"I'm back—"

The moment I entered the infirmary, I felt a strangely heavy atmosphere.

Everyone's expressions were also awfully gloomy.

The only one smiling in a good mood was Inuzuka san.

Reacting to my voice, Rea snapped her head up and rushed over to me.

"Welcome ba—eh."

Naturally, her gaze was directed at the black—no, blue slime clinging to my back.

"Erika, t-th-that... you're possessed by something blue...!"

"I'm not possessed, I'm just carrying it. It's okay, she's not a bad."

"Giii..."

There is no strength in its reply.

Has it lost even more energy than before?

I thought about putting it down here, but it seems better to lay it on a bed.

"I-is that so? But... um, it's not a human or an animal... right?"

Rea's confusion is completely justified, and the others, while still low on energy, are looking this way, seemingly curious about Gii.

"It seems we're not the only ones brought to this world full of monsters. Besides Gii—oh, Gii is her name. Besides her, I also met the Queen of some unknown country called the Adrasia Kingdom. Apparently, the non-Japanese zombies we saw at first were people from that country."

"I see...? A-anyway, various people are caught up in this including Gii."

"It seems all her other companions were attacked by zombies and died, so she's the last survivor."

"Ah... I see, so that happened..."

While explaining the situation, we arrived in front of a bed.

As I was about to put Gii down, Inuzuka san stood in my way.

"Could you move?"

"No. Why do we have to spend time with such a disgusting monster? I don't even want you here alone."

"It's not for you to decide, Inuzuka san."

"Do you still think you can defy me?"

Inuzuka san spoke with an inexplicably strong attitude.

In her hand, she held my smartphone.

"Anyway, you're in the way, so move. I want Gii to rest."

"That's why I'm telling you to throw it away because it's gross. Unlike you, I'm a normal human. I'm different from you, who can get chummy with monsters—"

I kicked Inuzuka san in the stomach with the sole of my foot.

Blown away, she crashed into the shelf beyond the bed.

"Agh... ouch... Kuragane, what the hell are you doing!"

"Sorry, I didn't think you'd hit the back of your head. If you hit it wrong, you could have died. Good thing you're alive."

"Kuraganeee!"

With her pleasant screaming in the background, I laid Gii down on the bed.

She let out a weak cry, "Giii...".

There were no visible wound so I ignored Inuzuka san's yelling and tried casting Healing and Cure on Gii.

But there was no change.

If it's not a physical injury, what could be the cause of her weakness?

She was quite energetic when she changed color, though.

"Listen to me, you toilet bowl woman!"

Perhaps feeling lonely from being ignored, Inuzuka san finally lunged at me.

"So vulgar."

"You're the vulgar one, aren't you? Kuragane, you really don't understand your position."

"Showing me a smartphone doesn't really bother me."

"You don't get it. I said I showed it."

Hearing her words, Rea jolted and her body trembled for some reason.

I approached Rea and asked in a low voice.

"Are you hurt?"

"...Eh?"

"They're good at not leaving marks where they can be seen. Did they do something terrible to you?"

"Eh, um, why..."

"I generally know what happened. You watched it, didn't you? That video. I can't imagine you just watching it quietly."

"I was watching it quietly, you know? I was completely appalled, seeing your unsightly figure!"

So this is the reason for the funeral mood.

I'm sorry for you watching something so dirty.

"Everyone knows Kuragane's true nature now. You have no allies here!"

"Don't speak for us!"

Rea raised her voice right in front of me.

I thought it might happen, so I wasn't surprised—no, to be honest, I might have been a little surprised.

"Harming others and being proud of it, something's wrong with you!"

"You heard it, right? The voice, the sounds. That was what Kuragane wanted—"

"Don't act so high and mighty when you suppressed her with violence!"

"I told you, we didn't do anything. Kuragane invited us, and Kuragane did it of her own free will."

"That's impossible!"

"What do you know about Kuragane? She's shallow, foolish, greedy, incompetent, and has no value in living, that's the kind of person she is!"

Right after Inuzuka san said that, someone slammed their fist hard on the desk.

"That's enough, Inuzuka Supika!"

And Shimakawa kun's angry roar echoed.

He stood up and approached Inuzuka san with long strides.

"After being shown something like that, who would take your side? You only exposed your own evil deeds!"

"Evil deeds? What are you talking about? That's why I'm saying, Kuragane wanted it herself. I was there, so there's no mistake."

