Seeing Rea taken hostage, a thought crosses my mind.

Ah, I see, so that's how she seemed to those around her.

"You think I'm lying? Too bad, since you're hanging out with sub-humans, I don't consider this woman human either. I can kill her as much as I want!"

Unlike Tatsuoka senpai, Inuzuka san's hand holding the blade isn't trembling.

She can easily kill someone she looks down upon.

This was apparent not just in her words, but in her actions.

"Inuzuka san, you're making a big mistake."

"What?"

"If Rea looks sub-human to you, that just means you're the one who is sub-human. Because Rea is a fine person."

"Kuraganeeeee!"

Inuzuka san is like a toy that screams "Kuragane" whenever I speak.

But with this, her anger should be completely directed at me.

"Tatsuoka, stab her leg or hand or something!"

Good, good, that's fine.

"Once she experiences some pain, she won't have the leeway to run her mouth!"

"B-But..."

"I said do it, so do it!"

Intimidated by my classmate's bullying tactics, Tatsuoka senpai has no choice but to obey while dripping with cold sweat.

He raised the knife with trembling hands—I could escape here if I wanted to—and swung it down towards my upper arm just like that.

The blade didn't sink into my skin; it bent with a squish and snapped with a crack.

"Ah."

Ahaha, there's no way it would pierce me.

"Don't 'Ah' me, don't 'Ah' me! Stab her properly, you useless piece of trash!"

Inuzuka san is starting to look like a power-harassing boss.

That kind of role would suit her.

"Well whatever, as long as this woman is a hostage, you can't move anyway, right?"

"If I give you power, will you release Rea?"

"Yes, I don't really want to kill an innocent girl."

"Erika, you can't!"

"Shut up, you two-faced hypocrite!"

"Ugh, guh..."

Inuzuka san puts strength into the arm restraining her.

That pisses me off.

"You're just being nice to unfortunate kids like Kuragane to make yourself look like a good girl anyway!"

"...You poor thing."

Rea said, looking genuinely pitying.

"Huh?"

Inuzuka san obviously snapped, putting more pressure on the hand pressing the knife.

...Rea, I appreciate the sentiment, but this might be a little bad.

Though I can blow Inuzuka san's head off with a skill anytime.

If she really tries to kill Rea, it can't be helped then—I'll kill her with my own hands.

"Can you only live with others based on calculation? I'm just with Erika because I like her."

"Ha—Hahahahahaha! Like? That Kuragane!? Your brain is more rotten than a zombie's, trash! Worthless! You're finished!"

Rea's gaze drops even further in temperature, glaring at her with eyes full of contempt.

Even I'm finding it a bit hard to look directly at such ugliness.

"Don't look away, Kuragane! I'm telling you to quickly hand over your power to me. You said you could, didn't you?"

"I can, but it's impossible without that smartphone."

"H-Hey, Kuragane senpai, are you really planning to give it to her!?"

Shimakawa kun interjects in a panic.

Well, since it concerns their lives too, it's natural they'd have a complaint or two.

"If you give power to someone like her, she'll kill you!"

"Even if I resist, someone will die anyway."

"Even so, that's..."

"Ai doesn't want to die... Ai can't die yet..."

"If you don't want to die, then obey me. From today, I'll manage and rule over you all. Don't worry, if you don't defy me, I won't take your lives!"

Coincidentally, her stance seems to be the same as mine.

Though her definition of "defy" seems ridiculously broad.

"If you say you can't give it without the smartphone, it can't be helped. I'll return it. However, if you show even the slightest strange behavior—you know what will happen, right."

"U... ugh... Erika..."

"Rea, don't make that tearful face. I know how bad Inuzuka san's personality is, so I'm fine."

"That's starting to sound like nothing but a sore loser's words. Here, take it."

Inuzuka san roughly throws the smartphone at my face.

Catching it, I opened the party screen.

And I invite Inuzuka san to the party.

"...Something echoed in my head just now?"

"It's confirmation of whether to give you power or not. Answer yes."

"This better be real."

"If you can't trust this, nothing will move forward."

"I'll seriously kill Oogi Rea. Don't think I can't."

"I know your brain is rotten enough to kill an innocent person. Just hurry up and do it."

"You scum worse than puke... Yes, I accept. Is this good?"

Inuzuka san is added to the party members.

With this, the concept of stats should be added to her as well, strengthening her physical body.

