life."

"Even though it was just an action taken on a whim."

"If you're someone who can risk your life on a whim, I'll believe in you even more."

If she goes that far, Rea is invincible.

No matter what I say, she's sure to interpret it in a good way.

"The reason I apologized earlier is because I selfishly overlapped you with my mother."

"Your mother?"

"My parents divorced when I was little, and my father raised me alone."

"Then your mother—"

"She got involved in a religion and stopped caring about our family. Apparently, they divorced because she ultimately tried to take me away and put me in that religion's facility. So, I think it's really wrong to overlap you with someone like that... But."

I had completely thought Rea was raised in a blessed family environment.

That's why she grew up to be such a fine and kind person.

Everyone has darkness—perhaps it's exactly as Meiji sensei said.

"Taking away even their own child, that's an extremist religion."

"Even if you search the internet, you don't find much about it... it's called Kaisei kyou. Breaking the precepts of the world, hence the name Kaisei. Though, even if I tell you, you wouldn't know it, haha..."

Rea smiled bitterly.

But I felt a strange sense of deja vu at that name.