"What did you say...!"

"It's useless, Shimakawa kun. That kind of person, you see, their heart has become a monster, and they can no longer distinguish right from wrong."

It seems Meiji sensei is taking my side too.

Well, considering what happened with Nanase san, it's natural from her standpoint.

"Is it okay for a teacher to say such a thing? Rather, as a student, I think Kuragane san is the bad one."

"...Ai thinks words won't get through to this person."

"Ushizawa, was it? Your way of speaking has been super gross for a while now. Don't act cute, even though you watched that video with contempt in your eyes."

"Ai didn't do such a thing!"

"But the fact remains that you saw it, right? Can you interact with Kuragane the same way as before after seeing that? Impossible, right? No matter how many pretty words you string together to make excuses, somewhere in your hearts, you all look down on Kuragane! You understand, right? Since you're used to it, Kuragane, you must have noticed everyone's gazes changed!"

It's true that everyone's energy is visibly down.

Though I don't think they despise me that much.

Am I wrong? I'm used to being bathed in such gazes, so I probably aren't wrong.

Basically, the people here are good people.

Rea in particular is clenching her fists tightly, angry enough to look like she might punch someone.

Well, there are some exceptions—but even so, they aren't so rotten that Inuzuka san's allies would become the majority with this poorly constructed speech, unlike in that classroom.

However, being shown something like that would hurt anyone to some extent.

If you hurt someone, you must be properly punished.

Especially in this lawless world, to prevent everyone's dissatisfaction from accumulating.

"Fufu, what's wrong, Kuragane, going silent? You can't say anything, can you. Because your true nature, which you didn't want seen, was exposed. But you see, since you defy me—"

I gently thrust the Dreamer I was holding into Inuzuka's side.

It's been since Shudou kun that I've tasted the sensation of tearing through a living human.

As expected, it's fresh and fleshy compared to a zombie, and gives the realization of "taking a life."

I don't intend to kill her, though.

"...Ah?"

She froze with a stupid look on her face, mouth wide open.

Everyone in the infirmary also fell speechless seeing that.

I immediately pulled the knife out.

Blood spilled out of the wound with a gloop, and the color quickly drained from Inuzuka san's face.

"H-g-n-nooooooooahhhhhhh"

She started screaming and being noisy, so I stabbed her one more time.

This fleeting way of satisfying my desires isn't bad either, though.

Just as Rea feared, if I drown in this, my reason might fly away and never return.

"W-whah... a... he, hiii! H-hewp me! Hewp meeee!"

Inuzuka san, who slumped as if falling on her backside, backed away with sweat beading heavily on her forehead.

"Aga, go, fu... hiya, I don't wanna dhiie... hiii!"

And since she tried to escape on all fours, I tried stabbing her in the butt.

"Hagaaaaaah!"

Ahaha, it looks like a tail, how cute!

But if I do any more she might die, so it's probably time to stop.

"Healing."

I hold my palm towards Inuzuka san and heal her wounds.

"H-haeh...? The pain is... receding..."

"Erika...? What are you... doing...?"

Rea asked in a trembling voice.

I answer with a smile so as not to scare her.

"I thought it would be bad if we left Inuzuka san as she was. But looking at me just now, you thought I went 'too far', right? That level of purification was necessary. Because we few survivors are going to continue living together from now on. Right, Inuzuka san?"

"Hah, hah, hah, hah."

"Inuzuka san, your answer?"

"Y-yeh... Yesss..."

Completely terrified, she obediently answers.

When she's like this, she's cute, isn't she.

I guess this is what they call a gap; it might be fun to keep her as a pet like this.

"I've completely healed the wounds, so there won't even be scars. Since we can forgive each other with just a moment of pain, don't you think it's a good method?"

"...If Ai does something, will she end up like that too?"

"Haha, of course not. I don't want to hurt you, Ushizawa san. I only did it because I hate Inuzuka san, so don't worry."

"Kuragane san, you said it before, didn't you? That you only hate the people who harmed you."

"In short, Inuzuka is one of those targets."

"Exactly. If Inuzuka san didn't do anything, I wouldn't have to do this either—I wonder why we can't help each other even when the school has turned out like this."

Even if she successfully eliminated me, it would only mean they couldn't survive themselves.

Even now, when I clearly possess overwhelming power, she pointlessly defies me, and pointlessly crawls on the floor suffering.