"—Hm? My body suddenly feels lighter. Haha, ahahahah, isn't this amazing, Kuragane! You really gave it to me! Then return that smartphone too, I'll graciously use it."

I throw the smartphone to Inuzuka san.

As if showing off her improved physical abilities, she caught it right in front of her face, striking a pose.

"Amazing, this is amazing. I can tell I have enough power to easily defeat those zombies!"

Inuzuka san released Rea, practically shoving her away.

I catch her as she falls with a "Kyaa."

"Erika, are you really..."

"It's okay."

While hugging her, I pat Rea's back reassuringly.

Then Inuzuka san walks up to me.

Feeling a bad premonition, I distanced myself from Rea.

"Kuuuraaganee-chaaaan, leeeet's plaaaay."

Saying that in a disgusting voice, Inuzuka san's kick flies towards my face immediately after.

I don't particularly guard against it, exaggeratedly flying backward and rolling on the floor.

Furthermore, Inuzuka san steps hard on my fallen face over and over again.

"How dare you! Do that! To me, Trash-gane! Getting carried away just because you have a little power! Know your place! Crawl on the floor and lick it! You filthy woman worse than a slug, aaaaaah!"

And screaming like a different person, she relentlessly kicks me.

She must have built up a lot of stress.

I think it's a talent to go this mad with rage over just that little bit.

How lukewarm of a life must she have lived?

"Phew... It's still not enough. It's not enough, but let's leave the rest to the monsters. The important thing is that we survive. Right, Tatsuoka."

"That's right..."

"Tatsuoka senpai, you sided with Inuzuka? You plan to live by licking the boots of a woman like this, and an underclassman at that!"

"It can't be helped, this is the right path! I cannot follow a crazy woman like Kuragane kun!"

"Aren't you the crazy ones, Tatsuoka kun? You're using others to turn a blind eye to your own sins."

"I can no longer entertain Meiji sensei's absurd stories about Kaisei kyou or sacrifices!"

Tatsuoka senpai desperately rattles off excuses.

If you want to talk about absurd, I think this world itself is much more so.

Or rather, Tatsuoka senpai decided to follow Inuzuka san simply because they "seem to get along," right?

"So anyway, we're leaving this infirmary and moving our base somewhere else. Those who don't want to die, follow me."

"Ai will never follow someone like you. You're the least trustworthy of all!"

"Oh really? Then you can die here. Sanctuary Deployment, release!"

—Sanctuary Deployment, release.

The barrier protecting the infirmary disappears, giving the monsters a free pass.

"L-Liar... Did you really release it?"

"Of course."

"How could you do such a thing!?"

Inuzuka san sneers at Rea and the others raising their voices in protest.

"Isn't it obvious? People who don't obey me deserve to die. Look, you don't want to die, right? Then become my servants! If you sincerely apologize for your disrespectful behavior until now and prostrate yourselves, I might consider taking you with me!"

Inuzuka san always wants to find companions.

In short, she knows she's weak on her own.

Her grades aren't particularly good, her personality isn't good either, and her appearance is just okay.

The reason she was able to maintain a high rank in the class caste system was thanks to her connections.

While hinting at the existence of Shudou kun, Asanuma kun, and other "strong" boys, she involves other girls in that group and makes them her cronies.

And when push comes to shove, she survives alone by cutting off her cronies and using them as shields.

Now she doesn't have "backing" like Shudou kun and the others.

That's why she sought my power.

She tries to threaten everyone with that power and pull them into her group.

But the fate of those who followed her is obvious to anyone.

Sacrifices. Offerings. Human shields.

That's what they are destined to be used for.

"...I see, so no one will obey me. Ushizawa, Shimakawa, Meiji, Oogi—and even Mitsurugi. I'm appalled. Fine then. Lament your own stupidity while being eaten by those rotten corpses and die in regret! Ahahahahahaha!"

Leaving a parting shot, Inuzuka san leaves the infirmary, which had lost its barrier.

The three first-years followed behind her, and finally, Tatsuoka senpai looked at us once with a disgusting expression as if worried about us, and left the room.

When the door closed with a bang, silence visited.

Rea, who had slumped down, crawled over to me on all fours.

"Erika, is your face okay? Does it hurt?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine."

I sat up, laughing.

Seeing me looking less damaged than expected, Rea tilted her head.

Or rather, the wound left on her neck looks much more painful than anything on me.

I held my hand over Rea's neck and healed it with Healing.

"Huh? Was that... magic just now...?"

"Sorry for making you experience pain."