Their ecology is much more mysterious than Gii's.

◇◇◇

Once Inuzuka san's rampage subsided, I faced Gii.

Rea sat next to me, staring at Gii's face just like me.

Her sense of distance remained close as always, and it seems she has no intention of distancing herself even after seeing the sight of me tormenting Inuzuka san earlier.

"I'm sorry, Erika."

"You apologize out of nowhere a lot, Rea."

"But..."

"I don't mind if you saw it, something like that. It seems people outside of our classmates, like Yumemi chan's parents, have also seen it."

"I guess it can't be helped that you treated Inuzuka san like that, Erika."

"Ah, that... I startled you, didn't I."

"I certainly was surprised. I thought you might just kill her like that."

So the reason Rea's voice was trembling was simply because she couldn't grasp the situation.

True, normally one would think I'd kill her if I did something like that.

"I wouldn't do something so boring."

Rea stared intently at my face as I spat those words out.

"Also, don't worry, I have no intention of going to 'that side'. Because I... feel comfortable here, next to you, Rea."

Gathering a little courage, I try stepping into something deeper.

Rea said something like that yesterday, so—it's okay, right?

As I thought that, her cheeks flushed slightly, and a warmth stemming from her heart seemed to soften her expression, loosening her cheeks.

"I'm glad."

"Glad?"

"I sometimes step too far into other people's hearts and annoy them... Honestly, I thought I might be stepping a bit too far with you, Erika. Even though I thought that, I couldn't stop myself."

"I was surprised at first too."

"I knew it."

"In my case, it's mostly because I haven't interacted much with people like that. But I want you to stay exactly as you are, Rea."

"Can I step in even more?"

"...You're welcome"

I wonder if that reply was okay.

Rea happily intertwined her arm with mine and rested her head on my shoulder.

The comfortable body heat felt as though it was melting away the doubts I had about humans—although only a very small part of it.

"Giiii..."

Then, Gii let out a resentful voice.

"E-um, Gii. Are you okay?"

Rea leaned forward and asked her.

Gii thought for a bit, then,

"...Guu."

Returned a word of denial.

"She says she's not okay. Isn't there anything we can do?"

"We need to know the cause."

Cure didn't work either, so it's not zombification.

I should have healed any injuries with Healing too—what other possibilities could there be?

For this, having Meiji sensei examine her is pointless.

...Gii can't speak.

Also as a test, it might be good to put her in the "Party".

"Isn't there something in those skills that lets you see illnesses... or something like that?"

"There might be. I'll try it."

I operate my smartphone and open the Party screen.

Recruitment target—the direction the camera is facing, huh.

If I designate Gii with this and send a join request,

"...Gii?"

It seems she can see something now.

"Gii, just accept it."

"Gii, Gii."

Gii nods twice and accepts joining the party.

If I open the status screen now—

[Gii]

[Level: 1]

[HP: 8/10]

[MP: 10/10]

[Strength: 5]

[Magic Power: 5]

[Stamina: 5]

[Agility: 5]

Alright, it appeared!

And wait, her name really is Gii now.

I was hoping I'd find out her true identity here.

And for some reason, her HP is decreasing.

As expected, it seems something abnormal is happening to her body.

"Erika, did you find out anything?"

"Gii's status is... 'Starvation'."

"Does that mean she's hungry?"

"Giiii..."

So that's why she lacked energy.

It's natural that Cure wouldn't work on starvation.

But I'm glad it's an anomaly we can likely deal with in the infirmary.

"Then I'll bring that bread."

"Please."

Rea fetches the still-edible bread piled up on the desk.

Then she opened the package and handed it to Gii.

"Is sweet okay?"

"...Guu."

Gii shook her head slightly apologetically.

"Then is spicy better?"

"Guu."

"Something other than bread...?"

"Guu."

"Even something other than bread is no good, she says."

Rea stares at me with a troubled face.

Cute.

However, I wonder why she won't try to eat the bread.

Perhaps—

"Maybe she can't process human food."

Thinking about it that way, I also understand the reason why she gave me chocolate as a token of friendship.

Because she couldn't eat it, she could easily give it away.

"Does that mean because she was brought from another world, there's nothing she can eat on Earth?"

"Gii..."

"Is there no substitute?"

"Was the thing Gii and her friends used to replenish energy a solid?"

"Guu."

"A liquid?"

"Guu."

"Then a gas?"

"Guuu..."

"...Something without physical substance?"

"Gii."

This looks like there's really nothing we can do.

"What do you mean, without physical substance?"

"This might be a bad analogy, but—you know how there are stories about demons eating human souls? Also electricity, or radio waves. These exist on Earth, so it's probably not that, but."

"Ah... that kind of thing. Then does that mean we can't help Gii?"

"We can sustain her life if I keep casting Healing, but even that has its limits."

Even if she dies, I can revive her if I learn Resurrection.

But it's meaningless if the fundamental problem isn't solved.

"To think she's right in front of us, and we can't do anything..."

"Giiii, Gii!"

"Wh-what is it?"

"Isn't she saying 'Thank you for worrying about me'?"

"Gii!"

"I see... There's no reason for her to thank me. I haven't been of help to anyone since coming here..."

"Don't be depressed. Just being alive is enough."

"...Yeah, I know that too."

You know it, but you can't accept it, huh.

Being a good natured person is tough too.

Especially when driven into a difficult situation like this.

"Anyway, for now the HP decrease is gradual, so I'll manage it with Healing for a while."

"Giii."

"I hope we find a way to help her in the meantime."

"Gii..."

—Well, it's not like there isn't one even in this situation.

I don't know if it will go perfectly well, and the problem is whether Gii will accept it.

And then it depends on Inuzuka san's movements.

◇◇◇

That night, Marin contacted me.

Apparently, after that, they reached the front of the cooking classroom, turned right from the hallway there, and stopped hunting after proceeding about halfway.

They must have truly felt the limits of their stamina.

However, even on the outer perimeter, a little less than half the monsters are left unchecked.

Who knows how many will be overflowing by tomorrow.

We promised to join up first and defeat the monsters tomorrow, just like today, but it's doubtful whether that will go as planned.

Currently, there is no time limit to stay on this floor, but the evolution of the monsters has practically become that time limit.

A day from now, or two days from now—if we don't find a way to break through the wall in front of those stairs by then, survival will be tough.

For that purpose, we have no choice but to rest our bodies now.

Feeling the body heat of Rea tightly hugging my arm next to me, I let go of my consciousness.

◇◇◇

A few hours after falling asleep, I woke up feeling the presence of someone moving in the room.

But I kept my eyes closed.

There's a possibility they just got up to relieve themselves.

However, the person approached me—and reached for the smartphone I had put in my uniform pocket.

Slowly pulling it out, they let out a small laugh, "Fufu."

Immediately after, I heard Rea's sleepy voice say "Hya!", and something moved loudly with a rustle.

"Wake up, Kuragane!"

Doing as I was told, I sat up.

Then, the cold blade of a box cutter was pressed against my neck.

Inuzuka san, huh—I thought, but the person herself was in front of me, pointing a knife at Rea's neck.

If so, the one restraining me is—

"Tatsuoka senpai?"

Looking up, there was a face resembling the recently inconspicuous Tatsuoka senpai.

"Hah... Hah... T-that's right, it's me. Do you have a problem with that?"

He spoke with clearly visible nervousness.

The hand holding the cutter was trembling, and it didn't look like it could cut my artery at all.

In the first place, I don't think a stationery item like this can pierce my skin.

"What is it at this hour... Ai is sleepy."

Reacting to Inuzuka san's noisy voice, the others also gradually began to wake up.

It seems the first-year trio had been awake since before then, and were waiting near the entrance of the infirmary.

"Inuzuka, what are you doing!"

"What does it look like."

"You took a hostage and are trying to steal Kuragane san's power, I see."

"Exactly. Mitsurugi, if you're awake, you help too! You don't want to die, do you!?"

"..."

"Mitsurugiii!"

Mitsurugi san, sitting in the corner of the room, looked away from Inuzuka san and didn't answer.

Inuzuka san wore a demonic expression, but the ignoring continued.

"I didn't think you were that stupid. Kuragane, as you can see. I hold the life of your precious, precious Oogi san."

"Hii... ugh, ku..."

"The smartphone has also been handed over to us. Since you yourself have a knife to your neck like that, you can't refuse. Hurry up and give me all your power. Otherwise—"

Inuzuka san put strength into the knife she held.

"I'll kill Oogi Rea."

A faint line of blood appeared on Rea's neck.

Her trembling body.

The flow was mostly as planned, but I felt irritated that Rea was meaninglessly hurt.