Meanwhile, Shimakawa kun stood up and started pushing a shelf in the room to move it.

"What are you doing, Shimakawa kun."

"Making a barricade. Even without a barrier, we can survive a little longer if we just avoid being found, right? Kuragane senpai, won't you help too?"

"Ai will help too."

"There's no need, you two."

"Huh? What are you saying? If we die like this, we're playing right into their hands!"

No matter how desperate the situation, Shimakawa kun never gives up.

I think he's someone worthy of respect.

Shimakawa Yuya, whom he adored as an older brother, must have been a truly excellent person as well.

I sincerely think it's good that Shimakawa kun didn't follow Inuzuka san.

"I'm going to survive. Even for my brother—there might still be a way to save him!"

"Ai too... Ai wants to meet Hiiro alive."

"Since Shimakawa kun and Ushizawa san are working so hard, Kuragane san, isn't it about time you revealed the trick?"

"Trick? What do you mean?"

Ah, Meiji sensei had noticed too.

That's right, thinking normally, there's no way I'd hand over power that easily.

I mean, in the first place, even if she took a hostage, I could easily save her if I used a skill.

It's about time Inuzuka san and the others are far away, so maybe I should just tell them.

Just as I thought that and was about to open my mouth—

"...Kuragane san didn't give Inuzuka any power. Isn't that right?"

Mitsurugi san beat me to it.

I thought she might follow Inuzuka san—I see, she stayed quiet because she noticed.

"Wh-What do you mean?"

"Among the powers I gained, there's something called a party system. Simply put, I can share the same power as me with others."

When I lightly focused my mind, particles of light gathered in my hand, forming my smartphone.

What would happen if I threw this smartphone away—I already tested that outside.

"Then Inuzuka san didn't steal power from you, Erika, but just joined that party?"

"That's right. Falling for my smooth talk when she doesn't even understand it, Inuzuka san really is shallow. Physical enhancement, removing someone from the party, it's all entirely up to me, and it's an excellent tool that lets me grasp the locations of all party members."

"When the sanctuary disappeared, Ai and the others were surprised..."

"I erased the function to match Inuzuka san's act. I can put it right back, you see."

Thanks to that, Inuzuka san completely believed she had done it herself.

"In short, you knew Inuzuka was going to betray us, Kuragane senpai?"

"Because the actions of that type of person are easy to read. Just in case, I let her build up stress so she'd betray us as quickly as possible, though."

"Th-Then, suddenly stabbing her earlier was... for that reason too?"

"That was about half personal grudge."

Inuzuka san was getting way too carried away back then.

"Even if it's for revenge, you sure do things in a roundabout way."

"I thought if I left people likely to betray us, they'd become troublesome later. Good thing you stayed, Mitsurugi san."

"Because I know both your nastiness and Inuzuka san's bad personality."

Even if Inuzuka san's plan had gone well, the people who followed her wouldn't have a decent future.

I can't imagine her taking action to protect others.

"From the sound of it, you had calculated that Tatsuoka kun would follow her too, didn't you."

"He's that type of person."

"Disposing of two people at once without lifting a finger, how efficient."

"Disposing sounds terrible, Meiji sensei."

"What if... Ai and the others had followed Inuzuka san...?"

"I would have abandoned you."

Ushizawa san jolted and trembled in fear.

"But you didn't follow her, right? Everyone who went that way was someone who had directed malice towards me from before."

I wonder if my first impression was bad for the three first-years too... or perhaps it's their inherent nature, they seemed to trust Tatsuoka senpai more.

Perhaps because of that, even though I was the one who saved them, they hardly tried to talk to me.

"It was a shame about the first-years, but they chose Inuzuka san themselves. There's no turning back now."

"Erika, what are you going to do... about the people who left?"

Rea asked anxiously—but already knowing the answer.

So I can answer without hesitation.

"Just like I said earlier. Abandon them."

I cut them off decisively.

I have no obligation to help them.

No, rather, if I help them and let them get carried away, they'll just repeat similar things again.

"It's fine because we're alive like this, but if Inuzuka san's actions had succeeded, we would have been killed, you know? There's no need to give kindness to such people. Inuzuka san and the others will arbitrarily betray, arbitrarily ruin themselves, and arbitrarily die. I do feel a little sorry for them, though."

Though I don't really feel sorry for them at all.

Quite the opposite, actually.

I think it's comical.

After dancing in the palm of my hand, they'll suffer many times more than normal and die.

"Ah, poor thing, poor thing. Truly pitiful. Haha, Inuzuka san is so pitiful!"

Oops, I accidentally laughed.

But it can't be helped.

Because Inuzuka san's life is checkmated.

There's no attraction more fun than just watching them break down.

Unable to contain my excitement, I looked at the map on my smartphone.

The point of light indicating Inuzuka san's location is moving erratically around a certain spot in the hallway.

I show that screen to everyone.

"Look, everyone, Inuzuka san has already stopped moving. She must be getting attacked by monsters!"

Do your best, monsters.

Torment Inuzuka san to the point right before killing her.

Tear her apart in the most terrifying way possible!

"Even if she goes outside at Level 1, all she can defeat are zombies and Zombie Wolves. I wonder what Inuzuka san plans to do. It's difficult to fight while protecting multiple people with that level of power. Has someone already died? Maybe Inuzuka san got bitten and zombification has started! Poor thing, poor thing!"

Am I the only one who's elated?

No, that's not true.

Because everyone here should have hated Inuzuka san.

That's why no one voices the words, 'We should go help them.'

"Ah, Inuzuka san finally started running. At this speed, the others won't be able to catch up, I wonder if they were abandoned."

"Kuragane senpai."

"That's why I said it would have been better not to follow her. Inuzuka san easily abandons even the closest people and makes them her scapegoats, you know? They have no eye for people, those who followed her."

"Kuragane senpai, I think that's enough!"

"It's not."

I reply matter-of-factly to Shimakawa kun's shout.

"Nothing is enough. It's not enough at all. Inuzuka san deserves to suffer more, and so does Tatsuoka senpai. You've noticed it too, haven't you, Shimakawa kun? About Yuya senpai."

"...Are you trying to say Tatsuoka senpai was the very person bullying my brother?"

Judging from his reaction, I'm probably right about that.

But what I'm curious about is a different part.

"I wonder if it ends with just that."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not an involved party so I don't know the details, but Meiji sensei, you know something, don't you?"

Meiji sensei was silent, with a face that clearly knew something.

However, a few seconds after I prompted her, she opened her mouth.

"It's not like I have proof or anything. But..."

With hatred dwelling in her narrowed eyes, as if spitting out the stagnation in her heart.

"I think Tatsuoka kun is a person who would be better off dead."

Perhaps that was her true, genuine feeling, disregarding adult circumstances.

What on earth had she seen—the intensity of the hatred imbued in those words made the temperature in the infirmary feel like it plummeted.

Shimakawa kun also couldn't say anything, only able to stare at the teacher with wide eyes.

It was then.

The infirmary door suddenly opened, and someone rushed in.

Right behind him as he collapsed onto the floor upon entering the room, were the figures of zombies and Zombie Wolves, being repelled by the barrier with a bzzzt.

"Hah, hah, hah, hah—that was close... I-I'm alive... I'm aliveeee!"

Shedding tears of gratitude for his life was Tatsuoka senpai, who supposedly betrayed us earlier.

I walked over to the thick-skinned guy, grabbed him by the collar, and hauled him to his feet.

"With what face did you return, Tatsuoka senpai?"

"Please waitttt! I apologize, I'll do anything, I don't mind if you treat me as a slave! So, so please, please let me stay here! I'm begging youuu, I'm begging youuuu!"

His figure pleading while shedding copious tears was the epitome of unsightliness, devoid of any pride.

Now everyone here can probably share it.

The words Meiji sensei said, "Tatsuoka kun is a person who would be better off dead."

"What about Inuzuka san?"

"We were attacked by a large monster that suddenly appeared, we stood no chance at all, and then... she used the first-years as decoys and..."

"She ran away."

See, just as expected.

That's the kind of person she is.

That's how, even before I saved her, she abandoned her close classmates and escaped into the restroom alone.

"I was wrong. Everything is my fault. So please, please just spare my lifeeee...!"

"What will you do, Sensei?"

I released Tatsuoka senpai and handed him over to Meiji sensei.

She placed her hands on both of his shoulders, and just like that, shoved him away with a thud!

"Ah—"

Reaching the limit of his physical strength, his body mercilessly lost its balance and fell outside the room.

Waiting there were the starving, rotting corpses.

"Noooo, I don't want to die! Stay away, stay away, stay away, stay awayyyyy! Uwaaaaaaaah!"

Tatsuoka senpai is bitten by a zombie wolf and got dragged somewhere.

Meiji sensei stared intently at that sight with an emotionless face.